Jirachee
phoenix reborn
How do you guys build teams?
I've always been interested in other people's way to build teams because they help me improve my own way. Since sharing is caring I'll start by explaining my own process and hopefully you guys will reply with yours.
The first thing I do is choose between building Stall or Offense. I'm referring to them as play styles more than team archetypes; Stall's main goal being to "not lose" while Offense's goal being to win the game, usually by setting up a sweep for a particular Pokemon. I think the team archetype I'm going to use (ie Stall, Balance, Offense, HO, whatever) is simply going to come with the Pokemon I choose to build around.
Then I choose the Pokemon I want to build around. In XY, it's most likely going to be a Mega Evolution because they're just too good to pass up. I like to pick a set up Pokemon as my first because then I can simply focus the team around it. The second thing I pick is simply an offensive partner that synergies well with my first. One thing I like to do is pick something that can lure in set up opportunities for my first Pokemon. That way, I can improve the likelihood of my goal actually happening. For example, my most recent team uses Mega Heracross as a starting point (the standard SD variant), so the first Pokemon I added was Greninja. Greninja can lure in things like Chansey and Ferrothorn that are easy set up for Heracross, and in return Heracross can break down strong walls which makes it easier for Greninja to clean late game.
Then I don't really have anything set in stone. I try to support the offensive duo the best I can, for instance, if they need support to get in, I can add Volt Switch / U-turn users, there's also the obvious Stealth Rock user, if they like Pursuit support I can add Tyranitar or Bisharp, if they are both bad against Stall I can add a strong wallbreaker. Just follow up with the team's need. One thing I do, however, is have a checklist of things I absolutely need on every team. These functions can be filled by any Pokemon on the team really, but very often they'll be filled by the last 4 Pokemon:
1) Stealth Rock user. Kind of a no brainer I guess. Necessary for breaking Stall and limiting some very threatening Pokemon, and always useful really.
2) Water type. Water types are so threatening in XY that having your own is never a bad thing, and you'll probably need it to fight off your opponent's Waters. They also check a whole bunch of things which is pretty useful.
3) Steel type. Even with the nerf I find the use of a Steel type to be necessary. It's just too useful of a tool against some of the most threatening attacking types in the game, most notably Rock, Dragon, and Fairy. Sure you can deal with those with other individual types but the fact that they're grouped together in 1 check is just amazing.
4) Electric immunity. This mostly serves as a way to discourage Volt Switch and also absorbs Thunder Wave which can really ruin Offense's day.
5) Revenge killer. In DPP and BW I'm adamant on using a Choice Scarf PkMn but in XY I think there's more freedom as to what your RKer can be. It's crucial in fighting off other offenses because things like Mega Charizard X and Greninja are very hard to deal with without anything faster. I feel like you can pass this up if your team has a lot of priority users, ie something like Azumarill + Bisharp + Breloom.
Of course, you can pair those to have more free slots. Choice Scarf Landorus-T fills both 4) and 5) making it an excellent choice. Stealth Rock Landorus-I does 1) and 4), etc..
Obviously this is my process for Offense only as I don't really build Stall often (I just don't think it's very interesting to build) but if you guys have a way to build it don't hesitate to share
I've always been interested in other people's way to build teams because they help me improve my own way. Since sharing is caring I'll start by explaining my own process and hopefully you guys will reply with yours.
The first thing I do is choose between building Stall or Offense. I'm referring to them as play styles more than team archetypes; Stall's main goal being to "not lose" while Offense's goal being to win the game, usually by setting up a sweep for a particular Pokemon. I think the team archetype I'm going to use (ie Stall, Balance, Offense, HO, whatever) is simply going to come with the Pokemon I choose to build around.
Then I choose the Pokemon I want to build around. In XY, it's most likely going to be a Mega Evolution because they're just too good to pass up. I like to pick a set up Pokemon as my first because then I can simply focus the team around it. The second thing I pick is simply an offensive partner that synergies well with my first. One thing I like to do is pick something that can lure in set up opportunities for my first Pokemon. That way, I can improve the likelihood of my goal actually happening. For example, my most recent team uses Mega Heracross as a starting point (the standard SD variant), so the first Pokemon I added was Greninja. Greninja can lure in things like Chansey and Ferrothorn that are easy set up for Heracross, and in return Heracross can break down strong walls which makes it easier for Greninja to clean late game.
Then I don't really have anything set in stone. I try to support the offensive duo the best I can, for instance, if they need support to get in, I can add Volt Switch / U-turn users, there's also the obvious Stealth Rock user, if they like Pursuit support I can add Tyranitar or Bisharp, if they are both bad against Stall I can add a strong wallbreaker. Just follow up with the team's need. One thing I do, however, is have a checklist of things I absolutely need on every team. These functions can be filled by any Pokemon on the team really, but very often they'll be filled by the last 4 Pokemon:
1) Stealth Rock user. Kind of a no brainer I guess. Necessary for breaking Stall and limiting some very threatening Pokemon, and always useful really.
2) Water type. Water types are so threatening in XY that having your own is never a bad thing, and you'll probably need it to fight off your opponent's Waters. They also check a whole bunch of things which is pretty useful.
3) Steel type. Even with the nerf I find the use of a Steel type to be necessary. It's just too useful of a tool against some of the most threatening attacking types in the game, most notably Rock, Dragon, and Fairy. Sure you can deal with those with other individual types but the fact that they're grouped together in 1 check is just amazing.
4) Electric immunity. This mostly serves as a way to discourage Volt Switch and also absorbs Thunder Wave which can really ruin Offense's day.
5) Revenge killer. In DPP and BW I'm adamant on using a Choice Scarf PkMn but in XY I think there's more freedom as to what your RKer can be. It's crucial in fighting off other offenses because things like Mega Charizard X and Greninja are very hard to deal with without anything faster. I feel like you can pass this up if your team has a lot of priority users, ie something like Azumarill + Bisharp + Breloom.
Of course, you can pair those to have more free slots. Choice Scarf Landorus-T fills both 4) and 5) making it an excellent choice. Stealth Rock Landorus-I does 1) and 4), etc..
Obviously this is my process for Offense only as I don't really build Stall often (I just don't think it's very interesting to build) but if you guys have a way to build it don't hesitate to share