Rakhmaninov Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 (edited) Hey everyone! Long time no see :)) After the new updates to hidden starter abilities, as well as the introduction of some new balancing abilities, here are some of my thoughts on cores which I predict will be quite popular in the doubles metagame: Weezing+Slaking Thanks to the new "Reactive Gas" ability, Slaking's Truant can now be cancelled on entry, and until weezing faints (assuming this is how the ability's mechanics work). This means that Slaking is now viable in the competitive scene, and with its 150/160/100/95/65/100 base stat distribution, it has the highest available BST (670) of any available Pokemon. Weezing @ Sitrus Berry / Payapa Berry / Focus Sash Ability: Reactive Gas Level: 50 EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD Calm Nature IVs: 0 Atk - Sludge Bomb - Taunt - Will-O-Wisp - Protect The main goal with this set is longevity. With its base 65/120/70 bulk, a Calm nature is needed to balance out its Special Defense. For these reasons, a defensive item such as payapa berry can also be used in order to survive Reuniclus' Psychic, which it otherwise can't endure. Focus Sash is also an option to guarantee that it survives any single-targeted attack. This moveset was a pretty standard go-to in the VGC metagame (weezing+regigigaas), and aims to provide some basic support for Slaking in Taunt and Will-O-Wisp. Other options may include Haze or Clear Smog. Slaking @ Life Orb / Chople Berry / Focus Sash Ability: Truant EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe Jolly Nature - Double-Edge - Earthquake - Rock Slide - Protect All-out offensive Slaking. Because Truant is only suppressed whilst Weezing is on the field, Slaking needs to make the most of its few turns in the limelight. Life Orb is to increase its offensive capacity. Chople Berry may also be an option to guard against super-effective fighting attacks, as with Focus Sash. Other options include Hammer Arm, Night Slash, Return/Frustration, Low Kick... You may also want to consider an Adamant nature, with a bit more bulk on the SpD side, or even Slack Off, to give Slaking some more longevity. Otherwise, Jolly nature is pretty ideal. Other Options: Slaking @ Chople Berry Ability: Truant Level: 50 EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Spe Adamant Nature - Double-Edge / Return - Hammer Arm / Low Kick - Slack Off - Protect Torkoal+Venusaur Another familiar face from VGC. Now that venusaur has chlorophyll, it is able to provide a "fast mode" for sun teams which utilize Trick Room. Previously, chlorophyll was only available to pokemon like lilligant and exeggutor, but now venusaur is perhaps the most balanced among the chlorophyll users, with bulk, speed and offensive capabilities. Torkoal @ Charcoal Ability: Drought Level: 50 EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD Quiet Nature IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe - Eruption - Heat Wave - Solar Beam - Protect Standard Trick Room set, so not much to explain here. Venusaur @ Life Orb / Focus Sash Ability: Chlorophyll EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe Modest Nature IVs: 0 Atk - Sleep Powder - Leaf Storm - Sludge Bomb - Protect Access to Sleep Powder means that Venusaur not only has good offensive capabilities, but it also functions as a supportive lead, and is able to neutralize one of the opponents pokemon with one of the fastest Sleep Powders in the game. Other Milotic @ Leftovers Ability: Competitive EVs: 244 HP / 220 Def / 4 SpA / 36 SpD / 4 Spe Bold Nature IVs: 0 Atk - Scald / Muddy Water - Icy Wind / Ice Beam - Recover - Protect Previously milotic was outclassed by most bulky water types, like rotom-wash and blastoise, but now with its access to the competitive ability, it provides the perfect counter to intimidate users like hitmontop, salamence and arcanine, which means that it is the ideal support for a pokemon like swords dance scizor, which fears salamence+hitmontop leads. The EV spread allows Milotic to survive 252+ Rotom-Mow's Leaf Storm. Serperior @ Focus Sash / Life Orb Ability: Contrary EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe Timid Nature IVs: 0 Atk - Leaf Storm - Hidden Power [Fire] / Hidden Power [Ice] / Dragon Pulse / Giga Drain - Substitute - Protect With contrary, Serperior is able to fire off Leaf Storm after Leaf Storm, quickly building up momentum thanks to the +2 SpA boost it receives per use. Unfortunately, its coverage is terrible, so Hidden Power is used to hit opponents which resist its grass type STAB. Giga Drain can also be used to regain HP, and substitute can give it some extra longevity. Pair this with a follow me user, and you'll have a powerful combo. Light Screen and Reflect, as well as Glare, can be powerful support options. Sample Team: https://pokepast.es/63b566dcab7e573c Spoiler Tyranitar @ Life Orb / Chople Berry Ability: Sand Stream Level: 50 EVs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe Adamant Nature - Crunch - Rock Slide - Superpower - Protect Salamence @ Dragon Gem Ability: Intimidate Level: 50 EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe Timid Nature IVs: 0 Atk - Draco Meteor - Flamethrower - Tailwind - Protect Scizor @ Steel Gem Ability: Technician Level: 50 EVs: 204 HP / 252 Atk / 52 Spe Adamant Nature - Bullet Punch - Bug Bite - Swords Dance - Protect Milotic @ Leftovers Ability: Competitive Level: 50 EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA Bold Nature IVs: 0 Atk - Scald - Icy Wind - Recover - Protect Rotom-Mow @ Sitrus Berry Ability: Levitate Level: 50 EVs: 232 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 20 Spe Modest Nature IVs: 0 Atk - Thunderbolt - Leaf Storm - Will-O-Wisp - Protect Hitmontop @ Fighting Gem Ability: Intimidate Level: 50 EVs: 124 HP / 252 Atk / 132 Spe Adamant Nature - Fake Out - Close Combat - Feint - Wide Guard And that's all for now! Thanks for reading :)) Edited June 27, 2022 by Rakhmaninov SuperiorHolmes, Unnefable, Clovissssss and 3 others 5 1 Link to comment
OrangeManiac Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 Contrary Serperior is going to be quite nutty in Doubles Rakhmaninov 1 Link to comment
Rakhmaninov Posted June 24, 2022 Author Share Posted June 24, 2022 4 minutes ago, OrangeManiac said: Contrary Serperior is going to be quite nutty in Doubles Will add to the OP Link to comment
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