First Competitive Team, 6th slot help. (Singles)

[ambriehl]

I've never done much competitive play at all, aside from battling a couple of my friends. I've pretty much rounded out this team, I'm just having troubles with the last slot, and was wondering what would fit best (I'm thinking a water type, honestly).

Also, I'm not very good with the "roles" of the team, so I'm not sure where each one would specifically fit into a battle. I'm not entirely sure which one would be my lead either.


Roserade @ Life Orb
Nature: Timid
Ability: Natural Cure
4Def/252SpA/252Spe

- Spikes
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power Fire


Gardevoir @ Gardevoirite
Nature: Modest
Ability: Trace
24Def/232SpA/252Spe

- Calm Mind
- Hyper Voice
- Psyshock
- Focus Blast


Blissey @ Leftovers
Nature: Bold
Ability: Natural Cure
252Def/252HP/4SpD

- Toxic
- Flamethrower
- Wish
- Protect


Mienshao @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly
Ability: Regeneration
252Atk/4SpD/252Spe

- U-turn
- High Jump Kick
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge


Jirachi @ Choice Scarf
Nature: Quirky (I can't really do anything about this ones nature, obviously, but it is my baby so theres no ditching it)
Ability: Serene Grace
252Atk/4SpD/252Spe

- U-turn
- Iron Head
- Trick
- Fire Punch


For the last slot, I orignally thought Banette, but I already have a mega, same reason for not choosing Mawile. Then I thought Spiritomb, but quickly ditched that because I didn't like the movesets.
Now, I'm looking at water types (Greninja, Vaporeon (good chance to evolve my shiny eevee :) ), Milotic (but I have no way to evolve a Feebas right now, so I'm stuck with a bad natured Milotic without the ability I need)).
I am very open to suggestions though, so whatever you think would help the team I'm down for.

 

[Xairmo]

Hi! Welcome to competitive battling, you're gonna love it. For your first team of I could offer my opinions based off what I've seen.

First, I think I'd make your six slot Greninja, give it that Life Orb and make him your lead.

Second, I would drop Roserade for Ferrothorn, Mienshao for Conkeldurr, Jirachi for Togekiss, and change Blissey to Chansey. I'll post below with sets and an explanation why :]

Greninja@Life Orb
Protean
Hasty/Timid
252 Speed / 252 Sp. Atk / 6 HP (or 6 Atk depending on your preference and the set)
Hydro Pump
Ice Beam
Grass Knot
U-turn / HP Fire

Protean is a Godsend as is Greninja's Speed stat, they both make up for the fact that his Sp. Atk isn't THAT overly powered. Give him the Lofe Orb and constant STAB to all his moves, and he's ready to do some damage. You want to start off with some good momentum, so I recommend the U-turn Hasty set . Even if Greninja can't take out your opponents lead he can outrun pretty much anything from the get go - be weary of Choice Scarfed leads. Though that's something you'll come to grasp with experience. Also, if you go with the HP Fire lead you have to give up 1 IV in Speed to get the proper Hidden Power - meaning you'll usually lose the speed tie to any opposing Greninja leads.

Ferrothorn@Rocky Helmet
Iron Barbs
Relaxed
88 Def / 168 Sp. Def / 252 HP
IVs: 0 Speed (or as low as you can get it)
Stealth Rocks
Gyro Ball
Leech Seed
Protect / Thunder Wave

Negative Speed Nature to boost Gyro Ball as much as possible. Iron Barbs w/ Rocky Helmet will hurt anything that touches it, and with Max HP and a boosting Defense nature lets it hold out as much it can. You need the Leech Seed do to not having leftovers or a proper regenerative move, and Protect over T-Wave just to stall and take one round of free HP from the foe.

Conkeldurr@Assault Vest
Guts
Adamant
252 Atk / 236 Sp. Def / 20 Speed
Drain Punch
Mach Punch
Knock Off
Poison Jab / Ice Punch

Assault was another great addition to Gen VI that gave many Pokémon a role to fill. He packs quite a punch and can absorb a Willow Wisp and come out with even more power thanks to his Guts. Combine with Drain Punch that makes up for Assault Vest's condition of only attacking type moves, giving him some regenerative STAB power. Poison Jab over Ice Punch, but that's just one man's opinion. Knock Off gets double damage on Polémon whose item it just... well Knocked Off. Just be warned you can't knock off a Mega Stone, even if it hasn't Mega Evolved yet.

Togekiss@Leftovers
Serene Grace
Calm
248 HP / 252 Sp. Def / 8 Sp. Atk
Roost
Thunder Wave
Air Slash
Heal Bell / Dazzling Gleam (the latter depending on you choice of Chansey set)

Togekiss just does everything Jirachi does, but much more efficiently. Jirachi lost a lot of its thunder in Gen VI do to its now vulnerability to Dark an Ghost, and it just can't compete with Mega Evos power. Togekiss on the other hand gained immunity to Dragon and still has immunity to Ground, two very powerful and common types. She's bulky enough and with Roost and Leftovers she can become a nuisance. Combined with her Serene Grace, Thunder Wave, and flinch from STAB Air Slash she's truly queen hax. They really should namer her Haxorus haha Dazzling Gleam over Heal Bell only if you use Aromatherapy on Chansey.

Chansey@Eviolite
Natural Cure
Bold
252 Def / 252 Sp. Def / 6 HP
Seismic Toss
Softboiled
Aromatherapy / Toxic
Ice Beam

Chansey and Blissey are two more Pokémon that have truly passed the test of time, though Chansey I think has a few more advantages than her Evo now. She may lose Leftovers in place of Eviolite, but combined with Max Defenses and such high HP she can stand to lose the HP EVs. She's a good cleric but with Togekiss you may not need her so Toxic instead unless you want a back up cleric. Softboiled more than makes up for no Leftovers. Seismic Toss and Ice Beam have always been my preferred attacks for her. Ice hits those pesky Dragons and Seismic hits anything that's not a Ghost for a set amount.

I hope my advice helped!

 

[srinator]

@above
Greninja needs 40 ATk ev's and gunk shot, ditch grass knot
Seeing as ur whole team is more offensively inclined I would rather not change it to ferro but rather shash breloom
I would retain jirachi since its a gr8 fairy check and give it a more defensive utility role.

Also ice beam chansey? U wot m8
Blissey with shed shell IMO, helps against gothi and still got decent spA. Yh chansey has more bulk due to eviolite but I would rather use a non knock off bait mon.

 

[PlatinumDude]

To add to what the above guys said, Low Kick is another option on Greninja to hit Steels harder:
-Hydro Pump/Low Kick
-Ice Beam
-Gunk Shot
-Dark Pulse/Grass Knot/Hidden Power (Fire)
Nature: Naive
EVs: 40 Atk/216 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Protean

 

[Xairmo]

@above
Greninja needs 40 ATk ev's and gunk shot, ditch grass knot
Seeing as ur whole team is more offensively inclined I would rather not change it to ferro but rather shash breloom
I would retain jirachi since its a gr8 fairy check and give it a more defensive utility role.

Also ice beam chansey? U wot m8
Blissey with shed shell IMO, helps against gothi and still got decent spA. Yh chansey has more bulk due to eviolite but I would rather use a non knock off bait mon.

Sorry but Grass Knot is needed, Gunk Shot is kind of laughable in my opinion. Especially with Mega Swampert swimming with the rest of those bulky Water types. You don't need more than 6 Atk EV to use U-turn for a nice pivot. He already has enough accuracy issue with Hydro Pump. Ferro is a better Fairy check and Toge is much more worthy of Serene grace. Jirachi just can't compete nowadays, and it's typing is far to unfortunate now.

I've always run Ice Beam on Bliss/Chans and she surprises many others much like yourself. Counter is another good option, but if combined with Toss she gets walled by anything Ghost. I think Gothi is really the least of a Chansey's problem. Knock Off is much more suited for Conkeldurr who could take down the very same Gothi. Breloom was an option I considered, but given that there was originally some kind of Spikes on her original Roserade that a Rocks set Ferro was more appropriate.

Edit: To the one above, I will give you 40 Atk for a Low Kick. Gunk Shot is just way too unnecessary for my taste.

 

[srinator]

Gunk shot is the reason why greninja is even considered broken :/ not only does it beat all its counters but also beats few new stuff like 3hko chansey and the likes, Hydro pump isn't even needed IMO rofl, also the reason I said to remove grass knot cause u already have a grass type and greninja is too frail to withstand mega swampert under rain anyway.

Ferro is not a better fairy check >see focus blast mega voir.

Ice beam On chansey is really meh since it barely 4hko's stuff like lando etc.

Saying gothi is the least of ur problems really shows how little u know about gothi teams, it literally struggles stalls chansey, faster than conk, runs specs trick. Tbh give the right support it can sweep this team with psy and tbolt.

Also dpulse>hydro pump on greninja if u use gunk shot ice beam and hp fire

 

[Xairmo]

Gunk shot is the reason why greninja is even considered broken :/ not only does it beat all its counters but also beats few new stuff like 3hko chansey and the likes, Hydro pump isn't even needed IMO rofl, also the reason I said to remove grass knot cause u already have a grass type and greninja is too frail to withstand mega swampert under rain anyway.

Ferro is not a better fairy check >see focus blast mega voir.

Ice beam On chansey is really meh since it barely 4hko's stuff like lando etc.

Saying gothi is the least of ur problems really shows how little u know about gothi teams, it literally struggles stalls chansey, faster than conk, runs specs trick. Tbh give the right support it can sweep this team with psy and tbolt.

Also dpulse>hydro pump on greninja if u use gunk shot ice beam and hp fire

The only reason it's considered broken is quite the overstatement. There's a lot more to Greninja than Gunk Shot. Hydro Pump is its hardest hitting Sp. Atk so I guess that shows how little you know about Greninja. Also, if you'd noticed that I already had a Grass Pokemon you should have noticed that he didn't have a Grass attack. Only Leech Seed which isn't really a physical attack.

Generally I wouldn't stay around to let Ferro get Focus Blasted in the face by Gardevoir, I would switch to Togekiss to handle it quite well. Furthermore Togekiss is 3HKO by Tbolt or Psychock, Ferro survives both HP Fire and Focus Blast giving it the ability to set up Leech Seed, and Chansey survives Focus Blast from Gothi. The only one she takes down is Conkeldurr. Plus Ferro is 2HKO by Gardevoir but with Leech Seed and then a Protect it can surprise you.

 

[ambriehl]

First of all I'd like to thank you all for the input and help. Also currently crying because I've just finished breeding for all the right natures/abilities of the pokemon I already had setup and I'm literally ev training right now so its hard seeing so many cuts haha. Really hurts my heart man.

I'm alright with the blissey to chansey, I haven't evolved the chansey yet so I'll see how well that'll work out, makes sense when I think about it. Those already scary low stats getting even more scary low though... just... ugh.

As far as Jirachi, I'd like to test it out, because I went through a lot to get it myself, and get the right moves on it before oras came out, and I love the annoying cababilities of the choice scarf set. BUT I do have a Togekiss with the right ability/nature from x that I had so I can easily switch that out.

Ive never liked Ferrothorn but when/if Roserade doesn't work out, I might, begrudgingly, give it a shot.

Conkeldurr... I just... reallydontlikeuglypokemon.
I'm so superficial. :/

Greninja for the last slot is fine with me, for now.

And hey, at least my Gardevoir made the cut.

 

[srinator]

The only reason it's considered broken is quite the overstatement. There's a lot more to Greninja than Gunk Shot. Hydro Pump is its hardest hitting Sp. Atk so I guess that shows how little you know about Greninja. Also, if you'd noticed that I already had a Grass Pokemon you should have noticed that he didn't have a Grass attack. Only Leech Seed which isn't really a physical attack.

Generally I wouldn't stay around to let Ferro get Focus Blasted in the face by Gardevoir, I would switch to Togekiss to handle it quite well. Furthermore Togekiss is 3HKO by Tbolt or Psychock, Ferro survives both HP Fire and Focus Blast giving it the ability to set up Leech Seed, and Chansey survives Focus Blast from Gothi. The only one she takes down is Conkeldurr. Plus Ferro is 2HKO by Gardevoir but with Leech Seed and then a Protect it can surprise you.

Not ur team mate lol, rose did have a grass attack and I did suggest breloom. hardest hitting attack? I would any day chose gr8 hard hitting coverage over hardest hitting attacks,u just tried hard for I know nothing about greninja statement :/
If u don't let ferro stay in for voir how does it makes a counter/check? Rofl gr8 argument m8
Jirachi not only takes its attacks well but can also finish it with iron head also no one runs hp Fire on mega voir, double stab and focus blast is all it needs :/
252+ SpA Mega Gardevoir Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 168 SpD Ferrothorn: 262-310 (74.4 - 88%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Cm voir is a thing yo and since ferro acts as a check for a lot of hints it need not necessarily be at full health + all those magnezones out there. Should run shed shell IMO.

 

[Xairmo]

Not ur team mate lol, rose did have a grass attack and I did suggest breloom. hardest hitting attack? I would any day chose gr8 hard hitting coverage over hardest hitting attacks,u just tried hard for I know nothing about greninja statement :/
If u don't let ferro stay in for voir how does it makes a counter/check? Rofl gr8 argument m8
Jirachi not only takes its attacks well but can also finish it with iron head also no one runs hp Fire on mega voir, double stab and focus blast is all it needs :/
252+ SpA Mega Gardevoir Focus Blast vs. 252 HP / 168 SpD Ferrothorn: 262-310 (74.4 - 88%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Cm voir is a thing yo and since ferro acts as a check for a lot of hints it need not necessarily be at full health + all those magnezones out there. Should run shed shell IMO.

Yeah you're not very clear with your statements or grammar as to which grass type you were referring and seeing as how Ferro was the one you were bashing that's what I went with. I told you I would switch out Ferro - which I would - but just to drive the point home that you were wrong about Gardevoir I further gave you an idea of what would have happened had he stayed. I didn't really try hard to come up with you knowing nothing, it was the easier part of all. Shed Shell is again such a focus on Gothi, there are other Pokemon out there "m8"

 

[srinator]

Yeah you're not very clear with your statements or grammar as to which grass type you were referring and seeing as how Ferro was the one you were bashing that's what I went with. I told you I would switch out Ferro - which I would - but just to drive the point home that you were wrong about Gardevoir I further gave you an idea of what would have happened had he stayed. I didn't really try hard to come up with you knowing nothing, it was the easier part of all. Shed Shell is again such a focus on Gothi, there are other Pokemon out there "m8"

Not on gothi, magnezone :/

Also how am I wrong about voir? Ferro is srsly not a good fairy check, esp since cm voir is a thing. And after all the recent band things like mega voir, mega cross are really predominant in the meta, so checking them or even countering them is really important along side bird spam ofc. Also again if ur cant stay in on something then it's not a counter -_-

 

[Zeffy]

wow uhh yeah uhm guys this is a team help thread so please keep in topic, thanks

 

[Nah]

Jirachi's a good poke, though I prefer a para flinch set to a Trick-Scarf one. Also, Chansey/Blissey should use a 252 Defense/252 Sp.Defense/4 HP EV spread because their HP is so ridiculous that HP investment isn't really needed; Defense and Sp.Defense EVs let them wall both sides better than having HP+one of the defenses. Greninja also has a lot of viable options for moves so you can kinda tailor it's moveset to what your team needs.

Gunk Shot also OHKOs most Azumarills, btw.

 

[halcyonic]

i would rly like to explain why gren is banworthy but i won't. instead i'll give a tiny bit of advice:

your team is offensive, so i would keep roserade over ferrothorn and avoid passive, slow pokemon like chansey/blissey and defensive jirachi. also maybe try fitting stealth rock in somewhere (eg bluky attacking jirachi with sr)

rev, n_n