Inedible Strawberries (Peaked Top 10)

[superstar]

Team Inedible Strawberries - Featuring Xatu
a team by Superstar
​

Having always been a rain player in Ubers, I decided one day that I was going to give sun a go. Many people play sun offensively, using Resharim and Ho-oh to smash walls. However, with the dominance of Kyogre in Ubers I really wanted to make a sun team that could function well even without its favorite weather. This team has done well on the ladder, peaking in the Top 10. However, that doesn't mean much because the PS Ubers ladder is godawful. This team certainly has flaws, and any help ya'll could give would be excellent. I give you: Team Inedible Strawberries!

Team building process:
I experimented with many things to try to build a successful bulky offense team in sun. However, all of them needed the summoner of the sun, Groudon:

The main reason I wanted to run sun was so that I could run what is the best Pokemon in the game in my opinion (at least when Stealth Rock is off the field!):

Now, Ho-oh absolutely requires Rapid Spin support. However, I had always disliked using Forretress: It was set up bait for ExtremeKiller and I could never manage to actually get a spin off. Excadrill was all right, but I just didn't like how easily he was worn down, and with a bulky offense team the matches take a while. The answer to my troubles came to me after watching my standard Ferrothorn spike-stacking team get murdered by something on the ladder when I couldn't get a single layer of hazards up: Go Xatu!

Okay, so that left me with a gaping weakness to everyone's least favorite blue whale. Ferrothorn kinda sucks in the sun, and I didn't really want to use Palkia since it lacks recovery. Latias seemed like a great choice, since it got its Soul Dew back.

Now, I needed an Extremekiller check, as well as something that could somewhat deal with Darkrai. I also wanted it to be fast, to provide a revenge killing threat to things like Mewtwo. Scarf Terrakion fit the bill perfectly.

Finally, I wanted a late game sweeper. I wanted it to be able to somewhat deal with Giratina, while also giving me a back-up revenge killer. I decided on ExtremeKiller

This team was pretty decent, but Mewtwo was an enormous bitch, there was no steel-type to tank dragon attacks, and Terrakion and Arceus weren't doing shit. So I followed Furai's excellent suggestion. Arceus and Terrakion were out, ScarfSect and Giratina-O are in.

And there you have the team.

The Sun Summoner

Groudon @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 252 HP / 196 Def / 56 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Dragon Tail
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

Groudon is necessary on this team to summon the sun that is so important to Ho-oh. A Kyogre locked into Surf in the sun is also a great opportunity for Arceus to set up. I decided to use a Defensive set to provide a back-up check to Extremekiller, since teams with a Darkrai and Extremekiller usually manage to take Terrakion out. It also can handle Dragon Dance Raquazza that lack Draco Meteor as well as walling Zekrom to hell and back. Also, it gives me an extremely reliable Stealth Rock user. Speed is to outspeed most Ho-Oh and kill with Stone Edge before they can Sub.
Stone Edge is solely for opposing Ho-Oh (I will just Dragon Tail Rayquaza or the Latis if I'm not switching), but is important. Earthquake gives a powerful STAB, and Dragon Tail is for phazing. I don't need to say what Stealth Rock does.

Roles:
-Weather Inducer
-Stealth Rock Setter
-Defensive Wall
-Backup Ekiller check

The Tank

Ho-Oh @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 172 Atk / 80 SDef / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Substitute
- Recover

Ho-oh is insane...if Stealth Rock didn't exist it would be on every team. There are so many Pokemon it can switch in on, especially if sun is up. The best part is that Sun will usually be up, because once he is behind a Sub Ho-oh shreds over 65% from offensive Kyogre with Brave Bird. He can Sacred Fire when Zekrom or Arceus tries to come in and have a good shot at a burn. He takes Dragon Pulses like a boss, and totally counters Genesect, especially if sun is up so that Thunder is unreliable.

This is a pretty standard Ho-oh set. Sub and Recover allow Ho-oh to survive essentially forever, especially if rocks aren't up. Sacred Fire and Brave Bird provide incredible dual STABs. Brave Bird even has a chance to 3HKO Specially Defensive Giratina. The EVs provide good special bulk. They are from the on-site analysis and have worked for me, so I didn't change them, except to add 8 Spe EVs to try to creep uninvested base 90s.

Roles:
-Tank for hits
-Sun Abuser

The Hazard Control

Xatu (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 236 Def/ 20 Spe
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Reflect/Toxic
- Light Screen
- Roost
- Heat Wave

This guy...I can't even put into words how essential he is for the team. Over and over again I have used him, and over and over again I have been simply blown away by his performance. A lot of people like to use Espeon. That's cool, I respect your opinion, but Xatu blows Espeon out of the water. First off, it totally walls Ferrothorn and Forretress, which Espeon cannot do because of its Gyro Ball problems. It also has reliable recovery even when I don't manage to keep sun up. You have Deoxys-S? That's nice. Unless it has Ice Beam, I can set up screens in its face.
The EVs are chosen to maximize Xatu's best defensive stat, which allows him to switch in on Stealth Rock from Defensive Groudon, set up Reflect, and then stall out the PP of Stone Edge until he switches. I chose Speed 20 EVs because it lets me outspeed Base 90s with 56 EVs invested, which is a good number to creep to I guess. Roost provides reliable recovery. Light Screen comes in handy so often. The best example is with a Ferro/Kyogre combo. I can come in on Ferrothorn, set up Light Screen, and then switch to Latias. Latias can now comfortably take a Specs Ice Beam and threaten heavily with Thunder. Heat Wave is there to swiftly eliminate Ferro and Forry so that I don't have to worry about them. It also takes a huge chunk off Deo-S in the sun. I sometimes use Toxic over Reflect or Light Screen. Its really nice to have something to nail Kyogre and Ghostceus switch-ins.

Roles:
-Secondary Physical defender
-Hazard Controller
-Stallbreaker


The Kyogre Check

Latias (F) @ Soul Dew
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 116 SDef / 140 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Psyshock
- Dragon Pulse
- Roost
- Calm Mind

Latias is great. It can check a huge plethora of special threats. Kyogre is easily walled, except for Modest Choice Specs, which is a bit of a pain. Luckily, Choice Specs is rare. Latias is always very reliable in her job.
The EVs may seem a bit unusual, but I rarely have problems with Palkia or even see Garchomp, so I opted for just enough speed to outpace Timid Kyurem-W, which is essential as Specs/LO can really hurt the team. The extra bulk is nice when I am not at full health.
I used to have Hidden Power Fire in the last slot, but I found I didn't need it since Xatu walls the targets for it anyway. This allows me to have Calm Mind. I generally use it more defensively. It's not as useful as the other moves, but can come in handy. Roost is obvious recovery, while Dragon Pulse is reliable STAB. Psyshock is better than Thunder, which I used to have. It lets me hit Ho-Oh hard in Sun, while still nailing Kyogre.

Roles:
-Kyogre check
-Special Wall
-Pivot
-Semi-Sweeper


The Revenge Killer

Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Download
EVs: 252 Att/ 4 SpAtt/ 252 Spe
Hasty Nature (+Spd -Def)
- U-Turn
- Iron Head
- Ice Beam
- Explosion

Furai gave me this great Genesect set, and it has improved the team by so much Genesect is an improvement over Terrakion in two major ways: First, his steel-type allows me to actually come in on dragon-type attacks. Second, his bug-type STAB and possible Download boost gives me a way to KO Mewtwo. Did you know his base attack is only 9 points less than Terrakion's? Yeah, me neither. But he's great and I love him.
U-Turn is obvious for STAB and scouting. Iron Head gives me a way to hit Kyurem-W hard, and flinch hax has won me a game before. Ice Beam is good to OHKO Rayquaza and Garchomp (who I have literally never seen except on a shit sand team). Explosion is used to go out with a bang and give a free set up for Latias or Ho-Oh, but is rarely used. However, Flamethrower and Thunderbolt don't really appeal to me, so Explosion will stay, mostly to take out a rouge Ho-Oh.
Max attack gives me a powerful U-Turn, and Hasty nature ensure I can take some of the weaker Dragon Pulses and Ice Beams (here's looking at you, Latias). Overall, an incredible asset to the team.

Hide

Terrakion @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Stone Edge
- Close Combat
- X-Scissor
- Sleep Talk

I do not like Terrakion. He does not add anything to the incredible synergy of the other four members, cannot sweep on his own, and is easily walled by Giratina, Lugia, Ghost Arceus, etc.

Despite this, Terrakion is necessary, and serves the role as an ExtremeKiller check better than Skarmory or Giratina would. He is an excellent revenge killer, and serves as a necessary impediment to Mewtwo -- the LO version is a huge threat to the team, since it can beat Latias. Kyurem-W is also checked.
Close Combat and Stone Edge are the obligatory STABs. I only use X-Scissor on Mewtwo, but he is more than enough reason to have it. Sleep Talk is for Darkrai. Xatu is too risky a switch-in because of the threat of Dark Pulse, so Terrakion can come in and Sleep Talk something to kill it as it tries to set up. Adamant is needed to OHKO Arceus Normal and Steel.

The Ekiller and Ho-Oh Check

Giratina-O @ Griseous Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 216 Atk / 252 Def / 40 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Sneak
- Dragon Tail
- Outrage

Another contribution from Furai, this Giratina-O set doesn't do much, but does what it has to. Its defense allows it to easily tank a Shadow Claw from Extremekiller and even SD Ghostceus, and then burn (if it hits...). Adamant gives it a punch and lets it stand up against Ho-Oh. Dragon Tail is a good Phazing move. Outrage is rarely used, but can hurt a lot of threats.

Lead Matchups
I usually lead with Groudon. He can get up SR quickly, as well as sun if I am against a weatherless team. If they lead with Kyogre, it is usually sunny, so I can then switch in Latias, and switch in Ho-Oh after that if they choose to Ice Beam. If they show a Darkrai or Deoxys-A, I lead with Genesect and U-Turn to Xatu as they Dark Void/Attack with something Xatu resists/SR. I then switch immediately back to Genesect for the KO and they Dark Pulse/Ice Beam.


So there is the team, it has been pretty successful and does well against most threats. Major threats are below, along with an importable. Read, rate, steal, and leave a Luvdisc! Peace.

Threats:

Psycho Killer Mewtwo : Tough to deal with. If it lacks LO Latias can deal with it somewhat. If it does have LO I try to outstall it and sac the Poke I need the least. Genesect can take most of its attacks and can KO most of the time with U-Turn. Giratina can do 37% with Shadow Sneak once it is in that range.

Specs Kyogre: This is tough because it can deal with Latias - ice beam does 52%. Ho-Oh can then switch in to take an Ice Beam though. I have to outpredict it, and try to wear it down. Keeping Light Screen up is important because then Latias easily walls it.

Specs Kyurem-W: Have to revenge with Genesect. SR wears it down quickly. Just have to play around it. Latias can outspeed and OHKO as well.

Importable:

Hide

Groudon @ Leftovers
Trait: Drought
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 196 Def / 56 Spd
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Dragon Tail
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

Xatu (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Roost
- Heat Wave

Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Download
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)
- U-turn
- Iron Head
- Explosion
- Ice Beam

Latias (F) @ Soul Dew
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 116 SDef / 140 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Psyshock
- Dragon Pulse
- Roost
- Calm Mind

Ho-Oh @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 176 Atk / 84 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Sacred Fire
- Brave Bird
- Substitute
- Recover

Giratina-O @ Griseous Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 216 Atk / 252 Def / 40 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Sneak
- Dragon Tail
- Outrage

 

[Furai]

Hi superstar, as you requested I'm here with my rate!

Pretty much, as you said, your team is fairly weak to Psycho Killer Mewtwo; Terrakion is simply not strong enough, and having to use Arceus to revenge kill it sucks. Blaziken is also an extremely huge threat to your team; Arceus needs a boost to secure a KO (recoil may help this greatly). Ho-Oh is also quite a threat too, none of the Pokemon on your team can stop it reliably. You're overrating the Specs Kyogre weakness, in my opinion; you have Latias, probably the best Kyogre check in the game. You don't need to worry.

Firstly, I recommend using Choice Scarf Genesect > Choice Scarf Terrakion; Genesect pretty much covers everything Terrakion covers for you, including Rayquaza, Mewtwo, Darkrai, Shaymin-S, Deoxys-A... it only loses out on Extreme Killer Arceus. Genesect is a much flexible Choice Scarf user and it can buy you momentum with its STAB U-turn and great coverage. Iron Head smacks the Kyurem formes and is great if you can attempt a sweep with it, whereas Ice Beam wrecks Dragons, namely Rayquaza. Explosion can be used to leave with a bang but Flamethrower is perfectly viable as well.

Genesect

Genesect @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Download
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature
- U-turn
- Iron Head
- Explosion / Flamethrower
- Ice Beam

Next, I recommend changing Arceus for a physically defensive Giratina-O. Giratina-O doesn't lose you momentum as much as its other forme does, and it also provides you an excellent counter to Blaziken and an extremely solid check to Extreme Killer and Ho-Oh (Ho-Oh only 3HKOs with Brave Bird without Life Orb, and +2 Extreme Killer with LO doesn't OHKO). Outrage easily smacks all three, Dragon Tail phazes, Shadow Sneak is a great priority. Will-O-Wisp is the niche of the set, allowing you to burn down threats such as Arceus and Terrakion.

Giratina-O

Giratina-Origin @ Griseous Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 216 Atk / 252 Def / 40 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Shadow Sneak
- Dragon Tail
- Outrage

Next, to minimize your Ho-Oh problem to a midget, I recommend three things:

1. Run Psyshock > Thunder on Latias. Using Thunder on a sun team is extremely risky, whereas Psyshock lets you beat Ho-Oh, Chansey, and CM Kyogre.
2. Run Roar > Dragon Tail on Groudon so you could phaze Substitute Pokemon
3. Run atleast 56 Spe EVs on Groudon so you could have the jump on Ho-Oh and smack it with Stone Edge.

Best of luck!

 

[superstar]

Thanks for the great rate Furai! I have made all the changes you suggested, and they have improved the team by a lot!
The only change I didn't make was replacing Dragon Tail on Groudon. The main reason for this is Rayquaza, since I can hit it hard with Dragon Tail and make it only able to switch into SR one more time. Another reason is that I often use it on predicted Kyogre switchins, which forces the Kyogre to take about 12% from DTail in addition to two rounds of SR -- wears it down more quickly. Substitute Pokes are not a problem. The only scary ones are Ho-Oh, who I will Stone Edge, Excadrill, who I wall, Giratina-O, who can't boost and who's sub I break, and Lati@s, who is rarely seen -- I'm not going to use Groudon for them anyway.
Thanks again for a great rate!

 

[His Eminence Lord Poppington II]

It's a solid team, but relying on Xatu to keep Stealth Rock off isn't the best idea; especially with ho-oh playing such an important part on your team.

However, although Forretress could easily go in that spot it is entirely up to you and if you are satisfied with Xatu's performance so be it. There are still some changes you can make to improve your team though, Latias should at least be sporting 192 speed for Garchomp and by virtue of that, Palkia, which, should you fail to outspeed, can threaten your entire team heavily.

I would also recommend creeping on Ho-Oh some, as it is very important to do so. Outspeeding support 90s with Recover and Substitute is huge. However, since there is no clear benchmark it is up to your own discretion to decide the amount.

I'd also creep a little bit on Xatu so some faster support Dialga can't outspeed it.

 

[superstar]

I actually have already made all the speed creep changes in the team that I use haha, and you are right in that they vastly improve its performance, so thanks for that!

Yeah, Forry might provide a bit more utility than Xatu (T-Spikes would be clutch!) but I really like Xatu in that spot, since its what make the team unique. The bigger problem is that Forry and Ferro get a lot of switch-in opportunities against my team to set up hazards, so when paired with a Tina-A/Ghostceus and a Kyogre I will almost never get the chance to spin. But then Dialga wouldn't be able to set up hazards....and I get another Steel-type...I will test it out! (There's also the fact that Xatu is what separates this team from the generic Ho-Oh, Groudon, Forry, Latias sun team :P)

Outspeeding Palkia hasn't proved to be that important, but after doing a bunch of calcs I found it didn't really hurt my bulk that much at all, so might as well. Thanks for the rate again!