I played a lot back in gen 3, and quit right before Platinum came out. This is the team I've been using since I came back, and I would like some suggestions to make it better. It definitely is reminiscent of how gen 3 teams played, with a lot of emphasis on being bulky and abusing Substitute.
Breloom @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- Low Sweep
- Mach Punch
- Spore
- Bullet Seed
I had tried a Life Orb on him for a while, and found that he was dying a little too fast. With scarf instead, I outspeed most things that would normally give me problems and can either Spore or Low Sweep to cripple threats and force switches or give another teammate a turn to set up. However, Life Orb allowed me to do things like 1-2HKO Latios with Bullet Seed, which is always fun.
Donphan @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Impish Nature
- Ice Shard
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
Donphan is my main utility Pokemon. Great defensive stats, generally guaranteed to get Stealth Rock up because of Sturdy. He's also great at checking Dragonite and Garchomp, because neither of them like Ice Shard very much. And in a pinch, his offenses are good enough to take some more fragile threats down.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 224 HP / 252 SAtk / 32 Spd
Modest Nature
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Water Pulse
The all-star of my team. Most of my wins come from Jirachi sweeps. However, he gets completely walled by Gastrodon. Thunderbolt and Water Pulse generally give good coverage though, and after a few CMs I don't have problems with most threats. The bonus confusion from Water Pulse is great too.
Whimsicott @ Leftovers
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Taunt
- Stun Spore
I don't think I can describe how much I love this thing. If the opposing team gets any momentum, Whimsicott can usually cut it short. Prankster Stun Spore is one of the greatest things ever, and ofter cripples faster threats to my team such as Garchomp. If he gets his setup, he can usually cripple 2-3 enemy Pokemon at LEAST.
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Recover
I had been using Jellicent for a while instead, but I've been getting much better results with this guy. Storm Drain lets me switch into DD Gyarados Waterfalls, Politoed, Rotom-W, and other water threats and then harass. Overall solid, but open to suggestions.
Hydreigon @ Expert Belt
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Mild Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Draco Meteor
- Superpower
- Fire Blast
Hydreggion has been a game winner for me a lot, but his presence overall on my team is questionable. I generally prefer bulky Pokemon who set up and then sweep, and he's more of a glass cannon. Expert Belt over Life Orb because I find he wants to stick around a little, and the recoil hinders that, especially if he's switching in and out a lot. I've been considering running Dragonite instead, but the free Latios switch-in because of his typing is excellent. He's also a good check to Gengar, more often than not.
Things I noticed I have problems with:
-Bulky grass types, particularly Venusaur and Celebi. I can't stall them with Whimsicott, and Venusaur has access to Earthquake to shut down Jirachi before I can set up.
-Volcorona usually finishes me off, even with Stealth Rock up. I can't capitalize on the lowered health if I switch in a possible counter and it gets a turn to Quiver Dance.
-To some extent, Ninetales. Hard to switch into because of its coverage, especially the more offensive variants. I've noticed though that I seem to have a tough time with sun teams in general.
-Bulky fighting types, such as Conkledur and to a lesser extent, Toxicroak. Toxicroak hasn't given me too many problems since I put in Gastrodon, but sometimes I have problems with it. I tend to lose to hyper-offensive teams that require less setup than I do, just because of sheer muscle.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I appreciate all suggestions.
Breloom @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 Def
- Low Sweep
- Mach Punch
- Spore
- Bullet Seed
I had tried a Life Orb on him for a while, and found that he was dying a little too fast. With scarf instead, I outspeed most things that would normally give me problems and can either Spore or Low Sweep to cripple threats and force switches or give another teammate a turn to set up. However, Life Orb allowed me to do things like 1-2HKO Latios with Bullet Seed, which is always fun.
Donphan @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Impish Nature
- Ice Shard
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
Donphan is my main utility Pokemon. Great defensive stats, generally guaranteed to get Stealth Rock up because of Sturdy. He's also great at checking Dragonite and Garchomp, because neither of them like Ice Shard very much. And in a pinch, his offenses are good enough to take some more fragile threats down.
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 224 HP / 252 SAtk / 32 Spd
Modest Nature
- Calm Mind
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Water Pulse
The all-star of my team. Most of my wins come from Jirachi sweeps. However, he gets completely walled by Gastrodon. Thunderbolt and Water Pulse generally give good coverage though, and after a few CMs I don't have problems with most threats. The bonus confusion from Water Pulse is great too.
Whimsicott @ Leftovers
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature
- Substitute
- Leech Seed
- Taunt
- Stun Spore
I don't think I can describe how much I love this thing. If the opposing team gets any momentum, Whimsicott can usually cut it short. Prankster Stun Spore is one of the greatest things ever, and ofter cripples faster threats to my team such as Garchomp. If he gets his setup, he can usually cripple 2-3 enemy Pokemon at LEAST.
Gastrodon @ Leftovers
Trait: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SAtk / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature
- Toxic
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Recover
I had been using Jellicent for a while instead, but I've been getting much better results with this guy. Storm Drain lets me switch into DD Gyarados Waterfalls, Politoed, Rotom-W, and other water threats and then harass. Overall solid, but open to suggestions.
Hydreigon @ Expert Belt
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Mild Nature
- Dark Pulse
- Draco Meteor
- Superpower
- Fire Blast
Hydreggion has been a game winner for me a lot, but his presence overall on my team is questionable. I generally prefer bulky Pokemon who set up and then sweep, and he's more of a glass cannon. Expert Belt over Life Orb because I find he wants to stick around a little, and the recoil hinders that, especially if he's switching in and out a lot. I've been considering running Dragonite instead, but the free Latios switch-in because of his typing is excellent. He's also a good check to Gengar, more often than not.
Things I noticed I have problems with:
-Bulky grass types, particularly Venusaur and Celebi. I can't stall them with Whimsicott, and Venusaur has access to Earthquake to shut down Jirachi before I can set up.
-Volcorona usually finishes me off, even with Stealth Rock up. I can't capitalize on the lowered health if I switch in a possible counter and it gets a turn to Quiver Dance.
-To some extent, Ninetales. Hard to switch into because of its coverage, especially the more offensive variants. I've noticed though that I seem to have a tough time with sun teams in general.
-Bulky fighting types, such as Conkledur and to a lesser extent, Toxicroak. Toxicroak hasn't given me too many problems since I put in Gastrodon, but sometimes I have problems with it. I tend to lose to hyper-offensive teams that require less setup than I do, just because of sheer muscle.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I appreciate all suggestions.