I've always been a bit of a defensive player for as long as Pokemon exists, and thus I've been looking for some solid combinations of two or perhaps three pokemon that could work effectively together on a team, not because they're over standard and have enormous base stats, but because they can cover each other's weaknesses, making your team harder to take down, as you can switch to an appropriate pokemon a lot of the time and take the hit that was meant for the other pokemon.
An example of such a combination already exists, and I'm sure you're all very well aware of it: Electivire + Gyarados. Gyarados lures out Electric attacks that are then absorbed by Electivire, triggering its Motor Drive to instantly have a +1 Speed boost to work with, making sweeping the opponent a lot easier. This combination obviously works incredibly well. Not only because Electivire would get a free Speed boost, but also because the two pokemon in question can help each other out quite well too: Electivire's only weakness is Ground, which is negated by Gyarados completely. The same goes for Gyarados' main weakness, which is Electric. Rock-attacks will still deal neutral damage to Electivire, but as you can see, the other two main weaknesses of these two powerhouses are easily covered by simply switching out to their partner.
In the above example, you'll see that you instantly have a sweeper, armed and ready to embark on its journey right through the entire opponent's team. A perfect example of "The best defense is the best offense". Given the fact that it are combinations such as these that can possibly win you games, or help you out on doing so at the least, I think it would be very helpful to look into more combinations of pokemon that would work out well when used together on a team.
To start this discussion, as pointed out to me by the rules here, I will post a small idea that might be helpful.
Flygon @ Choice Scarf
Adamant - 252 Atk, 196 Speed, 60 HP
Levitate
~ Earthquake
~ Stone Edge
~ U-Turn
~ Dragon Claw
You could either use this as your lead pokemon (U-Turn on your lead is possibly game-breaking), or something to switch in when you're expecting an Earthquake or Stone Edge (StoneQuake resist is certainly a nice thing here). Since this is to be used along with Metagross (who will follow up shortly), I decided against Draco Meteor, as that would force me to use a nature that would lower either one of this pokemon's defenses, and the entire point of this combination is to play fairly defensive.
The EVs are quite simple, maxed out Atk to make sure it can still put a dent into some things. The 196 Speed EVs ensure you'll outspeed Choice Scarf Jolly Medicham and the rest was dumped in HP for more random endurance.
Its partner, Metagross, can basically do two things, both with a good reasoning behind their uses. The first set being a standard Choice Band set.
Metagross @ Choice Band
Adamant - 252 HP, 232 Atk, 16 Def, 8 Speed
Clear Body
~ Meteor Mash
~ Earthquake
~ Explosion
~ ThunderPunch
Despite having Flygon to take Ground attacks, you'll still want enough HP/Def to live through Duggy's Earthquake, as you won't be able to seek refuge in your PokéBall when the moll trio is facing you.
The attacks are the standard ones for every CB Metagross. The idea behind this is that, since you can easily switch to Flygon to take care of opposing Fire or Ground attacks, you might want to stay away from stat-boosting moves, as their boosts will get ruined when you switch out, hence the Choice Band.
However, a different point of view could show that going with the standard AgiliGross moveset is not a bad idea either, because switching Metagross into any Ice or Dragon attack aimed at Flygon, especially when coming from a pokemon holding a Choice item, can force some switches. That turn can be used to set up Agility to proceed and go for the sweep, quite similar as to how Electivire will sweep teams after getting its Speed boost, with the difference being that Metagross doesn't instantly get its Speed boost when it switches in. However, once he gets his Agility off, it's going to be incredibly hard to outspeed him or take him down, given its bulky stats.
Metagross @ Leftovers
Adamant - 236 Atk, 196 Speed, 76 HP
Clear Body
~ Agility
~ Meteor Mash
~ Earthquake / ThunderPunch
~ Explosion / ThunderPunch
Like said earlier, you switch into a predicted Ice or Dragon attack, Agility up on the switch and proceed to sweep. Having Meteor Mash and Earthquake as your only attacks makes Gyarados want to set up on you, so Thunderpunch can be used here as well.
Combinations like these have, in my opinion, quite some potential to greatly assist a team in its needs to take hits and potentially sweep at the same time, as shown by the Electivire + Gyarados, or the Flygon + Metagross example.
If anyone else has combination like these in mind, involving pokemon that can easily come in on a predicted attack that was aimed at its partner, and can take advantage out of that situation in any way possible, please post those here to allow other people to take a look at them, comment on them to possibly improve them and to adopt those combinations into their teams.
An example of such a combination already exists, and I'm sure you're all very well aware of it: Electivire + Gyarados. Gyarados lures out Electric attacks that are then absorbed by Electivire, triggering its Motor Drive to instantly have a +1 Speed boost to work with, making sweeping the opponent a lot easier. This combination obviously works incredibly well. Not only because Electivire would get a free Speed boost, but also because the two pokemon in question can help each other out quite well too: Electivire's only weakness is Ground, which is negated by Gyarados completely. The same goes for Gyarados' main weakness, which is Electric. Rock-attacks will still deal neutral damage to Electivire, but as you can see, the other two main weaknesses of these two powerhouses are easily covered by simply switching out to their partner.
In the above example, you'll see that you instantly have a sweeper, armed and ready to embark on its journey right through the entire opponent's team. A perfect example of "The best defense is the best offense". Given the fact that it are combinations such as these that can possibly win you games, or help you out on doing so at the least, I think it would be very helpful to look into more combinations of pokemon that would work out well when used together on a team.
To start this discussion, as pointed out to me by the rules here, I will post a small idea that might be helpful.
Flygon @ Choice Scarf
Adamant - 252 Atk, 196 Speed, 60 HP
Levitate
~ Earthquake
~ Stone Edge
~ U-Turn
~ Dragon Claw
You could either use this as your lead pokemon (U-Turn on your lead is possibly game-breaking), or something to switch in when you're expecting an Earthquake or Stone Edge (StoneQuake resist is certainly a nice thing here). Since this is to be used along with Metagross (who will follow up shortly), I decided against Draco Meteor, as that would force me to use a nature that would lower either one of this pokemon's defenses, and the entire point of this combination is to play fairly defensive.
The EVs are quite simple, maxed out Atk to make sure it can still put a dent into some things. The 196 Speed EVs ensure you'll outspeed Choice Scarf Jolly Medicham and the rest was dumped in HP for more random endurance.
Its partner, Metagross, can basically do two things, both with a good reasoning behind their uses. The first set being a standard Choice Band set.
Metagross @ Choice Band
Adamant - 252 HP, 232 Atk, 16 Def, 8 Speed
Clear Body
~ Meteor Mash
~ Earthquake
~ Explosion
~ ThunderPunch
Despite having Flygon to take Ground attacks, you'll still want enough HP/Def to live through Duggy's Earthquake, as you won't be able to seek refuge in your PokéBall when the moll trio is facing you.
The attacks are the standard ones for every CB Metagross. The idea behind this is that, since you can easily switch to Flygon to take care of opposing Fire or Ground attacks, you might want to stay away from stat-boosting moves, as their boosts will get ruined when you switch out, hence the Choice Band.
However, a different point of view could show that going with the standard AgiliGross moveset is not a bad idea either, because switching Metagross into any Ice or Dragon attack aimed at Flygon, especially when coming from a pokemon holding a Choice item, can force some switches. That turn can be used to set up Agility to proceed and go for the sweep, quite similar as to how Electivire will sweep teams after getting its Speed boost, with the difference being that Metagross doesn't instantly get its Speed boost when it switches in. However, once he gets his Agility off, it's going to be incredibly hard to outspeed him or take him down, given its bulky stats.
Metagross @ Leftovers
Adamant - 236 Atk, 196 Speed, 76 HP
Clear Body
~ Agility
~ Meteor Mash
~ Earthquake / ThunderPunch
~ Explosion / ThunderPunch
Like said earlier, you switch into a predicted Ice or Dragon attack, Agility up on the switch and proceed to sweep. Having Meteor Mash and Earthquake as your only attacks makes Gyarados want to set up on you, so Thunderpunch can be used here as well.
Combinations like these have, in my opinion, quite some potential to greatly assist a team in its needs to take hits and potentially sweep at the same time, as shown by the Electivire + Gyarados, or the Flygon + Metagross example.
If anyone else has combination like these in mind, involving pokemon that can easily come in on a predicted attack that was aimed at its partner, and can take advantage out of that situation in any way possible, please post those here to allow other people to take a look at them, comment on them to possibly improve them and to adopt those combinations into their teams.
