Beginners Guide for PvP

[Noxious]

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Hello everyone and welcome to the Beginners Guide for PvP. This guide will include the main playstyles of the PvP scene as well as checks for them. You will also find more information about how to create viable teams yourself and common Pokemon that you could use for your first PvP team.

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- PvP Terms and Definitions

- Different Playstyles

- Building your own Balanced Team

- Most Used Pokemon

- Common PvP Pokemon

 

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Basic Terms:

- Meta/Metagame: A term used in multiplayer games meaning the Most Effective Tactic Available. It's basically what works in a game regardless of what you wish would work.

- STAB: Same Type Attack Bonus - moves that have the same type as the Pokemon that is using the move gets a 50% base power boost on the attacking move

- Hazards: short for Entry Hazards - moves that effect a Pokemon that is switching in - List of Entry Hazards

 

Item Terms:

- Life Orb: boosts the power of moves by ~30% in exchange of 10% of the maximum Health Points of the holder

- Choice Band: boosts the Physical Attack by 50% in exchange for the picked move to be soft-locked. The effect resets once withdrawn

- Choice Specs: boosts the Special Attack by 50% in exchange for the picked move to be soft-locked. The effect resets once withdrawn

- Choice Scarf: boosts the Speed by 50% in exchange for the picked move to be soft-locked. The effect resets once withdrawn

- Assault Vest: boosts the holders' Special Defense by 50% in exchange for the holder not being able to use status moves

- Rocky Helmet: damages the attacker for 1/6 of its total Health Points

- Leftovers: restores 1/16 of the holders total Health Points every round

- Focus Sash: holder guarenteed lives on 1 Health Point if it had all of its Health Points at the start of the turn, regardless of how powerful the attack of the opponent was

 

IV and EV Terms:

- ATK: short for Physical Attack stat

- DEF: short for Physical Defense stat

- SPD: short for Speed stat

- SPAtk: short for Special Attack stat

- SPDef: short for Special Defense stat

- HP: short for Health Point stat

 

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Disclaimer

Hyper Offense is one of the hardest playstyles and therefore not the best choice for players who just entered the PvP scene.

 

Main Description

Hyper Offense is a playstyle that usually has no tanky Pokemon at all. The main Pokemon of the team is a Stealth Rock or Sticky Web setter that is only used for this purpose. It does not really matter if this Pokemon only does this job. The item Focus Sash allows the Pokemon to get up the hazards in most of the games. This lead usually also carries Taunt in most of the games to prevent the opponent from using Defog. It can also carry a self-harming move such as Memento, Explosion or Double-Edge to prevent the user from using Rapid Spin aswell. An example for a Hyper Offense lead Pokemon would be Azelf, Aerodactyl or Smeargle. Losing a Pokemon does not have to be a disadvantage for the team if you keep up the momentum and your opponent has to react to your moves constantly. Once you lose this momentum you will have a hard time getting back into the game.

 

The rest of the team consists of up to five sweeping Pokemon like Lucario, Gyarados or Dragonite. Your main goal is to get rid of threats to your sweeping Pokemon and to essentially find an opportunity to set up with one of your Pokemon and sweep the rest of your opponents team. You also want to have a variety of physical and special attackers, which gives you less issues against Stall teams.

 

Threats and Weaknesses

Hyper Offense is pretty weak against common stall teams featuring defensive Pokemon, especially if they have the Unaware ability. Sweepers may have issues breaking through these types of team combinations, therefore it is a really good counter to Hyper Offense.

 

 

Main Description

Balance is a playstyle that has offensive as well as defensive Pokemon in its team. You want your Pokemon to cover each others weaknesses in order to have a well built team. A Grass/Water/Fire core is really important for these types of teams, especially when it comes to the defensive part of your team. You also want to have some solid Pokemon with set up moves or all out attackers. Balance is the most consistent playstyle. Most Balanced Teams have checks and counters against most of the Pokemon in the metagame and therefore the best odds for winning the game.

 

Threats and Weaknesses

Balance is relatively weak against Stall teams, especially if your defensive Pokemon get worn down by hazards or Toxic. If you are playing a Balanced Team you will have to predict your opponent a lot if you want to win the game.

 

 

Main Description

Weather teams always have a way to set up weather, either Rain, Sand, Sun or the less common Hail. I will go in depth for all those types below. You want to limit the switch ins of your Weather sweeper on your opponent's team to win the game as a weather user. You want your team to consist of one Weather setter, at least one Weather sweeper and a bunch of other attackers and tanks that allow you to check the rest of the meta.

 

Rain Teams

 

Main Description

Rain Teams are the most common weather teams in the current meta. Their sheer offensive and defensive powers makes them one of the most threatening playstyles overall. The reason for Rain Teams working so good in most of the meta is the fact that Water-type attacks get a damage boost while Rain is on the field. Another notable effect when the rain is up is the fact that Fire-type moves get weaker. Every rain team carries a rain setter, which most of the times is Pelipper. There is a really big variety of rain sweepers you can pick from, the best special one being Kingdra. Make sure to check out the list here for more details. The reason for Swift Swim being so good is the fact that the users speed gets doubled when rain is up. Grass- or Steel-types are really good on rain teams, notably Ferrothorn, Scizor and sometimes even Tangrowth, as their weakness to Fire-type moves gets halfed if the rain is up. Therefore, they are a really powerful defensive option for a Rain Team.

 

Threats and Weaknesses

Rain Teams have a really hard time with dealing with bulky Grass-type Pokemon, such as Assault Vest Tangrowth or Leftovers Ferrothorn. In order to break through them, you cannot give them the opportunity to heal and you might need to sacrifice a Pokemon of yours in the process of doing that. Water Absorb or Storm Drain Pokemon give Rain Teams a hard time aswell, especially Mantine or Gastrodon.

 

Sand Teams

 

Main Description

Sand Teams work similar to Rain Teams. You want to preserve your Sand Sweeper, the main one being Excadrill, in order to win the game. Rock-type Pokemon gain a Special Defense boost by 1.5 if a Sandstorm is on the field. As Rain Teams, Sand Teams have one Sand Setter on their team, mainly Tyranitar or Hippowdown. You also want to have a Sand Sweeper and some defensive and offensive Pokemon that deal with the weaknesses that the Sand Setter and Sweeper has (mainly Water-, Grass- and Fighting-type attacks). Regenerator Pokemon pair up really well with Sand Teams, because it does not really matter if they take 1/16 per turn if Sand Storm is active. Another postive factor for them is that they can switch in consistently due to their ability. Pokemon like Magnezone or Magic Guard Clefable also go extremely well with Sand Teams.

 

Threats and Weaknesses

As said above, Sand Teams have huge problems against Water-, Grass- and Fighting-type attacks. Therefore, its counterpart, Rain Teams, are extremely strong against Sand Teams. Pokemon like Rotom-Wash or Physical Defensive Tangrowth wall and revenge kill most Sand Sweepers with ease. Most of the Sand Sweepers use a Life Orb, which wears them down a lot.

 

Sun Teams

 

Main Description

Sun Teams are also built around Sun Setters and abusers, called Sun Sweepers. Examples for Setters would be Torkoal and Ninetales, both with the Drought ability. Sun Abusers can be different types of Pokemon. They can either use the ability Chlorophyll, which doubles the speed of the using Pokemon when Sun is up, or Pokemon that have a powerful Fire-type attack that gets boosted by sun. The latter usually carries a Choice Band or Choice Specs, which gives it an even stronger boost. Examples for a Chlorophyll abuser can be found here and examples for different Fire-types can be found here. Good Tank Pokemon that go well with Sun Teams are Pokemon that are not really weak to Fire-type attacks and Pokemon that can switch in against attacks that threaten Sun Team Pokemon.

 

Threats and Weaknesses

Sun Teams have problems against Ground-, Rock- and even Water-type attacks, despite the latter one being halved when sun is up. It also has a hard time against Heatran, which is immune to Fire-type attacks and other weather setters, which get rid of the sun on the field and replace it with the new one, depending on their ability. Sun teams have a hard time against both other dominant weather teams, being Sand- and Rain Teams.

 

Hail Teams

 

Main Description

Like all the other Weather Teams, Hail has their own weather setters and abusers. However, as a disclaimer, Hail Teams are the weakest weather teams, but definitely usable. There are a bunch of Hail setters you can pick from, which can be found here. On the other side, Slush Rush, which doubles the speed of the user when in hail, is the ability of only a few Pokemon, which can be found here. Similar to the Sand Storm, Hail damages every Pokemon that is not an Ice-type for 1/16 of their total Health Points. Pokemon that go well with Hail teams are these who don't get damaged by the constant Hail damage, such as Magic Guard Clefable, and these who deal with Pokemon that threaten Hail abusers. Hail Teams is one of the least used play styles but one of the most fun ones for sure.

 

Threats and Weaknesses

Ice-types have a large variety of defensive weaknesses and are therefore the worst typing. They don't deal with any of the other three types of weathers too good but they give opposing teams a hard time switching in against the powerful Blizzard. Stealth Rock deal 25% of the total Health Points to Ice-types, which makes it even harder for them to do work. Unless they carry Freeze-Dry, they will also have a hard time breaking through bulky Water-type Pokemon.

 

 

Disclaimer

Stall is among the most difficult archetypes to accurately play in competitive Pokemon. This is not recommended for beginners.

 

Main Description

Stall is a playstyle with a team based around outlasting your opponent. Traditionally, this means surviving until chip damage from hazards, status effects, and weak uninvested attacks take out your opponent's threats. Stall teambuilding centers around being able to absorb damage consistently, turn after turn. This means that Pokemon who lack reliable recovery, no matter how bulky, are not a good choice for stall. Furthermore, opposing hazards can easily leave a stall team's defensive Pokemon within 2HKO range of strong attackers, so consistent hazard removal is paramount. However, because the aggressor controls momentum in Pokemon and therefore has the ability to make proactive threats, stall can quickly falter with even one small mistake. It is important to determine which Pokemon on your opponent's team threaten to sweep if your primary check falls, and to take all precautions to prevent that from occurring.

 

Threats and Weaknesses

Stallbreakers can single-handedly 6-0 a poorly built stall team, thanks to their resilience to status, reasonable speed, and access to recovery of their own, meaning Stall's weak attacks will not be able to take them down. To mitigate this, it is absolutely imperative that you either build in some aggression, or play a stallbreaker of your own. Examples of Pokemon that you must have a plan to handle include Gliscor (due to Poison Heal and Roost), Nasty Plot Togekiss (due to Heal Bell and Roost), and Mew (due to Taunt, Knock Off, and Roost). These Pokemon don't do much in one turn, but will inevitably defeat a poorly constructed stall team, and still have plenty of utility if checked. Furthermore, wallbreakers with their immediate access to powerful attacks such as Conkeldurr and Specs Latios can run through stall's defensive cores and facilitate a quick end to the game. Setup sweepers such as Dragonite and Tail Glow Manaphy can take advantage of the lack of offensive presence on a stall team to threaten a sweep, but this can be somewhat mitigated by running either Unaware Clefable or Unaware Quagsire. Lastly, continued entry hazard pressure can wear down stall Pokemon and leave them unable to withstand attacks they normally could.

 

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As you can see above, there are a bunch of different types of playstyles you can choose from. Every single playstyle has a different difficulty and not every playstyle is suitable for everyone. Therefore, I'll go more in depth on how to build a specific team, being Balance.

 

 

There are a few important points that you have to keep in mind when building a balanced team. You want to have switch ins for the majority of the meta but also Pokemon that deal with the Pokemon of your opponent offensively. Keeping this in mind you will have great success when building your first team.

 

Fire/Water/Grass Cores

 

Fire/Water/Grass cores gives you a really good defensive as well as offensive type combination. You should pick a Fire-, Water- as well as Grass-type Pokemon for this core. This gives you numerous options to switch in against threats. These types can also threaten your opponent offensively. Keep in mind that these Pokemon can be defensive as well as offensive. Offensive Pokemon such as Azumarill have a fair bulk and can also be used as switch ins.

 

Example for a Fire/Water/Grass core: Volcarona, Gyarados, Tangrowth

 

Dragon/Fairy/Steel Cores

 

Similar to the previous core, Dragon/Fairy/Steel cores gives you another solid core that allows you to switch in against powerful threats in the metagame. You should pick a Dragon-, Fairy-, and Steel-type Pokemon for this core. Once again, this core can also be used offensively. Another positive fact is, that you can mix your Fire/Water/Grass cores with your Dragon/Fairy/Steel cores. Therefore, for example Ferrothorn, which has a Grass- and Steel-typing, can be used for both cores.

 

Example for a Dragon/Fairy/Steel core: Dragonite, Clefable, Excadrill

 

Important Moves

 

One of the most important moves that every balanced team should have, are: Stealth Rock, Defog or Rapid Spin.

 

You should be able to control hazards on a balanced team. Stealth Rock are really important to chip down the opponent's team. The damage is depending on how weak they are against Rock-type attacks. Foes lose 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, or 1/2 of their maximum HP, rounded down, based on their weakness to the Rock type; 0.25x, 0.5x, neutral, 2x, or 4x, respectively. For example, Volcarona, which is 4x weak to Rock-type attacks, loses 50% of its total Health Points upon switching in.

 

Furthermore, they are also really useful to break Sturdy or Focus Sashes on Pokemon, which would otherwise live on one Health Point.

 

Defog or Rapid Spin is a way of getting rid of hazards, such as Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes or Sticky Web. Additionally, Defog can also get rid of Light Screen, Reflect or Aurora Veil.

 

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Most Used Pokemon in PvP: (Last Updated 2019-03-01)

Pokemon                %Usage
Conkeldurr             28.658
Azumarill              26.574
Ferrothorn             25.532
Dragonite              25.532
Gengar                 24.75
Rotom-Wash             23.969
Bisharp                15.892
Clefable               15.111
Garchomp               14.329
Scizor                 13.287
Togekiss               13.026
Pelipper               12.766
Weavile                12.505
Excadrill              11.984
Tangrowth              11.724
Chansey                10.682
Greninja               10.421
Tyranitar              9.64
Kingdra                9.379
Lucario                9.119
Mandibuzz              8.858
Volcarona              8.858
Staraptor              7.816
Torkoal                6.513
Heatran                6.513
Gliscor                6.513
Slowbro                6.253
Tentacruel             5.732
Gyarados               5.471
Mamoswine              5.471
Manaphy                5.211
Blissey                5.211
Goodra                 4.95
Magnezone              4.95
Breloom                4.69
Umbreon                4.69
Entei                  4.429
Skarmory               4.429
Hydreigon              4.168
Donphan                4.168
Gardevoir              4.168
Mew                    3.908
Infernape              3.908
Medicham               3.908
Venusaur               3.647
Serperior              3.647
Ludicolo               3.647

 

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Azumarill is a really nice physical attacker that gets a set up move in Belly Drum. Azumarill can also carry the item Choice Band, which gives it a really good boost without setting up. Aqua Jet gives it a powerful priority attack that allows it to threaten faster opponents despite being relatively slow. It also is a common Pokemon and therefore makes a really good Pokemon for people who just started getting into the PvP scene.

 

If you are interested in where Azurill and its evolutions spawn, please join the Official PRO Discord and type ^s Azurill, ^s Marill or ^s Azumarill in #bot-commands.

 

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Nature: Adamant | Ability: Huge Power | Belly Drum EVs: 252 ATK, mixture of SPD and HP | Choice Band EVs: 252 ATK, 252 SPD, 6 HP

 

 

Gengar is a really solid special attacker that has a lot of different niche options. Taunt makes it able to beat Stall, especially if Blissey or Chansey does not carry a secondary attacking move outside of Seismic Toss. The combination of Sludge Wave and Shadow Ball paired up with Focus Blast makes it really hard to switch in.

 

If you are interested in where Gastly and its evolutions spawn, please join the Official PRO Discord and type ^s Gastly, ^s Haunter or ^s Gengar in #bot-commands.

 

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Nature: Timid | Ability: Levitate or Cursed Body | EVs: 252 SPAtk, 252 SPD, 6 HP

 

 

Clefable is a really good defensive Pokemon that has a lot of options. The ability Magic Guard makes it immune to status and hazards upon switching in as well as Life Orb recoil damage, the ability Unaware allows it to deal with scary set up Pokemon. It also has the option to set up with Calm Mind and it is able to heal with Softboiled or Moonlight. Keep in mind that the Unaware ability in combination with the move Softboiled is banned. Clefable also gets access to Stealth Rock, which was explained above.

 

If you are interested in where Cleffa and its evolutions spawn, please join the Official PRO Discord and type ^s Cleffa, ^s Clefairy or ^s Clefable in #bot-commands.

 

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Nature: Bold | Ability: Magic Guard, Friend Guard or Unaware | EVs: 252 DEF, 252 HP and 6 SPDef

 

 

Gyarados is a solid set up Pokemon with the move Dragon Dance. The ability Intimidate gives it the option to set up on physical Pokemon more easily, it also has the option of running Taunt which allows it to beat several threats in the current metagame. Waterfall gives it a really good STAB move, for the last move you can pick between Bounce, another solid STAB move, Earthquake or Ice Fang. The ability Intimidate is suggested, Moxie can definitely be used aswell.

 

If you are interested in where Magikarp and its evolution spawn, please join the Official PRO Discord and type ^s Magikarp, or ^s Gyarados in #bot-commands.

 

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Nature: Jolly | Ability: Swift Swim or Intimidate, Rattled or Moxie | EVs: 252 ATK, 252 SPD, 6 HP

 

 

Slowbro is a solid physical defensive Pokemon that has a really good ability in Regenerator, which gives it 1/3 of its total HP upon switching in on the field. It has a really good move to regain Health Points in Recover. Calm Mind gives it an option to set up and Thunder Wave gives Slowbro some type of speed control. It also has good attacking moves in Psyshock, Scald or Flamethrower.

 

If you are interested in where Slowpoke and its evolution spawn, please join the Official PRO Discord and type ^s Slowpoke, or ^s Slowbro in #bot-commands.

 

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Nature: Bold | Ability: Regenerator | EVs: 252 DEF, 252 HP, 6 SPDef

 

 

Tangrowth is another really good physical defensive Pokemon that also has the option to be a special defensive wall thanks to the item Assault Vest. The physical defensive Tangrowth usually carries Leftovers or Rocky Helmet with a few status moves such as Leech Seed or Sleep Powder. The Assault Vest set can only carry attacking moves, the main ones being Knock Off, Giga Drain, Earthquake, Sludge Bomb or Hidden Power Ice/Fire.

 

If you are interested in where Tangela and its evolution spawn, please join the Official PRO Discord and type ^s Tangela, or ^s Tangrowth in #bot-commands.

 

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Physically Defensive Nature: Relaxed | Ability: Regenerator | Physical Defensive EVs: 252 DEF, 252 HP, 6 SPDef

Specially Defensive Nature: Sassy | Ability: Regenerator | Special Defensive EVs: 252 SPDef, 252 HP, 6 DEF

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Contribution

Equilibrium, for helping me with some typos and giving me ideas

idkup, for giving this thread a look and suggesting changes

GlogS, for giving this thread a look and suggesting changes

[Eltyyy]

Really solid guide :)

[Bhimoso]

Thank you for the guide!

[Sirnovic]

Thank you ;)

[Soumik]

Now....I can build..this is the best guide...really appreciated

[Ta7esh]

Wow I wish if there were a guide back then when i first started pvping, this is awesome and very clear and this is the best guide! at least you didn't mention like most useless writers do " use togekiss... flinch them to death " you wrote a clear concise guide! keep it up and start doing intermediate and advanced guides.

[Crosbiel]

Nice work

[Algerie31]

nice guide ty

[Baganha]

Really cool guide, overall it had a great organization and was very entertaining to read. I think its got great reading value even for the most experienced players which is good, the explanations and terminologies were pretty well put and didnt give a feeling of it being dumb down when i read it, so many guides like to take it to such a simplicity level its cringy at times.

The only nitpick i have is that maybe you should provide with a full team with each playstyle giving a quick description of how they function, the common cores you provide for every playstyle is great as it is but a more general rundown can give better clues as to how these builds work for less experienced players, but i understand if the goal here is to encourage them to build on their own without just handing everything to them.

Nice work.

[Noxious]

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Hey there!

Thank you for the feedback. I‘ve been thinking about putting sample teams below every type of team that I have mentioned. However, this would make the thread unecessary long and could be confusing aswell. As I said on the Official PRO Discord when releasing the guide, if players like the concept of this thread I‘ll think about releasing more of these types of guides. They can be more in depth than this one, explain simple stuff or just focus on one team that has been doing super well for a constant amount of time. Once again, thank you for your feedback, it‘s really appreciated.