Hello, everyone! I am very new to the world of competitive battling, but the idea of coming up with fun strategies really seems fun. So I decided I would give competitive battling a shot. After doing some research on team-building, I decided to build a team based around some of my favorite Pokemon, namely Toxapex and Nihilego. Thus, I came up with a team that focuses on the Poisoned status condition. This is the first team I've ever created, so I'm very open to suggestions! The team is as follows:
1:Toxapex
Ability: Regenerator
Item: Black Sludge
Nature: Careful
4 HP/252 Def/252 SpD
Moves:
Baneful Bunker
Toxic Spikes
Venoshock
Protect
Role: Toxapex is vital to the strategy of the team. First turn is when you set up the Toxic Spikes. You'll need it alive to set up more, so Baneful Bunker can help if the new opposing Pokemon is not yet poisoned. To conserve PP, Protect can be used against a poisoned opponent. Venoshock is also an option, but you may want to rely more on Nihilego or Turtonator, because they have much higher Special Attack.
2:Turtonator
Ability: Shell Armor
Item: Air Balloon
Nature: Modest
4 HP/252 Def/252 SpA
Moves:
Flail
Shell Smash
Venoshock
Shell Trap
Role: Turtonator is mainly used for Venoshock, with its other moves more designed to deal with opponents who may gain the upper hand or aren't poisoned. An Air Balloon is not likely to last long, and so Turtonator's high Defense is to prepare it to take moves like Earthquake. Turtonator is pretty slow though, so you'd probably want to work with the poison.
3:Machamp
Ability: Guts
Item: Flame Orb
Nature: Adamant
252 Atk/4 SpD/252 Spe
Moves:
Fling
Facade
Earthquake
Brick Break
Role: Without a Pokemon with Corrosive, Steel and Poison Pokemon aren't getting poisoned. So you need something to deal with them, and Machamp's the one. With Guts and the Flame Orb, Machamp has stellar attack, and with Fling, you can give a Steel or Poison type that burn as well. Facade with Guts and a burn is pretty solid, and you can get an Earthquake in on those Steel and Poison types for good measure, and Brick Break for STAB to boot.
4:Pyukumuku
Ability: Innards Out
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Relaxed
4 HP/252 Def/252 SpD
Moves:
Toxic
Recover
Counter
Memento
Role: Okay, okay, just hear me out. Pyukumuku really is good as a damage sponge. On this team, it serves to stall extremely and possibly get your opponent get multiple Pokemon poisoned. If your opponent attempts any physical attack, you're all but guaranteed a strike back with Counter, and if you're willing to miss out on the Innards Out damage, then a Memento will work for you when you're ready to stop the stall.
5:Ninetales
Ability: Snow Cloak
Item: Focus Sash
Nature: Timid
4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Moves:
Hex
Ice Beam
Nasty Plot
Toxic
Role: Ninetales is another Pokemon that makes good use of poison. It has Toxic to cause poison and Hex hits for double damage. With a Focus Sash and high Speed, you can go for Nasty Plot on the first turn and Hex on the second for huge damage output. It has Ice Beam for STAB and can hit Ground for good damage as well.
6:Nihilego
Ability: Beast Boost
Item: Wise Glasses
Nature: Timid
4 Def/252 SpA/252 Spd
Moves:
Power Gem
Venoshock
Hidden Power (Ice)
Dazzling Gleam
Role: Nihilego is pretty much the star of this team. It has high Special Attack for a STAB Venoshock, STAB Power Gem, Hidden Power Ice to deal with any pesky Ground types, ehich it has a 4x weakness to, and Dazzling Gleam for coverage. It should have more than sufficient Speed and Special Attack to serve as a fast sweeper, and with a 10% boost to all these moves and STAB Venoshock, your're good to go.
Thanks, everyone! Let me know what you think about this and how I could improve it! Enjoy your battles and have fun!
-Lotus
1:Toxapex
Ability: Regenerator
Item: Black Sludge
Nature: Careful
4 HP/252 Def/252 SpD
Moves:
Baneful Bunker
Toxic Spikes
Venoshock
Protect
Role: Toxapex is vital to the strategy of the team. First turn is when you set up the Toxic Spikes. You'll need it alive to set up more, so Baneful Bunker can help if the new opposing Pokemon is not yet poisoned. To conserve PP, Protect can be used against a poisoned opponent. Venoshock is also an option, but you may want to rely more on Nihilego or Turtonator, because they have much higher Special Attack.
2:Turtonator
Ability: Shell Armor
Item: Air Balloon
Nature: Modest
4 HP/252 Def/252 SpA
Moves:
Flail
Shell Smash
Venoshock
Shell Trap
Role: Turtonator is mainly used for Venoshock, with its other moves more designed to deal with opponents who may gain the upper hand or aren't poisoned. An Air Balloon is not likely to last long, and so Turtonator's high Defense is to prepare it to take moves like Earthquake. Turtonator is pretty slow though, so you'd probably want to work with the poison.
3:Machamp
Ability: Guts
Item: Flame Orb
Nature: Adamant
252 Atk/4 SpD/252 Spe
Moves:
Fling
Facade
Earthquake
Brick Break
Role: Without a Pokemon with Corrosive, Steel and Poison Pokemon aren't getting poisoned. So you need something to deal with them, and Machamp's the one. With Guts and the Flame Orb, Machamp has stellar attack, and with Fling, you can give a Steel or Poison type that burn as well. Facade with Guts and a burn is pretty solid, and you can get an Earthquake in on those Steel and Poison types for good measure, and Brick Break for STAB to boot.
4:Pyukumuku
Ability: Innards Out
Item: Leftovers
Nature: Relaxed
4 HP/252 Def/252 SpD
Moves:
Toxic
Recover
Counter
Memento
Role: Okay, okay, just hear me out. Pyukumuku really is good as a damage sponge. On this team, it serves to stall extremely and possibly get your opponent get multiple Pokemon poisoned. If your opponent attempts any physical attack, you're all but guaranteed a strike back with Counter, and if you're willing to miss out on the Innards Out damage, then a Memento will work for you when you're ready to stop the stall.
5:Ninetales
Ability: Snow Cloak
Item: Focus Sash
Nature: Timid
4 HP/252 SpA/252 Spe
Moves:
Hex
Ice Beam
Nasty Plot
Toxic
Role: Ninetales is another Pokemon that makes good use of poison. It has Toxic to cause poison and Hex hits for double damage. With a Focus Sash and high Speed, you can go for Nasty Plot on the first turn and Hex on the second for huge damage output. It has Ice Beam for STAB and can hit Ground for good damage as well.
6:Nihilego
Ability: Beast Boost
Item: Wise Glasses
Nature: Timid
4 Def/252 SpA/252 Spd
Moves:
Power Gem
Venoshock
Hidden Power (Ice)
Dazzling Gleam
Role: Nihilego is pretty much the star of this team. It has high Special Attack for a STAB Venoshock, STAB Power Gem, Hidden Power Ice to deal with any pesky Ground types, ehich it has a 4x weakness to, and Dazzling Gleam for coverage. It should have more than sufficient Speed and Special Attack to serve as a fast sweeper, and with a 10% boost to all these moves and STAB Venoshock, your're good to go.
Thanks, everyone! Let me know what you think about this and how I could improve it! Enjoy your battles and have fun!
-Lotus