Tips on Building a solid team

[Summer]

Okay, so you've heard about the Reborn League and want to take it on with your very own team. Here's yer helpful advice.

One thing you should know about the League is NOT EVERY BATTLE IS A SINGLES BATTLE. Meaning, you could possibiliy face a doubes or triples match. Hardy is a great example.

Moveset

While Making your team, you have to decide which move is actually worth having and which move would backfire. Examples of this scenarios are Earthquake and Uproar. Earthquake can do massive damage to two enemies at once, at the same time; doing damage to your alley. But, with the right abilites and right typings, this threat can be avoided. We'll come to that later. Uproar is a unique move that does damage to a random Pokemon on the field. With luck, it could do massive damage, but in the world of competitive battling, you can't afford to have Luck. Moves like these are not to be even considered, unless you happen to be extremely lucky. Some moves do not rely on the speed of the Pokemon itself, but it's PRIORITY instead. These moves allow the user to go in a fixed order depending on the priority points instead. A +1 Priority move would allow the user to move first, as shown in +1. A -6 priority move would force the user to go last. Some moves depends on the status of the target (Dream Eater, Hex). Some move causes additional effects. Moves like this can either cripple the target (Scald with 30% Burn effect) or boost your stats (Flame Charge with +1 speed) <more on="" stats="" soon.=""> Some moves do not even do direct damage. Some examples are Poison Gas (Poison effect) and the Recover (Heals 50% of your total Health Points). These moves either boost your Pokemon/Entire Team, or cripple the target/Target's team. A famous cripple combo would be the Spike (When switched in, does Damage to Pokemon that do not have the Levitate Ability, or the Flying Type)+ Poison Spike (When switched in Poisons/Badly Poisons Pokemon that do not have the Levitate Ability, or the Flying and Steel Type) and the Stealth Rocks (Does Damage to Pokemon when switched in). There fore, it is important to first determine if your Pokemon is based on firepower/Cripple/Booster.)

Abilities and Types

This is an interesting section. Pokemons are gifted with many types of Abilities and different types. This itself is an advantage and disadvantage at the same time. Some Pokemon are able to have two different types at once, examples are the notable Bulbasaur (Grass/Poison). With different types come different results. Some types are effective against each other (It's super effective!), while some types do not do effective results with one another (It's not very effective...) This enhances my points of disadvantages and advantages. You should be able to find a list of comparability with each type. The effectiveness of a move depends heavily on the target's type. For example, Toxic does not work on steel types. This makes Toxic completely unusable and thus rendering the user with only 3 moves. (More on Update)

Stats

Stats are the main power-points of a Pokemon. With a high Attack/Special Attack stat comes highly offensive attacks while high HP/Defense/ Special Defense help the Pokemon take hits without bulging. High speed means... High speed? Of course, it would be great if a Pokemon had all of the stats at its highest point, but, Pokemon like these are called Legendary for a reason.

(More on Update)

That's all I'll be typing, cause currently I'm unable to use my computer and my phone's not the best typing material. I'll update this when possible. Meanwhile... Tips? c:</more>

Edited August 23, 2012 by Summer

[Noivy]

I made the worst mistake that most challengers could make; I put 3 fire types on my league team. Why was I not pummeled by the Rock and Ground leaders? Because I know how my team worked. Why was I walled by Amy for so long? Because I had only one weather setter, as well as my team being 2/3rds weak to water. With league, you just got to "play your cards correctly"

[Summer]

This brings me to the unrealiable Luck factor.

Just noticed you either beat the League or badges ded. Congrats.

[FraRPetO]

Surprise the leaders, do the unexpected and everything will work just fine

[Guest]

Might want to go into versatility too.

[Ikaru]

This was taken from a topic of someone questioning some of the rules of the league, but I feel like I made some pretty relevant examples here:

If 9 people are able to defeat it (One of them was one battle away from beating it 2 times), then anyone can do it.

10. But yes, it is entirely possible, and for some, extremely easy.

Finishing the league is a matter of having a team that you can work with without changing the moves. Does your team HAVE to be a triples team? No. Does it have to WORK in triples? Yes.

Allow me! <3

Clear Bell (Bronzong) @ Light Clay
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 152 Atk / 4 Def / 100 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Gyro Ball
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Stealth Rock

Kabutops 2.0 (Carracosta) (M) @ Liechi Berry
Trait: Sturdy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Shell Smash
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge

Standard, right? Lead with Bronzong and set up screens to allow Carracosta to come in, Shell Smash safely, and sweep dem single battles like no tomorrow.

Clear Bell (Bronzong) @ Light Clay
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 152 Atk / 4 Def / 100 SDef
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Gyro Ball
- Light Screen
- Reflect
- Stealth Rock

Kabutops 2.0 (Carracosta) (M) @ White Herb
Trait: Solid Rock
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature (+Def, -Spd)
- Shell Smash
- Aqua Jet
- Waterfall
- Stone Edge

Abiding by the restrictions set upon moves, I instead alter everything else on Carracosta, which is perfectly fine.

What's this? We now have a massive tank with further amplified defenses thanks to Bronzong's Light Screen and Reflect? Whoa, that's pretty useful in double and triple battles!

Kairyu (Dragonite) (F) @ Leftovers
Trait: Multiscale
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Fire Punch
- Roost

That's one sexy Dragonite, isn't it? Oh no, here comes Hardy with his Trick Room, my team is too fast, what do I do?! D:

Kairyu (Dragonite) (F) @ Iron Ball
Trait: Multiscale
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature (+Atk, -Spd)
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Fire Punch
- Roost

End result with 0 speed IVs: 74 speed. Problem solved, and the moves remain the same.

If people read the main League page, it very clearly says the following:

And that's an image, not a copy-paste. People shouldn't get mad when they weren't challenged to a single battle, because it's not up to them. In making your team for the league, this should be brought into consideration. "Should I use Stone Edge when I could use Rock Slide instead and be less helpless in triple battles?" "Is Surf a good idea when I could end up hurting myself? Maybe I could deal with Hydro Pump instead, or even Scald?" "I have Earthquake on every Pokemon, I won't stand a chance!"

[Leon]

I may be new, but one of the things I've found in competitive play is that too many people rely on the 'science' or 'math' of the game. Personally, I'm the type of person to say trust in yourself and have fun. I'm not a professional by any means, but I did manage to beat one of the Gym Leaders after so many told me it was too focused on Singles. Well, just try hard and you can persevere, as I did. Besides, what better way to improve your skills than finding a way to utilize your skills and regular team to overcome the challenges of the League? That's part of the fun and the challenge, at least for me anyways.

[Ysera]

Tip 24# Know your team, be your team.

It's important to make a good first impression, so make sure you highlight your strength.

Solid Nicknames. Solid Moveset. Solid Team. Solid.

You see, you need to love your team before someone can love it.

I love my team and, well, the winning comes running.

[FraRPetO]

^well said

You have to know your team and trust on the team, and they'll do wonders

Ikaru made some nice adds too, changing EVs in an effective way + items, that's how you can get the upper hand

[Patrick]

My simple advice is know your team, and in some cases study you opponents team. What I mean by knowing your team is practice with it, makes some tweaks here and there if needed, and test and Singles, Doubles, and Triples. However studying and opponents team can help determine your strategy. Mine personally differs from leader to leader and it honestly took me 13 tries to beat Cal last season, but after constant planning i came out on top.

Little bit of last advice is changing items, EVs, IVs, and Natures. All can be changed in the league and all used to your advantage.

[Summer]

I'll do items, EVs+IVs, Natures and Stats another day.

Updated.

Nicknames, Impressions, teambuilding be a side project. I'm not exactly the most hardworking person here, meaning I might give up on this halfway. MIGHT. The topic title might be misread. What I wanted to show was how competitive Pokemon works. I can't find a way to change the title though. Oh well, that be all for now. Cya.

[Summer]

Updated.

Done MOVESETS.

Working on STATS.

[Summer]

Discontinuing this until inspirational event.