My 2022 Pokemon Teams!

2022 is coming to a close, that means it's time to look back at my Pokemon Teams that I've put together throughout this year from Legends Arceus coming out in January, I've replayed a few games in between, and lastly Scarlet & Violet came out in November.

Let's take a look at my teams from this year.

1. Pokemon Legends Arceus

I've shown you this team of mine earlier in the year but it's time to revisit it. I've picked up the game numerous times SINCE I've made this picture of my endgame team in order to shiny hunt and the only difference is that I have successfully captured a Shiny Zoroark! Ever since I saw what shiny Zorua was mid way through this playthrough, I've since been endlessly hunting down a shiny alpha Zorua and it took me nearly a year to even get there😅 My team used to look differently AND it wasn't even supposed to look like this either. I used a Wyerdeer for 99% of my playthrough but was left with no choice but to dump him due to how much an opponent Volo was and Wyerdeer was a liability. Luxray was supposed to be a placeholder until I found another better electric type (but never did). Kleavor wasn't even supposed to be on my endgame team either as I happened to catch an Alpha Scyther and told myself it's a placeholder till I find a better Pokemon only to realize Kleavor was just that good. I'm also VERY against using Legendaries and Mythicals yet Darkrai managed to make the endgame team due to how much trouble I had facing Volo. This would mark one of the first times I never actively put a Flying type Pokemon/bird Pokemon on my team but I can genuinely say that I'm proud of this team!

2. Pokemon Sword

I never actively played Sword until this year as I happened to get the game on sale for $30 on Ebay. Prior I had only played Shield AND still prefer Shield over Sword now that I've played them both. Yes, I've shared this team earlier in the year but we're revisiting it again. Honestly, I walked into Sword thinking I was gonna use the exact same team I had in Shield as that team was one to be reconned with but that was all thrown out the window once I successfully caught a Shiny Eevee prior to the Water Gym. It was a full odds find too!!! I thought long and hard about what Eeveelution I wanted and settled on an Umbreon as Umbreon's shiny is just so cool and that I originally wanted Obtstagoon (Dark/Normal) on my team so I figured Umbreon would be my Dark type substitute. That was until I was leveling up my Eevee, at 4 in the morning, and it evolved into an Espeon instead despite it still being dark outside in game... I was heartbroken but went with the flow considering there's a Fighting gym in the game and Espeon would be vital to my victory. Gigantamax Toxtricity was transfered over from my Shield save file as I had multiple of them AND I just love Toxtricity that much. I settled on Single Strike Urshifu because I had chosen Multi-Strike Urshifu in my Shield playthrough and that i STILL wanted a Dark type on my team and yet I still prefer Multi-Strike. I'm proud that I successfully found a Shiny in this playthrough BUT otherwise I wouldn't use this team in Sword & Shield ever again as it gave me issues galore.

3. Brilliant Diamond

Yes, I know Brilliant Diamond came out in 2021 BUT I dragged my butt horribly when it came to this game and couldn't motivate myself to finish the game till mid 2022. For the sheer amount of times I've replayed Pokemon Diamond & Platinum, my Brilliant Diamond team is 100% different from any other teams I've utilized in the past. I DIDNT wanna use Staraptor and instead took on Honchkrow and don't regret it. I farmed for 10+ hours over a week in time to obtain a Kirlia in the Underground as Kirlia/Gardevoir isn't available until post game otherwise. I've always loved Froslass yet I've never personally trained one so I went out of my way to obtain her. Lucario is a must have for ANY game. And lastly my Garchomp. I've never trained a Garchomp before and figured I'd make use out of a psuedo legendary on the team and don't regret a thing!!! Although I did farm for hours trying to find a Skull Fossil because I was determined to have a Ramparados on the team only to replace him... I normally almost always have the starter, Luxray, Gastrodon and Staraptor on the team so it was nice to have a breath of fresh air.

4. Violet

I got both Scarlet & Violet and opted to play Violet first as I had my heart set on it from minute one! I was team Sprigatito ever since the unveiling and the Sprigatito line is endlessly lovable! They're some of my all time favorite Pokemon now. I took on a Ralts initially in order to get Gardevoir OR until I find a new suitable Psychic Type in the region I have yet to meet UNTIL I was Surprise traded a Tinkatink and told myself that I don't need two Fairy types on the team. So I then evolved my Ralts into Gallade as to kill two birds with one stone as I ALWAYS prioritize getting at least one fighting type on my team each playthrough of any game. I then got rid of Tinkatink anyways for Corviknight so yeah... Corviknight was supposed to be a placeholder until I found the new regional bird Pokemon, only to realize the new regional bird Kilowattrel sucks!!! Toxtricity was ALSO supposed to be a placeholder until I found a suitable electric type to replace it only to realize there isn't any electric types better than Toxtricity other than Jolteon. From minute 1 I KNEW Ceruledge was going on my team and I can confirm it's a phenomenal Pokemon. Lastly, my Palafin!!! I was using a Gyarados which IS the best water type in the entire game besides Palafin, and then by chance I found a Palafin raid, and now I have a Palafin and it's one of the best Pokemon in existence!!! It looks awesome and with legendary level stats to boot. I'm INSANELY proud of this team and I firmly believe it's probably one of my best teams to date.

5. Scarlet

I went into Scarlet KNOWING I wanted to use the most powerful Pokemon in the game and surprisingly, I was upset picking Quaxley as my starter as Quaqaval is actually one of the worst water types in the game but I didn't wanna choose Sprigatito again... I went into this knowing I wanted to use Armarouge due to how much I loved Ceruledge and how vital psychic types can be and I can confirm I prefer Ceruledge tenfold! Jolteon is the strongest electric type in the entire game and my favorite eeveelution so of course I went with him. Lucario is ALWAYS a great choice no matter the game due to its variety of available moves and how strong it is. By chance I was surprise traded an Arctibax, a rare Pokemon. Baxcalibur is a psuedo legendary, and one of the Elite 4 specializes in Dragon types another specializes in flying types, so I figured Baxcalibur would be a great addition to the team. I lastly opted for Hydreigon as Hydreigon is one of my all time favorite Pokemon, it's a psuedo legendary, it could learn flying Type moves which I NEEDED as I didn't use a bird Pokemon this playthrough. I'm pretty happy with this team and it's filled to the brim with hard hitters. The only issue is that I have overwhelming weaknesses to ice and Dragon Types and it game me insane issues when I did the Sada boss fight. Clearly I won't put more than one Dragon on my team again.

Those are my teams throughout this year. Did any of them suprise you? Are any of my teams similar to yours? What's your favorite game from this year?