How is Raikou NOT OU? (UU/BL team)

[.]

Introduction​

As of late, I've been trying to build a UU team that could deal with all the threats in the UU metagame. I had this idea that it could be balanced with a sense of defense, yet still the presence of a strong offense. When creating this team, I had to take many factors into consideration: The walls of UU, the sweepers of UU, the tanks of UU, and the new BL/UU merge that has occurred. At first it was difficult finding any sense of balance, but after looking over the BL tier list, I found the offense and defense were very similar, and that there could be a way to even out the ends. After much consideration, I started thinking of things to add to my team.

Team Building​

When I first thought of the UU/BL switch, many powerful sweepers camre to mind. Medicham, Azumarill, etc...were top priority. However, I knew that. Stealth Rock was obviously a must, so Uxie was going to be used as a sort of "Suicide Lead". It also countered Medicham quite well. I needed a purely physical sweeper, preferably with a Choice Band to maximum damage output. Medicham came to mind, but I remembered Azumaril and thought of how sexy a STAB Aqua Jet was. After that, Blaizken was to be used as a Scarfer in order to revenge kill a huge amount of threats that were common in the game. I needed a Special Wall that didn't fold to Ninetales. Regice was out of the question, so Mantine popped into my mind. However, I needed a Psychic resist badly, so Slowking was another ideal choice. I did some calcs, and a +2 LO Energy Ball barely 2HKO'd Slowking, so I was content with using him as a Ninetales check. However, then I found out NFEs were allowed, so I immediately picked Chansey because...duh, it's Chansey. Once I established a defensive and offensive means, I needed some glue to keep it together. Namely, an end game sweeper, and something that could help Azumaril bypass speed advantages. Hitmontop became my number 1 choice due to being able to handle Absol, Kabutops, Houndoom, and even Porygon-Z. Once that was settled, I noticed I lacked a Normal resist, so that became priority number 1. Slaking was likely to be common, so in order to stop it, I had to be able to safely come in, outspeed it, and set up. This is where Mismagius, a very underrated threat, came to mind. The Sub/CM/Shadow Ball/HP Fight set really killed in OU, and I felt it'd be on the level of Raikou (well…maybe not that good) in UU. I took a look at my team, and was quite content:

"image removed"- Lead (Deploys Stealth Rock, sets up Reflect)
"image removed"- Revenge killer (Revenge kills a majority of the UU's threats)
*pokemonelite2000 image removed*- Physical Sweeper (Breaks down sweepers/walls and picks off fragile things with Aqua Jet)
"image removed"- Special Wall (Walls Special Threats)
"image removed"- Priority user (Keeps fast, fragile sweepers in check)
*pokemonelite2000 image removed*- Special Sweeper (Sweeps late game)

Prior Changes​

I originally had Medicham in Blaziken's place, but Blaziken hit harder from both ends of the spectrum with a STAB Fire Blast and STAB Superpower. As of now, the only truly threatening things I can see are Raikou and Slowking. Both of them, however, can be stopped by Chansey if the circumstances are in order. The only iffy member of my team, on paper, was Mismagius. Changing it to a Specs user, or even a CM Raikou could work, but the lose of a Normal/Fighting/Ground resist was too great of a price to pay in my opinion. It also beat Chansey in the long run, which is nice. I had Slowking before Chansey, but it just couldn't keep up with the things such as Fire Blast, etc...I found that Chansey was much more bulkier on the Special Side, but lacked a Fighting resistance. I hoped Uxie would be able to handle it. After I got my team down and complete, I looked over UU/BL's list, and decided to make a checklist for the biggest threats, and see if my team could handle them.

Threat List​

Medicham: 480 Attack with no held item is insane. 720 after a Choice Band may seem unstoppable, but after looking over his move pool, it seems Medicham was heavily walled by Psychic types. To my pleasant surprise, Uxie was BL, and it learned Stealth Rock!

Azumaril: Again, like Medicham, Azumaril has a massive Attack stat, and unlike Medicham, Azumaril is very bulky. To beat this, a Water absorb Pokemon that also had a strong defensive stats was needed. Most of the Water Absorbers didn't cut it, and revenge killing it was almost out of the question. Even now, I'm not comfortable with handling Azumaril.

Blaziken: Blaziken is a scary mixed sweeper, and it seems almost uncounterable at first. And even now, finding a clear cut counter to all sets is difficult, which is why I had to rely on revenge killing it with Azumaril, who hits it with a powerful Aqua Jet.

Empoleon: This thing is really a pain to counter, but after looking over its move pool; Water Absorbers really ruin it. Namely Mantine and Quagsire. Quagsire doesn't like Ice Beams, but Mantine doesn't like HP Electric. Thus I figured I'd have to take my chances with one, and I chose Mantine to cover this threat, but then I realized that there was another Special Wall; Chansey! I guess that Torrent Hydro Pump kills it, but once it loses all Sub, Hitmontop or Blaziken stop it.

Slaking: Nothing counters Slaking. Nothing. The most you can hope for is switching in on a resistance, which is why I chose Mismagius to hopefully come in on Returns, Earthquakes, or Focus Punches. It's the safest thing I have, and closest thing I feel to a "true" counter.

Absol: Absol is a real pain to counter, even if it's UU. I had no definite check for it, but it seemed as if a Technitop could work decently. It wasn't at all preferable, but it was the closest thing I had to stop it.

Regirock: A total monster when used with support. Luckily, I had a few things to hit it for super effective. Choice Band Azumaril, Choice Scarf Blaziken, and even Mismagius, though it fears Stone Edge.

Regice: I was blessed with having Azumaril in UU, so it handles Regice nicely. Superpower and Waterfall really rip it to shreds, and Thunderbolt never OHKOs Azumaril with a decently bulky build. Blaziken also gets a STAB Superpower to finish it off, which is nice.

Registeel: Azumaril and Blaziken again destroy it. Mismagius can set up on it if it relies on Thunder, since multiple Calm Minds will prevent Thunder from breaking the Substitute.

Zangoose: Blaziken is my only true answer, since it outspeeds and OHKOs it with Hi Jump Kick, which is very nice if you ask me. It still relies on HJK not missing, but why base a match on hax?

Porygon-Z: P-Z is very terrifying, but it's manageable. Sets that do not rely on a Scarf or Agility get creamed by Blaziken, and those that do have to deal with Hitmontop's Technician Mach Punch. Both of them OHKO it. Chansey is a last minute resort.

Houndoom: Houndoom is very intimidating, since a +2 Fire Blast smacks Chansey around. The most reliable answers I can find are, again, Blaziken, Hitmontop, and Azumaril's Aqua Jet. All three of them OHKO, and the latter can bypass any Scarf given.

Slowking: I admit, my team has troubles with this guy right here. Resisting both Water AND Fighting is a real thorn on my side, since my main physical offensive threats rely on those two moves. Mismagius is my closest thing to a "counter", but a Nasty Plot sweeper really ruins me. My only hope is that Blaziken hits it, and then Hitmontop and Azumaril continuously hit them with their strongest moves. Chansey beats standard walls, but loses to the Nasty Plot sweeper.

Raikou: A total beast. Nothing on my team can really handle it. Chansey is the closest thing I've got, as it can live a few hits, but it needs Seismic Toss to really stop it.. A mix of Hitmontop/Blaziken/Azumaril is what I must use in order to fully take it down.

Entei: Not as threatening as Raikou, but still pretty menacing. Chansey stops it most of the time. Azumaril also doesn't have to worry about Thunderbolt like it did from Raikou.

Chansey: Blaziken, Azumaril, and Hitmontop stop it cold. Mismagius can also use it as set up fodder, which is cool.

Clefable: Blaziken, Azumaril, Chansey, and Hitmontop are my clear-cut counters.

Hitmonlee: Azumarill's Aqua Jet and Technitop's Mach Punch do a good chunk. Uxie can set up Reflect and have something else live its Sucker Punch, etc...

Overview

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Uxie @ Leftovers / Light Clay / Lum Berry
Bold
252 HP / 252 Def / 6 Spe
Stealth Rock
Reflect
Yawn
U-turn / Thunderbolt​

Uxie's a great lead thanks to its often overlooked Speed, as well as great support options. Stealth Rock is important as ever, giving my team the needed push for certain KOs. Reflect is there since my team doesn't take physical hits too kindly at all. Yawn because I find it more useful than Thunder Wave on Uxie, a Pokemon who can take 2 hits for Yawn to activate. U-turn is solely for escaping Absol's Pursuit, but Thunderbolt is nice for Slowking, who hurts me quite a bit. Uxie is also my true answer for Medicham, who runs over this whole team is used correctly. Luckily, Medicham can't really hurt Uxie in any way, thanks to the physically bulky build and 130 Base Defense.​

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Blaziken @ Choice Scarf
Mild
76 Atk / 216 SpA / 216 Spe
Fire Blast
Superpower
ThunderPunch
HP Ice​

Blaziken is a fantastic revenge killer. With a Scarf attatched, Blaziken reaches a Speed stat of 375, enough to outrun even Jolly Persian, who is swiftly OHKO'd by Superpower. Steelix is taken out by Fire Blast, and Altaria is smacked around by HP Ice. ThunderPunch helps against Mantine, Slowking, and other bulky water types. Superpower is chosen over Sky Uppercut not only because it's stronger, but because Blaziken really is a "hit and run" Pokemon. I had Medicham in this slot before, but it didn't have great things such as a STAB Fire Blast nor did it have an immunity to Will O Wisp. In other words; it didn't beat Rotom.​

*pokemonelite2000 image removed*
Azumarill @ Choice Band
Adamant
212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe
Aqua Jet
Waterfall
Ice Punch
Superpower​

Azumaril is the main physical offense of this team, and with a 654 Attack stat, it fills that role all too well. Aqua Jet is essential to bypass Choice Scarf/Agility users such as Porygon-Z or Houndoom. Aqua Jet can deal up to 61% to Porygon-Z, whereas Z cannot kill Azumarill without some sort of boost. Waterfall is the obligatory STAB that has massive power and excellent type coverage in UU. Even max HP/max Def Steelix doesn't like switching into Azumarill, and if it decides to, it'll have to cope with losing anywhere between 60%-70% of its health. Ice Punch is for Altaria, who struggles to OHKO with Outrage, and it also remedies that bulky Grass types that plague Azumarill. Superpower is simply for things like Clefable, Chansey, etc...who don't go down from a simple Waterfall.​

"image removed"
Chansey @ Leftovers
Calm
42 HP / 252 Def / 216 SpD
Seismic Toss
Softboiled
Thunder Wave
Aromatherapy​

Chansey is a beast among beasts in UU. Even a Life Orb, Nasty Plot Fire Blast from Ninetales fails to 2HKO 100% of the time. Chansey can also spread paralysis around, making Mismagius's sweep much easier. Unfortunately, unlike Blissey, Chansey's Special Attack is absolute garbage, so it has to resort to Seismic Toss to do any sort of damage. Luckily, Chansey can handle things like SubCM Raikou pretty effectively, even if it has more than one Calm Mind under its belt. Thunder Wave since UU is getting pretty fast paced now what with all these BL Pokemon running around. Aromtherapy is mainly filler, but it can help when Blaziken gets paralysed or such. True to her appearance, Chansey is just so jolly.​

"image removed"
Hitmontop @ Life Orb
Adamant
240 HP / 252 Att / 16 Spe
Mach Punch
Close Combat
Sucker Punch / Bullet Punch
Fake Out ​

Technitop is here to revenge kill all sorts of things my team has trouble with, including Houndoom, Porygon-Z, Clefable, Chansey, etc...Mach Punch OHKOs P-Z, and does a lot of damage to Clefable. Fake Out is excellent to rack up damage, as well as be annoying overall. Sucker Punch is the better option here in my opinion, but Bullet Punch helps with those SubPetaya Froslass and SubCM Mismagius, two huge threats that can take my team out if they predict correctly (well...Froslass can't, but Mismagius sure as heck can). Overall, he seems like a solid member to the team, but he's replaceable if anyone feels he offers redundant coverage for the rest of the team.​

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Mismagius @ Leftovers
Timid
108 HP / 180 SpA / 220 Spe
Substitute
Calm Mind
HP Fighting
Shadow Ball​

Mismagius is so underrated as a Special Sweeper. She lacks the Speed or immense Special Attack that Gengar has, but she has immense Special bulk, as well as Calm Mind and the ability to set up on all forms of Blissey, and now Chansey in UU. Fighting and Ghost have perfect coverage, hitting all for neutral and also dealing massive damage to the major Special Walls in UU; Grumpig, Hypno, Chansey, etc...The EV spread is the standard OU spread, but I don't know if I should invest in more or invest in less. I might just keep it the way it is, just in case it might work. She's not really a team supporter, like the rest are, but she sweeps in late game better than anyone I can think of, sans Raikou.​

Considered Members​

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Raikou @ Leftovers
Timid
68 HP / 116 SpA / 72 SpD / 252 Spe
Calm Mind
Substitute
Thunderbolt
HP Grass​

Raikou plagues my team, but could make a decent addtion, over Mismagius preferably. I'm skeptical adding him due to the lack of a Normal/Fighting/Ground resist.​

"image removed"
Medicham @ Choice Scarf
Adamant
252 Att / 252 Spe / 6 HP
Hi Jump Kick
Psycho Cut
ThunderPunch
Ice Punch​

I'm testing Blaziken over Medicham as my revenge killer, and Blaziken seems to fit better. However, I'm still up to changing Blaziken for Medicham if need be.​

Well...I put a lot of effort into this team, but please, by all means, tear it apart.​

 

[Skip Shot]

I don't know much about the merger and its effects, but I'll give it a shot.

Everybody looks great except for Azumarill, and that's only a possibility. I can't remember the illegal combo on it: either Aqua Jet/ Ice Punch, Ice Punch/Encore, or Auqa Jet/Encore. If its Aqua Jet/Ice Punch, you need to change one of them.

I'm detecting somewhat of a SD Gallade weakness (yes, Gallade got moved down) here. This is increased if Hitmontop runs Bullet Punch. You can somewhat stop it with Mismagius, but not if it carries Night Slash.

Also, you can cross Empoleon, Flygon, and (gyara counter) Rhyperior off ur merger threats, since they went to OU.

This team looks pretty good from a noob's viewpoint (T_T) I should go make one later.

 

[.]

I don't know much about the merger and its effects, but I'll give it a shot.

Everybody looks great except for Azumarill, and that's only a possibility. I can't remember the illegal combo on it: either Aqua Jet/ Ice Punch, Ice Punch/Encore, or Auqa Jet/Encore. If its Aqua Jet/Ice Punch, you need to change one of them.

I'm detecting somewhat of a SD Gallade weakness (yes, Gallade got moved down) here. This is increased if Hitmontop runs Bullet Punch. You can somewhat stop it with Mismagius, but not if it carries Night Slash.

Also, you can cross Empoleon, Flygon, and (gyara counter) Rhyperior off ur merger threats, since they went to OU.

This team looks pretty good from a noob's viewpoint (T_T) I should go make one later.

Mismagius handles every variant besides Scarfed ones, which get raped by Hitmontop + Azumarill's teamwork. It looks scary on paper, but it really isn't.

 

[Noir Lancer]

I'm not particularly fond of Mismagius speed investment really, Base 115's usually do not run a neutral nature anyway. It should either have enough for Base 100's or max for tying with Scyther and Manetric.

 

[.]

I really don't know where else to put the Speed. I do want to outpace things like Scyther and Manectric, like you said. I really am confused with the EV spread on Missy,

 

[Samson]

212 spd gives mismagius enough to outspeed base 100. gambling on outspeeding scyther is dangerous. however, you have Uxie to set SR which rapes scyther. of course, the first thing mismagius will do switching in is setting up a sub, at which point you'll be able to KO Scyther. i wouldn't be too concerned here. put the remaining EVs in HP-- Mismagius will need them to handle non-STAB physical attacks.

i forget... does yawn work through subs? i'd be quite concerned about the possibility of subPunching sets doing some damage to your team. uxie might be able to handle them w/ Yawn if it does hit through subs.

 

[Dark Azelf]

I think the biggest threat here is that same Mismagius you are using, it can come in on the majority of your team and set up. The only thing that can really stop it from sweeping is Azumarril, but that isnt really good since shadow balls and even T-Bolt are really gonna wear it down.

Encore Clefable with max sp.def could go >> chansey, this would help alot with that issue allowing your team to come in on the encored move to drive it away, but you would then lose Aroma support, putting a Toxic Orb on clefable may remedy that to an extent as it allows for "psuedo" status absorbing. It also does generally the same thing as chansey really..


Clefable@Toxic Orb
252 HP/ 252 SP.DEF / 6 DEF
Calm Nature
Trait : Magic Guard
- Seismic Toss
- Encore
- T-Wave
- Wish / Softboiled

Last slot is up to you,Softboiled is instant but bulky choice banders (azu) and your team in general looks as though it would appreciate Wish support, so meh.

Encore would also be great to allow your team to get free switch ins to cause havok. Since you are using some really broken junk and giving them free switch ins wont be good for your opponent and will more than likely wear them down very fast.

Some older threats such as swellow hurt too, but meh i suppose being able to revenge kill is good enough here.

 

[.]

212 spd gives mismagius enough to outspeed base 100. gambling on outspeeding scyther is dangerous. however, you have Uxie to set SR which rapes scyther. of course, the first thing mismagius will do switching in is setting up a sub, at which point you'll be able to KO Scyther. i wouldn't be too concerned here. put the remaining EVs in HP-- Mismagius will need them to handle non-STAB physical attacks.

i forget... does yawn work through subs? i'd be quite concerned about the possibility of subPunching sets doing some damage to your team. uxie might be able to handle them w/ Yawn if it does hit through subs.

Most SubPunchers don't pack a lot of power (Poliwrath, Kangaskhan, etc...) meaning that Uxie can come in, set up Reflect, then I go to something like Hitmontop, or even Mismagius if their secondary move/STAB isn't going to plow through Reflect. I'll go with 220 Speed EVs.

I think the biggest threat here is that same Mismagius you are using, it can come in on the majority of your team and set up. The only thing that can really stop it from sweeping is Azumarril, but that isnt really good since shadow balls and even T-Bolt are really gonna wear it down.

Another reason I might run Bullet Punch.

Encore Clefable with max sp.def could go >> chansey, this would help alot with that issue allowing your team to come in on the encored move to drive it away, but you would then lose Aroma support, putting a Toxic Orb on clefable may remedy that to an extent as it allows for "psuedo" status absorbing. It also does generally the same thing as chansey really..


Clefable@Toxic Orb
252 HP/ 252 SP.DEF / 6 DEF
Calm Nature
Trait : Magic Guard
- Seismic Toss
- Encore
- T-Wave
- Wish / Softboiled

Last slot is up to you,Softboiled is instant but bulky choice banders (azu) and your team in general looks as though it would appreciate Wish support, so meh.

Encore would also be great to allow your team to get free switch ins to cause havok. Since you are using some really broken junk and giving them free switch ins wont be good for your opponent and will more than likely wear them down very fast.

Some older threats such as swellow hurt too, but meh i suppose being able to revenge kill is good enough here.

Um...

+2 LO Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252 SpD Clefable: 72.34%-85.28%

+2 LO Fire Blast vs. 42 HP / 252 SpD Chansey: 40.71%-48.08%

Chansey takes the hits a LOT better than Clefable. Also:

+0 Shadow Ball vs. 212 HP / 0 SpD Azumarill: 32.91%-39.03%

If I come in on Missy's Sub, I can break it with a Aqua Jet, and not be 2HKO'd. Also:

CB Aqua Jet vs. 108 HP / 0 Def Mismagius: 62.50%-73.96%

I can manage it.

 

[The Hero Without a Name]

Well, on Azu, couldn't you run 252/252/4 just to outrun Chansey?

 

[.]

I could, but if I could at least tie with a foe Azumarill, I'd be happy.