SS Doubles OU Sandy Band of Misfits

[Unsee]

Unsee's Sandy Band of Misfits
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Hello, everyone! I'd like to preface by saying that it's been years since my last RMT. I've learned a lot about competitive battling since then, and have ended up developing a really fun Doubles team that's been carrying me through the past few years (with some changes here and there). It's based around the core of Reuniclus and Tyranitar, who I've found make for quite the synergistic team. The other four Pokémon have been curated based on what those two superstars need to do their thing—Scizor, Zapdos-Galar, and Dragapult are all more recent recruits, but Gastrodon has been an integral member of the team since its inception and has pulled off some MVP plays since then.

I believe I started working with this Reuniclus-Tyranitar combo because I was trying to center a team around two Pokémon who worked really well together. I guess I ended up wanting to make a versatile team that can swing either in the direction of speedy or slow, depending on the flow of the battle, with a sprinkle of sand in the mix. Enter Tyranitar, and, later, Reuniclus fit the bill with Overcoat (which I'll get into later), its bulk, and its ability to learn Trick Room and Recover. (I will admit that I haven't really modified my strategy since terrains entered the mix— I am still a little unfamiliar with how to best manage them and would greatly appreciate any advice as to how to navigate this new arena.)

Gastrodon followed, as I was sure Storm Drain would prove a boon, as well as its slow speed, powerful Special Attack, and great movepool.

Bridging the gap between slow and fast is Scizor, whose Bullet Punch can prove useful in any situation, and whose typing and situational bulk allows me to easily switch it in for revenge.

Zapdos and Dragapult kinda entered at the same time as speedy sweepers/pivots who can carry part of the battle if things get speedy. I tend to send one out at the beginning of the battle alongside Reuniclus in order to gauge whether to use Trick Room. They're both fitted with U-Turn, so I'll either switch into Tyranitar or swap Reuniclus out for another attacker.

That's my intro! Without further ado, let's get started with the main course. I will try to be as detailed as I can, though I can't guarantee I'll be able to accurately use technical terminology.

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Cytoplasm (Reuniclus) @ Leftovers
Ability: Overcoat
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Recover
- Protect

Reuniclus is awesome. Its primary role on my taem is as a Trick Room setter who is able to last for quite a while on the field before checking out. I've outfitted it with enough bulk to pretty much ensure it takes at least two hits to knock it out, though it's still able to pack a punch when need (often) be. For all the types that resist/are immune to it, I've found that having Reuniclus' sole move by Psychic has benefitted the team, as it's able to counter the likes of Amoonguss, Urshifu, and Zapdos-G and generally knock 'em out instantly, in addition to likely being able to 2KO most neutrally-hit mons in the meta. I spent a long time deliberating between Overcoat and Magic Guard and ultimately decided to take the unconventional route and go with Overcoat. Both protect against Tyranitar's sand, but only Overcoat can protect against Spore. Reuniclus hasn't run into many problems with burns or poison, really, as it's able to easily recover health, and the surprise factor of running Overcoat instead has helped me win several battles against Spore users.


Twitch (Tyranitar) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Rock Slide
- Ice Punch
- Superpower
- Protect

Tyranitar is also awesome! I've slowed it down to make sure it sits comfortable in a Trick Room. I shouldn't have to explain Rock Slide's many benefits, but I understand Ice Punch and Superpower are less conventional—why forego Crunch? ...I'll admit that not running Crunch has led me into some sticky corners, but Ice Punch and Superpower have saved my skin even more. Ice Punch mainly serves to counter Landorus, Dragapult, and the like, and Superpower has been immensely helpful in countering other Tyranitar, Heatran, Stakataka, and co. The element of surprise helps here a ton, too. Let's talk about the Lum Berry! I'm a big fan of its catch-all properties—it's wasted many a Yawn, Spore, Toxic, Thunder Wave, and, most importantly, Will-O-Wisp. I would be happy to hear an argument for another item or overall set for Tyranitar.


Gastronaut (Gastrodon) @ Expert Belt
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Muddy Water
- Earth Power
- Ice Beam
- Protect

My dear, dear, aquatic, amorphous pink sea slug. Definitely the reigning clutch MVP of my team, with amazing coverage that is able to batter down at HP bars with great effectiveness. Storm Drain comes in handy against Dracovish and its respective rain teams, and Gastrodon's overall bulk lets it take lots of attacks before it goes down. I believe I used to run Recover instead of Protect on it, but its vulnerability to Pokémon like Rillaboom and others encouraged me to make the switch.


Plural (Scizor) @ Life Orb
Ability: Technician
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Bullet Punch
- Wing Attack
- Bug Bite
- Roost

Scizor came next, as a liaison between slow and fast. It's still got minimum speed, but Bullet Punch is a great way to take out fairies and faster opponents. Hopefully, if a Heatran is on the field, it'll be accompanied by Gastrodon or Zapdos. Though it does have a notable fire weakness, the rest of the team's lack of one, I think, has helped to make up for it (though I guess it is overall a little helpless, sometimes, when it comes to dealing with Grass Pokémon). Is there any worth in replacing a move with U-Turn on Scizor?


Zapfino (Zapdos-Galar) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Blaze Kick

I honestly first picked Zapdos because I loved its design, but I soon discovered it could be of great use for this team. If I send it out with Reuniclus at the start of the battle, it's able to either start an all-out offensive right then and there or U-Turn into Tyranitar to allow Reuniclus to successfully set up the Trick Room and get an extra turn with the sand. Blaze Kick is a recent convert from Low Sweep: it's allowed Zapdos to have much more well-rounded coverage against Grass-types, and a way to land damage without dropping its stats or HP. And though it's already incredibly fast, the Choice Scarf assures it'll get the first—and, eventually the last—laugh.


Draguchet (Dragapult) @ Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Shadow Ball
- Flamethrower
- U-turn

Draguchet is very much like Zapdos in terms of function: speedy sweeper, just a special attacker, and with different type coverage. I don't think I have anything remarkable to say about it other than that I've chosen Infiltrator over Clear Body because I chose to go special (so Intimidate doesn't matter), and it helps to be able to get a wedge in like that on bulky/shielded opponents. Sometimes, though, it does feel like the two are redundant, and they don't stay alive as long as I'd like them to sometimes. What would you recommend to remedy this situation?

That's it! Thank you so much for even skimming the above. I would be very grateful for any and all comments, tips, or constructive suggestions that you may have that could improve this team's performance. I would be reluctant to remove Reuniclus, Tyranitar, or Gastrodon from the team, but I'm open to anything. Happy battling!

 

[sawamura]

Hello how are you? well watching here I pay a lot of attention to what you are trying to express to us why a sand that does not attract excadrill . First I invite you to see the vr of smogon doubles and ou s continuously the system of co is that implies it. A sand is composed of a sand placer and an abuser of it as sand rush or failing that sand forcé, now your pult and you Zapd galar have good potential here but reiniclus and gastrodon are Mons very passive and possessing a speed and results not favorable to the style of play you are looking for all this is something that is simply very forgotten and the inclusion of a psyker with the coverage of a dari type. cpmo ttar está.bien but with reiniclus now well Indeed or even Lele carry more useful for the skills and the move.

In any case I think you can use two Mons that give you a boost to an offensive smejpr with pult and zap galariam in any case with amoongus redirect works for you but it also works with tsareena with taunt and its ability to avoid priority attacks both are good to avoid tr.

So you can have a better view of your team as long as you can cope with the different forms of the Metagame currently depending on what you want to opt for. But logically these 3 mons for tier you decide to take will give you very few Results much less Heatran will be able to see his face when Rillaboom's Spam is very imminent.

I'll just leave you with a little tip on how it could look a little more accessible


this gives rise to a much greater coverage because excadrill is not in the metagame but if you do not want to take exca well you can opt for dracovish or Dracozolt who are very well in the Arena giving the change of pult by themselves and placing as a last mon a Zeraora or an incineroar who will give you more Bulky and much more game options. Later I will leave you a paste with much better evs so you can implement them and with my discord if you want to have a better resolution of the topic and how you can constantly improve your build and gameplay :D cheers

 

[sawamura]

https://pokepast.es/1c2ea72d6396d91c
ok well here is one of the ones I had in mind as the best option, I didn't want to take a High horsepower with a speed 279 in rillaboom because you have to deal with it. Another option may be to remove taunt in the Tyranitar and put Crunch but it's up to you, Fini more investment in physical Def because we do not have a intimidator and this helps to compensate with calm mind with Thunder wave you can also place in tyranitar relax and put TW + Steam Rock leaving Ice Beam to hit with Zygarde but it all depends on what you are looking for or what you can do as a player. pult Set Specs modest because you have a sand Rusher as exca and a more attack on rilla because kartana is gone and it's your only way to hit consistently on Fini. Sub Exca you avoid the Intimidate and the Fake out of the Lead and this allows a better positioning. I will let you know when I make another variant of your comfort if and when you want Zikam#3265 here is my cord if you want help.

 

[Kylz7]

I quite like that scizor set is looks wacky