I'm relatively new to competitive battling, X and Y being the first games that I actually too seriously in terms of competitive play. I've learned the mechanics to breeding, and I'm still working on strategies and how to use them. When rating, please keep in mind that I would prefer not to use legionaries as I cannot get them with the right IVs. Also, I do not have access to Pokemon with transfer moves with good IVs, so I will not be using those either.
Empoleon @ Assault Vest
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
Mild Nature
- Surf
- Flash Cannon
- Ice Beam
- Knock Off
Empoleon is the main Pokemon of my team, everything thing else being based around it. I love the Assault Vest, and Empoleon looked like a candidate to utilise it nicely. With status moves being blocked by the Vest, Empoleon’s moveset is purely offensive: two stab moves, Surf and Flash Cannon to deal heavy damage, Ice Beam to cover a wide range of things, and Knock Off to get rid of anything an opponent is holding.
Crobat @ Focus Sash
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Cross Poison
- U-turn
- Roost
Crobat was the next Pokemon I decided to use. It’s flying typing allows it to switch into any ground or fighting type attacks, especially the common Earthquake. Crobat holds the Focus Sash, covering Crobat’s fragility. Acrobatics will be boosted after the Focus Sash is used, along with STAB. Cross Poison provides a strong STAB attack. U-turn can be used to get out of risky situations with a little bit of free damage. Roost can be used to recover Stealth Rock damage to make use of the Focus Sash, or just heal up in general.
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Avalanche
- Curse
With both Empoleon and Crobat having a weakness to electric, Swampert provides a nice switch in to any electricity. Swampert is very bulky, with a high attack and a strong movepool. This Swampert can set up its physical side with Curse, and then deal damage with a wide range of coverage, hitting hard.
Forretress @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Gyro Ball
- Spikes
Forretress is the lead Pokemon, usually first to come out. It can set up Stealth Rocks and Spikes, along with countering other leads with Rapid Spin. Gyro Ball adds a strong STAB attack to hit when everything is set up. The Rocky Helmet allows Forretress to set up while still dealing damage to any physical attackers.
Houndoom @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Flamethrower
- Dark Pulse
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Nasty Plot
With Forretress’s huge weakness to fire, Houndoom is an excellent counter. If a fire type move is obvious, Houndoom can come in and negate it, while increasing the power of its own Flamethrower. Hidden Power Grass can hit both ground and water types with super effective power. Nasty Plot can increase Houndoom’s special attack and allow it to potentially sweep. The Air Balloon provides a temporary resistance to ground attacks.
Ampharos @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Cotton Guard
- Thunderbolt
- Dragon Pulse
- Focus Blast
Lastly, we have Ampharos. I enjoy using Megas, and Ampharos was a nice fit. It can be incredibly physically bulky in a matter of two turns. Once it’s set up, it can hit an array of opponents extremely hard. Once it mega evolves, it resists a lot of my teams weaknesses: fire, water, grass, and electric.
Empoleon @ Assault Vest
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA
Mild Nature
- Surf
- Flash Cannon
- Ice Beam
- Knock Off
Empoleon is the main Pokemon of my team, everything thing else being based around it. I love the Assault Vest, and Empoleon looked like a candidate to utilise it nicely. With status moves being blocked by the Vest, Empoleon’s moveset is purely offensive: two stab moves, Surf and Flash Cannon to deal heavy damage, Ice Beam to cover a wide range of things, and Knock Off to get rid of anything an opponent is holding.
Crobat @ Focus Sash
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Acrobatics
- Cross Poison
- U-turn
- Roost
Crobat was the next Pokemon I decided to use. It’s flying typing allows it to switch into any ground or fighting type attacks, especially the common Earthquake. Crobat holds the Focus Sash, covering Crobat’s fragility. Acrobatics will be boosted after the Focus Sash is used, along with STAB. Cross Poison provides a strong STAB attack. U-turn can be used to get out of risky situations with a little bit of free damage. Roost can be used to recover Stealth Rock damage to make use of the Focus Sash, or just heal up in general.
Swampert @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
- Avalanche
- Curse
With both Empoleon and Crobat having a weakness to electric, Swampert provides a nice switch in to any electricity. Swampert is very bulky, with a high attack and a strong movepool. This Swampert can set up its physical side with Curse, and then deal damage with a wide range of coverage, hitting hard.
Forretress @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Stealth Rock
- Rapid Spin
- Gyro Ball
- Spikes
Forretress is the lead Pokemon, usually first to come out. It can set up Stealth Rocks and Spikes, along with countering other leads with Rapid Spin. Gyro Ball adds a strong STAB attack to hit when everything is set up. The Rocky Helmet allows Forretress to set up while still dealing damage to any physical attackers.
Houndoom @ Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Flamethrower
- Dark Pulse
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Nasty Plot
With Forretress’s huge weakness to fire, Houndoom is an excellent counter. If a fire type move is obvious, Houndoom can come in and negate it, while increasing the power of its own Flamethrower. Hidden Power Grass can hit both ground and water types with super effective power. Nasty Plot can increase Houndoom’s special attack and allow it to potentially sweep. The Air Balloon provides a temporary resistance to ground attacks.
Ampharos @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
- Cotton Guard
- Thunderbolt
- Dragon Pulse
- Focus Blast
Lastly, we have Ampharos. I enjoy using Megas, and Ampharos was a nice fit. It can be incredibly physically bulky in a matter of two turns. Once it’s set up, it can hit an array of opponents extremely hard. Once it mega evolves, it resists a lot of my teams weaknesses: fire, water, grass, and electric.