Sorry team.
Lost to a bad cteam weak to Extreme Killer, Ho-Oh, and to any offense.
As always, my opponents pray I bring a certain archetype and cteam it. If I bring any another they lose.
With risk of sounding way too hydrated for reply to a post like this, I think it's up to me as the creator of the infamous Gyarados team to explain my thought process.
First off, the 4-1 score of course had its fair share of influence on what to bring. When players are up with their backs to the wall, my experience tells me they lean towards using stuff they are more comfortable with. The only time (that I remember) you ever brought forward a remotely offensive team in a clutch situation was vs Tricking in summer seasonal, and I was pretty certain you wouldn't dare to do it here. I would agree that Iceceus is, as Bob Ross would put it, somewhat of a "time to get crazy" moment, because the original team had Ekiller in that slot.
As for some of the criticism toward that team, I feel it's not justified to call off its match up vs HO just yet. Gyarados still provides intimidate utility and a secondary ground resist. Its EQ does around half to offensive Groudon as well. The Klefki+cb Ho-oh is in my opinion the best way to cover Darkrai, and fast CB additionally adds a Xern finisher (even to block) and a way to hit Groudon fast and hard if needed. The twave mons, Pdon and Klefki are of course key in the HO match up but that should go without saying. The interesting part is actually Iceceus match up vs HO, which isn't as bad as one would think. The natural bulk by virtue of being an Arceus forme goes a long way for pressuring Mence. Ekiller is covered by a healthy Giratina-O and the overall offensive nature of the team. I don't feel the standard HO match up is easy by any means, but I do think the team does a lot better than most teams because of the Klefki+Ho-oh+intimidate combination.
Ho-oh is an issue, I can give you that. Iceceus was going to have Thunder but Benbe fucked up the import (not that it mattered). Again, the situation at hand presented me with the opportunity to go for something based off experience with how players react to pressured situations. I certainly didn't pray when I delegated the team to Benbe, I was pretty sure how you would react to having to win.
I wish strongs and outrage good luck in further weeks.