Control chaos… and you will control destiny.
With Genesect’s return in OU, I decided it was time for me to try a VoltTurn team. A move I wouldn’t normally make due to my hatred for Scarfed Scizor. Genesect, however, was a different story. With 99 base Speed and Download, it was something that suited my playstyle way more than a Scizor without Swords Dance. I decided to build my team around a Rotom-W+Genesect core, so I began to test for the proper teammates.
Replay of an example battle.
It’s your turn now. Any suggestions, ideas and feedback are appreciated. Thank you.
Teambuilding Process
So, Rotom-W and Genesect were the original idea, and of course they were the main core. A pretty much self-explanatory pairing, for the same reasons as Scizor. Rotom and Genesect only have one weakness each, and that is covered by the other half of the core. I couldn’t be make up my mind concerning Rotom’s set. In the end, I settled for a custom EVs set with focus on Special Defense.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite]
Next up, hazards. After some testing and a bit of advice from Uralya, I picked another former Uber, Deoxys-S. The fastest hazard setter in the game bar Klefki, but with access to Taunt to make up for this, Deoxys fit perfectly with the rest of the team. After trying various sets, I decided on a suicide lead with Focus Sash and a coverage move.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite]
Something to remove hazards? Why not? Well, because no Spinner really fits, that’s why. I tried Starmie and Excadrill, but they didn’t function as I wanted. In the end, I tried a bulky Special Attacker Latias with Defog. It seemed to fulfill its role up to a point, so I decided to keep it.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]380[/sprite]
A Mega Evolution was next in line, and I picked Lucario without much thought. I had already used it in other teams, and I always liked it.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]380[/sprite][sprite]448[/sprite]
With Lucario, however, I was beginning to worry about Thunder Wave, Will-o’-Wisp and Fire moves, as another steel type had joined the fray. I needed something to keep that fire at bay. Heatran was what first sprang in mind, and I chose to run an Air Balloon set to reduce my weakness to Ground, which would otherwise hit red.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]380[/sprite][sprite]448[/sprite][sprite]485[/sprite]
Heatran was too slow for my liking, though. Seriously, I kicked it out because of this. I then thought of adding something that wouldn’t absorb, but stop special conditions completely. And so another guy from Ubers, Thundurus-I, joined in. Prankster Taunt and Thunder Wave are never something to overlook easily. Plus, Klefki was really annoying, and what better way to get rid of a Prankster than with a Prankster Taunt?
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]380[/sprite][sprite]448[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite]
With Heatran out, however, I felt I was lacking power. Since Defog sometimes would also remove my own hazards and I had access to two Taunts, I decided to drop Latias and replace it with her older sibling, CM Latios.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]448[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite][sprite]381[/sprite]
The team was kinda good, but not what I expected. I went through many changes, adding and removing Terrakion, Celebi, Gengar, Latias and Latios, Zapdos and Thundurus… I couldn’t make it work. Around that time, schoolwork got the better of me and I forgot Pokemon for a while.
I recently picked up my notes again and decided to retry. I kept the original Deoxys/Genesect/Rotom core and began building the team around it once again.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite]
This time, I decided I’d like to try Special Conditions tricks. I readded Thundurus, only this time I left it with only one offensive move and added Substitute for better help with haxing. I threw Volt Switch in the mix to keep momentum.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite]
With Rotom being Specially Defensive, I felt that a Physical Defender would do nice. So an old bane of mine, Gliscor, joined the show. I decided to pick the standard SubProtect+Toxic set, but instead of Earthquake, I picked U-Turn.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite][sprite]472[/sprite]
I now had a fast hazard setter with Taunt and four Pokemon with three different Special Conditions, Substitutes and other tricks plus U-Turn or Volt Switch to make the lives of my opponents hell. What I needed to top it off was something to take care of the chaos these guys would cause. A Mega was a good option. However, I felt that Lucario was too fragile to fit with the rest of the team, and I didn’t want an extra Fire Weakness. So instead I picked something much slower, but also much bulkier: Gyarados. Mega Gyarados is insane if it has the chance to get it on, and I felt that it would function way better than Lucario with this team. And with that, building was complete.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite][sprite]472[/sprite][sprite]130[/sprite]
Due to Gliscor not being strong enough for anything, though, and its U-Turning working against its Substitutes, I replaced it with bulky Landorus-T.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite][sprite]645[/sprite][sprite]130[/sprite]
Fighting types, however, were giving me a lot of trouble. Gyarados, being weak to SR when it got out and then weak to Mach Punches when it Mega evolved, had to go. In its place, I added Mega Venusaur's offensive set.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite][sprite]645[/sprite][sprite]3[/sprite]
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite]
Next up, hazards. After some testing and a bit of advice from Uralya, I picked another former Uber, Deoxys-S. The fastest hazard setter in the game bar Klefki, but with access to Taunt to make up for this, Deoxys fit perfectly with the rest of the team. After trying various sets, I decided on a suicide lead with Focus Sash and a coverage move.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite]
Something to remove hazards? Why not? Well, because no Spinner really fits, that’s why. I tried Starmie and Excadrill, but they didn’t function as I wanted. In the end, I tried a bulky Special Attacker Latias with Defog. It seemed to fulfill its role up to a point, so I decided to keep it.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]380[/sprite]
A Mega Evolution was next in line, and I picked Lucario without much thought. I had already used it in other teams, and I always liked it.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]380[/sprite][sprite]448[/sprite]
With Lucario, however, I was beginning to worry about Thunder Wave, Will-o’-Wisp and Fire moves, as another steel type had joined the fray. I needed something to keep that fire at bay. Heatran was what first sprang in mind, and I chose to run an Air Balloon set to reduce my weakness to Ground, which would otherwise hit red.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]380[/sprite][sprite]448[/sprite][sprite]485[/sprite]
Heatran was too slow for my liking, though. Seriously, I kicked it out because of this. I then thought of adding something that wouldn’t absorb, but stop special conditions completely. And so another guy from Ubers, Thundurus-I, joined in. Prankster Taunt and Thunder Wave are never something to overlook easily. Plus, Klefki was really annoying, and what better way to get rid of a Prankster than with a Prankster Taunt?
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]380[/sprite][sprite]448[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite]
With Heatran out, however, I felt I was lacking power. Since Defog sometimes would also remove my own hazards and I had access to two Taunts, I decided to drop Latias and replace it with her older sibling, CM Latios.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]448[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite][sprite]381[/sprite]
The team was kinda good, but not what I expected. I went through many changes, adding and removing Terrakion, Celebi, Gengar, Latias and Latios, Zapdos and Thundurus… I couldn’t make it work. Around that time, schoolwork got the better of me and I forgot Pokemon for a while.
I recently picked up my notes again and decided to retry. I kept the original Deoxys/Genesect/Rotom core and began building the team around it once again.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite]
This time, I decided I’d like to try Special Conditions tricks. I readded Thundurus, only this time I left it with only one offensive move and added Substitute for better help with haxing. I threw Volt Switch in the mix to keep momentum.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite]
With Rotom being Specially Defensive, I felt that a Physical Defender would do nice. So an old bane of mine, Gliscor, joined the show. I decided to pick the standard SubProtect+Toxic set, but instead of Earthquake, I picked U-Turn.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite][sprite]472[/sprite]
I now had a fast hazard setter with Taunt and four Pokemon with three different Special Conditions, Substitutes and other tricks plus U-Turn or Volt Switch to make the lives of my opponents hell. What I needed to top it off was something to take care of the chaos these guys would cause. A Mega was a good option. However, I felt that Lucario was too fragile to fit with the rest of the team, and I didn’t want an extra Fire Weakness. So instead I picked something much slower, but also much bulkier: Gyarados. Mega Gyarados is insane if it has the chance to get it on, and I felt that it would function way better than Lucario with this team. And with that, building was complete.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite][sprite]472[/sprite][sprite]130[/sprite]
Due to Gliscor not being strong enough for anything, though, and its U-Turning working against its Substitutes, I replaced it with bulky Landorus-T.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite][sprite]645[/sprite][sprite]130[/sprite]
Fighting types, however, were giving me a lot of trouble. Gyarados, being weak to SR when it got out and then weak to Mach Punches when it Mega evolved, had to go. In its place, I added Mega Venusaur's offensive set.
[sprite]479[/sprite][sprite]649[/sprite][sprite]386[/sprite][sprite]642[/sprite][sprite]645[/sprite][sprite]3[/sprite]
Strategy
The team uses 4 Pokemon with VoltTurn and a variety of Special Conditions and other tricks to slowly wear out and cripple the opposing team. It’s backed by a reliable hazard setter. It's more of a chipping away team than raw power, something not indicative of my playstyle, but we all have another side.The Team
[animate]deoxys-s[/animate]
Deoxys-S w/ Pressure @ Focus Sash
Timid Nature-4 HP, 252 SpA, 252 Spe
Stealth Rock
Spikes
Taunt
Psycho Boost
Main lead, hazard setter and anti-lead, Deoxys has come back in OU to resume the role it always had. This suicide lead set ensures that there will always be at least one layer of Spikes or Stealth Rock up, often two, and at the same time completely shuts down enemy hazard setters. With its overwhelming Speed, the only Pokemon that can set hazards against Deoxys is Klefki, and that only due to Prankster. Psycho Boost allows Deoxys to go out in a blaze of glory and is also very effective against one of my team’s worst nightmares, Conkeldurr, and other annoying Fighting types.
[animate]genesect[/animate]
Genesect w/ Download @ Choice Scarf
Naive Nature-252 Atk, 4 SpA, 252 Spe
U-Turn
Iron Head
ThunderBolt
Ice Beam
The Insectinator, as some call it, has travelled through time and into the OU tier to make sure that the future of the meta will never be the same. This evolved (in terms of U-Turning) version of Scizor has all the power its old forme used to have plus an acceptable Speed stat and a very wide movepool. A Fairy killer and an adapting attacker, Genesect sports STAB Iron Head, BoltBeam and of course U-Turn, the move that puts it at the core of the team as a scout and revenge killer, rounding for nearly perfect coverage.
[animate]rotom-w[/animate]
Rotom-W w/ Levitate @ Leftovers
Calm Nature-252 HP, 80 SpA, 176 SpD
Volt Switch
Hydro Pump
Pain Split
Will-o’-Wisp
Rotom is a solid Special Defender and a part of both the VoltTurn and defensive core of the team. With solid bulk and decent offense, Rotom provides a great answer to Talonflames, Skarmories and Azumarills. Will-o’Wisp and Pain Split allow it to become a very annoying nuisance, switching in and out of combat easily and crippling or beating physical and special attackers alike.
[animate]landorus-t[/animate]
Landorus-T w/ Intimidate @ Leftovers
Adamant Nature-252 HP, 252 Atk, 4 Spe
Earthquake
Stone Edge
U-Turn
Knock Off
With respectable bulk and Intimidate, Landorus works pretty well against non-Ice Physical attacks and can hit back hard for severe damage. While not as tricky as some other characters around, it does sport the powered-up Knock Off, which can cause big trouble for Lefties and Black Sludge recover. In addition to this, its ability to U-Turn combined with Intimidate allows for some excellent momentum against many opposing Pokemon, and together with Gyarados, it can cause a cut in half on the attack of any opponent foolish enough to stay on Landorus believing type matchups will save it and allow for a great opportunity for Gyarados to setup. Landorus also makes light work of Electric types who trouble Gyarados, fearing only the occasional Hidden Power Ice.
[animate]thundurus-i[/animate]
Thundurus-I w/ Prankster @ Leftovers
Timid Nature-252 HP, 4 SpA, 252 Spe
Volt Switch
Substitute
Taunt
Thunder Wave
A supporting character, Thundurus is here to cripple sweepers and Choice users, then vanish behind the lines to make room for the rest of the team to take care of the problem. Built to ensure safe haxing, this set comes in on a support Pokemon, taunts it to force it out, throws a sub and proceeds to cripple the powerhouse which just came out to take care of it. Then it’s back in the shadows, and waiting for the next opportunity.
[animate]venusaur[/animate]
Venusaur w/ Chlorophyll @ Venusaurite
Modest Nature-252 HP, 252 SpA, 4 Spe
Giga Drain
Knock Off
Hidden Power Fire
Synthesis
Venusaur is an interesting case. It's one of the few Mega Evolutions who focus more on defense rather than offense. That being said, its offensive stats are actually decent, and it can't be dismissed that easily. Sporting Thick Fat and great bulk, Venusaur is more than capable of taking Fighting and Fire type moves. Giga Drain and Synthesis provide for a great source of recovery as well. Overall, Venusaur is there to cover those weaknesses my team can't handle.
Deoxys-S w/ Pressure @ Focus Sash
Timid Nature-4 HP, 252 SpA, 252 Spe
Stealth Rock
Spikes
Taunt
Psycho Boost
Main lead, hazard setter and anti-lead, Deoxys has come back in OU to resume the role it always had. This suicide lead set ensures that there will always be at least one layer of Spikes or Stealth Rock up, often two, and at the same time completely shuts down enemy hazard setters. With its overwhelming Speed, the only Pokemon that can set hazards against Deoxys is Klefki, and that only due to Prankster. Psycho Boost allows Deoxys to go out in a blaze of glory and is also very effective against one of my team’s worst nightmares, Conkeldurr, and other annoying Fighting types.
[animate]genesect[/animate]
Genesect w/ Download @ Choice Scarf
Naive Nature-252 Atk, 4 SpA, 252 Spe
U-Turn
Iron Head
ThunderBolt
Ice Beam
The Insectinator, as some call it, has travelled through time and into the OU tier to make sure that the future of the meta will never be the same. This evolved (in terms of U-Turning) version of Scizor has all the power its old forme used to have plus an acceptable Speed stat and a very wide movepool. A Fairy killer and an adapting attacker, Genesect sports STAB Iron Head, BoltBeam and of course U-Turn, the move that puts it at the core of the team as a scout and revenge killer, rounding for nearly perfect coverage.
[animate]rotom-w[/animate]
Rotom-W w/ Levitate @ Leftovers
Calm Nature-252 HP, 80 SpA, 176 SpD
Volt Switch
Hydro Pump
Pain Split
Will-o’-Wisp
Rotom is a solid Special Defender and a part of both the VoltTurn and defensive core of the team. With solid bulk and decent offense, Rotom provides a great answer to Talonflames, Skarmories and Azumarills. Will-o’Wisp and Pain Split allow it to become a very annoying nuisance, switching in and out of combat easily and crippling or beating physical and special attackers alike.
[animate]landorus-t[/animate]
Landorus-T w/ Intimidate @ Leftovers
Adamant Nature-252 HP, 252 Atk, 4 Spe
Earthquake
Stone Edge
U-Turn
Knock Off
With respectable bulk and Intimidate, Landorus works pretty well against non-Ice Physical attacks and can hit back hard for severe damage. While not as tricky as some other characters around, it does sport the powered-up Knock Off, which can cause big trouble for Lefties and Black Sludge recover. In addition to this, its ability to U-Turn combined with Intimidate allows for some excellent momentum against many opposing Pokemon, and together with Gyarados, it can cause a cut in half on the attack of any opponent foolish enough to stay on Landorus believing type matchups will save it and allow for a great opportunity for Gyarados to setup. Landorus also makes light work of Electric types who trouble Gyarados, fearing only the occasional Hidden Power Ice.
[animate]thundurus-i[/animate]
Thundurus-I w/ Prankster @ Leftovers
Timid Nature-252 HP, 4 SpA, 252 Spe
Volt Switch
Substitute
Taunt
Thunder Wave
A supporting character, Thundurus is here to cripple sweepers and Choice users, then vanish behind the lines to make room for the rest of the team to take care of the problem. Built to ensure safe haxing, this set comes in on a support Pokemon, taunts it to force it out, throws a sub and proceeds to cripple the powerhouse which just came out to take care of it. Then it’s back in the shadows, and waiting for the next opportunity.
[animate]venusaur[/animate]
Venusaur w/ Chlorophyll @ Venusaurite
Modest Nature-252 HP, 252 SpA, 4 Spe
Giga Drain
Knock Off
Hidden Power Fire
Synthesis
Venusaur is an interesting case. It's one of the few Mega Evolutions who focus more on defense rather than offense. That being said, its offensive stats are actually decent, and it can't be dismissed that easily. Sporting Thick Fat and great bulk, Venusaur is more than capable of taking Fighting and Fire type moves. Giga Drain and Synthesis provide for a great source of recovery as well. Overall, Venusaur is there to cover those weaknesses my team can't handle.
Problems
Conkeldurr is one of the team’s greatest problems, and so is Breloom. Generally, Fighting types aren’t what someone would call welcome. Deoxys exists to dent or remove some of the most dangerous, but sometimes it just isn’t enough. In case a powerful fighting type like Lucario, Breloom or Conkeldurr is left, the only choice is to try and troll the hell out of it in the hope that I will outpredict my opponent and take down the Pokemon with minimal damage. The team also doesn’t enjoy Latias and Latios, although a Thunder Wave will severely cripple them and a U-Turn won’t be nice. Hazards are another problem, as the team lacks a Spinner or a Defogger, relying completely on Taunt, which isn’t guaranteed to work, and with so much switching going around, if enough hazards are stacked, things get really ugly.Replay of an example battle.
It’s your turn now. Any suggestions, ideas and feedback are appreciated. Thank you.
(but U-turn/Air Slash/Heat Wave/Knock Off or Focus Blast <---what I switched to). Hell, Regenerator gives you free recovery, you have the coverage, and that takes care of your Fighting weakness. The only problems it would have on your threatlist is with either Lucario or Mega Lucario if SD + ExtremeSpeed/Bullet Punch was used, Breloom can only hit you back if it has Stone Edge, same with Conkel, only Stone Edge or Ice Punch, which most of your other team has as well. Besides that, other Genesect, or anything with Boltbeam looks like it can take on four (three if lacking Flamethrower/Fire-type move) of your Pokemon. I would take out Gliscor and put in Celebi instead, something like: 
