I want to know what makes you decide between a Pidgeot or a Fearow? Between a Lapras or a Starmie?

Do you go and look for Pokemon with superior stats? Pokemon with large and varied movepools?

Do you happen to make sure you always have a balance of types on your team? Do you only choose your favorites?

Or maybe you build your entire team around sweeping the Elite Four?

Personally, I do a healthy mix of type balance and E4 predicting. Even if my team struggles with Gym's I build my teams usually with the Elite 4 in mind.

Image upload: 450x333 totaling 35 KB's.

I think I always try to make a team that can easily counter the E4. Many times the Pokémon I raise for the E4 are useful against gym leaders anyway, so I do not need to waste time raising more Pokémon than I need to.

I also try to balance my team - I never have 2 of the same type on my team. There are some necessities that I need, like always having a fire type. As for water types, I try to see which has the better move pool, and which can compliment the moves that I may teach it (Surf, Ice Beam, etc.) I do not use grass types much, as I find them interchangeable with Electric types quite often. As for dragon type Pokémon, I would like to always try and go for Dragonite (such a wide move pool can help me with Pokémon types that I do not have in my party and there do not need to waste a slot in my party to raise that certain type). 

As for starters, many times I choose the fire type (except I always choose Mudkip for emerald). Fire types are very few in number during the game, and when there are fire types, they are usually weak and cannot compare to the starter. 

If there is a chance where I can get a legendary before the E4, sometimes I may keep it in my party if I have an extra slot just in case my team faints, which really doesn't happen. (For Emerald, I had Rayquaza for emergencies, but the E4 was way easier than I thought - I only had to use 3 Pokémon, Gardevoir, Swampert, and Slaking). 

If I ever do a repeat of the game, I try to mix things up and have different parties...I go with a Jolteon in FireRed, I go with Raichu the next time I run through FireRed. 

I mostly only use favorites.

ignavusd : I usually pick a Pokemon that I just love that happens to be a shiny, four Pokemon with great stats, and one HM slave that's dreadfully common, and nobody likes. And in my PC, I just hold all 151 Pokemon hostage.

I usually use mostly strong Pokémon. Might throw a Pikachu or Raichu into the mix once in a while, but for the Battle Frontier for instance, I still use some Pokémon I like, but stronger ones like Charizard, Swampert, and Salamence. If a Pokémon is ugly, I usually won't pick that either.

Thats interesting. I typically build entire new teams for the Battle Frontier. I breed and EV train, all of that. Find good egg moves. It's always fun

I actually choose my starting Pokémon as I please. Honestly I like to experiment with teams when I'm battling the Elite 4 or pretty much any gym leader.

I go for a type mix plus (not too bad) stats. Type disadvantages? Too bad. I'm not having two or more of one type on a team. And I really want at least bearable stats. Come on, everyone should have at least these standards. 

I usually go with double types and I like to never really have the same type twice in my entire party, it's mainly about being prepared I also like to have a team balance of power speed and defense too usually 2 of each unless if the Pokemon is Legendary than it really doesn't matter.

i dont choose my team on how strong they are. i choose them because i care. i choose them because i know i can trust them. So gimme a thumbs up for level 70 pichu. xD i kept my pichu to prove to those pros out there that small pokemon can be better.