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Team needs a defense.

Haunted Cupcake

Soul Resonance Technician
72
Posts
11
Years
Hi guys. i would like input about what would be the best defensive pokemon for me. my team i am currently using are in my sig but i need to change it i also need a lead pokemon but im lost im good at making sweepers... is a team full of sweepers good? i have never put much thought into it. i get pokemon i like then smogon search what it should have hahaha im kinda bad at remembering stuff as well when it comes to type advantages/disavantages i only know basics really

i guess i should tell you about my current team.

All my team are lv.100

Lead
Drifblim female Naive nature/aftermath/ flying gem [item]
252 hp ev/ 4 sp a ev/ 252 speed ev.
calm mind
acrobatics
shadow ball
thunderbolt

Hydreigon female modest nature/levitate/leftovers
252 hp ev/ 252 SP atk ev/ 4 speed ev
crunch
flamethrower
draco meteor
dragon pulse

Archeops male jolly nature/ defeatist/brightpowder
252 atk ev/4 sp def ev/ 252 speed ev
fly
crunch
rock slide
dragon claw

Metagross adamant nature/ clear body/life orb
252 atk ev/252 hp ev/ 4 speed ev
psychic
hammer arm
meteor mash
bullet punch

Keldeo[event] gentle nature/justified/focus sash
252 sp atk ev/ 4 hp ev/ 252 speed ev
surf
hydro pump
secret sword
stone edge

Lucario adamant nature/ inner focus/lum berry
252 atk ev/ 4 hp ev/ 252 speed ev
shadow claw
close combat
swords dance
extremespeed


its not the perfect set up but im not doing online battles yet. i will do that on black 2 when i buy it tomorrow [after training as well] :D so yes i would like any advice for a defensive pokemon i was thinking nasty plot togekiss, and also any ghost types that can be used as a decent status changer would be good to know.im spoilt for choice and cannot decide
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Ho-Oh

used Sacred Fire!
35,992
Posts
18
Years
  • Age 31
  • Seen Jul 1, 2023
All offensive can work but only when really choiced (scarf, specs, band) rather than a whole lot of different types of things, and can optionally work well with a Light Screen or Reflect user.

Either way, good start but there's a few things you can fix here - for one, Archeops and Drifblim aren't really suited for OU given they're in lower tiers and usually there's better roles than those in the higher tiers. For example for a fast ghost, you'd use Gengar, plus you've also mixed a few sets there which unfortunately isn't using said Pokemon to their full potential.

Either way as for the OU Pokemon - you have Dark Pulse on Hydreigon usually as it is a special attack while Crunch is just a physical attack and Hydreigon specialises in special attack (it can go mixed but for a STAB its better with its primary stat unless it's choiced. Alsooo go for max speed EVs to improve your Hydreigon's sweeper role.

On Metagross you can go for Zen Headbutt > Psychic because it's a physical attacker and your power is increased if you use the physical version. Or you could go for Stealth Rock, which is often useful in OU, and make that your lead.

On Keldeo Gentle is generally a bad nature and a Modest or Jolly nature is better suited to it to help its sPA. As for Stone Edge, you're really better off going with Hidden Power - HP Electric can hit other water/Tentacruel, while HP Ghost does well against Latias/Latios, something that can potentially stop your sweep. You could also use a Life Orb, or even Choice Specs, and replace Hpump or Surf with Calm Mind, but it's up to you.

On Lucario you could opt for Ice Punch > Shadow Claw to hit flying types. :3

Either way since you wanted a defensive ghost that spreads status, Jellicent would be one of your best choices:

Jellicent @ Leftovers
Trait: Cursed Body or Water Absorb
Bold
248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Spe
- Scald / Surf
- Will-O-Wisp / Toxic
- Recover
- Taunt

Which is both defensive and can spread status for you.

As for Archeops, you could replace it with another rock type - for example, Terrakion, however you already have enough fighting types and Tyranitar wouldn't really be that beneficial to your team as it is (though it could kinda work). However other options you could use are Landorus-T/I with Scarf as a strong physical attacker that can help gain momentum for your team. It also resists fighting which is an issue for Lucario and ground which is an issue for both that and Metagross. But ya. However, keep in mind that Genesect appears often in OU now and Landorus-I can outspeed it with choice scarf and max speed, but Landorus-T cannot, which could affect your decision on if you are choosing one of them anyway.
 

Live in Color

~
1,594
Posts
17
Years
You have a lot of Pokemon that have same time moves, for example, your Keldeo doesn't need both Surf and Hydro Pump and your Metagross doesn't need both Meteor Mash and Bullet Punch. Also, I don't see the point in having your Drifblim lead, leads are normally there to set up weather or Spikes/Stealth Rock, perhaps you should consider one of those.

Your Hydreigon's Crunch will suffer because it is Modest nature, you should go Mild or Rash instead. Or replace Crunch with Dark Pulse and keep him Modest. And instead of having both Dragon Pulse and Draco Meteor try replacing one of them with Surf if you mean to keep him Modest. A standard set up for Hydreigon would be this though:

Hydreigon @ Expert Belt/Life Orb
Levitate
Mild/Rash
4 HP 252 Sp. A 252 Spe
-Draco Meteor
-Dark Pulse/Roost
-Super Power
-Fire Blast

I also suggest getting rid of Archeops completely, as it's defenses are horrible and it's easy to bring it below half health, if not kill it right away making it's attack stat pretty much nothing. Keldeo should also be Modest or Timid natured. And with a moveset more like:

Keldeo @ Life Orb
Justified
Modest/Timid
6 HP 252 Sp. A 252 Spe
-Hydro Pump/Surf
-Secret Sword
-Icy Wind
-Hidden Power [Ghost/Dark/Rock/Fire]

Or even consider replacing Icy Wind with Calm Mind and make Keldeo a Calm Mind build.

For Metagross:

Metagross @ Leftovers
Clear Body
Adamant Nature
252 HP 252 Atk, 6 Spe
-Zen Headbutt
-Stealth Rock
-Bullet Punch/Meteor Mash
-Hammer Arm

I may not be helping so much, I'm writing this rather quickly, but try checking out movesets posted on Smogon's website.
 

PlatinumDude

Nyeh?
12,964
Posts
13
Years
I agree with the above 2 posters.

For Lucario, Crunch is the better option over Shadow Claw for the slightly higher power, but Shadow Claw is still a viable substitute if you didn't breed.

Like Forever said, Archeops and Drifblim aren't suited for OU play. While the former hits hard and fast, its glass cannon defenses make it extreme priority bait, especially towards Bullet Punch Scizor. The latter is outclassed by Gengar offensively.

As a replacement for Archeops, you can use Terrakion, Thundurus-Therian or Gliscor:
Terrakion:
-Swords Dance
-Rock Polish
-Close Combat
-Stone Edge
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Air Balloon

or
-Close Combat
-Stone Edge
-X-Scissor
-Sacred Sword/Quick Attack/Rock Slide
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Band/Choice Scarf

Thundurus-T:
-Thunderbolt
-Volt Switch
-Hidden Power (Ice)
-Focus Blast
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Scarf

or
-Nasty Plot
-Thunderbolt
-Hidden Power (Ice)
-Focus Blast
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb

or
-Agility
-Thunderbolt
-Hidden Power (Ice)
-Focus Blast/Grass Knot
Nature: Timid/Modest
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry

or
-Thunderbolt
-Volt Switch
-Hidden Power (Ice)
-Focus Blast/Grass Knot
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Expert Belt

Gliscor:
-Substitute
-Earthquake
-Protect/Roost
-Toxic/Ice Fang/Taunt
Nature: Impish
EVs: 248 HP/24 Def/236 Spe
Item: Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal

or
-Swords Dance
-Earthquake
-Ice Fang/Stone Edge/Aerial Ace/Facade
-Roost/Agility
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 40 HP/252 Def/216 Spe
Item: Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal

or
-Earthquake
-Toxic/Taunt
-Protect/Roost
-Ice Fang/Stealth Rock/Toxic
Nature: Impish
EVs: 248 HP/188 Def/72 Spe
Item: Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal

If you really want to stick to Archeops, be my guest. But this time, use Acrobatics! It's crazy strong when Archeops isn't holding anything and is initially strong when it's used alongside Flying Gem:
-Stone Edge/Rock Slide
-Acrobatics
-Earthquake/Earth Power/Hidden Power (Ice)
-U-turn
Nature: Jolly/Naive
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Flying Gem

And definitely use Gengar over Drifblim; it hits harder and it hits faster:
-Substitute
-Disable/Pain Split/Hidden Power (Fire)/Thunderbolt
-Shadow Ball
-Focus Blast
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Black Sludge/Life Orb

Regarding Metagross, I agree with Nica. It can either serve as a lead with Stealth Rock, be a bulky attacker or a late game sweeper with Agility:
-Stealth Rock
-Meteor Mash
-Pursuit
-Hammer Arm/Earthquake
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP/60 Atk/192 SDef or 252 HP/252 Atk/4 Def
Item: Leftovers

or
-Meteor Mash
-Bullet Punch
-Hammer Arm
-Zen Headbutt/Pursuit/ThunderPunch/Ice Punch
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 164 HP/252 Atk/92 Spe
Item: Choice Band

or
-Agility
-Zen Headbutt
-Earthquake
-Meteor Mash/Ice Punch
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry/Air Balloon

or
-Meteor Mash
-Hidden Power (Fire)
-Grass Knot
-Zen Headbutt/Earthquake
Nature: Naughty
EVs: 252 Atk/228 SAtk/24 Spe
Item: Life Orb
 

Haunted Cupcake

Soul Resonance Technician
72
Posts
11
Years
Thanks guys i'm pretty sure i answered this last night but hahah o well when i get a gastly in my white version i shall start working on a gengar. i think i will go for jellicent as well.


EDIT: the jellicent im going for is going to be..

Calm nature/water absorb @leftovers
scald
toxic
recover
shadow ball

i have removed keldeo and lucario from my party. and i have given metagross zen headbutt. i might just re think my party all together but jellicent is staying for sure.
 
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