I first took an interest in competitive pokemon towards the end of GenIV. I really enjoyed using a variant of KG Stall with a few adjustments to suit my personal preferences. My interest in competitive battling and rating only really became serious once the GenV metagame became (relatively) settled after the obvious Ubers were banned. I never got round to building and using my own GenIV team. So I decided to do so, more for fun than to be competitive as not many people battle in a generation from several years ago any more. I wanted to see if any improvements/adjustments could be made to make the team better.
Machamp @ Lum Berry
Trait: No Guard
EVs: 240 HP / 248 Atk / 16 SDef / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Payback
- Stone Edge
- Bullet Punch
- DynamicPunch
Machamp is the premier lead in the metagame. Its combination of power, bulk, confusion and priority all come together to make it incredibly efficient at what it does. DynamicPunch is an incredible move on a pokemon with No Guard and Machamp makes good use of it against any lead without a resistance to fighting. Focus Sash leads such as Aerodactyl and Infernape only make one useful move (I'm not counting Fake Out as useful in this scenario) while bulky leads such as Hippowdon take big damage and have a 50% chance of only making one useful move due to confusion. Bullet Punch is useful to finish off opponents after their Focus Sash activates. Payback is an important move for Machamp to hit common ghost type switch ins hard, Gengar and offensive Rotom-A are KOed on the switch in. Stone Edge gives Machamp a method of eliminating Dragonite leads, it also hits Gyarados and Zapdos switch ins hard. Lum Berry is extremely useful to absorb sleep from Smeargle or Roserade leads and to return fire against Rotom-A that manages to switch in safely and tries to use Will-o-Wisp (a common scenario) but its main use is to allow Machamp to take on opposing Machamp. Machamp rarely sees any action outside its leading duties and therefore requires no support from teammates, the team appreciates the damage it can cause from the start and can go about punching through the cracks Machamp causes.
Scizor @ Iron Plate
Trait: Technician
EVs: 144 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 108 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-Turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Roost
Scizor was the best pokemon in OU in GenIV in my opinion. Lucario, Heatran, Gyarados, Rotom-A, Dragonite, they all come close but none can match its combination of power and sheer utility. With the item change and EV spread alterations, this Scizor is more of a utility pokemon than a powerhouse. The combination of two moves give Scizor its reputation; U-Turn and Bullet Punch. U-Turn hits most pokemon decently hard and allows Scizor to switch out of battle, turning him into a scout that's capable of giving his teammates free switch ins. Of all 48 pokemon in OU, only 7 pokemon in OU are weak to bug. Of those 7, Weavile and Shaymin aren't exactly common and Umbreon is complete pants. This is testament to how metagame-defining Scizor is. Bullet Punch is almost as defining, Aerodactyl, Azelf and the previously mentioned Weavile would be so much more common (the former two outside the lead slot) if it wasn't for Scizor having Bullet Punch. Bullet Punch allows Scizor to punch way above its weight, pokemon that would otherwise KO Scizor with ease find themselves checked by the metal bug as it KOes them before they can move. Even frail resists like Jolteon and Infernape find themselves taking pretty big damage as they switch in. Superpower deals with two pokemon that Scizor normally has trouble with; Magnezone and Heatran, on the switch in. Roost keeps Scizor healthy and allows it to continue tanking and doing its jobs. The EVs allow Scizor to outspeed defensive Heatran and smack it with Superpower, the rest goes into Atk and bulk. Iron Plate powers up Bullet Punch without any side effects, Bullet Punch needs all the power it can get even with Technician. Scizor appreciates having Flygon as a partner, they fill similar roles in different ways. Flygon is extremely fast, picking off opponents and scouting without taking damage as a teammate comes in on the predicted resisted attack. Scizor is bulky and more powerful, wearing opponents down with its attacks and bringing teammates in after it has taken the hit, relying on priority to revenge kill. The pair work together very well, giving the team momentum and preventing the team from being swept by powerful pokemon like Dragonite. Heatran is another useful partner, setting up Stealth Rock to further wear opponents down with the constant switching that U-Turn causes and providing similar resistances while checking different things.
Shaymin @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 220 HP / 252 SAtk / 36 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Rest
- Seed Flare
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Shaymin is actually very good in OU despite competition from Celebi. The lightest pokemon in the game is able to check numerous pokemon in OU that are troublesome to this team; Gyarados, Tyranitar and Suicune are all checked reliably. As an example, Shaymin has a chance of OHKOing offensive Rotom-A with Seed Flare after Stealth Rock damage, pokemon like Hippowdon and Vaporeon fall to a single Seed Flare. The main move of the set is Seed Flare, vaporising anything weak to it and threatening almost everything else. Even Blissey fears the SDef drop that this move can cause. Rest gives Shaymin a method of restoring its HP and allows it to continue to do its duties. The other two moves are to hit common switch ins. Earth Power hits Heatran and other steel types like Metagross and Jirachi. Hidden Power [Fire] hits more defensive steel types like Skarmory and Forretress, but its most important target is Scizor. The EV spread, nature and item are all personal preferences over the standard. Simply put, Shaymin prioritised bulk over speed, the drop in power from giving up Life Orb is much smaller with the switch to Modest. Shaymin works best in a F/W/G core, this has been provided for it. Gyarados counters fire types like Heatran and Infernape and can sweep easily with boosted Waterfall. Heatran checks most steel types like Scizor and Jirachi while also providing Stealth Rock support and firing off powerful attacks. Both appreciate Shaymin being able to switch into their checks with ease, water types like Gyarados and Suicune that both Gyarados and Heatran hate are checked by Shaymin, it also switches into Rotom-A that Gyarados hates and Tyranitar that Heatran hates.
Heatran @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SAtk / 216 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Stealth Rock
Heatran was the most used pokemon by the end of GenIV and with good reason. It is powerful, bulky and packs good support options. Perhaps the best thing about Heatran is its unique typing, providing it a huge pool of resistances to capitalise on, and weaknesses that are common enough to be prepared for on any team anyway. Another very useful thing about Heatran is its versatility, no longer is its only common moveset the Choice Scarf set, it does plentiful other things. This particular Heatran has strayed away from the standard EV spread, item, nature and moveset choices to fit the team better. Heatran is the teams designated user of Stealth Rock, it is the only pokemon on the team that can do so reliably without dedicating its entire moveset to it. Fire Blast is the attacking move of choice, it powers through most pokemon that don't resist it. Earth Power hits other Heatran along with pokemon like Tentacruel switching into Heatran and Zapdos as it tries to Roost. Hidden Power [Grass] is used specifically for Gyarados and other water types that will inevitably try to switch into Heatran. The EV spread allows Heatran to outrun Jolly Tyranitar and Adamant Metagross while the rest goes into power with a little left over for bulk. Leftovers gives Heatran some more longevity, the Modest Nature helps make up for the lack of power that Life Orb would provide. Heatran loves the switch in opportunities that Scizor can give it with U-Turn, Scizor can also switch into Blissey and wear down water types like Starmie. Heatran sets up Stealth Rock that racks up plentiful damage when combined with the U-Turn games that Scizor will be playing and can remove steel types like Skarmory and Magnezone that harass Scizor. Arguably an even better partner is Shaymin, it stops the vast majority of pokemon that Heatran has no business taking on, Tyranitar water types like Suicine, Swampert and Gyarados. In return, Heatran scares away Scizor and smashes through other defensive steel types like Skarmory and Forretress that might set up on Shaymin.
Gyarados @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 156 Def / 96 SDef / 8 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Rest
- Waterfall
- Sleep Talk
- Dragon Dance
Gyarados is one of the most dangerous pokemon in GenIV OU. It possesses many extremely useful qualities that allow it to almost always perform well, its power, bulk, typing and access to one of the best set up moves in the game cement its place in the higher realms of OU despite its weakness to Stealth Rock. With this moveset, Gyarados gains the ability to wall and set up on many of the pokemon that are meant to counter it like Celebi and Empoleon, allowing it to make use of both its offensive and defensive prowess at the same time. Dragon Dance is its set up move, boosting its Atk and Spe and giving it the offensive presence it is renowned for. Waterfall is its only attacking move, with this moveset it is all it needs. It is primarily a wall that uses its offensive presence to beat out threats that might otherwise power through it. It needs to keep its HP as high as possible to stay continually useful, to that end the combination of Rest and Sleep Talk is used. It is only useful 67% of the time when asleep however. The EVs, nature and item choice are all standard, the EVs especially weren't messed with as every EV serves a specific purpose and changing them would ruin a perfect set. The HP and SDef EVs allow Gyarados to switch into Stealth Rock four times from full HP and avoid the 3HKO from Grass Knot from defensive Celebi, they also serve to almost always avoid the 3HKO from Choice Specs Fire Blast from Heatran. 8 Spe allows Gyarados to outrun neutral nature Jirachi and Timid Rotom-A after a Dragon Dance. The rest goes into Def to help against neutral physical attacks. Intimidate is an amazing ability as it amplifies the natural bulk that Gyarados packs on the physical side. Gyarados greatly appreciates having Shaymin and Flygon around, both gain easy switch ins against electric moves (Flygon is immune) and both do other things that Gyarados likes; Shaymin beats a lot of the counters to Gyarados like Suicune and Vaporeon while Flygon nets Gyarados easier switch ins with U-Turn and picks off powerful dragons that might overwhelm Gyarados. In return, Gyarados serves as an amazing switch in to Scizor that they both hate with a passion. Shaymin hates Heatran and Blissey too, it need not worry about either with Gyarados around. Flygon hates bulky walls like Hippowdon and Gliscor that can take its attacks without much effort, Gyarados can help remove both with ease.
Flygon @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- U-Turn
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Outrage
Flygon was one of the lesser-used dragons of GenIV OU when pokemon like Latias and Salamence were around, since then it has become the most used dragon in the metagame. It makes the most out of what it has, typing and movepool along with stats just good enough to make them work. With its common Choice Scarf set, it serves the same duties that a sniper would serve in the army, picking off the threats that would otherwise go through the team. With U-Turn, it also makes a useful scout, swapping in and out of combat and providing switch ins for teammates along with chip damage. The main STAB move is actually Earthquake, locking Flygon into Outrage is often a bad idea with pokemon such as Scizor lurking about. With Earthquake, Flygon can easily revenge kill pokemon like Heatran and Jirachi, Tyranitar is also countered rather easily. With Stone Edge, Flygon can pick off flying types like Gyarados and Dragonite, the bad accuracy is an unfortunate necessity. Outrage provides Flygon with a powerful move to clean up weakened teams with. The EVs and nature are standard, making Flygon the fastest it can possibly be to widen the range of pokemon that Flygon can pick off. Flygon loves having Scizor around, both can take advantage of U-Turn to rack up damage on their common switch ins and ease prediction to help their teammates switching into battle. Scizor provides a backup revenge killer against certain threats if Flygon fails his mission. Stealth Rock helps chip away at opponents and racks up good amounts of damage with the switches that U-Turn forces, the extra damage helps knock opponents into KO range of the move that Flygon would use to revenge kill it. Thus, Heatran makes a fabulous partner for Flygon, in return Heatran appreciates the removal of opponents that might try set up on it like Gyarados and Dragonite that Flygon can do reliably.
Well, that's the team. Fairly standard I know, the only real original choice was Shaymin over Celebi as it fits the team better imo. Still, it seems to get the job done, U-Turn is ever so helpful without Team Preview and the team synergy is fantastic. I want to know if any improvements could be made. Rate, borrow, steal, enjoy :)
Machamp @ Lum Berry
Trait: No Guard
EVs: 240 HP / 248 Atk / 16 SDef / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Payback
- Stone Edge
- Bullet Punch
- DynamicPunch
Machamp is the premier lead in the metagame. Its combination of power, bulk, confusion and priority all come together to make it incredibly efficient at what it does. DynamicPunch is an incredible move on a pokemon with No Guard and Machamp makes good use of it against any lead without a resistance to fighting. Focus Sash leads such as Aerodactyl and Infernape only make one useful move (I'm not counting Fake Out as useful in this scenario) while bulky leads such as Hippowdon take big damage and have a 50% chance of only making one useful move due to confusion. Bullet Punch is useful to finish off opponents after their Focus Sash activates. Payback is an important move for Machamp to hit common ghost type switch ins hard, Gengar and offensive Rotom-A are KOed on the switch in. Stone Edge gives Machamp a method of eliminating Dragonite leads, it also hits Gyarados and Zapdos switch ins hard. Lum Berry is extremely useful to absorb sleep from Smeargle or Roserade leads and to return fire against Rotom-A that manages to switch in safely and tries to use Will-o-Wisp (a common scenario) but its main use is to allow Machamp to take on opposing Machamp. Machamp rarely sees any action outside its leading duties and therefore requires no support from teammates, the team appreciates the damage it can cause from the start and can go about punching through the cracks Machamp causes.
Scizor @ Iron Plate
Trait: Technician
EVs: 144 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 108 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-Turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Roost
Scizor was the best pokemon in OU in GenIV in my opinion. Lucario, Heatran, Gyarados, Rotom-A, Dragonite, they all come close but none can match its combination of power and sheer utility. With the item change and EV spread alterations, this Scizor is more of a utility pokemon than a powerhouse. The combination of two moves give Scizor its reputation; U-Turn and Bullet Punch. U-Turn hits most pokemon decently hard and allows Scizor to switch out of battle, turning him into a scout that's capable of giving his teammates free switch ins. Of all 48 pokemon in OU, only 7 pokemon in OU are weak to bug. Of those 7, Weavile and Shaymin aren't exactly common and Umbreon is complete pants. This is testament to how metagame-defining Scizor is. Bullet Punch is almost as defining, Aerodactyl, Azelf and the previously mentioned Weavile would be so much more common (the former two outside the lead slot) if it wasn't for Scizor having Bullet Punch. Bullet Punch allows Scizor to punch way above its weight, pokemon that would otherwise KO Scizor with ease find themselves checked by the metal bug as it KOes them before they can move. Even frail resists like Jolteon and Infernape find themselves taking pretty big damage as they switch in. Superpower deals with two pokemon that Scizor normally has trouble with; Magnezone and Heatran, on the switch in. Roost keeps Scizor healthy and allows it to continue tanking and doing its jobs. The EVs allow Scizor to outspeed defensive Heatran and smack it with Superpower, the rest goes into Atk and bulk. Iron Plate powers up Bullet Punch without any side effects, Bullet Punch needs all the power it can get even with Technician. Scizor appreciates having Flygon as a partner, they fill similar roles in different ways. Flygon is extremely fast, picking off opponents and scouting without taking damage as a teammate comes in on the predicted resisted attack. Scizor is bulky and more powerful, wearing opponents down with its attacks and bringing teammates in after it has taken the hit, relying on priority to revenge kill. The pair work together very well, giving the team momentum and preventing the team from being swept by powerful pokemon like Dragonite. Heatran is another useful partner, setting up Stealth Rock to further wear opponents down with the constant switching that U-Turn causes and providing similar resistances while checking different things.
Shaymin @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 220 HP / 252 SAtk / 36 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Rest
- Seed Flare
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Shaymin is actually very good in OU despite competition from Celebi. The lightest pokemon in the game is able to check numerous pokemon in OU that are troublesome to this team; Gyarados, Tyranitar and Suicune are all checked reliably. As an example, Shaymin has a chance of OHKOing offensive Rotom-A with Seed Flare after Stealth Rock damage, pokemon like Hippowdon and Vaporeon fall to a single Seed Flare. The main move of the set is Seed Flare, vaporising anything weak to it and threatening almost everything else. Even Blissey fears the SDef drop that this move can cause. Rest gives Shaymin a method of restoring its HP and allows it to continue to do its duties. The other two moves are to hit common switch ins. Earth Power hits Heatran and other steel types like Metagross and Jirachi. Hidden Power [Fire] hits more defensive steel types like Skarmory and Forretress, but its most important target is Scizor. The EV spread, nature and item are all personal preferences over the standard. Simply put, Shaymin prioritised bulk over speed, the drop in power from giving up Life Orb is much smaller with the switch to Modest. Shaymin works best in a F/W/G core, this has been provided for it. Gyarados counters fire types like Heatran and Infernape and can sweep easily with boosted Waterfall. Heatran checks most steel types like Scizor and Jirachi while also providing Stealth Rock support and firing off powerful attacks. Both appreciate Shaymin being able to switch into their checks with ease, water types like Gyarados and Suicune that both Gyarados and Heatran hate are checked by Shaymin, it also switches into Rotom-A that Gyarados hates and Tyranitar that Heatran hates.
Heatran @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SAtk / 216 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Stealth Rock
Heatran was the most used pokemon by the end of GenIV and with good reason. It is powerful, bulky and packs good support options. Perhaps the best thing about Heatran is its unique typing, providing it a huge pool of resistances to capitalise on, and weaknesses that are common enough to be prepared for on any team anyway. Another very useful thing about Heatran is its versatility, no longer is its only common moveset the Choice Scarf set, it does plentiful other things. This particular Heatran has strayed away from the standard EV spread, item, nature and moveset choices to fit the team better. Heatran is the teams designated user of Stealth Rock, it is the only pokemon on the team that can do so reliably without dedicating its entire moveset to it. Fire Blast is the attacking move of choice, it powers through most pokemon that don't resist it. Earth Power hits other Heatran along with pokemon like Tentacruel switching into Heatran and Zapdos as it tries to Roost. Hidden Power [Grass] is used specifically for Gyarados and other water types that will inevitably try to switch into Heatran. The EV spread allows Heatran to outrun Jolly Tyranitar and Adamant Metagross while the rest goes into power with a little left over for bulk. Leftovers gives Heatran some more longevity, the Modest Nature helps make up for the lack of power that Life Orb would provide. Heatran loves the switch in opportunities that Scizor can give it with U-Turn, Scizor can also switch into Blissey and wear down water types like Starmie. Heatran sets up Stealth Rock that racks up plentiful damage when combined with the U-Turn games that Scizor will be playing and can remove steel types like Skarmory and Magnezone that harass Scizor. Arguably an even better partner is Shaymin, it stops the vast majority of pokemon that Heatran has no business taking on, Tyranitar water types like Suicine, Swampert and Gyarados. In return, Heatran scares away Scizor and smashes through other defensive steel types like Skarmory and Forretress that might set up on Shaymin.
Gyarados @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 156 Def / 96 SDef / 8 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Rest
- Waterfall
- Sleep Talk
- Dragon Dance
Gyarados is one of the most dangerous pokemon in GenIV OU. It possesses many extremely useful qualities that allow it to almost always perform well, its power, bulk, typing and access to one of the best set up moves in the game cement its place in the higher realms of OU despite its weakness to Stealth Rock. With this moveset, Gyarados gains the ability to wall and set up on many of the pokemon that are meant to counter it like Celebi and Empoleon, allowing it to make use of both its offensive and defensive prowess at the same time. Dragon Dance is its set up move, boosting its Atk and Spe and giving it the offensive presence it is renowned for. Waterfall is its only attacking move, with this moveset it is all it needs. It is primarily a wall that uses its offensive presence to beat out threats that might otherwise power through it. It needs to keep its HP as high as possible to stay continually useful, to that end the combination of Rest and Sleep Talk is used. It is only useful 67% of the time when asleep however. The EVs, nature and item choice are all standard, the EVs especially weren't messed with as every EV serves a specific purpose and changing them would ruin a perfect set. The HP and SDef EVs allow Gyarados to switch into Stealth Rock four times from full HP and avoid the 3HKO from Grass Knot from defensive Celebi, they also serve to almost always avoid the 3HKO from Choice Specs Fire Blast from Heatran. 8 Spe allows Gyarados to outrun neutral nature Jirachi and Timid Rotom-A after a Dragon Dance. The rest goes into Def to help against neutral physical attacks. Intimidate is an amazing ability as it amplifies the natural bulk that Gyarados packs on the physical side. Gyarados greatly appreciates having Shaymin and Flygon around, both gain easy switch ins against electric moves (Flygon is immune) and both do other things that Gyarados likes; Shaymin beats a lot of the counters to Gyarados like Suicune and Vaporeon while Flygon nets Gyarados easier switch ins with U-Turn and picks off powerful dragons that might overwhelm Gyarados. In return, Gyarados serves as an amazing switch in to Scizor that they both hate with a passion. Shaymin hates Heatran and Blissey too, it need not worry about either with Gyarados around. Flygon hates bulky walls like Hippowdon and Gliscor that can take its attacks without much effort, Gyarados can help remove both with ease.
Flygon @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- U-Turn
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Outrage
Flygon was one of the lesser-used dragons of GenIV OU when pokemon like Latias and Salamence were around, since then it has become the most used dragon in the metagame. It makes the most out of what it has, typing and movepool along with stats just good enough to make them work. With its common Choice Scarf set, it serves the same duties that a sniper would serve in the army, picking off the threats that would otherwise go through the team. With U-Turn, it also makes a useful scout, swapping in and out of combat and providing switch ins for teammates along with chip damage. The main STAB move is actually Earthquake, locking Flygon into Outrage is often a bad idea with pokemon such as Scizor lurking about. With Earthquake, Flygon can easily revenge kill pokemon like Heatran and Jirachi, Tyranitar is also countered rather easily. With Stone Edge, Flygon can pick off flying types like Gyarados and Dragonite, the bad accuracy is an unfortunate necessity. Outrage provides Flygon with a powerful move to clean up weakened teams with. The EVs and nature are standard, making Flygon the fastest it can possibly be to widen the range of pokemon that Flygon can pick off. Flygon loves having Scizor around, both can take advantage of U-Turn to rack up damage on their common switch ins and ease prediction to help their teammates switching into battle. Scizor provides a backup revenge killer against certain threats if Flygon fails his mission. Stealth Rock helps chip away at opponents and racks up good amounts of damage with the switches that U-Turn forces, the extra damage helps knock opponents into KO range of the move that Flygon would use to revenge kill it. Thus, Heatran makes a fabulous partner for Flygon, in return Heatran appreciates the removal of opponents that might try set up on it like Gyarados and Dragonite that Flygon can do reliably.
Well, that's the team. Fairly standard I know, the only real original choice was Shaymin over Celebi as it fits the team better imo. Still, it seems to get the job done, U-Turn is ever so helpful without Team Preview and the team synergy is fantastic. I want to know if any improvements could be made. Rate, borrow, steal, enjoy :)