Hail my hail team [OU]

[finallegacy]

This team has proven to be pretty successful on shoddy. What do you guys think of it.

Team Preview:

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Abomasnow:@Leftovers
Ev's: 252 HP, 40 SpA, 216 SpD
Ability: Snow Warning
Nature: Sassy
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Focus Punch
- Blizzard
I often use Abomasnow to counter bulky waters, or most water types actually. Suicune, Starmie, Vaporean, Swampert, and Empoleon(which rarely have drill peck or flash cannon) are all walled pretty easily. I usually try and get in a substitute in first, main reason is because Tyranitar switches in, I can focus punch it and get rid of that nuisance. Subpunch also proves useful against blissey and at least take out most of the Health on a heatran.

Gliscor (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 252 HP/4 Atk/252 Def
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Roost
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Fang

Physical wall for my team. Helpful if the weather turns into sandstorm. This guy is very helpful against quick physical attackers. This guy is mainly used for the ever so common Scizor, which is the only reason why I have fire fang, and it is a pretty damn good counter. This is also what I switch into if Tyranitar does not switch into my subbed abomasnow and gliscor can 2HKO it. I usually switch into this guy when metagross comes. I usually set up stealth rocks when this happens and hopes metagross doesn't explode and kill gliscor.

Walrein (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Ice Body
EVs: 220 HP/244 Def/46 SAtk
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Blizzard
- Protect
- Substitute
- Roar

This guy is a physical wall, and he's quite good at stalling. What I usually end up stalling are steel types that aren't holding left overs, like heatran, metagross, and magnazone. Usually just continue to use protect and substitute alternatively until the hail kills them, it's a cheap strategy, but it's quite affective at damage the opponents team.

Heatran (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Naive nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Explosion

Of course being able to absorb fire attacks is very nice as 2 of my guys are weak against it and gliscor will lose at least nearly all of its health depending on how strong the fire attack is. Explosion helps me get rid of blissey and snorlax as I don't have very many strong physical attacks, and its useful if heatran is about to die anyway. It just helps me a lot to counter many threats like heat waving zapdos, and most steal types really.

Froslass (F) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Snow cloak
EVs: 252 SAtk/252 Spe/4 HP
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Blizzard
- Thunderbolt
- Destiny Bond
- Shadow Ball

This is another fast special sweeper. It is faster than a DD gyarados and can often OHKO it if stealth rock is up or it has taken some hail damage. I can always rely on it being faster and I guess people often assume froslass will have the stalling set so they don't expect strong special attacks coming from it. I actually rarely use destiny bond nowadays for some reason, but it's always good to know its there in case I know I will die on the next attack.

Tentacruel (M) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 HP/36 Spd/220 SDef
Calm nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Blizzard
- Surf
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes

I often switch to this guy against Infernapes as he resists fighting and fire attacks and grassknot doen't do a lot of damage. Heatran's earth power cannot 2HKO this guy, so if he does use earth power, I'll still be fine. Rapid spin saves me from those pesky stealth rocks that half of my team is weak to. Toxic Spikes helps immensly with this team as one of my pokemon is very good at stalling. He is faster than Adamant breloom and gliscor, so he can hold his own against them. I also switch into this guy when I expect trick, so they'll get hurt with my black sludge.

Defensive Threats:

Blissey - Subbed Abomasnow can focus punch it to 2HKO it, toxic spikes often helps out a lot, if worst comes to worst, heatran can explode. Sometimes though, Gliscor kills blissey quite nicely if it doesn't have ice beam.

Bronzong - Heatran is always good at OHKO it. If it switches in on abomasnow subbed, I often like to subseed it and switch to walrein just to get it subbed and stall ready for the next guy.

Celebi - Heatran is always good at OHKO it. Abomasnow is good since it has blizzard and can't be seeded. Tentacruel also isn't a bad switch in as they usually don't do much damage and I can set up toxic spikes.

Cresselia - It often has will-o-wisp, so I usually switch in heatran when she comes up and he usually does a decent amount of damage. The hail makes her moonlight only heal 25% and the opponent often forgets that in my experience. Froslass with shadow ball also does damage, though she can only 2HKO cresselia. Many times they only have ice beam and charge beam as attacks, so when I have no other choices, abomasnow isn't bad to use either since I can sub seed, though I have to hope she doesn't burn me in that situation.

Forretress - Heatran can OHKO it. Gliscor with fire fang is good, I often set up stealth rocks first though. Can't do too much damage and even blizzard still 3HKOs it.

Gliscor - These don't have stone edge most of the time, but pretty much all of my guys who are not gliscor can OHKO gliscor.

Gyarados - Usually does DD as its first move, so I switch to froslass and T-bolt it since froslass is faster.

Hippowdon - He's often a lead, and since he's slower than abomasnow, the weather will be sandstorm. So I often switch to gliscor to set up stealth rock and he usually switches to something the next turn. But when he stays in though, abomasnow can use blizzard to OHKO it, and hope it doesn't miss. Walrein is in the same situation, just blizzard and hope it doesn't miss. Usually a small annoyance as blizzard's accuracy is not great, but it doesn't do a lot of damage, so not too big a threat.

Jirachi - Usually switch to gliscor and EQ it. Or switch to tentacruel if expecting a trick. And of course heatran is faster and can OHKO it.

Rotom-A - usually switch to heatran as it often uses will-o-wisp. Froslass can also kill it with a shadow ball.

Skarmory - Heatran is often good to switch into it. Froslass can OHKO it with thunderbolt to, though I wouldn't switch into it with froslass though. Walrein doesn't fear skarmory's attacks, and blizzard does decent damage to it. Through walrein often roars it away when it keeps using roost.

Snorlax - I consider this the one pokemon I have the most trouble with. Thick fight is quite good against my team. I can only toxic spike it, which it often can rest away the poison. Hope that I can get off a sub with abomasnow to focus punch it. Heatran can explode, but the opponent often predicts this or snorlax has used curse a few times and survives. Froslass can use destiny bond, but every single time I use destiny bond against snorelax, he always misses his attack and sees I used destiny bond, so he does other things instead, just my bad luck I guess. But I consider this guy the biggest threat.

Suicune - Usually switch into tentacruel to set up toxic spikes and then sub seed with abomasnow

Swampert - subseed with abomasnow

Tyranitar - usually switch into gliscor. A focus punch from abomasnow often times OHKOs it, but sometimes not, if not, then I just switch to gliscor, lol.

Vaporeon - Same as suicune, often switch to tentacruel to set up toxic spikes, or skip that part and go straight to abomasnow because all it ever does is use wish and protect.

Zapdos - This guy is a little tricky. I usually try and find out what moves it has by switching into pokes that resist an attack I expect to see if zapdos has that move. If that's not an option, I normally switch to heatran as it can take a T-bolt and flamethrower usually does good damage. Or sometimes I explode instead. If one of my guys die from it, then froslass can OHKO it with blizzard. Walrein and Abomasnow can also OHKO it if by luck they have sub up.

Offensive Threats:

Azelf - Switch to heatran as I often has a fire move, if not, he can still OHKO it.

Breloom - let it spore abomasnow and switch to tentacruel which does will. Pretty much everyone except gliscor can OHKO it.

Gengar - Heatran and froslass are faster than it, and they can OHKO it. Subbed walrein and abomasnow also do hefty damage to it

Gyarados - same as defensive version

Heatran - usually switch to walrein to see what set up it has. Usually try to stall it, but if it doesn't have the berry to reduce earth attacks, my heatran kills it. Tentacruel is also 3HKO'd by it, so it can switch into an earth power, and still pull off a surf if heatran is already weak.

Infernape - switch to tentacruel

Jolteon - Switch to abomasnow as it doesn't take much damage from it.

Latias - Switch to tentacruel if I expect trick. I try to kill it when tentacruel at that point since it is taking damage from both the hail and black sludge and super affect bizzard attack.

Kingdra - usually switch to walrein as it can take its attacks and blizzard does quite a bit of damage to it.

Lucario - gliscor resists its moves and OHKOs it

Machamp - Gliscor is usually good as it usually is able to kill machamp, though I usually have to roost a few times through confusion damage. If gliscor fails, then heatran or froslass finishes the job.

Magnezone - I can switch in with heatran as it can take a Thunderbolt and resist all of its other attacks and OHKO it. If it doesn't have flash cannon, abomasno is also good. I also find myself stalling it with walrein and letting the hail kill it.

Mamoswine - Heatran is faster and OHKos it. Froslass is faster and does quite a bit damage but I don't think it can OHKO if it has full heatlh. I usually switch into walrein as it can take many of its attacks, through it still does over 50% I believe to walrein with EQ.

Metagross - Usually switch to gliscor and hope it doesn't explode. Heatran can OHKO it too if metatross didn't use agility.

Salamence - I usually switch to heatran because they usually have draco meteor, and I can kill it with HP Ice. Of course every one of my team can OHKO it except gliscor, but it is usually heatran that I switch into to resist the draco meteor.

Scizor - Gliscor with fire fang. Walrein does well also.

Starmie - abomasnow doens't take much damage from it. sub seed strategy.

Tyranitar - See Defensive T-Tar.

Zapdos - See Defensive Zapdos.

 

[Bloo]

If using Roar on Walrein, use a spread of 220 HP / 240 Def / 48 Spe. This will allow Walrein to outspeed Skarmory and Swampert, meaning you can phaze them away before they phaze your Substitute away. This is rather important because most of the time, Walrein will have a Substitute up and Swampert or Skarmory may come in and phaze you with Roar and Whirlwind respectively, meaning that Walrein will have to find another chance to use Substitute to continue stalling once they phaze you away. If Walrein is forced out by one of the aforementioned Pokemon, it will have to come back in, likely take Stealth Rock damage, and find another chance to set up a Substitute, which is quite the hassle.

Also, use Leftovers over Black Sludge on Tentacruel. The reason Leftovers is used over Black Sludge the majority of the time is because Tentacruel's Black Sludge may be taken away by a Trick user such as Rotom. However, that said Trick user now has dangerous item of Black Sludge to Trick to another of your Pokemon, all of which hate carrying Black Sludge bar Tentacruel. Tentacruel may not be around to take the predicted Black Sludge if your opponent uses Trick to send the Black Sludge to another one of your Pokemon. You then have a Pokemon suffering from Poison damage, which decreases their effectiveness to do what they have to do. So for that reason, use Leftovers. They both recover the same amount of HP, however, Leftovers is much safer for the above mentioned reasons.

On a team utilizing entry hazards to consistently wear down its opponents such as this one, you'll need a stable Ghost-type that can last around for a long duration of time. I recommend using a Rotom forme over Froslass. Hail teams usually suffer from a lack of status absorber, and with a Rotom forme over Froslass, you gain a reliable status absorber. Additionally, Rotom formes durability allows it to stick around longer to block Rapid Spin attempts from the likes of Forretress. You're using Froslass to revenge kill threats such as DD Gyarados; however, Rotom-h can effectively take down Gyarados with a STAB Thunderbolt while taking its hits with its good Defense and moderate HP. Froslass isn't that great of a revenge killer and that slot could be used more effectively. As most other Pursuit weak Choice Scarfers, Froslass will die to the common Scizor / Tyranitar. Once Froslass is gone, you lose your Rapid Spin blocker, meaning you'll be vulnerable to Rapid Spin users who can blow away your entry hazards. Rotom-h is way more durable and can protect itself from Pursuit users with Reflect so I would consider using him:

Rotom-f @ Leftovers | Ability
Bold | 252 HP / 168 Def / 88 Spe
Thunderbolt | Rest | Sleep Talk | Reflect

The Spe EVs ensure you outrun Adamant Tyranitar, allowing you to set up a Reflect so you have a cushion against Crunch / Pursuit. Reflect is chosen over Will-O-Wisp as Toxic Spikes would interfere with burning Rotom-h's main threat -- Tyranitar. Reflect still supports theteam by increasing its Defense, allowing you to take on physical attackers more effectively. Thunderbolt is the main STAB move on this set, allowing you to strike bulky Water-types such as Gyarados, Suicune, among others. Rest replenishes your health, allowing you to stick around for a longer period of time, while Sleep Talk gives Rotom-h some form of defending itself while sleeping. If you want a BoltBeam combination, you could always opt for Blizzard over Reflect to strike Salamence and Ground-types such as Gliscor and Hippowdon, both of which are immune to Thunderbot.

Lastly, Fire Fang isn't needed with Heatran on this team, and possibly Rotom-h, assuming you decide to use it. Fire Fang's main use was to hit Scizor, however, you have Heatran for Scizor, and with a Rotom forme, you'll have even more insurance against it. You could be using something like Ice Fang / Knock Off / Taunt. All of those moves have merits. Knock Off means you can take away a recovery items such as Leftovers, making it easier to wear down your opponents. You can also take off choice items such as Choice Band from Tyranitar or Scizor, making them less powerful. Taunt means you can prevent healing from walls like Skarmory and Blissey, meaning they'll be worn down quicker. You also prevent status attempts, meaning you can switch-in one of your other Pokemon without fear. Lastly, Ice Fang allows you to handle Mence along with Breloom better. See which one works better for you and decide.

 

[frogbandit]

Hi,

Nice team. I had a hail team almost like this one and I've also had decent success with it.

I'm not sure why you're using Hidden Power Ice on Heatran. Everything else besides Gliscor carries and Ice attacks on your team, so I'd suggest changing it to a more useful move like Dragon Pulse or Hidden Power Grass to do more damage to Latias/Dragonite or to provide a good check to Swampert once Abomasnow goes down.

You also may want to try out Super Fang on Stallrein, but I've never tried it yet and I'm not sure which move it should replace.

Blizzard seems to be overused a bit. I suggest Tentacruel run Knock off over Blizzard, it would work nicely to remove Leftovers on an opponents pokemon to make it easier to stall.