Hi, everyone.
First time poster here, so please forgive my noobiness.
First attempt at team building, trying to get myself back in the competitive process (was pretty active in RBY and GSC, and yes, that was forever and a half ago...)
The reasoning behind this team is using Venusaur, Poliwrath and Golem. I started from there and built around these three Pokémon.
I know this team is only semi-fonctional, but for my first battling team, I wanted to have fun using Pokémon I particularly like. Which doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement!
Megazord (Venusaur-Mega) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 232 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Synthesis
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Venusaur acts as a special sweeper that can still tanks special hits pretty well. The speed EVs allow it to outspeed Adamant Azumarill, while the SpA and HP EVs are here to make sure that it hits as hard as it can, while still maintaining good bulk.
Giga Drain is grass stab and helps with recovery, while Synthesis is mandatory. STAB Sludge bomb deals with Fairies (Azumarill, Clefable) and helps it yake on any threat that doesn't pack powerfull flying/psychic moves with a high chance of poisoning.
I run HP Fire to deal with Ferrothorn, Scizor, and even dent Mega-Metagross on the switch. The team already have two earthquake users to deal with Heatran.
FeelMyPoliWrath (Poliwrath) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Circle Throw
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Scald
Poliwrath works as my physical wall, and burn-inducer with Scald. Water absorb allows it to switch in water attacks often used against Golem and Gliscor, and it can phaze Pokémon who think they can freely set up on him with Circle Throw. Poliwrath also works pretty well as a Weavile counter, considering Gliscor and Latias struggle a lot with it.
EV spread is pretty self-explainatory, increasing its bulk and letting it deal a little more damage with circle throw.
Grolem @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Sucker Punch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
Golem can fit many roles in the team, depending on what's needed.
It can lead if I feel I really need rocks on the field, and will be sure to set them up with sturdy. It can also act as a surprise damage dealer with weakness policy/sturdy/sucker punch, able to take out frail sweepers like Serperior. With Sucker punch it has a chance to revenge kill things or pack one last hit before going down. It can also tank flying/fire moves that threaten Poliwrath or Venusaur. Stone edge and Earthquake are STAB moves for coverage.
Quincy (Bisharp) @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
Bisharp is a good teammate to both Venusaur and Poliwrath as it can take the Psychic type moves that threatens them both. With Iron head, it can counter fairy types that Venusaur cannot face, like Togekiss, and it deals with Lati@s with ease. It can also revenge kill things with Sucker Punch. If Bisharp can force a switch and set up a Swords dance (or switch in a predicted Defog), it can actually sweep many foes as well.
252 Spe is mandatory to make up for Bisharp's sub-par speed, and the 4 def EVs help him surviving a little longer.
Latias @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 72 HP / 180 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Healing Wish
- Defog
- Psyshock
Even if the team isn't really susceptible to hazards (only one Pokemon weak to rocks, and Venusaur can soak up toxic spikes), Defog almost mandatory on every team. Aside for the type coverage Latias' main asset is Healing Wish since M-Venusaur doesn't like paralysis at all, and would rather not be burned (even if more manageable). Draco meteor is STAB and packs a lot of power, while Psyschock is good to deal with enemies M-Venusaur, Amoonguss, Gengar and Mega-Charizard Y that Golem cannot check due to Solar Beam.
Max speed allows it to speed tie with Gengar, Latios, and other Latias. Leftovers, 72 HP and 4 SpD are increase its staying power, and the remaining EVs are set in Special attack.
BatThingy (Gliscor) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 184 HP / 252 Atk / 72 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Taunt
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
Gliscor is my stallbreaker, and taunt lead when I predict hazard setting or setting up. It can also soak physical moves pretty well and is an excellent late game sweeper if given the opportunity.
72 speed EVs are to outspeed Jolly Tyranitar, and slow variants of Celebi and Tentacruel. Rest of the EV spread is self-explainatory.
Main isues I see with the team after having used it for a good number of games :
- Skarmory can actually wall me to death if I can't shut it down with taunt (I initially had Roost on Gliscor, but Taunt ended up like a necessity after a Skarmory spikes/roared my entire team to death).
- even with max speed, I find Latias is still outsped by many things to the point where I considered giving it a Choice scarf just to make sure it can actually use healing Wish when I really need it, and it is quite frail (replaced its initial Life orb with leftovers for a bit more staying power but still). I wonder if Clefable with Heal Bell could be an alternative, as both a dragon check and a clerk.
- Poli's Scald deals pitiful damage, and aside from the burn chance, it can hardly bring anything down. I wonder if a bulk up set with Waterfall while still tanking pysical damage well couldn't be more effective.
Thank you for your attention, and your suggestions.
First time poster here, so please forgive my noobiness.
First attempt at team building, trying to get myself back in the competitive process (was pretty active in RBY and GSC, and yes, that was forever and a half ago...)
The reasoning behind this team is using Venusaur, Poliwrath and Golem. I started from there and built around these three Pokémon.
I know this team is only semi-fonctional, but for my first battling team, I wanted to have fun using Pokémon I particularly like. Which doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement!
Megazord (Venusaur-Mega) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 232 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 20 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Synthesis
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Venusaur acts as a special sweeper that can still tanks special hits pretty well. The speed EVs allow it to outspeed Adamant Azumarill, while the SpA and HP EVs are here to make sure that it hits as hard as it can, while still maintaining good bulk.
Giga Drain is grass stab and helps with recovery, while Synthesis is mandatory. STAB Sludge bomb deals with Fairies (Azumarill, Clefable) and helps it yake on any threat that doesn't pack powerfull flying/psychic moves with a high chance of poisoning.
I run HP Fire to deal with Ferrothorn, Scizor, and even dent Mega-Metagross on the switch. The team already have two earthquake users to deal with Heatran.
FeelMyPoliWrath (Poliwrath) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Circle Throw
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Scald
Poliwrath works as my physical wall, and burn-inducer with Scald. Water absorb allows it to switch in water attacks often used against Golem and Gliscor, and it can phaze Pokémon who think they can freely set up on him with Circle Throw. Poliwrath also works pretty well as a Weavile counter, considering Gliscor and Latias struggle a lot with it.
EV spread is pretty self-explainatory, increasing its bulk and letting it deal a little more damage with circle throw.
Grolem @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Sucker Punch
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
Golem can fit many roles in the team, depending on what's needed.
It can lead if I feel I really need rocks on the field, and will be sure to set them up with sturdy. It can also act as a surprise damage dealer with weakness policy/sturdy/sucker punch, able to take out frail sweepers like Serperior. With Sucker punch it has a chance to revenge kill things or pack one last hit before going down. It can also tank flying/fire moves that threaten Poliwrath or Venusaur. Stone edge and Earthquake are STAB moves for coverage.
Quincy (Bisharp) @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Swords Dance
Bisharp is a good teammate to both Venusaur and Poliwrath as it can take the Psychic type moves that threatens them both. With Iron head, it can counter fairy types that Venusaur cannot face, like Togekiss, and it deals with Lati@s with ease. It can also revenge kill things with Sucker Punch. If Bisharp can force a switch and set up a Swords dance (or switch in a predicted Defog), it can actually sweep many foes as well.
252 Spe is mandatory to make up for Bisharp's sub-par speed, and the 4 def EVs help him surviving a little longer.
Latias @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 72 HP / 180 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Healing Wish
- Defog
- Psyshock
Even if the team isn't really susceptible to hazards (only one Pokemon weak to rocks, and Venusaur can soak up toxic spikes), Defog almost mandatory on every team. Aside for the type coverage Latias' main asset is Healing Wish since M-Venusaur doesn't like paralysis at all, and would rather not be burned (even if more manageable). Draco meteor is STAB and packs a lot of power, while Psyschock is good to deal with enemies M-Venusaur, Amoonguss, Gengar and Mega-Charizard Y that Golem cannot check due to Solar Beam.
Max speed allows it to speed tie with Gengar, Latios, and other Latias. Leftovers, 72 HP and 4 SpD are increase its staying power, and the remaining EVs are set in Special attack.
BatThingy (Gliscor) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 184 HP / 252 Atk / 72 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Knock Off
- Taunt
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
Gliscor is my stallbreaker, and taunt lead when I predict hazard setting or setting up. It can also soak physical moves pretty well and is an excellent late game sweeper if given the opportunity.
72 speed EVs are to outspeed Jolly Tyranitar, and slow variants of Celebi and Tentacruel. Rest of the EV spread is self-explainatory.
Main isues I see with the team after having used it for a good number of games :
- Skarmory can actually wall me to death if I can't shut it down with taunt (I initially had Roost on Gliscor, but Taunt ended up like a necessity after a Skarmory spikes/roared my entire team to death).
- even with max speed, I find Latias is still outsped by many things to the point where I considered giving it a Choice scarf just to make sure it can actually use healing Wish when I really need it, and it is quite frail (replaced its initial Life orb with leftovers for a bit more staying power but still). I wonder if Clefable with Heal Bell could be an alternative, as both a dragon check and a clerk.
- Poli's Scald deals pitiful damage, and aside from the burn chance, it can hardly bring anything down. I wonder if a bulk up set with Waterfall while still tanking pysical damage well couldn't be more effective.
Thank you for your attention, and your suggestions.
