Trying to build a decent competitive team?

[KatTayle]

I suck at competitive battling, but I wanted to make a team. I already have a team, but Mega Gardevoir, Blaziken, and Vaporeon are the only ones that have actually done halfway decent in competitive (I use battle spot mostly, which sucks because of only 3 Pokemon for singles). I'm open to most ideas, but I have one Pokemon that I'm planning to keep on my team no matter what:

Lucille (Shiny Gardevoir) @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD (might change) / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
- Moonblast
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast

I love using my shiny Gardevoir, so I'm definitely having her on my team. Her moveset could be changed if necessary, but I like what she's got so far: Moonblast/Psychic are obvious, Shadow ball for ghosts/other psychics, and Focus blast for steels/darks or just a strong hit.

The problem is, I don't know who else to use. My Blaziken, who I also really like, is set up like this:

Trumpet (Blaziken) @ Leftovers
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature: Adamant
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
- High Jump Kick
- Flare Blitz


The problem with him is I find he gets KO'd pretty easily. I don't know what to replace him with though, people have suggested Talonflame (gale wings priority is rad) which is nice but I'm not sure if I should replace him since he's got sentimental value from being named after my Emerald Blaziken. (I also forgot to finish EV training him... need to get back to that)

I was also considering a Garchomp, but it would also be a physical sweeper like Blaziken and I haven't had enough battling experience to know if that's good or bad.

I definitely need Pokemon to cover up Gardevoir's weaknesses, since steels have screwed her over so many times (especially Scizors... and they keep switching out before I can use Blaziken).

I'm thinking of a rapid spinner and/or hazard setter too, even though I've only seen 1 hazard user in the battles I've done (must be lucky). I've heard Starmie is the best rapid spinner, but Tentacruel's been mentioned as well as being able to set up toxic spikes and rapid spin, and to be honest I prefer Tentacruel. Forretress was also mentioned because it can set up all hazards and rapid spin, which sounds pretty nice.

A flying type would be nice too. I'm currently using Swellow with guts/facade/toxic orb, but I haven't tried it in competitive play and I bet it will suck.

A ghost type would be nice too because the ones I come across are usually really strong. Maybe Aegislash? I've seen it in most teams and it wipes me out usually.

Any suggestions? Sorry if I messed up anything, as I said I'm pretty new to competitive. Movesets would be helpful too because I tend to give them all attack moves because I've been doing that before I started trying competitive.

EDIT: Improved team below:

sord..... (Shiny Aegislash) @ Life Orb
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Nature: Adamant
- King's Shield
- Sacred Sword
- Shadow Ball
- Flash canon

Lucille (Shiny Gardevoir) @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
- Moonblast
- Psyshock
- Shadow Ball
- Focus Blast

Kaiba/Phyllis (Staraptor) @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Nature: Jolly
- Brave Bird
- Double-Edge
- Close Combat
- U-turn

Misty/Eridan (Starmie) @ Life Orb (might replace with a better pokemon)
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Nature: Timid
- Hydro Pump
- Rapid Spin
- Ice Beam
- Psyshock

Trumpet (Blaziken) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Nature: Adamant
- Swords Dance
- Protect
- High Jump Kick
- Flare Blitz

Vriska (Shiny Gliscor) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 244 HP/40 Def/244 Spe
Nature: Impish
-Earthquake
-Substitute
-Toxic
-Protect

Open to ideas of pokemon to switch these with (minus Gardevoir)

Also, what 3 would be the best to use in the battle spot most of the time? I know it depends on the opponent's team, but if I can't figure out their strategy I use the best ones I have

EDIT AGAIN: GUESS WHO JUST HATCHED A SHINY FRICKIN HONEDGE. AND IT'S ONLY 1 IV LESS THAN THE OLD ONE. AND FEMALE.

EDIT AGAIN AGAIN: SHINY GLIGAR. HOW DID I MANAGE TO HATCH A SHINY HONEDGE AND A SHINY GLIGAR IN THE SAME DAY

 

[imas234]

If you're planning on following tiers but if you are you can't use blaizeken normally because its ubers. But if you're going for wifi then almost anything will do with the right strategy ;)

Swellow is good just make sure it fulfills your teams needs and Aegislash is amazing.

I usually run a physical setup set with - kingsshield/shadowsneak/secretsword or something else you want/swords dance

 

[KatTayle]

If you're planning on following tiers but if you are you can't use blaizeken normally because its ubers. But if you're going for wifi then almost anything will do with the right strategy ;)

Swellow is good just make sure it fulfills your teams needs and Aegislash is amazing.

I usually run a physical setup set with - kingsshield/shadowsneak/secretsword or something else you want/swords dance

I'll try breeding for one later then. Still kinda unsure about Swellow

 

[Nah]

Shiny Mega Gardevoir looks awesome =)

Everything you have on her is fine, just swap Psychic with Psyshock, so she isn't walled by special walls. Hyper Voice is preferred to Moonblast as well, but that move is only available on Black2/White2 move tutors.

Your current Aegislash set is fine, but here's some other ones to take a look at: https://www.smogon.com/dex/xy/pokemon/aegislash

Sweepers are frail by nature, which is why your Blaziken gets killed easily. You'll wanna try something like this:

-Blaziken w/Focus Sash
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Attack, 252 Speed, 4 Sp.Defense
Moves: Flare Blitz, High Jump Kick, Protect, Swords Dance

The idea here is to use Protect to guarantee yourself a Speed Boost, so Blaziken will outspeed most non-Scarfed Pokemon the next turn. Focus Sash is to give an extra turn for it, since most moderately strong neutral attacks will severely damage or KO it. Or to get in a Swords Dance boost. It doesn't really need any coverage moves since Fire/Fighting is resisted by only a few pokes. The only ones that come to mind are Chandelure and both Giratina forms. So let others handle them.

Guts Swellow isn't the worst thing ever, but its too easily walled by Rock and Steel types. An alternative bird is Staraptor:

-Staraptor w/Choice Band/Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly/Adamant
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 attack, 252 Speed, 4 Defense
Moves: Brave Bird, Double-Edge, Close Combat, U-Turn/Quick Attack

It may not have Talonflame's Gale Wings, but goddamn does this thing hit hard. It also can threaten Rock and Steel types thanks to Close Combat, which Talonflame and Swellow wish they could do.

A Spinner isn't terribly necessary in Battle Spot battles since entry hazards are rarely used. Hazards are generally better in 6v6 battles where there's more switching going on. If it still concerns you, Starmie or Excadrill is the way to go:

-Starmie w/Life Orb
Nature: Timid
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Sp.Attack, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Moves: Hydro Pump, Rapid Spin, Thunderbolt/Ice Beam, Psyshock

-Excadrill w/Air Balloon or Leftovers
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 attack, 252 Speed, 4 Sp.Defense
Moves: Earthquake, Rapid Spin, Rock Slide, Iron Head/Swords Dance

Forretress isn't really all that good because while it can set up and clear away hazards, it can't do much else besides that; its basically dead weight most of the match. Tentacruel I hear isn't so good anymore either, but I'm not sure.

Your team is pretty offensively inclined right now, so you may want to consider adding a defensive/support Pokemon to the team as well.

 

[KatTayle]

Shiny Mega Gardevoir looks awesome =)

Everything you have on her is fine, just swap Psychic with Psyshock, so she isn't walled by special walls. Hyper Voice is preferred to Moonblast as well, but that move is only available on Black2/White2 move tutors.

Your current Aegislash set is fine, but here's some other ones to take a look at: (had to delete link because I can't post them yet)

Sweepers are frail by nature, which is why your Blaziken gets killed easily. You'll wanna try something like this:

-Blaziken w/Focus Sash
Nature: Adamant
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Attack, 252 Speed, 4 Sp.Defense
Moves: Flare Blitz, High Jump Kick, Protect, Swords Dance

The idea here is to use Protect to guarantee yourself a Speed Boost, so Blaziken will outspeed most non-Scarfed Pokemon the next turn. Focus Sash is to give an extra turn for it, since most moderately strong neutral attacks will severely damage or KO it. Or to get in a Swords Dance boost. It doesn't really need any coverage moves since Fire/Fighting is resisted by only a few pokes. The only ones that come to mind are Chandelure and both Giratina forms. So let others handle them.

Guts Swellow isn't the worst thing ever, but its too easily walled by Rock and Steel types. An alternative bird is Staraptor:

-Staraptor w/Choice Band/Choice Scarf
Nature: Jolly/Adamant
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 attack, 252 Speed, 4 Defense
Moves: Brave Bird, Double-Edge, Close Combat, U-Turn/Quick Attack

It may not have Talonflame's Gale Wings, but goddamn does this thing hit hard. It also can threaten Rock and Steel types thanks to Close Combat, which Talonflame and Swellow wish they could do.

A Spinner isn't terribly necessary in Battle Spot battles since entry hazards are rarely used. Hazards are generally better in 6v6 battles where there's more switching going on. If it still concerns you, Starmie or Excadrill is the way to go:

-Starmie w/Life Orb
Nature: Timid
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Sp.Attack, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Moves: Hydro Pump, Rapid Spin, Thunderbolt/Ice Beam, Psyshock

-Excadrill w/Air Balloon or Leftovers
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 attack, 252 Speed, 4 Sp.Defense
Moves: Earthquake, Rapid Spin, Rock Slide, Iron Head/Swords Dance

Forretress isn't really all that good because while it can set up and clear away hazards, it can't do much else besides that; its basically dead weight most of the match. Tentacruel I hear isn't so good anymore either, but I'm not sure.

Your team is pretty offensively inclined right now, so you may want to consider adding a defensive/support Pokemon to the team as well.

I had a big reply typed up for this but apparently I can't use links so it deleted it D:

Anyway, I'll try the movesets you described, and staraptor seams pretty strong too. In terms of spinners, I might use starmie but not in the battle spot (only 3v3 anyway)

I'll add to the first post that I need defensive pokemon too. Thanks for the help!

 

[PlatinumDude]

Consider Life Orb on Blaziken, since a miss from High Jump Kick and/or Flare Blitz recoil breaks Focus Sash. You can also use Blazikenite to have an alternate Mega if you feel that Gardevoir isn't appropriate for the matchup. And definitely use Hyper Voice on Gardevoir, as it's mandatory on the Mega form; Pixilate is useless without a Normal move (and no, Hyper Beam doesn't count).

Defensive Pokemon to fall back on include Gliscor and Mandibuzz:

Gliscor:
-Earthquake
-Substitute/Knock Off
-Toxic
-Protect
Nature: Impish
EVs: 244 HP/100 Def/160 Spe
Item: Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal

Mandibuzz:
-Foul Play
-Roost
-Taunt/Whirlwind
-Knock Off/Toxic/Defog
Nature: Impish/Bold
EVs: 248 HP/136 Def/108 SDef/16 Spe
Item: Leftovers/Rocky Helmet
Ability: Overcoat

 

[KatTayle]

Consider Life Orb on Blaziken, since a miss from High Jump Kick and/or Flare Blitz recoil breaks Focus Sash. You can also use Blazikenite to have an alternate Mega if you feel that Gardevoir isn't appropriate for the matchup. And definitely use Hyper Voice on Gardevoir, as it's mandatory on the Mega form; Pixilate is useless without a Normal move (and no, Hyper Beam doesn't count).

Defensive Pokemon to fall back on include Gliscor and Mandibuzz:

Gliscor:
-Earthquake
-Substitute/Knock Off
-Toxic
-Protect
Nature: Impish
EVs: 244 HP/100 Def/160 Spe
Item: Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal

Mandibuzz:
-Foul Play
-Roost
-Taunt/Whirlwind
-Knock Off/Toxic/Defog
Nature: Impish/Bold
EVs: 248 HP/136 Def/108 SDef/16 Spe
Item: Leftovers/Rocky Helmet
Ability: Overcoat

Unfortunately I can't get Hyper Voice on my Gardevoir because she's Kalos born and I don't have Black/White 2, so I'm sticking with the moves I have. And Mega Blaziken was really awesome in the few battles I used him, but I prefer using Mega Gardevoir. I might try mega evolving him again later though if I need more attack power than special attack power.

For the Life orb, I used to use one on my Blaziken. The problem was, with Life Orb damage + Flare Blitz recoil + HJK missing + enemy attacks, he doesn't last very long. I'll still consider it though if I don't end up sticking a Life Orb on a different Pokemon

Gliscor sounds like a nice defensive Pokemon. I like having a toxic stall pokemon, although to be honest I've never used substitute in battle before, so I'll have to get some more practice with that before I decide if I want it on him. Also I'm not sure if two flying types on the same team is a good idea, but I'll stick him up there until I get a reason not too.

 

[PlatinumDude]

Unfortunately I can't get Hyper Voice on my Gardevoir because she's Kalos born and I don't have Black/White 2, so I'm sticking with the moves I have. And Mega Blaziken was really awesome in the few battles I used him, but I prefer using Mega Gardevoir. I might try mega evolving him again later though if I need more attack power than special attack power.
.

Still, Pixilate is useless without a Normal move so if you don't have a Normal move on Gardevoir, there's no reason to use its Mega Evolution. In that case, use a Choice Scarf on it to compensate for its average Speed.

 

[KatTayle]

Still, Pixilate is useless without a Normal move so if you don't have a Normal move on Gardevoir, there's no reason to use its Mega Evolution. In that case, use a Choice Scarf on it to compensate for its average Speed.

I still think I'll keep mega gardevoir, it looks awesome and . Hyper voice would be really awesome though, I wish you could get it in XY...

EDIT: Remembered that someone traded me their hacked shiny gardevoir today. It has Trace, Timid, 5IVs and Hyper Voice. Even though it's probably pretty better than my current one, I'm keeping the one I have because of sentimental value (lol talking about sentimental value when the main purpose of competitive is choose the strongest and fight).