SM OU Mega Mawile Balance by TDK

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Introduction
TDK's team depicts what the ideal balanced team looked like near the end of SPL 9. The team focusses on utilising the powerful wallbreaking abilities of Mega Mawile to apply pressure against opposing teams. The team also popularised what would become a prominent core for balanced builds in Clefable, Tornadus-Therian and the previously uncommon Gastrodon. Heatran provides the team with a secondary Steel type, and a great way to pressurise stall. Landorus-T was the final addition to the team, serving as a great form of role compression and speed control by way of a Choice Scarf. Overall, this team is definitely worthy of a spot in the archive given its influence and success in recent months.

Team Members


Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Def / 8 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Moonblast
- Soft-Boiled
- Wish
Clefable is an unbelievably good Pokemon, and adds much utility to TDK's team with its Fairy typing. It checks dangerous threats such as Zygarde, Hawlucha and Mega Medicham, which would be hard to deal with otherwise. Clefable is also one of the best Stealth Rock users in the game thanks to its ability to force out common defoggers in Tornadus-T and Mega Sableye. Clefable can also act as a status absorber thanks to Magic Guard, and can switch in with impunity against Toxapex's Scald for example. Lastly, Clefable pairs well with Gastrodon and Tornadus-T, as they can take care of threats like Heatran, Kartana and Tapu Bulu.

Moonblast is Clefable's best STAB move and allows it to heavily damage the likes of Zygarde and Fighting-types. Soft-Boiled and Wish provide Clefable with great longevity, with the former allowing it to stay healthy throughout the game and the latter providing valuable support to teammates like Heatran, Mega Mawile and Landorus-T, which all lack recovery. Clefable's EV spread allows it to avoid the 2HKO from Choice Band Zygarde's Thousand Arrows and Mega Medicham's High Jump Kick. The 8 EVs in Speed allow it outspeed Sassy Celesteela.


Mawile-Mega (F) @ Mawilite
Ability: Hyper Cutter
EVs: 112 HP / 216 Atk / 180 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Ice Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Fire Fang
Mega Mawile has a key role as a powerful wallbreaker and stallbreaker, capable of breaking through most defensive walls such as Tangrowth, Celesteela, Toxapex, Ferrothorn and Clefable. Hyper Cutter nullifies Landorus-T's Intimidate on the turn of Mega Evolution, which is useful in order to hit as hard as possible. Mega Mawile's coverage makes it even harder to switch into, especially for balanced teams. Mega Mawile, alongside Heatran, also provides the team with a way to break through stall easily. Its Steel / Fairy typing helps the team deal better with the likes of Tornadus-T and Tapu Bulu. In return, Tornadus-T's and Landorus-T's pivoting ability also allows Mega Mawile to come in relatively safely as well.

Iron Head is Mega Mawile's only STAB move, and allows it to hit Mega Venusaur in particular. The other moves offer excellent coverage. Fire Fang provides the team with an effective way to deal with Mega Scizor and Ferrothorn. Thunder Punch and Ice Punch form a pseudo BoltBeam combination, hitting Toxapex, Landorus-T and Gliscor in particular. 180 EVs in Speed allow Mega Mawile to outspeed Sassy Mega Venusaur. 216 EVs in Attack hit a jump point, and the rest is poured into HP to maximise bulk.


Heatran (M) @ Firium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Will-O-Wisp
Heatran plays an essential role in this team both offensively and defensively. Offensively, Heatran compliments Mega Mawile as a wallbreaker, and applies pressure on common metagame choices such as Ferrothorn, Clefable and Mega Scizor. Few Pokemon are capable of switching into Heatran, especially since TDK runs an unusual but extremely effective move in Will-O-Wisp, which is capable of crippling Heatran's usual switch-ins like Zygarde, Landorus-T, and Gliscor before the activation of Toxic Orb. Defensively, Heatran functions as the primary switch-in to Pokemon such as Tapu Lele, and also helps in dealing with Tornadus-T. While Heatran is prone to being worn down, it can stay healthy via Clefable's Wish, allowing it to continue performing its defensive and offensive roles throughout the game.

Magma Storm is Heatran's primary STAB attack, which is used due to its high damage output and trapping effect. To remedy its poor accuracy, TDK equips Heatran with a Firium Z which is a stronger nuke to hit Pokemon like Mega Sableye. Will-O-Wisp gives Heatran a counter to its usual switch-ins like Zygarde, Landorus-T, Mega Latios and Gliscor before the activation of Toxic Orb, and can also give Heatran a Flash Fire boost if used versus Mega Sableye. Earth Power allows Heatran to hit opposing Heatran and Toxapex, while Taunt allows it to shut down defensive Pokemon including Chansey and Toxapex. If used alongside Magma Storm, Heatran can even trap and KO them.


Gastrodon-East (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 240 HP / 248 SpD / 20 Spe
Sassy Nature
- Scald
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover
Gastrodon is an unusual but effective pick for the team. Thanks to Gastrodon being a Ground-type not weak to Ice, it helps the team against common Electric-types like Tapu Koko and Zapdos. Access to the ability Storm Drain allows Gastrodon to serve as an effective Water resist, helping to check the ever-threatening Ash-Greninja. Being naturally bulky with recovery also allows Gastrodon to help check major threats such as Shift Gear Magearna and Heatran lacking Grassium Z.

Scald does decent damage, but is mainly used for its ability to burn foes 30% of the time. Recover helps greatly with Gastrodon’s longevity, allowing it to stay healthy throughout the game and switch into threats like Ash-Greninja and Heatran multiple times. Gastrodon is a relatively passive Pokemon, which is why Toxic is ideal for wearing down common switch-ins like Zapdos and Tangrowth. Earthquake allows Gastrodon to apply pressure against Pokemon like Calm Mind Magearna and Heatran. The Speed EVs allow Gastrodon to speed creep Toxapex and opposing Gastrodon. The HP and Special Defense investment makes Gastrodon as specially bulky as possible, in order to better check Pokemon like Ash-Greninja and Mega Diancie.


Tornadus-Therian @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 188 HP / 68 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Defog
- Hurricane
- Knock Off
- U-turn​

Tornadus-T serves a number of roles on this team. U-turn, Regenerator and Defog make it a very reliable hazard remover and pivot that combines nicely with Landorus to bring in Mega Mawile or Heatran to threaten the opposing team. Tornadus-T also acts as an important check to threats such as Kartana, Tapu Bulu and Scarf Landorus, and can safely Defog against most hazard setters such as Clefable, Tornadus and Ferrothorn. Knock Off allows it to remove Leftovers from defensive Pokemon, which paves the way for Mawile to break past its checks.

Hurricane is Tornadus-T's only STAB attack, threatening fat Grass-types and almost anything else that isn't a Flying-type resist. Defog removes hazards for the team, and Knock Off helps wear down the opposition. U-turn is the final move, helping Tornadus-T to act as an effective pivot and bring in threats like Mega Mawile and Heatran safely. Maximum investment in Speed allows Tornadus-T to outpace Mega Pinsir, Mega Latios and Kartana. The Special Attack investment allows Tornadus-T to always 2HKO Assault Vest Tapu Bulu. The rest of the EVs are dumped into HP to make Tornadus-T as bulky as possible.


Landorus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 96 HP / 20 Atk / 136 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Punishment
- U-turn
Landorus-Therian provides the team with a great amount of role compression. Landorus-T is one of the teams Ground-types, helping stop Pokemon like Tapu Koko from clicking Volt Switch freely. Landorus-T also serves as the team’s main revenge killer thanks to its Choice Scarf. Intimidate gives Landorus-T a lot of defensive utility, allowing it to check threats like Zygarde and Mega Charizard X. Landorus-T also pairs with Tornadus-T to form a U-turn core, allowing TDK to bring Pokemon like Mega Mawile safely in.

Earthquake is a strong STAB move, allowing Landorus-T to hit anything that doesn’t resist it for solid damage. Hidden Power Ice helps check some of the metagame’s biggest threats, such as Zygarde and opposing Landorus-T. Punishment allows Landorus-T to revenge bulky Psychic-types like Calm Mind Mega Latias and Reuniclus, which could set up and potentially sweep otherwise. Finally, U-turn allows Landorus-T to gain momentum through forcing switches. The HP and Special Defense investment allows Landorus-T to survive a Hidden Power Ice from Tapu Koko after Stealth Rock. The HP and Defense EVs allow Landorus-T to live two Choice Band Zygarde Thousand Arrows after Stealth Rock. Speed is maximised to make Landorus-T as fast as possible, with the rest of the EVs placed into Attack.

Threatlist
The team doesn't carry any Dark-types and the Steel-types are Mega Mawile and Heatran, which both lack the recovery and the bulk to switch into powerful Psychic-type moves. Tapu Lele can come in against Clefable, Gastrodon and even Landorus-T if it is locked into either Punishment or Hidden Power Ice. Tapu Lele, especially if holding a Choice Specs, can KO Clefable, Gastrodon, Landorus-T and Tornadus-T, and can 2HKO Mega Mawile and Heatran with Psychic. Mega Alakazam can also spam Psychic easily, and even 2HKO Gastrodon if Psychic Terrain is up. Also, Mega Mawile lacking Sucker Punch makes Landorus-T the only Pokemon able to revenge kill Mega Alakazam.


While Clefable, Gastrodon and Tornadus-T form a solid backbone, it does have some issues against certain physical sweepers. Choice Band Zygarde can switch directly into Gastrodon and Heatran (assuming they don't click Toxic and Will-O-Wisp respectively), and can pressurise the team with Thousand Arrows until Landorus-T and Clefable are KOed. Weakness Policy Zygarde is even more dangerous, as the team's defensive answers to Zygarde in Landorus-T and Clefable are forced to activate Weakness Policy while trying to 2HKO Zygarde. Gliscor is another huge threat, as it has the ability to setup against Clefable, Gastrodon, and Heatran. Landorus-T can lower Gliscor's Attack by 1 stage with Intimidate, but it doesn't have the staying power to switch into Gliscor repeatedly. Due to Landorus-T lacking Stone Edge, Mega Pinsir is also a dangerous sweeper. Tornadus-T cannot afford switch directly into Return, as it may be in range to be KOed by Quick Attack afterwards. Landorus-T's lack of access to Stone Edge also benefits Gyarados, which can potentially sweep with Moxie. Kartana can KO most of the team except Tornadus-T and Landorus-T with the combination of Leaf Blade, Sacred Sword and Smart Strike. Tornadus-T is not a reliable check due to Stealth Rock, and it has less than 50% chance of taking a Smart Strike from Choice Band Kartana after Stealth Rock and less than 50% chance of taking a Z-boosted Smart Strike at full health. Landorus-T also needs chip damage on Kartana to be able to revenge kill it.

Fire-types are usually taken care of by Gastrodon, but Mega Charizard Y and Grassium Z Heatran can break through it and heavily pressurise the team. Mega Charizard can come in versus almost the entire team and get a KO, and it can also breaksthrough Heatran thanks to Focus Blast. After Gastrodon is gone, opposing Heatran can apply a lot of pressure with Magma Storm and Earth Power

Shift Gear Magearna with Fleur Cannon and Focus Blast can get setup opportunities against Clefable and Tornadus-T, and KO both Heatran and Gastrodon.

Credits
Created by: TDK
Written by: Analytic, Anish, Gross Sweep & Simia
Grammar checked by: IronBullet
Art by: TPP
 

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