Monotype Mega-Pinsir Team

[ToHadesWithYou]

Introduction
This is a balanced Bug Type team. I have been using this team for a few months and I can say that this is my favorite Monotype team. I have been able to win matches even against Fire and Rock types. But it has it's weaknesses like all teams. Some are ignorable but some are really great weaknesses. The main focuses of this team is Mega-Pinsir and Volcarona. Scolipede could also used as a sweeper.
Team:

Mega-Pinsir @ Pinsirite
Ability: Aerilate
Evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Close Combat
- Knock Off
- Quick Attack
- Return​

Thanks to it's ability, Return and Quick Attack becomes really powerfull. With Quick Attack becoming Flying type, It can one hit Mega-Beedrill and Mega-Heracross. Knock Off is to get rid of eviolite and Close Combat is coverage against Rock and Steel types. But it can't handle damage well. Especially Rock type moves. 120 Base Defense is great but it can't handle 4 times Rock weakness. After mega evolving it also takes 50% damage from Stealth Rocks. Defensive Pokemon and Will-o-Wisp is a way to counter it.
Strong Against:

Mega-Beedril and Mega-Heracross: Like I mentioned before, it can OHKO them with Quick Attack.
Mega-Venusaur: Mega-Pinsir has quite advantage against Grass types. Mega-Venusaur is a great example for that. It's Thick Fat ability is useless against Aerilate.
Weak Against:

Celesteela: It has great Defense. It can stall with Leech Seed or attack with Flamethrower or Air Slash.
Mega-Diancie: It outspeeds Mega-Pinsir with Diamond Storm which OHKO's it.
Mega-Sableye:It can Will-o-Wisp or Foul Play.

Volcarona @ Focus Sash
Ability: Flame Body
Evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
- Quiver Dance
- Fiery Dance
- Bug Buzz
- Giga Drain​

It's main purpose is SpA. sweeping. Quiver Dance allows it to become stronger offensively and defensively, also it helps Volcarona to out speed many other Pokemon. Focus Sash is to be sure it can use Quiver Dance. Fiery Dance is a great STAB move which has 50% chance of increasing SpA. Bug Buzz is also a great STAB and also it bypasses Substitute. Giga Drain is a coverage against Water/Rock/Ground Types.
Volcarona is amazing as a SpA sweeper. Hovever there are lots of weaknesses too:
-Spikes and Stealth Rock: They both make Focus Sash lose its function. Giga Drain might help with it but it is too risky.
-Hail/Sandstorm: Same reason above
-Multi Hit moves like Rock Blast.
-Pokemon with High SpD.
Strong Against:

Celesteela: Thanks to it weakness to Fire Type, Celesteela wouldn't be much of a problem.
Mega-Scizor: Since Volcarona resists Steel Type, MScizor's Bullet Punch won't do much damage and Volcarona can OHKO MScizor.
Mega-Swampert: If there is Sticky Web and Volcarona used QD once, it can outspeed MSwampert in rain and can OHKO it with Giga Drain.
Weak Against:

Dragonite: Multiscale, resisting every move of Volcarona and Extreeme Speed is really bad for Volcarona. Hidden Power Ice would be usefull but then Water/Ground/Rock Types would be troubling.
Heatran: 4 times resistance to 2 of it's attacks and immune to Fiery Dance (If it has Flash Fire). Only way to deal with it is HP Ground but which brings the same problem of HP Ice.
Landorus-T: Rock Slide is really dangerous since it has flinc rate.

Forretress @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
-Rapid Spin
-Stealth Rock
-Toxic
-Pain Split​

Against physical attackers, it can stall with toxic. Rapid Spin is to remove Stealth Rock, Leech Seed etc. Pain Split and Sturdy helps it to deal great damage and heal itself. It is quite handy to use it but once it's gone or against Ghost Types, Hazard Moves will be a big problem. Taunt is also very dangerous for it since only attacking move is Rapid Spin and it deals almost no damage.
Strong Against:

Chancey: Thanks to Chansey's really high HP, it can heal itself quite a lot. Also being immune to toxic is a big trouble for Chansey.
Weak Against:

Mega-Diance: It has Magic Bounce and has high SpA.
Garchomp: If Garchomp uses Fire Blast, it will leave one HP and if Forretress uses Rapid Spin, it would take out itself (Due to Rough Skin) and be unable to remove Hazards.
-SpA user Fire Types and Taunt users.

Scolipede @ Focus Sash
Ability: Speed Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
-Earthquake
-Poison Jab
-Protect
-Swords Dance​

The second physical attacker of the team. It's main purpose is using Swords Dance and Protect for boosts and attack. Earthquake is for coverage and 100 base power is great. Poison Jab is a great STAB move and with 30% chance of poisoning, it might be able to take out Focus Sashers.
Hazard moves and Will-o-Wisp is trouble for it.
Strong Against:

Heatran: If it doesn't have Air Balloon, it can be OHKO'd.
Weak Against:

Celesteela and Skarmory: They both are immune to all it's attacks.
Mega-Sableye: Will-o-Damn-Wisp

Galvantula @ Focus Sash
Ability: Compound Eyes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
-Bug Buzz
-Thunder
-Sticky Web
-Light Screen​

Not as powerfull as Volcarona but Galvantula is still can be used as a Special Attacker. Bug Buzz and Thunder are great STAB moves and thanks to Compound Eyes, Thunder has 91% accuracy now. I usually start with this Pokemon to built up Sticky Web. And Light Screen is to give a little SpD to Forretess or tomake Araquanid even more better. Since Air Slash and Flamethrower are common, this move is quite usefull. Best way to deal with Flying Types but they usually have a Landorus so using Thunder is risky.
Strong Against:

Malamar: Contrary + Super Power is no match for Bug Buzz.
Mantine, Skarmory: One word: Thunder. Water teams usually have Swampert/Quagsire/Gastrodon and Flying teams have Landorus/Gliscor. So you must be carefull.
Weak Against:

Landorus-T, Tapu-Koko: Both resist Bug Buzz and Landorus is immune to Thunder. Since Tapu-Koko can outspeed Galvantula, it's Taunt will be a big problem.

Araquanid @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Bubble
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
-Crunch
-Leech Life
-Liquidation
-Magic Coat​

Its base attack is not really great but it can be usefull as an Attacker. Crunch is a way to deal with Ghost Types. Leech Life and Liquidation can deal great damage. And its ability is incredible. Since Araquanid can't be burned, it can attack more freely. Magic Coat can deal with Torkoal's Stealth Rock, Mega-Sableye's Will-o-Wisp (some people are unfamiliar with Water Bubble, so they might use it on Araquanid) and Celesteela's Leech Seed.
Strong Against:

Heatran, Volcarona: Both are weak to Water Type attacks and Volcarona's Flame Body has no effect on Araquanid.
Weak Against:

Mega-CharizardY: Sun Light and Air Slash is trouble despite the high SpD.
Mega-Diance: Just Diamond Storm is enough.
Gyarados: Flyinium-Z is enough to OHKO.
Tapu-Koko: Electric Terrain + Thunderbolt can pass through its SpD. Also Tapu-Koko can be used as an Attacker.

My team depends on Sashes a lot which becomes a problem with Hazards or Weather. Offensively I don't have a problem but dealing with Hazards is problem, Rapid Spin is not enough.
I'm waiting for you ratings and advices.
Thank you for reading :)

 

[Splash]

Hi ToHadesWithYou, nice to see Bug getting some love on the ladder, however Balanced bug is a very difficult archetype to pull off and I see some improvements that can be made.


Major Changes:


Mega Pinsir
Knock Off --> Swords Dance

Swords Dance allows Pinsir to boost its Attack by two stages, maximizing its wall-breaking potential and allowing it to turn into a setup sweeper, and can clean late game with a boosted Quick Attack. While Knock Off while provides utility in item removal, it is more so a waste of a move slot on Mega Pinsir.


Volcarona
Modest Nature --> Timid Nature
Focus Sash --> Firium Z
Fiery Dance --> Fire Blast
Giga Drain --> Hidden Power Ground

A Timid Nature is preferred on Volcarona over a Modest nature as it can speed tie with other Base 100's such as Mega Charizard Y , Offensive Mew, and Victini, as well as being able to outpace threats such Kyurem-Black naturally, and Scarf Landorus at +1 speed. Firium Z alongside Fire Blast allows for Volcarona to get off an extremely strongest hit with Inferno Overdrive at 185 base power. Focus Sash is outclassed by the Z-Crystal as it does not allow Volcarona to be used to its full potential, and Fire Blast has a far stronger base power 110 over Fiery Dance at only 80 base power. Hidden Power Ground allows Volcarona to hit Pokemon such as Heatran when its balloon is popped being able to cleanly sweep Steel teams, as well as being able to OHKO Alolan Golem and OHKO Mega Diancie after Stealth Rock Damage.


Forretress
Toxic --> Volt Switch
Pain Split --> Spikes / Gyro Ball

Volt Switch allows Forretress to be used as a slow pivot and is far more valuable than Toxic as it can safely bring in one of your threats such as Mega Pinsir or Volcarona, to keep up momentum. Spikes is a great option to be able to hazard stack vs opponents to put them in range of moves such as Mega Pinsir's Quick Attack late game for example, and Gyro Ball allows you to OHKO Mega Diancie if it tries to prevent you from setting up hazards. Pain Split while allowing Forretress to have some sort of recovery, does not mesh with Forrestress' true role in being a form of hazard removal and a bulky slow pivot on Bug teams.

-->
Scolipede --> Heracross

While Scolipede can become a threat if it manages to get a chance to setup a Swords Dance, it rarely does, and the set that your'e currently using does not really allow Scolipede to sweep teams, and the problem of being weak to Rock and Fire teams is still present. Heracross here is a no brainer, with the team also lacking a Choice Scarf user for means of speed control. Close Combat allows you to punch through Rock and Normal teams, as well as improve the Steel matchup, Megahorn is a strong Bug STAB attack that can be spammed vs Psychic and Dark teams , and revenge kill threats such as Mega Latias and on Psychic teams as well as Hydreigon and Greninja on Dark teams. Pursuit is used to trap and eliminate threats such as Victini and Choice Specs Blacephalon which both pose as huge threats to Bug teams, as well as being able to pop Heatran's Air Balloon, allowing Volcarona to be able to hit it with Hidden Power Ground later in the match. Lastly Stone Edge, will allow you to ease the Flying and Fire matchup a bit more as it can OHKO Mega Charizard-Y.


Galvantula
Light Screen --> Hidden Power Ice
Bug Buzz --> Giga Drain

Hidden Power Ice is vital being able to hit lead Garchomp hard on dragon teams, as well as provide Galvantula with Bolt-Beam coverage to improve the matchup vs flying teams being able to hit Landorus, and Gliscor for massive damage. Light Screen while can be useful to aid in setting up , does not provide enough utility in as one screen to warrant using it over Hidden Power Ice. Giga Drain allows you to threaten Pokemon such as Mega Swampert, Seismitoad, and Gastrodon, and very much eases up the Water matchup as Thunder + Giga Drain are very hard to switch into.

-->
Araquanid --> Scizor

The Fairy and Rock matchup seems quite problematic as Mega Diancie and Tapu Koko, and Scarf Nihilego can just run through this team. While Araquanid can be utilized as a great tool for Fire teams, but a Choice Band Scizor is a far superior choice as it can out immense pressure to Fairy and Rock teams as it can freely spam a Technician boosted Bullet Punch vs them. U-Turn is an amazing STAB move to use for pivoting and gaining momentum. Superpower hits Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Excadrill, and Normal-types such as Porygon2 and Chansey. As for the last slot, Knock Off allows Scizor to remove items to common switch-ins, where as a Technician boosted Pursuit can be used to trap threats such as Latios, and Choice Band Victini at -1.





(Click on the Sprites for the importable of the team)

Thats my input on the team! I hope you find my recommendations helpful, and good luck with the team!

 

[ToHadesWithYou]

Hi ToHadesWithYou, nice to see Bug getting some love on the ladder, however Balanced bug is a very difficult archetype to pull off and I see some improvements that can be made.


Major Changes:


Mega Pinsir
Knock Off --> Swords Dance

Swords Dance allows Pinsir to boost its Attack by two stages, maximizing its wall-breaking potential and allowing it to turn into a setup sweeper, and can clean late game with a boosted Quick Attack. While Knock Off while provides utility in item removal, it is more so a waste of a move slot on Mega Pinsir.


Volcarona
Modest Nature --> Timid Nature
Focus Sash --> Firium Z
Fiery Dance --> Fire Blast
Giga Drain --> Hidden Power Ground

A Timid Nature is preferred on Volcarona over a Modest nature as it can speed tie with other Base 100's such as Mega Charizard Y , Offensive Mew, and Victini, as well as being able to outpace threats such Kyurem-Black naturally, and Scarf Landorus at +1 speed. Firium Z alongside Fire Blast allows for Volcarona to get off an extremely strongest hit with Inferno Overdrive at 185 base power. Focus Sash is outclassed by the Z-Crystal as it does not allow Volcarona to be used to its full potential, and Fire Blast has a far stronger base power 110 over Fiery Dance at only 80 base power. Hidden Power Ground allows Volcarona to hit Pokemon such as Heatran when its balloon is popped being able to cleanly sweep Steel teams, as well as being able to OHKO Alolan Golem and OHKO Mega Diancie after Stealth Rock Damage.


Forretress
Toxic --> Volt Switch
Pain Split --> Spikes / Gyro Ball

Volt Switch allows Forretress to be used as a slow pivot and is far more valuable than Toxic as it can safely bring in one of your threats such as Mega Pinsir or Volcarona, to keep up momentum. Spikes is a great option to be able to hazard stack vs opponents to put them in range of moves such as Mega Pinsir's Quick Attack late game for example, and Gyro Ball allows you to OHKO Mega Diancie if it tries to prevent you from setting up hazards. Pain Split while allowing Forretress to have some sort of recovery, does not mesh with Forrestress' true role in being a form of hazard removal and a bulky slow pivot on Bug teams.

-->
Scolipede --> Heracross

While Scolipede can become a threat if it manages to get a chance to setup a Swords Dance, it rarely does, and the set that your'e currently using does not really allow Scolipede to sweep teams, and the problem of being weak to Rock and Fire teams is still present. Heracross here is a no brainer, with the team also lacking a Choice Scarf user for means of speed control. Close Combat allows you to punch through Rock and Normal teams, as well as improve the Steel matchup, Megahorn is a strong Bug STAB attack that can be spammed vs Psychic and Dark teams , and revenge kill threats such as Mega Latias and on Psychic teams as well as Hydreigon and Greninja on Dark teams. Pursuit is used to trap and eliminate threats such as Victini and Choice Specs Blacephalon which both pose as huge threats to Bug teams, as well as being able to pop Heatran's Air Balloon, allowing Volcarona to be able to hit it with Hidden Power Ground later in the match. Lastly Stone Edge, will allow you to ease the Flying and Fire matchup a bit more as it can OHKO Mega Charizard-Y.


Galvantula
Light Screen --> Hidden Power Ice
Bug Buzz --> Giga Drain

Hidden Power Ice is vital being able to hit lead Garchomp hard on dragon teams, as well as provide Galvantula with Bolt-Beam coverage to improve the matchup vs flying teams being able to hit Landorus, and Gliscor for massive damage. Light Screen while can be useful to aid in setting up , does not provide enough utility in as one screen to warrant using it over Hidden Power Ice. Giga Drain allows you to threaten Pokemon such as Mega Swampert, Seismitoad, and Gastrodon, and very much eases up the Water matchup as Thunder + Giga Drain are very hard to switch into.

-->
Araquanid --> Scizor

The Fairy and Rock matchup seems quite problematic as Mega Diancie and Tapu Koko, and Scarf Nihilego can just run through this team. While Araquanid can be utilized as a great tool for Fire teams, but a Choice Band Scizor is a far superior choice as it can out immense pressure to Fairy and Rock teams as it can freely spam a Technician boosted Bullet Punch vs them. U-Turn is an amazing STAB move to use for pivoting and gaining momentum. Superpower hits Steel-types such as Ferrothorn and Excadrill, and Normal-types such as Porygon2 and Chansey. As for the last slot, Knock Off allows Scizor to remove items to common switch-ins, where as a Technician boosted Pursuit can be used to trap threats such as Latios, and Choice Band Victini at -1.





(Click on the Sprites for the importable of the team)

Thats my input on the team! I hope you find my recommendations helpful, and good luck with the team!

Thank you so much! These are really great suggestions. I'll definitely try them.