How to build a team

Updated on 2026-09-02

A strong team is not six powerful Pokémon thrown together — it is six pieces that cover each other's weaknesses. This is a routine that works for the campaign and for battles against other players.

1. Assign roles

Most good teams have, in some combination:

• Physical or special sweeper: high Attack (or Sp. Atk) and Speed, to knock out in sequence.
• Wall: high Defense and/or Sp. Def, to absorb threats and recover HP.
• Pivot: a Pokémon with a good defensive typing that switches into predictable hits and turns pressure around.
• Support: sets weather, entry hazards (Stealth Rock, Spikes) or status.
• Revenge killer: fast or with priority, to remove a weakened opponent.

2. Cover all 18 types on offense

Add up the move types across the whole team. The goal is to have something that hits super effectively against any defending type. Classic combinations that close a lot: Fire + Ground + Water; Electric + Ice; Dark + Fairy. Use the team builder to see what's missing.

3. Don't stack weaknesses

If three of your six Pokémon are weak to Ground, a single Earthquake takes out half the team. Before you lock it in, check that no attacking type hits 3 or more members for double damage. Defensive types that resist a lot — Steel, Water, Fairy — help spread the risk.

4. Control speed

Speed decides who moves first. Keep at least one clearly fast Pokémon and one with a priority move (Quick Attack, Aqua Jet, Bullet Punch) so you aren't hostage to faster opponents.

5. Test and adjust

No team is finished on paper. Play a few matches, note who always "walls" your team, and swap one piece at a time. The comparison tool helps you choose between two similar candidates.

Common mistakes

• Six offensive attackers and no wall: you lose the damage race against any balanced team.
• Ignoring entry hazards: Stealth Rock alone chips 25–50% off Rock-weak Pokémon every time they switch in.
• Redundant move pool: four same-type moves on one Pokémon wastes slots.