Hi everyone - I've been out of Pokemon for a while now, but it's slowly coming back to me. Double battles were once a specialty of mine and I would really appreciate some advice on my retro doubles team for a local tourney.
The Leading Duo...
Two of my favorite Pokemon of all time happen to be fantastic leads for the doubles metagame.
Kangaskhan@Chople Berry
Ability: Scrappy
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 38 HP | 252 Atk | 220 Spe
-Fake Out
-Return
-Sucker Punch
-Helping Hand
Alakazam@Focus Sash
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Timid
EVs: 6 HP | 252 Sp Atk | 252 Spe
-Psychic
-Shadow Ball
-Energy Ball
-Taunt/Encore
Kangaskhan has a fantastic ability in Scrappy, which lets her smack ghost Pokemon with Fake Out before they can set up Trick Room. The only Pokemon who are unaffected by Kanga's Fake Out are Inner Focus Pokemon and faster Fake Out users. The EV distribution is to ensure that Kanga can outspeed max speed, adamant Toxicroak, who can give these two trouble otherwise. Return is a great STAB attack and Sucker Punch works well for priority. Helping Hand is not only a great support move, but it also has +5 priority, which allows Kanga to help Alakazam if she would otherwise be immobilized by a faster Fake Out user on the first turn. Lum Berry is an alternative to Chople.
Alakazam comes prepared with his Inner Focus ability, shielding him from Fake Out users and ensuring that he will be able to attack on the first turn (thanks to the Focus Sash). I realize that Magic Guard is a much more desirable ability for standard play, but as a lead, I find Inner Focus to be invaluable. Psychic is a strong STAB move and Shadow Ball hits ghosts and other psychics hard. Energy Ball is mostly there for Politoed, especially combined with Kanga's Helping Hand, but I'm open to suggestions here. Taunt is a given for any doubles team and it's always a useful move for a lead Pokemon.
The Backup...
Here to clean up, nice and tidy.
Nidoking@Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
Nature: Modest
EVs: 6 HP | 252 Sp Atk | 252 Spe
-Earth Power
-Ice Beam
-Flamethrower
-Protect/Thunderbolt
Machamp@Choice Scarf
Ability: No Guard
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 12 HP | 252 Atk | 244 Spe
-Dynamic Punch
-Thunder Punch
-Rock Slide
-Ice Punch/Bullet Punch
Nidoking is an absolute monster with Sheer Force and Life Orb. His speed is not optimal, but his semi-bulkiness and unique typing helps him switch in for Kangaskhan. Earth Power is STAB, Ice Beam hits dragons, Flamethrower is for Scizor + Ferrothorn, and the last spot is mostly filler. Any thoughts here?
Machamp is another one of my favorite Pokemon and he works really well with this team by switching in for Alakazam when Pursuit isn't a threat. I roll with Jolly Scarfed Machamp so that he can outspeed base 105 positive nature Pokemon. This allows him to revenge kill with powerful punches, irritate opponents with Rock Slide, or do both at the same time with Dynamic Punch (his main attack 90% of the time).
I haven't seen any specific documentation on doubles metagame threats, but if I'm overlooking the list, please let me know and I'll gladly add it to this post.
Thanks in advance for any constructive feedback on the team!
The Leading Duo...
Two of my favorite Pokemon of all time happen to be fantastic leads for the doubles metagame.
Kangaskhan@Chople Berry
Ability: Scrappy
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 38 HP | 252 Atk | 220 Spe
-Fake Out
-Return
-Sucker Punch
-Helping Hand
Alakazam@Focus Sash
Ability: Inner Focus
Nature: Timid
EVs: 6 HP | 252 Sp Atk | 252 Spe
-Psychic
-Shadow Ball
-Energy Ball
-Taunt/Encore
Kangaskhan has a fantastic ability in Scrappy, which lets her smack ghost Pokemon with Fake Out before they can set up Trick Room. The only Pokemon who are unaffected by Kanga's Fake Out are Inner Focus Pokemon and faster Fake Out users. The EV distribution is to ensure that Kanga can outspeed max speed, adamant Toxicroak, who can give these two trouble otherwise. Return is a great STAB attack and Sucker Punch works well for priority. Helping Hand is not only a great support move, but it also has +5 priority, which allows Kanga to help Alakazam if she would otherwise be immobilized by a faster Fake Out user on the first turn. Lum Berry is an alternative to Chople.
Alakazam comes prepared with his Inner Focus ability, shielding him from Fake Out users and ensuring that he will be able to attack on the first turn (thanks to the Focus Sash). I realize that Magic Guard is a much more desirable ability for standard play, but as a lead, I find Inner Focus to be invaluable. Psychic is a strong STAB move and Shadow Ball hits ghosts and other psychics hard. Energy Ball is mostly there for Politoed, especially combined with Kanga's Helping Hand, but I'm open to suggestions here. Taunt is a given for any doubles team and it's always a useful move for a lead Pokemon.
The Backup...
Here to clean up, nice and tidy.
Nidoking@Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
Nature: Modest
EVs: 6 HP | 252 Sp Atk | 252 Spe
-Earth Power
-Ice Beam
-Flamethrower
-Protect/Thunderbolt
Machamp@Choice Scarf
Ability: No Guard
Nature: Jolly
EVs: 12 HP | 252 Atk | 244 Spe
-Dynamic Punch
-Thunder Punch
-Rock Slide
-Ice Punch/Bullet Punch
Nidoking is an absolute monster with Sheer Force and Life Orb. His speed is not optimal, but his semi-bulkiness and unique typing helps him switch in for Kangaskhan. Earth Power is STAB, Ice Beam hits dragons, Flamethrower is for Scizor + Ferrothorn, and the last spot is mostly filler. Any thoughts here?
Machamp is another one of my favorite Pokemon and he works really well with this team by switching in for Alakazam when Pursuit isn't a threat. I roll with Jolly Scarfed Machamp so that he can outspeed base 105 positive nature Pokemon. This allows him to revenge kill with powerful punches, irritate opponents with Rock Slide, or do both at the same time with Dynamic Punch (his main attack 90% of the time).
I haven't seen any specific documentation on doubles metagame threats, but if I'm overlooking the list, please let me know and I'll gladly add it to this post.
Thanks in advance for any constructive feedback on the team!
