Unorthodox sets in OU

Zach · Apr 18, 2009

Suicide leads? Meh. CM Latias? Meh. ScarfTran? Meh meh meh

Most of my sets are standard, however, I aim to help aid myself to victory by employing a few key unorthodox sets.

At a glance:

_________

Teh Drummer Boy (Azelf) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/4 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Trick
- Thunder Wave
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn

Yay originality! Soz, all of everyone expects suicide Azelf lead, but I thought this was a waste of a pokemon if it was just going to explode, so I made this lead that serves several purposes. If I'm facing a bulky lead, I.E. Hippowdon, I give it a scarf. If I am facing an offensive lead, I cripple its sweeping abilities with Thunder Wave. Some leads, like Infernape, can benefit from Scarfs, so I either Thunder Wave or SR. There are a few exceptions; Metagross is always Thunder Wave because it could be trick lead. In that case, I keep spamming T-wave until Trick runs out of PP (it has less than TW) so that it can't trick anything anymore and I paralyze two pokes. Aerodactyl is always Trick because he is absolutely terrible with a Scarf. U-turn scouts. I'm not dropping this, it pwns too hard.

Teh Lawn Mower (Rotom-c) @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/200 Def/56 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Leaf Storm
- Discharge

Dual Screens. This helps me set up a sweep. Should I go with Rotom-H over Rotom-C? Should I stick HP Fire somewhere for the surprise kill on Scizor? If dropped, it needs to be for a dual screener.

Teh Triple Threat (Salamence) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 84 Atk/208 Spd/216 SAtk
Mild nature (+SAtk, -Def)
- Draco Meteor
- Earthquake
- Fire Blast
- Outrage

The "New MixMence" set. This is essential - I need to weaken Skarms / Hippowdons etc. with Draco Meteor / Fire Blast so that Lucario can sweep easily. When Bliss switches in, Outrage. Mence usually dies soon after, but by then he has usually done his job. If dropped - which I am reluctant to do, Mence is my #2 favorite pokemon - it needs to be dropped for a mixed sweeper.

Teh EmpeRAWR (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 24 HP/232 Spd/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Agility
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Grass Knot

I used to run ScarfTran here and a CM Latias, but it was just too meh. Before I made the change, DDMence could come in on a Tran Earth Power / Fire Blast, DD, and proceed to 6-0 me.

I prefer this set to the SubPetaya for coverage. Empoleon can be a decent threat for my team, but since I don't give adequate Empoleon related support, he acts as a lure. Bring out the Blissey and I get an easy switch in for Lucario, and yeah. I take the status first before switching, though.

Teh Mind Dragon (Latias) (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 24 HP/232 Spd/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Thunderbolt

The revenge killer. Latias outspeeds neutral nature Salamence after a DD, comes in, and OHKO's him with Draco Meteor. I also believe I outrun an Adamant Gyarados after two DD's, and then OHKO with Thunderbolt.

The EndGame (Lucario) (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 4 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Extremespeed
- Crunch

The star of the show. Lucario is my favorite pokemon and is not going anywhere. This set is so powerful, it's insane. Close Combat OHKO's Skarmory after an SD and SR damage. Normal and Fight are both walled by ghosts, which is why I run Crunch. Yay.

Zach · Apr 18, 2009

Worst Threats:

Gengar - Revenge kill with Latias or Crunch with Lucario, although the latter is risky.

Jirachi - HP Fire with Latias, but if this gets a few CM's I get raped.

CB Scizor - I get hurt by this especially hard when used in tandem with Pursuit Tyranitar. Just comes in on Latias / Azelf and U-turns to counter my switch in. If I switch Rotom in to take the U-turn, then Tyranitar comes in and Pursuits.

Fantasy/Nightmare · Apr 18, 2009

Your lead Azelf is quite interesting.
I run the almost exact same moveset for Rotom-h (Overheat instead of Leaf Storm), although this one is better. Can take down Swampert or any Ground-type with ease.
Also, since you have 3 Life Orb users, it might be a good idea to have some Wish support on Latias instead of Dragon Pulse (or whatever floats your boat).

LuistheNinja · Apr 18, 2009

Well, Azelf is sure good and unexpected but Mesprit has way better defenses and can do exactlly the same job, as its rather seen around it is also unexpected, I've seen it and it works and it works as a counter for Infernape aswell.

Zach · Apr 18, 2009

Hmm. I'll test Mesprit.

flashbolt · Apr 19, 2009

I like the team, brilliant originality, i think this will do well.
I have limitted knowledge of standard but i did once encounter a lead like this, just watch out for opponent leads such as jolteon. jolt will not be damaged by scarf as much as zelf/mespirit by specs and they will see the trick coming next time, obviously you cant TWave and if you SR you could be OHKOed by Shadow Ball or TBolt (Azelf is KOed by both i believe) youre best option is U-turn but who to? If they Ball, go to Empoleon, if they Bolt Rotom is best, but that is pure guesswork. With the Scarf Jolt may outspeed Lat. Be careful what you do in this situation.
Anyway all the best

Erodent · Apr 19, 2009

If I were you, I would stick Trick on Latias somewhere, preferably in the place of Dragon Pulse. Latias is a blissey lure, and by Tricking a scarf onto it, you effectively cripple its ability to do a whole lot of things. Your Azelf lead looks interesting. Good luck with the team!

ToF · Apr 19, 2009

This team looks very good. You have you're threats covered nicely, and have some decent synergy that allows for you to both put initial pressure on the opponent, as well as revenge-kill threats that stat-up on you.

On Latias, I'd drop HP Fire for Trick. Honestly, you have Scizor covered with your multitude of steel types, and if they do Pursuit you, the opponent has to deal with a potential Lucario sweep. Use the concept of lures to your advantage and allow one kill to set up another member of your team. Additionally, Trick will basically cripple opposing stall teams, making it easier for Salamence and Lucario to clean up.

Mamoswine can be a bit troublesome to this team. Try and keep Rotom alive, though you are somewhat in trouble if an opposing Tyranitar Pursuits Rotom. Mamoswine can then proceed to super-effectively hit your entire team, and if Empoleon doen't set up, its probably a loss for you. The simple fix to this semi-issue is to make Lucario Jolly instead of Adamant. The speed boost means you outspeed all Mamoswine varients, so it becomes a non-factor.

The last minor point is the EV spread of Salamence. The new standard runs max speed (I believe this is a Naive nature) in order to beat out or tie with all base 100s (including other Salamence). The new standard spread is 16 Att / 240 Sp.Att / 252 Speed. The almost maxed out special attack lets Salamence hit as hard as possible with Draco Meteor, and the 16 Att EV's still allow you to 2HKO Blissey with Outrage.

Good luck with the team.

brutal satyr · Apr 19, 2009

crunchy i think you should put ice punch on lucario so it won't be walled by grounds anymore

Zach · Apr 19, 2009

brutal satyr said:
crunchy i think you should put ice punch on lucario so it won't be walled by grounds anymore

Well Donphan already gets pawned by Close Combat and and Hippowdon laughs at Ice Punch anyway, as for Gliscor, those usually go down to Mence's Draco Meteor and since I use Mence as an early game wall breaker, Gliscor shouldn't be around by the time I'm going for a Lucario sweep.

Twist of Fate said:
This team looks very good. You have you're threats covered nicely, and have some decent synergy that allows for you to both put initial pressure on the opponent, as well as revenge-kill threats that stat-up on you.

On Latias, I'd drop HP Fire for Trick. Honestly, you have Scizor covered with your multitude of steel types, and if they do Pursuit you, the opponent has to deal with a potential Lucario sweep. Use the concept of lures to your advantage and allow one kill to set up another member of your team. Additionally, Trick will basically cripple opposing stall teams, making it easier for Salamence and Lucario to clean up.

I'll test trick.

Mamoswine can be a bit troublesome to this team. Try and keep Rotom alive, though you are somewhat in trouble if an opposing Tyranitar Pursuits Rotom. Mamoswine can then proceed to super-effectively hit your entire team, and if Empoleon doen't set up, its probably a loss for you. The simple fix to this semi-issue is to make Lucario Jolly instead of Adamant. The speed boost means you outspeed all Mamoswine varients, so it becomes a non-factor.

But with Jolly nature, Lucario may fail to get crucial OHKO's and 2HKO's; I need to see some calcs before trying that.

The last minor point is the EV spread of Salamence. The new standard runs max speed (I believe this is a Naive nature) in order to beat out or tie with all base 100s (including other Salamence). The new standard spread is 16 Att / 240 Sp.Att / 252 Speed. The almost maxed out special attack lets Salamence hit as hard as possible with Draco Meteor, and the 16 Att EV's still allow you to 2HKO Blissey with Outrage.

I'll definitely run that spread.

Good luck with the team.
Thanks.