Hi everyone! I’m new to playing OU. I used to play a lot of Ubers and peaked about 1300. I wanted to make a team that could tank hits from significant threats in the tier while also having the tools to force out Pokemon that could counter my team. I also wanted to try using a Pokemon that is not common at all in OU. I’m only about 1195 on OU, so bear with me a bit lol.
SS OU: Balance Team ft. AV Goodra
Goodra • Dragapult • Tangrowth • Urshifu-Rapid-Strike • Bisharp • Jirachi
Goodra @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Thunderbolt
- Sludge Wave
- Draco Meteor
AV Goodra is a surprisingly strong special wall. With Assault Vest, Goodra has an uninvested special defense of 504, making Specs Tapu Lele 2HKO wity STAB Moonblast, Specs Heatran 4HKOing with STAB Flash Cannon, and Specs Kyurem only being able to OHKO with STAB Draco Meteor (12.5% Chance)
Maximum HP helps to optimize Goodra’s bulk. Maximum Sp. Atk allows Goodra to 2HKO Tapu Lele with Sludge Wave, OHKO Kyurem with STAB Draco Meteor, and 2HKOing offensive Tapu Lele. It also significantly damages or OHKOs offense threats such as Specs Dragapult and DD Dragonite after chip damage, while being able to tank hits in return. Flamethrower is run over Fire Blast for the perfect accuracy.
Dragapult @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- Hydro Pump
- Flamethrower
Standard Specs Dragapult set. Hydro Pump is run over Thunderbolt to guarantee a kill on specially defensive Landorus-T. Infiltrator is run over Clear Body to counter Aurora Veil and Screen-Setting teams while also bypassing Substitutes. Great Pokemon for wallbreaking.
Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Sludge Bomb
- Earthquake
Assault Vest Tangrowth is very good at walling special attackers while also maintaining coverage for significant physical threats such as Zeraora. Standard Smogon set.
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Life Orb
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Close Combat
- Surging Strikes
- Aqua Jet
Bulk Up Urshifu-Rapid-Strike is very good at both set-up sweeping and cleaning Pokemon with STAB Aqua Jet. Bulk Up is prediction reliant, so it is optimal to use when forcing out Landorus-T, Ferrothorn, Heatran, etc. Close Combat is used over Drain Punch for the damage output.
Bisharp @ Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Knock Off
Standard Smogon set for Bisharp to act as a late-game cleaner, while also being able to tank a hit or two to set up with Swords Dance. Black Glasses is run over Life Orb to preserve longevity to deal with faster Pokemon such as Dragapult, Regieleki, Dragonite after one Dragon Dance, and Scarf users.
Jirachi @ Metal Coat
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- U-turn
- Doom Desire
- Protect
- Wish
Jirachi can act as an effective Wish cleric and Toxic absorber to keep Goodra and Tangrowth healthy. Doom Desire with Metal Coat allows me to force out threatening Fairy types while doing heavy damage to neutral targets. Maximum HP and Defense helps tank physical threats that Goodra and Tangrowth cannot check. U-Turn allows me to safely pivot to Wish recipients, and Protect lets me scout for moves while also allowing Jirachi to heal themself.
Checks and Counters:
Knock Off: Dragapult is most likely to die from a Knock Off, and Jirachi is threatened by it. Tangrowth hates losing its Assault Vest, though Goodra can still function relatively well without it.
Ice Moves: Special and Physical ice attacks threaten Dragapult, Tangrowth, and Goodra, especially attacks from Weavile. Bisharp can tank Weavile’s attacks relatively well.
Melmetal: Melmetal can tank super-effective attacks and KO back with its wide coverage moves, though it is susceptible to being worn over time.
Hazards: Lack of hazard control means it is important to KO setters as soon as possible. Stealth Rock neutrality/resistance across the entire team makes hazards a bit more bearable, though it reduces the effectiveness of my walls.
Let me know your thoughts and suggestions!
Pokepaste: https://pokepast.es/4946cefaa7663e4c
SS OU: Balance Team ft. AV Goodra
Goodra • Dragapult • Tangrowth • Urshifu-Rapid-Strike • Bisharp • Jirachi
Goodra @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Thunderbolt
- Sludge Wave
- Draco Meteor
AV Goodra is a surprisingly strong special wall. With Assault Vest, Goodra has an uninvested special defense of 504, making Specs Tapu Lele 2HKO wity STAB Moonblast, Specs Heatran 4HKOing with STAB Flash Cannon, and Specs Kyurem only being able to OHKO with STAB Draco Meteor (12.5% Chance)
Maximum HP helps to optimize Goodra’s bulk. Maximum Sp. Atk allows Goodra to 2HKO Tapu Lele with Sludge Wave, OHKO Kyurem with STAB Draco Meteor, and 2HKOing offensive Tapu Lele. It also significantly damages or OHKOs offense threats such as Specs Dragapult and DD Dragonite after chip damage, while being able to tank hits in return. Flamethrower is run over Fire Blast for the perfect accuracy.
Dragapult @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Draco Meteor
- Hydro Pump
- Flamethrower
Standard Specs Dragapult set. Hydro Pump is run over Thunderbolt to guarantee a kill on specially defensive Landorus-T. Infiltrator is run over Clear Body to counter Aurora Veil and Screen-Setting teams while also bypassing Substitutes. Great Pokemon for wallbreaking.
Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Knock Off
- Sludge Bomb
- Earthquake
Assault Vest Tangrowth is very good at walling special attackers while also maintaining coverage for significant physical threats such as Zeraora. Standard Smogon set.
Urshifu-Rapid-Strike @ Life Orb
Ability: Unseen Fist
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Close Combat
- Surging Strikes
- Aqua Jet
Bulk Up Urshifu-Rapid-Strike is very good at both set-up sweeping and cleaning Pokemon with STAB Aqua Jet. Bulk Up is prediction reliant, so it is optimal to use when forcing out Landorus-T, Ferrothorn, Heatran, etc. Close Combat is used over Drain Punch for the damage output.
Bisharp @ Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Knock Off
Standard Smogon set for Bisharp to act as a late-game cleaner, while also being able to tank a hit or two to set up with Swords Dance. Black Glasses is run over Life Orb to preserve longevity to deal with faster Pokemon such as Dragapult, Regieleki, Dragonite after one Dragon Dance, and Scarf users.
Jirachi @ Metal Coat
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- U-turn
- Doom Desire
- Protect
- Wish
Jirachi can act as an effective Wish cleric and Toxic absorber to keep Goodra and Tangrowth healthy. Doom Desire with Metal Coat allows me to force out threatening Fairy types while doing heavy damage to neutral targets. Maximum HP and Defense helps tank physical threats that Goodra and Tangrowth cannot check. U-Turn allows me to safely pivot to Wish recipients, and Protect lets me scout for moves while also allowing Jirachi to heal themself.
Checks and Counters:
Knock Off: Dragapult is most likely to die from a Knock Off, and Jirachi is threatened by it. Tangrowth hates losing its Assault Vest, though Goodra can still function relatively well without it.
Ice Moves: Special and Physical ice attacks threaten Dragapult, Tangrowth, and Goodra, especially attacks from Weavile. Bisharp can tank Weavile’s attacks relatively well.
Melmetal: Melmetal can tank super-effective attacks and KO back with its wide coverage moves, though it is susceptible to being worn over time.
Hazards: Lack of hazard control means it is important to KO setters as soon as possible. Stealth Rock neutrality/resistance across the entire team makes hazards a bit more bearable, though it reduces the effectiveness of my walls.
Let me know your thoughts and suggestions!
Pokepaste: https://pokepast.es/4946cefaa7663e4c
