In past generations of Pokemon I've typically always played in the OU tier. This generation's OU is not my favorite, so I've decided to venture into UU. However, I've had no experience with UU except for a few threads I read on the Smogon metagames section of this forum. This is my first Gen V UU team, and I'd appreciate any commentary, criticisms, and fixes.
Mienshao (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SAtk
Naive Nature
- Hi Jump Kick
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
I read about how much of a monster this Pokemon was, and decided to make it my physical sweeper instead of Heracross. It is the standard life orb set and it has served me extremely well. U-turn provides excellent scouting, and I love it in conjunction with Regenerator. I chose Regenerator over Reckless as a way to mitigate Life Orb recoil and entry hazard damage. I'd consider Reckless but I've had little issues getting KOs.
Snorlax (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 52 Def / 4 Spd / 200 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Return
- Earthquake
- Crunch
- Pursuit
I've always been a fan of Choice Band Snorlax. He can get switch ins on most special attacks, and then dish out a substantial amount of damage with a choice band Return. He can also trap and kill some of the weaker ghost types who could otherwise threaten to switch in on Mienshao's high jump kick. I've considered leftovers, but the Choice Band helps soften up enemy physical walls considerably which often allows Mienshao to sweep them up later on in the game.
Whimsicott (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature
- Encore
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Taunt
Whimsicott is probably the Pokemon I had the least amount of confidence in when building this team, if only because of its seemingly gimmicky nature and RU status. However, Whimsicott has more than pulled its own weight thus far. Taunt/Encore has shut many things down. Substitute and Leech Seed seems to annoy a significant amount of Pokemon in the metagame. Clever prediction has saved me from enemy sweeps by predicting the use of a recovery or stat up move. Less knowledgeable opponents don't seem to realize that their Pokemon with take Struggle damage if I taunt them after encoring a non-attacking move.
Cofagrigus (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Mummy
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature
- Haze
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
- Shadow Ball
I have Snorlax and Registeel on my team, so fighting type attacks are a nuisance. Cofagrigus is an answer to a large number of physical threats in the game, including Heracross and Meinshao. Haze provides an answer to stat-up opponents if Whimsicott is KO'ed or cannot afford a switch in. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical sweepers further. Cofagrigus is definitely crucial to this team right now.
Registeel @ Leftovers
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
- Seismic Toss
- Earthquake
To be perfectly honest, Registeel is the member of my team I am most likely to replace. He's pretty much just here to set up Stealth Rock. However, to his credit Thunder Wave has been useful and so has Seismic Toss damage. He also has significant special bulk, which helps my team deal with special attacks when Snorlax is down or would prefer to keep his HP up for later. That said, he also has a weakness to fighting attacks which means special based fighting attacks pose a huge threat to this team. If I were to replace him it would have to be for another Pokemon (preferably defensive and/or utility) with Stealth Rock.
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 84 Def / 176 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Flying]
Zapdos is the final member of my team and the most often forgotten. I've rarely had to switch him in for whatever reason. He provides a secondary answer to physical fighting attacks and ground based attacks. However, his weakness to rock means he isn't great at dealing with non-choiced Heracross and Mienshao due to their use of Stone Edge. Hidden Power [Flying] is subject to change, but it at least prevents those previously mentioned threats from switching in safely. Pressure has also been incredibly helpful with PP stalling certain moves on key enemy Pokemon.
Mienshao (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 SAtk
Naive Nature
- Hi Jump Kick
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
I read about how much of a monster this Pokemon was, and decided to make it my physical sweeper instead of Heracross. It is the standard life orb set and it has served me extremely well. U-turn provides excellent scouting, and I love it in conjunction with Regenerator. I chose Regenerator over Reckless as a way to mitigate Life Orb recoil and entry hazard damage. I'd consider Reckless but I've had little issues getting KOs.
Snorlax (M) @ Choice Band
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 52 Def / 4 Spd / 200 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Return
- Earthquake
- Crunch
- Pursuit
I've always been a fan of Choice Band Snorlax. He can get switch ins on most special attacks, and then dish out a substantial amount of damage with a choice band Return. He can also trap and kill some of the weaker ghost types who could otherwise threaten to switch in on Mienshao's high jump kick. I've considered leftovers, but the Choice Band helps soften up enemy physical walls considerably which often allows Mienshao to sweep them up later on in the game.
Whimsicott (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature
- Encore
- Leech Seed
- Substitute
- Taunt
Whimsicott is probably the Pokemon I had the least amount of confidence in when building this team, if only because of its seemingly gimmicky nature and RU status. However, Whimsicott has more than pulled its own weight thus far. Taunt/Encore has shut many things down. Substitute and Leech Seed seems to annoy a significant amount of Pokemon in the metagame. Clever prediction has saved me from enemy sweeps by predicting the use of a recovery or stat up move. Less knowledgeable opponents don't seem to realize that their Pokemon with take Struggle damage if I taunt them after encoring a non-attacking move.
Cofagrigus (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Mummy
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature
- Haze
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
- Shadow Ball
I have Snorlax and Registeel on my team, so fighting type attacks are a nuisance. Cofagrigus is an answer to a large number of physical threats in the game, including Heracross and Meinshao. Haze provides an answer to stat-up opponents if Whimsicott is KO'ed or cannot afford a switch in. Will-O-Wisp cripples physical sweepers further. Cofagrigus is definitely crucial to this team right now.
Registeel @ Leftovers
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
- Seismic Toss
- Earthquake
To be perfectly honest, Registeel is the member of my team I am most likely to replace. He's pretty much just here to set up Stealth Rock. However, to his credit Thunder Wave has been useful and so has Seismic Toss damage. He also has significant special bulk, which helps my team deal with special attacks when Snorlax is down or would prefer to keep his HP up for later. That said, he also has a weakness to fighting attacks which means special based fighting attacks pose a huge threat to this team. If I were to replace him it would have to be for another Pokemon (preferably defensive and/or utility) with Stealth Rock.
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 84 Def / 176 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Flying]
Zapdos is the final member of my team and the most often forgotten. I've rarely had to switch him in for whatever reason. He provides a secondary answer to physical fighting attacks and ground based attacks. However, his weakness to rock means he isn't great at dealing with non-choiced Heracross and Mienshao due to their use of Stone Edge. Hidden Power [Flying] is subject to change, but it at least prevents those previously mentioned threats from switching in safely. Pressure has also been incredibly helpful with PP stalling certain moves on key enemy Pokemon.