Orre Cup 11 [2023-12-02]
Journey Across America Tournament
by Mosquito

https://pokepast.es/be90c8c6e2e046fa
Snorlax/Mewtwo/Lugia/Shedinja/Kyogre/Groudon

1nd Place
Sets: 7W-1L
Games: 18W-3L

PART 1

===Forward===
I wrote this pretty quickly after Orre Cup 11 because there isn't much to say and I don't enjoy playing this format all that much.

===Summary===
I built a pressure-stall team using the five best 'mons in the format with Shedinja added to beat hard Rain teams.

===Abstract===
Leading up to Orre Cup 11, the Journey Across America was centered on the "big 5": Mewtwo, Lugia, Snorlax, Groudon, and Kyogre. Most teams opted to use these 'mons due to their raw stats and excellent matchups vs. each other. Having exclusively played with "big 5" teams, I opted to continue using them. In testing I preferred Substitute + Leftovers Lugia over screens. After using Aeroblast for over a month, I switched to Toxic to avoid PP-stalling. Between Substitute Lugia and Substitute Mewtwo, this team became a Pressure team that could PP stall my opponents. Shedinja was added last-minute for fun and to counter hard-rain teams that give trouble to the "big 5".


===At-a-Glance===
Mewtwo + Lugia are the main defensive core. I click fast Substitute to avoid Icy Wind, to punish boom, and to drain the PP of my opponent's 'mons.

Snorlax + Shedinja have excellent synergy, being able to switch (or Baton Pass) between each other fairly safely.

Lugia + Groudon is a strong sweeping core that defeats teams that lack Ground immunities.

There are multiple niche lead options, but most games are best opened with Mewtwo + Lugia.

===In-Detail===
~Snorlax~
Standard Snorlax with speedcreep. I considered Rawst Berry for the Gengar matchup but saved it for Shedinja. Quick Claw is the best filler item.

~Mewtwo~
Standard Mewtwo with Substitute.
Lum Berry is mandatory as insurance against the many status possibilities from Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Body Slam, and Sleep Powder.
Fast Substitute proved versatile by blocking Icy Wind, blocking status, punishing Explosion/Selfdestruct, PP stalling opponents, and giving me additional options per turn. Not once did I wish for any other move.

~Lugia~
The spread is max speed to mostly guarantee Substitute before opposing Lugia can Icy Wind. The remaining EVs are dumped into HP.
Leftovers plus Substitute is the crux of this set.
Icy Wind is a better speed control option in JAA than in Standard format because Groudon is immune to Thunder Wave. By using Icy Wind, it enables Groudon or Kyogre to sweep with powerful moves. Toxic is the set's unique tech. With Toxic, Lugia threatens Snorlax more easily and wins 1v1 against opposing Lugia. I must give credit to Nnico Iosi for thinking of this set. Between Protect, Substitute, pivoting, and Shedinja, Toxic damage adds up. Protect is a staple move. Substitute works exactly the same on Lugia as it does on Mewtwo, except Lugia gets outsped by Mewtwo.

~Shedinja~
The only acceptable Shedinja EV spread. Jolly is used to outspeed Adamant Shedinja.
Rawst Berry was chosen over Brightpowder specifically to deal with Will-o-Wisp Gengar. In practice I faced multiple Destiny Bond Gengar, making this matchup 50/50 instead of an auto-win. Aside from Lum Berry, there are no better item options for Shedinja; it cannot afford to run Choice Band because it needs Protect.
Shadow Ball is the attacking move of Choice, hitting everying in the format for chip damage besides Snorlax. Toxic fits well with the rest of the team, especially because Shedinja isn't getting many OHKOs. Toxic exploits free turns where my opponents cannot touch Shedinja, and it's especially useful if it hits a Snorlax switch-in. Protect is a staple move.
Baton Pass may look weird, but my 4th move options were Swords Dance, Baton Pass, Silver Wind, Hidden Power [Bug], and Hidden Power [Fighting], in that order. Hidden Power [Fighting] may chunk Snorlax but I didn't want to risk getting outsped by other possible Jolly Shedinja. Hidden Power [Bug] and Silver Wind aren't as relevant in JAA because Shadow Ball already hits most 'mons harder. Between Swords Dance and Baton Pass, I decided to be cooky and try Baton Pass as a pivot move. If I'm in a position where I can Swords Dance with Shedinja, I either have won the game already or Toxic provides more utility. This is especially try when I'm not running Hidden Power [Fighting], which would be the main use to overcome Snorlax. Baton Pass, coupled with Shedinja's relatively low speed, allows me to safely pivot into a 'mon in the rear. Against Snorlax, I can Baton Pass over hard-switching to scout my opponent's moves. Baton Pass was useful once. The other time I used it, my opponent predicted the switch and Double-Edged into my Shedinja, which pivoted into Snorlax.
Shedinja won me two sets but was useless in Top Cut. There are simply too many staple 'mons (Groudon, Lugia, Snorlax) with coverage vs. Shedinja, and PP-stalling proved to be difficult.

~Kyogre~
Standard Kyogre, running max speed and White Herb to check Icy Wind.

~Groudon~
Mostly-standard Groudon, running max speed.
Salac Berry is used over White Herb because 252C Mewtwo deals just enough damage to usually proc Salac Berry from full health.
Earthquake is the standard STAB option. Hidden Power [Ghost] is used over Ancientpower to avoid getting PP stalled by Lugia, and is used over Hidden Power [Rock] to ensure Groudon can at least speedtie max speed weather legendaries. Swords Dance is a standard Groudon move that turns it into a frightening win-condition when the opponent lacks Ground-immunities.. Protect is a staple move, and I specifically used it over Endure to deal with Icy Wind Lugia.