Any advice?

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    • Seen Jan 31, 2015
    Here is my team
    Edit: it is for competitive battling

    Charizard @ Flame Plate
    Ability: Blaze
    EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
    Timid Nature
    - Flamethrower
    - Blast Burn
    - Dragon Pulse
    - Air Cutter

    Swampert @ Swampertite
    Ability: Torrent
    EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
    Adamant Nature
    - Aqua Tail
    - Earthquake
    - Mega Kick
    - Avalanche

    Alakazam @ Choice Specs
    Ability: Magic Guard
    EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
    Timid Nature
    - Psychic
    - Dazzling Gleam
    - Charge Beam
    - Focus Blast

    Gengar @ Spooky Plate
    Ability: Levitate
    EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
    Timid Nature
    - Shadow Ball
    - Toxic
    - Energy Ball
    - Thunderbolt

    Electivire @ Assault Vest
    Ability: Motor Drive
    EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
    Adamant Nature
    - Brick Break
    - Thunder Punch
    - Giga Impact
    - Iron Tail

    Drapion @ Razor Claw
    Ability: Sniper
    EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
    Adamant Nature
    - Cross Poison
    - Night Slash
    - Swords Dance
    - Brick Break
     
    Last edited:
    I, uhh, I am at a loss for words. Firstly, though, is this a team for in-game or for competitive? Keep in mind that these are the two opposite spectrums for teams, and that advice would vary highly depending on which side of the spectrum you decide to pick.

    I guess my general advice would be to replace the Type-plates with something more appropriate, like a Life Orb. Also, it is highly recommended to avoid using moves such as Giga Impact and Blast Burn because that extra turn where you cannot do anything can cost you the whole battle. Mega Kick is just terrible, in-game or otherwise, so I would replace that too. Some of your Pokemon are considered subpar under the scope of competitive battling as well, so you should consider using other Pokemon that are worth more of your time if you want to dabble into that. Honestly, I advise you to read the resources found on this thread. It helps tremendously, especially if you are just starting to get into competitive battling.

    Best of luck to you!
     
    If this is for competitive:

    Charizard's Mega Evolutions are the sole reason why it's even used in the first place. Its regular form just doesn't cut it compared to them: Talonflame is a non-Mega Fire Pokemon to turn to:
    -Swords Dance
    -Flare Blitz
    -Brave Bird
    -Roost
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Sharp Beak/Sky Plate
    Ability: Gale Wings

    or
    -Flare Blitz
    -Brave Bird
    -U-turn
    -Tailwind/Roost
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Band/Sharp Beak/Sky Plate
    Ability: Gale Wings

    or
    -Bulk Up
    -Brave Bird
    -Roost
    -Taunt/Will-o-Wisp
    Nature: Careful
    EVs: 248 HP/8 Def/252 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Gale Wings

    or
    -Brave Bird
    -Taunt
    -Will-o-Wisp
    -Roost
    Nature: Careful
    EVs: 248 HP/252 SDef/8 Spe
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Gale Wings

    or
    -Swords Dance
    -Flare Blitz
    -Brave Bird
    -Natural Gift
    Nature: Jolly
    EVs: 120 HP/252 Atk/136 Spe
    Item: Liechi Berry/Salac Berry
    Ability: Gale Wings

    Mega Kick doesn't give Swampert notable coverage, while Avalanche isn't that good, since it forces Swampert to go last. Mega Swampert should support itself using Rain Dance and Ice Punch should be used as a more reliable way to hit Grass Pokemon on the switch:
    -Waterfall
    -Earthquake
    -Ice Punch
    -Rain Dance
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 152 HP/252 Atk/104 Spe
    Item: Swampertite

    Alakazam appreciates the freedom of switching its moves freely, so Choice Specs isn't a good option on it. What good are Charge Beam's boosts when Alakazam is locked into said move? Given Alakazam's frailty, it should hold Focus Sash:
    -Psychic
    -Shadow Ball
    -Focus Blast
    -Hidden Power (Ice/Fire)/Thunder Wave/Encore
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Focus Sash
    Ability: Magic Guard

    Though Gengar is frail, it can easily force switches with Substitute. It can also act as an offensive utility Pokemon, but your current coverage moves for it aren't that good:
    -Shadow Ball
    -Sludge Wave/Sludge Bomb
    -Focus Blast
    -Destiny Bond/Taunt/Substitute
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 252 SAtk/4 SDef/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Focus Sash/Black Sludge

    or
    -Substitute
    -Shadow Ball
    -Will-o-Wisp
    -Taunt/Sludge Bomb/Sludge Wave/Disable
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 28 HP/148 SAtk/80 SDef/252 Spe
    Item: Black Sludge

    or
    -Hex
    -Taunt
    -Will-o-Wisp
    -Sludge Wave/Sludge Bomb/Substitute
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 8 HP/248 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Black Sludge

    Drapion and Electivire are outclassed in standard play because even though the latter has good coverage moves, it tends to get KOed in return if it fails to KO something. The former is outclassed by other Dark Pokemon with better utility like Mandibuzz.

    That being said, the aforementioned Mandibuzz is better over Drapion, as it can use Defog to clear away Stealth Rock, the hazard that Talonflame loathes. Stealth Rock is pretty much a requirement in OU play, so Drapion should be replaced with stuff like Therian Landorus, Ferrothorn, Tyranitar, Terrakion, Empoleon or Heatran:

    Mandibuzz:
    -Foul Play
    -Roost
    -Defog
    -Taunt/Whirlwind
    Nature: Bold
    EVs: 248 HP/136 Def/108 SDef/16 Spe
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Overcoat

    Therian Landorus:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Earthquake
    -U-turn
    -Stone Edge/Knock Off/Rock Slide
    Nature: Impish
    EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
    Item: Leftovers

    Ferrothorn:
    -Stealth Rock/Spikes
    -Leech Seed
    -Power Whip/Gyro Ball
    -Gyro Ball/Protect/Thunder Wave
    Nature: Relaxed
    EVs: 252 HP/88 Def/168 SDef
    Item: Leftovers/Shed Shell
    Ability: Iron Barbs

    Tyranitar:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Crunch/Pursuit
    -Fire Blast
    -Ice Beam/Rock Slide/Thunder Wave
    Nature: Sassy
    EVs: 248 HP/136 Def/124 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Sand Stream

    Terrakion:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Stone Edge
    -Close Combat
    -Taunt/Swords Dance
    Nature: Jolly
    EVs: 252 SAtk/4 SDef/252 Spe
    Item: Focus Sash/Life Orb

    Empoleon:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Scald
    -Defog
    -Roar/Protect/Toxic
    Nature: Calm
    EVs: 248 HP/8 Def/252 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Torrent

    Heatran:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Lava Plume
    -Toxic
    -Taunt/Earth Power/Roar
    Nature: Calm
    EVs: 248 HP/192 SDef/68 Spe
    Item: Leftovers
     
    Thanks guys! Here is my updated team:

    Talonflame @ Life Orb
    Ability: Gale Wings
    EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
    Adamant Nature
    - Swords Dance
    - Flare Blitz
    - Brave Bird
    - Roost

    Swampert @ Swampertite
    Ability: Torrent
    EVs: 152 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 100 Spe
    Adamant Nature
    - Waterfall
    - Earthquake
    - Ice Punch
    - Rain Dance

    Alakazam @ Focus Sash
    Ability: Magic Guard
    EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
    Timid Nature
    - Psychic
    - Shadow Ball
    - Thunder Wave
    - Focus Blast

    Gengar @ Life Orb
    Ability: Levitate
    EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
    Timid Nature
    - Shadow Ball
    - Sludge
    - Focus Blast
    - Destiny Bond

    Mandibuzz (F) @ Leftovers
    Ability: Overcoat
    EVs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 108 SpD / 16 Spe
    Bold Nature
    - Defog
    - Foul Play
    - Roost
    - Whirlwind

    Tyranitar @ Leftovers
    Ability: Sand Stream
    EVs: 248 HP / 136 Def / 124 SpD
    Sassy Nature
    - Stealth Rock
    - Crunch
    - Fire Blast
    - Thunder Wave
     
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