SS LC My First Functional Team

[La Belle Tinker]

I'm fairly new to competitive Pokemon and this is the first team I've built (using mostly pre-built parts) that has let me win more often than I lose. I'm hitting something of a ceiling around 1400 ELO, though, and am wondering if there's something I can change about it or if I just need to get better at strategy and prediction. I've noted that I especially struggle with teams that switch a lot, especially with U-Turn Larvesta.

Here's the team on PokePaste and I've also put it in a spoiler below. I appreciate the help!

Plain Text Team

Punch Girl (Mienfoo) (F) @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- High Jump Kick
- U-turn
- Knock Off
- Fake Out
This is a standard Mienfoo pivot and most common lead. She can take a good number of hits (even Diglet's Earthquake if at high HP) and do a lot of damage before switching out. She also absorbs Knock Off because, while eviolite helps a lot, it's not required to do her job thanks to Fake Out, good speed, and regenerator.

Lovely Bunch (Grookey) @ Grassy Seed
Ability: Grassy Surge
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Grassy Glide
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Acrobatics
Grookey is not used as often as some of the others, but when she is she's often a match-winner. Grassy Glide obviously helps with revenge killing, but Grassy Seed plus Acrobatics allows her to absorb Knock Off and retaliate againt Mienfoo and other Grookey. Her own Knock Off and drain punch can let her surprise common switch-ins like Natu and Pawniard.

There Is No Spoon (Abra) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Magic Guard
Level: 5
EVs: 236 SpA / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Dazzling Gleam
- Protect
Another standard set. Abra can handily take out a number of common threats, such as Natu, fighting types, and the ever-annoying poison walls. With Dazzling Gleam and good prediction she can even remove dangerous would-be counters like Carvanha. Sash ensures that she can get the job done even with priority or the occasional faster Pokemon she might be called on to deal with..

A Snek! (Onix) (F) @ Berry Juice
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Blast
- Stealth Rock
- Explosion
Onix is an excellent hazard setter and wall breaker. She often baits in Natu and can often OHKO with Rock Blast. Explosion is also very useful to remove threats like Grookey when they bring her to her last Sturdy use. She does have to be very wary of hazards, though, as that breaks Sturdy (though Grookey's grassy terrain can cancel out Stealth Rocks).

Monch (Mareanie) (F) @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 116 HP / 12 Atk / 180 Def / 12 SpA / 180 SpD
Bold Nature
- Recover
- Scald
- Knock Off
- Sludge Bomb
Your basic wall Mareanie. Both an excellent check to opposing Mienfoo and an excellent partner to her own teammate with the matched Regenerator. Knock Off can satisfyingly catch some switch-ins and even would-be counters like Natu and Abra off-guard, KOing as they come in. If opposing Knock Off users can be removed, she can potentially wall almost anything without super-effective moves while letting burn or poison damage rack up.

Om nom nom (Carvanha) (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Speed Boost
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Crunch
- Protect
- Psychic Fangs
- Liquidation
Carvanha has both the biggest risk and biggest reward potential. If she can come in safely she can potentially sweep entire teams. Even opposing Agility or Shell Smash users need to be wary of whether they decide to respond to a predicted Protect on her first turn by boosting their speed to match, because if they do she can OHKO many of them that turn, and with two boosts she outspeeds most revenge killers. Liquidation is used instead of Flip Turn here because she's meant to be a late game sweeper or cleaner. If she needs to switch out something's gone wrong.

 

[EeveeWillEatYou]

I feel like your team lacks a structure with breaking, maybe try starting with a offensive core. Also don’t forget to change the gender of your Pokémon

 

[DuGuo]

Hello, I have some simple suggestions about your team - I don't want to change your team much, so I only provide some suggestions on your sets.

First of all, it's obvious that your team has two sweepers, grassy seed brookey and liquidity carvanha, and because of their configuration, you can only perform sweeps in the later stage of the game, which means you may encounter some difficulties in the early stage of the game. That's why you struggle with teams that switch a lot.
I think it's a good idea to replace brookey's set with life orb's set or let carvanha use flip turn Of course, if you do this at the same time, your team will be more aggressive in the early stage of the game.

Next, Abra rarely uses dazzling gleam now. Because it carries focus sash, counter may be a better choice. If you choose life orb, submission or drain punch may be a better choice (by the way, Abra of life orb is more suitable for protection, while Abra of shed shell is more suitable for substitute + focus punch. Of course, you can also use four attack moves). It all depends on your preference.

These suggestions are only related to some sets of your team. I think it needs to be improved. You can complete it through ladder practice. I wish you have a good time in LC!

By the way, regarding the Onix of this set, my friend grankie and I also built a team: This is a team that hasn't gone through many tests. I only tested a few on 1600 ELO, and it performed well