Introduction
Hello Smogon, I'm back again with another team that I've been trying and testing over the last month or so. With the nature of Black and White 2, I haven’t made a whole lot of teams that I enjoy using, mainly down to how the metagame is, it’s literally impossible to check everything. The teambuilding process for this team started a couple months back when Garchomp was being suspected – I made a team around Choice Band Garchomp with the same five other Pokemon as this team, but I didn’t have a whole lot of success with it. The next suspect was Kyurem-B, who was somewhat similar to Garchomp, but had all the qualities I was looking for. Reliable recovery, better bulk, potential stallbreaker and the ability to run a much more effective defensive set. After my introduction to Kyurem-B, I picked up the team again and tested it with Kyurem in place of Garchomp. I don’t play nearly as much as I used to, but the team still seemed to work really nicely. The results I got were pretty good, with a record of 46-4 between the PO and PS! ladders.
As for the team itself, it’s a Rain balance build that matches up pretty well against the other weathers. The team works by getting up hazards quickly through Tentacruel and Bronzong, and then using either Kyurem-B or the supporting sweepers to deal with your opponent’s team. Kyurem can usually break through most common defensive cores, or at least damage them to the point when Landorus and Volcarona can break through them, and at that point I’ve found as a pair they are incredibly difficult to stop. The defensive core of Tentacruel and Bronzong also works well alongside them, while providing Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin support, which is crucial for keeping Kyurem and Volcarona healthy. Politoed completes the team, bringing the Rain for Volcarona, as well as mitigating the threat of opposing weather to an extent. As for the team name, it was inspired by the band It's Alive, and their album Human Resources – listen to it here.
Under the Microscope
POLITOED @
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 SAtk | 4 SDef | 252 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe, -Atk)
Moveset: Surf | Hydro Pump | Ice Beam | Perish Song
For a team with Kyurem and Volcarona, I needed a spinner in Tentacruel. For Tentacruel to function to full effect, I needed the support that Politoed brings. It allows me to spin much easier and keep Tentacruel alive throughout the match. As for the actual role that Politoed performs on the team, it is pretty much the catch all scarfer on this team. I strongly believe that every team, regardless of the composition, should have a scarfer. With the offensive nature of Black and White 2, you're never really going to have answers for everything, and a scarfer gives the team additional insurance for speed boosting Pokemon that can break through Tentacruel / Politoed. Politoed revenges Dragons when Bronzong is weakened and cannot switch-in, while also being able to slaughter opposing offensive teams that usually only carry one or two water resists. Rain boosted water attacks is really nothing to laugh at, as Politoed is still heavily denting water resists chipping them away for Landorus and Volcarona.
Not only does Politoed bring the weather, but the secondary function and a big plus of using Politoed is to act as a deterrent to opposing weather. While everyone describes Rain as the most potent weather, I'd argue this team really doesn't have too much trouble against Rain, but moreso Sand and even worse Sun. Politoed is there to apply immediate pressure on Ninetales / Venusaur, and just makes Sun as a playstyle a lot easier to play around, given that I commonly see people using Sun teams with their only water resist in Venusaur. Politoed also has access to Perish Song, which is really nice for this team in particular. When I have two incredibly potent sweepers waiting for a safe setup opportunity, Perish Song can grant me that opportunity consistently. It forces switches allowing me to bring in Landorus or Volcarona and pretty much always get a free turn of setup. Often only one turn of setup is all they really need to sweep entire teams, and can turn a bad situation into an easy win condition very quickly.
BRONZONG @
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP | 8 Atk | 248 SDef
Nature: Sassy (+SDef, -Spe)
Moveset: Gyro Ball | Hidden Power [Ice] | Earthquake | Stealth Rock
Bronzong fills the role of the Steel type on the team, and my main switch to Dragonite, Salamence and the pesky Lati@s. Under Rain, Bronzong handles all of these pretty easily, buffering the Dragon moves and eating up the Fire moves nicely too. For a team that isn't ridiculously offensive, I quite often need all my team members alive, and I can't risk losing a team member early on to a Dragon move. Bronzong is there to make sure that happens, while performing a really solid defensive partnership when combined with Tentacruel. Bronzong is the Special counterpart of this partnership, being able to switch-in to most special attackers in the tier. Being able to beat stuff like Substitute Calm Mind Jirachi and Rock Polish Landorus is also huge, as otherwise they pose pretty big threats outside of checking them with Politoed.
Bronzong's integral role on this team however is the Stealth Rock that it provides, wearing down those Dragonites and acting as a detriment to offensive teams that try to break through the defensive core Bronzong forms with Tentacruel. Ferrothorn used to be in this spot, but I changed over as I desperately needed an answer for Substitute Calm Mind Jirachi and opposing Kyurem-B. However, Bronzong is probably the member of the team I have been least impressed by. It proves to be very inconsistent, as some matches I flat out fail to get up Stealth Rock up, and other matches turned into complete setup fodder. Unfortunately there are not too many Pokemon that can perform that role, and be able to beat the multitude of threats that I rely on Bronzong to do, such as Choiced Kyurem-B, any variant of Gliscor, Alakazam, Latios and many more.
TENTACRUEL @
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs: 248 HP | 212 Def | 48 Spe
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
Moveset: Scald | Rapid Spin | Toxic | Protect
Next up is Tentacruel, who completes the defensive partnership alongside Bronzong. Tentacruel is the team's Rapid Spinner, making life a lot easier for Kyurem-B and Volcarona who may need to continually switch-in many times in a match. Tentacruel is also the Physical counterpart of the defensive partnership, as is my main switch for the many strong physical attackers in the tier such as Scizor and Terrakion, both of which are extremely threatening to this team when Tentacruel is gone, as I more or less have to rely on them being Choiced. I have considered running a little investment in Special Attack to handle Swords Dance Scizor better. This becomes especially important because in most matches I really need to keep Tentacruel healthy at all times. Against more defensive teams, I may need to spin more than once in a match, and that is where the extra health comes in handy. Protect + Rain Dish + Leftovers is usually enough, though, although a lack of reliable recovery really hurts Tentacruel.
After trying the Substitute Toxic and Protect Toxic Spikes sets, I decided to combine the two and the result was really impressive. Tentacruel's defensive typing is really good in this metagame, given the number of Rain Spam teams carrying multiple Pokemon spamming Hydro Pump and the number of physical fighting types in OU, Tentacruel has a lot of opportunities to switch in and rack up more health. The typing Tentacruel has also means it can force a lot of switches, which is great for catching something like a Latias or Tyranitar on the switch, who try to get in for free on the Protect. For a team with a lack of Toxic Spikes and little status elsewhere, Toxic is really nice to cripple Tentacruel switch-ins over the long run in a battle. Even stuff like Starmie and Celebi is eventually forced out by Toxic, which may be enough to get a free Substitute with Kyurem or a free turn of setup for Landorus or Volcarona. Tentacruel is the best spinner in the entire game, and synergizes brilliantly with the rest of the team -- in general it makes executing a sweep a lot easier.
KYUREM-B @
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 248 HP | 76 Def | 148 SDef | 36 Spe
Nature: Sassy (+SDef, -Spe)
Moveset: Ice Beam | Dragon Tail | Substitute | Roost
Introducing the beast, Kyurem-B. I'm really not a fan of Black and White 2, but Kyurem really is incredible in this metagame. A perfect blend of bulk and it has all it really needs within its movepool, Kyurem-B performs the stallbreaker role on this team. Even without investment, Kyurem still hits damn hard, hitting most Pokemon for 30% with Dragon Tail, and with an extra 12% with Stealth Rock, it quickly racks up. Kyurem doesn't perform the stallbreaker role by simply breaking through defensive cores, it performs that by being literally unkillable for most stall teams that don't carry some offensive presence. If you can't phaze it out or status it, I can promise you that you'll have a lot of trouble getting rid of Kyurem. The moveset might look weird, but it definitely has its merits. Substitute and Roost helps to outstall a lot of common stuff, namely choice users who don't want to switch out and lose momentum. Dragon Tail is there to force out Steels like Skarmory who will try to phaze you out, but Skarmory is never beating this Kyurem set. Ice Beam is there for Gliscor who I despise, while also there so I don't have to rely on Dragon Tail to deal with Dragons. Between Ice Beam and Dragon Tail, you still do a considerable amount to stuff like Skarmory / Chansey with hazards up, which is nice because Chansey is otherwise walling Landorus and Volcarona if it has Toxic.
In a metagame where Rain Spam teams are everywhere, Kyurem-B has a very nice niche. I'd argue that out of all the Dragons, it can perform the best defensive role. The fact Kyurem doesn't even need to invest to hit hard is just a testament alone to how good this thing is. As for the EVs, the HP EVs give a Stealth Rock number, as well as giving huge Substitutes. 76 Defense means Specs Keldeo will never OHKO Kyurem with Secret Sword, while the extra bulk in general is nice for avoiding paralysis from Jirachi who can't break your Substitute with Body Slam. 36 Speed allows Kyurem to outspeed Specially Defensive Rotom-W that run 4 or 8 Speed EVs, so you can Substitute up and avoid Will-O-Wisp which is huge. The rest goes into Special Defense, and with a Sassy Nature, the monstrous bulk that Kyurem has becomes quickly notable. Being able to beat stuff like offensive Politoed, Starmie and a multitude of other Special Attackers is crazy, especially for a Pokemon that hits incredibly hard when running an offensive set. Honestly, just try this thing, it's so good.
VOLCARONA @
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP | 160 Def | 32 SAtk | 44 SDef | 24 Spe
Nature: Timid (+Spe -Atk)
Moveset: Quiver Dance | Hurricane | Bug Buzz | Roost
While Kyurem-B might be the star of this team, Volcarona is not much far behind. I used Volcarona a little in Black and White 1, but I never really liked it that much. The crippling Stealth Rock weakness didn't appeal to me, and being forced to give up a team-slot to run a spinner seemed like a bit of waste. I tried Volcarona again alongside a spinner in Tentacruel, who [imo] is the best spinner in the game, and I absolutely loved it. I tried the onsite bulky spread, but combined it with the Rain Volcarona set, to make some sort of hybrid set that I haven't seen anyone else use. If there was one Pokemon that performs consistently in every match, then Volcarona would be that Pokemon. I really cannot emphasise how good this thing is. You might think that Volcarona in Rain isn't all that special, but it is much more than that. Being able to set up on Breloom, Scizor, choiced locked Terrakion, Ferrothorn, Tentacruel and so much more seems like it compensates for that Stealth Rock weakness.
The EVs might look a little confusing, so I'll explain them. 248 HP gives a Stealth Rock number, enough to switch into them twice should Tentacruel not be able to spin. 32 Special Attack is to OHKO offensive Tyranitar at +1, while 44 Special Defense means you're never 2HKO'd by Expert Belt Thundurus-T, while avoiding the OHKO from Specs Latios, both of which you can setup on and outspeed after a Quiver Dance. 24 Speed goes into outspeeding Scarf base 130s at +2, while also speed creeping stuff like Agility Thundurus-T and Rain Dance Kingdra. Volcarona also provides me with some insurance against Sun Teams that don't carry Heatran, as Volcarona is one of the few offensive checks to Venusaur and other Chlorophyll abusers in OU.
LANDORUS @
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 40 HP | 252 SAtk | 216 Spe
Nature: Modest (+SAtk, -Atk)
Moveset: Earth Power | Focus Blast | Hidden Power [Ice] | Rock Polish
Completing the team is Landorus, probably the best sweeper in the Overused Metagame right now, and probably the best that I've ever used. A combination of great offensive typing, movepool, stats and an excellent ability in Sheer Force, all make Landorus a phenomenal sweeper. In so many games, all I've needed is to get prior damage on one Pokemon, or to just get Stealth Rock up to sweep entire teams after a Rock Polish. To be honest, you might not even need to Rock Polish to get past certain threats. One of the dangers of playing against Landorus is the minimal number of "counters" it has. Usually all of its main counters don't appreciate switching into one of Landorus' coverage moves, which makes it even harder to play around. The combination of Landorus and Volcarona offensively is brilliant. The Pokemon that can actually claim to beat Landorus are usually handled pretty easily by Volcarona, [Celebi, Latias, Cresselia].
EVs may look weird, but I wanted the power from Modest, while still being able to outspeed other Modest Landorus that run like 180 something speed. 40 HP is a nice little investment for some bulk, while giving me a Life Orb number should it ever come down to spamming Hidden Power [Ice]. A nice immunity to Thunder Wave and Spikes is also good, not that Landorus really minds the damage as it isn't taking Life Orb recoil, but there are literally no bad points about Landorus as a sweeper. In terms of the power, there's no reason to choose any other late game sweeper in this spot. With Sheer Force and Life Orb you're already hitting over 700 Special Attack upon switching in, which is enough to straight up OHKO some of Landorus' most common checks such as Keldeo, Scizor, Starmie after Stealth Rock which makes Landorus the ultimate sweeper.
Threat List
Conclusion
I never really liked Black and White 2, but this team has made it fun for me to play Pokemon again. This will probably be the final good team I make before the arrival of XY, but I probably won't be using this team for a little while as it can get quite stale quickly. Also want to say thanks to all the RMT guys who make Smogon a fun place to be. Also thanks to Gimmick and Bri for being cute. Thanks for reading!
Importable
Politoed (F) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Perish Song
Bronzong @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 8 Atk / 248 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
Kyurem-B @ Leftovers
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 248 HP / 76 Def / 148 SDef / 36 Spd
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Ice Beam
- Dragon Tail
- Substitute
- Roost
Tentacruel (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Rain Dish
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Toxic
- Rapid Spin
- Protect
Volcarona (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 160 Def / 32 SAtk / 44 SDef / 24 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Quiver Dance
- Hurricane
- Bug Buzz
- Roost
Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SAtk / 216 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Focus Blast
- Rock Polish
Trait: Drizzle
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Perish Song
Bronzong @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 8 Atk / 248 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
Kyurem-B @ Leftovers
Trait: Teravolt
EVs: 248 HP / 76 Def / 148 SDef / 36 Spd
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Ice Beam
- Dragon Tail
- Substitute
- Roost
Tentacruel (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Rain Dish
EVs: 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Toxic
- Rapid Spin
- Protect
Volcarona (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 248 HP / 160 Def / 32 SAtk / 44 SDef / 24 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Quiver Dance
- Hurricane
- Bug Buzz
- Roost
Landorus (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SAtk / 216 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Focus Blast
- Rock Polish