Secret Ingredient #8 Submission

Sableye-Mega @ Sablenite

Ability: Prankster

EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD

Careful Nature

- Will-O-Wisp

- Knock Off

- Protect

- Recover



Tentacruel @ Black Sludge

Ability: Liquid Ooze

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD

Calm Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Scald

- Toxic Spikes

- Rapid Spin

- Haze



Skarmory @ Shed Shell

Ability: Sturdy

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD

Impish Nature

- Brave Bird

- Roost

- Spikes

- Whirlwind



Chansey @ Eviolite

Ability: Natural Cure

EVs: 244 HP / 252 Def / 12 SpD

Bold Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Stealth Rock

- Soft-Boiled

- Seismic Toss

- Heal Bell



Latias @ Leftovers

Ability: Levitate

EVs: 252 HP / 176 Def / 80 SpA

Bold Nature

IVs: 0 Atk

- Wish

- Protect

- Ice Beam

- Grass Knot



Quagsire @ Leftovers

Ability: Unaware

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def

Relaxed Nature

- Scald

- Earthquake

- Toxic

- Recover

Sableye is the premier lead of the team, able to threaten lando-t with a priority will-o-wisp prior to mega evolving, knock off clefable’s leftovers, and prevent rocks from being on the field. Later on in the game it can provide valuable spinblocking and also checks many physical threats with will-o-wisp and special threats such as z-celebrate victini. Knock off is a incredible utility move, especially on stall, stripping mons of their leftovers or boosting items, as well as receiving stab to hit victini and other mons weak to the move well (notably mega medicham and hoopa-u)

0 SpA Clefable Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Sableye-Mega: 128-152 (42.2 - 50.1%) -- 0.4% chance to 2HKO
+1 252 SpA Victini Searing Shot vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Sableye-Mega: 135-159 (44.5 - 52.4%) -- 17.2% chance to 2HKO
0 Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Sableye-Mega: 123-145 (40.5 - 47.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
0 Atk burned Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 248 HP / 8 Def Sableye-Mega: 61-72 (20.1 - 23.7%) -- guaranteed 5HKO

Skarmory is the optimal spikes setter on this team, being able to set up and put a stop to physical threats such as mega pinsir, garchomp, lando-t and non-fire fang mega mawile. Reliable recovery in roost and the access to spikes helped it secure a spot on the team over celesteela, a mon with better overall bulk and a much greater offensive presence due to its access to better offensive moves such as heavy slam, flamethrower and earthquake, as well as leech seed. In addition to this, it has access to whirlwind, which serves dual purposes. First, it can phase out threats that skarmory can't pressure but don't affect it, like kartana. Secondly, phasing out mons combos well with the hazard stacking that the team supplies

Tentacruel is a great special wall, notably being more bulky than toxapex in terms of special defense and being faster than it too. It crucially has rapid spin, a hazard removal move that doesn't get blocked by taunt and also doesn't remove opposing entry hazards, which the team is built around. Access to toxic spikes and haze helps it remain competitive against toxapex, and the lack of reliable recovery and regenerator is made up by its higher speed and greater offensive presence. It’s only lacking point is its average physical bulk and the absence of solid recovery, although this is less of a problem with stall due to the other walls on the team and wish passers.

Chansey is the best special wall in ou, hard stopping threats such as ash-greninja, non-drain punch hoopa-u, heatran and many more. Access to stealth rock and heal bell helps give it the tools to support the team and set up hazards reliably.

Latias is a unique choice, however it's physical bulk is often underestimated. Access to wish and coverage options in ice beam and grass knot helps it secure a spot to check lando-t and mega swampert. With a respectable special attack and speed stat, latias can provide support while checking threats and also notably has levitate to avoid spike damage and toxic spikes, and find more chances to safely switch in. The calcs below represent latias's physical bulk well.

252+ Atk Swampert-Mega Ice Punch vs. 252 HP / 176+ Def Latias: 166-196 (45.6 - 53.8%) -- 3.9% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
+1 252 SpA Keldeo Secret Sword vs. 252 HP / 176+ Def Latias: 85-101 (23.3 - 27.7%) -- possible 5HKO after Leftovers recovery

The special attack investment helps latias have a good chance secure a notable ohko vs mega swampert with grass knot, a move that normally isn't seen on latias, let along a defensive set.

80 SpA Latias Grass Knot (100 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Swampert-Mega: 312-368 (91.4 - 107.9%) -- 43.8% chance to OHKO
80 SpA Latias Grass Knot (100 BP) vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Swampert-Mega: 312-368 (91.4 - 107.9%) -- 87.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock

Overall, the element of surprise and latia's underestimated physical bulk helps it tremendously to carry out its role.

Quagsire rounds out the team as a unaware user, checking zygarde better than clefable and also avoids a 2hit ko from mega pinsir's return. Scald spreads burns, and earthquake threatens heatran and toxapex. A great typing in water/ground helps it come in on electric-types moves and has great physical bulk.

252 Atk Aerilate Pinsir-Mega Return vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Quagsire: 183-216 (46.4 - 54.8%) -- 9.8% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Overall, the team is good in practice because it can check or counter every major offensive threat in the overused metagame, and all pokemon on the team except tentacruel has reliable recovery, which is made up for by latias' wish. There are notable problems, like every team. Z-moves and powerful wallbreakers such as kyurem-b and hoopa-u will pose huge problems due to their sheer strength. If a z-move eliminates certain mons, than certain offensive threats can run through the team. For example, if quagsire falls to a subzero slammer from kyurem-b, a zygarde with dragon dance will sweep the team if the chance is given. Other threats such as volcarona and ash-greninja can find chances to set up if their checks are removed via z-moves and powerful threats.