My first team

Red M

Red M

So I recently got into competitive battling and after messing around with teams I saw on RMT, I decided to hunker down and build my own team. I'm not going to bore you with team building details but I will say my goal was to use a few of my favorites in a team that could actually work. I had to drop Raichu and Umbreon from the team after they couldn't pull their weight, but the finished team has brought me success, so without further ado, here is my team.


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Gengar @ Focus Sash
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast
- Destiny Bond

Gengar is my lead 99% of the time. The plan is simple: Use the three attacking moves to KO the opponent's lead. Focus Blast for Tyranitar and Ambipom and Shadow Ball for Deoxys and other Gengars. Thunderbolt for Aerodactyl. I generally KO their lead, and then when they send in their second poke, then I Destiny Bond before they can revenge kill. This way, I can usually take out 2 enemy pokes at the beginning. Sort of a suicide anti-lead, if you will. I was debating a choice scarf over focus sash and trick over focus blast, but i like being able to take a hit, which Gengar lacks.


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Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Trait: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 56 Atk / 200 Def
Impish Nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Taunt
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang

Switch in to a physical attacker, either taunt or SD on the switch, and proceed to own. It's pretty common that I get to +4 attack. EQ is there for STAB, and Ice Fang to deal with dragons. Gliscor takes hits like a champ, and Poison Heal gives him excellent recovery. Blastoise and Slowbro both resist his weaknesses, and he is immune to electric, not to mention that he can switch into fighting moves aimed at Snorlax like a champ.


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Blastoise @ Leftovers
Trait: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Rapid Spin
- Roar

Here he is, the Torrent Turtle himself! Scald is for STAB and to burn, Ice Beam is for coverage, Rapid Spin is there to blow away hazards, and Roar is there to phaze. Spinning and Roar make him invaluable, especially to setup sweepers or baton passers who dont expect to be phazed. He serves as a good counter to smashpass and quiverpass. Volcarona can't touch my team if i roar him out. While my team has no rocks, Blastoise makes sure my opponent can't keep his on the field. Granted, my team isn't weak to any entry hazards, but the damage can still rack up, so I like the ability to spin.


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Scizor @ Choice Band
Trait: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spd
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bullet Punch
- U-Turn
- Pursuit
- Superpower

Scizor is here to revenge kill and strike hard with its amazing 591 Attack stat. This is a pretty standard CB Scizor set, so you know how it works; switch in to a move you resist, Bullet Punch for max power, U-Turn to scout, Superpower to hit Ferrothorn. Taking a risk and Pursuiting over Bullet Punch or U-Turn has led to many a KO on a retreating Espeon or Gengar. He takes the bug and grass attacks aimed at his teammates like a champ.


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Slowbro @ Leftovers
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 40 SAtk
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Slack Off
- Scald
- Fire Blast
- Calm Mind
Slowbro replaced Umbreon on this team, and it's paid off. Slack Off is for recovery. Scald hits with STAB and helps me cripple physical attackers. Fire Blast deals with Grass and Bug types. I can often get a few boosts off and increase my special stats, and heal off any damage i take while setting up. I was debating between those two moves, but decided to add them both and get rid of Psychic. All in all, 'bro adds physical and special bulk and can tank.

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Snorlax @ Leftovers
Trait: Immunity
EVs: 64 HP / 64 Atk / 128 Def / 252 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)
- Curse
- Return
- Earthquake
- Fire Punch

Good ol' Curselax. Immunity is hilarious, because people use Toxic, think they've missed, and then try again, by which point I've boosted to +2 attack and defense. Return is STAB, stronger than a x2 Fire Punch. EQ hits steels and whatnot, and Fire Punch hits Ferrothorn, Scizor, and Forretress, who could otherwise cause trouble. He has good synergy with Slowbro, and is really my only specially bulky poke, but that hasn't been much of a problem so far.



So that's my first team. Tell me what you think, constructive criticism is appreciated.
 
Hmm you really need to expand your descriptions before a mod locks this because it makes it hard to rate when your descriptions aren't efficient. I will try to help as best as I can but it is hard with limited descriptions. On your slowbro I would suggest going with fireblast over flamethrower because it has more power and still has 85 accuracy. Also I would run with slack off over calm mind that way you have a more efficent way to heal when healing is neccesary. Take the suggestions you like and leave the ones you don't.
-Good Luck.
 
Ok, thanks. Fire Blast does seem like the better choice. I'll try out Slack Off over Calm Mind. I've expanded the descriptions as well.
 
Hrmm-hrmm...I think you should Focus Sash. With a dominating weather metagame, once that Gengar gets buffeted, the effects of Focus Sash are lost. Not only that, but if the opponent carries a pokemon with STAB Dual Chop, there's a chance that it might be 2HKO'ed. Just a minor suggestion, but possibly replace Blastoise with Starmie? It's a better Rapid Spinner in OU, and has access to Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and a variety of moves that are useful. And maybe replace Slowbro with Jellicent? Jellicent has good bulk, and a Will-O-Wisp tactic/set, but that's it.

Other than that, your team is good.
Good luck.
 
Thanks, milking the tank. Starmie seems like the better choice, but I still want a phazing move. Not only that, but then I'd have two Water/Psychic types, and that seems redundant, not to mention the weaknesses it opens up. Even with Jellicent, that's an extra dark/ghost weakness, bringing the total to 3. I'll try it out though. Still, a phazing move would be nice. Any suggestions?
 
Well, there are a variety of Pokemon that can use phazing moves. Some of the which are Rebecca Black / Mismagius (Lock Taunt + Perish Song), Blissey (ToxicWish) or even Eviolite Chansey if it knows the moves. The best phazer, in my opinion, is probably Crobat. So, if you'd like, try your bet at Crobat. You can use this generic set that I had altered slightly from one of the analysis's, but it's up for you to decide:

name: Taunt + Haze / Toxic
move 1: Taunt
move 2: Roost
move 3: Brave Bird / Acrobatics
move 4: Toxic / Haze
item: Leftovers / Flying Gem
ability: Inner Focus
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe
 
Ok, thanks. I'll try Starmie with Rapid Spin / Surf / Ice Beam / Thunderbolt, as well as that Crobat you suggested over Slowbro. With Taunt on Crobat, I've decided to put Tailwind on Gliscor instead. I'll go try those out now.
 
I tried Starmie and Crobat, but they didn't work out as well. Thanks, though. Luckily, I found a happy medium in giving Slowbro both Slack Off and Calm Mind. Gives my team power and bulk on the special side. Seriously, Gengar and Slowbro are the MVPs here. Thanks for your help, I'm still open to suggestions.
 
Maybe try Reuniclus over Slowbro as a bulky CM-er could help.

Also, your Lax's EV Spread looks a little weird. I'd say definitely go Adamant with some more attack EVs since you aren't supposed to be tanking with Lax since it lacks Rest.
 
This team looks pretty good, with no obvious flaws etc. I also love the look of someone using Snorlax. Destiny Bond on Gengar is uncommon, but a cool move. So yeah, good team, let Snorlax live on!

snorlax.png

Snorlax pic thanks to Arkeis.com.
 
Thanks, Porii Sames. I'll try the new Snorlax EVs. Any particular set in mind for Reuniclus? I'm thinking maybe a Trick Room set with CM seeing as my team is pretty slow, with the exception of Gengar, who is supposed to have taken out at least two enemies before I have to send in anything else. The only problem I have with Reuniclus over Slowbro is the smaller movepool, and the fact that I'd have to sacrifice the both physical and special bulk that CM Slowbro brings, but I'll try it out. Thanks, and keep suggesting.
 
TR actually could work considering the rest of your team. I was just thinking standard CM Reuniclus (swear to God can't spell that to save my life), but TR could work better.

Reuniclus
@ Life Orb
Quiet
252 HP/252 SpA/4 Def
Magic Guard
~Trick Room
~Psyshock
~Calm Mind
~Focus Blast

Could work alright.

Glad to help.
 
Thanks. I tried Reuniclus and it's worked about as well as Slowbro. I'm debating Recover over Trick Room to help Reuniclus survive longer? What do you guys think?
 
Well, if you invest SpD EVs into Reuniclus, Reuniclus becomes very bulky. I have tested it out on PO, and it doesn't get KOed as fast it can. But, if you don't want to waste the EVs, you could just give Reuniclus a Focus Sash and let it have Trick Room. It's not like it's going to get hit by sand anyways due to Magic Guard.
 
Really don't like using the word "lead" in 5th gen, it just isn't a real concept anymore with the WiFi clause. I suggest using SubDisable Gengar over your current Gengar - it beats more things on average and forces some switches, racking up residuals.
This team is also obscenely weak to Thundurus, I suggest using Starmie over Blastoise to help check this issue.
 
Thanks, Espy, but I already tried Starmie and it didn't work out as well. Any other Thundurus counters? I haven't noticed Thundurus being that big of a threat, but I'd be glad to hear what you think.
 
Alright. Thanks everybody. I've tried Slowbro and Reuniclus and they seem to work about equally well, so I have two variations of this team. Thanks for your suggestions. I'm going to try to get a mod to close this RMT so I can move on to my next one. Thanks.
 
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