Rate my Team for Gen 8 OU

Question

This is the first competitve team that I've put together since gen 5. It's very similar to my offensive sand team from gen 5, but with some necessary adjustments. I appreciate any advice.

Tyranitar @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 180 HP / 252 Atk / 0 Def / 0 SpA / 0 SpD / 76 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Superpower
- Stealth Rock

The obligatory Sand Stream Pokemon. Necessary for any sand team. I used to run a Choice Band set (with Pursuit instead of Stealth Rock), but Tyranitar needs to be holding the Smooth Rock in gen 8 to keep sandstorm up as long as possible. Except for Stealth Rock, this is just my Choice Band set, so it may need some adjustments.

Excadrill @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 0 Def / 0 SpA / 0 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
- Rock Slide

My sand sweeper. This is another set that is very similar to what I had in gen 5, so it may need some adjustments.

Sigilyph @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 4 HP / 0 Atk / 0 Def / 252 SpA / 0 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Heat Wave
- Air Slash
- Roost

My special sweeper. Sigilyph is the Pokemon I use to scare the fighting types that would wreck Excadrill, Tyranitar, and Ferrothorn. Life Orb + Magic Guard works very well, and the ability also keeps Sigilyph safe from sandstorm damage. This set is exactly the same as what I ran in gen 5.

Ferrothorn @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 0 Atk / 48 Def / 0 SpA / 208 SpD / 0 Spe
Relaxed Nature
- Leech Seed
- Spikes
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip

The tank. It gets a lot of switch-in oppurtunites thanks to its typing. This, similar to the Sigilyph set, is exactly the same as it was in gen 5. It may need some updating.

Skarmory @ Shed Shell
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 224 HP / 0 Atk / 252 Def / 0 SpA / 32 SpD / 0 Spe
Impish Nature
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Body Press

The phazer + alternate tank. I changed this up a little bit, so it should be more up-to-date compared to the others. Having three steel types may cause a problem since fire types are more viable thanks to Heavy-Duty Boots and Kabutops isn't on the team anymore.

Dragapult @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 0 HP / 68 Atk / 0 Def / 188 SpA / 0 SpD / 252 Spe
Mild Nature
- Hex
- Dragon Darts
- U-Turn
- Will-O-Wisp

The only new member. Kabutops was here, but it is locked out of gen 8. Dragapult is here to be a pivot and spread burns. I'm not completely sold on this set, or the Pokemon itself for that matter.

Answer 1

First RMT answer!

Tyranitar seems fine. The only thing I would change is Superpower, because it lowers Attack. I recommend replacing it with Fire Punch, because it covers Tyranitar's Grass, Steel, and Bug weaknesses. You could also use Thunder Fang for Water types, or Iron Head for Fairy types.

Excadrill looks great. The only thing I would personally do is put the extra 4 EVs in Special Defense.

Sigilyph might need some work. It's just not that viable anymore. A good OU replacement could be Alakazam. It's also Psychic type and has Magic Guard. You can always use Sigilyph, though.

Alakazam @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA and Spe, 4 SpD
Nature: Modest/Timid
-Energy Ball
-Psyshock/Psychic
-Shadow Ball
-Dazzling Gleam/Nasty Plot

I have a few recommendations for Ferrothorn as well. EV spread looks good. Maybe use Thunder Wave over Power Whip. I usually use Iron Head over Gyro Ball, because of it's low PP. You could also put Leftovers on it for any Grass types that stop Leech Seed.

Skarmory is awesome too. I'd say replace Shed Shell with Rocky Helmet, but not Leftovers because you have Roost on this set.

Dragapult should be replaced, imo. Burns are useful but with Ferrothorn spreading Paralysis it won't be too much of a problem. I recommend Gastrodon. Sure it's in NU, but it's typing is desperately needed on the team. Gastrodon is a Water/Ground type, which means it resists Fire types that threaten half your team. It also doesn't take any Sandstorm damage, and has an immunity to Water types for switch-ins.

Defensive Set:
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP, 252 SpD and 4 SpA
Nature: Calm
-Recover
-Toxic
-Scald
-Clear Smog/Protect

Offensive Set:
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Force
EVs: 252 HP and SpA, 4 SpD
Nature: Modest
-Earth Power
-Ice Beam/Sludge Wave
-Scald
-Recover

Comments

Thank you for your response!

For Tyranitar, I think I'll switch out Superpower in favor of Heavy Slam, which hits Clefable harder than Iron Head does.

I think I'll move those extra EVs over to Special Defense for Excadrill.

I really prefer Sigilyph over Alakazam. Sigilyph has better bulk and a greater resistance to Fighting-type moves, making it a better partner for Tyranitar. Alakazam lacks reliable recovery, so it'll get worn down quickly despite its immunity to status effect damage and entry hazards.

I'll replace Rocky Helmet with Leftovers on Ferrothorn. (I was kind of on the fence between the two anyway.) Iron Head seems to be about as useful as Gyro Ball anyway, and I'd rather have the PP. I'd like to keep Power Whip though; it scores a lot of notable KOs on Pokemon that would be problematic otherwise.

The Shed Shell was mainly for Magnet Pull Magnezone, who isn't as much of a threat as people tend to run Analytic more often. Rocky Helmet would be good for Skarmory.

Dragapult was just a filler spot as I can't use Kabutops anymore. I like Gastrodon as a replacement, but it'll hurt my offensive momentum a bit as it's another slow Pokemon. I would prefer a pivot in that spot. Perhaps Urshifu Rapid-Strike with U-Turn could be a useful addition?