Hi all! As you may remember, I tried a couple OU teams a while ago, but they were mostly a team of pokemon I threw together, and it didn't get anywhere. That said, I've tried this on the PO server,(smogon one is down) and it's been doing decently, so I thought I could use some second opinions, because honestly, I suck competitively. Without further delay, I bring you Team kung-fu ghost robot squid dragon walnut!
TEAM AT A GLANCE:
TEAM BUILDING
I decided that I wanted to base a team around Mienshao, because it's a cool kung-Fu Raccoon thing, and It has a fancy mustache. And that doesn't even include the huge attack, access to Fake Out, Regnerator, and U-Turn.So, yeah, Mienshao.
First, I needed something to cover mienshao's major weaknesses, Flying, and Psychic. Not only does Magnezone resist Electric and x4 resist Flying, It also has Magnet pull and a good special attack, allowing me to take out a number of pokemon, especially Jirachi, which i hate so very much.
A great way to cover Magnezone's major weaknesses, Gengar is also a great Special Sweeper, having very good sweeping power, as well as an immunity to both Fighting and Ground, and working as a spinblocker. But, in order for it to work as a spinblocker, I need something...
Enter Foretress. Having access to all entry hazards(Stealth Rock, Toxic and regular spikes) and Rapid Spin make it good in both eliminating hazards and setting them up. This also adds synergy to Gengar for also being acting as a spinblocker. Foretress did not help remedy Magnezone's fire weakness that Mienshao and Gengar don't cover, so I needed something to resist Fire in order to protect Magnezone and Foretress.
And in comes Jellicent. being water type gives my team a much needed fire resist, and gives my team a wall of sorts, as Foretress and Magnezone have not pulled there share in the past. There's also a variety of moves that Make Jellicent great, whether a fire resist is needed or not. Scald, Will-O-Wisp, Recover, and, Trick room, Ice Beam, energy ball, toxic etc...
Finally, I felt the need for another Physical sweeper that could also act as a revenge killer in case I needed to revenge something. Haxorus was the first one to come to mind, as I have used a choice scarf variant is the only one I have used previously, and it has worked very well in the past. So, Haxorus was my final member.
Jellicent was good, but overall, he was the weak link if the team, Gastrodon was essentially bulkier, also had a good form of recovery, and was able to do the same thing Jellicent was. so Jellicent had been replaced.
Mienshao (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Fake Out
- Hi Jump Kick
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
The star of the show.With Regenerator and U-turn, I can recover 33% health, at the cost of 10% damage from U Turn.Fake Out is so I can get some beginning damage with Fake Out. Hi Jump Kick is STAB, and Stone Edge is coverage to do damage to flying, Fire, Ice, etc... Anyway, Mienshao is one of the most underestimated pokemon in the current metagame, compared to some of the more obvious pokemon.The EV spread is pretty basic, and there isn't much I can say about that. The majority of this is pretty basic, so there isn't a ton I can say about that.
Magnezone @ Choice Specs
Trait: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Volt Switch
Magnezone, my second pokemon, is one of my best pokemon in the little I have tested this. Magnet Pull allows me to trap steels that otherwise would annoy my team to no end, mainly Jirachi(why is it even allowed anyway? it's set is basically the same as abusing Double team) but that isn't the main point. It is also a special sweeper, with HP Fire giving me the ability to take out most steels I can trap, Thunderbolt is simple STAB, as is Flash Cannon, although Flash cannon is mainly filler. finally Volt Switch is there in case I need to escape a potential threat, or want to safely bring in a sweeper. The EV Spread is to give me good bulk, while also giving me as much special attack as possible. Calm nature is to boost Magnezone's lower special defense.
Gengar (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
Awww, poor Pikachu. Gengar is my special sweeper, and as you can tell by the picture, he is a pretty ruthless one at that. Gengar's immunity to both Fighting and Ground makes it a good partner to Magnezone. Anyway, HP Ice is there to deal damage to dragons mainly, as they are quite common in OU, Shadow Ball is STAB, and surprisingly has pretty decent coverage Thunderbolt is for coverage, Focus Blast is there to do extra damage to anything Shadow Ball/Thunderbolt/HP Ice can't cut it.Wise Glasses is because I had no idea what move to give it, and keeps the itemslot idea somewhat secret. when I use more than one move, my opponent learns that it isn't choiced, when it loses no damage at the end of an attack, they learn it isn't life orbed, and when I don't recover HP, it isn't a bulkier set, which leads to my opponent wondering what kind of item it is. I originally had Substitute in one slot, in an attempt to fake a subDisable set, and then I tried using Disable, but I found I needed the extra coverage from Hidden Power.
Gastrodon (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Recover
- Toxic
- Protect
- Scald
My Team wall. Protect allows me to scout out moves and prolong Gastrodon's life, while Toxic is a way to do quick damage and maybe catch my opponent by surprise if I can catch them on the switch. Recover is, well, to recover HP, and Scald is my main attack, as well as giving me a possible burn hax. The EV spread is standard(I think) and Storm Drain allows me to provid a somewhat counter to Rain teams, by absorbing the super-powered water attacks, and gain a free boost. Fulfills the same job as my former Jellicent, and at the same time, more.
Haxorus (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Mold Breaker
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor
Haxorus is my secondary sweeper, in the case I encounter some pokemon in which Mienshao just can't cut it. Outrage is STAB, and kills just about everything, while Earthquake and Rock Slide kill just about everything else. X scissor is there simply for coverage, and for hopefully being able to OHKO Reuniclus. I don't 100% know if that will work or not, as I have yet to face one with Haxorus. Rivalry, in PO is almost a guaranteed +1 attack boost, but it can't come in on Blissey/Chansey/Female pokemon, which leads me to think maybe Mold Breaker would be better. Mold Breaker would give me a way of doing much more damage when locked into Earthquake, doing damage when locked into a Flygon instead of being forced to switch out.(I would switch out anyway, but it's still possible)And not be given a -1 attack drop if I bring him in on a Blissey. Choice Scarf is incredibly helpful, as it allows me do to amazing things, such as outspeed a +1 speed Dragonite, and KO with Outrage. basically, having much higher speed is definitely worth being locked into a move. Choice scarf is also able to make Haxorus into a Hit-and run sweeper, because he'll be much faster than almost every pokemon.
Forretress (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
Forretress is pretty self-explanetory, lays rocks/spikes, and spins them away. That's really all it does. I've been thinking of putting Explosion in, as it would be a good way to go out with a bang when he's done his job, but both Spikes and Toxic Spikes have been two very helpful moves. and unfortunately, Stealth Rock is considered practically mandatory, so... Forretress really has nothing going for it.
FORMER MEMBERS:
Jellicent (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Toxic
My wall of the team. brought in by my need of a Fire resist, Jellicent has proven to be more than the average wall. Scald is there for Burn hax, but if I don't trust it to work, I also have Will-o-wisp. Toxic is there to get some status in on a switch-in, so Jellicent can do something to a counter If i can predict well. Recover is for healing. My EV spread is probably different from the standard, as I tried to keep both defenses similar, while maximising bulk, so I have just as good a chance to survive an Earthquake as I do an Earth Power. Will-o-wisp/Toxic are possibly being replaced, as I don't completely think that having two status moves on one pokemon is a great idea, so suggestions would be helpful.
TEAM AT A GLANCE:
TEAM BUILDING
I decided that I wanted to base a team around Mienshao, because it's a cool kung-Fu Raccoon thing, and It has a fancy mustache. And that doesn't even include the huge attack, access to Fake Out, Regnerator, and U-Turn.So, yeah, Mienshao.
First, I needed something to cover mienshao's major weaknesses, Flying, and Psychic. Not only does Magnezone resist Electric and x4 resist Flying, It also has Magnet pull and a good special attack, allowing me to take out a number of pokemon, especially Jirachi, which i hate so very much.
A great way to cover Magnezone's major weaknesses, Gengar is also a great Special Sweeper, having very good sweeping power, as well as an immunity to both Fighting and Ground, and working as a spinblocker. But, in order for it to work as a spinblocker, I need something...
Enter Foretress. Having access to all entry hazards(Stealth Rock, Toxic and regular spikes) and Rapid Spin make it good in both eliminating hazards and setting them up. This also adds synergy to Gengar for also being acting as a spinblocker. Foretress did not help remedy Magnezone's fire weakness that Mienshao and Gengar don't cover, so I needed something to resist Fire in order to protect Magnezone and Foretress.
And in comes Jellicent. being water type gives my team a much needed fire resist, and gives my team a wall of sorts, as Foretress and Magnezone have not pulled there share in the past. There's also a variety of moves that Make Jellicent great, whether a fire resist is needed or not. Scald, Will-O-Wisp, Recover, and, Trick room, Ice Beam, energy ball, toxic etc...
Finally, I felt the need for another Physical sweeper that could also act as a revenge killer in case I needed to revenge something. Haxorus was the first one to come to mind, as I have used a choice scarf variant is the only one I have used previously, and it has worked very well in the past. So, Haxorus was my final member.
Jellicent was good, but overall, he was the weak link if the team, Gastrodon was essentially bulkier, also had a good form of recovery, and was able to do the same thing Jellicent was. so Jellicent had been replaced.
Mienshao (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Fake Out
- Hi Jump Kick
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
The star of the show.With Regenerator and U-turn, I can recover 33% health, at the cost of 10% damage from U Turn.Fake Out is so I can get some beginning damage with Fake Out. Hi Jump Kick is STAB, and Stone Edge is coverage to do damage to flying, Fire, Ice, etc... Anyway, Mienshao is one of the most underestimated pokemon in the current metagame, compared to some of the more obvious pokemon.The EV spread is pretty basic, and there isn't much I can say about that. The majority of this is pretty basic, so there isn't a ton I can say about that.
Magnezone @ Choice Specs
Trait: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Thunderbolt
- Flash Cannon
- Volt Switch
Magnezone, my second pokemon, is one of my best pokemon in the little I have tested this. Magnet Pull allows me to trap steels that otherwise would annoy my team to no end, mainly Jirachi(why is it even allowed anyway? it's set is basically the same as abusing Double team) but that isn't the main point. It is also a special sweeper, with HP Fire giving me the ability to take out most steels I can trap, Thunderbolt is simple STAB, as is Flash Cannon, although Flash cannon is mainly filler. finally Volt Switch is there in case I need to escape a potential threat, or want to safely bring in a sweeper. The EV Spread is to give me good bulk, while also giving me as much special attack as possible. Calm nature is to boost Magnezone's lower special defense.
Gengar (M) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
Awww, poor Pikachu. Gengar is my special sweeper, and as you can tell by the picture, he is a pretty ruthless one at that. Gengar's immunity to both Fighting and Ground makes it a good partner to Magnezone. Anyway, HP Ice is there to deal damage to dragons mainly, as they are quite common in OU, Shadow Ball is STAB, and surprisingly has pretty decent coverage Thunderbolt is for coverage, Focus Blast is there to do extra damage to anything Shadow Ball/Thunderbolt/HP Ice can't cut it.Wise Glasses is because I had no idea what move to give it, and keeps the itemslot idea somewhat secret. when I use more than one move, my opponent learns that it isn't choiced, when it loses no damage at the end of an attack, they learn it isn't life orbed, and when I don't recover HP, it isn't a bulkier set, which leads to my opponent wondering what kind of item it is. I originally had Substitute in one slot, in an attempt to fake a subDisable set, and then I tried using Disable, but I found I needed the extra coverage from Hidden Power.
Gastrodon (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Recover
- Toxic
- Protect
- Scald
My Team wall. Protect allows me to scout out moves and prolong Gastrodon's life, while Toxic is a way to do quick damage and maybe catch my opponent by surprise if I can catch them on the switch. Recover is, well, to recover HP, and Scald is my main attack, as well as giving me a possible burn hax. The EV spread is standard(I think) and Storm Drain allows me to provid a somewhat counter to Rain teams, by absorbing the super-powered water attacks, and gain a free boost. Fulfills the same job as my former Jellicent, and at the same time, more.
Haxorus (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Mold Breaker
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- X-Scissor
Haxorus is my secondary sweeper, in the case I encounter some pokemon in which Mienshao just can't cut it. Outrage is STAB, and kills just about everything, while Earthquake and Rock Slide kill just about everything else. X scissor is there simply for coverage, and for hopefully being able to OHKO Reuniclus. I don't 100% know if that will work or not, as I have yet to face one with Haxorus. Rivalry, in PO is almost a guaranteed +1 attack boost, but it can't come in on Blissey/Chansey/Female pokemon, which leads me to think maybe Mold Breaker would be better. Mold Breaker would give me a way of doing much more damage when locked into Earthquake, doing damage when locked into a Flygon instead of being forced to switch out.(I would switch out anyway, but it's still possible)And not be given a -1 attack drop if I bring him in on a Blissey. Choice Scarf is incredibly helpful, as it allows me do to amazing things, such as outspeed a +1 speed Dragonite, and KO with Outrage. basically, having much higher speed is definitely worth being locked into a move. Choice scarf is also able to make Haxorus into a Hit-and run sweeper, because he'll be much faster than almost every pokemon.
Forretress (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Toxic Spikes
Forretress is pretty self-explanetory, lays rocks/spikes, and spins them away. That's really all it does. I've been thinking of putting Explosion in, as it would be a good way to go out with a bang when he's done his job, but both Spikes and Toxic Spikes have been two very helpful moves. and unfortunately, Stealth Rock is considered practically mandatory, so... Forretress really has nothing going for it.
FORMER MEMBERS:
Jellicent (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Toxic
My wall of the team. brought in by my need of a Fire resist, Jellicent has proven to be more than the average wall. Scald is there for Burn hax, but if I don't trust it to work, I also have Will-o-wisp. Toxic is there to get some status in on a switch-in, so Jellicent can do something to a counter If i can predict well. Recover is for healing. My EV spread is probably different from the standard, as I tried to keep both defenses similar, while maximising bulk, so I have just as good a chance to survive an Earthquake as I do an Earth Power. Will-o-wisp/Toxic are possibly being replaced, as I don't completely think that having two status moves on one pokemon is a great idea, so suggestions would be helpful.
