SM OU Mega Zam Sand (Peak 1911)

[carne esada]

Hey guys this is my first time posting a team for the forums and would like to get some opinions. I randomly threw this team together and have been surprised by its success on the ladder. I am typically a player that was stuck around the 1600's, but with this team I was able to peak in the top 50 on the ladder. Here it is

The Team

https://pastebin.com/PJkwD0eb

Alakazam-Mega @ Alakazite
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Recover

I wanted a powerful mega that is capable of hitting hard and that had a great speed tier. It helps to outrun mons like Greninja, M-Lopunny, Tapu Koko, Tornadus T, etc. It is capable of getting powerful hits off on these mons, potentially O-KOing some of them depending on whether rocks are up. This mon forces so many switches and allows me to put dents in bulkier teams. The trace ability comes in handy when facing other weather teams, mainly rain, and helps to weaken the opposing teams weather sweepers. Psychic, Shadow Ball And Focus Blast are decent coverage moves with the chance to lower Sp Def so many mons will not be able to take 2 hits from this mon. Recovery is for longevity; mainly used when a switch is forced on the opposing team.

Tyranitar @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 76 HP / 184 Atk / 196 SpD / 52 Spe
Careful Nature
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Stone Edge
- Fire Blast

T-tar is my only way to set up sand so make sure to keep this mon alive to ensure that Drill can potentially sweep. Smooth Rock is necessary on this mon. It guarantees that drill will have enough sand turns to inflict massive damage. It also helps inflict chip damage on mons that arent immune to the sand. This mon also serves as my switch in for Koko's, the Lati's, Trans, and Torns (without focus blast or superpower) effectively trapping these mons and getting some damage off with pursuit Fire Blast is the last move of choice, it helps to catch Scizor, Skarmory, and Ferrothorns off guard. Possibly knocking out these mons if they are low or keeping them low so the other members that struggle with these mons can break through them easier.

Excadrill @ Earth Plate
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Swords Dance

This is mon is vital because it serves as speed control for this team. WIth T-Tars sand it is capable of sweeping weakened teams. I decided on earth plate for Drill so that it can get off extremely powerful earthquakes. Swords Dance is used to boost its already impressive attack power. With +2 and earth plate it is capable of knocking out bulky mons like Gastrodon and Tapu Fini in one hit. Rock Slide is there for Zapdos and other flying mons that resist Iron Head. Beware of skarms though.

Zapdos @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 228 Def / 28 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Discharge
- Defog
- Roost
- Hidden Power [Ice]

This is my other form of speed control on the team. It is a threat to any physical attacker; they will take rocky helmet damage and run the risk of getting paralyzed. This Zap set is great for checking mons like Scarf Lando, Lopunny, Kartana, Celesteela and Scizor. I used to have Torn-T in this spot but it left me extremely vulnerable to Hawluchas. Zap effectively counters Lucha without Stone Edge and can knock it out with discharge. It can however live a +2 Stone Edge from Lucha if no rocks are up.

Kommo-o @ Kommonium Z
Ability: Bulletproof
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Clanging Scales
- Close Combat
- Stealth Rock
- Flamethrower

Kommo-o serves as both my rocker and Z-mon. This mon is usually the lead for this team. It can beat most lead lando sets. Depending on the set it can knock it out in 1 hit with Clangorous Soul Blaze. If it is a bulkier set it will knock them out in 2 hits. Beware of Fairy mons though as you run the risk of wasting your Z-move. If you predict your opponent to switch into their fairy mon just set up rocks. This mon serves as my switch in for Heatran, Ferro (Immune to gyro ball with bulletproof), Serperiors, Scizors, Kartanas. It can effectively dismantle these mons with its moveset. Max Sp Attack investment is used so that it can get the most out of its Z-move. Flamethrower is there to inflict decent damage on magearnas that usually will switch in on this mon. Kommo-o, if unchecked, can serve as an early breaker or a late game sweeper depending on the opponents team. This mon also checks Ash-Greninja well if it is locked into Water Shuriken or Dark Pulse.

Tangrowth @ Assault Vest
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Tang is my all around switch in for special attackers. It has great utility with the ability to knock off items. Its a great check to Magnezone, greninja, Tapu Koko and Fini and Keldeo. Regenerator is to ensure its longevity throughout the game as this team does not deal with hard hitting Special Attackers well if this mon is dead. It also serves as a psuedo ground resist if zapdos is dead.


Proof of Peak

Replays
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-861738525
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-861725516
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-860855269
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-860331954
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-860228238
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-860142033
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-859301061
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-858379473
http://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-857037619​

 

[Ladder Bandit]

Congrats on your peak, already had the pleasure of using this team from spotting it in one of Aim’s videos. The main issue I’ve been having through playing this team thus far is Icium Z Kyerum-B, how do you play around this?

 

[carne esada]

Congrats on your peak, already had the pleasure of using this team from spotting it in one of Aim’s videos. The main issue I’ve been having through playing this team thus far is Icium Z Kyerum-B, how do you play around this?

Icium Kyurem is a major threat for this team. If no sand is up I'll usually sack T-tar so that drill can come in afterword to deal with it. Otherwise it's pray for focus blast from zam to hit after it's wasted it's z move or hope you can get the boost on Kommo-o before Kyurem comes in so that you can outspeed it and knock it out with clanging scales. Still looking for some other options to deal with this weakness though

 

[Ladder Bandit]

Icium Kyurem is a major threat for this team. If no sand is up I'll usually sack T-tar so that drill can come in afterword to deal with it. Otherwise it's pray for focus blast from zam to hit after it's wasted it's z move or hope you can get the boost on Kommo-o before Kyurem comes in so that you can outspeed it and knock it out with clanging scales. Still looking for some other options to deal with this weakness though

Yeah that’s the process I pretty much went through myself but sacking the sand setter isn’t really beneficial, thank you for your reply through

I would suggest switching out zapdos for physically defensive Pex which does still check the majority of things zapdos does and has access to haze for set-up mons however this will give the team some more weakness to ground, good luck on finding a patch up for this.

 

[carne esada]

Yeah that’s the process I pretty much went through myself but sacking the sand setter isn’t really beneficial, thank you for your reply through

I would suggest switching out zapdos for physically defensive Pex which does still check the majority of things zapdos does and has access to haze for set-up mons however this will give the team some more weakness to ground, good luck on finding a patch up for this.

Thank you for the suggestion I will give pex a shot and see how it goes.

 

[entrocefalo]

How do you play vs specs Lele clicking moonblast? If SR are on each time you have to sack something to revenge it

 

[carne esada]

How do you play vs specs Lele clicking moonblast? If SR are on each time you have to sack something to revenge it

Tang is my initial switch for this mon. If no rocks are up im guaranteed to live 2 specs moonblast from Lele and the ill knock it off, if Tang is at full health. 252 SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 169-199 (41.9 - 49.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO. Other wise try to get sand up and make sure Drill can get in safely.

Another mon I was considering over Tang was Sp def Ferrothorn. It offers the same utility with knock off and resistances to some off the same mons that tang does. So this Ferro might be a good option for this team. This is a potential set for Ferro i would consider.


Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 36 Def / 220 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Spikes
- Knock Off
- Leech Seed
- Power Whip

It offers more utility with leech seed and spikes, which could help break down fatter teams and effectively offers a Specs Lele check

 

[iamnathan]

Hi, congratulations on your peak! After playing with this team I have found that I prefer Life Orb on Excadrill, but that could just be due to my playstyle.

 

[HOPf]

How do you beat magearna. I have no switch in

 

[carne esada]

How do you beat magearna. I have no switch in

Trying ferrothorn in tangs spot. But usually try to get up sand for drill to outspeed after

 

[Madgik]

Hi,

This equipped is really top! the only thing I changed is calm mind instead of psychic because it helps to win the game against the other M-Alakazam

How do you manage other Alakazam?

 

[carne esada]

Hi,

This equipped is really top! the only thing I changed is calm mind instead of psychic because it helps to win the game against the other M-Alakazam

How do you manage other Alakazam?

So I have a number of options but most of them rely on Zam missing focus blast lol. Either kill it with TTar with crunch after a missed FB or revenge kill it with Drill after TTar is knocked out. Or bank on winning a speed tie with your own Zam. Zam can live a shadow ball from full so make sure to get some chip damage before hand if you are forced to be in the situation where you only have Zam to revenge kill it. I probably wouldn't get rid of psychic on Zam for calm mind as its an important stab that deals with Pex, Venusaur, and Loppunny, OKoing them (except for Pex some times depending on the set). You should replace recover if anything for calm mind.