PokéBank OU VoltTurn Team
(With Pangoro too!)
(With Pangoro too!)
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I've always had a thing for VoltTurn cores. There's just something about the momentum gained from forcing your opponent to stay on the tips of their toes that makes it a really fun way to battle for me. So after playing Pokémon X for about a month, and toying around with some of the new 'mons, I decided it was time to start working on my first competitive team for 6th Gen!
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Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 96 Atk / 168 SAtk / 244 Spd
Hasty Nature
- U-turn
- Ice Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power [Fire]
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I started of with a more casual team, testing it out on friends, and after falling in love with the versatility of Protean Greninja, I decided that he was my first official team member. Because of the versatility of him, I created my own custom set that allows Greninja to nab key OHKO's and 2HKO's while dishing out stronger U Turns. A base 216 U Turn is nothing to scoff at, and with a Life Orb those hits will be dealing considerable damage. Ice + Water + Fire is excellent coverage that I believe every Greninja should run, since it allows him an easy late-game sweep through your opponents weakened team. And no, I will NOT run max SAtk and max Speed, because I strongly feel that it's a waste of potential.
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Scizor @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 216 HP / 40 Atk / 252 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Defog
- Roost
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
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It wasn't long until I had decided on my next member. Scizor has always been a favorite of the OU tier, and with the addition of his new MegaEvo, I saw great potential for another VoltTurn member. The new mechanics of Defog has given him a great gift for a utility set, especially for VoltTurn teams who'll be switching a lot, since it allows me to remove things like Sticky Web and Spikes. Because of the importance of keeping hazards of my side of the field, I decided on a bulky MegaZor set that can tank hits and Roost away damage. U Turn allows me to grab momentum after using Defog, and Bullet Punch provides another way to deal with fairies while also allowing him to revenge kill weakened 'mons.
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Probopass @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Pain Split
- Flash Cannon
- Volt Switch
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It was at this point that I decided I needed something to break things that could ruin my momentum, that is things that can prevent me from KOing enemies. I went with Stealth Rock support from Probopass. Stealth Rock ensures that my opponent can't rely on things such as Sturdy or Multiscale. It also does a great job of crippling Talonflame who seems pretty common (And for good reason too!). Flash Cannon was chosen over Power Gem for its SE coverage over fairies. Volt Switch is to grab momentum, and is good for weakening opposing Water types on the switch.
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Rotom-W @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 40 SAtk
Bold Nature
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Pain Split
- Volt Switch
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Rotom-W provides great synergy with MegaZor (but you all knew that already), and makes a great Dual Screener. Pain Split allows it to survive for a round 2, if I need to bring the screens up again, and Volt Switch is chosen as the only attack since Rotom-W's main focus is the screens alone. This of course relegates him to a utility role, instead of the usual bulky attacker. I was skeptical at first about using Rotom-W as a Dual Screener considering that it was outclassed in that aspect by things such as Latias once it lost its Water/Ghost typing. However, it has not disappointed me. A MegaZor U-turn into Rotom-W forces so many switches that I have plenty of opportunities to set up screens.
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Talonflame @ Life Orb
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- U-turn
- Roost
- Flare Blitz
- Brave Bird
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While many people would rather go Adamant + Swords Dance/Bulk Up, I instead went with Jolly + U Turn, and I'm not regretting it! After all, Jolly Talonflame has the benefit of out-speeding Adamant Talonflame no matter what. Priority Brave Bird and Roost is great, and with Life Orb boosting the already destructive Flare Blitz and Brave Bird to such frightening levels, only dedicated physical walls will survive the dive. Alas, recoil with Life Orb damage will eventually take its toll, so it's imperative that Talonflame hits as hard as possible as fast as possible. As an answer to the building passive damage that Talonflame will eventually take, I slapped Roost on him as the final move. It's relatively easy for me to predict an opponents switch, which means I usually have no problem Roosting off damage.
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Pangoro @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Brave Nature
- Parting Shot
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Hammer Arm
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ALL HAIL OUR DARK LORD PANGORO
\(o.o)/
But no, seriously. Pangoro has proven himself time and time again for me. A Parting Shot into MegaZor is an amazing way to force your opponent to switch, which gives me a free turn to Defog or grab excellent momentum with U-turn. Hammer Arm is a great option on Pangoro, who doesn't mind the speed drop and can even use it to his advantage against Trick Room teams, who seem to have taken a spike in popularity. Crunch can destroy Ghosts who switch in expecting a Hammer Arm, while Earthquake allows me to hit levitating 'mons, namely Rotom, and Gengar for SE damage thanks to Mold Breaker.
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