VGC New to VGC

[PyroTakun]

My first VGC team. I wanted to go for balance and synergy, started with a FWG core and worked out the rest of the team from there.

Arcanine @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 44 SpA / 4 SpD / 60 Spe
Modest Nature
- Flamethrower
- Snarl
- Protect
- Will-O-Wisp

More of the bulky Arcanine, I like his ability to hinder attackers through Intimidate, WoW, and Snarl. Flamethrower is the STAB with both accuracy and power. Protect is protect, dropped Morning Sun for it because I never really got to use that move and Protect works much better with Landorus when I want to Earthquake.

Milotic @ Assault Vest
Ability: Competitive
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 36 SpA / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Icy Wind
- Ice Beam
- Mirror Coat

Honestly I'm not too sure about AV, but this moveset actually isn't that bad. Hydro Pump over Scald because Arcanine provides the burns and Hydro Pump offers more power. Icy Wind slows down opponents and works great with Arcanine's Snarl and WoW. Ice Beam is there to hit Land Dog, Salemence, and a bunch of other stuff that hates Ice. Mirror Coat is the bee's knees when leading against Thundurus, which it will usually OHKO since no one sees it coming.

Breloom @ Focus Sash
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Mach Punch
- Bullet Seed
- Spore
- Protect

In addition to the Milotic and Arcanine, I ended up going with Breloom for the Grass slot. This is a standard Breloom set, so nothing to really write home about. I needed something Physical, and I also needed a Fighting type to easily take out the Bisharps running around.

Landorus-T @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Knock-Off
- U-Turn

I normally steer away from legendaries, but Landorus is just too good. Very easy to lead with due to Intimidate and U-Turn. Knock-Off works wonders for getting rid of pesky items. Earthquake is an insane STAB, and Rock Slide to help out with Charizard-Y and Talonflames. If the opponent doesn't have Competitive or Defiant, it's very easy to lead with both Landorus and Arcanine for double Intimidate, or have Landorus U-Turn into Arcanine. Definitely came in handy with M-Khan leads and forced them to switch.

Metagross @ Metagrossite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Zen Headbutt
- Ice Punch
- Protect

My Mega of choice, and a very effective one. Great stats, ability, and a decent enough movepool make M-Metagross a real force to be reckoned with. I went with the basic 252/252 spread because I wanted him to hit as hard and as fast as possible, and bulk wasn't quite as necessary since I don't really rely on M-Metagross as much as others and the teammates were able to provide enough debuffs to where bulk investment wasn't quite necessary.

Hydreigon @ Draco Plate
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 188 HP / 76 Def / 204 SpA / 36 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Tailwind
- Protect

The only pokemon I'm iffy about on the team. I saw it on nuggetbridge and thought it looked good. Tailwind throws people off, and helps out the team with speed. The EVs help it with some bulk and take hits it normally wouldn't. (50% chance to survive Close Combat from -1 252 Jolly Life Orb Terrakion.) Draco Plate because I couldn't do a choice item with Tailwind and Protect, and it still gives Draco Meteor a decent punch.

 

[NOVED]

You should consider running life orb on Hydrei for a more consistent damage output. And hydreigon usually appreciates some speed, even with the tailwind.

 

[Yellow Paint]

You seem awfully weak to bisharp, with double intimidate, snarl and icy wind. The fact that it hard walls/beats gross and hydrei lets it easily get a boost and smack you.

May I suggest substitute>ice punch on megagross to let you sub on suckers and the general utility of sub?

You don't really need icy wind on milotic given your other speed control/fastmons and your weakness to bisharp. How about you instead use scald, for more reliability and burns, or (this is untested btw) whirlpool for trapping utility and momentum control?

It looks like you're using a bunch of mons meant to weaken the opponent. I can't think of a way to fit this in, but a setup sweeper like azu or kanga could really take advantage of snarl, intimidate, and spore. Also, milotic would act as a deterrent to opposing intimidate trying to bring your boosts back down. Maybe SD Breloom>tect?

edit: grammar + moar innov8tion

 

[PyroTakun]

You should consider running life orb on Hydrei for a more consistent damage output. And hydreigon usually appreciates some speed, even with the tailwind.

Yeah I've been thinking about playing around with different Hydreigon sets. I'll definitely give it a shot.

You seem awfully weak to bisharp, with double intimidate, snarl and icy wind. The fact that it hard walls/beats gross and hydrei lets it easily get a boost and smack you.

May I suggest substitute>ice punch on megagross to let you sub on suckers and the general utility of sub?

You don't really need icy wind on milotic given your other speed control/fastmons and your weakness to bisharp. How about you instead use scald, for more reliability and burns, or (this is untested btw) whirlpool for trapping utility and momentum control?

It looks like you're using a bunch of mons meant to weaken the opponent. I can't think of a way to fit this in, but a setup sweeper like azu or kanga could really take advantage of snarl, intimidate, and spore. Also, milotic would act as a deterrent to opposing intimidate trying to bring your boosts back down. Maybe SD Breloom>tect?

edit: grammar + moar innov8tion

I actually haven't had any problems facing off vs Bisharps, but Sub-Gross does sound good overall.