I read all of the rules, so I think I've got them all but sorry in advance if I miss anything
First of all I'd like to note that I'm new at competitive battling and under normal circumstances I'd like to go with the apprentice program, there isn't on available so I just made my own team and started battling. While I've been doing fairly well (unless I do something stupid or am out predicted) there are some flaws with my team that I noticed and since I'm new there may be some others. I also don't know how to make pictures of Pokemon so sorry about that. The final things is the main reason I'm on shoddy is to test out a team for diamond that I can train. As such there will be something pokemon I can't get a hold of, namely legendaries with the right nature, so bear that in mind when suggesting other option. So without further ado.....
The Team
Hippowdon @ Yache Berry
EVs: 252 HP 168 Def 88 SpD
Impish/Sand Storm
-Earthquake
-Slack Off
-Stealth Rock
-Roar
Hippowdon serves as a physical wall on my team. When I originally made it the only reason he lead was because of stealth rock but as I played I learned some interesting things. His sandstorm ability works well as a lead because it kills focus sashes and that's helped me out a bunch. His walling abilities also allow me to switch him into a large number of physical attacks. In addition if my opponent doesn't try to get him out right away I can usually try for a bit of phazing with roar. That's also been instrumental against the rare baton passer teams, usually causing them to quit after the roar. The main flaw I've got with Hippo is sandstorm. It's really a double edged sword. While it has helped me a ton, it sometimes causes problems especially when I'm attempting a sweep with gyrados. However, his usefulness may be worth as it's definitely helped me more than it's hurt me. One final thing to note is his item. Even if it's not required in shoddy, I still make my teams based on item clause. That's why there are no leftovers. In some cases it proves beneficial however.
Blissey @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 Def 40 SpA 216 SpD
Calm/ Natural Cure
-Aromatherapy
-Ice Beam
-Thunder Wave
-Softboiled
Blissey's role is a special wall and a cleric. The addition of thunder wave allows it to be a real nuisance as well, constantly spreading paralysis. The utility of this Pokemon on my team has been immense. It's saved my potential sweeps by getting rid of their paralysis, and saved hippo from something like toxic. In addition if I've used aromatherapy once already and my opponent expects it, I can also mix it up with thunder wave and paralyze one of their key sweepers. Blissey is also part of my team's major problem, three of it's Pokemon are weak of fighting moves. I only need to replace one, but it's been difficult picking that one. Blissey's utility role has been huge and that fact that it can deal with alot of special sweepers is a huge asset. Cresselia might have been considered but the only Cresselia I've got on my game is a mild one and that's not going to be good enough. Most "tank" pokemon aren't really good enough specially to substitute Blissey as most of them are geared towards physical damage so it's been difficult getting a replacement for blissey without changing up my whole team. Any advice would be appreciated
Umbreon@ Chople Berry
EVs: 252 HP 164 Spe 92 SpD
Careful/ Synchronize
-Mean Look
-Baton Pass
-Wish
-Yawn
Umbreon may be one of the Pokemon contributing to my tri-fighting weakness, but out of the three, I think it's the most irreplaceable. I really don't understand how it's only UU, considering how ridiculously useful it is. The strategy is pretty obvious mean look and baton pass, maybe with yawn of wish. Anything trapped and asleep is bait for setting up. I've won a ton of games based on setups by Umbreon, it may not be as sturdy as other Pokemon but it gets the job done usually. Another fun thing to do is exploit synchronize, by switching in on Pokemon attempting to use status. Toxic, paralysis, especially sleep. Blissey can them move in and heal the status for Umbreon. Like Hippo, the Chople berry carries an element of surprise and fighting is usually the most common answer to dark Pokemon that I see so it's a good pick. Umbreon's main flaw is susecptability to taunt and if it's the last pokemon I have, I'm screwed. But it's definitely one of the best changes I've made for my team
Gengar @ Choice Scarf
EVs: 4 Def 252 Spe 252 SpA
Modest/Levitate
-Shadow Ball
-Thunderbolt
-Focus Blast
-Trick
Originally my gengar was a substitue gengar, but after being swept by sweepers that already setup, I decided to make him a revenge killer. In this regard he was worked excellently. His typing is brilliant allowing him to switch in on fighting moves directed at Blissey or Umbreon and levitate allows him to switch on ground moves, though unlike gyrados, he doesn't take 25% damage from stealth rock. One minor gripe I've had with him is focus blast's accuracy but I don't really think there is an effective replacement for a move like that. The main problem is trick. After I had fallen in love with trick's usefulness, I learned it needed to be learned by a platinum move tutor. I have diamond and don't have access to platinum, so I can't get trick. Hence I'd like some help on selecting another move. Smogon does have some alternatives listed but I'd really like something that can revenge kill a scizor if at all possible or a salamence.
Gyrados@ Life Orb
EVs: 252 Atk 4 Def 252 Spe
Adamant/ Intimidate
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Ice Fang
-Stone Edge
Gyrados is my first set-up sweeper. The main reason I picked two of them is if one goes down I've got a backup. Plus, Gyrados is more fragile, especially with sandstorm, but can deal with more Pokemon. Lucario has issues with some ghost Pokemon, but Gyrados can really hit anything with it's move set. It's ability isn't all that bad either, being able to nullify Pokemon's attack boosts and perhaps setting up on his own. The life orb has caused problems however. Usually because of Umbreon's setup Gyrados can setup with only stealth rock damage, but if it takes more, it's sweeping potential goes down a ton. I've considered replacing it, but it has saved me a ton of times when it's been my last Pokemon.
Lucario@ Salac Berry
EVs: 252 Atk 4 Def 252 Spe
Adamant/ Inner Focus
-Swords Dance
-Close Combat
-Crunch
-Extremespeed
My endgame sweeper, Lucario's combination of power and a priority attack make it perfect to finish off the enemy's team. Gyrados may have won me games, but Lucario's record far outstrips it. One swords dance is great, but with Umbreon support, I can usually get more than one. After that the only thing that can stop it is a fast ghost pokemon(Gengar). Usually any gengars will be disposed of by the time Lucario sets-up though. I used to run a sub-salac variant but that didn't work as well with Umbreon's setup so I switched to the standard. The salac berry is a remnant from that since I really couldn't think of a better item. So far, though it's been helpful. Alot better than life orb. Crunch is a move I'm looking at replacing though. It's for taking out ghosts, but in most cases the ghosts will kill him before I get to use it. However Ice punch can be used on things such as gliscor, plus it runs the element of surprise. If I do go with Ice Punch I'd probably switch the nature to jolly to deal with said pokemon.
Changes
Past
Dragonite: This is probably where the RMT thread's "use your team" before coming here helped the most. I used a mixagility nite, that would theoretically suffice as a prelimenary sweeper and deal with revenge killers. In practice.... it failed. It was utterly useless and did nothing to help my team. I swtiched to gyrados and have yet to regret it.
Vaporeon: Vaporeon's initial role was to deal with enemy Gyrados. Since I though I could handle it with my pokemon, I switched it for Umbreon who had better wish support. I certainly don't regret it, but Gyrados isn't as easy to counter as I'd like anymore.
Potential
Dusknoir: I tried Dusknoir on a stall team. It failed but I like it's durability and pain split is a great healing move. I could potentially replace Blissey with it but I'd lose out on clercing and a more reliable special wall
Azelf: If Dusknoir switched with Blisey having two ghosts would be pointless so this makes sense. Azelf would be a "dedicated" lead. Azelf is also the only "legendary" I have with decent IVs and nature making him a good option.
Vaporeon: Despite the fact that I swapper out Vaporeon, I have been consdering putting it back in in place of Gyrados. It can wish and has protect, so unlike Umbreon it can keep itself healthy.
Major Threats
Machamp: Dynamicpunch spamming with no guard is something I've got difficulty countering. Anything that switches in gets' confused save for Gengar but they've got payback too. Tricking a choice scarf may work but them they've got a speed boost next time they switch in to dynamic punch and my ghost is probably gone by them
Scizor: Scizor may be frail, but having a priority move as his main attack makes revenge killing difficult. Gyrados and intimidate are my best bets, but otherwise scizor gives me alot of problems.
Thanks in advance for rating my team. Sorry if I left something out.
First of all I'd like to note that I'm new at competitive battling and under normal circumstances I'd like to go with the apprentice program, there isn't on available so I just made my own team and started battling. While I've been doing fairly well (unless I do something stupid or am out predicted) there are some flaws with my team that I noticed and since I'm new there may be some others. I also don't know how to make pictures of Pokemon so sorry about that. The final things is the main reason I'm on shoddy is to test out a team for diamond that I can train. As such there will be something pokemon I can't get a hold of, namely legendaries with the right nature, so bear that in mind when suggesting other option. So without further ado.....
The Team
Hippowdon @ Yache Berry
EVs: 252 HP 168 Def 88 SpD
Impish/Sand Storm
-Earthquake
-Slack Off
-Stealth Rock
-Roar
Hippowdon serves as a physical wall on my team. When I originally made it the only reason he lead was because of stealth rock but as I played I learned some interesting things. His sandstorm ability works well as a lead because it kills focus sashes and that's helped me out a bunch. His walling abilities also allow me to switch him into a large number of physical attacks. In addition if my opponent doesn't try to get him out right away I can usually try for a bit of phazing with roar. That's also been instrumental against the rare baton passer teams, usually causing them to quit after the roar. The main flaw I've got with Hippo is sandstorm. It's really a double edged sword. While it has helped me a ton, it sometimes causes problems especially when I'm attempting a sweep with gyrados. However, his usefulness may be worth as it's definitely helped me more than it's hurt me. One final thing to note is his item. Even if it's not required in shoddy, I still make my teams based on item clause. That's why there are no leftovers. In some cases it proves beneficial however.
Blissey @ Leftovers
EVs: 252 Def 40 SpA 216 SpD
Calm/ Natural Cure
-Aromatherapy
-Ice Beam
-Thunder Wave
-Softboiled
Blissey's role is a special wall and a cleric. The addition of thunder wave allows it to be a real nuisance as well, constantly spreading paralysis. The utility of this Pokemon on my team has been immense. It's saved my potential sweeps by getting rid of their paralysis, and saved hippo from something like toxic. In addition if I've used aromatherapy once already and my opponent expects it, I can also mix it up with thunder wave and paralyze one of their key sweepers. Blissey is also part of my team's major problem, three of it's Pokemon are weak of fighting moves. I only need to replace one, but it's been difficult picking that one. Blissey's utility role has been huge and that fact that it can deal with alot of special sweepers is a huge asset. Cresselia might have been considered but the only Cresselia I've got on my game is a mild one and that's not going to be good enough. Most "tank" pokemon aren't really good enough specially to substitute Blissey as most of them are geared towards physical damage so it's been difficult getting a replacement for blissey without changing up my whole team. Any advice would be appreciated
Umbreon@ Chople Berry
EVs: 252 HP 164 Spe 92 SpD
Careful/ Synchronize
-Mean Look
-Baton Pass
-Wish
-Yawn
Umbreon may be one of the Pokemon contributing to my tri-fighting weakness, but out of the three, I think it's the most irreplaceable. I really don't understand how it's only UU, considering how ridiculously useful it is. The strategy is pretty obvious mean look and baton pass, maybe with yawn of wish. Anything trapped and asleep is bait for setting up. I've won a ton of games based on setups by Umbreon, it may not be as sturdy as other Pokemon but it gets the job done usually. Another fun thing to do is exploit synchronize, by switching in on Pokemon attempting to use status. Toxic, paralysis, especially sleep. Blissey can them move in and heal the status for Umbreon. Like Hippo, the Chople berry carries an element of surprise and fighting is usually the most common answer to dark Pokemon that I see so it's a good pick. Umbreon's main flaw is susecptability to taunt and if it's the last pokemon I have, I'm screwed. But it's definitely one of the best changes I've made for my team
Gengar @ Choice Scarf
EVs: 4 Def 252 Spe 252 SpA
Modest/Levitate
-Shadow Ball
-Thunderbolt
-Focus Blast
-Trick
Originally my gengar was a substitue gengar, but after being swept by sweepers that already setup, I decided to make him a revenge killer. In this regard he was worked excellently. His typing is brilliant allowing him to switch in on fighting moves directed at Blissey or Umbreon and levitate allows him to switch on ground moves, though unlike gyrados, he doesn't take 25% damage from stealth rock. One minor gripe I've had with him is focus blast's accuracy but I don't really think there is an effective replacement for a move like that. The main problem is trick. After I had fallen in love with trick's usefulness, I learned it needed to be learned by a platinum move tutor. I have diamond and don't have access to platinum, so I can't get trick. Hence I'd like some help on selecting another move. Smogon does have some alternatives listed but I'd really like something that can revenge kill a scizor if at all possible or a salamence.
Gyrados@ Life Orb
EVs: 252 Atk 4 Def 252 Spe
Adamant/ Intimidate
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Ice Fang
-Stone Edge
Gyrados is my first set-up sweeper. The main reason I picked two of them is if one goes down I've got a backup. Plus, Gyrados is more fragile, especially with sandstorm, but can deal with more Pokemon. Lucario has issues with some ghost Pokemon, but Gyrados can really hit anything with it's move set. It's ability isn't all that bad either, being able to nullify Pokemon's attack boosts and perhaps setting up on his own. The life orb has caused problems however. Usually because of Umbreon's setup Gyrados can setup with only stealth rock damage, but if it takes more, it's sweeping potential goes down a ton. I've considered replacing it, but it has saved me a ton of times when it's been my last Pokemon.
Lucario@ Salac Berry
EVs: 252 Atk 4 Def 252 Spe
Adamant/ Inner Focus
-Swords Dance
-Close Combat
-Crunch
-Extremespeed
My endgame sweeper, Lucario's combination of power and a priority attack make it perfect to finish off the enemy's team. Gyrados may have won me games, but Lucario's record far outstrips it. One swords dance is great, but with Umbreon support, I can usually get more than one. After that the only thing that can stop it is a fast ghost pokemon(Gengar). Usually any gengars will be disposed of by the time Lucario sets-up though. I used to run a sub-salac variant but that didn't work as well with Umbreon's setup so I switched to the standard. The salac berry is a remnant from that since I really couldn't think of a better item. So far, though it's been helpful. Alot better than life orb. Crunch is a move I'm looking at replacing though. It's for taking out ghosts, but in most cases the ghosts will kill him before I get to use it. However Ice punch can be used on things such as gliscor, plus it runs the element of surprise. If I do go with Ice Punch I'd probably switch the nature to jolly to deal with said pokemon.
Changes
Past
Dragonite: This is probably where the RMT thread's "use your team" before coming here helped the most. I used a mixagility nite, that would theoretically suffice as a prelimenary sweeper and deal with revenge killers. In practice.... it failed. It was utterly useless and did nothing to help my team. I swtiched to gyrados and have yet to regret it.
Vaporeon: Vaporeon's initial role was to deal with enemy Gyrados. Since I though I could handle it with my pokemon, I switched it for Umbreon who had better wish support. I certainly don't regret it, but Gyrados isn't as easy to counter as I'd like anymore.
Potential
Dusknoir: I tried Dusknoir on a stall team. It failed but I like it's durability and pain split is a great healing move. I could potentially replace Blissey with it but I'd lose out on clercing and a more reliable special wall
Azelf: If Dusknoir switched with Blisey having two ghosts would be pointless so this makes sense. Azelf would be a "dedicated" lead. Azelf is also the only "legendary" I have with decent IVs and nature making him a good option.
Vaporeon: Despite the fact that I swapper out Vaporeon, I have been consdering putting it back in in place of Gyrados. It can wish and has protect, so unlike Umbreon it can keep itself healthy.
Major Threats
Machamp: Dynamicpunch spamming with no guard is something I've got difficulty countering. Anything that switches in gets' confused save for Gengar but they've got payback too. Tricking a choice scarf may work but them they've got a speed boost next time they switch in to dynamic punch and my ghost is probably gone by them
Scizor: Scizor may be frail, but having a priority move as his main attack makes revenge killing difficult. Gyrados and intimidate are my best bets, but otherwise scizor gives me alot of problems.
Thanks in advance for rating my team. Sorry if I left something out.
