Mew. As long as you know how exactly to deal with the common uber leads, it's really easy to use and get its job done. Its job being to set up stealth rock and explode on something.
...Yanmega... Anyway, not a lot of leads use dark typed attacks, maybe Machamp with Payback, but it's like using Psychic on Azelf, it's only for a few pokemons, while sash is useful for many other leads.
I have been using a lead Bellyzard. Sub while they set up rocks, then Belly Brum while they break the Sub. If they switch, you have your boosts, and your protected (well, for one turn) from ebil priority users, namely Scizor, that otherwise ruin Bellyzard. Also, I recommend Tpunch over EQ, becuase IMO it gives alot more coverage. The awesome thing about Bellzard is that most people in OU have never seen Charizard before, so they mentally deny it as a threat and simply set up rocks.
A) I said common leads, as in, the top 15ish most used. Yanmega, not only is very uncommon, but gets walled to hell and back by Rotom, and on top of that, it's completely useless late game due to a derp x4 SR weakness. So yeah, Yanmega isn't even close to being a threat. B) With all due respect, you might wanna stop talking out of your ass, you obviously have no clue what you're talking about. Colbur Berry Azlef doesn't exchange beating some leads in order to beat Machamp and Tyranitar, it just adds them to the list of leads it can beat, without giving anything up. Yes, the "anything" needs to be emphasized, because it's not an exaggeration.
In OU, Aerodactyl. I know it usually dies within the first 2-3 turns, but it is very fast and will always set up stealth rocks. More often than not it can also prevent the opponent from setting up rocks with taunt as well (at least until it dies -_-) In Ubers, the only option is of course Shedinja!
Forretress in OU; setting hazards and spinning away rocks is just to big of a plus not to use him. Also, I play stall in OU, so I'm kinda biased. In Ubers, the other tier that I'm alright at, it depends on the team style. Rayquaza for offense teams and Groudon for stall. Forry's alright, but can't set hazards as a lead with the consistency that he can in OU.
Alakazam@Focus Sash Inner Focus >Counter I use this in UU for delicious tears when ambipom leads forget about inner focus and get K0'd when I respond to Fake-out with Counter
OU: Scizor and Jirachi. Scizor because of SD boost.No one expects a SDer as a lead, so I usually get a free SD. Jirachi because it's scarfed.It ususally rapes(or at least weakens) leads like Metagross, Machamp, Aerodactyl or Azelf. UU:Uxie and Houndoom. Uxie for Rocks and then annoys with Thunder Wave. Houndoom taunts or goes for Heat Wave/Dark Pulse.
Ubers: Scizor, baby. Rapes Mewtwo / Deoxys / Darkrai. OU: TrickScarf Uxie, yes Uxie, it nearly never fails for me. UU: Spiritomb, that thing is consistent as hell. NU: I don't play NU, lol, I don't like it. LC: Machop, just like older brother Machamp.
You gotta stop hyping up your Gallade lead Azlan. There are better variants of it out there like mine: Gallade @ Life Orb 252 HP/ 248 Atk / 8 Speed Close Combat Ice Punch Shadow Sneak Swords Dance Takes out every lead bar Metagross that attacks first turn (like azlans) and ambipom who fake out then Double hit to KO. Sword dance has more utility than EQ or Leaf Blade as after a SD you can OHKO Starmie/Gengar/offensive Rotom with SS and also OHKO Machamp/Swampert/Skarmory and many others with Close Combat. The speed EV's are to outspeed and OHKO lead Dragonite with Ice punch which also OHKO's Gliscor.
Choice Scarf Butterfree. Hasn't let me down yet, no matter the tier. Won an OU tournament on the Beta server awhile ago doing the same thing over and over. Sleep Powder -> Switch to whatever is necessary. UNTIL INSOMNIA OR VITAL SPIRIT OR DAT LUM
In gen 5, I've been using Voltolos and it's great. Priority Taunt/Grass Knot/T-Bolt/Volt Change works on almost anything. Also, messing Erufuun is fuuuun.
My favorite lead in Gen 5 is... Golem @ Lum Berry Ability:Sturdy Adamant Nature (+Attack,-Special Attack) EV's:252 Attack/252 Speed/4 HP Stealth Rock Earthquake Stone Edge Sucker Punch Golem sets up Stealth Rock,and often takes something out with it.EdgeQuake offers STAB and respectable coverage,and Sucker Punch takes out fast,frail leads who think Golem isn't a problem.The EV's give him power and the ability to outpace slower leads.
Recently discovered (for me), Gengar is nearly PERFECT. Gengar @ Focus Sash Ability:Levitate Timid (+Speed, -Attack) EV's:252 Special Attack/252 Speed/4 HP Icy Wind Destiny Bond Shadow Ball Hidden Power [Fighting] Icy wind is to slower pokés down, then you can kill them, or destiny bond.
This may sound weird, but in Gen IV, I used an Anti-Lead Honchkrow, which was amazing! I also liked Anti-Lead Gallade, which was even better. In Gen 5, I don't really have a "lead" because I play Wi-Fi, so I just transfer my lead according to my opponent's team. But if I had to say one, I would say Kojondoo because of his utility.
Porygon2 will continue to be the Best Pokemon Lead ever! Porygon2 @ Evolution Stone Trait: Trace EVs: 212 HP / 120 Def / 176 SDef Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk) - Discharge - Ice Beam - Recover - Magic Coat That right there gives 405 in both Def and Sp. Def you cant go wrong and just use magic mirror to steal entry hazards discharge for parahax = Win! The only Pokemon that forces me to switch Porygon 2 is Blaziken and not even Lead Blaziken can OHKO this beast its 2ko from Blaziken and well nothing else really
MY Favourite leads are ( ANd most effective trust me ) : Bronzong Leftovers / Lum Berry Levitate Sassy 252 Hp 80 def 84 atk 92 sp.def Moveset IVs ~ Stealth Rock ~ Hidden Power Ice / Gyro Ball ~ Hypnosis ~ Earthquake / Explosion / Roserade : Moveset EVs ~ Toxic Spikes ~ Sleep Powder ~ Leaf Storm / Grass Knot / Energy Ball ~ Hidden Power Fire / Hidden Power Ice 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe 2 WORDS : JUST AWESOME
Machamp (M) @ Lum Berry Trait: No Guard EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 6 Spd Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk) - DynamicPunch - Bullet Punch - Payback - Stone Edge Who doesn't love this dude...
As of now, in the 5th gen, I definatly like Aggron Aggron @ Custapt Berry Sturdy, Brave EV: 252 Att/HP, 4 Def IV: 0 Spe Metal Burst Steath Rock Stone Edge Endevor He's flat out fantastic. He can fill multiple roles. All you really need is someone to deal with those Status and spiking leads (cough*Xatu*cough)
Frankly, I don't like Machamp anti-lead at all. Sure he wins against so many, but I felt he had a better role in the team and a Substitute attacker. He also gets TrickScarfed a lot I feel. Anyway, my undoubted favorite lead (more like anti-lead) is Infernape! Infernape (M) @ Focus Sash Trait: Blaze EVs: 164 Atk / 128 SAtk / 216 Spd Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def) - Close Combat - Fire Blast/Overheat - Fake Out - Stealth Rock/Taunt Yeah, it is somewhat modified with dual attacking capability, but it sort of works against so many: Smeargle: EVERY variant is put through Fake out + Close Combat for a flat out KO. The scarf variant can set up rocks or put Infernape to sleep, but it is locked and thus no hazards are up at the start. If it Tricks a Scarf to me, Infernape becomes a very scary revenger suddenly, so they won't do it. Roserade: Gets owned with Fake out + Fire blast, no exceptions. Metagross: Also fears Infernape's Fire blast. Occa berry version can be tricky if they know Explosion, but most are Shuca or Lum........ Azelf: Azelf can sort of survive Fake out + Fire blast since this starting attacking combo does a total minimum of 90% to 4HP Azelf, but it KOes most of the time. Fake out + Overheat however is a straight KO unless Azelf invests in special defense and/or HP. Aerodactyl: The fact that he resists Fake out makes it hard to deal with him, also since he survives Close Combat after that too. Even with 252 attack EVs on this Infernape, Aerodactyl take a maximum total of 103% from Fake out + Close Combat. If they taunt me however, I can get away with my Sash intact after they Stealth rock before fainting. Dragonite: Another lead to which I lose against, and big time this way. Just use Stealth rock and fall is all I can actually do against this. Since it is so powerful that Life Orb Extremespeed can 2HKO my Starmie, so I don't switch out of this and most of the time, it takes down something or the other. Jirachi: Can't win unless he flinches 3 times in a row. One Fire blast is enough to send him back to the Pokéball for the rest of the game. Porygon-z: Fake out + Close Combat is a KO on even some of the most bulkiest Porygon-z variants ever, so no problems with this at all. On a side note, a 252 HP 252 defense Modest porygon-z takes a minimum of 99% total from the Fake out + Close Combat combo. Machamp: Fake out first turn, then hit him hard with Overheat or Fire blast and when you are at 1 HP switch out to a good resister since he is at KO range at the moment. If Stealth rock means more (I'd prefer taking Machamp down instead of getting the Rocks up), then Fake out, then use Stealth rock, then switch out and hope the incoming Pokemon can KO him. Crobat: Inner Focus ruins everything! Reasonably bulky ones survive Fire blast with ease too. Best to just switch out to a good counter since Crobat can be walled well anyway. Heatran: Most of the time, Close Combat can KO him. Just to be sure, using Fake out first turn helps break a Focus sash if it is there, or conserves Close Combat PP if they switch out to a Ghost or something. Swampert: No sense in using Fake out here though and I can't hurt him much anyway. Either set up the Rocks or just if you think he's going to do it, use Taunt if you have it. Not much I can do him though. Weavile: Speedier Fake out is fun to look at! Since Infernape resists his dual STAB, I can just Fire blast him (yes Fire blast first, not Close combat since they use Counter a lot!) then finish him off as the standard attacking lead can't even 3HKO Infernape with Fake out + Ice punch + Ice punch). Tyranitar: I don't need to explain this at all. Both Pokémon fall if the Tyranitar is scarfed. So, as far as I see, my Infernape lead loses only to Gallade (too much special defense on this guy), Starmie (he is a fine Infernape check besides), Aerodactyl, Swampert and Dragonite (my points above for these 3) and Uxie (bulky, though one can blast him with Fire if he doesn't mind Infernape risking paralysis, or just Taunt Uxie out). Thus, he is my favorite lead in gen 4 OU!
Deoxys @ Focus Sash Trait: Pressure EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd Naive Nature (+Spd, -SDef) - Superpower - Psycho Boost - Stealth Rock - ExtremeSpeed Well actually Deoxys-A is better in every way, but it's banned, so I have to use this. Psycho Boost is still nice, in fact it's better than Explosion Azelf imo. SR is a necessity, and Superpower gives a little coverage, but only vs Tyranitar mainly, it's weak otherwise. ExtremeSpeed is really self-explanatory for a lead.
Kyurem is pretty good as a lead, functioning in the same way that Seth Vilo's Porygon-Z antilead that desty mentioned page 1 works; use Frozen World to break sash and lower speed turn one, then proceed to kill turn two. Best run with Chople as it can have quite some use outside the lead position and its natural bulk allows it to not be ohko'd by most moves. The Rock Resist berry could be a reasonable alternative to help with ttar or dory but in a meta that encourages mach punch usage, Chople is probably superior.
My favourite lead in 4th gen OU was Hariyama, because of how well it beat the common leads. Specifically: Gtfo (Hariyama) (M) @ Flame Orb Trait: Guts EVs: 252 Atk / 200 SDef / 56 Spd Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk) - Close Combat - Fake Out - Payback - Ice Punch Fake Out to break Sashes and activate my Flame Orb, Close Combat to KO a ton of stuff, Ice Punch for Dragonite/Gliscor, and Payback for Ghosts and Azelf. Special Defense EVs are to make sure I survive Azelf's Psychic, and the Speed EVs ensure I outspeed most common Machamp. The only lead who I don't beat from the top of my head are Infernape (I normally carry a ghost for it) and some Dragonite.