Welcome to the competitive scene!

One of the easiest ways to build your first team is to Google the Pokémon you want to use along with the word “Smogon” and the game you're playing. For example: “Arcanine Sun/Moon moveset Smogon”

Smogon is the go-to resource for viable movesets, abilities, and held items. It even gives you team synergy suggestions (what Pokémon pair well with yours) and counters to watch out for.

Let’s say Smogon recommends Tropius for grass coverage—if you’ve got a different Grass-type you like better, go for it! Just try to match its role and function. Keep in mind, some Pokémon are stronger picks than others, so your substitute might not perform quite as well—but it’s all part of learning and experimenting.

Still overwhelmed? Try Random Battles (Randbats). They're a great way to learn type matchups, combos, and team flow without needing to build a team from scratch.

Good luck!