Team Building Q+A Thread

[Reluctant Wailord]

Should I go for Drill Peck or Brave Bird on my Skarmory? I'm planning to go for 252HP/252SpDef/4Def, with an Impish nature. Moves'll be Spikes, Roar/Whirlwind, and Roost.

[quack98]

Personally, I'd go Drill Peck, as he isn't doing much damage anyways, and wouldn't like the recoil. Especially as he'll only really be attacking under taunt, when he can't roost off recoil ^_^

Brave Bird is still good though, I just don't think it's as good

[Reluctant Wailord]

But then again, given Skarm's attack, Drill Peck won't do much, and recoil from Brave Bird wouldn't be much. Added to its commedable defenses, Brave Bird seems a viable option as well.

[quack98]

Defense doesn't help against recoil at all though, it just deals 1/3 of damage dealt back to you. Neither attack will do damage, so I find it best to go to the more sustainable option of drill peck. Of course, Brave Bird does have it's merits, but I think Skarmory isn't doing enough damage to make it worthwhile taking any recoil, especially considering it breaks Sturdy.

[Reluctant Wailord]

I mentioned defense, as it would help keep Skarmory's HP at a sustainable level after taking a pounding, allowing for recoil damage to not be a significant threat. Skarmory's low attack would reduce recoil further.

I don't think Sturdy holds much weight on Skarmory, given it's primarily a tank, built to endure. I don't know, that's just how it seems.

[quack98]

The problem is, Drill Peck has 80 BP, 2/3 that of Brave Bird. But Brave Bird deals a third recoil, so your relative health is the same either way, but Drill Peck doesn't break sturdy. However small an advantage, it's still an advantage. Furthermore, the fact that Skarmory deals little damage increases the need for PP. Brave Bird has 15 (Max. 24(?)) whilst Drill Peck has 20 (Max. 32), and so drill peck will let you last a little longer.

[Spriter]

Honestly, I'm sure this has been asked before but I'll ask it anyway. When one puts a team together, what is it exactly that one looks for when putting together 6 pokemon? Synergy to cover one another's typings is one thing but what else?

A combination of synergy and making sure you aren't majorly weak to a certain type, and being able to take on most of the metagame (OU, UU, RU etc.) is ideal.

[Reluctant Wailord]

True, but realistically speaking, who's going to be able to OHKO Skarmory in a single hit? You'd need a fairly heavy hitter with a couple of boosts behind them to do that.
PP, for me, is never the problem. A battle rarely ever turns into a war of attrition, for me. Furthermore, while Drill Peck has more PP, Brave Bird is more powerful. Considering Skarmory's attack, and frequency of attack, every hit has to count.

[quack98]

What can OHKO skarmory?

CB Infernape flare blitz has a chance of OHKOing 252/252+ Skarmory.

Jolteons thunderbolt OHKOs 252/252+ (specially defensive) Skarmory.

Spec Politoed Hydro pump in rain OHKOs specially defensive Skarmory.

These are all situational, yes, but better than nothing. Now let's flip it. What can Skarmory do?

Breloom is OHKO'd by either move, but Brave bird would deal a third recoil.

Ferrothorn is 5HKO'd by Brave Bird, and 9HKO'd by Drill Peck (252/48 Ferrothorn with Leftovers)

Heatran (Common Taunter, 248/8) is 9HKO'd by Brave Bird, and 10-11HKO'd by Drill Peck.

Jellicent (Another common Taunter 252/36) is 3-4HKO'd by Brave Bird or 4-5HKO'd by Drill Peck

Most of the time, drill peck is either marginally worse, or the same, or it's not worth attacking anyway, and you should just switch.

[Reluctant Wailord]

Fair deuce, I see your point.My thanks for your patience.
I'm willing to ignore anything highly situational, though, given that the team's just going to be for pubbing, and a few friendly matches with some friends. I'll get to work on its EVs, then.
Unless you want to recommend a different spread?

[quack98]

Nah, your spread looks fine! Specially defensive is normally the way to go, to ease blows from the hidden hp fires!

[Reluctant Wailord]

Yeah, I figured upping defense would be overkill, and I wasn't sacrificing HP. Anyway, many thanks - I shall be making use of Super Training. Oh Super Training, how I love thee.

[SirBlaziken]

Wailord, I think Brave bird is the right move. The extra power can sometimes make a difference. Plus, Stab at 120 BP.

Just wait for Richard.

[quack98]

^Saying it 'can sometimes make the difference' doesn't quite cut it when choosing a move. Back it up with calculations of exactly when it's going to make that difference. Remembering of course Skarmory should only be attacking when under taunt anyways, or if the opponent is Breloom.

[SirBlaziken]

Still, wrong Richard.


Read this, it's Smogon, many sets suggested are from this site, this is useful info IMO.

http://www.smogon.com/bw/pokemon/skarmory