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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
    • 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.
     
    Last edited:
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