Specs Iron Crown Offense | Peak: 1980 ELO (Gen 9 OU)
Hey everyone! So this is a team I’ve had in my builder for quite some time. After hours of testing and fine-tuning, I managed to hit 1980 ELO, highest I’ve ever reached in this generation so far. I thought I might as well share it here, I've struggled a bit against some particular stall teams so there’s certainly room for improvements. Let's dive in immediately !
Individual Pokémon
Ting-Lu @ Leftovers
Ability: Vessel of Ruin
Tera Type: Poison
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Ruination
- Whirlwind
Not much needs explaining, this is a standard Ting-Lu set. It serves as a reliable Stealth Rock setter and a special attack sponge. Earthquake, Ruination, and Whirlwind give it some proactive utility by pressuring switch-ins and disrupting setup. Tera Poison helps it better handle Fairy, Grass, and Fighting-types. Max HP and Special Defense investment, along with a Careful nature, maximize its ability to tank special hits. Leftovers for more longevity.
Ogerpon-Wellspring (F) @ Wellspring Mask
Ability: Water Absorb
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Ivy Cudgel
- Horn Leech
- Taunt
A physical breaker designed to dismantle Balance, Fat, and Stall teams on paper. It's forced to run the Wellspring Mask, but that 20% power boost gives it strong immediate pressure. Ivy Cudgel serves as its primary Water-type physical STAB, while Horn Leech is preferred over Power Whip for added longevity. Taunt shuts down status moves and recovery, which is crucial for a breaker like this. Swords Dance allows it to set up and punch through bulkier, passive teams. The EVs and Tera type are fairly self-explanatory. This set was actually recommended to me by Storm Zone, so shoutout to him for the idea.
Iron Crown @ Choice Specs
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Volt Switch
- Tachyon Cutter
- Psychic Noise
- Future Sight
The star of the team. Iron Crown is criminally underrated in the current metagame. Once opposing Dark or Steel-types are removed or weakened, it can absolutely steamroll teams. Volt Switch keeps up momentum and hits the likes of Corviknight and Hisuian Samurott super effectively. Tachyon Cutter is its primary Steel-type STAB, dealing massive damage, especially with Tera Steel. Psychic Noise serves as its main Psychic STAB while also denying recovery, which is key against guys like Gliscor and Zapdos. Future Sight adds even more pressure, synergizing well with teammates like Ogerpon and Zamazenta to put opponents in uncomfortable situations, as you will see in the replays. Max Special Attack and Speed with a Timid nature is preferred over Modest to outspeed the likes of Great Tusk and Gholdengo.
Pecharunt @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Poison Puppeteer
Tera Type: Ghost/Dark
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 SpD
Bold Nature
- Malignant Chain
- Hex/Foul Play
- Parting Shot
- Recover
The go-to standard defensive Pecharunt set. It checks a surprising number of threats in the current meta (even some it’s technically weak to, like Meowscarada and defensive Great Tusk). Malignant Chain is its signature Poison-type STAB, spreading poison while enabling its ability, Poison Puppeteer, which confuses poisoned opponents. Parting Shot provides momentum while lowering offensive stats, and Recover is self-explanatory (longevity). These three moves are staples. The last slot can go either way: Foul Play punishes physical attackers, while Hex synergizes better with Malignant Chain's status spread. For this team, Hex was the pick, so Tera Ghost was chosen to boost its power and offer a strong option into threats like Bulk Up Tusk. The EV spread of 252 HP / 240 Def with a Bold nature maximizes physical bulk, with a touch of Special Defense to help sponge special attack just a little better.
Dragonite @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Multiscale
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Tera Blast
- Encore
A deceptively cheap mon with a brutally effective set. Dragonite shines as a late-game cleaner in a wide range of matchups, and it’s starting to feel like the new Roaring Moon, at least for me. Dragon Dance boosts its Attack and Speed, allowing it to snowball quickly. Earthquake is its most reliable coverage option, pairing perfectly with Tera Blast Flying which is double stabbed. Encore is a key tech option, letting it set up more safely on passive targets especially when Multiscale is intact, halving incoming damage at full HP. The EV spread of 252 Attack and 252 Speed is standard, with a Jolly nature chosen over Adamant to specifically outspeed Dragapult at +1 and secure the OHKO with Tera Blast.
Zamazenta @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dauntless Shield
Tera Type: Steel/Fire
EVs: 104 HP / 252 Atk / 152 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Heavy Slam/Ice Fang
- Crunch
Acts as the team’s main form of speed control. Close Combat is its primary Fighting-type STAB, while Stone Edge handles Flying-types like Moltres and Zapdos. Crunch targets the likes of Galarian Slowking and Gholdengo. Heavy Slam, especially when paired with Tera Steel, gives it a strong tool to deal with Speed Booster Iron Valiant but Tera Fire is also an option, and it’s probably better for the Dragapult MU. 152 Speed EVs let Zamazenta surpass the critical 383 Speed benchmark (outspeeding Darkrai and Weavile most notably), while still investing 104 HP for added bulk and keeping a full 252 Attack for maximum damage output.
Threats
- Specs Kyurem : Will punch big holes if given free opportunities to enter the field. Try to get and maintain rocks up as much as possible and also not always make the obvious plays that let it come in for free.
- CB Lokix / Scizor : Kind of like Kyurem but in a lesser way. Rocks are key.
- WoW Pivot Dragapult : While it lacks immediate breaking power, this mon excels at wearing teams down over time if left unchecked. Ideally, you want to lead with Ting-Lu and pressure it with Ruination and Earthquake to chip it into range of burned Zamazenta's Crunch. Iron Crown can also force it out when at full. Be mindful of patterns; if you always default to Ting-Lu, expect them to start clicking U-turn; in those cases, pivoting into Zamazenta or Pecharunt can catch them off guard. Passive play against this threat will cost you. Tera Fire can also help you against Dragapult.
- Bulk Up Great Tusk : Will often demand using Tera with Pecharunt especially if Booster Speed. Ting-Lu can also force it out if healthy but some Close Combat so definitely be aware of that.
- Walking Wake : Sun is a tough matchup. Yes Ogerpon has Water Absorb but maneuvering against Walking Wake's movepool is very hard. In these games you will often need to create a win path for Dragonite.
Replays
[Gen 9] OU: How play pkm vs. chrollo ciferlu - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - HStack Balance (see how agressively I played there)
[Gen 9] OU: chrollo ciferlu vs. XXX Pistols - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - BO
[Gen 9] OU: chrollo ciferlu vs. Johnny tots - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - HO
[Gen 9] OU: chrollo ciferlu vs. snake prairie - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - BO
[Gen 9] OU: chrollo ciferlu vs. XXX Pistols - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Grassy Terrain BO
[Gen 9] OU: natalie hershlag vs. chrollo ciferlu - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Balance
[Gen 9] OU: chrollo ciferlu vs. Mooonzone - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Rain
[Gen 9] OU: chrollo ciferlu vs. WangLinWL - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Offense
[Gen 9] OU: chrollo ciferlu vs. half life heroes - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Offense
[Gen 9] OU: OUHF Foenem vs. chrollo ciferlu - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Stall
[Gen 9] OU: Hugussy vs. chrollo ciferlu - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Stall
[Gen 9] OU: Altaross vs. chrollo ciferlu - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Balance
[Gen 9] OU: chrollo ciferlu vs. chen qt - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Balance
[Gen 9] OU: Chodna Raja Muhib vs. chrollo ciferlu - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Offense
[Gen 9] OU: desurje vs. chrollo ciferlu - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Specs Kyurem + WoW Pivot Dragapult Offense
[Gen 9] OU: grapewatch vs. chrollo ciferlu - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Sun
[Gen 9] OU: ousvkate vs. chrollo ciferlu - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - Webs
[Gen 9] OU: Chodna Raja Muhib vs. chrollo ciferlu - Replays - Pokémon Showdown! - BO (game that got us to 1980 ELO)
Thanks for reading!
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