Other Metagames [Monotype] How's My Bug Team?

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Hey, so I'm kinda new to competitive pokemon so I did the only logical thing and decided to create a mono team for one of the weakest types in the game. This is what I have so far.


galvantula.gif

Galvantula @ Focus Sash
Ability: Compound Eyes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Energy Ball
- Bug Buzz
- Thunder Wave

I know what you're saying: "how can you lead with Galvantula and not have Sticky Web"? Well, I have to give Scizor defog due to the devastation stealth rocks can cause to this team, and if I'm removing all set ups in the first place, why even bother with sticky web? Galvantula's high speed usually lets it outspeed other leads. Its Compound Eyes increases the accuracy of attacks (that's why I'm using thunder over thunderbolt), energy ball covers against ground types, bug buzz is his strongest bug STAB move, and Thunder Wave causes guaranteed paralysis.

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(Thanks Lax for finding the sprite for me lol)
Beedrill-Mega @ Beedrillite
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- X-Scissor
- Poison Jab
- Drill Run

Mega-Beedrill is a reliable sweeper. Protect is necessary to get its speed boost after mega evolving. X-Scissor and Poison Jab are its two most reliable STAB moves (with poison jab having 30% chance to poison in addition to the damage) with Adaptability increasing the strength of those STAB moves to 2x damage. Drill Run gives Beedrill coverage against fire, electric, poison, rock, steel.

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Volcarona @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
- Fiery Dance
- Roost
- Bug Buzz
- Quiver Dance

I built this team around Volcarona and I honestly think it's the strongest pokemon on this team (except vs rocks, RIP). Quiver dance boosts SpA, SpD, and Speed so just one use is enough to make Volcarona a deadly sweeper. Bug buzz is (again) the best special bug move. Although flamethrower is slightly stronger than fiery dance and has a burn chance, that 50% chance to boost SpA is too good to pass up (flame body also keeps that burn chance on the field). In addition, the combination of roost and leftovers give Volcarona the bulk to stay in battle and sweep.

I've been thinking of replacing leftovers with a lum berry to defend against para/toxic or even a Charti berry to reduce the likelihood of it being OHKO from rock slide, but I think Leftovers are better in the long run.

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Scizor @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Defog
- Swords Dance
- Bullet Punch
- Thief

Scizor is great for three reasons: to get rid of entry hazards, get rid of annoying held items, and sweep with bullet punch (as well as stand in a sandstorm and not take damage lol). Technician boosts bullet punch from 60 to 90 damage; after adding the STAB bonus onto that, a few swords dances, and the priority boost gives Scizor a real chance to sweep. Defog is an absolute necessity with Volcarona and Yanmega both being 4x weak to stealth rock.

I know Scizor can learn Knock off, but with it being 65 damage it isn't boosted by technician. I chose Thief because (a) it does 90 damage thanks to technician (which is the same as knock off when its boosted when the opponent holds an item) and (b) once Scizor eats its Sitrus Berry, it can take away the opponent's item while also giving it to Scizor.

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Heracross @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Megahorn
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Close Combat

The strength sweeper. Although I switched back and forth, guts is prefered over moxie to counter will-o-wisp/toxic users. The choice scarf allows Hera to outspeed much of its competition and, thanks to the wide spread of moves and the fact that I fight in mono, sticking to one move usually doesn't hurt too much. Hera isn't meant to do much more than be a devastating physical tank (although that doesn't mean he's weak by any means).

I've been thinking of replacing Scarf with Band; what do you think?

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OG-mega (Yanmega) @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 SpA / 56 SpD / 200 Spe
Modest Nature
- Protect
- Air Slash
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Ice]


Yanmega has two fantastic abilities in speed boost and tinted lens. I chose speed boost due to Yanmega's wide move pool as at least one of its moves are at least regularly effective. Protect is used to get one speed boost off. Even though it's a great stab move, I don't use bug buzz for two reasons; (a) I want to provide coverage that the rest of my team lacks; grass is only used by Galvantula (which usually dies since it's a lead) and no pokemon has an ice or flying type move. And (b) every other pokemon (besides Scizor) knows a bug type move so having it isn't as necessary as the other moves here.


Notes

My original team had Armaldo in place of Galvantula and Scolipede in place of Beedrill. While both those pokemon have great advantages (Armaldo's rapid spin and Scolipede's speed boost/poison point), I ultimately found Armaldo too slow and too weak to do anything and prefered Galvantula due to it's access to electric moves. I only removed Scolipede because Mega-Beedrill would've given me 2 bug/poison types (which is fine but something I'd like to avoid). In addition, Scolipede was mainly only used as a hyper offensive tank with a near identical move set as Heracross; I ultimately prefered Mega-Beedrill instant speed and 2x STAB ability to Scolipede.​
 
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Yeah this is a pretty solid team, but I have some comments that can help. I really think Galvantula's should be running Sticky Web, probably over
Energy Ball or Thunder Wave because of its effectiveness, and if you make that change I feel as though a Forretress would work well over your current Scizor set as it offers you removal that does get rid of galvantula's webs, as well as rocks and spikes. Another option is to make Galvantula Life Orb or Choice Specs with Volt Switch > Thunder Wave, which gives you a solid electric check.


Unfortunately, Mega Beedrill doesn't work that well with Sticky Web if you choose to use it. and it's sort of redundant with its blazing speed. I'd actually suggest replacing it with Mega Pinsir, which gives you strong priority, and what I would say is a superior Steel-type check with Close Combat and/or Earthquake.

Regardless if you make Galvantula Sticky Web or not, Volcarona should run Hidden Power Ground > Bug Buzz to help your Steel Matchup as well, and it helps you hit heatran on steel and some fire-types.
 
Hey, cool team! :O here's a rate:

Regarding your galv set, I don't really see a use for T-Wave. Originally, some players ran t wave in the past to paralyze zard x's that tried to set up, but even then it's not as useful. Galv is already fast and it usually goes for webs then tries to hit as hard as possible. That being said, I believe you should run Hidden Power Ice > Thunder Wave. HP Ice is a really nice move as it hits some normal threats to bug types such as chomp, lando, and gliscor really hard. Gliscor walls a percentage of bug teams, chomp is super threatening with its edgequake + fire blast combo and lando is also a threat because bug has no switch in to earth power and any of lando's other coverage moves. The next thing I'd suggest is Sticky Web > Bug Buzz. Webs is really the main reason people use galv as it is its very own niche. Webs help out vs grounded scarf users or any mon and slows them down exponentially. And because you're a bug team, you already have enough bug stab so you could easily replace that for better use of galv's coverage.

Next thing I noticed is your beedrill set. I'd definitely recommend U-Turn > X-Scissor because u-turn hits nearly as hard and has an amazing role, momentum. Momentum is extremely necessary for your team as since beedrill actually gets walled by a lot of physical walls, you could easily hit them with a decently powerful u-turn and switch out into a mon that can pressure the wall out, like volc and skarmory. One of the reasons bee is good is it hits hard and fast and the momentum that it comes with.

3rd thing is that because of how atrocious the bug vs steel matchup usually is, I'd for sure go for Hidden Power Ground > Bug Buzz on volcarona. You may be thinking that I'm getting rid of all your bug stab, but this change is nearly a necessity. Without HP Ground, volc won't be able to pressure steel as much due to heatran completely walling the set and you'll struggle a bunch with the regular steel core of doublade, skarm, and tran. Running HP Ground completely destroys this core as all that tran can do is maybe ancient power/toxic but you'd have removed tran from the field after taking whatever it throws at you. With that being said, status is a threat. Whether it is toxic or t wave, both cripple volc and may remove its sweeping potential. Therefore, I'd definitely run Lum Berry > Leftovers allowing you to take any status, set up or attack and give you a second chance at status.

Final thing is, I noticed your lack of reliable hazard removal and lack of rocks. Rock are definitely a necessity so to fulfill both these roles, I'd suggest Armaldo > Scizor. Armaldo has access to above standard bulk, stealth rocks, and spin. Rocks are a complete necessity as they help in so many matchups, not only against types like fire, flying, and ice, which rocks are effective vs. They help with everything from breaking sash and sturdy to just wearing down your opponent. Spin is to get rid of hazards because rocks wear down your team really quickly because bugs are weak to it.​
That's what I have! Here are the sets:
Galvantula @ Focus Sash
Ability: Compound Eyes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunder
- Energy Ball
- Sticky Web
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Beedrill-Mega @ Beedrillite
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- U-Turn
- Poison Jab
- Drill Run

Volcarona @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 252 HP / 204 Def / 52 Spe
Bold Nature
- Fiery Dance
- Roost
- Hidden Power [Ground]
- Quiver Dance

Armaldo @ Leftovers
Ability: Battle Armor
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Def
Careful Nature
- Stone Edge
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Knock Off
gl :)

edit: here's your beedrill
beedrill-mega.gif

 
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