XY LC In need of strategy

TheAmazingFacedesk

I decided to throw together a real quick LC team with no strategy, just some stuff I've learned from browsing teambuilding LC videos on YouTube.

Hippopotas @ Smooth Rock
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 212 Def / 180 SpD / 116 Atk
- Protect
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Crunch

Hippopotas was just a base for my team, because I knew I was going to be utilizing a Sand Rush Drilbur, so I figured a Hippopotas with Sand Stream with elongated Sandstorm would make it a lot easier than just getting a Drilbur that knew sandstorm, even though mine still knows it anyways. Hippopotas is a set-up Pokemon, and just for a last resort or sacrifice one Sandstorm and Stealth Rock are up.

Drilbur @ Muscle Band
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 212 Spe / 236 Atk / 60 SpD
- Earthquake
- Sandstorm
- Poison Jab
- X-Scissor

This Drilbur was something I got off of a beginner LC teambuilding tutorial that was really easy to just send out and dominate with. (if the Hippopotas is sent out beforehand) It really is strong, but I find that Poison Jab and X-Scissor aren't great with it, and the sandstorm on it is useless, seeing as I don't have to use that. Any suggestions for new moves in the place of those three would be great.

Fletchling @ No Item
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Def / 212 SpD / 44 Atk
- Acrobatics
- Aerial Ace
- Roost
- U-turn

I got this Fletchling from a good friend of mine who used to whoop me at LC. It is really strong, but only moves I have a use for are Acrobatics and U-Turn. Roost is only something I'll use if it really comes down to it, and Aerial Ace is just obsolete with Acrobatics. Any good replacements for those moves would be the only thing I ask for, because otherwise, this is a really useful and reliable Pokemon.

Aipom @ Silk Scarf
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 236 Spe / 196 Atk / 76 SpD
- Knock Off
- Fake Out
- Double Slap
- Fury Swipes

This is another one I got from a good friend, and the one I see the least problem with, except for having two multi-hit moves. Double Slap and Fury Swipes are the only two I would need to see a replacement for, although a replacement for just Double Slap is good because Fury Swipes is a lot more useful in the long run.

Carvahna @ Life Orb
Ability: Rough Skin
EVs: 196 Atk / 196 SpD / 116 Def
- Waterfall
- Aqua Jet
- Crunch
- Destiny Bond

I got this one from pretty much every team I fought on LC. A lot of people run this Carvahna, but I feel like it would be a lot better with a replacement for Destiny Bond, and give or take a replacement for Aqua Jet or Crunch. This Carvahna is kind of predictable, especially if you're facing someone who also runs it, but it's pretty easy to use and really strong.

Snivy @ Quick Claw
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 236 SpD / 36 Atk
- Leaf Blade
- Leaf Storm
- Toxic
- Knock Off

This is the only Pokemon I urgently need a replacement for, because the only things it has going for it is that it has Toxic and its fast. It's not strategic, not useful, not a good Pokemon to use in LC in any way. My team would be a lot better with a replacement for it, because it's ungodly how bad this thing is...


So, if anybody knows of anything that could make this team better and improve it, that would be awesome, because I suck at teambuilding. Thanks!
 
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Yo TheAmazingFacedesk, it's going to be very hard for people to rate this team considering it's not formatted properly *_*. Some quick things: None of your mons have EVs (I assume this is a formatting issue). Also most of your Pokemon have some suboptimal sets, but this can be fixed, so don't worry! If you reformat it, I'd be happy to rate this team ^_^. Just shoot me a VM if/when you change it!

P.S. The format should look like this:
Pokemon @ Item
Ability
EV spread
- Move 1
- Move 2
- Move 3
- Move 4

Description (3 Lines or more)
 
HollowRidley said:
Yo TheAmazingFacedesk, it's going to be very hard for people to rate this team considering it's not formatted properly *_*. Some quick things: None of your mons have EVs (I assume this is a formatting issue). Also most of your Pokemon have some suboptimal sets, but this can be fixed, so don't worry! If you reformat it, I'd be happy to rate this team ^_^. Just shoot me a VM if/when you change it!

P.S. The format should look like this:
Pokemon @ Item
Ability
EV spread
- Move 1
- Move 2
- Move 3
- Move 4

Description (3 Lines or more)
Click to expand...
I am such a pleb... I'll reformat it. Mistake on my part.
 
TheAmazingFacedesk said:
REFORMATTED... Hope this is correctly formatted...
Click to expand...

Ah, this improved format is much better :). I really like that you went for a Sand team, Weather is always a very fun strategy imo n_n.

Let's start off with your Hippopotas. Obviously it's functioning as your Sand Setter, but we can improve it's set a bit. This way it can better do it's job! Starting off, let's change Smooth Rock to Eviolite. While you lose 3 turns of Sand, you gain much needed bulk. With this new and improved bulk, it will gain the opportunities to switch in and set up Sand multiple times throughout the match. Next we can change the moves to Stealth Rock / Earthquake / Slack Off / Rock Tomb. Slack Off in conjunction with Eviolite amplifies Hippopotas's natural bulk. Rock Tomb allows you too better check Fletchling, who looks to be a problem for you. Finally, we can modify the EV spread to 212 HP / 20 Atk / 212 Def / 20 SpD / 20 Spe with an Impish Nature, again increasing your overall bulk.

Next up is your Sand Rush Sweeper, Drilbur. Your set only needs some minor edits, and then it will be good to go! Let's change the item from Muscle Band to a Life Orb. This way you gain a bigger boost in power. It's not like the HP drop is that big of a deal, considering it functions as a late game cleaner. Just make the moves Earthquake / Rock Slide / Rapid Spin / Poison Jab for superior coverage. An Adamant nature should be perfect, since with Sand Rush speed won't be an issue.

For Fletchling, the only changes I recommend are changing Aerial Ace for Overheat, and switching to an EV spread of 156 HP / 200 Atk / 92 Def / 40 SpA / 20 Spe Naughty Nature. Pretty self explanatory imo, as these changes let Fletch revenge kill and do good damage to opposing teams.

Similar to Fletchling, your Aipom set looks good and only requires some minor tweaking.
Just change Double Slap to U-turn, and run a spread of 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe Jolly Nature. These changes will maximize Aipom's Attack and Speed, while also allowing it to U-turn in conjunction with Fletchling and my next suggestion.

So your team seems fairly weak to opposing Fletchling. For this reason, I recommend changing Carvanha to Chinchou, in order to alleviate this problem. Specifically, I would suggest using an Offensive Berry Juice set. It both forms a VoltTurn core with Fletchling and Aipom, and also acts as a reliable offensive pivot.

Unfortunately, Snivy is simply not a good pokemon in Little Cup. Let's change it to a Pumpkaboo-Super. Run Synthesis / Will-O-Wisp / Bullet Seed / Shadow Sneak, and use a spread of 204 HP / 116 Def / 156 SpDef / 32 Spe with a Bold Nature. This makes Pumpkaboo extremely bulky, providing good defensive synergy with the rest of the team, making it an excellent choice.

And that's it! I do see some problems, such as a lack of a solid Fighting check, and a lack of a fighting type yourself. However, I think this team has a lot of potential. Good luck on the ladder!

Hippopotas @ Eviolite
Level: 5
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 212 HP / 20 Atk / 212 Def / 20 SpD / 20 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Rock Tomb

Drilbur @ Life Orb
Level: 5
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Rock Slide
- Poison Jab

Fletchling
Level: 5
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 156 HP / 200 Atk / 92 Def / 40 SpA / 20 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Acrobatics
- U-turn
- Roost
- Overheat

Aipom @ Life Orb
Level: 5
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fury Swipes
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Fake Out

Chinchou @ Berry Juice
Level: 5
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 76 HP / 212 Def / 152 SpA / 60 Spe
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Volt Switch
- Heal Bell
- Hidden Power Ground

Pumpkaboo-Super @ Eviolite
Level: 5
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 204 HP / 116 Def / 156 SpDef / 32 Spe
Bold Nature
- Synthesis
- Will-O-Wisp
- Bullet Seed
- Shadow Sneak

Tagging: TheAmazingFacedesk to let him know the rate is done
Corporal Levi & Yagura because they are both excellent raters
And Eren Yeager because he took advantage of my fat fingers and sniped me >:[
(Actually Eren's suggestion of Foongus is p good)
 
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Take this with basically like a grain of salt or two, because I am not the best LC player out there. Somebody better will come and help you, like Yagura.
Anyway, I will take a safer play and replace Snivy. So if you want a grass type that can support your team in the last slot, I would suggest trying out
LILEEP OVER SNIVY.
I would suggest this, because Lileep does benefit from the sand, gaining a special defense boost. Lileep can also switch into the water types that threaten both drilbur and hippopotas, because not only does lileep resist water type moves, it's ability actually makes it immune to water type moves. Lileep also has more longevity than Snivy because it has recover
A lileep set would be:

Lileep @ Eviolite
Level: 5
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 228 HP / 140 Def / 140 SpD
Calm Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Giga Drain
- Recover
- Ancient Power

Remember, take this suggestion with a grain of salt, and someone better will come and rate your team and give you very qualified, good advice. Good Luck!
 
Hi TheAmazingFacedesk, this is a very cool offensive team. Welcome to LC!

Ninja'ing HollowRidley for his unfinished second half of his rate. :]

I agree with all of HollowRidley's suggestions which makes Drilbur a terrifying sand sweeper and Fletchling being able to do a lot of damage to steel types such as Pawniard and Fletchling.

For Aipom, I would like to suggest Life Orb over Silk Scarf on it and with a moveset of Fake Out / Fury Swipes / Knock Off / U-Turn. With a Life Orb over Silk Scarf, Aipom will be able to win 1v1 versus Mienfoo and do more damage in general only to make you a bigger threat only at the cost of 10% of your HP. There's no reason to use Fury Swipes and DoubleSlap together since Fury Swipes has more power and lets it win with Fake Out versus Mienfoo while the combination of Fake Out and DoubleSlap doesn't. U-Turn is also very important to gain offensive momentum when your opponent fears Fury Swipes or the Fake Out.
Aipom @ Life Orb
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Fury Swipes
- Knock Off
- U-turn

Next, I would suggest Carvanha to have Speed Boost over Rough Skin. Carvanha is too frail to take a hit or two and that will result in your opponent not taking a lot of damage from it. Speed Boost on the other hand boosts your speed by 1 every turn which gives you a high chance to sweep or clean up late game. An EV spread of 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe with an Adamant Nature will benefit Carvanha by giving it 1 more stat in its defenses and giving it a lot of attack power to sweep with Waterfall, Crunch, and Aqua Jet or Zen Headbutt to deal with Foongus. There are 0 HP IVs for the Life Orb set because if you have 19 HP, you only take 1 HP from Life Orb, letting you getting in more hits.

Carvanha @ Life Orb
Level: 5
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
IVs: 0 HP
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Crunch
- Protect
- Aqua Jet / Zen Headbutt / Destiny Bond

Snivy is not that useful in LC due to it not having access to Contrary so I think Foongus over Snivy would be a good replacement. Foongus is an amazing pokemon in this meta due to its amazing dual typing in Grass and Poison and the ability to send off Spores, which can be really helpful if you want to hinder a potential sweeper on your opponent's side. Foongus also has Regenerator to heal back the damage that it took and makes its longevity on the battlefield much longer and has pretty good synergy with Carvanha. Your team also has a problem with Ferroseed, so Hidden Power Fire would be a good choice on Foongus to 2HKO it. Foongus can be used to cover your Chinchou weakness since the combination of Water and Electric can severely hurt your team, but Foongus can deal with it. The rare Ice Beam Chinchou doesn't 2HKO Foongus if you're wondering.

Foongus @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 124 HP / 156 Def / 156 SpD
Bold Nature
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power [Fire]

That's all the suggestions I have for now. Good luck in your future battles! :)
 
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Thanks guys! I added in some of your guys' stuff to my team, and I've decided a really good final product.

Hippopotas @ Eviolite
Level: 5
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 212 HP / 20 Atk / 212 Def / 20 SpD / 20 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Slack Off
- Rock Tomb


Drilbur @ Life Orb
Level: 5
Ability: Sand Rush
EVs: 36 HP / 236 Atk / 212 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Rock Slide
- Poison Jab

Fletchling
Level: 5
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 156 HP / 200 Atk / 92 Def / 40 SpA / 20 Spe
Naughty Nature
- Acrobatics
- U-turn
- Roost
- Overheat

Aipom @ Life Orb
Level: 5
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 76 HP / 196 Atk / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fury Swipes
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Fake Out

Chinchou @ Berry Juice
Level: 5
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 76 HP / 212 Def / 152 SpA / 60 Spe
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Volt Switch
- Heal Bell
- Hidden Power Ground

Foongus @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 124 HP / 156 Def / 156 SpD
Bold Nature
- Spore
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power [Fire]

Thanks again. This really improved my team, and they're just climbing up the ladder. Also, Chinchou with Berry Juice is such a tank... and the Foongus is just such a great set-up Pokemon, and it's been beating Chinchous.

Thanks to: HollowRidley
SilentMango
and Eren Yeagar for critiquing my team and making it better.
 
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