X-Matic
Introduction: Finally deciding to comeback to the competitive scene, I took some time to quickly learn the OU Tier. Knowing weather was a popular theme in B&W meta, I decided to try my luck with a weather team. I have always wanted to make a sunny day team since the days I started competitive pokemon in 3rd gen, I just found it difficult do to the fact I actually had to cast Sunny Day and keep it up. B&W answered my prayers and gave me Drought on something in OU. I picked up my thinking cap and went to work. I was gonna add a team building process section but I realized it probably be a topic in its own with how many different ways I tried this before I came to something I like haha. Any now to the analysis of the team and chosen sets. Ohh and if you curious about the name its from a Blazblue Continuum Shift Extend Theme of the same name.
Team In-Depth
Ninetales (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 128 HP / 252 SAtk / 20 SDef / 108 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- SolarBeam
- Sunny Day
- Safeguard
Set: Ninetales is a one of those pokemon I never thought I see in OU but here she is providing sun like a good fire fox. Knowing that I was entering the meta kinda on the late side, I took some time to look on Smogon other teams to get some ideas on what set to use. This one jump at me for what it provides. Safeguard allows me to switch counters in without those nasty status for 5 turns. I thought this is pretty interesting as Ninetales with its pretty weak offensive stats felt like she should be in the support role unlike her other weather inducing brothers. Sunny Day is a new inclusion on Ninetales over Power Swap. Allowing me to win most weather wars much easier. SolarBeam replaces Will-o-Wisp on this set. Will-o-Wisp has proven that its shaky accuracy just doesnt cut it in this meta. When it works its great but it has let me down too often to keep around.
Other Opinions: Protect is an option over Safeguard if I ever decide that path. Safeguard however has been the tool to let me win games and allows me to safely switch on pokes I normally would not, such as Sawsbuck on a bulky water with Scald.
Sawsbuck (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 112 HP / 248 Atk / 148 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Nature Power
- Return
Set: When it came down to who was gonna be Ninetales partner-in-crime, the choice was pretty obvious for me. Sawsbuck is easily one of my favorite new pokemon B&W brought to the table. Ultimately I was using him as a late game sweeper so I decided on the Swords Dance Set. Horn Leech is his primarily STAB being that its the only physical Grass type move and recovery is extremely welcomed. Return is his other STAB option and easily his most powerful and providing a powerful attack against Dragons which otherwise would wall Sawsbuck. Nature Power is his final move and since it is always Earthquake in Wi-FI battles and simulators it was an perfect choice for his final coverage move
Other Opinions: Jump Kick was considered over Nature Power baring to hit Skarmory harder while still having a pretty decent coverage move. I decided against it being that I can take Skarmory out with my team pretty easy anyway. Ferrathorn could be a threat but Nature Power hits it pretty hard anyway and wont last with that recovery but still falls under being easy to take out on my team. Megahorn was another option I thought about using on Skarmory being that it could hit those Psychics and Latios/Latias hard. Return however has been efficient at taking those threats out. Choice Band Set was also an option being that it provides an immediate threat and Sawsbuck could act as an revenge killer with speed boosts from the sun. I decided the ability to switch attacks and sweep was better for my team.
Infernape (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Overheat
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
Set: Good old MixNape, a favorite of mine from 4th Gen. Choosing him on this team was an easy choice for his ability to take out Sawsbuck resists and benefit from the sun a little as well. Overheat is a monstrous attack in the sun being able to injure many pokes thinking of coming in on Nape. Close Combat is his second STAB move and pretty obvious inclusion on a pokemon of this caliber. Stone Edge finally replaces Mach Punch. I found Mach Punch was not cutting it as well as I hoped and made that changed. This does give Infernape much more coverage and another check to Volcarona. U-Turn also replaces Hidden Power [Ice]. In practice it was just a dead move for me and did not accomplish much. It was also easy to play around after it was known. U-turn allows me a great scouting option and a possibility to switch in Ninetales on a predicted switch if needed or the right counter.
Other Opinions: Infernape movepool is ridiculous so there is so much I would like to have here but could not. Grass Knot was an option to use against bulky waters such as Swampert, Quagsire, and Jellicent. Personally I found it too weak for me to really put a dent in what I actually wanted to hurt, Politoad. Stone Edge was something I kinda want to put back on here to some extent to hit Flyers such as Gyarados and hit ghosts while keeping decent coverage. Flare Blitz was an option as an alternative to Overheat but decided against it since I was using Life Orb and the recoil could be dangerous and prevent him from being used later on. Nasty Plot Infernape was an option as well since Nasty Plot/Fire Blast/Close Combat/Hidden Power [Ice] would provide basically the same coverage but get a boost as well on the switch on certain pokemon. Nasty Plot Infernape is up there in a choice over MixNape.
Slowbro (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
- Fire Blast
- Slack Off
Set: Slowbro is a pokemon I have not used much of in anything since I started competitive pokemon. However, B&W blessed him with Regenerator, an excellent ability on a wall such as Slowbro. Slowbro set is to act as a counter to this teams main problem pokemon, Terrakion, Landorus, and Conkuldurr. Psychic and Ice Beam can take out these threats with ease and provides pretty decent coverage. Fire Blast is here since it seems Ferrathorn and likes like to come in on Slowbro but Fire Blast can scare him off. Slack Off is Slowbro's on the field healing which rounds out his set.
Other Opinions: Well there is quite a few things I could do with Slowbro. Slowbro can use Scald which has a nice 30% chance to burn. Since Sun will most of the time be up weakening it and since Ninetales has Will-o-Wisp I left this option. Thunder Wave is a pretty good option I been considering over Flamethrower to paralyze faster threats such as Latios/Latias that likes to come in on Slowbro. If I decided to go Nasty Plot Infernape, this would be an option to help kill those faster threats and chance of Paralysis is always good.
Donphan (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
Set: I finally replaced Gyarados with Donphan. After trying all the rapid spinners I felt Donphan is the only one that works for me. This set is pretty standard. Stealth Rock to provide my main entry hazard to break Multiscale and allow me to beat Dragonite. Rapid Spin to get rid of hazards especially since this team is vulnerable to all entry hazards. Earthquake for a solid STAB attack and Ice Shard to revenge kill Dragons.
Other Opinions: I chose the Offensive version over the Defensive version primarily because I have Slowbro doing most of my defensive needs. It works so far so only time can tell if I will need to change it.
Chansey (F) @ Eviolite
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic
- Wish
- Protect
Set: Chansey is also a new addition filling in Blissey's shoes. I need a much more defensive option because Specs Latios was hurting me badly with those Psyshocks and Chansey was the answer. While I lose out on my special attacking, I gain the much needed Wish Support for my team. Toxic is there to stall out some potential game changers such as Latias without Refresh and bulky waters. Seismic Toss is my only attacking option but is enough on Chansey.
Other Opinions: Heal Bell is an option over Toxic providing necessary cleric support but usually Toxic is better. It is still an option worth looking into.
Final Looks and Thoughts
After major changes, I would say after seeing Volcarona in action, I kinda want to fit her on this team. Just do not know where lol. Otherwise the team is doing slightly better with the changes. I will appreciate anyone that takes their time and to read my RMT and for any advice and suggestions as well.
Importable
Code:
Ninetales (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 128 HP / 252 SAtk / 20 SDef / 108 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- SolarBeam
- Sunny Day
- Safeguard
Sawsbuck (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Chlorophyll
EVs: 112 HP / 248 Atk / 148 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Nature Power
- Return
Infernape (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Overheat
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
Slowbro (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Psychic
- Ice Beam
- Fire Blast
- Slack Off
Donphan (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
Chansey (F) @ Eviolite
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Seismic Toss
- Toxic
- Wish
- Protect
