New To Competitive Battling! Help please?

[MonoSpectator]

After having my very first link battle today and getting destroyed twice in a row, I've finally gotten the push to start really getting into competitive battling. However, I'm not very well-versed in competitive Pokemon and I'm not very good at strategy to begin with, but I'd like to start to get better at it. I slightly know about EV's and IV's and know how Natures work and all that. I'm also vaguely familiar with the tiers and such from Smogon.

I only know a few things that I want to use and a few mechanics that I like, but I'd like some good help on creating teams and such.

The current teams that I'm wanting to do are a Toxic Offensive or Toxic Spikes Stall team...maybe a Rain Dance Team as well. I don't know much of the other team types though. I would like to have a team with a Togekiss too, but I don't know where it'd be useful.

The one team I did kind of come up with was a sort of Toxic/Toxic Spikes team...but I don't have the stat specifics. I only have the Pokemon and some moves I might want.

Spoiler:

Lead: Tentacruel (Ability: Clear Body or Liquid Ooze) w/ Toxic Spikes or Nidoqueen (Poison Point) w/Toxic Spikes.
Other Pokemon:
Aegislash
Breloom (Ability: Poison Heal) Holding Toxic Orb w/ Toxic and Spore, maybe Toxic Spikes*
Gengar w/ Hypnosis, Dream Eater or Nightmare, maybe Curse
Hydreigon
Azumarill w/ Belly Drum, Substitute, Aqua Jet (?), Play Rough (?)

I have no idea if this team is GOOD, but it's just something I threw together after looking over some articles.

I'd really just like some good guidance on creating good teams and on building something that reflects my battle style. I'm generally not sure what's 'good' and what isn't. Any help will be greatly appreciated ^_^

 

[dreyko]

Nice to see you want to get into competitive battling! =) I will try to help answer some of your questions.

If you like toxic as a strategy then you may like the Stall Playstyle. Essentially stall is kinda what it sounds like; stalling out your opponents team and wearing their pokemon down with residual damage ranging from, Burn, Toxic, weather related and entry hazards. You would want bulky pokemon with good defenses and resistances as well as good movepools.

If that doesnt suite your style, then Bulky offense might. While im no expert on it as a playstyle, you have some elements of stall, but with a more offensive nature.

Togekiss is actually very useful and can be very bulky and annoying to deal with.

The set for it that i like to run is:

Togekiss
Bold
Serene Grace
King's Rock
252 HP/252Def/4Sp.Def

Dazzling Gleam
Air Slash
Thunder Wave
Roost

 

[MonoSpectator]

For the Toxic Stall, I revised the team I posted in the first post to see if I could get them to fit together a bit better and this is what I came up with.

Spoiler:

Nidoqueen
Holding: Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Point
Toxic Spikes
Dragon Tail
Venoshock
Earth Power

Aegislash
Holding: Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
Sacred Sword
King's Shield
Shadow Sneak
Toxic*

Breloom
Holding: Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
Spore
Toxic*
Power-Up Punch
Venoshock

Gengar
Holding: *N/A Currently*
Ability: Levitate
Hypnosis
Nightmare
Curse
Poison Jab

Hydreigon
Holding: *N/A Currently*
Ability: Levitate
Earthquake
Focus Blast
Dragon Rush
Crunch

Azumarill
Holding: *N/A Currently*
Ability: Thick Fat* Maybe
Belly Drum
Substitute
Play Rough
Aqua Jet

Not sure if all the Toxics I put in were necessary, but I figure if Rapid Spin or something gets rid of my spikes and Nidoqueen gets K.O'd, i'll still have other ways to keep the poison going. I also know that Azumarill probably doesn't fit well here, but I figure that it's power with this moveset might be good.

Also, I love that moveset for Togekiss. I'm not sure what kind of team it would fit with though. Is there something in particular that it would fit with? Also would a Rotom work well with it?

I know that I would like to have a Toxic Stall team of some form...but I'm wondering what are good forms of offensive teams as well? Also, what exactly are STAB moves? I've heard a lot about them, but I don't fully understand them.

 

[dreyko]

STAB stands for, Same Type Attack Boost/Bonus. Basically whenever a pokemon uses a move that is the same type as that pokemon, it will get a power increase, though i do not quite remember the percentage.
For example if a dragon type pokemon uses a dragon type move, it will get STAB because it is the smae type as the user.

Rotom-Wash form works well with just about any strategy and fits nicely on almost every team that needs some coverage.

Rotom-W could look like this
Timid/Modest
@ choice scarf
252 Sp.Attck/252 Speed/4 HP
Trick
Hydro Pump
Will-O-Wisp
Volt Switch/Thunderbolt

or
Bold
Chesto Berry
252 HP/252 Def/4 Sp.Attk

Will-O-Wisp
Hydro Pump
Rest
Thunderbolt

There is also a specially defensive set which is basically the same as the rest one above but with 252 EVs in Sp.Def and a Calm nature.

A good Belly Drum set for Azumarill could be:
Azumarill
Huge Power
@Sitrus Berry
Nature: Adamant
8HP/252Attk/248Speed

Aqua Jet
Play Rough
Belly Drum
Superpower

After you Belly drum, the sitrus berry is used to add more HP and then you can sweep from there =)
Sub is not worth it on a BD set because it makes Azumarill very frail.

Also my personal Favorite for Azumarill is:

Adamant
@Assault Vest
Huge Power
4 HP/252 Attk/252 Sp.Def

Play Rough
Superpower
Aqua Jet
Waterfall

 

[MonoSpectator]

Ah ok! I'll revise again. I did a few test battles on Pokemon Showdown and it seems like the team is working on, but I think these revisions will help a lot ^^

And ok, STAB makes a lot more sense now XD. Thank you.

So what are some main team types for offensive teams?

 

[dreyko]

I would give more sets for your team, but im blanking on them (it's pretty late here xD)

Offensive teams generally invest more in speed and attack/Special attack stats and are more concerned with hitting hard and fast to get KO's. Pokemon like Mega Lucario can function on a offensive team

 

[PlatinumDude]

STAB means "same type attack bonus". This means that if a Pokemon uses a move of the same type as them, that move is powered up.

Venoshock is highly impractical, even with loads of Toxic support, because it's weak when the opponent isn't poisoned. Not all Pokemon in the team have to use Toxic; there are Pokemon out there that benefit from Toxic support, like Trevenant

Even though it's kinda impractical to use without Adaptability at the moment, I feel that Dragalge gets the nod ahead of Nidoqueen because it has another means to poison opponents: Poison Touch via Dragon Tail (though it's regular poison, it'll have to do if Toxic Spikes can't hit Fliers and Levitators):
-Toxic Spikes
-Dragon Tail
-Sludge Bomb
-Focus Blast/Dragon Pulse
Nature: Sassy
EVs: 252 HP/40 Def/216 SDef
Item: Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Touch

But if you insist on keeping Nidoqueen, use Sludge Bomb over Venoshock for the reason I stated.

Aegislash is best played as a wallbreaker/offensive pivot; it needs all its moveslots to either attack or set up; as a result, Toxic doesn't find space in its sets:
-Shadow Ball
-Iron Head/Shadow Sneak
-Sacred Sword/Shadow Sneak
-King's Shield
Nature: Quiet
EVs: 240 HP/252 SAtk/4 SDef/12 Spe
Item: Leftovers

or
-Shadow Ball
-Shadow Sneak
-Sacred Sword
-Iron Head/King's Shield
Nature: Quiet
EVs: 252 Atk/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Item: Leftovers/Life Orb

or
-Swords Dance
-King's Shield/Shadow Claw
-Shadow Sneak
-Sacred Sword
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 240 HP/252 Atk/4 SDef/12 Spe
Item: Leftovers

or
-Swords Dance
-Autotomize
-Shadow Claw
-Sacred Sword
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 84 HP/252 Atk/4 SDef/168 Spe
Item: Leftovers

or
-Autotomize
-Shadow Ball
-Hidden Power (Ice)
-Sacred Sword/Iron Head/Flash Cannon
Nature: Rash/Modest
EVs: 88 Atk/252 SAtk/168 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Weakness Policy

Breloom's Special Attack is terrible, making Venoshock and other special moves terrible options on it:
-Spore/Force Palm
-Bullet Seed
-Mach Punch
-Rock Tomb/Force Palm
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Focus Sash
Ability: Technician

or
-Leech Seed
-Protect
-Drain Punch
-Spore/Rock Tomb
Nature: Careful
EVs: 252 HP/252 SDef/4 Spe
Item: Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal

As I mentioned previously, Trevenant benefits from having its opponents poisoned; it's well-known for its longevity, despite its average defenses, making it an option over Breloom:
-Horn Leech/Wood Hammer
-Earthquake/Rock Slide
-Will-o-Wisp
-Rest
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP/180 Def/76 Spe
Item: Leftovers/Lum Berry
Ability: Natural Cure/Harvest

or
-Horn Leech
-Shadow Claw/Leech Seed
-Will-o-Wisp
-Protect
Nature: Careful
EVs: 244 HP/12 Def/248 SDef
Item: Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest

or
-Substitute
-Leech Seed
-Will-o-Wisp
-Phantom Force
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP/180 Def/76 Spe
Item: Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest

You're not using Gengar to its full potential, which is a speedy special attacker with the ability to force switches. Curse eats away at its terrible bulk, Nightmare is easily cured with a switch, Hypnosis is notoriously inaccurate and Poison Jab works off of Gengar's terrible Attack:
-Shadow Ball
-Sludge Bomb/Thunderbolt
-Focus Blast
-Destiny Bond
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Focus Sash

or
-Substitute
-Shadow Ball
-Focus Blast/Pain Split
-Disable/Focus Blast/Will-o-Wisp
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Black Sludge

Hydreigon is one of the best wall breakers (Pokemon that inflict large amounts of damage on walls) out there. Take advantage of that. Specially-based mixed is preferred:
-Draco Meteor
-Dark Pulse
-Iron Tail/Superpower/Flash Cannon
-Fire Blast/Roost
Nature: Rash/Mild/Modest
EVs: 40 Atk/236 SAtk/232 Spe or 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb

or
-Draco Meteor
-Dark Pulse
-Flash Cannon
-Fire Blast/Earth Power
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252 SAtk/4 SDef/252 Spe
Item: Choice Specs

BellyJet Azumarill shouldn't be using Substitute; it's too slow for that role; also, it eats away at its much-needed bulk to take hits with, especially prior to Belly Drum:
-Belly Drum
-Aqua Jet
-Play Rough
-Waterfall/Superpower
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 92 HP/252 SAtk/164 Spe
Item: Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power

 

[MonoSpectator]

It's ok ^^ It's late here too XD Looks like on Pokemon Showdown I'm not fairing too well at all ^^" I've lost every match except my first one XD But I suppose practice makes perfect

STAB means "same type attack bonus". This means that if a Pokemon uses a move of the same type as them, that move is powered up.

Venoshock is highly impractical, even with loads of Toxic support, because it's weak when the opponent isn't poisoned. Not all Pokemon in the team have to use Toxic; there are Pokemon out there that benefit from Toxic support, like Trevenant

Even though it's kinda impractical to use without Adaptability at the moment, I feel that Dragalge gets the nod ahead of Nidoqueen because it has another means to poison opponents: Poison Touch via Dragon Tail (though it's regular poison, it'll have to do if Toxic Spikes can't hit Fliers and Levitators):
-Toxic Spikes
-Dragon Tail
-Sludge Bomb
-Focus Blast/Dragon Pulse
Nature: Sassy
EVs: 252 HP/40 Def/216 SDef
Item: Black Sludge
Ability: Poison Touch

But if you insist on keeping Nidoqueen, use Sludge Bomb over Venoshock for the reason I stated.

Aegislash is best played as a wallbreaker/offensive pivot; it needs all its moveslots to either attack or set up; as a result, Toxic doesn't find space in its sets:
-Shadow Ball
-Iron Head/Shadow Sneak
-Sacred Sword/Shadow Sneak
-King's Shield
Nature: Quiet
EVs: 240 HP/252 SAtk/4 SDef/12 Spe
Item: Leftovers

or
-Shadow Ball
-Shadow Sneak
-Sacred Sword
-Iron Head/King's Shield
Nature: Quiet
EVs: 252 Atk/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Item: Leftovers/Life Orb

or
-Swords Dance
-King's Shield/Shadow Claw
-Shadow Sneak
-Sacred Sword
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 240 HP/252 Atk/4 SDef/12 Spe
Item: Leftovers

or
-Swords Dance
-Autotomize
-Shadow Claw
-Sacred Sword
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 84 HP/252 Atk/4 SDef/168 Spe
Item: Leftovers

or
-Autotomize
-Shadow Ball
-Hidden Power (Ice)
-Sacred Sword/Iron Head/Flash Cannon
Nature: Rash/Modest
EVs: 88 Atk/252 SAtk/168 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Weakness Policy

Breloom's Special Attack is terrible, making Venoshock and other special moves terrible options on it:
-Spore/Force Palm
-Bullet Seed
-Mach Punch
-Rock Tomb/Force Palm
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Focus Sash
Ability: Technician

or
-Leech Seed
-Protect
-Drain Punch
-Spore/Rock Tomb
Nature: Careful
EVs: 252 HP/252 SDef/4 Spe
Item: Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal

As I mentioned previously, Trevenant benefits from having its opponents poisoned; it's well-known for its longevity, despite its average defenses, making it an option over Breloom:
-Horn Leech/Wood Hammer
-Earthquake/Rock Slide
-Will-o-Wisp
-Rest
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP/180 Def/76 Spe
Item: Leftovers/Lum Berry
Ability: Natural Cure/Harvest

or
-Horn Leech
-Shadow Claw/Leech Seed
-Will-o-Wisp
-Protect
Nature: Careful
EVs: 244 HP/12 Def/248 SDef
Item: Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest

or
-Substitute
-Leech Seed
-Will-o-Wisp
-Phantom Force
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP/180 Def/76 Spe
Item: Sitrus Berry
Ability: Harvest

You're not using Gengar to its full potential, which is a speedy special attacker with the ability to force switches. Curse eats away at its terrible bulk, Nightmare is easily cured with a switch, Hypnosis is notoriously inaccurate and Poison Jab works off of Gengar's terrible Attack:
-Shadow Ball
-Sludge Bomb/Thunderbolt
-Focus Blast
-Destiny Bond
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Focus Sash

or
-Substitute
-Shadow Ball
-Focus Blast/Pain Split
-Disable/Focus Blast/Will-o-Wisp
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Black Sludge

Hydreigon is one of the best wall breakers (Pokemon that inflict large amounts of damage on walls) out there. Take advantage of that. Specially-based mixed is preferred:
-Draco Meteor
-Dark Pulse
-Iron Tail/Superpower/Flash Cannon
-Fire Blast/Roost
Nature: Rash/Mild/Modest
EVs: 40 Atk/236 SAtk/232 Spe or 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb

or
-Draco Meteor
-Dark Pulse
-Flash Cannon
-Fire Blast/Earth Power
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252 SAtk/4 SDef/252 Spe
Item: Choice Specs

BellyJet Azumarill shouldn't be using Substitute; it's too slow for that role; also, it eats away at its much-needed bulk to take hits with, especially prior to Belly Drum:
-Belly Drum
-Aqua Jet
-Play Rough
-Waterfall/Superpower
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 92 HP/252 SAtk/164 Spe
Item: Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power

Oh wow, you certainly know what you're talking about ~.~ I'll definitely use all this when reworking my team :33