Only just started my new save, but I have a team in mind. There is a big stipulation though, I can only have Pokemon I've never used before. I've played through every generation from 4 to 8 in the last year and a bit, so there are a fair amount of Pokemon I can't choose.
Here's the team, with some potential alternatives listed below...
Decidueye "Damian"
Nature: Serious
Ability: Overgrow
Type: Grass and Ghost
Move 1: Swords Dance/Acrobatics
Move 2: Spirit Shackle
Move 3: Shadow Sneak
Move 4: Leaf Blade
In my two playthroughs of Alola, I used Incineroar for both. While primarina looks okay, I think Decidueye is the better choice. Ghost is one of my favourite types, so that was also a deciding factor.
As for the moveset, it's pretty standard, nothing extremely out of the ordinary. I'll have to progress further in the game to really see if Swords Dance is better suited to Decidueye, or if the extra coverage with Acrobatics is more useful. Seeing as it has a neutral nature I could always go mixed, but physical was my idea from the start.
Shadow Sneak is also great as while Alola is a pretty slow region in terms of stats, there are still things that out-speed Decidueye.
Zoroark "Bray"
Nature: Bold
Ability: Illusion
Type: Dark
Move 1: Protect/Calm Mind/Toxic/U-Turn
Move 2: Night Daze
Move 3: Flamethrower
Move 4: Grass Knot/U-Turn
For Dark types, Scrafty and Krookodile are out of the equation. Zoroark has been one of my favourite Pokemon since Black and White, however I've never used it - mainly because, seeing as I'm usually 5-10 levels under the Elite Four when I face them, I like having Pokemon with over 70 in their Defences. However with said restraints, principles need to be abandoned.
Protect is great for Zoroark, as it gives you a free turn to see if they have anything that is super effective against you. Calm Mind might be an option but the Special Attack is already great. Toxic is fantastic for Totem Pokemon, as you can effectively play a waiting game. U-Turn might be good for Zoroark too, despite the set being Special Attack based.
Night Daze is a given, and Flamethrower is a fantastic coverage option which makes up for an otherwise lacklustre attacking movepool. Grass Knot is good for coverage too, and might be great for doing serious damage on the Elite Four Pokemon, seeing as they'll be fully evolved, and, in theory, heavier.
Eviolite Magneton "NWO"
Nature: Modest
Ability: Magnet Pull
Type: Steel and Electric
Move 1: Light Screen/Charge Beam
Move 2: Reflect/Thunder Wave
Move 3: Thunderbolt
Move 4: Flash Cannon
As of posting this, Magnemite is the last Pokemon I've actually caught. This inclusion, however, is dubious. I've used Magnezone many times, but never had an Eviolite Magneton on my team. I think it counts as one I've never used before. The typing, Defences with Eviolite, and big Special Attack make it an incredibly good Pokemon.
My stupid ass thought for a second I can give Light Clay to Eviolite Magneton to make full use out of the Dual Screens. I still think the standard five turns is good though, give me even further protection for Magneton, or another Pokemon I switch to. Thunderbolt needs no explanation, neither does Flash Cannon, two strong STAB moves to make use of the great Special Attack.
Clawitzer "Mankind"
Nature: Anything that lowers Attack
Ability: Mega Launcher
Type: Water
Move 1: Dark Pulse
Move 2: Dragon Pulse
Move 3: Water Pulse
Move 4: Aura Sphere
Clawitzer is another personal favourite. The design, Special Attack, decent bulk and amazing ability catch my eye. It was either this or Gyarados, but Clawitzer's better power and ability edge it for me. Golduck, Kingdra and Swampert are unavailable.
The moveset is the most obvious one on the team. Every move gets a 50% bonus, making the "weakest" one 120 power, which, coupled with the big Special Attack, is enough to KO opponents, despite likely moving second.
Arcanine "Roman"
Nature: Anything Neutral
Ability: Intimidate preferably
Type: Fire
Move 1: Will-O-Wisp
Move 2: Extremespeed
Move 3: Flamethrower
Move 4: Wild Charge/Iron Head
Alola isn't too blessed in terms of great fire types, even more so seeing as I've used Chandelure, Incineroar, Eviolite Magmar and Delphox before. Arcanine is amazing in terms of stats, but on the underwhelming side when it comes to available moves.
Speaking of movesets, Will-O-Wisp is something I tend to use with Fire types just for the additional Physical bulk. While Arcanine does have a really solid 95 base Speed, Extremespeed is a good option for some quicker opponents out there. Flamethrower is there as I'm not a fan of recoil moves like Flare Blitz, and, additionally, I'd rather not wait until such a high level with Growlithe on my team. The last slot is up for grabs. Wild Charge does have recoil but it's not as much as Flare Blitz, and will do well against Water and Flying types. Iron Head can take care of Fairy and Rock types. All depends on what kind of coverage I want.
Machamp "Brock Lesnar"
Nature: Anything that lowers Special Attack
Ability: Guts
Type: Fighting
Move 1: Brick Break
Move 2: Facade
Move 3: Fire Punch/Thunder Punch/Stomping Tantrum
Move 4: Ice Punch/Poison Jab/Knock Off
Machamp is something I've surprisingly never used. However, it with Guts and Flame Orb is just too good to turn down. Basically a Life Orb but less damage taken each turn. Huge attack, good HP and solid Defences make it a great addition, very similar to Clawitzer in some regards. Unavailable fighting types are Scrafty and Lucario.
Brick Break with Guts boost is better than No Guard Cross Chop, not to mention the extra effect of breaking Screens and extra PP. Facade is ridiculous with Flame Orb and an Attack boost, and serves as a great, mostly neutral option. The third and fourth slots are up for grabs. The elemental punches are always handy to have. However Stomping Tantrum is good for covering Electric types that may prove to be a threat. Poison Jab can take out Grass and Fairy types, and Knock Off is great for the added effects, as well as covering Ghost and Psychic types.
While that is likely my final team, I do have some other Pokemon in mind, that could perhaps come in and replace Arcanine and Machamp. These are the following.
~ Aerodactyl: Fly - Rock Slide - Iron Head - Stealth Rock
~ Mudsdale: Earthquake - Heavy Slam - Rock Slide/Low Kick - Payback/Low Kick
~ Hawlucha: Swords Dance/Hone Claws - High Jump Kick - Ice Punch/Thunder Punch - Iron Head/Poison Jab
~ Gigaligh: Stealth Rock/Protect - Rock Slide - Iron Head - Toxic/Stomping Tantrum
~ Comfey: Toxic - Leech Seed - Giga Drain - Moonblast
If anyone has experience of using the listed Pokemon in game, and is willing to suggest what the best choices are, that would be great! The stipulation of not being able to use Pokemon I've had before makes it a challenge, but a fun one nonetheless!
