Snou
the grand master of all the things bad!
Logo by Zeno
This core, which is incredibily solid, is not still complete though. It was missing a serious counter for latwins and dragons in general. There weren't even essential components like a defogger or stealth rock setter. Also after noticing a weakness to Gardevoir and Clefable, I decided to add Jirachi and Togekiss who complete the team in a perfectly sinergic way.
Last, but not the least, is a pokèmon who's able to get rid of the most annoying stall teams and also surprises the most solid and well built balances. The pokemon im talking about is one of the most unlucky megaevolutions in this metagame, but it is obviously underrated since it is incredibily bulky and deals heavy damages.The pokemon in this case is Mega Garchomp, ready to slash every unwary opponent on his way! The team built in this way could appear weird, but it has no particolary issues with common threats.
In detail...
Teardrop (Gastrodon) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Scald
- Toxic
Let's start with one of those pokemons who I learned to appreciate more than the other members in this team. Directly from BW, rain's biggest nemesis, Gastrodon! Gastron, after an obscuring period in HGSS started to shine in BW where it was one of the worst problems for rain teams because of it's bulkyness in conjunction of a typing weak to only one type and a respectable trait! Unfortunately in XY, with the absence of perma-weather, sunk already into oblivion...until I decided to try it! I think it could be considered a sort of Universal Check! There's nothing able to tank it (ok, don't say "b-but bullet seed Breloom!!!" because you know it is not the case to blame Gastrodon, if it can't tank it) it is annoying like only a few pokemon can be...the defensive evs allow it to become a good switch in on Keldeo (be careful for the Sub CM, should be handled with Togekiss then only after with Gastrodon). It also checks many pokemon, such as Diancie and Lopunny, 2 of the most common megaevolutions in ORAS and cripples grasses (only safe switch ins) by burning them violently with Scald. The burn, also, it is like a key to win for this team, since the team could be considered a status spam on first place, and a wow spam on a second place due to a fwg core able to burn any sort of entry.
Mad Lantern (Gourgeist-XL) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Frisk
EVs: 232 HP / 252 Def / 24 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Leech Seed
- Will-O-Wisp
- Substitute
- Protect
I couldn't find a Gourgeist Gif... rip. Gourgeist was on the first XY OU team I ever built and since then I always loved it for it's natural bulkyness. With this set it could seem inferior to an eventual classic set, but once you take out those few pokemons immune to status or residual damages, this pumpkin is an istant win thanks to it's more unique than rare ability to make even the calmest people rage. Subs onto many common OU threats, such as Ferrothorn and Landorus-T and then a real hell starts for the opponent, that will force him to weaken many of his pokemon between status and seeds while Gourgeist does his easy job under it's sub.
Crazy Fire (Rotom-H) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 108 Def / 144 SDef / 8 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Overheat
- Pain Split
Rotom-H is one of the most underrated pokemon in this metagame. It checks many things that are in this metagame, by starting from Lopunny then Gardevoir and ending with Thundurus...even Rotom contributes to maintain stability to the team by giving an important volturn move that makes it gain momentum while also offering it's burn support. I added it in particular for pokemon like Charizard Y, Talonflame and Mega Pinsir. Rotom-H attracts with his volt switch pokemon capable to let Mega Garchomp set up, like for example Heatran on which Garchomp will be able to sub and dance happily.
Insane Love (Togekiss) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 232 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Air Slash
- Roost
- Thunder Wave
- Defog
Pokemon who I am totally addicted to since it can check a huge amount of pokemon, even the most dangerous ones , and since it has also an awesome bulk that allows me to win games thanks to it's precious paralyze. Togekiss, thanks to it's new Fairy type gained in XY, it is able to become a particulary difficult enemy for pokemons like Latwins, but even Dragonite and dragons in general, expecially Garchomp, who sees in Togekiss it's nemesis and gives me a free defog other than a safe switch in. A very sweet counter, with Rotom-H, of the new-arrived Serperior, who fears it's paralysis and doesn't scare Togekiss with none of it's most commonly used moves.
Lethal Chopper (Garchomp) (F) @ Garchompite
Trait: Rough Skin
EVs: 192 HP / 96 Atk / 220 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
Mega Garchomp is a pokemon that I used to hate in the beginning, because I'd have bet anything that it could become one of those cheap and undefeatable dragons who used to torment BW. However, the introduction of the fairies avoided this eventuality completely and the poor little dragon remains OU only for it's original form, and obviously not for it's megaevolution. But is it really that weak? Absolutely not. It's one of the most bulky and dangerous pokemons I have ever seen. With a little investment in HP his sub is able to survive to Ferrothon's main stabs, to Slowbro's Scald, to Lopunny's Fake out, to Azumarill's Aqua jet, CB Talonflame's and Scarf Landorus-T's U-turns...and with a not so bad speed and a respectable attack it is able to deal absurd damages, expecially when against opponent's sand...
Cute n Evil (Jirachi) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 240 HP / 228 SDef / 40 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
- Protect
- Iron Head
After Aegislash's ban, Jirachi's usage increased a lot when there was the need of a Mega Gardevoir counter and another counter of Latios and Latias. Jirachi, even though mine has run dry and never flinches, becomes often one of those things you can rely in when you are losing a match, by abusing it's dangerous(?) iron head and it's ability that doubles flinch chances. Jirachi is also the Stealth Rock setter of the team and an important source of wish supporting, useful for pokemon like Mega Garchomp and Gourgeist. If Gastrodon checks Diancie, Jirachi could be considered a real counter of that obscene stall ruiner.
(Rotom-H) @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 108 Def / 144 SDef / 8 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Overheat
- Pain Split
(Jirachi) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 240 HP / 228 SDef / 40 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
- Protect
- Iron Head
(Garchomp) (F) @ Garchompite
Trait: Rough Skin
EVs: 192 HP / 96 Atk / 220 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
(Gourgeist-XL) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Frisk
EVs: 232 HP / 252 Def / 24 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Leech Seed
- Will-O-Wisp
- Substitute
- Protect
(Togekiss) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 232 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Air Slash
- Roost
- Thunder Wave
- Defog
(Gastrodon) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Scald
- Toxic
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 248 HP / 108 Def / 144 SDef / 8 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Overheat
- Pain Split
(Jirachi) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 240 HP / 228 SDef / 40 Spd
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Wish
- Stealth Rock
- Protect
- Iron Head
(Garchomp) (F) @ Garchompite
Trait: Rough Skin
EVs: 192 HP / 96 Atk / 220 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Swords Dance
- Substitute
(Gourgeist-XL) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Frisk
EVs: 232 HP / 252 Def / 24 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Leech Seed
- Will-O-Wisp
- Substitute
- Protect
(Togekiss) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 232 HP / 252 Def / 16 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Air Slash
- Roost
- Thunder Wave
- Defog
(Gastrodon) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Recover
- Scald
- Toxic
Shoutouts to:
- amber lamps that helped me with the team testing phase and with the RMT
- Zeno that realized the wonderful opening image
Snowy