New Gen, new meta. This is the third generation shift I've been around for, and it's probably the least dramatic one so far. The current XY OU meta is actually quite fun, and I'm enjoying it to it's fullest before PokeBank comes along and changes everything. This is the second team I've made in Gen 6, and it's much more consistent than the previous one. The idea is to set up Swords Dance with one of my three Pokemon that have it, and just smash things apart. With a current win/lose ratio of 23/2, I'm fairly proud of it, but at the same time, I sometimes feel like it's just missing something. Hopefully, someone with a keener eye than I (try saying that five times fast) will be able to point out the flaws.
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op pls ban (Talonflame) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 144 Spd / 252 Atk / 112 HP
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Swords Dance
- Roost
"Ban Talonflame"- Showdown Chat 2013
While the notion of banning Talonflame is completely silly, I can understand people's frustration with it. Priority Brave Bird is no joke, even with Talonflame's mediocre attack stat. Purely because Gale Wings, Talonflame is the revenge killer to end all revenge killers. While I may not always get a sweep with Talonflame due to the prominence of Ttar and Rotom-W, Talonflame is excellent at poking holes into teams. A big issue that Talonflame has is killing itself quickly with it's main attacks, so I choose to run Leftovers and Roost to counteract that. Overall, a really excellent Pokemon, and I can't imagine this team without it.
KissAin'tGotShit (Garchomp) (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
The second of my Swords Dance users, I like Garchomp for his bulk. Even with minimal investment, he can take pretty much any one hit, as long as it isn't super effective, set up a Swords Dance at the same time, and then just smash some heads. Dragon Claw is my choice for his Dragon STAB, as I'd rather Garchomp not get revenge killed by any given Fairy/Steel/faster thing with an Ice move. EQ needs no explanation, and Stone Edge is chosen as the last move to score a super-effective hit on Togekiss, as well as offering a powerful hit on things weak to Rock, such as Zapdos and Talonflame. I've experimented with Iron Head and Poison Jab for fairies, but I've found Stone Edge to be overall more useful (when it hits, at least). Lum Berry is chosen as my item, to prevent any pesky Scald burns or random Toxics from cutting Garchomp's sweep short. Rough Skin is nice for the chip on contact moves. Nothing out of the ordinary here.
Gerninjer (Greninja) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Oh lawdy, it's Greninja. Gen 4 Infernape taken up to 11. Infernape may have been able to go mixed, but it didn't get STAB on everything, and that's what makes Greninja so formidable. As the only special attacker present on this team, he is incredibly valuable for breaking down certain physical walls. I don't feel that U-turn is necessary, so I run HP Fire in the last slot to roast Ferrothorn (and healthy Scizor/Forretress). It's coverage with these four moves is optimal (screw Grass Knot, it only hits Rotom-W for 20 base power). Because of the sheer power and versatility, almost nothing can safely switch in on Greninja. It's only problem it that it's easily worn down.
#MegaMom (Kangaskhan) @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Sucker Punch
- Power-Up Punch
- Return
The final of my three Swords Dance users, Kangaskhan is quite a threatening Pokemon. Parental Bond Power-Up Punch is pretty much the same as a Swords Dance, so it counts. With the coverage offered by the four moves I have selected, almost nothing can stand up to a boosted #MegaMom, with the exceptions being Skarmory and Trevenant. I used to run Fake-Out, which was nice for smacking things like opposing Talonflame before it could hit me, but Earthquake is just so useful, allowing me to hit things like Aegislash and Rocky Helmet Ferrothorn without a worry. Mega Kangaskhan is one of the scariest things in the OU meta right now.
fuk megamom (Ferrothorn) (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SDef
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Protect
I only hope I run into people using Fake Out #MegaMom. Ferrothorn is probably the most reliable Stealth Rock setter at the moment, and it's typing is as amazing as ever. Leech Seed is an always-annoying move that allows Ferrothorn (or it's partners) to recover some HP. Power Whip is the most reliable STAB option, and I choose Protect for the last slot to allow for free Leech Seed recovery. I have Rocky Helmet to severely damage any Pokemon who decides to throw a contact move. I've always preferred Leftovers in the past, but Rocky Helmet seems very useful right now.
MoustacheBat (Crobat) (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Defog
- Roost
Look at Crobat carefully. Now, imagine it's mouth is actually just a white mustache, like an old man would have. You'll never unsee it. Anyways, Crobat provides Defog support, which Talonflame really needs (and everyone else appreciates regardless). It also provides an excellent fighting resist, which is quite useful. Brave Bird is the obvious main powerful STAB, and with Infiltrator, it becomes particularly nice to smack things behind Subs. Defog is Defog, and Roost allows Crobat to get it's health back. As much as I'd love to have Taunt, I chose U-turn because there are tons of things that can switch in on Crobat for free, and U-turn allows Crobat to work around those switch-ins.
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So there it is. I feel that only having one special attacker may be a weakness, but other than that, I just can't seem to figure out why this team feels lacking. Rate away, and if you've gotten this far, thanks for reading!
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op pls ban (Talonflame) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 144 Spd / 252 Atk / 112 HP
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Swords Dance
- Roost
"Ban Talonflame"- Showdown Chat 2013
While the notion of banning Talonflame is completely silly, I can understand people's frustration with it. Priority Brave Bird is no joke, even with Talonflame's mediocre attack stat. Purely because Gale Wings, Talonflame is the revenge killer to end all revenge killers. While I may not always get a sweep with Talonflame due to the prominence of Ttar and Rotom-W, Talonflame is excellent at poking holes into teams. A big issue that Talonflame has is killing itself quickly with it's main attacks, so I choose to run Leftovers and Roost to counteract that. Overall, a really excellent Pokemon, and I can't imagine this team without it.
KissAin'tGotShit (Garchomp) (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
The second of my Swords Dance users, I like Garchomp for his bulk. Even with minimal investment, he can take pretty much any one hit, as long as it isn't super effective, set up a Swords Dance at the same time, and then just smash some heads. Dragon Claw is my choice for his Dragon STAB, as I'd rather Garchomp not get revenge killed by any given Fairy/Steel/faster thing with an Ice move. EQ needs no explanation, and Stone Edge is chosen as the last move to score a super-effective hit on Togekiss, as well as offering a powerful hit on things weak to Rock, such as Zapdos and Talonflame. I've experimented with Iron Head and Poison Jab for fairies, but I've found Stone Edge to be overall more useful (when it hits, at least). Lum Berry is chosen as my item, to prevent any pesky Scald burns or random Toxics from cutting Garchomp's sweep short. Rough Skin is nice for the chip on contact moves. Nothing out of the ordinary here.
Gerninjer (Greninja) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Oh lawdy, it's Greninja. Gen 4 Infernape taken up to 11. Infernape may have been able to go mixed, but it didn't get STAB on everything, and that's what makes Greninja so formidable. As the only special attacker present on this team, he is incredibly valuable for breaking down certain physical walls. I don't feel that U-turn is necessary, so I run HP Fire in the last slot to roast Ferrothorn (and healthy Scizor/Forretress). It's coverage with these four moves is optimal (screw Grass Knot, it only hits Rotom-W for 20 base power). Because of the sheer power and versatility, almost nothing can safely switch in on Greninja. It's only problem it that it's easily worn down.
#MegaMom (Kangaskhan) @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Sucker Punch
- Power-Up Punch
- Return
The final of my three Swords Dance users, Kangaskhan is quite a threatening Pokemon. Parental Bond Power-Up Punch is pretty much the same as a Swords Dance, so it counts. With the coverage offered by the four moves I have selected, almost nothing can stand up to a boosted #MegaMom, with the exceptions being Skarmory and Trevenant. I used to run Fake-Out, which was nice for smacking things like opposing Talonflame before it could hit me, but Earthquake is just so useful, allowing me to hit things like Aegislash and Rocky Helmet Ferrothorn without a worry. Mega Kangaskhan is one of the scariest things in the OU meta right now.
fuk megamom (Ferrothorn) (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SDef
Relaxed Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip
- Protect
I only hope I run into people using Fake Out #MegaMom. Ferrothorn is probably the most reliable Stealth Rock setter at the moment, and it's typing is as amazing as ever. Leech Seed is an always-annoying move that allows Ferrothorn (or it's partners) to recover some HP. Power Whip is the most reliable STAB option, and I choose Protect for the last slot to allow for free Leech Seed recovery. I have Rocky Helmet to severely damage any Pokemon who decides to throw a contact move. I've always preferred Leftovers in the past, but Rocky Helmet seems very useful right now.
MoustacheBat (Crobat) (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Defog
- Roost
Look at Crobat carefully. Now, imagine it's mouth is actually just a white mustache, like an old man would have. You'll never unsee it. Anyways, Crobat provides Defog support, which Talonflame really needs (and everyone else appreciates regardless). It also provides an excellent fighting resist, which is quite useful. Brave Bird is the obvious main powerful STAB, and with Infiltrator, it becomes particularly nice to smack things behind Subs. Defog is Defog, and Roost allows Crobat to get it's health back. As much as I'd love to have Taunt, I chose U-turn because there are tons of things that can switch in on Crobat for free, and U-turn allows Crobat to work around those switch-ins.
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So there it is. I feel that only having one special attacker may be a weakness, but other than that, I just can't seem to figure out why this team feels lacking. Rate away, and if you've gotten this far, thanks for reading!
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