OU Sandstorm Team: Starring Cacturne!

[Parasect_Fan]

Yeah, I've been using this team for a while and I wanted to see what you guys thought I should do about some of the members I'm having trouble with. Anyway, thanks for reading and all that good wholesome stuff.

And, not to sound rude, but I've used this team for a pretty good amount of time, so I know it works. The point is to make it work better, of course. The pokemon I'm concerned about are mentioned as such, so please focus on those moreso than the others. Of course, I'll take other criticism into consideration, so don't be shy.

Please note that this is my first RMT.

Tyranitar @ Leftovers
252 HP/Attack ~ Adamant
~Rock Slide
~Earthquake
~Crunch
~Thunderwave

This guy here has been giving me some trouble as far as usability. He can usually take down a pokemon, but he could do so much more! Since this team is all about TWave support and flinching, he has the rather unconventional Thunderwave as a move here. Otherwise he'd use Dragon Dance. Rock Slide is used over Stone Edge for the flinching. I wouldn't mind reworking this guy at all, because he's not as effective as I'd like him to be.

Gliscor @ Brightpowder
252 Attack/Speed ~ Jolly
Sand Veil
~Earthquake
~Rock Slide
~Ice Fang
~Swords Dance

This guy is very close to getting replaced. I'm thinking Empoleon, personally, so if you guys could get me a good Empoleon set that would be cool. He seems good on concept, but he's been pretty much dead weight. TWave + evasion seems good, but it just isn't working that well. I run Ice Fang over Fire Fang because Flygon likes to kick my ass quite a bit, so yeah. This is my guy that might need replacing the most.

Registeel @ Leftovers
252 HP, 126 Defense/Sp. Defense
~Iron Head
~Explosion
~Thunder Wave
~Stealth Rock

This is the guy that comes in on a lot of the attacks. He takes hits rather well, if I do say so myself. He mostly is there to TWave things and set up Stealth Rock. He's also the sacrifice when it comes to taking out Swampert. He can tear it up a little bit with TWave and flinch hax, but he's mostly to take hits and support some. After he spreads some paralyses, he can Iron Head until he's critical, than he goes boom. Simple and effective. I can definitely change up the EVs if there are some important numbers to hit. Those are just filler EVs, really. He also attracts Mixmence, Infernape, and Heatran: things with my favorite move: Fire Blast. Cacturne can set up on Fire Blast easily because of the 85% accuracy and the fact that Cacturne is weak to it.

Regirock @ Leftovers
252 HP, 252 Attack ~ Adamant
~Rock Slide
~Earthquake
~Explosion
~Thunderwave

First, I wouldn't mind making this guy more defensive. I'd love to see some more defensive EV spreads. This guy can take pretty much any physical attack in the book, even a +1 Waterfall from Gyra. Other than that, this guy is pretty basic. I've considered using Swagger, but it doesn't appeal enough to use.

Cacturne @ Brightpowder
252 HP/Attack ~ Adamant
~Sucker Punch
~Focus Punch
~Substitute
~Swords Dance

THIS is the moneymaker. THIS is the dude that kicks ass and takes names. Thunderwave support is key. They either miss him or are fully paralyzed, and with the paralyses he's faster than the either dude. Sub prevents status and when they miss, I get to Swords Dance. After that, I can destroy anything and everything. The major move I need to pull is to keep a sub up. If Scizor comes in, than he kills me with Bullet Punch if I don't have a sub. Or he misses/fully paralyzes, if I'm lucky. But if I have a sub, I can Focus Punch and kill him.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
252 HP/Attack ~ Adamant
~Iron Head
~Zen Headbutt
~U-Turn
~Thunderwave

Also a very successful pokemon. This is the very infamous paraflinch set that everyone loves so much. Bulky and strong is good, of course. And paralyses support for Cacturne. He also brings in things with Fire Blast, which Cacturne can set up on.

TEAM STRATEGY

The plan is to bring in Cacturne when someone gets killed. Say, Heatran comes in on Jirachi, and gets Paralyzed. Heatran takes out Jirachi, and Cacturne comes in. Cacturne uses Substitute, and waits for Heatran to miss. Then, he Swords Dances, and Subs again if he can. Focus Punch will take him out. Then, he can sweep (hopefully) in peace. Basic strategy, sometimes effective, sometimes I have to fly by the seat of my pants. But I love this team and want to make it better. So please help.

 

[boredomisbliss]

heres a tyranitar anti-lead ive been using its pretty effective and can serve as a revenge killer later on (even against the dreaded lucario HAHA (who by the way runs through this team))
Tyranitar@Choice Scarf
Sand Stream
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Crunch
Earthquake
Stone Edge
Fire Punch/Superpower

your tyranitar doesnt have stealth rock, and this doesnt lose to anything that your tyranitar doesnt already lose to. at least draws (wins if they fake out) against infernape, and its faster than latias and starmie and gengar which is cool. superpower is general coverage and is good for its reliability but fire punch handles scizor who want to use U-turn over bullet punch. run away from metagross, jirachi, and swampert leads.


ok gliscor isnt meant to be used that way, use
Gliscor@Leftovers
252 HP/40 Def/216 Spe Jolly
Earthquake
Roost
U-turn/Stone Edge
Taunt/Stealth Rock

better supporter and checks your huge lucario weakness

i would remove regirock, as regirock isnt even that great in sand unless its the curse variant

i would put vaporeon here, it actually goes extremely well on sand teams as it resists water and fire moves
use the standard wish support set
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/vaporeon

 

[ThePatriot]

You have a really big mixape problem. (Im talking bout the specially base one)

May i suggest latias over regirock?
I know latias does not benefit fron sandstorm, but it can easily kill infernape, or it can set up in infernapes face. Heres a set.
Latias @ leftovers
Timid 252sppa 252speed
calm mind
surf
dragon pulse
recover
She can switch in on the ape and set up with calm mind and recover off the damage.

For jirachi i would replace its current set with a choice scarf revenge set.
Jirachi @ Choice scarf
Jolly 252speed 252 attack
ice punch
fire punch
thunderpunch
iron head
This set can still utalize hax. but can revenge kill at the same time.

Thats all i got so good luck!

 

[Umbreon Dan]

Are you aware that you are allowed 510 EVs?

I'm not doing a full rate here but I suggest you tell us where the other four EVs on your pokemon are. Also, 126/126 wastes a point. move two EVs from one defence to the other for a 124 /128 spread.

 

[Parasect_Fan]

Neither Mixape nor Lucario have given me the slightest problem. Lucario is troublesome if it gets a Swords Dance up, but he's never KO'd more than one pokemon at a time. Mixape is set up easily by Cacturne after paralyses, and even if Mixape uses CC, than Cacturne can just Sucker Punch for the OHKO. The major pokemon that gives me trouble is Swampert, who I might be able to counter with Empoleon using Grass Knot.

I totally forgot to list the 4 EVs, though. Thanks for reminding me. I'll add them on to the post later.

 

[Witnessed]

Well, you have some massive problems here, especially with your team's synergy. If you replace Gliscor, than SD Lucario will sweep through your team easily. If you keep Gliscor, then Ice Punch Luc will come in and wreck your team. If you insist on getting Gliscor replaced, here is the SubPetaya Empoleon set. Using the set ThePatriot listed for Jirachi is a good idea, it can revenge kill Luc if you want it to.

Empoleon@ Petaya Berry
Torrent
Modest nature (+Sp. Attack, -Attack)
12 HP/12 Defense/252 Sp. Attack/232 Speed/

Agility
Substitute
Surf
Grass Knot

The strategy here is simple, Agility, Sub down, activate the berry boost and Torrent, and sweep. If your lucky you might be able to get under the safety of a Sub, then start sweeping with ease.

Hope I helped, and Good Luck.

 

[Umbreon Dan]

your Gliscor covers SDLuke very well, though if Gliscor ever falls, Lucario will tear through the remainder of the team. On that note, I would use a bulkier Gliscor. Hit Points should be given major EV investment (best is probably to max it), 216 Jolly is probably plenty of speed, and the rest can go into Attack or Defense. Oh, and give it Roost (I didn't notice at first that you haven't got it) and probably Leftovers. this thing needs to live so you don't get 6-0ed.

However, a standard Close Combat / Fire Blast / Grass Knot / HP Ice Infernape hits all six of your pokemon for super-effective damage. I don't know how well those regis can hold up against Close Combats, so what exactly is your normal answer to infernape?

 

[Parasect_Fan]

Registeel I'm not sure about, as I've only used Regirock. Regirock takes a Close Combat to 20%-30% (w/SR, I think) and then TWaves, and then OHKOs with Earthquake. Mixape has never OHKO'd Regirock even with SR and gets TWaved. Even if Regirock gets killed after, Cacturne sets up on it.

SD Lucario never beats Gliscor, but if Gliscor is dead, than he IS a problem. Jirachi might be able to stop it, but other than that its Gliscor's job.

Please keep in mind that I'm not going to replace anyone except Gliscor. And than TWave NEEDS to stay on TTar and Jirachi.