SS Ubers Demons [UPL approved!]

Eledyr

Le vilain petit Wooloo
is a Site Content Manageris a Top Social Media Contributoris a Community Leaderis a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributoris a Top Contributoris a Smogon Media Contributoris a Dedicated Tournament Host
Translations Leader
The ringmaster has signaled from behind front stage! My show is over. I want to earnestly thank each and every one of you for your attendance. In the end, your experience was personalized. Someone forever close by will safeguard my apparitions and as I take to the stars. Separated, we'll unlock the true vision to find ourselves.



TheJoyfulWoman (Blissey) (F) @ Utility Umbrella
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 8 HP / 248 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Stealth Rock
- Aromatherapy
- Confide
- Soft-Boiled​

The first Pokemon is nothing special. Umbrella SpDef Blissey is a stall classic, and chooses Aromatherapy + Stealth Rock as the flex option moves on this particular team. Using Blissey to its fullest potential requires serious case, and in many matchups this is the weakest link. In particular, as a Normal-type, it can't check the second most used Ghost-type of the tier, namely Marshadow, and can be PP stalled by Giratina, a common choice in stall teams.


Vision (Ferrothorn) @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 1 Spe
- Leech Seed
- Spikes
- Iron Defense
- Body Press​

Ferrothorn: Spikes are too important for stall to give up. Ferrothorn is a hard counter to DD Zekrom (Weather Ball does not exist), DD Necrozma (Heat Wave does not exist), and a valuable check to variants of Defensive Groudon (Fire Punch/Heat Crash does not exist) and Zygarde (any set that beats Ferrothorn does not exist). It feels extremely weird to run minimum Attack on this picked-pickled-pepper-looking thorny friend, but we somehow lack a Physical move that relies on our base Attack, so here we are. Minimum speed is for Trick Room, because we're not outspeeding things otherwise (nor are we risking our Ferrothorn vs. theirs).

The rest of the set is extremely standard for SS Ubers standards.


Regrets (Toxapex) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 1 Spe
- Knock Off
- Baneful Bunker
- Haze
- Recover​

Toxapex: Our search for a Marshadow answer, a comfortable Knock Off absorber (as this team is one where the ever-present Eternatus is absent), and a mon to complete a Regenerator core has resulted in the discovery of Toxapex. The combination of max physical Defense, Knock Off and Haze, and Baneful Bunker create a number of difficulties for Marshadow looking to Bulk Up on the other mons for free. Adamant Life Orb sets with Bulk Up are the most challenging, where as Choice Band can be pivoted around and Spell Tag (Adamant or Jolly) vary in difficulty. Overall, Toxapex is sufficient in walling Marshadow sets which Ho-oh is not poised to check otherwise.


Apologies? (Yveltal) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Dark Aura
EVs: 16 HP / 240 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Roost
- Defog​

Ever-needed presence in the tier. Not only that Yveltal is the best Calyrex-S switch-in, but it has a real value as a speed control against various threats such as Calyrex-S, Zekrom, and Marshadow in the form of Sucker Punch. Yveltal + Ho-Oh + Blissey forms one of the best - if not the best defensive core against Calyrex-S, which is one of the most fearsome threat to face in the metagame. Yveltal + Ho-Oh deals with non-mono attackers sets, and are especially resiliant against Choice Scarf variant. Blissey complete this core, and is a hard wall to mono-Calyrex-S variants. With Yveltal, you want to use Knock Off as much as possible, as item removal is one of the best way to force progress in a game when you play stall. You especially want to Knock Off those pesky Heavy-Duty Boots, which otherwise nullifies entry hazards's utility. Defog is a great option on Yveltal, as Yveltal will often be your only way to remove entry hazards against hyper offensive teams. Taunt is an option over Defog, being useful against the likes of Zygarde, Yveltal, and SubSeed Calyrex-S, but the overall value of Defog is preferred here.



Insomniac (Lunala) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Shadow Shield
EVs: 8 HP / 248 Def / 52 SpA / 200 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Moongeist Beam
- Ice Beam
- Roost
- Roar
Literally the user. Jokes aside, Lunala finds its place here as a great physical wall, dealing with the likes of the most dangerous breakers of the tier, including Swords Dance Groudon, Rayquaza, and Zygarde. This is an invaluable pick that every stall picks without an alternative. The only notable move here that departs from the normal moveset is Moongeist Beam over Hex, which allows for more immediate chip on a handful of mons. Our spread really focuses on minimizes physical damage above all. Wallbreakers that could break through it, such as Marshadow, Zekrom, and Yveltal, are covered by Ferrothorn or by Toxapex + Yveltal. Blissey's cleric role is invaluable for Lunala, as any form of status is a direct KO threat for it. 52 SpA investment guarantees an OHKO on standard Dragon Dance + Dragon Tail Zygarde set.


Dreams (Ho-Oh) @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 192 Atk / 52 SpD / 16 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Brave Bird
- Thunder Wave
- Defog​

The only way stall even has a chance against balance in SS Ubers is if it can outlast Eternatus and provide constant pressure. A well played offensive Eternatus stalls Blissey out of Confides and most of its recovery. Given we have no way to remove hazards up to this point, Ho-oh is the obvious choice. Completing a double Regenerator core, offering Defog, and possessing the Attack to 2HKO standard Eternatus sets with Brave Bird on top of paralysis pressure, Ho-oh puts much of the team on its back. Flare Blitz, an odd choice on a passive team, is necessary to avoid PP stall. We have standard Speed EVs for creeping paralyzed Calyrex-S, and maybe some other Ho-oh.


List of Threats

1.) A General and Absolute Loss of Conclusory Identity - Unlike other tiers, it is significantly harder to determine a wincon at team preview due to the many small interactions SS Ubers has. This is mostly due to the various nuances that come with low mon diversity but extremely high set diversity. Small move choices can drastically change game decisions here. For example:
  • Defensive Eternatus must be handled differently based on whether it has Toxic or not, Dragon Tail or not, and Fire Coverage or not. Offensive Eternatus requires important care, especially when it has Sludge Bomb (which can force out heavy Aromatherapy PP or extra Soft-Boiled PP from Blissey).
  • Yveltal is initially taken on by Toxapex. Sets can range from Knock Off + U-Turn, to Foul Play + Knock Off, to Foul Play + U-Turn, to other defensive sets with the favorable-for-us Sucker Punch, to Taunt + Toxic, to a special attacker, to a Hone Claws sweeper, to a Block set for all we know.
  • NDM can create many early game calls with utility move options such as Knock Off, Thunder Wave, and of course the reliable Stealth Rock. At the same time, random offensive sets (or Defensive DD) can force a concession from us that we would never like to make.
  • Kyogre is not a threat on its own to a Blissey team, but absolutely is when you remember this is a 6v6 game. Oftentimes Kyogre is paired with Xerneas and/or Eternatus so that it can overwhelm Blissey and run it dry of Confide PP.
Justifying stall is a formidable challenge in SS Ubers. Even in the hands of someone competent, the road ahead will be, like the psychological and mental journeys faced within us all, ostensibly simple. Challenges will appear temporally. Your only identity in the game will be lost. Within the intricacies of the game's ultimate description will be hints for the recluse host, provided the user can remember their true self.

2.) Offensive Ho-oh - We lack a Flying resist. Banded sets can be handled with a combination of consistent Stealth Rock on the opposing side but more typically from Toxapex + Lunala pivoting, but non-Choice sets threaten Burns onto the two aforementioned mons on top of general damage and offensive pressure (which often leads to additional momentum for the opponent).

3.) Ground-Types with Status - Similar to offensive Ho-oh, Lunala is in trouble if it gets statused too early before enough progress is made against the Ground-type. A stack of them (maybe Groudon + Landorus-Therian) is very problematic if you're not careful. Glare Zygarde is one thing to concern over due to RNG, but Toxic Zygarde/Groudon/Lando-T further drains precious Aromatherapy PP, sometimes to a decisive advantage for the opponent.

4.) Special Offensive Cores - Highlighted a little bit above, Blissey is reliable at stopping one of Offensive Eternatus, Kyogre, or Geomancy Xerneas. Problems begin when more than one of these (or similar strategy mons) face down our team. Confide and Aromatherapy are extremely precious when Blissey lacks Heavy-Duty Boots.

Replays:
  1. https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ubers-635568
  2. https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen8ubers-664201

Thank you everyone, and have a great day!
 
Last edited:

Garrett

Banned deucer.
While SS Ubers stall is sort of memed on, I had serious fun making this team and interacting with various Ubers crackheads to achieve something barely viable. I'd like to add that list of exhaustive shoutouts here since I have Eledyr's permission:

SiTuM
Garrett (heh)
Basedburner
Manaphy
GeniusFromHoenn
Eledyr (the undisputed goat)

This tier was sort of bittersweet for me, but I always appreciated all the honest friends I had creating this dishonest squadron. Building in Ubers feels different to other tiers, and maybe the people better explain that sentiment. I hope to make a Gen 9 RMT once Tera is addressed and Pokemon Home clarifies some additional matters.
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 1, Guests: 0)

Top