Retiring Old Ladder Team

[Astamatitos]

Team at a glance:

This is the team that i have been using for almost all the time i have been laddering on Shoddybattle and it has ensured me a near top position among the top10 for more than 2 months, well at least before my final exams started.

It first started as a novelty team that tried to utilise Sword Dance Empoleon along with other priority users though to my surprise it was actually successful and therefore i continued using it.

Metagross @ Occa Berry
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Meteor Mash
- Stealth Rock
- Thunderpunch
- Explosion

The lead of the team and most probably the most invaluable member too.
The moveset for this has been suggested by a close friend of mine, Fbaby, so credits go to him if you ever happen to use it.
Sets up Stealth Rock for the team which it definetely needs while taking away possible threats such as Gyarados which are fool enough to switch-in. Booms on physical walls such as Gliscor and Cresselia allowing for the rest of my sweepers to take care of the opponent team easier.

Starmie @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 44 HP/252 Spd/212 SAtk
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Thunder Wave
- Rapid Spin
- Surf
- Thunderbolt

Can't make an OU team without my Starmie <3. I used to have Recover on this, though i found Thunder Wave to be way more usefull as a last resort move by paralysing other fast sweepers such as Gengar in case Surf can't bring it down.
Takes Fire Attacks for me, spreads paralyse which almost all of my team members love and counters Gyarados with ease.

Mamoswine (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Snow Cloak
EVs: 252 HP/4 Atk/252 Def
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Curse
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Rest

The main sweeper of the team. Curse Mamoswine has near no physical weaknesses since even a Life Orbed Close Combat does 60%ish damage to a +1 Cursed Mamoswine. This beast DOES need Stealth Rock to function in order to weaken Gyarados which otherwise stops a possible sweep. Also loves the paralyse support from Starmie and Zapdos.

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP/220 Def/36 Spd
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Thunderbolt
- Thunder Wave
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Roost

Fighting counter, spreads paralysis around while countering Garchomp and taking Gengar's hits if needed too. Am actually beginning to worry about this since i really rely on Zapdos to take most of the hits for my team.

Empoleon (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/4 Def
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Aqua Jet
- Avalanche
- Waterfall

Basically all this thing needs is Stealth Rock placed on the field in order to weaken Gyarados, the main counter of this moveset. The paralysis support remedies it's slow speed, while Paraflinch hax by waterfall is never bad. Aqua Jet can finish of weakened things accompanied with Sword Dance while Avalanche is really usefull when it comes to beating Leech Seed Celebi.

Infernape (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spd
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Swords Dance
- Flare Blitz
- Thunderpunch
- Mach Punch

There it is, the hidden sweeper of the team specialised on luring and killing my team's threats and then going suicidal with Flare Blitz and Sword Dance. Close Combat does more to regular waters but Thunderpunch is needed for luring and killing Gyarados allowing Empoleon and Mamoswine to function better. A thunderpunch on Starmie on the switch-in means that Mach Punch can ohko it next turn, which is a useful thing too.
With Stealth Rock support near nothing can take an SDed Flare Blitz while Mach Punch offers me an alternative way to beat Lucario in cases am low on hp or want to stop cold a Sword Danced Lucario without resorting to Zapdos. Useful against weakened heatran too.

Threat List

Tyranitar: I just laugh at Tyranitar leads since they allow me to both Stealth Rock while switching out aswell as to boom to a possible Gliscor wall since Gliscor is everywhere on Sandstorm teams. CB Tar causes me minor headaches since most of the time i will have to predict his moves and switch to Zapdos for his Earthquakes or Metagross for Stone Edges. Usually what i try to do is weaken it to an extent that it won't be able to take a hit from any member of my team, Starmie is good for that job since it is a Pursuit magnet too.

Gyarados: Stealth Rock weakens it, Starmie walls it easily and i got 4 Pokemon that have an Electric attack.

Infernape: Starmie is the main switch in here while i can easily knock this down with some of my priority moves. Occa Berry Metagross helps with this too. Never had any problems with this.

Azelf: I will admit it, Azelf is one of the main weaknesses of the team, especially if it packs Nasty Plot and Thunderbolt. Usually i'll have to either paralyse it with Zapdos and then KO with something else or bring Metagross to take a psychic and then proceed to Meteor Mash it, again Occa Berry is what saves me here.

Heracross: Zappy walls everything this thing can throw at me with ease bare Stone Edge. If it decides to Stone Edge me i can easily turn the game around by getting a free setup turn with Empoleon or Metagross.

Salamence: Don't have a reliable switch in on LO Draco Meteor Mence though almost all of my pokemon can harm it's sweeping potential or just OHKO it. Mamoswine can stop DDmence from raping my team too.

Gengar: I'll usually have to let something to sleep and then go to Zapdos that gets 4hkoed by a non-Life orbed Shadow ball. Aqua Jet and Ice Shard are great for finishing this of late game.

Garchomp: Zapdos can easily take unboosted Dragon Claws and reply with a well directed Hidden Power. Garchomp is the reason i also gave Mamoswine the Imprish Nature since it barely takes any damage from unboosted earthquakes and dragon claws.

Lucario: Usually Zapdos is my reliable switch-in to this, i will always try to paralyse this so that Empoleon and Mamoswine will have an easier time against it.

Starmie: Zapdos for Surfs while going to metagross on predicted ice beams. It might seem am weak to it but usually the great amount of Electric attacks i use cover this easily.

Weavile: Metagross for it's ice atttacks, Empoleon for both ice and dark attacks, Mamoswine works well on everything but Brick Break. If Weavile is not Choice banded then it can't do much to my team either.

Machamp: Zapdos to take it's Dynamicpunches while going to Metagross to take the proceeded Stone Edge.

Zapdos: Mamoswine walls everything this thing can pack while setting up curses on it.

Blissey: Mamoswine and Metagross are my main switch-ins to this though if it's Obi's Blissey i just go to Empoleon which laughs at both Toxic and Flamethrower.

Suicune: Some problem in this section too, i will have to either boom on it with Metagross early or bring in Zapdos to deal with it. In case its Calm mind + Restalk Empoleon is usually my best bet, setting Sword Dances on it and waterfalling it to bring it on KO range for Infernape or Zapdos.

Breloom: Zapdos pretty much covers this.

Metagross: Zapdos is usually my counter though i always try to scan for Explosions, i don't want my Zapdos dead early on.

Heatran: Starmie to take Fire blasts, Zapdos to take the rest of it's attacks. Mach Punch Infernape usually helps me to deal with weakened scarftrans too. Occa Berry Metagross can boom on it if am in big need too.

That's it guys, phew that was long ;P

Feel free to Rate/Share/Do whatever.
~Astamatitos.

 

[Taylor]

I've played this team on a numerous ammount of occasions, and it has proven to successfully operate with those unorthodox movesets. With your team focusing on those situational events to snatch the advantage from there on then, it certainly brings that element of suprise factor into the game.

I don't understand why don't opt for Recover on Starmie for liability. I'm going to argue that the Thunder Wave comment is invalid, because paralyzing Gengar is no where near as important as recovering your health from switch in on Infernape, Gyarados and the like. Besides, when are you going to keep Starmie in on Gengar? Why not just hit it with Surf, following up with a Mamoswine/Empoleon/Zapdos revenge kill? Paralysis doesn't benifit your Metagross using Explosion or your priority attackers; Mamoswine, Infernape or Empoleon. I really would consider replacing Thunder Wave for Recover. Or atleast follow that unorthodox style and replace Rapid Spin for Ice Beam whilst simultainuously removing Leftovers for Life Orb/Expert Belt.

I'm wondering how Rest is working for you on Mamoswine? I always understood Rest was an unreliable move in D/P unless it had Sleep Talk support.

 

[RaikouLover]

Interesting team to say the least.

Structure wise its pretty solid, most of the major threats are covered.

My only real suggestions are to give Starmie Recover > Thunderwave for reasongs Taylor already mentioned, and to change the Empoleon moveset. I would go with Bologo's Empoleon set:

Empoleon @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
*Swords Dance
*Aqua Jet
*Drill Peck
*Earthquake

This gives you more type coverage and still deals with Celebi better than Avalanche.

It's good to finally see someone using SD Ape, the thing rocks. Your moveset is quite interesting. Normally I would suggest Close Combat and a Jolly nature, but Mach Punch has its merits.

Overall, this is a very solid team... nice and original too is always a plus. Good luck!

 

[Astamatitos]

Rest has been great once the Special Attackers and Gyarados are out. I definetely need this to tank several stuff such as Blissey's seismic toses or just recover the damage lost from non-Calm Minding Cresselia. It's mainly a filler but i don't see any other move being better for this slot, moves like Avalanche and Stone Edge don't really fit here. Healing statuses is always a plus too.

I guess ill have to test Recover on Starmie again, especially now that the urge of CB Tars is over.

Also Earthquake on SD Empoleon is a big no. It can't hit anything harder than your STAB Waterfall except lol heatran and other Empoleons which are rare. Of course you can have it to hit waters harder but the most common ones nowadays are Gyarados, Swampert, Starmie and Vaporeon therefore it's not that important. I could consider Drill Peck, though i'd be missing some MixedMence coverage.

Thanks for the comments so far btw ;)

 

[Aeroblacktyl]

While it's pretty nice to blow up Metagross, I'd probably go against it. Your reasoning is to blow up like Gliscor, but isn't your team already anti Gliscor as it is? Mamoswine, Starmie, Zapdos, Empoleon, Infernape, Gliscor will not switch into a single one of these.

Personally what I'd change up is either add Bullet Punch for another quick priority, or Pursuit. The reasoning why is that I think Deoxys-E can f around with this team a bit. At least when you come into one of it's neutral attacks, which is probably a 3HKO, you can prevent it from any further damage. Or Bullet Punch for Weavile (still helps with Deoxys-E). In fact, you WANT a Choice Weavile, because the other Weavile is a SD Weavile, and that surely sweeps the team. The only reason why you'd need this insurance is cause in the course of the game, a SD Life Orb Flare Blitz from Infernape that might've taken down a Blissey, and you get the point.

Although I dislike the fact that this team could easily be stalled. Simple Skarmory+Spiritomb+Cresselia would've annoyed you all day long. (Which is where that whole Recover on Starmie would've helped!)

But this team is retired so no worries!

 

[Colonel M]

Yeah, I definately will agree with the above posters and say that Recover > Thunder Wave on Starmie since Zapdos is already utilizing it. I get the picture that no Ground-types would really switch onto Starmie (I guess the only real exception would be Swampert) but I don't see where it's going.

What seems a bit scattered in my honest opinion is how you, and don't take this the wrong way, spam Gyarados counters all about when in reality having Thunderbolt Zapdos, Thunderbolt Starmie, Thunderpunch Infernape AND Thunderpunch Metagross when in reality this seems a bit Swampert bait for a team. It seems the best way you can take him down is Explosion Metagross.

I'm going to go on a limb here and say that you could really ditch Avalanche because you're forcing yourself to take hits which, despite being alright and all, shouldn't be something you should consider. I'd actually pack either Drill Peck or go the extra mile for Return. While Return seems a bit redundant, it is at least giving you coverage by hitting Celebi and still dishing damage to Bulky Waters such as Vaporeon and friends.

I'd agree with Aero on Bullet Punch Metagross. It'd help cut down some of the trouble that Heracross might bring to the team if it's more of a versatile 'Cross. Otherwise I love how the team is unique and that you don't use bogged standard movesets.