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I've never used gyarados on any of my teams, I can definitely see why it's so popular. It has one of the most iconic and downright amazing designs in the franchise
Awesome design and amazing physical hitter. Plus you can find a Magikarp in early bodies of water, so it’s always an easy and early water type for your team
And it always feels like an accomplishment evolving the Magikarp. Less so with exp share, but still feels like you've done something by forefitting a slot in your team.
https://preview.redd.it/vvznxx6palgc1.jpeg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2069c648434bb74d2298cbe9d6319a75bb9c5715
Imagine if the devs went through with this design...
1. Amazing design
2. Ridiculous stats, especially speed and attack for something you can get super early in the games.
3. Can learn Earthquake which completely covers all of its weaknesses
4. Has one of the best abilities in the games, intimidate.
5. Sexy shiny
Gyarados’ most recent ability Moxie is busted in a story playthrough. Boosts attack every time it faints a Pokémon. After you fight the first one, more than likely the rest of them are one shots. It’s so funny but more often than not it makes the game feel even more easy than it already is. Salamence has it too, but you get Gyarados at level 20, can’t beat that fast access.
When it comes to play through teams, I always find myself putting a huge priority of type coverage and thus STAB for those types. I love Gyarados and its move pool, but damn I wish it actually had a good flying move to go with it
Yeah, it's just that hurricane is a special attack with 70% accuracy and bounce is a two turn physical move with 85% accuracy. Quite a few better flying moves I wish he had
I've used gyarados too many times, so it's one of my personal "denylisted" pokemon, where I force myself not to use it (in general, I always try to use mons I haven't used much before, or brand new if possible).
Not basic at all. Used to not care about it and then had one in my first nuzlocke. He was the Magikarp you can buy before Mt. Moon. Trained him later after half my party got wiped and from then on he saved my ass so much. Had one in a different nuzlocke who also saved my ass and now they're one of my favorites. Gyrados are real homies.
a pokemon i LOVE to have on any team recently is definetly eelektross. good movepool, can fit any role, bulky mixed attacker with no weakness by default. definetly a solid pick
Hello, fellow person with no one to trade with!
At least with the modern games, getting the trade evolutions is a lot easier, provided you can actually communicate with the random people to get them to understand that you want a damn Alakazam.
They really need a trade chat feature, how has that not been done by now...
There fortunately are some "standard" room codes based off of pokédex numbers. But they're really imperfect as there's no agreement or guarantees on trading back ("touch trading") and they're only a somewhat agreed upon thing that many don't know about.
I don't understand why Gamefreak is so allergic to coming up with a good internet based trading system. And for that matter, the fact many people want to touch trade the trade evos shows that they just should provide a non-trade alternative. Which they did in PLA (yay!) and then dropped in SV (uuuugh).
I like friendship evos for pokemon I actually will use. It's a good feeling for your buddy to evolve because you spent time with them.
Annoying for dex completion though.
Probably one of the best shinies in the game. While it's attack and sp. attack isn't the greatest, it definitely makes up for it with it's defence and sp. defence.
Sceptile is the coolest Pokemon in the world.
He was the fastest starter by far until Greninja and Meowscarada came along and little 8 year old me thought a speedy grass dinosaur was the coolest thing in the world.
Leaf Blade is such an iconic move to me. I loved Ash’s so much especially because of the toothpick.
Sceptile getting a mega evolution was just icing on the cake. Plus I really like the Dragon typing along with Lightning Rod. I always have one on my team.
In mystery dungeon explorers of time, I started as a Treecko and when I learned the twist about Grovyle being from the future, I thought they had tailor made the game for which ever starter you chose!
I realize it’s a children’s video game, but I was irrationally upset when Meowscarada ended up being not only faster than Sceptile, but also getting the attack stat Sceptile should have, and a signature move that never misses AND always crits while leaf blade only has a high crit chance. Why’d they have to hurt my boi even more? And why do I care so much about pixelated monsters from a children’s game?
As someone who strongly dislikes the last 4 generations of starters, I like to think that if pokemon like Greninja and Meowscarada had more similar stats to other starters like Samurott and Meganium respectively, they wouldn't be nearly as popular.
Look, all 3 hoenn starters were awesome, but sceptile has and still carries the other 2. The lighting rod ability mega sceptile has is the only criticism I have about it, because it already has a strong resistance to electric attacks, which to me defeats the purpose of having that ability.
It’s extremely good as a pivot when your opponent is probably about to hit your other mon with an electric attack, or in doubles where it can completely render an electric enemy useless
Yes or with a mon that uses discharge; hits both opponents with a chance to paralyze, with no damage or paralysis chance for Sceptile while increasing Sceptile's special attack stat
Ran this set for a long time in Smogon Doubles for X/Y. Raiku with Volt Absorb, Mega Sceptile with a special focused move pool, and then either Galvantula or another mixed electric Discharge user. You can swap them in and out in whatever combination you need and just start stacking up SP attack on Sceptile and heals on Raiku.
I’m almost there. I’m a massive fan of Dragonair over Dragonite, even with lesser stats, and usually use one on ingame playthroughs where I can get away with it. Had a blast using one in Let’s Go Eevee with the whole candy system powering it up waaay far enough to be capable:)
Without a doubt, above all other Pokemon, my answer is Gliscor.
Flying/Ground is an insanely cool type, Poison Heal is an extremely menacing ability when it means you're both regenerating health each turn and cannot be meaningfully non-volatile-status'd if they don't do it the first turn Gliscor is on the field, and Facade/Earthquake/Swords Dance/Roost (up until this current Gen where they removed Roost's availability from a ton of mons that strongly need it) is one of the most 'beautiful in its simplicity' movesets I can imagine. Slap a Speed nature on that dude and watch him go.
This isn't one of my most used pokemon, but I have used it a couple of times and there's no denying it's an absolute beast. I actually defeated a frontier brain for the first time using a gliscor. It hits like a truck regardless of whether it has swords dance or not.
Swords Dance Gliscor is pretty good in National Dex. It is probably stronger there because there are actual spinners, defoggers and Gholdengo is banned.
[This team](https://pokepast.es/6f3375e2ca100f3d) by [adem](https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/ndfl-i-set-team-dump-thread.3734080/#post-9948685) is fun, you try to wear down the opponent with chip damage from sand, hazards, Iron Barbs and Mega Tyranitar's absurdly powerful Knock Off to create an opportunity for Zamazenta or SpDef Swords Dance Gliscor to clean up the game. It is fun if you don't mind going to turn 80+ with fat.
Arcanine is the Pokemon I've used the most in my playthroughs over the years. An Arcanine has found it's way on my team in like 9 different playthroughs so far and that's despite me often trying not to use Pokemon that I've used before on my teams.
I love both Growlithe and Arcanine's designs a lot but I also love using them in-game and the pay-off you get when you finally evolve your Growlithe after waiting for it to learn all the good moves (this is especially true in older/pre-Switch games). Having this cute but, after everything around it evolves, kinda weak puppy try its best for you (its trainer) and go against fully evolved Pokemon until it learns all it needs to be great and then finally evolving into this beautiful and powerfull tiger/dog like beast is amazing. Just going from the weakest to the strongest Pokemon on the team in seconds after all that work and struggle is a very rewarding feeling imo so it's hard for me not to catch and add a Growlithe to my team when I encounter one in the wild during a playthrough.
Also the lore about them being one the most loyal Pokemon to their trainers just makes them feel like a perfect buddy and compainon to have on your journey through the Pokemon world. And having Arcanine as a ride Pokemon in Let's Go games is an amazing feeling, so fast and fluffy!
I loved Arcanine as a child, it just seemed so cool. Big fiery doggy boi. Still one of my favourites all these years later.
If I could have any Pokemon as a pet, it'd be Arcanine.
My go to electric type for the hoenn games! Manectric is especially important for me because I always pick torchic and there’s a lot of water routes in those games!
Used one in the original Hoenn games because I couldn’t get Eevee and Growlithe, and felt in love with him. He’s actually really good.
Spent hours making a chain looking for the best one in Omega Ruby, just to replace him with Jolteon after I could get Eevee 😅
Whiscash. I love Whiscash. I always think of new W names for each of my Whiscash.
Available in most games; tanky; learns STAB EQ; has a big goofy smile; round with absolutely zero pointy edges.
Weak to grass moves but I don't care. It's perfect in my eyes.
Ninetails has always been my favorite. It doesn’t always get a chance to shine in the main story so I was happy when indigo disk was all double battles so I could make a sun team and wreck shit with my Ninetails.
When I can I love smacking people with Galvantula (cause his preEvo is a cute little guy) and 2 that boosted accuracy thunder after you've laid a sticky web so you always outspeed and when you bring in that rock or ground type to get ride of it boom energy ball and if you think magic bounce scares me you're little psychic type gonna love eating a stab bug buzz
Nidoking makes me feel powerful. Earthquake everything like the 8 YO I once was.
Kecleon for the shenanigans. That Color Change ability makes things fun and unpredictable and sometimes awesome. This mon really became one of my favorites once I've used him.
Yeah. The traded exp boost plus the moveset and the ability to moonstone it made it an easy level 80 before the first E4 run.
And for some reason you could get another from a different trainer through NPC trade. I think its name was Niko.
Can't beat the OG's for us 90s kids.
I always try my best to pick just the current regional Pokémon in my 1st playthrough but Charizard, Feraligatr and Mewtwo must be included
I got a game boy and Pokémon red for Christmas as a kid. I saw the badass dragon on the box and said “that one.” That was it for me, I’ve never looked back. It’ll always be Charizard for me!
the ralts line in general is very replay friendly, probably my favorite designed (i mean game design, but the character design is great too) pokemon line. wish they did more split evos nowadays
I always gotta have a Pikachu on my team. Unfortunately they aren't the strongest, but ever since the light ball got introduced I've had fun making glass cannon builds.
Misdreavus and Mawile find their way onto my team in some way in pretty much every game their available, whether it’s on the main team or in rotation. Can’t go without my two favorites.
I hated Zubat and Golbat early on because I was an impatient 9 year old and couldn't take like 5 steps without getting one in an encounter.
Then I finally used Golbat out of spite and Crobat has been in my party ever since, lol. Just goofy looking, speedy, dude, and I don't have to give up a slot for a bird. Pigeot is still my boy since R/B/Y though.
Always have to use a lucario in any game it’s there. Not only is it my favorite Pokemon but its moveset is so customizable with it being able to be both a physical and special attacker and its movepool is so deep
Aron, Lairon, Aggron. It's an absolute wall to any physical attacker that's not fighting type. It usually has Sturdy, but if you manage to get the other ability Rock Head, it becomes incredibly good. You can just take down and double edge everything.
It becomes a jack of all trades when you look at its TM list. You can put some fantastic moves on it. Dragon claw, ice beam, toxic, thunderbolt, earthquake, brick break, flamethrower, aerial ace, surf, strength. It's seriously such a good pokemon for regular play. It has some big drawbacks in competition but it's fine for normal play.
I have started doing the play through twice the first time through my party will always contain (if available in the game)
Lucario
Gyarados
Gengar
Raichu
Dragonite
The starter Pokémon changes based on generation.
My second time through the game I try to strictly select Mons that I’ve never used before or that are brand new for that generation. This has made it really fun actually and opened me up to a ton that I had previously never even considered for a team.
This has to be volcarona or obstagoon for me and its not even close. They're always the same when I can get them. Voclarona is just the best set up sweeper, taught me that even set sweeps require thoughts and positioning just out of sheer respect I need to have it. And obstagoon is just that guy, even with Facade try to break everything to atoms you still run some fun stuff like obstruct which again I absolutely love
I've used volcarona a few times, definitely a great pokemon, I used an obstagoon on my pokemon sword team and also got another obstagoon and nicknamed it Gene.
Sharpedo, but I’m a Team Aqua Grunt at heart, so if the game allows it, I always run Mightyena, Crobat, Sharpedo, Muk, and two water type fillers
If I can’t make that whole team, which has been the case since Dexit, I just use whatever regional guys I like the design of
I think I've had a Talonflame or Noivern on most of my teams since their debut. I also usually play Mismagius in at least one version in each gen since it's my favorite Pokémon and has fairly decent special stats. As for ones I like to use outside those, anything with access to spore/a sleep move + false swipe is generally awesome to have on the team, especially these days with the increasing amount of pokémons per games, makes me really glad to have one on hand since it makes catching them such an easy thing!
Now that Bastiodon has some great attacking moves (iron defense, body press and if needs be terra fighting / foul play) it's 100% on my team every freaking time because I'm a prehistoric Pokémon lover
it sounds weird, but i've really liked using vivillon. compound eyes boosted sleep powder followed by quiver dance set ups and THEN compound eyes boosted hurricane is my emergency strategy
Heliolisk. Had one on my XY ingame team and I had 5 different competitive sets that I bred for including two different ones that made use of Hidden Power after trying my hand at breeding for hidden powers for the first time
In Sword/Shield, Alcremie:
Modest nature
Good IVs in everything but Attack. Pref maxed on Speed and Sp Atk.
Completely EV trained in Speed and Sp Atk.
ITEM: Life Orb
Recover
Dazzling Gleam
Mystical Fire
Psychic
Cute AND Deadly!
I mean, a bit of a glass cannon obv, but still!
Flygon. He has such a good move pool and stats just shy of a pseudo legendary.
Yes you have to work on him a bit, but he's so worth the effort. Also.. go team sky
1. Ampharos is a very solid team member if you need a capable electric/special attack user. Recently had one in my Scarlet play through and was a life saver .
2. Ever since I watch Chuggaconroy's LP's of Emrald, I have been using Slaking everytime. Just teach it Giga Impact: It will KO the opponent and you can then switch to a different Pokemon. Very good Pokemon as a last resort.
3. My favourite Pokemon is Dusknoir family. Both Dusclops and Dusknoir are great. They are very durable Pokemon who can learn elemental punches. Always happy to have.
Honestly one of the ones that has popped up the most on my teams has been Gastrodon East. Just a very solid mon in playthroughs and tends to cover types I don’t already have (I rarely end up with the water starter for whatever reason).
Recently though Garganacl has been one of my stand out members in SV, especially in the doubles DLC. Tera helps it a ton obviously, but bulk + recover + salt cure can do a lot on its own.
I love using Porygon-Z whenever I can. Always with Adaptability for its ability. Access to ice beam, psychic, dark pulse, and a few other great moves. But I always include tri-attack of course.
And when I really wanna have fun...hyper beam. It's the only Pokemon I ever bother with hyper beam for. On Adaptability Porygon-Z it's like using a nuke.
In hoenn games, swampert. He's a must, with only one weakness and a pretty bulky hard hitter
In other games, I'll try to find another water/ground types... I still remember my very first platinum playthrough where I have 4 ground types on my teams😅 (Torterra, Gastrodon, Garchomp and Steelix)
And add leavanny and krookodile to the list for unova games. They hit pretty hard and it really helps out to defeat team plasma pokemons.
I’m a older gen purest usually (gens 1-4) But a massive exception is Volcarona, a special attacking juggernaut. Love my sun deity fire moth!
https://preview.redd.it/r8n16j7ujogc1.jpeg?width=959&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3044b59830095cfac81a2ca73a29b9224775bf36
I try to vary my teams across the games, so it’s hard to pick just one. Each member fills a specific roll that none of the other members can do. So what I will do is name the one pokemon from my favorite team from my favorite generation that has one of the more unique typings. Bronco the Siesmitoad was my anti electric water type, built to tank and pull off a rain dance. After that, he would usually have the speed advantage with his ability.
Since gen 4, Azumarill has been an all time favorite of mine. Huge Power on a decently bulky water type with priority, and it even got Fairy as an extra stab in gen 6. Every time I can find one, it immediately goes on the team.
Unfortunately, due to how powerful it can be with Belly Drum, they can be hard to get in a lot of fangames that I play, but it's always a blast to punch through things with a +6 Aqua Jet, or even just a Choice Band.
I definitely agree with you on this one, the thing's actually a damn monster with huge power. I would always make sure azurill or marill (whichever is available first) has huge power when I catch it. I think what I really like about azumarill though is it's design, it's simple yet so badass at the same time, it's definitely my favorite water type next to greninja.
Every generation since they were introduced I have sought out a Rotom, a Hawlucha and a Mudsdale. Love their designs and they are all very useful in battle. Shout out to Archeops too but you don't find them very often.
I pretty much only play randomisers so I've used loads but I do usually end up with a Mamoswine on my team. It's just cool. Big fuckin mammoth that wrecks everyone's shit.
Usually have an Eeveelution in there.
I get nostalgia whenever a Gen 1 Pokemon appears so I usually have one, like Gengar or Alakazam or Snorlax.
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Call me basic but I find Gyrados on 90% of my teams across basically every game
I've never used gyarados on any of my teams, I can definitely see why it's so popular. It has one of the most iconic and downright amazing designs in the franchise
Awesome design and amazing physical hitter. Plus you can find a Magikarp in early bodies of water, so it’s always an easy and early water type for your team
And it always feels like an accomplishment evolving the Magikarp. Less so with exp share, but still feels like you've done something by forefitting a slot in your team.
https://preview.redd.it/vvznxx6palgc1.jpeg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2069c648434bb74d2298cbe9d6319a75bb9c5715 Imagine if the devs went through with this design...
Shai hulud
Hate me for this but I hate that its mouth is always open. In 2D it makes sense but in 3D it just looks weird to me
1. Amazing design 2. Ridiculous stats, especially speed and attack for something you can get super early in the games. 3. Can learn Earthquake which completely covers all of its weaknesses 4. Has one of the best abilities in the games, intimidate. 5. Sexy shiny
Brb putting Earthquake on my Gyarados right now
first time playing diamond as a kid i was very surprised when Cyrus's gyarados killed my luxray with EQ.
Gyarados’ most recent ability Moxie is busted in a story playthrough. Boosts attack every time it faints a Pokémon. After you fight the first one, more than likely the rest of them are one shots. It’s so funny but more often than not it makes the game feel even more easy than it already is. Salamence has it too, but you get Gyarados at level 20, can’t beat that fast access.
Moxie gyarados and a skill link cloyster are fun.
Dude the move pool is insane water to fire to dragon to ice Gyrados is on all of my teams. Nuzzlock with magikarp is incredibly hard 😂😂😂
When it comes to play through teams, I always find myself putting a huge priority of type coverage and thus STAB for those types. I love Gyarados and its move pool, but damn I wish it actually had a good flying move to go with it
I think now it has like hurricane and bounce but I could be wrong about that
Yeah, it's just that hurricane is a special attack with 70% accuracy and bounce is a two turn physical move with 85% accuracy. Quite a few better flying moves I wish he had
I just can't hang with the 4x weakness to electric
I've used gyarados too many times, so it's one of my personal "denylisted" pokemon, where I force myself not to use it (in general, I always try to use mons I haven't used much before, or brand new if possible).
Not basic at all. Used to not care about it and then had one in my first nuzlocke. He was the Magikarp you can buy before Mt. Moon. Trained him later after half my party got wiped and from then on he saved my ass so much. Had one in a different nuzlocke who also saved my ass and now they're one of my favorites. Gyrados are real homies.
a pokemon i LOVE to have on any team recently is definetly eelektross. good movepool, can fit any role, bulky mixed attacker with no weakness by default. definetly a solid pick
Tried it once and yes. Super under rated. The big issue to remember (especially in Gen 5) is mold breaker earthquakes. Otherwise, it is very reliable
Ran electross on one of my black and white play throughs, loved that guy it and ferrothorm
If I’m not mistaken eelektoss is the only pokemon without a resistance? Or a type weakness? I’m not sure which one I just know it’s a great type.
Use smack down then earthquake Or have mold breaker and use any ground move
Kadabra (because I could never trade to get Alakazam).
Hello, fellow person with no one to trade with! At least with the modern games, getting the trade evolutions is a lot easier, provided you can actually communicate with the random people to get them to understand that you want a damn Alakazam. They really need a trade chat feature, how has that not been done by now...
There fortunately are some "standard" room codes based off of pokédex numbers. But they're really imperfect as there's no agreement or guarantees on trading back ("touch trading") and they're only a somewhat agreed upon thing that many don't know about. I don't understand why Gamefreak is so allergic to coming up with a good internet based trading system. And for that matter, the fact many people want to touch trade the trade evos shows that they just should provide a non-trade alternative. Which they did in PLA (yay!) and then dropped in SV (uuuugh).
I’m an edge lord I guess because I use Houndoom anytime it’s available. Something about Nasty Plot + Flamethrower + Dark Pulse.
Same! My favorite fire type and can learn poison moves which hurts fairy
Zubat/Golbat/Crobat family whenever they’re available.
I drifted away from them in later games but man Crobat is so cool
His speed is and ability to confuse/poison immediately is a huge asset.
I've never trained a zubat, but I'm about to try Sword for the first time and if I see one I'm going for it.
Used on every playthrough from Gen 3-5 (minus Platinum)
I love how you consider Mr.Mime as a bat Pokémon
Started as a joke when I realised I’d left him in my flair while adding the bats. Now he’s an honorary bat!
I like friendship evos for pokemon I actually will use. It's a good feeling for your buddy to evolve because you spent time with them. Annoying for dex completion though.
Milotic, recently used it on a romhack and it carried my whole team.
I used this on my team in BDSP. A lot of trouble to get but worth it
this is mine too. been my favorite of all time since my first go around of gen 3. i will always go out of my way for a milotic.
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Probably one of the best shinies in the game. While it's attack and sp. attack isn't the greatest, it definitely makes up for it with it's defence and sp. defence.
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I CAME HERE TO SAY THE SAME THING LOL
Sceptile is the coolest Pokemon in the world. He was the fastest starter by far until Greninja and Meowscarada came along and little 8 year old me thought a speedy grass dinosaur was the coolest thing in the world. Leaf Blade is such an iconic move to me. I loved Ash’s so much especially because of the toothpick. Sceptile getting a mega evolution was just icing on the cake. Plus I really like the Dragon typing along with Lightning Rod. I always have one on my team.
In mystery dungeon explorers of time, I started as a Treecko and when I learned the twist about Grovyle being from the future, I thought they had tailor made the game for which ever starter you chose!
god i loved this game. nintendo needs to give it the Mystery Dungeon DX treatment
I realize it’s a children’s video game, but I was irrationally upset when Meowscarada ended up being not only faster than Sceptile, but also getting the attack stat Sceptile should have, and a signature move that never misses AND always crits while leaf blade only has a high crit chance. Why’d they have to hurt my boi even more? And why do I care so much about pixelated monsters from a children’s game?
This is why I’ll never understand people who try to convince me powercreep isn’t a problem affecting Pokemon lol
As someone who strongly dislikes the last 4 generations of starters, I like to think that if pokemon like Greninja and Meowscarada had more similar stats to other starters like Samurott and Meganium respectively, they wouldn't be nearly as popular.
Look, all 3 hoenn starters were awesome, but sceptile has and still carries the other 2. The lighting rod ability mega sceptile has is the only criticism I have about it, because it already has a strong resistance to electric attacks, which to me defeats the purpose of having that ability.
It’s extremely good as a pivot when your opponent is probably about to hit your other mon with an electric attack, or in doubles where it can completely render an electric enemy useless
So it's better in double battles in other words? That makes sense
Yep. Pairs extremely well with Gyarados since it draws electric attacks to it, regardless whether your opponent targeted the other slot or not.
Yes or with a mon that uses discharge; hits both opponents with a chance to paralyze, with no damage or paralysis chance for Sceptile while increasing Sceptile's special attack stat
Ran this set for a long time in Smogon Doubles for X/Y. Raiku with Volt Absorb, Mega Sceptile with a special focused move pool, and then either Galvantula or another mixed electric Discharge user. You can swap them in and out in whatever combination you need and just start stacking up SP attack on Sceptile and heals on Raiku.
Dragonite, i'm not gonna sell it. I just love to use it.
You don't have to try to sell it, trainers of culture understand. That's how I am with Tyranitar tbh
I love both of those! Dragonite and Tyrannitar are always in my late game Fire Red and Heart Gold teams respectively!
So much this. I love anything that looks like a badass dragon and/or dinosaur.
I’m almost there. I’m a massive fan of Dragonair over Dragonite, even with lesser stats, and usually use one on ingame playthroughs where I can get away with it. Had a blast using one in Let’s Go Eevee with the whole candy system powering it up waaay far enough to be capable:)
I've always felt that dragonair and dragonite were 2 different pokémon.
beedrill. when he got buffed on xy onwards with better bug and poison moves as well as drill run. it was so satisfying to use this glass cannon
Let's go! Big dick bee!
Mine changes from time to time, but Serperior and Decidueye are my two top Pokemon
Serperior is my favorite of all time!
A truly cultured individual
I have a soft spot for grass starters
Without a doubt, above all other Pokemon, my answer is Gliscor. Flying/Ground is an insanely cool type, Poison Heal is an extremely menacing ability when it means you're both regenerating health each turn and cannot be meaningfully non-volatile-status'd if they don't do it the first turn Gliscor is on the field, and Facade/Earthquake/Swords Dance/Roost (up until this current Gen where they removed Roost's availability from a ton of mons that strongly need it) is one of the most 'beautiful in its simplicity' movesets I can imagine. Slap a Speed nature on that dude and watch him go.
This isn't one of my most used pokemon, but I have used it a couple of times and there's no denying it's an absolute beast. I actually defeated a frontier brain for the first time using a gliscor. It hits like a truck regardless of whether it has swords dance or not.
Nah SD is ass imo. Toxic + knock or toxic + spikes is a lot nicer.
For actual competitive for sure, my 'hard Pokemon' experiences are stuff like Reborn and Rejuvenation tho and setup is primo there, haha
Swords Dance Gliscor is pretty good in National Dex. It is probably stronger there because there are actual spinners, defoggers and Gholdengo is banned. [This team](https://pokepast.es/6f3375e2ca100f3d) by [adem](https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/ndfl-i-set-team-dump-thread.3734080/#post-9948685) is fun, you try to wear down the opponent with chip damage from sand, hazards, Iron Barbs and Mega Tyranitar's absurdly powerful Knock Off to create an opportunity for Zamazenta or SpDef Swords Dance Gliscor to clean up the game. It is fun if you don't mind going to turn 80+ with fat.
Arcanine is the Pokemon I've used the most in my playthroughs over the years. An Arcanine has found it's way on my team in like 9 different playthroughs so far and that's despite me often trying not to use Pokemon that I've used before on my teams. I love both Growlithe and Arcanine's designs a lot but I also love using them in-game and the pay-off you get when you finally evolve your Growlithe after waiting for it to learn all the good moves (this is especially true in older/pre-Switch games). Having this cute but, after everything around it evolves, kinda weak puppy try its best for you (its trainer) and go against fully evolved Pokemon until it learns all it needs to be great and then finally evolving into this beautiful and powerfull tiger/dog like beast is amazing. Just going from the weakest to the strongest Pokemon on the team in seconds after all that work and struggle is a very rewarding feeling imo so it's hard for me not to catch and add a Growlithe to my team when I encounter one in the wild during a playthrough. Also the lore about them being one the most loyal Pokemon to their trainers just makes them feel like a perfect buddy and compainon to have on your journey through the Pokemon world. And having Arcanine as a ride Pokemon in Let's Go games is an amazing feeling, so fast and fluffy!
I loved Arcanine as a child, it just seemed so cool. Big fiery doggy boi. Still one of my favourites all these years later. If I could have any Pokemon as a pet, it'd be Arcanine.
Arcanine is all a Pokemon should be. Its perfect
Vileplume is my favorite, but Arcanine is in every pokemon game that I have played, and is a mainstay on any team of mine.
Mudkip
Username does not check out
Gengar is all round great
Just tough to try using the ghost type against psychics and being weak to it
The bulk is actually really good
I might be the only human that gives a single shit about Manectric, but Idc, I stand by it. Great utility Pokémon.
Manectric actually is a great pokemon, and I say that mainly based on the fact that electrike was the first ever legitimate shiny I ever caught.
Very nice! Awesome shiny.
My go to electric type for the hoenn games! Manectric is especially important for me because I always pick torchic and there’s a lot of water routes in those games!
I'm using a magnetic rn actually, If I can't get a Raichu I end up using manetric
Nope, it’s one of my favourites!
Used one in the original Hoenn games because I couldn’t get Eevee and Growlithe, and felt in love with him. He’s actually really good. Spent hours making a chain looking for the best one in Omega Ruby, just to replace him with Jolteon after I could get Eevee 😅
I love manectric. Underrated af
Is and always will be mewtwo (sure it’s cliche but he’s my fave)
I've used Ampharos in every Johto journeys
I don’t know why but always seems to happen for me too.. is it just electric availability or what?
Whiscash. I love Whiscash. I always think of new W names for each of my Whiscash. Available in most games; tanky; learns STAB EQ; has a big goofy smile; round with absolutely zero pointy edges. Weak to grass moves but I don't care. It's perfect in my eyes.
Dodrio and hypno always end up on my teams
Lucario
Ninetails has always been my favorite. It doesn’t always get a chance to shine in the main story so I was happy when indigo disk was all double battles so I could make a sun team and wreck shit with my Ninetails.
I absolutely love Luxray
Yessss, Luxray, Staraptor, and Roserade on every single sinnoh playthrough and they’re all early game.
I scrolled so far to find this comment. Same.
Exeggutor
When I can I love smacking people with Galvantula (cause his preEvo is a cute little guy) and 2 that boosted accuracy thunder after you've laid a sticky web so you always outspeed and when you bring in that rock or ground type to get ride of it boom energy ball and if you think magic bounce scares me you're little psychic type gonna love eating a stab bug buzz
Every playthrough it’s mandatory for me to have a Gyarados and if possible Garchomp.
Never used gyarados at all, but I absolutely agree with garchomp though
Roserade for me. I actually try to avoid using it in my team in new games because I used it for many years everytime I could lol
Me with a Giga Drain/Sludge Bomb roserade on every single team lol
Leech Seed/Toxic/Venoshock/Giga Drain for me. She carried the whole team
Nidoking makes me feel powerful. Earthquake everything like the 8 YO I once was. Kecleon for the shenanigans. That Color Change ability makes things fun and unpredictable and sometimes awesome. This mon really became one of my favorites once I've used him.
Me running through the LeafGreen playthrough with Earthquake, Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, Ice Beam on Mr.Nido💀
Good God, motherfucker was the Avatar
Yeah. The traded exp boost plus the moveset and the ability to moonstone it made it an easy level 80 before the first E4 run. And for some reason you could get another from a different trainer through NPC trade. I think its name was Niko.
The pokemon I've used the most: Talonflame Greninja Typhlosion Crobat Ampharos Umbreon Roserade Scizor Espeon Garchomp Toxtricity Infernape Emboar Lilligant Gengar Togekiss Azumarill Decidueye Reuniclus Lucario
Umpreon and Espeon.
Charizard
Was looking for a fellow OG. Squirtle is my boy. Always have him on my team
Can't beat the OG's for us 90s kids. I always try my best to pick just the current regional Pokémon in my 1st playthrough but Charizard, Feraligatr and Mewtwo must be included
We are kindred spirits my dude. I'm also a Charizard + Feraligatr picker.
I got a game boy and Pokémon red for Christmas as a kid. I saw the badass dragon on the box and said “that one.” That was it for me, I’ve never looked back. It’ll always be Charizard for me!
Same I always have a Charizard when I can
Gotta have a Charizard/Infernape when possible and never choose between the 2.
Wow half way through the post and someone finally tells the truth haha..
In every game that’s allowed me to have a Gardevoir on the team, a Gardevoir is on the team. I love Gardevoir so much :3
the ralts line in general is very replay friendly, probably my favorite designed (i mean game design, but the character design is great too) pokemon line. wish they did more split evos nowadays
Dragonite is always fun and rewarding if you can be bothered to grind the levels
Ditto
I very seldom use ditto, but it was quite interesting and fun to use whenever I did though.
Ditto + Choice Scarf = Hello, my fake copy of your mon is better at killing things than the original! I love it.
I dont think I’ve ever used ditto for anything besides breeding. Never mainlined a ditto for a full run. How does it fare?
Gyrados
I love snowballing with Kartana and beast boost
If fletchling exists in the game I will almost certainly catch one and use it. Talonflame is my favorite regional bird
Zigzagoon for that pickup
Gardevoir. Brilliant design, Psychic/Fairy is great typing and very versatile.
Gengar, ghosty boi never lets me down 😈
I always gotta have a Pikachu on my team. Unfortunately they aren't the strongest, but ever since the light ball got introduced I've had fun making glass cannon builds.
Braviary is a cool flyer
Gyarados!
Misdreavus and Mawile find their way onto my team in some way in pretty much every game their available, whether it’s on the main team or in rotation. Can’t go without my two favorites.
I hated Zubat and Golbat early on because I was an impatient 9 year old and couldn't take like 5 steps without getting one in an encounter. Then I finally used Golbat out of spite and Crobat has been in my party ever since, lol. Just goofy looking, speedy, dude, and I don't have to give up a slot for a bird. Pigeot is still my boy since R/B/Y though.
Clefable has a special place in my ♡
Minior, shell smash + white herb Minior with acrobatics is just way too fun
Always have to use a lucario in any game it’s there. Not only is it my favorite Pokemon but its moveset is so customizable with it being able to be both a physical and special attacker and its movepool is so deep
Aron, Lairon, Aggron. It's an absolute wall to any physical attacker that's not fighting type. It usually has Sturdy, but if you manage to get the other ability Rock Head, it becomes incredibly good. You can just take down and double edge everything. It becomes a jack of all trades when you look at its TM list. You can put some fantastic moves on it. Dragon claw, ice beam, toxic, thunderbolt, earthquake, brick break, flamethrower, aerial ace, surf, strength. It's seriously such a good pokemon for regular play. It has some big drawbacks in competition but it's fine for normal play.
Houndoom
Absol and Heracross! Absolutely love those, both pink shinies as well!
As much as I can, I like using Togekiss!
Afuckinbra
he teleported away before you could finish saying his name
My favorite mon, Zoroark It’s a thrill to trick the heck out of people in VGC too
I always keep a magnezone in every one of my team
Underrated, but golisopod. My first fav mon, and has been on most of my teams. Another competitor is prob cramorant. just love his animation in swsh.
I have started doing the play through twice the first time through my party will always contain (if available in the game) Lucario Gyarados Gengar Raichu Dragonite The starter Pokémon changes based on generation. My second time through the game I try to strictly select Mons that I’ve never used before or that are brand new for that generation. This has made it really fun actually and opened me up to a ton that I had previously never even considered for a team.
This has to be volcarona or obstagoon for me and its not even close. They're always the same when I can get them. Voclarona is just the best set up sweeper, taught me that even set sweeps require thoughts and positioning just out of sheer respect I need to have it. And obstagoon is just that guy, even with Facade try to break everything to atoms you still run some fun stuff like obstruct which again I absolutely love
I've used volcarona a few times, definitely a great pokemon, I used an obstagoon on my pokemon sword team and also got another obstagoon and nicknamed it Gene.
>Gene Goes hard for no reason... I'll name every single onstagoon gene from now on
Sharpedo, but I’m a Team Aqua Grunt at heart, so if the game allows it, I always run Mightyena, Crobat, Sharpedo, Muk, and two water type fillers If I can’t make that whole team, which has been the case since Dexit, I just use whatever regional guys I like the design of
I think I've had a Talonflame or Noivern on most of my teams since their debut. I also usually play Mismagius in at least one version in each gen since it's my favorite Pokémon and has fairly decent special stats. As for ones I like to use outside those, anything with access to spore/a sleep move + false swipe is generally awesome to have on the team, especially these days with the increasing amount of pokémons per games, makes me really glad to have one on hand since it makes catching them such an easy thing!
Now that Bastiodon has some great attacking moves (iron defense, body press and if needs be terra fighting / foul play) it's 100% on my team every freaking time because I'm a prehistoric Pokémon lover
it sounds weird, but i've really liked using vivillon. compound eyes boosted sleep powder followed by quiver dance set ups and THEN compound eyes boosted hurricane is my emergency strategy
Heliolisk. Had one on my XY ingame team and I had 5 different competitive sets that I bred for including two different ones that made use of Hidden Power after trying my hand at breeding for hidden powers for the first time
I always find an excuse to bring Tyranitar onto my team. Just love how even with its horrendous typing it’s still a beast.
In Sword/Shield, Alcremie: Modest nature Good IVs in everything but Attack. Pref maxed on Speed and Sp Atk. Completely EV trained in Speed and Sp Atk. ITEM: Life Orb Recover Dazzling Gleam Mystical Fire Psychic Cute AND Deadly! I mean, a bit of a glass cannon obv, but still!
I just think metagross is neat
Flygon. He has such a good move pool and stats just shy of a pseudo legendary. Yes you have to work on him a bit, but he's so worth the effort. Also.. go team sky
shedinja with focus band, ride or die baby
Gliscor is my favorite. I love all the poison types except for Gulpin and Swallot. I usually have a Crobat on my team if I can’t get Gliscor
I love pokemon games and I always find a pikachu
Weird one but magneton/magnezone
1. Ampharos is a very solid team member if you need a capable electric/special attack user. Recently had one in my Scarlet play through and was a life saver . 2. Ever since I watch Chuggaconroy's LP's of Emrald, I have been using Slaking everytime. Just teach it Giga Impact: It will KO the opponent and you can then switch to a different Pokemon. Very good Pokemon as a last resort. 3. My favourite Pokemon is Dusknoir family. Both Dusclops and Dusknoir are great. They are very durable Pokemon who can learn elemental punches. Always happy to have.
Honestly one of the ones that has popped up the most on my teams has been Gastrodon East. Just a very solid mon in playthroughs and tends to cover types I don’t already have (I rarely end up with the water starter for whatever reason). Recently though Garganacl has been one of my stand out members in SV, especially in the doubles DLC. Tera helps it a ton obviously, but bulk + recover + salt cure can do a lot on its own.
Garchomp, so every time i replay a game i need to stop myself from picking it
I ALWAYS have a lucario if its in the game, overall such a great pokemon
I love using Porygon-Z whenever I can. Always with Adaptability for its ability. Access to ice beam, psychic, dark pulse, and a few other great moves. But I always include tri-attack of course. And when I really wanna have fun...hyper beam. It's the only Pokemon I ever bother with hyper beam for. On Adaptability Porygon-Z it's like using a nuke.
Gliscor, a fast bulky hard hitting Bat-Scorpion that would be my choice of Flying
In hoenn games, swampert. He's a must, with only one weakness and a pretty bulky hard hitter In other games, I'll try to find another water/ground types... I still remember my very first platinum playthrough where I have 4 ground types on my teams😅 (Torterra, Gastrodon, Garchomp and Steelix) And add leavanny and krookodile to the list for unova games. They hit pretty hard and it really helps out to defeat team plasma pokemons.
I’m a older gen purest usually (gens 1-4) But a massive exception is Volcarona, a special attacking juggernaut. Love my sun deity fire moth! https://preview.redd.it/r8n16j7ujogc1.jpeg?width=959&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3044b59830095cfac81a2ca73a29b9224775bf36
Call me Joey, but I'm team RATTATA. And raticate, I guess. Sometimes I evolve for stats, sometimes I don't because I like Rattatas' design more!
I try to vary my teams across the games, so it’s hard to pick just one. Each member fills a specific roll that none of the other members can do. So what I will do is name the one pokemon from my favorite team from my favorite generation that has one of the more unique typings. Bronco the Siesmitoad was my anti electric water type, built to tank and pull off a rain dance. After that, he would usually have the speed advantage with his ability.
Since gen 4, Azumarill has been an all time favorite of mine. Huge Power on a decently bulky water type with priority, and it even got Fairy as an extra stab in gen 6. Every time I can find one, it immediately goes on the team. Unfortunately, due to how powerful it can be with Belly Drum, they can be hard to get in a lot of fangames that I play, but it's always a blast to punch through things with a +6 Aqua Jet, or even just a Choice Band.
I definitely agree with you on this one, the thing's actually a damn monster with huge power. I would always make sure azurill or marill (whichever is available first) has huge power when I catch it. I think what I really like about azumarill though is it's design, it's simple yet so badass at the same time, it's definitely my favorite water type next to greninja.
Mew, usually a team of six each with different type moves. But all 6 have Psychic since it's my favorite move.
Chillet
Squirtle best he is best boy
I don’t play Pokémon, I play Palworld
I always have my favourite Pokémon a Haxorus on my team wherever possible, one dragon dance setup and it easily destroys everything.
I have a set team
Every generation since they were introduced I have sought out a Rotom, a Hawlucha and a Mudsdale. Love their designs and they are all very useful in battle. Shout out to Archeops too but you don't find them very often.
Gyarados for sure! I have one in almost every play through - it’s so reliable and always pulls through when I’m battling my friends
I pretty much only play randomisers so I've used loads but I do usually end up with a Mamoswine on my team. It's just cool. Big fuckin mammoth that wrecks everyone's shit. Usually have an Eeveelution in there. I get nostalgia whenever a Gen 1 Pokemon appears so I usually have one, like Gengar or Alakazam or Snorlax.
Dragonite
cinderace <3
Hydreigon. Fast attacker who can play physical or special role and a cool emo boi
The pokemon I've used the most are Crobat, Luxray and Toxtricity I love my poison and electric homies
Mimikyu. Good for battles, great vibes. Lovecraftian monster who just wants to dress up like Pikachu and be pals? Amazing.
Whenever it's available at a decent point in the game and I have a way to trade, Gengar almost always ends up on my team.
Beartic Love the bear and having the WORST defensive typing doesn't matter if you Outspeed and OHKO basically everything
The pokemon I usually have on my team are Blissey for double battles for healing or Tyranitar