When diving into the world of *Pokémon Ultra Sun*, one of the most exciting aspects of the game is creating the perfect team. Building a strong, balanced team can mean the difference between triumph and defeat as you navigate through Alola and take on tough opponents. In this guide, we’ll help you create a team that will give you an edge over the competition, from the best Pokémon picks to strategies for success.
1. Understanding Team Building in *Ultra Sun*
The key to success in *Pokémon Ultra Sun* lies in creating a team that covers all essential battle aspects: offense, defense, type coverage, and synergy. A well-rounded team can handle almost any challenge the game throws at you. The ideal team should have diverse types, allowing you to cover a wide range of opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure your team has Pokémon with various abilities, movesets, and roles – including sweepers, tanks, and utility Pokémon.
2. Picking Your Starters
In *Pokémon Ultra Sun*, your first major choice is which starter Pokémon to select. Your starter Pokémon will define your early-game experience, but it also plays a pivotal role in shaping your team’s overall strategy.
– **Popplio (Water type)**: Popplio evolves into Primarina, a strong Special Attacker with great movepool diversity. Primarina offers both offensive and defensive capabilities with moves like *Moonblast* and *Scald*. This Pokémon excels against Fire, Ground, and Rock types, providing solid offensive options early on.
– **Litten (Fire type)**: Litten evolves into Incineroar, a bulky physical attacker with the ability to control the field. Incineroar’s Dark typing adds utility with its *Intimidate* ability, lowering the attack of opposing Pokémon. As a pivot, it can set up traps with *Toxic* or disrupt opponents with moves like *Fake Out*.
– **Rowlet (Grass/Flying type)**: Rowlet evolves into Decidueye, a versatile Pokémon that combines Grass and Ghost types. With access to powerful moves like *Spirit Shackle* and *Leaf Storm*, Decidueye can deal heavy damage while providing utility with status moves like *Synthesis* for healing.
Choosing the right starter depends on your preferred playstyle. If you lean toward bulky setups, Incineroar might be ideal. If you prefer offensive firepower, Primarina or Decidueye could be better suited.
3. Building Type Synergy
A great *Ultra Sun* team doesn’t just feature strong individual Pokémon – it’s all about synergy. You’ll need to select Pokémon that complement each other’s strengths and cover each other’s weaknesses.
For example:
– **Electric types** like *Alolan Raichu* or *Tapu Koko* are perfect for dealing with Water- and Flying-type Pokémon. They can also handle most of the Flying-type threats, providing a solid counter to *Gyarados* or *Tornadus*.
– **Fairy types**, such as *Tapu Lele*, provide an excellent counter to Dragon, Dark, and Fighting types. With its powerful *Psychic Terrain*, it can boost your special moves, making it a formidable offensive asset.
– **Steel types**, like *Steelix* or *Magearna*, offer reliable resistance against several key types like Fairy, Ice, and Psychic, ensuring your team can take hits and retaliate effectively.
Building a team with these synergies allows you to adapt to any challenge, minimizing risks and maximizing opportunities in battle.
4. Versatility with Movepools
The strength of your team also depends on the versatility of your Pokémon’s movepools. A strong *Ultra Sun* team should have access to a mix of offensive, defensive, and utility moves. For example:
– **Defensive setups** like *Toxic* and *Stealth Rock* can wear down your opponent’s team over time, while moves like *Protect* can stall for turns.
– **Special attackers** such as *Nihilego* or *Salamence* can break through even the toughest defensive walls with moves like *Sludge Wave* or *Draco Meteor*.
– **Healing and support moves** like *Recover*, *Wish*, and *Light Screen* can keep your team in the game even when facing overwhelming odds.
Having the right mix of these moves ensures that you can adapt to almost any situation and keep control of the battle.
5. Consider Legendary and Mythical Pokémon
In *Ultra Sun*, legendary and mythical Pokémon offer powerful options for your team, but they must be used wisely. For example:
– **Solgaleo**, the cover Legendary for *Ultra Sun*, is a powerful Psychic/Steel type that can be a massive asset with moves like *Sunsteel Strike*. It can act as both a tank and an offensive powerhouse, making it an excellent choice for the late game.
– **Mimikyu** is another popular choice in competitive play due to its unique ability *Disguise*, which allows it to avoid damage on the first hit it takes, giving it a chance to set up or retaliate with moves like *Play Rough* or *Shadow Claw*.
While these Pokémon can be game-changers, it’s crucial to balance them with non-legendary Pokémon to maintain a fair and fun experience in battle.
6. Conclusion: Crafting the Ultimate Ultra Sun Team
Building the perfect team in *Pokémon Ultra Sun* requires careful planning, strategy, and an understanding of type matchups. Whether you’re aiming for a balanced, offensive, or defensive setup, there are countless ways to assemble a team that will carry you to victory. Focus on synergy, versatility, and choosing Pokémon with complementary roles, and you’ll have the tools to take on even the toughest challenges Alola has to offer.
With this guide, you’re equipped to build a powerhouse team that not only beats your opponents but also elevates your overall *Ultra Sun* experience to new heights.
