What is a lead to you?

I usually pick the Pokémon I'm leading with based on the enemy team and try to predict their lead. If I manage to do this correctly, it'll give me more freedom to do things, such as set up hazards, deal some damage, spread status, or even in some cases, start to sweep. Sure this can backfire if I didn't predict correctly.

For dedicated leads, I don't see good enough reasons to run them due to team preview, since opponent has easier time handling your lead, since they don't have think what Pokémon their opponents teams will have and what will be their lead during the teambuilding phase, since they can just prepare for multiple ones, and pick the appropriate Pokémon to handle the lead. This is also the reason why Suicide Leads aren't as popular as they were in Gen IV.

If you really want to have a dedicated lead, it should be a Pokémon that hard to stop for your opponent, due to either there being so many viable sets on the Pokémon or is simply able to do it's job reliably in the worst case match up. Other important thing to keep in mind is that it should be able to perform it's intended job even when it's not leading.

 

I mean it depends really, based on the situation. I could lead with something to get hazards up if I see that nothing on the opponent's team can take it out. I can lead with my Mega to Mega Evolve as soon as possible or I can lead with a fast pivot to start gaining momentum. And other times I predict what Mon the opponent's gonna send out and send out an anti lead.

And then there are times that I can't really choose a good lead. If I really know what the opponent's lead is going to be and there are multiple options for leads but each lead will send the battle a different way and I just have to think which one is best for me.

 

It really is dependent on team matchup. If you have a Pokémon that destroys your opponents team and has no switch ins, I will often lead with that. If matchup is more balanced, I'll lead with a pivot or try to get up hazards early. If they have a dedicated lead I might choose to counter that lead. Honestly I rarely use dedicated leads as I find them to be a bit predictable.

 

When choosing a Pokémon to lead I usually go for the entry-hazards or pivot route. But, I usually just end up choosing whatever Pokémon has the best overall matchup to my opponent's team though I put priority on considering the hazard or pivot 'mons.