Evo Boost Mega Altaria (My first Vgc team ever)

[FireTaco]

So for my site's new years resolution I decided that I would try and post a couple VGC 2018 teams that I make.  And for the first one I realized that, I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS META IN THIS THING.  So to make sure my team was as least meta as possible I went with and Eevee Team, which I'm slightly mad is in the "D" teir as of now, BUT WHO CARES I LOVE THIS TEAM SO MUCH.  

So here is my first ever and current VGC 2018 Squad:

                                                                                      


Now I never imagined that these seemingly random pokemon would work so well that it could make me want to start breeding these pokes and making it so I have them in game.  (doing that right now)
 

THE SETS

Tuff (Eevee) (F) @ Eevium Z  
Ability: Adaptability  
Level: 50  
EVs: 252 HP / 92 Def / 128 SpD / 36 Spe  
Impish Nature  
- Baton Pass  
- Protect  
- Helping Hand  
- Last Resort

A standard set to run on Eevee but its basically all you need to run.  Last Resort to be able to use that Extreme Evoboost, Baton Pass to toss those buffs alolng to a Partner, Protect to avoid a first turn Z-move nuke from the opponent, and helping hand to be able to assist an ally to do more damage.  Nature and Ev spread ment to be able to take spread damage moves like rock slide much better.

Fairly Good (Clefairy) (F) @ Eviolite  
Ability: Friend Guard  
Level: 50  
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD  
Bold Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Aromatherapy  
- Protect  
- Follow Me  
- Icy Wind

A main supportive member for the entire team, but its main use is to help Eevee set up.  She has decent bulk buffed with the Eviolite and the evs in order to take what ever she needs to to keep Eevee safe.  Follow me is needed here for obvious reasons, Protect is also needed to keep a first turn Z move from killing her.  Aromatherapy does great at being able to save an ally from a Toxics and Burns Mainly.


Fluffin (Altaria) (F) @ Altarianite  
Ability: Cloud Nine  -----> Pixilate 
Level: 50  
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe  
Modest Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Draco Meteor  
- Heat Wave  
- Ice Beam  
- Hyper Voice

One of my favorite members on this team.  Equiped with a large boost to all but her Sp. Def and Speed, which are relatively nonessential to fighting.  Its main achievements are in her Sp. Atk and her Def.  This is also Eevee's main Pokemon to Baton Pass those stats into, making her buffed stats even better.  A great ability as Pixilate will turn Hyper Voice into a stong hitting Fairy type move.  A +2 or even Regular Draco Meteor deals massave damage to non fairy types on the opposing side.  Ice Beam and Heat Wave deal big damage to pokemon that are stong against it like Mega Scizor, Lando-T, Celasteela, or Naganadel.


Tank (Metagross) @ Life Orb  
Ability: Clear Body  
Level: 50  
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe  
Jolly Nature  
- Psych Up  
- Meteor Mash  
- Ice Punch  
- Earthquake

A strong member of my team being a Sudo Legend, and a pretty powerful steel type.  I have yet to use Psych Up in a battle correctly so I am willing to take suggestions on what to switch it with.  I might be looking into using Bullet Punch for a priority move.  Otherwise this is still a strong member and is able to deal strong damage against most of Mega Altaria's weaknesses in Poision, Ice, Steel, and Fairy.

Edge (Scrafty) (M) @ Rocky Helmet  
Ability: Intimidate  
Level: 50  
EVs: 252 HP / 196 Atk / 60 SpD  
- Fake Out  
- Knock Off  
- Drain Punch
- Taunt

A fun pokemon that has been a good counter to many meta pokemon, such as Mega Kang, Cress, and can Knock Off a Lando-T 's Assault Vest.  Drain Punch gives great recovery.  Taunt is great for not only stopping trickroom and tailwind, but has also assisted me in defeating a Volcarona with Quiver Dance.  This also makes a surprisingly good partner for Eevee.  Fake Out can stop opposing Z-moves or other obvious threats, while intimidate can help block physical threats that can use spread moves like Rock Slide or Earthquake to avoid follow me should Clefairy be used as well. 

DJ Joules (Rotom-Wash) @ Choice Scarf  
Ability: Levitate  
Level: 50  
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe  
Timid Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Hydro Pump  
- Volt Switch  
- Will-O-Wisp  
- Trick

Behold my revenge killer.  It can either hit hard with Hydro Pumps, Volt switches and move to another pokemon, or Trick a Choice Scarf onto a pokemon that will disable it for the rest of the game.  With only a weakness to grass, which is covered by many of its allies, it becomes a very useful addition to the team.  

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SO thats my team so far, I say it works rather well, and here are some victory replays from showdown: 

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7v...685136039  Versus a Rain Team 

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7v...-685141942 Another Rain Team

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7v...-686159286 Using Eevee's Helping Hand

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7v...-684224973 Abusing Eevee's Helping Hand

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7v...-684222915 Scrafty Supporting Eevee

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7v...-684224973 Clefairy Supporting Eevee

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And here are some Losses from showdown, because we know stuff will go wrong: 

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7v...-685145115 Mega Salamence with spread damage 

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7v...-685143150 A well timed Z-Move

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7v...-685140151 A reason to use Clefairy with Follow Me

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7v...-685143150 A unfortunate Flinch
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That's what I have so far, feel free to comment some suggestions below,

~ FireTaco

[Kris]

Clefairy AND Eevee!? I love you it!

[Arctero]

It looks like a solid team. I only have a couple of critiques/suggestions.
First about Rotom. Since he is scarfed, you don't necessarily have to run max speed. You can speed creep him so he outspeed what you want him to, and put the remaining EVs into his bulk.
You can replace meteor mash with iron head on metagross since it is more accurate and reliable.

Second would be the likely increase in haze users to counter the Chansey teams that have been going around, so I would either have something like taunt, or be prepared to outplay your opponent without the evoboost.

http://vgcstats.com
The site I posted has the "best" pokemon in VGC 18 so far ranked by their CP win rate (how many tournaments they have won/been used). You can use the site to figure out meta threats and how to counter them.

[Spyro190]

- Detect must always be used instead of Protect when it's possible, as it helps you against Imprisoners.
- Ice Beam is certainly useful to OHKO LandoT and AVLandoT after EBoost... but that's its only benefit. Protect would be a safer and less situational choice.
- Iron Head should be preferred to Meteor Mash and Stomping Tantrum to EQ.
- Why not Zen Headbutt and/or Protect for Metagross?
- Figy Berry (...or a Mega Stone) should replace Life Orb in order to take advantage of Metagross' bulkness.
- Scrafty's presence makes opponents' Lele even more fearful.



A team based only on a so frail and so predictable strategy can't face seriously built ones. You can't relay just on EBoost+BP+pew pew, as you should be able to make flexible choiches. For example a sleep inducer would be better than a Taunt user, as it doesn't need to pay attention to Mental Herb or ZTR and it would be useful even if you don't use Eevee and your opponent won't use TR; adding a Tapu to remove Electric and Misty Terrain would be nice. What about Smeargle and Lele? The first one is THE support pokèmon, while the second one is also a great EBoost abuser and a good mate for Metagross.

[FireTaco]

Alright I have a bit of time to respond to some of these so here we go,

@Kris  

@Arctero and @Spyro190  (grouping you both together because you both said some of the same points)
I have switched some of moves around on my Metagross so here is the set right now,

Tank (Metagross) @ Figy Berry
Ability: Clear Body
Level: 50  
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe  
Jolly Nature  
- Protect  
- Iron Head  
- Zen Headbutt  
- Stomping Tantrum

I decided to add Zen Headbutt because it will give better damage against poision types that my two fairy types are weak to, however no I feel that a new Ev spread might be needed to give more attacking power and bulk so I think something like this will work much better 

Tank (Metagross) @ Figy Berry
Ability: Clear Body
Level: 50  
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Atk / 32 SpD / 116 Spe  
Jolly Nature  
IVs: 0 SpA   
- Protect  
- Iron Head  
- Zen Headbutt  
- Stomping Tantrum

Next I switched Ice Beam to Protect on Mega Altaria but kept that set pretty much the same.  I also gave Clefairy Heal Pulse over Aromatherapy as I have never used it in a match thus far and I had no way to recover my team's health.

Now I find myself in a place to be replacing the last two members of my team which were Scrafty and Rotom.  I like the idea of using Lele, but I don't like the idea of using Smeargle because it rather frail, so I will be in need of a substitute for that.

Thank for all your help thus far,

​​​​​​​~FireTaco