Hi, this is my first thread post on the Smogon forums, and let me start of by saying, that first of all, although I do play Ratings Battle (doubles) 99% of the time, I respect Smogon rules and respect their decision regarding recent Pokemon tier changes. Also, the reason I captioned it VGC is because, well, Ratings Battle (doubles) is pretty much VGC with no rules.
The reason I posted is because obviously, like everyone else here, I wish to possibly improve on my team building skills using the constructive criteria that you guys will provide me.
Anyway, here's my team:
Weavile
EVs: 252 attack, 252 speed, 4HP
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Pressure
Item: Life Orb
Moveset:
Ice Shard
Night Slash
Fake Out
Ice Punch
Weavile's main role on the team is as a lead, and that is most often done by my Mienshao's side. I chose Weavile for my team because it is extremely fast and very strong, especially against most dragons who riddle the metagame. Fake out also makes it one of my best leads in combination with Mienshao, as I've said before.
Lucario
EVs: 252 sp. attack, 252 speed, 4 sp. def
Nature: Timid
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Lucarionite
Moveset:
Nasty Plot
Dark Pulse
Flash Cannon
Vacuum Wave
Lucario's main role on my team is the special sweeper. As the metagame is riddled with Mega Kangaskhan, a powerful fake out user, I've decided to run inner focus on this Lucario, allowing me to set up through fake outs with impunity. I can then Mega Evolve on the following turn, and use Vacuum Wave on Mega Kangaskhan, which is a guaranteed 1hko on most of them. The only other Pokemon on my team who can hold its own against Mega Kangaskhan is my Mienshao, which oftentimes, if I know my opponent is leading with his Mega Kangaskhan, I'll lead with Lucario and Mienshao.
Parasect
EVs: 4 HP 252 HP 252 Attack
Nature: Brave
Ability: Dry Skin
Item: Leftovers
Moveset:
X-Scissor
Rage Powder
Spore
Wide Guard
Parasect's main role on my team is of course support. It is also handy to have a slow Pokemon such as Parasect on my team that can sort of hold its own, and potentially cause trouble to trick room teams, potentially sporing any counters. Outside of trick room, its main move is rage powder, which directs most of the opponent's attacks towards Parasect, sometimes allowing one of my set up sweepers the opportunity to set up. Wide guard is also a very good move that also sometimes allows teammates to set up if I know the opponent is going for double spread moves. Overall, I'd say that Parasect is one of the Pokemon on my team that, despite its very unique niches, I use the least.
Dragonite
EVs: 4 HP 252 Attack 252 Speed
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Multiscale
Item: Weakness Policy
Moveset:
Dragon Dance
Dragon Claw
Fire Punch
Extreme Speed
Dragonite's main role is being the most powerful physical sweeper on the team. It can switch into Earthquakes with impunity because of its handy flying type, and Multiscale gives it formidable bulk, allowing it to tank most hits. Weakness Policy, although mostly expected nowadays in the Metagame, still puts pressure on opponents, and even if they choose not to hit with a super effective hit, Dragonite will still be putting pressure on the opponents as it sets up dragon dances.
Mienshao
4 HP 252 Attack 252 Speed
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Focus Sash
Moveset:
Quick Guard
High-Jump-Kick
Wide Guard
Rock Slide
Mienshao may seem like a very good offensive Pokemon at first glance, but it is actually the best supporting Pokemon on my take of a hyper offense team, I find. Mienshao is one of the few Pokemon that get both Quick & Wide Guard and this gives it a very good supportive niche in my team. Wide guard has saved my countless times from powerful earthquakes and/or rock slides, as double spread moves are commonly being used in the metagame. This gives one of my other Pokemon an opportunity to set up, or take out a very big threat on my opponent's team. Quick guard also blocks fake outs, and other priority moves, such as Talonflame's brave bird, which can also be very useful. Rock Slide is there for Talonflame and Charizard Y, so even if they hit me with one attack, my focus sash is in tact, and I can take them out. What's also very great about Mienshao, is that like Lucario, it has inner focus. So if I choose to do so, especially if I have lead with Lucario and Mienshao, I can just Hi Jump Kick an opposing Mega Kangaskhan, and potentially set up with my Lucario, without having to worry about being flinched!
Chandelure
4 HP 252 Sp. Attack 252 Speed
Nature: Modest
Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Choice Scarf
Moveset:
Memento
Flamethrower
Energy Ball
Shadow Ball
Chandelure is the only choice item user on my team. Its handy typing, and ability, flash fire, allows it to switch into a lot of attacks that could target my other Pokemon. It's immune to fighting and fire, so that means that my Lucario and Weavile's asses can be saved most of the time if I switch in Chandelure. Sometimes I can sweep with the flash fire boost because of the choice scarf. The choice scarf of course also has that surprise element, and can be very useful in taking out adamant set up sweepers such as Gyarados and Dragonite, as Chandelure still outspeeds in +1. Memento is there purely for placeholder, but I haven't really gotten in a situation that Memento would be the best option.
Now I just want to know, is this team something that you would consider "on par", and what can I do to improve it? Are there any Pokemon that I might have neglected to consider during team building?
What replacements would you suggest, if needed?
The reason I posted is because obviously, like everyone else here, I wish to possibly improve on my team building skills using the constructive criteria that you guys will provide me.
Anyway, here's my team:
Weavile
EVs: 252 attack, 252 speed, 4HP
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Pressure
Item: Life Orb
Moveset:
Ice Shard
Night Slash
Fake Out
Ice Punch
Weavile's main role on the team is as a lead, and that is most often done by my Mienshao's side. I chose Weavile for my team because it is extremely fast and very strong, especially against most dragons who riddle the metagame. Fake out also makes it one of my best leads in combination with Mienshao, as I've said before.
Lucario
EVs: 252 sp. attack, 252 speed, 4 sp. def
Nature: Timid
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Lucarionite
Moveset:
Nasty Plot
Dark Pulse
Flash Cannon
Vacuum Wave
Lucario's main role on my team is the special sweeper. As the metagame is riddled with Mega Kangaskhan, a powerful fake out user, I've decided to run inner focus on this Lucario, allowing me to set up through fake outs with impunity. I can then Mega Evolve on the following turn, and use Vacuum Wave on Mega Kangaskhan, which is a guaranteed 1hko on most of them. The only other Pokemon on my team who can hold its own against Mega Kangaskhan is my Mienshao, which oftentimes, if I know my opponent is leading with his Mega Kangaskhan, I'll lead with Lucario and Mienshao.
Parasect
EVs: 4 HP 252 HP 252 Attack
Nature: Brave
Ability: Dry Skin
Item: Leftovers
Moveset:
X-Scissor
Rage Powder
Spore
Wide Guard
Parasect's main role on my team is of course support. It is also handy to have a slow Pokemon such as Parasect on my team that can sort of hold its own, and potentially cause trouble to trick room teams, potentially sporing any counters. Outside of trick room, its main move is rage powder, which directs most of the opponent's attacks towards Parasect, sometimes allowing one of my set up sweepers the opportunity to set up. Wide guard is also a very good move that also sometimes allows teammates to set up if I know the opponent is going for double spread moves. Overall, I'd say that Parasect is one of the Pokemon on my team that, despite its very unique niches, I use the least.
Dragonite
EVs: 4 HP 252 Attack 252 Speed
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Multiscale
Item: Weakness Policy
Moveset:
Dragon Dance
Dragon Claw
Fire Punch
Extreme Speed
Dragonite's main role is being the most powerful physical sweeper on the team. It can switch into Earthquakes with impunity because of its handy flying type, and Multiscale gives it formidable bulk, allowing it to tank most hits. Weakness Policy, although mostly expected nowadays in the Metagame, still puts pressure on opponents, and even if they choose not to hit with a super effective hit, Dragonite will still be putting pressure on the opponents as it sets up dragon dances.
Mienshao
4 HP 252 Attack 252 Speed
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Inner Focus
Item: Focus Sash
Moveset:
Quick Guard
High-Jump-Kick
Wide Guard
Rock Slide
Mienshao may seem like a very good offensive Pokemon at first glance, but it is actually the best supporting Pokemon on my take of a hyper offense team, I find. Mienshao is one of the few Pokemon that get both Quick & Wide Guard and this gives it a very good supportive niche in my team. Wide guard has saved my countless times from powerful earthquakes and/or rock slides, as double spread moves are commonly being used in the metagame. This gives one of my other Pokemon an opportunity to set up, or take out a very big threat on my opponent's team. Quick guard also blocks fake outs, and other priority moves, such as Talonflame's brave bird, which can also be very useful. Rock Slide is there for Talonflame and Charizard Y, so even if they hit me with one attack, my focus sash is in tact, and I can take them out. What's also very great about Mienshao, is that like Lucario, it has inner focus. So if I choose to do so, especially if I have lead with Lucario and Mienshao, I can just Hi Jump Kick an opposing Mega Kangaskhan, and potentially set up with my Lucario, without having to worry about being flinched!
Chandelure
4 HP 252 Sp. Attack 252 Speed
Nature: Modest
Ability: Flash Fire
Item: Choice Scarf
Moveset:
Memento
Flamethrower
Energy Ball
Shadow Ball
Chandelure is the only choice item user on my team. Its handy typing, and ability, flash fire, allows it to switch into a lot of attacks that could target my other Pokemon. It's immune to fighting and fire, so that means that my Lucario and Weavile's asses can be saved most of the time if I switch in Chandelure. Sometimes I can sweep with the flash fire boost because of the choice scarf. The choice scarf of course also has that surprise element, and can be very useful in taking out adamant set up sweepers such as Gyarados and Dragonite, as Chandelure still outspeeds in +1. Memento is there purely for placeholder, but I haven't really gotten in a situation that Memento would be the best option.
Now I just want to know, is this team something that you would consider "on par", and what can I do to improve it? Are there any Pokemon that I might have neglected to consider during team building?
What replacements would you suggest, if needed?