Sceptile Leaf Blade
Nighttime Guardian
I've been running this team for a while with some decent success in Battle Spot Doubles.
Torkoal @ Focus Sash
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Sp.Atk, 4 Sp.Def
Nature: Quiet
IVs: 31 HP, 31 Def, 31 Sp.Atk, 31 Sp.Def, 0 Speed
- Eruption
- Lava Plume
- Protect
- Explosion
Torkoal is the setup pokémon. Its job is to set sun and activate Typhlosion's Flash Fire with its Lava Plume. It goes for minimum speed to outslow everything else on the field on turn one. Focus Sash is there to prevent it getting KOd on the first turn by powerful Z-Moves or super effective hits like Nihilego's Power Gem, but I'm wondering if it might be worthwhile swapping for Heat Rock. Explosion is used to get Lilligant in safely after setting up Typhlosion while Typhlosion uses Protect. Eruption is a power move in case the opponent goes for Trick Room.
Musharna @ Mental Herb
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP, 140 Def, 116 Sp.Def
Nature: Sassy
IVs: 31 HP, 31 Def, 31 Sp.Atk, 31 Sp.Def, 0 Speed
- Psychic
- Calm Mind
- Baton Pass
- Moonlight
Musharna's job is to survive the first turn or first two turns of attacks and then use a slow Baton Pass to get Typhlosion in safely as Torkoal uses Lava Plume. As Musharna is so slow (it outslows min speed Slowbro, Snorlax, and Wishiwashi) it usually goes after the opposing side, with only Torkoal and Shuckle being somewhat common pokémon in doubles that are slower. If the opposing side is not threatening (or packs Fake Out), I use Calm Mind on the first turn while Torkoal uses Protect, and then use Baton Pass and Lava Plume, passing the Calm Mind boost to Typhlosion as well. Musharna tends to be more than bulky enough to survive virtually anything on the first turn with this defensive investment, and the Mental Herb is to stop Taunt.
Lilligant @ Occa Berry
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Sp.Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Nature: Timid
-Solar Beam
-After You
-Helping Hand
-Sleep Powder
Lilligant is the supporting pokémon, designed to come in after Torkoal goes down to assist Typhlosion in its destruction. Helping Hand helps it against particularly bulky foes while After You helps it against faster foes like Tapu Koko and Alakazam. Sleep Powder shuts down troublesome foes like Heatran, and Solar Beam is the offensive move.
Typhlosion @ Firium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Sp.Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Nature: Modest
-Eruption
-Flamethrower
-Focus Blast
-Protect
Typhlosion is the big powerhouse of the team, capable of destroying almost anything in a single hit with the proper set up. With Torkoal activating the sun and Flash Fire and Musharna getting it in safely at full health, Eruption becomes a massive weapon of destruction, KOing almost anything that doesn't resist it, and 2HKOing even bulky resists like Incineroar, it even OHKOs Cresselia with Helping Hand support. The power is amplified even further if I set up Calm Mind on Musharna first. Flamethrower is used when Typhlosion's health is low as a reliable offensive move. I prefer not to use Lava Plume next to Lilligant and I don't have access to ORAS move tutors for Heat Wave. Focus Blast OHKOs Tyranitar in the sand and 2KOs Heatran, and also hits Houndoom. Firium Z gives it a one-off extreme nuke that OHKOs pretty much everything not immune in the sun with Flash Fire activated, hitting roughly twice as hard as Eruption does at full health. It's especially useful to get through bulky foes after Typhlosion's health goes down, or if the sun somehow gets broken.
Overall the team functions well, winning most battles in the Battle Spot, but I'm wondering if I should replace Focus Sash on Torkoal with a Heat Rock, and maybe go for a more bulky spread on the Sp.Def side. I often notice that the sun just lasts one or two turns too short, especially if I go with a Calm Mind set up, and Lilligant's support suffers without that weather. It loves the Chlorophyll Sleep Powder and Chlorophyll After You to shut down opponents before they get to move, and Solar Beam is an awkward two-turn move without it. I don't really have the move slots to spare to teach Sunny Day to either Lilligant, Torkoal, or Typhlosion, and Musharna is unable to learn it. Also, I'm looking for a better item for Lilligant. The Occa Berry is situational and doesn't seem to really pull through against powerful fire attacks in the sun like Heatran's Heat Wave which KO regardless. I was considering Wide Lens to help Sleep Powder's accuracy, but I'm not sure.
Torkoal @ Focus Sash
Ability: Drought
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Sp.Atk, 4 Sp.Def
Nature: Quiet
IVs: 31 HP, 31 Def, 31 Sp.Atk, 31 Sp.Def, 0 Speed
- Eruption
- Lava Plume
- Protect
- Explosion
Torkoal is the setup pokémon. Its job is to set sun and activate Typhlosion's Flash Fire with its Lava Plume. It goes for minimum speed to outslow everything else on the field on turn one. Focus Sash is there to prevent it getting KOd on the first turn by powerful Z-Moves or super effective hits like Nihilego's Power Gem, but I'm wondering if it might be worthwhile swapping for Heat Rock. Explosion is used to get Lilligant in safely after setting up Typhlosion while Typhlosion uses Protect. Eruption is a power move in case the opponent goes for Trick Room.
Musharna @ Mental Herb
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 252 HP, 140 Def, 116 Sp.Def
Nature: Sassy
IVs: 31 HP, 31 Def, 31 Sp.Atk, 31 Sp.Def, 0 Speed
- Psychic
- Calm Mind
- Baton Pass
- Moonlight
Musharna's job is to survive the first turn or first two turns of attacks and then use a slow Baton Pass to get Typhlosion in safely as Torkoal uses Lava Plume. As Musharna is so slow (it outslows min speed Slowbro, Snorlax, and Wishiwashi) it usually goes after the opposing side, with only Torkoal and Shuckle being somewhat common pokémon in doubles that are slower. If the opposing side is not threatening (or packs Fake Out), I use Calm Mind on the first turn while Torkoal uses Protect, and then use Baton Pass and Lava Plume, passing the Calm Mind boost to Typhlosion as well. Musharna tends to be more than bulky enough to survive virtually anything on the first turn with this defensive investment, and the Mental Herb is to stop Taunt.
Lilligant @ Occa Berry
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 Sp.Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Nature: Timid
-Solar Beam
-After You
-Helping Hand
-Sleep Powder
Lilligant is the supporting pokémon, designed to come in after Torkoal goes down to assist Typhlosion in its destruction. Helping Hand helps it against particularly bulky foes while After You helps it against faster foes like Tapu Koko and Alakazam. Sleep Powder shuts down troublesome foes like Heatran, and Solar Beam is the offensive move.
Typhlosion @ Firium Z
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Sp.Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Nature: Modest
-Eruption
-Flamethrower
-Focus Blast
-Protect
Typhlosion is the big powerhouse of the team, capable of destroying almost anything in a single hit with the proper set up. With Torkoal activating the sun and Flash Fire and Musharna getting it in safely at full health, Eruption becomes a massive weapon of destruction, KOing almost anything that doesn't resist it, and 2HKOing even bulky resists like Incineroar, it even OHKOs Cresselia with Helping Hand support. The power is amplified even further if I set up Calm Mind on Musharna first. Flamethrower is used when Typhlosion's health is low as a reliable offensive move. I prefer not to use Lava Plume next to Lilligant and I don't have access to ORAS move tutors for Heat Wave. Focus Blast OHKOs Tyranitar in the sand and 2KOs Heatran, and also hits Houndoom. Firium Z gives it a one-off extreme nuke that OHKOs pretty much everything not immune in the sun with Flash Fire activated, hitting roughly twice as hard as Eruption does at full health. It's especially useful to get through bulky foes after Typhlosion's health goes down, or if the sun somehow gets broken.
Overall the team functions well, winning most battles in the Battle Spot, but I'm wondering if I should replace Focus Sash on Torkoal with a Heat Rock, and maybe go for a more bulky spread on the Sp.Def side. I often notice that the sun just lasts one or two turns too short, especially if I go with a Calm Mind set up, and Lilligant's support suffers without that weather. It loves the Chlorophyll Sleep Powder and Chlorophyll After You to shut down opponents before they get to move, and Solar Beam is an awkward two-turn move without it. I don't really have the move slots to spare to teach Sunny Day to either Lilligant, Torkoal, or Typhlosion, and Musharna is unable to learn it. Also, I'm looking for a better item for Lilligant. The Occa Berry is situational and doesn't seem to really pull through against powerful fire attacks in the sun like Heatran's Heat Wave which KO regardless. I was considering Wide Lens to help Sleep Powder's accuracy, but I'm not sure.