Team to Beat E4 in HGSS?

My son is at the third Gym in Soul Silver and we're wanting to optomize his team for the E4/Champion encounter (because we've learnt our lesson - he's stuck that that level on Pearl due to his team being not well matched).

In SS he already has a Cyndaquil/Quilava/Typhlosion, a Totodile/Croconaw/Feraligatr and a Mareep/Flaffy/Ampharos. Therefore, we're looking to utilize these types (Fire, Water and Electric) and round the team out.

I have looked at E4 weaknesses and other advice on the web and come up with the following assessment:

Will – Psychic Pokemon. Need Bug, Electric and Fire. Electric for Slowbro and the two Xatus. Bug for Exeggutor. Fire for Jynx.

Koga – Poison Pokemon. Need Fire and Psychic. Fire for Forretress. Psychic for the other four. Fire can also be used against Venomoth and Ariados. Electric can also take down Crobat.

Bruno – Fighting Pokemon. Need Psychic and Water. Water for Onix. Psychic for the other four.

Karen – Dark Pokemon. Need Bug or Fighting/Psychic/Water/ Electric. Bug or fighting for Umberon. Water for Houndoom. Psychic for Vileplume and Gengar. Electric for Murkrow.

Lance – Dragon Pokemon. Need Electric and Ice. Electric type for Gyardos, Charizard and Aerodactyl (with water type another possibility for the latter two). Ice for the three Dragonites.

This then suggests the need for the following:

1. Fire : Cyndaquil/Quilava/Typhlosion
2. Water: Totodile/ Croconaw/Feraligatr (with an ice move)
3. Electric : Mareep/Flaffy/Ampharos
4. Psychic : (looking to get Natu/Xatu to use Fly out of battle. Not until Ruins of Alph - Fog Badge needed so AFTER the 6th Gym (or maybe from Pokewalker). Will use a HM slave (probably Muckrow) for fly in the meantime until he gets the Natu
5. Bug or Fighting (intend to go and headbutt for a Heracross)
6. 6th slot is reserved for a newly-caught Gible that we're transfering over from Pearl.

Questions:

1. Is this team a good balance? Note that this structure flys in the face of some of the advice on the web (e.g. advice that you need a Fighting type for the E4)

2. What is the implications if we dispense with the Bug / Fighting type, possibly to use a dedicated Ice type (Dewgong or Lapras)? Looking at the weaknesses of the E4, dropping the bug/fighting only leaves a gap against Karen's level 42 Umbreon. Could he get through Umbreon with a sufficiently levelled type that Umbreon is not weak to?

3. Is Feraligatr (currently at Croconaw), with a single ice move going to be able to handle those dragons? (noting that we will have a Garchomp as back-up). Our plan is to stick with his current Ice Fang (65PP, 95% accuracy) and swap it out for TM 13 Ice Beam (95PP 100% accuracy)once he gets it.

4. Ampharos is sloooow. Intend to give him a quick claw to help a bit. Will he be able to handle E4?

5. Are there any HMs that we'll need throughout the game that these Poke's won't cover?

Other suggestions or critique welcome. Thanks.

quote pokemaster475

I personally, just try to round out my team with 6 different types, preferably Pokemon such as Dragonite that can learn Electric, Flying, Dragon, etc. This is where Normal and Dragon types are particularly useful, because they can learn a large variety of different-typed moves.

Thanks fror responding.

But he can't get a Dratini until Dragon's Den (late in the game). We're looking for a team that works without any trading in (excluding Gible) using the resources in the base game.

I guess we could go get a Dratini from Mt Coronet in Pearl....

With your current team I would go with
Typhlosion
Earthquake
Flamethrower
Lava Plume
Swift
Feraligatr
Ice Fang
Surf
Waterfall
Crunch
Ampharos
Discharge
Charge
Signal Beam
Light Screen
Lugia (If you have SS)
Aeroblast
Fly
Extra Sensory
Roost
Garchomp
Dragon Claw
Dig
Crunch
Slash
Heracross
Close Combat
Aerial Ace
Brick Break
Reversal
Yeah this Heracross is all one type, but all it learns leveling up is fighting moves. And you don't get very many good TMs until after the Elite Four.

1. For the Elite Four you don't really have to be totally balanced. You just need to have all the moves that can take down the E4.
2. I think having Heracross would be better then adding another Water/Ice pokemon. But if you did take Heracross out, you could still easily get past her Umbreon just using the most powerful attack you have.
3. Yes Crocnaw should be able to make it through most of Lance's dragons. If he doesn't, just use brute force to defeat them.
4. Yes Amphy should be able to defeat the E4. Quick Claw would help a lot. It works on my Steelix.
5. For the HMs, use a Gyarados and a Furret. Furret can learn 6 of them and Gyarados can learn all of the water ones.

Remove Waterfall, if anything. Surf is one of the best Water attacks.

quote mattardis

quote Ulairi

quote pokemaster475

I personally, just try to round out my team with 6 different types, preferably Pokemon such as Dragonite that can learn Electric, Flying, Dragon, etc. This is where Normal and Dragon types are particularly useful, because they can learn a large variety of different-typed moves.

Thanks fror responding.

But he can't get a Dratini until Dragon's Den (late in the game). We're looking for a team that works without any trading in (excluding Gible) using the resources in the base game.

I guess we could go get a Dratini from Mt Coronet in Pearl....

you can get a dratini in goldenrod city by collecting 1200 coins on the voltorb flip. there is a thread around here somewhere with hints of how to pwn at that game.

Yeah, there's some website that you can kill it with.

I just have a problem with it because: The first time I got to the Elite 4 on Emerald, I was at the champion. He had one pokemon left, in orange HP. I used Waterfall, it left 1 HP, and he beat me.

quote pokemaster475

Remove Waterfall, if anything. Surf is one of the best Water attacks.

Gatr's physical attack is far better.
Waterfall is the better choice.

But yeah, my Mamoswine annihilated those Draggys with Ice Shard, which will be just a tiny bit weaker than your Ice Fangs, which you may wanna stick with, as I just said, Gatr likes to get physical. Although Mamers has much higher attack....You might wanna stock up on revives.

Xatu aint too great, I ran Slowking as Psychic myself, held up fairly well, humorously took out Bruno entirely on its own.
Something like Starmie or Espeon would be better, just use a Slave to fly.
Oh, and enjoy getting Heracross. I want my 3 hours of my life back, your horny son of a bitch.

Uhh Gible probably aint gonna reach Garchomp by the E4 without taking everyone elses EXP. Dont recommend.

Yeah, do be sure to bring a Fire/Elec move along, Forry and Gyara really gave me a hell of a time without them.

quote Kanon

quote pokemaster475

Remove Waterfall, if anything. Surf is one of the best Water attacks.

Gatr's physical attack is far better.
Waterfall is the better choice.

But yeah, my Mamoswine annihilated those Draggys with Ice Shard, which will be just a tiny bit weaker than your Ice Fangs, which you may wanna stick with, as I just said, Gatr likes to get physical. Although Mamers has much higher attack....You might wanna stock up on revives.

Xatu aint too great, I ran Slowking as Psychic myself, held up fairly well, humorously took out Bruno entirely on its own.
Something like Starmie or Espeon would be better, just use a Slave to fly.
Oh, and enjoy getting Heracross. I want my 3 hours of my life back, your horny son of a bitch.

Uhh Gible probably aint gonna reach Garchomp by the E4 without taking everyone elses EXP. Dont recommend.

Yeah, do be sure to bring a Fire/Elec move along, Forry and Gyara really gave me a hell of a time without them.

I used Mamoswine too. Too bad he was replaced by Snorlax in Kanto. Snorlax is just to good going Crunch/Bodyslam > Rest > Sleep Talk > Sleep Talk > Rest > Sleep Talk.