long time player, first time competitive battler

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    • Seen Jul 7, 2015
    hey guys ive played the games since blue but never did any online play and after joining the military stopped playing all together. recently picked things back up and played through Y and AS, and have messed around in free battle for a bit, im currently deployed to japan and the kids out here slaughter me online lol. anyways just participated in my first rating comp and did horrible lol. looking for some help on building up a team as im starting fresh in OR and want to go from there, open to all advice, bear with me my strat got me through the campaigns but thats it. team i used in AS for the comp was as follows

    hydreigon quick claw
    toxic
    dark pulse
    dragon rush
    body slam
    latias latiasite
    ice beam
    thunderbolt
    dragon pulse
    psychic
    garchomp soft sand
    dragon claw
    earthquake
    iron head
    brick break
    charizard X
    flamethrower
    fly
    roost
    dragon claw
    metagross metal coatmeteor mash
    bullet punch
    zen headbutt
    earthquake
    suicune nevermelticeice beam
    mist
    mirror coat
    surf

    as you can see theres not much strat here and no EV training whatsoever, i did decent with metagross and latias and sometimes garchomp but everyone else sort of fell on their face. for the pure basics of a competitive team in OR so far im thinking latias(or latios whichever is better) swampert, salamence (raised 4 garchomps never raised a salamence), and metagross. i dont know what else to throw in their but i know for sure id like metagross and latias/os the battles ive one has been due to them and they seem to have good stats. i was thinking perhaps a gengar or alakazam for a high speed crippler? And recently been liking the idea of Aegislash as well. idk but help is appreciated. thanks ad sorry for the long post
     
    Last edited:
    Are you battling on the PSS, or in Battle Spot? Remember that you can only Mega Evolve one Pokemon per battle, as having 2 Megas in 6-on-6 battles is very pointless, really. In Battle Spot formats, this is a very viable strategy, as you can pick the best Mega to use depending on the matchup.

    Even though Hydreigon resides in an awkward Speed tier, Quick Claw is not a good way to rectify it. That's because the item falls under the category of luck/hax because it doesn't activate all the time, and luck-based items are inconsistent to use. Specially-based Hydreigon is also preferred over physical ones because Hydreigon has better Special Attack than Attack, though these sets sometimes incorporate Superpower to hit Blissey (and Chansey) hard. Body Slam is redundant with Hydreigon's Dragon STAB. Here are much better sets to fall back on:
    -Dark Pulse
    -Draco Meteor
    -Flash Cannon
    -Superpower/Earth Power
    Nature: Mild/Modest
    EVs: 4 Atk/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb

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

    While Latias can function in its Mega form, Metagross does it much better, and it needs its Mega Evolution to be effective, as explained below later. I don't think Latias is worth the Mega slot in this team. Heatran, Ferrothorn, and Clefable are reliable Stealth Rock setters you can consider. Stealth Rock is a staple in competitive play because it's an entry hazard that hits all types, and the damage they take depends on how strong/weak they are to the actual Rock type:

    Heatran:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Lava Plume
    -Toxic
    -Taunt/Protect/Roar
    Nature: Calm
    EVs: 248 HP/192 SDef/68 Spe
    Item: Leftovers

    or
    -Fire Blast/Magma Storm
    -Flash Cannon/Hidden Power (Ice)/Stone Edge
    -Earth Power
    -Stealth Rock
    Nature: Timid
    EVs: 252 SAtk/4 SDef/252 Spe
    Item: Air Balloon

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

    Clefable:
    -Stealth Rock
    -Moonblast
    -Thunder Wave/Fire Blast
    -Soft-Boiled/Moonlight
    Nature: Calm
    EVs: 252 HP/172 Def/84 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Magic Guard

    As I already mentioned, the Mega slot should be given to Metagross. Regular Metagross isn't worth it, really, as its Speed is lower than its Mega form's. Mega Metagross, on the other hand, has improved bulk and especially Speed, as already mentioned, and the Tough Claws ability to take advantage of most of its wide move pool. For some reason, it benefits Grass Knot, despite it being a special attack:
    -Meteor Mash
    -Zen Headbutt
    -Hammer Arm/Earthquake
    -Ice Punch/Bullet Punch/Grass Knot/Pursuit
    Nature: Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Metagrossite
    Ability: Clear Body

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

    Garchomp does have a decent move pool, sure, but some of its options aren't that good, like Brick Break, which has redundant coverage with Earthquake. Even though Iron Head (and Poison Jab by extension) let it hit Fairies super effectively, they're not worth using, as non-Togekiss Fairies are hit hard by Earthquake already. Look at the difference below:

    252 Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 244 HP / 0 Def Sylveon: 232-274 (59.1 - 69.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

    252 Atk Garchomp Iron Head vs. 244 HP / 0 Def Sylveon: 248-294 (63.2 - 75%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

    There isn't much of a difference here, really.

    Anyway, on to better sets that provide better coverage and utility for Garchomp; heck, you can have it be the Stealth Rocker on the team if you don't want the above options I suggested:
    -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

    or
    -Swords Dance
    -Dragon Claw/Outrage
    -Earthquake
    -Substitute/Stone Edge
    Nature: Jolly
    EVs: 12 HP/244 Atk/252 Spe
    Item: Salac Berry/Leftovers/Lum Berry

    or
    -Draco Meteor
    -Earthquake
    -Fire Blast
    -Stone Edge/Stealth Rock
    Nature: Naive
    EVs: 4 Atk/252 SAtk/252 Spe
    Item: Life Orb

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

    Flying moves aren't worth using on Charizard X, as it Mega Evolves ASAP. Fly is one of those cases, as it's rather predictable, and the opponent can switch something resistant to Flying in to take the hit. Charizard X should also use physical moves only, as not doing so will squander the point of having Tough Claws in the first place. Your current set is also walled badly by Heatran, a rather prominent threat:
    -Dragon Dance
    -Flare Blitz
    -Dragon Claw
    -Roost/Earthquake
    Nature: Jolly/Adamant
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Charizardite X
    Ability: Blaze

    or
    -Flare Blitz
    -Dragon Claw/Earthquake/Dragon Tail
    -Will-o-Wisp
    -Roost
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 248 HP/24 Atk/180 SDef/56 Spe
    Item: Charizardite X
    Ability: Blaze

    or
    -Swords Dance
    -Flare Blitz
    -Outrage
    -Tailwind/Roost
    Nature: Adamant
    EVs: 40 HP/252 Atk/216 Spe
    Item: Charizardite X
    Ability: Blaze

    Note: for Swords Dance + Tailwind, you don't try to get both boosts at once; you pick one depending on the team you're up against. Swords Dance is for trying to break through defensive teams, while Tailwind for outspeeding offensive ones.

    As for Suicune, as weird as this sounds, but the below set is more effective than your above. Mist is situational, as stat drops happen randomly. Mirror Coat also isn't worth it, as Suicune lacks reliable recovery. The below set has served Suicune well since Gen III, with a Gen V twist, and I'll explain why:
    -Calm Mind
    -Scald
    -Rest
    -Sleep Talk
    Nature: Bold
    EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
    Item: Leftovers

    As you can see here, Calm Mind boosts Suicune's Special stats, powering up Scald and making you harder to break with (non-critical hit) Special attacks. A Bold nature is used here, since you'll be boosting your Special Defense with Calm Mind anyway, and using a specially defensive investment here may seem tempting, but it's not worth it, as Suicune will be more vulnerable to physical attackers. If Suicune happens to get low on health and/or is crippled by burn/poison/paralysis, use Rest. While this normally leaves Suicune a sitting duck for 2 turns, this is where Sleep Talk comes in. Sleep Talk will randomly pick between Suicune's other 3 moves while it sleeps. So with that, you can either boost up more with Calm Mind, attack with Scald, or do nothing with Rest, as it fails while you're asleep. All these have a 1/3 chance of happening. Sure, Electric and Grass moves are more problematic now, but at least you have teammates to handle those; that, and after some Calm Mind boosts, super effective special Electric/Gras moves won't matter, unless those Pokemon boosted alongside you.

    Now, for a brief history (that I can recall) for CroCune (the name that the above set is widely known as). A user named Cromat created this set with Suicune in Gen III. At the time, all Grass and Electric moves were Special, so Suicune could easily set up in the faces of weak/slower Electrics and Grasses to sponge their hits, then use RestTalk to maintain the advantage over them. In Gen IV, physical Grass and Electric moves were introduced, hampering the effectiveness of the set, but it still worked if those users were gotten out of the way. In Gen V, Suicune gained Scald, a slightly weaker version of Surf, with an added 30% chance to burn. This is the preferred move of bulky Water Pokemon now, as they have the bulk to spam it and hope for a burn. In Suicune's case, this made it more difficult for physical attackers to come in and try to take Suicune out, lest they be burned (though it's not guaranteed, the risk is still there) or taking a Calm Mind-boosted one once Suicune has set up enough.

    Edit: if you're using this team for 6v6 purposes, you'll have to replace one of your Megas with similar alternatives. If you keep Metagross, I'd use Heatran over Charizard. If you keep Charizard, Excadrill should be used over Metagross, as it has Rapid Spin to clear away Stealth Rock:
    -Earthquake
    -Iron Head
    -Rock Slide
    -Rapid Spin
    Nature: Adamant/Jolly
    EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
    Item: Choice Scarf/Air Balloon
    Ability: Mold Breaker

    or
    -Earthquake
    -Iron Head
    -Rapid Spin
    -Stealth Rock/Toxic
    Nature: Careful
    EVs: 252 HP/4 Atk/252 SDef
    Item: Leftovers
    Ability: Mold Breaker
     
    thanks for the reply. this is for battle spot and online comp, the two megas was to give a choice on who to mega during a comp based on what an opponent could throw out. Metagross will defintely stay, and get the mega slot. as mentioned im starting anew in OR and poke banked over a bunch of lvl 1 possible canadites so i can train them from the start. beldum is in there definitely, heres the list of pokes i transferred as well for possibles based on what ive seen so far in online play.

    kangaskhan
    charmander
    honedge
    bagon
    dratini
    gibble
    riolu
    mudkip
    mawile
    heatran


    so starting with metagross, im thinking so far aegislash, dragonite, swampert, kangaskhan and ???. trying to cover a wide array and i like using kanga or meta as the megas, seen mega kanga do work loads of times but also having mega meta as an option is nice. Garchomp and salamence are nice but would be too much dragon, i have a heatran i caught and put on ice that could work as well. the orginal team i used i am in no way married to. not a single one was EV trained or anything special, just caught/traded and used in the campaigns, they were posted as an example of what ive been doing. however if one of them would fit a role on a team better than anything im already thinking im all ears
     
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