A brief introduction to me, I have been playing Pokemon competitively for quite some time through small local tournaments, Wi-Fi, and PS/PO. I once was an active member of the forums and pokemon community when Shoddy Battle was still around however, with work and school I approach Pokemon more leirsurely now. This is my first RMT in a long time so please any and all criticism is welcome. And this team I have spent many hours testing and constructing, I reached 1500 on the OU ladder however forgot to screenshot it before I playtested another team. I do have plenty of replays saved that show my ranking of 1300+ and they are all wins.
I have always been a fan of Houndoom yet, the addition of a Mega Evolution for it in XY did not see much use due to the prevalence of many other more potent Megas and a common weakness to Water, Rock, Fighting, Ground. With the addition of the ORAS Megas, Houndoom now has new Pokemon that it can outspeed and check in OU, namely Mega Metagross and Mega Altaria alongwith many other prominent OU Pokemon.
Klefki @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Foul Play
- Spikes
- Thunder Wave
- Magnet Rise
Klefki is the defensive wall and entry hazard support of the team, having a steel type to absorb fairy attacks as well as check the Lati twins when try to defog is extremely valuable for the team as spikes allow for Mega Houndoom and Rhyperior to be able to get KOs on certain Pokemon. Foul Play and Spikes are fairly standard for Klefki in OU outside of the Dual Screens set, Thunder Wave helps to cripple any potential sweepers such as DD Mega Gyarados which this team does not particularly like as well as helping to neutralize any scarf Pokemon who outspeed a +Nature base 115.
Starmie @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Reflect Type
Starmie is the spinner of the team capable of relieving the field of the opponent's hazards while still maintaining my own, this was important in making this choice as Spikes and Stealth Rock as extremely significant to the core of this team. The use of Reflect Type and Scald over the more offensive Analytic variant is a personal choice to help beat Bisharp, all forms of Rotom, Skarmory, and countless other Pokemon. Once a Scald burn occurs, most Pokemon are incapable of dealing enough damage to Starmie while it has their own typing and it can then proceed to Recover stall if need be.
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Earth Plate
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 164 HP / 252 Atk / 68 Def / 24 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
Landorus-T is my third choice for the team as it sets Stealth Rock up, and helps to wallbreak with Earth Plate boosted Earthquakes and the utility of Knock Off. Along with being the first check to "birdspam" (other is Rotom, with Rhyperior to an extent), Landorus handles the majority of Pokemon outside of bulky waters and Conkeldurr that threaten Houndoom.
Houndoom @ Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 16 HP / 252 SpA / 240 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Protect
- Dark Pulse
- Sludge Bomb
Mega Houndoom. One of my personal favourite Megas and the basis for the formation of this team. Protect is on the set to help Houndoom mega evolve and gain the speed boost that it needs to outpace the majority of the unboosted meta. Dark Pulse deals with the Lati twins after some prior chip damage and Mega Metagross (1 layer of spikes), Fire Blast OHKOs Metagross and any other Steel type worth mention bar Heatran. Sludge Bomb 2HKOs even bulkier variants of Mega Altaria, as for the most common variant of 64 HP/ 194 Atk/ 252 Spe, it will OHKO after some prior damage or a full field of hazards. Protect also helps with Mega Lopunny who can be caught with a nasty surprise when going for Hi Jump Kick as Return is only a possible 2HKO.
Rhyperior @ Lum Berry
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Polish
- Swords Dance
- Rock Blast
- Earthquake
Rhyperior seems like an unusual candidate for a sweeper in OU however, having a unique ability of Solid Rock coupled with excellent natural bulk it can reliably set up on the majority of OU that is not Keldeo or Rotom-W. The use of a Lum Berry also helps with getting both Rock Polish and Swords Dance active to make this set fully effective. After a Swords Dance Rhyperior reaches a massive 758 Atk and Rock Polishes for 392 outspeeding everything that it fears except for the occasional Mega Sceptile.
A few examples of its power:
+2 252 Atk Rhyperior Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 0+ Def Mega Scizor: 235-277 (68.5 - 80.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- Reliably 2HKOS Bulky Mega Scizor whereas thanks to Solid Rock BP is a 3HKO
+2 252 Atk Rhyperior Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 196-232 (58.6 - 69.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+2 252 Atk Rhyperior Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 160 Def Clefable: 366-432 (92.8 - 109.6%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO
+2 252 Atk Rhyperior Rock Blast (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 56+ Def Gliscor: 189-225 (53.3 - 63.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Poison Heal
+2 252 Atk Rhyperior Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 88+ Def Ferrothorn: 231-273 (65.6 - 77.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
All of these common walls are incapable of dealing with Rhyperior after a Swords Dance boost, with the only exception being a Whirlwind from Skarmory. As for any offensive Pokemon that does not resist either of Rhyperior's STAB moves, most if not all of OU are OHKO'd.
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 28 HP / 140 SpA / 88 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
Lastly, Rotom-W provides excellent utility, I opted for a more offensive variant than the standard as it allows to [1] scout if an opposing Rotom-W is scarfed or not [2] deal the most possible damage with Volt Switch and Hydro Pump while still retaining some bulk [3] outspeed Neutral nature max speed Base 80 Pokemon such as Mega Altaria, Dragonite, Mamoswine, and then act accordingly with either Volt Switch, Will-O-Wisp, or Hydro Pump respectively.
I have always been a fan of Houndoom yet, the addition of a Mega Evolution for it in XY did not see much use due to the prevalence of many other more potent Megas and a common weakness to Water, Rock, Fighting, Ground. With the addition of the ORAS Megas, Houndoom now has new Pokemon that it can outspeed and check in OU, namely Mega Metagross and Mega Altaria alongwith many other prominent OU Pokemon.
Klefki @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Foul Play
- Spikes
- Thunder Wave
- Magnet Rise
Klefki is the defensive wall and entry hazard support of the team, having a steel type to absorb fairy attacks as well as check the Lati twins when try to defog is extremely valuable for the team as spikes allow for Mega Houndoom and Rhyperior to be able to get KOs on certain Pokemon. Foul Play and Spikes are fairly standard for Klefki in OU outside of the Dual Screens set, Thunder Wave helps to cripple any potential sweepers such as DD Mega Gyarados which this team does not particularly like as well as helping to neutralize any scarf Pokemon who outspeed a +Nature base 115.
Starmie @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Scald
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Reflect Type
Starmie is the spinner of the team capable of relieving the field of the opponent's hazards while still maintaining my own, this was important in making this choice as Spikes and Stealth Rock as extremely significant to the core of this team. The use of Reflect Type and Scald over the more offensive Analytic variant is a personal choice to help beat Bisharp, all forms of Rotom, Skarmory, and countless other Pokemon. Once a Scald burn occurs, most Pokemon are incapable of dealing enough damage to Starmie while it has their own typing and it can then proceed to Recover stall if need be.
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Earth Plate
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 164 HP / 252 Atk / 68 Def / 24 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
Landorus-T is my third choice for the team as it sets Stealth Rock up, and helps to wallbreak with Earth Plate boosted Earthquakes and the utility of Knock Off. Along with being the first check to "birdspam" (other is Rotom, with Rhyperior to an extent), Landorus handles the majority of Pokemon outside of bulky waters and Conkeldurr that threaten Houndoom.
Houndoom @ Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 16 HP / 252 SpA / 240 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Protect
- Dark Pulse
- Sludge Bomb
Mega Houndoom. One of my personal favourite Megas and the basis for the formation of this team. Protect is on the set to help Houndoom mega evolve and gain the speed boost that it needs to outpace the majority of the unboosted meta. Dark Pulse deals with the Lati twins after some prior chip damage and Mega Metagross (1 layer of spikes), Fire Blast OHKOs Metagross and any other Steel type worth mention bar Heatran. Sludge Bomb 2HKOs even bulkier variants of Mega Altaria, as for the most common variant of 64 HP/ 194 Atk/ 252 Spe, it will OHKO after some prior damage or a full field of hazards. Protect also helps with Mega Lopunny who can be caught with a nasty surprise when going for Hi Jump Kick as Return is only a possible 2HKO.
Rhyperior @ Lum Berry
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Polish
- Swords Dance
- Rock Blast
- Earthquake
Rhyperior seems like an unusual candidate for a sweeper in OU however, having a unique ability of Solid Rock coupled with excellent natural bulk it can reliably set up on the majority of OU that is not Keldeo or Rotom-W. The use of a Lum Berry also helps with getting both Rock Polish and Swords Dance active to make this set fully effective. After a Swords Dance Rhyperior reaches a massive 758 Atk and Rock Polishes for 392 outspeeding everything that it fears except for the occasional Mega Sceptile.
A few examples of its power:
+2 252 Atk Rhyperior Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 0+ Def Mega Scizor: 235-277 (68.5 - 80.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- Reliably 2HKOS Bulky Mega Scizor whereas thanks to Solid Rock BP is a 3HKO
+2 252 Atk Rhyperior Stone Edge vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 196-232 (58.6 - 69.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
+2 252 Atk Rhyperior Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 160 Def Clefable: 366-432 (92.8 - 109.6%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO
+2 252 Atk Rhyperior Rock Blast (3 hits) vs. 252 HP / 56+ Def Gliscor: 189-225 (53.3 - 63.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Poison Heal
+2 252 Atk Rhyperior Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 88+ Def Ferrothorn: 231-273 (65.6 - 77.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
All of these common walls are incapable of dealing with Rhyperior after a Swords Dance boost, with the only exception being a Whirlwind from Skarmory. As for any offensive Pokemon that does not resist either of Rhyperior's STAB moves, most if not all of OU are OHKO'd.
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 28 HP / 140 SpA / 88 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Volt Switch
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
Lastly, Rotom-W provides excellent utility, I opted for a more offensive variant than the standard as it allows to [1] scout if an opposing Rotom-W is scarfed or not [2] deal the most possible damage with Volt Switch and Hydro Pump while still retaining some bulk [3] outspeed Neutral nature max speed Base 80 Pokemon such as Mega Altaria, Dragonite, Mamoswine, and then act accordingly with either Volt Switch, Will-O-Wisp, or Hydro Pump respectively.
