Greninja-Jay @ Choice Specs
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Water Shuriken
- Dark Pulse
- Spikes
- Hydro Pump
Desc: Jay-Greninja serves as the team’s Poster-Child, Wallbreaker, Revenge Killer, and Cleaner. He is meant to use his speed and offensive pressure to punch holes against offensive teams and take advantage of the switches he forces to put up spikes and to punish and pressure defensive answers. He Pairs well with Gallade and Zeraora as an offensive wall-breaking core that ruins Offensive and Defensive teams alike.
Gallade-Mega @ Galladite
Ability: Justified
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Zen Headbutt
- Close Combat
- Ice Punch
- Swords Dance
Desc: Gallade was inspired by a Mega-Medicham Ash-Greninja core that sported perfect offensive synergy with one another. I wanted a 2nd Wallbreaker that also could serve as the primary wincon for the team. Gallade takes advantage of his monstrous attack stat to ruin stall once his defensive answers have been weakened or removed ie: (Unaware users and Mega Sableye). Ice Punch proved to be more useful than Knock Off as it is a nice KO option against Lando-T after Intimidate, does more damage against the Lati Twins, and grabs the 2HKO on Mega-Sableye after set-up. Against Offensive Teams, Gallade is to take advantage of Sticky Web and Hazards to sweep once faster flying types have been removed ie: Hawlucha and Tornadus-T.
Zeraora @ Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 200 Atk / 116 SpA / 192 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Plasma Fists
- Close Combat
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Grass Knot
Desc: While Zeraora may seem out of place here, he serves as the team’s Premier Wallbreaker. Zeraora makes use of its high speed and life orb to threaten both offensive and defensive answers alike. Zeraora is here to threaten or Punch Holes in Greninja’s and Gallade’s Defensive Answers and Revenge Kill their Offensive Threats. 116 SpA HP ice guarantees OHKO on Lando-T, helping Gallade’s future sweep. 192 spe minimizes EVs whilst maintaining speed tier whilst 200 atk minimizes EVs while retaining dmg roll calcs. Grass Knot OHKOs Mega-Swampert after sticky web or on the switch and grabs the KO on Quagsire which also helps out Gallade and severly weakens Gastrodon which helps Greninja. Close Combat serves as a secondary answer to Chansey grabbing the 2HKO and gets OHKOs on offensive threats like M-Lopunny and Kartana whilst 2HKOing Ferrothorn switch-ins expecting Plasma Fists. Plasma Fists is Zeraora’s signature move that threatens Bulky Water Types helping out Greninja and Fast Flying Types Helping out Gallade. He is Meant to be used early game to punch holes and can attempt to clean if he survives until the late-game though he has to be wary of Life Orb drain that effectively puts him on a turn timer which makes adequate prediction and precision necessary for him to be used effectively.
Chandelure (M) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 HP / 160 SpA / 96 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Shadow Ball
- Fire Blast
- Clear Smog
- Hidden Power [Ground]
Desc: Chandelure is the teams Bulky Counter to Special Sweepers such as Serperior and Kommo-o being able to tank their moves and remove their boosts thanks to Assault Vest and Clear Smog. Chandelure can come in on Moonblast from choice-locked Lele and Fleur Cannon from Magearna, then punch holes from there as not many mons resist Fire Ghost Stab combination. Chandelure can threaten grass types with his Stab and make use of his bulk to tank hits and KO the mons back. Hidden Power Ground is meant to deal with Heatran. He Attracts T-Tar which Gallade threaten out to get a free Swords Dance. 0 Atk IVs minimizes damage from Foul Play.
Gliscor (M) @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Poison Heal
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Sky Attack
- Swords Dance
- Stealth Rock
Desc: Okay here’s where things get weird. Gliscor’s role on this team is as an Offensive Stealth Rocker capable of nuking to punch further holes in opposing teams. Think of him as my take on Offensive Garchomp. Most people will expect Toxic Orb and proceed to knock off which Gliscor can take advantage of for a free stealth rock or swords dance and attempt to wall break from there. Against Defensive Teams Gliscor can attempt to switch in against Chansey or Toxapex’s Toxic increasing his longevity and granting him an opportunity to sweep if Skarmory/Celesteela have been removed or weakened. Super Sonic Skystrike serves as a nuke option against unsuspecting set-up sweepers who think they can get a free set-up opportunity such Bulu, Keldeo, Kommo-o, Buzzwole, Hawlucha, Kartana, and Lando-T. Stealth Rock will be pretty much mandatory against Scarf Staraptor as it is immune to sticky web and hits every member hard meaning it must be punished when it comes in.
Araquanid (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Liquidation
- Sticky Web
- Magic Coat
- Mirror Coat
Desc: This Araquinid is not meant to be used as the dedicated lead of the team and can be flexible in choosing when it decides to come in. Typically lead with Araquinid when the opposing has at least 2 fast and frail mons that need to be taken care of or as a necessity when the opposing team has Tapu Lele or another Sticky Web user on it. This is because Scarf Tapu Lele can be a significant roadblock to the teams overall functionality as Greninja and Gallade are susceptible to Lele’s attacks and excessive prediction required to handle her properly. Liquidation serves as Araquinid signature means of offense against common Lando-T leads. Immunity to Will-o-Wisp makes it a great Mega-Sableye answer as it isn’t bothered by any of its other moves and 2HKOes it with Liquidation, putting it range of Gallade’s boosted Ice Punch. Magic Coat can bounce back Taunt, Toxic, and other Hazards from opposing Pokemon crippling them and their team making them easier to deal later on in the match. Mirror Coat is a usable option when Sticky Web is either already up or isn’t needed and can be used to OHKO special attackers that come in to kill Araquinid ie: Tapu Koko and Tornadus whose deaths are appreciated by Greninja and Gallade respectively. Sticky Web is what allows Gallade and Greninja to unleash their devastating power against offensive team unchecked with emphasis on Gallade who already excels against defensive teams. When reserved for later Araquinid can also serve as a defensive switch-in to Mega-Swampert and Mega Gyarados providing sticky web and chip damage respectively. 0 Spe IVs improves matchup against Trick Room and allows Araquinid to revenge kill Alolan Marowak.
I’m not sure if this team falls more under the Hyper Offense Category or Bulky Offense as it has defensive options but mainly relies on constant offensive pressure to maintain momentum and prevent set-up opportunities from other mons.
The highest rating I’ve gotten with the team so far has been 1504 but here are some Example Battles.
Zeraora Clean: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-2110273278?p2
Mega-Gallade Sweep:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-2110299866
Jay-Greninja Sweep:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-2110077906
Against Rain:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-2110106617
Against Stall:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-2110236881?p2
