u/Embarrassed-Flow6540

Last month I just managed to eke out a place on the natdex leaderboard and for my final for AP Stats Project, we have to do a presentation measuring some statistics. For my idea, I wanted to see if a Pokémon’s usage rate shifts between each tier in Pokemon. If any of you guys could fill out this form, give advice on other ways of getting data, and explain this picture, specifically the stats at the top, it would be greatly appreciated. This poll is your elo for gen 9 ou as a representative sample

View Poll

I just finished reading Orv, and even though I love how it ties everyone together and the worldbuilding is beautiful, I can't seem to understand how people ship the characters in this book. There aren't many scenes of romantic tension. Personally, I do ship HSY and KDJ because of that scene where they are behind the curtains with HSY on her toes talking to KDJ, but besides that, why do you guys ship the trio in any combo?

I've realized all my gen 7 teams are incredibly weak to burns, toxicstalling, and twave for sweepers. Barring putting a cleric or tapu fini to specifically fight this, what are some other ways to play around this?

Also, can any pokemon synergize with tyranitar?

After playing in gen 7 OU for ages, I've noticed most people 1450+ commonly use rain teams, typically Swampert+Pelipper core, one Pokémon quad weak to fire like scizor, ferrothorn, or Kartana, an electric type like zapdos, and 2 other Pokémon to fill in common threats like dry skin toxicroak against opposing rains, or Tornadus for utility. Because my usual ladder team consists of psychic and steel types who get hardwalled by half od the aformentioned, I decided to switch to sandbuilding.

Now the main goal of this team is to beat as much of the metagame as possible, while also working ideally against highladder copycats who use the same teamstyle. So without further ado, here's what I attempted to cook up.

Dunekeeper (Tyranitar) @ Choice Scarf

Ability: Sand Stream

Shiny: Yes

EVs: 8 HP / 208 Atk / 40 Def / 252 Spe

Jolly Nature

- Rock Slide

- Pursuit

- Ice Punch

- Earthquake

This is my main way of setting sandstorm. While hippowdon has it's own merit, being able to slack off damage and stay alive to win as many weather wars as possible, I wanted to use the rare form of choice scarf, as my first way to get lucky wins. Most people don't expect Tyranitar to be choiced at all, more on the assault vest variants so they set up or at least stay in. Choice Scarf Ttar outspeeds many threats, only one not being able to on a switch-in is Greninja. Surprised many charizard Y and volcaronas with this. Ideally best used midgame when you need a quick threat gone since you have other options late game.

Mole (Excadrill) @ Life Orb

Ability: Sand Rush

Shiny: Yes

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Adamant Nature

- Earthquake

- Iron Head

- Rock Slide

- Swords Dance

It wouldn't be a sandstorm team without my sand rush user. Typical set, not much else to explain. Can switch in on many things even without sandstorm because of how hard it can hit even after a burn. Being ground means you can switch in on twave phasers, as well as sticky web galvantula. Also outspeeding breloom and being able to OHKO is a blessing.

Shooting Star (Victini) @ Normalium Z

Ability: Victory Star

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

- Celebrate

- Searing Shot

- Stored Power

- Focus Blast

Midladder menace of SM OU, everytime I see a victini, it's always this variant. In the games I've used this team, I rarely have to use my z move and can just click searing shot to clean up slower steel types. Mostly here to kill whatever walls non fire punch ttar: skarmory, celesteela, scizor.

Focus blast comes surprisingly handy when you want to sweep but they still have a tyranitar. I thought of using energy ball for water types, but I usually clean those off before using Zcelebrate.

QuantumCannon (Kyurem-Black) @ Life Orb

Ability: Teravolt

Shiny: Yes

EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Naive Nature

- Earth Power

- Fusion Bolt

- Roost

- Ice Beam

Sadly, I can't use a 200 bp nuke for my zmove so I opted for the special Kyurem-B. Life orb earth power takes out rotom wash, and quite a lot of players usually expect the physical set. Ice beam OHKOs rotom mow but that isn't too important except for predicts. Overall solid set, if I need someone to tank a shot and have good coverage. Nothing can really easily switch in safely on this set except maybe quagsire.

Shellfish (Tapu Fini) @ Choice Scarf

Ability: Misty Surge

Shiny: Yes

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Timid Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Trick

- Moonblast

- Surf

- Defog

When you play in high formats like ubers and natdex ubers, 1500+ has exclusively stall variants. While I was going to opt for a tanky taunt variant like smogon suggested, I wanted to build an offensive fini set. Stab surf OHKOs quite a bit of the tiers ground types, including gliscor who can't toxic fini on terrain.

Misty Terrain turns off all hazards, meaning rotom can't burn my physical attackers, and I won't get toxic stalled by gliscor, heatran, toxapex, etc. Also my main way to clear hazards.

Thunderbird (Zapdos) @ Rocky Helmet

Ability: Static

Shiny: Yes

EVs: 248 HP / 240 Def / 20 Spe

Bold Nature

- Volt Switch

- Heat Wave

- Hidden Power [Ice]

- Roost

The amount of things this pokemon can deal with is insane, with ice, electric, and fire coverage. Ground types don't wanna switch on hidden power ice, and thunderous takes a good chunk of damage still. Barring stall pokemon that can tank anything, not much want to stay in on zapdos.

What other pokemon counter this team? I want to see if I can reach leaderboard with it!

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-2594755172 - replay 1250s