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You're Never Over - UU Hail
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Introduction
You're Never Over - UU Hail
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Introduction
The advent of Gen V UU created a metagame filled with a huge variety of deadly threats, many of which are incredibly overpowered, and capable of curbstomping half of the metagame. Then you have stuff like Chansey, Drought, Kyurem, Victini, stuff that the metagame is incredibly centralized around. In fact, nearly all of the teams commonly seen on the ladder are likely to have at least one of those few things on them.
I made this team with the basis in mind of breaking all of the main common teams in the metagame. In other words, to build a team that could easily manage to systematically take apart opposing Hail offense, Drought offense, stall, and of course, the slightly rarer general non-weather offense teams. This inevitably led to me using some rather strange and gimmicky sets in the early making of this team, including Calm Mind + Toxic Espeon, Choice Specs Kingdra, and LO 4 Attacks Kirikizan, all of which played highly important roles in the original version of this team, leading to the team finally forming a sort of Balanced/Offensive nature, despite Kirikizan being replaced and some changes being made to the rest of the team.
In terms of the success of this team, I've managed to hit ~#5 or so, at 1400+ CRE on the UU ladder as windong and windsong13, and currently rests at 1409 at #8 or so on the ladder. However, the team isn't really ideal for laddering, simply due to some of the strategies it employs (lures, specifically) and struggles a bit against the teams that have popped up later in the suspect period that an absurd amount of answers to Kyurem.
So, as the suspect period draws to a close, I've seen it fit to post this team, to see if there are any thoughts on how I could improve it a bit, and I would definitely be happy if people could offer some advice!
I made this team with the basis in mind of breaking all of the main common teams in the metagame. In other words, to build a team that could easily manage to systematically take apart opposing Hail offense, Drought offense, stall, and of course, the slightly rarer general non-weather offense teams. This inevitably led to me using some rather strange and gimmicky sets in the early making of this team, including Calm Mind + Toxic Espeon, Choice Specs Kingdra, and LO 4 Attacks Kirikizan, all of which played highly important roles in the original version of this team, leading to the team finally forming a sort of Balanced/Offensive nature, despite Kirikizan being replaced and some changes being made to the rest of the team.
In terms of the success of this team, I've managed to hit ~#5 or so, at 1400+ CRE on the UU ladder as windong and windsong13, and currently rests at 1409 at #8 or so on the ladder. However, the team isn't really ideal for laddering, simply due to some of the strategies it employs (lures, specifically) and struggles a bit against the teams that have popped up later in the suspect period that an absurd amount of answers to Kyurem.
So, as the suspect period draws to a close, I've seen it fit to post this team, to see if there are any thoughts on how I could improve it a bit, and I would definitely be happy if people could offer some advice!
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Team at a Glance
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http://i52.*******.com/npl54j.pnghttp://i55.*******.com/2v8g8qg.jpghttp://i51.*******.com/2dvsd8p.pnghttp://i53.*******.com/2li7m05.pnghttp://i51.*******.com/2mmesmc.pnghttp://i51.*******.com/2crk9hs.png
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~The days are cold livin’ without you
The nights are long, I’m growing older~
http://i52.*******.com/npl54j.pngTeam at a Glance
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http://i52.*******.com/npl54j.pnghttp://i55.*******.com/2v8g8qg.jpghttp://i51.*******.com/2dvsd8p.pnghttp://i53.*******.com/2li7m05.pnghttp://i51.*******.com/2mmesmc.pnghttp://i51.*******.com/2crk9hs.png
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~The days are cold livin’ without you
The nights are long, I’m growing older~
Abomasnow@Choice Scarf
Timid | Snow Warning
24 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 228 Spd
~
- Blizzard
- Grass Knot / Wood Hammer
- Focus Blast
- Ice Beam
~
Abomasnow arguably plays the most crucial role of any member of my team, in setting up Hail. Hail is extremely useful in the current UU metagame, with hardly anything immune, and more importantly, nullifying the speed boost on Chlorophyll sweepers in the sun, effectively allowing me to beat Drought, and providing passive damage against Chansey. Hail also combines well with Toxic Spikes, allowing me to force out stuff like Milotic, who walls a large portion of my team. Finally, Hail allows me to hit Blizzards at 100% accuracy, effectively meaning that I can spam it after I've removed the opponent's Ice resists (or hell, half the time before I get rid of their Ice resists and just muscle through them between Abomasnow/Kingdra/Kyurem). Abomasnow is also the closest thing I have to a lead, what with team preview making set leads no longer necessary, but to be honest, I rarely lead with him. However, Abomasnow has the useful ability to force opponents who're running sun teams to lead with Vulpix, meaning that I can lead with Kingdra for a free KO.
The given EVSpread allows me to outspeed everything up to neutral natured base 115s, so all I really lose out on is outspeeding Azelf, who I'm not outspeeding even with max speed EVs. I run max Special Attack for the Blizzard 3HKO on Offensive Kyurem (yeah, 3HKO, Kyurem is absurd) or the 2HKO with Focus Blast. The rest of the EVs are placed into HP, with four placed into Special Defense to let me switch in on Stealth Rock four times. Choice Scarf is honestly really cool, and I'm pretty much unwilling to switch it, as it lets me easily get surprise KOs on stuff like Sawsbuck that thinks it can stay in and KO me despite the weather switching. I've been pretty content with the current moveset, but I've been considering Wood Hammer over Grass Knot, for dealing with Crocune a bit better.
~We'll walk this road together, through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just lettin you know that, you're not alone
Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road (same road)~
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just lettin you know that, you're not alone
Holla if you feel like you've been down the same road (same road)~
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Kingdra@Choice Specs
Modest | Swift Swim
252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spd
~
- Draco Meteor
- Hydro Pump
- Blizzard
- Surf
~
Kingdra finds its place on my team as my one and only Fire resist, something that's pretty much required in the current meta, with Victini and Arcanine around every twist and turn. Kingdra switches on both of them with ease, sporting the 4x resist to Fire, and very nice typing in general, to be honest. In addition, unlike all the other bulky Waters available to me -- most notably Quagsire, Gastrodon, Slowbro, and Milotic, all of which are relatively common, Kingdra doesn't detract from the offensive pace of the team the way those three would. Having tested the team with all four of them, Kingdra is honestly the best fit by far.
However, absorbing Fire attacks is by far not the only thing that Kingdra's useful for. Specsdra is one of the best holepunchers in UU right now, and is almost always responsible for starting off my battles at essentially 6 - 5 my favor. I lure out an answer to Abomasnow, usually something that can also take on DD Kingdra, it is worthwhile to note, and then hit it in the face with either a Choice Specs Hydro Pump or Draco Meteor. I'm almost always OHKOing standard Escavelier and Hitmontop that come in to deal with Abomasnow and dealing around 70 - 80% to Eviolite Vulpix, who either stays in to burn me anticipating a DD set, or switches to a sun sweeper who's destroyed by the incoming Specs Draco Meteor.
Sadly, Kingdra's one downfall is that she does lack bulk, which sadly isn't great because my team has no recovery. An intelligent opponent also won't spam V-Generate with Victini early in the game, often meaning that Kingdra's forced to eat a couple of U-Turns, which add up pretty quickly. Also being vulnerable to all of the entry hazards hurts Kingdra a bit, seeing as I have no spinner, and am entirely relying on Espeon to Reflect back hazards.
~Too late for the other side
Caught in a chase
25 to life~
Caught in a chase
25 to life~
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Nidoqueen@Leftovers
Bold | Poison Point
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
~
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Toxic Spikes
~
Nidoqueen is the main member of the team's defensive backbone, and basically the reason I don't get swept by half of the phyiscally based threats in the metagame. Heracross, Escavelier, Hitmontop, hell, even defensive Arcanine are all handled by Nidoqueen. I even can take a CB V-Generate from Victini if I'm at full HP, letting me proceed to set up Rocks or KO it with Earth Power. Nidoqueen also provides key support for my main offensive core of Abomasnow/Kingdra/SubKyurem in the form of Toxic Spikes, which lets those guys break through Slowking, Slowbro, Milotic, and of course, the pink blob herself, Chansey. Toxic Spikes also help me deal with stuff like opposing SubKyurem and StallBreaker Mew, both of whom are a bit of a problem for the team, as I normally have to pivot around a lot or sacrifice something to beat them if I don't have TSpikes up.
Nidoqueen's coolest point though is probably the ability to switch in on the premier Rapid Spinner of the tier, Hitmontop, and I can wear him down by setting up hazards as he spins and inevitably gets poisoned after a few turns. Combined with Hail and/or Life Orb damage, as a fair amount of Hitmontop are running LO Technitop sets so as to better deal with Kyurem. As you may have noticed by this point, Nidoqueen does subtract from the offensive momentum of the team, and while that's a slight problem, I honestly prefer losing the tempo of the match to having to use Nidoking, as the difference in bulk between the two is huge, and using Nidoking would leave me extremely vulnerable to scarf Heracross and Escavelier.
~No apologies, nah suckers I'm not sorry
You can all sue me, y'all could be the cause of me
No apologies, not even acknowledging you at all
'till I get a call that god's coming~
You can all sue me, y'all could be the cause of me
No apologies, not even acknowledging you at all
'till I get a call that god's coming~
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Espeon@Leftovers
Timid | Magic Mirror
232 HP / 24 SpA / 252 Spd
~
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Fight]
- Calm Mind
- Toxic
~
Espeon makes a debut on my team, keeping the field clear of hazards, which is incredibly important in allowing my central core of sweepers, all of whom are hit by all the entry hazards (and two of whom are hit super effective by Rocks). Espeon is also my team's greatest weapon against stall, which will struggle to predict correctly against me, and will be taking a risk setting hazards until they've gotten rid of Espeon. Meanwhile I can safely set up Calm Mind boosts against the majority of most common stall teams. In addition, while a Rapid Spinner may be the superior option, just in case I make a rather foolish move that causes the opponent to be allowed to set Rocks up. However, no common Rapid Spinners can easily take repeated hits from fighting types, or manage to survive scarf Blizzards from opposing Kyurem.
The EVs and moves are weird, I admit that. Really weird, in fact, but they all have their uses. Toxic helps me wear down Specially bulky Mew, who can be a bit of a problem for my team if I haven't managed to set up TSpikes yet, or they were spun/absorbed away. Toxic also puts Chansey in a bit of a dilemma - I can weaken Chansey to the turn just before they're about to heal then switch out, and bring in Heracross when they're around 50-60%. This lets me force out Chansey, who's taking heavy damage upon entry, and can then be broken down by another member of the team with relative ease. The EVs I run are enough to take two Close Combats from Scarfcross, iirc, and also let me take three Seismic Tosses from Chansey or Night Shades from Mew and live, even with Hail up. I plug the remaining EVs into Special Attack for hitting Kyurem harder and OHKOing bulky Kirikizan with Hidden Power.
~You show me nothing but hate
You ran me into the ground
But what comes around goes around
I don’t need you no more~
You ran me into the ground
But what comes around goes around
I don’t need you no more~
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Heracross@Choice Scarf
Adamant | Guts
44 HP / 252 Atk / 212 Spd
~
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Stone Edge
- Pursuit
~
Heracross is basically the glue of the team. He hits ridiculously hard, especially if I can manage to get statused, and outspeeds a huge amount of the metagame. This lets me revenge pretty much everything that's not boosted in speed, and also lets Heracross play a key factor in cleaning up lategame. In addition, Heracross curbstomps like half of the meta (yeah, he's one of those Pokes) and a huge amount of teams out there are ridiculously unprepared for dealing with STAB Megahorns and Close Combats. And the combination is practically unresisted, and the majority of the stuff that resists Megahorn and CC is either 2HKO'd by Megahorn anyways (Mismagius) or handled pretty well by the rest of the team. Finally, it's really helpful that Kingdra lures in Hitmontop and (lol) some bulky Arcanine on sun teams pretty well, and neither of them is able to stand up to Heracross's assaults after eating the specs Draco Meteor.
I run a pretty standard spread, enough speed to outrun Aerodactyl or something like that and take it out with Stone Edge, and in general Heracross is just really good in the meta right now and there's no reason not to use him.
~So bat ya eyelashes, and keep winking and blowin' kisses
'Cause your flirting with death, I'm destroying your livelihood
I ain't just hurting your rep, I catch a flow and get goin'
No remorse, I'm showin', they slowin' for no one~
'Cause your flirting with death, I'm destroying your livelihood
I ain't just hurting your rep, I catch a flow and get goin'
No remorse, I'm showin', they slowin' for no one~
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Kyurem@Leftovers
Modest | Pressure
52 HP / 252 SpA / 204 Spd
~
- Blizzard
- Substitute
- Dragon Pulse
- Focus Blast
~
Kyurem is the most broken son of a ***** in all of UU. Victini is nothing to this guy. Neither is Drought. Heck, nothing is really. He's got a BST of 660, defensive stats that rival those of dedicated walls, and hits like a frickin' freight train. Blizzard 2HKO's basically everything not named Chansey (and physically defensive sets take ~25%+ easily) that doesn't resist. Dragon Pulse and Focus Blast cover everything else basically, Focus Blast hitting all Steels common in UU for a 2HKO at worst, with Dragon Pulse 2HKOing basically everything else. Substitute helps me abuse Toxic Spikes to their fullest, and easily lets me wear down stuff that actually tries to wall me. Some other cool things include the EVspread, which lets me get 101 hp Substitutes, meaning that Mew and Deo-D aren't breaking my Substitutes with Night Shade, and Chansey isn't breaking them with Seismic Toss either. The loss in speed doesn't really matter as I only really send Kyurem in lategame, when I know that I have a pretty clean sweep available.
My entire team supports Kyurem really really well, with Kingdra luring in many Pokemon that attempt to revenge Kyurem, Toxic Spikes from Nidoqueen allowing me to sweep past Chansey, and Espeon helping wear down Chansey and reflecting all the entry hazards that heavily damage Kyurem. Finally, Abomasnow of course sets hail up, allowing me to annihilate half the meta with Blizzard. Oh yeah and we should ban Kyurem from BW UU.
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Credits
[hide]Delta 2777 - Delta helped me a ton with making this team, which was really cool of him, and encouraged me a ton all through the laddering period.Credits
Zeph - You're one of the coolest guys out there, and you helped me a ton with perfecting some little glitches in the team, and finishing it up.
PttP - You're new username sucks change it back. Also you're a cocky and arrogant 14 year old but awesome and can actually back your talk up, so who caressssssssss!
Eternal - I talked a lot with you about Gen V UU, and you're a really cool guy and I was glad to finally talk with you intelligently rather than just trolling Teamuber like I used to~
Folgorio - Foololgrio more like. But whatever!!!! You seem to be a pretty cool guy and not nearly as insane as PttP, so it was cool to talk with you a bit lately!
#genvuu - All you guys were really helpful in making this team, even if it was just random dumb comments from Snunch most of the time! (Nah kidding, it was only dumb comments from Snunch some of the time. Most of them were from PttP. xD )
#moof - Joel, Muffin, Solace <3[/hide]
Also listen to Eminem music cause it's really good! (The name of the RMT comes from the Eminem song "You're Never Over")
End