Euphoric

On the other hand, if I always lead with Houndoom and whatever the opponent starts with is weak to Dark (by some silly oversight), it would work...but I have a feeling that any Dark weakness would not be the first out since I'm a Dark leader. Or Fairy, and probably hiding the Dragons until my Fairies are gone (oh, I'm covering that, I am). {XD}

Yeah, it seemed like a low per-member number. Slighjtly higher and it's somewhat useful. Note of course that I'm putting Attack or Special Attack IVs on most of my party, but I think Beat Up ignores that. Only useful part is the STAB.

What are your thoughts on "Beat Up"? It's a Dark type move. It gets STAB. If facing a Sturdy Pokémon, continued attacks make it faint. If the leading Pokémon has it, that's six attacks (it's worst used later in battle). Base attack / 10 + 5 is the formula; if base attack of all members is 110, for instance, then 110 / 10 + 5 = 11 + 5 = 16 * 6 = 72 as a base damage, which compares it to moves like Night Slash.

So, about your team:

I think it would be a good idea to replace Scolipede. It isn't all that necessary to the team, since most of your other pokes are capable of boosting themselves, so Baton Passing stuff to them is kinda redundant. Not to mention that offensively Scolipede is kinda meh. I think that your team would appreciate Sticky Web support, especially Dragonite and Kingdra. Sniper Kingdra is one of your greatest offensive assets, but since you can't activate Swift Swim, its Speed leaves something to be desired. But with SW, it can outspeed a lot of pokes and destroy stuff like intended. Your best options for Sticky Web are Galvantula and Shuckle. Shuckle gives you something bulky on the team and Stealth Rock, while Galvantula can add fast, immediate special attacking to the team. It's Electric STAB is particularly useful against all the Water types packing Ice moves.

Oh, that was quick.

I think I may swap Tyrantrum with Carracosta. I just kinda threw it in there because it's cool and part Dragon, and yeah, it's not bad, but it aint the most amazing thing ever (though Rock Head being released would be great for it).

I'm not sure what I wanna do about Charizard. Both megas are great. Maybe I'll use the team on Showdown's main server and play around with the 2 of them.

Tyranitar is certainly something I'll consider, since it is an OU staple. The other Rocks would like the Sp.Defense boost sandstorm gives them.

Even if I do switch to Zard X, I don't think I'll use Ninetales. I've never really liked it, both for design reasons and competitive reasons. While Drought is nice, that's it's only redeeming feature, and I find it to be rather outclassed but many other Fire types.

As good of a Fire type that Heatran is, it kinda exacerbates my Fighting and Ground weaknesses, so I'm not sure about adding it. Though you are right that I might need another special attacker and that Darmanitan may not be the best choice here.

Thanks for the advice. Now I gotta think up stuff for you.....

Indeed.

Unrelated, I just received a female Dream Ball Aipom in a cloning request tradeback. This will go well with my Focus Punch Aipom, yet unbred, from SoulSilver.

I'm leaning toward Azumarill, too. I just keep thinking having two Water types leaves me uncovered for something (Grass, maybe). {XD}

But then, Froakie changing types invalidates that.

I think I'm in near agreement. When you mentioned Houndoom, that started cycling the need for Zorua. It would be an Illusion ploy at best. If it makes someone switch out to something I can slam right back out, it works great, but if the person attacks right away it's gone just like that.

I'm undecided between Azumarill and Clefable, myself. I certainly don't need both. The only reason I added Dedenne to the list is because I don't have Electric coverage. Azumarill's second is covered by Froakie (Water, and Surf) while Clefable's secondary reason for being there (Meteor Mash) is covered by Bisharp and Iron Head.

So I made my team now. Would you mind battling me so I can test it?

Oh, I know that. It's deciding who to make my initial team that is difficult. :)

Out of those (and Houndoom), what do you think? I'd likely pick three of the four I've already EV trained, so between that and Fairy, who would you pick?

Good point, that also gives me the Fire against Bugs.

So many good options. Only room for six. If it weren't for being weak to Fairy types, I'd 5:1 the ratio. {XD}

I'm still contemplating. All are at Lv.1 (except a traded 6IV Zorua at Lv.36). The Pokémon being considered ATM are:
- 6IV Absol with Egg Moves, including Zen Headbutt and Play Rough. No question, Mega Absol and Sucker Punch to try to buy time to activate its impressive speed; I may use Flamethrower for coverage against Bugs, and Play Rough is there for Dragon types that are popular online.
- 5IV Shiny Pawniard. I think it has Egg Moves, but I have not analyzed this, and it's a trade-in so I'll level it up fast. Lots of options including giving me Steel coverage against Fairy types.
- 6IV Lv.36 Zorua. Another trade-in, already Rare-Candied up as it had 0 EVs. Since EV trained for its upcoming evolution. Illusion is useful to imitate a Fairy type at the back of the party, draw something out to attack it, and then use something to decimate it. This is cool if used correctly; otherwise, one physical attack ruins the illusion and the battle is back to normal. I can't have the ending member be something Zoroark is weak to, but preferably a resistance.
- A 6IV Protean Froakie, no EMs. I think this is self-explanatory. Being able to change types gets rid of the Dark weakness immediately if I outspeed. I have to be careful not to send it out against something that is already out with Fighting moves, particularly Mach Punch which always goes first (except perhaps against similar moves like Sucker Punch, but even then that is likely resisted). Mach Punch going first means no type change can be employed, and Greninja would be OHKOed. Not a problem if already in battle provided my last move used is not Dark type.
- Mawile (for Mega Mawile, not yet bred). Until Smogon bans it and that carries down, I can use this.
- Azumarill (not yet bred). I have two separate Hall of Fame ones. Only species I've done that with (and I've only bothered entering the Hall of Fame twice, too). A good one with IVs is water coverage, but Froakie may already know Surf, so Azumarill might be dropped.
- Drapion (suggested by Polar). Poison coverage.
- Skuntank (alternative to Drapion). Sludge Bomb STAB on a Fairy challenger.
- Togekiss (considering). Sky Attack is a multi-turn STAB, or at worst Air Slash is useful. Aura Sphere coverage, but no STAB. Dazzling Gleam for a Fairy type STAB. Can learn more good TMs. Have to analyze this.
- Dedenne (considering). I'm considering it for Electric coverage, and might have to train up Defense or Special Defense so it can take a hit while Volt Switching out so that it can inflict damage and leave the swap-in unharmed. Again, may be dropped.
- Clefable. Moonblast and Meteor Mash FTW.

May be others I'm forgetting, but those are early considerations.

4MSS?

I can see an Infernape being brought in to counter my team. It doesn't have the Fairy weakness that Fighting has, and can learn Mach Punch. That might be deadly. This will be a case where I have to try to get a Psychic move on another Pokémon, and Malamar comes to mind being Dark/Psychic. Absol also knows Zen Headbutt.

Alright, I'll get on the server now.

Sure, I can do that for ya. I don't have my league team made yet, though, so is it ok if I just use one of my other OU teams?

You have a point there. I guess it would be an assist against Mach Punch, which Polar is warning me about. I hadn't considered Substitute before.

Substitute? That only works if someone uses a status move first, thus guaranteeing I have a hit following.

Actually, I forgot that. Wow, that's embarrassing. {XD}

Though I would have realized it eventually. That was the reason I took the Shiny Pawniard someone offered me, and I was thinking about how to use it just earlier today while on the run. Somehow completely forgot Steel is the sub-type. Would have had it eventually, but at least covering Fairy types isn't as much of a problem now (since there will likely only be one per team, if any, and most strong ones are sub-typed).

Also, got my 6IV Froakie on the first Egg. I'm grinning. I'm also wondering how big the horseshoe up my butt is.

You have another idea for dealing with Fairy types that Dark is weak to? I need a Steel move somewhere, and no Dark types (that I've seen so far) learn Poison or Steel moves that actually cause damage. Toxic, yes, but that's a gradual one, and I'd have to use Protect spam with it.

Go for the Temple of Zeus early on. It gives you free units. Then, gun for the Knights Templar. It also gives you free units.

That should help you militarily.