BDSP [OU] Gyarados Balanced Team (Peak #36)

[M.r. Carp.]

Gyarados is my most favourite mon and that I build a balanced team around Gyarados in OU to try to bring glory to the lost pearl. Finally I ranks 36th in the ladder with Gyarados playing awesome role. Really want more players to try Gyarados although Azumarill and Feraligatr are generally better.

Building Precudure:

As core of the team, I choose rather bulky Gyarados with Intimidate and leftovers. Gyarados lacks imminent power unless running Life Orb, yet this item will sacrifice Gyarados's decent bulk and I drop the idea. Intimidate + leftovers allow Gyarados to offer some defensive power while maintaining power to set up and clean in mid-late game. Adamant nature is preferred for bulky Gyarados. 232 Spe allows Gyarados to outspeed Weavile at +1. 216 Atk guarantees OHKO of Latios after one boost and steal rock. The rest of the evs are invested in bulk.
Gyarados (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 56 HP / 216 Atk / 4 Def / 232 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
+1 216+ Atk Gyarados Ice Fang vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Latios: 268-316 (89 - 104.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

Rather standard set for Latios. I prefer Soul Dew over choice items or Life Orb cause I need both power and flexibility. Soul Dew boosted STABs may mislead foes that I's running Spec. Defog to clean rock for Gyarados and Surf to hit Heatran harder. I once ran Roost but found that Latios can be easily pressed out by Heatran.
Latios (M) @ Soul Dew
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psychic
- Surf
- Defog

I need a power house to break through walls. Infernape is relatively fast and its power fire + fight STABs can cause great damange to the foes' walls with help of Choice Band. I choose Iron Fist over Blaze to give boost to Mach Punch. U-turn gives Infernape more flexibility and allows it to constantly exert pressure. Key task for Infernape is to weaken bulky grass, steel, water, and fairy type mons to pave way for Gyarados' late game show.
Infernape (F) @ Choice Band
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Mach Punch
252 Atk Choice Band Infernape Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Clefable: 220-261 (55.8 - 66.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252 Atk Choice Band Infernape U-turn vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Starmie: 226-266 (86.5 - 101.9%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Choice Band Infernape Flare Blitz vs. 244 HP / 52 Def Gliscor: 199-235 (56.5 - 66.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Poison Heal

Scizor's evs are heavily invested to SpD because I need a reliable swith-in to Latios. I choose Adamant nature to save some evs since Atk is highest. 224 HP + 252 SpD allows it to easily tank Latios' power STABs. Roost is essential to revive health. Swords Dance + Bullet Punch can always punch holes or even end games once the foes' mons are unhealthy.
Scizor (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 224 HP / 16 Atk / 16 Def / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
- Swords Dance
252 SpA Choice Specs Latios Draco Meteor vs. 224 HP / 252 SpD Scizor: 144-171 (42.7 - 50.7%) -- 2% chance to 2HKO

I find the team somewhat slow and that I need a scarfer for revenge killing. I ran 252 SpA + 252 Spe for some time but I found that Rotom-Wash without evs invested in HP is fragile and can be easily worn down. I need a bulkier Rotom-Wash as pivot. 136 SpA + Modest nature gives It almost same power as standard Timid type. 208 HP improves its bulk to tank more hits. Trick to break through walls, especially Tangrowth and Blissey. 164 Spe + Scarf allows Rotom-Wash to outspeed Alakazam and revenge kill it with some help.
Rotom-Wash @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 208 HP / 136 SpA / 164 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Trick

Clefable is the only one that carrys rock in this team. Thanks to its decent bulk, Clefable finds itself have numerous chances to set up rock. I choose Calm Mind over Falmethrower to exert more offensive power. Calm Mind Clefable is also very powerful when facing bulky teams and even Heatran without Cannon. I invest most of the evs into HP and Def to maximum its physical bulk.

Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight

Threat list

Fast pokemons are generally very threatening to this team since they can abuse STABs with faster speed.

Hyper offensive teams can easily punch holes of this team, especially Life Orb Lucario in HO team. Must handle it very carefully.

Replays:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8bdspou-1549897313
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8bdspou-1549874534
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8bdspou-1549804972
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8bdspou-1544457804
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8bdspou-1544489364

Imoprtable

Infernape (F) @ Choice Band
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Mach Punch

Latios (M) @ Soul Dew
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psychic
- Surf
- Defog

Clefable (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Moonblast
- Calm Mind
- Moonlight

Scizor (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 224 HP / 16 Atk / 16 Def / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
- Swords Dance

Rotom-Wash @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 208 HP / 136 SpA / 164 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Trick

Gyarados (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 56 HP / 216 Atk / 4 Def / 232 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang

Proof of peak