VGC Trying for a VGC Team

[MattRMorgan]

What's up guys! I've been using Pokemon Showdown a lot recently and have been trying to make a 'good' team for VGC 2015. I've come up with a concept that seems quite good and I've been getting more wins than losses but some of these have quite sketchy endings. Something is clearly not right but I can't see where it i (I'm a VGC noob, so I wouldn't likely recognize it anyway).

Whimsicott @ Focus Sash
Ability: Prankster
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
- Encore
- Beat Up
- Tailwind
- Taunt

I'm using Whimsicott for two reasons: 1) It is a quick Prankster and gives me access to both Tailwind and Taunt to stop other Pranksters (I've mostly come across Sableye and been successful in taunting them and making them almost useless). And 2) Beat Up provides my second Pokemon, Terrakion, with a 3x Attack boost as long as it has not been Intimidated. The Focus Sash usually keeps it up for two turns so I can set up Tailwind afterwards if I know it is going down. If not, I can Beat Up again and get that attack boost to 4x or Encore certain Pokemon depending on what they last used - especially if it's Protect.

Terrakion @ Lum Berry
Ability: Justified
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Close Combat
- Protect

Terrakion, once it gets the 3x boost from Whimsicott's Beat Up can usually get rid of anything as long as the Pokemon doesn't resist the moves. I've decided to give it a Lum Berry because, after the 3x boost, it is a real target for Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave. Protect is for extra security.

Sableye @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
Nature: Bold
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
- Swagger
- Foul Play
- Will-O-Wisp
- Protect

This is pretty much a standard set for Sableye (from what I understand - I could be completely wrong in saying this). Swagger just adds to the power of Foul Play. Sableye is mostly effective when 1-on-1 I feel as Swaggering and Protecting after a Will-O-Wisp has been set up can just prolong the inevitable and Foul Play can be used to finish the job.

Latios @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Def / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Protect

This is the special sweeper of the group: Draco Meteor hits for massive damage against the dragons that come up on almost each game. With this set, the only thing to watch out for is the lack of a super effective move against Fairy-types so Protect is there just to stall during an encounter with a Fairy-type.

Metagross @ Metagrossite
Ability: Clear Body (Tough Claws)
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
- Zen Headbutt
- Meteor Mash
- Ice Punch
- Earthquake

Another sweeper; this time of the Physical variety. Zen Headbutt and Meteor Mash are both solid STAB moves with added benefits (flinching and attack boost respectively). Ice Punch gets the 2x damage against all Dragon Types (except Mega Charizard X and Kingdra) and OHKOs 0 Def Salamence and Garchomp. Earthquake provides more coverage and big damage.

Amoonguss @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Effect Spore/Regenerator (Which is better to use?)
Nature: Calm
Evs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
- Spore
- Rage Powder
- Giga Drain
- Protect

Amoonguss is a pretty good decoy. Rocky Helmet and Rage Powder give the chance of whittling down opponents whilst it's partner deals the big damage. Spore can be crucial against certain Pokemon when they are a threat to Amoonguss' partner (particularly if it's Bisharp against Metagross or Latios as it seems to be a recurring problem).

There it is: My team. Any advice you could give me on how to improve it would be great.

Thanks for reading!

 

[DaAwesomeDude1]

Hey dude welcome to VGC, its always great to have new people join the community :) Your team looks pretty great; however there are a few things you should change. This is just a personal nitpick of mine but i would go 252 HP instead of 252 Def on Whimsicott. Honestly it doesn't make too big of a difference but 252 HP just gives it better overall bulk. As for Sableye, I suggest changing the item from Leftovers to Sitrus Berry. Passive recovery like lefties is ehh considering VGC games are pretty fast paced and they work better on Pokemon that uses Substitute or if you've already used your Sitrus Berry. Sitrus Berry also allows you to gain pretty much instant mass recovery which is needed in a support pokemon like Sableye. Also I would change the EV spread to 244 HP, 252 Def, 12 SpD. 244 HP is to hit a number divisible by 4 to make the most use out of sitrus berry. 252 SpD also works instead of Def but since the metagame is mostly physical, i find Def better even if you do carry WoW. I suggest changing out Latios to Hydreigon. While latios is great and all, really its only nitch above Hydreigon is the ability to hit Fighting types for super effective and Tailwind. Since you already have a Tailwinding mon and you've got Metagross/Sableye anyways, it really isn't worth using Latios. Scarf Hydreigon with the moveset of Draco Meteor, Dark Pulse, Earth Power and Fire Blast/Dragon Pulse is probably your best bet. Mega Metagross is cool but i suggest changing the spread to 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe Jolly Nature. Personally i prefer a jolly nature since if you aren't jolly, Pokemon like Jolly max speed Kanga and Jolly Terrakion will outrun you, which i guess in Kanga's sake isn't too big of a deal since it'll most likely sucker punch you. Also Protect is pretty important on Metagross so i suggest Protect over Ice Punch since you've got, hopefully, Hydreigon to deal with most Dragon types. As for Amoonguss, your moveset is fine but i suggest changing the spread to 236 HP / 148 Def / 124 SpD Bold Nature since that allows you to live a fake out + return from Kanga. Also Regenerator imo is the better ability and it fits more with this spread too since it'll let you make the most of Regenerator health. Other than that, your team looks fine dude. Good luck with it n_n