Sapphire Team-Help, Critique, Rate.

[Xenesis]

Ok, I'm building an in game sapphire team, for colosseum as well.

I'm sick of n00bish advice at gamefaqs, so I'm asking here where people have some sense. I dunno why I didn't ask here in the first place....

Anyway, no particular order:

Sceptile-Modest. 252 SpAtk 252 Spd 6HP (Complete)
Leaf Blade
Dragon Claw
Crunch
Agility

He's decent, I need ideas for items, and something to go over agility.

Slaking-Adamant 252 Atk 252 HP 6 Spd. (Complete)
Brick Break
Shadow Ball
Earthquake
Return

I'm thinking Choice Band on this dude.

Now, the rest of the team is incomplete, Slaking and Sceptile are EV trained, leveled and TMed and ready to rock.

Claydol-??? (Need EV Help)
Skill Swap
Psychic
Earthquake/Cosmic Power
Explosion

Like I said, I need EV Help here.

Dusclops-Careful 252 HP 20 Atk 16Def 222 Spdef. (Complete)
Focus Punch
Rest
Will-o-wisp
Shadow Ball

Works well online, I thought I'd bring it across as a good tank.

Milotic-Modest 252 SpDef 130 HP, 128 SpAtk (Complete)
Surf
Ice Beam
Mirror Coat
Recover

I'm thinking of maybe confuse ray over Mirror coat, but both seem good options.

Magneton-Mild 252 SpAtk 128 SpDef, 128 HP. (Magnet Pull) (In Training)
Thunder
Thunderwave
HP Water
Rain Dance

EVs are probably rubbish on this dude, but hey. He's mild as I couldn't a) find a modest one and b) find a modest one with HP water and magnet pull.

I need item help for all these guys, and as I'm going to be in colosseum as well, they will need unique items. No FrLg stuff yet, as I don't have access to it yet.

Edit: Put proposed Claydol up, edited the status for each member. Still need item help though.

[Poryhedron]

Hmm...are you sure you want Sceptile, Volbeat and Magneton on the same team? All of them are weak against fire attacks. It's generally not wise to have half your team with a common vulnerability.

[Puaru]

I'll agree with Poryhedron on Sceptile, you sure you want to use him?
Slaking with Choice Band and a adamant personality is perfect. The move list on him is also the exact one I would use. Volbeat I've no clue on... Dusclops is good, though I would use something else other then rest. Also Leftovers is decent on him as he's your tank. Milotic looks fine. Magneton I'd for sure go with the second move list. That's about all I can help on, sorry. Not to sure what items other then the ones I listed.

[Poryhedron]

Well, considering Sceptile is fully EV'd and natured and all that good stuff, it probably shouldn't be dropped. Maybe try replacing Volbeat?

[Xenesis]

Hmm...are you sure you want Sceptile, Volbeat and Magneton on the same team? All of them are weak against fire attacks. It's generally not wise to have half your team with a common vulnerability.

Boh. I didn't even notice that. Thanks.

Yeah, I might replace Volbeat with something else.

I'd consider a fire type, but the only RuSa one I really like is Torkoal and he's being used elsewhere.

Perhaps Armaldo?
Something like
Rock Blast/Ancientpower/Rock Slide
Swords Dance
Aerial Ace
Facade/Return/Secret Power, etc.

It doesn't add a 3rd fighting weakness (being Rock/Bug), and the only weakness I can think of that it has is Water.

Or Maybe Claydol?
Something like
Psychic
Earthquake
Cosmic Power
Explosion

I dunno. Suggestions?

[Poryhedron]

It doesn't add a 3rd fighting weakness (being Rock/Bug), and the only weakness I can think of that it has is Water.

Actually, Rock-types aren't resistant to Rock attacks. A lot of Rock-type pokémon are, but that's because they're Rock/Ground and Ground-types resist Rock. Armaldo isn't Ground-type, so it still has the Bug-type vulnerability to Rock attacks. Also, Rock-types are weak against Steel attacks, and being Bug-type doesn't save Armaldo from those. So Armaldo has three weaknesses. That's okay, though...neither Armaldo nor Claydol would give you any 3x weaknesses.

[HienkyakuX]

A speed nature is good on slaking to. Whit 419 Atk and 328 Spd is very good whit choice band.

[Xenesis]

Actually, Rock-types aren't resistant to Rock attacks. A lot of Rock-type pokémon are, but that's because they're Rock/Ground and Ground-types resist Rock. Armaldo isn't Ground-type, so it still has the Bug-type vulnerability to Rock attacks. Also, Rock-types are weak against Steel attacks, and being Bug-type doesn't save Armaldo from those. So Armaldo has three weaknesses. That's okay, though...neither Armaldo nor Claydol would give you any 3x weaknesses.

Hmm..Armaldo would have decent defence, so the rock isn't too much of an issue, not that I'd leave it out there unless I could earthquake on the switch in. Steel attacks are generally sucky anyhow, with only 4 attacks and 2 that can be dangerous (Steel Wing, Meteor Mash).

Hien: Thanks, but slaking is trained already....

I've now also trained Milotic and it's just a case of levelling her up.

Anyway, which do you guys think would be better, Claydol or Armaldo? I'm thinking I might like Claydol better because it can explode, but Armaldo seems like a good option. Opinions?

[aaronisyoung]

i have a question for his milotic. how come u use mirro coat when it only last one turn how would u know when they use like toxic?? i would use refresh. but im not very good at this stuff .

[Xenesis]

It requires good prediction skills. For example, it would be foolish to use mirror coat on a Crobat, because you'd probably be Toxiced, but on one of it's weaknesses like for example a Raichu, it's probably a good idea to use it because Milotic's great special defence allows it to take that special attack and fling it back to KO Raichu. Refresh could be an option, but that would leave her a bit vulnerable and lacking in the attack department.

Edit:

Building Update. Dusclops is now levelled and EV trained. Not a careful one though. I ended up going with sassy, since -speed isn't a problem on such a ridiculously slow pokemon (It's got like 28 speed at level 50!). Milotic's been levelled up to the same standard as Slaking and Sceptile (L50)

Now, I need to get onto Magneton. Guys, which one should I go for, Claydol or armaldo?

I'm considering Claydol because it can skill swap Slaking in 2v2. Not a fantastic attacker though. Armaldo is powerful but doesn't really have any utility.

Opinion?

[Bear]

Just a minor change to your slaking. Use Hyper Beam instead of Return. Before you laugh, here's why:

With Truancy, as you know, you can only act once every 2 turns. The same goes for Hyper Beam's recharge rate. However, the two do not stack. So, after using Hyper Beam, the recharge turn also counts as the truant turn. In essence, you're getting the same number of attacks as you would with return, it's just much more powerful. The only drawback is the low PP you have with Hyper Beam.

[phaedrus]

Just a minor change to your slaking. Use Hyper Beam instead of Return. Before you laugh, here's why:

With Truancy, as you know, you can only act once every 2 turns. The same goes for Hyper Beam's recharge rate. However, the two do not stack. So, after using Hyper Beam, the recharge turn also counts as the truant turn. In essence, you're getting the same number of attacks as you would with return, it's just much more powerful. The only drawback is the low PP you have with Hyper Beam.

Well, you can withdraw with the free turn Return gives you, which helps when you use Choice Band. Even though a CB'd Hyper Beam kills the majority of non-resistant things, you still open yourself up to a lot of crap you shouldn't be opening yourself up to. I stand by Return as the better move.

[Xenesis]

Yeah, I have to say the flexibility Return gives even in this unique situation outweighs the cost of using Hyper Beam. Besides, what if I'm the target of a skill swap?

Oh and considering no one is helping much on the other issue, I decided to go with Claydol.

No idea on EV's but I was thinking a set along these lines.
Claydol -
Psychic
Cosmic Power
Skill Swap
Earthquake/Explosion

Opinions?

[Puaru]

I'd pick Claydol over Armaldo. I find it more useful, and it's inborn abilty is decent. Also I'd go with Earthquake over Explosion on it. I've never been to fond of "I go boom and see if you die" moves. Yes I know the strength of Explosion, but I just don't like it, so I'd go with EQ.

[Xenesis]

Ok, that's the problem. I LOVE kamikaze moves. They are a great surprise to an opponent and work wonders in 2v2. Maybe I should drop cosmic power and take both?

Also, what EV's and personality do you guys reckon would be good?

[Xenesis]

Ok, I think I've decided my Claydol.

Claydol-Adamant 252 HP 252 Atk 6 Spd
Cosmic Power
Skill Swap
Earthquake
???

The only problem is that this dude is helpless against Skarmory, but then Magneton takes care of that. The last slot is the only thing I can't decide. I'd take Psychic, but the split EVs would be iffy. Toxic Looks Okay, as it's got Cosmic power for defences. Ancient Power might also be ok, but it has pants attack power. Return might be decent, but yeah. Help?

[Bear]

For the last move on Claydol, Toxic sounds like a decent bet. Like you said, you'd be screwed against Skarmory, but hopefully you can take care of skarmo early with Magneton. If you're looking for another attack to back up Earthquake, go ahead and give it 'plode. But, if you do get a chance to get Cosmic Powered up, it'd be a shame to not have a way to replenish your HP and make your opponent's match a nightmare. I might suggest Rest in that last slot, but it's just one of many options. Do whatever fits your battle style ^_^.

[phaedrus]

Rest in the last spot, Toxic over Skill Swap. Why waste Levitate?

[Xenesis]

2v2. Slaking + Skill Swap = fun. ^_^

The team's not purely 1v1, but I use it for 2v2 as well.

Anyway, Team is trained and ready to go, at level 50.

*Goes to beat out some colosseum trainers*

[phaedrus]

You could consider Banette if you wanted Skill Swap. But Claydol is more stable.

[Xenesis]

I'll probably put Banette on another team that I make in the future.

^_^