UU RMT - My first!

[Ogun]

Hey there!

Thought I'd share the first team I've created for UU, after a few weeks of playing on Showdown. Looking for advice and suggestions on what changes I can make! So far I've had relatively good success with this team (10 wins, 1 loss) but I feel like it probably has some gaping flaws as this is the first time I've ever played Pokemon on Showdown.

Quick look

In-depth

Spoiler:

Aerodactyl @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Rock Head
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace
- Roost
- Aqua Tail

The Mega for my team. Outspeeds so many things, plus it's impressive Attack stat and a 30% chance to flinch with Rock Slide high crit ratio on Stone Edge makes this thing pretty fearsome. Roost provides staying power, and Sky Drop helps me take annoying mons out for a turn Aerial Ace gives me more reliable STAB. EV spread maximises it's incredible speed and adds to it's attacking power.

Blissey @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Toxic
- Soft-Boiled
- Heal Bell
- Wish

Pure cleric Blissey. My choice for this came from playing against them and being frustrated at my inability to kill one. Toxic allows me to grind down anything I can't outright kill, Wish allows me to swap into anything I'm worried about, Soft-Boiled to remain healthy and Heal Bell to cure my team.

Forretress @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Spikes
- Volt Switch
- Rapid Spin
- Gyro Ball

My hazard set-up. Between this fella, Milotic and Blissey I can comfortably swap to basically anything and stay alive. I know Toxic on two mons may seem like overkill, but I've found it to be very useful if I misplay and lose one of the two (this happens occasionally as I'm not very good). Volt Switch helps me get Aerodactyl on the field safely. Also functions as a Rapid Spinner.

Chesnaught @ Leftovers
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Spiky Shield
- Leech Seed
- Hammer Arm
- Wood Hammer

Chesnaught was a tentative late addition to this team, primarily for coverage, but also because adding Leech Seed to anything that has already copped Toxic is overkill (and I like overkill). EVs give him some pretty huge bulk too.

Milotic @ Leftovers
Ability: Marvel Scale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Toxic

This oversized fish thing gives me Dragon coverage with Ice Beam (Hydreigon is annoying) and a solid chance to burn with Scald. Can take hits from a lot of big threats to my team (Lucario) and sticks around forever with Recover and Leftovers. Toxic allows me to cripple walls.

Espeon @ Life Orb
Ability: Magic Bounce
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Psyshock
- Shadow Ball
- Calm Mind
- Stored Power

My late-game sweeper, who sometimes never sees the battle field. Once I've done some softening up with hazards and Toxic/Scald burns, Espeon comes out and cleans up. Chesnaught covers it's glaring Dark weakness (cough Hydreigon cough) and with an opportunity to get off one CM, this thing becomes a monster. Psyshock lets me get past special walls, while Stored Power lets me hit anything else. Shadow Ball for coverage.

Changes

Spoiler:

Strikethrough shows previous moves and reasoning. Italic shows changes and reasoning.

Aerodactyl - Added Stone Edge, Aqua Tail, Aerial Ace. Removed Sky Drop, Rock Slide, Protect.

Milotic - Added Toxic. Removed Protect.

Forretress - Added Volt Switch. Removed Toxic.

I suppose this would be considered a stall team, although I'm not too certain as I've only been playing for a few weeks. I've had a lot of fun with this team, with it's large amount of bulk and staying power, and it's ability to wear down most of the teams I have come across.

I'm hoping for some solid constructive criticism, opinions, basically anything to help me improve my team building skills! Please keep in mind that this team is built off two weeks (if that) playtime on Showdown and little knowledge of competitive play - try not to be too harsh :(

Looking forward to responses!

 

[PlatinumDude]

Sky Drop is an unreliable attack because heavy targets (ones that weigh over 440.9 lbs/200 kg; look at the Pokedex for reference) are immune to it. Not to mention that it wouldn't really make much of a difference in singles. Aerial Ace is the better Flying STAB to turn to because of its higher PP:
-Stone Edge
-Aerial Ace/Aqua Tail
-Defog/Taunt
-Roost
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 40 HP/252 Atk/216 Spe
Item: Aerodactylite

or
-Stone Edge
-Aerial Ace/Roost
-Aqua Tail/Aerial Ace
-Hone Claws/Roost
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 40 HP/252 Atk/216 Spe
Item: Aerodactylite

Milotic has a better way to spend that Protect moveslot: Toxic to cripple opposing walls (and you should remove Toxic on Forretress to make room for Volt Switch to give Aerodactyl a safe chance to switch into battle) or Dragon Tail/Haze.

There are better all-out Psychic attackers than Espeon, as its offensive movepool is relatively shallow. Alakazam has better coverage options, as well as Magic Guard to block passive damage:
-Psyshock
-Shadow Ball
-Focus Blast/Energy Ball/Calm Mind
-Dazzling Gleam
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Focus Sash/Life Orb
Ability: Magic Guard

 

[Ogun]

Thanks for that! The Aerodactyl changes make a lot of sense, I'll implement those today! And I think I'll also swap Toxic for Volt Switch on Forretress, and think about removing the Protect from Milotic. Although, Alakazam has been moved to OU with the tier changes. Does this leave Espeon as the best choice? Or is there anything else that may fit?

Thank you for the feedback!

EDIT: Life Orb Azelf? With Nasty Plot?

 

[PlatinumDude]

Thanks for that! The Aerodactyl changes make a lot of sense, I'll implement those today! And I think I'll also swap Toxic for Volt Switch on Forretress, and think about removing the Protect from Milotic. Although, Alakazam has been moved to OU with the tier changes. Does this leave Espeon as the best choice? Or is there anything else that may fit?

Thank you for the feedback!

EDIT: Life Orb Azelf? With Nasty Plot?

Forgot that Alakazam was bumped to OU, so Azelf is the next-best alternative:
-Nasty Plot
-Psyshock
-Fire Blast
-Dazzling Gleam/Taunt
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 SAtk/4 SDef/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb

 

[Khaotic Kebab]

Blissey can become setup bait, or something could Taunt or force a Choice Item onto it. Maybe consider some Taunt support on your team.

Maybe swap Gyro Ball for Stealth Rock on Forretress. More entry hazards = more chaos. Again, this could turn it into setup fodder, though.

An alternative spread of 252 Sp.Def, 252 HP, 4 Def/Sp.Atk, with Milotic holding a Flame Orb to activate Marvel Scale, could turn it into a defensive BEHEMOTH. The burn damage won't even matter much with Recover.

Chesnaught does well with Bulk Up, with all EVs in HP and Sp.Def. Maybe replace Spiky Shield with Bulk Up, and Leech Seed with Rest, to regain any lost health while boosting. Chesto Berry could be a good idea if you do this.
Seed Bomb could also replace Wood Hammer if you DO wanna try RestoChesto, for better longevity.

Finally, Scarfing your Espeon and Baton Passing Substitute and Nasty Plot to it will make it nigh unstoppable with Stored Power, and Dazzling Gleam and Shadow Ball for coverage. Lastly, Psyshock, just in case you can't get any boosts.
Togekiss works well for this strategy.

Overall, you could do with something to Taunt the opposition, as many of your Pokèmon are kinda setup bait.

Feel free to try out any of this, or leave things as they are - if it's working, it's working.

 

[Dark Azelf]

You could try Jellicent over Milotic, whom also blocks spin and covers dumb crap like CroCune if you use Taunt and also other waters. Night Shade or Scald/Wisp or Toxic*/Recover/Taunt is a nice set. 248 HP / 216 Def / 44 Speed is the set, Bold Nature, Water Absorb, Lefties.

*only use with Scald.

Stealth Rock on Forry > Spikes and move Spikes over to Chesnaught over either Seed or Wood Hammer. Spikes are a luxury, Stealth Rock is a NECESSITY for every serious competitive team.

Espeon/Azelf seem really random tbh. I dont understand how this team helps with their inevitable fate, which is to be Pursuit trapped by the omnipresent Krookodile on every team then you have wasted a slot. I feel this slot could be put to better use.

Also rofl at the flame orb Milotic, scarf stored power espeon etc suggestions.

 

[November Lima]

I feel like your team's gonna have trouble with defensive Pokémon like Goodra, Florges and/or Mega-Aggron, to name some. So, I feel like it might be wise to change Chesnaught into a fighting-type that's got a bigger offensive presence on the field. I propose Mienshao, Machamp or Infernape. The first is one of the best fighting-type Pokémon in UU, IMHO, but the second and the third are a bit less helpless on their own against fairies. Especially Infernape can prove quite interesting for your team, however, it comes with a water-weakness, which you already have. Machamp can be hell to switch into, seeing as Dynamic Punch is a) powerful as hell b) a sure-fire guarantee for confusion to a non-Ghost counter. A set like Machamp @ AV, Dynamic Punch, Stone Edge, Knock Off and Bullet Punch can really put the hurt on the opponent, even moreso after you've brought it in via Volt Switch.

To follow up on such a change, and to take into regard what Dark Azelf has said before me, if you'd choose to drop Chesnaught it might be a wise idea to change Espeon/Azelf into something like Roserade. If you'd choose a set like Sleep Powder / Leech Seed / Leaf Storm / Sludge Bomb, or something like that, it can really hassle the opponent. It also functions as an absorber for Toxic Spikes which are used quite often, in my experience. It also helps you against Ground-types that roam the tier, like Donphan and the aforementioned Krookodile (although the latter can outspeed, mind you!) and the bulky waters that you can't break through otherwise. Sleep Powder in itself is also an emergency check for anything that you didn't foresee.

Then again, this might change the entire premise of your team (a 1/3 change is quite a lot). It might be worth it to consider it, though! ;-)

 

[Ogun]

Thanks a lot everyone! Lots of good suggestions here, made me realise that I need to think through my team's synergy rather than just throwing 6 together that looked good (may or may not have done this). As this was my first UU team (first team I've put together on my own at all, really) I wasn't too aware of some UU threats (Krookodile namely) but in the last few days I've noticed a few big weaknesses. Might try to rebuild this team from the bottom up, and incorporate some of the suggestions - will post back with results at some point! :D