- Introduction -
It's now been 1 year and a half that I'm on smogon, . I've been lurking around some Other Metagames and Pet Mods (definitely more the latter) for the most part. Even though I'm still very much dedicated to them, I can't say that more traditional tiers haven't grown on me lately. I liked the idea of a more stable metagame with a larger community and more with ressources available, since it makes it easier to become better player as a whole and gain experience. That's why I started to play OU.
Now, I have tried going on ladder and in tournaments with teams I found here and there (Samples, Team Bazaar, that sort of stuff) but I've realized that I play better with my own teams, since I tend to know my mons, my options and my limits better this way. And so, that brings us here, with my very first (semi at least) viable competitive team in OU. But I do know that I'm pretty inconsistent at teambuilding, an that's why I posted here: to get some help and feedback.
- Team Process -
I wanted to try a PsySpam core with something else than a Mega-Zam, because I don't like relying on Focus Blast to go through Steel-types. That's why I decided to go with Medicham, which also hits like a truck and can take care of common mons like Lando or Heatran. Besides, Lele is already there to cover special attack, so that's why I wanted to go a little more physical.
Now, to support those two strong yet slow mons, some sort of speed control was required. That's why I went with Sticky Web. I chose Ribombee over Araquanid or something like, I don't know, Smeargle, because it ouspeeds most of other suicide leads and has access to really interesting utility (Stun Spore, Defog).
Once you run Sticky Web on your team, you need a way to keep it on the field, so I went with two mons that can take of any defogger or spinner - I mean, Excadrill - that comes too close: Bisharp and Rockium-Z Lando.
Now at first I wanted to include a spinner in my team as well, but I remarked that my team wasn't weak to stealth rocks at all. What my team was weak against though were Steelas, and Scarf Karts (negates the speed drop from Web), both of which could easily pass Lele or M-Med, my steel-type checks. That's why I included a choice scarf Magnezone.
- In-Depth -
Ribombee @ Focus Sash
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sticky Web
- Defog
- Moonblast
- Stun Spore
My Suicide Lead. Ribombee is excellent as a Sticky Web setter in my opinion, since it can provide so much to the team just in the first turns of the game. Having defog is an invaluable asset against enemy suicide leads or enemy Ferros, and Moonblast and Stun Spore can apply a suprising amount of pressure on many anti-leads, like Mega-Sableye in stalls or Defensive Landos with Defog. Plus, Shield Dust is great to set webs through M-Lops and Jirachis. I don't play HP Fire because Magnezone can switch on pretty much any steel-type that tries to do something and completely shut them down. Oh and one last thing: If your opponent has a Hawlucha in his team, DO NOT LEAD WITH THIS POKEMON; It will probably be your only reliable answer.
Medicham-Mega @ Medichamite
Ability: Pure Power
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Fake Out
- Ice Punch
- Zen Headbutt
The star of the team. It's so ridiculously powerful, it can pretty much 2HKO anything that is not named Tapu Fini or Mega-Sableye, especially when combined with SR and either Fake Out or Psychic Terrain (or both if you're up against something not grounded). It's my answer to a lot of things, including Lando, Magearna, Greninja (if webs are still up), Bulu, etc... It's just such a great mon. Just be careful for burns and try to keep webs up.
Tapu Lele @ Choice Specs
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moonblast
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Psyshock
Another monster, it greatly enhances M-Med'soffensive power, helps the team against priority spams and is overall just a monster of sheer force (pun not intended). Lele can break and go through pretty much everything that gives trouble to Med *cough cough Lati@s*, especially some sets of Koko or Gren. Really standart specs set, I didn't really feel the need to change anything. Also, pay attention to when you switch it in, because Surge can hinder Med or Bisharp in some situations.
Bisharp @ Occa Berry
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rock Polish
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Knock Off
I love Bisharp. This pokemon invalidates so much of what could potentially shut down this team, starting off with Defog. At +2, this thing 2HKOs Fini with Iron Head (plus it really benefits from Misty Surge to prevent burns + remove psyhcic terrain), and can then sweep with a Rock Polish boost. Occa Berry may seem like a weird choice, because it is, but it lets him take Heat Waves from Zapdos or Torn (and even Blacephalon, who is elseway a pretty big threat for this team). It's also my prime check against Serperior, because it can tank a Leaf Storm or an HP Fire at +2. Just start by hitting Knock Off to be sure to pass subs, and then enjoy Sucker Punch (plus it disregards speed drop from Glare). Bisharp also improves my matchup against opposing Sticky Webs.
Landorus-Therian @ Rockium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- U-turn
- Stone Edge
You see a Zapdos or a Torn, but either your Bisharp is down or you don't think you can sweep the entire enemy team with it? Or maybe it's just that an Excadrill is coming? Well, no worries, because Rockium Z Lando is here to save the day. Continental Crush just annihilate anything that has flying type (except opposing Landos but who cares when you have M-Med (or Hawlucha but I talked about it earlier)). It also carries the role of an offensive Stealth Rock setter (against the likes of Zard-Y or Volcarona that would try to come before rocks are up), because Stealth Rock is great. Plus it immensely helps to keep momentum and make other mons switch in safely thanks to Intimidate.
Magnezone @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 8 HP / 4 Def / 244 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Flash Cannon
- Volt Switch
Finally, Scarf Magnezone brings some kind of speed control outside of webs (or even inside, considering it's rather slow even with a boost). It helps my matchup against Kart (the spread is for that), Steela, Ferro (when Med isn't available) or the occasional Skarmory. It also creates some kind of Volt-Turn core with Lando to help pivot the team around, just pay attention to opposing Landos and Garchomps.
- Threats -
Rain
Pretty much the reason why I made this RMT. Rain is right now really popular on the ladder, and that's not a good new for this team. Even if the matchup is far from unwinable, I struggled a lot against that archetype. So I'm asking you guys, what should I do to improve this team's matchup against rain?
Mega-Loppuny
If Sticky Webs are removed, this thing is incredibely threatening. The only ways I found to get around it were either to sac Lando and then RK with either Lele or Med, or either to keep your Ribombee for later (except if your opponent leads with it in which case you can paralyze it happily and not care).
Mega-Charizard-Y
For some reason Zard-Y's sprite wouldn't work so huh idk
This thing is a pain to deal with if you haven't set Stealth Rocks before. You have to wear it down first with priority (either Fake Out or Sucker Punch) and then try to revenge kill it with Magnezone, but if it's a Flame Charge set it's gg.
Stall
It's winnable, but incredibely frustrating to play against and require near-perfect plays each turn. (It probably comes from me rather than exclusively from the team though.)
- Importable-
> Click Here <
- Conclusion -
I've been having a ton of fun on OU so far, and especially with this team. And if today I'm here to improve, it's only to have even more fun on this tier and in future experiences. I hope you've enjoyed this RMT and that some of you will be able to help me out!
