Does anyone have themed teams*? (Not necessarily a 6-Pokemon battle team)

[eevulpes]

I think it's somewhat rhetorical and the answer is yes for lots of others out there, but I love to nickname my Pokemon and I've built themed groups over the years doing that. I'm curious what others have done.

Here are some of mine (long, but I broke them into their teams so you can skip any that aren't of interest):

Disney Princess squad: Vulpix (Anna), Alolan Vulpix (Elsa), Alolan Marowak (Moana), Eevee (Belle), Vaporeon (Ariel), Jolteon (Rapunzel), Flareon (Merida), Espeon (Jasmine), Umbreon (Tiana), Leafeon (Pocahontas), Glaceon (Cinderella), Pawniard (Mulan), Sylveon (Aurora), Applin (Snow White) - also, countless others with a Disney-themed name like my Mew (Alice) and Sandile (Wendy)

Gym Leader squad: too long to list, but for every gym leader and major NPC in the games I have a Pokemon with their name (like a Starmie named Misty and a Rhydon named Giovanni)

Taylor Swift "Eras" squad (one for each album): Vaporeon (Teardrop), Flareon (Red), Umbreon (Midnight), Delcatty (Lover), Glameow (Gorgeous - for Reputation), Weavile (Bad Blood), Leafeon (Folklore), Glaceon (December - for Speak Now), Litten (Gallows - for Tortured Poets), Perrserker (Fearless), and Sprigatito (Evermore)

Sports squad (one for each of my favourite teams): Ekans (Phang - Philadelphia Union), Alolan Sandslash (Frost - Minnesota Frost), Arcanine (Gritty - Philadelphia Flyers), Ponyta (Phillie - Philadelphia Phillies), Ursaring (Helsingin - Finnish soccer), Skarmory (Valur - Icelandic soccer), Combusken (Glentoran - Welsh soccer), Staraptor (Benfica - Portuguese soccer), Luxray (Chelsea - English soccer), Lumineon (Tide - Halifax Tides), Conkeldurr (Ajax - Dutch soccer), Lilligant (Celtic - Scottish soccer), Zoroark (Milano - Italian soccer), Swanna (Brøndby - Danish soccer), Braiary (Lyonnais - French soccer; Swoop - Philadelphia Eagles), Pyroar (Linköping - Swedish soccer), Scorbunny (Aitana - Aitana Bonmati), Cinderace (Barca - Spanish soccer), Zamazenta (Bayern - German soccer), Quaquaval (Wave - San Diego Wave), and Kilowattrel (Kvinner - Norweigian soccer)

Concert Hall squad (one for each of my favourite musicians): Sandshrew (Landslide, Stevie Nicks), Nidoran (Royal, Ava Max), Jigglypuff (Daydreamer, Adele), Galarian Ponyta (Pink Pony, Chappell Roan), Drowzee (Rem, R.E.M.), Cubone (Desperado, Linda Ronstadt), Horsea (Tidal, Fiona Apple), Lapras (Cool Girl, Tove Lo), Dratini (Waves, Rachel Platten), Cyndaquil (Afterglow, Sarah McLachlan), Lanturn (Saint-Saens), Pichu (Evermore, Taylor Swift), Teddiursa (Lil' Voice, Sara Bareilles), Smoochum (Chandelier, Sia), Torchic (Sunrise, Norah Jones), Beautifly (Fallin, Alicia Keys), Taillow (Songbird, Eva Cassidy), Azurill (Blue, Joni Mitchell), Delcatty (Tails, Lisa Loeb), Plusle (Heartthrob, Sara Quin) & Minun (Crybaby, Tegan Quin), Altaria (Ballad, Celine Dion), Zangoose (Ziggy, David Bowie), Lunatone (Beethoven), Solrock (Holst), Starly (Hurricane, Dido), Pachirisu (Dreamer, Ingrid Michaelson), Cherubi (Cranberry, The Cranberries), Buneary (Carousel, Vanessa Carlton), Chatot (House, Hugh Laurie), Shiny Riolu (Melodrama, Lorde), Herdier (Fidelity, Regina Spektor), Pidove (Refugee, Ms. Lauryn Hill), Timburr (Jagged, Alanis Morissette), Whimsicott (Spirit, Leona Lewis), Sandile (Burr, Leslie Odom), Zorua (Illusion, Dua Lipa), Zoroark (Supervixen, Garbage), Swanna (Tchaikovsky), Deerling (Artemis, Lindsey Stirling), Sawsbuck (Vivaldi), Emolga (Sour - Olivia Rodrigo), Axew (Wrecker, Michelle Branch), Skiddo (Zanaka, Jain), Pancham (Riot, Hayley Williams), Espurr (Mazzy, Mazzy Star), Helioptile (Machine, Florence Welch), Sylveon (Goodnite, Melody Gardot), Carbink (Diamond, Rihanna), Trevenant (Joshua, U2), Litten (Black Hole, She & Him), Cutiefly (Nebraska, Emily Kinney), Ribombee (Buzzkill, Mckenna Grace), Rockruff (SheWolf, Shakira), Mudbray (Cowboy, Charlotte Lawrence), Salandit (Sidewinder, Sheryl Crow), Steenee (Riverdance, Lisa Kelly), Minior (Wish, Julia Michaels), Komala (Odyssey, Hayley Westenra), Togedemaru (Frenzy, Alison Sudol), Mimikyu (Punisher, Phoebe Bridgers), Rillaboom (Tarzan, Phil Collins), Shiny Wooloo (Serotonin, girl in red), Low-Key Toxtricity (Boss, Bruce Springsteen), Hattrem (Spirit, Jewel), Obstagoon (Chester, Linkin Park), Morpeko (Lacrymosa, Evanescence), Dreepy (Castle, Halsey), Spectrier (Cherry, KT Tunstall), Quaxly (Bubbly, Colbie Caillat), Dachsbun (Wonder, Natalie Merchant), Maschiff (Wildflower, Billie Eilish), Espathra (Monster, Lady Gaga), Tinkatink (Trouble, P!nk)

 

[Devalue]

Nicknames Pokemon in challenge runs. Adopted that habit from watching enough Nuzlockes, despite not enjoying that particular type of challenge. Typically relates to the challenge somehow, but not always.

Examples:

• Proof of Affinity. Paired people up. Chose math terms. Expected to need to name a lot of Pokemon. Felt confident about being able to drudge up lots of those. Nicknamed Bellossom "Root".
• The Ones that got away. Provided a list of Pokemon that seemed fun to use. Received a team from someone else who picked from that list. Named them after things you forget, such as Password.
• Get-Together 2022. Assigned a class to everyone. Got Barbarian. Named things simply, such as BlueDog the Lucario.
• Monocolor Challenge. Ran a special Rainbow version. Chose gems of that Pokemon's color, such as Citrine for Vespiquen.
• Random challenge. Found something that generated random words. Ended up with names like Blanket and Candle.
• Same Types Are Bad (STAB). Cannot use any same-type attacking moves. Chose blunt weapons (as opposed to stabbing weapons), like Scepter the Slaking.
• No Evolution challenge. Related to things that do not change (sometimes according to other people). Had War the Scyther and Taxes for Staryu.
• Infernal Parade. Revolved around scary things. Settled on the root words for phobias. Mentions Pyro the Wormadam (Plant Cloak), who is double-weak to Fire.

Rarely nicknames Pokemon outside of challenges, though.

 

[RadEmpoleon]

The only theme I've ever done is food/drink themed nicknames. Some names I've used are Cilantro (Lotad), Spinach (Treecko), Popcorn (Mareep), Boba Tea (Azurill), and Taco Sauce (Pidgey).

 

[DimasFavorite]

I had a Fire Emblem: Three Houses themed team in my old Brilliant Diamond file before I lost my copy.

I had:

Dimitri (Empoleon)
Felix (Luxray)
Petra (Staraptor)
Dorothea (Roserade)
Annette (Chimecho)
Ferdinand (Rapidash)

 

[FeraligatrMaster]

I'm currently doing themed runs in Pokemon Quetzal. My theme: only Pokemon with a certain letter in their name.

Letters I've finished so far:
A: Aerodactyl, Ampharos, Azumarill, Appletun, Armarouge, and Annihilape
B: Barbaracle, Brambleghast, Crobat, Absol, Zebstrika, and Diggersby
C: Charizard, Clefable, Cacturne, Clawitzer, Copperajah, and Cyclizar
D: Ditto, Drifblim, Darmanitan, Durant, Dachsbun, and Dondozo
E: Espeon, Electivire, Emboar, Eldegoss, Cloyster, and Scolipede
F: Ferrothorn, Florges, Falinks, Farigiraf, Talonflame, and Palafin
G: Gyarados, Gothitelle, Golurk, Gumshoos, Glimmora, and Hisuian Goodra
H: Heracross, Houndoom, Hippowdon, Heliolisk, Hatterene, and Sinistcha
I: Indeedee, Hariyama, Manectric, Wishiwashi, Centiskorch, and Kingambit
J: Jynx, Jolteon, Jumpluff, Shedinja, Greninja, and Stonjourner
K: Kingler, Kricketune, Klawf, Arbok, Mimikyu, and Morpeko
L: Lapras, Lunatone, Lucario, Lickilicky, Lilligant, and Lokix

 

[icycatelf]

Used an OOT-themed team for an Emerald playthrough once.

Link: Nuzleaf
Navi: Shedinja (Illumise probably would've been a better fit)
Zelda: Gardevoir
Swampert: Ruto
Jabu-Jabu: Lanturn (was thinking more in line of WW's Jabun's for this one)
Ganon: Grumpig

Would've had better options, like Gallade and Emboar, had I been playing a later gen.

 

[Sheep]

Haven't done it yet, but I'm eager to use a food and drink-based team! Things like the Vanillite line, Appletun, Alcremie, Sinistea and a few more I still have to decide on. It's going to be so fun and the types are actually pretty varied. \o/

Gym Leader squad: too long to list, but for every gym leader and major NPC in the games I have a Pokemon with their name (like a Starmie named Misty and a Rhydon named Giovanni)

Simple, but I like this. I think I did something similar with an anime before but it was in the HGSS days and I can't remember 100%.

 

[ReKoil]

I've had only a couple.
-I did an Ice types only team in Scarlet (Weavile, Froslass, Alolan Sandslash, Froslass, Baxcalibur & Frosmoth).
-I also did a Normal types only team in AS (Swellow, Zangoose, Delcatty, Protean Kecleon, Wigglytuff & Exploud).
-I also started a Poison types only team in FR (currently Venusaur, Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Golbat & Gengar), but that's on hold for a SR shiny hunt. And SR shiny hunting is kinda soul sucking so it's progressing very very slowly atm lol (kinda on pause atm tbh).

Aside from those I did a single stages only team in Sun too (Oricorio (Pom Pom iirc), Spinda, Passimian, Bruxish, Klefki & Turtonator).

 

[RMVNZ]

I love strutting through opposing teams with Team: Project Runway, aka Quaquaval, Tsareena, Gardevoir, Lopunny, Milotic, and Tinkaton~ 💁‍♂️

 

[mega-1.solo122]

I love to make Pokemon teams for my favourite characters assigning in Pokemon games gen 1-5, here is one of them
Melvin Sneedly(Pokemon Yellow Version):
1. Pikachu (matches the mouse he used for the PATSY 2000)
2. Pidgeot (To help him travel over the Kanto region)
3. Arcanine(matches when he mentions he used a poodle for the PATSY 2000)
4. Gengar (matches his Sinister Personality)
5. Rhydon (Matches his Bionic Booger Boy alter who's strength and size)
6. Tentacruel (Matches his invention, The gigantic, glow-in-the-dark Robo-Squid suit)

 

[Elite Overlord LeSabre™]

I've only done themed nicknames for Pokemon, not basing the Pokemon themselves around a common theme.

Leaf Green, Platinum, and Y: Boring, generic IRL names.
One of the 5th gen games (can't remember if it was White or White 2): Hotel chains.
Shining Pearl: Female Pokemon were named after Love Live idols. Male Pokemon were named after cars.

 

[Auticorn]

I love using themes to nickname my Pokemon. My most common theme is naming them after my friends. I don't know why. There are a few Pokemon I name depending on the way their actual names sound or just basically random names too. Like, ever since I was really young... I have always named my Pidgey "Digit". I have also been known to use names that are Final Fantasy themed such as "Firaga" for a female fire type. I could go forever discussing this... so I'll leave it there. :3

In terms of actual teams, I usually go with the four basic elements: Flying, Electric, Water, Fire... than anything else I need will come more into play. It can also depend on what Pokemon I feel will help balance my team as well. For example, a fire/flying, electric/dark etc. It allows me to also focus on ones I like best with the basic four Pokemon elements (as I call them).

 

[PageEmp]

Just an observation, but when I saw the title, I thought the topic was about themes regarding the actual Pokemon, such as Pokemon based on the same animal or concept, or similar animals or concepts and having to use only thoses kinds of Pokemon on one team.

I think the title should mention that by themes they mean naming schemes in Pokemon nicknames.

The most common nickname scheme I do, which is what I use if I don't feel like anything else, is basically random things that come to my mind and I mean it could be anything. But I have done more actual naming schemes before. My latest nuzlocke had a naming scheme based off jobs and occupations.