Hi everyone, and welcome to this Sun Offense RMT based around Volcanion, one of the rising star of OU. Rest of the team includes mons who enable Volcanion to wallbreak, as well as mons who benefit from this wallbreaking to sweep/clean late game.
Team-Building Process
I wanted to try out Volcanion, since it seems to be getting increasingly popular in the meta, especially on weather teams like Rain and Hail. On rain in particular, it was found that to be a devastating wallbreaker that could 2HKO the fattest Special Wall in the meta, Blissey, with Steam Eruption. Similarly, I thought that Volcanion can do the same on a Sun Team with Fire Blast 2HKOing almost the whole meta.
Torkoal is the best sun setter in the meta, and provides Hazard Removal that Volcanion appreciates. Nothing more to say here.
Venusaur is the best sun sweeper. Venusaur also synergises well with Volcanion offensively, because Volcanion pressures shared checks like Blissey, Hydreigon, Lati@s early game for Venusaur to sweep late game.
I chose Garchomp next because
As is the case with weather teams, sun in particular, Kyurem is a big problem. I also need a Lele check, Steel type and pivots. Here comes Scizor, whose U-turns provide safe passage for the 4 prior mons. It can also sweep with SD, and has good synergy with Garchomp in that regard.
Finally, I need a Knock-off user, defogger, ground check and another pivot. Also, a fast mon outside sun could be a valuable extra. Torn-T ticks all boxes here.
Sets
Volcanion @ Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Steam Eruption
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
While Heatran and Blacephalon can hit harder in sun, what got me really hooked into Volcanion was that it could switch into Water attacks in Rain thanks to Water Absorb. This makes it a decent rain check and fixes a matchup that is usually sun teams' Achilles' heel. In sun, it has barely any safe switchins. I have both Fire Blast and Flamethrower here - Fire Blast melts fat and stall with its higher power, while Flamethrower is the better option vs offenses due to better accuracy. Giving up on Sludge Wave means that it lacks a super-effective moves to hit Tapu Fini, but Tapu Fini gets roasted by Fire Blast anyway, something exacerbated by its lack of recovery and inability to do much to Volcanion in return.
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Blissey in Sun: 340-402 (47.6 - 56.3%) -- 83.6% chance to 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 40+ SpD Tapu Fini in Sun: 156-184 (45.3 - 53.4%) -- 92.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 120+ SpD Assault Vest Slowking-Galar in Sun: 222-262 (56.3 - 66.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 112+ SpD Toxapex in Sun: 137-162 (45 - 53.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Hydreigon in Sun: 241-284 (74.1 - 87.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Clefable in Sun: 343-405 (87 - 102.7%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Steam Eruption vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Pelipper in Rain: 294-346 (91 - 107.1%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 40+ SpD Tapu Fini in Sun: 156-184 (45.3 - 53.4%) -- 92.6% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 120+ SpD Assault Vest Slowking-Galar in Sun: 222-262 (56.3 - 66.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 112+ SpD Toxapex in Sun: 137-162 (45 - 53.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Hydreigon in Sun: 241-284 (74.1 - 87.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Clefable in Sun: 343-405 (87 - 102.7%) -- 18.8% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Volcanion Steam Eruption vs. 248 HP / 8 SpD Pelipper in Rain: 294-346 (91 - 107.1%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
Torkoal @ Heat Rock
Ability: Drought
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
- Lava Plume
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Body Press
The sun setter of the team. Also, provides hazard control with both Rocks and Rapid Spin. Body Press ensures that Heatran doesn't switch in for free, but could go Toxic for Dragonite. High Physical Defense means that it does check stuff like Weavile, Rillaboom, Kartana, Scizor (although hates losing Heat Rock to Knock), Hawlucha, Memetal (but hates EQ vs CB Melmetal), Arctozolt and A-Ninetales (thereby disrupts Hail).
Venusaur @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Growth
- Giga Drain
- Weather Ball
- Earth Power
Speed controller and sweeper of the team, Vensaur is a force to be reckoned with in Sun. It can dismanlte any archetype in Sun - beats defesive cores like Pex-Clef, Bulky Offense cores like Lando-Heatran, Ferrothorn-Fini and shreds most offenses with great speed and coverage. It also has a great defensive typing that lets it check Tapu Koko, Tapu Fini, Urshifu-R, Zeraora, Rillaboom. Growth gives it a +2 boost that lets it claim games on its own under the sun. Giga Drain provides Longevity and lets it beat Blissey (with some prior Growth boosts; see replay below), CM Fini and Slowking, Weather Ball is used to hit Steel Types like Corviknight and Scizor with a Pseudo Fire STAB, Earth Power lets it eliminate Toxapex, Dragapult, Heatran and G-Slowking (some chip is needed to OHKO for the latter). The OG starter seems kinda underrated in OU at the moment; but in sun I don't think its an easy task to take the frog down.
Garchomp @ Yache Berry
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Fire Fang
- Scale Shot
Garchomp provides valuable Electric Immunity (Venusaur is the Koko check here), acts as Heatran check, is another mon that appreciates Volcanion weakening mons like Tapu Fini etc.. SD helps it threaten fat, while Scale Shot boosts its speed to clean up offense. Scale Shot also helps fix another bad sun match-up in Hydreigon and Dragonite. It is a deadly wincon on Sun coz Fire Fang hits x1.5 harder that helps it beat Buzzwole and Steel Birds with prior chip. Some calcs :
+2 252 Atk Garchomp Fire Fang vs. 154 HP / 0 Def Buzzwole in Sun: 320-378 (81.4 - 96.1%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 Atk Garchomp Fire Fang vs. 248 HP / 168+ Def Corviknight in Sun: 320-378 (80.2 - 94.7%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 Atk Garchomp Fire Fang vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory in Sun: 244-288 (73 - 86.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 Atk Garchomp Fire Fang vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Tangrowth in Sun: 264-312 (65.3 - 77.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 252 Atk Garchomp Fire Fang vs. 248 HP / 168+ Def Corviknight in Sun: 320-378 (80.2 - 94.7%) -- 50% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 Atk Garchomp Fire Fang vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory in Sun: 244-288 (73 - 86.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
+2 252 Atk Garchomp Fire Fang vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Tangrowth in Sun: 264-312 (65.3 - 77.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Yache Berry helps it beat Fat Buzzwole too, while ensuring that Weavile doesn't prematurely end it's sweep with Ice Shard.
Scizor @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Roost
- Swords Dance
Scizor serves as the Kyurem, Lele, non-Flamethrower Dragapult check, which is why its SpDef is maxed out (Further Physical threats that it checks like Weavile, Rillaboom etc..are already checked by Torkoal, so no need for lot of Physical Defense investment). It can, moreover, pivot slowly to bring in the prior 4 mons safely. Bullet Punch provides a reliable priority move that can help with speed outside sun. Swords Dance is used over Knock-off as it can serve as another deadly sweeper once checks like Toxapex, Zapdos, Corviknight are out of the way; these checks are pressured immensely by Venusaur, Volcanion and Garchomp.
Tornadus-Therian @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 92 SpD / 168 Spe
Timid Nature
- Icy Wind
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Defog
Tornadus-T provides us with another pivot and speed control option outside sun. It also is a great defogger and Knock-off spammer, somethings that the team desparately needs. Its the team's ground and Dragonite check, which is why Icy Wind is used over Heat Wave. It can also reduce pressure on Scizor to check Dragapult, by pivoting into it to scout Flamethrower.
Threatlist
- While Scizor switches into Shadow Balls well, if Dragapult predicts a Scizor switchin and clicks Flamethrower, it can get really tough to check defensively. But, Venusaur in sun can punish it offensively with Earth Power, and Tornadus-T threatens it out of fear of Knock-off.
- Except Torkoal, none of the mons in this team can switch into Victini with impunity. But, it can be beaten offensively using Venusaur and Garchomp, also V-Create can be punished by Volcanion switching into the move and threating to kill it with Steam Eruption (since V-Create reduces speed)
- This mon simply clicks 1 button if it gets a safe switch in, as not one Pokemon can take a Brave Bird well. Only way to deal with it with offensive pressure and forcing it to take recoil.
- Latios with Mystical Fire is really hard to switch into if Tornadus-T is not at 100%, which is exacerbated by Venusaur unable to 2HKO it even after a Growth Boost. Best bet is to pivot around it and locking it into a move that can be exploited by any of the team members.Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1421879267-9gnr71ccx5b5dzlbkqwtba4wi49bzuipw - Rain, rain go away
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1422319645-bkdswebeyeesgazyl3mvmtbaj7mvgs5pw - Stall vs 1 Steamy Lion
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1422902712-rk1kmcwu9hnasl82u2sfjxtf6536gwmpw - Venusaur, a special attacker that beats Blissey
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1423586313 - Chomp takes it home vs Ox Hail
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8ou-1423664383 - Volcanion + Torkoal save the day vs TR (OHKOing a Cresslia is bonkers!!)
Closing Comments
This was a really fun team to play with, and I would like you all to try out this team and let me know how the team is working for you all. Feel free to suggest any changes (I am really convinced about the first 4 mons, but I think you guys can surely provide some suggestions)
Hope you have fun with this team :)
