A Clown riding a Driller - Sand ft Blacephalon
Introduction
The teams starts with a pretty standar sand core with SR M-Tyranitar and Steelium Z Excadrill. All we know what this duo does, so, nothing to add here.
Since sand as an archetype has a pretty big weakness to M-Swampert and rain in general, i added Rotom-W. This dude helps a lot on that matchup, burning some foes and providing key momentum via Volt Switch. Also, gives the team a secondary Tornadus-T and Heatran check, which relieves pressure from M-Tyranitar to check those foes.
Next, a mandatory second steel-type to this team. Ferrothorn does a good job checking Ash-Greninja and being a nuisance to rain. It also provides a soft check to Tapu Lele and M-Alakazam. Also, it set up spikes, which is great combined with Excadrill's Rapid Spin to hazard stack in opposing side of the field.
I realized that threats like M-Medicham, M-Loppuny and Hawlucha melts through this team, so, I added Reuniclus to check them, while also providing a secondary win condition and my best bet against stall and some fat balances, which this team greatly appreciates.
Finally, I saw the team lacks a some firepower to break down walls and help Excadrill clean lategame, so, I added Choice Specs Blacephalon. This guys ended to be a MVP in a few matches because of the insane power behind its STABs, being able to destroy checks to Excadrill like fat Grass-type and Steel-types like RH Tangrowth, Skarmory, and Celesteela. Also, it helps against stall, as if I manage to KO Chansey or weak it, it can snowball out of control.
Breaking down the team
Tyranitar-Mega @ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Ice Punch
Tyranitar-Mega @ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Ice Punch
Mega evolution, sand setter and Stealth Rock Setter. M-Tyranitar does a good job at setting rocks, having a good matchup against common defog users like Zapdos and Tornadus-T, meaning rocks will be up almost anytime given chance to set them up. Also, it is a good check to threats like Heatran, M-Lati@s and opposing Blacephalon, which are hard to deal. The moveset is pretty standar, being Ice Punch the only variation of the common Earthquake set, being there to lure in Landorus-T as Excadrill needs it gone or weaken to clean. Also, it deals massive damage to Gliscor and Garchomp, taking pressure off from Rotom-W to check them.
Excadrill (M) @ Steelium Z
Ability: Sand Rush
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
Excadrill is a monster under sand, and it is very dangerous when combined with the sheer power of Steelium Z, being the main sweeper and cleaner of the team. Also, this dude have decent defensive utility as it can check Tapu Koko, taking off pressure from Ferrothorn, while with Rapid Spin is the main source of hazard removal, and it have great synergy with Spike Stack from Ferrothorn. Set is pretty classic too, Swords Dance to boost and muscle its way through would-be checks like Landorus-T and RH Tangrowth. Iron Head is the Steel-type STAB of choice, and it is really good as it can nuke some threats combined with a SD boost and Steelium Z, while Earthquake is the other STAB and can be spammed late game when Ground-immune pokemon are gone.
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Def / 232 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip
Reuniclus (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Thunder
- Recover
As the current team seems pretty weak to Fighting-types, I decided to add Reuniclus here to help dealing with those threats, while at the same time, providing a secondary win condition and a good mon against stall teams, which are a nuisance to Excadrill to deal, especially if they pack Skarmory. The moveset and EV spread are pretty standar, the only thing here is Thunder, which was especially selected to lure in and get a strong hit on Celesteela and some rain threats like Pelipper and Tornadus-T. This mon can set-up on common Sand Rush Excadrill counters like Zapdos, Rotom-W, Celesteela and Slowbro, to name a few, making it a great addition to the team and helping a lot with its defensive utility as well as its sweeping capabilities.
Blacephalon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Trick
Finally, we have Blacephalon. I was wondering that this team was lacking some wallbreaking power to help Excadrill to sweep, and in all the jungle of OU breakers, I decided to add Choice Specs Blacephalon to the team for a few traits. First, its STAB combo is so good, because in OU, Ghost-resistant pokemon are a few, and they are prone to be worn down, like Greninja and Tyranitar, and few teams pack other answers to this, while with its Fire moves, it can break through common Excadrill's answer like RH Tangrowth, Skarmory, Celesteela and M-Scizor. Third, it improves the team matchup against balance and stall teams, as with M-Tyranitar, Reuniclus and this guy, stall teams can have a rough day. It also provies a way to revenge kill non-scarf Tapu Lele, which otherwise is an insane threat. Moveset is standar, with HP Grass being chosen to lure in and if they dare switch-in Greninja, which can be catched on the switch and eliminated, which helps Excadrill a lot, having one of its best offensive checks gone is great. Trick is the last choice, being helpful in stall matchup crippling some threats like Chansey and Toxapex, but it comes to the cost of losing breaking power.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-971106594 Blacephalon the MVP.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-971117492 Tried the CelePex variant. They add a buttload of defensive utility, but lacking the pro-active nature or Rotom-W or the hazard setting from Ferrothorn. This was finals of a Room Tour and Reuniclus was the MVP.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-971124907 Again, Reuniclus MVP.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-971117492 Tried the CelePex variant. They add a buttload of defensive utility, but lacking the pro-active nature or Rotom-W or the hazard setting from Ferrothorn. This was finals of a Room Tour and Reuniclus was the MVP.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-971124907 Again, Reuniclus MVP.
Tyranitar-Mega @ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Ice Punch
Excadrill (M) @ Steelium Z
Ability: Sand Rush
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
Reuniclus (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Thunder
- Recover
Blacephalon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Trick
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Def / 232 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 168 HP / 252 Atk / 88 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Ice Punch
Excadrill (M) @ Steelium Z
Ability: Sand Rush
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
Reuniclus (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 44 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Thunder
- Recover
Blacephalon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 Atk
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Trick
Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Def / 232 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Spikes
- Leech Seed
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip
Rotom-Wash @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe
Bold Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Volt Switch
- Will-O-Wisp
- Pain Split
Final Thoughts
The team is decent, but i feel it can be improved in the right way, and that's why i came here. Hope you enjoyed the long read and can offer some type of feedback.
Thank you and have a nice day.
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