Hi everyone! I love playing VGC and I realized that my team from last year was quite outdated, so I wanted to restructure things and bring it to the present. However, I'm curious if there are any points in my new team that can be optimized, any members that aren't really pulling their weight, etc. This is an in-cart team naturally, so just keep that in mind when making suggestions. Thanks in advance for the feedback!
TEAM
Coffee table (Salamence) (F) @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 20 Atk / 236 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Double-Edge
- Protect
- Hyper Voice
- Draco Meteor
I decided on Salamence as my mega for a few reasons. It has the ever-valuable intimidate, can run multiple sets (thus playing slight mind games with the opponent), carries a powerful spread move, and, perhaps most importantly, has an immunity to Earthquake. This lets me play a little more recklessly with my Landorus, as I don't have to worry as much about being locked into Earthquake. I chose a mixed set because it allows Salamence to not be incredibly fazed by burns or intimidates, and allows me to use Hyper Voice. Double-Edge still hits monstrously hard even with the small investment it has, and Draco Meteor is an alternate STAB. I was wondering if Fire Blast would be a decent option over Draco, as this Mence can be stopped by Mega Mawile and other offensive Steel-types.
It's Fine... (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Rock Slide
- Knock Off
Ah, Landorus. Perhaps the best non-mega poke available, Landorus has all the same traits that make Salamence good: High attack, a spread move, and earthquake immunity. I chose the scarf set to make Landorus a huge threat right from the get-go, allowing it to OHKO threats it would otherwise be outsped by. The set is pretty standard, but I chose Knock off in the last slot as it allows me to hit Cresselia and also Aegislash and Metagross in a rare situation where I might not want to Earthquake (for fear of killing my partner, for example). I had originally been using Hidden Power Ice in the last slot so that I could get a surprise 2HKO on opposing Landorus and Mega Salamence, any thoughts on this? I was also considering a more balanced pivot set using an assault vest, any opinions on this?
Ribbon (Sylveon) (F) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pixilate
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 188 HP / 68 Def / 236 SpA / 4 SpD / 12 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Hyper Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Psyshock
Sylveon is the pokemon that makes every other pokemon FEEL THE NOISE. Inside of this sweet little thing lies a terrifying beast, capable of annihilating anything and everything in its path. a choice specs boosted Hyper voice is absolutely devastating even when resisted, 2HKO'ing standard Cresselia and other defensive pokemon. Shadow Ball allows me to hit Aegislash, Metagross, and other pokemon that resist Fairy whilst still getting the hit on Cresselia, and Psyshock is mostly filler but allows Sylveon to be psuedo-mixed. I decided to go with Hyper Beam as the last attack to let Sylveon trade itself for an opponent's pokemon should the opportunity present itself. However, I've been thinking about Moonblast to aid prediction with Wide Guard. I decided to use 12 speed EVs so that after an icy wind, Sylveon will always outspeed Adamant Bisharp.
PRIDE! (Virizion) @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Protect
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
Virizion is a new pokemon I've been trying out, and I've been fairly pleased with it. Virizion gives me an answer to Mega Kangaskhan whilst also resisting water, and being immune to spore or rage powder by virtue of its Grass Typing. It also has an impressive special defense, allowing it to absorb attacks fairly well even when uninvested. The set is pretty standard, Dual STABs and protect. I chose Stone Edge in the last slot over Quick Guard so that I would be able to hit flying-type threats that resist Virizion's STABs. In practice, I find Virizion to be like a "side deck" choice; it doesn't come to every battle, but there are matchups where I would be lost without it.
Pop rocks (Heatran) (F) @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Flash Fire
Level: 50
EVs: 52 HP / 252 SpA / 204 Spe
Timid Nature
- Heat Wave
- Protect
- Earth Power
- Substitute
I chose Heatran because I wanted both a strong fire attack as well as a Steel type somewhere on my team. However, in practice, I've been considering replacing her with Rotom-Heat, as I might benefit more from the earthquake immunity due to using Landorus. The EVs and a timid nature allow Heatran to always outspeed Jolly Bisharp and go for the kill with Heat Wave. Substitute on a careful prediction can make Heatran a lot more dangerous, and a Shuca berry helps with opposing earthquakes. Heatran has been a little disappointing for me, as whilst it does answer a lot of things, a lot of things also heavily threaten it. Would Rotom-Heat be a better fit here?
Sailor Moon (Cresselia) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 SpD
Bold Nature
- Psychic
- Moonlight
- Icy Wind
- Helping Hand
Cresselia stands out as a great support pokemon. I chose Cresselia over Clefairy or Clefable due to its ground immunity and ability to hold an item, in combination with not really feeling a heavy need for Follow me. The spread makes Cresselia bulky enough that it can survive 2 Adamant Mega-Khan returns, meaning that any other physical attack will barely scratch her. Helping Hand boosts the power of the various spread moves I have on my team (particularly Sylveon and Landorus), and Moonlight keeps Cresselia healthy. I chose Icy Wind to allow for speed control whilst not being stopped by taunt (which Sylveon greatly appreciates), but I was considering a different set. 100 Defense EVs and Leftovers still allows Cress to survive 2 Mega-Khan returns, but with Ice beam and thunder wave, plus a bit of Special attack investment, Cresselia could pose a powerful offensive threat to Landorus and Salamence, in addition to maintaining speed control. Thoughts on this?
TEAM
Coffee table (Salamence) (F) @ Salamencite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 20 Atk / 236 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Double-Edge
- Protect
- Hyper Voice
- Draco Meteor
I decided on Salamence as my mega for a few reasons. It has the ever-valuable intimidate, can run multiple sets (thus playing slight mind games with the opponent), carries a powerful spread move, and, perhaps most importantly, has an immunity to Earthquake. This lets me play a little more recklessly with my Landorus, as I don't have to worry as much about being locked into Earthquake. I chose a mixed set because it allows Salamence to not be incredibly fazed by burns or intimidates, and allows me to use Hyper Voice. Double-Edge still hits monstrously hard even with the small investment it has, and Draco Meteor is an alternate STAB. I was wondering if Fire Blast would be a decent option over Draco, as this Mence can be stopped by Mega Mawile and other offensive Steel-types.
It's Fine... (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Rock Slide
- Knock Off
Ah, Landorus. Perhaps the best non-mega poke available, Landorus has all the same traits that make Salamence good: High attack, a spread move, and earthquake immunity. I chose the scarf set to make Landorus a huge threat right from the get-go, allowing it to OHKO threats it would otherwise be outsped by. The set is pretty standard, but I chose Knock off in the last slot as it allows me to hit Cresselia and also Aegislash and Metagross in a rare situation where I might not want to Earthquake (for fear of killing my partner, for example). I had originally been using Hidden Power Ice in the last slot so that I could get a surprise 2HKO on opposing Landorus and Mega Salamence, any thoughts on this? I was also considering a more balanced pivot set using an assault vest, any opinions on this?
Ribbon (Sylveon) (F) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Pixilate
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 188 HP / 68 Def / 236 SpA / 4 SpD / 12 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Hyper Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Psyshock
Sylveon is the pokemon that makes every other pokemon FEEL THE NOISE. Inside of this sweet little thing lies a terrifying beast, capable of annihilating anything and everything in its path. a choice specs boosted Hyper voice is absolutely devastating even when resisted, 2HKO'ing standard Cresselia and other defensive pokemon. Shadow Ball allows me to hit Aegislash, Metagross, and other pokemon that resist Fairy whilst still getting the hit on Cresselia, and Psyshock is mostly filler but allows Sylveon to be psuedo-mixed. I decided to go with Hyper Beam as the last attack to let Sylveon trade itself for an opponent's pokemon should the opportunity present itself. However, I've been thinking about Moonblast to aid prediction with Wide Guard. I decided to use 12 speed EVs so that after an icy wind, Sylveon will always outspeed Adamant Bisharp.
PRIDE! (Virizion) @ Life Orb
Ability: Justified
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Protect
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
Virizion is a new pokemon I've been trying out, and I've been fairly pleased with it. Virizion gives me an answer to Mega Kangaskhan whilst also resisting water, and being immune to spore or rage powder by virtue of its Grass Typing. It also has an impressive special defense, allowing it to absorb attacks fairly well even when uninvested. The set is pretty standard, Dual STABs and protect. I chose Stone Edge in the last slot over Quick Guard so that I would be able to hit flying-type threats that resist Virizion's STABs. In practice, I find Virizion to be like a "side deck" choice; it doesn't come to every battle, but there are matchups where I would be lost without it.
Pop rocks (Heatran) (F) @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Flash Fire
Level: 50
EVs: 52 HP / 252 SpA / 204 Spe
Timid Nature
- Heat Wave
- Protect
- Earth Power
- Substitute
I chose Heatran because I wanted both a strong fire attack as well as a Steel type somewhere on my team. However, in practice, I've been considering replacing her with Rotom-Heat, as I might benefit more from the earthquake immunity due to using Landorus. The EVs and a timid nature allow Heatran to always outspeed Jolly Bisharp and go for the kill with Heat Wave. Substitute on a careful prediction can make Heatran a lot more dangerous, and a Shuca berry helps with opposing earthquakes. Heatran has been a little disappointing for me, as whilst it does answer a lot of things, a lot of things also heavily threaten it. Would Rotom-Heat be a better fit here?
Sailor Moon (Cresselia) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 172 Def / 84 SpD
Bold Nature
- Psychic
- Moonlight
- Icy Wind
- Helping Hand
Cresselia stands out as a great support pokemon. I chose Cresselia over Clefairy or Clefable due to its ground immunity and ability to hold an item, in combination with not really feeling a heavy need for Follow me. The spread makes Cresselia bulky enough that it can survive 2 Adamant Mega-Khan returns, meaning that any other physical attack will barely scratch her. Helping Hand boosts the power of the various spread moves I have on my team (particularly Sylveon and Landorus), and Moonlight keeps Cresselia healthy. I chose Icy Wind to allow for speed control whilst not being stopped by taunt (which Sylveon greatly appreciates), but I was considering a different set. 100 Defense EVs and Leftovers still allows Cress to survive 2 Mega-Khan returns, but with Ice beam and thunder wave, plus a bit of Special attack investment, Cresselia could pose a powerful offensive threat to Landorus and Salamence, in addition to maintaining speed control. Thoughts on this?