Time for a little effort... (OU RMT)

[Aurafire]

Intro:

It's been a while since I've made a team that's had any real synergy to it...I'm usually too lazy and/or too busy to actually put some time into making a decent team. So here it is, my first team in a while that I've actually spent a few hours on. No real theme or featured pokemon here...I basically tried to build a team around some key resistances to counter some big threats, but also maintain enough offense to get me through the match.

Team Preview:

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In-Depth

@ Leftovers
Relaxed Nature - Levitate
252 HP / 68 Attack / 108 Defense / 80 Special Defense
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Gyro Ball
- Hypnosis

Bronzong fits perfectly as a lead for this team. He's great at setting up my rocks and, with some luck, crippling potential threats with Hypnosis. He also helps against a lot of physical threats, mainly Mence, Flygon, Metagross, Jirachi and others. I definitely want to keep him around for mid-game play to counter those threats, so I'm mostly looking to get SR up and then get out and maybe put something to sleep, and although I'm not a huge fan of Hypnosis' 60% accuracy, it's probably my best option for the fourth slot.

@ Leftovers
Adamant Nature - Thick Fat
4 HP / 252 Attack / 252 Special Defense
- Body Slam
- Crunch
- Self Destruct
- Earthquake

Offensive Lax provides me with a great special wall as well as a decent physical attacker. Although he requires a bit of prediction, most thing won't enjoy being "slammed" by Body Slam, which provides some good damage as well as a decent chance for some welcome paralysis. Crunch nails ghosts and psychics, particulalry Gengar, who I've found enjoys switching into Snorlax thinking it won't take any damage. Fire Punch and Earthquake obviously provide me with great type coverage. I definitely like what Snorlax can do interms of offense, and the ability to switch into many special attackers is an excellent bonus.

@ Choice Specs
Modest Nature - Inner Focus
4 HP / 252 Special Attack / 252 Speed
- Aura Sphere
- HP Ice
- Shadow Ball
- Vacuum Wave

SpecsLuke...what a great pokemon. I have to say that most people are expecting the all too common SDLuke, so nailing them on the special side is a great surprise. Aura Sphere and Shadow Ball have unresisted type coverage, so with the right prediction, I can nail switchins expecting me to set up with Swords Dance. HP Ice help with Gliscor and Mence, and Vacuum Wave gives me a much needed check against Tyranitar, Heatran, and can even pick off a weakened Scizor. SpecsLuke is definitely one of my favorite pokemon to use, and most people won't be expecting it given some more popular special attackers dominating the platinum metagame.

@ Leftovers
Impish Nature - Serene Grace
240 HP / 160 Defense / 32 Speed / 76 Special Defense
- Wish
- Fire Punch
- U-Turn
- Iron Head

Jirachi is a very sturdy supporter and gives my team wish support. I rarely build a team without a wish passer, and I've found Jirachi to be a great choice. He comes in on a lot of stuff using its great defenses and resistances, makes a wish, and U-turns out to a counter. Fire Punch is mainly for Scizor, who otherwise gives my team a bit of trouble. Iron Head is a cool STAB and can really annoy slower stuff with that great 60% flinch chance. Overall, he's a key member of my team and makes sure everyone is healthy for the long haul.

@ Life Orb
Rash Nature - Indimitade
80 Attack / 252 Special Attack / 176 Speed
Draco Meteor
Fire Blast
Brick Break
Roost

Mence is basically my go-to guy to deal out some heavy damage. Draco Meteor is absolutely devastating if my opponent predicts something else. Fire Blast takes care of those pesky steels, and Brick Break gives my coverage against Blissey, Tyranitar, and other fighting-weak pokes. Roost takes away the sting of Stealth Rock and keeps him healthy so he can come back in and dish some more damage. Wish support is also key for Mence, as I might have to rely on him to take a physical hit or two, which shouldn't be too hard with the aid of Intimidate. I can always rely on Mence to rip stuff apart, and he gives my team some much needed offense.

@ Choice Scarf
Naive Nature - Blaze
84 Attack / 238 Special Attack / 192 Speed
- Close Combat
- Fire Blast
- HP Ice
- Thunderpunch

ScarfApe acts as a great revenge killer in the face of multiple offensive threats. He can usually come in after one of my pokes is KO'd and use his great type coverage to threaten his own KO. With a scarf, he outspeeds a lot of sweepers that can threaten my team. Not much else to say about him except he's a great insurance policy against the fast-paced platinum metagame of today.

Rate away please...Hopefully the team meshes well and can handle most threats. I don't see any glaring weaknesses, but it always takes more than one pair of eyes to properly rate a team =P

 

[Ooka]

I looked at the thread and the first thing that popped into my mind was death-by-Infernape. :/

Starmie looks nice over Lucario imo.

 

[ABYAY]

(I bet you weren't expecting me here!)

Anyway, first thing at mind? What Ooka said: A Mixape with HP Ice (not sure how often it's used seeing that I haven't played in ages) will devastate a lot of this team, usually only with prediction to wear it down via it's own life orb. MixMence is another issue, at least for a short time. since Stealth Rock will make quick work of it.

I don't know the Metagame these days. It's been too long.

 

[Pokedra]

So this was the nooby team you were making when you were on Shoddy with me and DA

Anyways, this looks pretty decent.

First of all, I'd change your EV spread to 84 Atk / 238 SpAtk / 192 Spe @ Naive[DA's spread] since it allows you to beat Naive DDMence after a DD[most common Mence nature] and also guarantee's a OHKO on 0 HP/252 Def Blissey after SR damage.

As mentioned above, MixApe can cause quite a few problems. Your current Ape spread deals about 64-75% to it with Close Combat so I suppose you still can revenge-kill it sometimes but still it's something you want to careful of.

Excellent team :)

 

[Archer]

Starmie or Mega-bulky Suicune over Lucario give you better checks to both Gyarados and Infernape, who give you trouble. Starmie can provide more instant offense, or Suicune can set up, if you want that.

Jirachi doesn't seem to be doing much. If you don't find U-Turn much use, consider Body Slam in that slot - it has a 60% chance of Paralysing whatever comes in to take Jirachi, so it's just as effective for scouting as Body Slam :D

Looks fairly solid, although I recommend you run down an offensive threat list and tick things off mentally.

 

[Dark Azelf]

Cool team bro!

Infernape wants ThunderPunch >> Grass Knot for this and my ev spread which Pokedra posted.

Jirachi DEFINATELY wants Body Slam, your team is slow and the additional paralysis support would really go along way.

Id consider Selfdestruct on lax too. The sheer damage output of Selfdestruct usually makes it worth while. For example, Selfdestruct is that powerful from lax that is OHKO's both Scizor and Min HP Tyranitar with SR damage. Thats up to you though.

Ill come back if i think of anything else.

 

[Aurafire]

Added Tpunch > Grass Knot on Infernape and Self Destruct > Fire Punch on Snorlax.

What should I replace Body Slam for on Jirachi, U-Turn or Iron Head?

 

[.Aero]

U-Turn. Just like Archer said, [Body Slam] is great for scouting with the hax that you get with it. Plus I highly doubt you'll be wanting to lose that flinch hax from Iron Head. It's too good to pass up. (As D_A proved in a shoddy battle, six turns in a row. xD)