Deck of Cards [OU]

[FalconJoker]

Royal Flush [OU]

I like to do themes when I do my teams, I also like to give a name for my team and nickname my team accordingly. I'm still fairly new to competitive Pokemon battling (started after I got Platinum) but I feel I've come a long way in the short time I've sat down and studied EVs, IVs, movesets and Pokemon. So, without further introduction, I give my Deck of Cards. XD


..:: King ::..

156 HP / 108 Attack / 100 Defense / 144 Speed
Jolly@Leftovers - Intimidate
~Dragon Dance
~Taunt
~Stone Edge
~Waterfall
**Notes: I simply love having Gyarados as my team lead. Though I use to go in favor of suicide leads, I like to take the approach that a lead needs to survive a bit longer and actually contribute more than just Stealth Rocks. I taunt slower leads (IE. Metagross and Heatran come to mind immediately) and I feel an explosion may be coming, I switch to Wildcard who can take it. Stone Edge is for fliers and other Gyarados, Waterfall for a reliable physical STAB and Earthquake to take care of everything else. He's named King because, well let's face it, he's a ruler of the seas and can be a beast if unchecked. I've actually gone 6-0 without having to switch him out before (course some lucky crits and hax went my way, but hey, thems the breaks XD).

..:: Ten ::..

6 Attack / 252 Sp. Attack / 252 Speed
Modest@Choice Scarf - Magnet Pull
~Thunderbolt
~Hidden Power [Fire]
~Explosion
~Flash Cannon
**Notes: Since it seems I had a problem with Scizor and Lucario and Tyranitar really wasn't doing much, he got replaced. Scarf Magnezone has worked well thus far in getting rid of both steels and scaring off bulkier water threats that I actually had a bit of a problem with (namely Suicune and Vaporeon).


..:: Ace ::..

108 HP / 252 Attack / 98 Defense / 52 Speed
Adamant@Choice Band - Technician
~Bullet Punch
~Superpower
~U-Turn
~Pursuit
**Notes: Let's face, when is Scizor never the Ace of a team? Probably one of the most overused Pokemon currently in the metagame (except maybe Lucario), Scizor is just a terror if a team is uprepared for him. Typical moveset for a CB set. His EVs help be a bit more bulkier and allow him to come in on some physical attacks, then lay waste to the opposition. I enjoy having a U-Turn spam attack with Ace and Jack.

..:: Queen ::..

16 Attack / 240 Sp. Attack / 252 Speed
Naive@Life Orb - Intimidate
~Brick Break
~Flamethrower
~Draco Meteor
~Outrage
**Notes: All hail the Queen. It was a toss up between calling Salamence or Gyarados King, and I literally flipped a coin to determine it. Anyways, the other show stopper, Salamence. I love mixmence. Just a incredible wall breaker that I'd be lost without. Brick Break allows me to deal with Pokemon such as Snorlax, Blissey, Clefable and other other Pokemon that doesn't resist it without having to be locked into Outrage. It also helps with those pesky Dual Barrier teams. Flamethrower to handle Scizors, Lucarios, Brelooms and anything else that wants to play. Draco Metoer is more a less there to just hurt something. An all powerful move, if the Pokemon doesn't resist it, it will be gone and in a world of hurt if it does. I try to save Outrage for when Queenie is on her last leg, but sometimes I use it if I need to make sure I get that KO.

..:: Joker ::..

64 Attack / 252 Sp. Attack / 192 Speed
Naive@Life Orb - Blaze
~Close Combat
~Grass Knot
~Hidden Power [ICE]
~Fire Blast
**Notes: When I see him, I can't help but think an Infernape would have a comedic personality, hence the nickname Joker (plus, Monkies are funny creatures). Typical SPECS moveset, with the exception of no Choice Specs. I wanted to try a variation of the mixape and he's worked out quite well. I've never liked Nasty Plot as he rarely has a chance to use it properly.

..:: Jack ::..

80 HP / 252 Attack / 176 Speed
Adamant@Choice Scarf - Levitate
~Earthquake
~U-Turn
~Outrage
~Thunderpunch
**Notes: I love Flygon and feel he's an underused Pokemon in lieu of Salamence or Dragonite. He got the nickname Jack because it was the last name available, but also because he's a Jack of Trades. A fallback member of the team if you will. He can scout using U-Turn, and take out some fliers and Gyarados with Thunderpunch.


Well, there you have, my Deck of Cards team. Rip apart, critique, comment all you like. They only help to improve. :)

 

[Pokedra]

Why no Dragon Dance on Gyarados?

80 Atk / 252 SpAtk / 176 Spe would be a better spread for Mence. I don't like New MixMence, one of its good points is that it doesn't lock itself into Outrage so consider Roost > Outrage.

Just a nitpick, I'll give a proper rate later =D

 

[Dark Azelf]

Gyarados makes no sense. Dragon Dance > EQ. Leftovers>>LO and also give it a bulky ev spread : - 156 HP / 108 Atk / 100 Def / 144 Spe . Lets face it this team is horribly Scizor weak, this also helps with Lucario.

Flygon wants ThunderPunch >> Fire Punch or Gyarados destroys your whole team. Sure you cant hit Zong, Skarm etc but you CAN U-Turn on them and go to ape thus not letting them set up. You really need that Gyarados protection.

Ape NEEDS Naive >> Rash to beat base 100's and 64 att / max sp.att / 192 speed.

 

[FalconJoker]

The reason I use Earthquake over Dragon Dance is because of the rise of Metagross and Jirachi leads (hell, even Empoleon and Heatran). I seem to rarely find myself anymore, having time to use Dragon Dance.

While I understand the extra speed on Infernape with Naive, I've come to find myself wanting that little bit extra oomf in the Special Attack region. It's netted me enough damage to turn some Pokemon that would normally be a 3HKO into a 2HkO, even a few 2HKOs into just a 1HKO.

Also, Scizor, Lucario and Gyarados have not given me a single problem. I may consider giving Flygon the Thunderpunch over Fire Punch, though for now, he seems to be doing his job with Fire Punch. Especially considering I've found myself face to face with a late game Scizor and Lucario and was able to nab the win.

I was however, thinking about going with Thunderbolt over Substitute or Dark Pulse on Ttar and possibly Stone Edge over Outrage on Flygon, but I'm still debating on those.

 

[The Hero Without a Name]

Sorry, but what? Standard Meta, Heatran, and Empoleon leads can't touch lead Gyarados (aside from exploding).

 

[FalconJoker]

Alright. I replaced EQ with DD on Gyarados and Outrage with Stone Edge on Flygon. Still considering replacing either Dark Pulse or Substitute with Thunderbolt. Any thoughts?

 

[Dark Azelf]

Alright. I replaced EQ with DD on Gyarados and Outrage with Stone Edge on Flygon. Still considering replacing either Dark Pulse or Substitute with Thunderbolt. Any thoughts?

Outrage >> Fire Punch. Taking away its best stab is bad. Fire Punch is actually pretty bad on Scarf Flygon its only good on the choice bander since your doing squat to anything without a band and can just u-turn away from steels and go straight to ape anyway.

The reason I use Earthquake over Dragon Dance is because of the rise of Metagross and Jirachi leads (hell, even Empoleon and Heatran). I seem to rarely find myself anymore, having time to use Dragon Dance.

What ^ said.

While I understand the extra speed on Infernape with Naive, I've come to find myself wanting that little bit extra oomf in the Special Attack region. It's netted me enough damage to turn some Pokemon that would normally be a 3HKO into a 2HkO, even a few 2HKOs into just a 1HKO.

Like ...? Getting outrun by base 100's (aka the most common speed tier) is rather pathetic tbh. And switching from Naive to Rash grants you like 30 points difference, not alot when speed is apes biggest asset. Tl;dr the speed >> power.

Also, Scizor, Lucario and Gyarados have not given me a single problem. I may consider giving Flygon the Thunderpunch over Fire Punch, though for now, he seems to be doing his job with Fire Punch. Especially considering I've found myself face to face with a late game Scizor and Lucario and was able to nab the win.

That makes no sense, i take it you havent battled much with this team? Gyarados NEEDS the bulk and leftovers in this case or it has to cope with Stealth Rock, LO recoil and Lucario/Scizors attacks which is just asking to get swept.

 

[FalconJoker]

Alright. We'll try it your guys way. Changes made are in bold. Gonna give the bulky Gyarados a try and switched up Infernapes natures (gonna have to re-breed now x.x). Also gave Flygon back Outrage and Thunderpunch. Also replaced Overheat with Fire Blast for an attack I can use multiple times without the fear of Special Attack lose.

Also, I HAVE battled with this team many times and I haven't lost with it yet. But to be honest, something did always feel off when battling with it so we'll see how this flies then.

Any other suggestions?

Okay, so you guys keep talking about Lucario and Scizor weak. How about replacing Tyranitar with say maybe Magenzone and it's typical steel killer set?

172 HP / 252 Sp. Attack / 84 Speed
Modest@Leftovers - Magnet Pull
~Thunderbolt
~Hidden Power [Fire]
~Magnet Rise
~Substitute/Something Else?

 

[The Hero Without a Name]

That Magnezone is outsped and OHKO'd by Scizor's Superpower and Lucario's STAB Close Combat.
Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Naive
Magnet Pull
4 Atk/252 SpA/252 Spe
Thunderbolt
Hidden Power[Fire]
Flash Cannon
Explosion

is much better at dealing with Scizor and Lucario (though, you can't OHKO Lucario unless it has taken some prior damage).

 

[Dark Azelf]

Yeah Flacon dont double post please, use the edit button. (b'-')b

 

[FalconJoker]

I'll give that a try then Hero, cept I'm going to run Modest instead of Naive for the extra kick in the mouth.

And if I used the edit button, pretty sure no one would have responded because it wouldn't have gotten bumped. Everyone uses the 24 hour bump anyways, don't know why you're telling me not to.