VGC First VGC Team

[bertrom]

This is my first vgc team and hope that I did a good job making it. I found that their were some Pokemon that countered this team hard, but it overall performed well on showdown.

Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Stone Edge

Landorus is back for VGC 2015 and is replacing the garachomp I used in 2014. Landorus is meant to be a monstrous physical sweeper that can deal with threats like thunderus well and intimidate opponents for the attack drop. The scarf is used to insurer an outspeed and u-turn is used for scouting. Knock off also ruin's cresselia with the super effective.

Greninja @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Ice Beam
- Water Shuriken
- Grass Knot

The first of two special sweepers, but this one takes care of Suicune, a hard counter for this team. Dark pulse is the main stab and ice beam takes care of the genies and salamance. Water Shuriken was an interesting choice and is used when I know greninja will die. It is great when greninja gets thunder waved or if it faces a pokemon that might out speed it. Also great for picking off focus sashers with priority (bisharp)

Hydreigon @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Draco Meteor
- Focus Blast
- Fire Blast

Nothing wants to take an attack from this thing. Draco Meteor and Dark Pulse rips through pokes while getting stab and specs boosts. Fire blast kills incoming ferrothorn and scizor and focus blast is for Kanghaskan. Modest was chosen for the necessary sp. attack boost. A good lead with landorus as it is not affected by earthquake.

Mienshao @ Focus Sash
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 32 HP / 252 Atk / 224 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Drain Punch
- Wide Guard
- Quick Guard

Mienshao is a great fake outer that plays mind games with thunderus, sableye, talonflame, and landorus. Quick and wide guard shuts down prankster and earthquake spam. Drain punch is chosen over Hugh Jump Kick because of High Jump Kick's ungodly recoil if you miss. Mienshao also outspeeds Mega Kanghaskan by 1 point so it can fake it out early.

Ludicolo @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 140 HP / 140 Def / 140 SpD / 88 Spe
- Fake Out
- Ice Beam
- Giga Drain
- Scald

A pokemon that gives coverage to many of teh team's weaknesses. I gave it a little bulk everywhere and threw the rest into speed. It perfectly counters rain teams/swampert and works well with greninja. Scald can wreck physical attackers while giga drain is used for rotom was. Ice beam is for coverage and fake out can be essential in doubles.

Gallade (M) @ Galladite
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Psycho Cut
- Ice Punch
- Protect

When I finished my team I realized I still needed a mega evolution and I though gallade fit the bill. Gallade gains a great attack stat and Close Combat wreck pokemon that don't resist it. Psycho cut and ice punch are for coverage and protect is necessary. Inner Focus also resists fake out. Protect is used for the turn of mega evolution, since the speed boost is necessary to outspeed.


If anyone has any ideas on how to improve, or different Pokemon to use. Just say so.

I appreciate any feedback, thx!

 

[Burn the Pages]

Im curious about Water Shuriken on Greninja. If you have a Speed boosted stat and 252 EV's in speed, it basically ensures that Greninja outspeeds most of the metagame. You could replace it with a more powerful move like scald. With scald, you could change Greninja's nature to timid, so it doesn't compromise it's defense while still boosting speed.

On Meinshao, you could replace Drain Punch with High Jump Kick to do more damage. Or, you could even switch it with mach punch, so you dont have to worry about speed as much, leaving more EVs to invest in Attack or defenses.

Other than those two little things, I think your team is very well rounded. There isn't much I would change. I noticed you don't have many team supporters on your team than Meinshao. Since you already have a fake out lead [Meinshao], I would consider changing Ludicolo. Although he is a pokemon that can help your teammates while still attacking with decent damage, you already have a few pokemon that can attack with damage. Besides, Ludicolo's ability only works in rain and since Politoed is not common this generation, that'll be tough. I would recommend using Whimsicott. Although its frail [can be solved with focus sash], it outspeeds most of the metagame and does very well walling other teams with encore, taunt, leech seed and supporting your team with tailwind [all with priority if you chose prankster]. Just something to try out and think about.

Very nice team!

 

[MZ]

Im curious about Water Shuriken on Greninja. If you have a Speed boosted stat and 252 EV's in speed, it basically ensures that Greninja outspeeds most of the metagame. You could replace it with a more powerful move like scald. With scald, you could change Greninja's nature to timid, so it doesn't compromise it's defense while still boosting speed.

On Meinshao, you could replace Drain Punch with High Jump Kick to do more damage. Or, you could even switch it with mach punch, so you dont have to worry about speed as much, leaving more EVs to invest in Attack or defenses.

Other than those two little things, I think your team is very well rounded. There isn't much I would change. I noticed you don't have many team supporters on your team than Meinshao. Since you already have a fake out lead [Meinshao], I would consider changing Ludicolo. Although he is a pokemon that can help your teammates while still attacking with decent damage, you already have a few pokemon that can attack with damage. Besides, Ludicolo's ability only works in rain and since Politoed is not common this generation, that'll be tough. I would recommend using Whimsicott. Although its frail [can be solved with focus sash], it outspeeds most of the metagame and does very well walling other teams with encore, taunt, leech seed and supporting your team with tailwind [all with priority if you chose prankster]. Just something to try out and think about.

Very nice team!

Mienshao doesn't get Mach punch, so making it a reckless HJK/JK set is probably the best bet, although if recoil terrifies you that much I'd leave as is.

 

[Burn the Pages]

Mienshao doesn't get Mach punch, so making it a reckless HJK/JK set is probably the best bet, although if recoil terrifies you that much I'd leave as is.

Drain Punch might be a better option so Meinshao stays in battle longer but if you're hoping do a bit of damage HJK/JK is the moves your looking for. You could always try it out then change it back if you dont like it. Use reckless with HJK/JK and inner focus with Drain Punch.

 

[Blue Slurpuff]

Im curious about Water Shuriken on Greninja. If you have a Speed boosted stat and 252 EV's in speed, it basically ensures that Greninja outspeeds most of the metagame. You could replace it with a more powerful move like scald. With scald, you could change Greninja's nature to timid, so it doesn't compromise it's defense while still boosting speed.

On Meinshao, you could replace Drain Punch with High Jump Kick to do more damage. Or, you could even switch it with mach punch, so you dont have to worry about speed as much, leaving more EVs to invest in Attack or defenses.

Other than those two little things, I think your team is very well rounded. There isn't much I would change. I noticed you don't have many team supporters on your team than Meinshao. Since you already have a fake out lead [Meinshao], I would consider changing Ludicolo. Although he is a pokemon that can help your teammates while still attacking with decent damage, you already have a few pokemon that can attack with damage. Besides, Ludicolo's ability only works in rain and since Politoed is not common this generation, that'll be tough. I would recommend using Whimsicott. Although its frail [can be solved with focus sash], it outspeeds most of the metagame and does very well walling other teams with encore, taunt, leech seed and supporting your team with tailwind [all with priority if you chose prankster]. Just something to try out and think about.

Very nice team!

My mistake! My nature on greninja is Timid, I probably misclicked when entering it on showdown.
I chose water shuriken because greninja is usually target to thunder wave and the speed drop pretty much makes greninja dead weight. Water Shuriken is there for the necessary priority to leave a little chip damage before death. However, I will change it for a test run for a little bit. As for meinshao I am leaving it as inner focus, but changing it to HJK. I am willing to risk the recoil for more OHKO possibility. I will try whimsicott on showdown.
Thanks for the review.

 

[Blue Slurpuff]

My mistake! My nature on greninja is Timid, I probably misclicked when entering it on showdown.
I chose water shuriken because greninja is usually target to thunder wave and the speed drop pretty much makes greninja dead weight. Water Shuriken is there for the necessary priority to leave a little chip damage before death. However, I will change it for a test run for a little bit. As for meinshao I am leaving it as inner focus, but changing it to HJK. I am willing to risk the recoil for more OHKO possibility. I will try whimsicott on showdown.
Thanks for the review.

Btw, this is my secondary account. So see this reply as bertrom's I made a second one by mistake.

 

[bertrom]

To confirm, Blue Slurpuff is my secondary account