Gen 4 [OU] RHYPERIOR PARA-SPAM

[Gazpacho23]

RHYPERIOR PARA-SPAM
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It is not easy to use Rhyperior in 4 gen OU. It needs a lot of support to work well, so a team with Rhyperior will always have several flaws, probably more than a "standard" OU team. In spite of that, this team is really funny (and annoying), so I think it is pretty solid given the limitations of Rhyperior. Any feedback will be appreciated!


The team in depth

Azelf @ Focus Sash
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Explosion
- Taunt
- Thunder Wave
Azelf is an amazing lead, there is not much to say about it, sets rocks, hits super hard with explosion, prevents the opponent's hazards and spams paralysis. This set is perfect for giving support for Rhyperior since the beggining of the battle. I usually play in a more conservative way, prioritizing Taunt because I don't have a spinner, but anyways Azelf always sets rocks and uses Taunt/paralyzes the foe at least, and in many battles I manage to do these 3 moves and even explode.

Rhyperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 136 HP / 208 Atk / 164 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Ice Punch
The main pilar of the team. Rhyperior is an amazing Substitute abuser. It is quite easy to set up a Substitute in front of many Pokémon, specially when there is sand. It has amazing coverage, only walled by Bronzong. If paralysis has been spammed, Rhyperior is a great wincon in the lategame.

Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 180 HP / 252 Atk / 76 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Superpower
Tyranitar is a really good partner for Rhyperior, even if they don't have a good defensive sinergy. It sets up sand, removes ghost and psyquic and causes enormous damage thanks to choice band. Tyranitar is also heavily benefited from the paralysis spam.

Gyarados @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Earthquake
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
Gyarados is an amazing partner for Rhyperior and Ttar, it walls 3 of the most dangerous counters of my core: Lucario, Infernape and Scizor. This is a bulky set, capable of spaming paralysis and with good coverage. However, it is vulnerable to rocks, so I have to play it carefully, since my team doesn't have a spinner and Gyarados has to be a durable Pokémon.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Iron Head
- Thunder Wave
- Fire Punch
- Grass Knot
The special wall of my team. One of the most reliable paralysis spammers of the meta. Jirachi blocks a great amount of special attackers, and it is a very solid answer to absorb Draco Meteor from specs Latias. It has great coverage, which allows me to have advantage due to the hax spam and its fire and grass coverage. Grass knot is a surprising option to cause a lot of damage to Swampert, which is quite problematic for my team (Rotom is the only safe option), and thanks to this move I remove or hit hard Swampert, which always forced me to switch without grass coverage.

Rotom-Fan @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder Wave
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Will-O-Wisp
Rotom is a very polyvalent Pokémon: blocks spin, spams paralysis, ruins physiscal attackers with WoW and hits super effective several threats thanks to its coverage. Rotom, alongside with Gyarados and Azelf is an amazing response to Ground and Fighting types, which can destroy Rhyperior and Ttar (specially Ttar). I don't run Rest because of how usefull for the team are all the moves of the set.


Threats:

Walls Rhyperior and checks Ttar really well. Rotom is an amazing answer and Gyarados and Jirachi can deal with it in some ways.

It destroys my offensive core (if it is not paralyzed, in that case it will be obliterated). Gyarados walls it but it is dangerous if it has Thunderpunch and Gyarados is weakened.

Probably this is a threat to any team thanks to the broken Spore. It destroys Rhyperior and Ttar, but Rotom can deal with it pretty well.

If it sets up some Calm Minds it can sweep the entire team, but thanks to the para spam I usually don't have trouble with it.

PokePaste and other teams:
https://pokepast.es/b1dcfcf31c2a8821
https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/ou-a-very-original-hail-semi-stall.3680040/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/ou-a-pretty-solid-sinergy-balanced-team.3722318/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/no-ou-a-serious-gimmick.3723822/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/balanced-sunny-day-bdsp-ou-team.3696418/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/ou-machamp-substitute-nightmare.3728246/​

 

[Jhall99]

Gazpacho! Huge fan of your works on Rate my teams in DPP!

While I'm not exactly an expert (You can take my advice with a grain of salt), I do have a few proposals & criticisms on your Rhyperior team.
(Which btw, anyone who tried to cook up a Rhyperior team is a Giga Chad, I think Laurel's Rhyperior team this SPL was what burned my Rhyperior shaped heart to furiously correct Laurel's mistake)

1 massive problem with your team is hazards, Rocks will eat up Gyara's strength & the lack of recovery from your defensive Rotom is a death blow if you're attempting to check Gyara given T-Tar's sand & the hazards. So what I propose is:

A.)

Starmie, while Starmie is flawed due to T-Tar being everywhere, Starmie does provide you defense against the dreaded Mix Ape & in return can apply needed paralysis for your Rhyperior.
B.)

Celebi, specifically the 252HP/220Sp.Def/36Spd utility spread, but instead of Thunder wave, you use Heal Bell. In case of drawn out battles where status will affect your team, the combination of Rest Rotom & Heal Bell Celebi provides a cleric without over reliance on Wish Rachi to wish pass. Comes in clutch in battles where you have hazards. Special Defensive Celebi provides you protection against Milotic, arguably the scariest threat who can eat up Rhyperior's stabs & can wall a large portion of your team.
C.)

Instead of SubPerior, I could propose you use Swords Dance Rhyperior with Adamant, 252Atk/4Sp.Def/252Spd to break through Skarmory. As Skarmory is a likely switch that will set up spikes against Rhyperior with aplomb. SD can surprise players given how Sub is often used to scout incoming Brelooms, even without HP investment, Rhyperior can temporarily provide defense against DD T-Tar thanks to Solid Rock.
D.)

With Rotom, replace Shadow Ball with Wisp to prevent T-Tar from devouring your team. Can act as a lure to shield Tar with a burn. Also can provide you defense against Gyara. I'd keep T-Wave to spread more burns since Sleep Talk is a bit unreliable lmao.
E.)

The classic 252HP/224Def/32Spd with Wish + Protect is adequate.
F.)

Ambitious take, but I'd put ScarfTar as a lead with Rocks (Crunch/Pursuit/Earthquake/Stealth Rocks) to provide a check against Gengar, which can punch holes against your team without difficulty. Provides some sort of speed check with this slow-ish Paraspamming team that can also Revenge Latias just in case.

Proof that these proposals could work (My opponent was 1307 Elo, maybe a bit low, but it did work):
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen4ou-2302644144

 

[Gazpacho23]

Buen equipo.

Gracias!

 

[Gazpacho23]

Gazpacho! Huge fan of your works on Rate my teams in DPP!

While I'm not exactly an expert (You can take my advice with a grain of salt), I do have a few proposals & criticisms on your Rhyperior team.
(Which btw, anyone who tried to cook up a Rhyperior team is a Giga Chad, I think Laurel's Rhyperior team this SPL was what burned my Rhyperior shaped heart to furiously correct Laurel's mistake)

1 massive problem with your team is hazards, Rocks will eat up Gyara's strength & the lack of recovery from your defensive Rotom is a death blow if you're attempting to check Gyara given T-Tar's sand & the hazards. So what I propose is:

A.) View attachment 714765 Starmie, while Starmie is flawed due to T-Tar being everywhere, Starmie does provide you defense against the dreaded Mix Ape & in return can apply needed paralysis for your Rhyperior.
B.)View attachment 714768 Celebi, specifically the 252HP/220Sp.Def/36Spd utility spread, but instead of Thunder wave, you use Heal Bell. In case of drawn out battles where status will affect your team, the combination of Rest Rotom & Heal Bell Celebi provides a cleric without over reliance on Wish Rachi to wish pass. Comes in clutch in battles where you have hazards. Special Defensive Celebi provides you protection against Milotic, arguably the scariest threat who can eat up Rhyperior's stabs & can wall a large portion of your team.
C.)View attachment 714770 Instead of SubPerior, I could propose you use Swords Dance Rhyperior with Adamant, 252Atk/4Sp.Def/252Spd to break through Skarmory. As Skarmory is a likely switch that will set up spikes against Rhyperior with aplomb. SD can surprise players given how Sub is often used to scout incoming Brelooms, even without HP investment, Rhyperior can temporarily provide defense against DD T-Tar thanks to Solid Rock.
D.)View attachment 714771 With Rotom, replace Shadow Ball with Wisp to prevent T-Tar from devouring your team. Can act as a lure to shield Tar with a burn. Also can provide you defense against Gyara. I'd keep T-Wave to spread more burns since Sleep Talk is a bit unreliable lmao.
E.)View attachment 714772 The classic 252HP/224Def/32Spd with Wish + Protect is adequate.
F.)View attachment 714773 Ambitious take, but I'd put ScarfTar as a lead with Rocks (Crunch/Pursuit/Earthquake/Stealth Rocks) to provide a check against Gengar, which can punch holes against your team without difficulty. Provides some sort of speed check with this slow-ish Paraspamming team that can also Revenge Latias just in case.

Proof that these proposals could work (My opponent was 1307 Elo, maybe a bit low, but it did work):
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen4ou-2302644144

Thanks a lot for your feedback!
Starmie would be the best change, without doubts. With Gyarados replaced by Starmie my team will be less bulkier and more vulnerable to Lucario and Scizor, but I would gain a huge control over hazards, and oubiously I will lose vulnerability to SR. All the other suggestions sound interesting, so I will give them a try.