Themed teams??

[Leon-IH]

well, i think this belongs here because its a log of a GSC game and the idea is to find what people think of themed teams in the metagame, i set out to test this against your average player and thought this log was the most appropriate way of presenting my usual findings.

Sandman-Theme vs. makiras

Sandman-Theme's Pokémon:
#1
Slowbro (Lv.100 Male Slowbro)
Held Item: Leftovers
Max HP: 393
Attack: 248
Defense: 318
Speed: 158
Sp.Attack: 298
Sp.Defense:258
Move #1: Fire Blast
Move #2: Rest
Move #3: Surf
Move #4: Thunder Wave
#2
Mantine (Lv.100 Male Mantine)
Held Item: Leftovers
Max HP: 333
Attack: 178
Defense: 238
Speed: 238
Sp.Attack: 258
Sp.Defense:378
Move #1: Confuse Ray
Move #2: Ice Beam
Move #3: Rest
Move #4: Surf
#3
Lanturn (Lv.100 Male Lanturn)
Held Item: Leftovers
Max HP: 453
Attack: 214
Defense: 214
Speed: 232
Sp.Attack: 250
Sp.Defense:250
Move #1: Confuse Ray
Move #2: Rain Dance
Move #3: Surf
Move #4: Thunder
#4
Tentacruel (Lv.100 Male Tentacruel)
Held Item: Leftovers
Max HP: 363
Attack: 238
Defense: 228
Speed: 298
Sp.Attack: 258
Sp.Defense:338
Move #1: Rest
Move #2: Sludge Bomb
Move #3: Surf
Move #4: Swords Dance
#5
Slowking (Lv.100 Male Slowking)
Held Item: (None)
Max HP: 393
Attack: 248
Defense: 258
Speed: 158
Sp.Attack: 298
Sp.Defense:318
Move #1: Belly Drum
Move #2: Earthquake
Move #3: Rest
Move #4: Shadow Ball
#6
Quagsire (Lv.100 Male Quagsire)
Held Item: Leftovers
Max HP: 393
Attack: 268
Defense: 268
Speed: 168
Sp.Attack: 228
Sp.Defense:228
Move #1: Earthquake
Move #2: Haze
Move #3: Rest
Move #4: Surf

makiras's Pokémon:
#1
Raikou (Lv.100 Genderless Raikou)
Held Item: (None)
Max HP: 383
Attack: 268
Defense: 248
Speed: 328
Sp.Attack: 328
Sp.Defense:298
Move #1: Crunch
Move #2: Rest
Move #3: Sleep Talk
Move #4: Thunderbolt
#2
Blissey (Lv.100 Female Blissey)
Held Item: Miracle Berry
Max HP: 713
Attack: 118
Defense: 118
Speed: 208
Sp.Attack: 248
Sp.Defense:368
Move #1: Heal Bell
Move #2: Psychic
Move #3: Softboiled
Move #4: Toxic
#3
Houndoom (Lv.100 Male Houndoom)
Held Item: Miracle Berry
Max HP: 353
Attack: 278
Defense: 198
Speed: 288
Sp.Attack: 318
Sp.Defense:258
Move #1: Crunch
Move #2: Flamethrower
Move #3: Pursuit
Move #4: Rest
#4
Machamp (Lv.100 Male Machamp)
Held Item: Miracle Berry
Max HP: 383
Attack: 358
Defense: 258
Speed: 208
Sp.Attack: 228
Sp.Defense:268
Move #1: Cross Chop
Move #2: Curse
Move #3: Earthquake
Move #4: Rest
#5
Ursaring (Lv.100 Male Ursaring)
Held Item: Leftovers
Max HP: 383
Attack: 358
Defense: 248
Speed: 208
Sp.Attack: 248
Sp.Defense:248
Move #1: Earthquake
Move #2: Rest
Move #3: Return
Move #4: Sleep Talk
#6
Poliwrath (Lv.100 Male Poliwrath)
Held Item: (None)
Max HP: 383
Attack: 268
Defense: 288
Speed: 238
Sp.Attack: 238
Sp.Defense:278
Move #1: Fissure
Move #2: Mind Reader
Move #3: Rest
Move #4: Whirlpool

Battle Log:
Slowbro, go!
Raikou, go!
makiras's Raikou's turn:
Enemy Raikou used Thunderbolt!
(291 damage)
It's super effective!
Sandman-Theme's Slowbro's turn:
Slowbro used Thunder Wave!
Raikou was paralyzed!
Raikou used a Miracle Berry!
Slowbro recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #1:
Sandman-Theme's Slowbro has 127 HP left.
makiras's Raikou has 383 HP left.

Slowbro, come back!
Quagsire, Go!
makiras's Raikou's turn:
Enemy Raikou used Thunderbolt!
The move failed!
End of turn #2:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 393 HP left.
makiras's Raikou has 383 HP left.

Raikou, come back!
Ursaring, Go!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Surf!
(212 damage)
Critical Hit!
Ursaring recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #3:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 393 HP left.
makiras's Ursaring has 195 HP left.

makiras's Ursaring's turn:
Enemy Ursaring used Rest!
Ursaring fell asleep and became healthy!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Earthquake!
(136 damage)
Ursaring recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #4:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 393 HP left.
makiras's Ursaring has 271 HP left and is Sleeping

makiras's Ursaring's turn:
Enemy Ursaring used Sleep Talk!
Enemy Ursaring used Rest!
Ursaring fell asleep and became healthy!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Surf!
(106 damage)
Ursaring recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #5:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 393 HP left.
makiras's Ursaring has 301 HP left and is Sleeping

Quagsire, come back!
Slowking, Go!
makiras's Ursaring's turn:
Enemy Ursaring used Sleep Talk!
Enemy Ursaring used Rest!
Ursaring fell asleep and became healthy!
End of turn #6:
Sandman-Theme's Slowking has 393 HP left.
makiras's Ursaring has 383 HP left and is Sleeping

makiras's Ursaring's turn:
Enemy Ursaring used Sleep Talk!
Enemy Ursaring used Return!
(154 damage)
Sandman-Theme's Slowking's turn:
Slowking used Belly Drum!
Slowking's attack is maxed out!
End of turn #7:
Sandman-Theme's Slowking has 43 HP left.
makiras's Ursaring has 383 HP left and is Sleeping

Slowking, come back!
Mantine, Go!
makiras's Ursaring's turn:
Enemy Ursaring used Sleep Talk!
Enemy Ursaring used Return!
(172 damage)
Mantine recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #8:
Sandman-Theme's Mantine has 182 HP left.
makiras's Ursaring has 383 HP left and is Sleeping

Sandman-Theme's Mantine's turn:
Mantine used Confuse Ray!
Ursaring became confused!
Ursaring woke up!
makiras's Ursaring's turn:
Enemy Ursaring is confused!
Enemy Ursaring hurt itself in it's confusion!
Mantine recovered using Leftovers!
Ursaring recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #9:
Sandman-Theme's Mantine has 203 HP left.
makiras's Ursaring has 357 HP left.

Sandman-Theme's Mantine's turn:
Mantine used Surf!
(118 damage)
makiras's Ursaring's turn:
Enemy Ursaring is confused!
Enemy Ursaring hurt itself in it's confusion!
Mantine recovered using Leftovers!
Ursaring recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #10:
Sandman-Theme's Mantine has 224 HP left.
makiras's Ursaring has 213 HP left.

Sandman-Theme's Mantine's turn:
Mantine used Surf!
(213 damage)
Critical Hit!
Ursaring fainted!

Raikou, Go!
Mantine recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #11:
Sandman-Theme's Mantine has 245 HP left.
makiras's Raikou has 383 HP left.

Mantine, come back!
Quagsire, Go!
makiras's Raikou's turn:
Enemy Raikou used Thunderbolt!
The move failed!
End of turn #12:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 393 HP left.
makiras's Raikou has 383 HP left.

Raikou, come back!
Poliwrath, Go!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Surf!
(44 damage)
It's not very effective...
End of turn #13:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 393 HP left.
makiras's Poliwrath has 339 HP left.

Quagsire, come back!
Lanturn, Go!
makiras's Poliwrath's turn:
Enemy Poliwrath used Whirlpool!
(10 damage)
It's not very effective...
Lanturn is hurt by Whirlpool
Lanturn recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #14:
Sandman-Theme's Lanturn has 443 HP left.
makiras's Poliwrath has 339 HP left.

makiras's Poliwrath's turn:
Enemy Poliwrath used Mind Reader!
Sandman-Theme's Lanturn's turn:
Lanturn used Rain Dance!
A heavy downpour started!
The rain is continuing!
Lanturn is hurt by Whirlpool
Lanturn recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #15:
Sandman-Theme's Lanturn has 443 HP left.
makiras's Poliwrath has 339 HP left.

makiras's Poliwrath's turn:
Enemy Poliwrath used Fissure!
(443 damage)
It's a One-Hit KO!
Lanturn fainted!

Mantine, Go!
The rain is continuing!
Mantine recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #16:
Sandman-Theme's Mantine has 266 HP left.
makiras's Poliwrath has 339 HP left.

makiras's Poliwrath's turn:
Enemy Poliwrath used Whirlpool!
(18 damage)
Critical Hit!
It's not very effective...
Sandman-Theme's Mantine's turn:
Mantine used Confuse Ray!
Poliwrath became confused!
Poliwrath used a Miracle Berry!
The rain is continuing!
Mantine is hurt by Whirlpool
Mantine recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #17:
Sandman-Theme's Mantine has 248 HP left.
makiras's Poliwrath has 339 HP left.

makiras's Poliwrath's turn:
Enemy Poliwrath used Mind Reader!
Sandman-Theme's Mantine's turn:
Mantine used Surf!
(80 damage)
It's not very effective...
The rain is continuing!
Mantine is hurt by Whirlpool
Mantine recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #18:
Sandman-Theme's Mantine has 248 HP left.
makiras's Poliwrath has 259 HP left.

Sandman-Theme's Mantine's turn:
Mantine used Rest!
Mantine fell asleep and became healthy!
makiras's Poliwrath's turn:
Enemy Poliwrath used Fissure!
The rain stopped!
Mantine is hurt by Whirlpool
Mantine recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #19:
Sandman-Theme's Mantine has 333 HP left and is Sleeping
makiras's Poliwrath has 259 HP left.

Poliwrath, come back!
Raikou, Go!
Sandman-Theme's Mantine's turn:
Mantine is fast asleep!
End of turn #20:
Sandman-Theme's Mantine has 333 HP left and is Sleeping
makiras's Raikou has 383 HP left.

Mantine, come back!
Quagsire, Go!
makiras's Raikou's turn:
Enemy Raikou used Thunderbolt!
The move failed!
End of turn #21:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 393 HP left.
makiras's Raikou has 383 HP left.

Raikou, come back!
Poliwrath, Go!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Earthquake!
(115 damage)
End of turn #22:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 393 HP left.
makiras's Poliwrath has 144 HP left.

makiras's Poliwrath's turn:
Enemy Poliwrath used Whirlpool!
(21 damage)
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Earthquake!
(109 damage)
Quagsire is hurt by Whirlpool
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #23:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 372 HP left.
makiras's Poliwrath has 35 HP left.

makiras's Poliwrath's turn:
Enemy Poliwrath used Fissure!
Poliwrath missed!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Earthquake!
(35 damage)
Poliwrath fainted!

Machamp, Go!
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #24:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 393 HP left.
makiras's Machamp has 383 HP left.

Machamp, come back!
Raikou, Go!
Quagsire, come back!
Tentacruel, Go!
End of turn #25:
Sandman-Theme's Tentacruel has 363 HP left.
makiras's Raikou has 383 HP left.

Tentacruel, come back!
Quagsire, Go!
makiras's Raikou's turn:
Enemy Raikou used Crunch!
(89 damage)
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #26:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 329 HP left.
makiras's Raikou has 383 HP left.

Raikou, come back!
Blissey, Go!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Surf!
(72 damage)
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #27:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 354 HP left.
makiras's Blissey has 641 HP left.

Quagsire, come back!
Slowking, Go!
makiras's Blissey's turn:
Enemy Blissey used Toxic!
Slowking has been badly poisoned!
End of turn #28:
Sandman-Theme's Slowking has 43 HP left and is Poisoned
makiras's Blissey has 641 HP left.

makiras's Blissey's turn:
Enemy Blissey used Psychic!
(28 damage)
It's not very effective...
Sandman-Theme's Slowking's turn:
Slowking used Rest!
Slowking fell asleep and became healthy!
Slowking used a Mint Berry!
End of turn #29:
Sandman-Theme's Slowking has 393 HP left.
makiras's Blissey has 641 HP left.

makiras's Blissey's turn:
Enemy Blissey used Toxic!
Slowking has been badly poisoned!
Sandman-Theme's Slowking's turn:
Slowking used Belly Drum!
Slowking's attack is maxed out!
Slowking is hurt by Toxic!
End of turn #30:
Sandman-Theme's Slowking has 172 HP left and is Poisoned
makiras's Blissey has 641 HP left.

makiras's Blissey's turn:
Enemy Blissey used Toxic!
There's no effect!
Sandman-Theme's Slowking's turn:
Slowking used Earthquake!
(641 damage)
Blissey fainted!

Raikou, Go!
End of turn #31:
Sandman-Theme's Slowking has 172 HP left and is Poisoned
makiras's Raikou has 383 HP left.

makiras's Raikou's turn:
Enemy Raikou used Thunderbolt!
(172 damage)
It's super effective!
Slowking fainted!

Quagsire, Go!
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #32:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 379 HP left.
makiras's Raikou has 383 HP left.

Raikou, come back!
Machamp, Go!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Surf!
(92 damage)
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #33:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 393 HP left.
makiras's Machamp has 291 HP left.

makiras's Machamp's turn:
Enemy Machamp used Earthquake!
(99 damage)
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Surf!
(94 damage)
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #34:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 319 HP left.
makiras's Machamp has 197 HP left.

makiras's Machamp's turn:
Enemy Machamp used Cross Chop!
Machamp missed!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Surf!
(91 damage)
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #35:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 344 HP left.
makiras's Machamp has 106 HP left.

makiras's Machamp's turn:
Enemy Machamp used Cross Chop!
Machamp missed!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Surf!
(104 damage)
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #36:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 369 HP left.
makiras's Machamp has 2 HP left.

Machamp, come back!
Houndoom, Go!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Surf!
(199 damage)
It's super effective!
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #37:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 393 HP left.
makiras's Houndoom has 154 HP left.

makiras's Houndoom's turn:
Enemy Houndoom used Flamethrower!
(82 damage)
It's not very effective...
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Surf!
(154 damage)
It's super effective!
Houndoom fainted!

Raikou, Go!
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #38:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 336 HP left.
makiras's Raikou has 383 HP left.

makiras's Raikou's turn:
Enemy Raikou used Crunch!
(97 damage)
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Earthquake!
(267 damage)
It's super effective!
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #39:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 264 HP left.
makiras's Raikou has 116 HP left.

makiras's Raikou's turn:
Enemy Raikou used Crunch!
(91 damage)
Quagsire's special defense fell!
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Earthquake!
(116 damage)
It's super effective!
Raikou fainted!

Machamp, Go!
Quagsire recovered using Leftovers!
End of turn #40:
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire has 198 HP left.
makiras's Machamp has 2 HP left.

makiras's Machamp's turn:
Enemy Machamp used Earthquake!
(99 damage)
Sandman-Theme's Quagsire's turn:
Quagsire used Surf!
(2 damage)
Machamp fainted!

[Jay]

Some themed teams can return some surprising results, but nevertheless, you'd rather want a well balanced team with variety. Some themed teams will work better and worse than others - apparently it worked well, in this case.

It also depends on who you're going to subject your team on. A team of baton passers might prove to be useful if your opponent doesn't have a hazing back-up, and if he doesn't, you'll return some decent results. Though you'd be stupid to go without a p|hazer.

Type-based teams are often the worse since you have a high weakness to one or various types. In this case, the water based team has a 3x+ grass and electric weakness. Something you need to be fairly careful of.

In my opinion, theme teams are for fun, they shouldn't be used for competetive battling unless you're very confident and experienced in whichever pokémon you're going to focus your themed team on.

[Sir Chris]

Jay is incorrect, it depends on what your theme is. you just need to be creative.

I sat down and thought of some virtues that some pokemon could represent, omg wtf themed virtue team.

the metagame can be fun jay, remember that. !~

~ Chris

[Green_Pikachu]

if that kid is an average battler, then im the best battler in the United States.

[Leon-IH]

you'd be amazed gp, you'd be amazed.

[ace]

one of the ways, i think, to keep pokemon fresh to play is once you've made a competitive team, make another. Training just 6 might not cover all you wanted, so make more. This can get boring, so making a competitve themed team can be a fun challenge. I've made theme teams in the past. My favourite theme team i made was one about planets+stars etc.:
Clefable
tyrannitar
mew
vileplume
houndoom
ampharos

it had some weaknesses but it was for fun.

[Green_Pikachu]

Originally posted by ace
one of the ways, i think, to keep pokemon fresh to play is once you've made a competitive team, make another. Training just 6 might not cover all you wanted, so make more. This can get boring, so making a competitve themed team can be a fun challenge. I've made theme teams in the past. My favourite theme team i made was one about planets+stars etc.:
Clefable
tyrannitar
mew
vileplume
houndoom
ampharos

it had some weaknesses but it was for fun.

uh...yeah...because those pokemon have something to do with the planets and the stars...

[Mr.E]

With the log, I'd move it to OPB, but leaving it here leaves more room for a bit of discussion I suppose...

[Poryhedron]

Well, let's see.
Clefable: This one's obvious. Cleffa are said to appear on Earth at the sites of meteorite landings, Clefairy are only native to Mt. Moon, the site of the biggest meteorite landing on the continent, and they evolve with Moon Stones...yeah, that's clear.
Vileplume: I'm guessing it knows Moonlight.
Tyranitar, Mew: Planets...AncientPower? The "Power of the Land"?
Ampharos: erm...does it know Swift? That move's a favorite among Electric-types, and it involves star-shaped energy...
Houndoom:
...
...
Houndoom:
...
All right, I give up.

[Sir Chris]

That was a very odd example, heh...

sometimes certain creatures like "animals of the forest" could make a good theme team too.Ursa... hmm *lets the mind wander*

also gp, obviously I am the best battler in the us.

~ Chris

[Green_Pikachu]

Originally posted by Sir Chris
That was a very odd example, heh...

sometimes certain creatures like "animals of the forest" could make a good theme team too.Ursa... hmm *lets the mind wander*

also gp, obviously I am the best battler in the us.

~ Chris

chris, you should be a comedian, because that was the funniest thing i've ever heard. X)

[Julip]

I like themed teams, but never really got around to making one. Let's see... how 'bout farm animals? lol. Hmm... Miltank for the cow, Rapidash for the horse, Ampharos for the sheep, Dodrio is the ostrich (there are ostrich farms, I just don't remember well where...), Poliswine is the pig (yeah, I know, it looks more like a walrus, but the Pokedex says it's a swine...), and Beedrill is the honeybee! LOL.

I think I'll make a few more...

African animals:
Girafarig
Donphan
Feraligatr
Stantler (though it's more of a deer than an antilope...)
Arcanine (hmm... Tiger, lion, or wolf? I'll go for the second. lol)
And, for the great ending, Executor the palm tree! (Not an animal. Who cares?)

That was fun. rotfl.