Competitive Team Questions (and Incomplete Team Help)

[Pvt Tamama]

I have 3 pokemon in my team right now (see below) and i need 3 more any suggestions based on these 3

Rapidash lvl 100
attack: 230
defense: 183
sp. attack: 209
sp defense: 196
speed: 298
hp: 284
moves: flare blitz
bounce
stomp
fire blast
(no ev's)


Tangrowth lvl 100
attack: 202
defense: 260
sp attack: 281
sp defense: 141
speed: 124
hp: 368
moves: ancient power
grass knot
slam
sludge bomb
(no ev's)
Glalie lvl 49 so final stats not sure yet
(won't have ev's)

[PlatinumDude]

Originally Posted by Pvt Tamama

I have 3 pokemon in my team right now (see below) and i need 3 more any suggestions based on these 3

Rapidash lvl 100
attack: 230
defense: 183
sp. attack: 209
sp defense: 196
speed: 298
hp: 284
moves: flare blitz
bounce
stomp
fire blast
(no ev's)


Tangrowth lvl 100
attack: 202
defense: 260
sp attack: 281
sp defense: 141
speed: 124
hp: 368
moves: ancient power
grass knot
slam
sludge bomb
(no ev's)
Glalie lvl 49 so final stats not sure yet
(won't have ev's)

Rapidash isn't good competitively, since Fire Pokemon like Arcanine, Darmanitan and Chandelure have better movepools than it does. For the sake of simplicity, I'll do the first two, since both are physically-inclined Fire Pokemon like Rapidash:
-Flare Blitz
-ExtremeSpeed
-Wild Charge/Crunch
-Close Combat/Morning Sun
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 72 HP/252 Atk/8 SDef/176 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire/Intimidate

Darmanitan:
-Flare Blitz
-Rock Slide
-Earthquake/Superpower
-U-turn
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SDef/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Choice Band/Choice Scarf
Ability: Sheer Force

Regenerator is the preferred ability on Tangrowth to help it survive battle by switching out:
-Sleep Powder
-Giga Drain/Power Whip
-Hidden Power (Fire/Ice)/Earthquake
-Leech Seed/Synthesis
Nature: Bold/Impish/Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator

Glalie's way too balanced stats make it a not-so-appealing option competitively. Froslass is the better alternative due to its high Speed:
-Spikes
-Taunt
-Ice Beam/Shadow Ball
-Pain Split/Destiny Bond
Nature: Timid
EVs: 248 HP/8 SDef/252 Spe
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Cursed Body

or
-Spikes
-Taunt
-Destiny Bond
-Ice Beam/Shadow Ball
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 HP/4 SDef/252 Spe
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Cursed Body

Since some of your Pokemon are weak to Stealth Rock, Hitmontop can Rapid Spin away opposing hazards:
-Rapid Spin
-Foresight/Toxic
-Close Combat
-Sucker Punch/Stone Edge
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Intimidate

Slowbro has good synergy with Tangrowth:
-Scald
-Psyshock/Fire Blast
-Slack Off
-Thunder Wave/Toxic
Nature: Bold
EVs: 248 HP/244 Def/16 SAtk
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator

or
-Calm Mind
-Scald
-Psyshock
-Slack Off
Nature: Bold
EVs: 248 HP/244 Def/16 SAtk
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Regenerator

or
-Surf/Scald
-Psyshock/Psychic
-Fire Blast
-Trick/Grass Knot
Nature: Modest
EVs: 248 HP/252 SAtk/8 Spe
Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Regenerator

Heracross makes a good revenge killer for the team:
-Megahorn
-Close Combat
-Stone Edge
-Earthquake/Night Slash/Sleep Talk
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Choice Scarf/Choice Band
Ability: Moxie/Guts

[AdrianD]

Want to add Growlithe/Arcanine to my team. Have an idea of which way i want to play him. Would like thoughts.

Lonely / Intimidate

atk 252, sp atk, 252. spd 4

Outrage
agility
Flamethrower
heat wave

This is how i am thinking of setting it up

[Musica]

Originally Posted by AdrianD

Want to add Growlithe/Arcanine to my team. Have an idea of which way i want to play him. Would like thoughts.

Lonely / Intimidate

atk 252, sp atk, 252. spd 4

Outrage
agility
Flamethrower
heat wave

This is how i am thinking of setting it up

While Arcanine is considered to be a good offensive Pokemon, it is advisable to use his potential as a Physical attacker than a Special one. Arcanine can't learn Outrage, only Dragon Pulse, and Flamethrower + Heat Wave is redundant. If you really want a Special-attacking variant of Arcanine, then I suggest to use this:

Arcanine @ Life Orb
Nature: Timid / Modest
252 SpA 252 Spe 4 SpD
-Flamethrower / Fire Blast
-Hidden Power Grass / Electric
-Dragon Pulse
-Morning Sun

This set works best under Sun. If you want a Sunny Day setup on Arcanine:

Arcanine @ Leftover / Life Orb
Nature: Timid / Modest
192 HP / 248 SpA / 4 SpD / 64 Spe
-Sunny Day
-Fire Blast / Flamethrower
-Solar Beam
-Morning Sun


If you then decide to use an Arcanine that is Physically Offensive:

Arcanine @ Life Orb
Nature: Jolly / Adamant
72 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD / 176 Spe
-Flare Blitz
-ExtremeSpeed
-Crunch/Wild Charge
-Close Combat/Morning Sun

[AdrianD]

Originally Posted by Musica

While Arcanine is considered to be a good offensive Pokemon, it is advisable to use his potential as a Physical attacker than a Special one. Arcanine can't learn Outrage, only Dragon Pulse, and Flamethrower + Heat Wave is redundant. If you really want a Special-attacking variant of Arcanine, then I suggest to use this:

Arcanine @ Life Orb
Nature: Timid / Modest
252 SpA 252 Spe 4 SpD
-Flamethrower / Fire Blast
-Hidden Power Grass / Electric
-Dragon Pulse
-Morning Sun

This set works best under Sun. If you want a Sunny Day setup on Arcanine:

Arcanine @ Leftover / Life Orb
Nature: Timid / Modest
192 HP / 248 SpA / 4 SpD / 64 Spe
-Sunny Day
-Fire Blast / Flamethrower
-Solar Beam
-Morning Sun


If you then decide to use an Arcanine that is Physically Offensive:

Arcanine @ Life Orb
Nature: Jolly / Adamant
72 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD / 176 Spe
-Flare Blitz
-ExtremeSpeed
-Crunch/Wild Charge
-Close Combat/Morning Sun

B2/W2 it can learn outrage

Two how can it learn Morning Sun?. I dont have the Espeon with it to breed

Any suitable substitution for Close Combat, Seemingly that needs to be bred as well?

[Musica]

Oh, it does now. o_o I haven't played much of B2/W2 yet, so my apologies.
Okay, to have it learn both Morning Sun and Close Combat...

Get a Male Smeargle and have it learn both Close Combat and Morning Sun via Sketch. Smeargle can't be caught in B2W2 iirc so you'll have to get one from BW or PokeTransfer from Gen IV Games.

[dragonnathan025]

To make it easier, breed Lucario with Arcanine. Both are in the ground egg group, I now have an adament Growlithe with Close Combat.

Eevee shouldn't be an issue, even with the mono-male in-game Eevee. You can breed for a female Growlithe, get Espeon and teach it Morning Sun, then have fun.

[Musica]

Originally Posted by dragonnathan025

To make it easier, breed Lucario with Arcanine. Both are in the ground egg group, I now have an adament Growlithe with Close Combat.

Eevee shouldn't be an issue, even with the mono-male in-game Eevee. You can breed for a female Growlithe, get Espeon and teach it Morning Sun, then have fun.

But it won't learn both Close Combat and Morning Sun.

[Ash493]

Originally Posted by Musica

But it won't learn both Close Combat and Morning Sun.

It will. If you use the one that has Close Combat in another breeding.

[Musica]

Originally Posted by Ash493

It will. If you use the one that has Close Combat in another breeding.

Nope, it still will not.

Male Lucario w/ Close Combat + Female Growlithe
--Growlithe with CC

Male Espeon with Morning Sun + Female Growlithe
--Growlithe with Morning Sun

Growlithe with CC + Growlithe with Morning Sun
--Growlithe with CC or Morning Sun

Egg moves are passed down only by Male Pokemons; the Females, regardless of how many possible egg moves they have, will not pass down Egg Moves.

Best bet will be Smeargle.

[Redemmo]

I have a Genesect that I want to EV train. Its IVs are as follows:

• HP: 1
• Attack: 2
• Defense: 2
• Special Attack: 27
• Special Defense: 22
• Speed:14

I was wondering if I should EV train to cover its IV deficiencies, or focus on its strengths.

PS. Having just read the Competitive Battling guide, I'm realizing that competitive battling is probably something I'm never going to really get into (I suck at competitions), but I would still like to properly train Genesect, because he's cool

[AdrianD]

I Ev trained my Growlithe and I was wondering if its better to raise level by level or can it be raised with EXP share or so forth.

[Forever]

Originally Posted by AdrianD

I Ev trained my Growlithe and I was wondering if its better to raise level by level or can it be raised with EXP share or so forth.

After it's been EV trained, feel free to use the EXP share, it won't make a difference anymore. :)

[coolboyhyatt]

Got myself a shiny Tentacool on Fire Red, migrated it over to my Black and now i need your suggestions :D
Sassy Nature
it's IVs are
hp - 28
speed - 9
attack 25
def - 5
sp a -7
sp d -11

[PlatinumDude]

Originally Posted by coolboyhyatt

Got myself a shiny Tentacool on Fire Red, migrated it over to my Black and now i need your suggestions :D
Sassy Nature
it's IVs are
hp - 28
speed - 9
attack 25
def - 5
sp a -7
sp d -11

Tentacruel's best stats are its Special stats (particularly Special Defense) and Speed. The IVs for those stats aren't particularly that good. That, and the Sassy nature kills the potential Tentacruel's good Speed. Sorry to break it to you.

[Icy Burn]

Hey! I really need help for an NU Team, competitive. I have an idea for some of the types ... -

Ice
Dragon
Poison
Dark
Psychic
Ground

That's just an idea. I've never,. ever been good with Teams, so ... could someone who knows what they're doing unlike me help? :3

[PlatinumDude]

Originally Posted by Icy Burn

Hey! I really need help for an NU Team, competitive. I have an idea for some of the types ... -

Ice
Dragon
Poison
Dark
Psychic
Ground

That's just an idea. I've never,. ever been good with Teams, so ... could someone who knows what they're doing unlike me help? :3

Articuno gained Hurricane in B2/W2, so it can make use of offensive sets, as well as defensive ones:
-Ice Beam
-Hurricane
-Hidden Power (Ground)/Substitute
-Roost
Nature: Timid/Modest
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Pressure

or
-Subsitute
-Roost
-Ice Beam
-Toxic/Protect
Nature: Timid
EVs: 192 HP/64 SDef/252 Spe
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Pressure

or
-Ice Beam
-Heal Bell
-Roar/Toxic
-Roost
Nature: Calm
EVs: 248 HP/8 Def/252 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Pressure

Fraxure can provide raw power for the team:
-Dragon Dance
-Outrage
-Superpower/Low Kick
-Substitute/Taunt
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Eviolite
Ability: Mold Breaker

or
-Outrage
-Superpower
-Aqua Tail
-Dragon Claw
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Mold Breaker

If Psychics are problematic, Absol or Skuntank can take them out:

Absol:
-Sucker Punch
-Pursuit
-Night Slash
-Superpower
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Super Luck

Skuntank:
-Sucker Punch
-Pursuit
-Crunch/Poison Jab
-Taunt
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/220 SDef/36 Spe
Item: Black Sludge/Dread Plate/BlackGlasses
Ability: Aftermath

or
-Sucker Punch
-Pursuit/Crunch
-Sludge Bomb
-Hidden Power (Ground)/Fire Blast
Nature: Lonely
EVs: 252 Atk/220 SAtk/36 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Aftermath

Musharna is pretty darn bulky Psychic Pokemon:
-Calm Mind
-Psychic
-Heal Bell/Signal Beam
-Moonlight
Nature: Bold
EVs: 240 HP/252 Def/16 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize

or
-Psychic
-Signal Beam
-Hidden Power (Ground)/Trick Room
-Moonlight
Nature: Modest/Quiet
EVs: 252 HP/252 SAtk/4 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Synchronize

or
-Psychic
-Signal Beam
-Hidden Power (Ground)
-Trick/Sleep Talk
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252 HP/252 SAtk/4 Spe
Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Synchronize

or
-Psychic
-Moonlight
-Thunder Wave/Baton Pass
-Heal Bell/Baton Pass
Nature: Bold
EVs: 240 HP/252 Def/16 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize

Golurk provides more raw power alongside Fraxure, despite sharing an Ice weakness:
-Substitute
-Focus Punch
-Shadow Punch
-Earthquake
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 200 HP/252 Atk/12 Def/44 Spe
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Iron Fist

[AdrianD]

Going to use Staryu/Starmie with Timid nature.

Would like to know the best Move sets for and possible EV distributions

[Forever]

Originally Posted by AdrianD

Going to use Staryu/Starmie with Timid nature.

Would like to know the best Move sets for and possible EV distributions

Starmie @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Rapid Spin

With the boltbeam combo, it allows you to hit things like Skarmory with a lot of damage, other flying types such as Tornadus or grass types even such as Celebi, Surf as your main STAB which has good coverage in OU and Rapid Spin to eliminate hazards. Pretty much the best one there is. You can replace Rapid Spin with Recover too if you wanna.

[AdrianD]

Originally Posted by Forever

Starmie @ Life Orb
Trait: Natural Cure
252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Rapid Spin

With the boltbeam combo, it allows you to hit things like Skarmory with a lot of damage, other flying types such as Tornadus or grass types even such as Celebi, Surf as your main STAB which has good coverage in OU and Rapid Spin to eliminate hazards. Pretty much the best one there is. You can replace Rapid Spin with Recover too if you wanna.

What about Status moves such Thunder wave. Or what about psychic with the STAB?

[Forever]

Starmie doesn't have the best Defenses, so Thunder Wave doesn't do much for it (except in rain, when there's a set in which t-wave is an option although you're generally better off with the set given if you're running Starmie in general), because that's better for more defensive Pokemon. It can run a Scald set, however, without any weather needed. Its purpose is to be a special attacker and Spin, for the most part, p much. It's better as a full on special attacker, due to its speed and power in general, and just hope Thunderbolt paralyses something instead. However, as for Psychic, generally Psyshock does better in OU as it hits things like Chansey/Blissey, however for the most part the extra coverage of Psychic-attacks aren't that necessary as it doesn't really hit notable things that much.

[AdrianD]

Originally Posted by Forever

Starmie doesn't have the best Defenses, so Thunder Wave doesn't do much for it (except in rain, when there's a set in which t-wave is an option although you're generally better off with the set given if you're running Starmie in general), because that's better for more defensive Pokemon. It can run a Scald set, however, without any weather needed. Its purpose is to be a special attacker and Spin, for the most part, p much. It's better as a full on special attacker, due to its speed and power in general, and just hope Thunderbolt paralyses something instead. However, as for Psychic, generally Psyshock does better in OU as it hits things like Chansey/Blissey, however for the most part the extra coverage of Psychic-attacks aren't that necessary as it doesn't really hit notable things that much.

Ok one last question. What about moves like Reflect, Light screen, or Protect?

[Forever]

Originally Posted by AdrianD

Ok one last question. What about moves like Reflect, Light screen, or Protect?

It can use them, but other Pokemon are better at that really. Like Espeon for example can set up Light Screen and Reflect with Light Clay, and then bounces hazards back at the opponent, and so on. Starmie doesn't have that much specifically that'd make it want to use said moves more than being a powerhouse when other Pokemon can do much better. Protect has no real use as Starmie outspeeds a lot of opponents anyway and can just attack first, plus they might set up on that turn, etc.

[AdrianD]

EV distributions. I have a modest Magnemite. I want to make Trick Room resistant. So im not building its speed, but making its Sp atk 252. Want to know how I should divide out its Def and Sp Def. I would like to boost those

[PlatinumDude]

Originally Posted by AdrianD

EV distributions. I have a modest Magnemite. I want to make Trick Room resistant. So im not building its speed, but making its Sp atk 252. Want to know how I should divide out its Def and Sp Def. I would like to boost those

Just focus on HP (252 HP/4 Def/252 SAtk); Magnezone's defenses are naturally high anyway. A Quiet nature with 0 Speed IVs are also preferred on special attacking Trick Room mons so that they can outspeed as many Pokemon as they can under Trick Room.