This is my first official team since I got into competitive battling with the release of X and Y. It seems to work fairly well but I know there are some things that need to be worked on. I am intending to use this team for upcoming VGC tournaments.
Cloyster @ King's Rock
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell
Standard Skill Link Cloyster. I usually send him out first unless I see too many electric users on the opponents team. Set up with Shell Smash, sweep with Icicle Spear or Rock Blast. Razor Shell is hardly ever used, considering switching it out with Stealth Rocks or something else. Overall he's pretty hit-or-miss, if my opponent doesn't have an answer for him he sweeps, if not he's gone in two turns.
Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt
I know Gengarite was banned by Smogon by it's still legal in VGC so I intend to keep using it for that purpose. I honestly don't even use it much, my team usually wins before I need to bring out my 3rd or 4th Pokemon. This is just a standard mega Gengar set, pretty reliable, helps take out annoying water and rock types that wreck my Garchomp, Mamoswine and Talonflame.
Scizor @ Iron Plate
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Swords Dance
- Pursuit
- Acrobatics
Swords Dance/Bullet Punch is a very useful all-around move combo that 2HKO's most opponents. Also completely obliterates Fairy and Rock types. Pursuit hardly ever gets used, willing to swap that with something else. Acrobatics is just there for type coverage. I'm thinking about running Protect since no one else on my team has it. Overall Scizor is very useful though.
Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Aerial Ace
Talonflame, as has been well established by now, is a beast. No set-up required and 1 or 2HKO's almost everything. I don't think there's much that can be improved here, besides maybe aerial ace. U-turn is useful for taking out Psychics, which beisdes Gengar I don't really have a counter for. I often send her out with either Garchomp or Mamoswine so they can EQ with no hesitation.
Garchomp @ Garchompite
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 16 Atk / 252 SAtk / 240 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
- Draco Meteor
This is where I feel my team could use a different Pokemon alltogether. As I mentioned earlier, half my team has a weakness to water. While Garchomp is great on its own I don't think he has great synergy with the rest of my team. He does work well with Talonflame though, as EQ takes out most Stone Edge/Rock Slide users that Talon hates.
Mamoswine @ Life Orb
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Stealth Rock
A bit more attached to Mamoswine than Garchomp, since he's much more effective at taking out other dragons. Since this guy rarely outspeeds anything anyway I'm thinking it might be better to max out his Defense instead, considering no one else on my team has any real bulk. I rarely ever use Stealth Rock, thinking another physical attack should go there for more type coverage.
Cloyster @ King's Rock
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Shell Smash
- Razor Shell
Standard Skill Link Cloyster. I usually send him out first unless I see too many electric users on the opponents team. Set up with Shell Smash, sweep with Icicle Spear or Rock Blast. Razor Shell is hardly ever used, considering switching it out with Stealth Rocks or something else. Overall he's pretty hit-or-miss, if my opponent doesn't have an answer for him he sweeps, if not he's gone in two turns.
Gengar @ Gengarite
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast
- Sludge Bomb
- Thunderbolt
I know Gengarite was banned by Smogon by it's still legal in VGC so I intend to keep using it for that purpose. I honestly don't even use it much, my team usually wins before I need to bring out my 3rd or 4th Pokemon. This is just a standard mega Gengar set, pretty reliable, helps take out annoying water and rock types that wreck my Garchomp, Mamoswine and Talonflame.
Scizor @ Iron Plate
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Swords Dance
- Pursuit
- Acrobatics
Swords Dance/Bullet Punch is a very useful all-around move combo that 2HKO's most opponents. Also completely obliterates Fairy and Rock types. Pursuit hardly ever gets used, willing to swap that with something else. Acrobatics is just there for type coverage. I'm thinking about running Protect since no one else on my team has it. Overall Scizor is very useful though.
Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Brave Bird
- U-turn
- Aerial Ace
Talonflame, as has been well established by now, is a beast. No set-up required and 1 or 2HKO's almost everything. I don't think there's much that can be improved here, besides maybe aerial ace. U-turn is useful for taking out Psychics, which beisdes Gengar I don't really have a counter for. I often send her out with either Garchomp or Mamoswine so they can EQ with no hesitation.
Garchomp @ Garchompite
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 16 Atk / 252 SAtk / 240 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
- Draco Meteor
This is where I feel my team could use a different Pokemon alltogether. As I mentioned earlier, half my team has a weakness to water. While Garchomp is great on its own I don't think he has great synergy with the rest of my team. He does work well with Talonflame though, as EQ takes out most Stone Edge/Rock Slide users that Talon hates.
Mamoswine @ Life Orb
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Stealth Rock
A bit more attached to Mamoswine than Garchomp, since he's much more effective at taking out other dragons. Since this guy rarely outspeeds anything anyway I'm thinking it might be better to max out his Defense instead, considering no one else on my team has any real bulk. I rarely ever use Stealth Rock, thinking another physical attack should go there for more type coverage.
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