Charizard team - My first team ever

[peche87]

Hi guys from smogon.

I have been playing pokemon since 1999. I haven played competitive so with the release of x and y I decided to make my first team around my favorite pokemon.

Charizard @ Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze
Evs: 252 Atk/252 Speed/4 HP
Adamant Nature
-Flare Blitz
-Dragon Dance
-Dragon Claw/Outrage
-Roost/Brick Break

This is the physical sweeper where I built my team around. Charizard + Dragon Dance is most of the times a gg. Flare Blitz can take out almost everything. Roost is designed to recover after some Flare Blitz. Dragon Dance is mandatory to KO thieving that comes in my front. I like the versatility of being Fire/Flying and Fire/Dragon at the same time. Sometimes I just wait for the fairies, wait to ko them and then mega evolve. Charizard's speed cant be overcome after 2 Dragon Dance.

Smeargle Focus sash
Habilidad: Own Tempo
Naturaleza: Timid
EVS: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe

-Spikes
-Spore
-Sticky Web
-Stealth Rock

This guy is soo amazing. This actually my lead 90% of the times. I would go Spore + Sitcky Web. Once Sticky Web has been spread, I can go by Charizard the next turn. Dragon Dance + Sticky web is most of the times a gg. This guy is fast enough to start the combat with spore, and survive to spread all other entry hazards.

Excarill Air Balloon
Habilidad: Mold Breaker
Naturaleza: Adamant
EVS: 176 HP / 60 Atk / 252 SpD / 20 Spe

-Rapid Spin
-Earthquake
-Sword Dance
-Rock Slide

Well this guy does not need too much explanation. He is the rapid spinner by default. Im not sure about sword dance because I never use it. Most of the times Earthquake and Rock Throw get the job done. I have been thinking in adding a steel attack since there are a lot of fairies around. This guy is important in order to get rid of those stealth rocks that are so annoying for my charizard

Azumarrill Choice Band
Habilidad: Huge Power
Naturaleza: Adamant
EVS: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe

-Waterfall
-Aqua Jey
-Superpower
-Play Rough

I never liked this guy until now. He has great power with Choice Band and can take any threat. I have been thinking about using any other item since I end up switching to use another attack. He is a dragon slayer, I would give him more speed to make it perfect. Superpower is very useful against a lot of Kangaskan people are using now.

Trevenant Leftovers
Habilidad: Natura Cure
Naturaleza: Impish
EVS: 252 HP / 80 SDef / 176 Spd

-Horn Leech
-Leech Seed
-Shadow Claw
-Will-O-Wisp

Well I need to keep Sticky Web on the field so there is where this guy comes. I like when I throw this zombie tree in the face of any spinner. Actually Im not very sure about him, he is a bit slow so it is easy to get caught. It is meant to resist some attacks, create a wall with leftover and leech seed, and then kill slowly with will o wisp and horn leech. Since he has not worked as I expected I may be changing to something else

Noivern Choice Specs
Habilidad: Infiltrator
Naturaleza: Timid
EVS: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd

-Flamethrower
-Draco Meteor
-Hurricane
-U-turn

This is my special sweeper. This is another guy that has not worked pretty well for me. I need choice specs but I get in the same problem that I need to use another attack (most of the times with draco meteor). I have never used Hurricane. Since I already have fire coverage with Charizard I have been thinking to change flamethrower to something else. U turn is another attack that I have used just few times.

Since this is my first team please help me to get better

 

[ouchalargerock]

This is a few things I would like to point out.

Running Charizard X with Brick Break probably isn't a great idea, and if you really need a Moveslot over Roost, Earthquake fits a bit better, but you really need Roost. You have the right idea with Dragon Dance, and baiting Fairies, but you need to watch out for other common counters like Tyranitar, and anything that runs a StoneQuake set. You have a serious weakness to this in the entirety of your team.

Smeargle is destroyed by two things, Overcoat Mandibuzz, and anything with a fast Taunt. To mainly counter something like Mandibuzz, try putting in Ice Shard in lieu of Spikes, being able to deal a bit of damage to threats like Madibuzz and annoying leads like Sableye.

For Excadrill, I would replace Substitute with something like Stone Edge, so you can run the StoneQuake set yourself, without really negating any serious opportunities.

Azumarill is pretty standard, and there really isn't anything your need to change.

The issue with Trevenant, is that you are not playing him right. I have a much better set below. Mainly, what you should be doing is using Leech Seed to annoy and sap a bit of health. Protect and Substitute are there to stretch out Leech Seed, and Shadow Force to break through things like Aegislash and Protect Spammer, as well as drawing out another free turn. You are running Harvest and a Sitrus Berry so you can continue to wall, and then Horn Leech if you are worried about getting walled by Normal-Types.

If you are really not liking this thing, maybe switching to Hydreigon or Dragonite would work better, but I don't see anything particularly wrong with it. You could possibly switch out Hurricane or Flamethrower for Boomburst.

Before Mentioned Sets

Charizard @ Charizardite X
252 Atk/252 Speed/4 HP
Adamant
Tough Claws
- Flare Blitz
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
- Earthquake/Outrage

Trevenant @ Sitrus Berry
252 HP/252 Def/4 Speed
Jolly
Harvest
- Leech Seed/Will o Wisp
- Protect
- Substitute
- Shadow Force/Horn Leech

Hydreigon @ Choice Specs
252 HP/252 SAtk/4 Speed
Modest/Quirky
Levitate
- Fire Blast
- Draco Meteor
- Focus Blast
- U-Turn/Dark Pulse

Dragonite @ Weakness Policy
252 HP/252 Atk/4 Speed
Adamant/Jolly
Multiscale
- Agility
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Extremespeed/Stone Edge

 

[bascas]

First of all, really cool team! I love MegaZard X!

If you are really not liking this thing, maybe switching to Hydreigon or Dragonite would work better, but I don't see anything particularly wrong with it. You could possibly switch out Hurricane or Flamethrower for Boomburst.

I agree with this, assuming you're talking about the Noivern. I think a mixed bulky Dragonite may be better here. Noivern is a great Pokemon by design, but he lacks the bulk to really help you as a special sweeper. If you do choose to keep him, Flamethrower is not redundant with your MegaZard, because it's special, and really the best way to dispatch a Mega-Mawhile.

You also don't have a lot of defensive Pokemon. A Mega Kangaskhan is only really afraid of your Azumarill, that it can still take out with priority.

 

[peche87]

I'm not sure if this is a coincidence or not, but this is nearly the exact same team Shofu made on his team building video a while back.

Well I took the idea of this team from a friend of mine... it looks like it is based on this video... I have no experience in building teams or competitive pokemon so it was given to me

This is a few things I would like to point out.

Running Charizard X with Brick Break probably isn't a great idea, and if you really need a Moveslot over Roost, Earthquake fits a bit better, but you really need Roost. You have the right idea with Dragon Dance, and baiting Fairies, but you need to watch out for other common counters like Tyranitar, and anything that runs a StoneQuake set. You have a serious weakness to this in the entirety of your team.

Smeargle is destroyed by two things, Overcoat Mandibuzz, and anything with a fast Taunt. To mainly counter something like Mandibuzz, try putting in Ice Shard in lieu of Spikes, being able to deal a bit of damage to threats like Madibuzz and annoying leads like Sableye.

For Excadrill, I would replace Substitute with something like Stone Edge, so you can run the StoneQuake set yourself, without really negating any serious opportunities.

Azumarill is pretty standard, and there really isn't anything your need to change.

The issue with Trevenant, is that you are not playing him right. I have a much better set below. Mainly, what you should be doing is using Leech Seed to annoy and sap a bit of health. Protect and Substitute are there to stretch out Leech Seed, and Shadow Force to break through things like Aegislash and Protect Spammer, as well as drawing out another free turn. You are running Harvest and a Sitrus Berry so you can continue to wall, and then Horn Leech if you are worried about getting walled by Normal-Types.

If you are really not liking this thing, maybe switching to Hydreigon or Dragonite would work better, but I don't see anything particularly wrong with it. You could possibly switch out Hurricane or Flamethrower for Boomburst.

Before Mentioned Sets

Charizard @ Charizardite X
252 Atk/252 Speed/4 HP
Adamant
Tough Claws
- Flare Blitz
- Dragon Dance
- Roost
- Earthquake/Outrage

Trevenant @ Sitrus Berry
252 HP/252 Def/4 Speed
Jolly
Harvest
- Leech Seed/Will o Wisp
- Protect
- Substitute
- Shadow Force/Horn Leech

Hydreigon @ Choice Specs
252 HP/252 SAtk/4 Speed
Modest/Quirky
Levitate
- Fire Blast
- Draco Meteor
- Focus Blast
- U-Turn/Dark Pulse

Dragonite @ Weakness Policy
252 HP/252 Atk/4 Speed
Adamant/Jolly
Multiscale
- Agility
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Extremespeed/Stone Edge

-Well thank you for taking your time and for such a great input. I bred Charizard with Outrage and Dragon Dance. What I really don't like of outrage is that people throw fairies once I use the attack (and cannot stop it). It really takes my attention that the set you suggested for Char does not include a dragon attack. I will try your set and let you know the outcome
-For Smeargle, this is another great Idea that I will try
-For excadrill, I do not why I included Substitute in the set. I use Rock Slide instead of this attack
-For trevenant, I will try this set as well. I got a 6 iv impish trevenajt so i feel lazy to try to get an jolly one :)
Im a little confused for the last part, are you suggesting to change treevenant for Hydreigon or Dragonite? or is this a suggestion for Noivern?
Thanks anyway, your help is much appreciated

First of all, really cool team! I love MegaZard X!



I agree with this, assuming you're talking about the Noivern. I think a mixed bulky Dragonite may be better here. Noivern is a great Pokemon by design, but he lacks the bulk to really help you as a special sweeper. If you do choose to keep him, Flamethrower is not redundant with your MegaZard, because it's special, and really the best way to dispatch a Mega-Mawhile.

You also don't have a lot of defensive Pokemon. A Mega Kangaskhan is only really afraid of your Azumarill, that it can still take out with priority.

Well you are right. It is really hard for me to get over Mega Big Mama. I will test noivern more and let you know the outcome. Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it

 

[ouchalargerock]

I'm a little confused for the last part, are you suggesting to change Trevenant for Hydreigon or Dragonite? Or is this a suggestion for Noivern?

No, I was suggesting a switch for Noivern, as you seemed to have the most trouble with it. And really, it was an option for either, whichever you felt would work better.

 

[peche87]

thank you for the feedback... anyone else interested in providing feedback?

 

[LeoArgent]

From what I've seen, Trevenant is usually better with the Harvest ability and a Sitrus Berry. Combine with will-o-wisp, leech seed, horn leech, immunity to fighting and normal, several useful resistances (such as ground and electric), and max special defense EVs, Trevenant is great for stalling!

Some ideas I've seen are to either have Trevenant in the sun (therefore Harvest gives him 100% chance of getting his berry back) or run protect (instead of shadow claw). If you've already used your berry, there's a 50% chance to get a new one due to Harvest, so if you don't get your berry, use protect to get another 50% chance at getting it back. Meanwhile, the opponent is hurt from the burn and leech seed.