Hello! I'm a newbie and trying for the first time build a functional pokémon team for 7th generation battle spot's singles. After losing many times on Pokémon Showdown and watching tons of videos, I'm still not able to win more than I lose. Actually I lose almost always. So could you please look at my team and tell me what should I improve please? The idea was to build a team based on Tangrowth's defensive stats and it's ability 'Regenerator'. I inclueded also Dragonite as physical sweeper, Magnezone as special sweeper, Florges as special wall and other two pokémon (Gigalith & Samurott) to be more type flexible. So that's it. Here is the team:
Dragonite @ Lum Berry
Ability: Inner Focus
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Lonely Nature
- Extreme Speed
- Dragon Pulse
- Dragon Dance
- Ice Beam
Tangrowth @ Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Hardy Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sleep Powder
- Knock Off
- Protect
Magnezone @ Assault Vest
Ability: Analytic
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Signal Beam
- Tri Attack
- Volt Switch
Florges @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Flower Veil
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Giga Drain
- Protect
- Aromatherapy
- Moonblast
Gigalith @ Focus Sash
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 12 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Toxic
- Superpower
- Explosion
Samurott @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Torrent
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Air Slash
- Ice Beam
Hi hi, better late than never
You've chosen a great mon to build a team around in Tangrowth, it can be quite the pain to take down. I shall list recommendations member by member.
1. Dragonite
You claim it's a physical sweeper, but its only physical move is extreme speed, which is a non-STAB attack. As it stands, dragon dance isn't doing much to help dragonite, so you want to be replacing dragon pulse with dragon claw, and question how much you would need extreme speed if you are using dragon dance to allow yourself to move first anyway. Everything else about the set is nice: evs are good and ice beam is a really nice way to get past landorus-t which will switch into Dragonite often.
2. Tangrowth
Would recommend a different move instead of protect (such as earthquake to hurt steel and fire types).Tangrowth doesn't really need to stall turns with protect to get leftovers recovery: it has regenerator so can just switch out instead.
3.Magnezone
A cool set, but whether you can call it a special sweeper is debatable: Magnezone, especially an analytic one, is slow, and has no recovery. It is therefore less likely to sweep teams. Will get back to this later though.
4. Florges
Try wish over Giga drain for more consistent recovery. You already run protect, so wish + protect is guaranteed 50% recovery. Giga Drain is resisted by steel and fire types, like moonblast, but moon blast is STAB, deals more damage, and has a 30% chance of letting you take special attacks more easily. Switching out after a wish will let you heal something like magnezone who lacks recovery, so it's a really useful support move. Would also suggest EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def /4 SpA instead of SpD, since Florges doesn't really need help taking special attacks and is more likely to be targetted with physical ones.
5.Gigalith
Replace Focus sash with literally anything and it's better. Sturdy does exactly the same thing as a focus sash without needing to hold a focus sash. Custap berry is nice for when you've been brought down to sturdy. I'd personally also put a rock move like stealth rock or rock blast on gigalith. I'd question whether you need to have both earthquake AND superpower to hurt steel types, and if you can give one up for a rock move.
6.Samurott
You are missing move 4 :v
Most samurott I've seen are physical (running swords dance + aqua jet + 2 physical moves),and not special, so keep this in mind. What does air slash hit that ice beam or STAB hydro pump cannot?
Would consider investing in speed,not HP if you run air slash to capitalise on the flinch chance, and consider the few other special attacks Samurott has if Air Slash is not needed: scald, icy wind, grass knot, brine, Hidden power fire.
Hope this is useful, shout if you have any questions.