RMT Help for my first traditional OU team

Started by Snow Phoenix April 23rd, 2015 7:14 AM
  • 614 views
  • 2 replies

Snow Phoenix

The transient snowman

Age 29
Male
A few miles away from a well-known college in a poorly known town.
Seen December 28th, 2022
Posted November 26th, 2022
982 posts
14.4 Years
Hey there. So generally speaking, I tend to play very unconventionally and that has been working for me. This time, I've actually decided to generate an actual OU team centered around a Skarmory and Dragalge wall. I could use a bit of commenting and general advice here and there. I also plan on using no legendary Pokemon and am obeying the item-clause so please keep that in mind.

Team:

Skarmory
Roost
Stealth Rocks
Brave Bird
Whirlwind

Ability: Sturdy

Item: Rocky Helmet

Impish 252 Hp/252 Def

Pretty standard set. I planned on switching in a lot so I have the rocky helmet to get some collateral damage.

Dragalge
Draco Meteor
Sludge Wave
Scald
HP Fire

Ability: Adaptability

Item: Assault Vest

Modest 252 Attack/252 HP

Dragalge is a bruiser. Dracometeor and Sludge Wave hits hard. The last two slots were variable, but I liked the scald and hp fire mix as it means that Dragalge can dish out some collateral to predicted steel types on the switch-in. Dragalge is AV'd for that extra bulk that it capitalizes over the massive boost from specs. Vaporeon is wish passing and keeping Dragalge alive has been quite managable.

I wouldn't mind getting advice on the last two attacking slots if anyone has any suggestions.

Vaporeon

Heal Bell
Scald
Protect
Wish

Ability: Water Absorb

Item: Leftovers

Bold 204 HP/248 Def/Special Def 56

Generic cleric, but I stole the defensive build from Smogon. I don't hearing suggestions on potentially better EV builds.

M Gardevoir

Calm Mind (Variable)
Hyper Voice
Psyshock
Focus Blast

Ability: Trace or Synchronize

Build:???

So this is the one that I've been really stumbling over. Gardevoir works great with Dragalge, but I can't come up with the build that I want. I've tried both standard Mega Gardevoir and a bulkier Gardevoir and the bulkier Gardevoir has definitely been more useful as it can receive wish passing. So I'd love to hear a good bulkier Gardevoir build that doesn't sacrifice too much power.

Excadrill

Earthquake
Iron Head
Rock Slide
??? (been using rapid spin)

Item: Choice Scarf

Ability: Moldbreaker

Somewhat of another problem child, but definitely needed. I can use Excadrill after Skarmory or Vaporeon switches with devastating effects. So far I've been using this to counter Rotom-w and Talonflame, albeit with some risk. My only problem with Excadrill is that Excadrill seems to be going down too fast and I can't get enough re-usability out. But, I still need the speed to beat out Rotom and Talonflame. Would love suggestions on a build. I also need help with that 4th attack slot. Rapid spin has been somewhat variable for me. I need it, but I can never find the time to pull it off.

So my team effectively functions by effectively switching out and receiving wish passes while dealing great damage or milder rocky helmet damage/stealth rock damage. Dragalge, M Gardevoir, and Excadrill are my main offensive players. Since Excadrill is more of a revenge killer and counter, I need something more physical that I can rely on as my 6th Pokemon (I'm missing a 6th Pokemon, not replacing Excadrill). I've only tried Dragonite on a whim and it was with mixed success as all my other Pokes synergize well.

Thanks for any potentially useful comments and suggestions!

PlatinumDude

Nyeh?

Age 29
Male
Canada
Seen July 31st, 2020
Posted May 30th, 2020
12,958 posts
12.7 Years
While it seems tempting to have Assault Vest on Dragalge, it's not worth it, IMO. All-out attacking Dragalge should use Choice Specs to make the most out of its power. 228 HP/252 SAtk/28 Spe should be used to outspeed the occasional Hippowdon before it KOs Dragalge with Earthquake.

There are better Wish users out there than Vaporeon. Sure, it has Scald to deter attackers, but it suffers from 4-moveslot syndrome in terms of support options. Roar, Baton Pass, Heal Bell and Toxic are all good options on it, but it can't fit them all in at once in addition to Wish, Protect and Scald. Sylveon and Clefable are the better Wish users to turn to, IMO, as they have a good set of resistances. The former has more offensive presence in Pixilate Hyper Voice and the latter has Unaware to check setup attackers:

Sylveon:
-Wish
-Protect
-Hyper Voice
-Heal Bell/Toxic
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP/220 Def/36 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: PIxilate

Clefable:
-Wish
-Protect
-Moonblast
-Heal Bell/Flamethrower
Nature: Bold
EVs: 248 HP/252 Def/8 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Unaware

Offensive Mega Gardevoir is preferred if you intend to use Calm Mind. Trace is also preferred over Synchronize, as it lets Gardevoir take potentially useful abilities pre-Mega, like Heatran's Flash Fire. This outweighs Synchronize's punishment of status users:
-Psyshock
-Hyper Voice
-Focus Blast
-Calm Mind/Taunt/Will-o-Wisp
Nature: Timid/Modest
EVs: 24 Def/232 SAtk/252 Spe (avoids the 2HKO from Latios' Psyshock)
Item: Gardevoirite
Ability: Trace

Stick to Rapid Spin on Excadrill; hazard-clearing is pretty helpful.

Nah

Age 30
she/her, they/them
Seen 11 Hours Ago
Posted 19 Hours Ago
15,643 posts
9.5 Years
I think that you'll wanna have your 6th poke be your revenge killer instead of Excadrill. Offensive Excadrill is frail as psyduck and your team is more about bulk. Not to mention that getting locked into a single move sucks for it, especially if it's Rapid Spin, which you do need; your team (and most teams really) doesn't like getting worn down but constantly switching into entry hazards. Sand Rush Excadrill makes for a great offensive Excadrill. But since you need sand for that and if we're going with the bulk thing here, maybe something like this?

-Excadrill w/Leftovers or Air Balloon or Assault Vest
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 220 HP, 252 Attack, 32 Speed
Moves: Earthquake, Iron Head, Rapid Spin, Rock Slide/Tomb

The EVs let you just outspeed the standard Rotom-Washes and just barely avoids getting OHKO'd by Hydro Pump while giving maximum Attack. IDK if this'll really work though since I just made this up but I guess it's worth considering. I believe that there's other bulky Excadrill sets but I don't remember what they are.

Assuming that you decide to use a more bulky Excadrill, you need a revenge killer/speedy offensive thing, and some ideas could be like......Talonflame or Keldeo or Scarf Staraptor or stuff with priority that's not Dragonite. IDK.

And I have seen bulky Gardevoir once before but it was in doubles and idk what the set was anyway so....
Nah ンン
“No, I... I have to be strong. Everyone expects me to."