OU team 2

[PlatinumDude]

This is a team thread based on Mega Pinsir and Talonflame. Both Pokemon work well together because they wear down each other's checks/counters up to the point when one of them can freely clean up the opposing team:

Team in a nutshell:

Team in detail:

Mega Pinsir:

-Swords Dance
-Return
-Earthquake
-Quick Attack
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter

Pinsir is the first half of this offensive core. With a Swords Dance or two, it can tear through even resists with Aerilate-boosted Returns. Quick Attack lets Pinsir take out faster opponents.

Talonflame:

-Flare Blitz
-Brave Bird
-U-turn
-Tailwind
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings

The other half of the offensive core, Talonflame revenge kills with Brave Bird. I'm thinking about switching to the Swords Dance variant or changing the item to Sharp Beak/Sky Plate because being locked into Brave Bird sucks at times.

Gastrodon:

-Scald
-Earthquake
-Toxic
-Recover
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain

Talonflame and Pinsir struggle with Zapdos, Thundurus and Mega Manectric, so Gastrodon helps with that. Toxic is in here over Ice Beam to wear down walls faster.

Ferrothorn:

-Stealth Rock
-Leech Seed
-Gyro Ball
-Power Whip
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 248 HP/252 Def/8 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs

Ferrothorn sets up Stealth Rock for Talonflame and Pinsir to get KOs more easily. I'm thinking about squeezing in Protect somewhere.

Excadrill:

-Earthquake
-Iron Head
-Rock Slide
-Rapid Spin
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker

Excadrill is the team's Rapid Spinner. Not much else to say here.

Gengar:

-Shadow Ball
-Sludge Wave
-Focus Blast
-Destiny Bond
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb

I wasn't sure what to do with the last slot, but I fit in Gengar because of Destiny Bond taking out troublesome threats.

I'm thinking about having Skarmory as the hazard setter and remover, but that would add on an Electric weakness.

Thoughts? Feedback?

 

[rogoku]

The first thing that pops out to me, a choice band on talonflame. If your planning on going for strong attacks, tailwind is just a wasted move. Unless you know talonflame is going to die, and want to get the advantage, I'd find a different move for that slot.

Ferrothorn. The attack can be decent, be have you tried replacing power whip with a spikes variant? Toxic or regular would work.

 

[PlatinumDude]

The first thing that pops out to me, a choice band on talonflame. If your planning on going for strong attacks, tailwind is just a wasted move. Unless you know talonflame is going to die, and want to get the advantage, I'd find a different move for that slot.

Ferrothorn. The attack can be decent, be have you tried replacing power whip with a spikes variant? Toxic or regular would work.

The reason why Talonflame has Tailwind is a last-ditch effort to support the team before it goes down.

Having Stealth Rock + Spikes makes Ferrothorn bigger setup bait than before. Toxic is already on Gastrodon and Ferrothorn already has Leech Seed to wear down opposing Pokemon.

 

[Nah]

The only thing I can think of is swapping Excadrill with a different Spinner/Defogger. It gives you another Fire and Water weakness (and Skarm gives you additional Fire and Electric weaknesses as well, so I wouldn't use that either). Talonflame and Mega Pinsir can handle the physical attacking on the team, but you have Gengar as your only real special attacker; you're giving it a lot to handle.


But then the issue is, who do you put in Excadrill's place? The team obviously must have Rapid Spin/Defog support, and there's not a whole lot of good spinners/defoggers, let alone special attacking ones. Maybe Latias?


And keep Power Whip on Ferrothorn. You'll probably need something to smack Water types around with.

 

[PlatinumDude]

The only thing I can think of is swapping Excadrill with a different Spinner/Defogger. It gives you another Fire and Water weakness (and Skarm gives you additional Fire and Electric weaknesses as well, so I wouldn't use that either). Talonflame and Mega Pinsir can handle the physical attacking on the team, but you have Gengar as your only real special attacker; you're giving it a lot to handle.


But then the issue is, who do you put in Excadrill's place? The team obviously must have Rapid Spin/Defog support, and there's not a whole lot of good spinners/defoggers, let alone special attacking ones. Maybe Latias?


And keep Power Whip on Ferrothorn. You'll probably need something to smack Water types around with.

I've tried Latias before, but there are times when I don't want to Defog with it because Defog also wipes away the hazards I set. I could try it again and see how it goes.