New to competitive, some advice needed after some experience

Question

Introduction
Hello everyone, I've started learning about competitive pokémon battling recently and decided to try out a team to begin with. I have tried it out for a while now, and can already tell my win ratio is around 50% mostly because of some specific threats and so I would like some advice on how I can make my team better.
Some of the problems I've found for this team are fire types (mostly Talonflame, Heatran and Mega Charizard Y), Mega Gyarados and other bulky types (such as Ground and Steel)

Format and style
My team fits the USUM OU criteria. It's supposed to be a balanced team, dishing damage while also being able to take hits.

The team

*Toxapex @ Black Sludge
Regenerator ; Calm
252 HP/8 Def/248 SpD
- Recover
- Toxic Spikes
- Scald
- Haze*

Works as a lead, setting Toxic Spikes. Has Regenerator, Black Sludge and Recover to further help its survivability. Takes damage nicely, and helps out with coverage with Scald. Haze is the last move to help with late game sweepers.
Personally, I feel as if Toxic Spikes is not helpful most of the time, which is making me consider to change it to Toxic if this pokémon is to stay on the team.

*Gliscor @ Toxic Orb
Poison Heal ; Jolly
244 HP/152 SpD/112 Spe
- Defog
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Roost*

Helping out mostly as support, Gliscor has Poison Heal, Toxic Orb and Roost to help it survive. Defog gives it the most usage, being able to remove entry hazards. Earthquake is a nice coverage, and Knock Off helps out sometimes.
To me, this pokémon is not reliable in terms of speed against certain threats (mostly fire types) and its crippling weakness makes it quite vulnerable. I feel like changing the EV distribution might be a must for this one if its to be kept.

*Kartana @ Choice Band
Beast Boost ; Jolly
4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
- Leaf Blade
- Knock Off
- Smart Strike
- Sacred Sword*

Glass cannon, hits really hard, dies super fast. Currently it's the pokémon I'm mostly unsatisfied with, since its speed isn't always reliable. The movepool helps out with coverage mostly. Considering replacing Choice Band for Choice Scarf or Focus Sash if I keep it.

*Venusaur M @ Venusaurite
Thick Fat ; Calm
248 HP/88 Def/156 SpD/16 Spe
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis
- HP Fire
- Leech Seed*

Great tank. I feel as if it lacks a Grass Stab (maybe Giga Drain), so I'm considering replacing Leech Seed or Synthesis, if I keep it.

*Clefable @ Leftovers
Magic Guard ; Bold
252 HP/252 Def/4 SpD
- Stealth Rock
- Soft-Boiled
- Moonblast
- Wish*

Very reliable tank and support. Sets hazards, heals itself and others, and packs a punch with Moonblast. Synergizes well with the rest of the team.

*Reuniclus @ Leftovers
Magic Guard ; Bold
252 HP/212 Def/44 Spe
- Calm Mind
- Acid Armor
- Psychic
- Recover*

A true beast. Has great survivability and potential. Not much else that I have perceived.

Comments

Use a Choice Scarf with Kartana. Give Kartana Leaf Blade rather than Smart Strike :P

Also, use Toxic instead of Toxic Spikes on Toxapex.

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Thanks for the help, I'll try your suggestions, but Kartana already has Leaf Blade though...

Answer 1

For toxapex if you were to have it with the moves toxic and venoshock the power of venoshock is boosted to 130 and the poisoned foe is exactly that...poisoned, badly.
The rest of your pokemon are good but remember using a status boosting move uses your turn and if your pokemon is slow or doesn’t have the best Defense it will be knocked out quite easily especially if it’s weakness is exploited. Moves that paralyse, burn and freeze your pokemon etc. are always useful or moves with secondary effects like ice fang or thunderbolt.

When building your team I would record
-one terrain or self stat boosting move
-one attack with a secondary effect (of the Pokémon’s type to gain STAB)
-attack of Pokémon’s secondary type/type
-attack of different type

I hope this helps a bit, your current team is okay all-round, but definitely replace toxic spikes with toxic (even if you don’t teach toxapex venoshock this can come in handy)

Comments

Stat-raising moves aren't always necessary because sometimes Pokemon have to be able to hit an opponent immediately and not spend a turn raising a stat. Also, attacks with secondary effects are usually unreliable and not much better than attacks without those additional effects.

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You make valid points, but I put the moves with additional effect there not because I’m counting on the additional effects but because in my opinion a lot of them are actually good moves, and the effects can just be an added bonus:
Thunderbolt
Ominous wind
Ice beam/fang
Some moves even have an additional effect with 100% chance:
Mystical fire (burn)
Power up punch (Atk raise)
Nuzzle (paralysis, not that it’s a good move just and example) etc.

As for the stat raising move, yes it can be replaced with a move for most Pokemon. However for some Pokemon (like Alolan Raichu or the Tapu’s) a terrain is recommended. And the stat raising moves can be a big help if you have time to raise your power (like swords dance for maxing out quickly).

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First, this is not a team rate, so it shouldn't be an answer.
Stat-raising moves are sometimes useful, just not always. Also, people rarely NEED attacks with secondary effects. Some Pokemon work just fine with attacks like earthquake and hidden power. Thunderbolt, ice beam, and ice fang are good moves, but only because they're strong and have a specific type. If they had no secondary effect, then people would still use them. Ominous wind, on the other hand, is garbage in OU because there's no good reason to use it when shadow ball is so much better. Mystical fire and nuzzle may be good moves, but people rarely use them because no good Pokemon can learn them.