5th Gen REDUX: Hex/Venoshock

[Flint Lockwood]

Hello guys, It's been I believe over a year since I last posted a team, and the last team I posted was an overall huge success. I decided to post the team I made again, along with all the changes I've done to it (new moves/new pokemon) And I'd appreciate it if you guys would rate it again :) [NOTE: Forgive me for ponies, I can't resist]

EDIT: I will add that since I have taken a break from OU for about a year, the team could be slightly outdated, though I don't believe so. I have been keeping up with the theorymon and I understand the current meta, but forgive me if my team seems "rusty" almost. Also, I'm working on expanding descriptions and adding a few more touches to make the team prettier to look at, work is taking up a lot of time, however

OVERVIEW:

It's how I roll​

STRATEGY:​

The strategy is simple in base form, but it requires very passive play in the beginning, and transists from a soft-stall of sorts to a full sweep. Gengar is my main focus, sweeping crippled foes with it's STAB Hex/Venoshock. Now of course a Pokemon relying on status needs very heavy support, and I provide it with a TSpikes Nidoqueen, Bulky Porygon2 and a bulky Sigilyph, each spreading poison/paralysis/burn, respectively. The idea is to not be completely locked out by a pokemon immune to a certain status, for example Heatran, who is not affected by poison or burns. To round out the team I have included two setup Pokemon, Cloyster and Scrafty, both of who cover weaknesses and find easy ways to swap in and begin their setup.​

THE TEAM:​

Nidoqueen @ Black Sludge
Sheer Force
Bold
252 HP, 252 Def, 4 SpD
-Earth Power
-Toxic Spikes
-Flamethrower
-Ice Beam​

I plan to lead with Nidoqueen most of the time to send out my Spikes ASAP.That's her main role and I gave her the bulk to do so. With Sheer Force on she hits pretty hard actually (also it's the reason you won't find Venoshock on this set, since it's boost is cancelled out) The rest of her moveset is just general coverage and a STAB attack, but it works wonders. I opted not to use a phazing move since I'm not using my Spikes defensively, and as they're not my only status, I chose instead for more lead coverage.​

Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Trace
Bold
252 HP, 184 Def, 72 SpD
-Thunderbolt
-Ice Beam
-Recover
-Thunder Wave​

Porygon2 is probably one of my favorite pokemon, I used him in 4th genand he did work. I feel almost like giving P2 the option of Eviolite is broken, as he's now stupidly bulky and a great anti meta Pokemon (as least from a 4th gen sense) He's a great dragon killer, and he stops the likes of Gyarados and Heatran, while giving many others problems with paralysis. It's the standard P2 set, but it works wonders. I went with the more defensive set, as I feel that P2's job is to take out what he counters with Trace, and seeing as he hits most of them x4, he doesn't need the power (also having your "tank" use Tri Attack is silly IMO)​

Sigilyph @ Flame Orb
Magic Guard
Timid
252 HP, 16 Def, 240 Spe
-Psycho Shift
-Roost
-Cosmic Power
-Stored Power​

So this guy used to be Gliscor who used to be Jellicent. Originally went with Jellicent but Breloom gave me some issues in team testing, so I tried out Gliscor, and really missed the burn. I like the idea of Sigilyph, and the set can be surprisingly frustrating after just one or two turns of Cosmic Power. Sigilyph rounds out the team and he's a ton of fun to use, to boot. He actually stalls out harder than P2 can, and he does it while hitting hard in the process. Overall I think Sigilyph is a very underrated Pokemon, who can do plenty for a team.​

Cloyster @ White Herb
Skill Link
Naive
252 Att, 208 Spe, 48 HP
-Icicle Spear
-Shell Smash
-Rock Blast
-Hydro Pump​

Standard mixed Cloyster. Now what most people don't realize is, is that Focus Sash on Cloyster is absolutely worthless, and I don't understand why people still run it. IMO White Herb is a completely superior option, as it let's be get a free +2 Att/Sp.A/Spe boost with no defense drop. Overall still a standard set, he gets in and gets it done. I actually opted for the hybrid set because I bred a Naive Shellder before a Jolly one, since I didn't have too much of a preference. I'm happy with my choice, though.​

Scrafty @ Leftovers
Shed Skin
Careful
252 HP, 248 SpD, 8 Att
-Drain Punch
-Bulk Up
-Crunch
-Rest​

Used to be Conkeldurr (hurrdurr) but he didn't do much. Scrafty helps out on my team more and is much more fun to use. Another standard smogon set, I use Crunch over Payback though because it's only like 10 less base power and not everyone will try to head on attack Scrafty anyway. Standard annoyance set (that's pretty much this team's theme, if you think about it) As he just Bulks and sleeps it off. Overall he's worked much better than Conkeldurr and I'm happy with this change, as well.​

Gengar @ Life Orb
Levitate
Timid
252 SpA, 252 Spe, 4 HP
-Hex
-Venoshock
-Thunderbolt
-Focus Blast/HP Ground/HP Fighting
The star of the team. Gengar hits just as hard this Gen as he did last, and he got plenty of new toys to play with. He's the only Pokemon in the game to get STAB on both Hex and Venoshock, so he was a perfect fit onto my team. It's pretty obvious why I have Hex and Venoshock, Focus Blast gives me that perfect coverage (at least I believe it's still perfect in 5th gen) and Thunderbolt is really there to KO Gyarados and other Flying Types. Also as a plus note, Gengar acts as a spinblocker, so TSpikes can stay out while he's sweeping.​

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS:​

Breloom/Heatran​

these two Pokemon's names keep popping up, and they'd be my two biggest "issues", Heatran because of the status inflictions he resists, and Breloom because he turns my poison against me. I have ways to work around both with mostly no prob (Gengar deals with both, Scrafty can take Heatran, Sigilyph stops Breloom.​

IN SHORT:​

That's the team! Thanks for reading through it (while dealing with ponies) I appreciate all rates (though I appreciate them more if they're well written and intelligent, hint hint. Please feel free to nitpick at your heart's content!​

 

[Jimbon]

Hi Flint,

This is a very interesting team you have here. I have not seen many other teams utilizing hazards to maximize the damage output of Hex / Venoshock. As you have outlined previously, two big threats are Heatran and Breloom. What I also noticed was the weakness to Offense teams in Dream World. With a lot of Sandstorm teams running around, Excadrill and friends look like they will have a field day with this team. What I suggest to help solve this issue is to use a Sand Veil Gliscor over your Sigilyph.

Sand Veil Gliscor

Gliscor (M) @ Flying Gem
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Earthquake
- Acrobatics

Gliscor does a number of things for your team. It helps you check very common Sandstorm teams which can cause problems for your team, helps keep similar synergy as before as well as outspeeding and OHKO'ing Breloom and Heatran, both of which you mentioned were problematic to face. Gliscor also gives you a more offensive mon for your team over Sigilyph, which helps to combat against defensively based teams, especially since Scrafty needs a Bulk Up or two before it can do anything, (fails to 2HKO Chansey!) You can mess around with the HP EVs to outspeed Timid Heatran or something, but I think this spread will work regardless.

If you choose to go with the changes I've proposed, it will relieve a lot more of the pressure on Cloyster and Scrafty to deal with Special walls, which were something I found to be a problem for this team. I would recommend changing Cloyster to a more defensive variant. A spread of 248 HP / 84 Atk / 176 Def and Rapid Spin > Hydro Pump would work the best. You might want to try Spikes aswell over another moveslot to put opposing threats into KO range for Gengar, who generally needs support because it is so frail. Cloyster has a lot of bulk, while still maintaining offensive power which provides good support for the rest of your team.

 

[Flint Lockwood]

Hi Flint,

This is a very interesting team you have here. I have not seen many other teams utilizing hazards to maximize the damage output of Hex / Venoshock. As you have outlined previously, two big threats are Heatran and Breloom. What I also noticed was the weakness to Offense teams in Dream World. With a lot of Sandstorm teams running around, Excadrill and friends look like they will have a field day with this team. What I suggest to help solve this issue is to use a Sand Veil Gliscor over your Sigilyph.

Sand Veil Gliscor

Gliscor (M) @ Flying Gem
Trait: Sand Veil
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
- Earthquake
- Acrobatics

Gliscor does a number of things for your team. It helps you check very common Sandstorm teams which can cause problems for your team, helps keep similar synergy as before as well as outspeeding and OHKO'ing Breloom and Heatran, both of which you mentioned were problematic to face. Gliscor also gives you a more offensive mon for your team over Sigilyph, which helps to combat against defensively based teams, especially since Scrafty needs a Bulk Up or two before it can do anything, (fails to 2HKO Chansey!) You can mess around with the HP EVs to outspeed Timid Heatran or something, but I think this spread will work regardless.

If you choose to go with the changes I've proposed, it will relieve a lot more of the pressure on Cloyster and Scrafty to deal with Special walls, which were something I found to be a problem for this team. I would recommend changing Cloyster to a more defensive variant. A spread of 248 HP / 84 Atk / 176 Def and Rapid Spin > Hydro Pump would work the best. You might want to try Spikes aswell over another moveslot to put opposing threats into KO range for Gengar, who generally needs support because it is so frail. Cloyster has a lot of bulk, while still maintaining offensive power which provides good support for the rest of your team.

Thank you for the rate :)

I really like the EV spread you suggested for Cloyster, and I think I will end up using it, however I think I will end up keeping Hydro Pump, as it was one of my ways of defeating Heatran in the first place.

With that said, in one of the original versions of my team I indeed had Gliscor over Sigilyph, haha (He has also been Jellicent at one point) That spot has always been iffy because I have to sacrifice one thing for something else, in the case of choosing Gliscor, I lose reliable burning, something I truly don't want to sacrifice. I suppose it's too much to ask for a Pokemon that can counter Breloom, Heatran and cause burns, haha. I also only bothered trying Poison Heal Gliscors, so I'll experiment with your Sand Veil variant, but as I said I consider the burn chance vital for the team.

As a final note, I've actually never had too many problems with offensive santstorm teams, Cloyster handles himself quite well, as does Scrafty, and with certain Pokemon, they just can't take Life Orb + Toxic damage while trying to KO Scrafty or Sigilyph. Admittedely if Landorus gets in before I can set up with Cloyster, I could have issues, but I can also work around him with P2/Sigilyph.

Once again thank you for the rate and the suggested changes :)

 

[Flint Lockwood]

buming, I'd like to get some more imput :)

 

[Flint Lockwood]

I'd like to bump once more, since I feel this team is floating down the front page with little rating done, so if anyone has any suggestions please let me know

 

[Episode36]

Suns teams with Chlorophyll boosters look like they really do a number on this team, especially Venusaur/Victreebel. If your Cloyster is unable to set up against a sun team, then you're screwed, as you have no real defense against them. Maybe try implementing Air Balloon Heatran somewhere, or another Sun team check? I would think that replacing one of your 3 boosting Pokemon would be the first place to start.

Speaking of your boosting Pokemon, only one can be the last Pokemon. Phazers also do a number on this team, as well as common taunt/encore users such as Gliscor, Sableye, Whimsicott, etc, etc. How do you deal with them, especially when they have a spinner, most likely Tentacruel, who absorbs your TS? Not to mention Quagsire also essentially sweeps your team with the SpD + Curse variety. Only Gengar can hope to kill him, really.

I do like the idea, and the Gengar set with team support. I really do like it. There are a lot of threats to the team, though, especially with 3 boosting Pokemon which need time to set up, one frail Pokemon who can easily be Pursuit trapped or Priority'd to death, and two walls who are more physically oriented. While Porygon2 can take special hits, he usually gets 2HKO'd by powerful or boosted ones.

 

[Flint Lockwood]

I think a weak link to my team has definitely been the fact that I have three set up Pokemon, and I've been looking into swapping out a member for better suit my team.

Initially I tried swapping out Sigilyph in favor of Jellicent or even Gliscor, I found that I was sacrificing my burn or opening up my Breloom weakness, though, and I ended up keeping Sigilyph, so I started thinking from a different angle, and I eventually decided that Cloyster, strangely enough, could be a weak spot on my team. Strange as it may sound, and even though I love the guy because he does work, he just didn't mesh with the team how I wanted him to. He could sweep, yes, but then why even have this team to begin with if he was going to be my sweeper? I'm doing some playtesting right now, but I decided to toss a Choiced pokemon onto my team, one that can not only deal with Breloom and Heatran, but beats Taunters, sun teams and works around Sandstorm with ease, too, so I'm testing out Mamoswine.

Mamoswine @ Choice Band
Snow Cloak
Adamant
252 Att, 252 Spe, 4 HP
-Icicle Spear
-Earthquake
-Icicle Crash
-Stone Edge​

Standard Mamo, but it's standard for a reason. I feel like using Mamo really solves a number of key issues with my team, as he makes quick work of Breloom, Sun teams in general, and I get that immediate power instead of needing to set up. Beats Gliscor, Tenta, Whinsicott, I feel like he really does everything I needed a Pokemon to do. Do you guys think he'd make a good swap over Cloyster?

 

[Stone RG]

First of all

WHY NO RAINBOW DASH PICTURE

second, generally specs latios screw with you big time since basically means pwnage every times it comes in. Not even your 2 ''walls'' (scrafty and porygon2) can take a specs draco to the face, i dont want to be mis-rate but i think a pursuit trapper would come nicely *cough* scizor **cough**.

 

[Flint Lockwood]

First of all

WHY NO RAINBOW DASH PICTURE

second, generally specs latios screw with you big time since basically means pwnage every times it comes in. Not even your 2 ''walls'' (scrafty and porygon2) can take a specs draco to the face, i dont want to be mis-rate but i think a pursuit trapper would come nicely *cough* scizor **cough**.

Actually Porygon2 does indeed survive a Specs Draco Meteor, and, taking the stat drop into effect, Latios can't even guarantee a 2HKO, especially if I choose to Recover stall. The Specs variant also cannot safely fight Gengar, so while Specs Latios can do a number to my team (as he can to all teams, honestly) It's not as if I do not have a solid check.

Also Rainbow Dash is worst mane 6 :<