My-Team-Nao (OU)

[Rybekk]

Hi everyone. I've been play testing my team now for a considerable time, and I'm looking to really get to grips with it's weaknesses, to fine tune it against a wider variety of threats. I've been fairly detailed with each pokemon, so hopefully it's 'strategy' is apparent. If anyone does have any new pokemon suggestions, I'm open to them, but I'd like to keep the ones here (and in any respect, no legendary pokemon or unique pokemon of any description if you'd please).

As an additional note, any pokemon without a physical attack in any team I build always gets 0 attack IVS, to reduce damage taken from confusion should it be stricken with it. Auto reduction in speed for Gyro Ball too.

Mienshao (F) @ Life Orb

Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- U-turn
- Hi Jump Kick
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Fake Out

Spoiler

Previous Iteration:

Mienshao (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef)
- U-turn
- Hi Jump Kick
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Fake Out

Accelgor (M) @ Focus Sash

Trait: Hydration
EVs: 4 Hp / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Spikes
- Hidden Power Fire
- Bug Buzz
- Yawn

Spoiler

Previous Iteration:

Accelgor (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Unburden
EVs: 255 Atk / 255 SAtk
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- Spikes
- U-turn
- Bug Buzz
- Yawn

Alakazam (M) @ Life Orb

Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Psychic
- Focus Blast

Spoiler

Previous Iteration:

Alakazam (M) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 255 HP / 255 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Energy Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Psychic
- Calm Mind

Espeon (F) @ Light Clay

Trait: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Baton Pass
- Psyshock

Spoiler

Previous Iteration:

Bronzong @ Light Clay
Trait: Heatproof
EVs: 255 HP / 255 SDef
Sassy Nature (+SDef, -Spd)
- Light Screen
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball

Conkeldurr (M) @ Leftovers

Trait: Iron Fist
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Atk / 96 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Payback

Spoiler

Previous Iteration:

Conkeldurr (M) @ Flame Orb
Trait: Guts
EVs: 255 HP / 255 Atk
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bulk Up
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Stone Edge

Donphan (M) @ Yache Berry

Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 96 Atk / 160 Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin

Spoiler

Previous Iteration:

Donphan (M) @ Yache Berry
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 255 HP / 96 Atk
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Knock Off
- Rapid Spin

Update History:

Last updated and revamped 07/12/2011 - Playtesting Underway, thanks to those who helped; Peachy, shadow_scyther.

 

[Professor Palutena]

By the looks of your descriptions, you play in the Dream World tier. Am I correct by saying that?

If so, I've got quite a few changes. But if you don't play Dream World, its not worth posting them.

 

[Rybekk]

Hi Peachy.

I do indeed play in Dream World, apologies for not posting as such.

I've gotten to about 1100 max rating with this team but I start to run into serious trouble about 1000 and it becomes luck of the draw and serious prediction work to stay up there. It hovers well between 950-1050 mind.

I'd love to hear your advice, really I would .

 

[Professor Palutena]

Alright, I'll see what I can do.

The biggest surprise I see here is a lack of Genesect. Often in the higher levels, the person who loses their Genesect first loses. Using a Choice Scarf Genesect instead of Accelgor will work wonders. It gets fantastic coverage with Bug Buzz, Flamethrower and Ice Beam, and U-Turn scouting is awesome. It does have problems against Chandelure, but with U-Turn and prediction, it shouldn't be a problem. I know you don't want to use Legendary Pokemon, but this switch will have a drastic effect on your team's performance. For an EV spread, max Special Attack and Speed will be required.

As a user of Screens, Bronzong is outclassed by Magic Mirror Espeon. Magic Mirror ensures that the screens are always set up, and Magic Mirror also sets up entry hazards with the right prediction, and can really screw up stall teams. Using Reflect/Light Screen/Psychic/Baton Pass, Espeon sets up screens very reliably, hits hard with STAB Psychic and quickly escapes from Pursuit users. For EVs, max HP and Speed is needed.

For some minor changes, use these:
-Regenerator instead of Reckless on Mienshao. The recovery is way too valuable to give up.
-Focus Blast instead of Calm Mind on Alakazam, as Alakazam is way too frail to set up and strike.
-Leftovers instead of Flame Orb for Conkeldurr, as the bulk is much more valuable than the extra damage.
-Donphan is missing some EVs. Put the rest of them in Defense.

 

[Shadow Scyther]

So here I go:

Mienshao: I would still go with Regenerator over Reckless because of the Life Orb damage that can shorten its life. If you are still going for Reckless use another item. Something like Expert belt or even Wide Lens and of course you can't go wrong with Leftovers.

Accelgor: I don't have much experience with it but I would suggest 252HP/4Atk/252Spe EV spread with Jolly nature and I would replace Bug Buzz with Recover.

Alakazam: Add those 4 EVs to HP so you have 4HP/252sp.atk/252spe because every point counts. Replace Energy Ball and HP Ice for Shadow Ball and Focus Blast because they give perfect coverage. I would also go with Substitute over Calm Mind but that is more of your choice.

Bronzong: Looks ok for its role. Again use those last 4 EVs somewhere.

Conkeldurr: Again with those 4EVs. If you are going to go with Payback use it over Stone Edge. Payback plus Drain Punch give perfect coverage but the ability to hit flying types for SE damage is valuable.

Donphan is missing some Evs and also go with Stone Edge over Knock Off because Eviolite is pretty rare and if you have problems with Chansey go with Superpower on Donphan.

 

[Rybekk]

Excellent advice from the both of you. Right off the bat:

Mienshao

- Reckless
+ Regenerator

For Mienshao. I feel Life Orb would still be required to make up for the loss of the Reckless boost, but the value of switching out to full health to return to Fake Out/Hi Jump Kick again an extra round is definitely an improvement. Again, this removes the ever present ham stringing from entry hazards.

Conkeldurr

- Flame Orb
+ Leftovers

- Stone Edge
+ Payback

Conkelduur comes out better off in the long run, especially as he doesn't die before he gets a second kill and can set up through sub/protect/toxic type stalls. I then have to question if his ability should stay as Guts...could Sheer Force work here? Payback goes back in, as I've enough ice peppered around to deal with flying and dragons and the additional damage to ghosts and psychics who try to wall Conkeldurr seems more reliable.

Bronzong

You've both given me pause for thought here...on the one hand, I think Bronzong's ability to wall fire pokemon is invaluable, as is the presence of toxic and stealth rocks. If I were to switch him out for Espeon (which I am surely tempted to do) I'd have to train myself to predict the opponent's stealth rocks to set it up on them, to make up for not having room for it on my own team. Having said that, there's a slew of things that seriously prevent the team from performing I think Espeon could reflect with decent prediction, so I'm going with Peachy's suggestion and running the set up suggestion for a while. (Though, I will test Psyshock/Psychic) depending on how much trouble I get in with the usual culprits.

Donphan

For the time being, until other opinions come back and testing resumes, I'm going to keep Donphan as he is. However, what are your thoughts on Roar inplace of Knock Off? This gives me an additional, if not outright first haze option and increases scouting as I'll need perfect prediction at higher tier engagements.

Alakazam

Sorry for the long post, but I have to also question Focus Blast - the accuracy is surely costly to the extreme without Wide Lens? If I were to start from scratch, keeping only Magic Guard, what would you run in the context of the team, if it were to remain Alakazam (though if nothing comes of it, I'm going to likely revert back to timid Starmie).

Spares EVs added were appropriate, I'll edit the opening post in bold in due course, thanks guys!

 

[Professor Palutena]

Regarding Bronzong, its ALWAYS better to go for the immunity (Levitate) than to create a resistance (Heatproof), so if you want to keep Bronzong, Levitate is the preferred ability.

Focus Blast on Alakazam is solely for a 70% chance of outright destroying any Steel- or Dark-type Pokemon. Psychic/Shadow Ball/Focus Blast/Hidden Power Ice is the most useful moveset.

Actually, Donphan probably should have Stealth Rock instead of Knock Off if you're replacing Bronzong. Roar sounds good for Donphan otherwise.

 

[Rybekk]

Hi again, thanks for your help.

I've revamped the intro post with pictures and the new layout I've gone with after much consideration. I realised Accelgor was not working in the new set-up, and found room for the all important HP Fire.

I'll commence play testing with the new set up and hopefully will be back with good news, or, with my tail between my legs pleading for more guru advice!