SM OU Darude's Sandstorm (First PS Team)

[chill_waffles]

Introduction​

Hi, I'm new to competitive and new to team building and I wanted to create a Sand Team as my first serious competitive team (as competitive as a newcomer can be). I would love for some feedback for my choices

Teambuilding Process​

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I needed a sand setter and originally settled for Tyranitar. But it was very weak to common threats in the metagame and common sand team counters. So i swapped it out for Hippowdown which can be a defensive checks for physical attackers like Lando-T and Zygarde. I don't know what is the best optimization for this mon in the meta, so kindly advice :)

My win condition, Excadrill's moves are able to take out threats like Volcarona, Electric types, Steel types and Tapu Lele, Koko, etc. Notes that it is slower than a +1 Jolly Salamence, i learned it the hard way

A Zygarde, Ash-Gren, Keldeo check. Spread outspeeds Azu and Crawdaunt. Grassy Terrain might seem anti synergy with many of the ground moves but its healing capabilities do help and my team is also very weak to ground types.

Heatran has got great synergy with Bulu. Grass-Z is not as popular in the meta so Bloom-Doom can still surprise people. I use a max speed and sp.Atk variant to deal better with Zapdos and Tornadus.

This set is able to revenge kill Kartana, M-Alakazam, Lando-T, Volcarona, all mons that can give this team alot of trouble.

M-Lopunny was just a mega that was fast, hit hard, and can still deal with Lando-T. I'm looking for a better substitute for this mon.

The Team​

Hippowdon (M) @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 52 Atk / 200 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Stealth Rock
​

Excadrill @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Rock Slide
​

Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 164 SpD / 88 Spe
Careful Nature
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Synthesis
​

Heatran @ Grassium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Solar Beam
- Protect
​

Greninja @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Protean
EVs: 200 Atk / 56 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- U-turn
- Rock Slide
- Ice Beam
​

Lopunny-Mega @ Lopunnite
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Frustration
- Ice Punch
- High Jump Kick
​

Conclusion​

This team has trouble with Stall Teams, Hawlucha, Gunk Shot Greninja

Importable

Hippowdon (M) @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 248 HP / 52 Atk / 200 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Slack Off
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Stealth Rock

Excadrill @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Rock Slide

Tapu Bulu @ Leftovers
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 164 SpD / 88 Spe
Careful Nature
- Swords Dance
- Horn Leech
- Superpower
- Synthesis

Heatran @ Grassium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Magma Storm
- Earth Power
- Solar Beam
- Protect

Greninja @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Protean
EVs: 200 Atk / 56 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- U-turn
- Rock Slide
- Ice Beam

Lopunny-Mega @ Lopunnite
Ability: Scrappy
Happiness: 0
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Frustration
- Ice Punch
- High Jump Kick