Want advice on a OU Team

[Ishamael]

My team consists of Smeargle, Medicham, Umbreon, Metagross, Porygon-Z, and Gallade. It is just a general OU team and any advice is welcomed. =)

LEAD=Smeargle (M) @ Salac Berry
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 Spd
Jolly nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Belly Drum
- Baton Pass
- Spore
- Substitute
---Smeargle is my lead pokemon. Unlike a lot of other leads, he doesnt have entry hazards (on this set) but what he does have is the ability to set up a full sweep. He spores if hes faster, then belly drums, substitutes, and baton passes to Medicham for a sweep attempt. If he's slower, I switch out to either Umbreon or Metagross to take the hit. If he works perfectly, he passes a sub, belly drum, and salac boost to medicham who can then hopefully kill pretty much everything.

RECEIVER=Medicham (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Hi Jump Kick
- Ice Punch
- Psycho Cut
- Thunderpunch
---As you can tell from his title and from the Smeargle description, this guy pretty much takes Smeargle's boosts and uses them the best way possible (I think...). He has good type coverage, can hit anything and kill it pretty much. Even without the Smeargle boosts, he has decent type coverage and can kill off a few pokes with luck.

SPECIAL SWEEP=Porygonz @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Tri Attack
- Dark Pulse
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Thunderbolt
---This guy's job is pretty simple. He goes in, kills what he can, and gets out. He's excellent at revenge killing, and that's when he usually gets sent in. If he's threatened, I can switch him to something else for a turn, or sacrifice the used Smeargle with 25% health to give him a choice of a new move. He's pretty solid at his job.

JACK OF ALL TRADES=Gallade (M) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 200 HP/252 Atk/32 Spd/24 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Will-o-wisp
- Close Combat
- Psycho Cut
- Night Slash
---Gallade is a kinda weird pokemon that has good attack, good moves, and decent defenses, but low speed. So he's not really cut out for sweeping. So I use him as a take a decent hit (special preferably) and give back a stronger one kinda guy. I've been playing around with his EV's a lot, and moves a little bit too, so if anyone has advice on this guy it'd be much appreciated.

STURDY ATTACKER=Metagross @ Muscle Band
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 100 HP/252 Atk/16 Def/140 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Agility
- Meteor Mash
- Thunderpunch
---Its all in the name for my Metagross. He was the first poke that I actually EV trained on the DS games, and he's been a steady member of my teams for a while. Basically he can hold up against hits and hit hard himself, and late-game he can agility up and go for a sweep. Meteor Mash is his staple, with Earthquake hitting fire types and other steel and T-Punch hitting waters. I've been changing his item a lot, i don't know what for sure so help is appreciated.

WALL=Umbreon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP/140 Def/116 SDef
Careful nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Confuse Ray
- Toxic
- Sucker Punch
- Moonlight
---Finally, the anchor. Umbreon has great defenses and is extremely annoying to any other pokemon. She has a problem with steel types, as they resist toxic, and maybe Tyranitar or Hippowdon or Abomasnow b/c of the whole weather-makes-Moonlight-suck thing. But she can outstall a lot of people and can take hits like a pro. I can pretty much always rely on Umbreon to take hits and relieve her other teammates. I messed around with Wish for a while but couldn't get it to work. Any advice would be appreciated.

My overall team problems are...steel types. I'm thinking about maybe switching Gallade out for a Houndoom or Charizard or something so I can kill Skarmory and Scizor and Bronzong. Even other Metagrosses, but mine usually wins 1v1, unless they have fire blast. Also considering HP [Fire] on Porygon-Z instead of fighting. Any suggestions would be awesome. I have been messing with Ev's a lot too so advice there is always appreciated, and item switches as well. If you have any pokes in mind that compliment my team better than those already there, do tell. Thanks a lot for reading and helping.

 

[Ishamael]

This is my first team on here so please tell me if I should do something better when I post from now on. ANY advice is appreciated (please post something). Thanks again.

 

[Snorlaxe]

Hi Ishamael, and welcome to smogon! :)

You had mentioned that you might replace Gallade, and I think that you should do that. While Gallade is a good pokemon with a good movepool, Bronzong can preform the "jack of all trades thing" better than Gallade can. However, you said that you wanted a fire type, and theres a better choice than said mentioned...Infernape. Here's the set for a Mixed Sweeper variant (more commenly known as MixApe):

Infernape @ Life Orb / Expert Belt
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 64 Atk / 252 SpA / 192 Spe
Naive nature (+Speed, -Special Defense)
~ Nasty Plot
~ Fire Blast / Flamethrower
~ Close Combat / Vacuum Wave
~ Grass Knot / Hidden Power

To say that this is good at taking out walls is a gross understatement. Even with only a small EV investment, the 120 Base Power Close Combat coupled with STAB will OHKO common switch-ins to Fire-type attacks, such as Tyranitar, Heatran, Snorlax, and Blissey (dealing a minimum of 98% damage on the now standard 148 HP / 252 Def). After a single Nasty Plot, Grass Knot will OHKO Suicune, Slowbro, and Milotic unless they're running Special Defense, and has a chance to OHKO Gyarados, even without Stealth Rock. Vaporeon will take around 70% damage, and Swampert, Donphan, and Hippowdon do not even stand a chance. With the bulky Water- and Ground-type Pokemon out of the way, Infernape can use Close Combat and Fire Blast to sweep almost unhindered.

Fire Blast is statistically better than Flamethrower, so it is the main option, but if you are worried about accuracy then Flamethrower is also a worthy choice. Notable downsides, however, include missed OHKOs on Specially Defensive Zapdos, as well as OHKOs after Stealth Rock damage on Cresselia, Salamence, and Flygon. Hidden Power Ice is an option over Grass Knot if you fear Salamence, who otherwise resists all of Infernape’s attacks. Although it is not in the spirit of a MixApe set, Vacuum Wave is an option over Close Combat. It is fantastic against Choice Scarfed Heatrans who think that they can revenge kill you, as well as Agility Empoleon, Swords Dance Lucario, Weavile, and any fast sweeper at low HP. Running the set without Close Combat may seem silly, but the things it is most relevant against (i.e. Blissey and Tyranitar) will almost never switch into Infernape until they see its entire set. Blissey still can be 2HKOed by Fire Blast after a Nasty Plot (though the chance is slim), and Tyranitar will be OHKOed by a +2 Vacuum Wave, unless it is running a nature which boosts its Special Defense.

This Infernape has problems with Latias, Starmie, and Tentacruel, so it should always be partnered with a strong Pursuit user, such as Scizor, Metagross, or Weavile. Tyranitar is also an option, but it should be used with caution as Infernape doesn't like to play in the sand. Thankfully these Pokemon can also use Pursuit to pick off revenge-killers, such as Gengar, Azelf, and Alakazam, all of whom outspeed Infernape and threaten a KO. Out of the listed Pursuit users, Scizor gets a special mention for being able to lure out common Infernape checks, such as Salamence, Gyarados, and Calm Zapdos, and use U-turn to put them into Infernape's KO range.

If you dislike the recoil from Life Orb, Expert Belt becomes a viable option, as this set provides excellent type coverage. Also, I would drop Thunderpunch on Metagross for Pursuit. Anyway, looks like a pretty good team, good luck! :)

 

[Ishamael]

Thanks snorlaxxz!!! I like the Infernape, I tried out a gengar and an ursaring last night and they were ok, I think Infernape fits better though. I really like what he adds to my team and one match I KO'd 5 in a row with him. I'm still open to other suggestions but Infernape has worked well so far.