How do you choose which Pokémon to use on your team?

[SonicBlades]

I just got X today as an early birthday present and normally I pre-plan which six Pokémon I want on my team, picking ones I know will be useful in major battles. For this generation, though, I tried my hardest to avoid spoilers so I know very little about the new Pokémon or which types the Gym Leaders/Elite 4 use. The only Pokémon I know I want on my team is Chespin because he's adorable and Grass and Fighting are my favorite types.

How do you guys pick your Pokémon? Do you just go by looks? Type? Base stats? Choose at random?

 

[Kait]

Bit of everything. If it's able to be somewhat competitive + aesthetically appealing + type.

So far I only know 4 that I want as battle pets for X. I have no problem hatching for days to get the perfect one, just because I'm so picky

 

[PrinJess]

For me, I select a Pokemon first by type, then by appearance, and finally by strength. I'm not that much into the strength in a Pokemon, as I can always change any weak ones later in the game if the situation calls for it. I always pick the cute-looking Pokemon on my first play-through, then pick a stronger team for online competition

These are the types of Pokemon in my party right now.

Fire/Psychic

Ice/Rock

Dragon/Flying

Fairy

Psychic

Normal

I shouldn't have two Psychic Pokemon my team, though...

 

[Rosaria]

I always have a base outline for my team. I want a Pokémon that is Fire Type, a Pokémon that is electric type, a Pokémon that can learn Surf, and a Pokémon that can learn fly. After that, I usually have two slots leftover, which I use for extra team members that I like.

 

[Bubbles11]

I just go for type coverage and cuteness. I try to have a team that can have a strong move in almost every type, and I always have a Water type no matter what. Other than that it varies a lot, but I like to have cute or cool looking pokemon.

 

[Brittygotchi]

For me, I make a list of the ones I think are the cutest, then I choose 6 out of those that will be diverse in type. That's about it lol

 

[tinkeepie11]

I make a mental list of the Pokemon I may want to use, but I don't check the strengths or IV's or any of that until I actually test them out and see how they're like. I also keep in mind the types because different types are always good. I also try to pick one or two that I had on my team in the past games that I know are pretty good.

For Pokemon X, in the beginning of the game I chose ones like Pancham and Skiddish that just looked really cute, but I ditched them pretty early because they weren't that strong, plus I needed room for Lucario and Sylveon.

A method for Pokemon X&Y that some people are doing is in the beginning of the game, when you get your starter and 5 pokeballs, you catch random pokemon and send your starter and the 5 newly caught Pokemon through Wonder Trade, and use those 6 new Pokemon that you got in WonderTrade throughout the entire game in your team. You can't add or subtract any from your team, just use your 6 Wonder Trades, no matter how terrible they are.

The WonderTrade method sounds possibly hard, but I really want to try it if I get Pokemon Y!

 

[Bathory]

I usually look at the gym leaders I'll be battling and base it off that list. For example, in Generation 1 (for lack of a better example) the first leader is Brock, so I picked Squirtle or Bulba as starter then build my team as necessary based oe what comes next.

Or i'll just pick it based on aesthetics. ;] Sometimes I try to build a team of a specific type, usually dark or whatever I fancy just to see how far I can take it.

 

[pokemonboy10]

I pretty much only use ones that I like, design-wise. I try to get different types as well. I'd rather lose with a team I like than win with an overused team only for power. And I do lose a lot... d:

 

[purple pyonkotchi]

I'm never certain what I want on my team when I get a Pokemon game. I just catch Pokemon along the way and eventually some just morph into my team. Every time I try to have a Pokemon on my team, I always end up trading it or transferring it to one of my better games.. so... yeah.

But on X and Y, I know for a fact that I'm going to get Chespin and Squirtle, and then find a fire type somewhere along in there. But I can't be too certain on anything

... but really, on my Yellow version my pokemon are Pikachu, Nidoking, Charizard, Some blastoise-pikachu hybrid I glitched for, Clefable, and Pidgeot... 6 PokemonI would've never picked on my own XD

 

[Kiruu]

I normally choose by type, appearance, and competitiveness. A maxed (in both friendship and EV's) out Sylveon is always an invaluble team member to have, especially one that knows Moonblast, Misty Terrain, Draining Kiss and Return.

Other than that my team is mostly Legendaries. A Mewtwo, Zygarde, Yvetal, Xerneas and Moltres, but I'm trying to trade it for Articuno to complete my pokedex :3

 

[Jhud]

I'm not the hugest pokemon fan and I've never finished any of the games I played, and I have to admit that I always trained only my starter... Yeah, I'm terrible.

 

[Eternal Mametchi Fan]

I usually stick with the first ones I catch and then develop them into a powerful team. owo'

 

[Nazotchi25]

I choose pokémon i simply like. Since Froslass is my favorite you can garuntee to see it.