Sep 29, 2016, 05:48 PM
Note this is from the original thread
Alright starting today [Sept 23rd], going to be working on at least 2-4 cores per week regarding the lingering days of the Battle Spot Doubles meta. These are going to be simple summaries and not going to go as in-depth as done last year's individual Pokemon analysis I use to do. Main reason I'm doing this is so people can have an idea what cores "worked best" with each other, and have an idea where to begin come SuMo VGC / BS format enters. Of course, the risk doing this is most of these cores might become "obsolete", though some cores like Double Genie, Terracott, Cress-Heatran, Rain, Sand, etc, have all appeared in previous VGC/Doubles metagames before. All of the EVs spreads are from the Smogon Dex, though everyone is welcomed to accommodate for any changes. Alright here's three more cores this week.
![[Image: 376-mega.png]](http://pldh.net/media/pokemon/shuffle/376-mega.png)
![[Image: 635.png]](http://pldh.net/media/pokemon/shuffle/635.png)
- Pokémon featured: Mega Metagross and Hydreigon
- Metagame: Battle Spot Doubles (VGC 15)
- Core Type: Offense
- Sets:
Metagross @ Metagrossite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Zen Headbutt
- Substitute / Ice Punch / Bullet Punch / Hammer Arm
- Protect
Hydreigon @ Life Orb / Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power / Flamethrower / Tailwind / HP Ice
- Protect / ( See Third Slot Options "if Choiced")
Mega Metagross and Hydreigon is one of the several strong offensive cores who can cover each other's own weaknesses and while initiate immense pressure against opposing teams. With its Steel/Psychic-typing, Meta Metagross is able to threaten many common Fairy-, Fighting-, Dragon-, and Ice-type Pokemon thanks to its STAB Tough Claw boosted coverage most listed above. Some of these Pokemon like Terrakion, Sylveon, Mega Salamence, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Abomasnow, Conkeldurr, etc are able to dispatch Hydreigon with ease, though fear Meta Metagross due to its coverage, natural resistances, and rather high defensive stats. On the other hand, the Dark-/Dragon-type Hydreigon can threaten or deal massive damage to Pokemon Mega Metagross normally can't deal with like opposing Steel-, Fire-, and Ghost-types. Hydreigon can also switch into opposing Ground-types thanks to its Levitate ability and is a decent makeshift response to opposing weather teams that abuse Rain (Water-type)and Sun (Fire-type), which it resists thanks to its part Dragon-typing. In short, Mega Metagross + Hydreigon near perfect defensive synergy allows them to perform above average against some of the most common metagame threats, can use the combination of their bulk, above average speed stats, offensive output, and again their natural resistances to threaten opposing teams in nearly every turn. For a good Team Report guide featuring this core, I recommend looking into this NB post done early VGC 15, though remembers its not indicative how BS Doubles is at the moment.
![[Image: 186.png]](http://pldh.net/media/pokemon/shuffle/186.png)
![[Image: 272.png]](http://pldh.net/media/pokemon/shuffle/272.png)
![[Image: 230.png]](http://pldh.net/media/pokemon/shuffle/230.png)
- Pokémon featured: Politoed and Ludicolo / Kingdra
- Metagame: Battle Spot Doubles (VGC 15)
- Core Type: Offense (Rain)
- Sets:
Politoed @ Sitrus Berry / Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 76 SpA / 100 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Helping Hand / Encore
- Protect
(Note: Can be run "Choice Scarf", though use a Timid Variant)
Ludicolo @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 156 HP / 52 Def / 156 SpA / 4 SpD / 140 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Fake Out
(Note: Can be run with Life Orb, though change EVs to maximize damage output)
Kingdra @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 116 HP / 252 SpA / 140 Spe
Modest Nature
- Muddy Water / Scald
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam / Hydro Pump / Disable
- Protect
Every "Rain" team in VGC / Doubles employs the use of Pokemom "Politoed" not only for its exclusive access to the weather ability, Drizzle but also has a wide range of support options to support common Swift Swim sweepers. Starting with the blantly obvious, as long as the "rain" is up, all Water-type attacks (unless a Pokemon has Air Lock / Cloud Nine), have a 50% boost in attack power, making Politoed's "Scald" hits stronger than before. Ice-type coverage is run on Rain-based teams to hit Dragon-, and Grass-types given how most VGC teams use team as checks. Recall Politoed is not known for offense, just mostly to setup the rain and some of its support options like Scald to fish for burns, Icy Wind to drop the opposing speeds, Encore to lock an opponent into an undesired option, and Helping Hand to boosts its partners offensive power by a further 50% boost. Ludicolo is a common Swift Swim user found on Rain-types given its Grass-/Water-typing deals with opposing Grass-types, and takes neutral damage from the likes of Electric-, Ice-, and Grass-types respectively. Most Ludicolos tend to have Fake Out support to allow Politoed, or another Pokemon to setup, or deal damage against the opposing team. Thanks to the Rain, this Ludicolo has enough speed to outspeed some of the fastest non Scarf Pokemon in the game, while deal heavy damage with its Rain-boosted STAB Scalds, or STAB Giga Drains for opposing Water-types. Though not as strong as it once was due to the prevalance of Fairy-types, Kingdra remains among the premier Swift Swim users thanks to its impressive nautral bulk, weaknesses in two types, and of course its part Dragon-type. What sets Kingdra apart from Ludicolo is potential to hit harder in the rain with moves like Muddy Water, Hydro Pump, Scald, etc. One interesting combination Kingdra and Politoed can use is the Encore Disable combination as Kingdra can "Disable", or prevent the target from using an attack (after scouting via protect), while Politoed can lock the target into the said move so its forced to struggle.
![[Image: latest?cb=20150925024236]](http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/the-pokemon-shuffle/images/0/0d/Mega_Y.png/revision/latest?cb=20150925024236)
![[Image: 700.png]](http://pldh.net/media/pokemon/shuffle/700.png)
- Pokémon featured: Mega Charizard Y and Sylveon
- Metagame: Battle Spot Doubles (VGC 15)
- Core Type: Offense
- Sets:
Charizard @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature
- Heat Wave / Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Overheat / HP Ground / Tailwind
- Protect
Sylveon @ Pixie Plate / Life Orb
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 188 HP / 68 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Helping Hand / Calm Mind
- Hidden Power Ground
- Protect
The combination of Charizard Y and Sylveon is a deadly pair to face when matched together. From an offensive perspective, only Fire-type and other specially defensive Pokemon are able to take the near perfect coverage of Fire/Fairy. Thanks to the Drought-boosted Fire-types like Heat Wave for Char Y, and the Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voices from Sylveon, both Pokemon can hit targets with strong spread damage to the point where they'd falter the following turn. In terms of offensive synergy, Charizard Y alleviates Sylveon's concern of Steel-types like Aegislash, M-Mawile, Bisharp, and Mega Metagross as it can easily OHKO them with its Drought-boosted STAB Fire-type attacks. Though not weak to Fire-type moves, common Poison-types like Mega Venusaur, Gengar, and Amoonguss have a difficult time switching into these attacks from Char Y to help Sylveon. On the other hand, Sylveon deal with Dragon types who can't switch into a Pixilate Hyper Voice, and can also be useful in "weather" wars against rain teams thanks to its natural high special defense. In terms of support, Charizard Y can setup Tailwind to allow faster Sylveon variants to outspeed the likes of Mega Salamence, while Sylveon can use Helping Hand to further boost the the Drought-boosted attacks from Char Y to ridiculous levels. If Wide Guard users are a concern, Char Y and Sylveon can use single target STABs like Flamethrower, and Moonblast respectively in case something like Conkeldurr or Aegislash carries these options for their spread attack, though they would faint to such moves. HP Ground is opted on either Pokemon in case Heatran becomes an issue as its quad resists Fairy-types attacks and is immune to Fire-types. For a good team report of this core, definitely recommend looking into this article done by Calisweeper as his team integrated the use of both Sylveon and Char Y extremely well and placed high with them.
Alright starting today [Sept 23rd], going to be working on at least 2-4 cores per week regarding the lingering days of the Battle Spot Doubles meta. These are going to be simple summaries and not going to go as in-depth as done last year's individual Pokemon analysis I use to do. Main reason I'm doing this is so people can have an idea what cores "worked best" with each other, and have an idea where to begin come SuMo VGC / BS format enters. Of course, the risk doing this is most of these cores might become "obsolete", though some cores like Double Genie, Terracott, Cress-Heatran, Rain, Sand, etc, have all appeared in previous VGC/Doubles metagames before. All of the EVs spreads are from the Smogon Dex, though everyone is welcomed to accommodate for any changes. Alright here's three more cores this week.
- Pokémon featured: Mega Metagross and Hydreigon
- Metagame: Battle Spot Doubles (VGC 15)
- Core Type: Offense
- Sets:
Metagross @ Metagrossite
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Iron Head
- Zen Headbutt
- Substitute / Ice Punch / Bullet Punch / Hammer Arm
- Protect
Hydreigon @ Life Orb / Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid / Modest Nature
- Draco Meteor
- Dark Pulse
- Earth Power / Flamethrower / Tailwind / HP Ice
- Protect / ( See Third Slot Options "if Choiced")
Mega Metagross and Hydreigon is one of the several strong offensive cores who can cover each other's own weaknesses and while initiate immense pressure against opposing teams. With its Steel/Psychic-typing, Meta Metagross is able to threaten many common Fairy-, Fighting-, Dragon-, and Ice-type Pokemon thanks to its STAB Tough Claw boosted coverage most listed above. Some of these Pokemon like Terrakion, Sylveon, Mega Salamence, Mega Gardevoir, Mega Abomasnow, Conkeldurr, etc are able to dispatch Hydreigon with ease, though fear Meta Metagross due to its coverage, natural resistances, and rather high defensive stats. On the other hand, the Dark-/Dragon-type Hydreigon can threaten or deal massive damage to Pokemon Mega Metagross normally can't deal with like opposing Steel-, Fire-, and Ghost-types. Hydreigon can also switch into opposing Ground-types thanks to its Levitate ability and is a decent makeshift response to opposing weather teams that abuse Rain (Water-type)and Sun (Fire-type), which it resists thanks to its part Dragon-typing. In short, Mega Metagross + Hydreigon near perfect defensive synergy allows them to perform above average against some of the most common metagame threats, can use the combination of their bulk, above average speed stats, offensive output, and again their natural resistances to threaten opposing teams in nearly every turn. For a good Team Report guide featuring this core, I recommend looking into this NB post done early VGC 15, though remembers its not indicative how BS Doubles is at the moment.
- Pokémon featured: Politoed and Ludicolo / Kingdra
- Metagame: Battle Spot Doubles (VGC 15)
- Core Type: Offense (Rain)
- Sets:
Politoed @ Sitrus Berry / Damp Rock
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 76 SpA / 100 SpD / 4 Spe
Calm Nature
- Scald
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Helping Hand / Encore
- Protect
(Note: Can be run "Choice Scarf", though use a Timid Variant)
Ludicolo @ Assault Vest
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 156 HP / 52 Def / 156 SpA / 4 SpD / 140 Spe
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Giga Drain
- Ice Beam
- Fake Out
(Note: Can be run with Life Orb, though change EVs to maximize damage output)
Kingdra @ Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 116 HP / 252 SpA / 140 Spe
Modest Nature
- Muddy Water / Scald
- Draco Meteor
- Ice Beam / Hydro Pump / Disable
- Protect
Every "Rain" team in VGC / Doubles employs the use of Pokemom "Politoed" not only for its exclusive access to the weather ability, Drizzle but also has a wide range of support options to support common Swift Swim sweepers. Starting with the blantly obvious, as long as the "rain" is up, all Water-type attacks (unless a Pokemon has Air Lock / Cloud Nine), have a 50% boost in attack power, making Politoed's "Scald" hits stronger than before. Ice-type coverage is run on Rain-based teams to hit Dragon-, and Grass-types given how most VGC teams use team as checks. Recall Politoed is not known for offense, just mostly to setup the rain and some of its support options like Scald to fish for burns, Icy Wind to drop the opposing speeds, Encore to lock an opponent into an undesired option, and Helping Hand to boosts its partners offensive power by a further 50% boost. Ludicolo is a common Swift Swim user found on Rain-types given its Grass-/Water-typing deals with opposing Grass-types, and takes neutral damage from the likes of Electric-, Ice-, and Grass-types respectively. Most Ludicolos tend to have Fake Out support to allow Politoed, or another Pokemon to setup, or deal damage against the opposing team. Thanks to the Rain, this Ludicolo has enough speed to outspeed some of the fastest non Scarf Pokemon in the game, while deal heavy damage with its Rain-boosted STAB Scalds, or STAB Giga Drains for opposing Water-types. Though not as strong as it once was due to the prevalance of Fairy-types, Kingdra remains among the premier Swift Swim users thanks to its impressive nautral bulk, weaknesses in two types, and of course its part Dragon-type. What sets Kingdra apart from Ludicolo is potential to hit harder in the rain with moves like Muddy Water, Hydro Pump, Scald, etc. One interesting combination Kingdra and Politoed can use is the Encore Disable combination as Kingdra can "Disable", or prevent the target from using an attack (after scouting via protect), while Politoed can lock the target into the said move so its forced to struggle.
- Pokémon featured: Mega Charizard Y and Sylveon
- Metagame: Battle Spot Doubles (VGC 15)
- Core Type: Offense
- Sets:
Charizard @ Charizardite Y
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest / Timid Nature
- Heat Wave / Flamethrower
- Solar Beam
- Overheat / HP Ground / Tailwind
- Protect
Sylveon @ Pixie Plate / Life Orb
Ability: Pixilate
EVs: 188 HP / 68 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
- Hyper Voice
- Helping Hand / Calm Mind
- Hidden Power Ground
- Protect
The combination of Charizard Y and Sylveon is a deadly pair to face when matched together. From an offensive perspective, only Fire-type and other specially defensive Pokemon are able to take the near perfect coverage of Fire/Fairy. Thanks to the Drought-boosted Fire-types like Heat Wave for Char Y, and the Pixilate-boosted Hyper Voices from Sylveon, both Pokemon can hit targets with strong spread damage to the point where they'd falter the following turn. In terms of offensive synergy, Charizard Y alleviates Sylveon's concern of Steel-types like Aegislash, M-Mawile, Bisharp, and Mega Metagross as it can easily OHKO them with its Drought-boosted STAB Fire-type attacks. Though not weak to Fire-type moves, common Poison-types like Mega Venusaur, Gengar, and Amoonguss have a difficult time switching into these attacks from Char Y to help Sylveon. On the other hand, Sylveon deal with Dragon types who can't switch into a Pixilate Hyper Voice, and can also be useful in "weather" wars against rain teams thanks to its natural high special defense. In terms of support, Charizard Y can setup Tailwind to allow faster Sylveon variants to outspeed the likes of Mega Salamence, while Sylveon can use Helping Hand to further boost the the Drought-boosted attacks from Char Y to ridiculous levels. If Wide Guard users are a concern, Char Y and Sylveon can use single target STABs like Flamethrower, and Moonblast respectively in case something like Conkeldurr or Aegislash carries these options for their spread attack, though they would faint to such moves. HP Ground is opted on either Pokemon in case Heatran becomes an issue as its quad resists Fairy-types attacks and is immune to Fire-types. For a good team report of this core, definitely recommend looking into this article done by Calisweeper as his team integrated the use of both Sylveon and Char Y extremely well and placed high with them.
