After thinking about the ORAS metagame, thinking about the comments made by PlatinumDude, and reading the recent rant about Salamence, I decided that I needed to change my team in some significant ways. I am open - even if it is difficult at times - to receiving your feedback regarding my latest development. When commenting, please take account of and address the notes attached to the team list, which are indicated by the numerical superscripts with their corresponding notes at the bottom.
Serperior1 @ Focus Sash
Ability: Contrary
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Moves:
- Leaf Storm
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power (Fire)2
- Giga Drain3
Heatran4 @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
Nature: Timid/Modest5
EVs: 12 HP / 252 SpA / 244 Spe
Moves:
- Stealth Rock6
- Lava Plume/Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Taunt
Porygon2 @ Eviolite
Ability: Trace
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Moves:
- Thunder Wave7
- Ice Beam8
- Thunderbolt8
- Recover
Sableye9 @ Sablenite
Ability: Prankster/Magic Bounce
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Moves:
- Calm Mind
- Dark Pulse/Shadow Ball
- Recover
- Will-O-Wisp
Togekiss10 @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
Nature: Bold11
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Moves:
- Nasty Plot12
- Air Slash
- Aura Sphere
- Heal Bell13
Terrakion14 @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moves:
- Close Combat15
- Stone Edge16
- Earthquake17
- Iron Head18
1 I am using Serperior because I like him and because I want to test his viability for competitive play.
2 Or HP Ground or HP Rock. Whether or not I run HP at all depends on whether or not I can find someone to breed a Serperior with the proper IVs and HP. Otherwise, I will replace HP with Gastro Acid, Glare, Grassy Terrain, or Knock Off.
3 Whether or not I run Giga Drain depends on whether or not I run HP. Otherwise, I will replace Giga Drain with Synthesis.
4 Heatran is intended to complement Serperior, absorbing Fire, Flying, Poison, and other attacks directed at Serperior, who can absorb Ground and Fighting attacks directed at Heatran. Heatran is virtually a necessity if I choose not to run HP (Fire) on Serperior, and he will help deal with (Mega) Charizard, Talonflame, and other Fire and Flying threats using Stealth Rock.
5 This is the theoretically correct nature to run. However, I caught a 5 IV (everything except SpD) Quirky nature Heatran that I plan to use, unless someone wants to donate a 5 or 6 IV Heatran with the proper nature.
6 Stealth Rock is the primary move in this slot. However, I do have a friend whom I will play against, and she has two Fairy types on her team and no Fire or Flying types. So, against her, I plan to replace Stealth Rock with Flash Cannon.
7 Thunder Wave is to provide speed support for Porygon2 and the rest of the team, since my team does not operate on speed. It also provides valuable support to Togekiss for para-flinching. Furthermore, my friend (see previous point) is using a Magic Guard Clefable, and paralysis is the only status condition that annoys Magic Guard Clefable, since as of Gen 6 it is no longer immune to the effects of paralysis.
8 Magic Coat would give Porygon2 more staying power as a wall, and Tri Attack has STAB and very nifty side effects. But Ice Beam and Thunderbolt seem to be necessary coverage moves.
9 I took PlatinumDude’s advice and exchanged Mega Mawile for Mega Sableye, not because Mega Mawile is banned (I don’t play by Smogon’s rules or in their tiers) but because so many teams in Gen 6 are stall, wall, status, and hazard oriented, and it is critical to have an answer to this prevalent and major trend in the current metagame. Mega Sableye handles this beautifully with Magic Bounce. He also has good synergy with Porygon2 and the rest of the team.
10 Togekiss provides good coverage and can switch in and out for Heatran (Ground and Fighting type moves), Porygon2 (Fighting type moves), and Sableye (Fairy type moves). Also, it can provide valuable healing support with Heal Bell. Plus, in conjunction with Porygon2, a para-flinching strategy can still be effective.
11 Bold as opposed to Modest or Timid to give it greater bulk and make it a tank.
12 Nasty Plot is a necessity because of no investment, in terms of nature or EVs, in SpA. I could dispense with Nasty Plot if I run a Modest or Timid nature and invest 252 in SpA.
13 Dazzling Gleam would be a perfect coverage move, but Heal Bell is necessary to keep my team free from status conditions, which are dominating the current metagame and which would hinder my game plan.
14 The final member of my team is open to discussion. I was able, by pure luck, to acquire a Jolly nature, 4 IV (HP, Atk, Def, Spe) Terrakion, which would be a good fit for my team. He is fast, hits hard, and provides valuable Rock and Fighting coverage. On the other hand, I was considering using Sylveon as a cleric with Wish, Protect, Heal Bell, and Hyper Voice. The appeal of Sylveon is that it can provide Wish support to teammates, something currently lacking on my team. Also, Pixilate Hyper Voice has huge offensive presence and can break through Substitutes, which are widespread this Gen. Finally, by Sylveon serving as a cleric, that frees up Togekiss to carry Dazzling Gleam or Thunder Wave.
15 Or Sacred Sword, which is generally inferior but has the advantage of more PP and ignoring the target’s defense stat changes.
16 Or Rock Slide, which is weaker but more reliable in a pinch.
17 Earthquake for coverage, but it could be replaced with Rock Slide.
18 Or Poison Jab. Iron Head overall has better coverage and can take down most Fairy types, such as Clefable, Florges, and Sylveon, but Poison Jab is better for dealing with Azumarill.
OTHER NOTES:
I am really interested in using Terrakion, but without Sylveon, I have nothing to provide Wish support, unless I drastically alter Togekiss’ move set or eliminate Serperior altogether and replace it with a cleric, and I have nothing to bypass Substitute, which I have run into a lot.