This feels more like "How not to make your Balance Team look like it's built by a 9 year old", but it's exactly what I needed! Thanks for the very informative guide!
Teambuilding can get very complicated! These mistakes were a bit more high level than the ones in the last video, I make many of these errors still today, and I have to catch myself.
I think my favorite breaker has to be Cornerstone. The STAB moves hit a lot of things either neutrally or super effective damage with the exception of Kingambit and Ghold which fears Low Kick and Knock Off respectively. It's also worth mentioning that Ogerpon-C is like one of the few things that immediately threatens Zapdos + Glowking defensive core. Its best pairing is with boots Valiant and lefties Gambit for greater offensive synergy.
I loved the fact that you highlighted the importance of wall breakers in the video, as Conk and Hoopa-u are some of my favourite mons. Imo, there's nothing more satisfying than making a team that can abuse mons that make easy progress.
@@pinkacross2042 I really recommend trying bulky sub hoopa. You ev to hit 400 in each attack stat, outspeed jolly kingabit to drain punch it, and put the rest in bulk. Psychic, knock, sub, drain punch, and you still break any wall besides corvi, while settin up sub to contest the revenge killer aswell.
@@sp00kimcskel48 Not being able to touch Corviknight and Mandibuzz stings, I think I'd sooner run Thunderbolt as the last move. Still, this set seems very interesting!
It would be neat if you did a collab/conversation video with someone like BKC. Your videos on team building strategies are interesting because it's clear that you actually play the game. He's expressed frustration with some of the Smogon deacription and guide writers who are clearly theoreticists and don't play very much. I'm sure you would feel the same, lol. I think you guys have enough agreements and disagreements on team building to have an interesting conversation.
That's a great idea, I'd certainly be interested in a collaboration! And yes, the theoretical teambuilders bother me-- you need to play to understand what works and what doesn't, testing is the ultimate king of teambuilding.
I loved that this was focused on Balance teams, as that's my favourite style. I wonder if you would do a series focusing on different styles. Mistakes people make when building Balance, Stall, HO, etc.
The only one of these that caught me is the pivot moves, so I feel smart. I’m running a wisp pult that used to have u-turn, but as my primary speed control, zapdos static made it too risky.
Nice! I'd say as primary speed control, HDB Dragapult is solid-- Static happens sometimes but as long as you also have some priority, it should be fine most games.
Solid video with great tips like priority moves. I've been playing for 4 years now but don't exactly understand what a core is. Could you make a video on cores with examples?
A core is just a group of pokemon that work well together. For example, Gholdengo and Hisuian Samurott is a good core. Hrott sets spikes which Gholdengo can prevent from being removed, and Gholdengo covers the Grass and Bug and Fairy weakness of Hrott. Hrott also covers the Ghost and Dark weakness of Gholdengo.
So when you’re using a breaker such as specs pult, how do you decide on the other Pokémon to make progress? Is having both a banded and specs mon with good pivot support a good go-to for building balance? This gen, I’m having a hard time figuring out good defensive and offensive cores. It was so much easier to team build in previous gens lol but in gen 9, it feels like you NEED a spinner, gholdengo to block defog and then iron valiant or gambit to sit in the back as a win-con. I feel like HO is the only space for creativity this gen :/
Specs Dragapult is hardly a breaker in my opinion, I consider it immediate power and speed control, but not truly a breaker. My favorite pokemon to ensure progress is made is Glowking, which with Future Sight + Chilly Reception, can help the rest of your team break past almost anything. Slowking is similar. There are also some pokemon that are unwallable if you have hazards up, such as Meowscarada with Protean and Thunder Punch. You can see more ways to make progress and break stall in this video: th-cam.com/video/EI_prbCvADo/w-d-xo.html
@@pinkacross2042 hi, I'm loving your content😊 the item on the unwallable Meow would be boots, as you said in the linked video? Also, what do you think of banded pult?
@@lalanternanana6868 CB Meow is also near unwallable, but yes, Protean Meowscarada with HDB and hazard support is almost impossible to wall. CB Pult is a good pokemon but it needs to be supported well, overall Specs is more consistent but CB is amazing on the right team.
Hi! I’m on the temporary items section and I’m a bit torn because I’m using booster energy, agility walking wake as a cleaner/ wall breaker, I’m wondering if u meant having too many t items or any at all? Is there anything I should swap for if so!?
It depends on the style of team-- on an Offense build, Booster Wake is a fine idea, same with HO. If you're using Booster Wake on a Balance team though, I recommend changing the set. The description has a more comprehensive list of which of the rules apply to which playstyles.
I played gen 6 Ubers recently and I faced this guy that had stall with Scarfed Darkrai to prevent you from doing anything. I can't imagine facing this in OU
I may at some point in the future, but honestly I think stall is a lost cause this gen and semistall is even worse. Both playstyles generally suck and lose to any team that's prepared, and there's almost nothing Stall can do about it.
If I don’t have a lot of time to invest, what would be the best style for me if I don’t want to rebuild my team completely between generations? Feels like Ubers HO would be quite low maintenance? (Roles are fewer, strategy simple, mostly legendary Pokémons)
Wait what walls that iron moth? Wouldnt all its counters be beaten by tera blast ground? Also, in terms of consistency, what do you think of low accuracy moves? Hurricane is the most frustrating move in the game to me since flying is such a good attacking type, but 70% is such a bad hit rate. Does it nake sense to normally go air slash?
It depends on the pokemon whether you want to run Hurricane or Air Slash. I usually run Hurricane since Zapdos often cares more about dealing significant damage than when it misses. As for Iron Moth, it's counters are not beaten by Tera Blast Ground usually. For example, Ting-Lu is unbothered. Slowking-Galar will survive the hit, switch out, and potentially Tera Water to wall everything you have. Blissey hard walls in all cases. Flash Fire pokemon + anything with Regenerator such as Toxapex, Alomomola, or Tornadus is going to make it very very difficult for Iron Moth to get a kill. It will get kills in many matchups, but it is not at all a consistent breaker.
@@pinkacross2042 definitely understand those choices. I do find a cool use for it though when you dont need much out of your wake besides water resist and high dmge in sun/rain. It can get a draco off and free pivot into your next threat. Guess depends on the team as a whole right?
@@pinkacross2042 I'm making a Psychic Terrain balance team, should I just stick with HO if I can't fit priority? Or should I add priority regardless of the situations where I can't just use it.
@@posobio I'd say Psychic Terran balance is just not a great strategy, I would advise against it. All forms of Psychic Terrain are pretty bad right now due to Rillaboom, but if you were to attempt it, then no priority is OK due to this unique situation.
@posobio7807 adding to what the goat already said in his reply, psychic terrain is usually more of an offensive build. Usually has polteageist as a sweeper(used to to have sneasler as well) armarouge as a breaker/potential sweeper depending on the set. It's still a pretty niche strat and the amount of sub optimal mons you are forced to run(indeedee lol) kinda make it a cheese team
Those terms are often used interchangeably, although they are not exactly the same. You ideally want to have pokemon that break both stall and balance though, not just stall.
I'm really happy because yesterday I was in free time and I made a ND rain team, and even tho I made a lot o mistakes, I started forming an offensive core, CB crawdant, swampert-mega and zapdos, pelipper is a necessity in rain, and to round up I added Battle Bond Greninja and Tusk as a spinner. What made me happy is because now I know what was wrong, I feel it yesterday, the lack of pivot and of an answer to ferro, thanks for the lessons doc Pinkacross! I'll prob switch gren for pult or meowscarada for more pivoting moves and maybe switch tusk for eject button hatterine, for both a way to stop hazards and a pivot to get pelipper at least one safe switch, it's my first rain team so please be gentle, what do you think could improve this team doc?
I'm not too experienced with the natdex meta, but back in gen 8 rain used its own ferrothorn to beat ferrothorn, since a ferrothorn Body Press trade usually was good for the Rain team.
Garchomp @ Loaded Dice Ability: Rough Skin Tera Type: Fire EVs: 252 Atk / 16 SpD / 240 Spe Jolly Nature - Scale Shot - Earthquake - Fire Fang - Swords Dance Iron Moth @ Heavy-Duty Boots Ability: Quark Drive Tera Type: Fairy EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe Timid Nature - Fiery Dance - Sludge Wave - Dazzling Gleam - U-turn Kingambit @ Leftovers Ability: Supreme Overlord Tera Type: Flying EVs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe Adamant Nature - Iron Head - Sucker Punch - Swords Dance - Low Kick Samurott-Hisui @ Choice Scarf Ability: Sharpness Tera Type: Dark EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe Jolly Nature - Aqua Cutter - Ceaseless Edge - Flip Turn - Knock Off Great Tusk @ Leftovers Ability: Protosynthesis Tera Type: Water EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe Impish Nature - Earthquake - Rapid Spin - Stealth Rock - Knock Off Enamorus (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots Ability: Cute Charm Tera Type: Fairy EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe Hasty Nature - Moonblast - Mystical Fire - Superpower - Healing Wish So I know this is a bad team, but there is some troubles I don't know how to get around. The team centers around Garchomp, so I wanted something that covers mons who wall Chomp, which is why I went Moth. I wanted hazards and some speed control that doesn't get removed if I switch once as well, so I had Hisuirrot, then there's the nigh obligatory Gambit and Tusk. However, I really like Enamorus specifically for Healing Wish. It lets me use a mon to break early, switch it out in mid game, and then bring it back later. Maybe replace Hisuirott with something like Valiant? But I already have a fairy attacker and nothing can really take special attacks
I'm not a big fan of Garchomp in the current meta, but if you really want to use it, you probably want to run it on a more HO style team. Garchomp is very inconsistent, so HO, in particular Aurora Veil HO, is probably the best place for it.
![ตีสิบเดย์ [FULL] | อาจารย์โอเล่ ญาณสัมผัส ผ่าดวงคนดัง ประเทศไทยจะเป็นยังไงหลังจากนี้!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gszT2O76fL4/mqdefault.jpg)
This feels more like "How not to make your Balance Team look like it's built by a 9 year old", but it's exactly what I needed! Thanks for the very informative guide!
Teambuilding can get very complicated! These mistakes were a bit more high level than the ones in the last video, I make many of these errors still today, and I have to catch myself.
"Don't need it" "I don't need Clefable" is a MiStAkE I will make forever FOREVER
Finally! Now I can have an opinion on team building!
Scarfing Iron Moth is a bit more effective than Spec'ing it, one boost from a well timed Fiery Dance is enough to sweep most teams.
Scarf Iron Moth with U-turn can work, very niche option though. Nice as a Tspike absorber on Offense.
I don’t care what the big TH-cam man says, nothing will stop me from using my choice band delibird 😤
The inconsistency of that makes me wanna die so nah lmao
we gambling with our elo with this one 🔥🔥
I think my favorite breaker has to be Cornerstone. The STAB moves hit a lot of things either neutrally or super effective damage with the exception of Kingambit and Ghold which fears Low Kick and Knock Off respectively. It's also worth mentioning that Ogerpon-C is like one of the few things that immediately threatens Zapdos + Glowking defensive core. Its best pairing is with boots Valiant and lefties Gambit for greater offensive synergy.
Yea Ogerpon-Cornerstone is amazing! I love it, favorite form for sure.
I loved the fact that you highlighted the importance of wall breakers in the video, as Conk and Hoopa-u are some of my favourite mons. Imo, there's nothing more satisfying than making a team that can abuse mons that make easy progress.
Agreed, Hoopa and Conk are super fun to use.
@@pinkacross2042 I really recommend trying bulky sub hoopa. You ev to hit 400 in each attack stat, outspeed jolly kingabit to drain punch it, and put the rest in bulk. Psychic, knock, sub, drain punch, and you still break any wall besides corvi, while settin up sub to contest the revenge killer aswell.
@@sp00kimcskel48 Not being able to touch Corviknight and Mandibuzz stings, I think I'd sooner run Thunderbolt as the last move. Still, this set seems very interesting!
@@pinkacross2042 Yeah I run it together with zapdos to cover the big birds hahaha. Glad to be able interact with u though bro, love ur content 👍.
It would be neat if you did a collab/conversation video with someone like BKC. Your videos on team building strategies are interesting because it's clear that you actually play the game. He's expressed frustration with some of the Smogon deacription and guide writers who are clearly theoreticists and don't play very much. I'm sure you would feel the same, lol. I think you guys have enough agreements and disagreements on team building to have an interesting conversation.
That's a great idea, I'd certainly be interested in a collaboration! And yes, the theoretical teambuilders bother me-- you need to play to understand what works and what doesn't, testing is the ultimate king of teambuilding.
This is one of the best team building guides I've seen. Would love to see more in depth guides!
They will certainly be coming! :]
Chomp, Garg, dirge, and amoonguss are back in ou. I'm hyped
I loved that this was focused on Balance teams, as that's my favourite style. I wonder if you would do a series focusing on different styles. Mistakes people make when building Balance, Stall, HO, etc.
That's a good idea! I think once the DLC 2 meta stabilizes and some bans are made, I can do this.
The only one of these that caught me is the pivot moves, so I feel smart. I’m running a wisp pult that used to have u-turn, but as my primary speed control, zapdos static made it too risky.
Nice! I'd say as primary speed control, HDB Dragapult is solid-- Static happens sometimes but as long as you also have some priority, it should be fine most games.
So technically it is now Top 10 Team Building Mistakes right?
Nah they're both top 5. >:]
Ty sir! I dont even play gen 9, but this feel extremely useful anyway :0
Certainly! A lot of these principles apply to other generations and tiers as well. :]
another mistake is using great tusk instead of avalugg
True, avalugg is so underrated in the current meta. Every time I run him, I sweep with body press and snow, it's busted, idk why he isn't in ubers
True, Avalugg is S++.
These are some top tier thumbnails
Solid video with great tips like priority moves.
I've been playing for 4 years now but don't exactly understand what a core is. Could you make a video on cores with examples?
A core is just a group of pokemon that work well together. For example, Gholdengo and Hisuian Samurott is a good core. Hrott sets spikes which Gholdengo can prevent from being removed, and Gholdengo covers the Grass and Bug and Fairy weakness of Hrott. Hrott also covers the Ghost and Dark weakness of Gholdengo.
@@pinkacross2042 thanks!
Let's go, another Pinkacross video for me to realise how bad I am
Teambuilding is difficult, don't be too hard on yourself. :]
"Prediction is hard and U-turn is easy"
- Pinkacross
So when you’re using a breaker such as specs pult, how do you decide on the other Pokémon to make progress? Is having both a banded and specs mon with good pivot support a good go-to for building balance? This gen, I’m having a hard time figuring out good defensive and offensive cores. It was so much easier to team build in previous gens lol but in gen 9, it feels like you NEED a spinner, gholdengo to block defog and then iron valiant or gambit to sit in the back as a win-con. I feel like HO is the only space for creativity this gen :/
Specs Dragapult is hardly a breaker in my opinion, I consider it immediate power and speed control, but not truly a breaker. My favorite pokemon to ensure progress is made is Glowking, which with Future Sight + Chilly Reception, can help the rest of your team break past almost anything. Slowking is similar. There are also some pokemon that are unwallable if you have hazards up, such as Meowscarada with Protean and Thunder Punch. You can see more ways to make progress and break stall in this video: th-cam.com/video/EI_prbCvADo/w-d-xo.html
@@pinkacross2042 hi, I'm loving your content😊 the item on the unwallable Meow would be boots, as you said in the linked video? Also, what do you think of banded pult?
@@lalanternanana6868 CB Meow is also near unwallable, but yes, Protean Meowscarada with HDB and hazard support is almost impossible to wall. CB Pult is a good pokemon but it needs to be supported well, overall Specs is more consistent but CB is amazing on the right team.
Ty! i shall now go make all of them even more!
I enjoy these informativestore videos
Hi! I’m on the temporary items section and I’m a bit torn because I’m using booster energy, agility walking wake as a cleaner/ wall breaker, I’m wondering if u meant having too many t items or any at all? Is there anything I should swap for if so!?
It depends on the style of team-- on an Offense build, Booster Wake is a fine idea, same with HO. If you're using Booster Wake on a Balance team though, I recommend changing the set. The description has a more comprehensive list of which of the rules apply to which playstyles.
@@pinkacross2042 Ok! I’ll check it out!
That thumbnail is me for sure lol
Me too lol
I liked, now I comment… dare I subscribe?
:O The suspense is killing me.
Dude I hate using kgambit it feels cheap
Gambit is your friend. :]
Gambit has great offensive and defensive utility
I'm glad I didn't see my team on this video. I was a bit tense sitting through it 😅
I built all of these example teams, so no worries in the future haha! You only have to be nervous if I have a video reviewing viewer teams. >:]
Thoughts about darkrai's potential arrival to ou?
I say keep it in Ubers-- Nasty Plot Dark Pulse Tera Blast Hypnosis sets will be nearly unstoppable and extremely toxic.
I played gen 6 Ubers recently and I faced this guy that had stall with Scarfed Darkrai to prevent you from doing anything. I can't imagine facing this in OU
Well we have in now and it is extremely painful. Hoping for ban soon
Can you also make a video on how not to go bald when rng decides to fuck you over?
Sure! Mindset is something worth going over in the future.
Taking notes from Professor Pinkacross :] when's the final exam going to be?
The final exam will be December 31st at midnight.
Gonna study lots!@@pinkacross2042
@@pinkacross2042This has me worried for some reason
@@nopeno-s5r As long as you've studied you have nothing to worry about.
You mention Speed control. but isn't that more of a VGC thing? Or is it like priority moves/Webs/Scarf
I suppose I should clarify-- by speed control I mean fast or scarf pokemon that are capable of revenge killing.
lezgo pinky
Can you make a video on how to build semi stall or stall? I usually have a tough time building and using them.
I may at some point in the future, but honestly I think stall is a lost cause this gen and semistall is even worse. Both playstyles generally suck and lose to any team that's prepared, and there's almost nothing Stall can do about it.
If I don’t have a lot of time to invest, what would be the best style for me if I don’t want to rebuild my team completely between generations? Feels like Ubers HO would be quite low maintenance? (Roles are fewer, strategy simple, mostly legendary Pokémons)
Hoping to not rebuild your team between GENERATIONS is nearly impossible. I would say Ubers HO is the closest thing, or perhaps AG baton pass.
Wait what walls that iron moth? Wouldnt all its counters be beaten by tera blast ground? Also, in terms of consistency, what do you think of low accuracy moves? Hurricane is the most frustrating move in the game to me since flying is such a good attacking type, but 70% is such a bad hit rate. Does it nake sense to normally go air slash?
It depends on the pokemon whether you want to run Hurricane or Air Slash. I usually run Hurricane since Zapdos often cares more about dealing significant damage than when it misses. As for Iron Moth, it's counters are not beaten by Tera Blast Ground usually. For example, Ting-Lu is unbothered. Slowking-Galar will survive the hit, switch out, and potentially Tera Water to wall everything you have. Blissey hard walls in all cases. Flash Fire pokemon + anything with Regenerator such as Toxapex, Alomomola, or Tornadus is going to make it very very difficult for Iron Moth to get a kill. It will get kills in many matchups, but it is not at all a consistent breaker.
Thoughts on eject pack draco walking wake?
Not a fan-- I'd sooner run Leftovers, Choice Specs, or Booster Energy depending on the set.
@@pinkacross2042 definitely understand those choices. I do find a cool use for it though when you dont need much out of your wake besides water resist and high dmge in sun/rain. It can get a draco off and free pivot into your next threat. Guess depends on the team as a whole right?
@@YaBoySheeny Yes, certainly! I'd say it's very likely that there are many teams out there in which Eject pack Wake is the ideal set.
Insane content, but what should I do if adding priority to my team is detrimental?
Why would it be?
Fitting priority should never be detrimental unless you're running a Stall team. If it is, try to go back and rebuild so that it is not detrimental.
@@pinkacross2042 I'm making a Psychic Terrain balance team, should I just stick with HO if I can't fit priority?
Or should I add priority regardless of the situations where I can't just use it.
@@posobio I'd say Psychic Terran balance is just not a great strategy, I would advise against it. All forms of Psychic Terrain are pretty bad right now due to Rillaboom, but if you were to attempt it, then no priority is OK due to this unique situation.
@posobio7807 adding to what the goat already said in his reply, psychic terrain is usually more of an offensive build. Usually has polteageist as a sweeper(used to to have sneasler as well) armarouge as a breaker/potential sweeper depending on the set. It's still a pretty niche strat and the amount of sub optimal mons you are forced to run(indeedee lol) kinda make it a cheese team
Are stall breakers better than wallbreakers on balance?
Those terms are often used interchangeably, although they are not exactly the same. You ideally want to have pokemon that break both stall and balance though, not just stall.
What are some mons with immediate power that can fit on Boots Spam? The only ones I can think of are 4atks Zama and Zapdos.
Meowscarada and Iron Valiant are my favorite two.
Real
I'm really happy because yesterday I was in free time and I made a ND rain team, and even tho I made a lot o mistakes, I started forming an offensive core, CB crawdant, swampert-mega and zapdos, pelipper is a necessity in rain, and to round up I added Battle Bond Greninja and Tusk as a spinner.
What made me happy is because now I know what was wrong, I feel it yesterday, the lack of pivot and of an answer to ferro, thanks for the lessons doc Pinkacross!
I'll prob switch gren for pult or meowscarada for more pivoting moves and maybe switch tusk for eject button hatterine, for both a way to stop hazards and a pivot to get pelipper at least one safe switch, it's my first rain team so please be gentle, what do you think could improve this team doc?
I'm not too experienced with the natdex meta, but back in gen 8 rain used its own ferrothorn to beat ferrothorn, since a ferrothorn Body Press trade usually was good for the Rain team.
Garchomp @ Loaded Dice
Ability: Rough Skin
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 16 SpD / 240 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Scale Shot
- Earthquake
- Fire Fang
- Swords Dance
Iron Moth @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Quark Drive
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Fiery Dance
- Sludge Wave
- Dazzling Gleam
- U-turn
Kingambit @ Leftovers
Ability: Supreme Overlord
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Swords Dance
- Low Kick
Samurott-Hisui @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sharpness
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Cutter
- Ceaseless Edge
- Flip Turn
- Knock Off
Great Tusk @ Leftovers
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Impish Nature
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off
Enamorus (F) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Cute Charm
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Moonblast
- Mystical Fire
- Superpower
- Healing Wish
So I know this is a bad team, but there is some troubles I don't know how to get around.
The team centers around Garchomp, so I wanted something that covers mons who wall Chomp, which is why I went Moth. I wanted hazards and some speed control that doesn't get removed if I switch once as well, so I had Hisuirrot, then there's the nigh obligatory Gambit and Tusk. However, I really like Enamorus specifically for Healing Wish. It lets me use a mon to break early, switch it out in mid game, and then bring it back later. Maybe replace Hisuirott with something like Valiant? But I already have a fairy attacker and nothing can really take special attacks
I'm not a big fan of Garchomp in the current meta, but if you really want to use it, you probably want to run it on a more HO style team. Garchomp is very inconsistent, so HO, in particular Aurora Veil HO, is probably the best place for it.
Tryna think of something clever to comment
You've got this, I believe in you!
@@pinkacross2042 harvard
Great video! Would love to see a full teambuilding video process where you build a team from scratch
That will definitely be a video in the future! :]