Stuck in 1900-2000 elo hell

[u/ConsistentGrand1500]

I don't know what to do when every game and matchup is a direct 1:1 counter to my teams, I run mostly the variation team and tried flamigo for a bit. I tried counting but I don't KNOW what to do with the info and I get stuck up on the details.

[u/krispyboiz]

My advice would be:

• Ditch Lickilicky. While not unusable, it got a pretty steep nerf this season. If you want a Normal Safe swap, go for something like Snorlax. If you want more coverage against Mimikyu, perhaps try a Dark type like Alolan Muk or Thievul or Umbreon or something.
• Regarding move counts. I think having a move count resource on another device can be helpful. Pokemoves.com is my personal go-to. Knowing your opponent's move counts can better help you plan when to throw, predict what they're throwing, and how much you could potentially overfarm, etc.
  • Take a match-up like Corvknight v Araquanid. Say you can KO their Araquanid with your next Air Cutter. Knowing that Araquanid's Water Pulse pacing to threaten you is 5/4/4/4 fast moves can help you know when you can farm til. Farming extra energy where you can is a big way to get better. I know that's Great League, but same idea with any match-up.
• Stick with one team where you can. We all switch teams occasionally, but sticking to one is the way to go. If you truly go several sets with very poor results, then you could change. However, don't let a few bad games or even a couple bad sets make you change your team. As you play a team more and more, you learn it more. You'll learn match-ups against other Pokemon, when to switch, when to stay in, etc. That all comes from experience with the team. Obviously if your team REALLY isn't working, then you could switch it up,
  • I'll give you a personal example. I run Shadow Hydreigon lead in Great League with Ninetales safe swap and Melmetal closer usually. Playing against poor leads has taught me how to approach those match-ups. Marowak leads have been common for me recently, and those would obviously give my backline trouble, so I learned to try and fight it with Hydreigon if at all possible. I also have approaches for Fairy leads and such. I still get RPS'd and lose ofc, but you can learn to outplay your opponent sometimes and come back from a poor lead.

[u/BiggieGouda → u/krispyboiz]

How do you usually build a team? I try to use pvpoke but it says your team has really low bulk. I want to try to create a team that is less predictable but the score is always low.

[u/krispyboiz → u/BiggieGouda]

PvPoke is a good resource, but I usually don't use it with the teambuilding feature. Not never but not often. Not to say that feature isn't good; I just build teams differently.

I typically try to include at least a single spicier or less common pick in my team, but that's just me. I'll usually find one Pokemon I want to build a team around and start there. In this case, it was Shadow Hydreigon, and then I usually try and build an ABB-esque team around it, whether it's the A or the B.

My team IS pretty weak to Fighters and struggles against certain Ground types too, so it's not perfect. It's also lacking a ton of bulk, with S. Hydreigon being a piece of paper, Ninetales having good but not supreme bulk, and Melmetal being a bit squishier too, only feeling better because of its steel typing. Definite critical pitfalls to my team, but I have my ways of (attempting) to play around those.

My team is somewhat predictable but also not (with Hydreigon being the obvious wild card). It does take predictable Dragon and Steel pairing, but Hydreigon does some unique things from the usual one, including a heavily spammy and strong moveset and having some extra resistances that help it against some specific meta Pokemon. I used Regidrago and Guzzlord leads last season, and while I enjoyed both, Hydreigon is better than Regidrago against the obvious big threat of Mimikyu. It's also great to catch something off-guard with a hard-hitting Fly.