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  1. Orre Cup 2022-11-06
  2. by Mosquito
  3.  
  4. https://pokepast.es/001af0dd22e0c0e0
  5. Gengar/Snorlax/Zapdos/Metagross/Latias/Latios
  6.  
  7. ===Forward===
  8. I wrote most of this report before the tournament so I could voice my teambuilding intentions to myself. The only parts written afterward is this forward and the post-tournament analysis.
  9.  
  10. ===Summary===
  11. I want to build a balanced team focused on Zapdos that has few poor polarizing matchups.
  12.  
  13. ===Abstract===
  14. Zapdos's superb typing and high but balanced stats give it an interesting position in the metagame. Its best role is a bulky, slightly fast special attacker that deals strong neutral damage with Thunderbolt and resists Metagross' two main attacks. Its two type weaknesses have few viable STAB attackers. On the other hand, its bulk, while good, isn't amazing, and its speed is too slow to be an immediate presence. It faces slight adversity from the faster and Electric-resisting Lati@s and Raikou, and it crumbles before Explosion unless it gets a Substitute set up.
  15.  
  16. In searching for teammates to cover these shortcomings, Metagross and Latios come to mind. They form the Meta-Lati-Electric core that hit hard and reliably from Latios and Metagross with Zapdos to cover the Metagross counters (Moltres/Gyarados/Zapdos). As the meta shifts, I feel it's necessary to have at least one Pokémon that's faster than base 110 to check Lati@s and especially Gengar. Since I prefer Zapdos as an Electric type, Raikou is ignored. Aerodactyl is ignored. But Starmie? Starmie can work if it replaces Latios.
  17.  
  18. With a three-mon core, I need a bulky Icy Wind Pokémon to further patch up Zapdos' shortcomings vs. Lati@s, Gengar, and Raikou. I tested Suicune over the weak, but Raikou handily demolishes my team unless I run Marowak. Zapdos gives the team less trouble but gives Marowak more trouble. I don't like having to play run away with Suicune. But what about Swampert? Less bulky, lacks the endgame threat of Calm Mind, cannot switch into Ice moves... but outright beats Electrics so long as they don't run HP Grass (and none of them are). It threatens Metagross the same as Suicune: a 2HKO, resists Meteor Mash, and trades speed for no-miss STAB. Swampert seems like a viable candidate.
  19.  
  20. Snorlax further covers special sweepers, benefits from my team's hate of Metagross, and in a pinch lives Explosion from Gengar. The hardest slot to fill is my 6th... I want another Levitater/Flying type so Swampert can be a consistent physical threat. Unfortunately, most options double up my team's weaknesses (Lati@s, Moltres, Gyarados)... and there's Gengar. A Pokémon that I dislike as a generalist has its uses if I design it for specific matchups: namely I see trouble with Boom Sun, with Rain, with Skill Swap... Gengar can be teched to make those matchups easier.
  21.  
  22.  
  23. ===At-a-Glance===
  24. ~Zapdos+Swampert~
  25. Theoretically the best leads. I can Icy Wind most mons (Starmie in particular) so Zapdos can outrun them. EQ is easy to click with Zapdos Flying typing.
  26.  
  27. ~Metagross+Zapdos~
  28. Solid lead that hits hard with good synergy. Tbolt + EQ should handily dispatch opposing Metagross.
  29.  
  30. ~Gengar+Metagross~
  31. A common lead, I threaten Explosion T1 and watch as they Double Protect while I Skill Swap. Gengar has no other offensive moves so this shouldn't be a common lead.
  32.  
  33. ~Starmie+anyone~
  34. Lead Starmie eliminates Gengar immediately so I gain momentum with the teammate
  35.  
  36. ~Snorlax+anyone~
  37. Switch in to Ice Beams, Flamethrowers, Shadow Balls... this is the ideal reserve mon. Sometimes it's a useful lead when the opposing team is specially stacked.
  38.  
  39. ===In-Detail===
  40. ~Gengar~
  41. 136H/120A/252S+- max speed, lives Shiftry HP Dark or Shadow Ball, dump attack
  42. Destiny Bond to check Metagross/Snorlax, WoW to check Metagross/Snorlax, Skill Swap for niche teams I need to counter (Sun, Rain) and to get Levitating Metagross. Explosion to wipe the field. Gengar exists solely as a tech, since the other 5 mons should handle most situations (I think I'll miss Latios)
  43.  
  44. ~Starmie~
  45. 4H/252C/252S+ to speedtie Raikou, dump Sp. Atk.
  46. Psychic is used to threaten Gengar support leads and prevent Explosions. Ice Beam hits Lati@s. Hydro Pump hits Metagross and improves the Rain matchup. In a better world I could find room for T-Wave or Reflect or Light Screen or Sub. But I care more about removing threats for Metagross/Zapdos/Snorlax. I use Endure so I can cheese some endgames. I don't know if Protect or Endure is better, but we're all using Endure so whatever, I'll take the loss to Arcanine.
  47.  
  48. ~Snorlax~
  49. 252A+/244B/12S - standard set that speedcreeps other Snorlax and outruns base 130+ when they're paralyzed.
  50. CB Snorlax is a great game cleaner - it takes on special attackers once Metagross and Gengar are moved. Normal is an easier STAB to spam than Meteor Mash. Shadow Ball and EQ are mandatory vs. Gengar and Metagross respectively. I don't run Self Destruct because this is meant to be an endgame wincon. For Normal STABs, Body Slam provides consistent damage with a 30% chance to paralyze. If I threaten 2HKO anyway, might as well hope for the para. Return and Double-Edge are useful in various situations. I chose Return because I don't like recoil for my endgame wincon.
  51.  
  52. ~Zapdos~
  53. 48H/252C/208S - outrun 252+ Gyarados, Blaziken, and Medicham, maximize Sp. Atk to (almost) guaranteed 2HKO on 252/0 Metagross, dump HP
  54. Standard set. I love Sub Zapdos. However, I learned today that it can't 2HKO Metagross without way too much investment. I don't like this, but I need to remove Metagross to win games with Snorlax. Besides, it's not like Zapdos Substitute can actually survive more than one hit. The downside of this is a weaker matchup vs. Lati@s. Swampert should patch this up.
  55.  
  56. ~Swampert~
  57. 248H/252A+/8S - Swampert would need to run an absurd amount of speed to outrun Base 110s after an Icy Wind - even then, it doesn't threaten them, so I didn't bother with proper speed investment. While looking for relevant KOs, an Adamant 0A Swampert OHKOs Raikou already, and there's no way to OHKO Metagross. EQ always 2HKOs. With no meaningful benchmarks, I ran 248/252/8 to maximize bulk and to make EQ deal meaningful neutral damage, while speed creeping other Swampert.
  58. Icy Wind can glue the team together, Earthquake is the ideal STAB, and Protect stops Explosion. For the last slot, I ran HP Ghost to OHKO Latios. I put some thought into Mirror Coat, but I think it's too easy to play around in Doubles. Rest might be useful in elect scenarios, but Swampert's overall bulk is probably too low for it.
  59.  
  60. ~Metagross~
  61. 20H/252A+/236S - Outrun Base 110s after Icy Wind, helps creep on other Meta. Survives 252+ CB Spider EQ. I unfortunately have a chance of being OHKOed by Adamant CB spider, and the rare 252S variants can outrun me. But I'll take that risk. Dump into Attack. Without CB, it's really important to be dealing neutral damage with Meteor Mash, so I can't afford to drop my Attack by too much.
  62.  
  63. MM and EQ are standard. I run Lum with Protect so I can stall a turn for Icy Wind, and because CB is taken by Snorlax. I don't believe I'll need Shadow Ball: MM deals almost as much to Lati@s and Gengar, and HP Rock hits Shedinja. Speaking of HP Rock, it's my check to Moltres/Zapdos/Gyarados.
  64.  
  65.  
  66.  
  67. ===Matchups===
  68.  
  69. ~Rain~
  70. Skill Swap Swift Swim T1, rely on Starmie and Zapdos. Good luck.
  71.  
  72. ~Sun~
  73. Skill Swap Chlorophyll T1, tank the Shiftry, and figure it out with everyone besides Swampert
  74.  
  75. ~Lightningrod~
  76. Sub Zapdos beats Gyarados + Marowak. Vs. Starmie/Wak, it's trickier, but a fast Metagross + Zapdos can do the trick.
  77.  
  78. ~Skill Swap~
  79. If it's Gengar, Skill Swap your Metagross. If it's Starmie, WoW the Slaking and hope you don't get KOed by Psychic (alterative: Meta Zapdos, Starmie rear, and just go for KOs and trade). If it's Alakazam, you lose (I think trade with Meta lead and Starmie rear to beat Slaking)
  80.  
  81. ~ImprisonBoom~
  82. Metagross + Zapdos/Latios + Gengar. Substitute + Detect helps immensely. If there's a Metagross or Snorlax lead, you're winning. If there's a Gengar Lead, switch to Gengar and Meteor Mash their Gengar.
  83.  
  84. ~GoodStuffs~
  85. Outplay them and rely on your intuition. Starmie should win Gengar matches immediately and has net positive vs. Lati@s. The team is solid enough to deal with most things hopefully.
  86.  
  87.  
  88. ===Post-Tournament Reflections===
  89. Oh boy, I won my first tournament in a long time! Though my score looks incredible (4-0 sets, 8-1 games), it's deceiving - a lot of the games were close, I got some lucky breaks with random critical hits, and my Grand Finals game 3 was only won on a misclick. Therefore, I cannot attest to this team being anything amazing or special. It's a strong GoodStuffs team that managed to win; that's it.
  90.  
  91. The main core of Zapdos/Swampert did most of the work, with Starmie netting key KOs with its speed. Metagross and Snorlax were used interchangeably, and I didn't find myself able to endgame with Snorlax as often as I wanted. Still, I think Choice Band is more valuable than Quick Claw sets. I found myself using Gengar exactly as intended - a tech to win specific matchups.
  92.  
  93. I can't think of many improvements to Zapdos/Swampert. Maybe Sp. Atk EVs can be moved to HP. Swampert really didn't need more bulk as is, though with how rarely I used EQ, a bulkier variant with Rest might have merit.
  94.  
  95. Metagross speed wars feel weird - I was missing a lot of bulk all to ensure a positive matchup vs. other Metagross. This made my Metagross more vulnerable to Zapdos Thunderbolt, and I couldn't even 2HKO with HP Rock. Worst of all, Akiak's 252S Metagross in Grand Finals invalidated my attempts. Icy Wind was much more useful for Zapdos than for Metagross, so maybe Metagross should improve its bulk.
  96.  
  97. Snorlax did its job. Good work Snorlax.
  98.  
  99. Starmie too did its job. It's a shame it has little flexibility with its EVs. It has to run at least 351 speed to outrun Gengar (who all seem to run max just to tie random Lati@s), and it might as well speed tie Raikou. It can't do much without 252C investment, so most Starmie in the format will be the same stats. I did appreciate its movepool (all 3 attacks were necessary), but I'm still unsure whether Endure or Protect is better. I felt an equal number of situations where I wish I could have either. In any case, I would want to build a team in the future that has two attacks on Starmie and runs more support moves. Screens, Thunder Wave, and even Substitute are all viable if the team is properly designed. Starmie definitely feels like an A+ Pokémon.
  100.  
  101. Gengar still feels weak fundamentally, but I can no longer deny its value. It has four things going for it that make it S tier: amazing immunities, high speed, Explosion, and decent movepool. I've been hating on it for the last bit (lots of support options but missing speed control, lack of special STABs and weak BP from the punches), but the first 3 points are enough to make Gengar a Top 3 threat. It's ridiculous that it works so well, but it does. I don't want to use it but there's no better alternative. Risk Explosions and Earthquakes galore, or use Gengar.
  102.  
  103. I'm glad I got to make Zapdos work again (my most comfortable Pokémon to use), and I expect this team will be a decent choice for a while. It doesn't have a strong game plan though, so don't expect games to be easy. Enjoy using it, and may cooler things take its place.
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