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Introduction
I've always liked to play Hyper Offense, especially teams with a plan. I conceptualized my team around the fact that Tapu Lele and Alakazam-Mega forms a Psychic Spam core to wear down each other’s checks. I know there's nothing revolutionary about the team, save for one or two unorthodox choices, but from its testing stages till now, Tapu Lele and Alakazam-Mega have never failed to impress me with their incredible wall-breaking ability. This team was an attempt to pave a clear way ahead for Tapu Lele and Alakazam-Mega to clean up, through proper trading and slow chipping.
An In-Depth Look
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Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Taunt
- Focus Blast
Tapu Lele is my mid-game wallbreaker, and Psychic Terrain sets up stronger Psyshocks for Tapu Lele, and Psychics for Alakazam-Mega. I chose to use Taunt over Calm Mind since we didn’t have a way to stop slower set-up sweepers, or prevent stall from recovering or statusing. Z-Focus Blast allows me to lure in Heatran, the one steel-type that Magnezone can’t check. I go Max-Speed since Psychic Surge prevents priority moves from landing, thus allowing me to outspeed slower wallbreakers.
Ability: Psychic Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psyshock
- Moonblast
- Taunt
- Focus Blast
Tapu Lele is my mid-game wallbreaker, and Psychic Terrain sets up stronger Psyshocks for Tapu Lele, and Psychics for Alakazam-Mega. I chose to use Taunt over Calm Mind since we didn’t have a way to stop slower set-up sweepers, or prevent stall from recovering or statusing. Z-Focus Blast allows me to lure in Heatran, the one steel-type that Magnezone can’t check. I go Max-Speed since Psychic Surge prevents priority moves from landing, thus allowing me to outspeed slower wallbreakers.
Ability: Battle Bond
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Water Shuriken
- Spikes
Greninja is my revenge-killer, and check for Psychic types that can wall PsySpam. I choose Battle Bond over Protean because Greninja is usually meant to revenge-kill already low Pokemon, and Stealth Rocks provide enough chip to turn 2HKOs into 1HKOs. Water Shuriken might be anti-synergy as it can’t be utilized under Psychic Terrain, but max-speed Greninja usually outspeeds most of the meta anyway. Spikes can be used to stack more Hazards if my opponent tries to respond with slower options like AV Magearna.
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 40 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- U-turn
Lando-T is my lead, and checks bulky Steel-types that can wall PsySpam. The extra speed investment allows me to outspeed Defensive Lando-T and Tyranitar, and Hidden Power [Ice] can deal with Lando-T and Garchomp. Rocky Helmet allows me to chip Mawile and other physical mons, which when coupled with SR chip can allow Greninja or Alakazam-Mega to revenge-kill. U-Turn allows me to utilize Lando-T as a pivot to take advantage of Intimidate, and can form Volt-Turn cores with both Magearna and Magnezone. He can always come back later on to Earthquake mons like Excadrill and Tyranitar.
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Recover
- Calm Mind
Alakazam-Mega is my sweeper, and can perform as revenge-killer when Tapu Lele is fainted. Psychic Terrain works well with Alakazam-Mega, as it’s Psychic is more potent, and allows it to take advantage of its insane speed-tier while avoiding Sucker Punch and other priority moves. Focus Blast is to hit Steel and Dark types which can switch into it. I opted Focus Blast over Shadow Ball, as Greninja already checks Psychic types. I chose to utilize Calm Mind alongside Recover, since Calm Mind allows me to take 1 hit from Greninja. Recover allows me to reliably wall Latios, since Trace can copy Levitate to avoid Earthquake. Heatran is also covered to a certain extent, since Trace copies Flash Fire. Pre-Mega Alakazam has Magic Guard to prevent it from taking hazards damage.
Ability: Magnet Pull
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Magnezone is my dedicated Steel check, trapping them with Magnet Pull and nuking them with Hidden Power [Fire], notably Mega-Scizor, Kartana, and Ferrothorn. I opted for an unorthodox set utilizing Assault Vest, as it allows Magnezone to also act as a Tapu Koko check. Max-HP allows Magnezone to tank one more hit, and coupled with AV gives it some bulk, allowing it to perform as a slow pivot as well. Flash Cannon allows me to hit Tapu Bulu and Ground types, the latter Greninja can finish off.
Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 248 HP / 224 SpD / 36 Spe
Sassy Nature
- Fleur Cannon
- Iron Head
- Energy Ball
- Volt Switch
Magearna is my bulky pivot to check Clefable, and threaten Dark-types, notably Greninja. I opted for dual Assault-Vests to allow for safer pivoting since we don’t have hazard control. Volt Switch allows Magearna to play around and chip more tanky special walls like Toxapex and Mantine, allowing Alakazam-Mega or Tapu Lele to complete the job. Energy Ball is used since I already have [Ice] on Lando-T, as well as [Fire] on Magnezone; it helps hit Gastrodon.
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Conclusion
I had fun using Tapu Lele, it being my favourite Pokemon at the moment. This team is far from perfect (and no team is perfect). However, it does a good job of illustrating how PsySpam is still a force of OU with the correct support. Haven't met a matchup that made me want to forfeit from team preview, which is a good thing I guess.
I had fun using Tapu Lele, it being my favourite Pokemon at the moment. This team is far from perfect (and no team is perfect). However, it does a good job of illustrating how PsySpam is still a force of OU with the correct support. Haven't met a matchup that made me want to forfeit from team preview, which is a good thing I guess.
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