Hello everyone, Joey here typing in blue for once! Today, I'll be posting my team that has done me pretty well over on the Pokemon Online server (I checked and all the same threats apply), winning me a few live tournaments. I know the team has some issues with stall, but besides that, I believe it's a pretty good team. As a result of me playing with this team alot and knowing the issues, think of it as a "copy and adapt" team. That is, you may copy it and change the team to fit your style if need be. Now, let's get to the analysis, shall we?
Politoed @Choice Scarf
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252SpAtk/252Spd/4HP
Moves:
~Hydro Pump
~Ice Beam
~Focus Blast
~Hidden Power [Grass]
What's a rain team in OU these days without the frog prince, right? Completely forgotten in the competitive world until being given the savior ability Drizzle, this frog has turned into a pretty solid competitive threat. The main move you'll be using on this guy is Hydro Pump, being powerful enough with double STAB (this means STAB from type and double the power from the weather. Most commonly used with Kyogre's Water Spout) and thus being able to clear out anything that doesn't resist or isn't named Chansey/Blissey for at least a 2HKO. I thought about changing the item to specs multiple times, but in the end, the scarf was too good to pass up with it's suprise affect and ability to outspeed Jirachi and non-scarfed variants of Terrakion, both of which can be a massive issue in their own rights. You then have Ice Beam, mainly for Dragonite, Latios, and for coverage. Together, Hydro Pump and Ice Beam is not resisted by any type, making the combo very effective. The other moves you won't use nearly as much, but are simply to help out with coverage. Focus Blast helps take care of Ferrothorn and Tyranitar (Ttar when Sand is raging) and HP Grass is mainly just for other Politoed and very rare Pokemon in the OU game like, per say, Quagsire.
Azumarill @Choice Band
Ability: Huge Power
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252Atk/252SpDef/4HP
Moves:
~Aqua Jet
~Waterfall
~Ice Punch
~Superpower
If you're fooled by this bunny's cute appearances, you are surely underestimating the wrong Pokemon on this team. Let's just start with the fact that it gets a 694 attack stat with it's current layout off the bat. That kind of power can't be messed with as this stat goes even higher than a Scizor with a Choice Band. Anyway, besides that major accomplishment, this set is pretty generic. Aqua Jet will mainly be used as it receives double STAB thanks to the rain and has priority. It'll do a pretty sizable chunk to anything that doesn't resist it, but for things that do, a hit from this bunny won't be taken lightly (ex. Aqua Jet on Latios will create a 2HKO or close 3HKO). The rest is mainly for more power/coverage. If your opponent is slower and you don't want to lower your stats (ex. Chansey or Tyranitar in the rain), Waterfall is the move you'll go to. Dragons will take a hard hit from the bunny's ice-cold Ice Punch (Dragonite gets 2HKO'd) while Ferrothorn and Chansey fall victim to the all-powerful Superpower. Like I said, you'll mainly use Aqua Jet, so only use the other three moves if necessary. The odd EV spread is due to Azumarill's bigger problems being Special Attackers (Thundurus-T, Rotom-W, Latios and Latias). If you feel that Physical Attackers are more of a problem (though Azumarill or a teammate can handle most of them), feel free to swap the Sp Def EVs to Def.
Sableye @Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252Def/252SpDef/4HP
Moves:
~Confuse Ray
~Will-O-Wisp
~Taunt
~Recover
Before I go into analyzing the little gem goblin, I would like to remind some of you about Sableye's relevance. It's been relevant ever since Prankster Sableye (aka "Haxleye") was released, so quit with the claims of "this ugly little thing hasn't been relevant since Gen III and wasn't liked then, so why is he in a movie now??".
Now that I got that little rant out of the way, Haxleye here may be the most irritating, yet most OU-viable of all the UU Pokemon. This particular set-up I created (I've been on my own since leaving Team Dimensional, so don't claim I stole this set if it is somewhere) is all about taking hits, laughing them off with Recover, and simply watching the opponents suffer. All of the moves are self-explanatory, so I'll just explain how effective this thing can be.
As we all know (or should know), hax/crits can turn a game onto it's head at any point. I'm not exactly for hax and don't want to rely on it to win, but Sableye is one of the best c*ck-blocks in the metagame. Have an irritating Dragonite in your way? Burn it with Will-O-Wisp. Have an annoying staller like Ferrothorn? Taunt it and burn it. The use for this thing is endless and saying as all the moves are status moves, I cannot go on without repeating myself.
Scizor @Choice Band
Ability: Technician
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252Atk/252Def/4HP
Moves:
~Bullet Punch
~U-Turn
~Pursuit
~Superpower
Choice Band Scizor... Need I say more? The thing is extremely explanatory as it was since Gen IV, so for the experienced players, skip past this guy since he's the same as the rest. For newer players, read on.
OK, so Scizor basically uses Bullet Punch most of the time. This is due to the fact that it gets STAB on top of it's Technician ability, making for a powerful priority move. The rest you won't be using unless you face an issue. Use U-Turn if Jellicent or a slower Psychic like Slowbro gets in your way. Use Pursuit on any faster Psychic that you feel will switch out, such as Latios with a Choice Scarf after a Draco Meteor. Superpower will basically be for your Special walls, such as Ferrothorn and pink blobs 1 & 2, aka Chansey and Blissey. Nothing else really to say about a Pokemon that's been on numerous teams due to it's high effectiveness and easy-to-learn behavior... Plus it's had this set since Gen IV and we're almost in Gen VI now.
Thundurus-T @Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252SpAtk/252Spd/4HP
Moves:
~Thunder
~Focus Blast
~Psychic
~Hidden Power [Ice]
Ah yes, the electric genie has 4-move syndrome. You may be thinking "Why Psychic?" and here's my answer to that: with everything that I have to worry about (Terrakion switched in, Dragonite, the Lati twins, sun teams, ect), it eventually turns into a "Why not?". It simply provides more coverage against more Pokemon alongside already self-explanatory moves (Thunder for STAB and to get Water Types hard along with a paralysis chance, Focus Blast for Ttar and steel types, Hidden Power for dragons). Only thing really to say besides that is it is a decent Rotom-W check thanks to his ability.
Volcarona @Focus Sash
Ability: Flame Body
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252SpAtk/252Spd/4HP
Moves:
~Quiver Dance
~Flamethrower
~Bug Buzz
~Hurricane
"Volcarona with a Focus Sash and not Leftovers AND Hurricane instead of Hidden Power Ground AND on a rain team?? Madness!" Actually, random rage-o-holic that lays in my mind who is probably real somewhere, it's anything but madness in the negative sense. Volcarona often serves as my alternative lead, going out into the fray before Skarmory or other stally leads can set up Stealth Rocks and thus keeping full health. Also, as Dragonite does need to be checked constantly by this team as it is a big counter once set up or with Multiscale in effect, Hurricane is the only way to hit it for neutral damage while still having something to deal with common threats such as Jellicent and Heatran. The other two moves are completely standard, rain or shine.
Well, there's my team, feel free to rate it, critique it, and copy & edit it as you desire.
Team at a Glance
A Closer Look
Politoed @Choice Scarf
Ability: Drizzle
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252SpAtk/252Spd/4HP
Moves:
~Hydro Pump
~Ice Beam
~Focus Blast
~Hidden Power [Grass]
What's a rain team in OU these days without the frog prince, right? Completely forgotten in the competitive world until being given the savior ability Drizzle, this frog has turned into a pretty solid competitive threat. The main move you'll be using on this guy is Hydro Pump, being powerful enough with double STAB (this means STAB from type and double the power from the weather. Most commonly used with Kyogre's Water Spout) and thus being able to clear out anything that doesn't resist or isn't named Chansey/Blissey for at least a 2HKO. I thought about changing the item to specs multiple times, but in the end, the scarf was too good to pass up with it's suprise affect and ability to outspeed Jirachi and non-scarfed variants of Terrakion, both of which can be a massive issue in their own rights. You then have Ice Beam, mainly for Dragonite, Latios, and for coverage. Together, Hydro Pump and Ice Beam is not resisted by any type, making the combo very effective. The other moves you won't use nearly as much, but are simply to help out with coverage. Focus Blast helps take care of Ferrothorn and Tyranitar (Ttar when Sand is raging) and HP Grass is mainly just for other Politoed and very rare Pokemon in the OU game like, per say, Quagsire.
Azumarill @Choice Band
Ability: Huge Power
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252Atk/252SpDef/4HP
Moves:
~Aqua Jet
~Waterfall
~Ice Punch
~Superpower
If you're fooled by this bunny's cute appearances, you are surely underestimating the wrong Pokemon on this team. Let's just start with the fact that it gets a 694 attack stat with it's current layout off the bat. That kind of power can't be messed with as this stat goes even higher than a Scizor with a Choice Band. Anyway, besides that major accomplishment, this set is pretty generic. Aqua Jet will mainly be used as it receives double STAB thanks to the rain and has priority. It'll do a pretty sizable chunk to anything that doesn't resist it, but for things that do, a hit from this bunny won't be taken lightly (ex. Aqua Jet on Latios will create a 2HKO or close 3HKO). The rest is mainly for more power/coverage. If your opponent is slower and you don't want to lower your stats (ex. Chansey or Tyranitar in the rain), Waterfall is the move you'll go to. Dragons will take a hard hit from the bunny's ice-cold Ice Punch (Dragonite gets 2HKO'd) while Ferrothorn and Chansey fall victim to the all-powerful Superpower. Like I said, you'll mainly use Aqua Jet, so only use the other three moves if necessary. The odd EV spread is due to Azumarill's bigger problems being Special Attackers (Thundurus-T, Rotom-W, Latios and Latias). If you feel that Physical Attackers are more of a problem (though Azumarill or a teammate can handle most of them), feel free to swap the Sp Def EVs to Def.
Sableye @Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252Def/252SpDef/4HP
Moves:
~Confuse Ray
~Will-O-Wisp
~Taunt
~Recover
Before I go into analyzing the little gem goblin, I would like to remind some of you about Sableye's relevance. It's been relevant ever since Prankster Sableye (aka "Haxleye") was released, so quit with the claims of "this ugly little thing hasn't been relevant since Gen III and wasn't liked then, so why is he in a movie now??".
Now that I got that little rant out of the way, Haxleye here may be the most irritating, yet most OU-viable of all the UU Pokemon. This particular set-up I created (I've been on my own since leaving Team Dimensional, so don't claim I stole this set if it is somewhere) is all about taking hits, laughing them off with Recover, and simply watching the opponents suffer. All of the moves are self-explanatory, so I'll just explain how effective this thing can be.
As we all know (or should know), hax/crits can turn a game onto it's head at any point. I'm not exactly for hax and don't want to rely on it to win, but Sableye is one of the best c*ck-blocks in the metagame. Have an irritating Dragonite in your way? Burn it with Will-O-Wisp. Have an annoying staller like Ferrothorn? Taunt it and burn it. The use for this thing is endless and saying as all the moves are status moves, I cannot go on without repeating myself.
Scizor @Choice Band
Ability: Technician
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252Atk/252Def/4HP
Moves:
~Bullet Punch
~U-Turn
~Pursuit
~Superpower
Choice Band Scizor... Need I say more? The thing is extremely explanatory as it was since Gen IV, so for the experienced players, skip past this guy since he's the same as the rest. For newer players, read on.
OK, so Scizor basically uses Bullet Punch most of the time. This is due to the fact that it gets STAB on top of it's Technician ability, making for a powerful priority move. The rest you won't be using unless you face an issue. Use U-Turn if Jellicent or a slower Psychic like Slowbro gets in your way. Use Pursuit on any faster Psychic that you feel will switch out, such as Latios with a Choice Scarf after a Draco Meteor. Superpower will basically be for your Special walls, such as Ferrothorn and pink blobs 1 & 2, aka Chansey and Blissey. Nothing else really to say about a Pokemon that's been on numerous teams due to it's high effectiveness and easy-to-learn behavior... Plus it's had this set since Gen IV and we're almost in Gen VI now.
Thundurus-T @Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252SpAtk/252Spd/4HP
Moves:
~Thunder
~Focus Blast
~Psychic
~Hidden Power [Ice]
Ah yes, the electric genie has 4-move syndrome. You may be thinking "Why Psychic?" and here's my answer to that: with everything that I have to worry about (Terrakion switched in, Dragonite, the Lati twins, sun teams, ect), it eventually turns into a "Why not?". It simply provides more coverage against more Pokemon alongside already self-explanatory moves (Thunder for STAB and to get Water Types hard along with a paralysis chance, Focus Blast for Ttar and steel types, Hidden Power for dragons). Only thing really to say besides that is it is a decent Rotom-W check thanks to his ability.
Volcarona @Focus Sash
Ability: Flame Body
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252SpAtk/252Spd/4HP
Moves:
~Quiver Dance
~Flamethrower
~Bug Buzz
~Hurricane
"Volcarona with a Focus Sash and not Leftovers AND Hurricane instead of Hidden Power Ground AND on a rain team?? Madness!" Actually, random rage-o-holic that lays in my mind who is probably real somewhere, it's anything but madness in the negative sense. Volcarona often serves as my alternative lead, going out into the fray before Skarmory or other stally leads can set up Stealth Rocks and thus keeping full health. Also, as Dragonite does need to be checked constantly by this team as it is a big counter once set up or with Multiscale in effect, Hurricane is the only way to hit it for neutral damage while still having something to deal with common threats such as Jellicent and Heatran. The other two moves are completely standard, rain or shine.
Well, there's my team, feel free to rate it, critique it, and copy & edit it as you desire.
