Hey out there!
Earlier this morning, I found out that a Regional Championship is going to be taking place pretty close to me, so I’ve decided to give competitive battling a go! This is one of the first teams that I’m trying to make competitive, so give me as much advice/criticism as you like!
At a Glance:
In Depth:
@ Focus Sash/Air Balloon
Sand Stream
Brave
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD, 0 speed IV
-Rock Slide
-Crunch
-Earthquake
-Protect
Quite obviously, we’ve got our weather inducer. Lowest speed possible to help ensure weather control. Rock slide and Crunch for STAB, and Earthquake for more damage. Protect to allow Landorus and Zapdos to launch Earthquakes and Discharge respectively.
@ Normal Gem
Sand Force
Jolly
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Rock Slide
-Earthquake
-Explosion
-Protect/ Swords Dance
I like Landorus for its sweeping capabilities with Sandstorm active and is the main sweeper of the team. Amoongus will help him set up the Swords Dance. After the boost, he should be able to 2HKO literally the entire metagame minus Bronzong after a Swords Dance boost.
@ Sitrus Berry/Focus Sash
Effect Spore
Sassy
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD,
-Rage Powder
-Giga Drain
-Spore
-Protect
Now, Amoongus is typically run with Trick Room setters to help that go up, but I’m using him slightly differently than most would. I’m running him to help Landorus and Scizor set up their boosts and Cresselia toss up her screens or status. After the setting up has been done, he’ll try to put something to sleep, if he’s still alive.
@ Fighting Gem
Technician
Adamant
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Bullet Punch
-Bug Bite
-Brick Break
-Swords Dance
Scizor is one of my favorite sweepers, and I’ve already got one trained, so I figured I might as well try incorporating him into the team. After getting up a Swords Dance (with the hopeful help of Amoongus). Scizor’s power is famous for his power and ability to 2HKO most of the metagame. The Fighting Gem is to guarantee the OHKO on unsuspecting Ferrothorns with Brick Break. Brick Break also serves the purpose of removing opposing screens and avoiding the stat drop Superpower would bring.
@ Leftovers
Pressure
Modest
140 HP / 252 SpA / 116 Spe
-Discharge/Thunder
-Thunder Wave
-Heat Wave
-Detect
Zapdos is my Politoed counter. Discharge would be for spread hits, and Thunder would mostly be an anti-rain measure. Heat Wave is for hitting opposing Scizors, Ferrothorns, and Bronzongs. Detect for a turn of protection, and Thunder Wave is to cripple something fast. I don’t have Hidden Power, because frankly, I hate how unpredictable it is and annoying it is to get one of the right type and acceptable power without RNG or PokeGen (my Wifi is down, and my RNG calculator doesn’t like to work).
@ Lum Berry
Levitate
Calm
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
-Icy Wind
-Psychic
-Light Screen/ Reflect
-Helping Hand
Cresselia’s here to put up screens, wall whatever it needs to, and overall support. Icy Wind slows the opponents and give some spread damage. Psychic for STAB. I’m still deciding which Screen to use, and Helping Hand is to help power up whichever sweeper is out at the moment.
General Strategy
- Lead with Amoonguss and appropriate Sweeper (depending on what I see in the Team Preview).
- T1: Rage Powder to draw attacks and Dance with the Sweeper. Amoonguss is likely killed.
- T2: If Amoongus is alive, try to put something to sleep, if not, bring in Tyranitar for weather. Start murdering with Sweeper.
Probable Threats/Weaknesses
- I only have one priority user, so Fake Out is likely to be an issue
- Rain will probably murder me, Hail and Sun teams are pretty well covered
- Heatran looks like it will be an issue unless I can hit it first
- If Amoongus goes down, my Setup Sweepers will probably be much less useful.
- Bulky Waters
- Opposing Landorus. Due to my aversion from using Hidden Power.... I don't carry HP Ice, which pretty much every other Landorus will.
Other notes:
- First off, I have very little experience with doubles in general and most of my expertise is in Singles, which will probably explain any weird strategies you may see.
- My thought process in making this team started with a Sand base with Tyranitar, Landorus, and Scizor. Everything else came when I was thinking about threats and probable counters
- I was originally considering swapping Zapdos with an Excadrill for another Sand Sweeper and more power.
- I originally had Electivire in with a mixed sort of set with Discharge/Earthquake/Ice Punch/Protect to help counter Weather inducers.
- I'm not entirely sure which items to use, either... so much help there would be appreciated
- Might find a way to put Mammoswine in here to help combat opposing Sand teams and Landorus, and to add more priority with Ice Shard.
Again, all help is greatly appreciated.
Earlier this morning, I found out that a Regional Championship is going to be taking place pretty close to me, so I’ve decided to give competitive battling a go! This is one of the first teams that I’m trying to make competitive, so give me as much advice/criticism as you like!
At a Glance:
In Depth:
Sand Stream
Brave
252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD, 0 speed IV
-Rock Slide
-Crunch
-Earthquake
-Protect
Quite obviously, we’ve got our weather inducer. Lowest speed possible to help ensure weather control. Rock slide and Crunch for STAB, and Earthquake for more damage. Protect to allow Landorus and Zapdos to launch Earthquakes and Discharge respectively.
Sand Force
Jolly
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Rock Slide
-Earthquake
-Explosion
-Protect/ Swords Dance
I like Landorus for its sweeping capabilities with Sandstorm active and is the main sweeper of the team. Amoongus will help him set up the Swords Dance. After the boost, he should be able to 2HKO literally the entire metagame minus Bronzong after a Swords Dance boost.
Effect Spore
Sassy
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD,
-Rage Powder
-Giga Drain
-Spore
-Protect
Now, Amoongus is typically run with Trick Room setters to help that go up, but I’m using him slightly differently than most would. I’m running him to help Landorus and Scizor set up their boosts and Cresselia toss up her screens or status. After the setting up has been done, he’ll try to put something to sleep, if he’s still alive.
Technician
Adamant
4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
-Bullet Punch
-Bug Bite
-Brick Break
-Swords Dance
Scizor is one of my favorite sweepers, and I’ve already got one trained, so I figured I might as well try incorporating him into the team. After getting up a Swords Dance (with the hopeful help of Amoongus). Scizor’s power is famous for his power and ability to 2HKO most of the metagame. The Fighting Gem is to guarantee the OHKO on unsuspecting Ferrothorns with Brick Break. Brick Break also serves the purpose of removing opposing screens and avoiding the stat drop Superpower would bring.
Pressure
Modest
140 HP / 252 SpA / 116 Spe
-Discharge/Thunder
-Thunder Wave
-Heat Wave
-Detect
Zapdos is my Politoed counter. Discharge would be for spread hits, and Thunder would mostly be an anti-rain measure. Heat Wave is for hitting opposing Scizors, Ferrothorns, and Bronzongs. Detect for a turn of protection, and Thunder Wave is to cripple something fast. I don’t have Hidden Power, because frankly, I hate how unpredictable it is and annoying it is to get one of the right type and acceptable power without RNG or PokeGen (my Wifi is down, and my RNG calculator doesn’t like to work).
Levitate
Calm
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
-Icy Wind
-Psychic
-Light Screen/ Reflect
-Helping Hand
Cresselia’s here to put up screens, wall whatever it needs to, and overall support. Icy Wind slows the opponents and give some spread damage. Psychic for STAB. I’m still deciding which Screen to use, and Helping Hand is to help power up whichever sweeper is out at the moment.
General Strategy
- Lead with Amoonguss and appropriate Sweeper (depending on what I see in the Team Preview).
- T1: Rage Powder to draw attacks and Dance with the Sweeper. Amoonguss is likely killed.
- T2: If Amoongus is alive, try to put something to sleep, if not, bring in Tyranitar for weather. Start murdering with Sweeper.
Probable Threats/Weaknesses
- I only have one priority user, so Fake Out is likely to be an issue
- Rain will probably murder me, Hail and Sun teams are pretty well covered
- Heatran looks like it will be an issue unless I can hit it first
- If Amoongus goes down, my Setup Sweepers will probably be much less useful.
- Bulky Waters
- Opposing Landorus. Due to my aversion from using Hidden Power.... I don't carry HP Ice, which pretty much every other Landorus will.
Other notes:
- First off, I have very little experience with doubles in general and most of my expertise is in Singles, which will probably explain any weird strategies you may see.
- My thought process in making this team started with a Sand base with Tyranitar, Landorus, and Scizor. Everything else came when I was thinking about threats and probable counters
- I was originally considering swapping Zapdos with an Excadrill for another Sand Sweeper and more power.
- I originally had Electivire in with a mixed sort of set with Discharge/Earthquake/Ice Punch/Protect to help counter Weather inducers.
- I'm not entirely sure which items to use, either... so much help there would be appreciated
- Might find a way to put Mammoswine in here to help combat opposing Sand teams and Landorus, and to add more priority with Ice Shard.
Again, all help is greatly appreciated.
