Hey there everyone, I was wondering if you could analyse my team for VGC this year? This is my first competition and I'm nervous as heck. I've been practicing this team over and over using online simulators, and it seems to work really well, but I have a feeling something's missing...Help please?
My team is as follows:
Porygon2
Metagross
Thundurus
Politoed
Cresselia
Hitmontop
Staraptor
Gengar
Espeon
I have been greatly considering using Ninetails with Drought instead of a poke on my team, but I'm really not sure. Any general feedback would be greatly appreciated.
My team is as follows:
Porygon2
Item: Eviolite
Nature: Bold
Ability: Trace
EV's: 252 HP, 176 Def, 80 SpD
Moveset:
Porygon2 is one of the main cores of the team - The tank. It is usually overlooked due to the many other possibilities that exist for tanking, but the main reason I have chose it is because it is stupidly bulky with eviolite, and is capable of taking many, many hits. Combine that with thunder wave and recover stalling, and you've got yourself a brilliant tank. Ice beam can deal with those pesky flying types whilst crippling dragons, and is great for getting that lucky freeze - Thunderbolt is for the bulky water types. Recover and Thunder Wave and pretty much mandatory on the little duck, as it helps him stall or keep the others in control.
Nature: Bold
Ability: Trace
EV's: 252 HP, 176 Def, 80 SpD
Moveset:
- Ice Beam (Should I change for Blizzard?)
- Thunderbolt (I don't have anyone who would be immune to discharge :/
- Thunder Wave (I prefer it over Toxic, much more reliable as it cuts speed)
- Recover
Porygon2 is one of the main cores of the team - The tank. It is usually overlooked due to the many other possibilities that exist for tanking, but the main reason I have chose it is because it is stupidly bulky with eviolite, and is capable of taking many, many hits. Combine that with thunder wave and recover stalling, and you've got yourself a brilliant tank. Ice beam can deal with those pesky flying types whilst crippling dragons, and is great for getting that lucky freeze - Thunderbolt is for the bulky water types. Recover and Thunder Wave and pretty much mandatory on the little duck, as it helps him stall or keep the others in control.
Metagross
Item: Choice Band
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Clear Body
EV's: 162HP, 252ATT, 94 SpE
Moveset:
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Clear Body
EV's: 162HP, 252ATT, 94 SpE
Moveset:
- Bullet Punch
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Zen Headbutt
Thundurus
Nature: Timid
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EV's: 252 Spe, 252 SpA, 4 Def
Moveset:
Thundurus will serve as my taunter but also my special attacker. I generally will lead off with it (alongside Porygon2 or Politoed), and taunt those whom I believe will be trying to set up hazards or T-Waves and such. After that is accomplished either - A. Stay in and Hidden Power Ice or Thunder Wave if needed, B - Thunder due to having switched in alongside Politoed, or C - Switch out to someone else. Thundurus is a great lead and something that should not be underestimated.
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Prankster
EV's: 252 Spe, 252 SpA, 4 Def
Moveset:
- Thunder
- Thunder Wave
- Hidden Power Ice
- Taunt
Thundurus will serve as my taunter but also my special attacker. I generally will lead off with it (alongside Porygon2 or Politoed), and taunt those whom I believe will be trying to set up hazards or T-Waves and such. After that is accomplished either - A. Stay in and Hidden Power Ice or Thunder Wave if needed, B - Thunder due to having switched in alongside Politoed, or C - Switch out to someone else. Thundurus is a great lead and something that should not be underestimated.
Politoed
Nature:Calm
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EV's: 126 HP, 252 SpD, 130 SpE
Moveset:
Politoed will serve as my weather changer and my pokemon for Encore. I can lock a pokemon into a non-effective or completely not needed move (Hence why the slightly speedy EV's) and then proceed to either attack or scout (Which is why protect is there). Rain will also help to serve Thundurus, who will be granted 100% accuracy thunder. But due to Cresselia being my special wall, should I invest all SpD EV's into speed to increase the chance of a successful encore?
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Drizzle
EV's: 126 HP, 252 SpD, 130 SpE
Moveset:
- Encore
- Hydro Pump
- Focus Blast
- Protect
Politoed will serve as my weather changer and my pokemon for Encore. I can lock a pokemon into a non-effective or completely not needed move (Hence why the slightly speedy EV's) and then proceed to either attack or scout (Which is why protect is there). Rain will also help to serve Thundurus, who will be granted 100% accuracy thunder. But due to Cresselia being my special wall, should I invest all SpD EV's into speed to increase the chance of a successful encore?
Cresselia
Nature:Calm
Item: Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EV'S: 252 HP, 252 SpD, 4 SpA
Moveset:
Cresselia will serve as my dual screener. Because of it's incredible bulk and access to Moonlight, it will have no problem walling those special attackers whilst setting up screens that are vital to my teams survival. Not much explanation is needed as we all know how much of a core Cresselia can be when used right.
Item: Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
EV'S: 252 HP, 252 SpD, 4 SpA
Moveset:
- Psychic
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Moonlight
Cresselia will serve as my dual screener. Because of it's incredible bulk and access to Moonlight, it will have no problem walling those special attackers whilst setting up screens that are vital to my teams survival. Not much explanation is needed as we all know how much of a core Cresselia can be when used right.
Hitmontop
Nature: Adamant
Item: Fighting Gem (Considering Eject Button)
Ability: Intimidate
EV's: 252 HP, 252 ATK, 4 SpD
Moveset:
Hitmontop will serve as my intimidating pokemon and scouter. Generally I can lead off with him also due to the Fake Out, which is an added bonus. I put fighting gem on instead of Eject Button so Close Combat can deal that extra bit of damage, but the eject button has proven useful for escaping situations, so feedback on that would be great. Detect can be used to scout (or double protect alongside Politoed if they are in together.) Also, Sucker Punch can catch those whom are weak to it off guard. Overall Hitmontop is a decent pokemon, but one I need more practice using.
Item: Fighting Gem (Considering Eject Button)
Ability: Intimidate
EV's: 252 HP, 252 ATK, 4 SpD
Moveset:
- Fake Out
- Detect
- Close Combat
- Sucker Punch
Hitmontop will serve as my intimidating pokemon and scouter. Generally I can lead off with him also due to the Fake Out, which is an added bonus. I put fighting gem on instead of Eject Button so Close Combat can deal that extra bit of damage, but the eject button has proven useful for escaping situations, so feedback on that would be great. Detect can be used to scout (or double protect alongside Politoed if they are in together.) Also, Sucker Punch can catch those whom are weak to it off guard. Overall Hitmontop is a decent pokemon, but one I need more practice using.
CURRENTLY IN LIMBO
Blaziken
Blaziken
Nature:Jolly
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EV's: 252 ATT, 252 SPE, 4Def
Moveset:
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EV's: 252 ATT, 252 SPE, 4Def
Moveset:
Protect
Hi Jump Kick
Swords Dance
Flare Blitz
Blaziken is an absolute beast, and now that I have recently got my hands on a speed boost Torchic this will be perfect for the VGC competition. I believe running a Focus Sash instead of life orb is absolutely perfect due to how frail Blaziken is, but since it runs flare blitz, it could be considered a suicide pokemon (Bar Hi Jump Kick). Thoughts?
Staraptor
Nature: Jolly
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EV's: 252 ATT, 252 SpE, 4SpD
Moveset:
Staraptors intimidate is crucial for preventing some major flaws in my team, but is there a better user of it? Also, Staraptors power is incredible for the type of pokemon it is, catching opponents off guard. Since the big bird has access to close combat it is absolutely perfect for dealing with steel and normal types, hell even rock types too. But that doesn't change the fact that it is frail. Not too sure about the 4 SpD, should I put it on defense instead?
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EV's: 252 ATT, 252 SpE, 4SpD
Moveset:
- Brave Bird
- U-Turn
- Close Combat
- Return
Staraptors intimidate is crucial for preventing some major flaws in my team, but is there a better user of it? Also, Staraptors power is incredible for the type of pokemon it is, catching opponents off guard. Since the big bird has access to close combat it is absolutely perfect for dealing with steel and normal types, hell even rock types too. But that doesn't change the fact that it is frail. Not too sure about the 4 SpD, should I put it on defense instead?
Gengar
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Timid
Ability: Levitate
EV's: 252 SpA, 252 Spe, 4HP
Moveset:
Gengar will serve as my speedy attacker. It has a great speed with ev's and a scary special attack, but unfortunately dies to a pebble. I'm considering running a focus sash destiny bond Gengar instead, but is that really successful? I've ran a Sub+Disable set in singles before, and it's worked perfectly, but I feel that wouldn't be suitable for doubles. Shadow ball is the primary STAB move, dealing huge chunks of damage to anything that doesn't resist it, or is immune. Thunderbolt can cope with bulky flying and water types, whilst focus blast deals with the annoying normal types that switch in to prevent shadow ball damage. Protect can be used for scouting and for perhaps stalling if needed. Any improvements for this pokemon would be highly appreciated.
Nature: Timid
Ability: Levitate
EV's: 252 SpA, 252 Spe, 4HP
Moveset:
- Shadow ball
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Protect
Gengar will serve as my speedy attacker. It has a great speed with ev's and a scary special attack, but unfortunately dies to a pebble. I'm considering running a focus sash destiny bond Gengar instead, but is that really successful? I've ran a Sub+Disable set in singles before, and it's worked perfectly, but I feel that wouldn't be suitable for doubles. Shadow ball is the primary STAB move, dealing huge chunks of damage to anything that doesn't resist it, or is immune. Thunderbolt can cope with bulky flying and water types, whilst focus blast deals with the annoying normal types that switch in to prevent shadow ball damage. Protect can be used for scouting and for perhaps stalling if needed. Any improvements for this pokemon would be highly appreciated.
Espeon
Item: Light Clay
Nature: Timid
Ability: Magic Bounce
EV's: 252 HP, 252 Spe, 4 HP
Moveset:
Espeon will serve as my dual screen pokemon. Unfortunately the only hidden ability Eevee I have has a Rash nature but after trading I managed to obtain a Timid one, so it's all good now! Att is boosted, but for a dual screen pokemon the Sp. Def fall could be crucial. What do you think? Is there a better option for this? I generally thought Espeon would be a good choice as it has the Magic Bounce ability, bouncing back all hazards. The good thing about Espeon is that is also boasts quite a decent special attack stat, so even without EV modifcation a STAB psychic can do a lot of damage from the little cat.
Nature: Timid
Ability: Magic Bounce
EV's: 252 HP, 252 Spe, 4 HP
Moveset:
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Shadow Ball
- Psychic
Espeon will serve as my dual screen pokemon. Unfortunately the only hidden ability Eevee I have has a Rash nature but after trading I managed to obtain a Timid one, so it's all good now! Att is boosted, but for a dual screen pokemon the Sp. Def fall could be crucial. What do you think? Is there a better option for this? I generally thought Espeon would be a good choice as it has the Magic Bounce ability, bouncing back all hazards. The good thing about Espeon is that is also boasts quite a decent special attack stat, so even without EV modifcation a STAB psychic can do a lot of damage from the little cat.
I have been greatly considering using Ninetails with Drought instead of a poke on my team, but I'm really not sure. Any general feedback would be greatly appreciated.