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My first shot at a Competitive Team

Jmacz

Jmacz

So I'd like a little help on my first real shot on a competitive team before I start breeding the Pokemon in game. I have tried it out on Showdown, and despite not being very experienced I have won a few games so I think the team has potential, it just needs a little guidance.

Edit: So after a few days of testing the team out with the suggestions people made, I decided I would come back and post the new team and see if there is anything else I could do to make the team even better. I'd say I've been roughly 50/50 on Showdown with the team, and if I noticed one thing it's people who run trick room teams really give me headaches, so maybe I need to put some kind of check to that in here.

Smeargle (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Timid Nature
- Spore
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Sticky Web

I'm finally figuring out how to use this guy, when the other person knows I'm going to use him. But if anyone runs something with Magic Bounce/fake out/or u-turn or volt switches into a grass type I get really thrown off and sometimes I can't recover because they begin boosting their pokemon. I'm wondering if I should switch him out just because anyone good seems to have a check to this. But I'm not really sure because I do really like Smeargle. If I were to swap him out it would be for either something that can also set up stealth rock/spikes etc. But could also either use rapid spin, or be a ghost and block rapid spin.

Greninja (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
- U-Turn

I love using this guy, most people seem to underestimate how strong he really is because I send him in against anything that one of his moves will hit S.E for and they very rarely can survive it. I never have any problems with any dragons, mega t-tars, mega Alakazams. I need to start figuring out what Pokemon can be faster than him though, because I've sent him out before thinking he's going to out speed something and he doesn't and ends up getting killed because of it.

Venusaur (M) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Think Fat
EVs: 252 SDef / 128 Def / 128 HP
Calm Nature
- Synthesis
- Leech Seed
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb

Using him so much makes me scared that he is going to get put into ubers because I swear it seems the only thing that can kill this guy is a boosted brave bird. If I had to name the two MVP's of my team it would be him and Greninja. I had a guy with a Klefki with x3 Atk, SDef, Def, and Venusaur was paralyzed. It took about 20 turns but I eventually took him out. If I were to change one thing it would be Sludge Bomb because I feel like if there could be one thing that I improve here it's giving him more coverage against different types. A lot pokemon seem to resist both of his attacks, not that it has been much of a problem but it would be nice to be able to hit a little harder.


Salamence (M) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Fire Blast
- Outrage
- Earthquake

Much Like Charizard before him, I don't really use him as much as I probably should, but I'm always looking for my opportunity to send him out. I specifically check for any Fairy type pokemon before the match, and try and wait until I can take them out before I try sending him in. The second I feel like they are trying to set something up that will take a few turns, I'll send him out Dragon Dance and Outrage and see how many Pokemon he can take out. It doesn't always work but when it does it's great and unlike something like Smeargle, where good players aren't really affected by him. I've pulled this trick of people who seemed pretty good and were beating me at the time I tried it.

Goodra (F) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Gooey
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 Atk
Sassy Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Sludge Wave
- Flamethrower
- Thunder

I was so used to people not being able to hit her hard enough to really do anything, that since I started playing higher leveled players I'm very hesitant to send her out because I've had her 1HKO'd so many times when I really did not expect it at all. I feel like she doesn't have as good coverage against multiple types as I think she does. I was thinking about swapping Sludge Wave for Focus Blast because I've had a few Blissey's give me problems, and Goodra seems like a good counter to that but I'm not to sure.

Togekiss (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 76 HP / 252 SAtk / 176 Spd / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
-Air Slash
-Thunder Wave
-Dazzling Gleam
-Roost

I feel like I'm not really using her to her full potential some times because I seem to get her stupidly killed a lot and I'm not quite sure why. I know stealth rock hits her really hard so not having a spinner on my team really hurts some times. Because right now I really use her as a back up dragon slayer, because Greninja seems to do it a lot better than her. Or I send her in against something that is giving me headaches, and hope I can get a T-Wave off and flinch them a few times. I was thinking about switching roost out, even though it is useful at times I feel like I rarely ever use it. Maybe Wish would be better because I could at least heal others with it which I am currently unable to do.



Again this is my first real shot at a team, I've dabbled in this in the past but I would always get destroyed when I tested it out. This team seems to have a bit of potential, I just need to iron out a few creases.
 
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ok I am just going to run through your team real quick and make some minor adjustments

smeargle-should have sticky web not glare. your team would appreciate that more and if they have a grass type just go SR and SW and smeargle has doen his job

greninja is solid unless you want to switch to hydro pump over surf(thats what I do) I rarely ever miss the acc drop isnt too bad.

mega venesaur is very solid but I ma confused as to why you have two megas on your team??

Charizrd x should have dragon claw and not outrage because almost every team has a fairy on it that can completely destroy charizard. again you need to either be more specific as to how often you use both of these(ie is char usually the mega or vena)

goodra should have flamethrower instead of power whip IMHO because people will throw out a ferro to stall and dont expect a flamthrower (tyranitar can be handled by your other pokes.

Consider switching gardevoir for either a paraflinching togekiss or a sashed revenge killing alakazam.

This was very quick, but if you want me to elaborate on any of these points just ask.
 
MegaScizor said:
ok I am just going to run through your team real quick and make some minor adjustments

smeargle-should have sticky web not glare. your team would appreciate that more and if they have a grass type just go SR and SW and smeargle has doen his job

greninja is solid unless you want to switch to hydro pump over surf(thats what I do) I rarely ever miss the acc drop isnt too bad.

mega venesaur is very solid but I ma confused as to why you have two megas on your team??

Charizrd x should have dragon claw and not outrage because almost every team has a fairy on it that can completely destroy charizard. again you need to either be more specific as to how often you use both of these(ie is char usually the mega or vena)

goodra should have flamethrower instead of power whip IMHO because people will throw out a ferro to stall and dont expect a flamthrower (tyranitar can be handled by your other pokes.

Consider switching gardevoir for either a paraflinching togekiss or a sashed revenge killing alakazam.

This was very quick, but if you want me to elaborate on any of these points just ask.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about using Sticky Web, but seeing as it was a newer move I didn't go right to it like I did with Glare. I was thinking about switching to Hydro Pump as well, I rarely use Surf and at least Hydro Pump can do some more damage on something neutral.

And as for who I usually pick as my mega it's Venusaur, when I first made the team I didn't know I could only have one Mega. I usually use Charizard almost out of desperation with Outrage. Many of my battles have been won because I get a dragon dance off and an Outrage and take out two of their Pokemon, sometimes 3 or 4 depending on how long Outrage goes, and if I can hit an attack through the confusion.

I had flamethrower on Goodra for a while and never once used it so I switched it out for sludge wave.

I was thinking Togekiss, or Mr. Mime but once I saw there was no option for Hidden Power Fairy yet that went out the window. I think I may try Togekiss.

Should I swap Charizard out as well since there can only be one mega? I assume I'd want to replace him with either a Fire or Dragon physical attacker because I have no one else on my team who fills that role.
 
Since you use Venusaur to Mega... You should drop Charizard.

If you want a Physical Attacker that's either a Dragon or Fire Type; can't go wrong with Salamence.

Whether it's has Intimidate or Moxie is up to you.

I also agree that you should drop Power Whip for Flamethrower.

You have plenty of checks for Tyranitar and packing Thunderbolt for Water Types, but last thing any team needs is for Skarmory or Ferrothorn to sit on Goodra and set up Spikes/Stealth Rock on you.

Hope this has been helpful.
 
I swapped Power Whip for Flamethrower, and Gardevoir for Togekiss.

Salamance was in the running, it's between him Dragonite, and Blaziken if he is still usefull without being a Mega. I figured since I have Goodra it wouldn't be bad to add a fire/fighting instead of another dragon but I'm not sure yet. Gotta go to work now. But I tried out the Togekiss and it worked great, had the two people I faced rage quit while facing it haha.
 
Your team is looking good in terms of its balance. The only suggestion that I see as worth making is that you may want to change your Venusaur to a physical set, as your team is comprised mostly of special attackers, and Mega-Charizard X has no small number of weaknesses that could leave him on the bench when you need him. Jolly speed invested Venusaur makes use of a swords dance set quite well due to his bulk, outspeeds modest Starmie in spite of its rather sluggish appearance, and often times allows you to setup on foolish people that think their ice/fire attacks will still be able to easily 2HKO even through thick fat. The set that I use is as follows;
---
Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Overgrow/Thick Fat
Jolly | HP 4/Atk 252/Spe 252
-Swords Dance
-Synthesis
-Earthquake
-Power Whip
---
Relatively basic set, but it works like a charm and is pretty customizable. Don't be afraid to use mixed sets either. :)
 
Jmacz said:
I swapped Power Whip for Flamethrower, and Gardevoir for Togekiss.

Salamance was in the running, it's between him Dragonite, and Blaziken if he is still usefull without being a Mega. I figured since I have Goodra it wouldn't be bad to add a fire/fighting instead of another dragon but I'm not sure yet. Gotta go to work now. But I tried out the Togekiss and it worked great, had the two people I faced rage quit while facing it haha.
Click to expand...
Yeah all the changes you are making are really benefitting your team it looks really solid now.

On the salamence note I just thought I would voice my approval because if you like using outrage, it doesnt really get better than a moxie boosting outrage that gets stronger with every kill. He also has access to good coverage moves like EQ and Fire Blast. Good luck with the testing and nice team!
 
@Tonic Water, I really like my Stallasaur though because if I can clear their team of any Psychic, Flying, and I always forget about Bug but them to then there is a very slim chance they can take Venusaur at all but if Togekiss continues to impress me with how well of a staller she is I might change my mind.

I made the change to Salamnce, and I was down 4-3 vs my friend trying it out and hit a Dragon Dance/Outrage, lum berry cleared my confusion and then did it again and swept his team. Definitely starting to work it self out, might need to go start breeding these guys now. To bad I can't give Salamance Outrage in game yet though.

Thanks for the help everyone, you all made this team about 20 times for functional.
 
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