Team composition
I haven't been playing much recently aside from battling with my kids. I haven't battled legit trainers. I have just been collecting dust.
Since some time has passed and a lot of PVP has been done, I am looking for some opinions before I invest. There are a couple pokemon and tactics I wanted to ask about.
First, the combo of energy gain and low energy charge moves seems to be the biggest factor, so I think that is important. Do you think that varies more from league to league?
Second, I'm struggling with specific pokemon, especially when put in a team of 3. There are a few pokemon I have a question about.
Meganium vs. Sceptile
People seem to favor Meganium due to frenzy plant, and I assume, bulk. However Secptile has a great energy move that wrecks psychic pokemon in fury cutter and has a low energy, STAB move in leaf blade. Both can learn earthquake. It seems to me that in Ultra, Secptile is a better choice.
I also have an amazing Kingler. 2485 cp with mud shot/x scissor. He also has a high energy gaining move with a low energy charge move. He could be given water pulse for a STAB attack. I feel like this guy should be on my team.
Is this overkill? Kingler and Sceptile? I feel like I would finish this team with burn blast Charizard, which seems to be a favorite. Do I have a glaring weakness with that team?
And speaking of burn blast, I haven't seen Typhlosion mentioned much. Is that due to his lack of a good second charge move? Shadow claw is one of the best moves in the game, is it not? Wouldn't SC/BB be a devastating combo in itself? Is this option better in the Ultra league? I think it is the clear fire option in the great league.
This is what I am thinking for proposed teams. Any glaring weakness? Looking for any criticism or advice.
Great-
Flygon-MS/DC/EQ
Blastoise-WG/HC/IB
Typhlosion-SC/BB
Ultra-
Sceptile-FC/LB/EQ
Kingler-MS/FC/WP
Charizard-FS/BB/DC
Masters-
Lugia-DB/SA/HP
Tyranitar-B/C/SE
?
Thanks everyone!
Answers
I've heard that Typhlosion is pretty solid in PVP, so I'd definitely give him a shot. To quote Gamepress:
"Typhlosion can make use of its wide movepool in PvP. Shadow Claw is dangerous for Psychic and Ghost pokemon, while Blast Burn and Solar Beam are great moves with even better synergy, offering coverage against 7 different types."
I love using Flygon in Great League. Rarely if ever do I get to use Earthquake though. Dragon Claw is too good and Flygon is too fragile for the single bar move. Hydro Cannon Blastoise has been great too. Typhlosion wasn't as much of a Swiss Army Knife style ringer as I thought it'd be, but your mileage my vary.
Sceptile is a killer with that three-bar Leaf Blade. I have a hard time believing that Frenzy Plant's going to change his PvP meta at all. Don't forget, Sceptile has Aerial Ace too. I've had a hard time making use of single bar moves in general and Sceptile isn't exactly beefy either.
Firstly, bulk and multi-bar charge moves are a good advantage.
Secondly, some fast moves have better energy gain and those are highly favorable. Ex. Counter, dragon breath, vine whip, mud shot
I've seen two major trends;
First is, having an ace (most likely a dragon) and other two backing up it's weaknesses.
Other is more balanced, like a full team of starters. Since secondary charge move is cheaper and community moves are busted.
These are the basics, in the end it mostly comes down to who chooses what before battle starts. Practice with others to test out different pokemon, don't stick with same trio and try to observe other's habits and favorites then you can come up with plans for different situations.
