SV OU Hoopa-U & Gholdengo Balance Team

Hello,everyone! I would like to share with you the team I am using most of the time the last month or so in OU. Since my last two posts here on February and August of the same year, I am adapting to the meta changes more smoothly, but right now I am more comfortable of making my own teams, and especially, balance teams.
I was experimenting with this team a lot, so it went through many changes until I got the most suitable outcome as of now.



Table of Contents
1)Team Introduction
2)Team Explanation
3)Behind The Scenes
4)Threats and Notable Matchups


1) Team Introduction

So,I am now showing you the Squad.
I will leave a link to my team's PokePaste in case someone wants to try this in practice.
"Press me"



:sv/hoopa-unbound: :sv/gholdengo: :sv/great tusk:
:sv/dragonite: :sv/alomomola: :sv/fezandipiti:






2) Team Explanation
Below you can see each mon individualy. Also,for each team member I have added 4 interractions vs some meta mons.
:sv/hoopa-unbound:

Hoopa-Unbound @ Assault Vest
Ability: Magician
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 196 HP / 176 Def / 136 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Psychic Noise
- Knock Off
- Drain Punch
- Thunderbolt

Hoopa-U is, in my honest opinion a high risk-high reward situation mon. Many of you will question my EV's spread and my statement about the mon itself.
With its astronomically high Attack and SpAttack, amazing special bulk and decent HP and Speed stats, you can use Hoopa-U in some teams, more specifically, in webs offense and balance teams. Now, the main problem is its Defense stat. It is absolutely horrendous. Combined with its typing, any bug type move can erase the mon. The choice of tera for this tera-reliant mon is poison, as it negates its main weakness in bug type (Lokix Food) ,as well as fairy weakness and completely invalidates toxic and toxic spikes,since Hoopa-U is prone to hazards. The most optimal item imo is Assault Vest,since it makes Hoopa-U a special wall on top of a slow, but deadly attacker. I've invested more in HP/Def stats, while also giving a good ammount of EV's in SpAttack,as it generally helps a bit to absorb some physical attacks. Also helps a lot vs physical fairy moves. About the moves, I am using Psychic Noise to hit through substitute mons and destroy Stall/passive healing, Knock off to remove items + OHKOing most of the opposing Ghost/Psychic types, Drain Punch and Thunderbolt for coverage. Thunderbolt is very good against Skarm/Corv/Dozo.

It is also noteworthy to add that in case I land the 10% -1 Attack drop Play Rough to Waterpon with Fezandipiti OR Scald's 30% chance to burn with Alomomola when Waterpon is Terastalized, Hoopa-U can live a U-Turn without the need to tera.


[COLOR=rgb(165, 71, 252)]252 Atk Wellspring Mask Ogerpon-Wellspring Play Rough vs. 196 HP / 176 Def Hoopa-Unbound: 262-310 (74.8 - 88.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO[/COLOR]
252 Atk Wellspring Mask Ogerpon-Wellspring Play Rough vs. 196 HP / 176 Def Tera Poison Hoopa-Unbound: 65-77 (18.5 - 22%) -- possible 5HKO
252 Atk Wellspring Mask Ogerpon-Wellspring U-turn vs. 196 HP / 176 Def Hoopa-Unbound: 408-484 (116.5 - 138.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO

[COLOR=rgb(165, 71, 252)]252 Atk Wellspring Mask Ogerpon-Wellspring U-turn vs. 196 HP / 176 Def Tera Poison Hoopa-Unbound: 51-60 (14.5 - 17.1%) -- possible 6HKO[/COLOR]


:sv/gholdengo:
Gholdengo @ Air Balloon
Ability: Good as Gold
Tera Type: Fighting
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Make It Rain
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast

Gholdengo's role on this team is a status blocker. With one of the best abilities in Good as Gold and its nice typing, it can take advantage of Hoopa's-U most notable weakness in bug type since it quad resists it, while hitting many mons extremely hard with its signature move, Make it Rain. Gholdengo's ability makes it immune to any status move and it is generally proven to be very useful against Defog Corviknight, which invalidates its role as a bulky hazard removal mon. I am using Air Balloon for this one, because it temporarily makes the weakness to ground, an immunity until you get hit by any move. You can bait EQ's from opossing mons and safely switch into them as long as you have the Balloon up, which then forces them to use another move to hit you, also useful if you want to make the opponent to reveal some of their moves. I am using Tera Fighting, since I use Focus Blast for coverage, most notably against Kingambit.
Tera Fairy is also fine, but there are many steel type mons that can OHKO you. Tera Steel Heavy slam Zamazenta is also one of the main reason i opted to change into Tera Fighting. The set is a -mostly- standard set, there is nothing noteworthy about it.


[COLOR=rgb(255, 226, 122)]252 Atk Choice Band Dragapult Phantom Force vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 434-512 (137.7 - 162.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO[/COLOR]
252 SpA Gholdengo Shadow Ball vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gholdengo: 288-342 (91.4 - 108.5%) -- 50% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Clefable: 434-512 (110.1 - 129.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO

[COLOR=rgb(255, 226, 122)]0 Atk Gliscor Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Gholdengo: 218-258 (69.2 - 81.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (For Max HP-Def/HP-SpDef Gliscor Matchup)[/COLOR]


:sv/great tusk:
Great Tusk @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Protosynthesis
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Fire/Poison
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake/Headlong Rush
- Knock Off
- Temper Flare/Ice Spinner
- Rapid Spin

Tusk is the best spinner in SV OU. Its decent speed and amazing Physical profile, plus its diverse movepool makes it a staple spinner. Sure, its counterpart, Iron Treads is faster and has better special bulk, but Tusk's job is to remove hazards safely and absorb physical hits on top of dealing with a lot of mons effectively, which many team members struggle with. HDB is essential since you are an offensive spinner with physical bulk. Any form of hazard control can hurt your team's survivalbility and longevity, and especially Hoopa-U is very prone to hazard control. Now, about the moveset. Headlong Rush is stronger,but can't be spammed effectively, so I opted for EQ. I keep using Headlong Sometimes. Knock Off is a must. Temper Flare is better against Steel types, can be extremely deadly if you use Rapid Spin/EQ/Headlong on an immune target and then press Temper Flare for double the damage. Ice Spinner can remove Grassy Terrain and deal with Rillaboom,Gliscor and Landorus-T. Just try not to get hit by neutral or super effective special moves, since its special bulk is horrendous.

[COLOR=rgb(255, 46, 105)]252+ Atk Choice Band Rillaboom Grassy Glide vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Tera Fire Great Tusk in Grassy Terrain: 75-88 (20.2 - 23.7%) -- possible 6HKO[/COLOR]
252+ Atk Choice Band Rillaboom Grassy Glide vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Great Tusk in Grassy Terrain: 300-354 (80.8 - 95.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
252 Atk Wellspring Mask Ogerpon-Wellspring Power Whip vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Great Tusk: 354-416 (95.4 - 112.1%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
252 Atk Wellspring Mask Tera Water Ogerpon-Wellspring-Tera Ivy Cudgel vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Great Tusk: 392-464 (105.6 - 125%) -- guaranteed OHKO


:sv/dragonite:
Dragonite (M) @ Heavy-Duty Boots/Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant/Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Extreme Speed
- Earthquake
- Ice Spinner

Dragonite is an amazing setup sweeper that also has the best priority move in Extreme Speed. The set is the standard DDance sweeping set with Tera Normal to make Extreme Speed much more threatening, while also having coverage moves in EQ and Ice Spinner to threaten popular meta mons. Jolly Nature is better if Hyper Offense teams are having a rise, Adamant nature can help dealing more damage in specific interractions, while abusing its amazing Attack stat even more without the need of DDance. HDB and Lefties are equally useful, but I opted for HDB because of hazards, plus you lose the spikes/webs immunity due to Flying type if you go Tera Normal.

[COLOR=rgb(255, 123, 46)]+1 252+ Atk Dragonite Ice Spinner vs. 244 HP / 36 Def Gliscor: 472-556 (134 - 157.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO[/COLOR]
252 SpA Choice Specs Kyurem Freeze-Dry vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 342-404 (105.8 - 125%) -- guaranteed OHKO
4 SpA Kyurem Freeze-Dry vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 188-224 (58.2 - 69.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

[COLOR=rgb(255, 123, 46)]252 SpA Iron Valiant Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Multiscale Dragonite: 147-174 (45.5 - 53.8%) -- 41% chance to 2HKO[/COLOR]


:sv/alomomola:
Alomomola (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Wish
- Flip Turn
- Scald
- Mirror Coat

Alomomola is the best Wish-Pass mon in OU, thanks to its absurdly high HP stat. This is a max SpDef set with Mirror Coat to surprise most special attackers, while also safely passing Wish to weakened mons and then pivoting with Flip Turn, which also procs Regeneration. Another reason as to why Alomomola is the best Wish-Passer. Scald is one of the best Water type moves, as it can fish burns and cripple physical attackers. A funny interraction is when an opponent with Gliscor forgets to protect T1 and Alomomola procs burn with the 30% chance. The mon which benefits the most from Alomomola's utility is Hoopa-U, as it is a team mostly built around it.

252 SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Alomomola: 326-386 (61 - 72.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
100+ SpA Hoopa-Unbound Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Alomomola: 276-326 (51.6 - 61%) -- 94.1% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
0 SpA Alomomola Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Great Tusk: 140-168 (37.7 - 45.2%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 SpA Alomomola Scald vs. -1 0 HP / 0 SpD Great Tusk: 212-252 (57.1 - 67.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO


:sv/fezandipiti:
Fezandipiti @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Toxic Chain
Tera Type: Flying/Dark
EVs: 156 Atk / 228 SpD / 124 Spe
Careful Nature
- Beat Up
- Play Rough
- U-turn
- Roost

The last mon is Fezandipiti. It can do lots of things for the team actually. Toxic Chain-Beat up spam is very useful especially in early game, since it is easier to proc the ability, Roost to stay alive and tank special attacks, Play rough STAB is also nice, if the move itself hits of course and U-Turn for pivoting. Poison/Fairy is an amazing defensive typing, while absorbing Toxic Spikes for the team and granting immunity to Toxic. Since Fezandipiti wants to spread status and then pivot, HDB and 124 Speed stat allows to outspeed Bulky Ground types with no Speed investment, while also having a chance to proc Toxic Chain while pivoting. It is better to not bring this mon into Gliscor if you knocked off its item T1, as you can accidentally activate Poison Heal with your ability. Tera Flying can help with Ground weakness and Tera Dark for Psychic weakness, plus immunity to prankster mons.

252 Atk Great Tusk Headlong Rush vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Fezandipiti: 464-548 (146.3 - 172.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO yeah dont bring it vs Tusk
252 SpA Choice Specs Kyurem Earth Power vs. 0 HP / 228+ SpD Fezandipiti: 184-218 (58 - 68.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
156 Atk Fezandipiti Play Rough vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Kyurem: 230-272 (58.8 - 69.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 0 HP / 228+ SpD Fezandipiti: 252-296 (79.4 - 93.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO







3) Behind The Scenes


Originally, this team was built around Dragalge. The archetype would still be balance and of course, it would still had Hoopa-U as one of the partners. What I wanted to do with Dragalge was to spam toxic and if needed, gamble for the scald burn. Draco Meteor still hits hard even with no SpAttack investments due to Adaptability. Tera Water as a defensive typing,to ensure longevityagainst Ground + secure damage to Tusk. I also had mixed Dragapult instead of Gholdengo and Assault Vest Primarina instead of Alomomola.
The mon changes went into the exact order:

Primarina -> Alomomola
Dragapult -> Gholdengo
Dragalge -> Glowking -> Fezandipiti

Alomomola's Wish-Pass/Pivot is more valuable for my team, as it enables Hoopa-U , Gholdengo and Dragonite.
Gholdengo's part Steel typing is more needed to the team, it is also easier to deal with Fairy types.
Although Glowking did a better job in terms of sustainability and status spreading than Dragalge, Fezandipiti can be more versatile and pivot easier than Glowking. It also has a chance to spread status while also pivoting, which can then ensure chip damage to enemy team.



Dragalge (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Adaptability
Shiny: Yes
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
- Toxic
- Draco Meteor
- Scald
- Flip Turn


4) Threats And Notable Matchups

VS Stall: :hoopa unbound: alone can win most Stall teams. Psychic Noise and Knock Off for their own reasons respectively can hinder many Stall strategies, as it removes active + passive healing, whether :hoops unbound: uses Psychic Noise to block healing for 2 turns, or by Knocking Off lefties. It can also use Thunderbolt as coverage to enemy :toxapex: :skarmory: :corviknight: :dondozo: .
:fezandipiti: can spread status with Beat Up, which further promotes offensive play.
:great tusk: can use Knock Off to remove items.
:dragonite: can deal with :gliscor: which is a staple on Stall teams, by using Ice Spinner.



VS Hyper Offense: :hoopa unbound: struggles against every mon that uses a Bug type move, but completely erases :iron valiant: and can also do well against :samurott hisui: . Since HO teams like to have either band or scarf protean :meowscarada: , the probability of using U-Turn against :hoopa unbound: is 100%. If you are able to Tera and then not die to other HO threats, you are kind of safe.
:gholdengo: can deal with :iron valiant: , which is another tool that HO teams like to use. Forexample:
252 SpA Gholdengo Make It Rain vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Iron Valiant: 600-708 (207.6 - 244.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
By clearing enemy :iron valiant: , it makes the matchup for :great tusk: a lot easier, as it doesn't need to worry about being OHKO'ed by Moonblast.
:roaring moon: can sometimes be a problem, but :fezandipiti: can take care of it most of the time.
:alomomola: can Wish-Pass to stall some enemy moves while aiding its own team to ensure longevity. Mirror coat can also erase every special attacker, since max HP/SpDef can't die against non-specs mons.
:dragonite: can setup due to Multiscale. It can tank some very threatening moves when Full HP or finish off low health mons with Extreme Speed.



VS Balance: :great tusk: removes hazards, helping :hoopa unbound: to avoid chip damage.
:gholdengo: can PP stall opposing status moves, as they have no effect. :weezing galar: and :tinkaton: can ignore :gholdengo: ability, but you rarely see both of them.
:fezandipiti: can spread status to chip their bulkier mons and grant pivot to :dragonite: :hoopa unbound: and :gholdengo: .
:dragonite: can setup due to Multiscale. It can tank some very threatening moves when Full HP or finish off low health mons with Extreme Speed.




And... That's all for the time being! Any recomendations are deeply appreciated! Wish you all a very nice day/afternoon/evening (based on timezone)!
 
very nice formatting! the interactions on the first four mons have some typos though. also cool team! always nice to see fezanskibidi put in work.
Thank you very much for your comment, appreciate it!
Fezandipiti is indeed a very fun mon to play around, plus it gives aura points++++
As for the typos, I will try to correct them later during the night.
Thanks again!
 
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