Need team advice.

[Trainer Brandon]

Need team advice, Standing in front of E4

Edit: Please scroll down to bottom of page for updated list and requests!!! Thanks! :)


Hi guys! I was wondering if you could rate my team and levels. I recently just scrapped by and defeated the 8th Unova gym, and I feel a bit worried. Am I under leveled, and how is my team?

#1: Skarmory Level 42
-Careful Nature
-Sturdy Ability
-Knows Air Slash, Spikes, Fly, and Steel Wing.
-Item Sharp Beak.

#2: Arcanine Level 43
-Careful Nature
-Intimidate Ability
-Knows Fire Blast, Fire Fang, Flame Burst, and Extreme Speed.
-Item Oran Berry

#3: Liepard Level 45
-Brave Nature
-Ability Unburden
-Knows Assurance, Slash, Shadow Claw, and Night Slash.
-Item Expert Belt

#4: Floatzel Level 44
-Gentle Nature
-Ability Swift Swim
-Knows Surf, Strength, Razor, and Aqua Tail.
-Item Exp. Share

#5: Virizion Level 47
-Hasty Nature
-Ability Justified
-Knows X-Scissor, Retaliate, Giga Drain, and Sacred Sword
-Item: None.

#6: Fraxure Level 44
-Brave Nature
-Ability Rivalry
-Knows Dragon Dance, Dragon Claw, Dragon Pulse, and False Swipe
-Item Draco Plate

I am feeling like I am under leveled, what should I do? And what moves should I teach my pokemon? Thanks!

Also, I JUST caught Cobalion, so if he should go anywhere please say so. I used Virizion because it was better than my serperior. I am in the last town for a gym badge.

 

[FSNW5yiFrXVXqv]

6.5/10 It's quite effective for some causes, but it has quite some (horrendous) flaws. Not trying to make it sound bad, but I'm emphasizing on how it's gonna fare against the rest of the game with it's current state.

For your levels, at this rate, you'll be crawling your way up against the elite for. So yeah, you are underleveled. It's normal though, because you have a full team of 6. For the first league, you'll have to get an average of around lv50-52. But with what your current team is, you'll even have to force it to around 54-55. But don't worry, the major flaws could be "fixed", and you could beat the league with levels averaging only at around 48-50.

Let's start with your Arcanine, which I find as the "weakest link"....

Spoiler:

Too many fire moves. This means he's only effective against pokemon that are already uncommon late-game. I'd suggest giving him Wild Charge (Victory Road) before entering the League. If your Sp. Atk is higher than your Atk, get rid of Fire Fang. Otherwise, Flame Burst. If the difference is less than around 15 points, doesn't matter.

Thunder Fang/Crunch(egg move) instead of Fire Fang/Flame Burst would've been better, too, since Fire Blast is more than enough as your STAB attack (if you want insurance, bring some ethers or use PP UP)... but don't redo anything now XD just keep it in mind next time. You'll be getting Wild Charge soon anyway. That alone should be enough to patch up a big hole in your Arcanine.

If you have a Sunny-day setter, you could even include Solarbeam to your roster -- getting rid of the rock/ground types your Arcanine would fear. I'm not actually sure when you could acquire either of those TMs though >_<

Now, moving on to your other pokemon...

Skarmory:

Spoiler:

Looks perfect, actually. Doesn't need patching at all. If you're having a hard time against dragons, Skarmory could wall them for a bit -- and if that's the case, throwing Toxic to it's moveset would help a lot as it's current one has nothing good against dragons.

Liepard:

Spoiler:

Ah, this is another Arcanine. Assurance, Shadow Claw, and Night Slash in one moveset is like 3 fire-type moves. They're redundant. Get rid of Assurance, even Slash if you want.

Liepard's quite a good support. With T.Wave, it should help the rest of your team handle tough opponents such as Dragons fairly. Add Sunny day, and your Arcanine would kick ass. Otherwise, there's not much left for it to contribute in the team (it's learnset is really limited)... so Toxic and U-turn would be your late-game alternatives.

Floatzel:

Spoiler:

Ah, what's he doing with 2 HMs? Well, not that they're bad... they're just in the way from making this weasel totally badass. I'd suggest getting rid of Surf. Replace with Ice punch for more versatility. Brick Break could totally replace Strength as well. Sure, it's a *bit* weaker, but fighting type alone covers so much more pokemon -- ice, rock, dark, normal, steel. You wouldn't pass that up, would you? I think Brick Break's a post-credit TM, though. cmiiw.

You could teach it Ice Punch from that move reminder in Driftveil. You'll need some red shards, though. The Pokecenter in Nimbasa has an NPC who's willing to give a few for free. Razor Wind kinda seems like a filler too, so I'm gonna suggest Bulk Up over it.

Virizion:

Spoiler:

Great. lol. Although that's how it'd naturally look like after being caught. double lol. All I have to say is replace Retaliate with Swords Dance at level 49 (when it learns it)

Fraxure:

Spoiler:

Well, this one seems very, uh, fresh. Get rid of Pulse and Swipe. You don't need them at all (he has crap Sp. Atk too, so Dragon Pulse won't do a thing... not to mention that Dragon Dance only boosts Atk). Now, once it becomes a Haxorus, having it as an Earthquake-r for your team will be the greatest idea.

Superpower or Lowkick would make it's moveset look great too...although you might now be thinking...

"I HAS 2 MANY FIGTING MOVES NAO, SUGGEST SOMETHING ELSE PLIZ#(*%@*!?!!?"
​

uh... then you could just keep Outrage and Dragon Claw in the same moveset. Dragon attacks are awesome, anyway, so why not?

have fun!

 

[Trainer Brandon]

Wow. Awesome! Thank you so much for a great review and critique of my team! :)

 

[Trainer Brandon]

Ok, here is a majorly update dated list, with a few lacking slots. Sorry to ask of you, but this team is for the elite 4 and I need advice! Let's start off from the top! *Note that I am right about to enter the first cave to victory road.

NOTE: I currently have captured Cobalion and Terrakion. Should I use these?

First Section: Pokemon that will stay in the party, unless advised otherwise.

#1 Haxorus Level 57
+Dragon Dance, +Sword Dance, +Dragon Claw, -False Swipe (Needs replacement)

#2 Skalon Level 54. Looks pretty good to me, no changes from above.

#3 Floatzel Level 53 I am iffy about this one, not positive.
-Knows Surf, Ice Beam, Aqua Tail, Ice Punch

#4 Virizion Level 54. Awesome, will be staying.

#5(?) Temporary/Unsure - Banette level 51

Replacement Group

#1 Arcanine Level 46. Unless I can get some killer moves, I don't think he'll serve me good use.

Looking for Dark Type replacement or good suggestion for elite 4 fight.

Empty Slots:
1, or 2 if Arcanine goes.

NOTABLE POKEMON IN STORAGE:
Throh Level 55
Gurrdur Level 53
Pawniard Level 44
Mienfoo Level 44
Piloswine Level 44
Crustle Level 42
Drifblim Level 39
Magnezone Level 39
*Numel Level 31(possible power level for elite 4?)


Edit: if anyone could trade me some pokemon that would be cool too. I am very new so I don't know exactly how to trade but I think I got the gist of it.