Need help completing a team.
Hey everyone, I'm trying to put a competitive team together using an offensive core that's served me pretty well in the Battle Maison and casual online battles. I'm having trouble finding a 6th though, so I thought I'd ask for advice.
So the core I'm using at the moment is Assault Vest No Guard Machamp, Life Orb Scizor and (occasionally Mega) Gyarados. I've filled the team out with Choice Scarf Garchomp and Leftovers Calm Mind Slowbro. Full details in the spoilers:
Hey everyone, I'm trying to put a competitive team together using an offensive core that's served me pretty well in the Battle Maison and casual online battles. I'm having trouble finding a 6th though, so I thought I'd ask for advice.
So the core I'm using at the moment is Assault Vest No Guard Machamp, Life Orb Scizor and (occasionally Mega) Gyarados. I've filled the team out with Choice Scarf Garchomp and Leftovers Calm Mind Slowbro. Full details in the spoilers:
Machamp@Assault Vest
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 76/248/0/0/180/6
Nature: Adamant
Dynamicpunch, Knock Off, Stone Edge, Bullet Punch
This is my lead. the idea is big, dumb and simple - pile on offensive pressure off the bat. The EV spread is something I put together from using basically the same build in older generations, when I was more careless about EV training and overcompensated for its special defence. That said, the hits this thing can tank are impressive - it'll survive an unboosted Xerneas Moonblast (though that's not a match I'd want to leave it in on). The idea is usually to go out in a blaze of glory and let either Scizor or Gyarados come in and set up on a weakened Pokemon, though it's been known to sweep unprepared teams on its own.
Scizor @Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 26/252/0/0/12/220
Nature: Adamant
Bullet Punch, Bug Bite, Swords Dance, Superpower
You all know what this is and how it works. The EVs are there to deal maximum damage and hit a friendly Stealth Rock HP number. I figured I could afford to lose a bit of speed since this set relies heavily on Bullet Punch anyway - depending on how this works out for me I might invest more heavily in special defense. This has great type synergy with Gyarados, and can usually come in on anything the big serpent can't.
Gyarados @Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate/Mold Breaker
EVs: 88/252/0/0/0/170
Nature: Adamant
Waterfall, Crunch, Dragon Dance, Earthquake
I've loved Gyarados since Gen 1, and the mind games you can play by waiting to Mega evolve it are great fun. Otherwise this set is pretty straightforward - big dumb damage with an EV spread ripped off directly from Smogon.
Garchomp @Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 6/252/0/0/0/252
Nature: Jolly
Earthquake, Dragon Claw, Poison Jab, Stone Edge
This was my first addition, since my core can struggle against a late-game Mega Manectric if Gyarados is unboosted. I'm considering swapping out Dragon Claw for Outrage, but I don't like the idea of getting locked in (ironic on a Choice set, I know).
Slowbro @Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs:
Nature: Bold
Scald, Psychic, Calm Mind, Slack Off
Another problem I face is very physically bulky Pokemon, which Slowbro checks handily. This is the most recent addition I've made, and I haven't done much playtesting with it. I like the idea of giving it a Mega stone as well in order to keep my options open, but I'm not sure how much it'll miss the leftovers recovery.
So that's where I've got to so far. I'm liking the way Slowbro's playing so far, but I'm not too sure about Garchomp - ideally I need a better answer to electric types that covers both Mega Manectric and Rotom-W, since I don't really have a decent answer to the latter other than sacrificing most of Gyarados' health to bring it down. I also have problems with stall and status, so I could do with Taunt and Heal Bell support without sacrificing Gyarados' coverage. Celebi would be a good fit, but I'd like to avoid using legends if I can.
Ability: No Guard
EVs: 76/248/0/0/180/6
Nature: Adamant
Dynamicpunch, Knock Off, Stone Edge, Bullet Punch
This is my lead. the idea is big, dumb and simple - pile on offensive pressure off the bat. The EV spread is something I put together from using basically the same build in older generations, when I was more careless about EV training and overcompensated for its special defence. That said, the hits this thing can tank are impressive - it'll survive an unboosted Xerneas Moonblast (though that's not a match I'd want to leave it in on). The idea is usually to go out in a blaze of glory and let either Scizor or Gyarados come in and set up on a weakened Pokemon, though it's been known to sweep unprepared teams on its own.
Scizor @Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 26/252/0/0/12/220
Nature: Adamant
Bullet Punch, Bug Bite, Swords Dance, Superpower
You all know what this is and how it works. The EVs are there to deal maximum damage and hit a friendly Stealth Rock HP number. I figured I could afford to lose a bit of speed since this set relies heavily on Bullet Punch anyway - depending on how this works out for me I might invest more heavily in special defense. This has great type synergy with Gyarados, and can usually come in on anything the big serpent can't.
Gyarados @Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate/Mold Breaker
EVs: 88/252/0/0/0/170
Nature: Adamant
Waterfall, Crunch, Dragon Dance, Earthquake
I've loved Gyarados since Gen 1, and the mind games you can play by waiting to Mega evolve it are great fun. Otherwise this set is pretty straightforward - big dumb damage with an EV spread ripped off directly from Smogon.
Garchomp @Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Veil
EVs: 6/252/0/0/0/252
Nature: Jolly
Earthquake, Dragon Claw, Poison Jab, Stone Edge
This was my first addition, since my core can struggle against a late-game Mega Manectric if Gyarados is unboosted. I'm considering swapping out Dragon Claw for Outrage, but I don't like the idea of getting locked in (ironic on a Choice set, I know).
Slowbro @Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
EVs:
Nature: Bold
Scald, Psychic, Calm Mind, Slack Off
Another problem I face is very physically bulky Pokemon, which Slowbro checks handily. This is the most recent addition I've made, and I haven't done much playtesting with it. I like the idea of giving it a Mega stone as well in order to keep my options open, but I'm not sure how much it'll miss the leftovers recovery.
So that's where I've got to so far. I'm liking the way Slowbro's playing so far, but I'm not too sure about Garchomp - ideally I need a better answer to electric types that covers both Mega Manectric and Rotom-W, since I don't really have a decent answer to the latter other than sacrificing most of Gyarados' health to bring it down. I also have problems with stall and status, so I could do with Taunt and Heal Bell support without sacrificing Gyarados' coverage. Celebi would be a good fit, but I'd like to avoid using legends if I can.