Rate my OU Challenge Team

[Alfieri]

I wanna play OU singles but challenge myself by using some lower tier pokemon, with the exception of Charizard X.

Draco (Charizard) (M) @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Flare Blitz
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake

Charizard X is my physical sweeper, and the star of my team. Dragon Dance to give it a little kick and then whip out the broom!

Shelley (Lapras) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Freeze-Dry
- Toxic

Now for the challenge pokemon with NU, RU, UU, etc...
Lapras is my special wall, meant to take special hits well and get health back with leftovers. Freeze-dry is for taking out Gyarados and other water types. Toxic to stall damage. Lapras can also bait electric attacks so I can switch over to Jolteon.

Demetria (Vileplume) (F) @ Black Sludge
Ability: Effect Spore
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Giga Drain
- Aromatherapy
- Sleep Powder
- Sludge Bomb

Vileplume is a physical wall. Meant to get rid of any status effects placed on me like if Charizard gets paralyzed. Able to heal back with black sludge and giga drain. Sleep powder so it can give me a free turn to use aromatherapy if I need it.

Blitz (Jolteon) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Signal Beam

Jolteon is my special sweeper. Just meant to deal a lot of damage and HP Ice is perfect for any dragon/flying or dragon/ground pokemon. He's able to take out Garchomps for days.

Teddy (Snorlax) (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Body Slam
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
- Crunch

Snorlax is a special tank. Assault Vest gives him an added boost in special defense so I can just keep marching forward with physical attacks.

Rambi (Rhydon) (M) @ Eviolite
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 100 HP / 252 Atk / 156 Def
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Megahorn

I really like Rhydon's design and felt like it would be useful with an Eviolite. It's the lead of the team and really just meant to set up some stealth rocks. If it can survive another attack then I'll go for another move. I also use it to bait water attacks. Someone goes for a 4x effective surf or scald, I can switch over to Lapras to heal up.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Move Charizard's last 4 EVs into Defense so that it doesn't die to 2 Stealth Rock switch-ins while in base form.

Suicune, Gastrodon, Tentacruel, Slowking, Starmie, Alomomola and Vaporeon are lower-tiered Water Pokemon with OU relevance, so they're better options over Lapras. Lapras isn't that good, really; its defensive typing is terrible, and there are better Pokemon who do its roles better:

Suicune:
-Calm Mind
-Scald
-Rest
-Sleep Talk
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Item: Leftovers

Gastrodon:
-Scald
-Earth Power/Ice Beam/Earthquake
-Toxic
-Recover
Nature: Bold/Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain

Tentacruel:
-Scald
-Acid Spray
-Sludge Bomb/Knock Off
-Rapid Spin
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP/224 Def/32 Spe
Item: Black Sludge
Ability: Liquid Ooze

Slowking:
-Scald
-Psychic/Dragon Tail
-Fire Blast
-Power Gem/Ice Beam
Nature: Calm/Sassy
EVs: 248 HP/164 SAtk/96 SDef
Item: Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator

or
-Scald
-Psyshock
-Thunder Wave
-Slack Off
Nature: Calm
EVs: 248 HP/44 Def/216 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator

Starmie:
-Hydro Pump
-Psyshock/Thunderbolt
-Ice Beam
-Rapid Spin
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SAtk/4 SDef/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure/Analytic

or
-Scald
-Reflect Type
-Rapid Spin
-Recover
Nature: Timid
EVs: 248 HP/20 Def/16 SDef/224 Spe
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure

Alomomola:
-Wish
-Protect/Magic Coat
-Scald
-Toxic
Nature: Calm
EVs: 36 HP/220 Def/252 SDef
Item: Leftovers/Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator

Vaporeon:
-Wish
-Protect
-Scald
-Ice Beam/Toxic/Heal Bell
Nature: Bold
EVs: 248 HP/252 Def/8 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb

Amoonguss outclasses Vileplume by a long shot. Like the Pokemon above it, it's a lower-tier Pokemon that sees OU use. Amoonguss has Regenerator for passive recovery upon leaving battle, as well as a more reliable sleep move in Spore. Really, what does Vileplume do that Amoonguss can't?:
-Spore
-Giga Drain
-Foul Play/Hidden Power (Fire)
-Sludge Bomb/Clear Smog
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP/136 Def/120 SDef
Item: Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator

Rhyperior is a better option over Eviolite Rhydon simply because Solid Rock helps cushion its common weaknesses, plus it hits just a bit harder, and that could make a big difference. Also, all three of Rhydon's abilities are all useless on it. Rhyperior's ability to hold Leftovers also outweigh's Rhydon's Eviolite-boosted bulk; Rhydon can get worn down easily without reliable recovery or Wish support:
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge/Rock Blast
-Ice Punch/Megahorn/Toxic
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 212 HP/44 Atk/252 Def
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock

 

[Alfieri]

I see what you mean by better water pokemon. I'll try out Suicune, Amoongus, and evolve my Rhydon.

 

[MoxieInfinite]

Run max HP snorlax. Over special defense.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Run max HP snorlax. Over special defense.

Assault Vest Snorlax uses max Special Defense over max HP because as a rule of thumb, a Pokemon with a lower defensive stat than HP gets priority on a defensive stat instead. Ex: Wobbuffet and Assault Vest Conkeldurr. Calcs:

252 SpA Life Orb Greninja Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 252 SpD Assault Vest Snorlax: 99-117 (21.4 - 25.3%) -- 0.1% chance to 4HKO

252 SpA Life Orb Greninja Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Snorlax: 122-146 (23.2 - 27.8%) -- 83.2% chance to 4HKO

 

[MoxieInfinite]

The difference is minor, and Snorlax in OU will come into physical attacks.

 

[PlatinumDude]

The difference is minor, and Snorlax in OU will come into physical attacks.

Max Special Defense is still preferred. Look at the calcs again. With the max Special Defense spread, Snorlax has a lower chance of being 4HKOed by Hydro Pump than the one with the max HP spread (0.4% as opposed to 83.2%). And why would you even bring in Snorlax on physical attacks when its Defense is rather bad?

 

[MoxieInfinite]

because it will be forced into them