rate my monotype water team. :3

[ajdotkom]

this is my first monotype team so i decided to go with Water because it would be the easiest.

Bulky Lead: Swampert (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Torrent
EVs: 160 HP/80 Atk/216 Def/52 SDef
Impish nature (+Def, -SAtk)
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Ice Punch
- Waterfall
---

Special Attacker: Starmie @ Life Orb
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 Spd/252 SAtk/4 SDef
Timid nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Recover
---

Special Attacker: Kingdra (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 4 HP/252 Spd/252 SAtk
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Dragon Pulse
---

Rapid Spinner: Tentacruel (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Liquid Ooze
EVs: 252 HP/120 Def/136 SDef
Bold nature (+Def, -Atk)
- Toxic Spikes
- Rapid Spin
- Sludge Bomb
- Surf
---

Physical Attacker: Cloyster (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 160 HP/252 Atk/96 SDef
Adamant nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Ice Shard
- Rock Blast
- Explosion
- Spikes
---

Bulky Special Attacker: Lapras (M) @ Leftovers
Ability: Shell Armor
EVs: 192 HP/112 Def/160 SAtk/44 SDef
Modest nature (+SAtk, -Atk)
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Hyper Beam
- Surf
---

any suggestions will help since i haven't actually started making it, yet.

 

[VanillaThunderbolt]

First off, descriptions as to why you use the Sets, or what you like about them, the strategy, etc. Otherwise, no one's going to be able to give you a full critique. Also, I'm going to assume you're playing OU, because 4/6 of your team is OU.

Swampert should probably have Ice Beam, and probably some Sp.Atk EV investment. Swampert is indeed physically oriented, but Ice Beam hits the bulky leads (notably Hippowdon and Gliscor) much more effectively than Ice Punch.

Starmie is simple, so that's pretty okay as is.

Kingdra has some serious potential here. Though this isn't a Rain Dance Team, the ENTIRE team benefits from Rain Dance. Screw Hidden Power, and go for Rain Dance. Maybe even try and work Draco Meteor on there instead of Ice Beam. I've seen 3 Pokes so far and they all have an Ice Type attack so far. No need to make yourself an easy target.

Tentacruel seems pretty standard. Spin/Toxic Spikes support, with dual STAB on the Special side. My only concern is how Empoleon will turn this great Sp.Def Wall into Set Up bait. Maybe consider a different move for that slot.

Cloyster. Skill Link does NOTHING for you. Shell Armor prevents serious Crit Hax. Also, do the Sp.Def EVs and Substitute gain you any marks in particular? Cloyster's Sp.Def isn't so-so, it's downright horrible. Also bare in mind that Cloyster (unfortunately) will most likely be cheated out of a chance to set up Spikes, unless the opponent is only running Physical Ice moves on the whole team or something. I really, and I mean REALLY like Cloyster, but there are reasons you don't see it in too many (if any) OU games.

Lapras has so much more potential. Water Absorb, first off. Secondly, Curse+Ice Shard+Waterfall, and any other physical move. Works a lot better than a mediocre Special Attacking set with Bolt+Beam coverage and two filler moves, with no way to increase damage output. Also, outside of Slaking, moves like Hyper Beam are generally a horrible idea.

In general, Mono-Type teams are usually a bad idea to try and actually use to win, considering (with the exception of some interesting Typing) they will all share the same weakness. A good Rotom-A set will Sub and Set Up on something (probably Cloyster) and go on to completely wreck this team (Leaf Storm to take out Swampert). The same methodology goes for Zapdos, but with Hidden Power [Grass]. Kingdra is the only silver lining to getting around those counters, and it's really a maybe. Even so, just because Lati@s and Mence are Uber now, that doesn't mean the OU metagame is no longer Dragon oriented anymore. Things like Kingdra and Dragonite are still alive and kicking (especially with everyone assuming Dragonite can be the next Mence @___@).

If you can find a way to get around these two...

Spoiler

Rotom-C @Leftovers
Levitate Ability
Timid Nature
64 HP/232 Sp.Atk/212 Speed
~Substitute
~Charge Beam
~Leaf Storm
~Shadow Ball

-and-

Kingdra @Life Orb
Swift Swim Ability
Timid Nature
252 Sp.Atk/252 Speed
~Draco Meteor
~Surf
~Ice Beam
~Rain Dance

... then you might have something.

 

[Our Wasted Years]

Yeah you're going to have to put in what each Pokemons purpose is and what you're having problems with.

 

[ajdotkom]

Cloyster. Skill Link does NOTHING for you. Shell Armor prevents serious Crit Hax. Also, do the Sp.Def EVs and Substitute gain you any marks in particular?

when i wrote this up on Shoddy to copy/paste in here, i couldn't find Rock Blast under Cloyster's moveset (because it's a HG/SS move tutor move) so i clicked Substitute to change after.

Lapras has so much more potential. Water Absorb, first off. Secondly, Curse+Ice Shard+Waterfall, and any other physical move. Works a lot better than a mediocre Special Attacking set with Bolt+Beam coverage and two filler moves, with no way to increase damage output. Also, outside of Slaking, moves like Hyper Beam are generally a horrible idea.

i'll switch Lapras over to a physical attacker, give him water absorb, and put more thought into his moveset, thanks.

In general, Mono-Type teams are usually a bad idea to try and actually use to win, considering (with the exception of some interesting Typing) they will all share the same weakness.

also, just letting you know that i've been testing it on Shoddy since i made this thread and have yet to lose a game with it. :3

 

[VanillaThunderbolt]

also, just letting you know that i've been testing it on Shoddy since i made this thread and have yet to lose a game with it. :3

Seriously? (Not knocking your skills or anything) Well hey, if it works it works. What specifically is working/not working, and what environment are you playing in? (Are all of the challenges also Mono-Type, is there any set Tier, etc. etc.)

 

[Our Wasted Years]

Yeah you're going to have to put in what each Pokemons purpose is and what you're having problems with.

^ do it or I'll close your thread.

 

[ajdotkom]

^ do it or I'll close your thread.

lol go ahead.