You are a type specialist in a hostile region. How do you best represent your chosen element?

[Cobalt Empoleon]

Clearly I do not understand this at all

The points system can feel super demoralising, but it's deceptive: with so many entries and a pretty high standard overall, you could submit a team that everyone thinks is great and still get zero points. Plus there's all sorts of subtle stuff that should be irrelevant but might still influence things, like where your post is in the thread.

 

[jhm5]

The points system can feel super demoralising, but it's deceptive: with so many entries and a pretty high standard overall, you could submit a team that everyone thinks is great and still get zero points. Plus there's all sorts of subtle stuff that should be irrelevant but might still influence things, like where your post is in the thread.

Yeah, I second this. There seemed to be a lot more entries this round than usual, and all of them were pretty good. Choosing just 5 for this one was really tough, and some of my favorites actually ended up towards the bottom.

 

[Antihaxxer]

Oh thanks for my first time, being second !! :)
All the team were really creative, I'm impressed

 

[Ironmage]

I'm curious as to the current state of this since it's had a week of inactivity. Has there been notice of a hiatus I missed or something else going on?

 

[QuentinQuonce]

I'm curious as to the current state of this since it's had a week of inactivity. Has there been notice of a hiatus I missed or something else going on?

Hello (to everyone wondering),

Apologies for the time it's taken to get around to this one - I've had a really, really busy week and the previous winner suggested a concept that was quite unlike others we've done as yet, so I wanted to be sure I could give it some proper thought before deciding whether to go ahead with it. I'll aim to get it up in the next couple of days.

 

[QuentinQuonce]

Okay, so I'm back.

Apologies once again for the delay in getting to this. As mentioned, real life got inconveniently in the way on both personal and professional fronts. I've also had covid recently so that has slowed me down considerably.

Anyway! Back to the thread.

Last round's winner suggested doing a concept set in an unexplored area: the Battle Zone, that disputed island off the coast of Sinnoh. Of course, the conundrum here is that the Battle Zone doesn't have its own dedicated Pokedex listing, so it left me unsure as to what Pokemon would be allowed; though there's a set amount of wild Pokemon there, the trainers who appear in the area often have Pokemon not catchable within it. It made me question the criteria as there's a not-unreasonable argument to just allow all 480-odd non-legendary Pokemon in the Sinnoh-based games - which would, of course, defeat the purpose of the exercise entirely. However, after looking at the list of wild Pokemon in the area, I reconsidered and thought that it just might work if we stuck to that list.

So I'm doing this one as a sort of test, and we'll see how it works. If it does... all to the good. If it doesn't... well, no harm in trying something once.

Several possibilities arose for the type to centre this particular segment around, but one in particular stood out to me as an interesting option given its similarity, but distance from, a more famous example of type scarcity:

You are a Fire-type specialist in Platinum's Battle Zone. How do you best represent your chosen type?​

A reminder to please read the guidelines in the OP before commenting, especially if you're new to the thread. However, given the unusual nature of this round, please also read the guidelines below. You have until March 1st, 9PM GMT to make your case!

So, without further ado, the list of eligible Pokemon lines are as follows.

The Battle Zone's native Pokemon

Wild:
- Gyarados
- Golduck
- Seaking
- Pidgeot
- Fearow
- Crobat
- Golem
- Weezing
- Skarmory
- Camerupt
- Banette
- Magcargo
- Machamp
- Vileplume
- Bellossom
- Victreebell
- Beautifly
- Dustox
- Roserade
- Pelipper
- Floatzel
- Tentacruel
- Walrein
- Octillery
- Wailord
- Ariados
- Ledian
- Volbeat
- Illumise
- Dugtrio
- Rhyperior
- Cacturne
- Hippowdon
- Poliwrath
- Politoed
- Whiscash
- Raticate
- Kingdra
- Relicanth
- Masquerain

Dual-Slot:
- Shiftry
- Ludicolo
- Forretress
- Sandslash

Swarm:
- Corsola
- Beldum
- Spinda
- Kingler
- Hariyama
- Pinsir

PokeRadar:
- Torkoal
- Togekiss
- Venomoth
- Primeape

Some further notes on eligibility:

Hide

-obvious statement is obvious, but only Pokemon on this list are eligible: any Pokemon catchable in the Battle Zone in DP only (such as Gastrodon, Scyther, or Gligar) will not be valid for this round and will be disqualified.
-you may use any member of a given line should you wish to (ex: Zubat cannot be caught in the Battle Zone and there's no breeding centre but Golbat can, so if for some reason you really wanted to use Zubat you can)
-you may use Pokemon obtained via any method (dual-slot, Pokeradar, etc)
-you may use Pokemon without any adherence to item availability (eg. there's no Sun Stone anywhere in this area but Bellossom may be used, there's only one Shiny Stone but Roserade and Togekiss can be on the same team)

Teams so far

DaRotomMachine: Camerupt, Magcargo, Torkoal, Rhyperior, Dugtrio, Weezing
Ironmage: Camerupt, Magcargo, Torkoal, Hariyama, Crobat, Skarmory
DrPumpkinz: Camerupt, Magcargo, Skarmory, Raticate, Primeape, Banette
Railroader17: Camerupt, Torkoal, Rhyperior, Banette, Metagross, Skarmory
Pikachu315111: Camerupt, Magcargo, Torkoal, Shiftry, Octillery, Togekiss
Cobalt Empoleon: Camerupt, Magcargo, Torkoal, Togekiss, Bellossom, Spinda
SpyderMarz: Camerupt, Magcargo, Torkoal, Bellossom, Volbeat, Machamp
Eeveeto: Camerupt, Magcargo, Torkoal, Kingdra, Ludicolo, Pelipper
Antihaxxer: Camerupt, Magcargo, Torkoal, Dugtrio, Rhyperior, Golem
Jhm5: Camerupt, Magcargo, Torkoal, Victreebel, Hariyama, Raticate
Hugin: Camerupt, Magcargo, Torkoal, Volbeat, Victreebel, Skarmory

 

[DaRotomMachine]

Alright, Second time here And I actually came up with a good one: A VOLCANO theme! (technically a Sun Team).


Explanation:
Torkoal IS A LITERAL VOLCANO TURTLE. And it's a fire type, so it's a must. It's also the sun setter of the team.
Magcargo IS LITERALLY LAVA WITH A ROCK AS IT SHELL. And yeah it's also a fire type. It's the Shell Smash Sweeper of the Team.
Camerupt it, you guessed it, A LITERAL VOLCANO CAMEL WITH CRATERS ON ITS BACK. It's also a fire type so yeah it's on the team. It's the special wall of the team.
Rhyperior is a rock and volcanoes are full of them. It sets up Stealth Rock and is the physical wall of the team.
Dugtrio is here because he lives in mountains and he burrows around, so why not on a VOLCANO? Its banded and is the late game cleaner of the team or the early game breaker.
Weezing because its gas. Volcanos spew out lava and smoke, which Weezing represents very clearly.

(most of the pokemon have Stealth Rock)
Movesets:

Hide

Torkoal @ Heat Rock - Ability: Drought - Eruption/Lava Plume/Rapid Spin/ Yawn
Magcargo @ White Herb - Ability: Weak Armor: Shell Smash/Fire Blast/Earth Power/ Hidden Power Grass
Camerupt @ Leftovers - Ability: Solid Rock - Stealth Rock/Lava Plume/Toxic/Earth Power
Rhyperior @ Leftovers - Ability: Solid Rock - Stealth Rock/Counter/Rock Slide/Earthquake
Dugtrio @ Choice Band - Ability: Arena Trap -Sucker Punch/Pursuit/Stone Edge/Earthquake
Weezing @ Leftovers - Ability: Levitate - Rest/Sleep Talk/Sludge Bomb/Will-O-Wisp

 

[Ironmage]

Three Fire-types, all on the slower side and found in Hoenn. Well, if we're going to commit to stacking the same thing, might as well do it with something designed to be stacked. Here's the team of a tourist from Hoenn that focuses on experiencing jagged volcanic landscapes over and over again.


Torkoal @ Leftovers
Ability: White Smoke
- Yawn
- Rapid Spin
- Stealth Rock
- Lava Plume
Lead and Stealth Rock user. Yawn is used to generate switches, while Lava Plume is the STAB of choice for flavour reasons. The leftovers are pretty coveted since I'm adhering to Item Clause.


Magcargo @ Lum Berry
Ability: Flame Body
- Recover
- Yawn
- Lava Plume
- Amnesia
Another Yawn user, for the same reasons as before. Also runs Amnesia since my other defensive options are physical-heavy.


Hariyama @ Chesto Berry
Ability: Thick Fat
- Whirlwind
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Arm Thrust
Was on the team even before I figured out the mechanical gimmick as a Guts/Flame Orb user, but fits into applying hazard damage pretty well regardless.


Crobat @ Black Sludge
Ability: Inner Focus
- Heat Wave
- Whirlwind
- Roost
- Sludge Bomb
It can both hold another healing item and use a Fire attack while still phazing. This character may or may not be ex-Team Magma at this rate.


Skarmory @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Sturdy
- Spikes
- Roost
- Whirlwind
- Drill Peck
I see no reason to pass up on my all-time favourite mon doing what it does best: Spikes.


Camerupt @ Life Orb
Ability: Solid Rock
- Rock Polish
- Earth Power
- Lava Plume
- Stone Edge
Would have been boring to have three of basically the same set, so I retooled Camerupt to finish off an opponent weakened by all the hazard shuffling.

 

[DrPumpkinz]

"Flint of the Elite Four? Never heard of him. He sounds very cool and handsome, though. Anyway, nice to meet you! My name's Flent."

definitely not Flint

Camerupt @ Leftovers
Ability: Solid Rock
- Eruption
- Solar Beam
- Dig
- Sunny Day


Skarmory @ Heat Rock
Ability: Keen Eye
- Pluck
- Rock Tomb
- Metal Sound
- Sunny Day


Banette @ Leppa Berry
Ability: Insomnia
- Will-O-Wisp
- Ominous Wind
- Double Team
- Calm Mind


Raticate @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
- Flame Wheel
- Swagger
- Counter
- Sunny Day


Primeape @ Expert Belt
Ability: Vital Spirit
- Overheat
- Thunder Punch
- Cross Chop
- Earthquake


Magcargo @ Focus Sash
Ability: Flame Body
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast
- Stone Edge
- Rock Polish

 

[Cobalt Empoleon]

Desperately wanted to get this out there before anyone else did! This trainer is Flint and Buck's grandpa, the man who tells the player information about Heatran and helps run the Battleground from behind the counter (bar?) as a cook.

Movesets

Magcargo @ Focus Sash
Ability: Flame Body
- Overheat
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
- Yawn

Spinda @ Heat Rock
Ability: Own Tempo
- Trick Room
- Sunny Day
- Calm Mind
- Baton Pass

Torkoal @ Choice Specs
Ability: White Smoke
- Eruption
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Sludge Bomb

Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
- Air Slash
- Fire Blast
- Thunder Wave
- Roost

Bellossom @ Big Root
Ability: Chlorophyll
- Sunny Day
- Solar Beam
- Sleep Powder
- Leech Seed

Camerupt @ Expert Belt
Ability: Solid Rock
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Solar Beam

It's clear where Flint and Buck got their battling styles from, as this team features both the Fire-types that became Flint's specialty and the defensive mons that Buck now favours and also a Spinda. Magcargo does its best as a sacrificial lead, and from there it's Trick Room Sun to support the slow Fire attackers, plus Bellossom and Togekiss as annoying walls with real staying power. They're highly suboptimal sets, but I've always gotta have a Fire move on every team member (also I changed some moves after realising I've already used a Psycho Shift+Rest+Sleep Talk mon in a previous submission).

I know, I know...

EDIT: bonus Doubles sets!

Doubles movesets

Spinda @ Heat Rock
Ability: Own Tempo
- Fake Out
- Protect
- Sunny Day
- Trick Room

Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
- Heat Wave
- Ancient Power
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass

Torkoal @ Life Orb
Ability: White Smoke
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power
- Solar Beam
- Protect

Magcargo @ Light Clay
Ability: Flame Body
- Heat Wave
- Ancient Power
- Light Screen
- Reflect

Bellossom @ Big Root
Ability: Chlorophyll
- Leech Seed
- Sunny Day
- Moonlight
- Protect

Camerupt @ Expert Belt
Ability: Solid Rock
- Eruption
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Heat Wave

More Sunny Day+TR, this time with maximum Heat Wave and Eruption spam! Magcargo is rocking dual screens and Togekiss is passing Nasty Plot (and maybe Ancientpower) boosts.

EDIT: had to change my team because of some dumb "rule" that's "the entire point of this exercise" or whatever smh. Spinda fits the idea a lot less well than Claydol did, but it gets the job done. Crazy how Buck lives in the Battle Zone when virtually none of the native Pokemon are his preferred mixed walls. I guess he uses a Torkoal at least...

 

[Railroader17]

Well this is an interesting idea.

Not sure what theme to lean into here, but this is built as a semi-TR team.

Skarmory @ Leftovers
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Stealth Rock
- Spikes
- Night Slash

Sets up Stealth Rock & Spikes, then spams Brave Bird to KO itself. Leftovers give it a little survivability to try and maximize the number of hazards it can get up before it goes on the attack. Night Slash is for coverage.

Banette @ Focus Sash
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpA
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 HP / 0 Def / 0 SpD / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Destiny Bond
- Curse
- Double-Edge

Banette is an interesting pokemon. Did you know it has Trick Room? Well after this you will!

Since it doesn't learn any actual pivoting moves, and since this is supposed to be a high level NPC fight (I.E NPC can't switch) this thing has one job. Set up Trick Room, then KO itself by whatever means it can. Hence, the wacky IV spread, and the wacky EV spread. Idea being that turn 1 the foe goes for the KO, triggers the focus sash, thus allowing Banette to use Trick Room, then it either uses Destiny Bond to take the attacked down with it, Curse to start chipping them (while KO'ing itself) or Double Edge for some flat damage, while still KO'ing itself. This is to bring in...

THE LITERAL WALKING VOLCANO POKEMON, FOR THE VOLCANIC ISLAND TEAM!!!

Camerupt (F) @ Charcoal
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Eruption
- Earth Power
- Flamethrower
- Explosion

This big girl is gonna use it's high special attack to blast you to smithereens! She's got Charcoal to boost her fire type moves, and Eruption for raw damage. Flamethrower is some extra fire coverage in case her HP gets too low for Eruption to be of use, while Earth Power is for Ground stab. Explosion lets her go out with a bang and deal massive damage to foes who would usually hard resist her.

And introducing our only option for a fire type that isn't quad weak to Water!

Torkoal @ Leftovers
Ability: White Smoke
EVs: 200 HP / 56 Atk / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Curse
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Flamethrower

The strategy here is spam Curse to bulk up it's Atk and Def. Likely until Trick Room ends. EQ and Rock Slide form the main attacks we are gonna use. Flamethrower can see use against mons like Skarmory who would otherwise wall this turtle.

Rhyperior @ Passho Berry
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rock Polish
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Thunder Punch

Yes it's quad weak to water, but it's actually a good pokemon unlike Magcargo (sorry Magcargo stans)

With Trick Room over, we can use the Focus Sash to live at least one Water / Grass type move, and use Rock Polish to boost up, and then try to do some damage next turn with either EQ, Stone Edge, or Thunder Punch for coverage.

Metagross @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rock Polish
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake
- Zen Headbutt

The big boss of the team, and the strongest of the bunch. Same strategy as Rhyperior, but with a better defensive typing to really make use of Rock Polish. Clear Body ensures that Metagross's stats don't get lowered by Intimidate or stuff like Sticky Webs. Meteor Mash & Zen Headbutt form the main STAB, with EQ as some nasty coverage that can hit most things hard.

 

[Pikachu315111]

With DaRotomMachine quickly claiming a volcano theme and then a few more doing volcano/Stark Mountain adjacent teams, I thought it would be a crazy idea to do one as well. So instead I first tried seeing if I could make a team using the six Routes which encircle the Battle Zone (225-230). But, following my self-imposed rule that each member of my team should have a Fire-type Move, and not to mention Route 227 (which leads up to Stark Mountain) has all the Fire-types, that put out that plan as well. However, as I was looking at the available Pokemon in each area, and at the maps themselves, I got this feeling of a subtle underline theme that the Battle Zone's Routes and Stark Mountain have. Going with my gut feeling on this, and more relying on the list QuentinQuonce provided, I was able to make a team based on this theme:

Peaceful Stark Mountain

Stark Mountain is a volcano, and a still active one as it spews out volcanic ash (not to mention there's a Heatran living deep below). You'd thus think that the surrounding routes would be rocky and covered in layers of dark gray/black ash. But it's not, I guess the winds keeps the majority of the ash from blanketing the surrounding routes. And this is GREAT for the ecosystem. Volcanic ash is rich in vital nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus that plant life need to grow, and the Battle Zone Routes show this connection off by having a lot of bright green plants of all kinds (and its even more striking in Platinum as, in addition to diversifying some of the plant species, they made the surrounding hills black for a stark contrast). And this has also kept the water of the Battle Zone clean and full of nutrients too. This of course leads to Pokemon species, notably Grass- and Water-types, who you'd wouldn't normally think would be around a volcano but the nutrient rich plant life and water has created a small oasis of diverse Pokemon.
Such a place is also a dream come true for trainers like Hikers, who love to explore mountains and the nature around it. My Hiker started out as a Fire-type specialist, wanting to brave the volcanic aspects of Stark Mountain, and caught all the nearby Fire-types to get him prepared. But, as he hiked around and experienced the peaceful beauty, his perspective changed from being a fiery challenger to an appreciator of the natural peace & balance formed here. And with this, the rest of his team morphed too:

(Shiny) Camerupt (Magma Armor. White Herb. Overheat/Earthquake/Rock Slide/Fissure)
Magcargo (Flame Body. Focus Sash. Sunny Day/Overheat/Rock Tomb/Yawn)
Torkoal (White Smoke. Quick Claw. Overheat/Curse/Earthquake/Gyro Ball)
Togekiss (Serene Grace. Leftovers. Air Slash/ExtremeSpeed/Flamethrower/Roost)
Shiftry (Chlorophyll. Heat Rock. Sunny Day/Energy Ball/Knock Off/Icy Wind)
Octillery (Sniper. Expert Belt. Surf/Flamethrower/Energy Ball/Charge Beam)

Team Explanation

(Shiny) Camerupt: While I don't think I need to mention why Camerupt is here, I do want to mention its Shiny color fits perfectly with the change to the rocky terrain in the Battle Zone. Even though my Hiker is a Fire-type trainer, Camerupt here is more likely going to focus on its earthier Moves with Overheat reserved for when a powerful Fire-type Move is called for (and thanks to White Herb it in theory has two full powered shots). "Why didn't you use Eruption"? Because I felt keeping its health high enough where Eruption outclasses Overheat was more difficult than the guaranteed Overheats; I still have Fissure for a fun wild card gimmick.

Magcargo: Obvious reason again, though I did consider skipping out on Magcargo if my previous Route idea had allowed for it. I love Magcargo's design, but it's Typing and stats do it no favors. While my team isn't strictly Sunny Day based, I figured I'd throw it on as it wouldn't hurt. With a Focus Sash to keep it alive, if Sunny Day isn't active it should have the opportunity to set it up. Otherwise its focus is high damage with Overheat, lowering Speed with Rock Tomb, or putting the opponent to Sleep with Yawn. It's very likely that Magcargo is going to be able to something, but that's probably all it's going to be able to do.

Torkoal : And I think this is all the com mon "volcano" Pokemon (technically it's more of a furnace but its combined with a volcano theme so it counts). I think Torkoal has a better chance of staying up for a few turns than compared to Magcargo, so I went slight more gimmicky with its moves. Like Camerupt it's likely more going to rely on Earthquake while reserving Overheat, though since it has Curse I thought would be fun to try and pull that off with Gyro Ball and maybe get lucky with Quick Claw. Makes it a bit more unpredictable, just like volcanoes.

Togekiss: Togekiss is a Pokemon that represents peace and thus the peaceful balance the Battle Zone's ecosystem has with its nearby active volcano. As I theorized above, the reason the Battle Zones routes aren't covered in ash is likely due to winds blowing most of it away from the Routes, so Togekiss also being a Flying-type is just icing on the cake of the peace metaphor. Of course its still Togekiss so had to go with its classic flinch hax moveset, now with Flamethrower (the kids love this one).

Shiftry: Shiftry represents the plant life that has thrived in this nutrient rich environment. Since we're talking about plants taking advantage of a volcano, I decided on Shiftry as its a Grass-type sun setter that can take advantage of the sun. Wish it got U-turn, but since it doesn't I gave it some other tricks to pull (it is a tengu afterall).

Octillery: Octillery represents the clean and life-full waters that flows through the Battle Zone. FUN FACT: There's a species of octopus who have adapted to living around underwater volcanic vents, it's species name is Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis, though is more commonly called the Vent Octopus. Anyway, in Gen IV Octillery got the Sniper Ability so just allowed it to cannon crazy.

It's an odd team, but I think one that works together, just like the ecosystem around Stark Mountain.

 

[QuentinQuonce]

Desperately wanted to get this out there before anyone else did! This trainer is Flint and Buck's grandpa, the man who tells the player information about Heatran and helps run the Battleground from behind the counter (bar?) as a cook.

View attachment 606450

Movesets

Magcargo @ Focus Sash
Ability: Flame Body
- Overheat
- Explosion
- Stealth Rock
- Yawn

Claydol @ Heat Rock
Ability: Levitate
- Trick Room
- Sunny Day
- Earth Power
- Psychic

Torkoal @ Choice Specs
Ability: White Smoke
- Eruption
- Flamethrower
- Earth Power
- Sludge Bomb

Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
- Air Slash
- Fire Blast
- Thunder Wave
- Roost

Bellossom @ Big Root
Ability: Chlorophyll
- Sunny Day
- Solar Beam
- Sleep Powder
- Leech Seed

Camerupt @ Expert Belt
Ability: Solid Rock
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Solar Beam

It's clear where Flint and Buck got their battling styles from, as this team features both the Fire-types that became Flint's specialty and the defensive mons that Buck now favours, including his signature Claydol. Magcargo does its best as a sacrificial lead, and from there it's Trick Room Sun to support the slow Fire attackers, plus Bellossom and Togekiss as annoying walls with real staying power. They're highly suboptimal sets, but I've always gotta have a Fire move on every team member (also I changed some moves after realising I've already used a Psycho Shift+Rest+Sleep Talk mon in a previous submission).

I know, I know...

View attachment 606448

EDIT: bonus Doubles sets!

Doubles movesets

Claydol @ Heat Rock
Ability: Levitate
- Earthquake
- Explosion
- Trick Room
- Sunny Day

Togekiss @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
- Heat Wave
- Ancient Power
- Nasty Plot
- Baton Pass

Torkoal @ Life Orb
Ability: White Smoke
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power
- Solar Beam
- Protect

Magcargo @ Light Clay
Ability: Flame Body
- Heat Wave
- Ancient Power
- Light Screen
- Reflect

Bellossom @ Big Root
Ability: Chlorophyll
- Leech Seed
- Giga Drain
- Moonlight
- Protect

Camerupt @ Expert Belt
Ability: Solid Rock
- Eruption
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- Heat Wave

More Sunny Day+TR, this time with maximum Heat Wave and Eruption spam! Magcargo is rocking dual screens and Togekiss is passing Nasty Plot (and maybe Ancientpower) boosts.

Very good concept, as usual.

However, I'm afraid I have to disqualify this team because Claydol is not an eligible option for this challenge. It is catchable on the Sinnoh mainland but not in the Battle Zone itself, thus is not able to be used here. You may edit the team as required if you wish.

 

[SpyderMarz]

Ooh, lots of options for this one! I think I created a team that makes sense but also includes some unique ideas.

Inner Flame

All of the Pokemon on this team have a fire inside of them. Maybe it's literal fire/light, maybe it's the power of fire, or maybe it's emotional fire. It'll make more sense as the team is explained. It's also a sun team, but that's not it's main purpose, as it can function without sun.

Bellossom @ Heat Rock
Ability: Chlorophyll
- Sunny Day
- SolarBeam
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power (Fire)
Bellossom evolves from Gloom through a Sun Stone, so it would make sense to say that the power of the sun is inside it, right? It's a bit of a stretch, but I promise the other mons have better justification. Moveset-wise, it's just a mon that sets up sun then does a much damage as possible. It's pretty simple, but effective.

Magcargo @ Leftovers
Ability: Flame Body
- Flamethrower
- SolarBeam
- Recover
- Stealth Rock
Magcargo's Platinum dex entry states that its body temperature is 18,000 F, so it fits the theme pretty well. It's a physical wall that can do all sorts of handy things. Sun will likely be up when Magcargo comes out, so its Flamethrower and Solar Beam get a boost. It can also heal itself, burn its opponents, and set up rocks.


Camerupt
Ability: Solid Rock
- Eruption
- Earth Power
- Flash Cannon
- Yawn
According to Camerupt's Ruby dex entry, magma of 18,000 F courses through its body. Game Freak must love that number... Anyway, its Solid Rock ability will reduce damage from super effective moves, which might be enough to live through a water attack when paired with sun. Camerupt also brings useful coverage. Flash Cannon is especially useful because I don't have any steel mons on this team. (Speaking of which, why is everyone using Skarmory? I'm confused)

Volbeat @ Focus Sash
Ability: Swarm
- U-Turn
- Zen Headbutt
- Thunder Wave
- Encore
It's a FIREfly. It's got a light inside of it. I was so happy with myself for coming up with this. That was until I remembered this mon sucks. It doesn't even have Prankster yet. Nevertheless, Volbeat is here to prepare the field for the heavy hitters. I chose it over Illumise because Volbeat is a physical attacker, something the team is lacking in. Also, Volbeat is red, so it fits in a fire team better. It can paralyze foes, lock them into a move, and do some decent damage. Sash is there to make sure it doesn't die instantly.

Torkoal
Ability: Drought
- Rapid Spin
- Flail
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
It burns coal inside it to get energy. Torkoal has no trouble fitting on the team, with Rapid Spin to boost speed and Drought to set up sun again, as it will likely be gone by the time Torkoal comes out. Its rock and ground coverage is great as well. Flail is just a random filler move.

Machamp @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
- Brick Break
- Fire Punch
- Facade
- Payback
Below is a picture of a form Machamp has in Pokkén Tournament.

Almost looks like a Fire-Type, right? Machamp is the team's ace, with its fiery spirit being brought out by its Flame Orb and Fire Punch. Guts gives it an incredible damage boost, especially for Facade. Payback helps it against Psychic-Types. Machamp has the power to surprise the opponent and sweep the entire team, which is why I think it's a fitting final mon for the team.

 

[Eeveeto]

https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Kindler_(Trainer_class)

Remember this guy? This type of trainers appears only in Hoenn. They specialize in Fire types, but one of them also uses a Wingull, since when you start a fire in the woods, its cool to have some means to eliminate it.

Now, imagine this guy visiting Sinnoh and getting stronger, while still using Hoenn Mons with the same theme and Double Battle.

Item: Quick Claw. Moves: Stealth Rock, Overheat, Fissure, Explosion. Fire Mon. Offensive set to put Rocks and try to kill stuff before dying.
Item: Focus Sash. Moves: Fake Out, Energy Ball, Bubblebeam, Protect. Water Mon that helps Torkoal to put the Rocks, avoids Explosion with Protect (or Focus Sash) and dances around the fire.
Item: Shuca Berry. Ability: Flame Body. Moves: Lava Plume, Ancient Power, Reflect, Light Screen. Another Fire Mon. Puts Screens and spreads status. Notably, every single Kindler in RZ and almost all in future Hoenn games used one of these.
Item: Wacan Berry. Moves: Tailwind, Icy Wind, Rain Dance, Hydro Pump. The famous Wingull of the Kindler that gave me the idea. Supports the next Mon with either Tailwind or Icy Wind. If for some reason the next Mon dies before Pelipper, will use Rain Dance instead.
Item: Charcoal. Ability: Solid Rock. Moves: Eruption, Heat Wave, Earth Power, Rock Slide. Last and strongest Fire Mon. Abuses Speed control Pelipper brings.
Item: Life Orb. Ability: Swift Swim. Moves: Muddy Water, Ice Beam, Dragon Pulse, Waterfall. Ace of the team. We are a Fire and Water speacialist, and Dragons are as close as possible to Fire while still being a Water Mon. Could have used an Octilley, who actually learns Fire Moves, but 1: they don,t appear in Hoenn outside of the expanded Safari Zone and 2: Kingdra looks so much better as an Ace Mon, since the wild Mons of Battle Zone are overall so bad, lol. Kingdra abuses the Rain if it has it available, or the Tailwind, using the most powerful moves possible.

 

[Antihaxxer]

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed trainers, and passionate Pokémon enthusiasts,

I stand before you today to speak about a team forged from the depths of molten fury and the scorching heat of the earth itself. This is not merely a collection of Pokémon; it is a testament to the raw power and untamed flames that surge within the heart of the volcano.



At the forefront of this fiery brigade stands Camerupt, a behemoth of Fire and Ground, whose very presence heralds the eruption of searing lava and the tremors of the earth beneath our feet. With each step, it leaves a trail of molten destruction, a reminder of the unstoppable force of nature.

Accompanying Camerupt is Magcargo, a creature born from the fiery depths of the earth, its rocky exterior a testament to the intense heat it has endured. As it moves, magma flows from its shell, leaving scorched earth in its wake, a reminder of the power that resides within even the most unassuming of forms.

Torkoal joins this infernal alliance, its shell glowing red-hot with the intensity of the flames it harbors within. With each exhalation, it unleashes billows of smoke and embers, a reminder of the relentless heat that courses through its very being.

But this team does not stop there; it delves deeper into the heart of the volcano, where the molten rock flows like rivers of fire. Rhyperior emerges from the depths, its rocky hide resistant to the searing heat as it charges forward with unstoppable force, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

And what lies beneath the surface, unseen but ever-present? It is none other than Dugtrio, a trio of earthbound spirits whose connection to the molten core grants them unparalleled strength and resilience. As they emerge from the ground, they bring with them the power of the earth itself, striking fear into the hearts of all who dare to oppose them.

Last but not least, Golem, a stalwart guardian forged in the crucible of the earth's fury. With each step, it shakes the ground beneath us, a reminder of the immense power that lies dormant within the heart of the volcano, waiting to be unleashed.

Together, these Pokémon form a team unlike any other, a testament to the unyielding power of fire and lava. They are the guardians of the volcano, the keepers of its secrets, and the harbingers of its wrath. So let us stand in awe of their might, for they are truly the champions of the inferno.

Thank you.

Item: Leftovers. Ability: Drought. Moves: Stealth Rock, Overheat, Rapid Spin, Clear Smog. Fire Mon. Let's Sun begin !
Item: Shuca Berry. Ability: Weak Armor. Moves: Flamethrower, Ancient Power, Earth Power, Smell Smash. Another Fire Mon. Abuse Sun, but has his other brother
Item: Choice Spec. Ability: Solid Rock. Moves: Fire Blast, Ancient Power, Earth Power, Solar Beam. Last and strongest Fire Mon, big bro of Magcargo.

Now the three other Rock or Ground Pokemon
Item : Leftovers. Ability : Solid Rock. Moves : Earthquake, Toxic, Megahorn, Stone Edge. A tank, that tries to mess up with everyone
Item : Custap Berry. Ability : Sturdy. Moves : Earthquake, Stone Edge, Sucker Punch, Explosion. BOOOOOM Explosion of Lavaaaa
Item : Focus Sash. Ability : Sand trap. Moves : Earthquake, Reverseal, Memento, Toxic. To be sure that someone don't forget the power of lava !

 

[DaRotomMachine]

Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed trainers, and passionate Pokémon enthusiasts,

I stand before you today to speak about a team forged from the depths of molten fury and the scorching heat of the earth itself. This is not merely a collection of Pokémon; it is a testament to the raw power and untamed flames that surge within the heart of the volcano.



At the forefront of this fiery brigade stands Camerupt, a behemoth of Fire and Ground, whose very presence heralds the eruption of searing lava and the tremors of the earth beneath our feet. With each step, it leaves a trail of molten destruction, a reminder of the unstoppable force of nature.

Accompanying Camerupt is Magcargo, a creature born from the fiery depths of the earth, its rocky exterior a testament to the intense heat it has endured. As it moves, magma flows from its shell, leaving scorched earth in its wake, a reminder of the power that resides within even the most unassuming of forms.

Torkoal joins this infernal alliance, its shell glowing red-hot with the intensity of the flames it harbors within. With each exhalation, it unleashes billows of smoke and embers, a reminder of the relentless heat that courses through its very being.

But this team does not stop there; it delves deeper into the heart of the volcano, where the molten rock flows like rivers of fire. Rhyperior emerges from the depths, its rocky hide resistant to the searing heat as it charges forward with unstoppable force, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

And what lies beneath the surface, unseen but ever-present? It is none other than Dugtrio, a trio of earthbound spirits whose connection to the molten core grants them unparalleled strength and resilience. As they emerge from the ground, they bring with them the power of the earth itself, striking fear into the hearts of all who dare to oppose them.

Last but not least, Golem, a stalwart guardian forged in the crucible of the earth's fury. With each step, it shakes the ground beneath us, a reminder of the immense power that lies dormant within the heart of the volcano, waiting to be unleashed.

Together, these Pokémon form a team unlike any other, a testament to the unyielding power of fire and lava. They are the guardians of the volcano, the keepers of its secrets, and the harbingers of its wrath. So let us stand in awe of their might, for they are truly the champions of the inferno.

Thank you.

Item: Leftovers. Ability: Drought. Moves: Stealth Rock, Overheat, Rapid Spin, Clear Smog. Fire Mon. Let's Sun begin !
Item: Shuca Berry. Ability: Weak Armor. Moves: Flamethrower, Ancient Power, Earth Power, Smell Smash. Another Fire Mon. Abuse Sun, but has his other brother
Item: Choice Spec. Ability: Solid Rock. Moves: Fire Blast, Ancient Power, Earth Power, Solar Beam. Last and strongest Fire Mon, big bro of Magcargo.

Now the three other Rock or Ground Pokemon
Item : Leftovers. Ability : Solid Rock. Moves : Earthquake, Toxic, Megahorn, Stone Edge. A tank, that tries to mess up with everyone
Item : Custap Berry. Ability : Sturdy. Moves : Earthquake, Stone Edge, Sucker Punch, Explosion. BOOOOOM Explosion of Lavaaaa
Item : Focus Sash. Ability : Sand trap. Moves : Earthquake, Reverseal, Memento, Toxic. To be sure that someone don't forget the power of lava !

why does bro have my lineup pictures? theres no golem in yours

 

[jhm5]

I'm really glad people seem to like this one! There are some It took a while to comb through the routes to come up with the list, so I'm happy it seems to be paying off. There are a lot of great teams out there already, so coming up with a new idea took some work. Ultimately, I decided on a sun team with some unique quirks specific to the Fire-type.



Every Pokémon either is the Fire-type or has an ability involving the Fire-type. Furthermore, all of them have damaging Fire-type moves at their disposal. Torkoal is a bulky lead meant for hazard and weather control. Raticate serves as an early game wall-breaker with Guts and a Flame Orb. Magcargo's dual screens allow for easier set up and sweeping down the line. Hariyama can reset the sun while deterring opposing weather setters and abusers. Camerupt serves as a mixed choice sweeper with high damage attacks. Victreebel's moveset is specifically designed to abuse the sun as much as possible. Overall, the team fits together extremely well and ends up forming a potent lineup.

Movesets and Explanation

Torkoal @ Leftovers
Ability: White Smoke
- Rapid Spin
- Sunny Day
- Flamethrower
- Stealth Rock

Torkoal is a pretty standard lead. Stealth Rock is ubiquitous in DPP, and Rapid Spin combines with it to control the hazard game. Sunny Day helps to set the tone and offset its Water-type weakness. STAB Flamethrower rounds out the set to deal boosted damage under the sun.


Raticate @ Flame Orb
Ability: Guts
- Facade
- Crunch
- Flame Wheel
- Sucker Punch

Raticate's speed and strength allow it to chip threats or even sweep on its own. Flame Orb goes great with the theme, as it burns itself to boost its attack using Guts. This turns STAB Facade into a deadly attack, while Crunch, Flame Wheel, and priority Sucker Punch serve as coverage.


Magcargo @ Light Clay
Ability: Flame Body
- Lava Plume
- Recover
- Reflect
- Light Screen

Magcargo is meant to be a support Pokémon, allowing its teammates to set up and sweep. Its main goal is to get up Light Screen and Reflect, with Light Clay making them stay up longer. Lava Plume and the ability Flame Body can burn opponents, while Recover is for longevity.


Hariyama @ Heat Rock
Ability: Thick Fat
- Sunny Day
- Force Palm
- Payback
- Fire Punch

Hariyama naturally deters most automatic weather setters, so its Heat Rock makes its Sunny Day last for good. Thick Fat protects it against sun boosted Fire-type moves. Force Palm can damage paralyze faster and frailer opponents, while Payback and Fire Punch serve as coverage.


Camerupt @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Solid Rock
- Eruption
- Fire Blast
- Earthquake
- Explosion

Camerupt is a mixed attacker meant to blow holes in the opponent's team. Choice Scarf improves its poor speed, allowing it use powerful STAB boosted Eruption and Earthquake. Solid Rock helps it take a hit, but if its HP gets low, Fire Blast and Explosion do massive damage.


Victreebel @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
- SolarBeam
- Weather Ball
- Sludge Bomb
- Synthesis

Victreebel is a special sun sweeper, with Chlorophyll doubling its speed. The sun immediately charges STAB SolarBeam and makes Weather Ball a 100 BP Fire-type move. STAB Sludge Bomb is for coverage, and while Life Orb can wear it down, Synthesis heals 2/3 of its HP in the sun.

 

[Pikachu315111]

why does bro have my lineup pictures? theres no golem in yours

If I had to hazard a guess, Antihaxxer made their team and then checked to see if anyone made the same team. Either:

• They saw you made the exact team as they did so changed the Weezing to a Golem.
• They always had a Golem instead of a Weezing on their team.

Eitherway, since you both shared essentially the same line-up, they copy & pasted the images you posted with the intent on replacing Weezing with Golem, but forgot as they wrote the rest of their post.

 

[Antihaxxer]

Oh sorry, I just copy to have the format of BBCode for picture, but my text / moveset, I have edited. I didn't steal your ideas, just the picture !

 

[Hugin]

"Fuel, Air, Energy. Combine the three, you get an inferno."
"Watch the colors of the flames, how they dance across the stage."

Doubles battle this time around. You've got an Idol who is fascinated by fire and exclusively trains Fire-type mons, and a Scientist who wants to understand how fire works and picked mons that can cause and strengthen fire. (the fact that they burn easily may be why their feuds do not go well for him.) However, both of their teams follow a key design: Fuel, Heat, Air. Not in that order, and not perfectly, but each mon provides one of the three.

And, frankly, it's 3 fire types, a Chlorophyll mon, a glowing mon, and a piece of metal that would throw off sparks if you look at it funny. The reasoning should be pretty obvious.

Hide

Magcargo @ Light Clay
Ability: Magma Armor
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def
Relaxed Nature
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Overheat
- Explosion

Torkoal @ Custap Berry
Ability: White Smoke
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 2 Atk
- Heat Wave
- Hidden Power [Dragon]
- Stealth Rock
- Yawn

Camerupt @ Enigma Berry
Ability: Solid Rock
EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Earth Power
- Fire Blast
- Rest
- Stockpile

Skarmory @ Leftovers
Ability: Keen Eye
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Steel Wing
- Tailwind
- Spikes
- Whirlwind

Volbeat (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Illuminate
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sunny Day
- Thunder Wave
- Moonlight
- Confuse Ray

Victreebel @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Solar Beam
- Sludge Bomb
- Sleep Powder
- Giga Drain

Magcargo provides Screens and Explodes(hopefully with Skarm next to it). Skarm sets up Spikes, Tailwind, and starts Whirlwinding the enemy. Torkoal has Yawn and HPDragon for tough enemies. Volbeat spreads it's own status and sets up Sun. Victreebel and Camerupt sweep with potent attacks.

The raw slowness of the fire-types we have available is why this team has both Chlorophyll and Tailwind. All 3 fire-types having good physical coverage, fire only as a special move, SR, Yawn, and Explosion made figuring out a distinct niche for all 3 of them particularly difficult this time around, and even my Fuel/Air/Energy mantra wasn't great at keeping them too different. I didn't even try to do singles this time, not sure why. Victreebel was a real balance. I really wanted Chlorophyll, but most of the Chloro mons available sucked and/or are fairly night-themed. Similarly, figuring out which bug and which poison to use was fairly hard. I eventually decided on making all 3 of the wildcards weak to fire, but there's plenty of alternates I considered(Weezing, Forretress, Fearow, etc) that could easily have stolen a seat at the table.

 

[QuentinQuonce]

The very best of evenings to you. I'm closing this one an hour early as I have real-life plans this evening.

New poll is up!

https://strawpoll.com/PKgl3qJLJnp

You have until March 4th, 9PM GMT to cast your vote!​

Let's do numbers.

Numbers

Camerupt: 11

Torkoal: 10
Magcargo: 10

Skarmory: 4

Rhyperior: 3

Bellossom: 2
Victreebel: 2
Banette: 2
Hariyama: 2
Togekiss: 2
Volbeat: 2
Dugtrio: 2
Raticate: 2

Golem: 1
Metagross: 1
Shiftry: 1
Kingdra: 1
Weezing: 1
Crobat: 1
Primeape: 1
Octillery: 1
Ludicolo: 1
Pelipper: 1
Machamp: 1
Spinda: 1


Our first "organic" round, as it were. Really interesting mix of species here (both from Game Freak and from the people on this thread).

There were a few different types we could have used for this round but, being so adjacent to (B)D(S)P Fire, I was really interested to see how this Fire would play out. Of course, none of the Fire-type Pokemon in this pool are ones which overlap with those in (B)D(S)P Fire and none are actually from Sinnoh at all so it's a whole different ballgame. Given the Battle Zone's abundance of Pokemon not from Sinnoh, it's perhaps not surprising that more than one person's idea for a team might be someone not from there originally.

So what naturally conflates with Fire? Well, taking into account the characteristics of the area and the logical association with the boiling, scorching power of erupting volcanoes, you're left with a very strong idea of what types of trainers probably thrive here - so it's very easy to go straight for teams composed entirely of rough, heavy, lumbering colossuses. But I was surprised at how many people chose to consciously steer away from this and go for a theme of beauty! Or if not beauty exactly, a gentler take on nature at least - Grass-types, Bug-types, Water-types, even a few Normal-types. Quite taken with these, there were some rather ingenious ideas in play this time.

Camerupt being the most popular Fire-type used by everyone makes total sense: it's a literal volcano in a volcano area so idk how you justify not using it. That leaves Magcargo and Torkoal tied for second. No pre-evos, which isn't really surprising though it would have been amusing to see someone try something funky with Numel.

Of the rest, Skarmory makes sense as the most popular wildcard: it's a Pokemon known for inhabiting harsh, rugged areas, so much so that it's characteristically synonymous with Orre, the harshest and most desolate region we've seen in the series to date. Rhyperior also fits as a wildcard immensely: being a rocky dinosaur, there's a clear visual association with heat and power, and Fire has a lot of dispositional overlap with Rock and Ground. When it comes to Grass-types, Victreebel fits the vibe of the Survival Area perfectly - an aggressive and unpredictable carnivorous plant that can melt you to death or slice you to pieces seems exactly the sort of Pokemon you'd fear to meet as you thrash your way through a stifling rainforest.

Also I love seeing Togekiss used twice, it seems so hugely out of place but... somehow just works?


Stuff I expected to see more (or at all):

Golem. Similarly to Rhyperior, it's a Pokemon associated with steep mountains and has an affinity with Fire and explosions, and has the same tough, craggy vibe many of the other Pokemon around here do.

Weezing. Toxic gases abound in volcanic location (especially in Platinum where the whole area got a much-needed visual upgrade) and Weezing is a Pokemon I recall running into a lot inside Stark Mountain. It and the Magcargo I caught there and used as an egg-hatching aid for years in Pearl are practically synonymous with the location to me. Anyway, Weezing also learns a few Fire moves including the still-fairly-rare Will-o-Wisp - it's always felt like a Fire-adjacent Pokemon to me.

Metagross. Much like Skarmory, it's a resilient metal being associated with harsh environments and while it doesn't have much Fire adjacency, it fits onto a Fire team quite well as there's some good synergy in play. There's particular scope to use Metagross alongside Camerupt since it can make use of Magnet Rise to avoid being hit by Earthquake.

Kingdra. Again, on paper a slightly odd-looking choice, but if you're going to add a Water-type (as several people did) why not one that's a hardy dragon? While it doesn't learn any Fire moves, its shooter-like snout gives it an association with explosive weaponry and it has access to several moves incorporating beams, pulses, blasts, and cannons. The Battle Zone is a place where tough trainers gather and Kingdra is a difficult Pokemon to raise and evolve, so it wouldn't be surprising to see it used by anyone you encounter.

Kingler. But there's also this - the hardiest of crabs. While it's a Water-type, it has a delightfully brutal learnset filled with Rock, Ground, Fighting, Dark, and Steel moves. While crabs are generally thought of as water-dwelling creatures, they also do inhabit jungles and rocky areas, and I think Kingler's spiky and aggressive appearance more than justifies its inclusion in a Battle Zone squad.

Every so often when there's a team concept that seems really obvious to me but no-one touches, and this round is one of those: I was really surprised no-one went for an all-out Explosion team! Nothing says "highly destructive explosive power" quite like a volcano (well... except an actual bomb, that is) and such a high-risk, high-return strategy is well within the profile of the earthy, brash, hard-as-nails sorts you can imagine making their living in the Survival Area. On the other side of the coin, there's also that one cowardly Hiker in Mt Ember who'll teach the player Explosion.

Fittingly, there's a bunch of Pokemon in this area who learn Explosion and/or Selfdestruct. Camerupt, Torkoal, and Magcargo can all detonate themselves, and from the other native Pokemon of the area we've got Shiftry, Golem, Weezing, Wailord, Forretress, and Metagross. Explode away while your teammates use Protect, Endure, or Dig to avoid the blast (or nothing at all in the case of the bulky Rock- and Steel-type squad members) and enjoy watching your foes fall like dominoes.

Speaking of high-risk, high-reward strategies, something else occurs as I write this: OHKO moves. Camerupt and Torkoal both get Fissure, and there are more than enough Pokemon in the area to add a wide variety of other OHKO users: Pinsir, Kingler, Wailord, Seaking, Walrein, Golem, Dugtrio, Hippowdon, Rhyperior, Whiscash. Definitely could work. The only other archetype I can think of is an obsessive Heatran hunter who's crazy about Fire and Steel Pokemon and has fittingly assembled his team in an even split to reflect his passion: three Fires, three Steels. There are just enough Steel-types in the area to allow this: Metagross, Skarmory, and Forretress.

 

[DaRotomMachine]

Every so often when there's a team concept that seems really obvious to me but no-one touches, and this round is one of those: I was really surprised no-one went for an all-out Explosion team!

Oh wow I competely looked over that.............

 

[Pikachu315111]

I thought about an Explosion team, but since none of the Fire-types naturally learned it I felt it would feel somewhat of a "forced" theme; "I wanted to do a volcanic theme but it's been done so did volcanic adjacent".

The OHKO team is an interesting idea, I at least gave my Camerupt Fissure just for fun. Though that's just it with OHKO moves, unless you make that their only move, once you give them a full moveset you kind of ask yourself "so at what point would I risk a OHKO instead of damaging/setting up?".

I think giving Eviolite to Slugma or Numel would be more of an insult to them than just not using them. Off topic: Torkoal deserves an evolution.

I actually wanted to use Kingdra, but it doesn't learn any Fire-type Moves. I get that it's a seahorse, but it's also a dragon now, let it have at least Flamethrower or Heat Wave.

I just realized I didn't do a winners observations for Rock-type BW Unova. Alright, guess I'll be doing two this time:

Wanna Be A Rock Star

Eeveeto (24 pts): A cleverly done Gem theme with each Gem making sense on who gets it! Very fitting for Gen V as well with how game changing a properly used Gem could be and, sadly, the only Gen to have one for each Type.

Gryoine (22 pts): Yeah, looks like a Rock team to me, especially in the colors. Sometimes you don't need anymore than that.

SpyderMarz (18 pts): Tough substances (that isn't metal) is a neat take and the team you made is probably the best representatives. Brave choice to exclude Archeops, though I guess feathers are kind of the antithesis of a "tough substance". Druddigon should have been part Rock-type.

DrPumpkinz (15 pts): ROCK ON! You not only inspired me to take an out-of-the-box approach this round but your team is pretty solid too. Or should that be loud? Though this does make me want to see a "Rock-type Sound" Pokemon, maybe that Rock-type subwoofer idea has potential...

Thanks everyone who voted for me! I'm afraid I don't have any trivia with my boxer team that I didn't already include in my post (or if I did I've forgotten it by now).

Ghost With The Most

jhm5 (20 pts): Your evil team also gives me a malevolent beach theme which is quite fitting for the Isle of Armor. And kudos on the second theme of all of them just so happen to learn Destiny Bond, you truly made a team Nuzlockers would think is the most evil team to exist.

Antihaxxer (17 pts): As much of a Ghost team as Agatha's in Gen I. Bonus points of course goes to having a Zoroark and Marowak which have Regional Variants that are part Ghost. Though of the two I think G-Slowking's "host" is more dead than G-Slowbro's, but an arm cannon is more (immidietly) deadlier than chanting hexes.

Cobalt Empoleon (17 pts): Huh, I would have never thought of a UFO theme, but extraterrestrial is a cousin to the supernatural and Isle of Armor has both of the flying saucer Pokemon (Magnezone and Orbeetle) so why not! Allows for a creative team, especially when the theme gives you a good reason to drop one of the Ghosts.

DrPumpkinz (15 pts): I'll be honest, I'm surprised you didn't get more votes. The poem at the beginning, a strong haunted ship/captain theme, using that to be the special exception to use Dhelmise bu didn't abuse it as you dropped Palossand so still only used 3 Ghosts. Bravo.

Ironmage (14 pts): Ghostly Amorphous is a fun idea, wouldn't have occured to me to look at the Egg Group of the Ghost-types.

 

[jhm5]

Every so often when there's a team concept that seems really obvious to me but no-one touches, and this round is one of those: I was really surprised no-one went for an all-out Explosion team! Nothing says "highly destructive explosive power" quite like a volcano (well... except an actual bomb, that is) and such a high-risk, high-return strategy is well within the profile of the earthy, brash, hard-as-nails sorts you can imagine making their living in the Survival Area. On the other side of the coin, there's also that one cowardly Hiker in Mt Ember who'll teach the player Explosion.

I strongly considered an Explosion focused team. Part of me wished I had done that, but I opted against it for a few reasons. Namely, I usually try to have my teams all learn a move of the given type, and unless Sunny Day counts, that wouldn't have worked with enough of the other Pokemon for that to work. I'm also not necessarily sure those Pokemon would have worked as well in a team together. Most importantly though, I really wanted to use Weather Ball Victreebel, as that seemed to go perfectly with the theme. Still, an Explosion team probably would've ranked really high on my vote.

jhm5 (20 pts): Your evil team also gives me a malevolent beach theme which is quite fitting for the Isle of Armor. And kudos on the second theme of all of them just so happen to learn Destiny Bond, you truly made a team Nuzlockers would think is the most evil team to exist.

Thanks! I usually try to build simple teams around a certain move or theme, so the evil Destiny Bond theme seemed pretty straightforward once I saw the other three Pokemon in the Pokedex. And yes, I would hate to go against this team in a Nuzlocke.