Hey y'all. Since the release of Scarlet and Violet, I've gotten back into Showdown and competitive battling to an extent, but I'm still relatively new to teambuilding. Here's the main team I've been using on Showdown. I've been hovering around the 1500s, though I haven't exactly been grinding out a ton of games to try to climb. Any and all feedback is welcome.
Great Tusk @ Leftovers
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Bulk Up
- Earthquake
- Close Combat
Great Tusk is clearly one of the best, if not the best, mons in OU right now. It has a lot of viable builds and fits on nearly every team. I like to run Bulk Up because it seems to be relatively unexpected. Most people don't play against Tusk as if it will set up and sweep their entire team, but it can do just that. After a Rapid Spin and 1-2 Bulk Ups, Tusk becomes incredibly threatening, and it's naturally tanky to the point that it's not hard to get there. It also can serve as a lead, as it easily dispatches opposing Glimmoras. One downside of this set is that it is walled by Air Balloon Gholdengo, but I haven't had much trouble with it thus far.
Hatterene @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Nuzzle
- Calm Mind
- Draining Kiss
- Stored Power
This has been the star of the team and my favorite mon to use this gen. Magic Bounce is one of the best abilities in the game, sending hazards, taunts, whirlwinds, etc., back from whence they came. Hatt sits on common walls like Ting Lu and Clodsire and sets up in their faces while they chill there, helpless. After 2-3 Calm Minds, Stored Power hits almost everything like a mfin truck. It's nice, too, because its base power grows even against Unaware mons like Clod, Dondozo, and Skeledirge. Hatt is my primary Tera user. It's easy to Nuzzle Gholdengos on the switch in (assuming they aren't running Covert Cloak; I'm still seeing more Air Balloons and Choice items), then Tera Water to resist Make It Rain and beat it 1v1. Hatt also can Tera Water against Chien Pao and heal off the Crunch damage with Draining Kiss, doing a ton of damage in the process. This mon reflects hazards, spreads para, walls things, and serves as a win condition all in one. It's just a disaster for opponents to deal with, and I love it.
Clodsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover
Pretty standard Clod set here. It hard walls Gholdengo, Volcarona, etc. (though it can't do anything to Air Balloon Gholdengo until the balloon is popped). I kind of wonder if Ting Lu would be better in this role, but Clod hasn't been bad by any means. I also have contemplated using Water Absorb to help with certain matchups (see: Rotom-W), but Unaware is better against Dengo, Volcarona, and other special setup sweepers. Toxic can work well given that Hatt, Dozo, and Clod all can stretch games out.
Dondozo @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Liquidation
- Body Press
- Sleep Talk
- Rest
Also pretty standard. Forms a defensive Unaware core with Clod, who can switch into Electric attacks with impunity. One of the only mons that can (mostly) stand up to Chien Pao. Just a ridiculously beefy boy who walls so many things. I prefer Body Press over Curse for better coverage.
Iron Moth @ Choice Specs
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Wave
- Energy Ball
- Psychic
I've seen people say that Iron Moth is the closest thing to Chi Yu, but I don't think it's particularly close. Still, this thing hits hard with 140 base SpA and Choice Specs. Tera Grass + Energy Ball chunks Ting Lu on the switch in and is helpful against bulky waters and Garganacl. Psychic is mainly for Clodsire. People act like they think Iron Moth is slower than it is.
Meowscarada @ Choice Band
Ability: Protean
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flower Trick
- U-turn
- Knock Off
- Thunder Punch
I also have tried Cinderace in this physical attacker/pivot role, but with Tusk and Hatt, I don't really need Court Change, and I feel like Banded Flower Trick hitting through screens and defense boosts is better than anything Cinderace offers currently. This mon hits hard and fast and can serve as a lead. Knock Off is great utility for a move that hurts as much as it does. I'm running Thunder Punch to help with Corviknight atm, but Play Rough is also an option. Meow can clean up late game once things have been chipped away by Toxic, Rocks, and my other mons.
One of the mons that I have trouble with regularly is Rotom-Wash. I can switch in Hatt to reflect the Wisp, but Hydro Pump chunks Hatt if it hits. Hydro Pump chunks Clod also, and Dozo obviously doesn't want to eat a Volt Switch. Trick + Scarf sets cripple several of my mons. I typically have to hope that I have better positioning in order to handle it. Meow obviously smacks it if it doesn't get burned.
Great Tusk @ Leftovers
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Bulk Up
- Earthquake
- Close Combat
Great Tusk is clearly one of the best, if not the best, mons in OU right now. It has a lot of viable builds and fits on nearly every team. I like to run Bulk Up because it seems to be relatively unexpected. Most people don't play against Tusk as if it will set up and sweep their entire team, but it can do just that. After a Rapid Spin and 1-2 Bulk Ups, Tusk becomes incredibly threatening, and it's naturally tanky to the point that it's not hard to get there. It also can serve as a lead, as it easily dispatches opposing Glimmoras. One downside of this set is that it is walled by Air Balloon Gholdengo, but I haven't had much trouble with it thus far.
Hatterene @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Nuzzle
- Calm Mind
- Draining Kiss
- Stored Power
This has been the star of the team and my favorite mon to use this gen. Magic Bounce is one of the best abilities in the game, sending hazards, taunts, whirlwinds, etc., back from whence they came. Hatt sits on common walls like Ting Lu and Clodsire and sets up in their faces while they chill there, helpless. After 2-3 Calm Minds, Stored Power hits almost everything like a mfin truck. It's nice, too, because its base power grows even against Unaware mons like Clod, Dondozo, and Skeledirge. Hatt is my primary Tera user. It's easy to Nuzzle Gholdengos on the switch in (assuming they aren't running Covert Cloak; I'm still seeing more Air Balloons and Choice items), then Tera Water to resist Make It Rain and beat it 1v1. Hatt also can Tera Water against Chien Pao and heal off the Crunch damage with Draining Kiss, doing a ton of damage in the process. This mon reflects hazards, spreads para, walls things, and serves as a win condition all in one. It's just a disaster for opponents to deal with, and I love it.
Clodsire @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Recover
Pretty standard Clod set here. It hard walls Gholdengo, Volcarona, etc. (though it can't do anything to Air Balloon Gholdengo until the balloon is popped). I kind of wonder if Ting Lu would be better in this role, but Clod hasn't been bad by any means. I also have contemplated using Water Absorb to help with certain matchups (see: Rotom-W), but Unaware is better against Dengo, Volcarona, and other special setup sweepers. Toxic can work well given that Hatt, Dozo, and Clod all can stretch games out.
Dondozo @ Leftovers
Ability: Unaware
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Liquidation
- Body Press
- Sleep Talk
- Rest
Also pretty standard. Forms a defensive Unaware core with Clod, who can switch into Electric attacks with impunity. One of the only mons that can (mostly) stand up to Chien Pao. Just a ridiculously beefy boy who walls so many things. I prefer Body Press over Curse for better coverage.
Iron Moth @ Choice Specs
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Wave
- Energy Ball
- Psychic
I've seen people say that Iron Moth is the closest thing to Chi Yu, but I don't think it's particularly close. Still, this thing hits hard with 140 base SpA and Choice Specs. Tera Grass + Energy Ball chunks Ting Lu on the switch in and is helpful against bulky waters and Garganacl. Psychic is mainly for Clodsire. People act like they think Iron Moth is slower than it is.
Meowscarada @ Choice Band
Ability: Protean
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flower Trick
- U-turn
- Knock Off
- Thunder Punch
I also have tried Cinderace in this physical attacker/pivot role, but with Tusk and Hatt, I don't really need Court Change, and I feel like Banded Flower Trick hitting through screens and defense boosts is better than anything Cinderace offers currently. This mon hits hard and fast and can serve as a lead. Knock Off is great utility for a move that hurts as much as it does. I'm running Thunder Punch to help with Corviknight atm, but Play Rough is also an option. Meow can clean up late game once things have been chipped away by Toxic, Rocks, and my other mons.
One of the mons that I have trouble with regularly is Rotom-Wash. I can switch in Hatt to reflect the Wisp, but Hydro Pump chunks Hatt if it hits. Hydro Pump chunks Clod also, and Dozo obviously doesn't want to eat a Volt Switch. Trick + Scarf sets cripple several of my mons. I typically have to hope that I have better positioning in order to handle it. Meow obviously smacks it if it doesn't get burned.
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