My First Team

[RodeoJones]

I've been slowly working on a team since I picked up Soul Silver a couple months back, and I hadn't played Pokemon since Red. I've been changing the team around constantly, trying to get it right before jumping into competitive play. I don't want a complete cookie-cutter team, and I think I've finally selected my Pokemon. Please tell me if this team would have any chance at all. If not, it's back to the drawing board...again.


Jolteon @Choice Specs
EVs 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Volt Absorb
- Thunderbolt
- Baton Pass
- Hidden Power Grass
- Shadow Ball

Ninetales @Life Orb
EVs 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Flash Fire
- Nasty Plot
- Energy Ball
- Flamethrower
- Hypnosis

Snorlax @leftovers
EVs 168 HP / 120 Def / 220 SpD
Nature - Careful
Ability - Thick Fat
- Curse
- Body Slam
- Rest
- Crunch

Starmie @leftovers
EVs 136 HP / 156 Def / 216 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Natural Cure
- Rapid Spin
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Recover

Steelix @Leftovers
EVs 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Sp
Nature - Sassy
Ability - Sturdy
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake

------- Here's where I have a problem too, I can't decide on my sixth. This is what I'm looking at -----

Dusknoir @Leftovers
EVs 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Nature - Adamant
Ability - Pressure
- Substitute
- Ice Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Focus Punch

Lucario @Life Orb
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Nature - Adamant
Ability - Inner Focus
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- ExtremeSpeed
- Ice Punch

Mismagius @Leftovers
EVs 108 HP / 148 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Levitate
- Nasty Plot
- Taunt
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power Fighting


So there you have it. Can this team make it in the competitive world? And what should I choose for my sixth member? Thank you!

 

[Aurafire]

I don't know why you're using white text but it makes things impossible to read.

Ninetales is totally outclassed by Infernape OU.

You may also want to try leading with Steelix to get your rocks up as soon as possible, though keep in mind that other steels like Skarmory can arguably do the job better.

Also Toxic Spike support for Curselax is ideal otherwise it's unlikely that he'll sweep.

And please don't use Dusknoir as your last pokemon, lol. Lucario or Mismagius would be much more beneficial.

 

[RodeoJones]

Sorry, the background is black on my computer for some reason....I'll adjust it now.

Thanks for the tips. What if I use dusknoir, but move him up in the order?

 

[Aurafire]

Thanks for the tips. What if I use dusknoir, but move him up in the order?

Well, your order doesn't matter since you can send out whoever you want whenever you want. I was saying that Dusknoir is outclasses by Rotom-A, who does its job much better.

 

[PKMN Trainer Silver]

I've been slowly working on a team since I picked up Soul Silver a couple months back, and I hadn't played Pokemon since Red. I've been changing the team around constantly, trying to get it right before jumping into competitive play. I don't want a complete cookie-cutter team, and I think I've finally selected my Pokemon. Please tell me if this team would have any chance at all. If not, it's back to the drawing board...again.


Jolteon @Choice Specs
EVs 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Volt Absorb
- Thunderbolt
- Baton Pass
- Hidden Power Grass
- Shadow Ball

Ninetales @Life Orb
EVs 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Flash Fire
- Nasty Plot
- Energy Ball
- Flamethrower
- Hypnosis

Snorlax @leftovers
EVs 168 HP / 120 Def / 220 SpD
Nature - Careful
Ability - Thick Fat
- Curse
- Body Slam
- Rest
- Crunch

Starmie @leftovers
EVs 136 HP / 156 Def / 216 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Natural Cure
- Rapid Spin
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Recover

Steelix @Leftovers
EVs 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Sp
Nature - Sassy
Ability - Sturdy
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake

------- Here's where I have a problem too, I can't decide on my sixth. This is what I'm looking at -----

Dusknoir @Leftovers
EVs 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Nature - Adamant
Ability - Pressure
- Substitute
- Ice Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Focus Punch

Lucario @Life Orb
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Nature - Adamant
Ability - Inner Focus
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- ExtremeSpeed
- Ice Punch

Mismagius @Leftovers
EVs 108 HP / 148 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Levitate
- Nasty Plot
- Taunt
- Shadow Ball
- Hidden Power Fighting


So there you have it. Can this team make it in the competitive world? And what should I choose for my sixth member? Thank you!

Using Aurafire's suggestions I would start with LeadApe.

Infernape/LeadApe:
Item: Focus Sash
Nature: Jolly/Navie/Hasty
EV: 4 HP/ 252 Atk/ 252 Spe
-Fake Out/Stealth Rock - Fake Out runs so well with Ape here for first blood and it also breaks Sash since OHKO really isn't LeadApes goal. SR set up is great, if you have another Poke to set up (I might throw one on for example)
-U Turn - This allows some scouting, you can get some damage as well as switch into a counter for their current pokemon. It can also bring out Forretress 2nd turn into something Physical and not Fire.
-Close Combat - So good here since the move pool is almost all Physical, 120 base STAB...It'll OHKO Flygon after Rocks and possibly Toxic Spikes...I've also Revenge Killed Kingdra with CC so it's worth using.
-Mach Punch/Flare Blitz/Fire Punch - Mach Punch lets you get priority, which you shouldn't totally need with this being a fast ape to begin with all it really does is beat other priority move users. Flare Blitz is a 120 base STAB, the down side to this is you will take damage. Fire Punch is a litter weaker than Flare Blitz (I believe it's 70 base STAB) but it hits without recoil so Ape stays around and might possibly be a psuedo sweeper.

I know you like Ninetails, but as Aurafire said Infernape is much better and provides you with a lead pokemon that can deal with the common Lead/Anti Lead Tyranitar from Sandstorm teams and the less common Abomasnow from Hail teams (yes, they do exist and they can hurt). A very good reason I say Ape over Tails is because of Ninetails inability to cope against Stone Edge or Stealth Rock. Stone Edge is almost guaranteed and OHKO on Tails after Stealth does it's damage (which is about...12.5%?). Infernape's secondary typing will in fact deal with Stone Edge better (and probably stop the user before he gets a 1/5 chance to miss). This also potentially stops the Swampert lead from being as effective against LeadApe, Fake Out stops Stealth Rock first turn, U Turn allows you to deal some damage to it and then switch into a counter (preferred one with Grass Knot/Energy Ball)


Now Infernape has 4 main weaknesses: Water, Ground, Flying, and Psychic. Ground and Water are more common (especially with Swampert Leads). One Poke comes to mind and that is Gyarados

Gyarados/Dragon Dance:
Item: Leftovers/Life Orb
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EV: 4 HP/ 252 ATK/ 252 Spe
-Dragon Dance - It's already incredible Atk and Spe are increased, not much is going to stop Gyarados after +1 Dragon Dance aside from Bulky Waters and Physical Walls and even then it's not much of a guarantee if it gets to set up a second Dragon Dance (good reason for Leftovers)
-Stone Edge - Stone Edge deals with other Gyarados as well as Zapdos/Togekiss/Salamence/Infernape well.
-Earthquake - It really does quite a bit to all non-flying or Roosted Flying Pokemon. Not much is surviving.
-Waterfall - Great for dealing with Ground Pokes.

Gyarados is a great partner and counter for Infernape. With Dragon Dance you potential can run your opponents entire team..the only real threats to Gyarados is Stone Edgers and Thunder Pokes. Most Stone Edgers are Rock/Steel/Ground Pokes who will fall to Earthquake or Waterfall. Thunder Pokes will fall to Earthquake. You can play around with the EVs if you want to make it Bulky to possibly survive Stone Edge (if that's possible)

Now by this point you're probably thinking that I've ignored your list all together..well I hate to disappoint but I have not. I was working my way back into it and now is a good time to reveal what I have up my shelve. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you....

Jolteon/Choice Spec.
Item: Choice Specs
Nature: Timid/Modest
EV: 4 HP/ 252 SpA/ 252 Spe
-Thunderbolt - STAB for 75 plus Choice Spec...it'll hurt quite a bit
-Shadow Ball - Great way to deal with walls like Dusknoir or Rotom
-Hidden Power Ice/Grass - Hits Ground Hard...depends on what types you feel is a bigger problem after that.
-Charge Beam/Signal Beam - Jolteon's best way to up SpA/...type coverage?

I know that Baton Pass is good and all, but on a Choice Spec team I don't really see the point to it. You have to BP the first attack and then you're not really passing anything, so I feel CB is better for this set. Jolteon is fast, it will hit almost anything hard and it will hit about everything (if not everything) for neutral damage. It also deals with Bulky Water pokes that Gyarados and Infernape loathe. If you want to use Baton Pass I would use a Life Orb but I would Charge Beam for sure in that set to pass on the SpA boost.

so we have 3 Attackers but what about defenders? It's that time folks for

Snorlax/Curselax
[Item: Leftovers/Chesto Berry
Nature: Careful
EV: 168 HP/ 120 Def/ 220 SpD
-Curse - The main move. Makes use of Snorlax's horrible speed and raises it's Atk and okay Def to good levels.
-Body Slam -I prefer this to Return because of Paralysis, but Return is about 20% more damaging.
-Rest/SelfDestruct - Rest you can heal up and remove status problems and keep you around much longer than your opponent wants. Self Destruct allows you to go out with a bang and take a poke out with you.
-Earthquake/Crunch/ Fire Punch - I find Fire Punch to be more effective here because it hits everything the other two do other than Tyranitar.

Curselax is like Dragondos you get tremendous power and it becomes really hard to stop you from recking havoc on the opponent's field. If you can induce Paralysis that is great and it great helps your team...not really Snorlax. Chesto Berry allows a Rest Instant Wake so you start your terror but if you've gotten a lot done with it Leftovers and it's heightened Def and SpD should be sufficient

Aurafire mentioned Toxic Spikes for Curselax support, I never thought of that but now that I am I was torn between Skarmory (thinking it could learn it) and Forretress, and later Tentacruel when I learn Skarmory couldn't. I went with Forretress because it's only real weakness is Fire and I have a lot of Fire coverage)

Fortress/Supporter
Item: Leftovers/Macho Brace (Gyro Ball use only)
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP/ 112 Atk/ 144 Def
-Toxic Spikes - provides great support for Dragondos and Cruselax
-Rapid Spin - clears your entry hazards
- Gyro Ball/Payback - Both use Forretress' low speed to their advantage. Macho Brace insures that Gyro Ball will be doing more...I would recommend a 0 IV if you can swing it, but if not, I wouldn't worry to much about it.
-Earthquake/Explosion - You're not going to kill the Fire Poke that switches in to this without Explosion, Earthquake is in case you dont want to kill Forretress.
NOTE: If lead Ape is not running Stealth Rock, Forretress should definitely be.

5 pokes down, 1 to go. I really think you could probably use a late game Sweeper and for this I choose a MixCario in case a wall was up..other that that I would say go Special over Physical. It can STAB priority with Vacuum Wave and Aura Sphere is no joke.

Lucario/MixCario
Item: Life Orb
Nature: Hasty
EV: 172 Atk/ 172 SpA/ 164 Spe
-Vacuum Wave/Bullet Punch -Both have STAB Priority. I personally would go Vaccum Wave because of Luario's high SpA status
-Aura Sphere/Close Combat - Close Combat wins in raw power, but Aura Sphere will never miss.
-Crunch/Dark Pulse - Both have a chance to Flinch
-Ice Punch/Hidden Power (Fire)/Stone Edge

Lucario is meant to sweep late in the game when the Fire, Ground, and hopefully Fighting have fallen and their on something that isn't really a big deal...it's preferred to come in on a Revenge Kill game winner but Lucario can bring down a lot of stuff in the late game. Tyranitar is a big late game threat but Aura Sphere or Close Combat bring him down or close to it, it's Stone Edge and Crunch have resistance about 4x I believe...but it will hurt. Along with Sandstorm raises the SpD of Rock by 50%, you have a lot of room to play with moves here. Hidden Power makes sure that Scizor/Lucario late sweeps fall quick (though Lucario can Aura Sphere/CC opposing Lucatio), Stone Edge deals with Gyarados still in play, Ice Punch is Grounders that survived as well as Dragons.


I hope this helped. I'm sorry I didn't stick to much to your list, in reality there are just better choices that make it look cookie-cutter that hold more water (so to speak) in the meta.

 

[PokemonSkySD]

Ninetales @CHOICE SCARF
EVs 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Flash Fire
- WILL-O-WISP
- Energy Ball
- Flamethrower
- Hypnosis

Out speeds ninjask, and can be used later to cripple.
Or Wide Lens can be used, but you lose the speed.

Also Ninetales is a better lead


Jolteon @LIFE ORB/SALAC BERRY
EVs 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Volt Absorb
- CHARGE BEAM
- Baton Pass
- Hidden Power Grass
- Shadow Ball

Charge Beam Sp.Atk boost passing works well with Lucario, combined with Salac Berry and Sword dance it can set Lucario up for the sweep.


Snorlax @leftovers
EVs 168 HP / 120 Def / 220 SpD
Nature - Careful
Ability - Thick Fat
- Curse
- Body Slam
- Rest
- Crunch

Starmie @leftovers
EVs 136 HP / 156 Def / 216 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Natural Cure
- Rapid Spin
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Recover

Steelix @Leftovers
EVs 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Sp
Nature - Sassy
Ability - Sturdy
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake

Forretress is better in general, but it lack roar so up to you. Skarmory is recommended.


Lucario @Life Orb
200 Sp.Atk / 58 Atk / 252 Spe
Nature - HASTY/NAUGHTY
Ability - Inner Focus
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- ExtremeSpeed
- SHADOW BALL

Shadow Ball + Close Combat gives maximum coverage, and allows it too works as a wall breaker.

 

[Dark Azelf]

DONT USE FRIKKING WHITE TEXT OR ILL INFRACT YOU, NO ONE CAN SEE IT AND ITS ANNOYING HAVING TO EDIT IT OUT. @_@

^Highlight please.

SD Luke wants Crunch > Shadow Ball

Snorlax wants Fire Punch >> Crunch to hit Meta and Ghosts in one slot, also does something Skarm and Scizor.

 

[Ninja Caterpie]

Uhm, call me stupid, but why do you have Baton Pass on a Choice Pokemon? o.o

Ninetales @CHOICE SCARF
EVs 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Flash Fire
- WILL-O-WISP
- Energy Ball
- Flamethrower
- Hypnosis

Out speeds ninjask, and can be used later to cripple.
Or Wide Lens can be used, but you lose the speed.

Also Ninetales is a better lead

...Scarf Will-o-wisp and Hypnosis? Call me stupid again, but wtf is the point of Choicing status moves? o.o Burn them, hope they switch and burn the next guy? o.o I mean, it works less with Hypnosis because there's Sleep Clause. o_o

I'd say go with Rotom or Mismagius for your final slot, as your team is half ground-weak and most things'll take a chunk of damage (except maybe Snorlax) from a powerful EQ from something. Levitate prevents that from happening.

 

[Opposite Day]

I guess Baton Passing on a choicer could work for scouting purposes, send in your poke, and bp out to check for counters I guess. It also avoids pursuit that way :>

 

[RodeoJones]

Thanks for the replies guys. Regarding the white text one more time, I didn't know there were so many quick styles for the boards. Mine was on one that had a black background and I thought everyone's had switched to that one. Won't happen again, Azelf. Promise.

Back to the team:
As much as I love Ninetails, I'm leaning towards taking her out of the team. Do I have to replace her with a fire pokemon? I really want to use Mismagius and Lucario both. Not sure who to lead with here....but what about this?


Jolteon @choice specs
Nature: Timid/Modest
EV: 4 HP/ 252 SpA/ 252 Spe
-Thunderbolt
-Shadow Ball
-Hidden Power Grass
-Charge Beam

Snorlax @leftovers
EVs 168 HP / 120 Def / 220 SpD
Nature - Careful
Ability - Thick Fat
- Curse
- Body Slam
- Rest
- Fire Punch

Starmie @leftovers
EVs 136 HP / 156 Def / 216 Spe
Nature - Timid
Ability - Natural Cure
- Rapid Spin
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Recover

Steelix @leftovers
EVs 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Sp
Nature - Sassy
Ability - Sturdy
- Roar
- Stealth Rock
- Gyro Ball
- Earthquake


Lucario @lifeorb
Nature - Hasty
EVs 172 Atk/ 172 SpA/ 164 Spe
-Vacuum Wave
-Aura Sphere
-Crunch
-Ice Punch/Hidden Power Fire

Mismagius @leftovers
Nature - Timid
EVs 108 HP / 180 SpA / 220 Spe
-Calm Mind
-Shadow Ball
-Hidden Power Fighting /???
-SubstituteHaving to opt with this Magius set over the Nasty Plot set...I don't see me getting a Spiritomb anytime soon.

But yeah, if I have to use Infernape, so be it...I'll take out Magius for him and lead with the monkey.