ORAS Ubers Status Spam Bulky Offense by Hack

[RMT Staff]

Status Spam Bulky Offense by Hack

Builder's Forewords
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Admittedly, this team wouldn't have happened without the dedication and knowledge of one of my best friends on this site, steelskitty. I wish to thank you for inspiring and convincing me both to use and build a team around Hex Giratina-O and Hex Gengar. Additionally, I can't thank you enough for your absolute honesty with the initial builds, making me put in that extra work and thought into tweaking the team. I'm really proud of our creation. In many ways this was the first truly good ORAS Ubers team I had a hand in making, and it not only provided solid results, but it changed my views on consistency, stability and enjoyment of the tier. It presented me, and hopefully others as well, with a framework to build from. I can only thank that gritty kid who in many ways surpassed my own peak level. Thank you steelskitty.

Introduction
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Welcome to the second ORAS Ubers Staff RMT, featuring a bulky offense team by Hack. The team was selected because it popularized the hugely influential bulky offense playstyle revolving around Mega Gengar, Ho-Oh, and status abuse. Throughout the development of ORAS Ubers, Ho-Oh has always been a dominant threat; in contrast, Hex Mega Gengar became a popular set late into the development of ORAS Ubers. This was due to the success of this team and other similar teams featuring Hex Mega Gengar that developed around the same time. The rise of this team and similar builds featuring Mega Gengar and Ho-Oh had an important impact on the ORAS Ubers metagame, leading to the decline of stall. The supporting cast includes a solid defensive backbone of Primal Groudon, Klefki, and Giratina-O, along with a strong sweeper in Extreme Killer Arceus. The general framework of this team has been adapted into numerous similar balanced builds. This team is an excellent representation of the dominant Ho-Oh bulky offense archetype, which was hugely influential in shaping the ORAS Ubers metagame.

In-Depth

Groudon @ Red Orb
Ability: Drought
EVs: 248 HP / 208 SpD / 52 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Precipice Blades
- Rock Slide
- Thunder Wave

Main Role:
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Primal Groudon's main role on this team is to provide support both in the form of defensive utility and setting up Stealth Rock. Defensively, Primal Groudon helps the team deal with Xerneas, Primal Kyogre, and Steel-types; if necessary, Primal Groudon can also take a hit from Ho-Oh and retaliate with a super effective Rock Slide. Primal Groudon's naturally strong offensive presence, coupled with Thunder Wave and great bulk, makes it a consistent Stealth Rock Setter. Additionally, Primal Groudon is able to support the team by spreading status with Thunder Wave.

Specific Traits:
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Primal Groudon can switch into Primal Kyogre thanks to Desolate Land and good special bulk; this is essential due to the team's lack of strong Primal Kyogre checks, as the team only has one other Water resist in Giratina-O and otherwise relies on offensive pressure to support Primal Groudon against Primal Kyogre. Against Xerneas, Primal Groudon receives support from Klefki, Ho-Oh, and Arceus, although Arceus tends to be more of a safety net with priority Extreme Speed. Though Primal Groudon's role is mainly to support the team, Precipice Blades still hits hard and allows Primal Groudon to put pressure on teams and force switches, which can be capitalized on with Thunder Wave and Stealth Rock.

Moves and EVs:
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Stealth Rock is rather self-explanatory because nearly every team in Ubers carries it, and Primal Groudon is one of its best setters. Precipice Blades is used to hit hard and put pressure on teams. Rock Slide is used to hit Flying-types that are immune to Precipice Blades, particularly Ho-Oh. Thunder Wave helps the team by providing a method of Speed control and checking Xerneas. The EVs are heavily invested into special bulk to check Primal Kyogre and Xerneas effectively, while the 52 Speed EVs enable Primal Groudon to outspeed other base 90s that do not invest as much.

Ho-Oh @ Choice Band
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Earthquake
- Sleep Talk

Main Role:
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Ho-Oh provides the team with a wallbreaker, sleep absorber, Calm Mind Arceus check, and check to Steel-types. When paired with Klefki it makes an effective check to Darkrai sets, as Ho-Oh can be foddered to Dark Void and Klefki can check Darkrai well once Sleep Clause has been activated. Being the strongest immediate attacker on this team, Ho-Oh can be used to revenge kill a variety of threats.

Specific Traits:
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Thanks to Regenerator, Ho-Oh is able to keep itself from being worn down as long as Stealth Rock is taken out of play. Ho-Oh also provides defensive utility with its ground immunity. Ho-Oh is notorious for being difficult to switch into due to its raw power and how well Sacred Fire + Brave Bird matches up against the tier. There are Pokemon that can switch in, but many of these are burn prone or simply don't like being damaged to such a degree.

Moves and EVs:
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This Ho-Oh runs a traditional Choice Band moveset of Earthquake, Sacred Fire, and Brave Bird. With these three moves Ho-Oh can hit everything that it needs to, leaving the final slot dedicated to Sleep Talk so that it can function as a sleep absorber. Since the other three moves are all powerful, Sleep Talk will typically always select something useful. Ho-Oh sets have transitioned to being faster due to the popularity of Hidden Power Rock Xerneas, the Speed investment of most Primal Groudon, the drop in viability of Calm Mind Arceus, and a few other factors. The remaining EVs are allocated to Attack and an Adamant nature is used to maximize power.

Giratina-Origin @ Griseous Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Def / 216 SpA / 40 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hex
- Toxic
- Defog
- Thunder Wave

Main Role:
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Giratina-O's main roles on this team include providing Defog support, spreading status, and checking various threats, particularly strong physical ones such as Primal Groudon and Extreme Killer Arceus. Although it can fire off powerful status-boosted Hexes, Giratina-O has more of a supporting role for this team through its ability to accomplish the aforementioned roles.

Specific Traits:
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Defog support is greatly important for this team because Ho-Oh can be significantly weakened by Stealth Rock. Because Giratina-O assumes the role of the Defog user on this team, the Arceus slot is made more flexible to allow for a strong offensive option in Extreme Killer Arceus. Although Giratina-O's primary role is checking physical attackers, it can also function as a pivot to switch into Primal Kyogre for Primal Groudon to bring its harsh sunlight back, thanks to Giratina-O's resistance to Water. It should be noted that Giratina-O is prone to being worn down due to a lack of recovery. While Giratina-O's role is primarily one of a supporting nature, Giratina-O is more broadly a part of a defensive backbone that aims to deal with threats and regain a good position.

Moves and EVs:
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The EVs maximize Giratina-O's Defense and Special Attack while also allocating a few EVs to Speed to outspeed other Pokemon with a base Speed of 90 that do not invest in Speed as much. Investing 252 EVs in Defense allows Giratina-O to survive an +2 Adamant Life Orb Extreme Killer Arceus's Shadow Claw after Stealth Rock. Hex takes advantage of the team's ability to spread status, often providing Giratina-O with a reliable, strong STAB move. Thunder Wave allows Giratina-O to cripple fast offensive threats and common switch-ins such as Xerneas; it also contributes to the team's focus on abusing status, and boosts Giratina-O's Hex. Toxic also boosts Hex and, unlike Thunder Wave, can hit Primal Groudon, making it valuable to Giratina-O's ability to deal with it. Defog provides an important means to clear Stealth Rock for Ho-Oh.

Arceus @ Leftovers
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Shadow Claw
- Swords Dance
- Recover

Main Role:
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One of Arceus' greatest attributes is its ability to sweep teams late-game. Moreover, with access to STAB Extreme Speed and an Adamant nature, it can also revenge kill dangerous sweepers like Xerneas and Darkrai.

Specific Traits:​

Arceus is able to set up easily and clean teams thanks to its great bulk, sheer power, and pace. Once it sets up, it's really difficult for the opposing team to handle it, even more so if its an offensive team. It also holds the useful ability to revenge kill dangerous Pokemon with a quick and deadly priority move.

Moves and EVs:
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Extreme Speed is its main attacking move, a priceless 80 Base Power priority STAB move. Shadow Claw is used to hit ghost types that are immune to Extreme Speed. Swords Dance is used to boost Arceus's attack, while Recover and Leftovers are there to handle Mega Diancie, a threat to this team, and to give Arceus more durability. 56 Speed EVs are used to outspeed Pokemon with a base 90 Speed and Adamant nature, such Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh. Finally, the remaining EVs are put in HP to increase its great bulk.

Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Protect
- Focus Blast
- Hex
- Will-O-Wisp

Main Role:
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Mega Gengar has serves an important role in this team as a powerful offensive threat and due to its ability to trap and eliminate key defensive threats. Other than the two priority users, Mega Gengar is also notable for being the fastest Pokemon on the team, outspeeding Pokemon such as Arceus, Darkrai, Mega Salamence, and the plethora of base 90 Speed Pokemon. It also serves a major defensive role by being the team's primary defense against Extremekiller Arceus.

Specific Traits:
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Shadow Tag, in combination with Mega Gengar's offensive prowess, makes it highly effective at eliminating the opponent's key defensive Pokemon. Mega Gengar greatly benefits from this team's heavy use of status, as many of the Pokemon it seeks to pick off can be statused by its teammates. This makes Hex extremely powerful, dealing massive damage to Pokemon that take neutral damage from it and lack substantial special bulk. With three users of Thunder Wave, this team is effective at crippling fast Pokemon for Mega Gengar to revenge kill.

Moves and EVs:
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Protect is used to guarantee Mega Evolution. This is especially important so that Gengar can safely activate Shadow Tag and the Speed increase. The move also has additional use as a scouting or stalling tactic. Focus Blast provides good offensive coverage alongside Hex. Will-O-Wisp is used to improve the matchup against Pursuit users and Extremekiller Arceus, and is also useful for doubling the power of Hex. The EVs are straightforward. Maximum Speed is used to ensure Mega Gengar outspeeds most threats, while the rest is dumped into Special Attack.

Klefki @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Spikes
- Toxic
- Play Rough

Main Role:
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Klefki fulfils several defensive roles for this team as its Steel and Fairy typing allows Klefki to check offensive Dragons, Dark-types, and Xerneas. Klefki forms the second half of this team's primary defense against Darkrai, being able to switch in rather comfortably once Ho-Oh has been put to sleep. Additionally, Klefki checks most Xerneas sets well, although it will usually need to sacrifice itself to defeat it.

Specific Traits:
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Prankster and Klefki's strong defensive typing are the attributes that allow it to succeed. This grants Klefki the ability to act as an emergency check to a variety of setup sweepers, and allows it to utilize its support moves before it can be hit by Taunt or be blocked by an opponent substitute. Klefki is reliant on Leftovers for recovery, meaning that as a defensive Pokemon it is susceptible to residual damage and Pokemon sets designed to lure it out in order to sufficiently damage it.

Moves and EVs:
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A Fairy-type STAB is all Klefki needs for a damaging move. Play Rough allows for respectable damage output against threats such as Xerneas, Darkrai, Yveltal, and Dragon-types. Dual status is used to check a variety of offensive setup sweepers and defensive Pokemon susceptible to Toxic. Klefki's favorable matchup against most Defoggers makes it an effective setter of Spikes, while the entry hazards can be set easily since Klefki forces a significant number of switches.The EV spread is designed to allow Klefki to effectively check threatening special attackers.

Main Threats

The primary Ground-type immunity for the team lacks Recovery while Ho-Oh can be dispatched by Rock-type coverage. This is a potential issue when the team has Pokemon that stack weaknesses to Ground-type moves. Due to these factors, Primal Groudon can force this team to make highly aggressive plays.

Ho-Oh is able to threaten Klefki and Mega Gengar. The team has three Sacred Fire resists, but they are all 2HKOed by Choice Band Brave Bird and outsped if Ho-Oh is invested in Speed.

Klefki can't break Mega Sableye and Mega Gengar cannot trap it, while much of the special damage output of the team is dependent on status, which Mega Sableye is largely immune to due to Magic Bounce.

Rayquaza can threaten key members such as Primal Groudon and Ho-Oh, while the team struggles to switch into it.

The team does have a Water-type immunity and a Water-type resistance, but if Primal Kyogre can manage to get in against Primal Groudon, a wrong prediction can lead to disaster.

A Crunch set is difficult for this team to switch into and the only Pokemon faster than it, Mega Gengar, has to rely on inaccurate moves to take it down.

Importable

Importable

Groudon @ Red Orb
Ability: Drought
EVs: 248 HP / 208 SpD / 52 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Precipice Blades
- Rock Slide
- Thunder Wave

Ho-Oh @ Choice Band
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Earthquake
- Sleep Talk

Giratina-Origin @ Griseous Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Def / 216 SpA / 40 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hex
- Toxic
- Defog
- Thunder Wave

Arceus @ Leftovers
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Shadow Claw
- Swords Dance
- Recover

Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Protect
- Focus Blast
- Hex
- Will-O-Wisp

Klefki @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Spikes
- Toxic
- Play Rough

Credits

Created by: Hack
Written by: haxiom, Lord Outrage & Minority Suspect
Grammar checked by: IronBullet
Art by: Sobi​