TEAM AT A GLANCE
BACKGROUND:
I've always liked the idea of UU better than OU, since there's so much more variety in UU. The main purpose of this team is to get Lopunny to Baton Pass an Agility (or 2) to either Medicham or Roserade for the sweep. Along the way, the rest of them weaken the opponents to a point that makes it a lot easier to finish off the opponent's team. After a couple of revisions, this team began winning a good portion of its battles. Nevertheless, I know that it just isn't perfect yet, and I hope to make it better with your comments! Credit for pictures goes to Arkeis and PokemonElite2000. As for the title: "Sharing the Pain" is an ironic reference to Minun's Passing.
CHANGES ARE IN BLUE.
THE POKEMON:
LEAD:
Ambipom @ Life Orb
Technician
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Fake Out
- U-Turn
- Pursuit
- Return
ROLE: Scout
DESCRIPTION: Ambipom serves mainly as a scout. This set is the standard "Flinch and Flee" set with a slight change. It has Leftovers instead of the standard Life Orb or Silk Scarf. I didn't like the notion of taking 10% of damage after simply using Fake Out, nor did I want to spend my item boosting just one attack. Ambipom has come on top against many leads with a simple strategy. Fake Out first, and then either U-Turn to a better matchup if needed or deal some pain to your opponent with Brick Break or Payback.
I have since revamped Ambipom. Life Orb in place of Leftovers to deal more damage, Pursuit since it serves the same purpose as Payback (only better), and Return for STAB.
SUPPORTERS:
Registeel @ Leftovers
Clear Body
252 HP/100 Atk/158 SpD
Careful nature (+SpD, -SpA)
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Thunder Wave
- Stealth Rock
ROLE: Entry hazards, Wall
DESCRIPTION: Omastar is usually used as sacrifice fodder, but not before it sets up several layers of entry hazards. In fact, it can often set up all three layers of Spikes and Stealth Rock before getting killed. Knock Off is there to hinder both your opponent's walls and sweepers alike by nullifying their Life Orb, Leftovers, Choice item, etc. And lastly, Surf is there for STAB. This set often surprises those expecting an offensive variant.
Registeel replaces Omastar because of better typing and defenses. It loses Spikes, but gets a bevy of replacements. Thunder Wave is a multipurpose move. It allows Registeel to get a SR up safely, lets Iron Head flinch opponents, and lets Minun Baton Pass Nasty Plot and Agility safely.
Minun @ Focus Sash
Minus
252 HP/252 Spd/4 SpA
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass
- Agility
- Thunderbolt
ROLE: Agility + Nasty Plot Passing
DESCRIPTION: Ah yes, everybody's favorite bunny. This is, at first glance, a standard set, but its item makes all the difference. I didn't like putting either Liechi or Petaya Berry on Lopunny, since that would restrict me to passing to just Medicham or just Roserade. Instead, I put a Sash on, guaranteeing that I'd get at least one Agility before Passing. In an atmosphere where entry hazards are rarer, this strategy works quite well. Agility is the key of this set. After just one Agility, Lopunny outspeeds just about anything. Agility serves two purposes, the first being the obvious Pass. The second one is being able to Encore a slower foe into a useless move like Rain Dance. Return is for STAB and for having an attack to use after your sweeping rampage ends and/or Lopunny is too weak to keep Passing.
Lopunny has been replaced by Minun as the Passer. With both Agility and Nasty Plot, Minun can serve either the original purpose of passing Agility to Medicham or the new, improved method of passing both Agility and Nasty Plot to Roserade. Coupled with Registeel's T-Wave, Minun can safely Agility, Nasty Plot, and then Pass to Roserade without getting killed. If need be, Minun can also damage the opponent a bit with Thunderbolt before fleeing to safety. Minun was picked over Plusle since defense is more important than offense in this set.
Uxie @ Leftovers
Levitate
240 HP/252 Spe/16 SpA
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Reflect
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
ROLE: Reflect, Wall, Backup Special Sweeper
DESCRIPTION: A highly modified version of the Support Sweeper Uxie. Since the EV's in that set were specifically made for certain OU purposes, I changed it up for UU purposes. Even with no Defense or SpD investment, Uxie is quite bulky, and it usually gets up both Reflect and Calm Mind with minimal damage. Uxie is a very effective wall, and the strategy is simple. Calm Mind up and Reflect as needed. After you're safe defensively, you can begin to rampage through your opponent with boosted Thunderbolts and Psychics. In fact, I've gotten four Calm Minds in before during multiple occasions. Its main weaknesses are status conditions like Burn or Poison, but Uxie is usually so boosted by then that you can often severely dent or faint out a couple of your opponent's Pokemon on the way out.
SWEEPERS:
Medicham @ Life Orb
Pure Power
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Brick Break
- Psycho Cut
- Fire Punch
- Thunderpunch
ROLE: Physical sweeper
DESCRIPTION: Basically, this is a Choice Scarf set without a Choice Scarf. I didn't like getting locked into one move on such a powerful Pokemon, so I went with Life Orb instead. Between Life Orb, Adamant nature, and Pure Power, you have a hell of a monster. Ideally, Lopunny's passed Agility takes the place of Choice Scarf so you have both more power and more speed than the Scarf set. Brick Break and Psycho Cut are there for STAB, and both of quite effective secondary effects. Ice Punch and Thunderpunch round out your type coverage. This thing severely dents anything that doesn't resist it, and even a few things that do.
Fire Punch in place of Ice Punch, since Fire Punch provides better coverage in my opinion.
I've always liked the idea of UU better than OU, since there's so much more variety in UU. The main purpose of this team is to get Lopunny to Baton Pass an Agility (or 2) to either Medicham or Roserade for the sweep. Along the way, the rest of them weaken the opponents to a point that makes it a lot easier to finish off the opponent's team. After a couple of revisions, this team began winning a good portion of its battles. Nevertheless, I know that it just isn't perfect yet, and I hope to make it better with your comments! Credit for pictures goes to Arkeis and PokemonElite2000. As for the title: "Sharing the Pain" is an ironic reference to Minun's Passing.
CHANGES ARE IN BLUE.
THE POKEMON:
LEAD:
Ambipom @ Life Orb
Technician
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Jolly nature (+Spe, -SpA)
- Fake Out
- U-Turn
- Pursuit
- Return
ROLE: Scout
DESCRIPTION: Ambipom serves mainly as a scout. This set is the standard "Flinch and Flee" set with a slight change. It has Leftovers instead of the standard Life Orb or Silk Scarf. I didn't like the notion of taking 10% of damage after simply using Fake Out, nor did I want to spend my item boosting just one attack. Ambipom has come on top against many leads with a simple strategy. Fake Out first, and then either U-Turn to a better matchup if needed or deal some pain to your opponent with Brick Break or Payback.
I have since revamped Ambipom. Life Orb in place of Leftovers to deal more damage, Pursuit since it serves the same purpose as Payback (only better), and Return for STAB.
SUPPORTERS:
Registeel @ Leftovers
Clear Body
252 HP/100 Atk/158 SpD
Careful nature (+SpD, -SpA)
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Thunder Wave
- Stealth Rock
ROLE: Entry hazards, Wall
DESCRIPTION: Omastar is usually used as sacrifice fodder, but not before it sets up several layers of entry hazards. In fact, it can often set up all three layers of Spikes and Stealth Rock before getting killed. Knock Off is there to hinder both your opponent's walls and sweepers alike by nullifying their Life Orb, Leftovers, Choice item, etc. And lastly, Surf is there for STAB. This set often surprises those expecting an offensive variant.
Registeel replaces Omastar because of better typing and defenses. It loses Spikes, but gets a bevy of replacements. Thunder Wave is a multipurpose move. It allows Registeel to get a SR up safely, lets Iron Head flinch opponents, and lets Minun Baton Pass Nasty Plot and Agility safely.
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Minun @ Focus Sash
Minus
252 HP/252 Spd/4 SpA
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass
- Agility
- Thunderbolt
ROLE: Agility + Nasty Plot Passing
DESCRIPTION: Ah yes, everybody's favorite bunny. This is, at first glance, a standard set, but its item makes all the difference. I didn't like putting either Liechi or Petaya Berry on Lopunny, since that would restrict me to passing to just Medicham or just Roserade. Instead, I put a Sash on, guaranteeing that I'd get at least one Agility before Passing. In an atmosphere where entry hazards are rarer, this strategy works quite well. Agility is the key of this set. After just one Agility, Lopunny outspeeds just about anything. Agility serves two purposes, the first being the obvious Pass. The second one is being able to Encore a slower foe into a useless move like Rain Dance. Return is for STAB and for having an attack to use after your sweeping rampage ends and/or Lopunny is too weak to keep Passing.
Lopunny has been replaced by Minun as the Passer. With both Agility and Nasty Plot, Minun can serve either the original purpose of passing Agility to Medicham or the new, improved method of passing both Agility and Nasty Plot to Roserade. Coupled with Registeel's T-Wave, Minun can safely Agility, Nasty Plot, and then Pass to Roserade without getting killed. If need be, Minun can also damage the opponent a bit with Thunderbolt before fleeing to safety. Minun was picked over Plusle since defense is more important than offense in this set.
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Uxie @ Leftovers
Levitate
240 HP/252 Spe/16 SpA
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Reflect
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Psychic
ROLE: Reflect, Wall, Backup Special Sweeper
DESCRIPTION: A highly modified version of the Support Sweeper Uxie. Since the EV's in that set were specifically made for certain OU purposes, I changed it up for UU purposes. Even with no Defense or SpD investment, Uxie is quite bulky, and it usually gets up both Reflect and Calm Mind with minimal damage. Uxie is a very effective wall, and the strategy is simple. Calm Mind up and Reflect as needed. After you're safe defensively, you can begin to rampage through your opponent with boosted Thunderbolts and Psychics. In fact, I've gotten four Calm Minds in before during multiple occasions. Its main weaknesses are status conditions like Burn or Poison, but Uxie is usually so boosted by then that you can often severely dent or faint out a couple of your opponent's Pokemon on the way out.
SWEEPERS:
Medicham @ Life Orb
Pure Power
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Brick Break
- Psycho Cut
- Fire Punch
- Thunderpunch
ROLE: Physical sweeper
DESCRIPTION: Basically, this is a Choice Scarf set without a Choice Scarf. I didn't like getting locked into one move on such a powerful Pokemon, so I went with Life Orb instead. Between Life Orb, Adamant nature, and Pure Power, you have a hell of a monster. Ideally, Lopunny's passed Agility takes the place of Choice Scarf so you have both more power and more speed than the Scarf set. Brick Break and Psycho Cut are there for STAB, and both of quite effective secondary effects. Ice Punch and Thunderpunch round out your type coverage. This thing severely dents anything that doesn't resist it, and even a few things that do.
Fire Punch in place of Ice Punch, since Fire Punch provides better coverage in my opinion.
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Roserade @ Life Orb
Natural Cure
252 Spe/252 SpA/4 SpD
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Energy Ball
- HP Fire
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
ROLE: Special sweeper
DESCRIPTION: Once again, this is a Choice Scarf variant minus the Choice Scarf. You outrun everything and then some with Timid and one Agility. Energy Ball is chosen over Leaf Storm and Seed Flare. Leaf Storm's -2 SpA drop is quite a turnoff for something that requires an Agility Pass, and Energy Ball's 10% chance of a SpD drop is appealing. The rest of the stuff is for type coverage. HP Fire hurts Steels, Shadow Ball hits Ghosts and Psychics, and Sludge Bomb is for secondary STAB.
So, what do you think? I'm open to all opinions! Thank you in advance for spending the time to rate this team! Also looking for someone to help me with a Threats list.
EDITS:
Roserade @ Life Orb
Natural Cure
252 Spe/252 SpA/4 SpD
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Energy Ball
- HP Fire
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb
ROLE: Special sweeper
DESCRIPTION: Once again, this is a Choice Scarf variant minus the Choice Scarf. You outrun everything and then some with Timid and one Agility. Energy Ball is chosen over Leaf Storm and Seed Flare. Leaf Storm's -2 SpA drop is quite a turnoff for something that requires an Agility Pass, and Energy Ball's 10% chance of a SpD drop is appealing. The rest of the stuff is for type coverage. HP Fire hurts Steels, Shadow Ball hits Ghosts and Psychics, and Sludge Bomb is for secondary STAB.
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So, what do you think? I'm open to all opinions! Thank you in advance for spending the time to rate this team! Also looking for someone to help me with a Threats list.
EDITS:
- April 3rd: Replaced Lopunny+Omastar with Minun+Registeel; revised Ambipom and Medicham.