How To Build A Competitive Team In Pokémon Scarlet And Violet

Becoming a Pokémon master is no easy task. With 400 Pokémon available in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, creating a team of only six can be daunting. Things get even more complicated when you factor in move sets, abilities, held items, Tera types, EV investment, Hyper Training, and threatening nicknames! Despite being a kids' game, Pokémon's competitive scene has so much room for unique expression. However, if you are new to the world of ranked, you may wonder how to build a competitive team in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. 

This article will cover everything you need to know about building a competitive team in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, including stat allocation, helpful tips, and more. 

How To Build A Competitive Team In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

As mentioned, there are lots of factors that go into making a competitive Pokémon team. We will try to break down these variables into easy-to-digest chunks. 

Choosing Your Core and Synergy Pokémon

The first step when creating a team is selecting your core. These are one or two Pokémon you plan to build your team around. They can be strong offensively or defensively, depending on the type of playstyle you prefer. Cores either work very well with each other or are incredibly powerful on their own. Here are some example cores from Pokémon Scarlet and Violet:

Core Pokémon Scarlet And Violet:

• Dondozo + Tatsugiri
• Hydreigon + Maushold
• Indeedee + Armarouge
• Amoonguss + Flutter Mane
• Annihilape
• Garchomp

After you find your core, you will need to add Pokémon that synergize well with your picks by covering your core's major weaknesses. Here are some great all-around secondary picks:

Secondary Pokémon Scarlet And Violet:

• Gholdengo
• Sylveon
• Meowscarada
• Murkrow
• Grimmsnarl

Building Your Team

After you have the six Pokémon, you want to use; it is time to start building them up! In past games, the first part of building is breeding for perfect IVs. You can still do this if you want to save some cash, but now that Bottlecaps are freely purchasable, every Pokémon can now get perfect IVs. However, if you require a "No Good" Speed stat for a Trick Room setup, you will still have to breed. 

Next, you will have to allocate EVs. EV training, for those unaware, can be a little complicated. Luckily, AustinJohnPlays has created a succinct and easy-to-understand EV training guide, which you can check out below:

Allocating the correct EVs for your Pokémon is crucial and will be the difference-maker in a lot of mirror matchups. 

After this, you will need to grab the correct Nature and Ability for each Pokémon. You can change a Pokémon's standard Ability using an Ability Capsule (acquired from Tera Raids or from the shop). However, if you want a Pokémon's Hidden Ability, you will need an Ability Patch which is a rare item found exclusively from Tera Raid Dens. Nature Mints, on the other hand, can be purchased very cheaply from the store. 

Final Steps

The final things to do are to equip each of your Pokémon with a held item and allocate its four unique moves. Depending on the Pokémon, the best-held item will vary drastically. That being said, here are a few items that will likely appear on every Pokémon team:

Good Items:

• Leftovers
• Choice Band / Scarf / Specs
• Lum Berry
• Sitrus Berry
• Life Orb
• Booster Energy

Lastly, you will need to pick your Pokémon's moves. It is good to have at least one damaging move, even on support Pokémon, as well as a good mix of STAB attacks and coverage moves. Also, giving a Pokémon Protect is always a good option. 

Resources To Help Your Teambuilding

There are many resources out there to help you allocate the best moves, EVs, and partner picks. Here are some great sites to check out:

Teambuilding Resources:

• Serebii
• Smogon
• Pikalytics

And that's everything you need to know about teambuilding in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet!