Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: Picking your Pokémon
• Method 2 of 5: Breed Pokémon
• Method 3 of 5: Balance your team
• Method 4 of 5: Choose by type
• Method 5 of 5: Training your Pokémon
• Tips
• Necessities

Are you preparing for a LAN party? Have you finished the entire game and are you bored? Or does your friend have an unbeatable team? You can handle anything with a balanced Pokémon team. Read on and learn how to become the best!

To step

Method 1 of 5: Picking your Pokémon

1. Think about your goals. If you are trying to beat a friend, you specifically need to build a team that can beat your friend's team. If you need a team for competitive battles, your team will need to be able to handle the strongest Pokémon. If you're bored, or if you just want a good team, you might want to stick with your favorite Pokémon.
2. Research all Pokémon and their attacks. You can use a website like Serebii.net, Bulbapedia or Smogon in your research. If you can't get certain Pokémon in your version of the game, you can use the Global Trade Station (GTS) in Jubilife City to trade them. Moderate stats or attacks of the Pokémon you trade can be resolved by breeding Pokémon after you have made your entire plan.
   • Remember, if you want to breed a male Pokémon and keep the species the same, the female Pokémon must be a Ditto.
3. Choose your Pokémon. If you want to beat a friend, try to find Pokémon whose types are super-effective against your friend's Pokémon. Also try to develop tactics that can counter your friend's tactics. For example, if his main Pokémon is a Snorlax acting as a tank (he can take a lot of damage while attacking your team and repairing himself with Rest), try a "Sub-Punch". Drop a substitute with Substitute, and on the next turn use Focus Punch.
   • All good teams are varied, with no more than two Pokémon sharing a weakness. This means not only mixing types, but also using both physical and special Pokémon. However, if you're trying to combine Baton Pass with Nasty Plot or Swords Dance, it can be useful to have more Pokémon with the same type of move (physical or special).
   • It is also wise to have Pokémon on your team that do not attack, but restore other Pokémon or can take a lot of damage. This is the procrastination strategy.
   • Of course, you don't have to be that picky if you don't play serious fights, but it's good to keep these tips in mind. It will make your Pokémon team much stronger!
4. Try to create a team around a specific attack or tactic. A team can be based on one combat tactic, such as Trick Room, Tailwind, or Weather. If you want to go this way, your team must have a lot of Pokémon that can take advantage of the effect. Make sure to use Pokémon that can compensate for any weaknesses, as well as one or two Pokémon that can spark the effect themselves.
5. Provide a strong core. This is essential for a competitive team. A core consists of two or three Pokémon that complement each other with their strengths and weaknesses, and can therefore replace each other.
6. Choose the correct nature for your Pokémon. A Pokémon's nature decreases one stat by 10% and increases another by 10%. It's important to have a nature that increases a major stat for that Pokémon, and decreases a minor stat (such as Special Attack for Physical Attackers).

Method 2 of 5: Breed Pokémon

1. Consider breeding Pokémon. To get Pokémon that fight optimally, you can breed them for good attacks, IVs, or natures. Pokémon can learn moves from their parents. If both parents have a seizure that the baby can also learn from getting stronger, the baby will have the seizure right away.
   • There are also certain attacks called egg attacks (egg moves) that a Pokémon can learn only by breeding a father or mother (from Generation VI) who has that move.
   • TM or HM attacks can only be inherited in Generation VI games. Those attacks always come from the father.
   • The baby can inherit the nature of a parent, if that parent has an Everstone with them. The probability of this is 50% in games before Black and White 2, and 100% in later games.
2. Know that IV (Individual Values) can be inherited. An IV is a random secret value for any Pokémon's stat, from 0 to 31. At level 100, each stat has grown roughly by the value of the IV, with growth being lower at lower levels. Thus, IVs can make a huge difference in the strength of your Pokémon, as well as in determining the type of Hidden Power of the Pokémon. So it is best to have high IVs in most cases, but in some cases you want to have low IVs - like in teams with Trick Room - or a specific value of IVs in the stats that affect Hidden Power.
   • Hidden Power is a special move that can be learned by almost any Pokémon. This move changes type and attack power based on the Pokémon's IVs. Hidden Power can be useful for Special Attack Pokémon, which require a certain type of move. There are online calculation tools that can tell you which IVs you need for Hidden Power.
   • Three IVs of a Pokémon are randomly inherited from the parents. If a parent has a "Power" item (Power Bracer, Anklet, Band, Lens, Weight, Belt), the baby will inherit the associated statistic. If both parents have a "Power" item, the baby from one parent will inherit a statistic. After that, the baby inherits two other random IVs. From Pokémon Black and White, a Pokémon 5 IVs inherits when a parent has a Destiny Knot.
3. Breed Pokémon for Secret Gifts (Hidden Abilities). Secret Abilities can be inherited if the female Pokémon has the Ability. Male and genderless Pokémon can pass on their gifts when breeding Ditto. The female Pokémon has an 80% chance of surrendering her ability to the baby. This probability does not apply if Ditto is one of the parents.

Method 3 of 5: Balance your team

1. Assemble your team so that each Pokémon has a role. View the stats and attacks of each Pokémon, and determine if the Pokémon is a good fit for a particular role. You can use the following formula:
   • Physical Sweeper (Pokémon with a high Attack)
   • Special Sweeper (Pokémon with a high Special Attack)
   • Physical Wall (high Defense Pokémon, capable of absorbing damage)
   • Special Wall (Same as Physical Wall, but for Special Defense)
   • Toonsetter (Pokémon that sets up threats and conditions early in battle)
   • Stunger (Pokémon that deals damage to statuses, then exchanges for a Sweeper)
2. Choose your Pokémon's attacks. Make sure the moves you teach your Pokémon also work with them. Except under special circumstances, don't give a Pokémon more than one move of the same type, such as Surf and Hydro Pump. This is because you want your Pokémon to be able to defeat as many types of Pokémon as possible. Stats to boost or restore are okay (ex: Synthesis, Aromatherapy, Growth, and Petal Dance are all grass moves, but only one of them is an attack), and attacks like Flamethrower and Overheat are fine too, because you can use it in different circumstances.
   • An attacking Pokémon must have at least a strong attack of its type, because this attack will become stronger (this is called Same Type Attack Bonus or STAB). Also, your Pokémon must have extra moves that can attack other types, otherwise your Pokémon can be defused by certain types of Pokémon. Some attacking Pokémon can use a prep move to take attack power to ridiculous heights, and other attackers can use support moves, recovery moves, or a substitution move like U-Turn. Priority is also a good idea, because moves with a higher priority always take precedence over moves with a lower priority.
   • Your team's tank must be a hardened Pokémon with a lot of HP, which can absorb a lot of damage while you restore and manage your other Pokémon. Tanks require moves such as restore, Taunt, Protect or Substitute, or status moves. Moves like Aromatherapy or Wish, which can help your teammates, also work well.
   • Supporting Pokémon use status moves to weaken enemy Pokémon, eliminate hazards like sweepers and other initial conditions, or help your team.
3. Choose a strong main Pokémon. This is the Pokémon you usually bet first. These Pokémon are usually fast, so you can plot slow moves and other hazards before your opponent can do anything. But sometimes the main Pokémon is unwieldy, so it can deploy multiple threats throughout the battle. They can deploy an initial threat - such as Stealth Rock, Sticky Web, Spikes or Toxic Spikes - create favorable conditions - such as Weather, Reflect, and Light Screen - and they can help teammates with moves like Trick Room or Baton Pass. These Pokémon also usually have moves to disrupt your opponent and an attack so that they are not completely useless when hit by Taunt.
4. Don't just focus on raw power. Remember that competitive fighting is not just about wiping your opponent off the mat; it is just as much about strategy and anticipation. So make sure you can lay traps (eg Stealth Rock, Spikes or Toxic Spikes). Use moves that improve your stats, such as Swords Dance. It might not seem like much, and you might want to start attacking right away, but Swords Dance will double your Pokémon's attacking power. Try it even if it only improves 50%. Use attacks with additional effects, such as Flamethrower and Blizzard, that can burn or freeze the opponent. Also, make sure the moves you use match the Pokémon's stats.
   • For example, using Flamethrower and Blizzard with a Pokémon that has a low Special Attack is not a good idea.
   • Keep in mind that many Pokémon are not set to attack. So those Pokémon are probably most effective with status moves that can cause these effects, since they can't do much damage with physical or special attacks.
5. Check your team for weaknesses. If you see that half of your Pokémon has a weakness for one particular type, switch at least one Pokémon. Don't try to change that Pokémon's attacks, as this won't solve the problem and you will only waste the space for a move. For example, you can teach a Pokémon to Water Attack, but that won't help a Gallade with Fire Punch. You will have to swap one of your Pokémon for a Water Pokémon to solve this problem.

Method 4 of 5: Choose by type

1. Build your team based on type. Gym leaders and certain other trainers often have a team with a certain type of Pokémon: water, electric, poison, etc. However, a team with only one type is not very balanced. So rather prepare your team to fight against many different types of Pokémon. You should always have Pokémon on your team that are strong against most basic types - and of the most common, you can even have more than one.
2. Choose a few Pokémon from the classic elemental types. A balanced team can have a Fire, Water, and Grass Pokémon. The three starter Pokémon always give you a choice between fire, water and grass. For example, in Pokémon X / Y, the starting Pokémon are Chespin for Grass, Fennekin for Fire, and Froakie for Water. But regardless of which starting Pokémon you choose, you can always get the other two later, in the wild or by trading.
   • Fire Pokémon are strong against Grass, Ice, Insect, and Steel Pokémon, and weak against Water, Dragon, and Rock Pokémon.
   • Water Pokémon are strong against Fire, Ground, and Rock Pokémon, and weak against Electric, Grass, and Dragon Pokémon.
   • Grass Pokémon are strong against Water, Ground, and Rock Pokémon, and weak against Fire, Poison, Fly, Insect, and Dragon Pokémon.
3. Consider Pokémon of the other common types. Early in the game and throughout your adventure, you will likely encounter many insect, fly, poison, psychic, and electric Pokémon. That's not to say these Pokémon can't be strong! Flying Pokémon in particular can be useful for fast transport, as well as strong and hard-to-dodge flying attacks.
   • Electric Pokémon are strong against Water and Fly Pokémon, and weak against Grass, Electric, Ground, and Dragon Pokémon.
   • Flying Pokémon are strong against Grass, Fight, and Insect Pokémon, and weak against Electric, Rock, and Ice Pokémon.
   • Insect Pokémon are strong against Grass, Psychic, and Dark Pokémon, and weak against Fire and Fly Pokémon.
   • Poison Pokémon are strong against Grass and Fairy Pokémon, and weak against Ground, Stone, Psychic, and Steel Pokémon.
   • Psychic Pokémon are strong against Fighting and Poison Pokémon, and weak against Ghost, Dark, and Steel Pokémon.
4. Try to have at least one hardy, able-bodied Pokémon. Ground and Stone Pokémon can withstand a lot of common types, but they also have their weaknesses. Their defenses are usually strong, which nicely balances out the weaknesses of some other Pokémon. Fighting Pokémon are tough against some physical and hardened types, but they also run the risk of suffering from special attacks.
   • Ground Pokémon are strong against Fire, Poison, Electric, Rock, and Steel Pokémon, and weak against Grass, Fly, and Water Pokémon.
   • Capricorn Pokémon are strong against Ice, Fire, Fly, and Insect Pokémon, but weak against Battle, Ground, and Steel Pokémon.
   • Ice Pokémon are strong against Grass, Ground, Fly, and Dragon Pokémon, but weak against Battle, Fire, and Steel Pokémon.
   • Fighting Pokémon are strong against Normal, Ice, Stone, Dark, and Steel Pokémon, but weak against Poison, Fly, Insect, Ghost, Fairy, and Psychic Pokémon.
5. Avoid normal types. Some normal Pokémon can become very strong, but they don't give you an advantage over another type. Regular Pokémon aren't statistically strong against any other type, but they are weak against Battle, Ghost, Rock, and Steel Pokémon. The advantage of normal Pokémon is that they are versatile. They can often learn TMs of many different types.
6. Choose less common types for special effects. Dark, Dragon, Ghost, and Fairy are relatively rare types in the Pokémon world, but they can become very powerful when used with their hardened teammates.
   • Dark Pokémon are strong against Ghost and Psychic Pokémon, and weak against Fighting, Fairy, and Insect Pokémon.
   • Dragon Pokémon are strong against other Dragon Pokémon, and weak against Ice, Fairy, and Dragon Pokémon.
   • Ghost Pokémon are strong against Ghost and Psychic Pokémon, and weak against Dark and Psychic Pokémon.
   • Fairy Pokémon are strong against Dragon, Fighting, and Dark Pokémon, but weak against Poison and Steel Pokémon. They are well resisted by Fairy and Fire Pokémon.
   • Steel Pokémon are strong against Ice, Fairy, and Rock Pokémon, and weak against Water, Fire, and Steel Pokémon.

Method 5 of 5: Training your Pokémon

1. Train Pokémon by fighting. For the happiness and strength of your Pokémon, it is better to train them than to give them Rare Candies. In competitions, make sure all your Pokémon are at level 100 - otherwise, you'll be far behind right away.
2. Understand and use Effort Values ​​(EVs). These are points your Pokémon earn for defeating other Pokémon, both against a trainer and in the wild. EVs are essential for raising strong Pokémon. Different Pokémon give different EVs, so make sure you only train against Pokémon that release the correct EVs, rather than random Pokémon. You don't get EVs for battles with friends, or in the Battle Tower or Battle Subway. Check out this list of Pokémon with their EVs: http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_Pok%C3%A9mon_by_effort_value_yield
   • You can have up to 255 EVs per stat for a Pokémon, and 510 EVs in total for all statistics combined. For every 4 EVs in a stat, your Pokémon gets 1 point at level 100. This means that the maximum number of EVs you can use to improve your Pokémon is 508. So never give 255 EVs to a statistic, but 252. This way you have 4 extra EVs that you can use to improve another statistic.
   • It's usually a good idea to max out the EVs for a Pokémon's main stat. But you can use less in certain cases - such as when your Pokémon needs a certain speed to be faster than a common opponent.
   • Think about what stats you want to develop on your Pokémon, and how many and which Pokémon you need to beat to get the necessary EVs. Keep a log of your progress. You can keep track of all the statistics in a spreadsheet so you don't lose count.
3. Use vitamins to supplement EV training. Buy as many vitamins as possible (eg Protein, Carbos) for your Pokémon and use them for your EV training. For every vitamin you give your Pokémon, 10 EVs will be added in a given statistic. Vitamins can only be used for the first 100 EVs.
   • If you already have 100 or more EVs, vitamins will not work. For example: Carbos gives your Pokémon 10 EVs for speed. If you use 10 Carbos while you don't have any Speed ​​EVs yet, your Pokémon will get 100 Speed ​​EVs. If you already have 10 Speed ​​EVs, you can use 9 Carbos. If you have 99 you can use 1 Carbos, and this will only give you 1 extra EV.
   • Only give your Pokémon EVs they can use. For example, don't give an Alakazam attack EVs, as this is not a physical attacker.
4. Use items to speed up levels. If you want to fight online, train EV first with Power Items. Use the Experience Share or Macho Brace for the first levels. The Macho Brace doubles the EVs you get from defeated Pokémon, but it halves the speed.
   • Give your Pokémon Pokérus, if you can. This also doubles the EVs, but without the speed limit. If you don't see your Pokémon's Pokérus anymore, don't worry; this just means that it cannot be distributed. The effects will last forever. This means that your Pokémon will get EVs faster.
5. Use held items to prepare your team. Sweepers need items to improve their attack, such as a Life Orb, a "Choice" item, or an Expert Belt. An Assault Vest can be used for heavier Pokémon, and the Choice Scarf can be used to be faster than other Pokémon, or use Trick to limit another Pokémon to one move. Defending Pokémon can use Leftovers to extend their lifespan. Poison Pokémon can use Black Sludge in case their item is stolen. Mega-Evolved Pokémon need their corresponding Mega Stone to Mega-Evolve, and certain other items can be useful for specialized teams.

Tips

• Find a Pokémon with a good quality. Some traits are very strong and can completely change the game, while others have negative effects. Make sure you find the one you need.
• You can use berries to make your Pokémon happier, but they also lower their EVs in a certain stat. If a Pokémon has more than 100 EVs in the stat it is affected, the number will drop to 100. If it has less than 100 EVs, the Pokémon will lose 10 EVs in that stat with each berry. This is good for clearing unwanted EVs. Always keep vitamins on hand, in case you accidentally delete EVs from the wrong statistic. Also, don't forget to save the game before using these berries.
• Using Rare Candies before reaching the maximum number of EVs has no negative consequences; this is just a popular rumor.
• Remember the combination table for all types; even with different types on your team, it is disastrous to use the wrong Pokémon. This also helps predict your opponent's moves so you can exchange your Pokémon for a tank.
• Keep in mind that some Pokémon can learn moves from a tutor. This means that you can have a level 50 Pokémon with an attack it normally learns at level 70. This can significantly improve the training time for your Pokémon.

Necessities

• Pokéballs
• A Pokéradar
• A Macho Brace
• A stronger Pokémon to support the Pokémon you want to train.
• Experience (Exp.) Share, but only if your Pokémon is too weak to beat opponents for EVs. Remember that a Pokémon with an Exp. Share gets the same amount of EVs as if he had defeated the opponent himself.
• EV-lowering berries