Hello all, this is my first RMT. Not just this generation, but period. I've played since Red / Blue, but trying competitive for the first time. Basically, I wanted to build around my two favorite starters: Serperior and Blastoise. I decided to go with a Para-Shuffle strategy in the beginning, and it's kind of gotten away from me since then. Let me know what changes I should make, considering that I would like to still use Serperior and Blastoise for sure.
Team Preview:
Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
Timid Nature
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 Spe
- Glare
- Giga Drain
- Dragon Tail
- Taunt
Serperior comes out as my lead. If my opponent is leading with a Stealth Rock / Spikes, I will probably begin with Taunt. Otherwise I will go right into Glare followed by Dragon Tail. In a perfect world, I would ParaShuffle their entire team, but I know that's unlikely. Giga Drain lets him come back later in the game as a cleanup. The other option I had here was someone getting a Dream World with Contrary, and going a Leaf Storm/Special Sweeper route, but that will change the entire team.
Blastoise @ Blastoisinite
Ability: Torrent (Mega Launcher)
Modest Nature
Evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Hydro Pump / Water Pulse
- Dark Pulse
- Aura Sphere / Dragon Pulse
- Rapid Spin
All time favorite Pokemon, now in Mega form! Once I get the speed advantage with a number of Paralyzed Pokemon on my opponent's side, I just go Mega and start sweeping. Water Pulse is weaker than Hydro Pump even under Mega Launcher, but with the added benefit of a possible confusion. Not sure which is the best option. Similarly with Aura Sphere / Dragon Pulse, there are a lot of Steel walls out there to break through with Aura Sphere, but Dragon Pulse is neutral against more. Rapid Spin is there to clear hazards if Serperior failed to shut them down.
Nidoking @ Choice Band
Ability: Poison Point / Sheer Force
Adamant Nature
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Superpower
- Poison Jab
Once I knew I wanted Blastoise to be primary sweeper, I began looking for a Ground Pokemon to cover his Electric weakness, and then a Fire or Flying to cover his grass weakness. I decided to go with Nidoking because of nostalgia reasons. I also figured a Poison move would be helpful against the new Fairy types. I went with a Physical sweeper over the more common Special Sweeper, because all my other Pokemon were Special based, and I didn't want to get shutdown by a Light Screen.
Chandelure @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
Timid / Modest Nature
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Hex / Shadow Ball
- Fire Blast
- Substitute
- Will-O-Wisp / Pain Split
This was a little tougher choice. I know I needed Fire or Flying to cover Blastoise's Grass weakness, and Fire was more effective against Steel and Ice, with fewer weaknesses. Although both are still weak to Stealth Rock, hopefully I got a Rapid Spin off from Blastoise. Since the focus was to inflict my opponents with Paralysis, I thought a 130 power Hex sounded better than Shadow Ball. I went ahead and included Will-O-Wisp in case Paralysis didn't work. With a Wisp, followed by Substitute, Chandelure has surprisingly good longevity. Pain Split is another option if I decide to drop Hex for the traditional Shadow Ball.
Bronzong @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
Relaxed Nature
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Light Screen
- Reflect
I decided that if things started going South, I should have a defensive Pokemon to pivot too. While Gyro Ball has negative synergy with the Paralyze strategy, it will likely be used if that strategy fails. Using Light Clay to setup screens and then switching out to a sweeper will help them stay alive. Stealth Rock is obviously great. Bronzong could even be my lead if I wanted to go more defensive from the beginning.
Jolteon @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
Timid Nature
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Baton Pass
- Hidden Power Ice / Signal Beam / Thunder Wave
I got the first five Pokemon picked out, then I got pretty stumped when I got to the end. I feel like there's so many options for this slot. Could be another sweeper, a tank, SleepTalker, etc. I decided to go with SubPass Jolteon for a couple reasons. First, I can't get enough of my Gen 1 favorites. Also, Thunderbolt sounded like a great counter to the myriad Water and Flying types. Just like Bronzong's screens, Baton Passing Substitute can keep my sweepers alive.
Some other options I considered:
Torterra
If I decide to drop Serperior, I can get a Stealth Rock and Ground coverage all in one. Would basically require an entire team overhaul, as Nidoking and Bronzong would become replaceable. Really would like Serperior on the team, but this is my 2nd favorite grass starter, so I could go that route.
Hitmonlee
I was looking for a Fighting type, when I read about the amazing Endure + Reversal combo. He would probably also come with Fake Out to goad them into initial attacks, and Close Combat in case I just needed to STAB with him. The idea of basing around a Sweeper and 1 HP was both exhilarating and scary, especially for someone like myself so new at this.
So there's my first team. I hope you guys like my story, and can provide some great feedback!
Team Preview:
Serperior @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
Timid Nature
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 Spe
- Glare
- Giga Drain
- Dragon Tail
- Taunt
Serperior comes out as my lead. If my opponent is leading with a Stealth Rock / Spikes, I will probably begin with Taunt. Otherwise I will go right into Glare followed by Dragon Tail. In a perfect world, I would ParaShuffle their entire team, but I know that's unlikely. Giga Drain lets him come back later in the game as a cleanup. The other option I had here was someone getting a Dream World with Contrary, and going a Leaf Storm/Special Sweeper route, but that will change the entire team.
Blastoise @ Blastoisinite
Ability: Torrent (Mega Launcher)
Modest Nature
Evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Hydro Pump / Water Pulse
- Dark Pulse
- Aura Sphere / Dragon Pulse
- Rapid Spin
All time favorite Pokemon, now in Mega form! Once I get the speed advantage with a number of Paralyzed Pokemon on my opponent's side, I just go Mega and start sweeping. Water Pulse is weaker than Hydro Pump even under Mega Launcher, but with the added benefit of a possible confusion. Not sure which is the best option. Similarly with Aura Sphere / Dragon Pulse, there are a lot of Steel walls out there to break through with Aura Sphere, but Dragon Pulse is neutral against more. Rapid Spin is there to clear hazards if Serperior failed to shut them down.
Nidoking @ Choice Band
Ability: Poison Point / Sheer Force
Adamant Nature
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Superpower
- Poison Jab
Once I knew I wanted Blastoise to be primary sweeper, I began looking for a Ground Pokemon to cover his Electric weakness, and then a Fire or Flying to cover his grass weakness. I decided to go with Nidoking because of nostalgia reasons. I also figured a Poison move would be helpful against the new Fairy types. I went with a Physical sweeper over the more common Special Sweeper, because all my other Pokemon were Special based, and I didn't want to get shutdown by a Light Screen.
Chandelure @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
Timid / Modest Nature
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Hex / Shadow Ball
- Fire Blast
- Substitute
- Will-O-Wisp / Pain Split
This was a little tougher choice. I know I needed Fire or Flying to cover Blastoise's Grass weakness, and Fire was more effective against Steel and Ice, with fewer weaknesses. Although both are still weak to Stealth Rock, hopefully I got a Rapid Spin off from Blastoise. Since the focus was to inflict my opponents with Paralysis, I thought a 130 power Hex sounded better than Shadow Ball. I went ahead and included Will-O-Wisp in case Paralysis didn't work. With a Wisp, followed by Substitute, Chandelure has surprisingly good longevity. Pain Split is another option if I decide to drop Hex for the traditional Shadow Ball.
Bronzong @ Light Clay
Ability: Levitate
Relaxed Nature
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Light Screen
- Reflect
I decided that if things started going South, I should have a defensive Pokemon to pivot too. While Gyro Ball has negative synergy with the Paralyze strategy, it will likely be used if that strategy fails. Using Light Clay to setup screens and then switching out to a sweeper will help them stay alive. Stealth Rock is obviously great. Bronzong could even be my lead if I wanted to go more defensive from the beginning.
Jolteon @ Leftovers
Ability: Volt Absorb
Timid Nature
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Baton Pass
- Hidden Power Ice / Signal Beam / Thunder Wave
I got the first five Pokemon picked out, then I got pretty stumped when I got to the end. I feel like there's so many options for this slot. Could be another sweeper, a tank, SleepTalker, etc. I decided to go with SubPass Jolteon for a couple reasons. First, I can't get enough of my Gen 1 favorites. Also, Thunderbolt sounded like a great counter to the myriad Water and Flying types. Just like Bronzong's screens, Baton Passing Substitute can keep my sweepers alive.
Some other options I considered:
Torterra
If I decide to drop Serperior, I can get a Stealth Rock and Ground coverage all in one. Would basically require an entire team overhaul, as Nidoking and Bronzong would become replaceable. Really would like Serperior on the team, but this is my 2nd favorite grass starter, so I could go that route.
Hitmonlee
I was looking for a Fighting type, when I read about the amazing Endure + Reversal combo. He would probably also come with Fake Out to goad them into initial attacks, and Close Combat in case I just needed to STAB with him. The idea of basing around a Sweeper and 1 HP was both exhilarating and scary, especially for someone like myself so new at this.
So there's my first team. I hope you guys like my story, and can provide some great feedback!
