This team isn't extremely competitive, mostly because I didn't have the patience to hunt for all of the proper natures (don't chastise me about it, I'm already well aware!). It's won a few battles online, but I definitely want to improve it since it isn't ideal.
Vivillon
- Damp Rock, Compound Eyes
- Naughty, 252 Spe/252 Sp. Atk/4 Def (terrible nature, I know, but I caught it in the wild so whatever).
- U-turn, Hurricane, Sleep Powder, Rain Dance
Because of Vivillon's nice speed I either send out her or Greninja out first. Strategy is to drop a Sleep Powder, hit em with Rain Dance if I have the opportunity, and then play from there. The Sleep helps make up for her crappy defenses (hit and run, mostly). Originally I had given her Quiver Dance and Bug Buzz but I rarely had the opportunity to set up, even with Sleep.
Greninja
- Suggestion for item?, Torrent
- Brave (I know, I know, but it still manages to outspeed what it needs to), 252 Spe/252 Atk/4 HP
- Rock Slide, Rain Dance, Waterfall, Night Slash
My secondary scout/lead if I know Vivillon will be outsped and 1HKO'd. If he's in danger I switch out to Marowak (for Electric) or Gardevoir (for Fighting/Fairy). He usually makes for an efficient revenge killer — his Waterfall is straight dirty in the rain — but his Speed is great for setting up the rain too. I'm torn between keeping him or Vaporeon, but I currently have both because they fulfill different roles (he's more offensive, clearly).
Vaporeon
- Leftovers, Water Absorb
- Hardy, 252 Sp Atk/252 Def/4 Spe
- Ice Beam, Shadow Ball, Surf (?), Rain Dance
Her HP and Def + Leftovers make her a great defensive pivot (I used to have Aqua Ring on her but begrudgingly got rid of it). Her Sp Atk is no laughing matter, but I put a question mark next to Surf because I'm not sure if I should keep it or use Scald instead.
Goodra
- Metronome, Hydration
- Calm, 252 Sp Def/252 Def/4 Spe
- Outrage, Muddy Water, Rest, Thunder
Goodra is my first special defensive pivot. I usually switch her in to absorb any special attacks targeted at my frailer Pokemon (Vivillon, Greninja). Rest + Hydration is useful because she can usually take at least 3 hits. Metronome powers up Outrage (I think? Any confirmation on that?). Thunder obviously for its 100% accuracy in the rain. And Muddy Water for the 50% dmg boost and to heal Vaporeon when they're both out together in Doubles.
Gardevoir
- Zap Plate, Trace
- Sassy, 252 Sp Def/252 Sp Atk/4 Spe
- Thunderbolt, Psychic, Wish, Dazzling Gleam (to be replaced with Moonblast)
Gardevoir works well for me because she can switch in on special attacks that would otherwise be super effective on Goodra (Dragon/Fairy). Wish is indispensable, and the Zap Plate is to power-up her otherwise underwhelming Thunderbolt (since for some reason she can't learn Thunder!). Thunderbolt is for those pesky water-types that would be boosted from my rain, as well as for all of the Charizards & Talonflames people have been running. The Zap Plate is really just a placeholder, though, until I find a better item for her to hold.
Marowak
- Quick Claw, Lightning Rod
- Bashful, 252 Def/252 Atk/4 Sp Def
- Earthquake, Rock Slide, Double-Edge (urgh, useless), Bulldoze
Marowak is my favorite. He absorbs all those electric attacks that would annihilate Vivillon/Greninja/Vaporeon, and his Earthquake + Vivillon is a great combo of course. He's got great defense otherwise and can deal pretty decent damage too. He's slow as **** though; I swear I will never take that Quick Claw off since it's saved my *** so many times. I want to take Double-Edge out, maybe for Stealth Rock (but I feel he's too slow to set it up). I'm wary about Bulldoze but the 100% speed reduction is extremely useful sometimes. Any advice for his move set? Hm.. maybe a Fighting-type attack like Brick Break?
So anyway, that's my team. I definitely want to keep Vivillon/Marowak/Goodra, since they're my favorites, but I'm totally open to suggestions for Poke replacements. I'd like to fit in a Reflect/Lightscreen somewhere in there too, since my team seems more defensive than anything else. Not sure where though, maybe Vaporeon or Gardevoir.
