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Gonna violate my #1 rule of competitive battling here

nastypass

nastypass

that bitch what arranges the blocks
Pronoun
they/her/hers
...do not take advice from anyone on tcodf not named Vixie. But whatever, might as well post this team.

Last week I decided I'd get back into competitive battling in some form or another. I'd been sort of following what's going on in UU, but apparently it's just a circlejerk of Venu/Milo cores and Rain teams, so I think I'll hold off on re-entering that metagame until something new drops down from OU. Instead, with the recent banning of Salamence, I decided I'd take a peek at what the new OU is like. I was pleased with how few dragons I saw, and came up with this after about half an hour of consideration.

Rhinestone Eyes Starmie @Life Orb
Timid, Natural Cure
4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
-Hydro Pump
-Ice Beam
-Thunderbolt
-Rapid Spin

Sound Check Metagross @Lum Berry
Adamant
252 HP/240 Atk/16 Spe
-Meteor Mash
-Bullet Punch
-Earthquake
-Stealth Rock

As these two are part of a combination (that I admit to getting from here), I decided to comment on the two of them together. Starmie is the true lead, but in reality they both serve the function of one. Starmie is running Hydro Pump over Surf because otherwise there are certain KOs it fails to get otherwise. Namely, it now 2HKOes all Tyranitar, most Steel/Psychics, and OHKOs Scizor and Zapdos after Stealth Rock damage. Admittedly, most of these will not be found in the lead slot, but I hope to get (and indeed have gotten) some use out of her late in the game. Metagross has a Lum Berry in case I need to switch it in on a status lead, and is the Stealth Rock supporter on my team.

Now, for how this combo fares against other common leads. Azelf is left down to its Focus Sash by a single Hydro Pump, and is then easily taken down the rest of the way by a Rapid Spin (taking out any rocks it has set up in the process). Against Aerodactyl, I switch to Metagross fearing a Rock Slide, and proceed to beat it up with Meteor Mash and Bullet Punch. If it uses SR on the switch, I can simply spin it away later. Starmie can 2HKO 'pert and Metagross, so they have to decide between getting Stealth Rock up and doing damage to it. Against Jirachi, I'd switch to Metagross fearing a Scarfed U-turn. It's not likely to try Tricking a Starmie, who sometimes runs a Trick set itself, and can actually use the Scarf to its advantage. Starmie scares the piss out of Heatran, Infernape, and Gliscor with Hydro Pump, so I doubt I'll get much trouble from them.

Pirate Jet Gyarados @Leftovers
Adamant
156 HP/72 Atk/96 Def/184 Spe
-Waterfall
-Taunt
-Stone Edge
-Dragon Dance

A basic bulky Dragon Dancer. The EVs allow him to avoid getting 2HKOed by CBzor's Quick Attack, LOtran's Fireblast even after SR damage (and I must admit I've seen more Scarf and Shuca Heatran than anything else), and outspeed positive natured 115s and Scarftar after one dance. The basic idea behind this set is for him to come in on Infernape, Scizor, Heatran, etc. and set up on them. Rape generally ensues, assuming I've removed their bulky waters. Which brings me to...

Punk Jolteon @Choice Specs
Timid
252 SpA/4 SpD/252 Spe
-Thunderbolt
-Baton Pass
-Hidden Power [Grass]
-Shadow Ball

...because I needed something to switch in on electric attacks and remove those damned bulky waters. This slot was originally held by a wish supporting Togekiss, because I thought I needed it and it turns out I really didn't. It's also the slot I'm least certain of, because outside absorbing electric attacks and making Suicune and co. run for the hills, it really isn't that helpful. If anyone has a suggestion for a better use of this slot, I'm all ears. Hidden Power is grass because Swampert is a pain if Starmie or Celebi goes down. Baton Pass on a choice user may seem strange, but it's helpful for scouting.

Dirty Harry Tyranitar @Choice Band
Adamant
160 HP/252 Atk/96 Spe
-Aqua Tail
-Crunch
-Pursuit
-Stone Edge

CBtar is an absolute monster and I cannot count the number of times it has saved my ass in conjunction with Gyarados. Not a whole lot for me to say here, running Aqua Tail over Earthquake because fuck you Hippowdon, and it doesn't activate Shucatran's berry. I'm pretty sure Gengar and the frailer psychics get beaten by Pursuit whether they switch out or not, but I haven't run any calculations on that.

O Green World Celebi @Leftovers
Modest
232 HP/244 SpA/32 Spe
-Thunder Wave
-Recover
-Leaf Storm
-Hidden Power [Fire]

The lovely Tinkerbell set, and the reason I do not attempt this team on a cartridge. This being an offensive team, I decided that making my sole defensive Pokemon not a sitting duck would be a good idea. 32 Speed EVs are enough to outrun and KO Jolly Tyranitar before it gets a Dragon Dance. Thunder Wave makes things a whole lot easier for my team unless there's a cleric around (people tend to leave these out). SR damage + Leaf Storm on the switch + HP Fire will KO Scizor, so they have to be careful. Against Heatran I can switch to Tyranitar or Gyarados.

Can you spot the theme in this team's nicknames?

FINAL GLIMPSE:
Starmiemetagrossgyaradosjolteontyranitarcelebi
 
If it were Jirachi, I'd agree, but Meteor Mash's accuracy has only screwed me over once, and the additional power and chance of an attack boost is, in my opinion, better than normal accuracy and a flinch chance.

Besides, it's METEOR MASH, it's the most jaw-on-the-floor-awesome move ever.
 
...they're all named after Gorillaz songs, aren't they?

I don't know... personally, I'd add Heal Bell to Celebi, since a couple status effects could screw some of your mons over.
 
Kammington said:
...they're all named after Gorillaz songs, aren't they?

I don't know... personally, I'd add Heal Bell to Celebi, since a couple status effects could screw some of your mons over.
Click to expand...

TENPOINTSFORGRYFFINDOR.jpg


As for the status, I think I've got that covered. Starmie and Celebi both have Natural Cure, so they can just absorb it and then switch out to neutralize it, and Metagross has a Lum Berry, which removes it without the switch. Jolteon is immune to Thunderwave, arguably the most common form of status. I'm reasonably sure DJD's stats on Smogon would back me up if I bothered to check. Gyarados and Tyranitar both fear a burn, but Rotom-A (the only common Will-O-Wisper that I can think of right away) is much more apt to simply Charge Beam or Thunderbolt Gyarados (I simply switch to Jolteon and threaten it with Shadow Ball), and it cannot switch in on Tyranitar if it's Crunching.

EDIT due to ninja: Metagross has SR.
 
I love how this went off topic... Anyways, You stole my nickname premise! Whatever... I would suggest replacing Baton Pass, for Jolteon's speed makes it pointless, since you'll just go first anyway. Maybe put in Signal Beam?
 
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