Introduction
The core of Blaziken, Ferrothorn, and Zapdos is a classic from ORAS that lost favor in the transition to SM due to the rise of other more favorable teammates for Blaziken, such as Celesteela and Thundurus-T. However, as Blaziken lost some of its popularity in the USUM transition, the classic Ferrothorn + Zapdos core is seeing a resurgence with new adaptations to the current meta. This team aims to take advantage of the difficulty of switching into powerful attackers in the 3v3 setting; it offers several different options to overpower foes through brute force while still maintaining a defensive backbone to avoid falling flat against bulky offense teams.
Team Members
Blaziken-Mega @ Blazikenite
Ability: Speed Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 124 Atk / 244 SpA / 140 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Flare Blitz
- High Jump Kick
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Protect
Mega Blaziken is the centerpiece of the team, providing incredible offensive pressure and unpredictability with its set options. Using Blaziken as a Mega Evolution is the typical approach of this sort of team, but what most teams do not expect is the mixed approach, which allows it to lure the likes of Mega Salamence and Landorus-T with Hidden Power Ice. The Special Attack investment is maximized in order to ensure that even the bulkiest Mega Salamence is 2HKOed by Hidden Power Ice, while the Speed benchmark is for Mega Lopunny and Mega Manectric, the fastest unboosted threats in the meta. Mega Blaziken's physical STAB moves are powerful and reliable options that allow it to feign a fully physical set, which is a major strength of this set.
Landorus-Therian @ Focus Sash
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Tomb
- Explosion
Landorus-T is a very reliable lead that fits right at home on offense teams, functioning as a Stealth Rock setter with a few useful tools to set up a sweep. It can weaken a foe's Attack and Speed through Intimidate and Rock Tomb support while also softening up a bulky lead for any of Greninja, Mega Blaziken, or Tapu Lele to break through. Focus Sash facilitates setting up Stealth Rock even in the face of dangerous leads such as Greninja, which pairs well with Explosion getting a teammate in safely while also functioning as an anti-lead tool against Yawn Hippowdon.
Greninja @ Waterium Z
Ability: Torrent
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Cannon
- Water Shuriken
- Ice Beam
- Substitute
This set is ironically the primary reason that Mega Blaziken has been forced to adapt to the meta; Waterium Z Hydro Cannon adds another layer to Greninja's unpredictability and sees a lot of use in high level play. Most bulkier teams can get around Greninja because it lacks the power to break through durable walls, but a 200-Base Power Hydro Vortex with a Torrent boost fixes this issue almost entirely. This is what makes Substitute useful: Greninja is fast enough to safely enter Torrent range by using Substitute repeatedly, which also makes Water Shuriken a more powerful priority move once the Z-Move has been used. Ice Beam is mostly useful to avoid being completely walled by Mega Salamence and Grass-types, and it is still strong enough for the job even without Protean.
Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 108 Def / 140 SpA / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Moonblast
- Shadow Ball
- Psyshock
Choice Specs Tapu Lele provides a strong wallbreaking option against slower teams and also eases the matchup against Toxapex, which Greninja and Blaziken both struggle with. This set doesn't really need much other than its STAB moves, so running Psyshock alongside Psychic is ideal so that Tapu Lele can beat Chansey. Shadow Ball allows Tapu Lele to catch Aegislash and Mega Metagross on the switch, which are otherwise two of the most reliable Tapu Lele checks in the meta. The defensive investment allows Tapu Lele to survive a hit from powerful physical attackers that are able to outspeed it, such as Mega Blaziken and Jolly Mega Salamence, and nuke them in return with Moonblast or Psychic.
Ferrothorn @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Iron Barbs
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 164 Def / 100 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gyro Ball
- Curse
- Leech Seed
- Bullet Seed
Trick Room is highly dangerous for the current team, so Curse Ferrothorn does an excellent job at providing an answer for these teams. Ferrothorn is otherwise an excellent check to bulky Water-types and rain teams that this team struggles to switch into, with Bullet Seed being the preferred Grass-type STAB move for its accuracy and ability to shut down Substitute and Disguise. Iapapa Berry is chosen over Leftovers not only due to item clause, but also because this Ferrothorn generally prefers the large burst recovery to avoid being sniped by unexpected Z-Move users. Leech Seed also generally provides enough extra recovery in situations where more recovery is needed.
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 140 SpD / 116 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Roost
Zapdos completes the trio with Ferrothorn and Mega Blaziken, providing another defensive option for the team that helps deal with Mega Salamence in a pinch if Mega Blaziken fails to lure it. SubToxic Zapdos with Pressure is a nasty threat for offensive and defensive foes alike, slowly breaking down foes while draining their PP. The Speed investment allows Zapdos to set a Substitute against Jolly Breloom and all common meta threats after a Rock Tomb from Landorus-T. The special defense investment complements the physically defensive Ferrothorn, which helps the two function as a solid defensive backbone for the team.
Threatlist
Replays
Best Out of 3 between Psynergy and Greilmercenary9
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7battlespotsingles-924290732
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7battlespotsingles-924286303
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7battlespotsingles-924282692
Importable
Blaziken-Mega @ Blazikenite
Ability: Speed Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 124 Atk / 244 SpA / 140 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Flare Blitz
- High Jump Kick
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Protect
Landorus-Therian @ Focus Sash
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Tomb
- Explosion
Greninja @ Waterium Z
Ability: Torrent
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Cannon
- Water Shuriken
- Ice Beam
- Substitute
Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 108 Def / 140 SpA / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Moonblast
- Shadow Ball
- Psyshock
Ferrothorn @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Iron Barbs
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 164 Def / 100 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gyro Ball
- Curse
- Leech Seed
- Bullet Seed
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 140 SpD / 116 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Roost
Ability: Speed Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 124 Atk / 244 SpA / 140 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Flare Blitz
- High Jump Kick
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Protect
Landorus-Therian @ Focus Sash
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Tomb
- Explosion
Greninja @ Waterium Z
Ability: Torrent
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Cannon
- Water Shuriken
- Ice Beam
- Substitute
Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 236 HP / 108 Def / 140 SpA / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Moonblast
- Shadow Ball
- Psyshock
Ferrothorn @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Iron Barbs
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 164 Def / 100 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Gyro Ball
- Curse
- Leech Seed
- Bullet Seed
Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 140 SpD / 116 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Toxic
- Roost
Created by: Psynergy
Written by: Psynergy and chemcoop
Grammar checked by: A Cake Wearing A Hat
Art by: Image by Ticken & Text by TPP