Tapu Lele-Meta

Lele-Meta Sand:

Tapu Lele @ Twisted Spoon
Ability: Psychic Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Dazzling Gleam
- Taunt
- Protect

You spam Psychic and use Dazzel when you want to hit dragons or spread out some of that damage. Taunt makes you more able to deal with Mega Gardevoir/Cresselia(/Oranguru/Porygon2, both are lesser in general) as both reliably put TR against you. Other TR users such as Mimikyu/Stakataka force you out but if you know they depend too much on TR it's worth to Taunt regardless of Lele fainting to their attacks that turn. Literally regardless of the outcome it did be the better play to force out full TR as Offense is naturally ment to utilize it's sole capabilities to force out what it can't beat.


Metagross-Mega @ Metagrossite
Ability: Tough Claws
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Zen Headbutt
- Stomping Tantrum
- Iron Head
- Protect

You spam STABs, Stomping Tantrum 2HKO's Aegislash, OHKO's none-Shuca-Heatran, 68.8% chance to OHKO Stakataka(100% if Lonely nature which it runs for +attack boosts with beast boost), 68.8% chance to OHKO Tapu Koko(if Psychic terrain isn't up for zen) and OHKO Excadrill. Terrain boosted Zen Headbutt OHKO's Zard if not at -1, so keep in mind the switch/mega evolution order as a lando can not Intimidate you if it switches in the turn you mega evolve.


Zapdos @ Psychic Seed
Ability: Pressure
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 188 Def / 76 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Tailwind
- Roost
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave

Very slight adjustment in EV's to always outspeed Pelipper/Heatran as well as being able to outspeed +1 Mega Mence(relevant for Sub DD mence) under tailwind. The defenses allow you to evade the 2HKO from none terrain boosted Mega Metagross's Zen Headbutt and generally improve on the spectrum you will need to take in account the most. You have enough natural special attack to take fini into <75% range at which point any partner will be able to take it down with any neutral attack besides LO Excadrill's Rock Slide or an Intimidated Tyranitar's Rock Slide.


Tyranitar @ Darkium Z
Ability: Sand Stream
Level: 50
EVs: 188 HP / 252 Atk / 68 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Crunch
- Rock Slide
- Low Kick
- Protect

90 Speed makes you outspeed base 111 speed pokemon such as Thundurus-I, Mega Meta, Ninetales-A, Kartana, Terrakion, Blacephalon,
(Lati's) under Tailwind. Not al  those benches are amazing for it but relevant. The HP investment makes you bulky enough to reliably take a multitude of Super Effective hits and a small shaky one in Mega Meta's Iron head 37,5% will OHKO but if they run Meteo Smash that always KO's. You speed tie Mega Lucario but what are you going to do vs it in the 1 time a weird person runs that thing as Low Kick does 80-90% but missing on a KO on that is unexceptable.
(Realising the speed tier, having 92 instead of the current suggested 90 would allow you to outspeed neutral Politoad/Hitmontop but Politoad should be -speed for Perish and Hitmontop has Heatran to Speed bench. 90 speed = Min Speed Mimikyu, but isn't reasonable imo as that mon could max speed to outrun Lele who otherwise can check TR. Lele disrupts all other TR users besides Mental Herb Cress + stuff to pressure Tyranitar. )
Speaking of Tyranitar; Darkium Z allowes you to almost OHKO max HP/Defense Bold Cresselia requiring literally minimal damage from spread moves such as Dazzling Gleam from Tapu Lele, Rock Slide from Excadrill and really only not picking up with Electro Web from Rotom-Wash. It also does ~90 to Aegislash, ~80 to Offensive Lando with Intimidate and 43.8-50% chance to OHKO Kartana.
Rock Slide is amazingly strong picking up on a number of 3HKO's/2HKO's depending on the amount of intimidates as a simple -1 often doesn't hold it back to being unable to do work.


Excadrill @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drill Run
- Iron Head
- Rock Slide
- Protect

Life Orb misses the OHKO on Aegislash by just a sliver same for the 2HKO on offensive Lando but assures you generally do more damage like 2HKO Snorlax, not to mention your ability to OHKO Shuca Heatran without wasting the Z-move, the ability to hit Aegi hard on a wide guard turn and more. I did be EQ Groundium if it wasn't for the fact Groundium doesn't do anything usefull against Wide Guard spamming Aegislash who could even be Weakness Policy. You bring this mon vs Naga, Blacephalon and Koko as both tend to pair wth Aegi/Heatran and limited Ground answeres. You don't NEED this mon to deal with them and often Standerd 4 suffices.


Rotom-Wash @ Aguav Berry
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 116 Def / 140 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Electroweb
- Protect

Classic, but does what it needs to check but does little else outside of that. Where Zapdos is the back up for Meta + Lele, Rotom is the back up for Tar + Exca. Rotom's EV spread is ment to pick up on only 1 relevant KO and serves little other benches, it OHKO's Offensive Lando-T. Without a single doubt this is the most important KO to pick up on based on the previous statement of when you did bring it. Besides Lando it does <75% to Lele to not activate berry(sand chip could put it in range so keep that in mind) and ~80-90 to max HP Heatran with Hydro Pump. The remaining EV's are put into Defense to take on Terrain Boosted Zen from Mega Meta and 1 round of Sand chip. Besides this you take 1 Double Edge from Mega Kanga and could depending on how much chip damage has been taken survive 2 turns of M-Kanga spamming Return thanks to Aguav Berry. Sand can be viewd both ways with Rotom-Wash as it could bring you back into a great range if the opponant relies on Superpower Scarf Lando, Heat Wave from Zard-Y or such.




What does everything check;
-Tapu lele beats everything exept for: Tapu Fini, 96+ base speed pokemon, Metagross-Mega, Celesteela, Aegislash, Cresselia, Ferrothorn/Heatran-ish(both are 2HKO'd and often have other priority's in the match then knocking lele out)

-Mega-Metagross; Once again what DOESN'T it beat: Celesteela, Aegislash, Ferrothorn, Shuca Heatran, Suicune, Mega Swampert/Ludi/Kingdra under Rain. Lando-T/Zard-Y are iffy on the remainder of their team.

-Zapdos: It beats Ferrothorn, Excadrill, Mega-Mawile, Tapu Bulu, Celesteela, Mega-Meta(funny enough you can only check it outside of psychic terrain), Venusaur(regular),

-Darkium Z Tyranitar: Cresselia, Zapdos, Heatran, Aegislash, Stakataka, Tapu Koko, Naganadel, Check Weathers, Semi-Tr with stuff like min speed Lando as it can't outspeed you while you attack Cress, Torkoal(actually functional TR abuser with the added offense of being the slowest auto-weather mon)

-Excadrill: Tapu Koko, Mega-Meta, Heatran, Aegislash, Naganadel, Tapu Bulu, Tyranitar, <more to come>

-Rotom-Wash: Landorus-T, Mega Swamp+Pelipper, Heatran, M-Mawile, Stakataka, M-Camerupt, Tyranitar, Mega-meta(It's a roll under Psychic Terrain), Tyranitar, Celesteela, (Mamoswine)




Issues of the team:
-Cress
-Aegislash
Any other issues 90% of the time are only relevant when paired WITH one of the above 2.
-Gastrodon, fuck this mon in current metagame, it's shit, it's bad, it shouldn't be used, it gets fucked over by Psychic Spam and Darkium from tar + chip but that doesn't stop you from being annoyed as shit by this passive pile of cute slu(d)g(e).






Your own Cookiecutter overview;
~70-80% = Mega Meta + Lele with Zapdos + Tyranitar in the back = it's the better option more often than not; you could end up leading slightly differenting but bringing these basic 4 in case of;
Tyranitar + Mega Meta for slow as shit teams that M-Meta can outspeed their only fast thing like full TR Cress lacking Lando/Bulu.
Zap + Lele in the occasion they run some redundant fast offensive stuff like Pheromosa(that thing is scary with mixed Ice Beam, HJK, Poison Jab and fightium Z so keep in mind the Psychic Seed Zapdos). This lead also works wonders vs Kingdra + Pelipper but even in that consider Meta + Lele and protecting with both on the Waterium from Kingdra.
((Tyranitar + Lele for not full TR that lacks M-Kanga/Lando/Bulu, this isn't a thing you should find as it implies the opponants team is a horseshit poor form of balance OR the most disgusting form of full TR.)
A unique mention is Zard-Y, Lando, Fini, Cress, Filler/Filler often being Aegi/Heatran/Koko/Zap as this makes Rotom-Wash a niche option depending on the filler like if it's venusaur don't bother but if it's a Heatran the team has a hole of opportunity(it should be grassium offensive Heatran so take that in mind). Koko and Lele could be on the same team to weird out Psychic Terrain(puns) and to pose a general threat to the team but now Exca gets to look interesting as even Exca can 2HKO Fini and OHKO's Koko/Zard with Drill Run and Rock Slide respectively. Lando needs to be removed for Exca to put in work so anticipate aggressive plays like him(or her idk who your opponant could be) switching in Lando like the win thirsty people they are.

~20% = Excadrill + Tyranitar with Rotom-Wash + Lele/Mega Meta/Zapdos in the back, this lead presses out anything Koko/Naga want to do, if a lando exists this could be reconsidered back into Meta + Lele just watch out for Electrium Z Koko and mega evolving Mega Meta too early.

<10% = Zap + Rotom-Wash, I have done this before... but only because my opponant doesn't know what to do. Most of those teams exist of 2-3 water types and heavily lack actual moves to touch Zap or Rotom besides a Ludicolo and this is keeping in mind how if it fully looks like a rain team; revert back to Lele+Meta or Lele+Zap with basic 4.


Weird exceptions to keep in mind these basic lead combinations:
Mega Loppuny; Exca outspeeds and Iron OHKO's but don't let that thing be paired with Aegi while you lead Lele + Meta, I legit forfeit that match if I mispredict the lead for how shit you deal with the things they have in the back like Lando, Specs Fini and Cress. Yes with M-Lopp it should be specs Fini. Those teams generally look like AV or even LO Lando, M-Lopp instead of Kanga, Specs Fini, Cresselia, Electrium Zapdos and Heatran/Tyranitar/filler as the last mon. It legit won't deviate much from that as that is how Lopp justifies over Mega Kanga. Mega Lopp isn't strong, it's only 136 attack so it's about as strong as Tyranitar but has no item choice, lacks bulk to take single target hits and has competition from Kanga forcing it to only do well vs Offense and at that with Kanga competition it starts to shine against Aegi or Psychic Spam, both of which Kanga could be Adamant Crunch or Jolly return to resolve the issue. I found this worth to mention as you could find it and it has basic cookie cutter lines of what to do vs it.







COOKIECUTTER MATCH UP'S:
The most cookie cutter match up and plays;
Opposing: Lando, Zard-Y, Cresselia, Aegislash with in the back; one of Tapu Fini/Tapu Koko/Zapdos
You bring: Tapu Lele, Mega Meta, Tyranitar, Excadrill/Zapdos

Meta + Lele lead vs Lando + zard, Lando + Cress or Zard + Cress.
Lando + Zard:
Keep in mind turn order and the turn to mega as you could shift the game purely by scouting a turn with Protect. Most stupid opponants will eagerly try to Mega Zard attack with Heat Wave and go for Techtonic, EQ or Rock Slide if Groundium/Scarf Lando. If it's one of those you literally just won as Mega Meta gets to Zen into Zard which will OHKO with terrain and thanks to clear body the neutral attack where as Lele can OHKO Lando with Psychic. If the opponant is intelligent he could Protect zard and wait with the Mega-evolution and switch into Lando next turn anticipating you to Mega your Mega-meta prematurely so you lose Clear Body. Lele could be faster thanks to the fact you are Timid Lele but focus on Lando with Lele.
While it sounds like this is suboptimal as you have Zapdos, Zapdos can only take so much and do so much against everything they have in the back or could lead otherwise as Cress legit takes the world of opportunity vs Zapdos.
Leading Lele + Zapdos foces you into defensive play to protect Lele and Tailwind with Zap where they might Heat Wave/Fire Blast/Overheat + Rock Slide. Heat Wave + Rock Slide can't KO but can flinch and hits Lele if you don't protect. Fire Blast/Overheat have about ~80% chance taking in account damage and accuracy as both are simalar in resulting % to KO Zapdos. IF this goes right you are in such an advantage the opponant did have to full predict your next turn and only then could stall out the tailwind. Often it could be that Zard-Y goes for Tailwind as well and just Protects Lando or Rock Slide, this implies Groundium and Scarf/AV Lando respectively so it does give info but Zard took too much from Rock Slide or could even be flinched. Lele did be open if you know they have it but eh would be my honest answere. This is very specific and has more negative outcomes thanks to the freedom the opponant has vs your lead. On a slight bright side you get to scout how much speed the Lando runs as Zap has a weird speed tier to outspeed Bulky Lando, that gives enough info to limit it down to Bulky AV Lando or some jack shit Groundium, neither of which matter as it goes for super/tech into Tar in the second/third turn when tar comes in to revenge zard-Y forcing you to Protect Tyranitar or go into Rotom-Wash which can be an option to bring if it's Fini


If it's Cresselia + Zard-Y the main issue duo occures as Cress could be; Helping Hand or Trick Room or Ally Switch or Icy Wind all of them besides Trick Room can be resolved by Protecting with both mons turn 1. Helping hand Heat Wave is the only way zard could OHKO Lele with it's spread. Icy Wind did be an issue if Zard Protects and doesn't mega evolve but if it does Mega evolve turn 1 you just made Tyranitar come in for near free only having to fear Focus Blast.

Cress + Lando is fun actually as the main question ends up being if he Techtonic's/EQ's or if he Protects Lando as those Lando's should be bulky Lando so they take Psychic from Lele. Taunting cress or attacking Lando is the trade-off here as the Lando is in a 50/50 threat possition of being doubled up into or having a free OHKO with tech OR having both mons on the field into a 30% HP range.

Of the above described situations Fini could switch in to disrupt Psychic Terrain so Zard can survive Zen and so Lando could come in the turn after but as stupid as it sounds that did still be fine as Zard gives free opportunity to Lele to Psychic and Zard is Modest most of the time.


I legit love this match up as you have a number of things that could be relevant and involve actual thinking to resolve or enough practice and knowing what kind of opponant you are up against. it gets sad when your opponant spams Rock Slide with scarf Lando and flinches both your mon so Zard OHKO's with Heat Wave however.... It happens, it sucks, it's how this game exists.




Other cookiecutter situations:
Kangaskhan-Mega: depend on the Kanga's nature and move. Often Kanga wants Adamant in which case Sucker Punch/Crunch are the main things to watch out for. Jolly Kanga can be Protect, Fake Out, Return/Double edge, Low Kick but slight deviation can occure. It's a nasty mon but take in account the Parental Bond and Sucker Punch nerf, Kanga needs adamant in almost all match ups besides when facing Lele and Zard which happen to be super relevant but also want to run + Attack natures. I don't like Kanga as much anymore because of this as it will make the people using and fighting mirror or simlar matches feel as if they are pulling a slot machine. It often can not be determined by teampreview.
WARNING: One of the scariest things about Kanga is the revenge killing potential in this meta, it no longer is the sweeping potential but the ability to hit and run with Scarf or Bulky Lando maby even Koko spamming U-turn or Volt-Switch. Thanks to that momentum gain and terrain dominance any existing team could still be held down simalar to VGC15, just to lesser 50/50 extend of being set up on instead of ''just'' revenge killed.

With your team; almost every attack does ~50% or more to it so combined KO's are in abundance. Take in account Fini/Koko switches to force out Pychic Terrain so Kanga can Sucker Punch worn Mega-Meta and how this mon has Low Kick to OHKO Tyranitar. it should always have Low Kick, so take in mind. Jolly also outspeeds Lele and Return OHKO's, it's scary but Adamant should be more common.
252+ Atk Parental Bond Kangaskhan-Mega Sucker Punch vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Metagross-Mega: 77-92 (49.3 - 58.9%) -- 98.4% chance to 2HKO
With all this being side: Mega Kanga + Lando, even against that Lele + Mega Meta can be a gamble situation compaired to having Zap + Lele or Rotom-Wash + Mega Meta or Lele/Tar(while both directly lose to Kanga/Lando they open space for M-mega/Exca in the back, luring opportunity to agressively push your opponant away. It legit works but has an inferrior start but that is an OK trade when facing a lead that relies purely on the first turn agression to chip and ability to revenge when terrain control is in the back.)
Try to just go Rotom-Wash + Mega Meta and consider the Mega-evolution trade for Techtonic Lando or U-turn from Scarf. Protecting with Rotom-Wash is an option but with aguav not nessesary and gives the ability to scout whatever the thing Lando U-turned/swaped into might do to you on turn 2.