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Looking to round off my team, opinions needed

  • 7
    Posts
    10
    Years
    Team Info as below guys. Was originally posted on general discussions under X/Y until I got guided here. Received different ideas which is leading me to the conclusion that perhaps Tyranitar (if not someone else) needs to be replaced with a better alternative.

    Any obvious changes required on this team?


    Salamence
    Ability = Intimidate
    Nature = Timid
    Dragon Breath, Crunch, Fly, Zen Headbutt


    Arcanine
    Ability = Intimidate
    Nature = Quirky
    Flame Burst, Outrage, Heat Wave, Crunch


    Garchomp
    Ability = Sand Veil
    Nature = Hasty
    Sandstorm, Dragon Rush, Earthquake, Dig


    Magnezone
    Ability = Sturdy
    Nature = Bold
    Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Magnet Rise, Mirror Shot


    Metagross
    Ability = Clear Body
    Nature = Sassy
    Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash, Psychic, Hammer Arm


    Tyranitar
    Ability = Sand Stream
    Nature = Sassy
    Dark Pulse, Thrash, Sandstorm, Earthquake
     

    PlatinumDude

    Nyeh?
  • 12,964
    Posts
    13
    Years
    EVs and items would be greatly appreciated. You'll need to do some re-breeding or re-catching, I'm afraid.

    Salamence is outright terrible. Not only do you have a Timid nature, which lowers the damage output of all your physical moves, but your current move set doesn't have the best coverage:
    -Dragon Dance
    -Outrage/Dragon Claw
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast/Hydro Pump
    Nature: Naive
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry

    or
    -Outrage
    -Dragon Claw
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast/Aqua Tail
    Nature: Naive/Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf
    Ability: Moxie

    or
    -Draco Meteor
    -Outrage
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast
    Nature: Naive
    EVs: 64 Atk/192 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb

    Arcanine isn't cut for OU. Sure, it has the move pool and stats to be OU, but its pure Fire typing means it doesn't see much use there. Blaziken can do what it does better, despite having to commit two move slots for offensive moves. It's also neutral to Stealth Rock, which is somewhat widespread in the standard environment (I can't really suggest Infernape because Poke Transfer isn't available yet):
    -Flare Blitz
    -High Jump Kick
    -Protect/Baton Pass
    -Swords Dance/Baton Pass
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Leftovers/Blazikenite
    Ability: Speed Boost

    Dragon Rush is VERY unreliable. Don't bother with it. Garchomp has more coverage moves outside of Dragon/Ground:
    -Swords Dance
    -Dragon Claw/Outrage
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Fang/Aqua Tail
    Nature: Jolly
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Lum Berry/Yache Berry

    or
    -Outrage
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast/Stone Edge/Fire Fang/Aqua Tail
    -Dragon Claw/Dual Chop
    Nature: Naive/Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf/Choice Band

    or
    -Stealth Rock
    -Dragon Claw/Outrage
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast/Swords Dance
    Nature: Naive/Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Focus Sash

    Even though Sturdy is a good ability, Magnet Pull is still Magnezone's preferred ability to trap and eliminate Steel Pokemon. Magnet Rise is situational and it does the same job that Air Balloon would have done without wasting a turn:
    -Volt Switch
    -Thunderbolt
    -Flash Cannon
    -Hidden Power (Ice/Fire)
    Nature: Modest
    EVs: 172 HP/252 SAtk/84 Spe
    Item: Choice Specs
    Ability: Magnet Pull

    or
    -Substitute
    -Thunderbolt
    -Charge Beam/Flash Cannon
    -Hidden Power (Ice/Fire)
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Leftovers/Air Balloon
    Ability: Magnet Pull

    or
    -Volt Switch
    -Thunderbolt
    -Flash Cannon
    -Hidden Power (Ice/Fire/Ground)
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf
    Ability: Magnet Pull

    Metagross is kinda eh on the team, since you already have a Steel Pokemon in Magnezone. Here are some much better sets to use:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Meteor Mash
    -Pursuit
    -Hammer Arm/Earthquake
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 252 HP/96 Atk/160 SDef
    Item: Leftovers

    or
    -Meteor Mash
    -Bullet Punch
    -Hammer Arm/Earthquake
    -Zen Headbutt/ThunderPunch
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 164 HP/252 Atk/92 Spe
    Item: Choice Band

    or
    -Agility
    -Zen Headbutt
    -Earthquake
    -Meteor Mash/Ice Punch
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry/Air Balloon

    or
    -Meteor Mash
    -Hidden Power (Fire)
    -Grass Knot
    -Earthquake/Zen Headbutt
    Nature: Naughty
    EVs: 252 HP/228 SAtk/28 Spe
    Item: Life Orb

    Or you can consider a Ground-immune or Ground-resistant Pokemon like Skarmory or Ferrothorn instead of Metagross. While they don't pack the raw power Metagross has, they're in here for the utility they provide:
    Skarmory:
    -Stealth Rock/Spikes
    -Whirlwind
    -Roost
    -Brave Bird/Iron Head/Taunt
    Nature: Impish/Careful
    EVs: 224 HP/252 Def/32 SDef or 224 HP/32 Def/252 SDef
    Item: Leftovers/Shed Shell
    Ability: Sturdy

    Ferrothorn:
    -Spikes/Stealth Rock
    -Leech Seed/Stealth Rock
    -Power Whip/Protect
    -Gyro Ball/Thunder Wave
    Nature: Relaxed
    EVs: 252 HP/48 Def/208 SDef
    Item: Leftovers

    Tyranitar may bring some common weaknesses to the team (like Ground). But if you really want to use it, be my guest. It has a wide movepool, and you're not taking advantage of it:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Crunch
    -Pursuit
    -Stone Edge/Superpower/Fire Blast
    Nature: Careful/Sassy
    EVs: 252 HP/4 Atk/252 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Sand Stream

    or
    -Stone Edge
    -Crunch
    -Pursuit
    -Superpower
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 180 HP/252 Atk/76 Spe or 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Band/Tyranitarite/Assault Vest/Choice Scarf
    Ability: Sand Stream

    or
    -Stealth Rock
    -Crunch
    -Fire Blast/Ice Beam
    -Low Kick/Ice Beam
    Nature: Mild/Hasty
    EVs: 4 Atk/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Focus Sash
    Ability: Sand Stream

    or
    -Dragon Dance
    -Stone Edge
    -Crunch
    -Earthquake/Fire Punch/Ice Punch
    Nature: Jolly/Adamant
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry/Chople Berry/Babiri Berry/Tyranitarite
    Ability: Sand Stream
     
  • 65
    Posts
    10
    Years
    • Seen Aug 11, 2014
    I believe PlatinumDude has given you some really good advice and you should seriously consider it. Just to let you know, Metagross can't learn Stealth Rock this gen (Correct me if I'm wrong) so, you might have to wait a while or choose something else.
     
  • 7
    Posts
    10
    Years
    EVs and items would be greatly appreciated. You'll need to do some re-breeding or re-catching, I'm afraid.

    Salamence is outright terrible. Not only do you have a Timid nature, which lowers the damage output of all your physical moves, but your current move set doesn't have the best coverage:
    -Dragon Dance
    -Outrage/Dragon Claw
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast/Hydro Pump
    Nature: Naive
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry

    or
    -Outrage
    -Dragon Claw
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast/Aqua Tail
    Nature: Naive/Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf
    Ability: Moxie

    or
    -Draco Meteor
    -Outrage
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast
    Nature: Naive
    EVs: 64 Atk/192 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb

    Arcanine isn't cut for OU. Sure, it has the move pool and stats to be OU, but its pure Fire typing means it doesn't see much use there. Blaziken can do what it does better, despite having to commit two move slots for offensive moves. It's also neutral to Stealth Rock, which is somewhat widespread in the standard environment (I can't really suggest Infernape because Poke Transfer isn't available yet):
    -Flare Blitz
    -High Jump Kick
    -Protect/Baton Pass
    -Swords Dance/Baton Pass
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Leftovers/Blazikenite
    Ability: Speed Boost

    Dragon Rush is VERY unreliable. Don't bother with it. Garchomp has more coverage moves outside of Dragon/Ground:
    -Swords Dance
    -Dragon Claw/Outrage
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Fang/Aqua Tail
    Nature: Jolly
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Lum Berry/Yache Berry

    or
    -Outrage
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast/Stone Edge/Fire Fang/Aqua Tail
    -Dragon Claw/Dual Chop
    Nature: Naive/Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf/Choice Band

    or
    -Stealth Rock
    -Dragon Claw/Outrage
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast/Swords Dance
    Nature: Naive/Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Focus Sash

    Even though Sturdy is a good ability, Magnet Pull is still Magnezone's preferred ability to trap and eliminate Steel Pokemon. Magnet Rise is situational and it does the same job that Air Balloon would have done without wasting a turn:
    -Volt Switch
    -Thunderbolt
    -Flash Cannon
    -Hidden Power (Ice/Fire)
    Nature: Modest
    EVs: 172 HP/252 SAtk/84 Spe
    Item: Choice Specs
    Ability: Magnet Pull

    or
    -Substitute
    -Thunderbolt
    -Charge Beam/Flash Cannon
    -Hidden Power (Ice/Fire)
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Leftovers/Air Balloon
    Ability: Magnet Pull

    or
    -Volt Switch
    -Thunderbolt
    -Flash Cannon
    -Hidden Power (Ice/Fire/Ground)
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf
    Ability: Magnet Pull

    Metagross is kinda eh on the team, since you already have a Steel Pokemon in Magnezone. Here are some much better sets to use:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Meteor Mash
    -Pursuit
    -Hammer Arm/Earthquake
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 252 HP/96 Atk/160 SDef
    Item: Leftovers

    or
    -Meteor Mash
    -Bullet Punch
    -Hammer Arm/Earthquake
    -Zen Headbutt/ThunderPunch
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 164 HP/252 Atk/92 Spe
    Item: Choice Band

    or
    -Agility
    -Zen Headbutt
    -Earthquake
    -Meteor Mash/Ice Punch
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry/Air Balloon

    or
    -Meteor Mash
    -Hidden Power (Fire)
    -Grass Knot
    -Earthquake/Zen Headbutt
    Nature: Naughty
    EVs: 252 HP/228 SAtk/28 Spe
    Item: Life Orb

    Or you can consider a Ground-immune or Ground-resistant Pokemon like Skarmory or Ferrothorn instead of Metagross. While they don't pack the raw power Metagross has, they're in here for the utility they provide:
    Skarmory:
    -Stealth Rock/Spikes
    -Whirlwind
    -Roost
    -Brave Bird/Iron Head/Taunt
    Nature: Impish/Careful
    EVs: 224 HP/252 Def/32 SDef or 224 HP/32 Def/252 SDef
    Item: Leftovers/Shed Shell
    Ability: Sturdy

    Ferrothorn:
    -Spikes/Stealth Rock
    -Leech Seed/Stealth Rock
    -Power Whip/Protect
    -Gyro Ball/Thunder Wave
    Nature: Relaxed
    EVs: 252 HP/48 Def/208 SDef
    Item: Leftovers

    Tyranitar may bring some common weaknesses to the team (like Ground). But if you really want to use it, be my guest. It has a wide movepool, and you're not taking advantage of it:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Crunch
    -Pursuit
    -Stone Edge/Superpower/Fire Blast
    Nature: Careful/Sassy
    EVs: 252 HP/4 Atk/252 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Sand Stream

    or
    -Stone Edge
    -Crunch
    -Pursuit
    -Superpower
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 180 HP/252 Atk/76 Spe or 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Band/Tyranitarite/Assault Vest/Choice Scarf
    Ability: Sand Stream

    or
    -Stealth Rock
    -Crunch
    -Fire Blast/Ice Beam
    -Low Kick/Ice Beam
    Nature: Mild/Hasty
    EVs: 4 Atk/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Focus Sash
    Ability: Sand Stream

    or
    -Dragon Dance
    -Stone Edge
    -Crunch
    -Earthquake/Fire Punch/Ice Punch
    Nature: Jolly/Adamant
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry/Chople Berry/Babiri Berry/Tyranitarite
    Ability: Sand Stream

    As soon as I read this I just thought; WOW.

    Thank you for the advice you've helped me so much. Will take a little work to get everything put together with items and natures and such, not too familiar with how to get the right natures but i'm sure i'll find a thread or work it out. After all pokemon is a game I don't mind making a grind for.

    I was open to alternative pokemon suggestions as well but seeing as you've taken the time to give me a genuinely useful response with what I initially posted I shall put the time in with running on your recommendations. This was purely a provisional team as an initial setup as I had a good idea of who I wanted within my team but was unsure when it came to ideal natures/movesets.

    Again, thank you. ;)

    I believe PlatinumDude has given you some really good advice and you should seriously consider it. Just to let you know, Metagross can't learn Stealth Rock this gen (Correct me if I'm wrong) so, you might have to wait a while or choose something else.

    Agreed, to be honest I wasn't expecting such an indepth response from the first person to post.

    I think you're correct about Metagross / Stealth Rock. Might need to do a little more trial and error in getting the correct pokemon as replacement as I was enjoying the current party for damage output but I am aware against the better players out there I wouldn't have a hope whatsoever as I have virtually no supporting / defensive moves to help me get out of difficult situations.
     
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