Ruko
Bearded Trout Warrior
I just wanted opinions on the most balanced team that could be made from all of these, and maybe some suggestions for the movesets of them if I left anything out on the ones I listed.
There are five groups I put the bugs in, and the team I'd be making would use one from every group, and two from the large middle group.
Right now I'm liking these the best:
Alternate Venomoth
Forretress
Scyther
Pinsir
Yanmega
Shuckle
For type balance, I'd prefer not to combine Shuckle and Armaldo. And as I mention down lower, Venomoth's toxic spikes prevent Parasect's Spore from working as effectively, so if I use both, Venomoth will be a special sweeper.
Any advice or ideas will help, and thanks to anyone who bothers reading through this whole thing XD
Venomoth@ Wise Glasses
Timid Nature
Tinted Lens ability
Toxic Spikes
Bug Buzz
Psychic
Energy Ball
The lead for the team, its main purpose is to lay down the Toxic spikes, if it lives through the attack it's sure to take, then sweep for as long as it can with Tinted Lens and Wise Glasses to back it up. This Venomoth would have basic Sweeper EVs, max special attack and speed.
Alternate Venomoth @ Wide Lens
Jolly Nature
Shield Dust Ability
Toxic Spikes
Toxic
Sleep Powder
U-Turn
An alternate lead for the team and more of an annoyer Venomoth. Lay Toxic spikes, and U-turn out for later in the battle in the event my opponent rapid spins, or sends out a poison or Steel type. Sleep Powder the Poison/Steels, and lay more toxic spikes. This Venomoth would have max speed EVs and then split 85s in Defense, special defense and HP
Parasect @ Focus Band
Sassy Nature
Dry Skin ability
Spore
Substitute
X-Scissor
Giga Drain
Main purpose here is really to put something to sleep, and try to kill it before it wakes up, possibly heal somewhere in the process, or just put it to sleep and switch. Full attack training, and the rest of your EVs split between HP and the Defenses so that it can take a hit. With its double weakness to flying and fire, Parasect would be a better choice to switch into an attack later. it has just as many resistances as it does weaknesses. Double resistant to ground and Grass, absorbs water, normally resistant to electric and fighting. I put it in this group because it can't be effectively paired with toxic spikes, they interfere with spore.
Forretress @ Light clay/Quick Claw
Sassy Nature
Rapid Spin
Gyro Ball / Reflect
Earthquake / Light Screen
Explosion
Support in the event that my opponent uses stealth rock, as almost this entire team has a major weakness to it. Rapid Spin to take care of the rocks, or other spikes, and then attack until I think I should explode. Or if it has the clay moveset, put up barriers and then switch to something else after exploding. I might Hybrid and give it Gyro Ball + Light Screen. Would have EVs in special defense and Attack, or Special defense and Defense, depending on the moveset.
the Armaldo that I listed just a little bit down can learn Rapid spin and replace Forretress if necessary. Armaldo doesn't have the immunity to toxic spikes, and is weak to Stealth Rock, however.
Scyther @ Liechi Berry
Jolly Nature
Swarm Ability
X-Scissor
Reversal
Aerial Ace / Swords Dance
Endure
A different approach from the usual Technician Scyther. I'd only give it Swords Dance if I use the Barrier laying Forretress. Since Scyther is 4x resistant to Fighting, Brick Break isn't much of a threat to it. The idea of this moveset is to pray the opponent doesn't have quick attack on their team. Reversal will hit Rocks and Steels, which the rest of the team may have a problem doing. Would have Physical sweeper EVs, Speed and attack.
Ninjask @ Liechi Berry
Careful Nature [impish could work too, however]
X-Scissor
Night Slash
Swords Dance / Baton Pass
Substitute
Give full attack and then Defense or special defense training, depending on the nature, for a somewhat surpising Ninjask that can take a hit or two. Swords Dance could be used from behind a substitute, if you can catch your opponent as they try to hit you with status, or you can use it if you know your opponent will be using physical or special corresponding with your training. If liechi doesn't activate after you take a hit, you can substitute until it does and then sweep with amazing speed and attack. This set is again weak to priority attacks, however. The key point of the Swords Dancing Ninjask is to predict your opponent's moves, if you give it Baton pass, it's really only meant to Substitute three, maybe four times and then pass the 3x speed and 1.5x attack to someone else. Attack if one of your subs lives somehow.
Pinsir @ Salac Berry/Muscle Band
Jolly/Adamant Nature
Mold Breaker Ability
X-Scissor
Close Combat / Earthquake
Rock Slide/Stone Edge / Earthquake
Endure/Swords Dance
Flexible sweeper sort of pokemon. It's really nice to be able to Earthquake Levitators XD
Salac berry set would have Rock Slide, and Endure to easily counter flying type pokemon [that again, you pray don't have quick attack] take a hit that's super-effective, Salac activates, hit them with rock slide before they move. Works best with Adamant Nature and Sweeper EVs.
the Muscle Band Set would work better with Jolly nature, and then you could replace Rock Slide/Stone Edge with Earthquake for a bit of extra power/accuracy. The muscle band set could also pull a different EV set, being Attack and Defense.
Heracross @ Flame Orb
Jolly Nature
Guts ability
Megahorn
Close Combat
Rock Slide/Stone Edge
Protect/Swords Dance
Do major damage with this sweeper, it'll just be a bit more on the slow side. Swords Dance over protect if you're willing to take a bit more of a risk there. A rock attack will give you flying coverage, provided that you're faster. Would have Physical sweeper EVs and could actually pull of the same Swarm + Reversal as Scyther, it could hit harder, it would just be slower.
Shedinja @ Focus Sash
Any attack raising Nature
Wonder Guard ability
Shadow Claw/Shadow Sneak
X-Scissor
Will-o-Wisp
Confuse Ray
Lives for at least one turn no matter what, is really easy to switch into battle since it's immune to most attacks, and makes a great Phazer if you can send it in on someone that doesn't have a super-effective attack. Not too sure about it's great use on a bug team though, with all of the common weaknesses that are shared :/
Armaldo @ Wide Lens / something Generic
Relaxed Nature
Battle Armor ability
Fury Cutter / X-Scissor
Rock Slide
Crush Claw
Brick Break / Rapid Spin / Swords Dance
Fury Cutter has been changed from older generations; now it only has to be used successfully, not successively. You can use it twice and and up the power to 40, then use Rock Slide, go back to Fury cutter and it will still be at 40. Still takes Five Turns to cap out at 160 Power though and may not be entirely worth it over X-Scissor, but with the wide lens it won't miss unless the opponent uses protect, fly, etc. Crush Claw has a nice power for the fact it has a 50% chance at lowering the foe's defense. Give it rapid spin and it could replace Forretress giving you room for another attacker.
Yanmega @ Petaya berry/Wise Glasses
Modest Nature
Speed Boost ability
Air Slash
Bug Buzz
Ancientpower / Shadow Ball
Substitute / Hypnosis
Petaya Berry to combine with Substitute, which will also work with Speed Boost, or Hypnosis and Wise Glasses. Makes for a great special Sweeper, and with speed boost, Air Slash will be annoying on almost anything. if Things get thick, or a special wall comes out, try hypnosis and then switching to a physical sweeper. Special Sweeper EVs on this one.
Masquerain @ Quick Claw/Wide Lens [Focus sash if you give it whirlwind]
Calm Nature
Intimidate Ability
Air Slash
Mud Shot
Hydro Pump / Whirlwind
Bug Buzz / Silver Wind
Doesn't have the best of stats altogether, but special defense and special attack training give it one type to wall half decently. Could work as somewhat of a Phazer for the team, even without Whirlwind. Mud Shot will always lower speed when it hits, and if you're faster, you can Air Slash with hopes of making them Flinch. Silver Wind only for the people who feel like they'd get lucky with it, and it could provide a much needed boost to all of Masquerain's stats.
Shuckle @ Leftovers
Any defense or special defense boosting nature
Sturdy Ability
Wrap
Flash / Toxic
Sandstorm
Rest
This shuckle is intended to pair with Toxic spikes layed by the Venomoth mentioned earlier. Wrap and sandstorm are slow working, but together they do as much as poison does, and Flash just to annoy your trapped opponent. Toxic can still be thrown on as a precaution in place of flash, but for the most part I don't see it as needing it. Full defense and special defense EVs on this one.
Vespiquen @ Leftovers
Relaxed/Sassy Nature
Pressure ability
Defend Order
Protect / Heal Order
Confuse Ray / Toxic
U-Turn
Intended to delay for Toxic spikes, like the Shuckle above. With Protect and leftovers, there really isn't much need for Heal Order to recover your HP. Defend order and Defense + Special defense training to get a delaying tank going. U-turn allows you to switch after letting Vespiquen's defense take the blow from an attack, which is different from the usual use for U-Turn
There are five groups I put the bugs in, and the team I'd be making would use one from every group, and two from the large middle group.
Right now I'm liking these the best:
Alternate Venomoth
Forretress
Scyther
Pinsir
Yanmega
Shuckle
For type balance, I'd prefer not to combine Shuckle and Armaldo. And as I mention down lower, Venomoth's toxic spikes prevent Parasect's Spore from working as effectively, so if I use both, Venomoth will be a special sweeper.
Any advice or ideas will help, and thanks to anyone who bothers reading through this whole thing XD
Venomoth@ Wise Glasses
Timid Nature
Tinted Lens ability
Toxic Spikes
Bug Buzz
Psychic
Energy Ball
The lead for the team, its main purpose is to lay down the Toxic spikes, if it lives through the attack it's sure to take, then sweep for as long as it can with Tinted Lens and Wise Glasses to back it up. This Venomoth would have basic Sweeper EVs, max special attack and speed.
Alternate Venomoth @ Wide Lens
Jolly Nature
Shield Dust Ability
Toxic Spikes
Toxic
Sleep Powder
U-Turn
An alternate lead for the team and more of an annoyer Venomoth. Lay Toxic spikes, and U-turn out for later in the battle in the event my opponent rapid spins, or sends out a poison or Steel type. Sleep Powder the Poison/Steels, and lay more toxic spikes. This Venomoth would have max speed EVs and then split 85s in Defense, special defense and HP
Parasect @ Focus Band
Sassy Nature
Dry Skin ability
Spore
Substitute
X-Scissor
Giga Drain
Main purpose here is really to put something to sleep, and try to kill it before it wakes up, possibly heal somewhere in the process, or just put it to sleep and switch. Full attack training, and the rest of your EVs split between HP and the Defenses so that it can take a hit. With its double weakness to flying and fire, Parasect would be a better choice to switch into an attack later. it has just as many resistances as it does weaknesses. Double resistant to ground and Grass, absorbs water, normally resistant to electric and fighting. I put it in this group because it can't be effectively paired with toxic spikes, they interfere with spore.
Forretress @ Light clay/Quick Claw
Sassy Nature
Rapid Spin
Gyro Ball / Reflect
Earthquake / Light Screen
Explosion
Support in the event that my opponent uses stealth rock, as almost this entire team has a major weakness to it. Rapid Spin to take care of the rocks, or other spikes, and then attack until I think I should explode. Or if it has the clay moveset, put up barriers and then switch to something else after exploding. I might Hybrid and give it Gyro Ball + Light Screen. Would have EVs in special defense and Attack, or Special defense and Defense, depending on the moveset.
the Armaldo that I listed just a little bit down can learn Rapid spin and replace Forretress if necessary. Armaldo doesn't have the immunity to toxic spikes, and is weak to Stealth Rock, however.
Scyther @ Liechi Berry
Jolly Nature
Swarm Ability
X-Scissor
Reversal
Aerial Ace / Swords Dance
Endure
A different approach from the usual Technician Scyther. I'd only give it Swords Dance if I use the Barrier laying Forretress. Since Scyther is 4x resistant to Fighting, Brick Break isn't much of a threat to it. The idea of this moveset is to pray the opponent doesn't have quick attack on their team. Reversal will hit Rocks and Steels, which the rest of the team may have a problem doing. Would have Physical sweeper EVs, Speed and attack.
Ninjask @ Liechi Berry
Careful Nature [impish could work too, however]
X-Scissor
Night Slash
Swords Dance / Baton Pass
Substitute
Give full attack and then Defense or special defense training, depending on the nature, for a somewhat surpising Ninjask that can take a hit or two. Swords Dance could be used from behind a substitute, if you can catch your opponent as they try to hit you with status, or you can use it if you know your opponent will be using physical or special corresponding with your training. If liechi doesn't activate after you take a hit, you can substitute until it does and then sweep with amazing speed and attack. This set is again weak to priority attacks, however. The key point of the Swords Dancing Ninjask is to predict your opponent's moves, if you give it Baton pass, it's really only meant to Substitute three, maybe four times and then pass the 3x speed and 1.5x attack to someone else. Attack if one of your subs lives somehow.
Pinsir @ Salac Berry/Muscle Band
Jolly/Adamant Nature
Mold Breaker Ability
X-Scissor
Close Combat / Earthquake
Rock Slide/Stone Edge / Earthquake
Endure/Swords Dance
Flexible sweeper sort of pokemon. It's really nice to be able to Earthquake Levitators XD
Salac berry set would have Rock Slide, and Endure to easily counter flying type pokemon [that again, you pray don't have quick attack] take a hit that's super-effective, Salac activates, hit them with rock slide before they move. Works best with Adamant Nature and Sweeper EVs.
the Muscle Band Set would work better with Jolly nature, and then you could replace Rock Slide/Stone Edge with Earthquake for a bit of extra power/accuracy. The muscle band set could also pull a different EV set, being Attack and Defense.
Heracross @ Flame Orb
Jolly Nature
Guts ability
Megahorn
Close Combat
Rock Slide/Stone Edge
Protect/Swords Dance
Do major damage with this sweeper, it'll just be a bit more on the slow side. Swords Dance over protect if you're willing to take a bit more of a risk there. A rock attack will give you flying coverage, provided that you're faster. Would have Physical sweeper EVs and could actually pull of the same Swarm + Reversal as Scyther, it could hit harder, it would just be slower.
Shedinja @ Focus Sash
Any attack raising Nature
Wonder Guard ability
Shadow Claw/Shadow Sneak
X-Scissor
Will-o-Wisp
Confuse Ray
Lives for at least one turn no matter what, is really easy to switch into battle since it's immune to most attacks, and makes a great Phazer if you can send it in on someone that doesn't have a super-effective attack. Not too sure about it's great use on a bug team though, with all of the common weaknesses that are shared :/
Armaldo @ Wide Lens / something Generic
Relaxed Nature
Battle Armor ability
Fury Cutter / X-Scissor
Rock Slide
Crush Claw
Brick Break / Rapid Spin / Swords Dance
Fury Cutter has been changed from older generations; now it only has to be used successfully, not successively. You can use it twice and and up the power to 40, then use Rock Slide, go back to Fury cutter and it will still be at 40. Still takes Five Turns to cap out at 160 Power though and may not be entirely worth it over X-Scissor, but with the wide lens it won't miss unless the opponent uses protect, fly, etc. Crush Claw has a nice power for the fact it has a 50% chance at lowering the foe's defense. Give it rapid spin and it could replace Forretress giving you room for another attacker.
Yanmega @ Petaya berry/Wise Glasses
Modest Nature
Speed Boost ability
Air Slash
Bug Buzz
Ancientpower / Shadow Ball
Substitute / Hypnosis
Petaya Berry to combine with Substitute, which will also work with Speed Boost, or Hypnosis and Wise Glasses. Makes for a great special Sweeper, and with speed boost, Air Slash will be annoying on almost anything. if Things get thick, or a special wall comes out, try hypnosis and then switching to a physical sweeper. Special Sweeper EVs on this one.
Masquerain @ Quick Claw/Wide Lens [Focus sash if you give it whirlwind]
Calm Nature
Intimidate Ability
Air Slash
Mud Shot
Hydro Pump / Whirlwind
Bug Buzz / Silver Wind
Doesn't have the best of stats altogether, but special defense and special attack training give it one type to wall half decently. Could work as somewhat of a Phazer for the team, even without Whirlwind. Mud Shot will always lower speed when it hits, and if you're faster, you can Air Slash with hopes of making them Flinch. Silver Wind only for the people who feel like they'd get lucky with it, and it could provide a much needed boost to all of Masquerain's stats.
Shuckle @ Leftovers
Any defense or special defense boosting nature
Sturdy Ability
Wrap
Flash / Toxic
Sandstorm
Rest
This shuckle is intended to pair with Toxic spikes layed by the Venomoth mentioned earlier. Wrap and sandstorm are slow working, but together they do as much as poison does, and Flash just to annoy your trapped opponent. Toxic can still be thrown on as a precaution in place of flash, but for the most part I don't see it as needing it. Full defense and special defense EVs on this one.
Vespiquen @ Leftovers
Relaxed/Sassy Nature
Pressure ability
Defend Order
Protect / Heal Order
Confuse Ray / Toxic
U-Turn
Intended to delay for Toxic spikes, like the Shuckle above. With Protect and leftovers, there really isn't much need for Heal Order to recover your HP. Defend order and Defense + Special defense training to get a delaying tank going. U-turn allows you to switch after letting Vespiquen's defense take the blow from an attack, which is different from the usual use for U-Turn
Obvious lack of Facade. It may not get STAB, but it does get a mention with Guts.