Best Team for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Build the ultimate team for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Top picks for each type, coverage analysis, and recommended movesets.
Best Team for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Building a balanced team in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is key to handling the game’s three main storylines — Victory Road, Starfall Street, and Path of Legends. Here’s our recommended team with full type coverage.
Recommended Team
1. Skeledirge (Fire/Ghost)
Why: The best starter choice for a playthrough. Incredible bulk, great special attack, and its signature move Torch Song boosts Sp. Atk with every use.
Key Moves: Torch Song, Shadow Ball, Earth Power, Will-O-Wisp
2. Palafin (Water)
Why: Zero to Hero form has one of the highest Attack stats in the game. Excellent Water-type coverage and surprisingly fast.
Key Moves: Wave Crash, Close Combat, Ice Punch, Jet Punch
3. Breloom (Grass/Fighting)
Why: Technician + Mach Punch gives priority Fighting STAB. Spore is the best sleep move in the game.
Key Moves: Mach Punch, Bullet Seed, Spore, Swords Dance
4. Garchomp (Dragon/Ground)
Why: A classic for a reason. Great stats across the board, excellent dual STAB coverage, and hits like a truck.
Key Moves: Earthquake, Dragon Claw, Iron Head, Swords Dance
5. Tinkaton (Fairy/Steel)
Why: One of the best defensive typings in the game with 10 resistances and 2 immunities. Gigaton Hammer hits extremely hard.
Key Moves: Gigaton Hammer, Play Rough, Thunder Wave, Knock Off
6. Kilowattrel (Electric/Flying)
Why: Fast, decent special attack, and great type coverage. Wind Power ability boosts Electric moves after being hit by a wind move.
Key Moves: Thunderbolt, Hurricane, U-Turn, Volt Switch
Type Coverage Analysis
This team covers 16 out of 18 types with super-effective STAB or coverage moves.
| Type | Covered By |
|---|---|
| Fire | Palafin (Water) |
| Water | Breloom (Grass), Kilowattrel (Electric) |
| Grass | Skeledirge (Fire) |
| Electric | Garchomp (Ground) |
| Dragon | Tinkaton (Fairy), Garchomp (Dragon) |
| Ground | Palafin (Water), Breloom (Grass) |
| Flying | Kilowattrel (Electric), Tinkaton (Steel) |
| Psychic | Skeledirge (Ghost) |
| Ghost | Skeledirge (Ghost) |
| Dark | Breloom (Fighting), Tinkaton (Fairy) |
| Steel | Skeledirge (Fire), Breloom (Fighting) |
| Fairy | Tinkaton (Steel) |
| Rock | Breloom (Fighting/Grass), Palafin (Water) |
| Bug | Skeledirge (Fire) |
| Ice | Skeledirge (Fire), Breloom (Fighting) |
| Fighting | Kilowattrel (Flying) |
Tips for This Team
- Lead with Skeledirge against most gym leaders — its bulk lets it set up Torch Song boosts
- Palafin needs to switch out once to activate Zero to Hero form, so plan your switches
- Breloom is fragile — use Spore first, then set up or attack
- Tinkaton walls Dragons — switch it in on any Dragon-type threat
- Use our Team Builder to customize this team to your preferences!
Alternative Picks
Not finding these Pokemon? Here are solid substitutes:
- Armarouge instead of Skeledirge (Fire/Psychic, good special attacker)
- Gyarados instead of Palafin (easier to find, still powerful)
- Leafeon instead of Breloom (available earlier)
- Dragapult instead of Garchomp (faster, more versatile)