Introduction
Disclaimer: I'm italian and my english is not perfect, so there could be errors in the text even if I will check a hundred times. Please be gentle.
Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and I wanted to present you this flying-type team that I created nearly two weeks ago. Everything started with a for-fun team using every generation base normal/flying-type pokemon. There I saw how good staraptor could be and decided to delete the other pokemons to build a serious team. On the current day after playing for a week with this team I gained nearly 200 points in the ladder, going from about 1100 to about 1300 and I saw it's working pretty well, so I wanted to ask a bit of help to refine it.
According to the suggestions of Dil I've decided to split up the team in two ways: one more offensive and one more defensive.
Teambuilding Process
Everything started from him. We can say Staraptor was the core of the team, and even if I didn't use him a lot, every time he enters in the field he does a pretty nice work.
I wanted a viable mega in my team and I chose Aerodactyl because the Rock-type gives to the team some resistances and in addition I tested that Mega Aerodactyl with just one Hone Claws is capable of sweeping an entire team for his incredible speed.
Hawlucha in reality came last. Before at his place I had Scyther, but I noticed that he wasn't really helpful, so I switched to something more useful, adding the Fighting-type to the team.
Zapdos was my first choice for a wall, and it will always be. He can work as an excellent tank and use defog, and even take down some treats that are vulnerable to Electric-type.
Xatu is here for his ability. I thought that I needed magic bounce to counter some pokemons that wants to stall you out and for having an hazard setter without the need to take one. In second place he became a special defensive wall.
Dragonite is another good sweeper (which is the core theme of the team - I mean sweeping - ), and with just one boost he can take down a pretty large amount of opponents. Plus it adds the Dragon-type coverage.
I put Lando-T to have intimidate on the team and the Electric-type immunity, which I suffered a lot. I swapped Hawlucha for him because it was too much situational.
I changed Xatu for Honchkcrow because I figured that I needed a prankster immune pokemon (#hateklefki). This change was done with the add of Lando-T and I didn't know there that I wouldn't need a prankster immune pokemon.
In the end I saw I was too much vulnerable on Earth-type match-ups and so I decided to take MegaY Charizard to put up the sun and fire solar beams to those hateful gastrodons. In order to do this i changed to Sash Aerodactyl.
The Team
Goon (Staraptor) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Double-Edge
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Brave Bird and Double-Edge are STAB and boosted from Reckless, granting maximum damage
- Close Combat offers a really good coverage and saved me against Rock-type teams
- U-turn makes him serve as a scout or to break Focus Sash, which my team suffers
Pterrox (Aerodactyl) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace
- Iron Head
- Hone Claws
Rolling (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Zapper (Zapdos) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Defog
- Roost
Warlord (Charizard-Mega-Y) (M) @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Ice] / Roost
- Air Slash
Fister (Dragonite) (M) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Extreme Speed
- Fire Punch
- Dragon Dance
Burn can put him down pretty fast, this was the reason why I had Lum Berry on him before, but I figured that there are more supereffective moves on top of burn users, so I switched to Weakness Policy.
Conclusion
Team goal
After the changes the goal of the team is still to sweep the opponents squads, but with a more safe thought behind, instead of recklessly charging at them like it was before. Now apart from Dragonite there's no need to set up and so I can have safer switches to keep the momentum.
Threats
I still haven't found an answer to Ice-type teams, which 90% of the time destroy me.
Conclusion
Now I feel more comfortable with the team, and I like it more this way than it was before with all those set-ups. I am improving too in decision-making, and I hope to be even better in the future.
Goon (Staraptor) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Double-Edge
- Close Combat
- U-turn
Pterrox (Aerodactyl) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace
- Iron Head
- Hone Claws
Rolling (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Zapper (Zapdos) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Static
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Defog
- Roost
Warlord (Charizard-Mega-Y) (M) @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Air Slash
Fister (Dragonite) (M) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Extreme Speed
- Fire Punch
- Dragon Dance
Ability: Reckless
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Double-Edge
- Close Combat
- U-turn
Pterrox (Aerodactyl) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Unnerve
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stone Edge
- Aerial Ace
- Iron Head
- Hone Claws
Rolling (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Zapper (Zapdos) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Static
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Defog
- Roost
Warlord (Charizard-Mega-Y) (M) @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Hidden Power [Ice]
- Air Slash
Fister (Dragonite) (M) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Extreme Speed
- Fire Punch
- Dragon Dance
BALANCED VARIANT
The Team
Beep Boop (Celesteela) @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Toxic / Flamethrower
- Leech Seed
- Protect
Pterrox (Aerodactyl-Mega) (M) @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aerial Ace
- Stone Edge
- Iron Head / Earthquake
- Hone Claws
Rolling (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Zapper (Zapdos) @ Leftovers
Ability: Static
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Toxic
Leviathan (Mantine) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Defog
- Roost
- Haze
Fister (Dragonite) (M) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Extreme Speed
- Fire Punch
- Dragon Dance
Burn can put him down pretty fast, this was the reason why I had Lum Berry on him before, but I figured that there are more supereffective moves on top of burn users, so I switched to Weakness Policy.
Beep Boop (Celesteela) @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Toxic
- Leech Seed
- Protect
Pterrox (Aerodactyl-Mega) (M) @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aerial Ace
- Stone Edge
- Iron Head
- Hone Claws
Rolling (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Zapper (Zapdos) @ Leftovers
Ability: Static
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Toxic
Leviathan (Mantine) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Defog
- Roost
- Haze
Fister (Dragonite) (M) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Extreme Speed
- Fire Punch
- Dragon Dance
Ability: Beast Boost
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Def
Impish Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Toxic
- Leech Seed
- Protect
Pterrox (Aerodactyl-Mega) (M) @ Aerodactylite
Ability: Tough Claws
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aerial Ace
- Stone Edge
- Iron Head
- Hone Claws
Rolling (Landorus-Therian) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Knock Off
- U-turn
Zapper (Zapdos) @ Leftovers
Ability: Static
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Thunderbolt
- Heat Wave
- Toxic
Leviathan (Mantine) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Defog
- Roost
- Haze
Fister (Dragonite) (M) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Multiscale
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Claw
- Extreme Speed
- Fire Punch
- Dragon Dance
Last edited: