Featured Uber RMT

Introduction

Space Bound was the first Ubers team I made after I began playing the tier earlier this year. I have had some success with the team seeing as it helped me get #3 on leaderboard soon after starting Ubers. While the team hasn't changed that much since then, I've gotten a lot better even though this was still one of the teams I used the most throughout my experience in the tier. I've used this in tournaments such as SPL (4-1 record) and stuff like Ubers Cup. Having used this team for awhile, and since the Arceus Metagame is so close by, I feel it's time to retire it. Both Swords Dance and Calm Mind variants of Arceus would have no problems dealing with the team so I'd have to change so much that the team wouldn't be quite the same.

The initial concept for this team was creating a team that helped the Paradancer Groudon set sweep. The end result wasn't quite that since I probably sweep with Darkrai more than Groudon but the end result was far better than I anticipated.

Giratina-O @ Platinum Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Atk / 62 SpA / 196 Spe
Naive nature (+Spe, -SpD)
- Draco Meteor
- Shadow Sneak
- Earthquake / Outrage
- Hidden Power Fire

Even though it's not seen much these days, Giratina-O is personally one of my favorite leads. It might have some trouble vs. some leads, but it beats the leads that I need beaten. Since my whole team is grounded (bar Giratina-O of course), limiting the entry hazards that I have to deal with was the mindset I had when choosing my lead. Because of this, I dismissed most leads that prioritized setting up hazards and decided to leave a Stealth Rock user for later in the game. While LeadQuaza was on the original draft of this team, I switched to Giratina-O after trying it out. The reason is chose Giratina-O over Rayquaza as my lead was for several reasons. Giratina-O is considerably more bulky, lacks a Stealth Rock weakness and has a nice ghost typing that allows me to block rapid spin throughout the game. While spin blocking isn't essential on my team since I'm not utilizing spikes, its particularly useful against teams that pack Ho-Oh. Ho-Oh can do quite a number to this team like most uber teams so having Stealth Rock take 50% of its health is nice. I use Earthquake over Outrage most of the time because i only ever end up outraging is vs. Kyogre leads. Even then the method isn't reliable since it can easily switch out next turn so I decided to use Earthquake instead which hits Pokemon such as Tyranitar, specially defensive Jirachi and Heatran.

Lead Match-ups

Deoxys-S

Shadow Sneak twice as it gets 1 hazard down.

Deoxys-A

Same as Deoxys-S except it does occasionally hit me hard with a Shadow Ball. If it does though, it gets no hazards.

Groudon

Draco Meteor following by whatever move I deem appropriate at the time until its gone / switched out.

Kyogre

My team has trouble with Thunder Wave Kyogre. I generally bring in Jirachi on the Ice Beam / Thunder Wave then Palkia the following turn.

Dialga

Switch in Jirachi then Wish or switch Heatran in.

Darkrai

Something is going to sleep, which is a huge problem. I normally choose between Heatran and Giratina-O but no matter what I'm severely crippled.

Mew

Shadow Sneak 3HKOs and it can't touch me back. Draco Meteor + Shadow Sneak has a good chance at KOing too.

Giratina-O

Jirachi and Heatran have a relatively easy time switching into this unless it has Earthquake.

Rayquaza

Switch in Jirachi on the Draco Meteor, followed by Heatran on the Fire Blast. From there I Dragon Pulse as it Brick Breaks into my Chople Berry.

Shaymin-S

Easy switch into Jirachi as I U-turn the following turn.

Forretress

Hidden Power Fire handles it pretty well.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Def / 212 SpD / 4 Spe
Careful nature (+SpD, -SpA)
- U-turn
- Wish
- Iron Head
- Thunder Wave / Body Slam

Specially defensive Jirachi is nothing less than a boss. It's able to take hits better than other steels while also wish passing to the rest of my team as well as itself. Jirachi also functions as the main paralysis spreader on this team using Thunder Wave to paralyze opposing mons bar Groudon and Garchomp. Because those two do commonly switch in, I often find myself U-turning in the beginning of the game. I occasionally use Body Slam because while it may be the superior move overall, I can't stand its mediocre 60% paralysis rate because there are often times when I need that guaranteed paralysis. Iron head makes its way onto this set over protect because when I use it in tandem with Thunder Wave, paraflinching annoys the hell out of my opponents. Its healing abilities may not be quite as efficient but the trade off is worth it in my opinion.

Palkia @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Draco Meteor
- Spacial Rend
- Thunder
- Flamethrower

Palkia gets the nod over Latias as my needed Kyogre Counter solely for its revenge killing abilities. Since Kyogre generally has to be taken down before I can deal any serious damage, Palkia plays a key role in taking its hits. Draco Meteor is a hit and run sorta thing while Spacial Rend is used for more consistent damage of a period of turns. Thunder is used obviously to hit Kyogre hard while Flamethrower is used to hit steels who regularly switch-in bar Heatran. Since my team is sun based, Surf wouldn't do much a lot of the time. I used to run a Hasty nature with Outrage over Spacial Rend but since by team has Latios and Latias covered very well between Jirachi, Heatran and Darkrai, I figured it wasn't really all that necessary.

Heatran @ Chople Berry
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 94 Atk / 252 SpA / 164 Spe
Hasty nature (+Spe, -Def)
- Stealth Rock
- Explosion
- Fire Blast
- Dragon Pulse

With the more common sets of Heatran being Taunt + Roar and RestTalk, other Heatran sets have a nice surprise value. This Heatran's main functions are setting up Stealth Rocks for my team as well as luring Kyogre. Fire Blast is given a nod over Flamethrower because this Heatran focuses more on dealing immediate damage. A sun-boosted STAB Fire Blast from Heatran is amazingly strong doing an enormous amount of damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Explosion is used in order to KO Kyogre as well as some other pesky Pokemon like Blissy. Dragon Pulse is used to get super effective damage on dragons who resist Fire Blast. Fireburn's suggestion of Chople berry has been helpful for dealing with Rayquaza leads better as well as any other random Fighting moves. Special Attack is maximized while enough speed is run to hit a comfortable 254 Speed while the rest is put into Attack in order to boost Explosion.

Darkrai @ Leftovers
Ability: Bad Dreams
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid nature (+Spe, -Atk)
- Dark Void
- Nasty Plot
- Dark Pulse
- Focus Blast

Darkrai is probably my favorite sweeper in the game. Getting a guaranteed cripple on the opposing team (bar a Dark Void miss), Darkrai immediately places pressure on the opposing team. From there, it can be a deadly sweeper with its unresisted Dark Pulse + Focus Blast combination. I run Leftovers over Life Orb because I found that when using Leftovers, Darkrai died too quickly and the recoil definitely hurt. Focus Blast is used over Substitute because I feel that hitting Heatran, Dialga, and Scizor is too important to drop Focus Blast.

Groudon @ Leftovers
Ability: Drought
EVs: 200 HP / 112 Atk / 108 Def / 88 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Wave

While Rock Polish Groudon is probably my favorite Groudon set, this set is just as good. Paradancer Groudon is a fun set that abuses opposing paralyzed Pokemon very well. In the beginning of the game to mid-game, the Groudon aims to paralyze as much of the opponents team as it can while ripping holes in them with its STAB Earthquake. When Groudons main switch-ins are paralyzed and weakened, it proceeds to Swords Dance in an attempt to sweeping the opposing team. The EVs are taken from analysis and are used in order to have defensive Bulk while having a respectable Speed and Attack. Stone Edge rounds off the move set in order to hit everything that is resistant/immune to Earthquake.

Conclusion

So yea, Space Bound is probably my retirement team for the pre-Arceus metagame. I mean, ill probably play in some of the Uber tours, but other than that, any Ubering i do will probably be more focused on the Farceus Metagame. I liked this metagame but look forward to the new metagame.

Threat List

Kyogre

While Choiced Kyogre aren't really an issue, Thunder Wave and Calm Mind variants can be annoying. Luckily, Heatran is able to lure them and Explode. Palkia is able to Thunder, but that damage is sometimes lackluster if Kyogre gets too many Calm Minds.

Heatran

Taunt + Roar Heatran is the only one I really see, although it has plenty of other great sets. If the opponent has Spikes + SR on the field, it can be annoying because 5/6 of my team is grounded. Giratina-O is able to lure them quite well though so it isnt an issue the majority of my battles. Darkrai also has Focus Blast.

Rayquaza / Salamence

The only time SD Rayquaza gets a chance to setup is Palkia locked into a non-Dragon move so its not a huge issue. But if it sets up, I'm in trouble. Groudon can take a +2 Dragon Claw but that's about it. Dragon Dance Rayquaza isn't an issue due to Palkia. Rayquaza leads are a bit annoying as well. Salamence gets just as few setup opportunities as Rayquaza but Dragon Dance Salamence has a more legit chance of sweeping since it Speed ties Palkia after a Dragon Dance.

Garchomp

Choice Scarf Garchomp outspeeds Palkia and based off what its locked into, can heavily damage my team. Choice Band and Swords Dance Garchomp are outsped by Palkia but have an easier time with Groudon.

Ho-Oh

What team doesn't have problems with this guy? Stealth Rock cripples it and Heatran can switch in to any non-Earthquake move and Explode. Groudon can outspeed and Stone Edge, while Darkrai can put it to sleep.