Swampert (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 240 HP / 212 Def / 52 SAtk / 4 Spd
Nature: Relaxed (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Stealth Rock
- Protect
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Swampert is my lead Pokemon and it is one of the best leads I have ever used. It rarely fails to set up Stealth Rock, which is vital to this team because it secures those crucial 2HKOs and OHKOs. Ice Beam has great coverage with Earthquake and it is also useful for picking away at Focus Sash leads, such as Aerodactyl, Infernape, and Azelf. Protect is in the last slot for predicting Explosion from suicide leads, scouting Choice users, and providing a turn of free Leftovers recovery.
The EVs are standard. 240 HP EVs gives 401 total and 52 Sp.Atk EVs guarantees an OHKO on Salamence with Ice Beam after Stealth Rock. 4 EVs are added into Speed to eliminate speed ties with other Swampert leads.
Swampert vs Top 10 Leads (As of May 2009):
Swampert is a very sturdy and reliable lead that rarely fails to set up Stealth Rock. Unlike suicide leads, Swampert is usually alive after setting up Stealth Rock, making it a decent physical wall for later.
Heatran (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 36 HP / 248 SAtk / 224 Spd
Nature: Modest (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Substitute
- Toxic
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I had initially planned to use ScarfTran but I opted not to since I already have two Choice users on this team. I felt that CB Tyranitar and CB Scizor were far more valuable to this team than ScarfTran so I chose to run the SubToxic set instead. The great thing about this set is the element of surprise since everyone expects Heatran to be Scarfed. Thus, it's very easy to force a switch and set up Substitute and follow up with Toxic/Earth Power/Fire Blast appropriately. The only OU Pokemon that doesn't mind taking any of those three attacks from Heatran is Latias, which is easily eliminated by Tyranitar. Otherwise, Toxic, Earth Power, and Fire Blast provide great universal coverage together.
This set is perfect for luring out bulky waters that try to interrupt Gyarados' sweep, such as Vaporeon and Suicune. I typically send Heatran in after one of my Pokemon has fainted to conceal Leftovers but there are times where I am forced to give it away by switching in.
The EVs are different than the ones suggested from the analysis. I didn't see the point of maxing out speed on a non-Scarf Heatran because it really doesn't outspeed anything worthwhile. As a result, I chose to use a modest nature and invest 224 EVs in speed. This puts Heatran at 246 speed, allowing it to outpace most defensive Celebi and Zapdos, as well as all neutral base 70 speed Pokemon. The rest are added into HP to add a bit of extra bulk.
Celebi @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 244 HP / 220 Def / 44 Spd
Nature: Bold (+Def, -Atk)
- Leech Seed
- Grass Knot
- Recover
- Hidden Power [Fire]
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The second half of the infamous "Celetran" combo. Celebi is my main answer to physical threats such as Gyarados. It also acts as a status absorber thanks to its Natural Cure ability.
Grass Knot is an awesome move in the OU metagame and its massive PP is perfect for stall wars. Leech Seed is the third part of this team's residual damage. It's great at forcing switches, causing Stealth Rock damage each time or simply sapping away at pproblematic Bulky Waters. Hidden Power [Fire] is in the last slot to deal with Scizor that love to switch into Celebi.
The EVs are straight from the analysis, though I have 40 EVs in speed to outspeed the standard defensive Zapdos, allowing me to Leech Seed it before switching out to avoid a second Heat Wave. The rest are placed into Def for physical walling.
Scizor (F) @ Choice Band
Ability: Technician
Evs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SDef
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SAtk)
- U-Turn
- Bullet Punch
- Superpower
- Pursuit
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I don't think I need to say much about this disgustingly standard set; Choice Band Scizor is the most used Pokemon for a reason. Scizor's main role on my team is to revenge kill threats such as DD Salamence. It also acts as a great utility Pokemon, trapping some of Gyarados' common counters with Pursuit, and scouting with U-Turn. Superpower is great for revenge killing and OHKO-ing Heatran and Magnezone that love to switch into Scizor.
The EVs are standard. 248 HP EVs provide an extra Stealth Rock switch-in.
Tyranitar (F) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Atk / 216 SDef
Nature: Careful (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
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Tyranitar is quite possibly the most important Pokemon on this team. It's main role is to act as a trapper for Gyarados' common switch-ins, such as Celebi and Starmie. It is also my main special sponge and Latias counter. Tyranitar's Sand Stream adds even more residual damage to this team's arsenal. It's great at picking away at any Life Orb user's HP and negating Leftovers on annoying walls.
The moves are standard. Tyranitar is great against the majority of Gyarados' counters. It severely dents any Rotom-A, Latias, Starmie, and Celebi with Pursuit/Crunch. It will also force most Zapdos to switch out in fear of Stone Edge. Even a fleeing Jolteon is OHKO'd by Pursuit 100% of the time after Stealth Rock or Sandstorm damage. Earthquake is to deal with Steel types that resist Dark and Rock. I usually use Pursuit and Crunch since they are typically the best options against most of what Tyranitar will be countering. Doing so lures out Scizor or Lucario who love to switch into Tyranitar, allowing me to switch into Gyarados and set up.
The EVs are from the analysis. 252 HP EVs and 216 SDef EVs along with Sandstorm ensure that Timid Life Orb Gengar cannot OHKO Tyranitar with Focus Blast, which is generally the strongest special attack that Tyranitar is going to have to face. The rest are placed into Atk for some extra power.
Gyarados (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
Evs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 Spd
Nature: Impish (+Def, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Dragon Dance
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
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Gyarados is my favorite Pokemon and the star of this team. It is usually saved for late-game, once Tyranitar and Heatran have weakened or removed its threats. I chose to go for the RestTalk set because of how durable it is. This Gyarados is quite capable of getting in two Dragon Dances because of how many switches it forces. Besides acting as my late-game sweeper, Gyarados is also the only Pokemon on this team that prevents Swords Dance Lucario and Scizor from sweeping me entirely. It acts as a secondary physical wall and status absorber after Celebi, though I generally save it for late-game to avoid switching into Stealth Rock constantly.
The strategy is quite straight forward and is identical to that of the infamous CroCune set. Once Tyranitar has lured in something like Lucario or Scizor, I switch to Gyarados and Dragon Dance. Most Scizor switch out immediately while Lucario are surprised to see that their Extremespeed barely dents Gyarados. If all goes well, there shouldn't be any Gyarados counter left that can take it down, thus allowing me to sweep easily. Rest and Sleep Talk provide recovery while Waterfall is the move of choice since it has STAB, decent coverage, and a nice flinch rate to boot.
The EVs are straight from the analysis. 32 speed EVs allow me to outspeed all positive base 90 speed Pokemon after a Dragon Dance, such as Jolly Lucario.
Threat List
Note: Red name indicates a serious threat.