What are the best Sweepers in gen-8 OU?
Ummm, it pretty much explains itself. I guess on a team I would want a special and a physical. So far for my team, I’m thinking a physical and special wall in one poke, (already have), physical and special sweepers (different), 1 wall breaker, a hazard setter and a defogger
Pleaselog inorregisterto add a comment.
With the addition of the Crown tundra, some Pokemon have certainly shown themselves to be serious threats. I will probably miss a few, however, these are some that I have seen quite a bit, and I can see why they are powerful.
SPECIALS SWEEPERS:
In OU, Zapdos has a high usage rate with 18.99% usage rate (top is spread out with a lot it is pretty big ok? ok.) . The offensive set from Smogon reads as follows
Zapdos @ Heavy Duty bootsAbility: StaticEVS: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpeTimid NatureThunderHurricaneWeather ballVolt Switch / Roost
Heavy Duty boots is for entry hazards. Thunder and Hurricane is stab. This seems to be fitting in a rain team, as Hurricane and Thunder cannot miss in the rain. Weather ball would be water coverage in the rain to take out threatening rock types such as tyranitar. Roost is recovery and Volt switch is a pivot.
Magearna @ Life OrbAbility: Soul HeartEVS: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeTimid NatureShift gearCalm MindStored PowerAura Sphere / Focus Blast / Draining kiss
This set is one of my favorite magearna sets. It has a usage rate of 23.99% in OU. Shift gear is to make it faster, (and boost it’s attack but you will never use physical attack on magearna you fool), Calm mind is to boost Special attack and Special Defense. Stored power is a brilliant addition on to this set. I will use the Stored power calculations on a very common Pokemon that is weak to stored power: Toxapex. Here they are: The first one will be using stored power on a toxapex, WITH one calm mind used. Standard EVS will be used for toxapex. +1 252 SpA Life Orb Magearna Stored Power (60 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex: 190-224 (62.5 - 73.6%) – guaranteed 2HKO. That is quite good. Now, let’s look at shift gear. 252 SpA Life Orb Magearna Stored Power (80 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex: 169-200 (55.5 - 65.7%) – guaranteed 2HKO. If you manage to get off a shift gear and a calm mind, well,chuckle, +1 252 SpA Life Orb Magearna Stored Power (120 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex: 374-442 (123 - 145.3%) – guaranteed OHKO. Keep in mind this Pokemon has Life orb. For the final moves, I would prefer Draining kiss as it’s stab, but your decision really.
One more Special sweeper then on to the physicals.
Ahh Spectrier. You broken beast.
Spectrier @ LeftoversAbility: Grim NeighEVS: 112 HP / 20 Def / 172 SpA / 20 SpD / 184 SpeTimid NatureSubsituteHex / Shadow BallCalm mind / Nasty Plot / TauntWill-O-wisp / Disable / Dark Pulse
Usage rate in OU is 14.16% There are a variety of things you can do. One thing that is basically mandatory, however, is if you choose hex, you MUST chose will-o-wisp. Subsitute is to take a hit or two while setting up, Hex / Shadow Ball is stab, Calm mind is a status that boosts SpA and SpD by one stage, and Nasty Plot is SpA by 2 stages. So really, it is the difference between frail and strong or a bit less strong but a bit bulkier (NOT TO BE USED AS A TANK). Taunt is for hazard setters or deffoggers. Will-O-Wisp is to be paired with hex, disable is to disable moves and Dark Pulse is coverage. One thing that people don’t realize is that hex can be QUITE deadly. Let’s look on toxapex, which this move isn’t even super effective on. 0 SpA Spectrier Hex (130 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex: 142-168 (46.7 - 55.2%) – 99.6% chance to 2HKO after burn damage. This is not super effective. If you use calm mind on your set, +1 0 SpA Spectrier Hex (130 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex: 213-252 (70 - 82.8%) – guaranteed 2HKO after burn damage. If you use nasty plot, +2 0 SpA Spectrier Hex (130 BP) vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Toxapex: 283-334 (93 - 109.8%) – 56.3% chance to OHKO. You should be able to see how potent Hex can be.
PHYSICAL SWEEPERS:
I have not been in the competitive seen much before, but I have heard horror stories about Landorus therian ripping apart people’s teams. Nice.
Landorus-Therian @ LeftoversAbility: IntimidateEVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Swords Dance- Earthquake- Stone Edge- Stealth Rock
This is a very good set, and a good Pokemon. Usage rate in OU of 31.74%. It is interesting to me that there isn’t flying stab in this set, but I think it may just be the lack of flying stab that Landorus can learn. Swords dance is to setup, Earthquake is by far in my opinion the best physical ground type move, stone Edge is coverage and Stealth rock is a hazard. To prove my earthquake point, MORE CALCS!!! Toxapex is our premier target. (I’m not using clefable as a tank because it can also be used in different ways, where toxapex is just a wall). Without a swords dance: 252 Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 188-224 (61.8 - 73.6%) – guaranteed 2HKO. With Swords Dance: +2 252 Atk Landorus-Therian Earthquake vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 378-446 (124.3 - 146.7%) – guaranteed OHKO.
Cinderace @ Heavy-Duty BootsAbility: LiberoEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 SpeAdamant Nature- Bulk Up- Pyro Ball- Zen Headbutt- Sucker Punch
I like more offensive sets, so yeaah. Bulk up is to raise attack and defense, pyro ball is stab, Zen Headbutt is coverage and Sucker punch is priority. Zen Headbutt can help deal with toxapex. 252+ Atk Libero Cinderace Zen Headbutt vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 144-170 (47.3 - 55.9%) – 78.5% chance to 2HKO. Without a Bulk up? Not that good. With one? Much better. +1 252+ Atk Libero Cinderace Zen Headbutt vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex: 212-252 (69.7 - 82.8%) – guaranteed 2HKO. So yeah
Urshifu @ Black GlassesAbility: Unseen FistEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Bulk Up- Wicked Blow- Close Combat- Sucker Punch
THIS is my kind of set. Spam one move and kill everything. Nice. Bulk up to help murder everything in sight, Wicked blow to crit the crap out of everything, Close combat for a powerful fighting stab move and Sucker punch for priority. For perspective, let’s test against toxapex. 252 Atk Black Glasses Urshifu Wicked Blow vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex on a critical hit: 127-150 (41.7 - 49.3%) – guaranteed 3HKO. Not that good. With a Bulk up though, +1 252 Atk Black Glasses Urshifu Wicked Blow vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Toxapex on a critical hit: 187-222 (61.5 - 73%) – guaranteed 2HKO.
These are all of mine, I hope they’re good and they help people who read this thread.
Kyogre had some good ones but I want to add two because I see them a lot
Urshifu @ Choice ScarfAbility: Unseen FistEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Wicked Blow (powerful stab with crit)- Close Combat (powerful stab again)- Iron Head (fairy coverage, very important)- U-Turn (pivot)Outspeed and koes.
Volcarona @ Heavy-Duty BootsAbility: Flame BodyEVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Bug Buzz (strong stab)- Quiver Dance (setup)- Fiery Dance (stab plus high sp atk raise chance)- Psychic(coverage and kills toxapex which would otherwise wall this set)After a few quiver dances it can sweep almost everything, and it’s fast enough that it can outspeed a good amount of scarf users at +1 speed.
Another 2 good Sweeper will beHawluchaandToxtricityHawlucha’s ability was Unburden, which helps it sweep with it’s good attack and 110 Pow Acrobatics without item.A good set will be:
Hawlucha @ Grassy SeedAbility: UnburdenEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 SpeAdamant Nature- Acrobatics- Swords Dance- Close Combat- Throat Chop
This set will be paired with a Grassy Surge Rillaboom, and active it’s Grassy Seed than sweep.Acrobatics and Close Combat was stab with one 110 and another one 120. Sword dance for a nice boost on attack and make it sweep more well and because of grassy seed, the defense boost make it hold some hit from the other psychical Pokemon.
Toxtricity was another successful sweeper due to it’s great SpA and Punk Rock ability make it to access do a super high power Boomburst and Overdrive.A good set will be:
Toxtricity @ Throat SprayAbility: Punk RockEVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpDModest NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Overdrive- Boomburst- Sludge Wave- Volt Switch
Throat Spray will makes it’s SpA grow by one stage which was so nice, and boomburst, overdrive and Sludge wave are all was it’s main stabseems they all has high power.
Hope it helps!
Special Sweepers
There’s no doubtHydreigonisn’t a great sweeper. It’s got a wide special movepool and 125 base Special Attack. And it has an immunity to the ever-present Earthquake with Levitate. If you want Life Orb on the below set, I recommend replacing Surf with Nasty Plot.
Hydreigon @ Choice Specs / Life OrbAbility: LevitateEVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 SpeTimid nature- Draco Meteor / Dragon Pulse- Flash Cannon- Dark Pulse- Surf / Nasty Plot / Flamethrower
Another viable option isAlakazam.It’s astounding Speed and Special Attack make it a really fun Pokémon to use. It has a great ability in Magic Guard, which allows it to run Life Orb with no drawbacks, take no damage from entry hazards, and be immune to Toxic or Burn damage. It is, however, very frail.
Alakazam @ Life OrbAbility: Magic GuardEVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Nasty Plot- Psychic / Psyshock- Shadow Ball- Dazzling Gleam / Energy Ball
Physical Sweepers
Zeraorais another popular option. It has a fantastic signature move in Plasma Fists, and some other solid coverage options. It’s lightning fast (get it?) And can hit for good damage.
Zeraora @ Choice Band / Life OrbAbility: Volt AbsorbEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 SpeAdamant Nature- Plasma Fists- Play Rough- Outrage- Close Combat / Knock Off
And lastly, there’sRillaboom.Rillaboom has seen a lot of usage since it’s HA was introduced. It doesn’t have a bad movepool either; but it’s pretty weak on the Special side. I recommend switching Knock Off with Swords Dance if you use a Life Orb.
Rillaboom @ Choice Band / Life OrbAbility: Grassy SurgeEVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Drain Punch- High Horsepower- Grassy Glide- Knock Off / Swords Dance
Hope I helped!
One of the best sweepers isDragapult.It can run physical or special. I’ll put a set for bothSpecial:Dragapult@Choice SpecsAbility:InfilitratorNature:ModestEVs:252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 HP•Draco Meteor•Shadow Ball•Thunderbolt•FlamethrowerPhysical:Dragapult@Choice Band/Life OrbAbility:InfilitratorNature:AdamantEVs:252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 HP•Dragon Darts•Phantom Force•U-Turn•Psychic Fangs
Dragapult @ Choice SpecsAbility: InfiltratorEVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeTimid Nature- Draco Meteor- U-turn- Shadow Ball- Fire Blast
Choice Specs are for boosted power. Infiltrator is to ignore screens and subs. Timid is for a Speed boost since Specs already boost its Special Attack. Draco Meteor is STAB. U-Turn is pivoting. Shadow Ball is STAB. Fire Blast nails Ferrothorn and Scizor.
Gengar @ Focus SashAbility: Cursed BodyEVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeTimid NatureIVs: 0 Atk- Nasty Plot- Sludge Wave- Shadow Ball- Focus Blast
A Focus Sash allows you to get a Nasty Plot off. Timid is for extra Speed since Nasty Plot boosts its Special Attack. Nasty Plot is to hit harder. Sludge Wave is STAB, and so is Shadow Ball. Focus Blast + Shadow Ball provides great neutral coverage.
Rain Sweeper:
Kingdra @ Choice SpecsAbility: Swift SwimEVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 SpeModest Nature- Draco Meteor- Surf- Hurricane- Flip Turn
Choice Specs and Modest are for boosted power, since Swift Swim in the rain makes it pretty fasr. Draco Meteor is STAB, as well as Surf. Hurricane has 100% accuracy in the rain. Flip Turn is STAB used for pivoting.
Rillaboom @ Grassy SeedAbility: Grassy SurgeEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Swords Dance- Acrobatics- Grassy Glide- U-turn
Grassy Seed boosts its Defense the first time it switches in due to Grassy Surge. Jolly increases its Speed, since it has Swords Dance for its Attack anyway. Swords Dance is for, as stated, boosting Attack. Acrobatics has double its power after the Grassy Seed is consumed. Grassy Glide is STAB with priority in Grassy Terrain. U-turn is for pivoting.
Azumarill @ Sitrus BerryAbility: Huge PowerEVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpDAdamant Nature- Belly Drum- Aqua Jet- Knock Off- Play Rough
My favorite on this list, for sure. Azumarill is, in my opinion (but probably not to others), the best sweeper. Sitrus Berry is for healing Belly Drum recoil. Huge Power doubles its Attack. Adamant boosts its Attack, since you’ll mostly be spamming Aqua Jet anyway. Belly Drum maxes out its Attack, which works great with Huge Power. Aqua Jet is priority STAB. Knock Off removes items. Play Rough is Fairy STAB.
Excadrill @ Choice ScarfAbility: Mold BreakerEVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 SpeJolly Nature- Earthquake- Rapid Spin- Rock Slide- Iron Head
Basic Mold Breaker Excadrill set. Choice Scarf is for boosted Speed. Mold Breaker allows it to spam E-quake and hit Rotom-H. Earthquake is STAB. Rapid Spin removes hazards and boosts its Speed even more. Rock Slide is for coverage. Iron Head is STAB.
Hope this helps! :)
Note: I didn’t list EVERY sweeper that’s viable in Gen 8 OU, just the ones that I think work the best.
Some RecommendationsVolcaronaWith Boots Introduced Volcarona is much scarier than ever before in the meta, no rocks to harm it like previous gens and great speed, special defense and special attack, it’s got a variaty of fire attacks wether they be the all mighty Fire Blast or the even better Firey Dance with a 50% chance to boost that wild Sp.Atk even more and the all mighty Bug Buzz for STAB, Giga Drain to deal with rocks and waters, and quiver dance for setup.I recommendVolcarona @ Heavy Duty Boots4 Hp252 Sp.Atk252 SpeedTimid Nature
Fiery DanceBug BuzzGiga DrainQuiver Dance
BarraskewdaWhile its paper frail its insanely fast with 308 speed(aka 136 base speed) and 282 atk(123 Base Speed) pre boosting, sashes can counter its non-existent bulk and it gets great physical moves like Flip Turn,Liquidation,Aqua Jet,Waterfall,Ice Fang, Drill Run, Crunch, Close Combat ect.I recommendBarraskewda @ Focus Sash4 sp.def252 atk252 speedAdamant Nature
LiquidationIce FangDrill RunFlip TurnRegilekiIt’s insanely fast and has a great ability, it doesn’t get great coverage but we can work ith it, this isn’t long bt, its simple like RegilekiRegileki @ Choice Scarf (You’ll See)4 hp252 sp.atk252 speedModest Nature
Electro Ball(Usually does 80 damage) or ThunderboltThunder Cage(Trapping is fun, especially if its something you counter.)Volt Switch(Pivot)Ancient Power(Only Real Coverage)
