Metagame Follow the Leader

Approved by The Immortal and imas

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It's always important to pick the right Pokemon to build around, but Follow the Leader takes that to the next level. Every Pokemon on your team has access to ALL of the moves and abilities of the first Pokemon in your team, but none of their own. Choose wisely!

Rules:

Mechanic: The first Pokemon provides the moves and abilities for all other Pokemon on the team.
Clauses: OU clauses
Bans: OU Banlist, Shedinja, Slaking, Regigigas, Imposter, and Smeargle, Pure Power, Huge Power


Strategy:

Defensive Leaders:

Toxapex grants the entire team access to the incredible ability regenerator, allowing them to recover every time they pivot out of a bad matchup. It also has a decent movepool with hazards, recovery, status, scald, and some coverage, and even an offensive ability in merciless. It's no slouch itself, either, and can form part of a defensive core or serve as a hazard setter.

Offensive Leaders:

Nidoking allows every Pokemon to use Sheer Force and its excellent offensive movepool; it can support attackers of nearly any kind, and has multiple kinds of hazards. There isn't any specific teammates that benefit, just anything that wants to hit hard right off the bat.

Balanced Leaders:

Clefable is one of the most versatile leaders in the game, with offensive and defensive hazards alike. Defensive Unaware stall is totally an option, while rocks-weak Pokemon such as Volarona get a lot of mileage out of Magic Guard. Thanks to some excellent tutors, it even gets gems like Belly Drum and Stealth Rock for its teammates to use, and is no slouch itself.

Sample Sets:

Kyurem-Black @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Punch
- Fire Punch
- Thunder Punch
- Outrage
This set follows Nidoking, and gives Kyurem-B powerful STAB moves and coverage with which to hit things very hard. It's mainly a wallbreaker to break down physical walls for Kyurem-B's team, but it can also serve as a late game cleaner


Magearna @ Leftovers
Ability: Shield Dust
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Quiver Dance
- Moonblast
- Roost
- Hidden Power [Ground]
A bulky setup sweeper, this Magearna attempts to gather Quiver Dance boosts and then sweep. While the coverage is lacking, the combination of recovery and speed boosting allows Magearna to take on many teams.

Q&A:

Q: Why are Imposter and Smeargle banned? What about Slaking and Regigigas?
A: They were just too powerful. Imposter Chansey can 1v1 almost any Pokemon, and imposterpoofing is much more difficult here than in metagames such as BH. Other High-Hp imposters could also make a mockery of teambuilding and limited counterplay to some gimmicky options. Smeargle could provide any move, making reliable answers all but impossible, while Slaking and Regigias have the stats to dominate under nearly any leader once stripped of their crippling abilities.

Q: Why is Shedinja banned instead of wonder guard?
A: Shedinja was broken both as a follower and a leader. Wonder Guard to teammates allowed almost anything to be a powerful threat, while as a follower Sturdy Shedinja is also nearly impossible to break.

Q: What about mega evolutions? How do they work?
A: Mega Evolutions start with the moves and ability of the leader, but Mega Evolving changes that to their natural mega ability. They still keep the moves though, so V-create Charizard-X is an option on Victini teams.

Q: Where can I play this?
A: Spandan has generously decided to host this on Dragonheaven

Resources:
Gen 6 thread
 
Last edited:
Greninja may be something to suspect or straight up ban. It's movepool is fairly diverse having a variety of moves including hazards, and PROTEAN.
Pros:
-Protean
-Diverse movepool of both special and physical attacks and hazards.
-Z-happy hour.

Cons:
-no reliable recovery
-not fantastic coverage options outside of hidden power.
 
What about Mew as a leader for balanced teams? Yes, it doesn't have a very useful ability, but it has the biggest movepool available, since Smeargle is banned. And synchronize on all pokemon may discourage stall players from spamming their status moves xD
 
Greninja may be something to suspect or straight up ban. It's movepool is fairly diverse having a variety of moves including hazards, and PROTEAN.
Pros:
-Protean
-Diverse movepool of both special and physical attacks and hazards.
-Z-happy hour.

Cons:
-no reliable recovery
-not fantastic coverage options outside of hidden power.
Protean wasn't banned in Gen 6 and i don't see why it should be in Gen 7. The two only users of it, Greninja and Kecleon, both give good movepools but are manageable. Sure their followers are powerful, but so are Mawile or Nidoking teams.

Sure Greninja gives Z Happy Hour, but if you planned on using it on something like Kyurem Black, remember that Greninja's physical movepool is somewhat lacking. Basically it's Waterfall, Gunk Shot, U turn, Ice Punch (ok kyube gets Ice Punch), Low Kick and Shadow Sneak for the most used part. Sheer Force Kyube is also kind of stronger than Protean Z Happy Hour Kyube as it gets Ice Punch and colorful coverage that allows it to break past its usual counters. Mawile is in the same boat but gives Swords Dance in addition to its fantastic movepool and sheer force.
 

sin(pi)

lucky n bad
Sooooooo Kartana.

Kartana @ Steelium-Z
Ability: Steelworker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Anchor Shot
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Power Whip

+2 252 Atk Steelworker Kartana Corkscrew Crash (160 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 285-336 (85.3 - 100.5%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock (this is a resist!)

Kartana @ Fighting Memory
Ability: Grassy Surge
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Wood Hammer
- Superpower
- Smart Strike / Stone Edge

+2 252 Atk Kartana All-Out Pummeling (190 BP) vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Skarmory: 301-355 (90.1 - 106.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock

Obviously you can run Band, Scarf, etc. I'm fairly sure this + Kyub will want to go fairly soon.

Tapus will be interesting, if a bit one-dimensional. Lele probably has the best type + movepool to spam (it can cover the immunity/resists better than Koko or Bulu), and you get access to things like Hoopa and Zammer, though the physical movepool is nonexistent lmao.
 
FUCKING DRAGONITE! (Dragonite) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Extreme Speed

imma drill yo mama (Excadrill) @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Iron Head
- Earthquake

Jolt of Justice (Jolteon) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Flamethrower
- Surf

hehehe (Celesteela) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 248 HP / 236 Def / 24 Spe
Impish Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- Iron Head
- Light Screen

lizard (Heliolisk) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Thunderbolt

THIS IS BH!!!! (Pinsir) @ Pinsirite
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Extreme Speed
- Iron Head

Dragonite and Luke as leaders are terrifying. Kekleon/Greninja as leaders should be banned.

Guys this isnt inheritance so please think about the whole team before posting sets xddd
 
FUCKING DRAGONITE! (Dragonite) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Extreme Speed

imma drill yo mama (Excadrill) @ Leftovers
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Stone Edge
- Iron Head
- Earthquake

Jolt of Justice (Jolteon) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Flamethrower
- Surf

hehehe (Celesteela) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 248 HP / 236 Def / 24 Spe
Impish Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- Iron Head
- Light Screen

lizard (Heliolisk) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Thunderbolt

THIS IS BH!!!! (Pinsir) @ Pinsirite
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Extreme Speed
- Iron Head

Dragonite and Luke as leaders are terrifying. Kekleon/Greninja as leaders should be banned.
Guys this isnt inheritance so please think about the whole team before posting sets xddd
Again, gen 6 didn't ban them and in gen 7 there's no REAL reasons to ban them either. They are much more manageable than a Mawile/Nidoking team. I think like sinpi said it's more Kyube and Kartana the problems.
 

InfernapeTropius11

get on my level
Imo Contrary and Speed Boost as leader should be banned.


Heracross-Mega @ Heracronite
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD /252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Blast
- Pin Missile
- Close Combat
- Protect
The main reason why Hera-Mega not banned are his dumb speed. Speed Boost make it a broken mon.


Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Close Combat
- Overheat
- Leaf Storm
- Vacuum Wave
This is broken, too.
You inherit the movepool as well so neither of those sets are possible.
 
Imo Contrary and Speed Boost as leader should be banned.


Heracross-Mega @ Heracronite
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD /252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Blast
- Pin Missile
- Close Combat
- Protect
The main reason why Hera-Mega not banned are his dumb speed. Speed Boost make it a broken mon.


Infernape @ Life Orb
Ability: Contrary
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Close Combat
- Overheat
- Leaf Storm
- Vacuum Wave
This is broken, too.
Heracross-Mega is unreleased so let's not discuss it. Speed Boost is only found on Ninjask, Scolipede, Yanmega, Blaziken, Sharpedo. And none of them give the movepool Heracross Mega have. the closest to your movepool is Scolipede and that's only for Pin Missile.

Contrary is hard walled by any Unaware mon (something like Florges walls you) and btw i don't think Serperior gets CC or Overheat? did you read the first post of the meta or not at all before posting?
 

InfernapeTropius11

get on my level
Heracross-Mega is unreleased so let's not discuss it. Speed Boost is only found on Ninjask, Scolipede, Yanmega, Blaziken, Sharpedo. And none of them give the movepool Heracross Mega have. the closest to your movepool is Scolipede and that's only for Pin Missile.

Contrary is hard walled by any Unaware mon (something like Florges walls you) and btw i don't think Serperior gets CC or Overheat? did you read the first post of the meta or not at all before posting? Might deserve a post delete imo.
Actually, Heracronite was just released so it is legal but yeah, both those sets fall to the common Clefable teams, in addition to being illegal.
 
It is released
Currently it's not, it will probs be, but currently it's not.

Edit: So it was released today, well, speed boost doesn't break it, the best movepool it can use is Blaziken, and Blaziken being Uber, he defintely can't. All other Speed Boosters removes its Fighting STAB attacks.
 

Mimikyu could be a nice pick as a donor. It's normally still great in OU, just set back by its rather mediocre base stats. It has an amazing ability, should work wonders for hyper offense. Anything can set up an SD for free and spam wood hammer/leech life/sneak/we. Its special/status movepool isn't shabby either.

Special: Dark Pulse, Dazzling Gleam, Psychic, Shadow ball, Thunderbolt

Physical: Leech Life, Play Rough, Return, Shadow Claw, Shadow Sneak, Wood Hammer

Status: Bulk Up, Destiny Bond, Light Screen, Pain Split, Swords Dance, Taunt, Toxic, Trick Room, Will-O-Wisp (Sub, Protect, Rest, Sleep Talk)
Unfortunately: Disguise If this Pokemon is a Mimikyu, the first hit it takes in battle deals 0 neutral damage.
 
Imposter is maybe banned, but Transform Chansey is still possible and with Mew's colorful movepool Chansey fits in quite well. Be careful with boosting if you face a mew team, or carry Taunt.
 

anaconja

long day at job
is a Community Contributoris a Tiering Contributor
Some promising leaders I can think of:

Dragonite: large movepool Multiscale, Extreme Speed, Dragon Dance, Roost
Chansey: large movepool, Natural Cure, Stealth Rock, Soft-boiled
Araquanid: Water Bubble
Porygon-Z: large special movepool, Download, Analytic, Adaptability, Recover, BoltBeam
Hydreigon: large movepool, Roost, Levitate, Head Smash
Gallade: large movepool, Wish, Will-o-Wisp, Shadow Sneak, Destiny Bond, Swords Dance, Close Combat
Absol: large movepool, Wish, Will-o-Wisp, Shadow Sneak, BoltBeam, Swords Dance
Gengar: large movepool, Will-o-Wisp, Sucker Punch, elemental punches, Destiny Bond
Lucario: large movepool, Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, Bullet Punch, Close Combat, Extreme Speed
 
Some promising leaders I can think of:

Dragonite: large movepool Multiscale, Extreme Speed, Dragon Dance, Roost
Chansey: large movepool, Natural Cure, Stealth Rock, Soft-boiled
Araquanid: Water Bubble
Porygon-Z: large special movepool, Download, Analytic, Adaptability, Recover, BoltBeam
Hydreigon: large movepool, Roost, Levitate, Head Smash
Gallade: large movepool, Wish, Will-o-Wisp, Shadow Sneak, Destiny Bond, Swords Dance, Close Combat
Absol: large movepool, Wish, Will-o-Wisp, Shadow Sneak, BoltBeam, Swords Dance
Gengar: large movepool, Will-o-Wisp, Sucker Punch, elemental punches, Destiny Bond
Lucario: large movepool, Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, Bullet Punch, Close Combat, Extreme Speed
You forgot Mew, you forgot Kecleon, you forgot Nidoking, Mawile, Zoroark etc....
 
Is zoroark any good as a leader?
It looks like it has a decent movepool for both physical and special attackers, and having illusion on your whole team sounds like it could work.
I don't think so. Illusion only works on the last mon in the party, and his movepool is fairly lackluster compared to some of the powerhouses. Useable, sure coverage is limited.
 
Actually all mons will copy the appearance of the last mon in the party which can create confusing stuff. But yeh better leaders of course, Zoroark is still fun though.
 

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