List of VGC and Battle Spot Doubles Cores (2015-2016): Part 1
- Pokémon featured: Mega Salamence and Aegislash
- Metagame: Battle Spot Doubles
- Core Type: Bulky Offense
- Sets:
Salamence-Mega @ Salamencite
Ability: Aerilate
Level: 50
EVs: 44 Atk / 212 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Double-Edge
- Hyper Voice
- Draco Meteor / Fire Blast / Earthquake
- Protect
Aegislash @ Leftovers / Life Orb
Ability: Stance Change
EVs: 252 HP / 100 SpA / 156 SpD
Modest Nature
- King's Shield
- Substitute / Wide Guard
- Shadow Ball
- Flash Cannon
Mega Salamence is one of the top Mega Evolutions in the Battle Spot Doubles format blessed if powerful offensive Flying-type attacks thanks to Aerialte and rather high defensive stats for a Pokemon. One of the issues using Mega Salamence is its often prone to Dragon-, Fairy-, Ice-, and Rock-type attacks, all of which are rather common in the Battle Spot Doubles metagame. Enter Aegislash. What this Steel/Ghost-type offers for Mega Salamence are crucial resistences to these common offensive typings and be able to switch in these moves thanks to its massive 150 defense stats on both sides. Wide Guard allows Aegislash to protect Mega Salamence from spread damage such as Pixilate Hyper Voice from Mega Gardevoir/Sylveon, Rock Slide from Excadrill/Tyranitar/Landorus-T, Icy Wind from Suicune/Milotic, etc. From an offensive perspective, Aegislash can also threaten most of these Fairy- and Ice-types with its STAB Flash Cannon or Iron Head. Thanks to Mega Salamence's excellent "pre-Mega" ability Intimidate, this allows Aegislash to have a better time holding its own against powerful physical attackers like Mega Kangaskhan, and reduce the damage done by a physical SE Earthquake on the haunted Ghost Shield. Mega Salamence can handle most Fire-type Pokemon for Aegislash as it hits them an Aerilate-boosted Double Edge, or go for a Super Effective Earthquake as Aegislash King Shield's, or Wide Guards.
From my Friend Elly
- Pokémon featured: Jirachi and Azumarill
- Metagame: Doubles OU
- Core type: Balanced
- Sets:
Jirachi @ Safety Goggles
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 92 Def / 164 SpD
Impish Nature
- Follow Me
- Iron Head
- Icy Wind / Thunder Wave
- Protect / Helping Hand
Azumarill @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
Adamant Nature
- Aqua Jet
- Knock Off / Play Rough
- Belly Drum
- Protect
This core is based on the combination of Jirachi's good typing/bulk and excellent support movepool in addition to Azumarill's huge (see what I did there) attack stat that can be further boosted by Belly Drum. Basically, the strategy is to have both of these guys at the same time on the field, and then use Follow Me on Jirachi while using Belly Drum on Azumarill. This way, you can use Belly Drum without having to worry about taking damage/status and then proceed to sweep (or try to) weakened or unprepared teams. Jirachi can also use either Icy Wind or Thunder Wave to slow down the opposing team, so Azu doesn't have to rely on Aqua Jet, and even Helping Hand to boost Azumarill's attack to disgusting levels.
- Pokémon featured: Mega Mawile and Gothitelle
- Metagame: Battle Spot Doubles (VGC 15)
- Core Type: Bulky Offense (Trick Room)
- Sets:
Mawile-Mega @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Play Rough
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head / Rock Slide
- Protect
Gothitelle @ Sitrus Berry / Mental Herb
Ability: Shadow Tag
EVs: 252 HP / 12 Def / 244 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Psychic
- Trick Room
- Helping Hand / Heal Pule / Tickle
- Protect
The combination of Mega Mawile and Shadow Tag Gothitelle remains one, if not the most threatening Trick Room cores to deal with. To start off, Mega Mawile is of one the most threatening Mega-Evolved Pokemon who can deal massive damage the opposing team thanks to is perfect neutral coverage and with Huge Power bolstering its physical attacks to astronomical levels. The main issue with using Mega Mawile is its rather low base 50 Speed as it relies heavily on the rather unreliable Sucker Punch priority, and most importantly, speed control like Trick Room to allow it to go first. What sets Gothitelle apart from most other Trick Room users is the Shadow Tag ability, which traps the opposing two Pokemon (who aren't Ghost-type) into the battlefield. Paired this Ability with Mawile's pre-Mega ability in Intimdate, now both opposing Pokemon are at minus one attack (-1) to begin the battle, and futher helps Gothitelle be able to successfully setup Trick Room for its partner. Once this scenario happens, Mega Mawile can effective cut down opposing teams with is high offensive stat as Gothitelle can support Mawile with a range of options such as Helping Hand (boost one Mawile's Attacks for one turn), Heal Pulse (recover Mawile's HP by 50%), and Tickle (reduces the attack/defense stats by one stage).
- 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.
- Pokémon featured: Arcanine and Milotic
- Metagame: Battle Spot Doubles (VGC 15)
- Core Type: Bulky Offensive
- Sets:
Arcanine @ Choice Band
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Close Combat
- Extreme Speed
- Wild Charge
Milotic @ Leftovers / Sitrus Berry
Ability: Competitive
EVs: 236 HP / 140 Def / 132 SpA
Modest Nature
- Scald
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Recover
- Protect
This is a rather new core Fire / Water core which's has seen some considerable usage in the Battle Spot Doubles ladder in offensive Arcanine and defensive Milotic. With the Choice Band item, an Adamant Arcanine can OHKO the following Pokemon with its respective coverage moves or high damage output from STAB Flare Blitz: Mega Kangashan (Close Combat), Heatran (CC), Char Y (Wild Charge), Sylveon (Flare Blitz), Mega Gardevoir (FB), and a ton of others. With its Fire-typing Arcanine can scare off any Grass-types like Breloom, Amoonguss, Virizion, etc who all beat Milotic with its powerful Choice Band Flare Blitz. Thanks to the Intimidate support, this allows Milotic to tank physical hits better and can perform its role as a bulky Water-type. In turn, Milotic is defensive enough to handle some of Arcanine's best counters like Rock-types (Tyranitar, Terrakion, Aerodactyl), and Ground-types (Landorus-T, Garchomp, Excadrill) with the combination of Scald + Ice-type coverage. If opted, Icy Wind can allow Milotic to drop the speed of the opposing two Pokemon by one stage, further allowing Arcanine to outspeed and run rampant against the opposing team. Perhaps the "real" danger of this core is setting off the "Competitive" ability as this allows Milotic to gain +2 in Special Attack. Pair Milotic with a Choice Band user like Arcanine and the opponent is forced to deal with either strong physical hits which can knock them out, or a +2 bulky Water-type with access to recovery.
- Pokémon featured: Mega Venusaur, Heatran, and Rotom-W
- Metagame: Battle Spot Doubles (VGC 15)
- Core Type: Defensive (Grass / Fire / Water)
- Sets:
Venusaur @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 HP / 124 Def / 76 SpA / 52 SpD / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb / HP Ground
- Leech Seed / Synethesis / Sleep Powder
- Protect
Heatran @ Leftovers / Shuca Berry / Air Balloon
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 180 HP / 252 SpA / 76 Spe
Modest Nature
- Heat Wave
- Earth Power
- Substitute / HP Ice
- Protect
Rotom-Wash @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Levitate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 36 Def / 60 SpA / 148 SpD / 12 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Will-O-Wisp / Thunder Wave
- Protect / Electroweb
The idea of this defensive Grass-Fire-Water core centers around Mega Venusaur, which seen its peak during the early VGC 15 / ORAS BS Double metagame popularized by Cybertron. The goal of this core is to use the defensive synergy between Mega Venusaur, Heatran, and Rotom-W to tank / wall most hits while slowly chip away at the opponent. Note both Heatran and Rotom-W are resistant to the ever present Flying-types like Mega Salamence and Talonflame, both of whom can beat Mega Venusaur. In term, Mega Venusaur can prove itself to be a defensive answer against both Water-, Grass-, Rock-, and Ground-types which normally threaten either Heatran and Rotom-W. The third slot on Mega Venusaur is usually up for debate, either Leech Seed for residual damage, Synthesis to replenish 50% HP (though cut in Sand/Rain/Hail), or Sleep Powder to put targets to sleep. As the 2nd member of the core, Fire-/Steel-type Heatran is task to deal with strong Grass-types Pokemon, wall most Fire-type with its Flash Fire ability, and use its high number of resistances to support the team. Substitute Leftovers is the most common Heatran sets with these core, though Shuca Berry is seen to tank Ground-type hits if its partners aren't on the field. Finally the levitating Water-/Electric-type Rotom-W can deal with Ground-, Water-, and Rock-type similar to Mega Venusaur, can provide status support from Will-O-Wisp and Thunder Wave. As mentioned, Rotom-W is an excellent check to Flying-type as it can use its STAB Thunderbolts, or one of status options to wear them down.
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