Intro:
So some of you may know me, I've been part of the UU community for a while now! Back in ORAS, I originally came to fame for the OG squad with Weezing and Heracross. I've come a long way since then, I've built many successful teams that have led to success, I've learned that ladder is essentially meaningless but can be useful for testing teams, and I've found both success and failure in multiple competitive tournaments including most recently dominating my Majors pool with an undefeated record before losing in 2nd round of the playoffs. Overall, my accomplishments in mons aren't anything to write home about, definitely had my peaks and valleys. I recognize my skills as a battler solid but unspectacular, but the real prize of all this time spent playing mons all these years is the friends I've made along the way.
Enter this trash team that I initially built in 5 mins upon the mass drop of mons to UU including Mega and non-mega Latios, Zeraora and Bisharp. I put together this team with the simple idea of wanting checks to these new introductions as I knew they would be popular on ladder, plus I threw in some mons that I thought would be fun to mess around with on lower-ladder on an alt as I learned how these new introductions to the tier would fit in UU. I used Assault Vest Bisharp during initial testing (AV Bisharp is pretty solid btw), and when Bisharp was being initially removed from the tier after the council vote but before the suspect test, I simply switched it to AV Metagross who could perform a similar role. The team ended up hitting a new level upon this change and I quickly had success with it playing on an alt. I felt so good about the team (despite knowing it's limitations) that I brought it to Majors playoffs where it won in a terrific game. Then on this past Friday, I had some time in the afternoon at work and played a few ladder games, climbing from about 1600 to 4th highest on the ladder and that's what prompted me to make this RMT. I realize this team is trash, it has severe limitations against fatter builds and has almost no chance against competent stall builds, and so I hope the community doesn't take this RMT too seriously. It's a fun team for those who play this game casually, and I think it both highlights my ability as a player to guide a sub-optimal team to success and how trash ladder really is.
Proof of Peak:
The Team:
Sergio (Metagross) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Atk / 88 SpD / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
As mentioned above, Assault Vest Metagross on this team was initially Assault Vest Bisharp (with 3 dark type moves + Low Kick), and the change to Metagross has helped this team take a step forward. The main job of this Metagross is to switch-in and weaken/remove Latias which opens up things for teammates. With Latias removed, Kommo-o can largely keep Stealth Rocks up, Zeraora isn't checked by scarf/Z-move variations, Minior isn't outsped by Scarf Latias after a Shell Smash but before lowering it's shield, etc. Metagross is also bulky enough to switch-in comfortably on a number of things and pressure them, things like Togekiss, Mega Altaria, Nihilego, Celebi (watch for +2 Z-Earth Power though), Crobat, and Mega Pidgeot. The moveset is directly from the XY Smogon recommended set, with a slight alteration in speed to ensure that I get the jump on opposing bulky Metagross (not that common I know) and bulky Volcanion. Earthquake is chosen over Zen Headbutt to have a super effective move for most Steel types and potential Fire types that like to switch in while also allowing Metagross to heavily damage or even KO Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Zeraora in a pinch. Bullet Punch can be viable priority for things like weakened Mamoswine even if it isn't terribly powerful. The defensive typing of Metagross means this is largely the switch-in for things like Primarina who come in on Kommo-o and are ready to pump a powerful Moonblast at it.
Zion (Zeraora) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Plasma Fists
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Grass Knot
A recent addition to the UU tier, Zeraora is an interesting mon with it's blazing speed and terrific coverage. It's not a mon that can truly break past walls due to mediocre power, but it beats the things that it should most of the time and can be tough for balance and offense squads to handle with the right predictions. I'm not sure where people find the room to run things like Fire Punch because I feel like this set is pretty darn optimized to hit as much as possible as hard as possible. Plasma Fists is obligatory stab, Close Combat has a good chance to OHKO things like Hydreigon and hits the Mega Steel types like Mega Steelix and Mega Aggron a lot harder than Fire Punch. Knock Off is mostly for Latias, but it also removes the Eviolite from Gligar and can also remove the important Choice Scarf on common switch-in Krookodile. Grass Knot 2HKO's mixed defenses Hippowdon on the switch and also dunks on Swampert, Rhyperior, and Quagsire. Expert Belt is used to nab some KO's like the 2HKO on mixed defenses Hippowdon while not eating into Zeraora's limited health. This mon also offensively checks a number of flying types like Moltres and water types like Primarina for this team which is important. It's also one of this team's best answers to stall lacking Amoongus if you make predictions well which shows you how bad this team really is.
Larry (Kommo-o) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP / 158 SpA / 98 Spe
Rash Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Clanging Scales
- Flamethrower
- Drain Punch
This is 100% one of the MVP's of the team! Kommo-o, aka "Clanger", is super consistent in being able to set and keep rocks up due it's quality matchup against most Rapid Spin and Defog users. It wins against hazard removers like Empoleon, Tentacruel, the Rotoms, Forretress, Scizor, has a very good chance to 2HKO Gligar after rocks, and doesn't completely fold against the offensive spinners like Mega Blastoise, Tsareena. Clanging Scales is stupid spammable and chunks opposing teams for other members on this team. I can't tell you how many times people gave up their Tentacruel to keep rocks off the field, only to have my Scizor run through them later. Flamethrower is useful coverage for threats like Scizor and Cobalion as well as Mega Aggron, and Drain Punch is alternate STAB for things like Empoleon and Blissey who may think you're running a fully special attacking set. The mixed attacking prowess plus the Overcoat ability make Kommo-o one of the better stall answers on the team which again should tell you how bad this team is. The EV spread is designed to outspeed Max Speed Adamant Scizor while also being bulky AF for things like Bisharp and more (avoids 2hko from Choice Scarf Infernape), with the rest of the EVs dumped into special attack to ensure that it isn't passive. It's not scientific, it's just effective.
Max (Minior-Green) @ White Herb
Ability: Shields Down
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Substitute
- Acrobatics
- Earthquake
This is a mon that I just slapped on the team as a potential offensive sweeper and a way to offensively take advantage of all the Moltres love on ladder. I quickly learned that while this mon has poor matchups (Very bulky teams, especially ones with Unaware users)and can be completely useless in some games, that it can also run through opposing teams in a hurry when the requirements for sweeping are met or the opponent screws up. It's kinda damn good in UU, and I have thrashed many a competent player with it which you can check out in the replays listed below. Removing priority users like Scizor, Mamoswine, and Crawdaunt are close to a must before setting up, but you can get around that by utilizing Substitute in some instances. And if you can successfully get behind a substitute and be set up, you are in the driver's seat to a victory as Minior has ideal coverage in just 2 attacking moves. You can also pretty safely set up on things like Toxic Hippowdon (Whirlwind variations will just phase you out but they can't touch you), Klefki (remember that Shields Down protects you from status), Amoongus, Moltres, Mega Pidgeot, Crobat, most Alolan-Muk (watch though as Knock Off into the low ladder fav Shadow Sneak KO's after Rocks damage), and even Mega Beedrill. There are other passive mons that you can set up on too so make sure to utilize the Pokémon Damage Calculator to understand which mons you can safely set up on. Remember that Minior undergoes a stat change after getting below 50% health and it's shield comes down. suddenly it outspeeds pretty well everything at +2 and gets way more powerful, so subbing down into range if possible is generally ideal and also gives a chance for your opponent to screw up by switching out, thereby letting you keep your sub for free. Overall, the moveset is standard, and I run Adamant to ensure it hits as hard as possible. Even before it's shield drops with Adamant nature after a Shell Smash, Minior is plenty fast and hits 438 speed which ties with Jolly Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Beedrill, and even Zeraora and Mega Manectric. White Herb is useful to reset your dropped defenses after the first Shell Smash and upon doing so, you also secure the max power of Acrobatics. Overall, this is a really dangerous mon even though it's currently in NU, and it can be plenty viable in UU.
Cora (Altaria-Mega) @ Altarianite
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Flamethrower
- Defog
- Roost
This is probably the mon that feels the most out of place on the team at times. It was plopped into the team as a means of handling Zeraora easily, being the obligatory Fairy type so that Hydreigon doesn't have free reign, and the ability to defog and remove hazards for the rest of the team. It does perform those jobs well, and takes on most fighting types well too and overall is a solid tank, but far too often it's a momentum suck that invites threats in like Mamoswine to apply massive pressure. It also gets pressured by passive mons thanks to no heal bell and is useless in stall matchups besides removing hazards. Not really sure what else could potentially fit in this spot and accomplish similar roles while potentially providing more so it's stayed here. The moveset is fairly standard, Moonblast for STAB, Flamethrower to catch incoming Scizor and Cobalion (both don't OHKO Mega Altaria by the way and you can stay in to hit them hard if needed), Defog to remove hazards and support the team that way, and Roost to be able to do it consistently. Max/Max EVs focused on physically defensive bulk allow this mon to counter a ton of things including Zeraora, Krookodile, Mega Sharpedo, Infernape, Kommo-o, Crawdaunt, Chesnaught, and Tsareena. It can also check other things like Terrakion (+2 Z-Stone Edge KO's tho so watch out), Heracross (+2 Façade from Flame Orb Guts has a good chance to OHKO after rocks) and Latias in a pinch. Overall, it's a decent tank that supports decently well, but one that notably feels like the weak link at times.
Tate (Scizor) (M) @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Roost
Finally the last member, Fightinium Z Scizor is a true threat and the one that often ends up either breaking through the defensive core or cleaning up at the end. Pretty straightforward set, SD for the power boost, Bullet Punch for incredible priority, Superpower to power through many typical checks like Cobalion, Rotom-H, and Mega Aggron, and Roost to be able to set up on things like Toxic Hippowdon or recover on things that Scizor offensively checks like Kyurem. This set wins so many games, and I think it's perhaps the most consistent one for the mon in the tier. Go look at the UU viability rankings, and then at this set, and realize how effective it can be against the tier's best mons. Typical checks to Scizor like Mega Manecric, the Steel types like Mega Aggron and Mega Steelix and even opposing Scizor, and then the common fire types like Infernape and Rotom-Heat all don't like switching in on a Z-Superpower. At +2, Z-Superpower OHKO's Mega Aggron and Mega Steelix and bulky Scizor after rocks. It's no joke, and lets Scizor break through walls for itself and it's teammates. EV spread allows Scizor to avoid the KO from Mega Sharpedo even with rocks and a layer of spikes up while hitting as hard as possible. Rest dumped into speed. Unfortunately, it has a poor matchup against stall build, particularly ones with unaware mons (so pretty well any competent stall) like Quagsire and Pyukumuku.
Threat List:
Stall – Easily the worst matchup you can face with this team, as there is no dedicated stall breaker on this team (I feel ashamed because I generally always run stall-breakers). Zeraora and Kommo-o can pressure bad stall enough to win, and I have won against stall, but against any competent stall player, this team has little to no chance.
Hippowdon – Without a mon that has a STAB move super effective move against it, Hippowdon can be rather annoying, especially whirlwind variations. Essentially it comes down to wearing it down and hopefully getting it in range for Zeraora to Grass Knot. Both Scizor and Minior can take advantage of non-Whirlwind variations but if the opponent does have it, you just have to chip away at it.
Mamoswine - This mon is a huge threat to the team with it's Ice/Ground dual STAB typing. You can try and play around it, but only Scizor is capable of switching in and providing offensive pressure back (Note that Scizor fails to OHKO). Zeraora can also apply offensive pressure to it with both Close Combat and Grass Knot but cannot switch-in.
Suicune and Mega Slowbro – The Calm mind users are tough on this team, and much of the ability to handle them comes down to avoiding scald burns with Zeraora and applying enough pressure to keep them from setting up too much. Note that Plasma Fists only has a 10.9% chance to 2HKO Mega Slowbro and Grass Knot suddenly fails to 2HKO after a CM. Both are major threats!
Nidoking/Nidoqueen– Like a lot of bulky offense teams, this team struggles to handle the Nido's power and coverage and there's not a lot of counterplay at all besides trying to play around them and chipping them for other mons to clean up.
Replays:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-819303150 vs. EHT - read the comments during battle lol
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-818707556 vs. Finchinator in Majors playoffs
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-824514432 vs. Harris who got thrashed by Minior
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-824506785 vs UUBS MS3D
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-826076329 vs Boost Swoosh
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-824500945 vs Hazard Stack Stall
Shoutouts:
I apologize in advance if I miss anyone, but here goes!
So some of you may know me, I've been part of the UU community for a while now! Back in ORAS, I originally came to fame for the OG squad with Weezing and Heracross. I've come a long way since then, I've built many successful teams that have led to success, I've learned that ladder is essentially meaningless but can be useful for testing teams, and I've found both success and failure in multiple competitive tournaments including most recently dominating my Majors pool with an undefeated record before losing in 2nd round of the playoffs. Overall, my accomplishments in mons aren't anything to write home about, definitely had my peaks and valleys. I recognize my skills as a battler solid but unspectacular, but the real prize of all this time spent playing mons all these years is the friends I've made along the way.
Enter this trash team that I initially built in 5 mins upon the mass drop of mons to UU including Mega and non-mega Latios, Zeraora and Bisharp. I put together this team with the simple idea of wanting checks to these new introductions as I knew they would be popular on ladder, plus I threw in some mons that I thought would be fun to mess around with on lower-ladder on an alt as I learned how these new introductions to the tier would fit in UU. I used Assault Vest Bisharp during initial testing (AV Bisharp is pretty solid btw), and when Bisharp was being initially removed from the tier after the council vote but before the suspect test, I simply switched it to AV Metagross who could perform a similar role. The team ended up hitting a new level upon this change and I quickly had success with it playing on an alt. I felt so good about the team (despite knowing it's limitations) that I brought it to Majors playoffs where it won in a terrific game. Then on this past Friday, I had some time in the afternoon at work and played a few ladder games, climbing from about 1600 to 4th highest on the ladder and that's what prompted me to make this RMT. I realize this team is trash, it has severe limitations against fatter builds and has almost no chance against competent stall builds, and so I hope the community doesn't take this RMT too seriously. It's a fun team for those who play this game casually, and I think it both highlights my ability as a player to guide a sub-optimal team to success and how trash ladder really is.
Proof of Peak:
The Team:
Sergio (Metagross) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 160 Atk / 88 SpD / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Bullet Punch
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
As mentioned above, Assault Vest Metagross on this team was initially Assault Vest Bisharp (with 3 dark type moves + Low Kick), and the change to Metagross has helped this team take a step forward. The main job of this Metagross is to switch-in and weaken/remove Latias which opens up things for teammates. With Latias removed, Kommo-o can largely keep Stealth Rocks up, Zeraora isn't checked by scarf/Z-move variations, Minior isn't outsped by Scarf Latias after a Shell Smash but before lowering it's shield, etc. Metagross is also bulky enough to switch-in comfortably on a number of things and pressure them, things like Togekiss, Mega Altaria, Nihilego, Celebi (watch for +2 Z-Earth Power though), Crobat, and Mega Pidgeot. The moveset is directly from the XY Smogon recommended set, with a slight alteration in speed to ensure that I get the jump on opposing bulky Metagross (not that common I know) and bulky Volcanion. Earthquake is chosen over Zen Headbutt to have a super effective move for most Steel types and potential Fire types that like to switch in while also allowing Metagross to heavily damage or even KO Mega Manectric, Raikou, and Zeraora in a pinch. Bullet Punch can be viable priority for things like weakened Mamoswine even if it isn't terribly powerful. The defensive typing of Metagross means this is largely the switch-in for things like Primarina who come in on Kommo-o and are ready to pump a powerful Moonblast at it.
Zion (Zeraora) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Plasma Fists
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Grass Knot
A recent addition to the UU tier, Zeraora is an interesting mon with it's blazing speed and terrific coverage. It's not a mon that can truly break past walls due to mediocre power, but it beats the things that it should most of the time and can be tough for balance and offense squads to handle with the right predictions. I'm not sure where people find the room to run things like Fire Punch because I feel like this set is pretty darn optimized to hit as much as possible as hard as possible. Plasma Fists is obligatory stab, Close Combat has a good chance to OHKO things like Hydreigon and hits the Mega Steel types like Mega Steelix and Mega Aggron a lot harder than Fire Punch. Knock Off is mostly for Latias, but it also removes the Eviolite from Gligar and can also remove the important Choice Scarf on common switch-in Krookodile. Grass Knot 2HKO's mixed defenses Hippowdon on the switch and also dunks on Swampert, Rhyperior, and Quagsire. Expert Belt is used to nab some KO's like the 2HKO on mixed defenses Hippowdon while not eating into Zeraora's limited health. This mon also offensively checks a number of flying types like Moltres and water types like Primarina for this team which is important. It's also one of this team's best answers to stall lacking Amoongus if you make predictions well which shows you how bad this team really is.
Larry (Kommo-o) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP / 158 SpA / 98 Spe
Rash Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Clanging Scales
- Flamethrower
- Drain Punch
This is 100% one of the MVP's of the team! Kommo-o, aka "Clanger", is super consistent in being able to set and keep rocks up due it's quality matchup against most Rapid Spin and Defog users. It wins against hazard removers like Empoleon, Tentacruel, the Rotoms, Forretress, Scizor, has a very good chance to 2HKO Gligar after rocks, and doesn't completely fold against the offensive spinners like Mega Blastoise, Tsareena. Clanging Scales is stupid spammable and chunks opposing teams for other members on this team. I can't tell you how many times people gave up their Tentacruel to keep rocks off the field, only to have my Scizor run through them later. Flamethrower is useful coverage for threats like Scizor and Cobalion as well as Mega Aggron, and Drain Punch is alternate STAB for things like Empoleon and Blissey who may think you're running a fully special attacking set. The mixed attacking prowess plus the Overcoat ability make Kommo-o one of the better stall answers on the team which again should tell you how bad this team is. The EV spread is designed to outspeed Max Speed Adamant Scizor while also being bulky AF for things like Bisharp and more (avoids 2hko from Choice Scarf Infernape), with the rest of the EVs dumped into special attack to ensure that it isn't passive. It's not scientific, it's just effective.
Max (Minior-Green) @ White Herb
Ability: Shields Down
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Substitute
- Acrobatics
- Earthquake
This is a mon that I just slapped on the team as a potential offensive sweeper and a way to offensively take advantage of all the Moltres love on ladder. I quickly learned that while this mon has poor matchups (Very bulky teams, especially ones with Unaware users)and can be completely useless in some games, that it can also run through opposing teams in a hurry when the requirements for sweeping are met or the opponent screws up. It's kinda damn good in UU, and I have thrashed many a competent player with it which you can check out in the replays listed below. Removing priority users like Scizor, Mamoswine, and Crawdaunt are close to a must before setting up, but you can get around that by utilizing Substitute in some instances. And if you can successfully get behind a substitute and be set up, you are in the driver's seat to a victory as Minior has ideal coverage in just 2 attacking moves. You can also pretty safely set up on things like Toxic Hippowdon (Whirlwind variations will just phase you out but they can't touch you), Klefki (remember that Shields Down protects you from status), Amoongus, Moltres, Mega Pidgeot, Crobat, most Alolan-Muk (watch though as Knock Off into the low ladder fav Shadow Sneak KO's after Rocks damage), and even Mega Beedrill. There are other passive mons that you can set up on too so make sure to utilize the Pokémon Damage Calculator to understand which mons you can safely set up on. Remember that Minior undergoes a stat change after getting below 50% health and it's shield comes down. suddenly it outspeeds pretty well everything at +2 and gets way more powerful, so subbing down into range if possible is generally ideal and also gives a chance for your opponent to screw up by switching out, thereby letting you keep your sub for free. Overall, the moveset is standard, and I run Adamant to ensure it hits as hard as possible. Even before it's shield drops with Adamant nature after a Shell Smash, Minior is plenty fast and hits 438 speed which ties with Jolly Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Beedrill, and even Zeraora and Mega Manectric. White Herb is useful to reset your dropped defenses after the first Shell Smash and upon doing so, you also secure the max power of Acrobatics. Overall, this is a really dangerous mon even though it's currently in NU, and it can be plenty viable in UU.
Cora (Altaria-Mega) @ Altarianite
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Flamethrower
- Defog
- Roost
This is probably the mon that feels the most out of place on the team at times. It was plopped into the team as a means of handling Zeraora easily, being the obligatory Fairy type so that Hydreigon doesn't have free reign, and the ability to defog and remove hazards for the rest of the team. It does perform those jobs well, and takes on most fighting types well too and overall is a solid tank, but far too often it's a momentum suck that invites threats in like Mamoswine to apply massive pressure. It also gets pressured by passive mons thanks to no heal bell and is useless in stall matchups besides removing hazards. Not really sure what else could potentially fit in this spot and accomplish similar roles while potentially providing more so it's stayed here. The moveset is fairly standard, Moonblast for STAB, Flamethrower to catch incoming Scizor and Cobalion (both don't OHKO Mega Altaria by the way and you can stay in to hit them hard if needed), Defog to remove hazards and support the team that way, and Roost to be able to do it consistently. Max/Max EVs focused on physically defensive bulk allow this mon to counter a ton of things including Zeraora, Krookodile, Mega Sharpedo, Infernape, Kommo-o, Crawdaunt, Chesnaught, and Tsareena. It can also check other things like Terrakion (+2 Z-Stone Edge KO's tho so watch out), Heracross (+2 Façade from Flame Orb Guts has a good chance to OHKO after rocks) and Latias in a pinch. Overall, it's a decent tank that supports decently well, but one that notably feels like the weak link at times.
Tate (Scizor) (M) @ Fightinium Z
Ability: Technician
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Roost
Finally the last member, Fightinium Z Scizor is a true threat and the one that often ends up either breaking through the defensive core or cleaning up at the end. Pretty straightforward set, SD for the power boost, Bullet Punch for incredible priority, Superpower to power through many typical checks like Cobalion, Rotom-H, and Mega Aggron, and Roost to be able to set up on things like Toxic Hippowdon or recover on things that Scizor offensively checks like Kyurem. This set wins so many games, and I think it's perhaps the most consistent one for the mon in the tier. Go look at the UU viability rankings, and then at this set, and realize how effective it can be against the tier's best mons. Typical checks to Scizor like Mega Manecric, the Steel types like Mega Aggron and Mega Steelix and even opposing Scizor, and then the common fire types like Infernape and Rotom-Heat all don't like switching in on a Z-Superpower. At +2, Z-Superpower OHKO's Mega Aggron and Mega Steelix and bulky Scizor after rocks. It's no joke, and lets Scizor break through walls for itself and it's teammates. EV spread allows Scizor to avoid the KO from Mega Sharpedo even with rocks and a layer of spikes up while hitting as hard as possible. Rest dumped into speed. Unfortunately, it has a poor matchup against stall build, particularly ones with unaware mons (so pretty well any competent stall) like Quagsire and Pyukumuku.
Threat List:
Stall – Easily the worst matchup you can face with this team, as there is no dedicated stall breaker on this team (I feel ashamed because I generally always run stall-breakers). Zeraora and Kommo-o can pressure bad stall enough to win, and I have won against stall, but against any competent stall player, this team has little to no chance.
Hippowdon – Without a mon that has a STAB move super effective move against it, Hippowdon can be rather annoying, especially whirlwind variations. Essentially it comes down to wearing it down and hopefully getting it in range for Zeraora to Grass Knot. Both Scizor and Minior can take advantage of non-Whirlwind variations but if the opponent does have it, you just have to chip away at it.
Mamoswine - This mon is a huge threat to the team with it's Ice/Ground dual STAB typing. You can try and play around it, but only Scizor is capable of switching in and providing offensive pressure back (Note that Scizor fails to OHKO). Zeraora can also apply offensive pressure to it with both Close Combat and Grass Knot but cannot switch-in.
Suicune and Mega Slowbro – The Calm mind users are tough on this team, and much of the ability to handle them comes down to avoiding scald burns with Zeraora and applying enough pressure to keep them from setting up too much. Note that Plasma Fists only has a 10.9% chance to 2HKO Mega Slowbro and Grass Knot suddenly fails to 2HKO after a CM. Both are major threats!
Nidoking/Nidoqueen– Like a lot of bulky offense teams, this team struggles to handle the Nido's power and coverage and there's not a lot of counterplay at all besides trying to play around them and chipping them for other mons to clean up.
Replays:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-819303150 vs. EHT - read the comments during battle lol
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-818707556 vs. Finchinator in Majors playoffs
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-824514432 vs. Harris who got thrashed by Minior
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-824506785 vs UUBS MS3D
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-826076329 vs Boost Swoosh
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uu-824500945 vs Hazard Stack Stall
Shoutouts:
Everyone who is in the #theyneverlisten discord, you guys are the best! CBU, Bad Rap Sample, FTL, Bhris Brown, Lord Iroh, PDT, Rob, Low Ladder Heroes, Sun, Renny, Zben Sparrow, BluBirD, Island Spices, King UU, Sage, YeezyKnows, Horsehead3, Pillow Wisp, Haate, cubonesmotherr, edaKiwi, DrReuniclus3, Sam I Yam, Lucqq, the legend Papagoi, and my boy Scheff! There’s more ladder friends out there for sure, so if you see me playing, don’t hesitate to give me crap and say hi!
Conclusion:
So yeah, that is the team! It’s a fun bulky offensive one that does a pretty good job of taking advantage some of the current metagame trends and new introductions. It's really trash overall because of it's poor matchup against some builds, but it's found moderate success and I'm not sure if I should be proud or you should be ashamed after getting blown back by this atrocity. Regardless, I hope it helps low-ladder peeps and inspires people to build with less than traditional UU mons and be more open to innovation. Would appreciate any insights you can offer to help improve this team for the future, particularly with the stall matchup! Cheers.
