[RATE MY TEAM] First (at least slightly good) Team

[H3ADBANG4L1F3]

VGC 2015 Format

Hey guys (and gals)!

I'm still fairly new to competitive play, but I feel like I'm getting better and better as the days go by. I made this team pretty recently and it's fared pretty well on showdown. If anyone could give me any tips/suggestions concerning my team, it would be greatly appreciated!

The team is as follows:


Talonflame @ Focus Sash
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 208 Atk / 172 SpA / 128 Spe
Hasty Nature Naive Nature - as suggested by Black117
- Brave Bird
- Overheat
- Tailwind
- Quick Guard

Talonflame explanation: EV's and nature are to outspeed opposing adamant max speed Talonflames as well as OHKOing Max Special Defence Ferrothorn w/ Overheat as well as plenty of physical power. I usually lead it to counter Fake Out


Bisharp @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Protect

Bisharp explanation: Not really needed, fairly common set. One of the least used of my team, but maybe I should use it more. What do you think?


Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Superpower
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge

Landorus explanation: Very handy little dude. Use him EXTREMELY often and he almost always works out pretty well :D


Thundurus (M) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 244 HP / 108 Def / 64 SpA / 72 SpD / 20 Spe
Calm Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Taunt
- Thunderbolt
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Thundurus explanation: This set is pulled straight from http://www.smogon.com/dex/xy/pokemon/thundurus


Kangaskhan (F) @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Power-Up Punch
- Sucker Punch
- Return
- Protect

Kangaskhan explanation: I've never really liked Fake Out, so I run Protect instead. Power-up punch has come in very handy very often, as it allows Kang to potentially sweep my opponent's teams, sometimes even when it's the only Poke left


Metagross @ Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Meteor Mash
- Zen Headbutt
- Ice Punch

Metagross explanation: I made this baby almost exclusively for Sylveon, but it can function pretty well in a lot of situations. Bullet punch has saved me so many times

[DanielJames]

Focus Sash on Talonflame isn't ideal because all it takes is one Brave Bird and you've broken your own Sash. Other than that though, everything else looks pretty solid. I'm getting so tired of seeing M-Kangaskhan on Battle Spot though, haha.

[Black117]

Interesting semi standard team you have there. My main concern with this team is its relative weakeness to Fire Pokemon as well as Rain. You might have to pick eithe Bisharp or Metagross as your primariy Steel type option. I think you should definately change the nature of Talonflame to Naive if since the current VGC Metagame is physically based and Brave Birdy can take at least one neutral hit. It's special defense is meager at best plus it'll likely won't take a Thunderbolt or Hydro Pump anytime soon.

[H3ADBANG4L1F3]

(Mar 17, 2015, 07:54 PM)DanielJames Wrote: Focus Sash on Talonflame isn't ideal because all it takes is one Brave Bird and you've broken your own Sash. Other than that though, everything else looks pretty solid. I'm getting so tired of seeing M-Kangaskhan on Battle Spot though, haha.

I can see where you coming from, but I try to save the Brave Bird until my sash is procced so that I can get a different move up (usually Tailwind/Quick Guard). I'd only use Brave Bird before the sash procs if the situation certainly calls for it

EDIT: Where are my manners? Thanks for the tips!

[H3ADBANG4L1F3]

(Mar 17, 2015, 07:57 PM)Black117 Wrote: Interesting semi standard team you have there. My main concern with this team is its relative weakeness to Fire Pokemon as well as Rain. You might have to pick eithe Bisharp or Metagross as your primariy Steel  type option. I think you should definately change the nature of Talonflame to Naive if since the current VGC Metagame is physically based and Brave Birdy can take at least one neutral hit. It's special defense is meager at best plus it'll likely won't take a Thunderbolt or Hydro Pump anytime soon.

Thanks for the tips! :D Changing nature now

[Vexian]

If you are worried about needing a check for sylveon, might I suggest instead of bisharp and meta gross running a scizor?

Scizor @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Knock Off
- Bug Bite
- Protect

This scizor share the same (well actually a worse) fire weakness but has no other weaknesses that both metagross has or bisharp. And a bullet punch from scizor can OHKO a 252 HP 252 Def Sylveon 100% of the time. Plus has the utility of knockoff that bisharp has plus bug bite to eat those pesky sitrus berries your opponent may carry on their pokemon.

[H3ADBANG4L1F3]

(Mar 18, 2015, 06:11 AM)Vexian Wrote: If you are worried about needing a check for sylveon, might I suggest instead of bisharp and meta gross running a scizor?

Scizor @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Knock Off
- Bug Bite
- Protect

This scizor share the same (well actually a worse) fire weakness but has no other weaknesses that both metagross has or bisharp. And a bullet punch from scizor can OHKO a 252 HP 252 Def Sylveon 100% of the time. Plus has the utility of knockoff that bisharp has plus bug bite to eat those pesky sitrus berries your opponent may carry on their pokemon.

I just did some damage calcs and Bullet Punch most certainly does NOT OHKO Bulky Sylveon, even w/ a Choice Band. Metal Claw, however, does have an 87.5% chance to OHKO a fully defensive one (Bold, 252 HP 252 Defence) with a Choice Band (12.5% w/ a Life Orb). That said, Scizor would be a pretty good substitute for the two as it would free up a slot for another Poke.

Thanks for the advice!

[GiMYz]

Life Orb Bisharp can handle Sylveon quite well. Protect on a Jolly 252/252 M-Kang is not the best option but its viable.

What you need is something like Virizion to check Rotom-W, Breloom, Amoonguss and Water types (Virizion can take Ice Beam like a champion thanks to its high base SpD stat)

#common Showdown 112 SpA Suicune Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Virizion: 56-68 (33.5 - 40.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

The third slot is on your choice. Stone Edge is risky but it is able to deal massive damage on Thund, Zapdos and gets an OHKO on CharY. Zen Headbutt is some flinch last chance hax, checking opposing Fighting types and M-Venusaur too. Otherwise you can have a support move. Roar is a good move to prevent Trick Room if Thundy will be the target of a Fake Out.

Virizion @ Lum Berry
Ability: Justified
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Leaf Blade
- Stone Edge / Zen Headbutt / Quick Guard / Helping Hand / Taunt / Roar
- Protect

[H3ADBANG4L1F3]

(Mar 18, 2015, 08:29 AM)GMX Wrote: Life Orb Bisharp can handle Sylveon quite well. Protect on a Jolly 252/252 M-Kang is not the best option but its viable.

What you need is something like Virizion to check Breloom, Amoonguss and Water types (Virizion can take Ice Beam like a champion thanks to its high base SpD stat)

#common Showdown 112 SpA Suicune Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Virizion: 56-68 (33.5 - 40.7%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

The third slot is on your choice. Stone Edge is risky but it is able to deal massive damage on Thund, Zapdos and gets an OHKO on CharY. Zen Headbutt is some flinch last chance hax, checking opposing Fighting types and M-Venusaur too. Otherwise you can have a support move. Roar is a good move to prevent Trick Room, if Thundy is not on the field.

Virizion @ Lum Berry
Ability: Justified
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Leaf Blade
- Stone Edge / Zen Headbutt / Quick Guard / Helping Hand / Taunt / Roar
- Protect

Virizion is a great idea! Plus, the Lum will help out with those annoying Smeargle shenanigans. I've used it before, so I'm fairly familiar with it. Thanks for your input!

[Marcusube]

I can guarantee that you are going to have a hard time dealing with rain teams and teams that carry speed control.

At the face of your team you have a gap consisting of Rock, Water, Fire and Ice weaknesses, all of which are very common offensive types in VGC.

Talonflame @ Life Orb
Ability: Gale Wings
Level: 50
EVs: 124 HP / 252 Atk / 92 Def / 40 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Protect
- Flare Blitz
- Tailwind

If you want to stop a Fake Out, just bring something that can outspeed the Fake Out. Most likely the opponent will Fake Out the Talonflame and attack your other lead so just run Talonflame with Protect. Tailwind is here just so that you can redo Mega Kang's EV spread to give it more bulk instead of going 252/252/4 EV spread with Jolly Nature.

Bisharp really has no place on this team other than to stop Intimidate users from switching in seeing as how most of your team is Physical. Other than that it hinders the team more than it helps it. I suggest dropping Bisharp and adding another Intimidater, preferably Hitmontop.

Hitmontop @ Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 116 HP / 124 Atk / 168 Def / 100 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Quick Guard
- Close Combat
- Feint
- Helping Hand

Hitmontop is beast because it has Quick Guard to stop those Fake Outs you were worrying about but unlike Talonflame it stays around much longer. Close Combat with this EV spreads OHKOs bulky Kangaskhans and Terrakions which both threaten your team

124+ Atk Life Orb Hitmontop Close Combat vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Mega Kangaskhan: 213-252 (100.4 - 118.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Feint allows Talonflame to strike down your opponent without getting outplayed and rock slid to death or you can use Feint to stop Wide Guard allowing Landorus to fire off his spread moves which makes it so you won't have to use Stone Edge anymore and Kangaskhan can get its power boost off Bisharp when you use Power Up Punch as you strike through the protect which most of them carry. Helping Hand is just to ensure more kills.

Drop Stone Edge for U-turn on Landorus so you can run out to avoid an incoming Ice Beam or Hydro Pump and come back in later with another Intimidate.

I recommend Facade over Return and Fake Out over Protect on Kangaskhan here. Normally I would suggest running Double Edge but this team is prone to being affected by tons of status moves, especially burns. This is just an avenue to take advantage of that and Fake Out is just great on Kang especially if you abuse the Scrappy ability before mega evolving.

Lastly, you won't need Metagross and trust me on this. Sylveon is not as big of a threat as people make it out to be because it still has a flaw in its physical defense and you have a team full of physical attackers to mow it down. The real problem here is your lack of speed control and options to redirect super effective hits away from your teammates.

For these purposes, I recommend dropping in Clefable for your 6th slot.

Clefable @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 12 SpA / 108 SpD / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Follow Me
- Moonblast
- Icy Wind
- Protect

Follow Me pulls away those nasty Ice Beams and Scalds away from your teammates ensuring that none of your physical attackers get maimed by burn hax. Moonblast is just to check those Dragons out there (*cough* Hydreigon), Icy Wind provides speed control especially against Dragons (*cough* MegaMence) and Landorus-T. Protect is here to get more HP recovery from Leftovers as well as avoiding attacks from physical steel types

These are just suggestions. Also you can do your Kangaskhans EV spread the way you feel comfortable with if you're going to take Icy Wind and Tailwind into consideration.