RM bird themed team + an elephant

[surfingpika22]

Rate my bird type team + an elephant​

I've been playing shoddy for a while using this flying bird themed team and it hasn't been doing pretty good, so i figured it needs to be rated...

The team:

Details:

Zapdos @ Choice scarf
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SpAtk/ 252 Spe/ 6 HP
-Thunderbolt
-HP ice
-U-turn
-Sleep talk
Zapdos is my lead and a fine one it is! I outspeed Yanmega even after it protects and gengar. Thunderbolt for STAB, HP ice for coverage, U-turn break sashes and I usually send in the appropriate counter. Sleep talk is for those scarfed gengars who think they made me useless, zapdos can come in late game and sweep with sleep talk!

Articuno @ Leftovers
Nature: Calm
EVs: 252 HP/ 40 SpAtk/ 216 SpDef
-Ice beam
-Roar
-Rest
-Sleep talk
Poor articuno is the only legendary UU poke... =( Well, he's my special wall, status absorber and spikes shuffler. He usually comes in after skarm has layed the spikes. He's 3HKO'ed by a gengar thunderbolt and can 2HKO in return. He hasnt been doing so good though, I'm open to suggestions here...

Moltres @ Choice specs
Nature: Modest
EVs: 40 HP/ 252 SpAtk/ 216 Spe
-Overheat
-Air slash
-HP ground
-Flamethrower
Moltres does the same thing as Salamence with more SpAtk and less speed. He's my special sweeper. Air slash and HP ground is only resisted by zapdos and skarm and zong so overheat does the trick. Flamethrower is for lategame sweeping...

Skarmory @ Shed shell
Nature : Impish
EVs : 252 HP/ 252 Def/ 6 Atk
-Brave bird
-Spikes
-Roar
-Roost
Skarm is my physical wall, spiker and phazer. Brave bird for the sake of an attacking move, spikes is standard, roar to shuffle around a bit and roost for recovery. Shed shell >Leftovers coz skarm is my only switch in on stone edges and physical attacks and i cant afford zone getting a free kill.

Staraptor @ Choice band
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/ 252 Spe/ 6 HP
-Return
-Brave bird
-Close combat
-Quick attack
Staraptor is the teams physical sweeper. No pokemon resists this set and quick attack is for frail and weakened faster opponents. I chose choice band over choice scarf coz I have quick attack that can ( I think OHKO deoxys-e)

Donphan @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 HP/ 252 Def/ 6 Atk
Nature : Impish
-EQ
-Ice shard
-Rapid spin
-Rest
U dont even have to tell me about my GIGANTIC stealth rock weakness. I know donphan is nowhere bear being a bird but i chose him coz the only bird rapid spinner was delibird... EQ for STAB, Ice shard makes up for that lack of speed and offers great coverage, rapid spin (U know why) and rest coz i dont have a wisher.

Any help or comments would be appreciated! And if u have any suggestions or replacements make sure its bird type pokemon! THANKS!!!

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[animenagai]

what can i say? don't used theme teams. you can play for fun with a themed team but don't expect to win with it. i hoped that this was for a mono tourney or something, but guess i was wrong.

rule no.1 for competitive battling: DON'T THEME FOR THE SAKE OF THEMING.

if you can get past that, i'm sure everyone would be happy to help.

 

[Falkner12]

if you wanna lessen your SR weakness but stick with your theme, you could always go with Empoleon over say, Articuno. It could even run a pretty similar set.

 

[Darkartisan]

Uhm, Empoleon would add to his Gigantic electric weakness. Use maybe 2 or 3 birds, but not more than that. How about using a gliscor? He resists electric attacks and hits those electric types hard with earthquake, while countering Heracross and lucario.

 

[Surf116]

Flygon would be an option also

 

[kd24]

I don't think Stealth Rock is as much as a weakness as your pure lack of synergy is. It almost seems like you just picked the 3 legendary birds, a rapid spinner, and then 2 other Flying-types. It isn't a bad strategy but it certainly is not making the most of your Flying team.

The core of Zapdos and Donphan can definitely be successful. Luring in Blissey's Thunder Wave and then Rapid Spinning Stealth Rock definitely seems like a competent strategy. However, is is going to be much harder than you would think. I am fairly certain that you are going to need a Choice Band Aerodactyl with Pursuit or a Choice Scarf Staraptor with Pursuit to be able to catch "anti-spinners" off guard and allow Donphan to come in successfully later.

Aerodactyl @ Choice Band
Jolly
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Pursuit
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Ice Fang / Double-Edge

Pursuit will always OHKO a Gengar switching out -

Defender HP: 262
Move Damage: 343 - 403
Damage: 130.92% - 153.82%

It would be very beneficial for the team.

Aerodactyl, Donphan, Zapdos creates a very bad Ice weakness, so Moltres will pretty much have to stay. I know you don't want to stray away from your original idea of mono-flying but could you use a Jirachi in place of Articuno? Jirachi would give you valuable Wish support, a Stealth Rocker, a U-turner, and Flinch if you need it (Body Slam could also be used for paralysis reasons). I know it clashes with the original idea, but the Ice Weakness is rather scary and needs to be fixed.

Jirachi @ Leftovers
Impish
240 HP / 56 Atk / 106 Def / 136 Spe
- Zen Headbutt
- Wish
- U-Turn / Body Slam
- Stealth Rock

A general set like that should work extremely well. Mamoswine does cause problems, although Moltres can handle it fairly well. Mamoswine could be a thorn in Skarmory's side though, especially if Blizzard is present and if Stealth Rock is up while Mamoswine is on the field, even Moltres won't be able to stop it.

Once again, I am suggesting a team change, this time Skarmory for Gyarados (Wacan Berry or Life Orb). Wacan Berry helps with the extreme Electric weak you have and Gyarados makes a rather fine counter to Mamoswine anyway. Yes, Skarmory can usually handle CB varients, but Life Orb and Blizzard is common and can rip the team into two. Gyarados does have a weakness to Stone Edge but with Intimidate, it should be a 3HKO at the most. I am proposing:

Gyarados @ Life Orb / Wacan Berry
Adamant
72 HP / 252 Atk / 184 Spe

or an alternate Ev spread of

216 HP / 40 Attack / 68 Def / 184 Spe if you choose the Berry.
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge
- Bite / Earthquake

This will handle Mamoswine and Starmie fairly well no matter what set you choose. Both of those threats can definitely cause problems.

When looking at Donphan, I notice Rest and with the addition of Jirachi, I feel it is not needed. Toxic can soften up opponents, giving you the advantage which you may desperately need.

Zapdos / Jirachi / Donphan / Aerodactyl / Gyarados / Moltres is a much better finished product and holds more synergy together.

Minor nitpicks, but Zapdos should use a Naive nature and 4 Attack EVs to power up U-Turn. Otherwise its doing nothing and you might as well as use Charge Beam, Toxic, or even Drill Peck.