Heracross VGC 14 Team

[hatakenojutsu]

To start off, I want to say that although I've been doing competitive battle for almost half a year now, I've never been able to build what I can say a great team. I have experimented alot of teams lately, most of which are not meshing the way I want them too. So here I am, asking for advice :) BTW, this is a doubles VGC 14 team.

Things I want to keep:

• Mega Heracross. My favorite Pokemon. As much as possible, I don't want to replace him. Move changes are welcome though.
• Prankster Support. Can't do a battle without them. Hahaha. Maybe it's a bad habit on my side.

THE TEAM

Heracross @ Heracronite
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SPEED / 4 ATK
Nature: Jolly
- Pin Missile
- Bullet Seed
- Close Combat
- Rock Blast

I take advantage of Skill Link with the Pin Missile/Bullet Seed/Rock Blast moves. I chose those moves for wide coverage (especially Rock Blast, for Flying Pokes). I selected Close Combat for STAB fighting move. Though I don't really like the DEF/SPDEF debuff =_=. I mainly use Heracross as my first Pokemon along with my Fakeout support.

Blastoise @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Rain Dish
EVs: 220 HP/ 144 SPDEF / 144 DEF
Nature: Calm
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rain Dance

I think Blastoise is bulky enough for my needs, plus I can use some STAB Water moves for Fire-type threats and also Ice Beam for Dragon Pokes. I'm not really sure what last move I should choose so I go for Rain Dance to take advantage of his ability, though I really find this a waste of turn so it'll probably change.

Meowstic M @Choice Scarf
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SPEED
Nature: Timid
- Trick
- Fake Out
- Safeguard
- Charm

I've been using different Prankster Pokemon for awhile, except for Meowstic. So I want to give this Pokemon a shot. After reading some guide online, I've decided to go with this moveset. Trick is to immobilize opponent's Pokemon. Fake Out. My standard move for a support. Safeguard, to avoid status moves and finally Charm, to weaken physical threats.

Raichu @ Air Balloon
Ability: Lightning Rod
EVs: 252 ATK / 252 SPEED / 4 HP
Nature:
- Fake Out
- Protect
- Nuzzle
- Volt Switch

This Pokemon is actually a result of watching Pachirisu :D Though I don't have the follow me move in my arsenal. I think I can make use of the Lightning Rod ability. I'm not really sure with this. Fake Out, again. My standard support move. Protect to scout and survive. Nuzzle for paralysis. Volt Switch is also for scouting and free switch-ins.

Venusaur @ Black Sludge
Ability: Overgrowth
EVs: 252 HP / 128 DEF / 128 SPDEF
Nature: Calm
- Sludge Bomb
- Giga Drain
- Leech Seed
- Protect

I have been using Venusaur ever since I've pulled off a double Leech Seed + Black Sludge + Giga Drain wall. I just think it has a potential. Though there's the pesky type disadvantage. Protect is there to also improve recovery.

Talonflame @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Gale Wing
EVs: 4 HP / 252 ATK / 252 SPEED
Nature: Jolly
- Brave Bird
- Tailwind
- Quick Guard
- Roost

I use Talonflame as a support. Brave Bird is mainly for damage and priority. Tailwind, to boost speed of my Pokes. Quick Guard is there to protect my Pokemon from priority moves. Roost is for recovery.
​

 

[PlatinumDude]

Mega Heracross needs Protect over Bullet Seed. Protect is a staple in doubles formats, you know, to let a teammate take out a threat, scouting for moves or punishing double-targeting.

Here's a better take on Raichu. It's too frail to use Nuzzle, really:
-Fake Out
-Thunderbolt/Volt Switch
-Hidden Power (Ice)/Protect
-Encore
Nature: Timid
EVs: 36 HP/220 SAtk/252 Spe
Item: Focus Sash
Ability: Lightning Rod

I don't think Blastoise is cut for doubles formats, given that it's not really that strong in its regular form; Mega Blastoise is the sole reason you'd be even using Blastoise itself in the first place. Rain Dance isn't a necessity on the team unless you're afraid of Mega Charizard Y and its support moves work best in singles. The better bulky Water Pokemon to use here is Wash Rotom (whose shared Ground weakness with Raichu isn't a concern thanks to Levitiate):
-Thunderbolt
-Hydro Pump
-Will-o-Wisp
-Protect/Light Screen/Reflect
Nature: Calm
EVs: 252 HP/44 Def/60 SAtk/148 SDef/4 Spe
Item: Sitrus Berry

Here's a better take on Meowstic; it's really doing too much at once and Fake Out doesn't really mesh well with Choice Scarf, given that Meowstic has to switch out right after using it on the very first turn it's out:
-Safeguard
-Swagger
-Thunder Wave/Reflect/Charm
-Psychic/Fake Out/Light Screen
Nature: Bold
EVs: 252 HP/196 Def/60 SDef
Item: Mental Herb/Sitrus Berry
Ability: Prankster

Venusaur is so out-of-place on this team. Having Mega Charizard Y as a partner for it is mandatory, due to Venusaur's Chlorophyll and your Mega slot is already taken up by Heracross. Leech Seed stalling is better done in singles, again, due to the fast pace in doubles. Amoonguss is the better alternative here, due to Spore/Rage Powder support:
-Spore
-Rage Powder
-Giga Drain
-Protect
Nature: Calm/Sassy
EVs: 252 HP/180 Def/76 SDef
Item: Black Sludge/Rocky Helmet

In doubles formats, Talonflame will have no time to use Roost, since the pace there is too fast. It also needs Flare Blitz to get past Steel Pokemon. As long as Talonflame gets to support its teammates or revenge kill threats, there's really no need for recovery:
-Flare Blitz
-Brave Bird
-Tailwind/Quick Guard
-Protect/Quick Guard
Nature: Adamant
EVs: 84 HP/252 Atk/172 Spe
Item: Life Orb/Sharp Beak/Sky Plate
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