I generally like to build my teams around a particular Pokemon, usually my favorite of the tier (Jirachi in OU, Arcanine in UU). After selecting my main sweeper, I pick Pokemon that can cover its weaknesses, not necessarily type weaknesses, but also weaknesses to a certain Pokemon. For example, CM Jirachi gets stopped in its tracks by Tyranitar, so having something like Breloom to switch into Tyranitar helps a lot.
A crucial part of team building is also knowing what threats to counter in the metagame. That's why Smogon's Shoddy Battle Statistics are very useful. They update them monthly (though February was lost due to a server change). Though usage alone doesn't determine how deadly a Pokemon is, certain Pokemon are used more than others for a good reason.
And of course, the most important part of team building is...using your team. Some teams look amazing on paper but totally suck in practice. Testing your team helps you pick out weaknesses that you may have missed when team building. I've been revamping my OU team since October. xD
Most of my teams end up being "semi-stall", meaning it utilizes entry hazards and bulky sweepers. That's just my playing style. Build your team to your style. Some people like glass cannon offence, others like stall or balanced teams.
A crucial part of team building is also knowing what threats to counter in the metagame. That's why Smogon's Shoddy Battle Statistics are very useful. They update them monthly (though February was lost due to a server change). Though usage alone doesn't determine how deadly a Pokemon is, certain Pokemon are used more than others for a good reason.
And of course, the most important part of team building is...using your team. Some teams look amazing on paper but totally suck in practice. Testing your team helps you pick out weaknesses that you may have missed when team building. I've been revamping my OU team since October. xD
Most of my teams end up being "semi-stall", meaning it utilizes entry hazards and bulky sweepers. That's just my playing style. Build your team to your style. Some people like glass cannon offence, others like stall or balanced teams.