Pokemon Sapphire Team Help

[Grizzle]

My sister found my Sapphire version yesterday and I had to start a new game. When I play R/S/E version I tend to verse the elite four with my starter, a swellow, and the main legendary. This time I want to build a strong team with 4+ pokemon. Right now I have a Mudkip Lv. 11 and a Taillow Lv. 10. What other pokemon should I get to make a strong team?

[groudonlover]

Groudon. And Rayquaza. And maybe a Regi.
Ihave Rayquaza, Groudon and Blaziken, Rayquaza can do the whole E4 by himself, as he can learn Dragon Claw(Remember), Thunderbolt(Mauville Gamecorner), Flamethrower(-' '-) and Fly.

[Grizzle]

Groudon. And Rayquaza. And maybe a Regi.
Ihave Rayquaza, Groudon and Blaziken, Rayquaza can do the whole E4 by himself, as he can learn Dragon Claw(Remember), Thunderbolt(Mauville Gamecorner), Flamethrower(-' '-) and Fly.
I would like a team without Legendary's and besides, in Sapphire I can't get Rayquaza until I defeat the Elite Four.

[Cactus Twist]

If you have to have those 2...
Swampert
Swellow
Salamence
Alakazam
Manectric
Aggron

Otherwise...
Blaziken
Salamence
Alakazam
Manectric
Aggron
Walrein
Then replace Manectric with Metagross after E4

[Ripper]

The best Pokemon within the game are in my opinion...

Fire - Numel, Torchic (Starter), Torkoal
Water - Lotad, Spheal, Wailmer, Mudkip (Starter), Magikarp, Feebas
Grass - Seedot (Ruby Only), Lotad, Treecko (Starter), Shroomish
Electric - Electrike, Magnemite, Pikachu
Psychic/Ghost - Baltoy, Spoink, Ralts, Abra, Duskull, Shuppet
Rock/Ground - Aron, Mudkip (Starter), Geodude, Trapich
Flying - Tailow, Trapinch, Swablu

Basically try and make a team out of those guys I listed. Preferably one from each type, and don't use, say, Lotad and another Water or Grass Pokemon as Lotad covers both types. Most of the Pokemon listed can cover a bunch of different types, but ultimately, make sure you pick a Pokemon you like.

[shanecdavis]

Glad to hear you want a team without cheap Legendaries. Playing the game with a legendary is like a rec league teaming having Michael Jordan on their team. No challenge and as boring as it gets. Uber Legendary ftw. Yawn.

At least you did well by picking up the best starter and its best buddy. Those two can almost get through the game by themselves. I would suggest a few additions though. First is Ralts. Sure it's a pain to train in the beginning, but remember the best Pokemon always are. Gardevoir is worth it though. Solid SAtk and can learn Thunderbolt. Need I say more? The other one is Shroomish. Now this selection comes with a BIG decision. Breloom's greatest move is Spore, which only Shroomish learns, at Lv54. Now, what I suggest is catch two Shroomish (male and female) and then when you get to Mauville, deposit both of them in the Daycare, and then either make your way back to the sandy slope in Granite cave next to Dewford, or progress to the sandy slopes north of the Desert. Here you will tape your controller in the up position and leave it for a while. As this is happening your step count is increasing and your two Shroomish are gaining experience. After about an hour, make your way back to the Daycare Center and check on your Pokes (you will probably have to take an egg first. Once they are Lv54 and have learned Spore, ride your Mach Bike back and forth on that long stretch through Mauville until you get an egg. SAVE. Take the egg and hatch it. I highly suggest waiting for an Adamant Nature. If you agree, if the nature isn't Adamant then reset the game, ride until another egg is ready and repeat until you get one. If you don't, you now have a Lv5 Shroomish with Spore, one of the best moves in the game. Now level it up and continue the game.

Breloom (Sleeper/Physical Attacker)
Swampert (Mixed Attacker/Bulky Water)
Taillow (Physical Attacker)
Gardevoir (Special Attacker/Special Absorber)

This team will handle whatever the weak AI throws at you rather easily. To enhance the enjoyment, I suggest the following:

* Turn off the switch function (where the game asks you if you want to switch Pokemon after every opponent Pokemon that faints). This is such a cheap option that is ON by default.

* Do not use items during battle. No Revives, no Potions, NOTHING. This will force you to learn better strategies than the boring straight up attacking that the weak AI breeds. Starting off with a Breloom Spore always puts you at an advantage. Take advantage of that.

* Do not raise your Pokemon above the level of the highest Pokemon of the upcoming gym. Another cheap aspect that the game also tends to breed is over-leveling your Pokemon. Where is the challenge if you take a Lv60+ Pokemon into the Weak5? None. Again, boring and lame.

* DO NOT put HM moves (not called Surf) on any of your four Pokemon. That is what HM slaves are for. Use them. Fly is an absolutely HORRIBLE move. Avoid it all costs, other than putting it on your HM slave to get around.

* Only use good hold items. DO NOT use the crappy Type-specific items (i.e. Magical Leaf, etc.) or Stat-specific items (i.e. Quick Claw, Brightpowder, etc.). They are not worth it. Getting a 10% boost for only a specific Type attack or a 10% chance that you will attack first just isn't worth it.

Good luck.

[Grizzle]

Breloom (Sleeper/Physical Attacker)
Swampert (Mixed Attacker/Bulky Water)
Taillow (Physical Attacker)
Gardevoir (Special Attacker/Special Absorber)
I like the team you laid out. I already have a Shroomish, but I am not going to waste time to teach it Spore. I am not sure if I will get a Gardevoir. If I don't I know that Alakazam is another good choice.

[.emerald]

I like the team you laid out. I already have a Shroomish, but I am not going to waste time to teach it Spore. I am not sure if I will get a Gardevoir. If I don't I know that Alakazam is another good choice.
Alakazam would be an excellent spec. sweeper although I can't resist the ability of Gardevoir to have better movepools than Ala...
Dude, stop typing in bold, its deeply annoying...

[Melodyfree]

although I can't resist the ability of Gardevoir to have better movepools than Ala...
This.
Also, Gardevoir has an ability Alakazam doesn't: Trace. That has got to be one of the best abilities ever if you can play it right, and the only other Pokemon that has this is Porygon/2.
I remember playing Emerald 386 (a version of Emerald edited to have all 386 Pokeymans with higher levels) and using a Gardevoir at least 15 levels lower than Wallace's weakest Pokemon. I completely walled all of his Pokemon due to Gardie tracing his Vaporeon's water absorb ability, and swept them into oblivion after a couple of calm minds.
...And Gardevoir is just prettier. :3 Lulz, that's always a plus for me.

[Cactus Twist]

The best Pokemon within the game are in my opinion...

Fire - Numel, Torchic (Starter), Torkoal
Water - Lotad, Spheal, Wailmer, Mudkip (Starter), Magikarp, Feebas
Grass - Seedot (Ruby Only), Lotad, Treecko (Starter), Shroomish
Electric - Electrike, Magnemite, Pikachu
Psychic/Ghost - Baltoy, Spoink, Ralts, Abra, Duskull, Shuppet
Rock/Ground - Aron, Mudkip (Starter), Geodude, Trapich
Flying - Tailow, Trapinch, Swablu

Basically try and make a team out of those guys I listed. Preferably one from each type, and don't use, say, Lotad and another Water or Grass Pokemon as Lotad covers both types. Most of the Pokemon listed can cover a bunch of different types, but ultimately, make sure you pick a Pokemon you like.

no bagon? i guess that would fit in flying

[Grizzle]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am thinking of adding a Numel and a Bagon to my team.

[TheDeadpool]

i would use a flygon instead of salamence, and replace shroomish with a cactnea for the dark attribute it helps with tate and liza

[shanecdavis]

Numel? Fire-types are incredibly overrated. Highly suggest you go a different direction, but it is your game.