A lot of the doubles teams that I see posted are heavily reliant on situational gimmicks. They might have a 'game plan' per se, but no real back up strategy for when their initial plan fails. A solid team should be prepared for every situation; not every situation where your opponent isn't packing Taunt.
I've basically just revamped my most successful doubles team from RSE here. The only Pokemon I changed was Marowak, who is now Rhyperior. The number one reason I switched in the first place was that Megahorn seemed to offer more uniqe type coverage, but I'm not entirely sure I should even be concerned about that.
(Keep in mind this is generally used for 'Stadium Mode' 4 man matches, though it serves its purpose in 6 on 6 as well.)
Gyarados @ Lum Berry ** Spinal
Trait: Intimidate
Jolly Nature
252 HP / 40Atk / 216Spd
~Waterfall
~Taunt
~Protect
~Thunder Wave
(the speed evs are for Smeargle, and Pokemon geared to outspeed Smeargle by one point)
Hariyama @ Flame Orb ** Jago
Trait: Guts
Brave Nature
252HP / 252Atk / 6Spd
~Close Combat
~Fake Out
~Bullet Punch
~Detect / Stone Edge
Fake Out gives Gyarados a free turn to hit something up with Thunder Wave. I don't know what's more important: hitting Gyarados or being able to Protect? suggestions?
Taunt specifically shuts out Trick Room leads and any other gimmicks that 2v2 teams rely on, however, with all of these new teams geared towards follow me I don't know exactly how effective this will be anymore.
Lum Berry is generally a good thing to carry on your lead off Pokemon; if your opponent statuses they've successfully wasted a turn.
Zapdos @ Petaya Berry ** Chief Thunder
Trait: Pressure
Timid Nature
252HP / 152Spd / 104SAtk
~Thunderbolt
~Hidden Power [Ice]
~Detect
~Substitute
(300 Speed with those evs)
Snorlax @ Leftovers ** TJ
Trait: Thick Fat
Sassy Nature
252HP / 6Atk / 252SDef
~Body Slam
~Earthquake
~Curse
~Protect
Snorlax is one of the most commonly used Pokemon in the game because of Selfdestruct. My Snorlax does not have Selfdestruct. I'm going with Intimidation factor here, obviously. Protect is used too often (as if I'm one to talk), and this combo exploits that aspect of doubles perfectly. You can almost always guarantee Protect from one thing in the early stages of the match as a precaution against SD. In these situations, one of my Pokemon is 'guaranteed' a free set up: Snorlax can Curse, Zapdos can Sub. Curse can potentially throw the entire pace of a match off. Sub is just amazing in Doubles.
Behind a Sub, Zapdos is free to launch any attack without receiving direct damage unless it gets double targeted. If it is, Snorlax gets yet another free turn to set up with its Curse.
Remember, players are always weary about Selfdestruct, going so far as to alternate with Protects every other turn.
This strategy is incredibly simple to set up, incredibly effective, and underrated as hell.
Gengar @ Focus Sash ** Gargos
Trait: Levitate
Naive Nature
92Atk / 164SAtk / 252Spd
~Shadow Ball
~Thunderbolt
~Swagger
~Explosion
(SAtk guarantees a OHKO vs 252HP/0SDef Gyara)
Metagross @ Persim Berry ** Fulgore
Trait: Clear Body
Adamant Nature
252HP / 124Atk / 132Spd
~Agility
~Meteor Mash
~Earthquake
~Explosion / Rock Slide
(speed evs are for Jolly Marowak)
These two Pokemon provide necessary resistances for my team. I used to have Protect over both of my 'gimmick' moves (Swagger and Agility respectively), but the situational effectiveness of Swagger/Persim/Agility is just too fun to pass up in doubles.
The trick to stadium matches is selecting a lead that your opponent has the least amount of counters for. This is an effective lead if my opponent isn't packing a move to take out Metagross in one hit (I'm usually good at making this call before the match). Otherwise, these Pokemon are just used as switch-ins late game against things with Explosion and other powerful moves they resist.
Swagger can also be used on Gyarados for Lum fun. Switching around is fairly easy because my Pokemon compliment eachother's typing quite well. All of my Pokemon (save Gengar) can take a decent hit and hit heavily in return. Simple teams like this cover quite a lot of Ground. Still, I might have a bit of trouble with Bronzong if I'm up against a Follow me lead where I can't Taunt it.
I just want to see what you think before I actually go and make the team in game.
Things to note:
-I typically play with Sleep and Freeze Clause on, however, there's not a doubt in my mind that any 4 of these dudes could do quite well at that showdown tournament.
-I'd like something that specifically kills Bronzong, whom I've admittedly forgotten to take into consideration when building this team. Perhaps I could use a Fire Punch Marowak over Rhyperior?
-I only ever make teams with Item Clause for doubles, so keep that in mind.
-Any other comments or suggestions are appreciated!
I've basically just revamped my most successful doubles team from RSE here. The only Pokemon I changed was Marowak, who is now Rhyperior. The number one reason I switched in the first place was that Megahorn seemed to offer more uniqe type coverage, but I'm not entirely sure I should even be concerned about that.
(Keep in mind this is generally used for 'Stadium Mode' 4 man matches, though it serves its purpose in 6 on 6 as well.)
Gyarados @ Lum Berry ** Spinal
Trait: Intimidate
Jolly Nature
252 HP / 40Atk / 216Spd
~Waterfall
~Taunt
~Protect
~Thunder Wave
(the speed evs are for Smeargle, and Pokemon geared to outspeed Smeargle by one point)
Hariyama @ Flame Orb ** Jago
Trait: Guts
Brave Nature
252HP / 252Atk / 6Spd
~Close Combat
~Fake Out
~Bullet Punch
~Detect / Stone Edge
Fake Out gives Gyarados a free turn to hit something up with Thunder Wave. I don't know what's more important: hitting Gyarados or being able to Protect? suggestions?
Taunt specifically shuts out Trick Room leads and any other gimmicks that 2v2 teams rely on, however, with all of these new teams geared towards follow me I don't know exactly how effective this will be anymore.
Lum Berry is generally a good thing to carry on your lead off Pokemon; if your opponent statuses they've successfully wasted a turn.
Zapdos @ Petaya Berry ** Chief Thunder
Trait: Pressure
Timid Nature
252HP / 152Spd / 104SAtk
~Thunderbolt
~Hidden Power [Ice]
~Detect
~Substitute
(300 Speed with those evs)
Snorlax @ Leftovers ** TJ
Trait: Thick Fat
Sassy Nature
252HP / 6Atk / 252SDef
~Body Slam
~Earthquake
~Curse
~Protect
Snorlax is one of the most commonly used Pokemon in the game because of Selfdestruct. My Snorlax does not have Selfdestruct. I'm going with Intimidation factor here, obviously. Protect is used too often (as if I'm one to talk), and this combo exploits that aspect of doubles perfectly. You can almost always guarantee Protect from one thing in the early stages of the match as a precaution against SD. In these situations, one of my Pokemon is 'guaranteed' a free set up: Snorlax can Curse, Zapdos can Sub. Curse can potentially throw the entire pace of a match off. Sub is just amazing in Doubles.
Behind a Sub, Zapdos is free to launch any attack without receiving direct damage unless it gets double targeted. If it is, Snorlax gets yet another free turn to set up with its Curse.
Remember, players are always weary about Selfdestruct, going so far as to alternate with Protects every other turn.
This strategy is incredibly simple to set up, incredibly effective, and underrated as hell.
Gengar @ Focus Sash ** Gargos
Trait: Levitate
Naive Nature
92Atk / 164SAtk / 252Spd
~Shadow Ball
~Thunderbolt
~Swagger
~Explosion
(SAtk guarantees a OHKO vs 252HP/0SDef Gyara)
Metagross @ Persim Berry ** Fulgore
Trait: Clear Body
Adamant Nature
252HP / 124Atk / 132Spd
~Agility
~Meteor Mash
~Earthquake
~Explosion / Rock Slide
(speed evs are for Jolly Marowak)
These two Pokemon provide necessary resistances for my team. I used to have Protect over both of my 'gimmick' moves (Swagger and Agility respectively), but the situational effectiveness of Swagger/Persim/Agility is just too fun to pass up in doubles.
The trick to stadium matches is selecting a lead that your opponent has the least amount of counters for. This is an effective lead if my opponent isn't packing a move to take out Metagross in one hit (I'm usually good at making this call before the match). Otherwise, these Pokemon are just used as switch-ins late game against things with Explosion and other powerful moves they resist.
Swagger can also be used on Gyarados for Lum fun. Switching around is fairly easy because my Pokemon compliment eachother's typing quite well. All of my Pokemon (save Gengar) can take a decent hit and hit heavily in return. Simple teams like this cover quite a lot of Ground. Still, I might have a bit of trouble with Bronzong if I'm up against a Follow me lead where I can't Taunt it.
I just want to see what you think before I actually go and make the team in game.
Things to note:
-I typically play with Sleep and Freeze Clause on, however, there's not a doubt in my mind that any 4 of these dudes could do quite well at that showdown tournament.
-I'd like something that specifically kills Bronzong, whom I've admittedly forgotten to take into consideration when building this team. Perhaps I could use a Fire Punch Marowak over Rhyperior?
-I only ever make teams with Item Clause for doubles, so keep that in mind.
-Any other comments or suggestions are appreciated!
