Topic: My WIP team

[LinkHyrule]

suggestions for last team member would be appreciated


Ghirahim (Aegislash) (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Stance Change
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature
- Shadow Claw
- King's Shield
- Iron Head
- Sacred Sword

Lon'qu (Greninja) (M) @ Expert Belt 
Ability: Protean
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature
- U-turn
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse

Katniss (Talonflame) (F) @ Sky Plate
Ability: Gale Wings
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- U-turn
- Flare Blitz

Espeon (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature
- Calm Mind
- Baton Pass
- Dazzling Gleam
- Stored Power

Roxas (Lucario) (M) @ Lucarionite
Ability: Justified
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Bullet Punch
- Crunch
- Swords Dance

[Raphetty]

Since you're using Talonflame which loses half its HP to Stealth Rock, a defogger or rapid spinner would be a good idea. Also Lucarionite is banned in Smogon OU.

[Delicious_Scout]

Let's have a look at the most flagrant fault of your team: Espeon.

First off, the Baton Pass kit requires a bold nature to reduce outcoming damage AND a receiver of the boost if needed. You Espeon will die in a couple of hits or just one if it just sets up once or twice. Bold with 252 HP, 252 DEF, and 4 in either speed or special defence should be the best bet.

Moreover... the fourth move is a bit weak. The most common trappers are Tyranitar and Scizor, and these fear HP Fighting and Fire, respectively. Not to say that, in case you do flee, the receiver of the boost can ony be Greninja, since it is the only specially-based Pokémon of your team.


Not to say, this Espeon is meant for Baton Pass chains. If you do want to use its support, go with Timid, 252 HP, 252 Speed, and 4 Defence, with HP Fire if you want to think you can beat Scizor (otherwise, Baton Pass to escape from Tyranitar), Psyshock (or Psychic if you run Baton Pass), Reflect, and Light Screen. Light Clay is highly adviced.

[Raphetty]

I have trained and used Dual Screens Espeon before.. the idea is to lead with it, stopping any Stealth Rock setters with Magic Bounce, set up your screens and Baton Pass (which is a slightly safer way to switch for the recipient, and lets you see what your opponent is switching to before you switch) to a setup sweeper weak to Stealth Rock, such as Mega Charizard X or Swords Dance/Bulk Up Talonflame. Using that strategy you might not need a Defogger/Spinner.

[SirBlaziken]

This looks like a heavy offensive team to be honest. You may want to think about exchanging some of those sweepers in for walls to give some balance to the team.

Now about aegislash, instead of Shadow Claw, I suggest Swords Dance an Weakness Policy in lieu of leftovers.

On Talonflame, if you choose to use it, give it a sitrus berry or a life orb. However, with brave bird, that'll allow you to, in theory, scare Mega Venusaur out or ko it, which allow you to use Azumarill.

Azumarill @ Choice Band
Huge Power
Adamant
252 HP 252 Attack 4 Speed

Waterfal
Play Rough
Aqua Jet
Knock Off/Ice Punch/Superpower

[Delicious_Scout]

Now that I see it... ShinyBlaziken is going to talk about me! :O

[SirBlaziken]

suggestions for last team member would be appreciated

Well Scout, does this clear anything up for ya?

[LinkHyrule]

Well Scout, does this clear anything up for ya?

Yes this helps.

I'm still using mega lucario because i don't do tiers with the people i play with.


Ghirahim (Aegislash) (M) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Stance Change
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature
- Swords Dance
- King's Shield
- Iron Head
- Sacred Sword

Lon'qu (Greninja) (M) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Protean
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Hasty Nature
- U-turn
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Dark Pulse

Katniss (Talonflame) (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Gale Wings
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Roost
- U-turn
- Flare Blitz

Espeon (F) @ Light Clay
Ability: Magic Bounce
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 HP / 4 SAtk
Timid Nature
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Psyshock
- Baton Pass

Roxas (Lucario) (M) @ Lucarionite
Ability: Justified
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Bullet Punch
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance

Excadrill (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Mold Breaker
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 176 HP / 52 Atk / 80 Def / 202 SDef
Adamant Nature
- Rapid Spin
- Earthquake
- Swords Dance
- Substitute

how does this work?

[Raphetty]

That Aegislash needs Shadow Sneak over Iron Head or Sacred Sword, IMO. Keep Iron Head if you battle a lot of fairy types, otherwise keep Sacred Sword.

Air Balloon is a possibility on Excadrill, since you now have 3 Ground weaknesses.

[SirBlaziken]

Yes this helps.

I was referring to Delicious_Scout, but ok, that works too.

TBH, espeon isn't as great as it was last gen, but that's me.

[Hahex and Oshawott]

That Aegislash needs Shadow Sneak over Iron Head or Sacred Sword, IMO. Keep Iron Head if you battle a lot of fairy types, otherwise keep Sacred Sword.

Air Balloon is a possibility on Excadrill, since you now have 3 Ground weaknesses.

Shadow Sneak and Sacred Sword will give you perfect coverage against all types, but iron head is a little more useful against fairies. Personally I'd go with shadow sneak and sacred sword.

I also personally dislike Scout's Espeon spread. There's not much point in trying to outspeed things if you're only getting dual screens up. Get a little more bulk so you can come in 2 or 3 times in a battle to re-set up screens if you have to. Move 252 speed over to the defenses and grab one of the bulky natures. That's how I see it anyway.

Any reason why you opted for a sub-variant of excadrill? Not saying it's bad in any way, just curious.

[Raphetty]

I also personally dislike Scout's Espeon spread. There's not much point in trying to outspeed things if you're only getting dual screens up. Get a little more bulk so you can come in 2 or 3 times in a battle to re-set up screens if you have to. Move 252 speed over to the defenses and grab one of the bulky natures. That's how I see it anyway.

I'm pretty sure he got it from Smogon, which is where I got the set from. The idea is to set up the screens before taking a hit, thereby taking less damage. If a Pokémon is able to outspeed and heavily damage you regardless of your defensive investment, Espeon isn't doing its job very well. And one of Espeon's main strengths is its speed, best to make use of it.

[SirBlaziken]

If espeon isn't doing its job well, then you'll need a good supporter in its place. If you are on Showdown, I suggest Deoxys-S. However, if this is ingame (which it likely is), remove espeon and bring in the azumarill I mentioned earlier instead of a supporter...

Azumarill @ Choice Band
Huge Power
Adamant
252 HP 252 Attack 4 Speed

Waterfal
Play Rough
Aqua Jet
Knock Off/Ice Punch/Superpower