RMT... new to competitive battling

[WebbBLAST]

Hi everyone! I am completely new to the idea of competitive battling and this is the very first time I have ever raised a team while considering things such as natures and EV training. I'm sure I don't quite grasp the idea as fully as I'd like just yet and I'm trying to fill in some of my teams holes.

Tell me what you think; words of advice always appreciated!

Empoleon
Left Overs/Life Orb/ Choice Specs
Modest Nature
EV = 156 Hp, 252 Sp Att, 100 Speed

-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Flash Cannon/Grass Knot
-Stealth Rock


Gengar
Left Overs/Life Orb/ Choice Specs
Timid Nature
EV = 252 Sp Att, 4 Def, 252 Speed

-Shadow Ball
-Sludge Bomb
-Thunder Bolt
-Psychic/Focus Blast


Salamence
Left Overs/Life Orb
EV = 252 Sp Att, 4 Def, 252 Speed

-Dragon Pulse/Draco Meteor
-Hydro Pump
-Flame Thrower/Fire Blast
-Roost


Scizor (Technician)
Life Orb
Adamant Nature
EV = 248 Hp, 252 Attack, 8 Speed

-Bullet Punch
-Swords Dance
-Brick Break
-Roost


Tyranitar
Left Overs/Life Orb/Choice Band
Adamant Nature
EV = 252 Hp, 252 Attack, 4 Def

-Crunch
-Stone Edge
-Earth Quake
-Agua Tail/Avalanche/Super Power


Garchomp
Left Overs/Life Orb/Choice Band
EV = 252 Attack, 4 Def, 252 Speed

-Outrage
-Stone Edge
-Earth Quake
-Swords Dance

[Starkipraggy]

1. Garchomp is in Ubers.

2. Since you're new, you shouldn't play a hyperoffensive team; replace Garchomp and Empoleon for Blissey and Swampert since Empoleon has a not very good set and also Swampert can Stealth Rock (SR) better.

3. Tyranitar should have Choice Band. Also consider Pursuit for the last slot. Gengar should have Choice Specs.

4. Get the standard Dragon Dance Salamence instead for a solid late-game sweeper or a Mixmence to break walls.

[WebbBLAST]

Thanks for the response! I am hoping for some clarity about Empoleon vs Swampert. What is it exactly that makes Swampert a better Stealth-Rocker? Are Swampert's defenses that much better, or is it Swampert's lack of weaknesses to anything other than grass type moves?

I know that both pokemon have access to some of the same moves (Stealth Rock, Protect, Icebeam, Surf) and I guess I haven't figured out what makes either poke a superior lead over the other.

[pokemonfanboy2000]

Well i would say to keep empoleon for his part steel advantage with ice beam you can take down grass type flying type pokemon.
But if you put swampert in for Example
Empoleon SR
Roserade/jumpluff/butterfree use sleep powder if the empoleon has bthe berry to wake it up then it will wake up and use ice beam.




Swampert SR
Roserade leaf storm Rose rade is hoolding a Choice scarf so its faster does more damage Swampert OHKO

So for that id go with empoleon holding A berry that wakes it up forgot what it was called but you know what i meen.

[Incandescent]

Originally Posted by pokemonfanboy2000

Well i would say to keep empoleon for his part steel advantage with ice beam you can take down grass type flying type pokemon.
But if you put swampert in for Example
Empoleon SR
Roserade/jumpluff/butterfree use sleep powder if the empoleon has bthe berry to wake it up then it will wake up and use ice beam.




Swampert SR
Roserade leaf storm Rose rade is hoolding a Choice scarf so its faster does more damage Swampert OHKO

So for that id go with empoleon holding A berry that wakes it up forgot what it was called but you know what i meen.

Your scenario is quite unlikely but it does sort of prove a point. Why would Butterfree be in OU, and what if they just used a grass attack? Sleep Powder is useful, but the berry coming into play is alot less likely.

and garchomp be-ith uber.

[pokemonfanboy2000]

But the best replacement for your empoleon would be:


Forretress /Relaxed/Shed Shell / Leftovers

~ Spikes / Toxic Spikes
~ Rapid Spin
~ Gyro Ball / Payback
~ Earthquake / Explosion
Ivs 0
evs 252 HP / 112 Atk / 144 Def

[Ayotui]

Originally Posted by pokemonfanboy2000

But the best replacement for your empoleon would be:


Forretress /Relaxed/Shed Shell / Leftovers

~ Spikes / Toxic Spikes
~ Rapid Spin
~ Gyro Ball / Payback
~ Earthquake / Explosion
Ivs 0
evs 252 HP / 112 Atk / 144 Def

if youre gonna go with that set:

Forretress /Relaxed/Shed Shell / Leftovers

~ stealth rock
~ Rapid Spin
~ Gyro Ball
~ toxic spikes
speed Ivs 0
evs 252 HP / 112 Atk / 144 Def

spikes is useless in this metagame

[Starkipraggy]

I picked Swampert because Swampert can serve as a physical tank, a Phazer, and packs enough of a punch to scare off Pokemon, yet at the same time it can Stealth Rock. Empoleon can't really do that given that it's weak to Ground and Fighting, common Physical Attack types. Empoleon as a Special Tank is viable though. Your mileage for Forretress may vary since you don't really need Rapid Spin and Toxic Spikes support.