AMBUSH IN THE SANDSTORM! (OU RMT) Peaked 1500

[Aquilous]

Hi everyone! ^_^
I've been experimenting with several different weather effects, like rain and drought, but only rain and sandstorm were my strongest points. I tried both and sandstorm had a better turnout. Without further ado....AMBUSH IN THE DESERT!
Changes are in Bold


The Team

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Hippowdon

move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Ice Fang / Roar
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD


For lack of a better lead and sandstorm starter, Hippowdon. Less weaknesses than Tyranitar and working phenomenally as a lead. Thinking about using Jellicent as a switch in because Rotom does take a punch on surfs. Otherwise, Ice Fang is beautiful and Slack Off, ugh, much better than my old TTAR.

Rotom-W @ Leftovers
Calm - 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
~Will-O-Wisp
~Discharge
~Hydro Pump
~Reflect / Substitute



Since Volcarona just didn't work out on a sandstorm team, I had to switch to Rotom. I have little to no complaints because it is immune to ground and so far in my battles has not been OHKOd or even 2HKOd! Substitute works well, maybe reflect will work better...any ideas? Excellent coverage in Dcharge and hydro, and WoW has been amazing.

Reuniclus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 192 HP / 64 Def / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Calm Mind - Recover - Focus Blast - Shadow Ball


Reuniclus can also be capable of sweeping. This is probably my second most Poke I could trade out, as I have good coverage without him. I think I am too heavily focused on offense and could use walls. Heatran does a good job of that, but...Anyways, Reuniclus is a beast in TR. I don't use CM, even though that could be a good idea, and I run life orb. Other ttars take me out really quickly...

Excadrill (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor
- Swords Dance


Excadrill is my physical sweeper. Unstoppable after Swords Dance, but yet again very fragile. X-Scissor offers amazing coverage and Earthquake is an ridiculously hard STAB move. Rock slide is for coverage, Air Balloon and Jolly for other Excadrills. This might be too fragile, because every time it takes a hit...80% its a OHKO SE move.

Heatran (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 244 HP / 36 SAtk / 12 SDef / 216 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)

- Substitute
- Protect
- Lava Plume
- Torment


AMAZING SET on Smogon for Torment Heatran, always comes through every game for me. Set up sub, torment, protect on SE move, lava plume on non recover move, protect, rinse and repeat. Stalls out everyone and ticks them off. Tormentran still working in 2nd beta test day!



Finally....

Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
- U-turn

Landorus has proved to be a good substitute for Genesect. With Sand Force and Earthquake, plus reaching the upper 600s after one swords dance, he is hard to take down. U-turn could be subbed for substitute, idk though. Speed is amazing, and I don't want hammer arm slowing me down...

Thanks guys, help is appreciated. :) Bai

 

[Aquilous]

Threats

Threats
Huge ground/fighting/water weaknesses so rotom-w is a possibility today

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Offensive Threats

Aerodactyl - Might be a bit of a problem, but not much.

Archeops - Same as top, any ideas about these two? I never see them.

Azelf - Tyranitar. If not, volcarona or genesect.

Bisharp - What does burning in the sand mean?

Breloom - ^

Chandelure - Dang, Chand is annoying, esp since I have steels on my team.
Heatran does good though, somewhat

Cobalion - Never had problems

Conkeldurr - To exca, yes. My team, yes. Need a counter.

Darmanitan - Uhh, not really. Heatran.

Deoxys-S - Volca.

Dragonite - Genesect!

Druddigon - Genesect!

Eelektross - err...never used

Electivire - Never seen you either!

Emboar - Heatran, protect on the hammer arm

Empoleon - Umm, idk?

Espeon - Genesect or excadrill. Both outspeed and bug.

Escavalier - Fire heatran

Excadrill - Excadrill! If not, I could run conk myself.

Garchomp - Ice...Umm, Genesect

Genesect - Umm, heatran

Gengar - Bugs!

Golurk - Idk, typing?

Gyarados - Err, idk, stall him out?

Haxorus - Ice beam from Gene

Heatran - Earthquake from Exca, or, if I decide to run
Conk...

Heracross - Fire

Hydreigon - Ice

Infernape - Dunno about this one

Jirachi - Reason I put heatran on my team <---

Jolteon - QUake

Keldeo -Idk

Kingdra - Umm, idk, I used to have thunderbolt on gene

Krookodile - Umm, could run g-knot on someone

Kyurem - Fire

Landorus - Idk, doesn't seem to be a prob though

Latios - Easy

Lilligant - Fire

Lucario - Earthquake

Machamp - Idk

Magnezone - Fire

Mamoswine - Stall out

Meloetta-S - Never seen

Meloetta-V - Never seen

Metagross - QUake

Mienshao - Oh god, I hate Mienshao. Counter pl0x

Reuniclus - Got him with bug

Roserade - Fire

Salamence - Ice

Sawsbuck - Fire

Scizor - Fire

Scrafty- Oh god again. Hate him

Seismitoad - could run knot again

Serperior - heatran

Shaymin - heatran

Sigilyph - Idk, I think bug?

Smeargle - Fighting, I don't see him too much

Starmie - Bug

Terakion - Idk, fighting's a real weakness though

Thundurus - Ice Beam

Togekiss - Idk, never see either

Tornadus - Ice Beam

Tyranitar - Quake

Venusaur - Fire

Victini - Don't see it much either, stall w/Heatran

Virizion - Fire

Volcarona - Heatran

Weavile - Fire

Zoroark - Ok...bug?

 

[Aquilous]

2nd Day Beta Testing Results
W - 16
L - 2

 

[ChaosNebula]

Stfu, you expect rates in goddamned 2 HOURS. It usually takes longer then that.

You have a glaring triple ground weakness, when ground is the most common type in this metagame.

Swap out Genosect, for Randorosu for a CM varient, as that lands couple of surprises. And you still have a special sweeper whlie your at it.

 

[Aquilous]

Statistics in Testing Laboratory

Win Count:I

Loss Count:

 

[Aquilous]

Testing Laboratory:
Currently testing...

move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Slack Off
move 3: Stealth Rock
move 4: Ice Fang / Roar
item: Leftovers
ability: Sand Stream
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

For TTAR



AND

Rotom-W @ Leftovers
Calm - 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
~Will-O-Wisp
~Discharge
~Hydro Pump
~Reflect / Substitute

For Volcarona

 

[ToastTyrant13]

Well hello there Aquilos! Sorry I couldn't reach you sooner. Allow me to Rate your team. :D
The Team

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Tyranitar (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 88 HP / 252 Atk / 152 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Earthquake


For lack of a better lead and sandstorm starter, Tyranitar. Hits phenomenally, but has so many weaknesses most of the time Tyranitar can't do much. He can set up Excadrill to start sweeping, and also hit Espeon and other psychics hard using pursuit, but mostly every time, the opponent sends out an answer to ttar and finishes him.

Not much to say except that this is the reason I use Hippowdon for my SS team. T-Tar has SOO many weakness (including a majority of common ones) that it makes it a challenge to build a team to function properly with him. NOT TO SAY HE ISN'T A GREAT POKEMON, but keep that in mind.

Volcarona (M) @ Life Orb Trait: Flame Body

EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Bug Buzz - Quiver Dance
- Fiery Dance - Hidden Power [Rock]



Here's where the burning comes in! Volcarona is an exceptional but very frail sweeper. After 1-2 quiver dances, I have found little trouble in outspeeding and OHKOing most of the metagame's Pokemon. Excellent Coverage, and most send out fire pokemon thinking they can stop Volca in his tracks. not a chance. HP Rock takes them out easily. I lack a spinner though, that's where a sub for Genesect to possibly be a rapid spinner and move me down to BW OU could come in. Another minus is that life orb quickly kills Volca faster than i'd like.

I'm quite a fan of Urugamosu, but he just doesn't belong on a Sandstorm team. He has no way of abusing / survivng well in / handling the Sand. The fact that he severely needs Spin-support is another downside to Urugamosu's succes. So I can find two options in this regard

a) Find an efficient spinner to support the team and do well with it via it's typing and movepool options.

b) Find a more reliable teammate than Volcarona. Considerably, one that can easily take Water and Fighting attaks, which you are especially weak to.

Reuniclus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 192 HP / 64 Def / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- Trick Room - Psychic - Focus Blast - Shadow Ball


Reuniclus can also be capable of sweeping. This is probably my second most Poke I could trade out, as I have good coverage without him. I think I am too heavily focused on offense and could use walls. Heatran does a good job of that, but...Anyways, Reuniclus is a beast in TR. I don't use CM, even though that could be a good idea, and I run life orb. Other ttars take me out really quickly...

Hmmmmmmm.......
I hate to say it, but your Rankurusu is a bit of a burden to the rest of the team. You have your speedy Landlos, Excadrill, and Volcarona. Rankurusu is a great pokemon, but a Trick Room set is a very inconvenient choice for the rest of the team. May I suggest.....

Rankurusu @ Leftovers / Life Orb
Bold ~ 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
~Calm Mind
~Recover
~Psychic / Shadow Ball
~Focus Blast

An amazing pokemon to abuse Calm Mind with. Leftovers can be used for longetivity, while Life Orb can be wonderfully abused with Magic Guard for a free boost to your attacks. Calm Mind is your means of set up that allows you to be both a powerful tank and an offensive threat. Recover boosts your longetivity and ability to sweep for a longer time-period after setting up. Psychic is a powerful means of STAB, while Shadow Ball arguably provisdes better coverage towards the likes of Chandelure, opposing Reuniclus, and the Lati-s. Focus Blast is the cherry on top that perfects your coverage and allows you to deal with the likes of T-Tar, Excadrill, stronger damage on Scizor and Skarmory, etc.

Excadrill (M) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor
- Swords Dance


Excadrill is my physical sweeper. Unstoppable after Swords Dance, but yet again very fragile. X-Scissor offers amazing coverage and Earthquake is an ridiculously hard STAB move. Rock slide is for coverage, Air Balloon and Jolly for other Excadrills.

Remember that you stll have 4 evs left, so you could dump those in HP for a slight boost in bulk. imo, your Excadrill looks great but, as I have pointed out, you have an overwhelming weakness to Water and Fighting (mostly water).

Heatran (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flash Fire
EVs: 244 HP / 36 SAtk / 12 SDef / 216 Spd
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)

- Substitute
- Protect
- Lava Plume
- Torment


AMAZING SET on Smogon for Torment Heatran, always comes through every game for me. Set up sub, torment, protect on SE move, lava plume on non recover move, protect, rinse and repeat. Stalls out everyone and ticks them off.

Well, I'm not the first guy to ask about TormenTran. If I may point out though...
4 water weaknesses
2 fighting weaknesses
3 ground weaknesses

Heatran contributes to all three of those, while you have nothing to fall back on in the presence of these. Reuniclus can only take so many hits, and most fighting types have Stone Edge, which wrecks Volcarona. Your only means of Ground resists are Landlos (who shares a Water weakness) and your BallonExcadrill (whom shared both a Water AND a Fighting weakness, while sharing a ground weakness when popped). Unless your Heatran is doing extremely well, you could probably find a better 'mon to support / function with the team that has much better type synnergy and coverage outside of a single fire move.


Finally....

Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sand Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
- U-turn

Landorus has proved to be a good substitute for Genesect. With Sand Force and Earthquake, plus reaching the upper 600s after one swords dance, he is hard to take down. U-turn could be subbed for substitute, idk though. Speed is amazing, and I don't want hammer arm slowing me down...

A very good pokemon! If you ARE going to use him, however, you should definetly consider something with great bulk that can handle Ice and Water type attacks that can be fallen back on with U-Turn.

Of course, I'd LOVE to help you further, but I'd like to see what you think about Volcarona first. :/ From there, I'd be able to help you mesh the kogs of your team.

 

[Lucknade]

Is there a reason why Landorus is Hasty and not Jolly?

 

[Aquilous]

Is there a reason why Landorus is Hasty and not Jolly?

Yup. Jolly weakens sp atk I believe

 

[Aquilous]

Oh and thanks Toast, I'm thinking of using Rotom-W...Idk though, and skarm?

 

[Teandal]

Yup. Jolly weakens sp atk I believe

Your Landorus has no Special move, so being jolly has no downturns while allowing you to reach the top of your speed tier, which is extremely important in a speed-based metagame. Do take Jolly, please.

 

[Aquilous]

Alright. I've considered possibilities for 2 walls:
Physical walls :
Magnezone
Skarmory
Spec walls:
Blissey

Rotom w provides a good water coverage will taking on ground,
That could help out heatran...I need some pointers of who (volca or heat)
Should be substituted for who (listed above) thanks

 

[ToastTyrant13]

Alright. I've considered possibilities for 2 walls:
Physical walls :
Magnezone
Skarmory
Spec walls:
Blissey

Rotom w provides a good water coverage will taking on ground,
That could help out heatran...I need some pointers of who (volca or heat)
Should be substituted for who (listed above) thanks

To be quite honest, your team wouldn't be able to support nor function well with Magnezone or Blissey. The abundance of ground / fighting weaknesses would hurt you dramatically. Perhaps, however, if you replaced Heatran with Rotom-W. Rotom-W has excellent bulk and a wide array of options on both the offensive AND the defensive, while you could easily use the defensive to your advantage with this team. May I suggest...

Rotom-W @ Leftovers
Calm - 252 HP / 88 Def / 168 SpD
~Will-O-Wisp
~Discharge
~Hydro Pump
~Reflect / Substitute

Another variety of the Bulky Washing Machine. Because of your common weakness to Surf, Ice Beam, no means of stopping Gengar outside of T-Tar, etc., I figured that you need a great Water resist that can come in and deal some damage or take a nice hit. The spread and EVs allows you to take some good hits on the Special Side of the spectrum, ehil ehaving a little extra bulk physically. Will-O-Wisp strengthens your defense on the physical side, as well as allowing you and the rest of the team to score easier KOs. Discharge is a great alternative STAB that can cause some damage vis paralysis and respectable damage. Hydro Pump provides you with some nice coverage and power that allows you to dish out damage on T-Tar, Hippowdon, Ninetails, Excadrill, Gliscor, etc. The last slot can be used to either strenghten the entire teams physical defensiveness, or to protect Rotom-W from the horrible presence of Toxic, Sleep, and the likes.

As for who to replace with it, I would suggest Heatran. Not only is Flash Fire being wasted because of your only fire weakness (Excadrill), but as you said, someone better could do the job as an annoyer / "wall" / tank. If not, then Volcarona would be the next option. With no spinners, clerics, or Wish / Sub passers, you have no way of keeping him on the field and no way to support his sweepes.


Edit: If you drop Volcarona, you have excellent type synnergy with Heatran+Rotom-W. Heatran takes Grass attacks like a pro, while Rotom-W can easily take an EQ or Surf for Heatran. If something like Conkelderp makes its way on the field, Reuniclus can take advantage of it for a CM or two, if not already being able to OHKO with Psychic.

 

[Aquilous]

Questions: skarm weak to fighting? And now I have a sp defensive wall,
If skarm has the resist listed above and possible ground immunity that
Would be good

 

[Aquilous]

Yay! I'm now in BW OU instaed of DW

 

[Tobes]

Stop double posting, it's annoying.

Rotom-W should definitely replace Volcarona, and Hippowdon should NOT replace Tyranitar, because otherwise you become horribly weak to Drizzle teams.

Also I think you benefit more from a lure Landorus set:

Landorus @ Life Orb
Sand Force
Naive 0/252/0/4/0/252
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- HP Ice
- Rock Polish / U-turn

 

[Aquilous]

Sorry about that, and thanks for the rate, I'm currently trying the lure Landorus

 

[Aquilous]

Bump b4 I get Zs!

 

[krum]

You might want to put Pain Split on Rotom because he gets worn out very quickly, especially with the sand cancelling the leftovers. Also change Discharge to Thunderbolt because its more powerfull and the para hax from Discharge doesnt matter since you will be burning your opponents with Will-O-Wisp instead.

 

[Awmgnoob]

You should take u-turn off Landorus, SD and u-turn is useless and u-turning out will get rid of your boosts, i recommend putting sub, or you can have HP ice with a hasty nature with 4 SpAtk EVs. Also Psychic over shadow ball everyday of the week, you need that stab and tomb and sableye aren't really that common unless you REALLY feel the need to beat CM lati.

 

[Aquilous]

Tanks