Pokémon Rate My Team
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Hey there.
So I played a lot of VGC 2015 and 16, but I am just too confused on how to play VGC this generation. Here is a team that I recently made and would like rating.

TEAMBUILDING:

So I'm not gonna make this bit fancy with pictures or anything, I'm kinda low on time rn. Anyway, I started with a core of Tapu Koko/Marowak-A/Xurkitree, a core my friend had relative success with in the past. However, as I realised that Marowak would probably be quite key, and it was slow, I swapped the tree for a Vikavolt, giving both speed control and a ground immunity. Nest I felt that I needed to add a garchomp counter, so I added salamence. Add in Primarina for some bulky coverage/utility, and a Nihilego for death to faries, and my team was complete.

THE TEAM:

Tapu Koko @ Life Orb
Ability: Electric Surge
Level: 50
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Protect
- Dazzling Gleam
- Hidden Power [Ice]
So this guy makes the team go round. I started with him, as I think that its speed and its great coverage make it a great addition to the team. It also brings electric terrain. It is a pretty standard set, with dazzling gleam mainly for the spread damage, T-bolt for some stab, HP ice for Garchomps, a big threat to this team.

Marowak-Alola @ Thick Club
Ability: Lightning Rod
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 180 Atk / 4 Def / 68 SpD / 4 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Shadow Bone
- Bonemerang
- Detect
This is also quite a key addition to this team. In my opinion, he is the main member, and the team is built around him. Tapu Koko counters its huge Gyarodos weakness, so already with that gone this guy can do damage realtively safely. It is standard set but with a little less speed as I do not need this if I bring Vikavolt. Its attacks are mainly for stab, with bonemerang giving helpful Ground coverage against other kokos.

Vikavolt @ Iapapa Berry
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 68 Def / 28 SpA / 156 SpD / 4 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- String Shot
- Bug Buzz
- Thunderbolt
- Protect
This guy is super-interesting. Its EV set allows it to be strong and live hits, but also deal out damage. String shot is awesome, giving -2 speed to BOTH opponents is an amazing utility. Iapapa berry over sitrus as this guy can tank hits for days, and so can be at 25% health regularly. Other than that, pretty self-explanatory.

Salamence @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Fly
- Dragon Claw
- Protect
This guy is my main killer of other dragons/tanks, as its Z-move allows it to hit INCREDIBLY hard. Also, Dragon dance lets it kill almost anything in the meta, and along with a jolly nature, outspeeds them too. Dragon claw>Outrage so that I am never locked into a Dragon move against a fairy type, being locked in is quite bad anyway.

Primarina @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Torrent
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 188 SpA / 44 SpD / 20 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Moonblast
- Encore
- Protect
Standard set, enough bulk to survive hits and enough offence to deal hits out. 20 Speef to just outspeed a standard Celesteela, and lock it in to something useless like protect with encore. Other than that, I have scald to get some burns, and moonblast to deal out some hits. Sitrus is there so that this thing can live longer.

Nihilego @ Focus Sash
Ability: Beast Boost
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Protect
- Sludge Bomb
- Power Gem
- Hidden Power [Ice]
While I LOVE Nihilego, I must admit it is frail as hell. So, to counter this, I run a focus sash>Scarf, and this also lets me choose my moves. Nihilego lets me kill many threatening faries, along with HP Ice to kill some dragons. This thing is a great lead, but can also be used to clean up late game if requires.

CONCLUSION:

To conclude, I would like to ask you to rate my team sensibly, and maybe even give tips with the VGC meta, as I am new to VGC2017.

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Do Will-o-Wisp instead of Detect on Alolan Marowak. It halves Attack Stat and does some damage between turns. Nice team though!
On Marowak, why do you have detect instead of protect? Protect is the same in every way except that it has more PP. Also, why do some of your Pokemon have 4 speed EVs? If you're not trying to outspeed anything in particular, you should have more EVs in attack stats.
I'm pretty sure there is a reason to use detect but i don't remember right now
According to Bulbapedia, its only other differences are that it's fighting type and it raises evasion when used as a z-move.
It's possibly for Imprison, but that's a fairly niche use.

1 Answer

0 votes

So while this team is strong, there is a gaping hole with the fact that
A) opposing marowak will eat you alive. With two electric types, lightning rod will wreck you. Furthermore, vikavolt can't out speed the two most powerful fire types, marowak and arcanine. If they run a groundium z chomp, your koko will be ohko'd. Solution: get rid of Koko, replace with something like a garchomp. Then you can hit with earthquake discharge combos.
B) In the meta, the most common core is Fini + Kartana + Arcanine. Here is the problem: kartana can ohko 3 of your members, and the ones that aren't countered can easily be hit hard with another Pokémon.
C) you're going to want a trick room countering option either by running a slow Pokémon (vikavolt is a great option) or taunt.
D) you'll want a weather setter to counter other weather options. A ninetails can hit with 100% acc. blizzards and can set up an Arouca veil, which beefs up your defense, so you can either go hardcore tanks, or move Ev's elsewhere.
E) I am sorry, but a kartana with f sash complete outclasses your nihilego. Better coverage, faster, and stronger. Please replace it.
Sorry about being harsh, but the current meta would wreck you. I would suggest going to trainertower.com and check it out. Especially the usage stats and meta snapshots. I hope you do well, honestly. And I'm done!

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