Hey all,
I'm getting Platinum in a couple of days, the first Pokemon game I've played in YEARS. After hearing about and getting into competitive battling for the first time recently, checking out some of the articles and the Strategy Pokedex, I decided I'd like to build a party in Platinum that I can use in online battles as well. So, an in-game party that can serve as a competitive OU team as well.
Since I'm building a team for the first time, I'm starting from the very simple premise: choose a sweeper, and then choose a number of Pokemon that can, first of all, eliminate threats to your sweeper, and second of all, allow your sweeper to set up. This idea has gotten me as far as the following team of 4 Pokemon, based around DDTar as a late-game sweeper...
Infernape @Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 64 Atk / 252 SpA / 192 Spe
Hasty nature (+Spe, -Def)
- Fake Out
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Blast/Flamethrower
- Close Combat
I really like this LeadApe set, it seems to have potential to get rid of a lot of the common leads. This one I've tried a couple of times in Shoddy, but I don't have a lot of experience in competitive battling, so bare with me. I'm using Infernape as a lead because it sets up SR, gets rid of the opposing lead, and survives often as well. I might need him to counter or revenge kill Scizor later on, because of the huge threat it poses to my sweeper, DDTar.
(Note that I may opt for Flamethrower over Fire Blast since I'm using this Pokemon in-game as well, and it's not exactly handy to have 2 moves with 5PP to beat the E4 with, for example... I'll probably go with Fire Blast after all)
Bronzong @Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
IVs: 0 Spe || EVs: 252 HP / 86 Atk / 80 Def / 92 SpD
Sassy nature (+SpD, -Spe)
- Gyro Ball
- Grass Knot
- Hypnosis
- Earthquake
Bronzong is my mixed wall who serves the purpose of taking care of bulky Ground-types who threaten Tar, such as Donphan, Hippowdon, Rhyperior and Swampert. This is basically the Standard Wall set from the StrategyDex, but with Grass Knot replacing Stealth Rock (LeadApe takes care of SR, Grass Knot shreds Ground-types). There may be better movesets that suit the role Bronzong fits on this team, though, so let loose your suggestions!
Gyarados @Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
- Earthquake
Gyarados also covers some of Tar's threats, such as the bulky Ground types I just mentioned (bar Swampert), and also Gliscor and Lucario. Ice Fang helps take care of Gliscor and the common dragon threats (Mence, etc) and Earthquake takes care of Luke most of the time. Again, this set is basically Offensive Gyarados from the StrategyDex, but a different approach may be better (for example, a more defensive Gyarados), but seeing as I have little to no experience with competitive battling so far, I'd like to hear your suggestions about this.
Tyranitar @Life Orb
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Fire Punch
Fairly straightforward: this is the guy it's all about. DDTar is the late-game sweeper I'm hoping to be able to let loose after the rest of my team has taken care of all possible threats. DD to set up a sweep, Crunch and Stone Edge for two powerful STAB attacks, and Fire Punch to get rid of the extremely dangerous Scizor or other Steel threats if necessary.
------------
Basically, I'm pretty much stuck and out of ideas here. I don't know which 2 Pokemon are ideal to finish off what I started here... What more does this team need? What am I overlooking? Of course, there's probably some essential flaws in what I have already, so can you please help me get rid of those as well? Bare in mind that:
1) This is the first time I'm creating a OU competitive team, so my knowledge and experience is limited
2) This team is going to serve as an in-game team as well
Thanks!
I'm getting Platinum in a couple of days, the first Pokemon game I've played in YEARS. After hearing about and getting into competitive battling for the first time recently, checking out some of the articles and the Strategy Pokedex, I decided I'd like to build a party in Platinum that I can use in online battles as well. So, an in-game party that can serve as a competitive OU team as well.
Since I'm building a team for the first time, I'm starting from the very simple premise: choose a sweeper, and then choose a number of Pokemon that can, first of all, eliminate threats to your sweeper, and second of all, allow your sweeper to set up. This idea has gotten me as far as the following team of 4 Pokemon, based around DDTar as a late-game sweeper...
Infernape @Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 64 Atk / 252 SpA / 192 Spe
Hasty nature (+Spe, -Def)
- Fake Out
- Stealth Rock
- Fire Blast/Flamethrower
- Close Combat
I really like this LeadApe set, it seems to have potential to get rid of a lot of the common leads. This one I've tried a couple of times in Shoddy, but I don't have a lot of experience in competitive battling, so bare with me. I'm using Infernape as a lead because it sets up SR, gets rid of the opposing lead, and survives often as well. I might need him to counter or revenge kill Scizor later on, because of the huge threat it poses to my sweeper, DDTar.
(Note that I may opt for Flamethrower over Fire Blast since I'm using this Pokemon in-game as well, and it's not exactly handy to have 2 moves with 5PP to beat the E4 with, for example... I'll probably go with Fire Blast after all)
Bronzong @Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
IVs: 0 Spe || EVs: 252 HP / 86 Atk / 80 Def / 92 SpD
Sassy nature (+SpD, -Spe)
- Gyro Ball
- Grass Knot
- Hypnosis
- Earthquake
Bronzong is my mixed wall who serves the purpose of taking care of bulky Ground-types who threaten Tar, such as Donphan, Hippowdon, Rhyperior and Swampert. This is basically the Standard Wall set from the StrategyDex, but with Grass Knot replacing Stealth Rock (LeadApe takes care of SR, Grass Knot shreds Ground-types). There may be better movesets that suit the role Bronzong fits on this team, though, so let loose your suggestions!
Gyarados @Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
- Earthquake
Gyarados also covers some of Tar's threats, such as the bulky Ground types I just mentioned (bar Swampert), and also Gliscor and Lucario. Ice Fang helps take care of Gliscor and the common dragon threats (Mence, etc) and Earthquake takes care of Luke most of the time. Again, this set is basically Offensive Gyarados from the StrategyDex, but a different approach may be better (for example, a more defensive Gyarados), but seeing as I have little to no experience with competitive battling so far, I'd like to hear your suggestions about this.
Tyranitar @Life Orb
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 6 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SpA)
- Dragon Dance
- Crunch
- Stone Edge
- Fire Punch
Fairly straightforward: this is the guy it's all about. DDTar is the late-game sweeper I'm hoping to be able to let loose after the rest of my team has taken care of all possible threats. DD to set up a sweep, Crunch and Stone Edge for two powerful STAB attacks, and Fire Punch to get rid of the extremely dangerous Scizor or other Steel threats if necessary.
------------
Basically, I'm pretty much stuck and out of ideas here. I don't know which 2 Pokemon are ideal to finish off what I started here... What more does this team need? What am I overlooking? Of course, there's probably some essential flaws in what I have already, so can you please help me get rid of those as well? Bare in mind that:
1) This is the first time I'm creating a OU competitive team, so my knowledge and experience is limited
2) This team is going to serve as an in-game team as well
Thanks!
