8 Signs Your Pokémon Champions Team Is Actually Good

You have a way to influence which Pokémon move first, and you know when to use it. Check that the rest of your team can make use of the turns your speed control creates.

At least one Pokémon helps its partners carry out the plan. Its support should create useful turns for your attackers, rather than simply fill an empty slot.

Review the attack types you expect to face and look for weaknesses shared by several team members. You should have a practical response when those attacks threaten your main damage dealers.

When your main damage dealer needs to leave the field, you can identify a teammate that can take its place. Think about both the incoming attack and how you will bring your attacker back into a useful position.

You can explain what each held item does for its holder or the team. Check whether it helps with a specific survival, damage, speed or utility need that comes up in your games.

Identify the disruption that could stop your plan, then decide how you will respond before facing it. An answer must be available at the right time; having one somewhere on the team is only the first step.

Practice at least two opening plans and know which matchups each is meant to handle. For each lead, decide what you want the opening turns to achieve and what would make you change course.

You can describe how the team wins, which Pokémon need to stay healthy and what obstacles need to be removed. Use that plan to guide your leads, switches and choice of attacks.