What is a good in-game team for Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon?

Question

Share your best in-game teams for Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon on this thread! Teams should be aimed toward making casual runs of the game efficient, enjoyable and hassle-free.

Please follow these guidelines regarding detail in your post:

1. For every Pokemon on the team, give recommended moves for use throughout the playthrough. Ideally, comment on more than just the four moves you'll finish with post-game.
2. You can include items, abilities, etc. but they are not necessary.
3. Provide explanation and detail. Justify your Pokemon and moveset choices; possible discussion points include ease-of-use, team synergy, and coverage for key battles.

Please also follow these guidelines regarding the contents of your team:

1. If you recommend a Pokemon that is restricted by version exclusivity, trade evolution or events, please mention alternatives for people who cannot get the Pokemon. Do the same if you recommend moves, etc. that are only available by breeding or grinding.
2. There are some unspoken rules of in-game teams, such as to keep the starter on the team and avoid legendaries. It's kind to give other options if you break these rules.
3. Do not recommend Pokemon, moves, etc. that are only available through glitches and cheats. Please also avoid Pokemon etc. that are only available through trade or transfer.
4. Original content only. You may use ideas you found elsewhere, but do not steal written content.

Submit your team as an answer, not a comment. To keep things tidy, we will remove any teams posted as comments in this thread. If you want to update your post, use the 'edit' button.

Please be sparing with images and formatting.

A very useful tool for assessing your team's strengths and weaknesses is this team builder made by @richi3f on GitHub, updated for these new games. This site makes it very easy to set up and assemble a team!

Answer 1

Primarina
Primarium Z
Sparkling Aria
Moonblast
Ice Beam
Psychic

Primarina is the key to destroying Halas fighting types and the Fire Rock Dark Ground and Dragon trials/island kahunas later in the game along with other boss fights with good special stats and movepool it will destroy anything that stands in its way especially with its exclusive z-move.

Fearow

Drill Peck
Return
Drill Run
Steel Wing

I know, Fearow isn't the best flying type there is however its not the worst and can put in some effort with access to Drill Run a ground type move to counter 2 of its 3 weaknesses and Steel Wing to counter ice types and it has STAB-Drill Peck and Return to deal massive damage with base 90 atk and 100 speed.

Mangezone

Thunderbolt
Flash Canon
Thunder Wave
Tri Attack

The magnemite line is really good in these games with it being accessible right at the trainers school you will have a magnemite for the normal trial so you will have something to wall normal types with and magneton can make use of the eviolite until it evolves into magnezone which isn't until later on in the game. Good stats, good typing and good defenses to make use off, this line will remain as one of my favrouites I highly recommend it.

Haryiama
Brick Break/Close Combat
Poison Jab
Facade
Rock Slide

Fighting types are good in every game, Haryiama has an outstanding hp stat and really high attack being accesable right after Hau'oli City, this will be your answer to the normal type trial. It can make use of its Guts ability with Facade and with its high attack stat+equipped with the silk scarf it will do disgusting damege. Overall, Haryima is a good fighting type overall with the amount of hp it has it will take hits and dish them out with its high attack stat and it evolves not to late as well.

Espeon

Psychic
Shadow Ball
Dazzling Gleam
Calm Mind

This will be our special sweeper with an outstanding special attack and speed stat setting up with calm mind will make it take special hits well and dish them out with the immense coverage it has, this will be your answer to the E4 Hala fight along with some of Team Skulls poison types and almost any major boss fight as along as you use espeon wisely.

Magmortar

Flamethrower/Fire Blast
Psychic
Thunderbolt
Focus Blast/Low Sweep/Brick Break

Magmorator is one of my favrouites with wide movepool and good attacking stats, you can run either psychical or special moves on this killing machine and this will be your answer to the grass trial and the steel type e4 member.

(P.S You can use Magmar its still a good Pokemon however equip it with the evolite to make it bulky so its not frail as mid stage Pokemon in the late game cant take hits that well so the evolite is a useful item)

Magmar

Flamethrower
Psychic
Focus Blast/Low Sweep/Brick Break
Will-o-wisp

Gen 7 might not be the best however the variety of what you can get is really nice and post-game is something else.

Anyways enjoy using this team :)

Answer 2

Incineroar @Incinium Z
Ability: Blaze
-Darkest Lariat
-Flare Blitz
-Thunder Punch
-Brick Break

After playing through Moon with Poplio, I'm going for something different this time. Incineroar offers the team fantastic power and with stellar base attack, it can break through bulky or overlevelled opponents. Darkest Lariat and Flare Blitz are great STAB moves. Incinium Z allows Incineroar to easily destroy any and almost every threat, and especially this really helps against Pokemon specifically Molane's Metagross. Thunder Punch and Brick Break are great coverage against Rock and Water types. The only downside is that this thing is slow I'm talking Terry the Tortuga slow, so you have to work around that.

Starmie @Twisted Spoon
Ability: Natural Cure
-Scald
-Psychic
-Dazzling Gleam
-Ice Beam

Starmie makes a pair with Incineroar relatively early game -- you can find a Staryu outside the Hano Resort on Akala Island. Starmie is a fantastic asset thanks to its fighting resistance and base 100 Special Attack. The moveset is fairly standard -- Scald and Psychic are consistent STAB damage, with Psychic also boosted a bit with the Twisted Spoon. Ice Beam and Dazzling Gleam are helpful coverage moves. Natural Cure is decidedly better for in-game use since Illuminate is useless. If you'd rather not use Staryu until it evolves, you can just use a Psyduck until then you can find them also in Sandy Cave on Melemele Island.

Hawlucha @Expert Belt
Ability: Unburden
-Acrobatics
-Poison Jab
-Roost
-Flying Press

Hawlucha is another early encounter that ends up being overpowered later game. Hawlucha's base speed is nothing to be joked about, and this thing being able to set up Swords Dance and having Roost just makes it even more powerful. Poison Jab is on here for coverage against Fairy types and Flying Press destroys Normal, Steel, Dark, Ice, and Rock types. This Pokemon makes your playthrough experience more enjoyable and much easier.

Flygon @Soft Sand
Ability: Levitate
-Dragon Claw
-Dragon Dance
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge

I'll just let Fizz explain this one.
Found at Haina Desert on Ula'ula Island, Flygon is another Pokemon with some good pace and power to it. Though base 100 is pretty average nowadays, Earthquake's high base power and Dragon Fang help Flygon keep its damage output up. Dragon Claw is a good STAB that pairs with Earthquake for good dual STAB coverage. Stone Edge gives Flygon a response to Ice-type Pokemon, and Dragon Dance allows Flygon to set up and sweep opposing teams should it find an opportunity. Great way to deal with Hapu's Grand Trial. Garchomp is also a good option here if you want to SOS chain a Gabite.

Mimikyu @Mimikium Z
Ability: Disguise
-Play Rough
-Shadow Sneak
-X-Scissor
-Swords Dance

Mimikyu is easily the best Fairy type other than Primarina in USUM. Mimikyu makes stalling easy and is great for some difficult battles (coughcough Ultra Necrozma). Play Rough and Shadow Sneak are great STAB moves and X-Scissor is great for Dark, Psychic, and Grass types. Mimikyu makes your playthrough much, much easier and gets the job done as a replacement for Primarina or Sylveon.

Snorlax @Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
-High Horsepower
-Heavy Slam
-Crunch
-Return

Snorlax is another great early game Pokemon. This thing is obviously going to be used as a tank but, he can be used as a great physical attacker as well. High Horsepower is amazing for Rock, Steel, Fire, Electric, and Poison. Heavy Slam hits hard against Rock, Ice, and Fairy and is great overall. Crunch is good for Psychic and Ghost and Return is well... Return. In conclusion, this thing can be used as a tank and a physical attacker and overall it is just an amazing Pokemon and a good final edition for your team.

That's the team. Hope you enjoy using it or just think it's a good team. Thank you for reading!

Answer 3

Decidueye
Item: Decidium Z (Gift From Professor Kukui)
Ability: Overgrow
Location: route 1 as rowlet (starter)
Moves:
Spirit Shackle (learned upon evolution)
Leaf Blade (Level 44)
Swords Dance (Poni Meadow)
Brave Bird (Level 55)

Magnezone
Item: Magnet (Pikachu Valley)
Ability: Sturdy
Location: Trainer School as magnemite
Moves:
Magnet Rise (Level 53)
Discharge (Level 43)
Flash Cannon (Level 33)
Volt Switch (Mount Hokulani)

Bewear
Item: Expert Belt (SeaWard Cave)
Ability: Fluffy
Location: Route 8 as stufful
Moves:
Work Up (Trainer School)
Hammer Arm (Level 36)
Return (Malie City)
Shadow Claw (Malie City PokeMart)

Salazzle
Item: Poison Barb (MeleMele Meadow)
Ability: Corrosion
Location: Wela Volcano Park as Salandit
Moves:
Toxic (Aether Paradise/Move Relearner)
Nasty Plot (Level 25 as Salandit)
Venoshock/Sludge Wave (Level 39/Seafolk Village PokeMart Respectively)
FlameThrower (Level 44)

Vaporeon
Item: Wise Glasses (Girl On route 1 during Nighttime)
Ability: Water Absorb
Location: Daycare egg as eevee
Moves:
Work Up (Trainer School)
Surf (Poni Breaker Coast)
Ice Beam [Mount Lanakila(Use aurora beam till then)]
Acid Armor (Level 29)

Garchomp
Item: Soft Sand/Dragon Fang (melemele beach/konikoni city from mallows dad respectively)
Ability: Sandveil
Location: Haina Desert as Gabite
Moves:
Swords Dance (Poni Meadow)
Dragon Claw/Dragon Rush (Level 33/Level 55 respectively)
EarthQuake (Resolution Cave)
Shadow Claw (Malie City Pokemart)

I am bad at explaining things but I will shorten them down. I have one stat Boosting move on every Pokemon except magnezone as I gave it Magnet Rise to get rid of its ground weakness. All Pokemon have a move which another Pokemon does not cover or is weak against. I am not going to use legendaries for this to make this more authentic. No version Exclusives or trade evolutions. The ace is going to be Decidueye. You can swap vaporeon for lapras as they can share the moveset. I included location of the Pokemon, items and tms. I also marked the level at which the Pokemon learns the move at. As Decidueye is the ace I wanted it to be the only Pokemon with a z crystal as putting one on every Pokemon would be bad as there would be no type boosting items but you can change it around based on which totem/kahuna/e4 is next (which is what I did for my playthrough)

Answer 4

This is my current playthrough team and it is currently holding up very well:

Incineroar @Incinium Z
Ability: Blaze
- Brick Break, Fire Punch, Darkest Lariat, Earthquake

Brick Break is here mostly to shatter opponent's screens, but it also provides extra coverage. Fire Punch is a good physical STAB move which I prefer over flamethrower since Incineroar is a physical attacker and Flare Blitz is kinda annoying with the recoil damage. Darkest Lariat is a major asset, especially for Totem Battles and the Ultra Necrozma fight since it ignores any defense boosts they have and it turns into a nuke when it is used with Incinium Z. Finally, Earthquake is very powerful coverage.

Golisopod @Silver Powder
Ability: Emergency Exit
- First Impression, Rock Slide, Drill Run, Liquidation

First Impression combined with silver powder makes for a massive hit right out of the gate before your opponent hits you. Rock Slide deals with flying types. Drill Run deals with any electric or rock types that threaten Golisopod and Liquidation is strong STAB with a neat secondary effect (chance to lower opponent's defense by 1 stage)

Tsareena
Ability: Leaf Guard (Queenly Majesty is much better though)
@Rose Incense - Trop Kick, Payback, U-Turn, Stomp

Trop Kick is reliable STAB damage that is boosted by Rose Incense. U-Turn can be used to pivot. Payback can be useful and powerful if Tsareena is slower than an opponent. Stomp is here for the nice flinch chance it can give you if Tsareena moves first.

Lycanroc Midnight Form @Hard Stone
Ability: Keen Eye
- Rock Slide, Crunch, Stone Edge, Counter

Rock Slide is reliable STAB with a flinch chance. Crunch is a strong coverage move if I need it, Stone Edge has raw power and can become very strong with Lycanium Z. Counter is here since it is very useful against tougher opponents and it saved me in the Totem Togedemaru trial.

Bewear @Fightinium Z
Ability: Klutz (Fluffy is better though)
- Hammer Arm, Thrash, Shadow Claw, Bulk Up

Hammer Arm and Thrash are powerful STAB moves that work really well with Bewear's massive attack stat. Shadow Claw deals with ghost and psychic types. Bulk up can let Bewear set up against physical attackers who can't threaten it with powerful super effective moves.

Vikavolt @Wise Glasses
Ability: Levitate
- Thunderbolt, Bug Buzz, Flash Cannon, Energy Ball

Thunderbolt and Bug Buzz are standard STAB moves for Vikavolt. Flash Cannon and Energy Ball are also very standard for a Vikavolt in a playthrough as powerful coverage moves.

I really like this team, but I'm likely switching Tsareena out for a Dhelmise soon. Here's the set I was thinking of using:

Dhelmise @Metal Coat
Ability: Steelworker

• Phantom Force, Power Whip, Anchor Shot, Earthquake

Earthquake deals with fire types really well. Phantom Force and Power Whip are its strongest STAB moves and Anchor Shot gains quite a bit of power thanks to Steelworker along with the Metal Coat (goes from 80 power to 144 power). Also, Anchor Shot deals with Dhelmise's weakness to ice types

Answer 5

I will be replaying Ultra Moon for the first time in a while. Here is the the team that I will use:

Incineroar @Incinium Z

Fire Punch (Move tutor)
Darkest Lariat (upon Evo)
U-turn (TM)
Brick Break (TM)

Salamence @Dragonium Z or Amulet Coin

Dragon Claw (Level up- Lv29)
Fly (upon Evo)
Zen Headbutt (Level up- Lv35)
Roost (TM)

Sylveon @Fairium Z or Soothe Bell

Moonblast (level up- Lv37)
Shadow Ball (TM)
Echoed Voice (TM)
Draining Kiss (Level up- Lv20)

Metagross @Steelium Z or Leftovers

Meteor Mash (Level up- Lv 45)
Zen Headbutt (Level up- Lv 32)
Brick Break (TM)
Iron Head (Move Tutor)

Araquanid @Waterium Z or Mystic Water

Liquidation (Move Tutor or Level up- Lv57)
Leech Life (level up- Lv 33)
Bug Bite (level up- Lv13)
Crunch (Level up- Lv 38)

Cradily @Grassium Z or Big Root

Ancient Power (level up- Lv 17)
Giga Drain (level up- Lv 26)
Brine (Level up- Lv 21)
Energy Ball (Level up- LV 44)

My reasoning for choosing each Pokemon:

Incenroar:

Incenerorar is my favourite of the three starter Pokemon in Alola. I haven't used it since I first played for Ultra Moon which for me was six years ago in 2018 when I was almost thirteen. It also has a wide move pool in regards to both TMs and Move tutor moves. Also the attacks it levels up learning will be instrumental against the totem battles, Molayne in the league, Faba's Psychic types.

Salamence:

Salamence is a pseudo-legendary that I have never used. I want to use it for the first time because not only is it veyr good but it can also Mega Evolve when I am able to access the Battle Tree in the post game. It will be a long way to go to get it to it's final evolution but it will be worth it.

Sylveon:

My favourite Pokemon of all time. I use it at any opportunity if my starter isn't a fairy type, hence why I picked Incineroar. Also I chose to run echoed voice on Sylveon because a) it is stab when it is an Eevee, and it increases in power with each consecutive use.

Metagross:

Metagross is here for the same reasons as Salamence. I have never used it before, I can Mega evolve it in the post game and I know it will worth it. I also am trying to expand the Pokemon that I use, and I always like using a psychic or steel type, and Metagross is both of those. I know it will be a pain to get, having to wait until the third Island, but I am willing to make that sacrifice.

Araquanid:

Araquanid is one of my top 3 favourite Alola-native Pokemon and I know that it is a totem Pokemon in Ultra Moon, which is super fun because I like collecting the totem stickers. Araquanid also has a solid BST (Base Stats Total) of 454, which is not the highest, but it can be a monster in the right hands, and I should know. When I first played Pokemon Sun in 2017, my friend Taylor would sweep me with an Araquanid, which made do the same in my first copy of Pokemon Moon in the Autumn of 2017. Anyway, enough reminiscing, Araquanid will be the defensive wall of the team, and I don't mind the ability I get, though I will probably prefer Water Bubble as it turns the neutral fire matchup into a resistance.

Cradily:

Cradily is my favourite fossil Pokemon. It also makes a nice Grass-Fire-Water core with Araquanid and Incineroar. I know that Grass/Rock is a very good type combo, and, yes, I know Brine isn't a typically good move, but it does provide some coverage for ground and fire types, which I know is Araquanid's job, but the more coverage the better I say.

Comments

The rules said to "Provide explanation and detail. Justify your Pokemon and moveset choices; possible discussion points include ease-of-use, team synergy, and coverage for key battles."

Also just based on a first glance, the use of 6 z crystals is questionable

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I say this as respectfully as I can. Just because you think that something is questionable, does not make the "questionable" thing any less valid. Although, just to avoid anything further I will add alternate item options for those who prefer just one z crystal, not because you think me using six Z crystals is questionable.

Answer 6

ULTRA SUN

My team covers most/all types in the game.

Incineroar

Held Item: Incinium Z/Leftover/Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
Moves:

• Fire Punch/Flare Blitz (STAB)
• Darkest Lariat (STAB)
• Brick Break (Destroys light screen/reflect)
• Earthquake (Generally a strong move)

I won't glaze this guy but he is absolute unit and my favorite out of the 3

Golisopod

Held Item: Assault Vest
Ability: Emergency Exit
Moves:

• Liquidation (STAB)
• Leech Life (Heal to use emergency exit again)
• First Impression (Priority move, it only works at first turn in battle but resets on every switch, pairs with its ability)
• Sucker Punch (Another priority)

A strong revenge killer. Despite having a horrible speed, it compensates it with its access on good priority moves, high Atk stat and good bulk. Not to mention, its design is just peak.

Kommo-o

Held Item: Kommonium Z
Ability: Bulletproof/Soundproof
Moves:

• Clanging Scales (STAB)
• Close Combat (STAB)
• Earthquake (Coverage)
• Poison Jab (Coverage)

A strong mixed attacker with excellent defense stats and good speed, its strong movepool can cover mostly its weakness. But its a late game Pokemon so I suggest crabominable first or Bewear.

Lycanroc - Midday form

Held Item: Choice Band
Ability: Keen Eye
Moves:

• Stone Edge (STAB)
• Accelerock (Priority/Revenge killer)
• Stealth Rock (Good against pkmn with sturdy, pretty much a good set up move)
• Drill Run (Coverage)

A fast strong dog. its high speed and Atk stat speaks for it self.

Toucannon

Held Item: Focus sash
Ability: Skill Link
Moves:

• Beak Blast (STAB, he isn't fast so it doesn't matter if you get hit first but remember, its a 1 turn move)
• Rock Blast (Coverage, good with Skill Link)
• Bullet Seed (Coverage, good with Skill Link)
• Roost/U-turn/Steel Wing
  (U-turn is optional if you want to abuse Golisopod. Steel Wing is for pesky Fairy types)

It has balanced spread stat and high attack stat. Its ability to maximize multiple-hit attacks can make a weak move into a strong move.

Magnezone

Held Item: Light Clay/Weakness Policy (Post game)
Ability: Sturdy
Moves:

• Thunderbolt/Discharge (STAB)
• Flash Cannon (STAB)
• Reflect/Thunder wave
• Light Screen/Volt Switch

I use him as a dual screen setter due to his fairly good bulk, or you can use him to cripple fast Pokemon using thunder wave and use volt switch to use Golisopod. (Dual screen is still viable tbh)

Yeah, Golisopod is the main character..

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Feel free to suggest some changes