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Team needing structure

M

Michurro

Member
Well, I decided to get back into Pokemon and I had my original team ready but I decided to make some changes. However, I feel like I'm missing some coverage in areas. So here goes! Thanks to everyone who helps Im really at a loss

;143; w/ leftovers
Adamant
EV: 252 HP; Either 252 Sp. Def. or 84 Def. 168 Sp. Def.
Ice Punch
Earthquake
Rest
Curse

I replaced my Umbreon in order to get more of a bulky tank. Also I replaced my Rhyperior for him, so I could have room for others. Curse, is just to make him a pure wall. I'm worried about him being weak Def. wise which is why I have a possible Investment in Def EV's

;121; w/ Petaya Berry
Modest
EV: 252 Sp. Atck; 252 Speed
Surf
Ice Beam
Thunder Bolt
Psychic

Pretty Self-Explanatory

;466; w/ Magnet
Adamant
EV: 252 Speed; 252 Atck.
Thunder Punch
Ice Punch
Earthquake
Cross Chop

Again, Self-Explanatory

;475; w/ Wide Lens or Expert Belt
Adamant
EV: 64 Speed; 188HP; 252 Attack
Psycho Cut
Night Slash
Close Combat
Stone Edge/ Will-O-Wisp

Stone Edge or Will-o-wisp? Will-o-wisp is basically a use all move, and would be for tanks that I don't have much leeway to. (Bronzong being the main enemy) Stone Edge would save me from flying types.

;094; w/ Focus Sash
Rash
EV: 252 Speed; 252 Sp. Atck
Shadow Ball
Psychic
Energy Ball
Sucker Punch OR Thunder Bolt

Ok, I feel better switching this for Porygon Z. Only thing is should I have sucker Punch or Thunderbolt? I would use thunderbolt for those flying types. But Sucker punch is a little situational. I purposely put Rash as the nature to ensure that when Gengar gets hit, Focus Sash activates giving him a free turn to attack with Sucker Punch and potentially KOing. Which one?

;468; w/ Leftovers
Calm
EV: 252 HP; 64 Sp. Attack; 192 Sp. Def.
Thunder Wave
Air Slash
Aura Sphere
Roost

Standard Togekiss, although Aura Sphere can be changed if needed.

Other Pokemon in consideration: ;026; ;197; ;464; ;424; ;135;

Thanks again! =)
 
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" Self Explanatory " isn't a good enough description. You have to try to write something meaningful for each Pokemon to show you care about the Team. Usually if you can't figure out anything to say except " Speaks for itself " or " Standard " then the Team Member may not be pulling the weight that it should.

Snorlax can go for Lead / Passer Ambipom. I say this because Snorlax is doing what Electrivire can do offensively and your Team's a pretty Offensive Team. What you pass depends on what you want more. Most of your Team would like an Agility Pass and your Special Sweepers would appreciate Nasty Plot ... then again you can just lose Thunder Wave on Togekiss and put Nasty Plot directly on it and just pass Agility.

Gengar should just go if that's the set you're using for it. Starmie and Gallade can cover you no matter what you pick. In its place consider a Pokemon that can set up Stealth Rock for you since the other members of your Team would appreciate the damage accumulation to net them some KOs they wouldn't get otherwise. If you're worried about Stealth Rock yourself make Starmie your Spinner. You don't have to since only Togekiss is weak against Stealth Rock and it has a means of recovery.

Rhypherior can set up Stealth Rock but it'll need to be passed Speed. I'm just going by Pokemon that you listed as being in consideration of using.

Your Item Choices aren't the best. Noticed you didn't use Life Orb or any Choice Items even though this looks to be a pretty Offensive Team. Starmie can cancel out Life Orb Damage with Recover over any of its moves. If you decide to go with Stone Edge over Will-o-Wisp you can Scarf Gallade to make it a Revenge Killer. Electrivire probably wants Expert Belt over Magnet since it's getting good coverage with that set and Magnet will only boost ThunderPunch's power.

If you're worried about being locked into attacks with Choice Items don't be. I was wary about that until I actually tried the Choice Items. If you use them properly yet sparingly you won't have to worry about being locked in.
 
Thanks, for the two with self-explanatory I was just saying that I had no confusion with them. I've never done competitive battles (probably shows by my team choices?) but I think I'm starting to get it now. Yeah, I didn't think two specials were needed but just in case I put Gengar in. So putting in Ambipom and Rhyperior over Snorlax and Gengar right? I did want stealth rock badly, now I can have it =). But should I leave snorlax in order to have a special wall? Thanks again
 
There are several types of Teams depending on what the overall goal of the Team is supposed to be. If you're going for a Purely Offensive Team then you don't necessarily need Walls because your Team as a whole is designed more to dish out damage then to take Hits.

And yeah: it wouldn't hurt to have someone set up Stealth Rock at all.

And it wouldn't hurt to actually test out your Team at this stage to get a feel for what needs to be done in terms of changes. You'll get a great feel for what's wrong after you've given the Team a Test Run.
 
Thanks so much! I'm trying to not be so much of a powerhouse team, but I guess it's not working too well... I wanted some kind of wall.

Could this work?

Gallade (From Below)

Starmie/Gengar (From Below)

Electivire (From Below w/ Expert Belt)

Togekiss (From Below)

Shuckle w/ Leftovers or Bright Powder
Careful
EV: 252 Def; 252 Sp. Def
Rest
Withdraw/ Double Team
Stealth Rock
Toxic

Standard Rhyperior

Sorry for all of this, but I'm so glad that someone is commenting.Thanks agin =)
 
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Hey boys ;) ;222;

Anyway, about your team. For starters, Lead Snorlax is already a bad sign that you're unsure of what you're doing. Snorlax is not cut out to be a lead, since it does nothing to anti-lead or set up. Your starter Pokemon is extremely important to set-up for you at the beginning of the battle. Snorlax only has curse - what will that accomplish?

I am unsure of what your central Pokemon is, and there are not in-depth enough descriptions to help me help you. "Self-explanatory" doesn't cut it. But for sure, every team will have more grace if it is working together to provide for a central Pokemon. Your team must lead the way for it to sweep/set-up

This team lacks synergy. It will have difficulty overcoming a lot. For example, what will stop a rampaging Scizor? Dragon-Danced Gyarados? It also has no coverage against DRAGON attacks. That is the number one rule in the 4th generation's OU metagame - Carry a steel type or 2. They also resist toxic spikes so cheers.

Starmie with no rapid-spin and just purely attacking moves? I don't condone it, but I am not a Starmie-user. Maybe Choice Specs for it. Or just dump it.

Electivire might want ThunderBOLT over Thunderpunch to cover Skarmory. Besides that, you normally need something to bait electric attacks for Electivire. Friendly Warning: If you can't activate motor drive, it's normally sitting out the entire battle.

Gengar, for one, has Sucker Punch, which offers no STAB, and it doesn't even have the attack to carry out a KO with it. ABSOLUTELY give Gengar Thunderbolt. It's almost as important as ShadowBall. Hidden Power FIRE helps against Scizors, for one, which is a big threat to Gengars, if not its biggest threat. Hypnosis is useful for obvious reasons. But my Gengar uses Energy Ball to utterly destroy Swamperts. For certain, make sure it Has ShadowBall, Thunderbolt, and Focus Blast. And also, why is it Rash and not Timid? It will be outsped by every other Gengar, not to mention a lot of other things.

Some of these item choices are really bad. Magnet, Petaya Berry, Wide Lens, Focus Sash on a NON-lead. None of these are dynamic enough to secure victory in competitive play. You should learn what items are most-used.
 
The following are the only resistances to the given Pokemon's moveset. If there are none to show or the Pokemon was not intended for offense, they will not be included. If there are too many to list quickly, I will give the most common characteristic among resistors. Only resistances shown, not neutral damage. This is not meant to be spiteful in any way, just information to keep in mind when using this team.
Thank you, and enjoy!

Snorlax:
Surskit,Bronzong,Shedinja

Starmie:
Shedinja

Electivire:
Shedinja

Gallade:
No Resistances (Bravo Ragazzo!)

Gengar:
Many Steel Types,Several Dark Types w/ SP
Shiftry,Dialga,Magnezone w/ TB

Togekiss:
Zapdos,Rotom
 
Thank you all sooo much. I'm not really an expert on pokemon so all your comments really helped. I think I may be able to make a decent team now =)
 
vgplayer36 said:
The following are the only resistances to the given Pokemon's moveset. If there are none to show or the Pokemon was not intended for offense, they will not be included. If there are too many to list quickly, I will give the most common characteristic among resistors. Only resistances shown, not neutral damage. This is not meant to be spiteful in any way, just information to keep in mind when using this team.
Thank you, and enjoy!

Snorlax:
Surskit,Bronzong,Shedinja

Starmie:
Shedinja

Electivire:
Shedinja

Gallade:
No Resistances (Bravo Ragazzo!)

Gengar:
Many Steel Types,Several Dark Types w/ SP
Shiftry,Dialga,Magnezone w/ TB

Togekiss:
Zapdos,Rotom
Click to expand...

This guy's a troll. Ignore him.

Michurro said:
Well, I decided to get back into Pokemon and I had my original team ready but I decided to make some changes. However, I feel like I'm missing some coverage in areas. So here goes! Thanks to everyone who helps Im really at a loss

;143; w/ leftovers
Adamant
EV: 252 HP; Either 252 Sp. Def. or 84 Def. 168 Sp. Def.
Ice Punch
Earthquake
Rest
Curse

I replaced my Umbreon in order to get more of a bulky tank. Also I replaced my Rhyperior for him, so I could have room for others. Curse, is just to make him a pure wall. I'm worried about him being weak Def. wise which is why I have a possible Investment in Def EV's

Snorlax is a bad lead as already stated. A MixPert can be used instead as it is still bulky but it can also set Stealth Rock up.

This is the set:

Swampert @ Leftovers
Relaxed Nature
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
~ Stealth Rock
~ Roar
~ Ice Beam
~ Earthquake

Stealth Rock can be set up and it is very valuable for an offensive team and any team for that matter. Roar ruins annoying Baton Pass chains and forces greedy stat-uppers out. For the attacks, Ice Beam + Earthquake provides the best coverage in 2 attacks for Swampert. The given EVs maximize Swampert's Physical Defense and a Relaxed Nature ensures Swampert has max Defense without hindering any of its Attacking stats. Speed is not an issue because Swampert is slow anyway.

;121; w/ Petaya Berry
Modest
EV: 252 Sp. Atck; 252 Speed
Surf
Ice Beam
Thunder Bolt
Psychic

Pretty Self-Explanatory

I can see how it works but you do need a more detailed description. Still, Empoleon does this sort of set better since it has better Defensive Typing and can boost its Speed with Agility. It also has Torrent for when the Petaya Berry activates making it a force to be reckoned with. Anyway, Starmie still isn't a bad choice for your team and it can fill a few roles quite well. You may be best off with a Choice Scarfed Starmie as it serves as an emergency stop to Dragon Dance Gyarados and Dragon Dance Salamence since it outspeeds them both even if they have a Dragon Dance behind them. It will lose a bit of power without a power boost but it is still strong enough to OHKO Gyarados and Salamence with Thunderbolt and Ice Beam respectively. Surf will also still take Infernape out in a single hit. Here's the set:

Starmie @ Choice Scarf
Modest Nature
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Sp. Atk / 252 Spe
~ Trick
~ Thunderbolt
~ Ice Beam
~ Surf / Hydro Pump

The set is fairly straight forward. While it can revenge kill Gyarados and Salamence, don't switch in recklessly. Starmie can only come in on resisted hits and even then, it'll take a lot from a +1 Life Orbed Waterfall from Gyarados. Thunderbolt and Ice Beam are Starmie's tools for taking out Gyarados and Salamence, Surf or Hydro Pump will serve as your STAB move. Surf is more reliable but Hydro Pump's extra power is quite handy for taking care of Tyranitar and Scizor. Psychic should not be used on Starmie since it already has a STAB move and Surf or Hydro Pump are better STAB moves. Like with any Special Attacker, Blissey walls Starmie with ease. This is where Trick comes in. Trick really cripples Blissey since she will be forced to switch a lot due to being stuck on 1 move making her easier to deal with. Trick doesn't only cripple Blissey but it also shuts down CroCune fairly well as well as Snorlax and pretty much anything else that is a wall. Again, don't recklessly use it since Choice Band Scizor and Choice Band or Choice Scarf Tyranitar will get a guaranteed kill with Pursuit which Starmie won't survive if she switches. Weavile also gets mention for that same reason if it is Choice Banded. The same can also go with Thunderbolt and Ice Beam since the damage output against them is pitiful. Dugtrio is also a problem if it comes in on Trick or Thunderbolt and will therefore get a guaranteed kill. A Modest Nature is a must for this particular Starmie as it needs the extra power. Even with a Modest Nature however, Starmie will still outrun Salamence and Gyarados even if they have a Dragon Dance behind them.

;466; w/ Magnet
Adamant
EV: 252 Speed; 252 Atck.
Thunder Punch
Ice Punch
Earthquake
Cross Chop

Again, Self-Explanatory

Physical Electivire is walled way too easily. MixVire is really the only viable set.

Electivire @ Life Orb / Expert Belt
Mild Nature
EVs: 36 Atk / 252 Sp. Atk / 220 Spe
~ Cross Chop
~ Hidden Power [Ice] / Hidden Power [Grass]
~ Flamethrower
~ Thunderbolt

MixVire is really the only Electivire set worth using in OU since it is hard to stop if it gets a Motor Drive boost. Thunderbolt is Electivire's main STAB attack and a max Special Attack Thunderbolt is in fact stronger than a max Attack ThunderPunch. It also hits Skarmory harder than ThunderPunch does. Flamethrower seems redundant with Thunderbolt covering Skarmory but it destroys Scizor and Forretress. Also, Electivire can take a Bullet Punch from Scizor too and Flamethrower easily takes it out. The next moves are Hidden Power [Ice] or Hidden Power [Grass]. Hidden Power [Ice] eliminates Flygon, Salamence and Gliscor but Hidden Power [Grass] deals with Swampert. Both also hit Hippowdon hard. A Pokemon who walls Physical Electivire regardless of Ice Punch. Blissey as well as Snorlax takes Electivire's Special Attacks well. This is where Cross Chop comes in. Cross Chop makes them think twice and can also stop CurseLax regardless of its boosts thanks to the Critical Hit rate and the fact Critical Hits ignore stat-ups on the opponents side. A Mild Nature is chosen to boost Electivire's Special Attack without hindering Electivire's Attack stat. Electivire's Defense isn't good anyway and it won't be taking anything short of a resisted physical hit. Special Attack is obviously maxed and the Speed is enough to put Electivire ahead of Adamant Lucario before a Motor Drive boost and anything slower and faster than Choice Scarf Heatran after a boost. Life Orb or Expert Belt are the items Electivire should be holding. Life Orb powers up Electivires moves no matter what and Expert Belt boosts Super Effective moves and is viable since Electivire has excellent Super Effective coverage.

;475; w/ Wide Lens or Expert Belt
Adamant
EV: 64 Speed; 188HP; 252 Attack
Psycho Cut
Night Slash
Close Combat
Stone Edge/ Will-O-Wisp

Stone Edge or Will-o-wisp? Will-o-wisp is basically a use all move, and would be for tanks that I don't have much leeway to. (Bronzong being the main enemy) Stone Edge would save me from flying types.

The set seems more geared towards a sweeper so you will be better off using it as one.

Gallade @ Life Orb
Adamant Nature
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
~ Swords Dance
~ Night Slash / Psycho Cut
~ Stone Edge / Ice Punch
~ Close Combat

After a Swords Dance, Gallade can proceed to wreck stuff. Gallade's Close Combat is more powerful than Lucario's and will therefore OHKO pretty much everything after a turn of set up with Stealth Rock down that doesn't resist it. Night Slash covers the Ghost Types that are immune to Close Combat while Psycho Cut can be used over it if Weezing is a problem and it will still cover the Ghost Types that are immune to Close Combat but you won't hit Spiritomb although Stone Edge or Ice Punch do more to it and Stone Edge covers Gyarados and Salamence in a single move while Ice Punch eliminates Gliscor and it still wrecks Salamence. Keep in mind that without Night Slash, Cresselia walls you although it isn't too common due to the presence of Tyranitar and Scizor. Leaf Blade can go somewhere on the set for covering Swampert if it is a problem. After a Swords Dance, Swampert dies to Close Combat anyway so it may be wasted. A simple sweeper spread should suffice here. The Speed puts Gallade at 259 Speed. You could use a Jolly Nature to outspeed neutral Natured base 90s but then you should probably use Lucario as Adamant Lucario has around the same Attack as Jolly Gallade and a priority move.

;094; w/ Focus Sash
Rash
EV: 252 Speed; 252 Sp. Atck
Shadow Ball
Psychic
Energy Ball
Sucker Punch OR Thunder Bolt

Ok, I feel better switching this for Porygon Z. Only thing is should I have sucker Punch or Thunderbolt? I would use thunderbolt for those flying types. But Sucker punch is a little situational. I purposely put Rash as the nature to ensure that when Gengar gets hit, Focus Sash activates giving him a free turn to attack with Sucker Punch and potentially KOing. Which one?

This is not how you should be doing Gengar.

Gengar @ Life Orb
Timid Nature
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Sp. Atk / 252 Spe
~ Protect
~ Hidden Power [Fire]
~ Focus Blast
~ Shadow Ball

MysticGar. Beats Scizor and if Focus Blast doesn't miss Tyranitar if you use the set correctly. The idea is to use Protect to scout your opponents move and take action accordingly. For example, if Tyranitar and Scizor use Pursuit, take them out with Focus Blast and HP [Fire] respectively. If Scizor uses Bullet Punch, switch out. Beware of sets masquerading as Choiced sets though as they can use a non-Pursuit move to fool you and catch you with it as you switch and vice versa. Shadow Ball is of course there for obligatory STAB.

;468; w/ Leftovers
Calm
EV: 252 HP / 4 Sp. Atk / 252 Sp. Def
Thunder Wave
Air Slash
Aura Sphere
Roost

Standard Togekiss, although Aura Sphere can be changed if needed.

You don't really need a lot of Special Attack on this particular Togekiss. You should really be using it to Paralyze and weaken stuff for Gallade to sweep easier. A simple 252 HP / 4 Sp. Atk / 252 Sp. Def spread should be enough. Also, don't get rid of Aura Sphere otherwise it is easy pickings for Tyranitar and Aura Sphere + Air Slash is resisted only by Zapdos and Rotom as well as its formes.

Other Pokemon in consideration: ;026; ;197; ;464; ;424; ;135;

Thanks again! =)
Click to expand...

Suggestions bolded. Hope they help.
 
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