SM OU Mega Latias Sand Balance by Sabella

[RMT Staff]

Introduction

Sand teams have been a rising force in the metagame, and this team shows just how dangerous the archetype can be. Excadrill and Tyranitar are a dynamic duo that really shines with support from Pokemon such as Zapdos and Tapu Fini, which check otherwise troublesome Pokémon like Kartana and Ash-Greninja. Serperior and Mega Latias round out the team, adding much-needed offensive pressure. Overall, the team is very solid and takes advantage of several rising trends in the metagame such as sand and Tapu Fini’s growing usage.

Team Members

Tyranitar @ Chople Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 224 HP / 32 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Earthquake

Tyranitar is a key member of the team, as it brings about sand for Excadrill, which it needs to outrun the majority of the metagame. Tyranitar also adds Stealth Rock to the team, which it gets many chances to set up thanks to its high bulk, and is able to trap and remove troublesome Psychic-types such as Mega Alakazam, Reuniclus, and Mega Latias, the former two thanks to Chople Berry. Earthquake allows Tyranitar to check Heatran as well as weakened Mega Mawile and Tapu Koko. The HP EVs allow Tyranitar to avoid the 2HKO from Mega Latios's Earthquake, which alongside its investment allows Tyranitar to become a sturdy special tank.

Excadrill @ Steelium Z
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake

Excadrill is the secondary hazard remover alongside Tapu Fini. It takes advantage of Tyranitar's sand and its Jolly nature to outpace Magearna after one Shift Gear and Volcarona after a Quiver Dance and specifically helps support the team by generally keeping faster foes in check. Swords Dance is used to boost its attacks, and Iron Head hits Pokemon that resist Earthquake like Tapu Bulu. Steelium Z turns Iron Head into Corkscrew Crash, which hits Excadrill's usual checks like Tangrowth and Landorus-T for incredible damage when boosted. Excadrill also functions as the sole Ground-type on the team to come in on Tapu Koko in sand, regaining speed and momentum.

Zapdos @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power Ice
- Roost

Zapdos provides a lot of utility for the team, as it checks multiple physical attackers such as Kartana, Tapu Bulu, Landorus-T, and Mega Scizor. Thanks to Static and Rocky Helmet, Zapdos can punish these physical attackers as well as U-turn users like Tornadus-T by potentially paralyzing them, making it easier for Serperior and Mega Latias to take them on. Volt Switch is used instead of Thunderbolt or Discharge to help keep up momentum. Due to its typing and coverage, Zapdos deals with troublesome Pokemon like Celesteela and Ferrothorn while being difficult to wall in general.

Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 40 SpD / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Defog
- Moonblast
- Nature's Madness

Tapu Fini provides hazard control while being the team's main answer to Ash-Greninja and also keeping the likes of Heatran and Volcarona in check. It's able to keep hazards off against many setters such as Heatran, Garchomp, Ash-Greninja, and Toxapex, ensuring that the rest of the team doesn't get worn down quickly. Tapu Fini also brings about Misty Terrain, protecting itself and teammates such as Serperior and Excadrill from status. Between Taunt and Nature's Madness, Tapu Fini shuts down Toxapex as well as many other bulky Pokemon, allowing it to annoy many balance and stall teams.

Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power Fire

Serperior brings more offensive pressure to the team and improves the team's Speed tier. It takes advantage of bulky Water-types, using Leaf Storm to boost its Special Attack, and uses Hidden Power Fire to wear down Steel-types like Celesteela that are able to prevent Excadrill from sweeping. The combination of Substitute and Leech Seed allows Serperior to keep itself healthy and free of status while wearing down and eventually beating its checks like Heatran and Heart Swap Magearna.

Latias-Mega (F) @ Latiasite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Psychic
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Roost

This is basically the standard Mega Latios set, but Mega Latias was chosen here mainly because of the extra bulk that it provides. Mega Latias provides an additional Heatran switch-in for the team as well as a Kartana answer. Ice Beam is used to OHKO Kartana, and Earthquake beats Heatran. Mega Latias also helps provide support for Tapu Bulu, which threatens the team otherwise. Ice Beam is also used to check common Ground-type Pokemon such as Gliscor, Landorus-T, and Garchomp. The Naive nature allows it to takes less damage from Tyranitar's Pursuit and Landorus-T's U-turn. Psychic is used to pressure Fighting- and Poison-types like Hawlucha and Toxapex.

Threatlist

Kyurem-B - Though you could potentially run Draco Meteor on Latias and it would not be as threatening, this Pokemon is quite hard to play around unless sand is up. It also is hard to switch into for the team if the faster Pokemon like Serperior don't have anything to hit it well.

Mega Medicham - This Pokemon can always be a threat to sand teams such as this. Fake Out to stall out sand turns and the ability to come in freely on Tyranitar and do over 50% to any Pokemon on the team with proper coverage makes it dangerous.

Mega Charizard Y + Pursuit - This combination is deadly to the team, as Mega Latias is the main Mega Charizard Y answer and can get trapped pretty easily, which then leaves Mega Charizard Y able to roast the team.

Tapu Lele - This Pokemon threatens the majority of the team due to the lack of a bulky Steel-type. Nothing lets it in for free, but if it gets in it'll likely get a kill. Serperior and Excadrill with sand are able to revenge kill it, however, while Tyranitar can tank a hit and remove it with Pursuit if it's weakened.

Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen7ou-425220 SPL- Sabella vs Sacri

Mega Latias was substituted over Latios to better help defensively deal with threats such as Kartana and Heatran. However, Mega Latios can be used over Mega Latias if the additional power it provides is preferred.

Importable

Team

Tyranitar @ Chople Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 224 HP / 32 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Crunch
- Pursuit
- Earthquake

Excadrill @ Steelium Z
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake

Zapdos @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Roost

Tapu Fini @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 40 SpD / 216 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Defog
- Moonblast
- Nature's Madness

Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Leaf Storm
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Latias-Mega (F) @ Latiasite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Psychic
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Roost

Credits
Created by: Sabella
Written by: DKM, Gross Sweep, & Sabella
Grammar checked by: The Dutch Plumberjack
Image made by Ticken & Text made by TPP​