First REAL attempt at Competitive Team

Well usually when I battle my friends I just used my in-game team or a makeshift team I make up on the spot, but a couple days ago after getting literally owned by my friend's new carefully assembled team I decided to try to make an actual competitive team. I don't know if this team would be good or not so please tell me what you think my team should have/should not have/etc.

(Also still training them)

Typhlosion -Impish nature (HP: 289/sp. atk: 215/defense: 211)
ability: Blaze
item: wiseglasses
Moveset:
Focus Blast
Eruption
Flamethrower
Hidden Power

Snorlax - Bold nature (HP: 220/defense: 90/attack: 108)
ability: Immunity
item: leftovers
moveset:
earthquake
rollout
crunch
giga impact

Raikou - Careful nature (HP:123/ sp. atk: 90/ sp. Def:102)
ability: pressure
item: zap plate
moveset:
roar
quick attack
spark
thunderbolt

Empoleon - Serious nature (HP: 277/attack: 188/defense: 191/ sp. atk: 231/ sp. def: 203/ speed: 164)
ability: torrent
item: mystic water
moveset:
waterfall
drill peck
surf
rock slide

(these last 2 I just added to this team)

Gabite(2 levels away from Garchomp) - Bold nature (HP: 124/attack: 89/defense: 71)
ability: sand veil
item: none
moveset:
slash
dragon claw
dragon rush
earthquake?

Starmie - naughty nature (HP:53/sp. def: 35/ attack: 36)
ability: illuminate
item: none
moveset:
thunderbolt
ice beam
surf
recover

I'm new here as well so whether or not you want to listen to me is your choice...
The Pokemon selection isn't all that bad, it's just that the natures themselves are pretty bad for each Pokemon. Remember, a nature helps raise or lower a stat by as much as 10% so natures do make a large difference!

For example, your Starmie has a naughty nature: ATK + and SP DEF -. What does that mean? Is your Starmie ever going to use a physical attack and take advantage of that ATK boost? No, Starmies will never use physical attacks (unless it's rapid spin but that's different) and so that ATK boost goes to waste. What about the Special Defense? Couldn't you lower another stat? Maybe the useless ATK stat? That SP DEF can come in handy to help reduce the overall damage of a certain move, say an opponent's Surf or whatever they might try to do.

Apply that to all your Pokemon and re-evaluate their moves along with which stat you want to emphasize for each Pokemon. Normally, Pokemon should only have 2 stats emphasized, say ATK and SPD since that's all that can be done and have successful results (due to EV's and whatnot).

I don't know if that's not brushing up on enough or too many subjects, maybe too in-depth in some areas but not enough in others but that should get you started.

teddybeargun said:

Well usually when I battle my friends I just used my in-game team or a makeshift team I make up on the spot, but a couple days ago after getting literally owned by my friend's new carefully assembled team I decided to try to make an actual competitive team. I don't know if this team would be good or not so please tell me what you think my team should have/should not have/etc.

(Also still training them)

Typhlosion -Modest/Timid nature (HP: 289/sp. atk: 215/defense: 211)
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Scarf
Moveset:
Focus Blast
Eruption
Flamethrower
Hidden Power

Snorlax - Adamant nature (HP: 220/defense: 90/attack: 108)
ability: Immunity
item: leftovers
moveset:
earthquake
Fire Punch
crunch
Return/Body Slam

Raikou - Timid nature (HP:123/ sp. atk: 90/ sp. Def:102)
ability: pressure
item: Life Orb/Leftovers
moveset:
Calm Mind
Shadow Ball
Hidden Power (Fighting/Grass/Ice)
thunderbolt

Empoleon - Modest nature (HP: 277/attack: 188/defense: 191/ sp. atk: 231/ sp. def: 203/ speed: 164)
ability: torrent
item: Choice Specs
moveset:
Ice Beam
Grass Knot
surf
Sleep Talk

(these last 2 I just added to this team)

Gabite(2 levels away from Garchomp) - Jolly nature (HP: 124/attack: 89/defense: 71)
ability: sand veil
item: Life Orb/Leftovers/Haban Berry
moveset:
Swords Dance
dragon claw
Stone Edge/Fire Fang
earthquake?

Starmie - Timid nature (HP:53/sp. def: 35/ attack: 36)
ability: Natural Cure
item: Life Orb
moveset:
thunderbolt
ice beam
surf
recover

Click to expand...

Your Pokemon have the wrong natures (an Impish Typhlosion? It should've been Mild/Hasty/Modest/Timid). Comments/suggestions in bold.

First of all, don't use typhlosion as a lead as it gets beat by just about errything(yes i said errything), if you are looking for an offensive lead use lead ape.

infernape@Focus Sash Naive / Hasty
Naive / Hasty nature
Moveset
~ Fake Out
~ Stealth Rock
~ Fire Blast
~ Close Combat / Encore

EV's:64 Atk / 252 SpA / 192 Spe

Next, your snorlax set is not very good. It does not work well as an all out attacker because of its mediocre speed and also baits fighting types that will destroy it. Use a curse set instead.

Snorlax@Leftovers
Thick Fat
Careful nature
Moveset
~ Curse
~ Body Slam
~ Crunch
~ Rest
EV's: 188 HP / 104 Def / 216 SpD

Also, your raikou set is not very good. This set will do much better for you.


Raikou@Life Orb
Timid
Pressure
Moveset:
~ Charge Beam
~ Thunderbolt
~ Shadow Ball
~ Hidden Power Grass
EV's:4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

now i can tell that you are new to competitive battling so here is a guide to getting the hidden power that you want. http://www.smogon.com/ingame/guides/breeding_guide_part4

Empoleon: Empoleon does not work as well as physical attacker as well as it does as special attacker. If you want a good physical water type use DD gyarados.

GyaradosLife Orb
adamant nature
Moveset
~ Dragon Dance
~ Waterfall
~ Stone Edge
~ Earthquake
EV's: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

If you plan on doing standard OU battling garchomp will not be allowed as he is classified as "uber". you can use a flygon instead.

Flygon@Choice Scarf
adamant nature
Moveset
~ Earthquake
~ Outrage
~ U-turn
~ Stone Edge

EV's: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

finally for you starmie: timid>naughty, rapid spin>recover, natural cure>illuminate.

I hope this helps and good luck!

Do not use double team. In all competitive battling evasion clause is in effect which restricts you from using evasion boosting moves.