VGC '14 Team

[kishido]

Hi! Good day PC! I'm relatively new to the competitive Pokemon scene, only been around since XY hit the market, so I really have little knowledge when it comes to team building.

This coming weekends, I'm going to join a local VGC '14 (unofficial) tournament in our country. And I have been trying to build a team that I can use in the event. Here is my team:

Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 124 Def / 8 SpA / 124 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Giga Drain
- Leech Seed
- Sleep Powder
- Sludge Bomb

Venusaur is the Mega Pokemon of my choice. I choose Timid nature to gain some valuable speed. I also invested in both defensive stats so Venusaur can tank some damage. As for the moveset, I selected Leech Seed + Giga Drain for the much needed recovery. Sleep Powder is there to immobilized threats. Sludge Bomb is for dealing STAB Poison damage (esp. Fairy)

Salamence @ Choice Specs
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Dragon Pulse
- Flamethrower
- Hydro Pump

The Special Sweeper. Moveset is simple. Draco Meteor and Dragon Pulse are for dealing STAB Dragon damage. Flamethrower and Hydro Pump is for coverage moves (Fire and Water). I choose Choice Specs for valuable Sp. Attack boost. Talonflame's Tailwind Speed boost will do justice for the loss of Choice Scarf.

Meowstic (M) @ Choice Band/Choice Scarf
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Trick
- Charm
- Safeguard
- Psychic

Full support. Moveset is pretty simple. Trick is to lockdown a threat with a Choice item. Charm is for crippling Physical threats. Safeguard to prevent status moves from inflicting my team. Psychic is there to have some reliable STAB damage in case of Taunt.

Talonflame @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Tailwind
- Quick Guard
- U-turn/Roost

A semi-support. Brave Bird is for STAB and priority damage. Tailwind is for the much needed Speed boost. Quick Guard is to prevent other priority move out there. The last move, though, I'm not sure. I want to use U-turn for a free switch-in but I also want to have a viable recovery option since Sitrus Berry is for 1 time use only.

Manectric @ Air Balloon
Ability: Lightningrod
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Protect
- Overheat
- Volt Switch
- Snarl

Somewhat a support. What I really want is the Lightningrod ability. I choose Manectric since its a common Pokemon in this format that have the ability. Moveset are simple. I just used the common moves: Protect, Overheat and Volt Switch. I left out HP Ice since I'm not very good at HP breeding and I dont have much time. Snarl on the other hand is a spread move that lowers SP. ATK so I stick with that. For the item, I choose Air Balloon for Ground immunity but I'm thinking of using Manectite. The only problem is I already have a Mega Pokemon in Venusaur.

Tyranitar @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Protect
- Stealth Rock

Tyranitar is my spread move damage dealer. The first 2 moves: Earthquake and Rock Slide do the thing. Protect is there to prevent damage as much as possible. The final move is a bit strange though for a doubles format. I selected Stealth Rock to set some damage dealer for opponent that like to switch. As for the held item, Rocky Helmet is there for defensive purposes.
​

I've tested this team for 5 battles in Pokemon Showdown. I've won 3 of them. Though in all of my games, I've never used Manectric even once. So that's why I'm now thinking if I have to look for another viable Pokemon to replace it.

Any suggestions? comments? Do I have to replace some moves? items? Pokemon? Any thoughts are welcome

 

[PlatinumDude]

Timid isn't worth it on Mega Venusaur. It needs the bulk more than it needs the Speed. 252 HP/236 Def/20 SDef is the preferred spread. However, Venusaur isn't the best Mega to use in doubles formats, as it generally performs better in singles and there are better Mega Pokemon to use in doubles. Consider Amoonguss over Mega Venusaur because it has better support capabilities:
-Giga Drain
-Spore
-Rage Powder
-Protect
Nature: Calm/Sassy
EVs: 252 HP/180 Def/76 SDef
Item: Black Sludge/Rocky Helmet

Roost isn't ideal in doubles because of the fast-paced format. There's a risk that Talonflame will be double-targeted the turn it Roosts up, and given its frailty, will be KOed if that happens. Flare Blitz is also a mandatory option on Talonflame so it can muscle past Steel Pokemon:
-Flare Blitz
-Brave Bird
-Tailwind/Quick Guard
-Protect/Quick Guard
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 84 HP/252 Atk/172 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Sharp Beak/Sky Plate
Ability: Gale Wings

Mega Manectric is preferred over regular Manectric because of the Intimidate support it brings. Though Raichu is frail as well, it brings better utility options to the table and packs better Speed than vanilla Manectric:
-Thunderbolt/Volt Switch
-Fake Out
-Encore
-Protect/Hidden Power (Ice)
Nature: Timid
EVs: 36 HP/252 SAtk/220 Spe
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod

Stealth Rock also isn't ideal on doubles formats, due to the infrequency of switching around. Special Tyranitar seems weird at first glance, but it's preferred over physical Tyranitar in the same vein as Salamence. Even with a -Attack nature, Stone Edge and Rock Slide still hurt Tyranitar's targets hard. Physical Tyranitar should only really be used as a Dragon Dance sweeper. Even though Dragon Dance, a setup move, isn't ideal in doubles, you have Amoonguss as Rage Powder support, which I outlined earlier. Read this article for more info:
-Rock Slide/Stone Edge
-Dark Pulse/Ice Beam
-Fire Blast/Ice Beam
-Protect
Nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Sand Stream

or
-Dragon Dance
-Rock Slide
-Crunch
-Protect
Nature: Jolly/Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Tyranitarite/Weakness Policy/Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream

or
-Rock Slide/Stone Edge
-Dark Pulse
-Fire Blast
-Ice Beam
Nature: Timid
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream

Since you now lack a way to deal with Fairies, really, Scizor is also a viable candidate over Tyranitar:
-Swords Dance
-X-Scissor
-Bullet Punch
-Protect
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP/252 Atk/4 SDef
Item: Scizorite/Lum Berry
Ability: Technician