Hello!I'm Chantaraya.I'm really new to this forum and I am trying to developing a team with a friend of mine for a tournament,but I feel that there's something that doesn't work like I want,and so I gently ask to you guys a little help in rating this team.Now,onto the team!
Manectric @ Manectite
Ability: Lightningrod
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt/Volt Switch
- Flamethrower/Overheat/Volt Switch
- Hidden Power Ice/Volt Switch
- Protect
Manectric is one of my favourite pokemons ever,and the MPV of the team.A combination of blistering speed,good Sp Atk and Intimidate is a marvelous thing for the team,as I noted that the meta is more physical than special.I chose Thunderbolt over Volt Switch because I'd like to have more power on the STAB,and this has revealed to be a very good thing some times.The second move is Flamethrower,but I'm a bit doubtious about this because Overheat is way more powerful,but there are times in which I find me with mane as my last pokemon and with 0.5 Sp Atk.On the other hand,Flamethrower is more reliable,but misses on some OHKOs.The third move is a staple,HP ice is the only thing that makes mane not walled by the dragons like Garchomp or Salamence.Protect is a staple move in doubles too,as many times pokemons get double-targeted.But,as you can see,all these three moves have a thing in common:a slash with Volt Switch.Now,while it can seem dumb (and actually it is),I have this problem of 4 moves syndrome,as most times I'd REALLY like to have both my electric STABS and a coverage move (mainly because I see a bit of "redundancy" with the other ice moves of his teammates).Now,looking at my team,can be viable a moveset of Volt Switch/Thunderbolt/Overheat (or Flamethrower)/Protect or one with HP ice in place of fire coverage?This is my main problem with him,because there are times that I'd like to escape while inflicting damage,but other in which I really want to stay in and I can't,this is my main problem,I think that the rest is fine.Lightningrod is my default ability,and is very useful in draining electric moves that may terrorize my other team members (Gyarados in particular).Evs are for max special attack and speed,with the leftovers in HP,I don't know if there's a better spread for VGC than this;if exists,make me know please :D .Overall,this is the only pokemon that I'd like to keep on the team,I like so much its badass looking "hair" and its blistering speed.
Gyarados@ Gyaradosite/Lum Berry/Safety Goggles
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
- Protect
Gyarados is the alternate mega of the team,but he demonstrated to be very good also in normal form,when I have manectric with me.This is the main reason for which I have so many slashes for the item slot:what is the better thing for my team?An alternate mega or a "simple" (but yet really good) normal Gyarados?Lum Berry may be useful for status (especially TWave) and Safety G. for Sand (I haven't seen Hail yet,strangely) and powder moves.It's a really hard question.Again,the ev spread is something that i really don't know,so please help me,but I noted for now that gives him both speed and lots of firepower.Dragon Dance is the setup move,and lets Gyara gain a sweet +1/+1 in both speed and attack,making him even more powerful.Waterfall is the STAB attack of choice,and hits really hard coming from a 125 (155 mega) base attack.Ice fang is dragon-killer,but I'm thinking of switching it to earthquake since I already have HP ice on manectric and I have mamoswine too.Overall,is a solid choice for the team as he synergizes well with the team,resisting also all the weaknesses of Bisharp.
Mamoswine@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
Mamo is the real dragon-slayer of the team.The evs make him hit hard and fast,maximizing Attack and Speed;but,if there's a better spread feel free to tell me it,I'm open to pretty much all changes!130 base atk is nothing to scoff at too.While Ice Shard+Choice Scarf may seem strange,sometimes has proven to be very useful because it outprioritizes things like talonflame's brave bird and the various Sucker Punches of the tier (a part mawile's,since he's really slow).Icicle Crash devastates Dragon-,Grass- and Ground-types,and despite its low accuracy hits really hard neutral targets too.Rock Slide is mainly for Charizard and Talonflame,but it does its work well,nailing other Flying-types and some Ice-types too.Earthquake is a very strong spread move that also gets STAB,and it's pretty spammable when there's Gyarados on the field.He makes also a good job in removing Garchomp for Manectric.Scarf is good also for outspeeding Noivern and Greninja,because I have some sort of fear for fast pokemon in general.
Bisharp@ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Assurance
- Iron Head
- Protect
Since I already have two physical attackers in my team,I thought that intimidating pokemon might ruin their day (especially mamo,since gyara can at least set up).With a Life Orb equipped,a positive nature and a full ev investiment,Bisharp hits really hard,especially when Assurance,my "reliable" STAB move,reaches 120 base power.Sucker Punch is his priority move,and somehow patches his poor speed,and it's really good especially when it's at +1.Iron Head is the secondary STAB move,that may also cause a flinch,while still hitting supereffectively Ice-,Rock-,and most importantly of all,Fairy-types,that I really hate,especially Scarf Gardevoir,that can still pack a punch on Bisharp,since he is hit neutrally by his/her Fairy STAB.He also forms a good combo with Amoonguss (since he can redirect fighting moves) and Aerodactyl (Rock Slide+Assurance or Sky Drop+Assurance).
Amoonguss@ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 236 HP / 68 Def / 204 SpDef
Calm Nature
- Rage Powder
- Giga Drain
- Spore
- Protect
Amoonguss is the supporter of the team,through the ever useful Rage Powder and Spore.With only those two moves,he can absorb for a turn all the hits directed to the partner (Rage Powder),barring spread moves (mainly bisharp,but protecting manectric/mamoswine is nice too because have some great sinergy) and favouring set up (mainly gyara),or neutralize an opponent's pokemon via sleep,often for a bit of turns (Spore).Giga Drain is the only thing that doesn't make it total taunt bait,and does a good amount of damage to rotom wash.Evs let it tank a Timid Charizard-Y's sun-boosted Heat Wave,with the rest of HP in defense to better handling physical threats like Adamant Kanga's not boosted Parental Bond Return.The only thing that I despise about him is the totally absent offensive presence,but at least he supports well the rest of the team,like the next member.
Aerodactyl@ Focus Sash
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Tailwind
- Wide Guard
- Rock Slide
- Sky Drop
Aero is the last member of this team,but not the less important:actually he's a good mix of offense and support checking well talonflame/charizard with Rock Slide,taking for a turn a dangerous opponent and favouring setup/sweeping of the other teammates.Tailwind makes my team super-fast,and also slow pokemon like bisharp can become a serious menace with a bit more speed (like he wasn't before...!).It adds also more and more speed to DD Gyara,Manectric and CS Mamo,rendering useless things like swift swim usel...no,it isn't true because sometimes ludicolo&company really wreck me,but when tailwind is on the field I'm alright.Wide Guard is the icing on the cake,because protects my team from the spread moves that really fears,like Rock Slide for Aero+Gyara,Earthquake for Bisharp+Manectric and Heat Wave for Bisharp+Amoonguss.The evs maximize speed and attack,making him arrive to a fantastic 200 speed ('cause level 50).
Overall,I like this team,but maybe for my scarce experience in VGC,but also for the team in se (Heck,no team is perfect!) I feel that it can be GREATLY and LARGELY improved.
So,I hope that you can help me for this team,because I really need to improve it for a tournament.
Thank you guys!
Chantaraya
Manectric @ Manectite
Ability: Lightningrod
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Thunderbolt/Volt Switch
- Flamethrower/Overheat/Volt Switch
- Hidden Power Ice/Volt Switch
- Protect
Manectric is one of my favourite pokemons ever,and the MPV of the team.A combination of blistering speed,good Sp Atk and Intimidate is a marvelous thing for the team,as I noted that the meta is more physical than special.I chose Thunderbolt over Volt Switch because I'd like to have more power on the STAB,and this has revealed to be a very good thing some times.The second move is Flamethrower,but I'm a bit doubtious about this because Overheat is way more powerful,but there are times in which I find me with mane as my last pokemon and with 0.5 Sp Atk.On the other hand,Flamethrower is more reliable,but misses on some OHKOs.The third move is a staple,HP ice is the only thing that makes mane not walled by the dragons like Garchomp or Salamence.Protect is a staple move in doubles too,as many times pokemons get double-targeted.But,as you can see,all these three moves have a thing in common:a slash with Volt Switch.Now,while it can seem dumb (and actually it is),I have this problem of 4 moves syndrome,as most times I'd REALLY like to have both my electric STABS and a coverage move (mainly because I see a bit of "redundancy" with the other ice moves of his teammates).Now,looking at my team,can be viable a moveset of Volt Switch/Thunderbolt/Overheat (or Flamethrower)/Protect or one with HP ice in place of fire coverage?This is my main problem with him,because there are times that I'd like to escape while inflicting damage,but other in which I really want to stay in and I can't,this is my main problem,I think that the rest is fine.Lightningrod is my default ability,and is very useful in draining electric moves that may terrorize my other team members (Gyarados in particular).Evs are for max special attack and speed,with the leftovers in HP,I don't know if there's a better spread for VGC than this;if exists,make me know please :D .Overall,this is the only pokemon that I'd like to keep on the team,I like so much its badass looking "hair" and its blistering speed.
Gyarados@ Gyaradosite/Lum Berry/Safety Goggles
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Waterfall
- Ice Fang
- Protect
Gyarados is the alternate mega of the team,but he demonstrated to be very good also in normal form,when I have manectric with me.This is the main reason for which I have so many slashes for the item slot:what is the better thing for my team?An alternate mega or a "simple" (but yet really good) normal Gyarados?Lum Berry may be useful for status (especially TWave) and Safety G. for Sand (I haven't seen Hail yet,strangely) and powder moves.It's a really hard question.Again,the ev spread is something that i really don't know,so please help me,but I noted for now that gives him both speed and lots of firepower.Dragon Dance is the setup move,and lets Gyara gain a sweet +1/+1 in both speed and attack,making him even more powerful.Waterfall is the STAB attack of choice,and hits really hard coming from a 125 (155 mega) base attack.Ice fang is dragon-killer,but I'm thinking of switching it to earthquake since I already have HP ice on manectric and I have mamoswine too.Overall,is a solid choice for the team as he synergizes well with the team,resisting also all the weaknesses of Bisharp.
Mamoswine@ Choice Scarf
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
Mamo is the real dragon-slayer of the team.The evs make him hit hard and fast,maximizing Attack and Speed;but,if there's a better spread feel free to tell me it,I'm open to pretty much all changes!130 base atk is nothing to scoff at too.While Ice Shard+Choice Scarf may seem strange,sometimes has proven to be very useful because it outprioritizes things like talonflame's brave bird and the various Sucker Punches of the tier (a part mawile's,since he's really slow).Icicle Crash devastates Dragon-,Grass- and Ground-types,and despite its low accuracy hits really hard neutral targets too.Rock Slide is mainly for Charizard and Talonflame,but it does its work well,nailing other Flying-types and some Ice-types too.Earthquake is a very strong spread move that also gets STAB,and it's pretty spammable when there's Gyarados on the field.He makes also a good job in removing Garchomp for Manectric.Scarf is good also for outspeeding Noivern and Greninja,because I have some sort of fear for fast pokemon in general.
Bisharp@ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Assurance
- Iron Head
- Protect
Since I already have two physical attackers in my team,I thought that intimidating pokemon might ruin their day (especially mamo,since gyara can at least set up).With a Life Orb equipped,a positive nature and a full ev investiment,Bisharp hits really hard,especially when Assurance,my "reliable" STAB move,reaches 120 base power.Sucker Punch is his priority move,and somehow patches his poor speed,and it's really good especially when it's at +1.Iron Head is the secondary STAB move,that may also cause a flinch,while still hitting supereffectively Ice-,Rock-,and most importantly of all,Fairy-types,that I really hate,especially Scarf Gardevoir,that can still pack a punch on Bisharp,since he is hit neutrally by his/her Fairy STAB.He also forms a good combo with Amoonguss (since he can redirect fighting moves) and Aerodactyl (Rock Slide+Assurance or Sky Drop+Assurance).
Amoonguss@ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 236 HP / 68 Def / 204 SpDef
Calm Nature
- Rage Powder
- Giga Drain
- Spore
- Protect
Amoonguss is the supporter of the team,through the ever useful Rage Powder and Spore.With only those two moves,he can absorb for a turn all the hits directed to the partner (Rage Powder),barring spread moves (mainly bisharp,but protecting manectric/mamoswine is nice too because have some great sinergy) and favouring set up (mainly gyara),or neutralize an opponent's pokemon via sleep,often for a bit of turns (Spore).Giga Drain is the only thing that doesn't make it total taunt bait,and does a good amount of damage to rotom wash.Evs let it tank a Timid Charizard-Y's sun-boosted Heat Wave,with the rest of HP in defense to better handling physical threats like Adamant Kanga's not boosted Parental Bond Return.The only thing that I despise about him is the totally absent offensive presence,but at least he supports well the rest of the team,like the next member.
Aerodactyl@ Focus Sash
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Tailwind
- Wide Guard
- Rock Slide
- Sky Drop
Aero is the last member of this team,but not the less important:actually he's a good mix of offense and support checking well talonflame/charizard with Rock Slide,taking for a turn a dangerous opponent and favouring setup/sweeping of the other teammates.Tailwind makes my team super-fast,and also slow pokemon like bisharp can become a serious menace with a bit more speed (like he wasn't before...!).It adds also more and more speed to DD Gyara,Manectric and CS Mamo,rendering useless things like swift swim usel...no,it isn't true because sometimes ludicolo&company really wreck me,but when tailwind is on the field I'm alright.Wide Guard is the icing on the cake,because protects my team from the spread moves that really fears,like Rock Slide for Aero+Gyara,Earthquake for Bisharp+Manectric and Heat Wave for Bisharp+Amoonguss.The evs maximize speed and attack,making him arrive to a fantastic 200 speed ('cause level 50).
Overall,I like this team,but maybe for my scarce experience in VGC,but also for the team in se (Heck,no team is perfect!) I feel that it can be GREATLY and LARGELY improved.
So,I hope that you can help me for this team,because I really need to improve it for a tournament.
Thank you guys!
Chantaraya