VGC Shakespeare in motion. VGC

[Sir Poliwhirl]

Hello fellow trainers and welcome to my first VGC doubles team. This team first started out as a doubles team that I use quite successfully, but I have since adapted them in what I feel is a pretty solid team.

The team does not focus on 'gimmicks' or a set strategy, rather it relies on more on probability and hitting hard and fast.

This team has undergone so many changes I can hardly remember what the first team looked like, the major replacements were; Suicune and Conkeldurr were replaced with Metagross and Rotom-W at the suggestion of some people over at Smogon. Mega Kangaskhan, whist powerful, I felt Mega Tyranitar proved to be more than worth the sacrifice with its sheer bulk.

I am looking for any recommendations in improving this team in all aspects and general reviews, though I feel that this teams weakest members are Metagross and Tyranitar, as I have not used nearly as much as I would like to, so I am looking for viable replacements if possible.

So here's the breakdown:

Romeo (Bisharp) @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Protect

Probably one of my favorite Pokemon. It's basically a hurricane Pokemon if used correctly. It creates OHKO's on most Pokemon, has STAB Priority, perfect neutral coverage, and a powerful attack.

The set here is fairly simple. Max attack and Speed make it a super speedy attacker, while Life Orb gives me that little bit extra to get past any special tasks made to survive most assaults. Sucker punch is standard and can easily take down Aegislash is timed right, while the combination of Dark/Stell attacks leaves me with a good attack on fairies, it can be brought down in pinch by other priority attackers. Iron head for fairies.

The role here is Sweeper. It functions similarly to Scizor in this regard , but with a few more weaknesses (but more power).

Iago (Terrakion) @ Lum Berry
Ability: Justified
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Rock Slide
- Close Combat
- Quick Guard
- Protect

It was either Life Orb or Lum Berry and Lum Berry was chosen to cure burns and paralysis, capable of OHKOing a Mega Kangaskhan, Terrakion is the definition of a tank. Nothing much else to add really, his build is cut and dry. I'll often lead with him and Bisharp, Quick Guard then dish out the pain.

Juliet (Cresselia) (F) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 180 Def / 76 SDef
Calm Nature
IVs: 30 Atk / 30 SAtk / 30 Spd
- Hidden Power (Ground)
- Ice Beam
- Thunderwave
- Moonlight

Originally a TR set up, I found using TR not to my tastes, and other people would find some counter to it. I feel that Cresselia is the weak link to my team, although she does help against Garchomp, Fighting types and Terrakion. EVs are complicated but are actually a standard spread to survive common attacks. Ice Beam is for dragon control and also to get some lucky hax. Cresselia will lead with Bisharp if I do not feel Terrakion is safe.

Macbeth (Rotom-Wash) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 236 HP / 88 Def / 180 SDef / 4 Spd
Calm Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Will O Wisp
- Thunder Wave

Rotom-W is so brilliant in so many ways. It's fantastic typing/ability means that it has just one weakness and it's a weakness to one of the least common offensive types, grass. Levitate is particularly important given I have lost to users of Earthquake meaning it 'synergises' really well with the rest of the team. It also has decent natural bulk so I opted for a Sitrus Berry. Hydro Pump is standard for Rotom-W and hits the ground types that thunderbolt can't. Thunder Wave to get those needed parahax's when the going gets tough.

Hamlet (Tyranitar) @ Tyranitarite
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature
- Fire Blast
- Rock Slide
- Protect
- Crunch

TTar's move-set is pretty standard overall. Crunch and Rock Slide for STABs, Protect for Protect, and Fire Blast for roasting Scizor/Ferrothorn. It's also great to have an option to still attack after being Intimidated a few times. the EVs are also standard fare, allowing TTar great bulk and attacking power, while the 0 Speed/Brave Nature allow him to be a threat under Trick Room as well.

TTar's role on this team is to provide Sand and to just absolutely kill everything, while being bulky as crap. It supports the team by giving Excadrill its speed boost, providing Chip Damage to the opposing side, and being a check to opposing Talonflame/Volcarona/etc.

Othello (Metagross) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Atk / 180 Spd
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Meteor Mash
- Hammer Arm
- Ice Punch

Assault Vest allows Metagross to survive some fire hits that may OHKO it and provides additional bulk to the set, which forgoes maximum bulk for speed investment. The 180 Spd EV's allow Metagross to outspeed Landorus-T and OHKO with Ice Punch, Metagross is not effected by Intimidate due to its ability Clear Body. This set, as well as all Metagross sets, can easily deal with fairy type Pokemon like Mega Gardevoire, Azumarill and Sylveon.

 

[DaAwesomeDude1]

Hey man, cool team! I'll I through each pokemon individually and give you my opinions on them:
Bisharp: looks good
Terrakion: having both Terrakion ad TTar is kind of redundant IMO plus it only adds to your ground and fighting weakness. I suggest replacing Terrakion with Virizion with the moves Leaf Blade, Close Combat, Stone Edge/Quick Guard, and Protect. 4 HP, 252 Atk, 252 Speed Jolly nature and a Life Orb as the item. Virizion essentially does the same as Terrakion except instead if being able to check Talonflame and Zard Y, which Terrakion can do, it checks bulky water types, like Rotom-W and suicune, that your team has trouble breaking through . It also isn't weak to Fighting or Ground and even checks Ground types as well.
Cresselia: Spread wise it looks fine however since you're running more of a bulky supporting set, I suggest replacing Ice Beam with Icy Wind, Thunder Wave with Helping Hand, and HP Ground with Psyshock. Since your cresselia isn't running any special attack investment, ice beam wouldn't w able to OHKO Landorus or garchomp anyways. Icy Wind does essentially the same thing as Ice Beam and Thunder Wave combined, as it does pretty decent damage against Lando and chomp while also offering speed control which is why thunder wave was replaced by helping hand as that can boost cresselia's partner's damage output thus letting you get some pretty nice KOs. HP ground is just bad coverage for cress so Psyshock is a better pick as it has STAB and is decent chip damage.
Rotom-W: dual status is cool but honestly you're better off having Protect over Thunder Wave. Will-o-wisp lets you cripple physical attackers like Bisharp and Kanga so it's better to have, IMO , than t wave.
Tyranitar: one of the only reasons to use mega t tar over regular is for Dragon Dance, so not using it is kind of a waste. That is why I suggest you replace Fire Blast with Dragon. dance and change Tyranitar's spread to 124 HP / 108 Atk / 12 Def / 12 SpDef / 252 Spe with a Jolly nature.
Metagross: it looks fine for now. Minor nitpick but 180 Speed regular Metagross does not outspeed Landorus so you're better off either EVing it to outrun Adamant Bisharp or just slapping it all into Attack. A little iffy on Hammer Arm since I believe that Bullet Punch will serve you better but that's p much up to preference.

All in all, great team! I'm on mobile right now so I'll update with more details later. Good luck with the team dude as hope I helped :)

 

[Sir Poliwhirl]

Excellent, thank you for the help.

I am thinking of adding Togekiss instead of Metagross, but it means i'll need to sort out Rotom W as both cant have sitrus berrys. Thoughts?

 

[DaAwesomeDude1]

Excellent, thank you for the help.

I am thinking of adding Togekiss instead of Metagross, but it means i'll need to sort out Rotom W as both cant have sitrus berrys. Thoughts?

Your team is pretty passive enough, the speed control/redirection is cool but imo its not worth it. But if you really want to go about with that, give Togekiss Safety Goggles instead so it can redirect Spores/Sleep Powder