Praise Arceus.

February 23, 2015. This date marks the day I began my journey as a competitive Pokémon battler. My decision in trying it out came from watching Lord Emvee's videos. His PokémonShowdown Lives and Pimp My Squad videos have taught me a great deal about team building and strategy.

Now, more than a full year and several teams later, I'm testing my hand at VGC. With the available resources - mainly the Competitive Pokémon Movesets forum and YouTube channels that focus on the format - I've put together a team which I will hopefully end up using in local VGC tournaments.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kartana @ Choice Band

Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- Smart Strike
- Night Slash

In retrospect, my team consists of two cores - a triumvirate of Pokémon whose type synergy hinder and overcome the other's weaknesses. Kartana plus Alolan Marowak and Milotic form the first triad (fire-water-grass). Despite a limit to four moves, Leaf Blade wounds Ground-, Rock-, and Water-type rivals to below half Hit Points. A Smart Strike from the Ultra Beast slays Rock-, Ice-, and Fairy-type Pokémon. When confronting Ghost- and Psychic-type contenders, Night Slash lacerates them; while Sacred Sword combats Normal-, Rock-, Steel-, Ice-, and Dark-types. Diminishing the effect of Intimidate, Choice Band lets Kartana's STAB attacks mete out adequate damage on Pokemon, such as Gyarados and Salamence.

In his second VGC 2017 Teambuilder video, xRazeOvation goes over this Kartana. Straightforward, the division of EVs entitle the Ultra Beast to strike first and hard. With abysmal Hit Points and Special Defense, optimizing Attack and Speed by invigorating 252 EVs in each, the latter of which is augmented due to Kartana being Jolly nature, quickens the Ultra Beast to blindside foes like Gastrodon and carry out a grave onslaught.

Marowak-Alola (M) @ Thick Club

Ability: Lightning Rod
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 180 Atk / 4 Def / 68 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Protect
- Shadow Bone
- Bonemerang

Alolan Marowak is a well rounded Pokémon and team ally. Acquiring the Fire- and Ghost-typing upon evolving, grants six new resistances majority of which are super effective against Alolan Marowak's teammates. Retaining Lightning Rod as an ability, not only prevents Alolan Marowak from being hurt by Electric-type moves, but redirects them as well, enabling Alolan Marowak to take down the enemy who pose a danger to Milotic and Tapu Fini. When partnered with Alolan Dugtrio, protecting allows Earthquake to be used.

2016 Pokémon Worlds Champion (Masters Division), Wolfe Glick, discussed this Alolan Marowak as part of his Competitive Movesets for VGC '17 video series. He mentioned allocating 252 EVs in Hit Points assures Alolan Marowak does not blackout from a single powerful attack, for instance a Stone Edge from Jolly Aerodactyl with 252 EVs in Attack. The 68 EVs in Special Defense, Glick stated, is so Alolan Marowak can tolerate a Psychic - in Psychic Terrain - from Modest Tapu Lele with 252 EVs in Special Attack. Empowered by an Adamant nature and 180 EVs in Attack, which is doubled thanks to Thick Club, Alolan Marowak can deliver devastating blows to opponents.

Goodra (F) @ Assault Vest

Ability: Sap Sipper
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 12 Def / 180 SpA / 64 SpD
Bold Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
- Sludge Bomb

Early on in development, Gyarados was part of the team, but after several mock battles on PokémonShowdown I concluded a replacement was needed. Because I'd utilized Goodra in the past, I knew the plethora of moves Goodra could either learn by leveling up or through TMs - attacks that could deal with current and foreseeable threats to fellow team members. Regarding Goodra's ability, the decision to choose Sap Sipper over Gooey, which reduces the Speed of a Pokémon when contact is made by 1 stage, was because it makes Goodra a safe switch in for Milotic and Tapu Fini on incoming Grass-types moves since Sap Sipper negates damage from such attacks. In addition, should Celesteela and Goodra be the last Pokémon in a match, the Ultra Beast can't Leech Seed and Substitute to stall and win.

Unlike the other Pokémon on this team, the distribution of Goodra's EVs were done by me - my first time doing so. Right off the bat, I knew Goodra had to have enough bulk behind it to live both physical and special attacks from other Pseudo-legendaries and Alola's guardians while at the sametime boasting sufficient investment in Special Attack to wreak serious damage in return. To do so, the maximum amount of EVs a single stat can receive - 252 - were added to Goodra's Hit Points and with an already high base Special Defense, it was clear a Bold nature alongside 12 EVs in Defense would benefit Goodra in order to bear a Dragon Claw from a Jolly, non-Choice Banded Garchomp with 252 EVs in Attack. In terms of Goodra's Special Defense, the boost from an Assault Vest combined with 64 EVs, permits Goodra to last a Blizzard from Timid Alolan Ninetales. Putting the remaining 180 EVs in Special Attack, Goodra is able to two hit KO Metagross and similar Pokémon, as well as half of the Tapu (Sludge Bomb from Goodra demolishes Tapu Bulu).

Note: As of me writing this, using Nugget Bridge's VGC 2017 damage calculator, I've realized Goodra doesn't really need 64 EVs in Special Defense. Transferring some of those EVs to Defense would allow Goodra to endure physical hits more comfortably. I'll also be experimenting around with Gooey Goodra.

Milotic (F) @ Adrenaline Orb

Ability: Competitive
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 212 Def / 36 SpA / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Recover
- Ice Beam
- Protect

Beware, Pokemon with Intimidate. Having access to the Competitive Ability, which raises Special Attack by 2 stages when any stat is lowered, Milotic becomes a great counter to common intimidators, such as Arcanine, Gyarados, Salamence, and Krookodile. However, the sharp increase in Special Attack alone is not enough pressure placed on these types of Pokémon. Equipped with an Adrenaline Orb, popping when the holder is intimidated and raising speed by 1 stage, allows Milotic to out run Modest Arcanine with 0 EVs in Speed and Adamant, non-Choice Scarfed, non-Focus Slashed Krookodile with a guaranteed chance to knockout each with a single Scald.

In the same video xRazeOvation talked about Kartana's potential, he introduced this Milotic. Investing 252 EVs in Hit Points and 212 EVs in Defense, Milotic is ensured to survive a Devastating Drake (Dragon-type Z-Move) from a Modest Salamence with 252 EVs in Special Attack and an Earthquake (or Dragon Claw) from a Jolly, Choice Banded Garchomp with 252 EVs in Attack. Once Milotic has endured, thanks to a Modest nature and 36 EVs in Special Attack, Milotic has the opportunity to faint said Pokémon with an Ice Beam and send them back into the Poké Ball from which they emerged.

Dugtrio-Alola (F) @ Focus Sash

Ability: Tangling Hair
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
- Earthquake

Though slower than the non-regional variant, Alolan Dugtrio manages to get ahead of team adversaries like Alolan Ninetails, Pelipper, Torkoal, and Tapu Bulu. Armed with Rock Slide and Iron Head provides a 30% to flinch opposing Pokémon, loosing the chance to inflict damage. Should a Fake Out by Alolan Raichu, Alolan Persian or Weavile be used against Alolan Dugtrio, Tangling Hair will reduce Speed by 1 stage, giving Alolan Dugtrio the upper hand next turn to retaliate with a defeating move. Living on 1 Hit Point thanks to Focus Sash, Alolan Dugtrio is guaranteed to brave through attacks, for example a Flare Blitz from Gale Wings Talonflame or a Scald from Swift Swim Golduck, that would otherwise eliminate Alolan Dugtrio.

Taken from the Basic Movesets for All Alolan Form Pokémon post in PokémonForever's Competitive Pokémon Movesets Fourm, the purpose of the recommended EV spread is akin to Kartana's - catalyze Alolan Dugtrio to afflict damage fast and vigorous. Amplifying both Attack and Speed, which is further nourished by a Jolly nature, with 252 EVs in each, means Alolan Dugtrio can Iron Head Tapu Lele or Tapu Bulu unconscious on the second turn. Moreover, Pokémon who are faster and able to avoid the effects of Tangling Hair - Aerodactyl, Tapu Koko, and Pheromosa to name a few - can still be severely injured by Alolan Dugtrio.

Tapu Fini @ Leftovers

Ability: Misty Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 244 Def / 4 SpA / 4 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Protect

A good portion of VGC 2017 teams incorporate either Tapu Koko, Tapu Lele, Tapu Bulu, or Tapu Fini as was seen during the European International Championships and the San José Regional Championship late last year. Of the four, Tapu Fini is the least used. Besides forming part of the steel-fairy-dragon core, Tapu Fini's ability Misty Surge, which summons Misty Terrain, prevents all grounded Pokémon from suffering a non-volatile status condition (burn, freeze, paralysis, poisoned, etc.) for five turns and halves Dragon-type attacks. Thus, along with Protect and Leftovers, which replenishes Hit Points a little, makes Tapu Fini a viable aid to the Pokémon on my team as they go all out against opponents unafraid.

In the 6th installment of his Competitive Movesets for VGC '17 video series, Wolfe Glick went over this Tapu Fini. Supported by high Defense and Special Defense - the former stat having 244 EVs; the latter enhanced by a Calm nature - the 252 EVs in Hit Points secures Tapu Fini withstands multiple hits. As a result, a Jolly Garchomp with 252 EVs in Attack using Poison Jab will be Moonblast to oblivion before Garchomp can. Through Calm Mind, which raises Special Attack and Special Defense by 1 stage, Tapu Fini can blackout a Till Böhmer Goodra first.

Note: As of writing this, I'm considering swapping Tapu Fini for Tapu Lele.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In conclusion, the six Pokémon that comprise the team I'll be using for local VGC 2017 tournaments, as my thorough assessment has hopefully conveyed, bring a unity of types, stats, moves, and abilities to answer and beat Pokémon they are weak to. By no means, is this team perfect as I'll be adjusting a few team members, Goodra and Tapu Fini primarily. Feedback and bringing up discrepancies in my calculations or elsewhere is appreciated. Above all, thank you for taking the time to read my writing endeavor.