The back three of this team has been tweaked over the last few months but the core strategy has remained the same. With the recent addition of Kommo-o, the team has surged up the leaderboards and now sits in the top 25 for Doubles OU. Looking for suggestions on potential small edits that might allow for a push into the Top 10.
Tapu Koko @ Choice Specs
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- U-turn
- Volt Switch
- Dazzling Gleam
- Discharge
Koko's primary role is to set an electric terrain to activate Surge Surfer for Raichu and then volt-turn out into a better option. Max speed investment and Timid nature to ensure he outspeeds at least one of the opponents Pokemon. Raichu will always Fake Out the primary threat, particularly Lando-T and Zygarde. Specs ensure maximum damage output as he will be volt switching in most scenarios. Dazzling Gleam checks many of the OU threats like Salamence, Zygarde, and Kommo-o. HP Fire was run in the past for checks on Ferrothorn and Scizor but being locked into a low power move was less than ideal. Volt-Turn allows solid damage output and switching into other good checks to handle these threats. Discharge is instead used for end game clean up and other situational uses as my team has methods to avoid or minimize damage from this.
Raichu-Alola @ Focus Sash
Ability: Surge Surfer
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Mild Nature
- Fake Out
- Thunderbolt/Grass Knot
- Volt Switch
- Psychic/Psyshock
In most games, Raichu and Koko are the team leads. As such, there is a problematic weakness to ground. Raichu's primary goal on turn 1 is to Fake Out the largest potential threat to these two so that Koko can safely volt-turn. With the focus sash and Fake Out, A-Raichu is almost guaranteed to survive turn one as nothing will outspeed it with Surge Surfer. His primary goal on turn 2 is to safely volt switch out into either Celesteela or Lando-T to avoid any potential ground attacks that may be directed at him. Since it already holds a Focus Sash and its defense stat is abysmally low, there is no reason to even have a neutral investment in defense. Mild nature ensures Fake Out does a few percent extra in damage. Psychic is typically used for extra damage output. Thunderbolt is typically used as a high powered option that allows A-Raichu to stay on the field although Grass Knot can be used for situational Pokemon like Mega Swampert which it will OHKO.
Incineroar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Atk / 20 Def / 116 SpD / 12 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Fake Out
- Knock Off
In most games, Incineroar is switched in once Koko volt-turns. This not only allows for immediate intimate pressure on dangerous physical attackers, namely Lando-T, but ensures the same potential threat that A-Raichu attacked with Fake Out on turn 1 can be struck again by Fake Out on turn 2 if necessary. Incineroar's presence on turn 2 almost always guarantees A-Raichu a volt switch exit. Max HP and high special defense investment ensure great durability and the combination of intimate and Assault Vest usually guarantee at least 1-2 turns of survival. A small speed investment will allow it to outspeed an opponents uninvested Incineroar. Otherwise, Incineroar's primary goal is to attack drop physical attackers, fake out the primary threat, and then u-turn out.
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Explosion
- U-turn
Like Incineroar, he greatly checks other physical Pokemon and has a great synergy with Raichu as he can safely switch in on ground type attacks and particularly opposing Lando-T. Rock Slide offers strong flinch potential while Earthquake and Explosion can be selectively used to inflict massive damage on the opponent. Typically, his goal is to Intimidate and then immediately U-Turn if it is expected that the opponent will have to remove a physical attacker whose power has been halved by Incineroar and Lando-T over the last 2 turns. Scarf with max speed ensures safe pivot or first chance at Rock Slide for maximum flinch potential.
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 100 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Flamethrower
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Heavy Slam
Alongside Incineroar, Celesteela offers some necessary bulk and an important ground type immunity to cover some of the team's frailty and ground weaknesses. Leech seed stall can force anything that doesn't hard counter Celesteela to exit the field and Flamethrower is necessary coverage against opposing Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Scizor. Some increased investment in physical defense to cover physical water and fighting Pokemon. Otherwise a fairly standard set-up with obvious benefits.
Kommo-o @ Kommonium Z
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Clanging Scales
- Flamethrower
- Close Combat
- Protect
The designated sweeper for the team. The primary goal of the intimidating and volt-turning is to find a safe way for him to enter the field and Clanglorious Soul Blaze. As he does not carry poison jab, it is essential that any opposing Tapu be removed from the field, particularly Tapu Lele. Protect allows Koko and Lando-T to use their field damaging moves to clear out any of his remaining threats before using his Z-Move. Flamethrower again offers key coverage for Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Scizor as well as an option to not lower its stats. Soundproof protects against hyper voice users like Mega Gardevoir and Mega Salemence that might otherwise OHKO him. Max speed is necessary to ensure best chance at getting his z-move off.
This team has done exceptionally well so far. With 4 Pokemon that can volt-turn, 2 with Intimidate, and 2 with Fake Out, it is very easy to control the board and safely switch out from or cripple opposing threats.
Trick Room teams can be particularly problematic for this team as Trick Rooms eliminates the synergy the team gets from constantly resetting the field. Even with concentrated effort, bulk TR setters, namely Porygon 2, can still set it up before being KOed.
Zapdos can be a problematic opponent as most carry HP Ice to force out Lando-T and usually can get off a Tailwind before being KOed.
While not crippling, Stealth Rock can be problematic if placed in the early game. Although opposing Lando-T can usually be KOed before using it, Heatran will typically get it off as most are heavily invested in Special Defense.
The team manages exceptionally well against Rain Teams as the Fake Out and Intimidate pressure will typically keep Mega Swampert in check while other water threats are obliterated by Tapu Koko and A-Raichu. It does moderately well against sandstorm teams as Lando-T and Celesteela can typically stall out the weather and prevent opposing set-ups.
If an opponents leads with a flying or water Pokemon against Tapu Koko and A-Raichu and has a ground type in reserve, it is usually advised to double down on the other Pokemon in anticipation of a switch as the opponents will almost always be forced into that move.
Overall this has been my most successful team to date and has cracked the Top 20 of Showdown leaderboards. No team is ever complete and so if there are small edits that should be considered for particular matchups, I am happy to hear them.
Thanks!
Tapu Koko @ Choice Specs
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- U-turn
- Volt Switch
- Dazzling Gleam
- Discharge
Koko's primary role is to set an electric terrain to activate Surge Surfer for Raichu and then volt-turn out into a better option. Max speed investment and Timid nature to ensure he outspeeds at least one of the opponents Pokemon. Raichu will always Fake Out the primary threat, particularly Lando-T and Zygarde. Specs ensure maximum damage output as he will be volt switching in most scenarios. Dazzling Gleam checks many of the OU threats like Salamence, Zygarde, and Kommo-o. HP Fire was run in the past for checks on Ferrothorn and Scizor but being locked into a low power move was less than ideal. Volt-Turn allows solid damage output and switching into other good checks to handle these threats. Discharge is instead used for end game clean up and other situational uses as my team has methods to avoid or minimize damage from this.
Raichu-Alola @ Focus Sash
Ability: Surge Surfer
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Mild Nature
- Fake Out
- Thunderbolt/Grass Knot
- Volt Switch
- Psychic/Psyshock
In most games, Raichu and Koko are the team leads. As such, there is a problematic weakness to ground. Raichu's primary goal on turn 1 is to Fake Out the largest potential threat to these two so that Koko can safely volt-turn. With the focus sash and Fake Out, A-Raichu is almost guaranteed to survive turn one as nothing will outspeed it with Surge Surfer. His primary goal on turn 2 is to safely volt switch out into either Celesteela or Lando-T to avoid any potential ground attacks that may be directed at him. Since it already holds a Focus Sash and its defense stat is abysmally low, there is no reason to even have a neutral investment in defense. Mild nature ensures Fake Out does a few percent extra in damage. Psychic is typically used for extra damage output. Thunderbolt is typically used as a high powered option that allows A-Raichu to stay on the field although Grass Knot can be used for situational Pokemon like Mega Swampert which it will OHKO.
Incineroar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Atk / 20 Def / 116 SpD / 12 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- U-turn
- Fake Out
- Knock Off
In most games, Incineroar is switched in once Koko volt-turns. This not only allows for immediate intimate pressure on dangerous physical attackers, namely Lando-T, but ensures the same potential threat that A-Raichu attacked with Fake Out on turn 1 can be struck again by Fake Out on turn 2 if necessary. Incineroar's presence on turn 2 almost always guarantees A-Raichu a volt switch exit. Max HP and high special defense investment ensure great durability and the combination of intimate and Assault Vest usually guarantee at least 1-2 turns of survival. A small speed investment will allow it to outspeed an opponents uninvested Incineroar. Otherwise, Incineroar's primary goal is to attack drop physical attackers, fake out the primary threat, and then u-turn out.
Landorus-Therian (M) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Explosion
- U-turn
Like Incineroar, he greatly checks other physical Pokemon and has a great synergy with Raichu as he can safely switch in on ground type attacks and particularly opposing Lando-T. Rock Slide offers strong flinch potential while Earthquake and Explosion can be selectively used to inflict massive damage on the opponent. Typically, his goal is to Intimidate and then immediately U-Turn if it is expected that the opponent will have to remove a physical attacker whose power has been halved by Incineroar and Lando-T over the last 2 turns. Scarf with max speed ensures safe pivot or first chance at Rock Slide for maximum flinch potential.
Celesteela @ Leftovers
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 100 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Flamethrower
- Leech Seed
- Protect
- Heavy Slam
Alongside Incineroar, Celesteela offers some necessary bulk and an important ground type immunity to cover some of the team's frailty and ground weaknesses. Leech seed stall can force anything that doesn't hard counter Celesteela to exit the field and Flamethrower is necessary coverage against opposing Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Scizor. Some increased investment in physical defense to cover physical water and fighting Pokemon. Otherwise a fairly standard set-up with obvious benefits.
Kommo-o @ Kommonium Z
Ability: Soundproof
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Clanging Scales
- Flamethrower
- Close Combat
- Protect
The designated sweeper for the team. The primary goal of the intimidating and volt-turning is to find a safe way for him to enter the field and Clanglorious Soul Blaze. As he does not carry poison jab, it is essential that any opposing Tapu be removed from the field, particularly Tapu Lele. Protect allows Koko and Lando-T to use their field damaging moves to clear out any of his remaining threats before using his Z-Move. Flamethrower again offers key coverage for Celesteela, Ferrothorn, and Scizor as well as an option to not lower its stats. Soundproof protects against hyper voice users like Mega Gardevoir and Mega Salemence that might otherwise OHKO him. Max speed is necessary to ensure best chance at getting his z-move off.
This team has done exceptionally well so far. With 4 Pokemon that can volt-turn, 2 with Intimidate, and 2 with Fake Out, it is very easy to control the board and safely switch out from or cripple opposing threats.
Trick Room teams can be particularly problematic for this team as Trick Rooms eliminates the synergy the team gets from constantly resetting the field. Even with concentrated effort, bulk TR setters, namely Porygon 2, can still set it up before being KOed.
Zapdos can be a problematic opponent as most carry HP Ice to force out Lando-T and usually can get off a Tailwind before being KOed.
While not crippling, Stealth Rock can be problematic if placed in the early game. Although opposing Lando-T can usually be KOed before using it, Heatran will typically get it off as most are heavily invested in Special Defense.
The team manages exceptionally well against Rain Teams as the Fake Out and Intimidate pressure will typically keep Mega Swampert in check while other water threats are obliterated by Tapu Koko and A-Raichu. It does moderately well against sandstorm teams as Lando-T and Celesteela can typically stall out the weather and prevent opposing set-ups.
If an opponents leads with a flying or water Pokemon against Tapu Koko and A-Raichu and has a ground type in reserve, it is usually advised to double down on the other Pokemon in anticipation of a switch as the opponents will almost always be forced into that move.
Overall this has been my most successful team to date and has cracked the Top 20 of Showdown leaderboards. No team is ever complete and so if there are small edits that should be considered for particular matchups, I am happy to hear them.
Thanks!
