Travis' VGC Team

Update: I'm doing even better than when I posted this! See the self-congratulatory screenshot below.

I'm posting my VGC 2012 team for all of you, for two reasons. First, so that those of you who are planning on playing VGC this year will get a better idea of the metagame, as this team has gotten me in the top 10% on the Skarbliss VGC server. Second, most selfishly, because I want your opinions before I commence the breeding process. Here it is:

Tyranitar (M) @ Iron Ball

Trait: Sand Stream

EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd

Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)

- Fling

- Rock Slide

- Crunch

- Protect

 I use Tyranitar to set up sand, which the rest of my team abuses. I have Iron Ball for a few reasons. First, if the opponent happens to get up Trick Room, I'll be able to wreck with T-Tar. Second, Fling becomes a 120 power move when flinging the Iron Ball, and because Tyranitar gets the STAB, it can tear through even the bulkiest Pokémon that see use, especially because many of them have a Dark type weakness (i.e. Cresselia, Dusknoir, Dusclops.) STAB Rock slide is almost a requirement with the prevalence of Zapdos, and Crunch is there so that once I Fling my Iron Ball I still have STAB Dark. Protect goes without saying.

Gliscor (F) @ Flying Gem

Trait: Sand Veil

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spd

Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)

- Acrobatics

- Rock Slide

- X-Scissor

- Protect

 "Oh, Travis, Landorus is SOOO much better blah blah Sand Force." Yeah. I know. Whatever. I don't want to use Landorus. Gliscor gets Acrobatics, which, with Flying Gem, OHKO's Hitmontop, Chandelure, Abomasnow, and tons of others, (even if they have a Focus Sash, as sand will take care of that last HP.) Not to mention Sand Veil, which is hax city. Rock Slide is there as a spread move, and X-Scissor helps with Cresselia. I put EVs in HP instead of speed, because there isn't much Gliscor would outspeed anyway, even with Jolly and 252 speed investment. I'm considering giving it Earthquake, replacing X-Scissor. Thoughts?

Scizor (M) @ Occa Berry

Trait: Technician

EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd

Hasty Nature (+Spd, -Def)

- Bug Bite

- Bullet Punch

- Superpower

- Protect

 Scizor is basically here for rain teams. His only weakness, Fire, is less intense in the rain, and the Occa Berry helps too. Bug Bite eats Ludicolo for breakfast, Bullet Punch is a necessity as it's STABed and Technician boosted, and Superpower is there for coverage. He doesn't seem to work well when I'm not fighting rain though, so I might replace him. Thoughts?

Garchomp (M) @ Yache Berry

Trait: Sand Veil

EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd

Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)

- Outrage

- Earthquake

- Rock Slide

- Protect

 This thing is pretty unstoppable, barring Abomasnow, but that's what Gliscor, Scizor, and Tyranitar are for. Sand Veil makes it so I have some staying power, and Outrage is pretty much a OHKO on anything that doesn't resist it. Earthquake works really well with Gliscor, and Rock Slide is for late in the game, if Garchomp is the only Pokémon I have left and I need some hax.

Gastrodon (M) @ Rindo Berry

Trait: Storm Drain

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 Spd

Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)

- Scald

- Earth Power

- Icy Wind

- Protect

 I added him originally for rain teams (which he wrecks), but I'm finding him useful in tons of scenarios. Metagross doesn't like taking Earth Power, and Icy Wind hits a bunch of things for super effective, while simultaneously making both of my opponents slower. I haven't really seen that much Gastrodon usage in VGC 2012, and I honestly don't know why.

Abomasnow (F) @ Choice Scarf

Trait: Snow Warning

EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd

Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)

- Blizzard

- Energy Ball

- Water Pulse

- Hidden Power [Fire]

This guy is here for Garchomp, because if I'm running sand I'm essentially giving every Garchomp and its brother a free sand veil. Abomasnow comes in, and Blizzard will take it out, unless it holds a Yache Berry, but there is a chance that it would have already consumed it from Gastrodon's Icy Wind, or that it has already taken enough hits so that the Yache Berry doesn't matter. Abomasnow is also a great counter to Latios, Zapdos, and other Abomasnow.

So, what do you think? I'm having trouble with Scizor, so if you have any suggestions on that front, let me know. I hope that this has helped those of you who are new to VGC!