A good team is more than six strong Pokémon: it has to be able to answer every opponent in the adventure, from Gym Leaders to Titan Pokémon to Team Star. Here is the method, followed by three ready-made teams, one per starter, using Pokémon that are easy to find in Paldea.
The five principles
- Six different types: avoid duplicates. Two Fighting Pokémon is often one too many.
- Wide offensive coverage: between the six of you, you should be able to hit most of the 18 types super effectively. Also vary your moves: a Pokémon can know a move of a different type than its own.
- Weaknesses that don’t stack: if three of your Pokémon fear Ice, Grusha and Hassel will give you trouble.
- Varied roles: physical and special attackers, a fast Pokémon, a bulky Pokémon.
- Pokémon that evolve early: a Pokémon fully evolved at Lv. 30 will serve you far better than a line that evolves at Lv. 55.
A team for Sprigatito
MeowscaradaGrassDarkStarter · Grass/Dark, fast
TalonflameFireFlyingFletchling (Poco Path) · Fire/Flying
PawmotElectricFightingPawmi (everywhere) · Electric/Fighting
GardevoirPsychicFairyRalts (South Province, Area One) · Psychic/Fairy
GarganaclRockNacli (South Province, Area Two) · Rock, very sturdy
GyaradosWaterFlyingMagikarp · Water/Flying, evolves at Lv. 20
Meowscarada is fast but frail: Talonflame resists its three most common weaknesses (Bug, Fighting and Fairy), Garganacl soaks up hits, and Gyarados brings the Water type that’s missing. Pawmot and Gardevoir round out the coverage (Fighting, Electric, Psychic, Fairy).
A team for Fuecoco
SkeledirgeFireGhostStarter · Fire/Ghost, sturdy- PawmotElectricFightingPawmi (everywhere) · Electric/Fighting
- GardevoirPsychicFairyRalts (South Province, Area One) · Psychic/Fairy
ClodsirePoisonGroundPaldean Wooper (South Province, Area One) · Poison/Ground- GarganaclRockNacli (South Province, Area Two) · Rock
GoodraDragonGoomy (South Province, Area Four) · Dragon
Skeledirge, immune to Normal and Fighting, is the team’s cornerstone. Clodsire covers its weakness to Water (especially with the Water Absorb ability), and its Ground type answers Electric and Rock. Goodra, a very bulky Dragon, and Gardevoir for Fairy complete the set.
A team for Quaxly
Quaquaval is Water/Fighting: pair it with types that cover its weaknesses (Flying, Psychic, Electric, Grass, Fairy).
QuaquavalWaterFightingStarter · Water/Fighting- TalonflameFireFlyingFletchling · Fire/Flying
LuxrayElectricShinx (South Province, Area Three) · Electric- GardevoirPsychicFairyRalts · Psychic/Fairy
ArbolivaGrassNormalSmoliv (South Province, Area Two) · Grass/Normal- ClodsirePoisonGroundPaldean Wooper · Poison/Ground
Talonflame solves the Grass-type problem, Arboliva resists Electric and Water, Luxray handles Flying and Water Pokémon, Gardevoir handles Dragons, and Clodsire brings the Ground type.
Paldea’s must-haves
A few easy-to-get Pokémon that shine on any team:
- GarganaclRockGarganacl · Purifying Salt protects it from status conditions
- PawmotElectricFightingPawmot · fast and versatile
MabosstiffDarkMabosstiff · Dark
AnnihilapeFightingGhostAnnihilape · Fighting/Ghost
ArmarougeFirePsychicCharcadet, Scarlet · or Ceruledge in Violet
KingambitDarkSteelKingambit · Dark/Steel, very powerful
Academy pop quiz
How many different types should you aim for in a team of six?
Six different types, to cover as many types as possible and avoid stacking weaknesses.
Does the whole team gain experience in every battle?
Yes, the Exp. Share is always active in Scarlet and Violet.
