RMT/Platinum/OU (Special Circumstances)

[crystalvelox]

I'm a person that used to visit a lot a few months ago, but I got wraped up in playing brawl. Now that Platinum will be coming out in a few days I decided to pick this back up. Now since I have been out of the competitive scene for so long I'd like a little help with some stuff.​

The special circumstance I mentioned were that I would be making this for wifi battles. So that means trying to get Hidden Power stuff is very difficult. So don't recomment any of that. Also means I won't be running into haxmin or the rotom forms at all, so you can ignore those threats. (If haxmin is still even in OU to begin with).​

Azelf@ Focus Sash
Naive; 4 atk/252 spA/252 Spe
Stealth Rock
Fire Blast
Psychic
Explosion​

After a long time searching before I found Azelf is still the best overall lead for most situations. So typical suicidal lead. Set up stelath rock and counter whatever it sees.​

Scizor@ Life Orb
Technician
Adamant; 4 def/252 atk/252 HP
Bullet Punch
X-scissors
Sword Dance
Roost​

Platinum's introduction mascot. Sweeper. Not much to say about it.​

Heatran@ Choice Scarf
Naive; 4 Hp/252 spA/252 Spe
Explosion
Fire Blast
Dragon Pulse
Earth Power​

If you have scizor heatran is not too far off. Revenge-killer, firewall, pokemon counter.​

Blissey@ Leftovers
Natural Cure
Calm; 252 def/ 40 spA/216 spD
Thunder Wave
Softboiled
Ice Beam
Sesimic Toss​

Special wall, status absorb, staller, support through paralysis.​

Salamence@ Life Orb
NAughty; 232 atk/24 spA/252 Spe
Dragon Dance
Outrage
Fire Blast
Earthquake​

What I call Garchomp's replacement. Still it's a beast.​

Zapdos@ Leftovers
Bold; 252 hp/220 def/36 spe
Heat Wave
Thunderbolt
Roost
Roar​

Mostly I noticed my team uptill now had problems countering bulky waters, this would help take care of them.​

I do not see to many potiential problems of the threats of old. Not sure what the new stuff is. Most likely heatran, scizor, salamence, haxmin and others are larger threats now. Only real weakness I see would be tyrnaitar varients.​

So educate me on what is wrong with the team and any help against what the new threats are would be greatly appreciated.​

 

[Archer]

I'm a person that used to visit a lot a few months ago, but I got wraped up in playing brawl. Now that Platinum will be coming out in a few days I decided to pick this back up. Now since I have been out of the competitive scene for so long I'd like a little help with some stuff.

The special circumstance I mentioned were that I would be making this for wifi battles. So that means trying to get Hidden Power stuff is very difficult. So don't recomment any of that. Also means I won't be running into haxmin or the rotom forms at all, so you can ignore those threats. (If haxmin is still even in OU to begin with).

Azelf@ Focus Sash
Naive; 4 atk/252 spA/252 Spe
Stealth Rock
Fire Blast
Psychic
Explosion

After a long time searching before I found Azelf is still the best overall lead for most situations. So typical suicidal lead. Set up stelath rock and counter whatever it sees.

Fine, but consider either a TrickScarf Lead or Taunt. Both allow you to shut down opposing leads. TrickScarfing also lets you be immune to opposing Trickers, while letting you set up SR if you see a faster taunter (Eg: Aero, Electrode, lol). Your choice.

Scizor@ Life Orb
Technician
Adamant; 4 def/252 atk/252 HP
Bullet Punch
X-scissors
Sword Dance
Roost

Platinum's introduction mascot. Sweeper. Not much to say about it.

It's really not as good as it used to seem, as counters are all over the place, but if you want to run it, you need 178 Spd, iirc, to outrun Cressy and 0-Spd Suicune.

Heatran@ Choice Scarf
Naive; 4 Hp/252 spA/252 Spe
Explosion
Fire Blast
Dragon Pulse
Earth Power

If you have scizor heatran is not too far off. Revenge-killer, firewall, pokemon counter.

Blissey@ Leftovers
Natural Cure
Calm; (Need EV Suggestions; Leaning towards 252 def/ 40 spA/216 spD)
Thunder Wave
Softboiled
Ice Beam
Sesimic Toss

Special wall, status absorb, staller, support through paralysis.

That EV spread is fine.

Salamence@ Life Orb
NAughty; 232 atk/24 spA/252 Spe
Dragon Dance
Outrage
Fire Blast
Earthquake

What I call Garchomp's replacement. Still it's a beast.

It has trouble sweeping with CBScizor's BP, which does ~80%, IIRC. Ice Shard is also rampant. You can either go mega-bulky or just run CB/MixMence.

Zapdos@ Leftovers
Bold; 4 def/220 def/36 spe
Heat Wave
Thunderbolt
Roost
Roar

Mostly I noticed my team uptill now had problems countering bulky waters, this would help take care of them.


Cool, but you're missing over 200 EVs. :D

I do not see to many potiential problems of the threats of old. Not sure what the new stuff is. Most likely heatran, scizor, salamence, haxmin and others are larger threats now. Only real weakness I see would be tyrnaitar varients.

So educate me on what is wrong with the team and any help against what the new threats are would be greatly appreciated.​

Comments in Bold. It's not bad, but it does seem like you've pulled it from the Neo-Platinum era. I suggest you just have a look around other RMTs and look at the Shoddy usage stats to get an idea of what the Metagame's like. Welcome back, then. :D

 

[crystalvelox]

Thanks for that.

EVs fixed on zapdos, and I'll consider the stuff you said. I really need to get a look at what has been happening as of late before I make permenate decisions.

Any idea where I can find the shoddy battle monthly stats? I cannot seem to find the location of that on smogon.

I'll likely be spending a ton of time looking stuff up again. I feel like I spend 70% of the time looking stuff up, 20% sitting around trying to think of what should I choose, and the other 10% actually battling xD

 

[Archer]

If the mods don't kill me, as it's an appropriate linking:

https://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51725

We should really have an updated sticky for when people are looking for this stuff.

 

[Anti]

If the mods don't kill me, as it's an appropriate linking:

https://www.smogon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51725

We should really have an updated sticky for when people are looking for this stuff.

We (or at least I) really don't care if you link to other forums as long as you're not advertising or whatever lol

Also, people can just find the threads in Stark (not to mention that nobody reads the stickies anyway...and we have a lot as it is). It's stickied so it's an easy find.

As for the team, that Scizor is like, walled by everything. It doesn't really have the support to work. In fact, the team itself seems kind of disjointed/lacking unity. You definitely need something that can hit hard right away...right now, you have one mid-to-late game sweeper and bulky Scizor, which I guess is a late-game sweeper. You don't have anything to set up their sweeps besides the weak Zapdos and Heatran set-ups you have going on. You could go for a bulky CB Scizor, which basically accomplishes the same thing as your current one, only it hits harder, faster.

Gyarados basically 6-0s your team. Blissey really seems like a misfit on a team with suicide Azelf and DDMence. I would go for an all-purpose defensive Pokemon (a counter utility, essentially). Since MixApe and Gyarados give you trouble and your team isn't very difficult to wear down, Vaporeon seems like a good fit. It also does a lot in helping to fill that gaping Kingdra weakness (the mixed Rain Dance sweeper variant especially). The set is:

Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 188 HP / 252 Def / 68 Spd
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Surf
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Wish
- Protect

The Speed EVs can be placed in Special Defense to help better deal with Heatran, who Vaporeon will be your lone buffer against. It doesn't really matter though so eh.

 

[.]

Azelf@ Focus Sash

Naive; 4 atk/252 spA/252 Spe
Stealth Rock
Fire Blast
Psychic
Explosion​

I've found physical variants superior, if only for the strongest Explosion. You can keep Fire Blast, however, to dent Metagross, but since most run Occa Berry, either option won't bruise them as badly as you'd expect. Standard suicide lead honestly. ​

Scizor@ Life Orb
Technician
Adamant; 4 def/252 atk/252 HP
Bullet Punch
X-scissors
Sword Dance
Roost​

I'd change the EV spread up a bit. First off, I'd pack around 48 Speed EVs to outpace the standard Skarmory and Steel Killer Magnezone. Metagross also gets outrun, at least lead versions. I also suggest Superpower OR Brick Break over Roost, in order to 2HKO all the mentioned threats (Superpower 2HKOs Skarmory, OHKOs Magnezone, and X-Scissor already 2HKOs Magnezone after a Swords Dance). ​

Heatran@ Choice Scarf
Naive; 4 Hp/252 spA/252 Spe
Explosion
Fire Blast
Dragon Pulse
Earth Power​

On a team this Gyarados weak, really consider Hidden Power Electric over Explosion. It helps with bulky waters on the switch, and, of course, killing Gyarados. Timid Scarftran outpaces even Adamant versions after a single Dragon Dance.​

Blissey@ Leftovers
Natural Cure
Calm; 252 def/ 40 spA/216 spD
Thunder Wave
Softboiled
Ice Beam
Sesimic Toss​

Fine, I prefer 40 HP but it's really moot point.​

Salamence@ Life Orb
NAughty; 232 atk/24 spA/252 Spe
Dragon Dance
Outrage
Fire Blast
Earthquake​

Fire Fang > Fire Blast. Honestly, Bronzong takes more from Fire Fang, and Skarmory still takes 56% minimum from Fire Fang; a guarateed 2HKO.​

Zapdos@ Leftovers
Bold; 252 hp/220 def/36 spe
Heat Wave
Thunderbolt
Roost
Roar​

Sure if you want.​

This team gets shred by DD Gyarados. It 6-0s you currently with your team, and believe me, it has plenty of opprotunities to set up; Scizor, Heatran locked in Fire Blast, etc...You get my drift. So, the first thing you should do is remove Zapdos, since you yourself mentioned how bulky waters trouble you. Well, lucky you, Celebi can do that and provide a "reasonable" Gyarados check (though HP Electric should be added to Heatran).

Celebi @ Leftovers
Bold nature
252 HP / 220 Def / 36 Spe
-Grass Knot
-Reflect
-Thunder Wave / Leech Seed
-Recover

Also lures in the common Scizor whom when locked into Pursuit, becomes DD Mence bait. In fact, even in Bullet Punch, Intimidated Salamence sets up with Reflect up and running, meaning your chance of victory is even greater. Plus, you have the sexy CeleTran combinations, essentially eliminating a majority of Platinum's threats. Tyranitar doesn't trouble you as badly as you may expect; Scizor revenges most threats, and Heatran can pick off whatever Scizor fails to KO. Babiri variants are troublesome, but they're rare, and highly situational.

This team has trouble really hitting hard. Honestly, both of your true sweepers require setting up, which is difficult considering one is slow as hell and walled to hell by any reasonably bulky Steel-type, and the other is Stealth Rock and is considered to be the greatest threat in D/P, thus highly prepared for. You might as well take a different route, and go for a heavier hitter instead of Scizor. Yes, you know what I'm getting at:

Lucario @ Life Orb
Adamant
6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Swords Dance
-Close Combat
-Extremespeed
-Crunch / Stone Edge

This is what Scizor wants to be. Priority is nearly as strong, and isn't stopped by Infernape, Zapdos, metagame, etc...Lucario's Close Combat also essentially OHKOs Skarmory, something Scizor cannot do. Crunch may seem like the better option for this team, what with it lacking insurance against a majority of Ghost and Psychic-types. Stone Edge is the other option I still prefer; hitting Zapdos, Gyarados, Salamence, etc...on the switch is satisfying.

I don't want to mess with your team's synergy. If it were up to me, I'd use 5 sweepers + Celebi, as it has worked wonders for me in early DP. Of course, this isn't early DP (bad Vance) =( Have fun with your team, and il dio benedice! (I think that's how you say it...)

 

[crystalvelox]

Alright. It seems my team is too terrible right now to possibly get any better.

It seems azelf is not too bad and really I cannot think of any time it would be bad. It's still the best lead I can think of. Everything else still gets like completely walled by something. Although, I think I'll look into a trick lead. Trick lead seems more forgiving.

Scizor in this kind of environment is not good anymore. Decent, but not greatest.

Defensive choices for the team were poorly made.

Overall: Needs a huge redesign.

@ . : If you read the top I wouldn't be getting Hidden Power attacks. Too difficult to do with a legendary on the DS games.

Thanks for input. I'll spend some time figuring it out. Propably be done in a day or 2.

 

[Pokedra]

I'm a person that used to visit a lot a few months ago, but I got wraped up in playing brawl. Now that Platinum will be coming out in a few days I decided to pick this back up. Now since I have been out of the competitive scene for so long I'd like a little help with some stuff.​

The special circumstance I mentioned were that I would be making this for wifi battles. So that means trying to get Hidden Power stuff is very difficult. So don't recomment any of that. Also means I won't be running into haxmin or the rotom forms at all, so you can ignore those threats. (If haxmin is still even in OU to begin with).​

Azelf@ Focus Sash
Naive; 4 atk/252 spA/252 Spe
Stealth Rock
Fire Blast
Psychic
Explosion​

After a long time searching before I found Azelf is still the best overall lead for most situations. So typical suicidal lead. Set up stelath rock and counter whatever it sees.

Consider Taunt on Azelf over Psychic or Fire Blast as it stops slower leads like Swampert and Metagross from setting up the rocks.​

Scizor@ Life Orb
Technician
Adamant; 4 def/252 atk/252 HP
Bullet Punch
X-scissors
Sword Dance
Superpower/Brick Break​

Platinum's introduction mascot. Sweeper. Not much to say about it.

Go with Superpower or Brick Break over Roost. Roost will barely help you as they can set up while you're Roosting. Superpower/Brick Break for walls and Skarmory. Since this isn't CB throw some EV's into Speed.​

Heatran@ Choice Scarf
Naive; 4 Hp/252 spA/252 Spe
Explosion
Fire Blast
Dragon Pulse
Earth Power​

If you have scizor heatran is not too far off. Revenge-killer, firewall, pokemon counter.

HP Ice/HP Electric would be a good idea. Run that over Explosion and change to Timid. Naive dents Heatran's good defenses. For example Modest SpecsLatias with SR support can do around 60-70% damage to Naive Heatran factoring SR damage.​

Blissey@ Leftovers
Natural Cure
Calm; 252 def/ 80 spA/176 spD
Thunder Wave
Softboiled
Ice Beam
Sesimic Toss​

Special wall, status absorb, staller, support through paralysis.

Moveset is good but maybe consider throwing some SpD EV's into HP. Gives you better surviavbility.​

Salamence@ Life Orb
Adamant; 4 HP/252atk/252 Spe
Dragon Dance
Outrage
Fire Fang
Earthquake​

What I call Garchomp's replacement. Still it's a beast.

Fire Fang does more after a DD then an unboosted Fire Blast. Means you can invest more into Atk and have a better SpD stat.​

Zapdos@ Leftovers
Bold; 252 hp/220 def/36 spe
Heat Wave
Thunderbolt
Roost
Roar​

Mostly I noticed my team uptill now had problems countering bulky waters, this would help take care of them.

Hmmm consider HP Grass maybe as this team can have issues with Swampert but apart from that pretty good.​

I do not see to many potiential problems of the threats of old. Not sure what the new stuff is. Most likely heatran, scizor, salamence, haxmin and others are larger threats now. Only real weakness I see would be tyrnaitar varients.​

So educate me on what is wrong with the team and any help against what the new threats are would be greatly appreciated.​

Though Vance said it already, DD Gyarados with Stone Edge/Waterfall/Earthquake 6-0's you after a DD.

Double Dance Kingdra can be a problem as if it sets up rain it can outspeed Heatran and OHKO with STABed Surf, same with Scizor and Azelf. STABed Rain Waterfall tears Blissey apart for a clean 2HKO and a possible OHKO with SR support. Zapdos takes about 65-83% from Waterfall. Outrage handles Mence.

You also need something that can hard straight off the bat as your sweepers need a set-up turn before sweeping. Okay team.