Competitive Battling

[LucaLunar]

I'm going to be starting competitive battling pretty soon, but I need a little team advice.

This is the team I'm currently thinking of using, but I know it may need some work, so any advice/feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Roserade @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature
- Magical Leaf
- Seed Bomb
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb

Flygon @ Dragon Fang
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 SDef / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Hone Claws
- Steel Wing

Manectric @ Focus Band
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
- Swagger
- Thunder Wave

Scrafty @ Focus Sash
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Power-Up Punch
- Crunch
- Poison Jab

Typhlosion @ King's Rock
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 SDef / 4 Spd
Modest Nature
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Sunny Day
- Swift

Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SAtk / 4 Spd
Calm Nature
- Aura Sphere
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
- Nasty Plot

 

[PlatinumDude]

Roserade faces stiff competition from other Grass Pokemon, such as Ferrothorn and Mega Venusaur, for having better utility moves. Aside from Technician-boosted Hidden Powers, Roserade falls flat:
-Spikes
-Sleep Powder
-Leaf Storm/Giga Drain
-Hidden Power (Fire)
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Technician

Otherwise, these Grass Pokemon are better alternatives:

Breloom:
-Spore
-Bullet Seed
-Mach Punch
-Rock Tomb
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Focus Sash
Ability: Technician

Mega Venusaur:
-Giga Drain
-Sludge Bomb
-Hidden Power (Fire)/Earthquake
-Synthesis
Nature: Modest/Quiet
EVs: 232 HP/252 SAtk/4 SDef/20 Spe
Item: Venusaurite

or
-Giga Drain
-Sludge Bomb
-Hidden Power (Fire)/Leech Seed/Sleep Powder/Earthquake
-Synthesis
Nature: Bold/Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP/240 Def/16 Spe
Item: Venusaurite

Amoonguss:
-Spore
-Giga Drain
-Foul Play/Sludge Bomb
-Clear Smog/Sludge Bomb
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP/136 Def/120 SDef or 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Item: Black Sludge
Ability: Regenerator

Ferrothorn:
-Stealth Rock
-Leech Seed
-Power Whip
-Gyro Ball/Thunder Wave/Protect/Knock Off
Nature: Relaxed
EVs: 252 HP/88 Def/168 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs

Chesnaught:
-Leech Seed
-Spiky Shield
-Hammer Arm
-Wood Hammer/Spikes
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Bulletproof

Flygon is outclassed by other Dragon Pokemon like Garchomp, Charizard X and even Salamence, Hydreigon and Noivern, due to all three having better Speed and/or offensive presence:

Garchomp:
-Stealth Rock
-Outrage/Dragon Claw
-Earthquake
-Fire Blast/Swords Dance
Nature: Naive/Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Lum Berry/Focus Sash/Rocky Helmet

or
-Swords Dance
-Outrage/Dragon Claw
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge/Fire Fang
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry

or
-Outrage
-Earthquake
-Rock Slide/Stone Edge
-Fire Blast/Dragon Claw
Nature: Naive/Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Scarf

or
-Stealth Rock
-Dragon Tail
-Earthquake
-Fire Blast/Toxic
Nature: Impish
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Item: Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rough Skin

Charizard X:
-Dragon Dance
-Flare Blitz/Earthquake
-Dragon Claw
-Roost
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 248 HP/152 Atk/108 Spe
Item: Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze

or
-Dragon Dance
-Flare Blitz
-Dragon Claw/Outrage
-Earthquake
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 40 HP/252 Atk/216 Spe
Item: Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze

or
-Flare Blitz/Earthquake
-Dragon Claw
-Will-o-Wisp
-Roost
Nature: Careful
EVs: 248 HP/228 SDef/32 Spe
Item: Charizardite X
Ability: Blaze

or
-Swords Dance
-Flare Blitz
-Outrage/Dragon Claw
-Tailwind
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 40 HP/252 Atk/216 Spe
Item: Charizardite X
Abiilty: Blaze

Salamence:
-Dragon Dance
-Outrage/Dragon Claw
-Earthquake
-Fire Blast
Nature: Naive
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Lum Berry

Noivern:
-Draco Meteor
-Hurricane
-Flamethrower/Focus Blast
-Taunt/Roost
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb
Ability: Infiltrator

Hydreigon:
-Draco Meteor
-Dark Pulse
-Fire Blast
-Superpower/Flash Cannon/Roost
Nature: Mild/Rash/Modest
EVs: 28 Atk/252 SAtk/228 Spe
Item: Life Orb

The only reason to use Manectric is for its Mega Evolution, no matter how ridiculous it looks. Its regular form pales in comparison to it. Thanks to Mega Manectric's Intimidate, it can take physical hits better and it's a good check to Flying spam, which is a relatively popular play style:
-Thunderbolt
-Volt Switch
-Overheat
-Hidden Power (Ice)
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Manectite
Ability: Lightning Rod

If you opted for one of the Mega Pokemon mentioned above, here are some alternatives to Manectric, since you can only use 1 Mega per team:

Magnzone:
-Thunderbolt
-Volt Switch
-Flash Cannon
-Hidden Power (Fire)
Nature: Modest/Timid
EVs: 172 HP/252 SAtk/84 Spe (Modest) or 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe (Timid)
Item: Choice Specs (Modest)/Choice Scarf (Timid)
Ability: Magnet Pull

or
-Magnet Rise
-Thunderbolt
-Flash Cannon
-Hidden Power (Fire)
Nature: Modest
EVs: 128 HP/252 SAtk/128 Spe
Item: Air Balloon
Ability: Magnet Pull

Thundurus:
-Thunderbolt
-Hidden Power (Ice)
-Psychic/Focus Blast
-Thunder Wave
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Leftovers
Ability: Prankster

or
-Nasty Plot
-Thunderbolt
-Hidden Power (Flying/Ice)
-Substitute/Focus Blast/Psychic
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Leftovers/Life Orb
Ability: Prankster

or
-Thunderbolt
-Knock Off
-Superpower/Thunder Wave
-Hidden Power (Ice)
Nature: Hasty/Naive
EVs: 76 Atk/180 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb

Wash Rotom:
-Volt Switch
-Hydro Pump
-Will-o-Wisp
-Pain Split/Rest
Nature: Bold/Calm
EVs: 248 HP/216 Def/44 Spe (Bold) or 248 HP/216 SDef/44 Spe (Calm)
Item: Leftovers/Chesto Berry

or
-Volt Switch
-Hydro Pump
-Hidden Power (Ice)/Will-o-Wisp
-Trick
Nature: Modest/Timid
EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Scarf

Zapdos:
-Thunderbolt
-Defog
-Roost
-Heat Wave/U-turn/Toxic
Nature: Bold
EVs: 248 HP/168 Def/68 SAtk/20 Spe
Item: Leftovers

Scrafty is terrible because of its 4x weakness to Fairy. This makes it difficult to set up Dragon Dance. Better Dark and Fighting alternatives are Greninja, Crawdaunt, Sableye, Bisharp, Mandibuzz, Mega Gyarados, Mega Houndoom, Tyranitar, Conkeldurr, Infernape, Mega Medicham and Mega Heracross (again, only 1 Mega per team):

Greninja:
-Hydro Pump
-Ice Beam
-Extrasensory
-Dark Pulse/Hidden Power (Fire/Grass)/Grass Knot/Spikes
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Focus Sash
Ability: Protean

Crawdaunt:
-Crabhammer
-Knock Off
-Aqua Jet
-Crunch/Swords Dance
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Band/Life Orb/Mystic Water/Splash Plate
Ability: Adaptability

Sableye:
-Taunt
-Will-o-Wisp
-Recover
-Foul Play/Knock Off
Nature: Bold/Impish
EVs: 252 HP/252 Def/4 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Prankster

Bisharp:
-Sucker Punch
-Iron Head
-Knock Off
-Swords Dance/Pursuit
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 4 HP/252 Atk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Dread Plate/Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant

Mandibuzz:
-Foul Play
-Roost
-Taunt/Whirlwind
-Defog/Toxic/Knock Off
Nature: Bold/Impish
EVs: 248 HP/136 Def/108 SDef/16 Spe
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat

Gyarados:
-Dragon Dance
-Waterfall
-Earthquake
-Ice Fang
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate

Houndoom:
-Nasty Plot
-Fire Blast
-Dark Pulse
-Taunt/Destiny Bond
Nature: Timid
EVs: 4 Def/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Houndoominite
Ability: Flash Fire

Tyranitar:
-Dragon Dance
-Stone Edge
-Crunch/Ice Punch/Fire Punch
-Earthquake
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream

or
-Stealth Rock
-Crunch
-Stone Edge/Ice Beam
-Earthquake/Fire Blast
Nature: Impish/Relaxed
EVs: 248 HP/252 Def/8 SDef
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream

or
-Stone Edge
-Crunch
-Pursuit
-Earthquake
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Sand Stream

Conkeldurr:
-Drain Punch
-Mach Punch
-Ice Punch/Stone Edge/Knock Off
-Poison Jab/Stone Edge/Knock Off
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/236 SDef/20 Spe
Item: Assault Vest
Ability: Guts

Infernape:
-Fire Blast/Flare Blitz
-Close Combat
-Grass Knot/Stone Edge/Thunder Punch
-U-turn/Mach Punch/Hidden Power (Ice)/Thunder Punch
Nature: Hasty/Naive
EVs: 168 Atk/88 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Life Orb

or
-Stealth Rock
-Overheat
-Close Combat/Taunt
-Endeavor
Nature: Hasty/Naive
EVs: 168 Atk/88 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze

or
-Close Combat
-Will-o-Wisp
-Taunt
-Slack Off
Nature: Impish
EVs: 212 HP/4 Atk/252 Def/40 Spe
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Blaze

Medicham:
-High Jump Kick/Drain Punch
-Zen Headbutt
-Ice Punch/Baton Pass
-Substitute
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 16 HP/252 Atk/240 Spe
Item: Medichamite
Ability: Pure Power

or
-High Jump Kick
-Zen Headbutt
-Fake Out
-Ice Punch/Bullet Punch
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 16 HP/252 Atk/240 Spe
Item: Medichamite
Ability: Pure Power

Heracross:
-Pin Missile
-Close Combat
-Rock Blast
-Swords Dance/Earthquake
Nature: Adamant/Jolly
EVs: 32 HP/252 Atk/224 Spe
Item: Heracronite
Ability: Guts/Moxie

The best niche that Togekiss has to offer is 60% flinch from Air Slash courtesy of Serene Grace. Super Luck is situational in comparison:
-Thunder Wave
-Air Slash
-Dazzling Gleam/Flamethrower/Aura Sphere/Defog/Heal Bell
-Roost
Nature: Calm/Bold
EVs: 248 HP/8 Def/252 SDef (Calm) or 248 HP/252 Def/8 SDef (Bold)
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace

 

[Polar Spectrum]

I'm going to be starting competitive battling pretty soon, but I need a little team advice.

This is the team I'm currently thinking of using, but I know it may need some work, so any advice/feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Roserade @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature
- Magical Leaf
- Seed Bomb
- Shadow Ball
- Sludge Bomb

Flygon @ Dragon Fang
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 SDef / 4 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Hone Claws
- Steel Wing

Manectric @ Focus Band
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Flamethrower
- Swagger
- Thunder Wave

Scrafty @ Focus Sash
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Power-Up Punch
- Crunch
- Poison Jab

Typhlosion @ King's Rock
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 SDef / 4 Spd
Modest Nature
- Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Sunny Day
- Swift

Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Super Luck
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SAtk / 4 Spd
Calm Nature
- Aura Sphere
- Dazzling Gleam
- Psychic
- Nasty Plot

If you wanna use those pokemon because you like them, don't let anyone or any community tell you you can't or shouldn't because they're not good. You can, but to get the most out of them - you will want to make some changes.

Roserade -

Platinum's right in that Timid is probably better in more circumstances than Modest for Roserade, putting it just ahead of other things close in speed to itself, giving it the chance to KO or at least get a move off before it takes a physical hit. Technician Hidden Power Fire is probably its best coverage move, if you're planning on breeding for that - if not, you can take alternative routes - such as Poison Point and venoshock, perhaps with a rocky helmet or focus sash- in attempts to capitalize on its very well known weakness on the physical defense front. Giving it a poison stab makes for nice anti-fairy too. Sleep Powder won't go perfectly with the poison planning set, but in almost all other circumstances Sleep Powder is more advantageous.

Flygon -

Flygon can be used, but it needs its best areas capitalized on. Adamant is a good nature, it's got a good physical movepool. EV"s in special defense may not help too much though, since regardless it won't take that Ice Beam. It does have 100 speed though, which helps it out against slower base speed pokemon with jolly / timid and speed investments. If you give it a choice band or life orb, its physical hits will sting a lot more. Especially a STAB earthquake, or Dragon Claw. It has Stone Edge and U-Turn as well, U Turn giving it a nice option to switch out with its High Speed and still deal some damage. Which you'll want to do, against obvious will o wispers that lack prankster or higher speed.

Manectric -

You don't have a mega yet, so this could be your team mega :D If you're willing to re-breed for lightningrod, that may help more as well. Manectric probably won't take too many physical hits to begin with, and if you're not sashing it assuming you want the mega, static becomes useless fast. Esepcially since it's already quite fast. Lightningrod, if you can make a good prediction on an electric attack, perhaps on your Togekiss - lets Manectric grab that +1 Sp Atk boost, and upon mega evolving Intimidate will drop their attack 1 stage. Mega Manectric is also wicked fast with very high sp atk; so modest or timid could be nice. Depends on what specifically worries you putting your team against. Thunderbolt and Flamethrower are the nice obvious stab and coverage, Snarl is an interesting option if you think a switch is coming for a special attacker or ghost / psychic type. It doesn't have too much coverage, so a nice swagger is a solid option for status over attacks. Overheat's worth considering if you know you'll be switching a fair amount.

I have to pee so bad, I can't do those other three right now : x APOLOGIES.

Edit:

\/ lol. This guy \/

 

[PlatinumDude]

If you wanna use those pokemon because you like them, don't let anyone or any community tell you you can't or shouldn't because they're not good. You can, but to get the most out of them - you will want to make some changes.

Roserade -

Platinum's right in that Timid is probably better in more circumstances than Modest for Roserade, putting it just ahead of other things close in speed to itself, giving it the chance to KO or at least get a move off before it takes a physical hit. Technician Hidden Power Fire is probably its best coverage move, if you're planning on breeding for that - if not, you can take alternative routes - such as Poison Point and venoshock, perhaps with a rocky helmet or focus sash- in attempts to capitalize on its very well known weakness on the physical defense front. Giving it a poison stab makes for nice anti-fairy too. Sleep Powder won't go perfectly with the poison planning set, but in almost all other circumstances Sleep Powder is more advantageous.

Flygon -

Flygon can be used, but it needs its best areas capitalized on. Adamant is a good nature, it's got a good physical movepool. EV"s in special defense may not help too much though, since regardless it won't take that Ice Beam. It does have 100 speed though, which helps it out against slower base speed pokemon with jolly / timid and speed investments. If you give it a choice band or life orb, its physical hits will sting a lot more. Especially a STAB earthquake, or Dragon Claw. It has Stone Edge and U-Turn as well, U Turn giving it a nice option to switch out with its High Speed and still deal some damage. Which you'll want to do, against obvious will o wispers that lack prankster or higher speed.

Venoshock is highly situational. So is Poison Point. Poison Point doesn't activate all the time, so relying on it is going to cost you.

Really, what does Flygon have over Garchomp? Garchomp has better Attack, Speed and overall bulk than Flygon.

Some Pokemon fare better in standard play than others. As I mentioned, a 4x Fairy weakness prevents Scrafty from being the threat in OU it was in Gen V.

 

[LucaLunar]

I've taken all of your advice on board, and from the Pokemon you suggested to me, this is the team I've created:

Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 232 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 20 Spd
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power (Fire)
- Synthesis

Hydreigon @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 SDef
Modest Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 68 SAtk / 20 Spd
Bold Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Defog
- Roost
- U-turn

Bisharp @ Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance

Infernape @ Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 168 Atk / 88 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Overheat
- Endeavor
- Close Combat

Togekiss @ Red Card
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature
- Air Slash
- Toxic
- Flamethrower
- Roost

Let me know what you think, and whether there's any further alternations I need to make.

 

[PlatinumDude]

I've taken all of your advice on board, and from the Pokemon you suggested to me, this is the team I've created:

Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Overgrow
EVs: 232 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 20 Spd
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power (Fire)
- Synthesis

Hydreigon @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 SDef
Modest Nature
- Dragon Pulse
- Dark Pulse
- Fire Blast
- Flash Cannon

Zapdos @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 68 SAtk / 20 Spd
Bold Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Defog
- Roost
- U-turn

Bisharp @ Black Glasses
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Swords Dance

Infernape @ Focus Sash
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 168 Atk / 88 SAtk / 252 Spd
Naive Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Overheat
- Endeavor
- Close Combat

Togekiss @ Red Card
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SDef
Calm Nature
- Air Slash
- Toxic
- Flamethrower
- Roost

Let me know what you think, and whether there's any further alternations I need to make.

Draco Meteor > Dragon Pulse on Hydriegon. It's a wall breaker first, sweeper second. It needs the raw power of Draco Meteor to muscle past non-Fairy threats.

Thunder Wave over Toxic on Togekiss, so it can execute the paraflinch combination that it's done rather admirably since Gen IV.

 

[LucaLunar]

Draco Meteor > Dragon Pulse on Hydriegon. It's a wall breaker first, sweeper second. It needs the raw power of Draco Meteor to muscle past non-Fairy threats.

Thunder Wave over Toxic on Togekiss, so it can execute the paraflinch combination that it's done rather admirably since Gen IV.

I'll use Draco Meteor - the only thing I don't like about using it though is the stat drop. I have to switch out Hydreigon after using it so I can get the stat reset.

As for Togekiss, I've already changed it. Toxic's okay, but having T-Wave does lower their chances of making a hit.

Anyway, thank you for all of your feedback! :)