Okay, so I basically quit 4th Gen OU before Mence was banned and just recently started battling again. I watched battles, read analysis and warstories, yadda yadda yadda, so I decided to make a team to try to get back into battling. And frankly it sucks. I have been sitting on the bottom of the ladder with it and I have absolutely no idea how to make this team better or if I should just ditch it. Hopefully you guys can help with that.
Team at a glance:
The main goal of the team is to incapacitate something with TrickScarf Jirachi then start up TR right away. From there I try to clear out pokemon pokemon that would hinder most of my team, with Eelektross, using Latios as a check to things when TR is down, to finish up with a BU Scrafty or NP Slowking clean-up. My main problems are that, outside of Scrafty, my team takes status poorly and I lose pretty badly to stat up sweepers--there are other problems of course but those are the main ones I noticed.
Jirachi@Choice Scarf
Serene Grace
Adamant-252 HP, 252 ATK, 4 DEF
-Trick
-Trick Room
-U-Turn
-Iron Head
To be honest I had no idea what to use as a TR lead so I figured I'd try out Jirachi since its reasonably bulky. The idea here is to incapacitate the enemy lead with Trick, especially Hippowdon leads, set up TR on the switch, then U-Turn to a different pokemon, usually Eelektross since Jirachi is an EQ magnet but occasionally to Slowking on obvious fire attacks. He also functions as a nice check to Lati@s--or at least, a chance to set up TR again in the face of those pokes. I would like to Trick other pokemon like Blissey and whatnot but really I can never reasonably do so.
Originally I ran Wish over Trick in order to keep my team from being worn down too fast but I found I could never use it and Jirachi was more than dead weight. This new set helps some but has its problems--mainly, I don't outspeed Deoxys-S and Aerodactly leads with Scarf so they can change moves when I Trick them--or worse, hit me with Taunt. I don't know if changing the EVs around would help alleviate this problem or if I'm better off using a different lead.
Eelektross@Expert Belt
Levitate
Quiet-252 Sp. ATK, 252 HP, 4 DEF
-Thunderbolt
-HP Ice
-Flamethrower
-Grass Knot
My first sweeper, I try to get this guy in fast as possible under TR. I needed a ground resist and a good TR sweeper and since I found this guy pretty good on my doubles TR team I decided to give him a go here.
Eelektross's main job is to get in quick and try to eliminate pokemon that give the rest of my team problems or would wall the others. To that end his set is designed simply to kill things--FT for Ferrothorn, Skarm, Scizor, Forretress, and the stray Amoongus, Thunderbolt for STAB and to kill Jellicent and Gyarados, HP Ice to take out Gliscor (which I found my team had HUGE problems with before I made some changes and still do have some problems with) and kill Garchomp in TR, and Grass Knot for Hippowdon, Swampert, and I guess Quagsire?
The problem I have with this guy is that outside of TR he's rather hard to use, although I'm not sure if that's a legitimate problem. He doesn't quite kill Blissey and Ttar, though, so I've thought of running Brick Break in place of Grass Knot, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea--on one hand I can take out the aforementioned pokemon easier, but on the other it leaves Scrafty and Escavalier more prone to getting walled by Hippowdon and Swampert.
Oh, and Expert Belt because Life Orb was making me die too quickly.
Escavalier@Choice Band
Swarm
Brave-252 ATK, 252 HP, 4 Sp. Def
-Megahorn
-Iron Head
-Pursuit
-Reversal
Okay, the obvious; Escavalier is here so my team doesn't automatically get raped by Reuniclus. Outspeeds it in TR and murders it with Megahorn or Pursuit (but they never switch out when I Pursuit so whatever).
Other than that, he's basically a hard-hitting son of a bitch. Also allows me to check choice Latias, gives me another switch in to a Garchomp's outrage (although I usually switch into Fire Fang like an idiot), and it traps Dark-weak pokemon in TR (in theory). Also a somewhat decent Ttar switch in since Slowking and Latios draw him like no one's business.
Slowking@Life Orb
Regeneration
Quiet-252 Sp. ATK, 212 HP, 44 DEF
-Trick Room
-Nasty Plot
-Boil Over
-Psycho Shock
My second Trick Roomer. While it can set up on Heatran or Infernape or Choice Chandelure's Overheat which Jirachi and Escavalier draw like nobody's business, I usually prefer to save her for late game so as to not get too overwhelmed early. It's your basic Nasty Plot set, and if I can get Eelektross to take out Ferrothorn or Escavalier or Scrafty to take out Lati@s, I can do some damage with NP. Currently I've been wondering whether or not I should replace Life Orb with something else for increased survivability--Regeneration helps, but it only goes so far especially without a healing move. Also I'm having trouble deciding between Psychic and Psycho Shock--with Psycho Shock I have trouble with Conkledurrs who have gotten some Bulk Ups, but with Psychic I lose my last check to CM Reuniclus if Escavalier dies (well there's Scrafty but Focus Blast...).
Scrafty@Leftovers
Shed Skin
Brave-252 HP, 252 ATK, 4 DEF
-Bulk Up
-Drain Punch
-Crunch
-Rest
Originally I had Conkledurr in this spot for the priority Mach Punch but I found it had two problems: 1. It died too quick with Flame Orb damage 2. It couldn't do jack shit to ghosts and psychics. I decided to replace it with Scrafty and it's been an improvement thusfar.
Scrafty serves as a check to Tyranitar, which Slowking and Latios draw in frequently. My main goal here is to switch in on something like that after Scrafty's main counters--namely Gliscor--have been taken out and Bulk Up. I try to get as many Bulk Ups as I can while TR is still active so it's easier to function when TR goes down, by then I hope to have enough defense to take out all or a good portion of the enemy's team. After a few BUs I can take on Garchomps (occasionally) and whatever else that comes at me that's not packing CC. It's also another check to Reuniclus although one of my shakier ones due to Focus Blast.
Latios@Expert Belt
Levitate
Timid-252 Sp. ATK, 252 Spd, 4 HP
-Dragon Pulse
-Surf
-HP Fire
-Thunderbolt
Latios functions mainly as my emergency clean-up pokemon when TR is down. Previously in this spot I had Scarf Landlos but it didn't help me much. Since I noticed my team was having problems with Heatran since I only had Slowking to take its hits, and I needed a ground, electric, and another water resist, as well as a check/revenge killer to Garchomp, I gave Latios a try.
Basically, he picks off whatever I need him to. Whenever I begin a match and I see a Heatran, Infernape, Chandelure, or Ninetales on the enemy's team I switch Latios to my lead since the enemy nearly always leads with one of those pokemon. From there I try to get Jirachi in and go along with my usual strategy. I chose Expert Belt over Specs or Scarf because I needed Latios to do general cleanup and whatnot and being forced out due to choice didn't hep my team much at all, so I run Expert Belt to bluff it. It does get me a few surprise KOs on things like Ferrothorn which makes it easier on my TR sweepers I will admit.
Like I said, this team has been doing absolute shit. One problem I've had is that if I let a pokemon get set up like BU Conkledurr or especially CM Reuniclus I might as well forfeit on the spot. I don't know how I could manage to fit a phazer in do handle it--I could put Dragon Tail on Slowking but that'd be asking too much of it in addition to all its other duties...I think. Also, like I said, only Scrafty can really take status, and it really screws up the rest of my team, but I have no idea how to fit in a cleric or safeguard or what. I've also had trouble against Rain Stall and a multitude of other things.
Team at a glance:
The main goal of the team is to incapacitate something with TrickScarf Jirachi then start up TR right away. From there I try to clear out pokemon pokemon that would hinder most of my team, with Eelektross, using Latios as a check to things when TR is down, to finish up with a BU Scrafty or NP Slowking clean-up. My main problems are that, outside of Scrafty, my team takes status poorly and I lose pretty badly to stat up sweepers--there are other problems of course but those are the main ones I noticed.
Jirachi@Choice Scarf
Serene Grace
Adamant-252 HP, 252 ATK, 4 DEF
-Trick
-Trick Room
-U-Turn
-Iron Head
To be honest I had no idea what to use as a TR lead so I figured I'd try out Jirachi since its reasonably bulky. The idea here is to incapacitate the enemy lead with Trick, especially Hippowdon leads, set up TR on the switch, then U-Turn to a different pokemon, usually Eelektross since Jirachi is an EQ magnet but occasionally to Slowking on obvious fire attacks. He also functions as a nice check to Lati@s--or at least, a chance to set up TR again in the face of those pokes. I would like to Trick other pokemon like Blissey and whatnot but really I can never reasonably do so.
Originally I ran Wish over Trick in order to keep my team from being worn down too fast but I found I could never use it and Jirachi was more than dead weight. This new set helps some but has its problems--mainly, I don't outspeed Deoxys-S and Aerodactly leads with Scarf so they can change moves when I Trick them--or worse, hit me with Taunt. I don't know if changing the EVs around would help alleviate this problem or if I'm better off using a different lead.
Eelektross@Expert Belt
Levitate
Quiet-252 Sp. ATK, 252 HP, 4 DEF
-Thunderbolt
-HP Ice
-Flamethrower
-Grass Knot
My first sweeper, I try to get this guy in fast as possible under TR. I needed a ground resist and a good TR sweeper and since I found this guy pretty good on my doubles TR team I decided to give him a go here.
Eelektross's main job is to get in quick and try to eliminate pokemon that give the rest of my team problems or would wall the others. To that end his set is designed simply to kill things--FT for Ferrothorn, Skarm, Scizor, Forretress, and the stray Amoongus, Thunderbolt for STAB and to kill Jellicent and Gyarados, HP Ice to take out Gliscor (which I found my team had HUGE problems with before I made some changes and still do have some problems with) and kill Garchomp in TR, and Grass Knot for Hippowdon, Swampert, and I guess Quagsire?
The problem I have with this guy is that outside of TR he's rather hard to use, although I'm not sure if that's a legitimate problem. He doesn't quite kill Blissey and Ttar, though, so I've thought of running Brick Break in place of Grass Knot, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea--on one hand I can take out the aforementioned pokemon easier, but on the other it leaves Scrafty and Escavalier more prone to getting walled by Hippowdon and Swampert.
Oh, and Expert Belt because Life Orb was making me die too quickly.
Escavalier@Choice Band
Swarm
Brave-252 ATK, 252 HP, 4 Sp. Def
-Megahorn
-Iron Head
-Pursuit
-Reversal
Okay, the obvious; Escavalier is here so my team doesn't automatically get raped by Reuniclus. Outspeeds it in TR and murders it with Megahorn or Pursuit (but they never switch out when I Pursuit so whatever).
Other than that, he's basically a hard-hitting son of a bitch. Also allows me to check choice Latias, gives me another switch in to a Garchomp's outrage (although I usually switch into Fire Fang like an idiot), and it traps Dark-weak pokemon in TR (in theory). Also a somewhat decent Ttar switch in since Slowking and Latios draw him like no one's business.
Slowking@Life Orb
Regeneration
Quiet-252 Sp. ATK, 212 HP, 44 DEF
-Trick Room
-Nasty Plot
-Boil Over
-Psycho Shock
My second Trick Roomer. While it can set up on Heatran or Infernape or Choice Chandelure's Overheat which Jirachi and Escavalier draw like nobody's business, I usually prefer to save her for late game so as to not get too overwhelmed early. It's your basic Nasty Plot set, and if I can get Eelektross to take out Ferrothorn or Escavalier or Scrafty to take out Lati@s, I can do some damage with NP. Currently I've been wondering whether or not I should replace Life Orb with something else for increased survivability--Regeneration helps, but it only goes so far especially without a healing move. Also I'm having trouble deciding between Psychic and Psycho Shock--with Psycho Shock I have trouble with Conkledurrs who have gotten some Bulk Ups, but with Psychic I lose my last check to CM Reuniclus if Escavalier dies (well there's Scrafty but Focus Blast...).
Scrafty@Leftovers
Shed Skin
Brave-252 HP, 252 ATK, 4 DEF
-Bulk Up
-Drain Punch
-Crunch
-Rest
Originally I had Conkledurr in this spot for the priority Mach Punch but I found it had two problems: 1. It died too quick with Flame Orb damage 2. It couldn't do jack shit to ghosts and psychics. I decided to replace it with Scrafty and it's been an improvement thusfar.
Scrafty serves as a check to Tyranitar, which Slowking and Latios draw in frequently. My main goal here is to switch in on something like that after Scrafty's main counters--namely Gliscor--have been taken out and Bulk Up. I try to get as many Bulk Ups as I can while TR is still active so it's easier to function when TR goes down, by then I hope to have enough defense to take out all or a good portion of the enemy's team. After a few BUs I can take on Garchomps (occasionally) and whatever else that comes at me that's not packing CC. It's also another check to Reuniclus although one of my shakier ones due to Focus Blast.
Latios@Expert Belt
Levitate
Timid-252 Sp. ATK, 252 Spd, 4 HP
-Dragon Pulse
-Surf
-HP Fire
-Thunderbolt
Latios functions mainly as my emergency clean-up pokemon when TR is down. Previously in this spot I had Scarf Landlos but it didn't help me much. Since I noticed my team was having problems with Heatran since I only had Slowking to take its hits, and I needed a ground, electric, and another water resist, as well as a check/revenge killer to Garchomp, I gave Latios a try.
Basically, he picks off whatever I need him to. Whenever I begin a match and I see a Heatran, Infernape, Chandelure, or Ninetales on the enemy's team I switch Latios to my lead since the enemy nearly always leads with one of those pokemon. From there I try to get Jirachi in and go along with my usual strategy. I chose Expert Belt over Specs or Scarf because I needed Latios to do general cleanup and whatnot and being forced out due to choice didn't hep my team much at all, so I run Expert Belt to bluff it. It does get me a few surprise KOs on things like Ferrothorn which makes it easier on my TR sweepers I will admit.
Like I said, this team has been doing absolute shit. One problem I've had is that if I let a pokemon get set up like BU Conkledurr or especially CM Reuniclus I might as well forfeit on the spot. I don't know how I could manage to fit a phazer in do handle it--I could put Dragon Tail on Slowking but that'd be asking too much of it in addition to all its other duties...I think. Also, like I said, only Scrafty can really take status, and it really screws up the rest of my team, but I have no idea how to fit in a cleric or safeguard or what. I've also had trouble against Rain Stall and a multitude of other things.
