UU is probably my weakest tier, and I just generally suck at it. So I got the help of DF and tried to build a half-decent team. I hope I succeeded!
Team Preview!
Victini @ Choice Band
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- U-turn
- Bolt Strike
- Zen Headbutt
It wouldn't be a stretch to say that, in many cases, Victini is a threat even before the battle begins. Alongside Darmanitan and Chandelure, it is one of the main incentives to pack an especially sturdy Fire-type resist on your team, and it can use U-turn to weaken its checks before launching V-create with reckless abandon. As it stands, Victini is a powerful wallbreaker that eliminates many key contenders in the UU metagame. Don't be surprised to find the words 'not very effective' scroll uselessly onto the screen as one of its checks is reduced to ashes. ~Smogon
I know whenever I used to see a Victini, I would think: Crap. And for good reason. STAB 180 BP V-Create coming off a choice band is no joke. I usually even start out with Victini, and can pick up KOs right off the bat. Smogon's description couldn't be more true, as even if I know they have something that will sponge a V-Create ( Which is no small feat), I simply U-turn out in order to weaken it. It's a shame V-Create lowers speed, which makes an over two-poke sweep difficult. Nevertheless, just the sheer threat of a V-Create is more than enough to use victini.
Hitmontop (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 144 HP / 116 Atk / 176 Def / 72 SDef
Impish Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Close Combat
- Toxic
- Stone Edge
This team is pretty much about getting hazards on the other side, and keeping them off mine. I also wanted a heracross counter, so I picked hitmontop.
For a Pokemon that spends the majority of its life balancing on the tip of its head, Hitmontop is no pushover.
~ Smogon
Even though my team bar victini isn't particularly weak to rocks, 5/6 of my team is weak to spikes, and hazards can decimate this team without it. This allows me to do many switches freely.
Porygon-Z @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Tri Attack
- Trick
- Dark Pulse
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
Porygon-Z is one of the underrated threats in the Underused tier, and should always be considered when building a team.
~ Smogon
Bypassing it's OK speed makes this thing into a good revenge killer. It outspeeds Heracross, Darmanitan, and Chandy, and pretty much all common scarfers in UU bar Victini. Normally just Tri-attack wouldn't be enough, but with adaptability it transforms into a powerful 160 base power attack. Hidden Power Fighting and Dark Pulse are to hit things that would otherwise wall it
Roserade @ Black Sludge
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 172 HP / 156 SAtk / 180 SDef
Calm Nature
- Rest
- Spikes
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
Despite having been dethroned by Moxie Heracross, Roserade deserves its title as the former queen of UU. Its access to great support moves in Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sleep Powder, combined with a huge base 125 Special Attack and usable base 90 Speed make it both a fearsome offensive powerhouse and a useful team supporter. It has a good ability in Natural Cure, which allows it to function as a status absorber. Because of its resistance to Water, the ability to remove a Scald burn with Natural Cure, and access to recovery moves in Giga Drain, Synthesis, and Rest, Roserade beats nearly all the bulky Water-types on its own.
~ Smogon
I chose Rest over synthesis because it can simply switch out and have its sleep cured. Basically smogon's descriptions said everything for me, so moving on.....
Rhyperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Atk / 244 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Rock Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Dragon Tail
When you see a Pokemon with base 140 Attack, you already know it's going to hit extremely hard and Rhyperior is no exception. Having both Rock and Ground typing means STAB on the EdgeQuake combination, which is a huge plus for Rhyperior's arsenal. It also packs a wide movepool: it has access to boosting moves, such as Swords Dance and Rock Polish, support moves, such as Stealth Rock and Toxic, and a plethora of offensive moves of different types. However, although the offensive coverage provided by Rhyperior's typing is amazing, the same can't be said about its resistances. Being a Rock / Ground type means Rhyperior has a huge weakness to Water- and Grass-types and is hit for super effective damage by the common Ground- and Fighting-type moves in the tier. However, don't let this fool you, as Rhyperior can partially mitigate these issues with its extremely useful ability in the form of Solid Rock, which reduces the power of super effective moves by 25%. If you know Rhyperior's weaknesses and play around them, you will find it extremely easy to incorporate the Drill Pokemon in any team with positive results.
~ Smogon
My SR setter and Tank. Being able to take {some} special hits, and the vast majority of physical hits even without investment, it's very sturdy. It's ability to dish out damage is the main reason I chose it is it's ability to take hits and dish out damage with STAB EdgeQuake.
Mismagius @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Calm Mind
- Substitute
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
She holds on to the small niche of a fast setup sweeper, which no other Ghost-type can do as effectively. That's not Mismagius's only advantage. She has the ability Levitate, which when combined with Ghost typing, gives three immunities for potential free switches and set up attempts. Thanks to the consequential Spikes immunity and the lack of Stealth Rock weakness, Mismagius is the most hazard-resistant Ghost-type in UU. While Stealth Rock shaves a quarter off of Chandelure's health, and Spikes-stacking teams make Cofagrigus's life hard, Mismagius will never have to lose more than an eighth of her health to hazards. She might not be as solid of a counter as Cofagrigus is, but Mismagius can still check powerful Fighting-types like Heracross and Mienshao with her immunity to their STAB, while still providing an offensive presence.
~ Smogon
My favorite thing to do with mismagius is to absorb an attack with it's 3 immunities and then set up. It can basically set up on almost every fighting type in the tier, and every spinner (bar armaldo, but who's gonna use that anyway?).
