This year's current trophy tournaments, SPL and OST, started before the XY OU metagame was fully developed. Over the course of these tournaments, we have seen users cultivate new Pokemon, sets, and teams. With SPL playoffs starting in two weeks, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the tier, and what teams have evolved over the season. Watching replays made it apparent that Mega Charizard-Y was a strong Pokemon that had a solid strategy behind it. This strategy's popularity among tournament players, and continued success have provided one of the first 'cookie-cutter' teams of the generation. This RMT will cover different versions of the team, ways to build it yourself, and an in-depth look at my ladder version. Please enjoy 'Force of Nature'.
Zard-Y in Tournament play
These teams are a few examples taken from SPL. If you look at similarities, you can see the basic formula for the team, and how users have adopted this formula to their own play styles. The function of each Pokemon slot is detailed in the next section.






SPL Week 2: AB2 vs Dekzeh
the replay can be seen here here.






SPL Week 3: Masterclass vs GaryTheGengar
the replay can be seen here.






SPL Week 5: CrashinBoomBang vs Adam
the replay can be seen here.






SPL Week 5: Valentine vs Lord Elyis
the replay can be seen here.






SPL Week 7: papai noel vs Sinclair
the replay can be seen here.
Building with Zard-Y

















In-Depth







Latios @

IVs: 29 HP
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Hasty (+Spd, -Def)
EVs: 4 Atk | 252 SAtk | 252 Spd
Draco Meteor | Psyshock | Earthquake | Defog
Latios' primary function is to remove hazards from the field, giving Charizard and Thundurus room to breathe. Apart from Aerodactyl and Crobat, Lati@s is the fastest Defog user in the tier, which means it performs its job excellently. Draco Meteor offers your team a high damage nuke that obliterates any non-fairy or steel types. Psyshock is a secondary STAB that allows you to exploit traditional special walls, hitting them from their defensive side. This makes Latios a dangerous mixed attacker that can 2HKO a large majority of the tier, including Fairy types like Azumarill and Sylveon. Earthquake, although admittedly suboptimal, is a fun gimmick that is used to catch Heatran off guard. The early removal of Heatran gives you the whole match to spam Zard-Y Fire Blasts. Earthquake also rounds off Latios' coverage, allowing you to hit pesky Steel types, like Bisharp and Aegislash, before they take you out with Pursuit.
alt options: Thunderbolt | Shadow Ball | Roost
Thundurus @
Ability: Prankster
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EVs: 28 HP | 228 SAtk | 252 Spd
IVs: 30 HP | 2 Atk | 30 Def | 30 SAtk | 30 SDef
Thunderbolt | Hidden Power [Flying] | Nasty Plot | Thunder Wave







Thundurus @

Ability: Prankster
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EVs: 28 HP | 228 SAtk | 252 Spd
IVs: 30 HP | 2 Atk | 30 Def | 30 SAtk | 30 SDef
Thunderbolt | Hidden Power [Flying] | Nasty Plot | Thunder Wave
Ever since its reintroduction to the OU tier, Thundurus-I has been one of the most used Pokemon at the top level of play. Its superb offensive stats, deep movepool, typing, and relevant abilities make it one of the easiest mons to fit onto offensive teams. Before I talk about this particular set, I want to highlight the fact that as long as you keep Thunder Wave, you can change the moves, item, nature, and EVs around to your liking. Replacing Nasty Plot with Knock Off would probably be the first place to start, since you can bait things like Chansey, and remove their Eviolite. The reason why I used this Nasty Plot set was to bait Pokemon like Mega Venusaur and Amoonguss, and weaken them with HP Flying for Keldeo. Thunderbolt is required STAB, and helps you threaten annoying waters like Azumarill and Manaphy. Thunder Wave acts as an emergency out for fast sweepers like Greninja, Dragon Dance Dragonite, Mega TTar, and Zard X, that can roll through the rest of the team if they get too many boosts. 28 EVs in HP, with 30 IVs for HP Flying, hits a Leftovers number. If you decide to try a Life Orb set, move these EVs into an offensive stat.
alt options: Knock Off | Superpower | Focus Blast | HP Ice | Grass Knot | Taunt
Keldeo @
Ability: Justified
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EVs: 4 HP | 252 SAtk | 252 Spd
IVs: 30 HP | 2 Atk | 30 Def | 30 SAtk | 30 SDef
Hydro Pump | Scald | Secret Sword | Hidden Power [Flying]







Keldeo @

Ability: Justified
Nature: Timid (+Spd, -Atk)
EVs: 4 HP | 252 SAtk | 252 Spd
IVs: 30 HP | 2 Atk | 30 Def | 30 SAtk | 30 SDef
Hydro Pump | Scald | Secret Sword | Hidden Power [Flying]
Keldeo is the tier's best, if not only, Choice Specs user. Its exclusive Water/Fighting STABs, only shared with Poliwrath, requires your opponent to have a specific Pokemon to counter you (namely Jellicent, Mega Venusaur, Amoonguss, Celebi, Azumarill, Gyarados, Tentacruel, Dragonite or Lati@s). If your opponent doesn't have one of these Pokemon, they will essentially be dropping a member of their team every time Keldeo comes in. The most common Keldeo counter, the Lati twins, are removed from the game by Aegislash Pursuit. Gyarados and Azumarill risk an unnerving 30% burn chance if they switch directly in. The remaining counters are handed beautifully by Charizard, Thundurus, and Latios. While teammates help Keldeo wear down its counters, Keldeo pressures Heatran, Chansey, and Blissey, Zard-Ys only remaining switch-ins.
alt options: Hidden Power Electric | Icy Wind
Hippowdon @
Ability: Sand Stream
Nature: Impish (+Def, -SAtk)
EVs: 240 HP | 192 Def | 76 SDef
Stealth Rock | Earthquake | Toxic | Slack Off







Hippowdon @

Ability: Sand Stream
Nature: Impish (+Def, -SAtk)
EVs: 240 HP | 192 Def | 76 SDef
Stealth Rock | Earthquake | Toxic | Slack Off
Hippowdon is a defensive behemoth with the ability to soak up immensely strong attacks. Even with this mixed defensive spread, Adamant Zard X fails to 2HKO Hippo with Flare Blitz. The special defense investment allows you to take two Quiet Aegislash Shadow Balls. This insane bulk gives Hippo plenty of opportunities throughout the game to set up Stealth Rocks. Toxic, in combination with Sand, allows you to put dangerous sweepers like Zard X, Gyarados, Thundurus, Volcorona, and Mega Tyranitar on a clock. Earthquake allows you to threaten Mega Mawile, Bisharp, Zard X, Heatran, Excadrill, Aegislash, and Tyranitar. Slack Off is superb recovery that helps you wear down sweepers that have already been crippled by Toxic. Although it is not featured on my move set, Stone Edge is a great option to consider over Toxic. For starters, it rounds off the unresisted QuakeEdge coverage. But more specifically, it lets you OHKO Mega Pinsir, Talonflame, Volcorona, Zard switch-ins, and heavily damage Thundurus. Stone Edge also permits Hippo to beat common Balloon users like Excadrill, Heatran, and Aegislash on its own. Scarf Garchomp can be used in this slot to patch the team's Greninja and Thundurus weakness.
alt options: Stone Edge | Whirlwind
Aegislash @
Ability: Stance Change
Nature: Quiet (+SAtk, -Spd)
EVs: 240 HP | 16 Atk | 252 SAtk
King's Shield | Pursuit | Shadow Ball | Iron Head







Aegislash @

Ability: Stance Change
Nature: Quiet (+SAtk, -Spd)
EVs: 240 HP | 16 Atk | 252 SAtk
King's Shield | Pursuit | Shadow Ball | Iron Head
Aegislash, one of the only competitive minded Pokemon we have been gifted, acts as the team's only Steel type. This makes it a primary switch-in to a lot of attackers, namely Lati@s, Mega Gardevoir, Azumarill, Terrakion, Alakazam, and Deoxys-S. Its main function on the team is to force damage onto Lati@s with Pursuit, which allows Keldeo and Zard to spam attacks freely. Aegislash finds a lot of free switch-ins thanks to its excellent typing and bulk, allowing you to spam Shadow Ball, which 2HKOs most of the meta. Aegi's main problem, Bisharp, is dealt with handily by Hippo and Keldeo. Iron Head allows you to hit Clefable for consistent damage, but honestly if it's Magic Guard you're pretty fucked. Toxic can be used instead to hit Mandibuzz, Zapdos, and Unaware Clef, but Magic Guard still beats this team. Bisharp can be used in this slot to patch the Clefable weakness.
alt options: Toxic | Shadow Sneak | Sacred Sword | Flash Cannon
Charizard @
IVs: 0 Atk
Ability: Blaze
Nature: Modest (+SAtk, -Atk)
EVs: 40 HP | 252 SAtk | 216 Spd
Fire Blast | Solar Beam | Focus Blast | Roost







Charizard @

IVs: 0 Atk
Ability: Blaze
Nature: Modest (+SAtk, -Atk)
EVs: 40 HP | 252 SAtk | 216 Spd
Fire Blast | Solar Beam | Focus Blast | Roost
After the initial bans, Charizard-Y was one of the most threatening Megas in the tier. The metagame has shifted away from it, opting for mons with better typing, but unprepared teams still get demolished by Zard. The team supports Zard very well, keeping hazards off the field, and weakening its counters, which helps Zard apply offensive pressure and score a plethora of KOs. Its unresisted coverage gives it very few switch-ins, and even Dragons can be hit hard if you bother to run Dragon Pulse or Air Slash. The physical set, Flare Blitz | Earthquake | Solarbeam helps you break Chansey and friends easier, but the Special set is much more consistent. Specs Keldeo already puts a lot of pressure on stall, and once you wear down Venu the game is pretty much over.
alt options: Flamethrower | Flare Blitz | Earthquake
Threat Lists:
Threat Lists:

























































































I've put a lot of work into this RMT, so i'm just going to mention some defensive Pokemon this team has trouble with, and how to beat them, instead of covering every single defensive mon.
Chansey: This is part of what makes Keldeo so great with Zard. You can pressure Chansey, and predict switches, which helps a lot in breaking down stall. You can run Flare Blitz on MixZard or Physical Zard to completely break Chansey. Sacred Sword on Aegislash is also an option.
Clefable: This is definitely the biggest defensive threat. Magic Guard CM can't be worn down by Toxic, and once it gets two CMs, not even Zard Fire Blast can 2HKO. Running Bisharp over Aegislash is the only thing you can do to not consistently lose to this. Every time Clef comes in, without Bisharp, you are forced to go to Zard as it CMs, and hope for Fire Blast crits as it CMs and heals off your damage. Iron Head on Aegislash can force damage on it, but in the end your efforts are in vain.
Gliscor: SubTox Gliscor can get a sub on Hippo, Aegislash, or SS locked Keldeo, and proceed to beat any member of your team 1v1. A very annoying mon that you just have to play around correctly. Keeping Aegislash in to make sure it doesn't get a sub is your best bet, then switching out to Lati or Zard on a predicted Earthquake. Don't keep your Hippo out, and don't lock yourself into SS, or this WILL get a Sub and kill something.
Heatran: If you drop EQ Lati, this can become a bit annoying. Running EQ over Focus Blast on MixZard or just running Physical Zard can fix your Heatran problem quickly, since you bait it in easily.
Zapdos: Running Toxic on Aegislash is the quickest fix.





Importable:
Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Earthquake
- Defog
Thundurus (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 28 HP / 228 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Flying]
- Nasty Plot
- Thunder Wave
Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Hidden Power [Flying]
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 240 HP / 192 Def / 76 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Slack Off
Aegislash (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Stance Change
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- King's Shield
- Pursuit
- Shadow Ball
- Iron Head
Charizard (M) @ Charizardite Y
Trait: Solar Power
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SAtk / 216 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Focus Blast
- Roost
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Earthquake
- Defog
Thundurus (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 28 HP / 228 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Flying]
- Nasty Plot
- Thunder Wave
Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hydro Pump
- Scald
- Secret Sword
- Hidden Power [Flying]
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sand Stream
EVs: 240 HP / 192 Def / 76 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Slack Off
Aegislash (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Stance Change
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature (+SAtk, -Spd)
- King's Shield
- Pursuit
- Shadow Ball
- Iron Head
Charizard (M) @ Charizardite Y
Trait: Solar Power
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SAtk / 216 Spd
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Focus Blast
- Roost
Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Earthquake
- Defog
Thundurus (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 28 HP / 228 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Flying]
- Nasty Plot
- Thunder Wave
Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 30 HP / 2 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SAtk / 30 SDef
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Scald
- Hidden Power [Flying]
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 240 HP / 192 Def / 76 SDef
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Slack Off
Aegislash (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
- King's Shield
- Pursuit
- Shadow Ball
- Iron Head
Charizard (M) @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SAtk / 216 Spd
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Focus Blast
- Roost
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature
IVs: 29 HP
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Earthquake
- Defog
Thundurus (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 28 HP / 228 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Flying]
- Nasty Plot
- Thunder Wave
Keldeo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
IVs: 30 HP / 2 Atk / 30 Def / 30 SAtk / 30 SDef
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Scald
- Hidden Power [Flying]
Hippowdon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 240 HP / 192 Def / 76 SDef
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Slack Off
Aegislash (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 240 HP / 16 Atk / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
- King's Shield
- Pursuit
- Shadow Ball
- Iron Head
Charizard (M) @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 40 HP / 252 SAtk / 216 Spd
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Focus Blast
- Roost
Shout-Outs:
My original Zard-Y team was built with user chimpact
The In-Depth layout was influenced by Meru and his 5th Gen RMT Aromaticity
Users InDisMom like a kanga-baby: CTC Problems Edgar Blim aim gr8astard -Tsunami- Sinclair Toxzn Marth SOMALIA BKC ThunderBlunder chimpact CrashinBoomBang dragonuser Lord Elyis SnowCristal! HSA ♥ -Frexa- Oh Captain skulltula LuckOverSkill MikeDecIsHere Stone_Cold SoulWind BLINGAS ♥ Tokyo Tom undisputed Ripamon Liked davidness ßasedVictory Afro Smash Bryce Blueprint High Impulse New Breed Artemisa PDC Hot N Cold PokemonKing4Life Dangerous shofu
Other PO (BAN ME PLEASE): GaryTheGengar Adam MOET Snowtatoes SwagSandwich Choice Specs Wepwnemon LilOuOn Gimmick flamz Laurel ZoroDark Finchinator Fabian kland Suhnny tianboz Riles
Los Tigres: tennisace little gk Solace Biosci Lunar. Thatsjustpeachy Leftiez Sweep Raichy C05ta Halloween Bedschibaer TV-Rocka Treecko DestinyUnknown Hantsuki Fiction. sebixxl Froggy Royal Flush Pwnemon
TAO (BAN ME PLEASE): FLCL Molk Soulgazer Raseri TropiOUs Lasagne Zebraiken Passion Fusxfaranto ebeast Aurora King dcae Silvershadow234 DTC Kenny Cherub Agent Imanalt atomicllamas ShadowAbra Arcticblast jrp SteelEdges soviet
Other frens: ShootingStarmie Funkasaurus Nails sandshrewz Lady Salamence ReaperBagel DeadlyKitten Eagle4 megados Nova Dr Ciel ium
The In-Depth layout was influenced by Meru and his 5th Gen RMT Aromaticity
Users InDisMom like a kanga-baby: CTC Problems Edgar Blim aim gr8astard -Tsunami- Sinclair Toxzn Marth SOMALIA BKC ThunderBlunder chimpact CrashinBoomBang dragonuser Lord Elyis SnowCristal! HSA ♥ -Frexa- Oh Captain skulltula LuckOverSkill MikeDecIsHere Stone_Cold SoulWind BLINGAS ♥ Tokyo Tom undisputed Ripamon Liked davidness ßasedVictory Afro Smash Bryce Blueprint High Impulse New Breed Artemisa PDC Hot N Cold PokemonKing4Life Dangerous shofu
Other PO (BAN ME PLEASE): GaryTheGengar Adam MOET Snowtatoes SwagSandwich Choice Specs Wepwnemon LilOuOn Gimmick flamz Laurel ZoroDark Finchinator Fabian kland Suhnny tianboz Riles
Los Tigres: tennisace little gk Solace Biosci Lunar. Thatsjustpeachy Leftiez Sweep Raichy C05ta Halloween Bedschibaer TV-Rocka Treecko DestinyUnknown Hantsuki Fiction. sebixxl Froggy Royal Flush Pwnemon
TAO (BAN ME PLEASE): FLCL Molk Soulgazer Raseri TropiOUs Lasagne Zebraiken Passion Fusxfaranto ebeast Aurora King dcae Silvershadow234 DTC Kenny Cherub Agent Imanalt atomicllamas ShadowAbra Arcticblast jrp SteelEdges soviet
Other frens: ShootingStarmie Funkasaurus Nails sandshrewz Lady Salamence ReaperBagel DeadlyKitten Eagle4 megados Nova Dr Ciel ium
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