My first team attempt - go easy please

[gee2k8]

As i have previously posted i got myself a ds and copy of platinum about a month or two ago mainly because i enjoyed what i like to call my 'good old days' of playing pokemon on my GBA (fire red/leaf Green).

I have always loved the original pokemon more but i was suprised at how fast i got to love some of the new additions in this later gen and to how quickly they gained a spot in my newest(first real attempt) team.
I have followed a few guides on smogon/seribii for team building and movesets on certain pokemon that have stood out to me and that i have previously enjoyed playing with back on the GBA.

Here is my team below, please feel free to critisize but dont be too harsh as i am fully aware that their are most likely some vital flaws to this team...also it took me bloody ages hatching eggs to get good-brilliant ivs (20-31) in stats that mattered to each.

Gengar@life orb Timid 4 def/252 Spa/ 252 Spe

• Shadow Ball
• Explosion
• Thunderbolt
• Focus blast(maybe)

Scizor@life orb Adamant 32 hp/252 atk/224 spe

• Bullet Punch
• X-Scissor/U-turn
• Brick Break
• Swords dance/U-turn

Snorlax@Leftovers Sassy 140hp/116atk/252spd
(not as good as blissey as a special wall but i loved this poke on my fire red team)

• Rest
• Sleep Talk
• Body Slam
• Crunch

Kingdra@leftovers Calm 252hp/68 Def/176Spd/12 Spe
(wanted to be more original with this bulky water)

• Rest
• Sleep Talk
• Dragon Pulse
• Surf

Umbreon@Leftovers Bold 252hp/252 Def/4 sp def

• Toxic
• Protect
• Wish/Moonlight
• Taunt/confuse ray/payback

Steelix@leftovers Relaxed 252 HP / 120 Atk / 136 SpD
(not as good as skarmory from what i have read but still seems effective and it is a personal favourite of mine)

• Stealth Rock
• Toxic
• Gyro Ball
• Earthquake

As this is my first team i am still really new compared to how i was with the older gens and i know very little about the online wifi battles but i am eager to battle people more on my experience/skill level but still that will make good opposition, so if anyone can give me some tips firstly on how to match up with people easily and pretty much whenever feel free.

I am currently at the point of leveling my pokes which i have ev trained they are around level 42-56 so i am not ready just yet.

 

[Dark Azelf]

Ehhh...go on then ill allow this, just

→ An explanation of each Pokémon's moveset, strategy, and function(s) on the team

Why? If the team raters do not know what each Pokémon is trying to accomplish, then they will probably question the Pokémon's spot on the team (especially with sets that aren't very common).

Do this for me and ill be grateful lol, thanks.

 

[Mobile Tsk]

Gengar@life orb Timid 4 def/252 Spa/ 252 Spe

• Shadow Ball
• Explosion
• Thunderbolt
• Focus blast(maybe)

k.


Scizor@life orb Adamant 32 hp/252 atk/224 spe

• Bullet Punch
• X-Scissor/U-turn
• Brick Break
• Swords dance/U-turn

Cool, though I don't know why you're even considering U-Turn on this set.


Snorlax@Leftovers Sassy 140hp/116atk/252spd
(not as good as blissey as a special wall but i loved this poke on my fire red team)

• Rest
• Sleep Talk
• Body Slam
• Crunch

RestTalk Snorlax is horrible. Lucario switches in on either attack and then ruins you with Close Combat. (If you're sleeping and it's a SD variation, Lucario could take a chance and try to get a SD predicting a Crunch). Put on Earthquake and Gengar can come in and do whatever it wants to you. With Fire Blast, Mence and Gyara fear paralysis, but can switch in, intimidate, and ruin Lax before it can KO them. A good Flygon or Gliscor set can ruin this set no matter what. (or usually anything with Levitate and decent defenses). You could contemplate which move to use for the fourth slot, or you could just pick of one the three clearly superior sets located above that one.


Kingdra@leftovers Calm 252hp/68 Def/176Spd/12 Spe
(wanted to be more original with this bulky water)

• Rest
• Sleep Talk
• Dragon Pulse
• Surf

Rest Talk is such a bad strategy and you sure are overusing it. Really, Physical Kingdra is better, but if you need something special, use Choice Specs (bottom). Otherwise just use a Physical variant.


Umbreon@Leftovers Bold 252hp/252 Def/4 sp def

• Toxic
• Protect
• Wish/Moonlight
• Taunt/confuse ray/payback

Cool, except Umbreon in OU is bad. You accomplish nothing with this set except Toxic and scouting. (although Umbreon counters nothing in OU, so I don't know what you'd be switching in on.) You aren't even passing anything useful. D: I don't know what you should replace this with, though, because I don't know what its purpose is.


Steelix@leftovers Relaxed 252 HP / 120 Atk / 136 SpD
(not as good as skarmory from what i have read but still seems effective and it is a personal favourite of mine)

• Stealth Rock
• Toxic
• Gyro Ball
• Earthquake

As this is my first team i am still really new compared to how i was with the older gens and i know very little about the online wifi battles but i am eager to battle people more on my experience/skill level but still that will make good opposition, so if anyone can give me some tips firstly on how to match up with people easily and pretty much whenever feel free.

I am currently at the point of leveling my pokes which i have ev trained they are around level 42-56 so i am not ready just yet.

@Steelix, I guess it's fine. I mean, in OU, there are harder hits to absorb, so I'm not sure if it'll work, but the set itself is fine.

 

[gee2k8]

Hey, thanks for the comments above, if i was unclear before i apologise. When i say i am new i mean 'Really' new to alot of the competitive concepts. For example terms like OU, i have never had a wifi battle yet i would really like to get into doing so in the near future. The intended purpose of this team was more of a general 'build a more powerful squad than i have ever previously done'.

Perhaps i havent fully understood the finer concepts of team building as i basically chose pokemon i thought would be fun and in some cases anoyying when used as an individual. I did try and follow the basic team building guides some have written, getting a physical sweeper(scizor), Special sweeper(Gengar), PDefensive Sdefensive wall(snorlax and steelix) then my enoyyer(umbreon) Kingdra was really just a filler which i assumed would work well though then again my knowledge of competitive battling is only a little more advanced than my when i previously used to train pokemon on anything(not EV/IV training) in the intention to just get them too a high level and go all out attack(for example i have a friend who i intend to battle who i used to battle on firered and i know for certain my umbreon would annoy the hell out of him).

Any advice is welcome though i do prefer constructive critisme ;)

 

[Richard Lynch]

Gengar@life orb Timid 4 def/252 Spa/ 252 Spe

• Shadow Ball
• Explosion
• Thunderbolt
• Focus blast(maybe)

I've never been fond of using Explosion on a -Atk nature Gengar. The ONLY purpose is to take out Blissey, which Scizor is capable of with Brick Break. In my opinion, Explosion works nicer with a, say, Lonely nature. Basically the same nature as a Sub-Punch Gengar (which you rarely see these days), but without the same EV spread. Gengar doesn't take Physical hits very well regardless, so losing some Defense won't affect things too much, and it would give Explosion a bit more punch and, thus, reliability.

Also, in a case where you max out two stats with EV's, you usually always want to dump the remaining 4 into HP. The 4 in Defense will be virtually worthless on Gengar, and as a general postulate, HP will almost always be more important than the Defenses. Even on Walls they say max out HP first, then go to the Defenses.

In fact, the only exception to this that I've ever seen is Schuckle.

 

[Ooka]

Actually, Shuckle should always have max HP. :P

Generally, any Pokemon that already has enough HP already gets the EVs in other things, such as Blissey.

As for the Gengar, you should probably go with Naive / Naughty to help survivability with Bullet Punch, although it doesn't really matter, as the only other priority you'll really be seeing is Sucker Punch, which will kill you anyways.

The next problem would be the fact that your Snorlax is Sassy with no good reason, it would be best to go Careful, although I really don't see why you need Snorlax as a Restalker, because it really isn't that great. Besides, you have Wish support. :/

Kingdra should probably be a mixed set, either DDing, or Rain Dance, but most definitely no Sleep Talk.

 

[gee2k8]

Would it be fair to say that my Gengar, Scizor and Steelix are what i can salvage from this team? I would prefer not to scrap the whole squad, as i am sure most are well aware that it takes a long to make a team and as it is my first real attempt at building a decent team i am not expecting anything too special.

I have been thinking about implementing perhaps a fire pokemon of some kind and perhaps a blissey....that will of course leave one final spot after they are filled....any suggestions would be great, thanks again.

 

[StrickeN]

As i have previously posted i got myself a ds and copy of platinum about a month or two ago mainly because i enjoyed what i like to call my 'good old days' of playing pokemon on my GBA (fire red/leaf Green).

I have always loved the original pokemon more but i was suprised at how fast i got to love some of the new additions in this later gen and to how quickly they gained a spot in my newest(first real attempt) team.
I have followed a few guides on smogon/seribii for team building and movesets on certain pokemon that have stood out to me and that i have previously enjoyed playing with back on the GBA.

Here is my team below, please feel free to critisize but dont be too harsh as i am fully aware that their are most likely some vital flaws to this team...also it took me bloody ages hatching eggs to get good-brilliant ivs (20-31) in stats that mattered to each.

Gengar@life orb Naive 4 def/252 Spa/ 252 Spe

• Shadow Ball
• Explosion/Hypnosis
• Thunderbolt
• Focus blast(maybe)

Ok first off leading with gengar is eww. I've seen it but it doesn't EVER end pretty. If you want to run Hypnosis > explosion (which I almost say do it) use timid if not run Naive. ALSO you need about 80 Att EV's to OHKO a blissey with explosion. So yeah, navigate some from sp. att.
Scizor@life orb Adamant 32 hp/252 atk/224 spe

• Bullet Punch
• X-Scissor
• Brick Break
• Swords dance

This set is alright I guess but is highly overshadowed by his more infamous CB Scizor who does a lot more in this metagame with the ability to trap locked in Scarfers (gengar / starmie / the few and i mean few latias scarf sets).

Scizor @ Choice Band
Adament [+Att, -Sp. Att]
252 HP / 252 Att / 4 Def
-Bullet Punch
-U-Turn
-Pursuit
-Superpower

Super power helps a great deal vs some things. I've used it vs a multitude of things such as swampart etc. It's really liked for Blissey OHKO'ing it with absolutely no fail.



Snorlax@Leftovers Sassy 140hp/116atk/252spd
(not as good as blissey as a special wall but i loved this poke on my fire red team)

• Rest
• Sleep Talk
• Body Slam
• Fire Punch

If you absolutely must run this. or Scizor LOVES you. the EV's it'self some one else will have to fix for you. I'm not sure on it.


NO. That kingdra was DREADFUL. A DD or sub DD set is more helpful to you.

Kingdra @ Leftovers/Life Orb
Adament / Naughty
252 Att / 252 Spe / 4 HP
-Substitute / Draco Meteor
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfal
-Outrage

If you don't like sub run Draco. It helps vs some common switch ins and really dents things. If you are not using Sub and use Draco Naughty / Life orb. If you are running sub use Adament / Leftovers.


[/LIST]

Umbreon@Leftovers Bold 252hp/252 Def/4 sp def

• Toxic
• Protect
• Wish
• Payback

Sp. Def helps more. I however once again don't use umbey so haven't the slightest idea how to set it up. So some one else please give him a better EV set.

Steelix@leftovers Relaxed 252 HP / 120 Atk / 136 SpD
(not as good as skarmory from what i have read but still seems effective and it is a personal favourite of mine)

• Stealth Rock
• Toxic
• Gyro Ball
• Earthquake

I don't know and I'm to lazy to look it up.
As this is my first team i am still really new compared to how i was with the older gens and i know very little about the online wifi battles but i am eager to battle people more on my experience/skill level but still that will make good opposition, so if anyone can give me some tips firstly on how to match up with people easily and pretty much whenever feel free.

I am currently at the point of leveling my pokes which i have ev trained they are around level 42-56 so i am not ready just yet.

Comments in bbbbolds.

A few things I"m iffy about as I don't really run them.

So yeah

-Str

 

[Sebastien Loeb]

This team has many defects, seeing your Pokémon and their moveset you would not go beyond a Zapdos Staller (and eliminated Scizor you would not go beyond a Celebi), Gyarados with Dragon Dance and Taunt you from a lot of problems (and also MixApe) therefore I recommend you to give Choice Scarf to Gengar.