Snowy Summer Day
Trick Room + Hail + Sunny Day
So, I've used this team for a little while, and I've been fairly successful. I peaked at 43 on the Smogon Doubles ladder on Showdown, and I'm hovering around 85-90 right now. I want to see what I can do to improve this team.
The Team
Trick (Cresselia) (F) @ Lum Berry
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 196 SDef / 252 HP / 60 Def
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Helping Hand
- Reflect
Cresselia is the Trick Room user, plus general supporter with Reflect and Helping Hand. She’s replaced Magic Guard+Trick Room Reuniclus. I almost always lead with her. After Trick Room in the first turn, she’s switched out immediately. I’ll put her back in if I’m switching in Abomasnow or if I need Trick Room again, but I tend to keep her safe. Psychic is there so she isn't Taunt bait.
Pest (Sableye) @ Iron Ball
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Careful Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Sunny Day
- Trick
Prankster Sableye is the other of my two leading Pokemon. He is there for weather control and tossing statuses to the opponents, in the first turn. Second turn, Will-O-Wisp on Heatran for Flash Fire boost. After that, Sableye either stays in to keep controlling the weather in Heatran’s favor or tosses statuses and makes a general nuisance of himself. Priority status definitely helps during Trick Room. Also, I trick Iron Ball on to opponents if I need to hit them with Earth Power or Earthquake.
Mags (Heatran) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power
- Protect
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Heatran is my special sweeper. After Flash Fire boost from Sableye, she attacks for as long as possible. I designed the team around Sableye+Heatran for Flash Fire abuse and weather control. She’s great for battling against Sand and Sun teams. However, once Air Balloon is gone, she’s severely weak to common Ground attacks.
Snowy (Abomasnow) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Gentle Nature
- Blizzard
- Giga Drain
- Ice Shard
- Protect
The other inspiration for this team. Sun, Sand, and Rain teams are all common, and I’ve gone with Sand teams before fairly successfully, but I wanted to try Hail. Abomasnow almost always comes after Sunny Day wears off. He’s there for weather control and attacking during Trick Room. Also pulls off last minute wins sometimes such as in http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/smogondoubles8258793 .
Crash (Mamoswine) @ Life Orb
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
Mamoswine replaced physical attacker Weavile. I wanted a spread move and sandstorm immunity. By adding Mamoswine, I lost a Fighting type move. Not a bad addition, although I haven’t used him much. He (unfortunately) dies quickly.
Swift (Kingdra) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Surf
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Protect
Rain team counter. Replaced Rotom-W. I like this choice, because Kingdra is actually decent as a rain counter because of Swift Swim. Partner him up with Cresselia for Helping Hand boost, and he's a good attacker. Definitely better than Rotom-W was. I like the coverage, which helps with the Kami trio.
Problems
Rain Teams – Hard time countering due to weather wars. Rotom-W was placed into the team to counter them, but it’s not perfect, given that none of my other Pokemon are ground type or have Volt Absorb, so unless I can successfully use Protect, Discharge is an issue. Also, Heatran is weak to water and has no counters within her moveset for Water types. … Yep, this team definitely needs something to help it against Rain teams. Success rate has been higher since I swapped Rotom for Kingdra.
Sun Teams – Easier time to counter than rain, due to Heatran. They’re a nuisance if both Heatran and Kingdra are down, however, because Cresselia and Sableye aren’t the strongest against them, and Mamoswine and Abomasnow are weak. I've pulled it off before, though.
Sand Teams – Not as hard as rain to counter, but I still have problems because I have a definite fighting/rock weakness on my team. Heatran is good at countering them. Once Heatran is down, they get harder to beat.
Goodstuff – Sort of depends. I think more are geared towards the other three weather teams, but the counters to those teams also can effectively counter Hail teams. However, my Pokemon pair up well, especially when I have Trick Room up. Cresselia Helping Hands the attacking teammate. I’ve been down to two Pokemon and won before. My success rate against goodstuff is generally higher than against weather teams.
Hail Teams – Mixed results. They tend to have a bunch of the same Pokemon I do, which can counter my Pokemon with ease.
Former Members
Trick (Reuniclus) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
Swapped for Cresselia
Pox (Weavile) @ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Ice Shard
- Night Slash
- Pursuit
- Low Kick
Swapped for Mamoswine
Counter (Rotom-Wash) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hydro Pump
- Discharge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Swapped for Kingdra
Trick Room + Hail + Sunny Day
So, I've used this team for a little while, and I've been fairly successful. I peaked at 43 on the Smogon Doubles ladder on Showdown, and I'm hovering around 85-90 right now. I want to see what I can do to improve this team.
The Team
Trick (Cresselia) (F) @ Lum Berry
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 196 SDef / 252 HP / 60 Def
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Helping Hand
- Reflect
Cresselia is the Trick Room user, plus general supporter with Reflect and Helping Hand. She’s replaced Magic Guard+Trick Room Reuniclus. I almost always lead with her. After Trick Room in the first turn, she’s switched out immediately. I’ll put her back in if I’m switching in Abomasnow or if I need Trick Room again, but I tend to keep her safe. Psychic is there so she isn't Taunt bait.
Pest (Sableye) @ Iron Ball
Trait: Prankster
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Careful Nature
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
- Sunny Day
- Trick
Prankster Sableye is the other of my two leading Pokemon. He is there for weather control and tossing statuses to the opponents, in the first turn. Second turn, Will-O-Wisp on Heatran for Flash Fire boost. After that, Sableye either stays in to keep controlling the weather in Heatran’s favor or tosses statuses and makes a general nuisance of himself. Priority status definitely helps during Trick Room. Also, I trick Iron Ball on to opponents if I need to hit them with Earth Power or Earthquake.
Mags (Heatran) @ Air Balloon
Trait: Flash Fire
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power
- Protect
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Heatran is my special sweeper. After Flash Fire boost from Sableye, she attacks for as long as possible. I designed the team around Sableye+Heatran for Flash Fire abuse and weather control. She’s great for battling against Sand and Sun teams. However, once Air Balloon is gone, she’s severely weak to common Ground attacks.
Snowy (Abomasnow) @ Focus Sash
Trait: Snow Warning
EVs: 252 SDef / 252 HP / 4 Atk
Gentle Nature
- Blizzard
- Giga Drain
- Ice Shard
- Protect
The other inspiration for this team. Sun, Sand, and Rain teams are all common, and I’ve gone with Sand teams before fairly successfully, but I wanted to try Hail. Abomasnow almost always comes after Sunny Day wears off. He’s there for weather control and attacking during Trick Room. Also pulls off last minute wins sometimes such as in http://www.pokemonshowdown.com/replay/smogondoubles8258793 .
Crash (Mamoswine) @ Life Orb
Trait: Thick Fat
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Ice Shard
- Icicle Crash
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
Mamoswine replaced physical attacker Weavile. I wanted a spread move and sandstorm immunity. By adding Mamoswine, I lost a Fighting type move. Not a bad addition, although I haven’t used him much. He (unfortunately) dies quickly.
Swift (Kingdra) @ Life Orb
Trait: Swift Swim
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Surf
- Dragon Pulse
- Hidden Power [Electric]
- Protect
Rain team counter. Replaced Rotom-W. I like this choice, because Kingdra is actually decent as a rain counter because of Swift Swim. Partner him up with Cresselia for Helping Hand boost, and he's a good attacker. Definitely better than Rotom-W was. I like the coverage, which helps with the Kami trio.
Problems
Rain Teams – Hard time countering due to weather wars. Rotom-W was placed into the team to counter them, but it’s not perfect, given that none of my other Pokemon are ground type or have Volt Absorb, so unless I can successfully use Protect, Discharge is an issue. Also, Heatran is weak to water and has no counters within her moveset for Water types. … Yep, this team definitely needs something to help it against Rain teams. Success rate has been higher since I swapped Rotom for Kingdra.
Sun Teams – Easier time to counter than rain, due to Heatran. They’re a nuisance if both Heatran and Kingdra are down, however, because Cresselia and Sableye aren’t the strongest against them, and Mamoswine and Abomasnow are weak. I've pulled it off before, though.
Sand Teams – Not as hard as rain to counter, but I still have problems because I have a definite fighting/rock weakness on my team. Heatran is good at countering them. Once Heatran is down, they get harder to beat.
Goodstuff – Sort of depends. I think more are geared towards the other three weather teams, but the counters to those teams also can effectively counter Hail teams. However, my Pokemon pair up well, especially when I have Trick Room up. Cresselia Helping Hands the attacking teammate. I’ve been down to two Pokemon and won before. My success rate against goodstuff is generally higher than against weather teams.
Hail Teams – Mixed results. They tend to have a bunch of the same Pokemon I do, which can counter my Pokemon with ease.
Former Members
Trick (Reuniclus) @ Life Orb
Trait: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 HP / 4 SDef
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Trick Room
- Psychic
- Focus Blast
- Shadow Ball
Swapped for Cresselia
Pox (Weavile) @ Life Orb
Trait: Pressure
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Ice Shard
- Night Slash
- Pursuit
- Low Kick
Swapped for Mamoswine
Counter (Rotom-Wash) @ Expert Belt
Trait: Levitate
EVs: 252 SAtk / 252 Spd / 4 SDef
Modest Nature
- Thunderbolt
- Hydro Pump
- Discharge
- Hidden Power [Ice]
Swapped for Kingdra
