This is the team I use for Pokemon Shield, although it doesn't have any version exclusives so it could be used for Pokemon Sword as well. This team has a lot of my favorite Pokemon, it is balanced with a lot of typings, and has no type overlap. I didn't include a starter, because I don't like this Gen's starters very much, but you could easily swap Centiskorch for Cinderace, Inteleon for Blastoise, or Rillaboom for Toxtricity. Many of these Pokemon have GMax forms, and while they aren't necessary, they are cool to have. Use Max Soup or find them in Max Raid battles if you'd like.
Centiskorch @ Charti Berry
Ability: White Smoke
Nature: Adamant or Naughty
- Coil
- Fire Lash
- Leech Life
- Power Whip / Scald
Centiskorch is one of my favorite Pokemon ever, with a unique and crisp design. It's fire typing is useful for the first Grass Gym, the Ice Gym, and the many steel Pokemon you fight later in the game. Coil is a very useful status move learnt relatively early. It provides Attack and Defense boosts in addition to the accuracy boost that allows it to use low accuracy moves such as Power Whip. Fire Lash is an amazing physical STAB fire type move, probably the best in the game, as it lowers the opponents defense. Leech Life is extremely useful for regaining health as well as providing major STAB damage. Power Whip and Scald can each be used for coverage, Power Whip pairing nicely with Coil, and Scald providing burn chances to protect Centiskorch's low Defense. Although Centiskorch is a physical attacker, it also has a fairly high Special Attack, allowing it to use this move. The fire spin mechanic of its GMax Centiferno isn't all that crucial, but the form change is cool. Centiskorch could be swapped with Cinderace if you want to use a starter on your team. You can find Sizzlipede on Route 3 or in raids. Watch out for Rock types! use Charti Berries so you don't get OHKO'd.
Subs: Cinderace or Arcanine
Toxtricity @ Magnet
Ability: Punk Rock
Nature: Timid or Modest
- Volt Switch
- Overdrive
- Sludge Wave
- Boomburst
Toxtricity is a key member of this team, with poison and electric type moves taking out water, flying, and fairy types as its main purpose. Volt Switch is an amazing pivot move that allows Toxtricity to switch out while dealing major damage. Overdrive is a must, dealing epic STAB damage when combined with Toxtricity's high special attack and Punk Rock ability. Sludge Wave is extremely useful STAB for taking out fairy type Pokemon. Boomburst is an all around coverage move, with extremely high base power that is boosted to even greater heights by Punk Rock. Toxtricity's GMax Stun Shock is useful for paralyzing or poisoning foes, not to mention it looks dope. You can use this in pairing with Max Ooze to boost Special Attack first for some devastating sweeps. Toxtricity can be swapped for Rillaboom if you want to use a starter, so that you can still deal with water types. You are gifted Toxel on Route 5, or you can find it in raids. Use a Magnet to increase the power of Volt Switch and Overdrive, allowing you to take out mons more easily.
Subs: Rillaboom or Roserade
Blastoise @ Wise Glasses
Ability: Torrent
Nature: Modest or Impish
- Shell Smash
- Surf
- Aura Sphere
- Dragon Pulse
Blastoise! An amazing Pokemon, and could even be a symbolic one when you use another Gen 1 starter to take down Leon's Charizard. It is only found on the Isle of Armor though, so if you don't have the expansion pass you could use Lapras or Inteleon instead. Shell Smash is an insane status move, boosting Attack, Special Attack, and Speed all in one, providing setup for sweeps. Surf is a great STAB option, doing massive damage after a Shell Smash. Aura Sphere is a great option for coverage, and always hits so that's nice. Dragon Pulse is great for coverage, as it's only resisted by steel and fairy types. GMax Cannonade doesn't have that much of a benefit, but it certainly looks awesome. You are gifted Squirtle after the first stage in the Dojo Trials (you can go to the Isle of Armor after going to the Wild Area for the first time). Use Wise Glasses to up the power of Blastoise's special attacks.
Subs: Inteleon or Lapras
Hatterene @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Bounce if possible, otherwise use Healer
Nature: Modest
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Dazzling Gleam
- Mystical Fire
Hatterene is such a good Pokemon, with great bulk and offensive options. Its Magic Bounce ability is again great for dealing with status moves, although if you can't get one with a hidden ability, Healer works fine too. Calm Mind is great for setup, boosting Special Attack and Defense. Psyshock is useful for hitting Specially Defensive Pokemon with a special STAB move that hits physically. Dazzling Gleam is a great fairy STAB, especially useful in double battles. Mystical Fire is a great coverage move, and further capitalizes on Hatterene's high Special Defense by lowering the opponents Special Attack. GMax Smite is great with its confusion effect, as this allows for another status to be stacked with it. Hattena can be found at Motostoke Outskirts or in raids. Use Leftovers to regain health more often, as Hatterene is super slow and will get hit with attacks.
Subs: Grimsnarl or Gardevoir
Lucario @ Assault Vest
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Lonely, Naughty, Hasty, Naive, Mild, or Rash
- Aura Sphere
- Meteor Mash
- Ice Punch
- Dark Pulse
Lucario acts as a mixed sweeper, with a combo of super-effective coverage and STAB attacks that will make the opponents team pay. Aura Sphere is an amazing STAB move that takes use of Lucario's high Special Attack, and it is super reliable as it never misses. Meteor Mash is a great physical STAB steel option that can even raise Lucario's attack. Ice Punch is a great coverage move, sweeping through ground, grass, flying, and dragon types. Dark Pulse offers additional coverage, and varied special attack in the moveset. Riolu can be found in the Wild Area overworld or in raids. Use an Assault Vest to capitalize on the Special Defense boost when using only attacking moves.
Subs: Corviknight or Gallade
Dragapult @ Spell Tag
Ability: Clear Body
Nature: Lonely, Naughty, Mild, or Rash
- Dragon Darts
- Shadow Ball
- U-Turn
- Draco Meteor
Dragapult ties up the team as an amazing psuedo legendary and mixed attacker. While it doesn't become viable until it evolves into Drakloak at level 50, Dreepy can be found in rare raids after the first gym, so you don't have to wait until the end of the game to obtain it. Dragon Darts is a necessary physical STAB move with amazing power, and its own double battle mechanic. Who doesn't like hurling dragon babies! Shadow Ball is a great STAB ghost option for utilizing Dragapult's Special Attack stat. U-Turn is great for pivoting while dealing damage, and can erase the stat drops from Draco Meteor. Draco Meteor is an epic move that does massive damage, and although it lowers Dragapult's Special Attack, this can be ignored after a simple U-Turn. Dreepy can be found at the Lake of Outrage or in raids. Runerigus is another great option, as currently I haven't included a reliable way for dealing with electric types, but I enjoy having a psuedo-legendary on my team. Use Spell Tag to increase the damage output of Shadow Ball, because this is the weakest attack that Dragapult has.
Subs: Runerigus or Duraludon
I know this team has lots of checks and flaws, but I love playing with it, and I hope you do too! Enjoy!
