RMDT - RhypTine, PoryVire, SlowCroak

Zerix

The RMDT (Rate My Doubles Team)
I got really bored, so I decided to create an awsome doubles team, or what I want to be awsome. It's got three main comboes and when those are destroyed the pokemon can works with others decently. I have yet to test it, so there are some things I am not sure of. The reason I cannot test it is because I am a horrible breeder, my wifi is down, and there is no doubles battle emulator that I can find. So, here goes nothing:

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RhypTine Combo

Rhyperior @ Life Orb
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 HP, 6 Atk, 252 SpA
IVs: 0 Spe
Nature: Quiet
-Thunder
-Earthquake
-Avalanche
-Rock Slide

Mantine @ Damp Rock
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 124 HP, 252 SpA, 132 Spe
Nature: Modest
-Rain Dance
-Hydro Pump
-HP [Flying]
-Toxic

Strategy
On the first turn, Mantine always sets up Rain Dance, but Rhyperior has a number of options. He can use Thunder, which will hit after rain dance with perfect accuracy, due to Rhyperiors abysmal speed or he attack with something else. On the second turn, Mantine either toxics a threat or attacks if I'm sure he can 1 or 2HKO and Rhyperior sets up rocks if he has already, or attacks accordingly. Earthquake works since it won't kill Mantine and Avalanche is for Dragons.

Other Options
If Mantine dies, Rhyperior can easily team up with a number of my other teammates. Porygon Z can team with him, using Magnet Rise for Rhyperior Earthquakes and covering a lot of his weaknesses. Electivire, who covers a lot and can Earthquake with minimal damage to Rhyperior and can be Thundered by Rhyperior for the speed boost, even if he can't T-Punch. And finally Toxicroak, who can use the Rain Dance boost and again, cover Rhyperior's weaknesses. Unfortunately, there is no really synergy plan, other than RhypGon and a little RhypVire.
If Rhyperior dies, Mantine has a few less options, fortunately, he can team up with either Slowbro, who could use the Rain Dance boost for STAB and would do minimal damage to Mantine with Surf, or Toxicroak, who uses the rain for Dry Skin and can Flatter Mantine if I'm feeling lucky, very lucky or I'm in a tight spot. Really, ToxiTine works the best out of these two options.

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PoryVire Combo

Porygon Z @ Silk Scarf
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 6 HP, 252 SpA, 252 Spe
Nature: Modest
-Magnet Rise
-Tri Attack
-Discharge
-Shadow Ball

Electivire @ Shuca Berry
Ability: Motor Drive
EVs: 6 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Spe
Nature: Adamant
-Ice Punch
-Thunderpunch
-Cross Chop
-Earthquake

Strategy
On the first turn, Porygon uses Discharge to damage and give Electivire his speed boost, then they can easily wreak havoc together. On the second turn, Z needs to use Magnet Rise so he isn't kiled by Electivire's earthquakes. Electivire covers most of the types and Porygon Z takes care of bulky waters and kills all with STAB'd Tri Attack. In short, this is a late-game sweeper combination.

Other Options
If Porygon Z goes down, Electivire has limited options. He can go RhypVire, as I mentioned before, or possibly team up with Slowbro for similar coverage. Earthquake could be used, for Slowbro is maxed in Defense and can always Slack Off the damage. So, SlowVire might just work out in the end.
If Electivire goes down, I could always go RhypGon, but there is also the option of using Slowbro, Z covers all of his weaknesses well, but they can't use Surf or Discharge. Toxigon is also a choice, they cover eachother's weaknesses very well and if I'm in a tight spot I can risk Flattering Z for a special attack boost.

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SlowCroak Combo

Slowbro @ Leftovers
Ability: Own Tempo
EVs: 212 HP, 252 Def, 44 SpA
IVs: 0 Spe
Nature: Relaxed
-Slack Off
-Surf
-Ice Beam
-Grass Knot

Toxicroak @ Wide Lens
Ability: Dry Skin
EVs: 16 HP, 252 Atk, 232 Spe
Nature: Adamant
-Flatter
-Cross Chop
-Stone Edge
-Sucker Punch

Strategy
This definitely for after RhypTine goes down, for it can easily mooch off of the fading Rain. The strategy is simple, first turn Toxicroak flatters Slowbro, who then hits with a devastating attack. Toxicroak covers dark types and psychic types that Slowbro can't handle, and Slowbro in return kills off other Bulky Waters, slacks off, and heals up Toxicroak with Surf while damaging the enemy.

Other Options
If Slowbro is killed, Toxicroak can go with the aforementioned combinations of the following: ToxiGon and ToxiTine.
If Toxicroak is swept, Slowbro can also go with the following formerly mentioned combos: SlowGon, SlowVire, and SlowTine.

The Conclusion
This is a very good team if it works, but if it turns out that Rhyperior ends up absorbing his own Thunders with Lightning Rod, the strategy is ruined and I may have to rethink the entire team. Suggestions? Complaints? Just wanna rip it apart? Go ahead, who's stopping you?
 
Well, you'll be relieved to hear that Rhyperior will not absorb its own Thunders. I'd also like to say that I'm very impressed with how well you've thought through this team. I'll make a few suggestions.

First, your Electivire is very, very fragile. I strongly suggest a Shuca Berry on it so that you can take an opponent's Earthquake while taking out the threat with Electivire and its partner. I think you'll find that the flexibility it gives you will outweigh the power boost from Expert Belt.

I like the Power Herb/SolarBeam combo, but the Rain Dance team is probably not the best place to use it. I'd replace SolarBeam with Shadow Ball, which also allows Porygon-Z to be a better partner to Slowbro, taking out Ghosts and Psychics. Instead of a Power Herb, you could go for a Chople Berry or a Silk Scarf. Also, if the only reason you have Protect on Porygon-Z is to avoid Earthquakes, consider Magnet Rise. It'll allow your Rhyperior and Electivire to Earthquake at their leisure while Porygon-Z launches attacks of its own.

If you're planning on breeding these, you're probably not going to want to wait for a Flying-type Hidden Power on a Mantine. If you do decide to replace it, Ice Beam's the classic choice. I'd recommend Confuse Ray as perhaps a better option. In the rain, few Pokémon are going to take more damage from another move than from Hydro Pump anyway. Confuse Ray will buy some time for Toxic to take effect. Haze is another good option; just make sure you don't remove Slowbro's Flatter boosts.

I can't say I recommend Stealth Rock on the Rhyperior. There just isn't as much switching in Double Battles and I'm not sure you'll be getting much utility out of it. I'd ditch it in favor of a standard Rock-type attack. In fact, I'd recommend that you get a Rhyperior with 0 Speed IVs and give it Rock Slide. It'll give you a weapon against the ever-common Trick Room teams that you have no other real way to deal with.

Similarly, you might want to give your Slowbro a Relaxed nature and 0 Speed IVs. It's not about to outspeed anything anyway and it'll often move first in Trick Room.

Hope that helps.
 
Well, you'll be relieved to hear that Rhyperior will not absorb its own Thunders. I'd also like to say that I'm very impressed with how well you've thought through this team. I'll make a few suggestions.
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Thank god for that. I am so relieved.

First, your Electivire is very, very fragile. I strongly suggest a Shuca Berry on it so that you can take an opponent's Earthquake while taking out the threat with Electivire and its partner. I think you'll find that the flexibility it gives you will outweigh the power boost from Expert Belt.
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Hmm... That's an interesting idea. I'll take that suggestion, it seems like a very good idea!

I like the Power Herb/SolarBeam combo, but the Rain Dance team is probably not the best place to use it. I'd replace SolarBeam with Shadow Ball, which also allows Porygon-Z to be a better partner to Slowbro, taking out Ghosts and Psychics. Instead of a Power Herb, you could go for a Chople Berry or a Silk Scarf. Also, if the only reason you have Protect on Porygon-Z is to avoid Earthquakes, consider Magnet Rise. It'll allow your Rhyperior and Electivire to Earthquake at their leisure while Porygon-Z launches attacks of its own.
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Shadow Ball > Solarbeam, ChopleBerry/Silk Scarf > Power Herb, and Magnet Rise > Protect. Well, Shadow Ball is great for both combos and Slowbro already has a way to deal with Bulky Waters. So the first too would be good, and I hate protect, so magnet rise would be a welcome replacement. I'll admit, I didn't even know Z learned Magnet Rise. Also, what would be the benefits of using Chople Berry over Silk Scarf and vice-versa? I haven't used either item.

If you're planning on breeding these, you're probably not going to want to wait for a Flying-type Hidden Power on a Mantine. If you do decide to replace it, Ice Beam's the classic choice. I'd recommend Confuse Ray as perhaps a better option. In the rain, few Pokémon are going to take more damage from another move than from Hydro Pump anyway. Confuse Ray will buy some time for Toxic to take effect. Haze is another good option; just make sure you don't remove Slowbro's Flatter boosts.
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My friend is a decent Hidden Power breeder, but Ice Beam might work if I can't get it. Confuse Ray might work well, though.

I can't say I recommend Stealth Rock on the Rhyperior. There just isn't as much switching in Double Battles and I'm not sure you'll be getting much utility out of it. I'd ditch it in favor of a standard Rock-type attack. In fact, I'd recommend that you get a Rhyperior with 0 Speed IVs and give it Rock Slide. It'll give you a weapon against the ever-common Trick Room teams that you have no other real way to deal with.

Similarly, you might want to give your Slowbro a Relaxed nature and 0 Speed IVs. It's not about to outspeed anything anyway and it'll often move first in Trick Room.
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I've already got a great way to kill Fires and Flyings in the RhypTine combo, but I may need one if it fails... But, you are right, SR would be a bit useless in Doubles...

Also, I like the 0 Speed IVs and minus speed natures.

Thanks for all you suggestions, now if only I could find some way to test it...
 
Flatter on Toxicroak is pretty bleh. I say Poison Jab for STAB, or possibly one of the priority moves it gets. You also have no Ghosts to take Explosions and only one Protector.
 
Flatter on Croak is most of the reason for it being paired with Slowbro... I didn't want another Electric or Normal type, so this was a good choice. Changing it would sort of ruining the synergy.

As for the Ghosts and Explosions, I don't know what to do about that, changing any of the pokemon means rethinking the entire team's strategy. I didn't just throw this together, I thought about it a lot, did a bunch of damage calcs, ect. It's even harder when you have no way to test it easily.

I'd just like to point out, Janenmori, that doubles teams are not quite as flexible as singles teams are. You need to rate it as such, look at TMN's rate, he went into detail and explained his suggestions, furthermore he made suggestions that would not interrupt the team's synergy, but in fact increased it.
 
Well, Silk Scarf boosts Normal-type attacks by 20%. If Porygon-Z's going to be using Tri Attack most of the time, it gives you a nice boost without draining your health (like Life Orb) or locking you into an attack (like Choice Specs).

Chople Berry halves the damage of the first Fighting attack that hits Porygon-Z. Although you do have several Pokémon that can step in to take a Fighting attack, it will allow you to choose to stay in should that be the desirable option.

They're both decent choices. If you train this team, try both and see which one you prefer.

I share your distaste for Protect, or at least a dislike of the overuse of the move. Explosion teams, while they may or may not be popular at any given point, are a real threat. It's useful to have some way of dealing with them. Should you decide to alter your team to counter this threat, here are some opitons:

Pokémon with Protect/Detect.
Ghost-type Pokémon.
Pokémon with the Damp Ability: Quagsire, Golduck, Poliwrath, Politoed.
Pokémon with Imprison and Explosion: Muk, Smeargle, Bronzong, Azelf.

Your Rhyperior can take most Explosions, although it will take a fair amount of damage. The rest of your Pokémon will probably keel over from a good Explosion.

Alternatively, depending on which Pokémon you plan to face, you may be able to simply defeat any likely Exploder before it blows up. The biggest Explosion threats are Azelf, Metagross, and Heatran. All other Exploders are either slow or weak.
 
Well... Slowbro and Toxicroak are probably my bulkiest main duo, with Surf and Slack Off. At full health, Toxicroak might be able to take a doubles explosion and Slowbro could definitely take it, I'll do some damage calcs for Toxicroak versus Azelf, Metagross, and Heatran's explosion at 75 percent...

As for Silk Scarf vs. Chople Berry, I'll probably get more use out of the scarf.

EDIT: Okay, nevermind! All three of those exploders kill Toxicroak three times over... Perhaps that could be the use of a Slowperior combo!

EDITEDIT: Nevermind yet again, Rhyperior is my only defense, which is not good on a doubles team... I don't know, perhaps having Protect on Porygon Z would be better for this... It would limit his attacking ability quite a bit, but it would add protection against explosion. Still, if there is only one explosion, it wouldn't be too bad if I put a dying, useless pokemon it the way and switched in Rhyperior...
 
Yeah, depending on the environment you're playing in, you'll deal with Explosion in different ways. The two questions are:

1. Will you see your opponent's team before you start the battle?

and

2. Will you use all six Pokémon for the battle or choose four after you see your opponent's team?

EDIT: Regardless, one change you could make would be to include more setup moves that could be used by your other Pokémon in case some die to Explosion. So if you're in a situation where one opponent will explode and the other will Protect, you can at least throw up a Light Screen or something.
 
I probably won't be seeing my opponent's team before a battle, I might know the pokemon species, but nothing more. That and I'll probably be doing six on six doubles.

As set up move could be a decent idea, but what to choose. I'll probably have to sleep on that...
 
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