Tired of all the boring weather teams I see that abuse the same standard predictable pokes, I decided to mix it up and use some utility Pokes as offensive guys and late game sweepers to net surprise kills. The art of surprise is what got my last serious OU team to rank 5 on the ladder, and I realize with all the new things added this gen, surprise is your best weapon. This team currently is sitting at rank 146 on the Standard OU ladder, and has a pretty amazing win/loss ratio, with around 20+ wins and only 2 losses coming from when I was using a Magnezone instead of a Toxicroak. Anyway, without further ado, lets start out with the "surprise guys" which this team is based around and the unique sets I have created for them.
Whimsicott @ Choice Specs
Timid Nature
Ability: Prankster
40 HP / 252 SpAtk / 216 Spd
~Hurricane
~Giga Drain
~HP Ground
~Switcheroo
Before you laugh in this thing's face, trust me, it works, and has two key, tricky benefits. The first benefit is, while this thing is alive on my team, it deters things from setting up subs or boosting stats, as EVERYONE runs Whimsicott as a utility Poke with priority Encore. This allows me to come in on things, scare it into offense with a predicted Encore, and then hit it hard, or hit something hard on the predicted switch. While Whimsicott's base SpAtk isn't impressive, with a Timid nature and Choice Specs, it reaches a very nice SpAtk stat of 378, with a blistering Spd stat of 354 with the given EV's, which outpaces Pokes with speeds up to base 111.
Hurricane, while inaccurate, is bolstered to 100% accuracy by my Drizzletoad which you will see later, and hits Grass types that come in on predicted Leech Seeds for massive damage. Giga Drain hits water types that want to stay in and Ice Beam Whimsy thinking that a sub or a leech seed is coming, and HP ground hits pesky steel types that resist grass and flying like Heatran and Metagross. Finally, priority Switcheroo can cripple things that wall Whimsy, like Bronzong and Ferrothorn, or even things that want to go for a sub or set up after realizing this is a offensive set.
Deoxys-S @ Life Orb
Naive Nature
Ability: Pressure
28 Atk / 252 SpAtk / 228 Spd
~Ice Beam
~Thunder
~Super Power
~Psycho Boost/Psychic
This set is absolutely amazing, and I really have no idea why more people don't use an all-out offensive Deoxys-S set. This thing works as a late game sweeper, a wallbreaker, AND a revenge killer all in one and is always the MVP for this team. With Deoxys-S's blistering speed stat (of 498 with the given EV's) I can outspeed everything up to scarfed Landorus, and ANYTHING in the tier that has a single Dragon Dance up (bar Latios, but really, no one runs that :P). Combine that with Life Orb's power boost, and you're looking at a Poke with 376 SpAtk, 303 Atk and 498 Spd, with amazing type coverage to boot. Ice Beam OHKO's Gliscor, any Dragon bar Latios/Latias, etc. Thunder is there to abuse the 100% accuracy buff when rain is in effect, destroy water types, and to complete the BoltBeam combo. Super Power wrecks special walls like Blissey and T-Tar, and Psycho Boost is there to knock giant holes in walls, or score some OHKO's early game who switch into Deoxys thinking its the utility set. I am considering the switch to Psychic though for better late game coverage, but really, Psycho Boost's power is almost too good to pass up early game. Opinions on which to choose are welcome.
Politoed @ Leftovers
Bold Nature
Ability: Drizzle
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
~Scald
~Toxic
~Encore
~Ice Beam
Standard, but effective. There's not much to say about ol' Politoed, it starts rain, Toxic's walls like Jellicent and Gastrodon who give me trouble, and Encores things foolish enough to try to set up on it. Unlike most weather teams that DEPEND on their weather starter to win, this team doesn't, it appreciates the accuracy/power boost and fire resistances, but doesn't necessarily need them to pull off a win. Still, Politoed is an important member of the team, and can tank hits on both sides of the spectrum fairly well before biting the dust.
Azumarill @ Choice Band
Adamant Nature
Ability: Huge Power
232 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def / 8 SpDef / 4 Spd
~Aqua Jet
~Frustration
~Waterfall
~Super Power
Again, standard, but effective. Azumarill in the rain is just plain scary with a Choice Band equipped, only being completely walled by Jellicent. Not even Vaporeon or Gastrodon with their water absorbing abilities will appreciate taking a CB Frustration or a Super Power. Azumarill will also send other weather inducers like Ninetales and T-Tar running, allowing me to predict the switch accordingly and either double switch or unleash a devastating attack. Azumarill also plays revenge killer, taking out threats such as Volcarona and Excadrill with its priority Aqua Jet. 4 Speed EV's are there to outpace other Azumarill.
Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Adamant Nature
Ability: Dry Skin
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
~Swords Dance
~Substitute
~Drain Punch
~Sucker Punch
Ah, Toxicroak. I have been swept many a time by this thing just because I underestimate it so much. This thing works so well in tandem with Politoed, as I can Encore something into an attack Croak resists to get a switch in, and then from there, set up a sub and act accordingly. While this set is effective, I sometimes feel like the Bulk Up set would be superior, but the speed comes in handy for setting up on things like specially defensive Jirachi and bulky Rotom that try to burn me with Will-O-Wisp. I would like opinions here on which set would better benefit my team.
Bronzong @ Leftovers
Sassy Nature
Ability: Levitate
252 HP / 84 Atk / 80 Def / 92 SpDef
~Gyro Ball
~HP Ice
~Earthquake
~Stealth Rock
Bronzong always seems to find a spot on my team as it is such a superb mixed wall, capable of taking hits, dishing them out, and supporting the team with Stealth Rocks. Not much really needs to be said about the classic Tank set, and in the Rain, it has no weakness, which is always welcome. Bronzong provides yet another check for the ever dangerous Excadrill, Gliscor, and many of the dragons on OU, even the ones that carry fire attacks. Even Heatran has to wary of Bronzong when the rain is up, as Earthquake nearly OHKO's it clean and it can't OHKO with any of its fire moves. Overall, as long as Bronzong gets up rocks and does some damage before dying, he's more than completed his job.
Alright guys, do your thing. I know this team doesn't have too great of a defensive synergy, but its very offensive so I don't feel like that's too much of a problem. I also know the Whimsicott set will probably be crapped on, but its so much fun to use. Either way, your feedback is welcome. :)
Whimsicott @ Choice Specs
Timid Nature
Ability: Prankster
40 HP / 252 SpAtk / 216 Spd
~Hurricane
~Giga Drain
~HP Ground
~Switcheroo
Before you laugh in this thing's face, trust me, it works, and has two key, tricky benefits. The first benefit is, while this thing is alive on my team, it deters things from setting up subs or boosting stats, as EVERYONE runs Whimsicott as a utility Poke with priority Encore. This allows me to come in on things, scare it into offense with a predicted Encore, and then hit it hard, or hit something hard on the predicted switch. While Whimsicott's base SpAtk isn't impressive, with a Timid nature and Choice Specs, it reaches a very nice SpAtk stat of 378, with a blistering Spd stat of 354 with the given EV's, which outpaces Pokes with speeds up to base 111.
Hurricane, while inaccurate, is bolstered to 100% accuracy by my Drizzletoad which you will see later, and hits Grass types that come in on predicted Leech Seeds for massive damage. Giga Drain hits water types that want to stay in and Ice Beam Whimsy thinking that a sub or a leech seed is coming, and HP ground hits pesky steel types that resist grass and flying like Heatran and Metagross. Finally, priority Switcheroo can cripple things that wall Whimsy, like Bronzong and Ferrothorn, or even things that want to go for a sub or set up after realizing this is a offensive set.
Deoxys-S @ Life Orb
Naive Nature
Ability: Pressure
28 Atk / 252 SpAtk / 228 Spd
~Ice Beam
~Thunder
~Super Power
~Psycho Boost/Psychic
This set is absolutely amazing, and I really have no idea why more people don't use an all-out offensive Deoxys-S set. This thing works as a late game sweeper, a wallbreaker, AND a revenge killer all in one and is always the MVP for this team. With Deoxys-S's blistering speed stat (of 498 with the given EV's) I can outspeed everything up to scarfed Landorus, and ANYTHING in the tier that has a single Dragon Dance up (bar Latios, but really, no one runs that :P). Combine that with Life Orb's power boost, and you're looking at a Poke with 376 SpAtk, 303 Atk and 498 Spd, with amazing type coverage to boot. Ice Beam OHKO's Gliscor, any Dragon bar Latios/Latias, etc. Thunder is there to abuse the 100% accuracy buff when rain is in effect, destroy water types, and to complete the BoltBeam combo. Super Power wrecks special walls like Blissey and T-Tar, and Psycho Boost is there to knock giant holes in walls, or score some OHKO's early game who switch into Deoxys thinking its the utility set. I am considering the switch to Psychic though for better late game coverage, but really, Psycho Boost's power is almost too good to pass up early game. Opinions on which to choose are welcome.
Politoed @ Leftovers
Bold Nature
Ability: Drizzle
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spd
~Scald
~Toxic
~Encore
~Ice Beam
Standard, but effective. There's not much to say about ol' Politoed, it starts rain, Toxic's walls like Jellicent and Gastrodon who give me trouble, and Encores things foolish enough to try to set up on it. Unlike most weather teams that DEPEND on their weather starter to win, this team doesn't, it appreciates the accuracy/power boost and fire resistances, but doesn't necessarily need them to pull off a win. Still, Politoed is an important member of the team, and can tank hits on both sides of the spectrum fairly well before biting the dust.
Azumarill @ Choice Band
Adamant Nature
Ability: Huge Power
232 HP / 252 Atk / 12 Def / 8 SpDef / 4 Spd
~Aqua Jet
~Frustration
~Waterfall
~Super Power
Again, standard, but effective. Azumarill in the rain is just plain scary with a Choice Band equipped, only being completely walled by Jellicent. Not even Vaporeon or Gastrodon with their water absorbing abilities will appreciate taking a CB Frustration or a Super Power. Azumarill will also send other weather inducers like Ninetales and T-Tar running, allowing me to predict the switch accordingly and either double switch or unleash a devastating attack. Azumarill also plays revenge killer, taking out threats such as Volcarona and Excadrill with its priority Aqua Jet. 4 Speed EV's are there to outpace other Azumarill.
Toxicroak @ Life Orb
Adamant Nature
Ability: Dry Skin
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
~Swords Dance
~Substitute
~Drain Punch
~Sucker Punch
Ah, Toxicroak. I have been swept many a time by this thing just because I underestimate it so much. This thing works so well in tandem with Politoed, as I can Encore something into an attack Croak resists to get a switch in, and then from there, set up a sub and act accordingly. While this set is effective, I sometimes feel like the Bulk Up set would be superior, but the speed comes in handy for setting up on things like specially defensive Jirachi and bulky Rotom that try to burn me with Will-O-Wisp. I would like opinions here on which set would better benefit my team.
Bronzong @ Leftovers
Sassy Nature
Ability: Levitate
252 HP / 84 Atk / 80 Def / 92 SpDef
~Gyro Ball
~HP Ice
~Earthquake
~Stealth Rock
Bronzong always seems to find a spot on my team as it is such a superb mixed wall, capable of taking hits, dishing them out, and supporting the team with Stealth Rocks. Not much really needs to be said about the classic Tank set, and in the Rain, it has no weakness, which is always welcome. Bronzong provides yet another check for the ever dangerous Excadrill, Gliscor, and many of the dragons on OU, even the ones that carry fire attacks. Even Heatran has to wary of Bronzong when the rain is up, as Earthquake nearly OHKO's it clean and it can't OHKO with any of its fire moves. Overall, as long as Bronzong gets up rocks and does some damage before dying, he's more than completed his job.
Alright guys, do your thing. I know this team doesn't have too great of a defensive synergy, but its very offensive so I don't feel like that's too much of a problem. I also know the Whimsicott set will probably be crapped on, but its so much fun to use. Either way, your feedback is welcome. :)
