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How does this seem?

  • 16
    Posts
    11
    Years
    • Seen Mar 30, 2015
    Before I go into breeding and such, what suggestions do you guys have for my current set-up?

    Talonflame:
    Nature: Adamant
    Ability: Gale Wings
    EVs: 192 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def / 60 Speed
    -Brave Bird
    -Flare Blitz
    -Swords Dance
    -Roost

    Breloom:
    Nature: Jolly
    Ability: Poison Heal
    EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Speed
    -Spore
    -Sky Uppercut
    -Rock Tomb
    -Giga Drain

    Swampert:
    Nature: Relaxed
    Ability: Torrent
    EVs: 252 HP / 196 Def / 60 Sp. Atk
    -Earthquake
    -Surf
    -Stealth Rock
    -Ice Beam

    Salamence:
    Nature: Naughty
    Ability: Intimidate
    EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Speed
    -Flamethrower
    -Dragon Claw
    -Dragon Rush
    -Roost

    Manectric:
    Nature: Timid
    Ablility: Static
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Sp. Atk/252 Speed
    - Charge Beam
    - Thunderbolt
    - Flamethrower
    -Volt Switch

    Metagross:
    Nature: Adamant
    Ability: Clear Body
    EVs: EVs: 80 HP / 252 Atk / 176 Speed
    -Meteor Mash
    -Earthquake
    -Zen Headbutt
    -Ice Punch
     
    Items would be greatly appreciated on your Pokemon.

    The OR/AS Megas are at the 110 Speed tier or breach it; an example is Mega Metagross. Raikou is also becoming more prominent. Because of this, Talonflame has to be Jolly with 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe. Sure, this seems redundant with Gale Wings, but this allows Talonflame to outspeed Raikou and Thundurus and hit either of them with Flare Blitz.

    Giga Drain runs off of Breloom's terrible Special Attack, so it's not advised on it. Sky Uppercut isn't a bad attack by any means, but it's outclassed by Mach Punch because it provides much-needed priority for Breloom, since it isn't that fast. Tl;dr:
    -Spore
    -Bullet Seed
    -Mach Punch
    -Rock Tomb
    Nature: Jolly/Adamant
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Focus Sash
    Ability: Technician

    Simply put, regular Swampert is badly outclassed by other bulky Water and/or Ground Pokemon like Garchomp, Therian Landorus, and even Gastrodon and Empoleon, as they either have more power, better support options or a combination of the two:

    Garchomp:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Dragon Tail
    -Earthquake/Toxic
    -Fire Blast/Toxic
    Nature: Impish
    EVs: 252 HP/164 Def/76 SDef/16 Spe
    Item: Rocky Helmet
    Ability: Rough Skin

    or
    -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

    Therian Landorus:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Earthquake
    -U-turn
    -Stone Edge/Rock Slide/Knock Off
    Nature: Impish
    EVs: 252 HP/240 Def/8 SDef/8 Spe
    Item: Leftovers/Rocky Helmet

    or
    -Stealth Rock
    -Earthquake
    -U-turn/Swords Dance/Explosion
    -Stone Edge/Smack Down/Knock Off
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 72 HP/252 Atk/184 Spe
    Item: Soft Sand/Earth Plate/Normal Gem

    Gastrodon:
    -Scald
    -Earthquake/Earth Power/Ice Beam
    -Toxic
    -Recover
    Nature: Relaxed/Bold
    EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Storm Drain

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

    With its Mega Stone banned from standard play, Salamence is badly outclassed by other Dragon Pokemon, with Dragonite being a prime example, as well as Garchomp. Examples of better Dragon Pokemon include the aforementioned Garchomp and Dragonite, as well as Dragalge, Hydreigon and either of the Lati twins:

    Dragonite:
    -Dragon Dance
    -Outrage/Dragon Claw
    -Earthquake/Fire Punch
    -Extreme Speed
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Lum Berry
    Ability: Multiscale

    or
    -Outrage
    -Extreme Speed
    -Earthquake/Superpower
    -Dragon Claw/Fire Punch
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Band
    Ability: Multiscale

    or
    -Dragon Claw
    -Earthquake/Fire Punch
    -Extreme Speed
    -Roost
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 216 HP/64 Atk/228 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Multiscale

    Hydreigon:
    -Draco Meteor
    -Dark Pulse
    -Flash Cannon/Focus Blast
    -Superpower/Earth Power
    Nature: Mild/Modest
    EVs: 4 Atk/252 SAtk/252 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

    Dragalge:
    -Toxic Spikes
    -Sludge Wave
    -Draco Meteor
    -Focus Blast/Hidden Power (Fire)
    Nature: Modest
    EVs: 228 HP/252 SAtk/28 Spe
    Item: Dragon Fang/Draco Plate/Black Sludge
    Ability: Adaptability

    or
    -Toxic Spikes
    -Dragon Tail
    -Sludge Wave
    -Scald/Haze
    Nature: Calm
    EVs: 252 HP/228 SDef/28 Spe
    Item: Black Sludge
    Ability: Adaptability

    or
    -Sludge Wave
    -Draco Meteor
    -Scald/Focus Blast
    -Hidden Power (Fire)/Focus Blast
    Nature: Modest
    EVs: 228 HP/252 SAtk/28 Spe
    Item: Choice Specs
    Ability: Adaptability

    Latias:
    -Draco Meteor
    -Psyshock/Hidden Power (Fire)
    -Defog
    -Healing Wish
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 72 HP/184 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb

    Latios:
    -Draco Meteor
    -Psyshock
    -Surf/Hidden Power (Fire)/Earthquake
    -Defog/Roost
    Nature: Timid/Hasty
    EVs: 252 SAtk/4 SDef/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb

    or
    -Draco Meteor
    -Psyshock
    -Surf/Hidden Power (Fire)/Tailwind
    -Trick
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 252 SAtk/4 SDef/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf

    Manectric and Metagross are only good in their Mega forms; their regular forms are outclassed otherwise. Manectric really needs Hidden Power Ice to get past Dragons; it's useless against them without it. Overheat is also preferred over Flamethrower despite the Special Attack drop because Manectric needs the extra power against things like Ferrothorn and Excadrill:
    -Thunderbolt
    -Volt Switch
    -Overheat
    -Hidden Power (Ice)
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Manectite
    Ability: Lightning Rod

    Mega Metagross' Speed of 110 is very good, so I don't think that should be wasted on an all-out attacker. Your current nature and EV spread is better suited for an Agility set, as you're already boosting your Speed anyways:
    -Meteor Mash
    -Zen Headbutt
    -Bullet Punch/Ice Punch/Grass Knot
    -Earthquake/Hammer Arm
    Nature: Jolly/Adamant
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Metagrossite
    Ability: Clear Body

    or
    -Agility
    -Meteor Mash
    -Zen Headbutt
    -Earthquake/Hammer Arm
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 80 HP/252 Atk/176 Spe
    Item: Metagrossite
    Ability: Clear Body

    Depending on who you pick as your Mega, here are better Electric/Steel alternatives (you don't use Electric and Electric and Steel and Steel together, of course):

    Wash Rotom:
    -Volt Switch
    -Hydro Pump
    -Will-o-Wisp
    -Pain Split/Rest
    Nature: Bold
    EVs: 248 HP/252 Def/8 SDef
    Item: Leftovers/Chesto Berry

    Thundurus:
    -Thunderbolt
    -Hidden Power (Ice)
    -Focus Blast/Psychic
    -Thunder Wave
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb/Leftovers
    Ability: Prankster

    or
    -Nasty Plot
    -Thunderbolt
    -Hidden Power (Flying/Ice)
    -Thunder Wave/Substitute/Focus Blast
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Leftovers/Life Orb
    Ability: Prankster

    or
    -Thunderbolt
    -Hidden Power (Ice)
    -Knock Off
    -Thunder Wave/Superpower
    Nature: Naive
    EVs: 76 Atk/180 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb

    Scizor:
    -U-turn
    -Bullet Punch
    -Superpower
    -Pursuit/Knock Off
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 248 HP/252 Atk/8 SDef
    Item: Choice Band
    Abiilty: Technician

    or
    -Swords Dance
    -Bug Bite
    -Bullet Punch
    -Superpower
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb

    Bisharp:
    -Sucker Punch
    -Iron Head
    -Knock Off
    -Pursuit/Swords Dance
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/52 SDef/204 Spe
    Item: Black Glasses/Dread Plate/Life Orb/Lum Berry
    Ability: Defiant

    or
    -Sucker Punch
    -Iron Head
    -Knock Off
    -Pursuit
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 192 HP/220 Atk/96 Spe
    Item: Assault Vest
    Ability: Defiant
     
    @PepperDip: How are you going to be battling opponents? If you are going to be using cartridge based means such as Battle Spot, maybe you could be able to use Mega Salamence. Obviously you'd have to replace Metagross if you're going in that direction, can I suggest Bisharp, Excadrill or Scizor as its replacement. I highly endorse Excadrill as it will be able to remove Stealth Rock for Mega Salamence, meaning it will be able to switch in easier.

    Excadrill @ Leftovers
    Ability: Mold Breaker
    EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
    Careful Nature
    - Earthquake
    - Iron Head
    - Rapid Spin
    - Stealth Rock
     
    I believe that he's playing cartridge since he mentioned breeding, so he can use Mega Salamence. That said, he may want to swap out one or 2 of those potential Mega Pokemon because while you can get away with having 2 Megas on the team, all 4 of them arguably really should be in Mega form.

    @Platinum: max Speed EVs isn't necessary for Talonflame to outspeed Raikou/Thundurus. 168 and Jolly lets it outspeed Timid 252 Raikou by 2 points.
     
    I believe that he's playing cartridge since he mentioned breeding, so he can use Mega Salamence. That said, he may want to swap out one or 2 of those potential Mega Pokemon because while you can get away with having 2 Megas on the team, all 4 of them arguably really should be in Mega form.

    @Platinum: max Speed EVs isn't necessary for Talonflame to outspeed Raikou/Thundurus. 168 and Jolly lets it outspeed Timid 252 Raikou by 2 points.

    The extra HP EVs don't let Talonflame do anything notable, so you might as well run max Speed.
     
    I have a question. Obviously I'm new to this sort of stuff so: Where would you use competitive ratings such as U, OU, RU, etc? I've seen them on Smogon but only used in their simulator.
     
    I have a question. Obviously I'm new to this sort of stuff so: Where would you use competitive ratings such as U, OU, RU, etc? I've seen them on Smogon but only used in their simulator.
    Smogon's tiers are only enforced on Pokemon Showdown servers, or if the 2 parties involved the battle agree to use Smogon rules/tiers beforehand.
     
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