Pokémon VGC Team Building Help & Strategy Guide

Summary

In the Pokémon Champions | VGC Battles & Tournaments server, members discuss overcoming competitive plateaus and mastering meta teams. This thread provides practical advice on handling difficult matchups, such as Raichu and Archaludon, while emphasizing the importance of positioning and type coverage. It serves as a helpful resource for players looking to improve their gameplay and climb the ranked ladder through community-driven strategy sessions.

vividbeacon-61 OP

I copied this team from youtube and im having a hard time using it, idk how to use the team and who to lead i need help im stuck at ultra ball😭

Pokémon VGC Team Building Help & Strategy Guide

merrykitten-85
@vividbeacon-61 I copied this team from youtube and im having a hard time using it, idk how to use the team and who…
happykitten-50

Cybertrons videos have guides at the start no?

vividbeacon-61 OP

He has but i dont understand what he’s saying

@vividbeacon-61 He has but i dont understand what he’s saying
happykitten-50

what don't you understand?

vividbeacon-61 OP

What he says in the video

cleverinbox-49

Well he gives rly detailed instructions

cleverinbox-49

Use x leads, these are y weaknesses

@cleverinbox-49 Use x leads, these are y weaknesses
vividbeacon-61 OP

Huh?

@happykitten-50 what don't you understand?
vividbeacon-61 OP

Yo what teams are meta rn my team got too much counters i think

@vividbeacon-61 Yo what teams are meta rn my team got too much counters i think
happykitten-50

This team is meta haha

happykitten-50

There's like one "counter" and you can beat it with a bit of positioning

@happykitten-50 There's like one "counter" and you can beat it with a bit of positioning
vividbeacon-61 OP

I always lose on raichu decks

cleverinbox-49

Metagross is good against it too

happykitten-50

you you ice punch/hurricane

vividbeacon-61 OP

And they attack my pelipper

@vividbeacon-61 And they attack my pelipper
happykitten-50

Then your swampert should be free to do anything

cleverinbox-49

Well duh, they aint gonna just sit and let your swampert wjn

happykitten-50

I don't thik this is a team issue, just experience

@happykitten-50 I don't thik this is a team issue, just experience
vividbeacon-61 OP

Yeah i think so

happykitten-50

Which is not a problem

happykitten-50

Everyone starts somewhere :D

cleverinbox-49

If there was a pokemon who was unbeatable everybody would use it

vividbeacon-61 OP

But if i face a raichu deck who should i lead?

cleverinbox-49

I think they give leads in the vid

@vividbeacon-61 But if i face a raichu deck who should i lead?
happykitten-50

Probably just swampert/peli

happykitten-50

But yeah check out Cybertrons vid

vividbeacon-61 OP

Alright

@vividbeacon-61 Alright
happykitten-50

The gamplan should either be earthquake and hurricane the grass type (If they lead raichu + grass)

happykitten-50

Unless it's faster than peli for some reason

cleverinbox-49

This conversation has made me rlise I don't have an electric resistance or inmunity

vividbeacon-61 OP

I also need to know what attacks their pokemon have

happykitten-50

Which is like exclusively sceptile haha

@cleverinbox-49 This conversation has made me rlise I don't have an electric resistance or inmunity
happykitten-50

Swampert bro

happykitten-50

And Archaludon

vividbeacon-61 OP

I lost to a gallade because i didnt know it has a grass type move

@happykitten-50 Swampert bro
cleverinbox-49

I said I

cleverinbox-49

Not them

@cleverinbox-49 I said I
happykitten-50

ohhh whoopsie

happykitten-50

I mixed it up

cleverinbox-49

Archaladon is freaking terrifying for me

@vividbeacon-61 I lost to a gallade because i didnt know it has a grass type move
happykitten-50

yeah, that's just experience again haha

vividbeacon-61 OP

Do i tailwind first turn?

@happykitten-50 yeah, that's just experience again haha
vividbeacon-61 OP

Yeah

@vividbeacon-61 Do i tailwind first turn?
happykitten-50

Depends

cleverinbox-49

Brick break scrafty does 2 shot it but thats still too slow

@happykitten-50 Depends
vividbeacon-61 OP

If they are not threatening?

happykitten-50

A lot of the time you'll just be fast enough because of swampert swift swim

happykitten-50

Moreso you should tailwind if you need the speed control

happykitten-50

It's a very "just in case" move on peli

vividbeacon-61 OP

Ngl i might change grimmsnarl for sableye because i dont find grim useful

@vividbeacon-61 Ngl i might change grimmsnarl for sableye because i dont find grim useful
happykitten-50

It's very useful

happykitten-50

Helps is the Zard matchup

happykitten-50

And trick room

happykitten-50

You can lead it with swampert nd parting shot into pelipper as you mea evolve

vividbeacon-61 OP

What does trickroom do?

happykitten-50

That's one example

@vividbeacon-61 What does trickroom do?
happykitten-50

Reverses speed order :)

vividbeacon-61 OP

Like the slowest become the fastest?

happykitten-50

So your swampert, who is normally lightning fast in the rain, becomes the slowest thing on the field

@vividbeacon-61 Like the slowest become the fastest?
happykitten-50

correct!

vividbeacon-61 OP

Ohh

happykitten-50

It's a move that a lot of teams are based off

vividbeacon-61 OP

That’s why

vividbeacon-61 OP

Btw is there a counter for encore?

vividbeacon-61 OP

Btw in choosing my pokemon what should i think of first?

vividbeacon-61 OP

What should i lead against rain teams

vividbeacon-61 OP

I always lose

vividbeacon-61 OP

Against them

@vividbeacon-61 What should i lead against rain teams
happykitten-50

Usually Sinistcha and probably archaludon

vividbeacon-61 OP

And what should i put on my back

happykitten-50

That's rains worst matchups. Keep practicing :)

@vividbeacon-61 And what should i put on my back
happykitten-50

It's up to you :D

@happykitten-50 It's up to you :D
vividbeacon-61 OP

Did i lead the right mons?

Pokémon VGC Team Building Help & Strategy Guide

@vividbeacon-61 Did i lead the right mons? ![image](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1520396563287904276/1520…
happykitten-50

Against zard? I'd say lead grimmsnarl swamper, and leave sinistcha behind

happykitten-50

Bring peli and Arch in the back

happykitten-50

That way you can set up screens, and switch the rain in on their sun

vividbeacon-61 OP

I hate staraptor

vividbeacon-61 OP

Grass type decks is my weakness

vividbeacon-61 OP

I dont know what to do when i encounter them

happykitten-50

It doesn't

happykitten-50

Again this is just experience

vividbeacon-61 OP

Bro i encountered 6 straight raichu and charizard team

happykitten-50

But you can beat those

vividbeacon-61 OP

I honestly cant

vividbeacon-61 OP

Grimmsnarl doesn’t do a thing

vividbeacon-61 OP

Even tho i put screens

vividbeacon-61 OP

My swamp still gets ko

vividbeacon-61 OP

What team do you use?

vividbeacon-61 OP

Do i just switch the version?

@vividbeacon-61 Grimmsnarl doesn’t do a thing
happykitten-50

it does a lot

@vividbeacon-61 What team do you use?
happykitten-50

I just use a metagross balance team

@happykitten-50 I just use a metagross balance team
vividbeacon-61 OP

Nice i guess the meta is different in higher ranks

@vividbeacon-61 Nice i guess the meta is different in higher ranks
happykitten-50

why?

vividbeacon-61 OP

Do you have a rain team i can copy

@vividbeacon-61 Do you have a rain team i can copy
happykitten-50

Yes it's the one I sent you

happykitten-50

It's good

happykitten-50

Done well at tournaments

@happykitten-50 why?
vividbeacon-61 OP

I mean in masterball rank staraptor wouldnt work

@vividbeacon-61 I mean in masterball rank staraptor wouldnt work
happykitten-50

It doesn't work as well, no, because the players are better. But rain is still a very strong team

vividbeacon-61 OP

This?

Pokémon VGC Team Building Help & Strategy Guide

@vividbeacon-61 This? ![image](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1520396563287904276/1520685144954900610/IMG_8…
happykitten-50

yes

vividbeacon-61 OP

Whats the strongest team rn?

@vividbeacon-61 Whats the strongest team rn?
happykitten-50

doesn't exist

happykitten-50

You could argue Zard Y, but that's gotten a little worse recently

happykitten-50

Mostly cause of Swampert

vividbeacon-61 OP

Is zard+raichu better than rain

@vividbeacon-61 Is zard+raichu better than rain
happykitten-50

no

happykitten-50

if you want we can hop in the vc here, I'll stream a couple of showdown games with the team

vividbeacon-61 OP

Aight

magicrocket-59

my snow team hardcounter this team btw

magicrocket-59

better try some sun teams

@magicrocket-59 my snow team hardcounter this team btw
happykitten-50

no it doesn't lol

happykitten-50

not if the rain player has any clue

magicrocket-59

mega frosslass evolution in proper team , freeze dry of my glaceon reks pelipper and mega swampert

@vividbeacon-61 This? ![image](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1520396563287904276/1520685144954900610/IMG_8…
magicrocket-59

i had fought this same team for more than 6 7 times in uball

@magicrocket-59 mega frosslass evolution in proper team , freeze dry of my glaceon reks pelipper and mega swampert
happykitten-50

ok so Uh what about grimmsnarl and metagross

happykitten-50

What if I wait for you to mega and use parting shot to get in pelipper

happykitten-50

What if I just don't bring swampert

magicrocket-59

aurora veil and snow makes super effective hits be tanked , mega frosslass gets rid of mega metagross

@magicrocket-59 aurora veil and snow makes super effective hits be tanked , mega frosslass gets rid of mega metagro…
happykitten-50

no it doesn;t LMAO

magicrocket-59

bro it does what are u on

happykitten-50

Shadow ball does maybe 70%?

magicrocket-59

yes

happykitten-50

And if you're aurora veiling then I get two free hits on you

magicrocket-59

i have a fake out grimmsnarl to stall out turns of mega metagross and hit parting shots when needed

@magicrocket-59 i have a fake out grimmsnarl to stall out turns of mega metagross and hit parting shots when needed
happykitten-50

so you're just leaving my other mon completely untouched, got it

happykitten-50

good luck!

magicrocket-59

i constantly change my partner of frosslass , either glaceon comes or grimmsnarl comes

happykitten-50

ok

magicrocket-59

glaceon in snow is very hard to remove with bright powder

magicrocket-59

i abused snow to reach mball

@magicrocket-59 i abused snow to reach mball
happykitten-50

I beat snow to get to masterball

magicrocket-59

glaceon also has shadow ball , so this team is hard countered

happykitten-50

If you say so man

magicrocket-59

sun teams trouble my snow team

magicrocket-59

rain team players doesnt try to bring rain , they just follow a online template and try reaching mball

magicrocket-59

they try once or twice for rain , then stop it , i always push snow with frosslass

happykitten-50

Don't let your matchup opinions be tilted by brainless copy/pasters haha

magicrocket-59

im sure you are a better player than me , just saying the mindset of players matter more than the team

@magicrocket-59 im sure you are a better player than me , just saying the mindset of players matter more than the t…
happykitten-50

I agree

magicrocket-59

snow cloak is really underrated , people dont know about it much

magicrocket-59

i run snow cloak mamoswine and glaceon , they do the maximum work

@magicrocket-59 i had fought this same team for more than 6 7 times in uball
vividbeacon-61 OP

Damn

@magicrocket-59 better try some sun teams
vividbeacon-61 OP

Should I?

vividbeacon-61 OP

Damn orangoru strong asf

vividbeacon-61 OP
vividbeacon-61 OP

I need a new team

@vividbeacon-61 I need a new team
happykitten-50

why dude

happykitten-50

Rain is really, really good

happykitten-50

And really, really easy to play

vividbeacon-61 OP

Im bored

@happykitten-50 And really, really easy to play
vividbeacon-61 OP

I dont know i cant get out of ub3

vividbeacon-61 OP

Maybe a new version?

vividbeacon-61 OP

is raichu + swampert

@vividbeacon-61 is raichu + swampert
happykitten-50

It exists yeah

happykitten-50

You can try make it work

vividbeacon-61 OP

Whats the best version ?

@vividbeacon-61 Whats the best version ?
happykitten-50

Genuinely, the one I gave you

happykitten-50

I don't know what else to say

vividbeacon-61 OP

Is rain the best rn?

happykitten-50

Honestly probably yes

happykitten-50

It's definitely easiest to use

vividbeacon-61 OP

Really? Then why cant i get to master ball

@happykitten-50 It's definitely easiest to use
vividbeacon-61 OP

Yeah idk

@vividbeacon-61 Really? Then why cant i get to master ball
happykitten-50

Because you need to improve as a player

happykitten-50

That's the reality of it man

happykitten-50

Everyone practices an improves and you will too :D

@happykitten-50 Because you need to improve as a player
vividbeacon-61 OP

In what ways

@vividbeacon-61 In what ways
happykitten-50

No idea, I haven't watched you play

merrykitten-85

I suggest players take their favourite team to pokemon showdown

merrykitten-85

Let’s yas do lots of matches in a short time

vividbeacon-61 OP

Yeah imma practice in showdown

@vividbeacon-61 Yeah imma practice in showdown
happykitten-50

Good to hear!

happykitten-50

It's a great place for improving :D

vividbeacon-61 OP

Takes a long time to copy a team tho

vividbeacon-61 OP

Ihate this game

happykitten-50

If you hate it and don't want to work in improving, then don't play

happykitten-50

I believe that you can do it

happykitten-50

But it's up to you friend :D

vividbeacon-61 OP

He doesn’t

vividbeacon-61 OP

im stuck at ub1

merrykitten-85

Keep trying you’re close

@vividbeacon-61 im stuck at ub1
happykitten-50

You will get there! Improving is slow, but very worth it if you enjoy the game :)

vividbeacon-61 OP

I dont know how to counter trick room

happykitten-50

Fair! That always involves careful positioning

Each team will usually have an anti TR Pokémon in any case

happykitten-50

If you’re still using rain, then Sinksycha does a good job of pressuring an anti TR

happykitten-50

You can also go for a straight kill on the TR mom with the likes of swampert or Metagross

vividbeacon-61 OP
vividbeacon-61 OP

Rotom is crazy

vividbeacon-61 OP

Should i change metagross

vividbeacon-61 OP

Its the least used pokemon in my team

happykitten-50

Uhhh you have Sinistcha

happykitten-50

Completely walls rotom

happykitten-50

So does archaludon

vividbeacon-61 OP

I have a hard time winning against trickroom,rotom,charizard,and rain teams

vividbeacon-61 OP

Got a 3 win streak

vividbeacon-61 OP

I just lost to trickroom

vividbeacon-61 OP

Pokémon VGC Team Building Help & Strategy Guide

vividbeacon-61 OP

Elektross is the answer

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