First Team

[Astrid]

First Team (Bastion)

I had no idea what to name this.

I'm pretty new the Pokemon metagame, but I've been playing around with competitive battling for a month or so. After playing around with some teams, this is what I came up with. It's to my understanding that I'm using a pretty common, strong defensive core, and I figured that would be a decent place to begin, but I wasn't sure what to do with my other three slots. Anyway, this is what I came up with. I've been having some luck with it, but I'm hoping the battles I lose are less team problems and more due to inexperience on my part. On to the team:

Sableye (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Recover
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
- Night Shade


My favorite Pokemon- if I need to completely rework my team, I'd like to at least keep him. He's usually who I lead with. Taunt stops anyone from setting up or using a status move, while will-o-wisp cripples physical attackers. Recover helps keep him alive and allows me to stall some Pokemon out, and Night Shade because I can always count on a steady amount of damage, and it seemed stupid in conjunction with Will-O-Wisp. Also a spinblocker.

Snorlax (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 208 HP / 124 Def / 176 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Return
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Whirlwind


First Pokemon in my core and wonderful special wall. I went with Return over Body Slam for the extra power and because it seems that I'm inflicting statuses pretty often with this team. Rest and Sleep Talk for Snorlax to last. Whirlwind's questionable. I was considering swapping it out for Curse or something else, but it's nice for phazing Pokemon who are starting to set up on me.

Claydol @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock

Now the second Pokemon of the core, as I needed both a Rapid Spinner and a Stealth Rock user, and Claydol fits both of these roles well. Ice Beam and Earthquake for coverage, while Stealth Rock and Rapid Spin are self-explanatory.

Roserade (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SDef
Calm Nature (+SDef, -Atk)
- Spikes
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Rest


Last Pokemon of the core. I try to bring her in as early as I can so that she can set up Spikes, which works nice in conjunction with Snorlax's Whirlwind. Giga Drain for STAB and keeping her alive, Sludge Bomb for STAB and a chance to poison, and Rest for healing in synergy with Natural Cure.

Arcanine (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Flamethrower
- Morning Sun
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Toxic

First recommendation, and a much better choice than Darmanitan to deal with Weavile, Heracross, and some other threats to my team. I figured Hidden Power Grass would prove more useful than Extremespeed, and Flamethrower over Flare Blitz for survivability, so Bold nature it was. Morning Sun for recovery and Toxic for stalling out- although I'm conflicted on whether or not Will-O-Wisp would be a better move here. Intimidate to cut the Attack of Heracross/Weavile/other threats.

Umbreon (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Foul Play
- Protect
- Wish
- Heal Bell

And Umbreon, here to tie it all together. While obviously being able to sponge any special moves, Umbreon's primary purpose is to be a cleric and wish passer. As his offenses aren't great, he can abuse the opponents through use of Foul Play, while Protect, Wish and Heal Bell all help him to do his job.

Additionally, all Pokemon on the team who don't use physical attacks have an Attack stat of 0 (or as small of one as possible while retaining their Hidden Power, as with Arcanine) to minimize confusion damage.

Replaced:

Hide

Darmanitan (M) @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Flare Blitz
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Rock Slide


My Revenge Killer, and counter to Weavile and Heracross, who are some serious threats to my core. I had Superpower in the last slot for a while but switched it for Rock Slide when I put Cobalion on my team. With Sheer Force it has 98 Base Power in comparison to Stone Edge's 100, but with 10% more accuracy, I felt it was the better option. U-Turn for scouting and momentum.

Cobalion @ Leftovers
Trait: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Calm Mind
- Flash Cannon
- Focus Blast
- Hidden Power [Electric]


I was pretty conflicted on who would go in my last spot. My two worries for this team were Physical Walls and the fact that Darmanitan should probably have Rapid Spin support, which made me wish that Starmie was UU, but I ended up deciding that the former was more of a pressing matter. I usually bring him in on a Pokemon that doesn't threaten him, or that he threatens, and use Calm Mind while my opponent is switching out. Flash Cannon and Focus Blast for STAB, and Hidden Power Electric because I felt that my team needed an Electric-type attack.

Slowbro (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 248 HP / 244 Def / 16 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Psyshock
- Slack Off
- Toxic


Second Pokemon of my core. Stops most fighting types. Pretty self explanatory, Scald for burn/STAB, Psyshock for STAB, Slack Off for healing, and Toxic for stalling. I had Ice Beam in the last spot for a while. Regenerator is pretty nice for healing, too.

Bronzong @ Leftovers
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Toxic
- Earthquake


Now the second Pokemon of the core, since I needed someone to set up Stealth Rock. Provides some well-needed resistances and a counter to virtually every Flygon set. SR is a given while Gyro Ball packs a punch due to Bronzong's pathetic speed stat (furthered by removing his speed IVs), Toxic for wearing out some common switch-ins, and Earthquake for dealing with Fire-type switch ins, Magneton, etc.

Hitmontop (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Rapid Spin
- Close Combat
- Toxic
- Stone Edge

Rapid Spin and Intimidate to further deal with Heracross and Weavile. His moveset has some room to be changed if need be. Rapid Spin is a given, Close Combat over HJK for fear of ghost switch-ins and low accuracy, Toxic for bulky ghost switch ins and Stone Edge for coverage. Close Combat's defense drop isn't too important, since I don't plan on keeping him in for very long and he'll usually be moving last.

There you have it! I'd appreciate any tips, advice or criticism.​

 

[ss234]

Yeah the Heracross problem is pretty huge. I'm not really sure if anything apart from Sableye can take a Close Combat. Roserade is going to be 3HKO'd, and 2HKO'd with some hazards-it does 39%-46%, so SR and one or two layers of spikes is going to kill Roserade.

It seems to me that this is a pretty stallish team. I faced one quite similar to this-and swept them with a DD Scrafty. If Cobalion goes down, or they get up a Dragon Dance, then it's basically GG.

Darmanitan looks like the weakest link here. Morning Sun Arcanine would do a much better job due to intimidate, so would be a better check to Heracross, and then Roserade can set-up Spikes in his face. Darmanitan can only revenge kill Heracross-who can then switch out obviously.

The benefits of using a defensive Arcanine are superb though. The ability to tank hits from Escavalier, a hugely underrated threat, is greatly appreciated-as a Choice Banded Megahorn is going to decimated everything apart from Cobalion, who lacks reliable recovery. Others Arcanine handles are Victini, and although you have Slowbro a secondary counter never hurts, as well as Darmanitan and Weavile-who you said you had trouble with

With Arcanine, what you really want is a spinner of your own. If they manage to take out Roserade, you're team is going to be ruined by Toxic Spikes. Either a spinner or a spinblocker would work quite well I think. Hitmontop or Blastoise are the only viable spinners, and since you have issue's with Weavile and Heracross, Hitmontop is going to work the best here, due to Intimidate cutting Heracross's attack, and you don't really need two bulky waters in the same team. Top can easily take care of both these threats, and since he lures in bulky ghosts, carrying Toxic will work very well here. Blastoise mainly lures in Roserade, who he can't do anything against except Ice Beam for poor damage-and you already have enough trouble with Roserade as it is.

You said about Cobalion that you needed a physical wall and a spinner-well with these set, now you have both!

Here are the sets:

Arcanine-248hp, 252def, 8sp.def-Leftovers-Intimidate-Bold/Impish(whether you want Arcanine to have Flare Blitz or Flamethrower)

Flare Blitz/Flamethrower
Morning Sun
ExtreemeSpeed/HP Grass(whether or not you want priority or the ability to take out Swampert and the like-I'd prefer HP Grass though)
Will-O-Wisp/Toxic

Hitmontop-252hp, 252def, 4sp.def/spe-Leftovers-Intimidate-Impish

Close Combat/HJK/Revenge
Rapid Spin
Foresight/Toxic
Stone Edge/Payback

GL with the team man.

 

[Astrid]

Awesome, thank you! I've made your recommended changes and I'll be trying them out in a second. Let me know if I should shift any of their movesets a little. c:

 

[ss234]

The team looks much better now-I'm glad I could help. I've just realised though-you have no Stealth Rock's! They are a must for every stall team. I'm looking at Slowbro mainly-fighting types should be handled by Sableye, or in the case of Heracross Arcanine, and in the case of Scrafty Hitmontop. He'd need to be able to stop Flygon cold though-therefore, I'd go with Bronzong. Bronzong has SR obviously, as well as the ability to beat pretty much every Flygon set out there. He provides valuable resistances to Earth(of which you lack in the rest of your team), rock(Rhyperior), Poison(Roserade) as well as grass(Roserade again-but also Tangrowth). Your sorely need a Rhyperior counter-since Arcanine falls to it, and Hitmontop can only come in so many times. However, if you'd prefer, you could use Gligar instead with SR, Roost, Earthquake and Toxic/Stone Edge. Both would work very well, and Bronzong gives you further Weavile resistance, and Gligar gives you better Heracross insurance, and although Arcanine covers him mostly, a Stone Edge to the face is going to hurt.

Gligar-Eviolite-Sand Veil(Immunity when it comes out)-Impish-252def, 252hp, 4spe/sp.def

Roost
Toxic/Taunt
Earthquake
Stealth Rock

and now for Bronzong's set:

Bronzong-Leftovers-Levitate-Relaxed-252def, 252hp

Gyro Ball
SR
Toxic
Earthquake

GL

 

[Astrid]

Okay, I went with Bronzong. I was a little hesitant in fear of Cobalion and Fire-types, but Snorlax and Arcanine probably have those covered. It's funny, I was fighting a team with a Rhyperior that gave me trouble just a few minutes ago.

But yeah, Slowbro was probably the least useful of the six of them, and Bronzong seems pretty sturdy. Thanks again!

 

[FeedMeJake]

You need a way to deal with chandelure after Snorlax is dead..
This team seems really stall based as well..

 

[Astrid]

You need a way to deal with chandelure after Snorlax is dead..
This team seems really stall based as well..

It's supposed to be stall-based, and I haven't had a problem with Chandelure/Snorlax dying before, but I'll probably adjust accordingly if it becomes an issue. Or do you have an idea?

 

[ss234]

Snorlax is as solid a Chandelure counter there is-you shouldn't have any trouble with that. Glad I could help though-I'll test it out later and try to find any more weaknesses in it, but it looks really solid now.

 

[Astrid]

Thanks again!

 

[Cschollen1]

It's a great team though I do recommend havi g one sweeper for late game Such as Yanmega or Krookodile just to clean up at the end

 

[Astrid]

Bump for any other opinions~

 

[Psychotic]

Your team could really use a wish passer, especially to keep Arcanine healthy because it is so vital in stopping Heracross from destroying your team. Therefore, I would recommend replacing Bronzong with Claydol, and then Hitmontop with Umbreon. These are the sets I would recommend:

Claydol @ Leftovers Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Earthquake
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock

Umbreon (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Foul Play
- Protect
- Wish
- Heal Bell

Claydol fills the role of both Hitmontop and Bronzong, spinning away hazards and providing the ever-important Stealth Rock. This frees up a space for Umbreon, who can pass wishes to the rest of your team and keep them healthy. Umbreon also provides Heal Bell support, which is especially important if Arcanine(or any other critical mon) gets hit by a stray Toxic. You could also use Alomomola, since your team does seem quite weak to strong physical fire types.

 

[Astrid]

Arcanine seems stays pretty healthy on his own with Morning Sun, but I'll definitely try this out, as I've never really played with wish passing before. I can also really appreciate Heal Bell support and Claydol's two in one. Honestly, out of the six of my current team, Bronzong and Hitmontop have carried the most dead weight.

My only concern is Flygon, though, as I've been switching Bronzong into him pretty often. I'll see how Arcanine can handle him.

Yeah, this is definitely a lot more effective. Wish has saved me quite a few times now, and Claydol works much better than Hitmontop. Thank you!