Workup Virizion with Nidocross offensive core

[MrGone]

A while back I came across an interesting Work Up set for Virizion after far too many Fail Blast misses. It showed up on Smogon a couple weeks after I started using it and for good reason; It packs quite a punch and many opponents do not expect it. I decided to try and build a team around it, to a limited amount of success, as I'm not the best team builder. Hopefully you all can give me a hand!



The Team at a Glance

Team Building

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As I stated, I wanted to make a team revolving around Workup Virizion. Pokemon such as Crobat, Heracross, Chandelure, and Zapdos give Virizion some trouble.

I then decided compliment Virizion with a solid Special Attacker and a solid Physical Attacker. Heracross and Nidoking have been favorites of mine and they seemed to fill these roles quite well.

At this point I needed to bulk up my defenses and realized that I also would need wish support, due to Virizion being the only attacker with any form of recovery. I therefore decided to use Umbreon as my Special wall.

I chose Slowbro as my physical wall as he resists quite a few of Virizion's weaknesses while providing useful T-wave support for Nidoking.

Bronzong became my 6th pokemon when I realized I needed Stealth Rock support. I didn't have much more reason behind it, other than that Bronzong covers a lot of the weaknesses that my team has.

Team Description

Virizion w/ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
EVs: 104 Atk / 152 SAtk / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Work Up
- Close Combat
- Giga Drain
- HP Ice


Analysis: Virizion is the heart of my team. She is able to come in on a variety of attacks with her massive 128 SDef and proceed to either immediately put damage down or set up in the face of a lot of pokemon. Close Combat and Giga Drain are my two STAB moves of choice and HP Ice is to take out pesky Flygons, Gligars, and many other flying threats.

Nidoking w/ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 Sdf / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
-Earth Power
-Fire Blast
-Ice Beam
-Substitute

Analysis: I feel that Nidoking compliments Virizion quite well, sharing only two weaknesses, while putting massive pressure on a lot of Virizion's counters and checks. Earth Power, Fire Blast, and Ice Beam have perfect coverage, hitting 11 of the 17 types super effectively, while Substitute cashes in on a lot of the switches that Nidoking will cause.

252 SAtk Nidoking vs.
(177 HP / 4 Sdf) Crobat: 89.29 - 105.35%
(0 HP / 4 Sdf) Crobat: 101.92 - 120.25%
(All) Heracross: 114.95 - 135.54%
(120 HP / 8 Sdf) Chandelure: 139.51 - 164.26%
(All) Zapdos: 50%+ 2HKO
(252 HP / 0 Sdf) Amoonguss: 92.12 - 109.02%
(248 HP / 0 Sdf) Escavalier: 134.98 - 159.18%

Heracross w/ Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
-Close Combat
-Megahorn
-Stone Edge
-Sleep Talk

Analysis: What is there to say about Heracross? He is easily one of the best Revenge Killers in UU. He also along with Nidoking puts a lot of pressure on Virizion's main counters and checks. Close Combat, Megahorn, and Stone Edge do great together, 2HKOing the majority of the tier. No one on my team really enjoys being put to sleep, so Sleep Talk allows be to take Sleep Powders from Roserade and Spores from Amoongus, among others.

Umbreon w/ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Sdf
Calm Nature
-Foul Play
-Wish
-Protect
-Heal Bell

Analysis: The Standard Cleric Set. It does it's job quite well, healing up my offfensive side while helping keep my entire team status free. I could possibly see him leaving, but I would definitely need to figure out how to keep my Attackers in good form.

Slowbro w/ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 248 Def / 12 SAtk
Bold Nature
-Scald
-Psyshock
-Slack Off
-Thunder Wave

Analysis: Slowbro does an incredible job stopping many of the physical threats that would seriously threaten my team in their tracks. Scald works well as it has a fairly high chance to burn these physical threats, should they decide to stay in, while Psyshock is my second STAB of choice. Slack Off along with Regenerator allow Slowbro to stay in top shape, while T-Wave helps Nidoking and Virizion to a point to sweep more effectively.

(248 HP/ 248 Def) Slowbro vs.
(252 Atk) Darmanitan: 33.33 - 39.18% Flare Blitz
(252 Atk Banded) Flygon: 42.23 - 49.87% Outrage
(252 Atk) Victini: 40.71 - 48.34% Bolt Strike
(252 Atk Banded) Crobat: 39.18 - 46.56% Brave Bird

Bronzong w/ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Sdf
Relaxed Nature
-Stealth Rock
-Gyro Ball
-Toxic
-Earthquake

Analysis: Other than Stealth Rock support and general defensive bulk, Bronzong doesn't hold that strong of a spot on the team. If there was a weakest link, I'd have to say he's it.




Final Thoughts
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The team has served me well, getting me to about 1900 on the PS ladder. There are definitely some flaws that need working out, but that's why I'm here! I'm certainly not married to any one member, so go ahead and tear this team apart!

If there is any more information you need me to give, let me know.

 

[BlankZero]

I really like this team! I think what you're missing is something that can act as an offensive pivot. I'm not well versed enough in UU to give too many suggestions, but something like a Bulky VoltTurn user that can sponge a hit and give you more momentum by slow switching to the appropriate counter.

 

[patrick11756]

This is a good team. Just a few points.
1. Look at your team for a second and tell me which poke would suffer from status. Virizion is mixed with giga drain and cc for stabs. A burn would hurt, but wont stop virizion. Nidoling is immunr to toxic and thunderwave and can absorb t spikes. A burn would stink, but would lower your attack making foul play from umbreon/sableye weaker. Hera loves burn and sleep since you are running guts. Trust me when i say that you can ditch umbreon. Try choice band snorlax who is bulky amd is a perfect counter to chandelure who can eat your team. If hera is asleep you have a 1/3 chance of sleep talk using stone edge. Fire blast nukes nidoking, hera and zong while shadow ball blows slowbro away.

Your team is good, but zong doesnt do much besides lay stealth rock. You could try rhyperior who hits hard and has great synergy with snorlax/slowbro.

 

[MrGone]

Try choice band snorlax who is bulky amd is a perfect counter to chandelure who can eat your team. If hera is asleep you have a 1/3 chance of sleep talk using stone edge. Fire blast nukes nidoking, hera and zong while shadow ball blows slowbro away.

Your team is good, but zong doesnt do much besides lay stealth rock. You could try rhyperior who hits hard and has great synergy with snorlax/slowbro.

I've only ever used the Curselax or Rest Talk sets on Snorlax, thank you for giving me a reason to try out the Choice Banded set! I'm excited!

I've never really been a fan of Rhyperior, what set should I use with him?

 

[Lovelace]

As cool as Work-Up Virizion is there's not much that it can accomplish that SD does not. For example SD Virizion does 41-49% to Gligar and you can easily sneak in another SD on a Roost while taking any hit. Giga Drain does let you handle burn a bit better and gives you some recovery but SD has just way more power, which Virizion really needs with its poor offensive stats. SS also have better coverage, allowing you to hit common switch-ins like Chandelure, Yanmega, and Crobat much harder as well as being generally more useful when you can't grab that boost. SD also frees up your item slot a bit more and using Lum Berry gives you a lot more opportunity to set up, allowing you to grab multiple boosts are even break through burns from bulky ghosts. I used a team with Work Up Virizion for a long time and when I switched to SD I found it to be a straight upgrade. Work Up isn't a bad set though so use it if you don't care that much.

You're somewhat Heracross weak as only King and your Hera can really switch into Megahorn and even then only once each.

I second Patrick's suggestions. Umbreon -> Offensive Snorlax makes the game more fun for both you and your opponents and can also trap Chandelure allowing your fighting types to wreck face. Bronzong -> Rhyperior will give you a secondary check to electric and fire types, two of the most common threats in the tier, which is especially important if your Snorlax is offensive and therefore not as good at taking hits. Specially defensive Rhyperior is the most versatile and is the best for rocks.

 

[MrGone]

I've been trying out the Banded Snorlax set and wow, does it have some power!

Rhyperior still doesn't seem to be helping as much as I had hoped, would something like a Gligar work out?