Hi All!
While I'm not new to Pokemon (been playing since day 1), I am new to proper competitive. I've dabbled in the past but never too seriously. I know it's not a common format here, but I mostly play VGC rules since I usually try to participate in the in-game competitions and ranked play. That being said, let me get into my team. Again, I know it's far from perfect, but I'm curious what kind of advice and issues you guys have with it, as I'm not always the best at spotting potentially great combos to go with ideas.
CERULEDGE
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
Nature: Jolly
Tera: Fire
EV: 252 A / 4 SD / 252 SPE
Swords Dance
Bitter Blade
Shadow Sneak
Close Combat
This is the main reason I even built this team. Due to the pokemon I usually pair it with, I'm generally able to get off a Swords Dance and knock out almost anything I'm trying to deal with. I've noticed that around 80% of the time, I can even one shot a Flutter Mane without Swords Dance and going straight into Shadow Sneak, which is immensely helpful.
TORKOAL
Item: Heat Rock
Ability: Drought
Nature: Bold
Tera: Flying
EV: 248 HP / 252 D / 8 SA
Lava Plume
Rapid Spin / Protect
Stealth Rock
Yawn
This is meant for setup of course. I usually lead with stealth rock then just yawn people over and over to force switches or give me that sleep advantage. It usually can take 2-3 hits minimum. I originally had Rapid Spin but after playing 40 or so matches online recently, I noticed that literally nobody was using any arena traps, so I replaced it with Protect which has been helpful. Lava Plume has saved me literally once, I usually don't attack with it though. It being slow has also ensured that its Drought goes into effect AFTER drizzles and stuff. Finally, the Tera type is meant to protect from Earthquake. I don't do it often, but it HAS saved my butt a couple times.
WALKING WAKE
Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Protosynthesis
Ability: Timid
Tera: Water
EV: 12 HP / 244 SA / 252 SPE
Hydro Steam
Flamethrower
Draco Meteor
Knock Off
Also meant to pair with the Sunny theme. Really straightforward sweeper depending on the situation needed. Not sure if Flamethrower is needed due to Torkoal and Ceruledge, and I'm still learning so I haven't been very smart about when to use Knock Off, but Tera Water with Sun and then doing Hydro Steam has been immensely useful to me. I'm really unsure what to do in the Flamethrower/Knock Off spots though, or if I just need to be better with determining when to use them.
IRON VALIANT
Item: Booster Energy
Ability: Quark Drive
Nature: Naive
Tera: Fairy
EV: 4 A / 252 SA/ 252 SPE
Moonblast
Close Combat
Knock Off / Thunderbolt
Destiny Bond
I really love this Pokemon but I have a 50/50 usefulness on this dude. That Moonblast, especially when Tera, is obnoxious, but it's also so squishy that I feel like literally everything one-shots it. Destiny Bond has been useful though, against Pokemon who are just better than anything I can dish out. Knock Off is my same issue as Walking Wake, I just am not good at learning when to use it. I recently replaced it with Thunderbolt which has been slightly more useful, but not by much. Not sure what to do with that move slot.
MEOWSCARADA
Item: Heavy Duty Boots / Choice Scarf
Ability: Protean
Nature: Jolly
Tera: Stellar
EV: 252 A / 4 SD / 252 SPE
Knock Off
Flower Trick
Triple Axel
U-Turn
I'm sure I'll have to replace this. It isn't as useful as I was hoping it would be. Between Protean and Tera Stellar, depending on the situation, it's provided some good coverage but I've noticed that even with that, it hasn't hit hard enough to really be useful. I had Heavy Duty Boots originally but of course with no arena hazards I've seen, I switched to Choice Scarf, useful, but still not enough oomph to be viable probably.
HATTERENE
Item: Eject Button
Ability: Magic Bounce
Nature: Bold
Tera: Steel
EV: 248 HP / 116 D / 144 SPE
Healing Wish
Psychic / Heal Pulse
Dazzling Gleam
Nuzzle
This is an oddball. I did it for kicks and I'm not sure whether I love it or hate it. I like to switch into it to take a hit and then I get a free switch into what I need which is nice. I also would like to use it to heal, but I've never really had the opportunity to use Pulse OR Wish as everything gets knocked out too fast. Nuzzle has shown some usefuleness, but I've noticed that Torkoal's Yawn has been a more consistent help. I had Psychic on it but with how little I need Hatterene to attack, I've recently replaced it with Heal Pulse.
And there you have it. I'm completely open to advice, and I understand that I may never be able to make it a top tier team, but I'd like to tweak it to be as good as it can be. I'd like to keep Ceruledge, Torkoal and Walking Wake, but I think the weakness lies in my final 3 Pokemon. I'm really looking forward to all the input you have. Last thing I'll say is that the biggest things that have hurt me so far are Tailwind, Indeedee and Raging Bolt/Gouging Fire. Ogerpon with Follow Me/Spiky Shield is sometimes an issue but usually I can take it down just fine.
Thanks all!
While I'm not new to Pokemon (been playing since day 1), I am new to proper competitive. I've dabbled in the past but never too seriously. I know it's not a common format here, but I mostly play VGC rules since I usually try to participate in the in-game competitions and ranked play. That being said, let me get into my team. Again, I know it's far from perfect, but I'm curious what kind of advice and issues you guys have with it, as I'm not always the best at spotting potentially great combos to go with ideas.
CERULEDGE
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Weak Armor
Nature: Jolly
Tera: Fire
EV: 252 A / 4 SD / 252 SPE
Swords Dance
Bitter Blade
Shadow Sneak
Close Combat
This is the main reason I even built this team. Due to the pokemon I usually pair it with, I'm generally able to get off a Swords Dance and knock out almost anything I'm trying to deal with. I've noticed that around 80% of the time, I can even one shot a Flutter Mane without Swords Dance and going straight into Shadow Sneak, which is immensely helpful.
TORKOAL
Item: Heat Rock
Ability: Drought
Nature: Bold
Tera: Flying
EV: 248 HP / 252 D / 8 SA
Lava Plume
Rapid Spin / Protect
Stealth Rock
Yawn
This is meant for setup of course. I usually lead with stealth rock then just yawn people over and over to force switches or give me that sleep advantage. It usually can take 2-3 hits minimum. I originally had Rapid Spin but after playing 40 or so matches online recently, I noticed that literally nobody was using any arena traps, so I replaced it with Protect which has been helpful. Lava Plume has saved me literally once, I usually don't attack with it though. It being slow has also ensured that its Drought goes into effect AFTER drizzles and stuff. Finally, the Tera type is meant to protect from Earthquake. I don't do it often, but it HAS saved my butt a couple times.
WALKING WAKE
Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Protosynthesis
Ability: Timid
Tera: Water
EV: 12 HP / 244 SA / 252 SPE
Hydro Steam
Flamethrower
Draco Meteor
Knock Off
Also meant to pair with the Sunny theme. Really straightforward sweeper depending on the situation needed. Not sure if Flamethrower is needed due to Torkoal and Ceruledge, and I'm still learning so I haven't been very smart about when to use Knock Off, but Tera Water with Sun and then doing Hydro Steam has been immensely useful to me. I'm really unsure what to do in the Flamethrower/Knock Off spots though, or if I just need to be better with determining when to use them.
IRON VALIANT
Item: Booster Energy
Ability: Quark Drive
Nature: Naive
Tera: Fairy
EV: 4 A / 252 SA/ 252 SPE
Moonblast
Close Combat
Knock Off / Thunderbolt
Destiny Bond
I really love this Pokemon but I have a 50/50 usefulness on this dude. That Moonblast, especially when Tera, is obnoxious, but it's also so squishy that I feel like literally everything one-shots it. Destiny Bond has been useful though, against Pokemon who are just better than anything I can dish out. Knock Off is my same issue as Walking Wake, I just am not good at learning when to use it. I recently replaced it with Thunderbolt which has been slightly more useful, but not by much. Not sure what to do with that move slot.
MEOWSCARADA
Item: Heavy Duty Boots / Choice Scarf
Ability: Protean
Nature: Jolly
Tera: Stellar
EV: 252 A / 4 SD / 252 SPE
Knock Off
Flower Trick
Triple Axel
U-Turn
I'm sure I'll have to replace this. It isn't as useful as I was hoping it would be. Between Protean and Tera Stellar, depending on the situation, it's provided some good coverage but I've noticed that even with that, it hasn't hit hard enough to really be useful. I had Heavy Duty Boots originally but of course with no arena hazards I've seen, I switched to Choice Scarf, useful, but still not enough oomph to be viable probably.
HATTERENE
Item: Eject Button
Ability: Magic Bounce
Nature: Bold
Tera: Steel
EV: 248 HP / 116 D / 144 SPE
Healing Wish
Psychic / Heal Pulse
Dazzling Gleam
Nuzzle
This is an oddball. I did it for kicks and I'm not sure whether I love it or hate it. I like to switch into it to take a hit and then I get a free switch into what I need which is nice. I also would like to use it to heal, but I've never really had the opportunity to use Pulse OR Wish as everything gets knocked out too fast. Nuzzle has shown some usefuleness, but I've noticed that Torkoal's Yawn has been a more consistent help. I had Psychic on it but with how little I need Hatterene to attack, I've recently replaced it with Heal Pulse.
And there you have it. I'm completely open to advice, and I understand that I may never be able to make it a top tier team, but I'd like to tweak it to be as good as it can be. I'd like to keep Ceruledge, Torkoal and Walking Wake, but I think the weakness lies in my final 3 Pokemon. I'm really looking forward to all the input you have. Last thing I'll say is that the biggest things that have hurt me so far are Tailwind, Indeedee and Raging Bolt/Gouging Fire. Ogerpon with Follow Me/Spiky Shield is sometimes an issue but usually I can take it down just fine.
Thanks all!
