Introduction:
Hello users of Smogon, I've been a member for almost a 2 years now(less on the forums)and have decided to put up another one of my UU teams for rate that has gone through several eras of UU. I've gone through a whole lot of teams and continue to strive for new ideas and unfortunately this team has hit a ceiling to say and would appreciate some input on it. As I stated in the title the best this team did was #34 on the leaderboard and a CRE of 1540(I believe it was in the Cress/Z era).This team has seen Alakazam and Rhyperior drop, Honchkrow and Gallade rise while Froslass and Raikou stay, the drop of Porygon Z and Cresselia and the eventual leaving of the previous 4, I like it a lot and hope you can help it reach new heights.
Team at a Glance:
Forming the Team:
(Because this is rather long I have put the old team members and their sets at the very end of this post.)
(Because this is rather long I have put the old team members and their sets at the very end of this post.)
To start off Roserade(my old lead) had just moved up to OU so I began searching for a new lead who could compete with Moltres and Ambipom in terms of Anti Lead. This lead me to a new edition to UU(at the time) Alakazam:
After selecting a new lead I began to experiment with some of the new addtions to UU. At the same time that Zam and Rhyperior moved down an interesting ghost came up. So I used my own unique set with the next member of the team Drifblim:
Seeing my weakness to dark I immediately added my favorite mix wall of UU to the team, Registeel:
With two specially based Pokemon and one wall I decided that I needed 2 Pokemon who complement each other well and hit like a ton of bricks, so I added Swellow and Azumarill:
Lastly I wanted a Pokemon who could come in and clean up the mess well, this lead me to an old favorite and somewhat of a staple on most of my teams:
So that was my team, but unfortunately as with most new teams I had many glaring weaknesses right off the bat. The biggest which often lead to me preemptively blowing up my one and only wall was Milotic.This lead to me trying a bunch of things from Ursaring to Ambipom but none worked so I implemented my first change, Sceptile:
So that was my team, but unfortunately as with most new teams I had many glaring weaknesses right off the bat. The biggest which often lead to me preemptively blowing up my one and only wall was Milotic.This lead to me trying a bunch of things from Ursaring to Ambipom but none worked so I implemented my first change, Sceptile:
Now that I had my Milotic issue solved(sort of) I found myself having trouble with Poliwrath ruining Azumarill's fun. So I decided to change to a new water, Feraligatr:
After much convincing I decided that Honchkrow was the best Wall breaker in UU at the time. I reluctantly let Drifblim go but never regretted adding Honchkrow up until the day he left UU:
After a while with this team I began to realize that Registeel was hindering my fast paced offense team and that I would need to replace him with someone who was similar typing but much more aggressive. At this time I remembered another new UU pokemon, Aggron:
Aggron was short lived unfortunately due to the simple fact that I missed SR too much. So I swapped him out for a similar set on Alakazam's OU disgraced fallen, Rhyperior:
Unfortunately all good things must come to an end.This team lasted me all the way up to the day they moved Honchkrow to BL. It was a sad day and I almost considered writing this post then. I had laddered to top 40 and was consistently in the 1450 range. But after a few weeks I convinced myself that I could find a Pokemon to fill Honch's role and all would be good again, So I began by switching Rhyperior from the standard to the Rock polish set and gave rocks to the new wall, Uxie:
All was good again, aside from a few problems with stall and milotic in general, the team began to rise again. Until Cress/Porygon Z came to play. Now everyone was implementing walls, and even more disturbing Spiritomb to halt these two. I decided that since I already could not KO Milotic with Rhyperior that I would switch him out for a check to Cress of my own, Drapion:
The final change came after Cress and Z had left. I was once again having trouble with Milotic and now Raikou as I had lost Rhyperior. I began a search for something that could easily handle both and be a wall of sorts for the team, I finally arrived at Steelix:
The Juicy Part:
The Lead
Alakazam(M)
Ability:Inner Focus
Item:Focus Sash/Choice Scarf
Nature: Timid/Modest
EV's: 36HP-220 Spe-252 SpA
Moveset:
Psychic/Trick
Shadow Ball
Focus Blast
Hidden Power Rock
Alakazam(M)
Ability:Inner Focus
Item:Focus Sash/Choice Scarf
Nature: Timid/Modest
EV's: 36HP-220 Spe-252 SpA
Moveset:
Psychic/Trick
Shadow Ball
Focus Blast
Hidden Power Rock
Alakazam is my creative mind trying to find a way to handle all leads that I could in one single pokemon. This Zam was designed to handle the two most common leads when he was built: Ambipom and Moltres. Lead Ambipom is OHKO by Focus Blast while my focus sash allows me to take a fake out even if I get an unlucky crit. HP Rock OHKO's any Moltres up to 156/0. This means that lead Moltres is a OHKO. The item choice was based on that some moltres run scarf and uturn out of Zam leaving him at his focus sash(with the main set). With a scarf of his own he outruns and OHKO's it. Trick is obviously an option on the choice set as well. Now for the bad news. With the influx of Froslass leads, came the anti lead tombs who wall this set completely. Although they take minimal damage from Shadow Ball, it allows me to see which set there running. EV's are simple, max SpA, 220 Spe allows me to outrun base 115's since HP rock takes 1 IV away, the rest are dumped into HP.
Vs. Top 10 Common UU Leads as of April 2010(* means they give me problems) :
Overall Alakazam has been a good lead, but I think his effectiveness has been greatly reduced through the increased usage in Tomb leads.
The Cress Stopper
Drapion(M)
Ability: Sniper
Item:Scope Lens
Nature:Jolly
EV's:176 Att-80 Def-252 Spe
Moveset:
Taunt
Sword Dance
Night Slash
Earthquake
Drapion(M)
Ability: Sniper
Item:Scope Lens
Nature:Jolly
EV's:176 Att-80 Def-252 Spe
Moveset:
Taunt
Sword Dance
Night Slash
Earthquake
Drapion was originally put in to stop Cresselia. Now he tends to be used to stop Spiritomb and Venusaur which suits this team fine as well. Taunt stops any status or Stat upping move. Sword Dance for predictable switches and NS and EQ for stab and coverage. Overall Drapion is a great switch in for many troublesome things to this team and the EV spread allow him to be just offensive enough while being defensive at the same time.
The Other Lead?
Uxie(N)
Ability: Levitate
Item:Choice Scarf
Nature:Impish
EV's:52 HP-160 Def-120 Spe-176 SpD
Moveset:
Trick
Thunder Wave
Stealth Rock
U-Turn
Uxie's job is simple, get rocks up, spread paralysis and be overly annoying. It tends to come in on something that can't do much to it, trick away it's scarf, and proceed to put up rocks and t-wave. When it done as much as it can I tend to U-turn out and save it for death fodder later. Right now Uxie is my only wall and tends to be my go to when I need to slow down another team. The EV's give me 384 speed(Outspeeds Swellow) and a leftovers number in HP.
The Leaf Ninja
Sceptile(M)
Ability: Overgrow
Item:Lum Berry
Nature: Jolly
EV's: 252 Att-4 Def-252 Spe
Moveset:
Sword Dance
Leaf Blade
Earthquake
Rock Slide
Ghastly Gator
Feraligatr(M)
Ability: Torrent
Item:Leftovers
Nature:Jolly
EV's:36 HP-216 Att-92 Def-164 Spe
Moveset:
Dragon Dance
Waterfall
Ice Punch
Earthquake
Gator is usually one of the last pokemon seen in the match, along with Sceptile. By then I hope that Milotic, Slowbro, Blastoise and Weezing have all bit the dust. The moveset is standard DD gator, but the EV's are my own personal set. The speed allows me to outspeed Swellow and down after one dance, while reaching 450 Attack stat. The HP EV's are leftovers number and the rest is in defense for bulk.
Uxie(N)
Ability: Levitate
Item:Choice Scarf
Nature:Impish
EV's:52 HP-160 Def-120 Spe-176 SpD
Moveset:
Trick
Thunder Wave
Stealth Rock
U-Turn
Uxie's job is simple, get rocks up, spread paralysis and be overly annoying. It tends to come in on something that can't do much to it, trick away it's scarf, and proceed to put up rocks and t-wave. When it done as much as it can I tend to U-turn out and save it for death fodder later. Right now Uxie is my only wall and tends to be my go to when I need to slow down another team. The EV's give me 384 speed(Outspeeds Swellow) and a leftovers number in HP.
The Leaf Ninja
Sceptile(M)
Ability: Overgrow
Item:Lum Berry
Nature: Jolly
EV's: 252 Att-4 Def-252 Spe
Moveset:
Sword Dance
Leaf Blade
Earthquake
Rock Slide
This is my answer to most stalling teams. With Milotic, Altaria, Registeel, Venusaur and Steelix all being a part in those teams Sceptile thrives. I go in on something I know will switch out and get up my SD. After that its just about hoping the appropriate counters were removed. I went with lum berry because most Venusaur's try to sleep powder me, and with EQ being a 2hko, I appreciate staying awake.
Ghastly Gator
Feraligatr(M)
Ability: Torrent
Item:Leftovers
Nature:Jolly
EV's:36 HP-216 Att-92 Def-164 Spe
Moveset:
Dragon Dance
Waterfall
Ice Punch
Earthquake
Gator is usually one of the last pokemon seen in the match, along with Sceptile. By then I hope that Milotic, Slowbro, Blastoise and Weezing have all bit the dust. The moveset is standard DD gator, but the EV's are my own personal set. The speed allows me to outspeed Swellow and down after one dance, while reaching 450 Attack stat. The HP EV's are leftovers number and the rest is in defense for bulk.
The Steely Snake
Steelix(M)
Ability: Rock Head
Item:Passho Berry
Nature: Careful
EV's: 252 HP-4 Att-252 SpD-
Moveset:
Crunch
Earthquake
Explosion
Roar
Steelix(M)
Ability: Rock Head
Item:Passho Berry
Nature: Careful
EV's: 252 HP-4 Att-252 SpD-
Moveset:
Crunch
Earthquake
Explosion
Roar
This is the Bulky water trap set. I tend to throw Steelix out early to see what kind of counters they're packing for it. If its a water then KABOOM, otherwise I have to play accordingly. Steelix gives me a solid way to halt Chansey, as Twave and toxic are both ineffective, as well as a stopper to Swellow and Registeel.
So that's my team please Rate,Comment, Critique etc. Please remember that I'm open to all suggestions, just please have good justifications for them.
Changes will be in red.
Old Team Members(Sets and Explanations)
Drifblim(M)
Ability: Unburden
Item: Choice Scarf
Nature: Modest
EV's 252 SpA-252 Spe 4 SpD
Moveset:
Trick
Calm Mind
Shadow Ball
Explosion
The thought behind this set was Drifblim's amazing ability Unburdened. I slapped on a choice scarf to outspeed anything non scarfed, and proceed to activate unburdened by tricking it away, doubling my speed. Then set up with calm mind and shadow ball. Explosion for anything like chansey or a dark who resists shadow ball.
Registeel(N)
Ability:Clear Body
Item:Life Orb
Nature:Adamant
EV's: 200 HP-52 Att-100 Def-56 Spe-100 SpD
Move Set:
Iron Head
Thunder Wave
Earthquake
Stealth Rock
Registeel was a result of me trying to mix offense and defense. I have no idea if the EV's are significant in any way shape or form but they seemed to work for a while back in 09.
Swellow(M)
Ability: Guts
Item: Flame Orb
Nature:Jolly
EV's: 252 Att-252 Spe-4 Def
Moveset
Bravebird
Facade
Quick Attack
Endeavor
This is another one of my ideas that is good but not as good as the original. The premise was sweep as much as possible until you were in low percent range, then endeavor. Unfortunately, Swellow rarely makes it to the point where endeavor is useful.
Azumarill(M)
Ability:Huge Power
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 44 HP-252 Att-4 Def-128 Spe-80SpD
Moveset:
Aqua Jet
Ice Punch
Substitute
Focus Punch
The Ev's are kinda weird but they gave Azu some bulk on the special side. The set is standard Sub-Punch, which is of course ruined by Poliwrath. I have no idea if the Speed Ev's are of any significance or if I was just putting what I thought was a good number in there.
Honchkrow(M)
Ability:Insomnia
Item:Life Orb
Nature:Jolly
EV's: 252 Att-4 Def-252 Spe
Moveset:
Brave Bird
Sucker Punch
Night Slash
Super Power
Standard Honch set that worked wonders till he was bumped up. I often wish he would come back just so I could enjoy the good ol days again.
Aggron(M)
Ability:Rock Head
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 16 HP-252 Att-16 Def-224 Spe
Moveset:
Rock Polish
Head Smash
Aqua Tail
Earthquake
Aggron is great aside from losing to a lot of things. Standard Rock polish set with interesting spread of EV's. The Spe allows me to outspeed Swellow and below after one RP though.
Rhyperior(M)
Ability:Solid Rock
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Adamant
EV's: 136 HP-244 Att-128 Spe
Moveset:
Stealth Rock
Earthquake
Rock Blast
Megahorn
Rhyperior is a good Rocker and a solid check to Raikou. Unfortunately he can't 2hko Milotic without Rocks and spikes and suffers from a multitude of other issues.
Ability:Intimidate
Item: Expert Belt
Nature: Modest
EV's: 20 HP-236 Spe-252 SpA
Moveset:
Fire Blast
HP Grass
Dragon Pulse
Extreme Speed
Arcanine is a great fire type and good special attacker. Unfortunately with Gator already being walled by bulky waters I couldn't afford a second pokemon suffering the same fate. EV's are to outspeed Positive base 80's, or Venusaur for short.
