G'day Smogon users. You have been chosen to play a game. A game where you put your life on the line. A game known as rating my team.
Cheesy introduction aside, this team has consistently gotten me almost to the top of Standard OU, but it's not without it's problems. That's where you guys come in. Let's meet the team:
This team was built on the philosophy that bulk reigns supreme, and it works (for the most part).
Ace (Hippowdon) (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
Hippowdon is a pro, and an Ace against other weather, rocking their shit. As the slowest weather summoner, he ensures that Politoed and Ninetales cannot summon their weather, putting me at an immediate advantage. Earthquake provides an obligatory STAB option, and from there, Slack Off provides reliable recovery, Roar helps with Roobushin and other stat boosters, and Stealth Rock is Stealth Rock. EVs and nature were chosen to maximize physical bulk and better contend with Doryuuzu, an omnipresent threat.
Snake (Breloom) (M) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Atk / 128 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Mach Punch
- Drain Punch
- Seed Bomb
Snake is also a pro, pulling cheap shit like Spore just to fuck with you. And you meddling kids, and your little dog too. Spore is for shutting down something slower, Seed Bomb is mainly for bulky waters and Rotom-W, Drain Punch is there for another STAB option and to provide some form of recovery, and Mach Punch is there as a backup priority option in case some faster threats show up. EVs and nature were chosen to add more bulk, as Breloom isn't outspeeding too much even with speed investment, and to let it better answer Doryuuzu and Landlos.
Santa (Jirachi) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 232 HP / 20 Atk / 216 SDef / 40 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Body Slam
- Iron Head
- Wish
- Fire Punch
Jirachi, the third member of the team, came as an answer to the Draco Meteor whores, like Latios and Sazandora. His EV spread and nature allow for very high special bulk, better answering the slew of meteor-spamming dragons, and as a general option for answering some special hitters. Body Slam provides some reliable paralysis, Iron Head helps with keeping them in check and forcing flinches, Wish is for healing the team up and making them more awesome, and Fire Punch screws over the fools who think switching in Nattorei and Scizor is a good idea, even if it's a 2HKO on both, and Fire Punch and two hits from Stealth Rock will kill Scizor. It also has the ability to help against Magnezone.
Clover (Rankurusu) (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Recover
- Psycho Shock
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
Rankurusu is the star of the show, putting pain down in all directions. It's EV spread allows it to have absurd levels of bulk, 424 HP, 276 Def, and 206 Sp. Def from the start. That kind of bulk rivals Vaporeon, and with Magic Guard, it's probably one of the best Pokemon in the entire metagame.
I originally used her as an answer to the initial hordes of Roobushin, but before long I found it deconstructing teams left and right. Calm Mind and Recover makes it as much of a bitch Crocune was back in earlier generations, alongside the CM Jirachi variants. It can cycle those two moves and easily get the power to sweep. Psycho Shock isn't a joke, easily 2HKOing Blissey after two CMs. It even has the ability to win against other CM boosters bar Jirachi, who wins anyways against you. Hidden Power is there so Tyranitar can't make Rankurusu it's bitch, as after a CM it will OHKO nearly all TTars after Stealth Rock. Focus Blast could be used, but it missed so goddamn much I stopped using it.
Zero (Starmie) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Zero is an enigma, and a dangerous one at that. The EV spread is for the most power and sweeping capabilities, and the Expert Belt helps cut down on LO recoil and helps to feign a Choice item when played right. Starmie still sports boltbeam coverage, and Hydro Pump is chosen for more power. Hidden Power Fire punishes Scizor and Nattorei as well. Rapid Spin isn't needed as this team really doesn't fear entry hazards much.
June (Randorosu) (M) @ Passho Berry
Trait: Sand Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
June may seem useless at times, as I often don't have to use him, but he's still a powerful ally. Passho Berry helps it eat a Water attack, letting it answer Gyarados and other waters, alongside feigning another Choice item.
Swords Dance is for the power boost, as June is plenty fast as is. U-turn is to scout and play the Choice gambit a bit more, and QuakeEdge coverage is just that good. EVs and nature are chosen to maximize speed and retain some power.
Conclusion:
Well, there's not much to say. Have at it. And let's see if we can find an answer to Water in general, as it appears to be a major issue for this team sometimes. Choice Band Gyarados is a cunt. >__>
Cheesy introduction aside, this team has consistently gotten me almost to the top of Standard OU, but it's not without it's problems. That's where you guys come in. Let's meet the team:
Ace (Hippowdon) (F) @ Leftovers Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
- Slack Off
Hippowdon is a pro, and an Ace against other weather, rocking their shit. As the slowest weather summoner, he ensures that Politoed and Ninetales cannot summon their weather, putting me at an immediate advantage. Earthquake provides an obligatory STAB option, and from there, Slack Off provides reliable recovery, Roar helps with Roobushin and other stat boosters, and Stealth Rock is Stealth Rock. EVs and nature were chosen to maximize physical bulk and better contend with Doryuuzu, an omnipresent threat.
Snake (Breloom) (M) @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Atk / 128 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Spore
- Mach Punch
- Drain Punch
- Seed Bomb
Snake is also a pro, pulling cheap shit like Spore just to fuck with you. And you meddling kids, and your little dog too. Spore is for shutting down something slower, Seed Bomb is mainly for bulky waters and Rotom-W, Drain Punch is there for another STAB option and to provide some form of recovery, and Mach Punch is there as a backup priority option in case some faster threats show up. EVs and nature were chosen to add more bulk, as Breloom isn't outspeeding too much even with speed investment, and to let it better answer Doryuuzu and Landlos.
Santa (Jirachi) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 232 HP / 20 Atk / 216 SDef / 40 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Body Slam
- Iron Head
- Wish
- Fire Punch
Jirachi, the third member of the team, came as an answer to the Draco Meteor whores, like Latios and Sazandora. His EV spread and nature allow for very high special bulk, better answering the slew of meteor-spamming dragons, and as a general option for answering some special hitters. Body Slam provides some reliable paralysis, Iron Head helps with keeping them in check and forcing flinches, Wish is for healing the team up and making them more awesome, and Fire Punch screws over the fools who think switching in Nattorei and Scizor is a good idea, even if it's a 2HKO on both, and Fire Punch and two hits from Stealth Rock will kill Scizor. It also has the ability to help against Magnezone.
Clover (Rankurusu) (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Recover
- Psycho Shock
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
Rankurusu is the star of the show, putting pain down in all directions. It's EV spread allows it to have absurd levels of bulk, 424 HP, 276 Def, and 206 Sp. Def from the start. That kind of bulk rivals Vaporeon, and with Magic Guard, it's probably one of the best Pokemon in the entire metagame.
I originally used her as an answer to the initial hordes of Roobushin, but before long I found it deconstructing teams left and right. Calm Mind and Recover makes it as much of a bitch Crocune was back in earlier generations, alongside the CM Jirachi variants. It can cycle those two moves and easily get the power to sweep. Psycho Shock isn't a joke, easily 2HKOing Blissey after two CMs. It even has the ability to win against other CM boosters bar Jirachi, who wins anyways against you. Hidden Power is there so Tyranitar can't make Rankurusu it's bitch, as after a CM it will OHKO nearly all TTars after Stealth Rock. Focus Blast could be used, but it missed so goddamn much I stopped using it.
Zero (Starmie) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Zero is an enigma, and a dangerous one at that. The EV spread is for the most power and sweeping capabilities, and the Expert Belt helps cut down on LO recoil and helps to feign a Choice item when played right. Starmie still sports boltbeam coverage, and Hydro Pump is chosen for more power. Hidden Power Fire punishes Scizor and Nattorei as well. Rapid Spin isn't needed as this team really doesn't fear entry hazards much.
June (Randorosu) (M) @ Passho Berry
Trait: Sand Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
June may seem useless at times, as I often don't have to use him, but he's still a powerful ally. Passho Berry helps it eat a Water attack, letting it answer Gyarados and other waters, alongside feigning another Choice item.
Swords Dance is for the power boost, as June is plenty fast as is. U-turn is to scout and play the Choice gambit a bit more, and QuakeEdge coverage is just that good. EVs and nature are chosen to maximize speed and retain some power.
Conclusion:
Well, there's not much to say. Have at it. And let's see if we can find an answer to Water in general, as it appears to be a major issue for this team sometimes. Choice Band Gyarados is a cunt. >__>