My first team

So, I'm not completely sure on how to make a team so comments and criticism will be greatly appreciated.


Forretress @ Leftovers
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Hp/4 Def/252 SpD
Nature: Sassy
~ Spikes
~ Rapid Spin
~ Gyro Ball
~ Volt Switch

Forretress is my opening pokemon to set up Spikes. Gyro ball is for the STAB and so he can have some advantage against faster pokemon. Forretress is also used to soak up Special attacks. Volt Switch is so I can switch out against shadow tag and magnazone. And I think we all know what Rapid Spin is for :D. I need it so Volcarona can set up and with no speed, Forretress will have Volcarona switch out after the opponents attack thus having Volcarona not take any damage.

Confagrigus @ Leftovers
Trait: Mummy
EVs: 252 Hp/136 Def/120 SpD
Nature: Calm
~ Toxic
~ Haze
~ Will-O-Wisp
~ Shadow Ball

Confagrigus is my physically defensive pokemon, his goal is to burn pretty much their whole team or haze any of there pokemon that is being buffed. Mummy is also a good ability to work against physical pokemon to get rid of their ability. Shadow Ball is the obligatory stab move His EVs and Natures are so he can take special attacks while still holding out against physical attacks.

Mienshao @ Life Orb
Trait: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SpD/252 Spd
Nature: Naive
~ Hi Jump Kick
~ Hidden Power (Ice)
~ U-Turn
~ Fake Out


Mienshao is my physical sweeper, I use u-turn and fake out for scouting purposes, Hidden Power (Ice) is for hitting Gliscor and dragons, Hi Jump Kick is the STAB move for this set, being Mienshao's strongest fighting move and being fairly accurate. I picked Regenerator as the ability because if Mienshao takes a little abuse you can't switch him out healing him up and bring him back in at a later time.


Volcarona @ Life Orb
Trait: Flame Body
EVs: 252 SpA/4 SpD/252 Spe
Nature: Timid
~ Quiver Dance
~ Bug Buzz
~ Fiery Dance
~ Hidden Power (Rock)


For my Special Sweeper I picker Volcarona. First turn you power up with Quiver Dance, and then you go sweeping. I picker Fiery Dance over Flamethrower because I like the chance to buff his SpA further. Bug Buzz is for the bug STAB and being the strong bug type move. I picked Hidden Power (Rock) so this bug can deal with pesky flying types. The Life Orb is to help buff the damage he can dish out and the EV spread is for a special sweeper, using timid so he can out speed others.


Dugtrio @ Focus Band
Trait: Arena Trap
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Nature: Jolly
~ Stone Edge
~ Earthquake
~ Reversal
~ Stealth Rocks


Dugtrio is my revenge killer, who is able to trap any pokemon that isn't flying or levitating into the arena and finish off the opposing pokemon. I chose a Choice Band to boost Dugtrios attack to help with a OHKO. First I have the edgequake combo so I can hit fliers that don't switch out and a good range of pokemon inbetween.

Vaporeon @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 Hp/200 Def/52 SpD
Nature: Bold
~ Wish
~ Scald
~ Protect
~ Ice Beam


Vaporeon is my wish support. I give her Scald for the STAB and the chance to burn. Ice Beam is for Dragons and Fliers. I use wish to pass on big wishes to my team or I can wish the protect to heal vaporeon. I use water absorb as the ability so I can switch into water attacks and be fine that can threaten Dugtrio and Volcarona.


Now I was thinking about other pokemon, Like Starmie so I can have a rapid spinner (I don't know how often spikes are uses and other things) or use a gravity pokemon so Dugtrios Arena Trap will always keep pokemon to the ground so I wouldn't have to keep pursuit. As I said this is my first team and I know it needs some work. I would love to keep my two sweepers in just because I really like the pokemon themselves. Thank you in advance for any advice.
 
Hey, cool team. I've got a few suggestions to improve it.

Cofagrigus is cool, but Rest is redundant on it. The reason for this is because Vaporeon supports your team with Wish, eliminating the need for recovery on other Pokemon. I suggest replacing Rest with a different move that will help your team, such as Toxic. With Toxic, you can wear down Pokemon that don't mind being burned, like bulky Water-types. Also, with Rest gone, you're free to use a different item. Leftovers is a perfect choice here.

Choice Band Dugtrio is cool, but I'm going to suggest a set that'll further support your team:

Dugtrio (M) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Arena Trap
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Reversal
- Earthquake
- Stealth Rock
- Stone Edge


With this set, you can trap and kill Pokemon that are a big threat to your team, while setting up Stealth Rock at the same time. Ferrothorn and Tyranitar are perfect examples of these, because as you set up entry hazards, they'll bring you down to your Focus Sash, then you can OHKO them back with Reversal. Focus Sash basically gives you a free life against certain threats, meaning you can hit things twice, and you have the freedom to switch attacks, which can come in handy; with Choice Band Dugtrio, once it kills something, it instantly becomes set-up fodder.

With Stealth Rock on Dugtrio, you can now switch Stealth Rock on Ferrothorn for Spikes, giving your team even more support, and making it easier for Volcarona to sweep.

Mienshao is great, but you really don't need Acrobatics on him, because Cofagrigus handles enemy Fighting-type Pokemon. With its item taken up by Flight Gem, you're really limiting its capabilities. I suggest swapping Flight Gem for a Life Orb, and replacing Acrobatics with Hidden Power Ice. With Hidden Power Ice, you can OHKO Gliscor, who otherwise can switch in for free (This goes for Dragonite too, sort of). With Life Orb, all of your moves are powered up, rather than just Acrobatics, and Regenerator means you can just U-turn out and cancel out the Life Orb recoil. You'll need to change Mienshao's nature to Naive, too, so you don't weaken Hidden Power Ice.

Good luck with the team, I hope I helped!
 
This is the Dugtrio Set I use

Dugtrio @ Focus Sash
Trait: Arena Trap
EVs 259ATK/239SP.DEF/339SPD
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Substitute
- Double Team
 
I suggest swapping Flight Gem for a Life Orb, and replacing Acrobatics with Hidden Power Ice.

Yes you did help a lot, I really liked the changes, my only thought is (Since I haven't got to EV train Mienshao yet) should I put some EVs into SpA for a little boost to HP Ice? I was just reading up on the Smogon pokedex and saw it was an option and would like a second opinion on it. Other than that, you helped a lot and backed up all of your thoughts with facts, thanks again :D
 
Your team really needs a rapid spinner. With no taunt-lead, your opponent will have an easy time getting rocks up. Then, if you're using sash-dugtrio, its sash will be broken by the rocks but more importantly, volcarona will have a really tough time setting up. I might try getting cloyster in somewhere. He'll be a handy spinner as nearly everyone expects a smash -set and you'll be able to spin easily.
 
Your team really needs a rapid spinner.

What if I took out Confagrigus for
Cloyster @ Leftovers
Trait: Skill Link
EVs: 248 Hp/84 Atk/176 Def
Nature: Impish
~ Icicle Spear
~ Rapid Spin
~ Toxic
~ Rock Blast

Also replace protect on Vaporeon with Roar so I will have a phazer

My only problem with these changes it that I lose my bulky ghost (Which can stop other rapid spinners) and Will-o-Wisp
 
Hey,

Very nice team :-)
I agree with spuds4ever that you absolutely need a spinner, since SR prevents
your Dugdrio and Volcarona Sets from working properly.
However I agree with you too, that Cloyster > Cofragigus
costs you a valueable and cool defensive pokemon, so I'd like
make you aware of another options where you could possible put Rapid Spin.

Forretress@Leftovers
HP 252 / 4 Def / 252 SpD
sturdy
sassy nature

Spikes
Rapid Spin
Toxic Spikes
Volt Switch

You could run special defense Forry over Ferrothorn, which is a good
substitute, since it can setup hazards as well, is pretty bulky on both sides
and it can spin SR away. Volt Switch is to prevent being trapped from
Magnezone.
 
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