-insert drake's back to back here-
Sup guys :]
I will present you guys today with a very solid semi-stall team that is perhaps my best, most consistent yet. Not only did this team bring me success (#1) but it also features some really unorthodox (hence the lame title :P) Pokemons, moves, and EVs that I feel are really underrated, especially when all contributed to the overall success of this team. Balanced has been always my style, and even though I ironically detest stall, semi-stall is one of my favorite playstyles to play and ladder with, because i feel like it's less reliant on match up.
Proof of Peak
Teambuilding Process
The team started with SubCoil Zygarde as the Pokemon to build around.
Heatran covers all of Zygarde's weaknesses, Dragon, Fairy, and Ice, so it was almost an immediate add-on. Providing Stealth Rock was also very nice with Zygarde's amazing shuffling ability.
Mega Slowbro was added next. It was added mainly because I just love mega slowbro, secretly thinking it's the best mega, no the best pokemon in OU. Mega Slowbro patched even more weaknesses such as to Figthing, Ice, and Water.
I needed a way of hazard removal. Moreover, I was pretty weak to Gengar Mega Alakazam, so I added SpD Zapdos to help my match up with these a lot, being able to counter them if rocks are not up.
I was looking actually very weak to stall and opposing bulky teams, and what's better than Gothitelle? Though it's ironically used mostly on stall itself! Gothitelle helped with multiple of things other than Stall, mainly stuff that can boost in a really fast pace that the team can't handle, such as Manaphy. It can also limit extremely threatening or extremely annoying mons, such as Latios, Crawdaunt, Thundurus, Ferrothorn, and Celebi
The most glaring weakness yet was that extremely specially offensive Pokemons and teams can roll through me if I don't play well enough to have Slowbro at +1. AV Metagross handled Lati@s and Fairies extremely well, taking almost no damage from them while dealing back a lot of damage even with Pursuit on the switch. It also gave the team priority and a bit more room against opposing electric types.
Soon I realized that Gengar was too much of a threat, and that dark spam can really bust this team up, especially Hoopa-U. As a result, I added Mandibuzz, which while made my team weaker to electric spam, made my match up much better vs. Dark Spam, Gengar, Breloom, and Mega Alakazam.
The previous version got me to 1800s, but I felt that I lacked something to even further improve. I lacked a solid check to electric threats. Previously I had to play extremely careful around them, trying to lure them in with a +1 slowbro and pursuit trapping them (for like ~40% lol) by Metagross, oh and don't even lemme start about how the previous team was literally 6-0'd by rotom-w. Instead, I added Curse Gastrodon which turn out to be an amazing Pokemon and extremely good win con if played and conserved correctly.
THE TEAM
"C-" (Zygarde) @ Leftovers
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 240 HP / 252 SpD / 16 Spe
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Dragon Tail
- Earthquake
- Coil
Seriously, doesn't Zygarde look almost exactly like Cell, lol? All jokes aside, I really don't know if its my affinity to Dragon / Ground or my affinity to underrated things that I have both this and previously mega chomp. Regardless, this Pokemon was used because I like using underrated successfully. The nickname "C-" is a joke because its Zygarde's "rank" in the viability ranking which is almost laughable. The moves are pretty standard really, and the EVs are only a little bit different than the standard set (which is 200 HP / 252 SpD / 56 Spe or something) and that's because I want the maximum chance of avoid Rotom-W's Hydro Pump to break the sub. As for this guy's relevancy in OU, well it's a really niche mon in the meta that can stop a couple of threats (such as Volcarona) and certainly take away games if the opponent make a blunder. Overall, although this man wants to be the star of the team, it really isn't, though it's not as bad as people think.
Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 12 SpD / 244 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Will-O-Wisp
- Lava Plume
- Flash Cannon
Will-o-Wisp Heatran is one of the few extinct Heatran sets alongside SubTorment; hence the usual response I get "Willo Heatran dafuq?!?!" However it works extremely well in the meta, especially in the hands of someone who can use it to its maximum potential. The fact that it runs almost max speed (enough to outrun adamant Excadrill) makes it a really good check & counter to the likes of Bisharp and Scizor (mega). Not only that, but it can also outspeed a lot of threats and burn them, such as Landorus-T, Azumarill, TankChomp, and Hippowdon, predicting them to go for something other than the super effective move thanks to both Mandibuzz and Slowbro being in the back. Ancient Power used to be in Flash Cannon's place, to help my check Mega Zard Y and Talonflame better, but soon after I realized that, especially after losing metagross, I'm much more weak to fairies, especially Heal Bell + DD Mega Altaria.
S rank ez (Slowbro) @ Slowbronite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 56 Def / 200 SpD / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Thunder Wave
- Slack Off
What's the point of making the Atk IVs 0 with this monstrous Defense? lol. Mega Slowbro coming through and you bet it's the star of the team. You prolly noticed by now that each Pokemon has something unorthodox about it, and what is it here? Well what could it be other than having Scald, Thunder Wave, and CM in one set, and on Mega Bro too. This thing is just amazing, not only is a very reliable win con, it also is a huge support for the team because it just gives the team so much backbone it's insane. Not only does it check/counter 99% of physical attackers, it also check a good amount of special attackers thanks to its amazing typing, ability to have a lot of SpD investment, and Calm Mind. I know a lot of people are wondering why is CM + T-wave with no Psyshock? Well it's because Psyshock is not always the best option, especially on my extremely slow team, where Thunder Wave is easily the best option, crippling a lot of Pokemons and making them much less threats to the team. An example would be Lati@s who come in to "tank scald" or something, but they don't know that with my massive SpD investment I can EASILY take a Draco, t-wave, and slack off. It also paras stuff like Serperior coming in to "kill me or force me out" but just gets para'd on the switch or after tanking Leaf Storm (after CM). Oh and no crit is just outstanding.
Mandibuzz @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 108 SpD / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Defog
- Roost
- Knock Off
- Foul Play
I didn't really like this mon until I actually started using it. This thing is a blanket check for so many things, and to add it's a solid counter to Gengar and Mega Zam w/o rocks. Knock Off + Foul Play may look weird at first, but this double STAB is actually really helpful. Knock Off is pretty much almost a mandatory move on Semi-Stall thanks to its heavy utility and decent damage output. Foul Play is here because it prevents a lot of Pokemon from sweeping my flat out and can rack up insane amount of damage. I first dumped the Speed EVs into SpD, but ironically this became my main check to BD azu so I had to run them so I can outspeed every single variant except Jolly.
Gothitelle @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 128 HP / 164 SpA / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Trick
- Rest
- Psychic
- Heal Bell
This may seem a bit too much but yes, this is Heal Bell Gothitelle. Definitely not the best cleric out there, and definitely outclassed by CM and even Thunder Wave, though it does its job well. After all, this is Semi-Stall and a Heal bell user, even if it can only be done 1-2 times a match, is extremely helpful and can turn games. Other than that, 128 HP not only allows me to take 3 S-tosses from Chansey, but also allows me, with Leftovers, take 3 EQs from Quagsire. 216 Speed with Timid Nature allows me to outspeed Clefable when tricked Scarf, and IIRC up to Starmie and Raikou with Scarf. This thing's main role is to boost my matchup vs. stall a lot, to make manaphy much less of a threat, and to trick on scarf to things that are really annoying to the team and either cripple them or 1v1 them, pokemon such as Celebi, Mew, Clefable, Chansey, Quagsire and even stuff like Latios, Thundurus, and Crawdaunt are really threatening and can be semi-neutralized when tricked scarf.
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Def / 56 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Curse
- Recover
- Scald
- Earthquake
Oh man, this picture was so hilarious i had to put it even though there are annoying japenese subtitle thingies floating there. Other than that, welcome to what is probably the most unorthodox on this team, Curse Gastrodon! Gastrodon is really helpful to the team because it's ability to check electric types is out of the roof, especially with a solid recovery, and not to mention it helps vs. Rotom-W a lot. I originally had Toxic over Curse but then eventually realized that Curse is far better since it can act as a solid wincon. With Curse, this thing can actually sweep teams (ik it sounds impossible), and along with its SpD investment, it can take a lot of hits extremely well with Curse. Stuff like Specs Keldeo cannot 2HKO after +1 and is simply just pure set up bait. Scald, while it seems a bit odd with Curse, is very useful thanks to its burn chance, which can cripple a lot of physical threats. Let's not forget this thing's amazing ability, not allowing me to get a boost from water moves, but also allowing me to stuff like go directly to Gothitelle from Heatran on a Keldeo since Keldeo will almost 100% go for Secret Sword. As for this thing's potential ability, it's great late game, it really is; however it is stopped by a lot of stuff, basically anything that is immune to EQ and doesn't mind Scald at all, such as Lati@s, Togekiss, and a well played Tornadus-T.
Conclusion
Overall, this team had produced successful results, and in a short period of time too (literally made this like 3-4 days ago). Obviously, the team is not perfect, but it can certainly flourish in the right hands. I hope that everyone will enjoy using this team and I hope that everyone can use this team as an example to aspire to use more and more underrated sets successfully.
Replays
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-292252608 - vs. bc wish killer, clean game, my team actually does so well vs. his that I beat this man at least 4 times :p
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-291922096 - Back when I used to have Ancient Power > Flash Cannon on Heatran, amazing luck !
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-293142927 - vs. a really really bad matchup, 3 wallbreakers, including BD azumarill, CM mga zam, and SD diggerby, + ferrothrn.
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-293146682 - vs. mega venu + ttar + sd lando-t
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-293149315 - vs. the average mega meta balanced
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-293151997 - how to make the opp. forfeit 101
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-293153166 - vs. rain, zygarde late game sweep, broke 1900
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-293155878 - mega slowbro getting 3 kills and 2 paras early game
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-293269668 - vs. mob barley :]
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-293157478 - Curse Gastro sweep :]
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/ou-293330911 - my battle that got me to #1, nothing too special though :c
Threatlist
Mega Charizard Y
I mean this thing is the best wallbreaker in the game, so of course it's going to be here. This thing is extremely annoying to play around and my only way of beating this is to try and paralyze it with slowbro (which can take a Solar Beam at full). It helps that Zygarde can take hits from this thing too.
+
Latios + a semi-threat
CM, EQ, or Specs Latios are all very threatening to this team, and if played well, can prove to be rather annoying. However Latios can usually be played around, especially if I can get a paralyzation on it by Slowbro. However, with a semi-threat on the same team, such as Crawdaunt, Bisharp, Breloom, SD Lando-T, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Diancie, Mega Altaria and the like, it becomes more and more annoying and hard to handle.
+
/
+
Rocky Helmet Skarmory + Unaware mon + Chansey
This kind of stall is the most annoying to handle. Gothitelle can take Clefable/Quagsire out, but it takes out a lot of it's PP. If lucky, it can even get chansey out of the way, but at best it can cripple Skarmory by giving it a scarf, and cannot eliminate it because of WW. And because Slowbro is walled by either Chansey or unaware mon (which gothitelle can almost never take down both) it is also walled. So the whole thing is put on Gastrodon's shoulder and the game cannot be win unless played really well and ensure the unaware mon of the game.
Mega Charizard Y
I mean this thing is the best wallbreaker in the game, so of course it's going to be here. This thing is extremely annoying to play around and my only way of beating this is to try and paralyze it with slowbro (which can take a Solar Beam at full). It helps that Zygarde can take hits from this thing too.
Latios + a semi-threat
CM, EQ, or Specs Latios are all very threatening to this team, and if played well, can prove to be rather annoying. However Latios can usually be played around, especially if I can get a paralyzation on it by Slowbro. However, with a semi-threat on the same team, such as Crawdaunt, Bisharp, Breloom, SD Lando-T, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Diancie, Mega Altaria and the like, it becomes more and more annoying and hard to handle.
Rocky Helmet Skarmory + Unaware mon + Chansey
This kind of stall is the most annoying to handle. Gothitelle can take Clefable/Quagsire out, but it takes out a lot of it's PP. If lucky, it can even get chansey out of the way, but at best it can cripple Skarmory by giving it a scarf, and cannot eliminate it because of WW. And because Slowbro is walled by either Chansey or unaware mon (which gothitelle can almost never take down both) it is also walled. So the whole thing is put on Gastrodon's shoulder and the game cannot be win unless played really well and ensure the unaware mon of the game.
Importable
"C-" (Zygarde) @ Leftovers
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 240 HP / 252 SpD / 16 Spe
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Dragon Tail
- Earthquake
- Coil
S rank ez (Slowbro) @ Slowbronite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 56 Def / 200 SpD / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Thunder Wave
- Slack Off
Gothitelle @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 128 HP / 164 SpA / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Trick
- Rest
- Psychic
- Heal Bell
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Def / 56 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Curse
- Recover
- Scald
- Earthquake
Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 12 SpD / 244 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Will-O-Wisp
- Lava Plume
- Flash Cannon
Mandibuzz @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 108 SpD / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Defog
- Roost
- Knock Off
- Foul Play
Ability: Aura Break
EVs: 240 HP / 252 SpD / 16 Spe
Careful Nature
- Substitute
- Dragon Tail
- Earthquake
- Coil
S rank ez (Slowbro) @ Slowbronite
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 56 Def / 200 SpD / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Thunder Wave
- Slack Off
Gothitelle @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 128 HP / 164 SpA / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Trick
- Rest
- Psychic
- Heal Bell
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Def / 56 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Curse
- Recover
- Scald
- Earthquake
Heatran @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 12 SpD / 244 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Will-O-Wisp
- Lava Plume
- Flash Cannon
Mandibuzz @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 108 SpD / 16 Spe
Impish Nature
- Defog
- Roost
- Knock Off
- Foul Play
Disclaimer: I do not own ANY of the art used above; they belong to their respected owners.
I don't have a shoutout, but a sincere thanks to all of this RMT's readers, the OU room, BC wish killer (thanks to that 100+ points), and to the people on the ladder (especially the ones that told me "nice team") who faced me a lot of times.
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