RMT Which bird do I use in doubles?

Started by Hot of Dog March 29th, 2014 5:19 PM
  • 1005 views
  • 6 replies

Hot of Dog

Failed Earth Adept

Male
Texas
Seen October 16th, 2018
Posted May 1st, 2014
11 posts
9.8 Years
So my doubles team on Showdown consists of Machamp, Blissey, Ambipom, Arcanine, Azumarill, and Staraptor. I used Swellow prior to trying out Staraptor and both have been pretty successful.
My question: which bird do you think i should use? Fast Swellow after guts boost hits threats hard that out speed Staraptor, but does not have the coverage with Close Combat. Staraptor has better bulk and works with Arcanine for the double intimidate to ruin physical attackers.

I'm not sure which is better. Can you help me

PlatinumDude

Nyeh?

Age 29
Male
Canada
Seen July 31st, 2020
Posted May 30th, 2020
12,958 posts
12.7 Years
I'm taking a third option here, and I'd rather use Talonflame over Swellow. Even though Gale Wings is redundant with its high Speed, it lets Talonflame get away with using an Adamant nature (Gale Wings gives Flying moves +1 priority). Plus, it has some neat support options in Tailwind and Quick Guard:
-Flare Blitz
-Brave Bird
-Tailwind/Quick Guard
-Protect/Quick Guard
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 84 HP/252 Atk/172 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Sky Plate/Sharp Beak
Ability: Gale Wings

or
-Flare Blitz
-Brave Bird
-U-turn
-Tailwind/Me First/Aerial Ace
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Item: Choice Band
Ability: Gale Wings

I think that Staraptor isn't a good user of Intimidate, tbh, because of its low defenses and reliance on recoil moves. Arcanine's susceptibility to Earthquake, Rock Slide and Surf (common spread moves) also makes it a risky Intimidate user. Better Intimidate users, IMO, are Mega Manectric, Therian Landorus, Salamence and Scrafty:

Mega Manectric:
-Thunderbolt
-Overheat/Flamethrower
-Hidden Power (Ice)/Volt Switch/Snarl
-Protect
Nature: Timid/Modest
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Manectite
Ability: Lightning Rod

Therian Landorus:
-Earthquake
-Rock Slide/Stone Edge
-U-turn/Knock Off
-Protect
Nature: Jolly/Adamant
EVs: 252 Atk/4 SDef/252 Spe
Item: Yache Berry/Focus Sash

or
-Earthquake
-Stone Edge/Rock Slide
-U-turn
-Superpower/Explosion/Knock Off
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 88 HP/252 Atk/168 Spe
Item: Choice Scarf

Salamence:
-Draco Meteor
-Dragon Pulse
-Fire Blast
-Rock Slide/Stone Edge/Hydro Pump
Nature: Naive/Rash/Timid/Modest
EVs: 4 Atk/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Scarf
Ability: Intimidate

or
-Draco Meteor
-Dragon Pulse
-Fire Blast
-Protect
Nature: Timid/Modest
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Haban Berry/Life Orb
Ability: Intimidate

or
-Draco Meteor
-Dragon Pulse
-Fire Blast
-Hydro Pump
Nature: Timid/Modest
EVs: 4 HP/252 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Choice Specs
Ability: Intimidate

Scrafty:
-Fake Out
-Drain Punch
-Crunch/Knock Off
-Detect/Ice Punch/Stone Edge
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 252 HP/244 Atk/12 Def
Item: Assault Vest/Lum Berry
Ability: Intimidate

Hot of Dog

Failed Earth Adept

Male
Texas
Seen October 16th, 2018
Posted May 1st, 2014
11 posts
9.8 Years
Thanks, but if you must know, I run bulky Arcanine with will o wisp and morning sun. Arcanine has an air balloon for earthquake users and the intimidates and burns really help cut the damage on rock slides. plus blissey wish passes to help it if need be. I'll try out talonflame for a bird and see how that goes

PlatinumDude

Nyeh?

Age 29
Male
Canada
Seen July 31st, 2020
Posted May 30th, 2020
12,958 posts
12.7 Years
Thanks, but if you must know, I run bulky Arcanine with will o wisp and morning sun. Arcanine has an air balloon for earthquake users and the intimidates and burns really help cut the damage on rock slides. plus blissey wish passes to help it if need be. I'll try out talonflame for a bird and see how that goes
In doubles formats (and triples to a lesser extent), status recovery moves are a waste of time because of the fast pace there. There's little reason to use recovery moves like Morning Sun. There's also very little time to Wish-pass, as the receiver could be KOed before it receives the Wish.

WonderfulWhiscash

Murderous Magikarp

Male
The other side of the rainbow (AKA England)
Seen July 30th, 2015
Posted April 8th, 2014
106 posts
9.5 Years
But...but Staraptor is a total beast!
Staraptor @Choice band
252 speed and attack, 4hp
reckless
Jolly nature
bbird
double edge
close combat
u turn
My friend code is
1349-5925-2021
and I am the ultra-manly fairy master!

PlatinumDude

Nyeh?

Age 29
Male
Canada
Seen July 31st, 2020
Posted May 30th, 2020
12,958 posts
12.7 Years
But...but Staraptor is a total beast!
Staraptor @Choice band
252 speed and attack, 4hp
reckless
Jolly nature
bbird
double edge
close combat
u turn
This is a doubles team, and Staraptor doesn't have much to offer in that environment apart from Intimidate support (which is done better by other Pokemon). Talonflame has some use in double formats thanks to utility in Quick Guard and Tailwind.