First Gen-6 team for a tragically rusty player

[Evil Hamster]

Only recently got Y a couple of weeks ago and I've been a bit overwhelmed by all the changes that have come about since I last played competitively- I haven't touched a Pokemon game since pre-Platinum so I'm a bit rusty as to what the current threats are. Have put together a team after a few weeks mucking around against randomers online to see what the biggest threats needing countering are- would appreciate some feedback before I start IV breeding!

Venasaur @ Venusaurite
EVs: 252Hp, 220Def, 36SpD
Ability: Chlorophyll
Nature: Impish
- Leech Seed
- Earthquake
- Power Whip
- Synthesis

Leading with this bad boy so I can get my Mega-evolution done as soon as possible. Decided to load up on physical defense rather than special given that most of the more dangerous threats that I'll be using Venusaur to deal with (Lucario, Gyarados, etc) are on the physical side and hit far harder than most of the more placid bulky waters. Leech Seed helps to offset the damage from Sandstorm when it's in play- it may be overkill with Synthesis but it helps keep the rest of my team healthy too and the only other real option is at odds with my paralysis-spreading plan.

Tyranitar @ Assault Vest
EVs: 252Hp, 252SpD, 4Spe
Ability: Sandstream
Nature: Careful
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Pursuit

Specially defensive Tyranitar. Pairs well with Venusaur in terms of resistances and gives me a decent response to the likes of Heatran and Gengar. Sandstorm also helps to check Mega Charizard Y if that proves to be too much of a threat. Wish support from Togekiss gives it a bit more longevity, which it desperately needs as I'm counting on it to check quite a lot of threats.

Skarmory @ Leftovers
EVs: 252Hp, 252Def, 3Spe
Ability: Sturdy
Nature: Impish
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Roost
- Whirlwind

Utter Taunt-bait but I think it's for the best here- decided to jettison an attacking move as Skarmory's not really doing any damage to anyone anyway and I can't really fit Stealth Rock anywhere else. Makes Scizor easy Spike set-up fodder and if it's still around late-game then Whirlwind should help rack up some nice passive damage.

Rotom-W @ Leftovers
EVs: 252Hp, 240Def, 12SpA, 4Spe
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Bold
- Thunder Wave
- Volt Switch
- Reflect
- HP Fire Hydro Pump

Para support. Elected for Volt Switch over Thunderbolt as I'm not trying to do huge amounts of damage with Rotom and forcing my opponent to keep switching with Volt Switch helps my case more imo. 12 SpA EVs guarantees an OHKO on 252/0 Gyarados after SR and Leftovers whereas HP Fire is my best solution to Roost Scizors that I can't kill with passive damage or my neutered Skarmory. No Shadow Ball is unfortunate but Gengar's not a huge threat to my team (especially if M-Gengar is banned) and in most other situations where I'd use Shadow Ball a Volt Switch to something else will do the job just as well. Replaced HP Fire with Hydro Pump due to legality issues.

Togekiss @ Light Clay
EVs: 252Hp, 160Def, 84SpD, 12Spe
Ability: Serene Grace
Nature: Bold
- Light Screen
- Air Slash
- Wish
- Protect

Requisite fairy type because Dragon immunity is a blessing. Combined with Skarmory I think I'm covered against the vast majority of Dragons, and Wish over Roost to help me keep my numerous bulky attackers in good shape. Elected for Protect as Sandstorm and non-immediate recovery would leave me in the lurch otherwise. Light Clay over Leftovers was a toss-up but given my team's lack of dedicated special tanks aside from Tyranitar the extra turns of Light Screen are probably worth more.

Machamp @ Assault Vest
EVs: 252Hp, 200Def, 56SpD
Ability: No Guard
Nature: Impish
- DynamicPunch
- Stone Edge
- Poison Jab
- Payback Knock Off

Machamp's my 'sweeper,' for want of a better term, at the end. When entry hazards are down, Rotom's paralysed a few opposing Pokemon and screens are potentially up, Machamp's able to whale on whatever's left, forcing switches all the while with DynamicPunch. Toyed with using Brick Break over Payback, but I can't assure that I'll have paralysed everything faster than me and Rotom's immune to paralysis anyway. Definitely could do with the screen-breaking though. Replaced Payback with Knock Off as hopefully by the late-game Machamp should be faster than most opposing Pokemon.

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I've put this team together well aware that the developments between D/P and X/Y mean that there's likely plenty of holes in flaws in the team that need fixing- I've done a few days' reading around but that'll only go so far! EV spreads are also completely made up too haha. Any advice on how to potentially improve what I've got here from people with more experience would be much appreciated :)

 

[detroitwillfall]

like the team got a win first try with it, nothing crazy. why not sludge bomb on vena? i see u have poison jab with machamp but js. reserving a spot for an official rate! good luck with your team.

 

[Dragonicwari]

Just a small thing to consider, why not run knock off over payback on Machamp? With knock off's boost to 65 base power (doubled if they lose an item) it seems like the better choice than pay back since nearly every mon has an item, but not all are slower than Machamp.

 

[Evil Hamster]

like the team got a win first try with it, nothing crazy. why not sludge bomb on vena? i see u have poison jab with machamp but js. reserving a spot for an official rate! good luck with your team.

Ah ok cool, cheers for testing it! Was tempted by Sludge Bomb on Venusaur but at the same time I'm not sure where I'd fit it. Really need Earthquake and Power Whip- would love to fit Sludge Bomb on there somewhere to deal with Togekiss, Breloom and the like but I'm not sure I can deal with losing either Leech Seed or Synthesis. Venusaur tends to act as a pretty frequent pivot so Leech Seed sees plenty of use. Guess I could ditch Synthesis and just rely on Wish support but I'm not sure- will try it out!

Just a small thing to consider, why not run knock off over payback on Machamp? With knock off's boost to 65 base power (doubled if they lose an item) it seems like the better choice than pay back since nearly every mon has an item, but not all are slower than Machamp.

That's a good call- had no idea Knock Off had been boosted like that! Will change that right away :)

Been tempted to make a couple of changes- thinking about Rocky Helmet Skarmory to allow me to outstall a few last-Pokemon threats when I can't WW them out, as well as maybe changing Machamp to a ReSTalk set to deal with my team's status struggles. Not too keen on losing Assault Vest though!