New to battling, need some help

[FireRam]

Okay so i've never battled competitevely in a pokemon game before. I've been reading through serebii.net's pokemon of the week for team building ideas. I'm confused on all the over-used and under-used talk. Are these just the pokemon terms for tiers? Can a lower tier (under-used) pokemon face a top tier one?

I'd like to make a team to use online in real matches. Do i have to use guys like blissey, skarmory, tyranitar, etc. to even stand a chance?

I just beat diamond with infernape (55), lucario (52), beautifly (52), alakazam (56), gengar (57). Infernape kind of sucked, but the rest were pretty good - especially alakazam and gengar (destiny bond!!). Could I use any of these guys in a battle against real people?

I really like bug pokemon. But again, are there certain pokemon that i would have to use to even stand a chance? I've gone through almost every one of serebii's pokemon of the week articles and am more confused than ever!


thanks

 

[Toothache]

Ok. What you generally need to learn about when going competitive, starts with EV training. While using common over-used (known as OU) like Blissey, Tyranitar etc might help you get the grips of things, most tactics are geared to taking on the common Pokemon you'd fight. Saying that, the best way to learn is by experience, the more fights you do, the more tactics you'll pick up.

And do yourself a favour. Don't rely on one source to give you ideas. Multiple websites all give different opinions of what works, and between them all there's a reasonable concensus of what does.

 

[FireRam]

I think i've got the grips on what ev training is. I've been reading those guides on gamefaqs. But i think before i decide to go ev training and iv calculating, i need to figure out what pokemon i'm going to use, right?

I believe experience is a big part of it too, but if i went online with the team i just posted that i beat the elite four with, wouldn't i get one-hit ko'd on each one?

Do you happen to have any other websites? I've tried googling (which is how i found out about serebii and pokecommunity) but haven't come up with much. IGN had some stuff, but it generally said the same thing as serebii, if not much less.

I've read alot about over-used teams and under-used teams. I'd like to compete in the top battles of course, because that seems where most of the action is, but is that impossible while using some of the under-used or never-used pokemon? Like the bugs or sableye?

 

[Ariel]

Only rely on Sites such as Serebii to teach you the basics about things, and to get some knowledge about types, combos, and EVs, and other tips down you.

From there, it's best to practice in-game, on your own against the Computer. While it may not be the cleverest thing ever, or the toughest, it's a good start before you start taking on Wi-Fi opponents. Building your tactics, and finding out what combos work well, and which ones don't do so swimmingly. Eg - Earthquake & Protect is a pretty basic combo compared to some you will find around these days, yet a powerful one.

Once you have started to get to grips with everything, and have have a good feel for battling and have started to develop your own tactics and teams, and such.

But one of the most important things, like many people will tell you, is Experience. Building up your own Knowledge of Pokemon, and working your own ideas and tactics from your own experiences.

Also. When building teams, you WILL meet a circle of Pokemon who everybody seems to use, because they are not "uber" or "Legendary". Which is lame, as no-one ever seems to bother with their favourites, or pick truly original teams. When it comes to building teams, it's best to think outside the box, and in.
What I mean is, it's best to take some tactics from your opponents, and add your own spins, and ideas to them. Surprising your opponent with a strategy they have not seen before can be the decider with victory and defeat.

Sorry if that sounds like I am sort-of "holding your hand" through it all", just I like to give thorough advice. >_<

EDIT - I would say it is difficult to use the under-used Pokemon in the more competitive battles, yes.
But if you raised then right, did their EVs well, and picked good move-sets, and gave them effective items, well...who knows? It could be VERY interesting. =D

 

[FireRam]

It's cool. I need thorough advice!

I'd like to pick my favorites, but when reading most of my favorites aren't recommended. In fact, on serebii, beautifly is described as being a butterfree that has been stripped of everything good and won't last in a competitive battle.

I'm just afraid of building up a team of my favorites, only to have them completely crushed by an over-used pokemon that keeps using earthquake or something. But it is possible to use the under-used guys, right? Even to counter the skarmory blissey combo that's apparently so deadly?

What about items? Every set i've seen seems to give everyone leftovers or the choice band.

I'm also worried about having a team with a common weakness that's easily exploitable. Since my favorites generally fall in the same category. Is there any way around this?

 

[sims796]

The moves you teach will more than likely make up for that. For instance, my team has an easily exploitable Ice weakness I learned. So I threw in a couple of Fire moves to even this out. Look at their stats, see what they excel at, and distribute moves accordingly.

Also, a few Wi-fi test matches wouldn't hurt either.

EDIT: One of my favs is Noctowl. She is UU. I found a way to have her on my team and still be useful. Sure, there are others that do what she does, but better. But they aren't my favs.

 

[Shiraishi]

Perfect place to test ur strategies: Battle tower wi-fi ._. Using that I realized I have a huge weakness to choice scarfing Garchomps -_-(WHY STARMIE WHY..)

 

[Marcy_11]

I personally am trying to build a good UU team, it isnt easy but I have managed to secure one spot for my favourite of all time Absol :D

I think as long as you keep atleast one physical wall, special wall, special sweeper, physical sweeper your in with a chance

 

[FireRam]

I'm going to eventually check out the battle tower. But i've read about people developing specific battle tower teams!

I just got the national pokedex so right now i'm off to catch some rare pokes.

The moves you teach will more than likely make up for that. For instance, my team has an easily exploitable Ice weakness I learned. So I threw in a couple of Fire moves to even this out. Look at their stats, see what they excel at, and distribute moves accordingly.

Also, a few Wi-fi test matches wouldn't hurt either.

EDIT: One of my favs is Noctowl. She is UU. I found a way to have her on my team and still be useful. Sure, there are others that do what she does, but better. But they aren't my favs.

So if i had an all bug team i could throw in a couple of water and rock moves and i'd be set?

I'm thinking with your noctowl if you posted that team here a bunch of people would get on you to change her to a more effective bird. Have you battled with her and is she good? I want to use my favorites but i don't want to lose every match because there are pokes that do the exact same thing only better.

I personally am trying to build a good UU team, it isnt easy but I have managed to secure one spot for my favourite of all time Absol :D

I think as long as you keep atleast one physical wall, special wall, special sweeper, physical sweeper your in with a chance

Since you're building a uu team does that mean you can't use it against an ou team?

I'm also confused about the walls. I'd prefer to use grumpig, dusknoir and forretress over blissey, skarmory and snorlax. Does this mean i would be less effective at walling an opponent, and if our teams were exactly the same except they had blissey and skarmory and i had grumpig and forretress that they'd win?

Is that spoink in your sig? lol he's one of my favs.

 

[sims796]

I wouldn't suggest an ALL bug team. Mono teams don't work. And yes, ask c-dog. He won, but complimented my Noctowl. Besides, her Hypnosis was a staple for my team.