OU Mono-Flying Team

[lorddarigarn]

This is my first attempt at a mono-type team, and I thought I would go with the flexible (and strong) option of Flying. Despite the tempting option of MixMence, I decided to focus with a set-up sweep, with the majority of my team eliminating the main threats to my more powerful Pokemon and to ensure that they can remain safe.

Lineup:
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Aerodactyl @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pressure
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spd
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Taunt
- Stealth Rock

On the front, this is similar to a typical lead Dact, but it is amazingly well-tied into my overall team. Taunt is mainly to block off Stealth Rock, something that can reap havoc amongst a mono-fly team. Stealth Rock is generally useful, but is essential to the reliable countering of several threatening Pokemon (most namely Weavile). Earthquake helps to tear down the Steel and Rock types the team can struggle with, allowing my late-gamers to step in, and Stone Edge provides general STAB and coverage.

Magnezone @ Leftovers
Ability: Magnet Pull
Nature: Modest
EVs: 172 HP/ 252 SpAtk/ 84 Spe
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power Ice
- Substitute
- Magnet Rise

Magnezone fulfils several roles within the team. He provides protection from BoltBeams, the bane of mono-flys, and can easily double up as a tank. However, one of his greatest roles is to blow every single Steel-type in sight out of the sky, paving the way for my late-game sweepers. Thunderbolt is actually stronger than HP Fire against everything except Scizor and Steelix (*rolls eyes*), and my Glisgor is much better suited to walling him, so Hidden Power Ice provides coverage.

Gliscor @ Focus Sash
Ability: Hyper Cutter
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP/ 40 Def/ 216 Spe
- Roost
- Earthquake
- Aerial Ace
- Counter

Gliscor serves primarily as the traditional defensive tank, absorbing physical attacks, Electric moves and the odd Scizor/Heracross/Lucario. However, one of the roles I had in mind with this Pokemon was as a nasty surprise for any marauding Weavile. Since Aerodactyl has a Focus Sash, he will always manage to lay down a Stealth Rock for Weavile or attack it if it is a starter. With the Focus Sash, Gliscor can absorb the attack, and then knock out Weavile using a Counter. Yache Berry is an option for Item Clause, but I plan to use him to Counter other heavy hitters who'd see him as an easy target (Gyarados coming to mind), so Focus Sash is much better all round.

Yanmega @ Peteya Berry
Ability: Speed Boost
Nature: Modest
EVs: 4 Def/ 252 SpAtk/ 252 Spe
- Bug Buzz
- Air Slash
- Hidden Power Fire
- Substitute

The late-game sweeper, With Peteya and at least two Speed Boosts behind it (assuming that it can go first and put up a sub), HP Fire helps to stop Steels from walling me and helps to take care of Scizor and Mamoswine, two very common priority sweepers (Weavile takes Bug Buzz). With the rest of my team well-designed to take out marauding Heatran, I felt it was safe to loose HP Ground. While orignally a Tinted Lenser, I decided to swap Yanmega out of what I considered to be a Genger-esque role to its current position.

Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
Nature: Calm
EVs: 252 HP/ 4 Def/ 252 SpD
- Body Slam
- Air Slash
- Roost
- Substitute

A special wall and a powerful attacker in one graceful, and fortunately airborne, package. The first three moves are fairly standard, with Substitute to help block status and scout attacks, though I could easily swap this for Aura Sphere to provide yet-more anti-Steel cover.

Gyarados @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 72 HP/ 252 Atk/ 184 Spe
- Payback
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake

Instead of my normal BulkyGyra, I've swapped him for the more immediately powerful Choice Bander. With a wide range of moves, he is designed to smash down the special walls that threaten my main sweepers and either continue the momentum or switch to someone more appropriate. He's tough enough to absorb some Ice attacks, although he isn't a bulky water and shouldn't be treated as such. With two floating lightning-rods in the background, I can switch him out to avoid a potentially lethal electric attack and later switch back in without his sweeping ability being impaired (the main reason I chose him). Plus, the surprise factor, when most Gyarados are Dragon Dancers (though for good reason) can make him a valuable asset.

The weaknesses of this team are fairly obvious: each move super-effective on Flying has three 2x weak and one 4x weak. However, the team is designed to counter those weaknesses through mutual support and a cautious battle strategy. Obviously Stealth Rock is a danger (especially for Yanmega, although if the substitutes get off, the only effect it has is one less speed boost). However, while I was going to include a Rapid Spinner Starmie as my one choice to get rid of SR and wall Ice attacks, it would make the team more vulnerable to strong BoltBeamers (like Starmie) and Weavile would have a super--effective on all but one of my team. As it is, Weavile is a major threat, and I rely heavily on Pokemon like Gyarados and my underhand Gliscor to deal with him, as Magnezone suffers from Brick Break.

 

[Archer]

Um, Zapdos makes a real mess of you with Thunderbolt/Heat Wave/HP Ice. Aero can outspeed it and OHKO with Stone Edge, but chances are you'll lose that pretty early.

If you want to run with the Flying theme, but go a bit outside, Latias provides a better alternative to Togekiss as far as absorbing Special Hits go.

 

[lorddarigarn]

I'm running by type. I did originally have Zapdos instead of togekiss, which could possibly work better. Certainly wall off scizor.

 

[Veristical Blaze]

Um, Zapdos makes a real mess of you with Thunderbolt/Heat Wave/HP Ice. Aero can outspeed it and OHKO with Stone Edge, but chances are you'll lose that pretty early.

If you want to run with the Flying theme, but go a bit outside, Latias provides a better alternative to Togekiss as far as absorbing Special Hits go.

Dude this is an OU team not UBER, Lati's are Uber

 

[luke]

Dude this is an OU team not UBER, Lati's are Uber

Dude, Latias is OU now. Learn your facts before making comments like that.

 

[lorddarigarn]

I would have to swap out Magnezone for that, but potentially worth it (though it gives me much less to resist ice-types, and means that EVERY member of my team is weavile-weak.)

 

[d2m]

How is it mono flying when you have Magnezone? Steel/Electric. Despite what you say, Every member excluding Magnezone is SR weak and you have no spinner. You're also extremely vunerable to stall teams with SR and strong Phazers like Hippowdon.

Seeing as you've already abandoned the mono-flying type with Magnezone, I don't see why you can't implement your own suggestions and make a more well-rounded team.

 

[lorddarigarn]

Mono-teams allow one Pokemon outside of its type. Originally I had Starmie as a Spinner, but then BoltBeamers could rip down my team and so could Weavile (though there's still not a great counter). The only decent way I can think of to take down Weavile is to use Moltres, but that might actually be worth it.

 

[randomspot555]

Gliscor's set makes no sense at all. A Pokemon with Focus Sash should not have ANY EV investment in HP or defensive stats.

 

[Anti]

Gliscor's set makes no sense at all. A Pokemon with Focus Sash should not have ANY EV investment in HP or defensive stats.

That isn't true at all. Where else is Gliscor supposed to put it? Attack and Speed? Because an unboosted Aerial Ace is going to do SO MUCH to everything not named Heracross, right? And outspeeding Porygon-Z who is running Scarf half of the time anyway (if you ever see it) is so important, right? No. Focus Sash is there just in case. Defense and HP EVs bascially do the same thing, which is ensure that Gliscor doesn't die in one hit. The difference is that defensive EVs cannot be nullified by Stealth Rock and they help Gliscor take hits from things like Heracross that don't threaten OHKOs but could threaten 2HKOs if Gliscor is stupid with its EVs. Honestly, that whole mentality just doesn't make any sense.

...That being said, Counter Gliscor really isn't a good idea regardless of its EV spread. Use the SD tank or the physical wall set...anything but that. Honestly, Gliscor is rather mediocre anyway. I would use something with Wish support if possible (Latias would be a lovely idea) since your team gets toasted by SR.

Also, CB Gyarados really sucks. DD Gyarados is a much more effective attacker.

 

[randomspot555]

That isn't true at all. Where else is Gliscor supposed to put it?

The whole point of Focus Sash is you don't expect the Pokemon to survive a single hit. Gliscor is more than bulky enough to do without it barring certain attacks like almost any Ice Beam, in which case Gliscor has no real business staying in to take the attack anyway (without Yache).

Attack and Speed?

If it's sashed, yes. Defensive investment with Focus Sash is pointless. It's even more pointless on anything that isn't a starter on a team without a Rapid Spinner.

 

[StrickeN]

The whole point of Focus Sash is you don't expect the Pokemon to survive a single hit. Gliscor is more than bulky enough to do without it barring certain attacks like almost any Ice Beam, in which case Gliscor has no real business staying in to take the attack anyway (without Yache).

If it's sashed, yes. Defensive investment with Focus Sash is pointless. It's even more pointless on anything that isn't a starter on a team without a Rapid Spinner.

You need to get facts straight before posting.

The sash is for things that can KO it. Such as a boosted Ice Shard or CBIce shard. With the given EV's he has some defense but not quite enough bulk to take anything.

Still I think Gliscor doesn't help much with your team. If he's meant to be a Hera/Lucario/Scizor counter. Almost any zapdos set would fulfill it's place nicely. Especially a Bulky Zapdos who with proper EV spread can take a CBIce Shard or Punch quite well and return witha OHKO.

 

[randomspot555]

You need to get facts straight before posting.

The sash is for things that can KO it. Such as a boosted Ice Shard or CBIce shard. With the given EV's he has some defense but not quite enough bulk to take anything.

My facts are fine. Putting a Sash on something as bulky as Gliscor is pointless. Yes, Gliscor is often not going to survive most if any Ice attacks without Yache. That's why you can switch it out. That's ignoring that, if rocks are down, it'll become useless.

How many sets have you ever seen where a bulky Pokemon gets a Focus Sash as a held item and then proceeds to dump EVs into defensive stats? Do you really think that's a good strategy and a wise investment of EVs? To have a sash on there just in case it gets attacked by something that'll KO it?

Focus Sash is to ensure a Pokemon will get a hit in and it's most effective on fragile Pokes. Putting it on there while dumping EVs into defensive stats is wasteful.

For the record, I do know that Sash-counter on bulky Pokemon has been suggested before. But it seems far too gimmicky, and as a non-starter on a team with no spinner, the sash will almost always be useless. There's no reason Gliscor can't switch out when faced against whatever ice attack.

 

[StrickeN]

There is an issue in this situation. You ignore the fact that 4/6 of his pokemon are weak to ice and one of the 6 is weak to electric. He has no switching capability should Zone be traped and destroyed (HP Fire Magnezone)

 

[Pokedra]

The whole point of Focus Sash is you don't expect the Pokemon to survive a single hit. Gliscor is more than bulky enough to do without it barring certain attacks like almost any Ice Beam, in which case Gliscor has no real business staying in to take the attack anyway (without Yache).

If it's sashed, yes. Defensive investment with Focus Sash is pointless. It's even more pointless on anything that isn't a starter on a team without a Rapid Spinner.

>___>
There's a thing called SR which damages you and destroys his Sash. If you don't invest in HP/Defense then Pokemon can kill Gliscor before it can Counter.

On with the team, DDGyarados >>> CB Gyarados. You really would want a Spinner, most Pokemon take a huge hit from SR especially Yanmega. And use Defensive Gliscor.

Gliscor @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Veil
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 216 Spe
- Roost
- Earthquake
- Aerial Ace / U-Turn
- Stealth Rock / Taunt / Knock Off

 

[randomspot555]

^^Yep, that's a much better set. However, I can't say I recommend Aerial Ace. The fangs and U-Turn are much better, maybe even Stone Edge. Stealth rock isn't completely necessary unless you want to lay it down a second time; Taunt and Knock off would be much more reliable later in the game.

>___>
There's a thing called SR which damages you and destroys his Sash. If you don't invest in HP/Defense then Pokemon can kill Gliscor before it can Counter.

You just proved my point. Focus Sash is a pointless item on this team's Gliscor, since it'll be destroyed as soon as it switches into Stealth Rock. If it's going to run a bulk set, use something that'll benefit it, such as Yache or Leftovers.