How does my Team Look?

ChikoritaCheezits

The Green Leaf triumphs over all
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    I'm just curious how good my team would do in a competitive battle. Here's what it is.

    Absol: Super Luck, holding the Black Glasses

    Night Slash
    Razor Wind
    Psycho Cut
    Swords Dance

    Manetric: Static, holding the Lax Incense
    Thunder Wave
    Discharge
    Thunder
    Double Team

    Swampert: Torrent, holding the Swampertite
    Surf
    Earthquake
    Rain Dance
    Blizzard

    Gardevoir: Synchronize, holding the Colbur Berry
    Psychic
    Magical Leaf
    Moonblast
    Calm Mind

    Flygon: Levitate, holding the Soft Sand
    Dragon Claw
    Flamethrower
    Earthquake
    Sunny Day

    Swellow: Guts, holding the Rocky Helmet
    Facade
    Double Team
    Brave Bird
    Fly
     
    Howdy!
    First off, is this your ingame team? If so, it's not wise to use your ingame team in competitive play since they tend to have random natures as well as random Effort Values (or EVs for short), etc. That being said, your team seems a bit random in terms of item use (i.e. Swellow prefers Toxic Orb ---> Rocky Helmet since it's frail to begin with and a status will boost its Attack thanks to Guts ability) as well as moveset use (i.e. why does Manectric have both Discharge and Thunder when it could have Volt Switch and/or Thunderbolt instead? While they are weaker, Volt Switch is great for momentum and Thunderbolt is best for accuracy when the Rain isn't present). If you are playing by Smogon rules (barring Anything Goes), Double Team breaks the Evasion Clause and is therefore banned however if this is for Battle Spot or Battle Mansion, I do find Double Team a double edged sword. Sometimes you'll get lucky and the attacks will miss but it will backfire if the opponent does OHKO (one hit KO) you. I also don't know your playstyle so I don't know how much I can fully help you out but from the seems of it, are you a person who likes to play offensively? If you can answer this, I'll see what I can do to help you out further (or the lovely community can assist you too)! ^^
     
    Last edited:
    In-game, this team is alright, but competitively, it's terrible.

    Absol, Manectric, Gardevoir and Swampert are only good in their Mega Evolutions; since you can only Mega Evolve 1 Pokemon per battle, you have to pick one to use. Their regular forms are terrible in comparison:

    Absol:
    -Sucker Punch
    -Knock Off
    -Fire Blast/Ice Beam
    -Play Rough/Superpower
    Nature: Naive
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Absolite
    Ability: Justified/Super Luck

    or
    -Swords Dance
    -Sucker Punch
    -Knock Off
    -Play Rough/Baton Pass
    Nature: Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Absolite
    Ability: Justified/Super Luck

    Manectric:
    -Thunderbolt
    -Volt Switch
    -Overheat
    -Hidden Power (Ice)
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Manectite
    Ability: Lightning Rod

    Swampert (best paired with Politoed, tbh):
    -Waterfall
    -Earthquake
    -Ice Punch
    -Low Kick/Rain Dance
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 104 HP/252 Atk/152 Spe
    Item: Swampertite

    Gardevoir:
    -Psyshock
    -Hyper Voice
    -Focus Blast
    -Taunt/Will-o-Wisp/Calm Mind
    Nature: Timid/Modest
    EVs: 24 Def/232 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Gardevoirite
    Ability: Trace

    If you pick one of the above, here are some alternatives of the same type(s) as the other team members:

    Greninja:
    -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

    Wash Rotom:
    -Volt Switch
    -Hydro Pump
    -Will-o-Wisp
    -Pain Split/Rest
    Nature: Bold/Calm
    EVs: 252 HP/212 Def/44 Spe (Bold) or 252 HP/212 SDef/44 Spe (Calm)
    Item: Leftovers/Chesto Berry

    or
    -Volt Switch
    -Hydro Pump
    -Hidden Power (Ice)/Will-o-Wisp
    -Trick/Thunderbolt
    Nature: Modest/Timid
    EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf

    Weavile:
    -Knock Off
    -Icicle Crash
    -Ice Shard
    -Pursuit/Poison Jab/Low Kick
    Nature: Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb
    Ability: Pressure

    Bisharp:
    -Sucker Punch
    -Iron Head
    -Knock Off
    -Pursuit/Swords Dance
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Black Glasses/Dread Plate/Life Orb
    Ability: Defiant

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

    Tentacruel:
    -Scald
    -Acid Spray
    -Sludge Bomb/Knock Off
    -Rapid Spin
    Nature: Bold/Calm
    EVs: 240 HP/252 Def/16 Spe or 240 HP/252 SDef/16 Spe
    Item: Black Sludge
    Ability: Liquid Ooze

    Starmie:
    -Scald
    -Rapid Spin
    -Reflect Type
    -Recover
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 248 HP/24 Def/236 Spe
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Natural Cure

    or
    -Hydro Pump
    -Psyshock/Thunderbolt
    -Ice Beam
    -Rapid Spin
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 252 SAtk/4 SDef/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb
    Ability: Natural Cure

    Slowbro:
    -Scald
    -Psyshock/Fire Blast/Ice Beam
    -Thunder Wave/Toxic
    -Slack Off
    Nature: Bold
    EVs: 252 HP/232 Def/24 SDef
    Item: Leftovers/Rocky Helmet
    Ability: Regenerator

    Hydreigon:
    -Draco Meteor
    -Dark Pulse
    -Fire Blast/Flash Cannon
    -Superpower/Earth Power
    Nature: Mild/Modest
    EVs: 24 Atk/252 SAtk/232 Spe
    Item: Life Orb

    or
    -Draco Meteor
    -Dark Pulse
    -Earth Power
    -U-turn
    Nature: Modest/Timid
    EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf

    Azumarill:
    -Waterfall
    -Aqua Jet
    -Play Rough
    -Superpower/Knock Off
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 228 HP/252 Atk/28 Spe (Choice Band) or 16 HP/252 Atk/240 SDef (Assault Vest)
    Item: Choice Band/Assault Vest
    Ability: Huge Power

    or
    -Belly Drum
    -Aqua Jet
    -Play Rough
    -Waterfall/Superpower
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 92 HP/252 Atk/164 Spe
    Item: Sitrus Berry
    Ability: Huge Power

    Sylveon:
    -Wish
    -Protect
    -Hyper Voice
    -Heal Bell
    Nature: Bold
    EVs: 252 HP/216 Def/40 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Pixilate

    or
    -Hyper Voice
    -Psyshock
    -Shadow Ball
    -Baton Pass/Hidden Power (Fire/Ground)
    Nature: Modest
    EVs: 244 HP/252 SAtk/12 Spe
    Item: Choice Specs
    Ability: Pixilate

    Clefable:
    -Calm Mind
    -Moonblast
    -Stored Power/Flamethrower
    -Soft-Boiled/Moonlight
    Nature: Bold
    EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
    Item: Leftovers/Life Orb
    Ability: Magic Guard

    or
    -Wish
    -Protect
    -Moonblast
    -Heal Bell/Aromatherapy/Thunder Wave
    Nature: Bold
    EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Unaware

    or
    -Moonblast
    -Fire Blast
    -Thunder Wave
    -Soft-Boiled/Moonlight
    Nature: Modest
    EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 SAtk
    Item: Life Orb
    Ability: Magic Guard

    or
    -Stealth Rock
    -Moonblast
    -Fire Blast
    -Soft-Boiled/Moonlight
    Nature: Calm
    EVs: 252 HP/160 Def/96 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Magic Guard

    Flygon is outclassed by Garchomp simply because the latter is stronger, faster and bulkier than the former:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Outrage/Dragon Claw
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast/Swords Dance
    Nature: Naive/Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Lum Berry/Focus Sash/Rocky Helmet

    or
    -Swords Dance
    -Outrage/Dragon Claw
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Fang/Stone Edge
    Nature: Jolly
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry

    or
    -Outrage
    -Earthquake
    -Stone Edge
    -Dragon Claw/Dual Chop/Fire Blast
    Nature: Jolly
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf

    Other than abusing Guts, Swellow is underwhelming. Talonflame's strong priority in Brave Bird or Staraptor's Reckless-induced recoil attacks give them the edge over it:

    Talonflame:
    -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

    Staraptor:
    -Double-Edge
    -Brave Bird
    -Close Combat/Final Gambit
    -U-turn
    Nature: Jolly/Adamant
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf/Choice Band
    Ability: Reckless
     
    Since the question at hand is this, I'll answer it. Competitively, your team is...interesting. You seem to understand how to properly use Pokemon as niches that support your team, but much work is done. However, I'll provide an analysis of your team.

    Firstly, Absol. Really fast and strong Dark type. You're running a physical set I can see, and that's one of the best sets you could possibly run for him. Psycho Cut covers Fighting types and is more likely to have a crit hit, as well as STAB Night Slash. Razor Wind seems random but Swords Dance is an excellent choice, very good.

    Secondly, Manectric. Not sure if this is a support or a utility Pokemon. You have Thunder Wave and Double Team, so that confuses me a bit. Thunder and Discharge seem redundant, but both are incredibly strong on Manectric. Overall, confusing but very practical to status your opponent to encourage an easier sweep.

    Next, Swampert. Nearly PERFECT! That set is wonderful. Very excellent coverage, I do not have much to say here. Well done~

    Alright, onto Gardevoir. You're running a Calm Mind setup. Psychic and Moonblast have excellent coverage against most Pokemon. Magic Leaf is strange, but you could absolutely hit the unsuspecting Water, Rock, or Grass type for scores of damage. You have a pretty good set for her.

    Onto Flygon. This seems to be a mixed set with Earthquake and Dragon Claw, and then you have a Sunny Day and Flamethrower strategy going. It's decent, as Flygon has pretty good Special Attack, and it hits Ice for a ton of damage, which is interesting. Though not the most impressive mixed set, this one certainly helps Flygon take down foes with his strong attacks.

    Finally, Swellow. This seems to be a strong STAB attacker, with Fly, Brave Bird, and Facade. Not sure why you're holding the Rocky Helmet, but I'll assume it's a sort of trick used on the opponent. Double Team could be useful but Swellow is too frail to take chances, so it's sort of a waste of a moveslot.

    Now, for your team's aesthetics. This is definitely a hyper offensive team with plenty of coverage on the field. You have plenty of coverage against Ground, Fighting, Grass, and Electric. However, your team struggles with birdspam (in most cases), Fairy, and Ice. In OU, this team probably would not stand a chance. Despite having its flaws, this team is diverse and strange, which would fool the opponent and allow you to hit hard with this hyper offensive team.

    As a side note, definitely use the suggestions of the users above me, they are both experienced and quite "on-the-mark" with these corrections. Please ask any questions if need be.

    Yeah, I added Flamethrower and Sunny Day in attempt to get coverage on ice types. I'm not sure if putting it on my Dragon type was clever in a trick up your opponent way or stupid in a, "This is doomed to die via Blizzard" kind of way.
     
    Yeah, I added Flamethrower and Sunny Day in attempt to get coverage on ice types. I'm not sure if putting it on my Dragon type was clever in a trick up your opponent way or stupid in a, "This is doomed to die via Blizzard" kind of way.

    As I already mentioned, Garchomp outclasses Flygon in every way possible. For both, the only special move they should use is Fire Blast, mainly to nail Skarmory, Scizor and Ferrothorn. Ice Pokemon are already chunked hard by Earthquake or Outrage.
     
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