SS OU OU Team Aurora Veil + Cloyster inspired by BL Knights

[Martin_delR]

Hello all!

So, this team is quite simple as a concept as I always liked not conventional pokemon (that can actually compete, so no stunfisk) in the OU tier for a surprise and add spice. That being said, I'm also open to use OU pokemon that I find help pivot the team around. Anyways, the idea for the team came after I saw a video of BL pokemon being showcased in OU and I decided it would be cool to make a pokemon team with some of those mons.

The mon I chose was Alolan Ninetails because I had never used Aurora Veil before in a team and the move is really cool while also being helpful to turn off sun/rain/sandstorm which can be very dangerous:

Then, I wanted something that could take advantage of the hail and be a wincon, so I chose Cloyster as it can really punch holes into teams or straight end a game:

After that, I checked for a mon that could help me kill those Steel and Rock mons that resist Cloyster and that put my gameplan in jeopardy, so I saw Conkeldurr with flame orb but decided to go Machamp since I've always liked it (and it's kind off the same) and it can learn bullet punch to mess with fairies:

Then I noticed I needed something to hit on the special side and that I wanted something to hit Ferro and Toxapex, and this time I deciced on a OU mon that has always worked for me with a set that is kinda wonky but I feel like works in this team, it's scarf Rotom-Heat:

I wanted to try Weavile and round it up with Mandibuzz as a defogger but I I ended up noticing that I lacked something to pivot into; so I picked lovely toxapex as a physically defensive pivot that resists Fighting and Steel. And then, I noticed that my team was really weak to a fast mon with electric moves so I decided to change Mandibuzz (a weakness) to an immunity. This lead me to Seismitoad, which as perfect for the team (could even replace toxapex and pick up the stealth rock duty too). But, since I hate that mon I went UU to look for something that could block hazards, be immune to electric, place hazards and be a specially defensive pivot. That mon was Claydol.

This rounds up the team, which has been working fine in low ladder OU, but I believe there are some improvements to be made to make it better while not losing its core idea. Anyways, so into the sets for each member:

Ninetales-Alola @ Light Clay
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Aurora Veil
- Freeze-Dry
- Hypnosis
- Hail

To be honest, I copied this set from the smogon suggestions. I had never used this mon before, but it really feels so nice to set the Aurora Veil and see your team take hits that could not before. Freeze-Dry really works well for this mon to take on Seismitoad, which usually won't be able to lead against this team. Hypnosis is not a reliable move but it can really mess up some teams. There are some games where Ninetales is not really necessary anymore and I will try to get a last usage from it by going hypnosis. Hail is there to make sure that my weather of preference stays; it's cool to predict a switch on a weather pokemon and going hail to ruin their plans of ruining aurora veil.

Cloyster @ Focus Sash
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Shell Smash
- Icicle Spear
- Ice Shard
- Rock Blast

The set for this mon is not a secret, Ice Shard helps take on Scarf Dragapult which outspeeds even after Shell Smash. Adamant was chosen to hit as hard as possible and secure KO in bulky pokemon that don't resist its attacks since it only has problems with pokemon like Toxapex or Ferrothorn. The item of choice for this set is Focus Sash as in my opinion it helps more than white herb. I don't think having defenses not lowered really help Cloyster to fullfil its role any better, while focus sash has been at time the reason I was able to setup properly and win games. I considered king's rock since the other half of the games where sash didn't get to save the day I felt like it would win me the game if I get to flinch that one time.

Machamp @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Facade
- Bullet Punch
- Earthquake

This mon hits so hard. Adamant and max Attack provide maximum damage possible while max HP helps taking some hits. Close combat provides STAB and a really strong move to spam on switches. Facade is another strong move that can be spammed when there is nothing better to do; it replaced Ice Punch since I felt like this was hitting harder the majority of the time and Cloyster/Ninetales can deal with Dragons. Bullet Punch provides priority that hits Fairy pokemon hard, so it is a good fit and Earthquake helps as good strong coverage.

Rotom-Heat @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Overheat
- Trick
- Will-O-Wisp

Wacky set that I believe works for this team. Maximum speed possible with Timid nature, 252 Spe EVs and Choice Scarf to deal with pokemon that can threaten it like Excadrill, Keldeo. Volt Switch is the move I use the most to gain momentum. Overheat is strong STAB that helps get rid of Steel and Grass mons like Ferro and Excadrill. Trick is to ruin a defensive pokemon that gives trouble to the team and open options against slower staller teams. Will-o-Wisp is what I chose as the last move to cripple any physical attacker that threatens my wincon for that game (usually -1 Def Cloyster).

Toxapex
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Knock Off
- Haze
- Recover
- Toxic

I know this mon is not really unexpeceted, but it's just so good and I really like how it manages to sponge a lot of physical attackers in the tier. Max defense and HP to be able to accomplish its job and of course Regenerator for ability. Haze helps stop setup sweepers that think can setup on pex face, while regenerator lets it function amazingly in this role. Recover is obvious, honestly. I prefer Toxic over Toxic Spikes since this mon tries to be a pivot that gets in, does something to repel pokemon and goes out, which doesnt really allow for time to set spikes. Knock off is my choice over Scald since I'm trying to rely on Toxic and Recover to stall if I ever need to and I got Will-o-Wisp on Rotom; Knock off allows for some utility against some mons that switch into toxapex expecting either Toxic or Scald.

Claydol @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Teleport
- Rapid Spin
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock

Claydol feels like a meme, but it's actually bulky enough to do the job I need from it. Max HP and SpD with Careful nature to ensure that it can act as a sponge for special hits which my team needs. Teleport is great to gain momentum since it goes after U-Turn and it can tank a hit after its job is done and go for a pokemon that threaten. Rapid Spin and Stealth Rock is the reason I chose this mon, so they don't need an explanation I think, it just comes into something, throws rocks or spins and then goes out. Explosion is the third way of going out (after tele or hard switch), which feels funny and at times very anticlimatic (it doesnt KO anything important lol) so I'm open to try another move (it has a good movepool for special offensive moves anyways). It does accomplish a surprise factor and sometimes KOs something important with it.

I'm open for suggestions on anything to make this team better, although I want to keep the Aurora Veil and Cloyster strat.

Thanks for your time!

 

[zbr]

Heyyos! Alright, your team is pretty unique and interesting. I see that you want to move up the ladder without losing the core idea of using BL mons on your team. Not too sure how BL knights are supposed to function but I am guessing you are supposed to use mons that are in NUBL, RUBL and UUBL? I will give you some rates and ideas that you can work with that allows you to retain the original idea of Aurora Veil + Cloyster balanced offense.

>>>

First off, Earthquakeless Claydol is just simply not going to cut it in OU because 1. it's role as a spinner is outclassed, 2. it's psychic typing makes it unnecessarily knock off weak and 3. you can't break past monsterous mons like Aegislash and the like. Let's change meme into something more worth our time and that change will be to use Swords Dance Excadrill. This change allows you to retain your immunity to ground type without necessitating the use of Seismitoad. This change also gives you a strong steel type to deal with the fairy types of the meta (i.e - Clefable, Sylveon and Mimikyu) and gives you access to Rapid Spin, which gives you a +1 speed. Mold Breaker allows you to bypass annoying stuff like Rotom-Heat and ensure you keep up the pressure against opposing teams. Furthermore, this set allows you to pressure opposing teams more effectively than Claydol ever will and pairs well with A-Ninetales since you can jump it in and since you already play Rotom-Heat, it makes a neat little core that helps you wear opposing mons down. Swords Dance can also enables you to break up opposing teams so that Cloyster can sweep more easily and with Veil up, Excadrill can sweep on it's own as well. This is effectively a double dance Excadrill set that will work well with veils. The item of choice for us will be Occa Berry for a few simple reasons. 1. Our team is quite weak to fairies with fire coverage and with Occa, a lot of would be OHKOs turn into 2HKO and you can easily pick up the kill on these fairies in return.

0 SpA Clefable Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Occa Berry Excadrill: 88-104 (24.3 - 28.8%) -- 99.2% chance to 4HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Clefable Fire Blast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Occa Berry Excadrill: 196-231 (54.2 - 63.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Choice Specs Sylveon Mystical Fire vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Occa Berry Excadrill: 170-201 (47 - 55.6%) -- 74.2% chance to 2HKO

>>>

Next, I really don't think utility Toxapex is good nor do I think it has a place on your team. Simply because 1. It saps away whatever momentum your team original had and 2. you end up wasting precious screen turns doing nothing so let's use something else over this slot if all you need is a defensive utility pivot. Let's go with Clefable! Rationale for using utility Clefable is simply because 1. you get access to rocks 2. you get access to cancer Thunder Wave and 3. fairy typing helps you round of a very nice defensive core of fairy dragon steel. Clefable will be given enough speed to outpace max speed Adamant Conkeldurr to ensure you don't wrecked by him. You also get a good sponge and pivot that doesn't waste your screen turns so I think this change is necessary to make your team more viable in the high ladder.

and with these small changes, I think your team will work a lot better against more competitive players while using minimal amounts of OU mons. hope you like these changes and stay safe amidst to pandemic and chaos. /cheers/

recommended sets

Excadrill @ Occa Berry
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rapid Spin
- Swords Dance

Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 120 SpD / 136 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder Wave
- Moonblast
- Soft-Boiled
- Stealth Rock

 

[theotherguytm]

I'd also like to add to the above that Machamp is pretty outclassed by Conkeldurr in OU. If you don't mind the BL knight theme as much, you'll do even more damage with a set like this:
Conkeldurr @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch/Close Combat
- Facade
- Earthquake/Bulk Up
- Bulk Up/Mach Punch
Pretty much the same as your Machamp set, but even more damage. Drain Punch gives you more longevity, healing off burn damage, while Bulk Up sacrifices priority or coverage for the ability to set up for even more damage, while also making Conk harder to kill. It works great behind screens/Veil, as Conk becomes monstrously difficult to revenge.
Hope you enjoy!

 

[Martin_delR]

Thanks for the replies! I will definitively try those sets. I know Claydol was kind off a meme and didn't really cut it but I couldn't think a way to make the last two mons work. Your suggestions make so much sense, Mr. zbr thanks!

I will try Conkeldurr too to get a feeling of how much better it is than machamp, which I'd like to keep but will replace if I feel like it is needed.

I'll be testing on the ladder, thanks!