Rate my Team for Single Battles

Question

This is for single battles in Battle Spot.

Decidueye @ Assault Vest [URL="http://pokemondb.net/pokedex/decidueye"][IMG]https://img.pokemondb.net/sprites/sun-moon/dex/normal/decidueye.png[/IMG][/URL]
Ability: Overgrow
Nature: Serious
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
- Brave Bird (STAB, strong move)
- U-Turn (To help take care of Dark-type threats, also quick switch in case Decidueye is in trouble from a Dark-type opponent)
- Spirit Shackle (STAB, strong, prevents switching)
- Leaf Blade (STAB, strong move, best Grass-type physical move for Decidueye)

Lycanroc-Dusk @ Choice Band [URL="http://pokemondb.net/pokedex/zoroark"][IMG]https://img.pokemondb.net/sprites/x-y/normal/zoroark.png[/IMG][/URL]
Ability: Tough Claws
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Brick Break
- Crunch
- Stone-Edge (Strong move, STAB)
- Thunder Fang (I went with Thunder Fang to help eliminate Water-types that are SE against Lycanroc.)

Ampharos @ Leftovers [URL="http://pokemondb.net/pokedex/ampharos"][IMG]https://img.pokemondb.net/sprites/x-y/normal/ampharos.png[/IMG][/URL]
Ability: Static
Nature: Serious
EVs: 252 HP / 56 Def / 200 SpAtk
- Power Gem
- Discharge
- Signal Beam
- Cotton Guard (Raise Ampharos Def)

Salazzle @ Black Sludge [URL="http://pokemondb.net/pokedex/salazzle"][IMG]https://img.pokemondb.net/sprites/sun-moon/dex/shiny/salazzle.png[/IMG][/URL]
Ability: Corrosion
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpAtk / 252 SpD
- Flamethrower (Boosted by Nasty Plot, STAB, extremely strong)
- Nasty Plot (With Salazzle's high speed, it can Nasty Plot to boost Flamethrower's power)
- Toxic (To poison an opponent and boost Venoshock)
- Venoshock (When paired with Toxic, it's deadly)

Golisopod @ Suggestion? [URL="http://pokemondb.net/pokedex/golisopod"][IMG]https://img.pokemondb.net/sprites/sun-moon/dex/normal/golisopod.png[/IMG][/URL]
Ability: Emergency Exit
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 116 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Def / 96 SpD
- First Impression (Obvious choice, strong, priority +2, so always moves first)
- Liquidation (STAB, powerful, maybe replace with Scald?)
- Sucker Punch
- Aqua Jet (STAB, powerful move)

Zoroark @ Focus Sash [URL="http://pokemondb.net/pokedex/zoroark"][IMG]https://img.pokemondb.net/sprites/x-y/normal/zoroark.png[/IMG][/URL]
Ability: Illusion
Nature: Naive
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpAtk / 252 SpD
- Night Slash (STAB, extremely powerful, maybe replace with Foul Play for strong opponents?)
- U-Turn (Despite being a Dark-type, it can be good in case of threats to fast switch)
- Taunt (To prevent stallers)
- Focus Blast (Why not?)

Comments

This looks like a duplicate team. https://pokemondb.net/pokebase/rmt/48611/rate-my-battle-spot-team

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We’ll leave this one since it’s more recent and detailed.

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A big problem of this team is that the Pokemon you're using can do certain jobs, but other Pokemon can do their jobs better. Aegislash is a better tank than Decidueye, Tyranitar is a better sweeper than Lycanroc, Xurkitree is a better tank than Ampharos, Naganadel is a better sweeper than Salazzle, Volcarona is a better tank than Golisopod, and Greninja is a better sweeper than Zoroark.

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I dont want to use those Pokémon since they're a bit harder to obtain, plus I spent time training the 'mons I have. They can still win a battle if they're used right. Tanks for your feedback.!:)

Answer 1

• The Decidueye set is a cool idea, but this Pokémon’s niche lies primarily in its use of Swords Dance and Spirit Shackle to break walls and stall teams. Consider running a set like this instead, with Decidium Z and Speed investment.

• Brave Bird is one thing that should go for sure, though. It is not STAB, and offers little coverage as Flying is a mediocre offensive typing. Replacing this should make it easy to slot in Swords Dance.

• Similarly Choice Band Lycanroc is somewhat off-meta. The wallbreaking role is probably better left to Decidueye. The best Lycanroc sets involve Lycanium Z for offence and Focus Sash as a suicide lead.

• I feel similarly about the moves on Lycanroc. You’re missing out on important moves like Accelerock, Drill Run and Swords Dance by running weak moves like Brick Break and Thunder Fang, and Crunch which doesn’t cover much of note.

• With coverage moves, the best advice I can give is to think about more than just, ‘How many types can I fit into one set?’ and ‘How can I make this Pokémon cover its own weaknesses?’ It’s very easy to start doing this, but it usually leads you to making some pretty average move choices. For example, Thunder Fang is hardly stronger than Stone Edge on a super effective hit, and only Tough Claws is carrying it over the line there. They’re not really worth having, especially since the best play for Lycanroc when it faces a Water type, for example, will probably be to just switch out.

• Ampharos is totally outclassed unless you make it a Mega. It’s just a very slow Pokémon that doesn’t have any standout stats or move options to be relevant over something like Magnezone, Mega Manectric or Tapu Koko.

• Again with the move choices, Power Gem and Signal Beam won’t come before Discharge too often, especially since the latter is burdened by one of the worst offensive typings in the game. Volt Switch for building momentum, Dragon Pulse for STAB and Focus Blast for breaking the likes of Ferrothorn are good options for the Mega set. Agility is also a decent option, though whether it’s worth a Mega slot in BSS is debatable — you might as well run Salamence.

• Salazzle’s set is feels to me like an awkward mix of support and offence, to the point it’s really not great at either. I’d choose one or the other, though in Battle Spot you have quite a few better options for both roles at your disposal — Blaziken, Volcarona, Naganadel and Toxapex come to mind.

• For support I’d add something like Taunt or Encore over Nasty Plot, and use some HP and Speed investment. For offence, Sludge Wave is more consistent and doesn’t require a turn of setup like Venoshock — though Toxic might be worth keeping to ward off defensive Pokémon that think Salazzle will be a free switch-in.

• Golisopod looks solid, though I’m curious what your aim is with the EV spread. The set scatters quite a few points’ worth of investment, but that could be good if there are particular threats you have in mind.

• Sucker Punch might overlap a bit too much with First Impression in its playstyle. Leech Life is a consideration for the spot, as it’s a handy way to recover health and control Emergency Exit. For the item, Choice Band would be my personal recommendation, if you do take it off Lycanroc. Otherwise, Leftovers or a plate item would work.

• Zoroark’s set is odd. Again the mix of defence and offence is questionable — drop the Special Defence EVs for starters, Zoroark does not have remotely good enough stats to justify the investment, nor a particularly good defensive typing. Speed is generally more helpful.

• If you want to go physically oriented, Sucker Punch or Knock Off are both better than Night Slash. (Base 70 power really isn’t that great, especially without the massive upside Sucker Punch has.) Low Kick is an option threaten to things like Heatran that aren’t very scared of this set — Flamethrower could be similarly good if you want to stay mixed, as there are plenty of other Steel types to hit in BSS.

Comments

You're not going to suggest replacing any of these Pokemon? Some of them have clearly better alternatives.

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I did mention a few things about Ampharos and Salazzle, which I think are the most questionable choices. I just think it’s better to explain how individual sets can be improved than to say, ‘here I replaced your entire team for you’.

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I used your suggestions, Fizz. Here is the new team! Thanks for taking the time to review my team.

Decidueye @ Decidium Z
Ability: OVergrow
Nature: Serious
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Speed
- Swords Dance
- U-Turn
- Spirit Shackle
- Leaf Blade

Lycanroc-Dusk @ Choice Band (Leaving it on, what would be better? I can't use Lycanium Z because Decidueye is running its Z-Move instead)
Ability: Tough Claws
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
- Accelerock
- Drill Run
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge

Ampharos @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
Nature: Serious
EVs: 252 HP / 56 Def / 200 SpAtk
- Volt Switch/Discharge
- Focus Blast
- Dragon Pulse
- Agility (To speed it up since its *slow*)

Salazzle @ Black Sludge
Ability: Corrosion
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpAtk / 252 Speed
- Flamethrower
- Encore
- Sludge Wave
- Toxic

Golisopod @ Leftovers
Ability: Emergency Exit
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 116 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Def / 96 SpD (EV spread based on ideal EVs for Golisopod on this site)
- First Impression
- Liquidation
- Sucker Punch
- Aqua Jet

Zoroark @ ?
Ability: Illusion
Nature: Naive
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpAtk / 252 Speed
- Sucker Punch
- Low Kick
- Flamethrower
- Taunt

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I thought the purpose of the RMT was to make each team as good as possible.

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And that's what I did
Please give constructive feedback, thanks.! :)

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@sumwun Maybe. I think it also has to do with what is going to be most helpful to the person, which may not always be to effectively give them a new team.
@pokellector I understand you’re pretty dead set on using the selection of Pokémon you have, but just keep in mind they’re not really optimal for BSS. If you want an idea of what’s meta-relevant, see this thread: http://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/bss-viability-rankings.3605970/
As above I’m not going to outright replace everything, but I’d still look into alternative options over Ampharos and Salazzle. I mentioned some in the original post. These are the two that really have no niche in the meta, as they’re outclassed completely by other options.

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I can replace Salazzle with Blaziken. Ampharos can be replaced with Xurkitree.