Need help filling 6th slot (ORAS)

[Worldslayer608]

So for some reason my U-Turn Talonflame is preventing me from starting up an unranked random 6 battle. I tried another Talonflame I traded for and I am still not allowed to start battles with it on my team.

I am pretty new to battling, and I am always a rogue player in that I like to play things that are not very common. Below is my current team and I am looking to fill the 6th slot since I cannot use Talonflame.

Weavile @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pickpocket
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Ice Shard
- Night Slash
- Swords Dance
- Fake Out

This is a revenge kill Pokémon mainly. It can start sweeping with the set up of Fake Out --> Swords Dance (Proc Sash) --> STAB. It was an interesting build I came across online and it made sense to me - being new to figuring out battles and even the battle system in general, this was an appealing move set for me.

Steelix @ Steelixite
Ability: Sand Force
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Curse
- Heavy Slam
- Rest
- Sleep Talk

I have seen a few different Pokémon use a Rest Talk set up and thought the build was sweet with Steelix. The problem with this Mega is obviously it's ability and figuring out how to maximize it. I don't really do Doubles at this point, but he may fall into that category down the line. For now I wanted to give this build a with Tyranitar on the team to do some light set up work here and there - and give the Rest Talk a chance as it looked pretty fun.

Porygon-Z @ Choice Specs
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Tri Attack
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse

Typical Choice Specs build. I liked Specs with Tri Attack, making switching into combat with Porygon-Z out, fairly difficult. Download seemed a bit risky over Adaptability.

Rotom-W @ ChestoBerry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 136 SpA / 120 SpD
Calm Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Will-O-Wisp
- Rest
- Hydro Pump

I wanted greater healing capabilities with Rotom-W, so I went with the Chesto Rest package. I am not sure if this is optimal, but it seemed fun. I wanted 3 Pokémon that were more resilient while helping cover other types better.

Tyranitar @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Stone Edge
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Ice Beam

I am not sure if this build is outdated or not, but I liked having some Special Attack moves on board with my team, and Tyranitar gave me a little bit of bulk to boot.

My 6th slot was supposed to be a U-Turn Talonflame, but as I stated earlier - it will not let me use the one I have, nor the second one I just traded for. I wanted a Fire / Flying dual type to slot in and Talonflame seemed perfect because I was also looking for a Volt Switch / U-Turn Pokémon.

Any advice on a substitute?

 

[PlatinumDude]

Pickpocket is an extremely gimmicky ability, as Weavile is too frail to make use of it, and there's a chance when it's Focus Sash isn't burnt up, whether it takes damage from hazards, or if a move fails to OHKO it. Weavile shouldn't be played as a lead, it should only be played as a revenge killer and a check to Psychics, Ghosts and Dragons; it should only come in after a teammate has been KOed. It's also too frail to set up Swords Dance:
-Knock Off
-Icicle Crash
-Ice Shard
-Pursuit/Low Kick/Poison Jab
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Pressure

The above set is all possible thanks to the Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire move tutors.

Mega Slowbro is a better mono-attacker than Mega Steelix because of Shell Armor blocking critical hits that would ruin its chances of sweeping. Scald is also more potent, as it can burn switch-ins:
-Calm Mind
-Scald
-Rest
-Sleep Talk
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Item: Slowbronite
Ability: Regenerator/Oblivious

Exploud is a much better Specs abuser than Porygon-Z, IMO, as it can mindlessly spam its Normal STAB much more easily than Porygon-Z, while still having comparable power, thanks to Scrappy:

252+ SpA Choice Specs Adaptability Porygon-Z Tri Attack vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Abomasnow: 340-400 (88.5 - 104.1%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Exploud Boomburst vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Abomasnow: 339-399 (88.2 - 103.9%) -- 25% chance to OHKO

-Boomburst
-Overheat/Fire Blast
-Focus Blast
-Surf/Flamethrower
Nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Specs
Abiilty: Scrappy

The spread for Wash Rotom should be 252 HP/212 SDef/44 Spe to have more special bulk and to outspeed Jolly Azumarill. Volt Switch is also preferred over Thunderbolt for the momentum-grabbing; with Wash Rotom more likely to move after the opponent, it also brings in Exploud and Weavile safely without having them to take a potentially fatal hit.

Also, there are better speedy or bulky special attackers out there than Tyranitar, like Greninja, Magnezone or even Dragalge:

Greninja:
-Hydro Pump/Low Kick
-Gunk Shot
-Ice Beam
-Dark Pulse/Grass Knot/Hidden Power (Fire)
Nature: Naive
EVs: 40 Atk/216 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Protean

Magnezone:
-Thunderbolt
-Volt Switch
-Flash Cannon
-Hidden Power (Fire)
Nature: Modest/Timid
EVs: 172 HP/252 SAtk/84 Spe (Modest) or 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe (Timid)
Item: Choice Specs (Modest)/Choice Scarf (Timid)
Ability: Magnet Pull

or
-Magnet Rise
-Thunderbolt
-Flash Cannon
-Hidden Power (Fire)
Nature: Modest
EVs: 128 HP/252 SAtk/128 Spe
Item: Air Balloon
Ability: Magnet Pull

Dragalge:
-Sludge Wave
-Draco Meteor
-Hidden Power (Fire)/Focus Blast
-Scald/Focus Blast
Nature: Modest
EVs: 200 HP/240 SAtk/12 SDef/56 Spe
Item: Choice Specs/Dragon Fang/Poison Barb/Draco Plate/Toxic Plate
Ability: Adaptability

By any chance, was the Talonflame you had hacked?

 

[Worldslayer608]

My lead is Tyranitar, as he can set up Sand for Steelix to switch in and tank into a revenge killer like Weavile.

I wanted the team to be fairly rogue, which is why I did not use Exploud or Geninja.

I like that Rotom-W spread and move set, I will work on it :)

I don't know if the Talonflames were hacked to be honest. They were traded to me with 5 perfect IV's so I assumed they were not. I guess I will just find another one and give it a try.

 

[PlatinumDude]

My lead is Tyranitar, as he can set up Sand for Steelix to switch in and tank into a revenge killer like Weavile.

I wanted the team to be fairly rogue, which is why I did not use Exploud or Geninja.

I like that Rotom-W spread and move set, I will work on it :)

I don't know if the Talonflames were hacked to be honest. They were traded to me with 5 perfect IV's so I assumed they were not. I guess I will just find another one and give it a try.

The nasty part about Choice Scarfers is that they're meant to revenge kill stuff, and clean late-game not lead. That's because Scarf users tend to have less power than their Life Orb/Band/Specs counterparts. Your Scarf Tyranitar is a noticeable example of this because 95 Special Attack isn't the best stat to attack with. If you insist on keeping Tyranitar, it should be a support set:
-Stealth Rock
-Crunch/Pursuit
-Rock Slide/Ice Beam/Thunder Wave
-Fire Blast
Nature: Sassy
EVs: 248 HP/136 Def/124 SDef
Item: Smooth Rock/Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream

Also, Mega Steelix is one of the underwhelming Megas out there simply because of the support it requires (sand from Hippowdon or Tyranitar, which stacks weaknesses, as well as teammates that can switch into those weaknesses). The fact that sandstorm lasts 5-8 turns now doesn't help either. Mega Steelix would've been more viable had Sand Stream and others like it retained perma-weather, but sadly, this isn't the case.

Mega Slowbro is the better mono-attacking Mega to use for the reasons I stated. Oh, and if you want a more unbreakable Mega Slowbro, you can even use this, but it's more prone to status:
-Calm Mind
-Iron Defense
-Scald
-Slack Off
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP/4 Def/252 SDef
Item: Slowbronite
Ability: Regenerator

 

[Worldslayer608]

So I took some of your advice, adjusted my move sets and spreads a bit. I also just bred and raised my own Talonflame since I really wanted one on my team. I pretty much have done nothing but raise Pokémon the last few days while I had no work :P. Here is a my current lineup.

Talonflame ¤ Lv.65 @ Choice Scarf
Adamant - Gale Wings
Brave Bird | U-turn | Me First | Flare Blitz
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

Dragalge ¤ Lv.65 @ Dragon Fang
Modest - Adaptability
Hidden Power | Scald | Sludge Wave | Draco Meteor
200 HP / 240 SAtk / 12 SDef / 56 Spe

Weavile ¤ Lv.65 @ Life Orb
Jolly - Pressure
Knock Off | Ice Shard | Icicle Crash | Low Kick
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Tyranitar ¤ Lv.65 @ Tyranitarite
Jolly - Sand Stream
Eartquake | Stone Edge | Dragon Dance | Ice Punch
252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe

Rotom ¤ Lv.65 @ Chesto Berry
Bold - Levitate
Volt Switch | Will-O-Wisp | Rest | Hydro Pump
252 HP / 212 SDef / 44 Spe

Kangaskhan ¤ Lv.65 @ Kangaskhanite
Jolly - Scrappy
Sucker Punch | Low Kick | Fake Out | Return
252 HP / 212 SDef / 44 Spe


Now I honestly have not done multiplayer battles since G/S/C, it has been a really long time. I was also really young when I was doing it, so while I was fairly educated on battling back then - I was not top notch and still had so much to learn. I stopped battling not too terribly far into it and now we are 4 generations beyond that. I know my type chart very loosely and know I need to study it a lot more. I am getting crushed in my battles online with people and while my team feels fairly weak, I also know that I am getting crushed because I don't know what I am doing when it comes to how to play my Pokémon, how to select my 3 based on what they have, and I find myself wasting turns by doing things that only confirm that I have no clue what I am doing.

I got crushed by Substitute a few times, and Gredninja is a complete beating for me. Picking the order I play my 3 is also a contributor here as well. I plan on playing a lot and slowly picking up things as I go, such as memorizing common Pokémon and move sets I see with them and then finally remembering the type chart by heart. I also suffer from really only being interested in playing Pokémon I like, which means I am stubborn and also willing to lose because of it.

Below are a few other battle ready Pokémon I have. If maybe someone is willing to give me some advice on a team structure with what I have, and as well as how to play some of them more effectively, that would be awesome!

Aegislash ¤ Lv.80 @ Weakness Policy
Quiet - Stance Change
King's Shield | Sacred Sword | Shadow Ball | Flash Cannon
252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA

Kingdra ¤ Lv.80 @ Life Orb
Modest - Swift Swim
Hydro Pump | Draco Meteor | Rain Dance | Surf
64 Atk / 252 SpA / 192 Spe

Lucario ¤ Lv.80 @ Lucarionite
Jolly - Justified
Close Combat | Iron Tail | Ice Punch | Swords Dance
252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Pinsir ¤ Lv.80 @ Pinserite
Jolly - Hyper Cutter
Swords Dance | X-Scissor | Earthquake | Quick Attack
252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe

Politoed ¤ Lv.80 @ Damp Rock
Modest - Drizzle
Hydro Pump | Scald | Ice Beam | Focus Blast
172 HP / 252 SpA / 84 Spe

Porygon-Z ¤ Lv.80 @ Choice Specs
Modest - Adaptability
Tri-Attack | Thunderbolt | Ice Beam | Dark Pulse
4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Scizor ¤ Lv.80 @ Choice Band
Adamant - Technitian
Super Power | U-Turn | Knock Off | Bullet Punch
248 HP / 212 Atk / 48 Def

Swampert ¤ Lv.65 @ Swampertite
Adamant - Damp
Waterfall | Ice Punch | Rain Dance | Earthquake
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def

Thundurus ¤ Lv.65 @ Leftovers
Timid - Volt Absorb
Thunderbolt | Hidden Power | Nasty Plot | Focus Blast
4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

Volcarona ¤ Lv.80 @ Passho Berry
Modest - Flame Body
Quiver Dance | Giga Drain | Hidden Power | Fire Blast
96 HP / 252 SpA / 160 Spe
​

 

[PlatinumDude]

Why would you use Choice Scarf on Talonflame when it can throw out priority Brave Birds? Choice Band is the better alternative to compensate for Talonflame's middling power. Me First is also incredibly situational. Talonflame is better off Brave Birding all the things or scouting with U-turn:
-Flare Blitz
-Brave Bird
-U-turn
-Tailwind/Roost/Will-o-Wisp
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings

Aegislash is banned to Ubers, FYI. So is Mega Lucario. As I already mentioned, Exploud does the Normal Choice Specs Pokemon much better than Porygon-Z does.

Mega Pinsir has little use for X-Scissor; Aerilated Returns are the other part why it's even used, as Aerilated Quick Attacks may not be enough:
-Swords Dance
-Return
-Earthquake/Close Combat
-Quick Attack
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Pinsirite
Ability: Hyper Cutter

As for Mega Swampert, it needs Speed investment to actually make the most out of the Speed boost it gets from Swift Swim. It only needs enough Speed EVs to outspeed Mega Sceptile and Mega Beedrill in rain:
-Waterfall
-Earthquake
-Ice Punch
-Low Kick/Rain Dance
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 104 HP/252 Atk/152 Spe
Item: Swampertite

As an FYI, Mega Tyranitar faces even stiffer competition for the role of Dragon Dancer because of the new Megas (Altaria, Metagross, Sableye, Gallade) making setup incredibly difficult, despite its good bulk. Now that Gyarados gained Crunch in OR/AS, it's worth considering. Charizard X is still a viable Dragon Dancer, while Mega Altaria can also pull it off:

Gyarados:
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall/Earthquake
-Crunch
-Substitute/Taunt/Earthquake
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate

Charizard X:
-Dragon Dance
-Flare Blitz
-Dragon Claw
-Roost/Earthquake
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 40 HP/252 Atk/216 Spe
Item: Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze

Altaria:
-Dragon Dance
-Return
-Earthquake
-Roost/Fire Blast
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Altarianite
Ability: Natural Cure

or
-Dragon Dance
-Return
-Heal Bell/Substitute/Earthquake
-Roost
Nature: Impish
EVs: 248 HP/136 Def/96 SDef/28 Spe
Item: Altarianite
Ability: Natural Cure

 

[Worldslayer608]

What would you say the best build for Mega Tyranitar is for me then? Is there a good one to lead with?

Other than the adjustments to Talonflame and Tyranitar, for the initial team of 6 do you have any play style tips?

 

[PlatinumDude]

What would you say the best build for Mega Tyranitar is for me then? Is there a good one to lead with?

Other than the adjustments to Talonflame and Tyranitar, for the initial team of 6 do you have any play style tips?

Dragon Dance is pretty much Mega Tyranitar's only viable set, as the other sets appreciate the passive recovery from Leftovers or the greater Speed boost from Choice Scarf.

You need Rapid Spin/Defog support, as Talonflame and Weavile are weak to Stealth Rock.