SPL: A Team-by-Team Recap

[Braverius]

Figured I'd dump all the teams I used here since I've been asked for some of the teams by a few people.

Ended up using 31 different Pokemon over the course of the season, not too bad considering I didn't plan on using more than 3-4 different teams when it began.

Hide

Who made my teams?
Week 1: kingofmars
Week 2: Me
Week 3: Biosci
Week 4: kingofmars
Week 5: Me
Week 6: Me
Week 7: Me
Week 8: Crow350 + Me (modified his old VGC team)
Week 9: Biosci
Also thanks to Mizuhime , Laga , and Pwnemon for helping test during the season.



Week 1 vs R Inanimate

Hide

Lucario @ Lucarionite
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Close Combat
- Swords Dance
- Protect

Rotom-W (Rotom-Wash) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 72 Def / 164 SDef / 20 Spd
Calm Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Protect

Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Protect

Landorus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
- Knock Off

Tyranitar @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Rock Slide
- Crunch
- Dragon Dance
- Protect

Togekiss @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SDef
Calm Nature
- Air Slash
- Follow Me
- Tailwind
- Roost

Week 2 vs kingofmars

Hide

Metagross @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Clear Body
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Rock Slide
- Meteor Mash
- Zen Headbutt
- Ice Punch

Talonflame @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Fly

Sableye @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SDef
Impish Nature
- Rain Dance
- Will-O-Wisp
- Feint
- Taunt

Ludicolo @ Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Scald

Togekiss (M) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 84 SDef / 4 SAtk / 20 Spd
Bold Nature
- Air Slash
- Follow Me
- Helping Hand
- Roost

Kangaskhan (F) @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Return
- Power-Up Punch
- Sucker Punch

Week 3 vs TheFourthChaser

Hide

TwoFistedChild (Kangaskhan) (F) @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Return
- Sucker Punch
- Power-Up Punch

TheFlagCapture (Thundurus) (M) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 16 HP / 240 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Thunderbolt
- Substitute
- Nasty Plot
- Hidden Power [Ice]

TryFreeCorn (Landorus-Therian) (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 156 HP / 4 Atk / 4 Def / 156 SDef / 188 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Explosion

TwoFatCats (Keldeo) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Icy Wind
- Hidden Power [Grass]

'TuckyFriedChikn (Chandelure) @ Spooky Plate
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 20 HP / 12 Def / 224 SAtk / 236 Spd
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Heat Wave
- Shadow Ball
- Substitute
- Protect

TankForCash (Togekiss) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 212 HP / 100 Def / 4 SAtk / 148 SDef / 44 Spd
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Air Slash
- Helping Hand
- Roost
- Follow Me

Week 4 vs Joim

Hide

Lucario @ Lucarionite
Ability: Inner Focus
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Close Combat
- Swords Dance
- Protect

Rotom-W (Rotom-Wash) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 72 Def / 164 SDef / 20 Spd
Calm Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Protect

Latios (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Protect

Landorus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
- Knock Off

Tyranitar @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Rock Slide
- Crunch
- Dragon Dance
- Protect

Togekiss @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SDef
Calm Nature
- Air Slash
- Follow Me
- Tailwind
- Roost

Week 5 vs Nollan

Hide

Landorus-T (Landorus-Therian) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- U-turn
- Knock Off

Suicune @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Spd / 40 Def / 68 SDef / 104 SAtk
Bold Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SAtk / 30 Spd
- Toxic
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Protect

Togekiss @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 100 SDef / 140 Def / 16 Spd
Calm Nature
- Air Slash
- Follow Me
- Roost
- Tailwind

Bisharp @ Focus Sash
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Protect

Cresselia (F) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Trick

Kangaskhan (F) @ Kangaskhanite
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Return
- Fake Out
- Sucker Punch
- Power-Up Punch

Week 6 vs Biosci

Hide

Upstate NY (Abomasnow) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Blizzard
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fighting]
- Protect

Cats in your House (Heatran) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 32 Def / 224 Spd
Modest Nature
- Substitute
- Heat Wave
- Will-O-Wisp
- Protect

Hex Shiny Gastly (Landorus-Therian) (M) @ Choice Scarf (Pocket EDIT: actually Focus Sash set)
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 Spd / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
- Knock Off

is Biosci Tier (Gastrodon) (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 88 SAtk / 252 HP / 168 Def
Bold Nature
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Recover
- Toxic

Bioscizor (Scizor) @ Scizorite
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 HP / 32 Def / 224 Atk
Adamant Nature
- Bullet Punch
- Bug Bite
- Swords Dance
- Protect

Swagger Crobat (Latios) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 Def
Timid Nature
IVs: 26 HP
- Psyshock
- Substitute
- Dragon Pulse
- Roost

Week 7 vs kingofmars

Hide

Ferrothorn @ Leftovers
Ability: Iron Barbs
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SDef
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Gyro Ball
- Power Whip
- Protect
- Leech Seed

Landorus-Therian @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 48 HP / 240 Atk / 220 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- U-turn
- Knock Off

Rotom-Wash @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 92 Def / 140 SDef / 24 Spd
Careful Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Protect
- Will-O-Wisp

Bisharp (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SAtk / 30 Spd
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Protect

Charizard-Mega-X @ Charizardite X
Ability: Tough Claws
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 16 Def / 12 SDef / 204 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Roost

Togekiss @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Serene Grace
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 60 Def / 196 Spd
Bold Nature
- Tailwind
- Air Slash
- Follow Me
- Roost

Week 8 vs Joim

Hide

Joim's Pet Bird (Talonflame) @ Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 HP / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Taunt

Joim's Problems (Cresselia) @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 76 SAtk / 252 HP / 180 Def
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Psyshock
- Ice Beam
- Trick Room
- Helping Hand

Joim's Washer (Rotom-Wash) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 20 SAtk / 24 Spd / 252 HP / 72 Def / 140 SDef
Calm Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Will-O-Wisp
- Thunderbolt
- Protect

Bug Knight Can (Escavalier) @ Life Orb
Ability: Swarm
EVs: 252 Atk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Iron Head
- Drill Run
- Megahorn
- Protect

Joim's Flying Cat (Landorus-Therian) (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Lonely Nature
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
- U-turn
- Superpower

BetterKillCharizard (Venusaur) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 HP / 76 SAtk / 180 Spd
Modest Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Leech Seed
- Protect

Week 9 vs Chase

Hide

August (Gourgeist-Super) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Frisk
EVs: 252 HP / 84 Def / 172 SDef
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Will-O-Wisp
- Trick Room
- Sunny Day
- Seed Bomb

SWEEPAGE (Heatran) @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 196 HP / 60 Def / 252 SAtk
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spd
- Eruption
- Fire Blast
- Earth Power
- Protect

DICE (Amoonguss) (M) @ Coba Berry
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 214 HP / 108 Def / 188 SDef
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spd
- Spore
- Rage Powder
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb

PDC (Charizard) (F) @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Solar Power
EVs: 76 HP / 116 Def / 216 SAtk / 100 Spd
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Heat Wave
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Protect

Kev Kev the Killer (Terrakion) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 182 HP / 196 Atk / 132 Def
Adamant Nature
- Close Combat
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Sacred Sword

Fitzy (Weavile) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Pickpocket
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Beat Up
- Icicle Crash
- Ice Shard

 

[Pocket]

Thanks for sharing your teams, Zach! I have to admit, though, some of them look... wacky. Specifically your Weeks 2 (vs kom), Week 5 (vs Nollan), and Week 6 (vs Biosci). Mind if I ask for reasons behind some of your choices?

Week 2

• I am guessing Scarf Metagross is for surprise KOs (particularly on Charizard Y)?
• Fly on Talonflame @.@

Week 3

• Scarf Landorus-T is one of the more prevalent sets that players choose, and you've used it in vast majority of your games. Why did you decide to go CB for this particular team?

Week 5

• When I saw this team in team preview, I thought Suicune was the one Pokemon that can be easily exploited. Is there a reason why you ended up using Suicune over something more conventional like Rotom-W or Keldeo? You didn't even opt to use Tailwind or Snarl, which I expected it to be one of Suicune's distinguishing moves over other Water-types.
• Choice Specs Cresselia is a thing?! Why exactly did you choose this set over something more conventional (like the EB or Calm Mind variant)?

Week 6

• Another wacky Scarfer in Scarf Abomasnow @.@. Why did you choose Abomasnow as your scarfer above all things? Especially when you already have a scarfer in Landorus-T :0
• Doesn't Heatran want the Earth Power > Will-O-Wisp, especially considering Biosci is known for unleashing his GourgTran??
• Weren't you one of the handful of people who despised Gastrodon? Why did you decide to use it? Seems like Gourgeist bait to me?
• No Protect on Latios is pretty bold IMO, but you've also opted Roost > Protect on Charizard X. Do you think those recovery moves are underrated and should be used more? Are these moves worth the lack of priority protection?

Choice Sets O.o

• This is a general observation, but I see that you like including choice users in your team, sometimes multiple
  • (vs Biosci you used double scarf; vs TFC Specs Keldeo and Band Landorus-T; and vs kom you used Scarf Gross, Band Flame, and Specs Ludicolo x0).
• What exactly are your thoughts on choice sets in Doubles? Isn't being locked into a move particularly risky in this format?
• Are they substitutes for the lack of Gems in XY, or would you have used these choice sets in BW2 Dubs as well?
• Do you feel the move Protect as a whole is a "crutch" or an overrated move in Doubles?

PS: Congrats to your excellent SPL performance

 

[Braverius]

Week 2

• I am guessing Scarf Metagross is for surprise KOs (particularly on Charizard Y)?
• Fly on Talonflame @.@

-Scarf Metagross was specifically for outspeeding and KOing Char-Y regardless of what Gavin did.

-PRETTY FLY FOR A WHITE GUY (actually, it's a nifty lock move, forces late game protects and whatnot. I have nearly run FlyBand Thundurus at regionals twice now. The only three other viable moves are Taunt, Giga Impact, and Flail...and really, the last two are only for Rotom-W and the latter is super situational)

Week 3

• Scarf Landorus-T is one of the more prevalent sets that players choose, and you've used it in vast majority of your games. Why did you decide to go CB for this particular team?

-Idk, ask Biosci, that wasn't my team! I was sitting in Florida in a hotel room with limited wifi access and needed a team on the fly since I never made one for that week and Bio saved the day. I didn't give a single shit about SPL at that point in time so that probably explains the whole situation.

Week 5

• When I saw this team in team preview, I thought Suicune was the one Pokemon that can be easily exploited. Is there a reason why you ended up using Suicune over something more conventional like Rotom-W or Keldeo? You didn't even opt to use Tailwind or Snarl, which I expected it to be one of Suicune's distinguishing moves over other Water-types.
• Choice Specs Cresselia is a thing?! Why exactly did you choose this set over something more conventional (like the EB or Calm Mind variant)?

-Suicune is not as exploitable as it seems. The more exploitable sets are the ones that are super unswitchable taunt bait. This one was able to throw up a Toxic on less offensive Pokemon like Rotom-W, switch around, force other switches, and keep pressure on the opponent. It also had enough EVs in SpAtk to take out Landorus-T with Ice Beam. I also ran this Suicune at regionals in fall and ended up top cutting with it.

-I also ran that Choice Specs Cress at that regionals on the same team as Suicune. EB is a really nifty item, as is Sitrus, and I enjoy both variants and have used both of them in VGC events, but I found Specs to be the most useful here. I loved getting surprise KOs on Conkeldurr and Scizor, and having the ability to Trick dumb things like Dusclops and CM Cresselia was great. Ask Darkmalice about how much CM Cress likes having a Choice item!

Week 6

• Another wacky Scarfer in Scarf Abomasnow @.@. Why did you choose Abomasnow as your scarfer above all things? Especially when you already have a scarfer in Landorus-T :0
• Doesn't Heatran want the Earth Power > Will-O-Wisp, especially considering Biosci is known for unleashing his GourgTran??
• Weren't you one of the handful of people who despised Gastrodon? Why did you decide to use it? Seems like Gourgeist bait to me?
• No Protect on Latios is pretty bold IMO, but you've also opted Roost > Protect on Charizard X. Do you think those recovery moves are underrated and should be used more? Are these moves worth the lack of priority protection?

-Scarf Abomasnow was something I had been gushing over all season as there's so many things that are vulnerable to a scarf Blizzard. The main reason I used it was to outspeed Biosci's typical Sub Landorus-T and snipe a KO. Also because a lot of the teams he runs that aren't Weavile + Terrakion have serious Ice weaknesses.

-Not really, I didn't honestly expect him to bring Gourgeist + Heatran after I had been hinting that I'd be ready for that obviously. I had two very good checks to Heatran with Landorus-T + Gastrodon, so I didn't really think Earth Power would be necessary. If I got his Heatran out of the way, WoW + Sub was excellent.

-Idk man, sometimes we all get infected with a case of the stupid. I didn't know Bio ran Seed Bomb Geist either since I've never seen a good player use that in my life before. I was using Gastrodon mainly as a Bisharp counter here, since I had big Bisharp problems and banked on him bringing it. Joim knows that feel, too.

-I don't really have any thoughts on objectively using recovery moves and Protect. It depends on the situation and the team. I don't think most teams could run sets like I did (and arguably I might have gotten away with that with Char-X because of the matchup) but I found no reason to run Protect on that Char-X, especially in a Bo1 setting.

Choice Sets O.o

• This is a general observation, but I see that you like including choice users in your team, sometimes multiple
  • (vs Biosci you used double scarf; vs TFC Specs Keldeo and Band Landorus-T; and vs kom you used Scarf Gross, Band Flame, and Specs Ludicolo x0).
• What exactly are your thoughts on choice sets in Doubles? Isn't being locked into a move particularly risky in this format?
• Are they substitutes for the lack of Gems in XY, or would you have used these choice sets in BW2 Dubs as well?
• Do you feel the move Protect as a whole is a "crutch" or an overrated move in Doubles?

These questions are all really objectively directed on a subjective topic, but I'll answer them the best I can.

-This is why I quit playing Doubles for a long time. I'm not a big fan of having no item clause, and as Randy showed, you can top the ladder pretty easily with six Scarf Pokemon. I'm going to use it to my advantage, but I do think it makes the game much more centered around matchups. It's ridiculous how many unexplored avenues there are with multiple Choice items, as you can force locks on a lot of things before the battle even starts. I think it, again, depends on the team, but usually having a few locks to common threats is great, and Choice items can do that with the large boost to Speed or damage.

-No, that's the thing I actually find interesting about Doubles; you have more things to switch into than in VGC, giving you a better chance of a good turn, especially early in the game. There's less risk of getting sniped on a switch since if you have a well-built team, you're likely to have one or two very safe switches.

-I would have definitely kept Scarves wherever they were. The other Pokemon with Specs or Band I likely would have put a Gem on, but it really depends. I don't want to go through every single team and try to explain.

-No, Protect is a great move, probably the best move in Doubles. There were just some situations where I realized another move would be more beneficial for me.

 

[Biosci]

That team had Choice Band Landorus-T because I made that team to use that specific bulky CB Lando-T set that I wanted to try since worlds 2013. Scarf sux

Zach didn't use double Scarf vs me, his Landorus-T had Sash. Would've been much easier for me if it was Scarf >.>

 

[Mizuhime]

Zach lost to biosci because of me lmao

 

[Darkmalice]

-I also ran that Choice Specs Cress at that regionals on the same team as Suicune. EB is a really nifty item, as is Sitrus, and I enjoy both variants and have used both of them in VGC events, but I found Specs to be the most useful here. I loved getting surprise KOs on Conkeldurr and Scizor, and having the ability to Trick dumb things like Dusclops and CM Cresselia was great. Ask@Darkmalice about how much CM Cress likes having a Choice item!

Trick is really underrated in Doubles. It can screw over so many Pokemon - pretty much any support Pokemon, with Cress being a notable example (Zach, I pretty much leaped at the opportunity to Trick Cress when you switched it in). Even offensive Pokemon can be messed over like Heatran, who really appreciates the ability to use all of its attacks as it is otherwise easily played around. Especially if you Trick them as they set up Sub, CM etc.

Unexpected Tricks work the best, as they make it much easier to Trick your designated target. I like that Specs Cress set. It can work really well and that's one of the big reasons why, in addition to nabbing many surprise KOs. It can screw over more Pokemon than the Expert Belt set provided it's used with good prediction, which Zach no doubt has.

 

[Pocket]

Thanks, Zach - I really appreciate you taking the time in answering my questions ^_^

-Suicune is not as exploitable as it seems. The more exploitable sets are the ones that are super unswitchable taunt bait. This one was able to throw up a Toxic on less offensive Pokemon like Rotom-W, switch around, force other switches, and keep pressure on the opponent. It also had enough EVs in SpAtk to take out Landorus-T with Ice Beam. I also ran this Suicune at regionals in fall and ended up top cutting with it.

What exactly do you mean by "super unswitchable taunt bait." ??? I still don't see how Suicune is a better pick over other special Water-types if you're not using Snarl/Tail Wind. In addition to Scald and Ice Beam, Manaphy can use Tail Glow or Energy Ball to beat down Rotom-W (It has great 100/100/100 defenses and 100/100 offense/Speed, too). Rotom-W and Keldeo can both OHKO Landorus-T with Hydro Pump and dish respectable damage to Rotom-W with their secondary STAB (Rotom-W even have more crippling status of Will-O-Wisp / Thunder Wave and/or can pressure the opponent with Volt Switch / Electro Web). Are you saying that Suicune was the better pick above all these other bulky Water tanks? I personally feel Keldeo would have complemented nicely with your Specs Cresselia (which can eliminate Amoonguss) and Bisharp (eliminates Lati@s), thanks to its Fighting-typing.

It's ridiculous how many unexplored avenues there are with multiple Choice items, as you can force locks on a lot of things before the battle even starts. I think it, again, depends on the team, but usually having a few locks to common threats is great, and Choice items can do that with the large boost to Speed or damage.

Can you elaborate more on forcing "locks to common threats?" Do you mean having that 50% power boost to snipe/O-2HKO common threats? I guess Doubles 6 vs 6 format allows for more breathing room in utilizing Choice users, but being locked into a wrong move is still a heavy momentum killer - spamming Choice sets should probably left for the pros alone, y/n? A well-placed Trick is certainly a nice way to cripple the opposition, though ;d

 

[Braverius]

What exactly do you mean by "super unswitchable taunt bait." ??? I still don't see how Suicune is a better pick over other special Water-types if you're not using Snarl/Tail Wind. In addition to Scald and Ice Beam, Manaphy can use Tail Glow or Energy Ball to beat down Rotom-W (It has great 100/100/100 defenses and 100/100 offense/Speed, too). Rotom-W and Keldeo can both OHKO Landorus-T with Hydro Pump and dish respectable damage to Rotom-W with their secondary STAB (Rotom-W even have more crippling status of Will-O-Wisp / Thunder Wave and/or can pressure the opponent with Volt Switch / Electro Web). Are you saying that Suicune was the better pick above all these other bulky Water tanks? I personally feel Keldeo would have complemented nicely with your Specs Cresselia (which can eliminate Amoonguss) and Bisharp (eliminates Lati@s), thanks to its Fighting-typing.

Oh, I thought you were only talking about the type of Suicune I ran, not Suicune itself. Just to cover that, there's the CM Cune that is really, really hard to get rolling with in Doubles simply because almost every team has a few natural checks for it. The argument might be "well it's good late game" but I think usually by the time you have its checks out of the way, you'd have won the game anyways with a normal set. You also can't switch it out, so it leaves you very inflexible. Snarl is pretty bad considering the opponent can switch out and you can't do much about it as it doesn't outspeed anything or have the power to OHKO much of anything, and Tailwind is sort of a wasted moveslot on a Pokemon that often gets double targeted. Having Snarl + Tailwind + Protect leaves me with only 1 slot in which I pretty much need both a water and ice type move. Also, Tailwind only lasts for three turns, and those three turns are usually not enough to swing a battle (see: week 9).

Suicune has a lot more bulk than Rotom-W and its moves hit 100% of the time. I know Hydro Pump is great and all (I ran it on Suicune at one point), but I do like the burn chance with Scald considering Suicune usually can take 3-4 hits before it goes down. Keldeo would have been alright, but it didn't have the bulk I wanted, nor the ability to mess with Rotom-W, Latios, and Mawile (Suicune could throw a Toxic at Rotom-W and switch out, either forcing it out or making it take damage if it were to stay in.)

Can you elaborate more on forcing "locks to common threats?" Do you mean having that 50% power boost to snipe/O-2HKO common threats? I guess Doubles 6 vs 6 format allows for more breathing room in utilizing Choice users, but being locked into a wrong move is still a heavy momentum killer - spamming Choice sets should probably left for the pros alone, y/n? A well-placed Trick is certainly a nice way to cripple the opposition, though ;d

I think I mostly meant Scarf Pokemon here. You can outspeed and OHKO pretty much whatever you want with certain scarf Pokemon. I've always believed that instantaneous speed control (gaining speed advantage by switching or leading well) is the only reliable form of speed control.