My first OU Team (Constructive Criticism is Appreciated)

Hello Everyone, So this is my first OU team (Actually to be honest this is my first team using smogon rakings altogether but oh well) and while I have been testing it on Showdown and I have had some good luck with it so far I just wanted to see what other people thought, so constructive criticism is appreciated. My team for the most part consists of what I consider some of my favorites out of the list of OU Pokemon and then some.

Ok so here is the team:

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Michelin (Donphan) @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Shard
- Rock Slide

Everyone's favorite Tire Elephant thing is on my team, from what I can tell he has an average moveset. Earthquake is kind of staple, almost every other Dophan has one so it clearly is a thing. Rapid Spin to take care of them pesky rocks and spikes. Ice Shard comes in handy for pokemon like Gliscor, and it's also priority so that helps too. Rock Slide is useful for Charizard Y, Talonflame, a lot of things that fly or have a fear of rocks. He has adamant nature because he has all physical based moves.

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Wyvern (Aerodactyl) (M) @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Rock Head
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Taunt
- Earthquake
- Smack Down
- Ice Fang

Aerodactyl is my favorite fossil Pokemon, and his Mega form makes me like him even more (He has a rock beard, beards are cool). Anyway he is a fast attacker, while he may be a bit frail he does come in handy. He has taunt to counter things such as Mandibuzz or anything else I think may try use a status based move. Earthquake is staple, don't think I have to explain anything there. Smack Down is interesting. Originally I was using rock slide, however, I had the idea when I was battling my friend Gliscor. Smack Down counters anything that flies or levitates. The only issue here is that the move common levitator in OU is a bloody Wash Machine (Rotom Wash). So unless in a situation I can predict that person switching into one, kind of risky because it does not pack as much of a punch as rock slide. (So that's another question for you lovely people of Smogon, Rock Slide or Smack Down) also Ice Fang should be fairly obvious. (at least I think)


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BOOP (Breloom) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Mach Punch
- Spore
- Rock Tomb
- Bullet Seed

Breloom is my favorite Grass type from Gen 3 (*Crosses fingers for mega form). Anyway he is pretty standard as well. Mach Punch is useful for your average Ice Types, Dark Types, Rocks, etc. Spore, because sometimes your opponent sometimes needs a nap. Rock Tomb is useful for flying types, electric, etc. It also lowers speed which is nice. I mainly use bullet seed to abuse Technician. (also his nickname is a RWBY reference, and also whenever he uses Mach Punch for some reason I can imagine it saying "Boop")

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Mr.Tweetums (Talonflame) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 158 HP / 252 Atk / 98 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- Roost
- Protect

Yup. Talonflame, one of the greatest things to ever come of of Gen 6 (or worst, guess it depends on what side your standing on when facing it, unless you have a heatran) Pretty standard for the most part. Brave Bird, while risky at times, is useful for grass types such as Venusaur, and it's dreaded Mega Form (It Mega Venusaur...a lot...) Anyway, flare blitz while it's also risky, is useful for steel types. Roost comes in handy, however I don't find myself using it because I know I am going to die anyway most of the time even if I try to use Roost. I also run Protect, to be honest I was debating between this and Swords Dance, however Swords Dance has the same reasons behind it as roost. (Also his name is a Yugioh Abridged Reference)

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Doppleganger (Ditto) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SDef
Bold Nature
- Transform

Yes I know. Really Ditto? Why? Why would you. You're nuts man While it to I guess it also situational it can come in handy. It's very useful for pokemon that have gained a few stat boosts such as calm mind or swords dance (Mega Gyarados, Dragonite, Volcarona come to mind). It copies them and uses there own gained power against them, which I find comical. So I guess Ditto is the comic relief of this team. It can also be a good wall depending on what the opposite team has. I find myself copying Rotom Wash, or Goodra just to have a decent wall)

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Chili Dogs (Jolteon) @ Life Orb
Ability: Volt Absorb
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Shadow Ball

(Sonic The Hedgehog reference anyone? No. Ok) Anyway Jolteon is my favorite Eevee evolution. It's fast, great special attack, and his design looks pretty cool, well to me anyway. Thunderbolt I would think is a staple but then again I am asking you guys. Volt Switch to get out of a situation and still cause a bit of damage. Hidden Power Ice is a secret weapon for me. It's useful for most Dragons (except Goodra and Kindra). Also Shadow is good for other ghosts, like Gengar and in some cases Aegislash. While I do admit it's frail it can pack quite a punch.


I do realize a few flaws in the team so far. There is no real walls, most of the Pokemon are a bit frail except maybe Donphan and Ditto depending what I get it to turn into. Pokemon I notice this team mainly having problems with are Goodra, and Mega Pinsir. While there is no real running theme for my team, I would just like to hear you guys thought to make this team a bit more, I guess, balanced? Also while I know I said a lot of these are some of my favorites, feel free to suggest something that would play a certain role better.

I really appreciate the input, thank you. :D
 
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OK I have looked through your team and here are the changes I suggest:

  • Replace Donphan with Excadrill, I personally think Donphan is a very mediocre pokemon and doesn't pose any where near the threat excadrill does:
Excadrill @ Air Balloon
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Iron Head
  • With Aerodactyl I would run this set over what you currently have, It is the standard set used by most people and provides better coverage and STAB than you currently have:
move 1: Stone Edge
move 2: Ice Fang / Aqua Tail
move 3: Earthquake / Fire Fang
move 4: Aerial Ace / Stealth Rock
ability: Pressure
item: Aerodactylite
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
  • Breloom Needs Focus sash so that it can guarantee at least one spore.
  • Your Talonflame set is interesting, based on how you describe I recommend you use a banded set if you rarely roost:
    move 1: Brave Bird
    move 2: Flare Blitz
    move 3: U-turn
    move 4: Tailwind
    ability: Gale Wings
    item: Choice Band
    evs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
    nature: Adamant
  • Ditto is rather gimmicky, but that is your call :P
  • And Jolteon is completely outclassed by thundurus in almost every way so use Thunurus with this set instead:
    move 1: Thunder Wave
    move 2: Thunderbolt
    move 3: Hidden Power Ice
    move 4: Focus Blast / Taunt
    ability: Prankster
    item: Life Orb / Leftovers
    nature: Timid
    evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hope it helps patch up some of your problems. These are just fixes to your current team however I would probably suggest looking into some Completely different pokemon to reshuffle your team a bit so that it has needed walls etc.
-Frozen
 
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