VGC VGC17 featuring Charjabug

[MDK]

Goodra @ Assault Vest
Ability: Sap Sipper
Level: 50
EVs: 188 HP / 164 Def / 156 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Bomb
- Ice Beam


it's strong, incredibly specially bulky and very good defensive typing seeing as the VGC17 metagame lacks physical Fairies and Ice types. It laughs at Alola-Ninetales Blizzards, at Tapu Koko's Dazzling Gleam and Fini's Moonblast, it walls Arcanine and Tapu Bulu for days and it's movepool makes it able to do hit everything for super effective damage, it was perfect.
Its moveset is to cover against threats, especially Pokemon with x4 weaknesses

Ice Beam is for Garchomp, Dragon Pulse does not ensure OHKOs and the presence of Misty Terrain means Dragon as an offensive typing is obsolete in this meta
Flamethrower is for Kartana
Sludge Bomb is for all the Tapu's and Alola-Ninetales
Thunderbolt is for Rain teams with Pelipper and Golduck

The EVs are suggested Smogon set

• 252+ SpA Tapu Lele Moonblast vs. 188 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 84-102 (44.4 - 53.9%) -- 23.4% chance to 2HKO
• 252+ SpA Tapu Lele Dazzling Gleam vs. 188 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 54-66 (28.5 - 34.9%) -- 1.9% chance to 3HKO
• 252+ SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 188 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 68-84 (35.9 - 44.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
• 252 SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Dazzling Gleam vs. 188 HP / 0 SpD Assault Vest Goodra: 49-62 (25.9 - 32.8%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
• 252 Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 188 HP / 164 Def Goodra: 69-82 (36.5 - 43.3%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
• 252 Atk Garchomp Dragon Claw vs. 188 HP / 164 Def Goodra in Misty Terrain: 72-86 (38 - 45.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

Garchomp @ Groundium Z
Ability: Rough Skin
Level: 50
EVs: 188 HP / 236 Atk/ 4 Def/44 SpD/36 Speed
Adamant Nature
- Protect
- Fire Fang
- Poison Jab
- Earthquake


Garchomp has always been a very good member of my VGC17 teams, honestly I forgot what the EVs were for... but I did some calcs to see what they could've been for, I focused more on bulk rather than sweeping because whatever outspeeds it in the VGC17 meta usually can outspeed and hit it hard anyway so even with maximum speed it would be in vain (eg Ice Beam Pheramosa, Hidden Power Ice Koko, Alola Ninetales...)
Fire Fang for Kartana and Celesteela
Poison Jab for Fairies like Fini, Lele and Bulu
Earthquake because it's a staple on Garchomp
Protect for protection and scouting

• 252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Hidden Power Ice vs. 188 HP / 44 SpD Garchomp: 177-208 (85.5 - 100.4%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
• 252+ SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 188 HP / 44 SpD Garchomp: 156-186 (75.3 - 89.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252 SpA Tapu Lele Moonblast vs. 188 HP / 44 SpD Garchomp: 176-210 (85 - 101.4%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO

Arcanine @ Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def/ 4 SpA/92 SpD/156 Speed
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Protect
- Flamethrower
- Snarl
- Will O Wisp

I felt I needed some defense on my team so I went with a disruptive support Arcanine, not exactly sure where I was going with the EVs but here are some calcs

Protect for protection and stall, Flamethrower for some kind of power
Snarl for lowering special attack adding now bulk to my team and Will O Wisp to cover physical attacks like Muk, Celesteela and if I get a good prediction, Garchomp

• 252+ SpA Tapu Fini Muddy Water vs. 252 HP / 92+ SpD Arcanine: 102-120 (51.7 - 60.9%) -- 90.2% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
• 252+ SpA Tapu Fini Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 92+ SpD Arcanine: 164-194 (83.2 - 98.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
• 36+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 252 HP / 92+ SpD Arcanine in Psychic Terrain: 160-189
• (81.2 - 95.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
• 252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 92+ SpD Arcanine in Electric Terrain: 130-153 (65.9 - 77.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

Tapu Lele @ Life Orb
Ability: Psychic Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP /252 SpA/ 252 Speed
Modest
IVs: 0 Atk
- Protect
- Psychic
- Moonblast
- Thunderbolt


Tapu Lele is one of the strongest Special Attackers in the format, what I really built this team around was ways in which I good capitalize on that, so Modest, Life Orb, Psychic Terrain, max EVs and Battery, wanted to see how far I could take it

And it is amazing

• 252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Battery Psychic vs. +1 4 HP / 4 SpD Drifblim in Psychic Terrain: 230-270 (101.7 - 119.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Battery Moonblast vs. 244 HP / 252 SpD Mandibuzz: 250-296 (115.7 - 137%) -- guaranteed OHKO
• 252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Battery Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Celesteela in Electric Terrain: 205-244 (100.4 - 119.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO (Even opposing Electric Terrain is not an issue)
• 252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Battery Psychic vs. 244 HP / 164+ SpD Arcanine in Psychic Terrain: 195-230 (99.4 - 117.3%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO

Charjabug @ Eviolite
Ability: Battery
Level: 50
EVs: 252HP / 124 Def / 132 SpD
Impish
- Protect
- Toxic
- Electroweb
- Light Screen


Ladies and gentlemen, I can assure you I am not insane, yes I used this Pokemon.

Unlike other mid evolution bugs like Spewpa and Metapod, Charjabug has stats that actually make it bulky when used with Eviolite. Charjabug also has a fantastic ability in Battery, essentially giving its partner a Life Orb boost WHILE THEY CAN USE A LIFE ORB ALREADY, it functions as an item but at the same time you aren't trading a slot for an item and that only, you also can make use of Charjabug's movepool to be disruptive.

Toxic to passively wither bulky Pokemon like Palossand or Porygon2
Electroweb functions as an Electric type Icy Wind to slow down whatever it hits by 1 stage plus chip damage
Protect to stall Toxic damage but at the same time keep Charjabug on the field, this creature channels its power into its ally, you will want it to stay at it's side while it does that
Last moveslot was initially Spark (It can Paralyze and makes use of Charjabugs surprisingly usable base 82 attack) but I felt maybe Light Screen can be more useful. Now on to the stats to show you how bulky this bug becomes:

• 252+ Atk Arcanine Flare Blitz vs. 252 HP / 124+ Def Eviolite Charjabug: 114-134 (69.5 - 81.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252+ SpA Arcanine Burn Up vs. 252 HP / 132 SpD Eviolite Charjabug: 146-174 (89 - 106%) -- 37.5% chance to OHKO
• 252+ Atk Garchomp Fire Fang vs. 252 HP / 124+ Def Eviolite Charjabug: 46-56 (28 - 34.1%) -- 1.2% chance to 3HKO
• 4 SpA Celesteela Flamethrower vs. 252 HP / 132 SpD Eviolite Charjabug: 54-64 (32.9 - 39%) -- 99.3% chance to 3HKO
• 252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Fini Hydro Pump vs. 252 HP / 132 SpD Eviolite Charjabug: 90-106 (54.8 - 64.6%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Psychic vs. 252 HP / 132 SpD Eviolite Charjabug in Psychic Terrain: 121-142 (73.7 - 86.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
• 252+ SpA Golduck Hydro Vortex (185 BP) vs. 252 HP / 132 SpD Eviolite Charjabug in Rain: 153-180 (93.2 - 109.7%) -- 56.3% chance to OHKO

Pheramosa @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk/ 4 SpA/ 252 Speed
Lonely Nature
- U-Turn
- Poison Jab
- Hi Jump Kick
- Ice Beam


My team lacked a way to kick some of the dangerously fast Pokemon in VGC17 first so I played one as well, Hi Jump Kick is absolutely devestating to bulky Pokemon like Celesteela, Porygon2 and Snorlax.
U-Turn is for pivoting and strong second STAB, that way Trick Room teams with Oranguru I can hit it for 70% or so of it's HP while getting out of there for inevitable Trick Room, so managing to to threaten Porygon2 and Oranguru means I can stand a chance vs Trick Room
Poison Jab is for Alola Ninetales, Tapus etc
Ice Beam for Garchomp

 

[bravesatlantabl]

I think your team might struggle against Trick Room. You might want to try Taunt on Tapu Lele or maybe Roar on Arcanine. I don't know if you really need that much speed investment on a defensive Arcanine.

 

[MDK]

I think your team might struggle against Trick Room. You might want to try Taunt on Tapu Lele or maybe Roar on Arcanine. I don't know if you really need that much speed investment on a defensive Arcanine.

Do have quite a bit of trouble with Trick Rooms that have Mimikyu (Oranguru ones are no issue, Porygon2 is a bit of a problem because Pheramosa isn't a definite wincon option)

Arcanine speed... it's a hard choice for me thinking I might need more, Psychic from Lele is disgusting even at -1 SpA from Snarl

 

[MDK]

Think I might drop Pheramosa for Celesteela, I miss it, Pheramosa is so fragile, one wrong prediction and it is gone especially against Sand and Hail.
Celesteela's magnificent bulk and Leech Seed in combination with Arcanine's Snarl/Intimidate/Will O Wisp and Charjabug's Toxic and Light Screen means I can stall Porygon2 and well as destroy Tapus with the right plays

 

[Bright Size]

Hi, one thing you can try doing to help against Trick Room is use Taunt on Tapu Lele (over Thunderbolt). With its Psychic Terrain that means in most cases Tapu Lele should be able to Taunt the Trick Room user and prevent Trick Room from going up. It's not a perfect solution, for example Sky Drop Koko next to a Trick Room user can still let the Trick Room user set up (Conan Thompson used Sky Drop Koko and TR Mimikyu to get 2nd at Oregon Regionals). Thunderbolt does seem neat and all with Charjabug but I went to the Damage Calculator and saw that the only time your Battery empowered Thunderbolt does more damage than Psychic is when you're using it against something 4x Electric weak (Gyarados), you're in Electric Terrain (which your team doesn't set up), or when you're attacking something Electric weak outside of your Psychic Terrain (otherwise Psychic is doing more damage).

252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Battery Psychic vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Araquanid in Psychic Terrain: 169-200 (96.5 - 114.2%) -- 81.3% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Battery Psychic vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Araquanid: 113-134 (64.5 - 76.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Battery Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Araquanid: 151-179 (86.2 - 102.2%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Battery Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gyarados: 380-452 (223.5 - 265.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Battery Psychic vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Gyarados in Psychic Terrain: 214-253 (125.8 - 148.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Tapu Lele Battery Thunderbolt vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Celesteela in Electric Terrain: 205-244 (100.4 - 119.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO [Your calc]

I'd recommend Mago Berry over Leftovers on Arcanine because I find it usually gives more health in the context of one game than Leftovers does and I'd run Flare Blitz over Flamethrower because it does more damage (it also lets you trigger your berry) and helps against Celesteela more in general than Flamethrower (plus most Celesteela get the Special Defense boost from Beast Boost). Generally speaking Leftovers is better on Pokemon that like to sit and stall the game out for longer periods of time (like Celesteela). You'll need to change the Calm Nature and 4 SpA EVs to Careful Nature and 4 Att EVs recall.

I'd recommend more Speed EVs on Garchomp as there are a lot of things that are outspeeding you right now like Pelipper, fast Buzzwole (which often have Ice Punch), even neutral max speed Xurkitree (which can have Dazzling Gleam/HP Ice and while you might be able to take a hit, you can outspeed it and knock it out). I run 52 HP / 204 Atk / 4 Def / 20 SpD / 228 Spe Adamant on Garchomp. It's enough Speed to outspeed Timid Xurkitree (by 3, I speed creep because other Garchomp often try to hit above 149) and the bulk lives a no investment Porygon2 Ice Beam and a Tectonic Rage from max attack Jolly Garchomp.

Being able to preserve Pheromosa is incredibly valuable, so I'd recommend Protect over U-turn or Ice Beam. You've already got a decent number of ways to deal with Garchomp but in my own experience you can never have enough Garchomp hate on a team. U-turn is also incredibly valuable for managing board position. At the same time I'd recommend Protect over both of those two moves.

You mentioned that you may drop Pheromoda for Celesteela. I think Celesteela can work really well on this team (most teams usually) but I think Pheromosa can stay. Instead I think you should drop Charjabug for it. Charjabug (although cool and I see is what you're trying to make it work with this team) is fairly gimmicky and doesn't offer much most of the time that other things can't offer a team. Porygon2, Gastrodon, etc. has Toxic, Ninetales can set up Aurora Veil (though I understand not using it on this team with Pheromosa), there are other niche Reflect/Light Screen users like the Tapus, and a decent number of Pokemon (even Goodra!) can get Bulldoze for speed control. Celesteela is doing pretty much what you're wanting your Goodra to do - take hits. It's a pretty solid answer to Mimikyu and it's a pain for a lot of Trick Room Pokemon other than Magnezone. I would recommend Flamethrower on a Celesteela for your team to help dealing with Kartana. Though the biggest thing to note is that it isn't going to be taking Tapu Koko Thunderbolts or Arcanine Flare Blitzs very well. The rest of your team (Garchomp, Tapu Lele, Pheromosa) pressures opposing Arcanine well with the high damage output and Arcanine's ability to wall other Arcanine. Tapu Koko is pressured by Garchomp unless it has Fairium Z (which is a thing; Paul Chua used it to win Athens Regionals), Pheromosa's Poison Jab, and it takes a nasty chunk from Arcanine's Flare Blitz (although this is problematic as you'll take a decent chunk of damage from Thunderbolt and recoil; Mago Berry helps with this interaction). If you think you'll have too much of an issue dealing with Tapu Koko you can try using Alolan Muk over Goodra or maybe you can try out Togedemaru (which offers Electric redirection in its ability, Fake Out support, etc.) which just recently won Collinsville (St. Louis) Regionals by Alex Underhill. There are other things you can try out but I feel like I've already gone into plenty of detail on ways you can try to improve the team.