After my first UU team turned out to be a lot of fun, I decided to return to the tier with some pokes I hadn't tried before. This team marks the first time I've broken 1100 and the first team of mine that wins most of its matches. It's called the Zapdos Crew to honor the absolute boss of UU, Zapdos.
Rosa (Roserade) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Spikes
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Aromatherapy
Roserade always seemed like a cool poke to use, so I started from here. Rosa ends up being my lead a lot of the time, to set up Spikes. Giga Drain is for bulky waters like Swampert, and Sludge Bomb is my main STAB. Aromatherapy is great team support for when Slowbro gets poisoned or Snorlax is asleep. I used to have Sleep Powder, but Aromatherapy proved to be more useful, but I'm open to suggestions. Rosa has good synergy with Darmanitan, resisting all of the latter's weaknesses. The EVs, Leftovers, and Giga Drain allow her to heal throughout the fight.
Darla (Darmanitan) (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Superpower
Darmanitan hits like a truck with a smile. Such a boss. I tried Choice Scarf, but I often had to switch when I was locked into a bad move, and something weak to rocks on a team with no spinner cannot afford to be switching out a lot. Darla's fast enough as it is, so I went with Life Orb instead. LO adds massive power to her attacks and allows me to trick opponents who expect a scarf. Flare Blitz is her main STAB, U-Turn is for scouting, and EQ and Superpower are for coverage against foes like Umbreon or Rhyperior. He's usually my lead if I see they have Xatu on the team.
Registeel @ Leftovers
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
- Toxic
- Iron Head
Registeel is my main wall here, moreso on the special side and still really solid physically. Immunity to Toxic is a big plus. The only thing stopping it from outright domination is the lack of a recovery move, which the Lefties help to cover. Stealth Rocks are a must on any team, keeping Zapdos, Victini, Darmanitan, and Yanmega at bay. Toxic and T-Wave cripple walls and sweepers, respectively. Iron Head allows it to act like a UU Jirachi, and let me tell you, there is nothing sweeter than knowing I'll lose and then watching my opponent ragequit after a few paraflinches. Regi covers Slowbro's and Zapdos' weaknesses as well.
Zapdos @ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power [Water]
Here he is, the bird who rules the roost. In the beginning of B/W, I was somewhat saddened to see legends fall as Bronzong, Swampert, and Electivire fell to the lower tiers. Okay, maybe not Electivire, but Snorlax and Zapdos just seemed like the kind of guys who'd always be OU, y'know? Zappy here uses Life Orb to add that extra oomph necessary for key KOs, and Roost is for relieving the damage from rocks and LO. Thunderbolt is the main STAB that breaks through Suicune, Yanmega, and Xatu. Heat Wave is for Durant, Roserade, Escavalier, Registeel, and all the Heracrosses that always fail to KO with Stone Edge. Hidden Power Water might seem odd, but I need it to KO Chandelure, Rhyperior, and Victini, and it still does a lot to Flygon.
Minamimoto (Slowbro) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Psyshock
- Slack Off
If you get this nickname, you're awesome. With Slack Off, Lefties, and Regenerator, mah bro here just might be the best wall in the tier. Calm Mind allows him to boost his special stats so that he can take hits and dish out major pain. Scald is useful as STAB and to burn physical attackers. Psyshock hits special walls and Heracross, but I'm wondering if I should sacrifice that STAB for Fire Blast and the coverage it provides. Tell me what you think. Roserade works well with him whenever he's Toxic poisoned.
Laxworth (Snorlax) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 188 HP / 104 Def / 216 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Curse
- Body Slam
- Crunch
- Rest
Before I could really use this team well, Snorlax was often the load, but now that I know what to do, he might be my MVP. The strategy is simple, Curse, Curse, Curse, Rest, tank for two turns, Body Slam, Crunch, etc. Rest seemed a little risky at first, but it pays off, and if I need to heal and flee, Rosa can wake him up. He's saved me when I'm down four to one, and that's due to his massive HP, great SDef, and Curse. Body Slam paralyzes foes, and Crunch hits ghosts and psychics.
So that's my team. What do you think needs to be changed? What am I weak against? What have I overlooked? Yo, you better not mess with the Zapdos Crew, they're the reigning monarchs of Gen V UU.
Rosa (Roserade) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Spikes
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Aromatherapy
Roserade always seemed like a cool poke to use, so I started from here. Rosa ends up being my lead a lot of the time, to set up Spikes. Giga Drain is for bulky waters like Swampert, and Sludge Bomb is my main STAB. Aromatherapy is great team support for when Slowbro gets poisoned or Snorlax is asleep. I used to have Sleep Powder, but Aromatherapy proved to be more useful, but I'm open to suggestions. Rosa has good synergy with Darmanitan, resisting all of the latter's weaknesses. The EVs, Leftovers, and Giga Drain allow her to heal throughout the fight.
Darla (Darmanitan) (F) @ Life Orb
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Earthquake
- Superpower
Darmanitan hits like a truck with a smile. Such a boss. I tried Choice Scarf, but I often had to switch when I was locked into a bad move, and something weak to rocks on a team with no spinner cannot afford to be switching out a lot. Darla's fast enough as it is, so I went with Life Orb instead. LO adds massive power to her attacks and allows me to trick opponents who expect a scarf. Flare Blitz is her main STAB, U-Turn is for scouting, and EQ and Superpower are for coverage against foes like Umbreon or Rhyperior. He's usually my lead if I see they have Xatu on the team.
Registeel @ Leftovers
Trait: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
- Toxic
- Iron Head
Registeel is my main wall here, moreso on the special side and still really solid physically. Immunity to Toxic is a big plus. The only thing stopping it from outright domination is the lack of a recovery move, which the Lefties help to cover. Stealth Rocks are a must on any team, keeping Zapdos, Victini, Darmanitan, and Yanmega at bay. Toxic and T-Wave cripple walls and sweepers, respectively. Iron Head allows it to act like a UU Jirachi, and let me tell you, there is nothing sweeter than knowing I'll lose and then watching my opponent ragequit after a few paraflinches. Regi covers Slowbro's and Zapdos' weaknesses as well.
Zapdos @ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power [Water]
Here he is, the bird who rules the roost. In the beginning of B/W, I was somewhat saddened to see legends fall as Bronzong, Swampert, and Electivire fell to the lower tiers. Okay, maybe not Electivire, but Snorlax and Zapdos just seemed like the kind of guys who'd always be OU, y'know? Zappy here uses Life Orb to add that extra oomph necessary for key KOs, and Roost is for relieving the damage from rocks and LO. Thunderbolt is the main STAB that breaks through Suicune, Yanmega, and Xatu. Heat Wave is for Durant, Roserade, Escavalier, Registeel, and all the Heracrosses that always fail to KO with Stone Edge. Hidden Power Water might seem odd, but I need it to KO Chandelure, Rhyperior, and Victini, and it still does a lot to Flygon.
Minamimoto (Slowbro) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Scald
- Psyshock
- Slack Off
If you get this nickname, you're awesome. With Slack Off, Lefties, and Regenerator, mah bro here just might be the best wall in the tier. Calm Mind allows him to boost his special stats so that he can take hits and dish out major pain. Scald is useful as STAB and to burn physical attackers. Psyshock hits special walls and Heracross, but I'm wondering if I should sacrifice that STAB for Fire Blast and the coverage it provides. Tell me what you think. Roserade works well with him whenever he's Toxic poisoned.
Laxworth (Snorlax) (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 188 HP / 104 Def / 216 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Curse
- Body Slam
- Crunch
- Rest
Before I could really use this team well, Snorlax was often the load, but now that I know what to do, he might be my MVP. The strategy is simple, Curse, Curse, Curse, Rest, tank for two turns, Body Slam, Crunch, etc. Rest seemed a little risky at first, but it pays off, and if I need to heal and flee, Rosa can wake him up. He's saved me when I'm down four to one, and that's due to his massive HP, great SDef, and Curse. Body Slam paralyzes foes, and Crunch hits ghosts and psychics.
So that's my team. What do you think needs to be changed? What am I weak against? What have I overlooked? Yo, you better not mess with the Zapdos Crew, they're the reigning monarchs of Gen V UU.