The team at a glance
I decided to try my hand at making a team. I'm not new to Pokémon, nor am I to the metagame, but I am a huge n00b when it comes to making teams, playing, and understanding others thought processes in those areas. None of these sets are unique in the slightest, I don't think. This team sits in the middle 1500s.
As with most teams, I started with one Pokémon. Dragonite. I used a pretty basic set, and the point of this team is to clear any hazaard and walls to that Dragonite until I can send it out for a late game assault.
Team Building Process
Spoiler:
Closer look at the team
Breloom @ Life Orb
Trait: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Spore
- Bullet Seed
- Mach Punch
Low Sweep
It really depends on the preview whether I lead with this, Starmie, or Magnezone. Breloom takes the cake whenever they have a huge weakness to Grass or Fighting, or a huge lack of resistance to those. Spore is usually the first move, unless they unpredictably send out a Gliscor, in which case I switch to Starmie. Then, unless they are immune to Fighting, weak to Grass, or have a Ghost on their team, I tend to Low Sweep the crap out of them. This makes for slower opponents, and slower switch-ins. Breloom really has brought a lot in terms of that alone. It can also take care of Tyranitar (although I would rather get rid of the Sandstorm that comes with him), Heatran (to an extent), and other Pokémon that aren't weak or resistant to it. The problem with him is he can't take a hit.
Starmie @ Leftovers
Trait: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
Ice Beam
Starmie brings a lot in terms of coverage. It is almost as often my lead as Breloom. I do hesitate to bring it out sometimes though, because it could risk losing a late game spin. The set is pretty self explanatory: Hydro Pump things that are weak or don't resist, Ice Beam Dragons and Landorus, and Thunderbolt just about everything else. It helps to clear the field of some Dragons that could KO Dragonite. It also helps with Heatran, although Hydro Pump is somewhat unreliable and an obvious play that they usually switch out on.
Magnezone @ Air Balloon
Trait: Magnet Pull
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Flash Cannon
Definitely one of the MVPs on my team. I always lead with this if there is a Ferrothorn on the other team. I've noticed people love leading with Ferrothorn if they can. When this traps a Ferrothorn, Scizor, or Forretress it Subs, because it resists almost everything (but Superpower), and it spams Hidden Power. When it traps a Heatran is when I switch out. It can also deal with Skarmory, and Flash Cannon has helped out in lowering some Blissey's Sp. Defense. He is pretty crux in that steels wall Dragonite, and he is a Steel killing machine, although he can hardly deal with offensive threats from what I've seen (could be a lack of playing skills on my part.)
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Trait: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 224 SDef / 32 Spd
Careful Nature
- Iron head
- Body Slam
- Wish
Cosmic Power
The fourth move used to be Protect, but that never got any use. Of course, once I replaced it, I started needing it more. I am at a loss over what to put in the final move slot. Anyways, this lovely star can help out D-nite by restoring it to Multiscale potential and allowing it to rampage all over again. Then the obnoxious ParaFlinch is great with dealing with non-Steel, non-Ghost opponents. Cosmic Power is really only used when I have the chance to set it up.
Gengar @ Life Orb
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Shadow Ball
- Pain Split
- Focus Blast
Gengar was put in to deal with Psychics. He can help deal good damage to Latios, Latias, and Jirachi, all threats to the team effort. He also is able to stay in for a while due to Pain Split, and Focus Blast is a shaky way of dealing with Heatran. He even deals huge blows to neutral-affected Pokémon, owing to his grand Sp. Attack. He is better then Keldeo for sure, but if you can persuade me to replace him with Tyranitar, I might. I like him better so far though.
Dragonite @ Lum Berry
Trait: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- ExtremeSpeed
- Outrage
Earthquake
Dragonite is the reason I made this team. He can deal severe blows to half of a team, and is a great ender. Multiscale allows him to do a little Dance, make a little love, and get down. Even without DD, he can be sent out and priority strike low HP Pokémon to death with ExtremeSpeed. Earthquake deals with Heatran (I know, on paper 2/3 of my team 'deal' with Heatran, but yet he manages to bug the crap out of me.) Lum Berry is obviously there for Confusion, but so many time has he been Poisoned or Paralyzed, or even lulled to sleep, when he undoes that and wrecks teams over. God I love Dragonite.
Threatlist, thus far:
And if for any reason you want to take 'er out for a spin:
Spoiler:
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