This is a thread I am starting to reflect on some of your favorite anti-leads in the Gen V UU metagame. An anti-lead is a Pokemon tailored specifically to counter common leads in the metagame. This leads to a lot of room for creativity and often gives underrated threats/movesets a chance to shine. In this thread, you can post your own anti-leads and explain why they work, or refute/qualify/defend one that is already shown.
Here are some of my favorites:
Camerupt (M) @ Power Herb
Trait: Solid Rock
EVs: 48 HP/252 SpA/208 Spe
Nature: Modest
-Stealth Rock
-Solarbeam
-Lava Plume
-Earth Power/Roar
Which common leads it beats
Standard lead Swampert and Rhyperior
Why it works
The EVs are tailored so that Camerupt outspends 44 Speed Swampert, i.e. the fastest standard Swampert/Rhyperior lead, and proceeds to destroy either with a Power-Herb Solarbeam, removing the charge turn. It can also set Stealth Rock and has a chance to burn opponents with Lava Plume, such as Mienshao switching in.
Other Advantages
Camerupt is a better Raikou check than Rhyperior because it is neutral to both common Hidden Powers and is still immune to Raikou's STAB. Camerupt also has Roar to halt SubCM Raikou and Cosmic Power Sigilyph, while being immune to burns. In other words, Camerupt is one of the best non-Dark-type CP Sigilyph checks out there.
Virizion @ Life Orb
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Nature: Timid
-Giga Drain
-Calm Mind
-Focus Blast
-Taunt
Which common leads it beats
Standard lead Swampert, Gligar, Claydol, and Rhyperior
Why it works
Virizion stops all three from setting up with Taunt, and Virizion can also nail Claydol/Swampert/Rhyperior with a STAB Giga Drain. Virizion can also try to sweep with decent dual STABs, and has recovery to undo LO recoil, letting it be quite the juggernaut.
Other Advantages:
Excellent natural special defense lets it put a lot of pressure on Blastoise to spin, while also handling CroCune and other bulky waters very well. Empoleon, despite being neutral to Giga Drain, is also weak to Focus Blast due to its secondary steel typing.
Claydol @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/4 SpA/252 SpD
Nature: Calm
-Stealth Rock
-Magic Coat
-Ice Beam/Rapid Spin
-Rapid Spin/Earth Power/Psychic
Which common leads it beats
Gligar, Rhyperior without Megahorn/Ice Punch/Avalanche, and Bronzong
Why it works
Magic Coat "returns" hazards and the Toxics that Claydol tends to attract, as well as other status moves that aren't as common. Claydol can also set up its own Stealth Rock should the opponent be hesitant to attempt to do so. Ice Beam destroys Gligar and Flygon, while Earth Power or Psychic can be used as a STAB move to hit certain threats hard.
Other advantages:
Claydol resists Fighting-type moves, is immune to Raikou's STAB (letting it switch in on Specs/Scarf Raikou with good prediction), and is also the second-most common Pokemon in UU to resist EdgeQuake (after Flygon).
Torterra (M) @ Ice Gem
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 252 HP/200 Atk/56 SpA
Nature: Brave/Naughty
-Wood Hammer
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-Hidden Power Ice
Which common leads it beats
Gligar, Swampert, Rhyperior, some Empoleon
Why it works
Like Swampert and Rhyperior, Torterra has access to Stealth Rock, STAB Earthquake, and good natural HP, Attack, and Defense stats. Unlike Rhyperior and Swampert, Torterra also has STAB Wood Hammer and a resistance to EdgeQuake, letting it manhandle common lead Swampert and Rhyperior or force them to switch. However, that is only half the battle. Another common lead, Gligar, walls every remotely common Torterra set due to its top-tier physical bulk. However, an Ice Gem-boosted HP Ice on the switch-in cripples Gligar so badly that it will be forced to Roost right away, which is when you nail it with a then-super effective STAB Wood Hammer. With good prediction it is thus an excellent Gligar lure and a good anti-lead.
Other advantages
The HP Ice also does severe damage to Flygon and Tangrowth switching in, and Torterra makes a good check to HP Grass Raikou since it takes neutral damage from HP Grass/Aura Sphere/Extrasensory and is immune to the STAB. Torterra, like Virizion, can also put offensive pressure on Blastoise that attempt to spin away hazards.
Here are some of my favorites:
Camerupt (M) @ Power Herb
Trait: Solid Rock
EVs: 48 HP/252 SpA/208 Spe
Nature: Modest
-Stealth Rock
-Solarbeam
-Lava Plume
-Earth Power/Roar
Which common leads it beats
Standard lead Swampert and Rhyperior
Why it works
The EVs are tailored so that Camerupt outspends 44 Speed Swampert, i.e. the fastest standard Swampert/Rhyperior lead, and proceeds to destroy either with a Power-Herb Solarbeam, removing the charge turn. It can also set Stealth Rock and has a chance to burn opponents with Lava Plume, such as Mienshao switching in.
Other Advantages
Camerupt is a better Raikou check than Rhyperior because it is neutral to both common Hidden Powers and is still immune to Raikou's STAB. Camerupt also has Roar to halt SubCM Raikou and Cosmic Power Sigilyph, while being immune to burns. In other words, Camerupt is one of the best non-Dark-type CP Sigilyph checks out there.
Virizion @ Life Orb
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Nature: Timid
-Giga Drain
-Calm Mind
-Focus Blast
-Taunt
Which common leads it beats
Standard lead Swampert, Gligar, Claydol, and Rhyperior
Why it works
Virizion stops all three from setting up with Taunt, and Virizion can also nail Claydol/Swampert/Rhyperior with a STAB Giga Drain. Virizion can also try to sweep with decent dual STABs, and has recovery to undo LO recoil, letting it be quite the juggernaut.
Other Advantages:
Excellent natural special defense lets it put a lot of pressure on Blastoise to spin, while also handling CroCune and other bulky waters very well. Empoleon, despite being neutral to Giga Drain, is also weak to Focus Blast due to its secondary steel typing.
Claydol @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP/4 SpA/252 SpD
Nature: Calm
-Stealth Rock
-Magic Coat
-Ice Beam/Rapid Spin
-Rapid Spin/Earth Power/Psychic
Which common leads it beats
Gligar, Rhyperior without Megahorn/Ice Punch/Avalanche, and Bronzong
Why it works
Magic Coat "returns" hazards and the Toxics that Claydol tends to attract, as well as other status moves that aren't as common. Claydol can also set up its own Stealth Rock should the opponent be hesitant to attempt to do so. Ice Beam destroys Gligar and Flygon, while Earth Power or Psychic can be used as a STAB move to hit certain threats hard.
Other advantages:
Claydol resists Fighting-type moves, is immune to Raikou's STAB (letting it switch in on Specs/Scarf Raikou with good prediction), and is also the second-most common Pokemon in UU to resist EdgeQuake (after Flygon).
Torterra (M) @ Ice Gem
Trait: Overgrow
EVs: 252 HP/200 Atk/56 SpA
Nature: Brave/Naughty
-Wood Hammer
-Stealth Rock
-Earthquake
-Hidden Power Ice
Which common leads it beats
Gligar, Swampert, Rhyperior, some Empoleon
Why it works
Like Swampert and Rhyperior, Torterra has access to Stealth Rock, STAB Earthquake, and good natural HP, Attack, and Defense stats. Unlike Rhyperior and Swampert, Torterra also has STAB Wood Hammer and a resistance to EdgeQuake, letting it manhandle common lead Swampert and Rhyperior or force them to switch. However, that is only half the battle. Another common lead, Gligar, walls every remotely common Torterra set due to its top-tier physical bulk. However, an Ice Gem-boosted HP Ice on the switch-in cripples Gligar so badly that it will be forced to Roost right away, which is when you nail it with a then-super effective STAB Wood Hammer. With good prediction it is thus an excellent Gligar lure and a good anti-lead.
Other advantages
The HP Ice also does severe damage to Flygon and Tangrowth switching in, and Torterra makes a good check to HP Grass Raikou since it takes neutral damage from HP Grass/Aura Sphere/Extrasensory and is immune to the STAB. Torterra, like Virizion, can also put offensive pressure on Blastoise that attempt to spin away hazards.