Rakhmaninov

Changes according to discord: Rotom-M -> A- Tier Rotom-W -> A+ Tier

Brilliant, thanks for your feedback! I agree that "goodstuff" shouldn't have its own framework. It may even be worth considering writing a separate "goodstuff" article (or subsection within this article), like this one for VGC 2012: https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/vgc-2012-goodstuffs-article.3462191/

I was thinking similarly, but I'm not sure how that would fit into a frameworks article. "Goodstuff" teams may even require their own separate article! As far as I am aware, @JosueFeng has been running that same team for a while, at least since when Garchomp had Swords Dance, so he has had a lot of experience with it! It would be nice to hear his insights on it. In fact, JosueFeng's team corresponds nearly exactly to the Garchomp archetype in my previous article, so I assume it's built around a hone claws set up now that Swords Dance is no longer available, is this correct? I'll have a think what features a team needs, and perhaps include a "general checklist" section. See this guide for what I mean: https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/doubles-ou-teambuilding-frameworks.3571514/ I'd love to hear your thoughts on what the general requirements are for PokeMMO doubles! :)

Thanks! Please let me know if there's anything you'd like to add/critique about the guide :)

Tier listing is now in alphabetical order. There was previously some confusion about this. I'd also like to promote Manectric to B-/B Tier. It has a bit less speed than its rival Jolteon, but arguably has a better ability for supporting rain teams in Lightning Rod, and has slightly better coverage than Jolteon as it has access to flamethrower/overheat. @Kamowanthere - you won a tournament with it, thoughts?

Update - Added Sample Teams section Agreed!

Added RainRoom framework Please offer any criticisms you think are necessary :)

Updated with common cores

I agree. Perhaps if this suggestion is successful, I will follow it up with "separate doubles bans from singles bans," so that we can establish a more sophisticated PvP system.

Seen as the doubles format has the likes of CritDra and Dragon Gem Salamence firing off boosted Draco Meteors left right and center, why shouldn't Hydreigon be able to use Draco Meteor too? I don't know much about the complexities of the ban for the singles format, but in doubles, Dragon Pulse and Draco Meteor on Hydreigon can be used quite interchangeably (as far as I am aware). Given that Hydreigon lacks a strong STAB spread move, Nasty Plot sweeps are much harder to achieve, especially due to its awkward speed tier. Currently, Hydreigon sits at a mediocre 45.37% win percentage for doubles, and is relatively easy to handle, with the majority of teams carrying Pokemon which can take it down. For example: With the appropriate speed control, most of these pokemon can OHKO Hydreigon outright. Needless to say, Hydreigon finds itself facing a lot of competition in the current doubles format, with or without Draco Meteor. I appreciate that, with a +2 Draco Meteor, Hydreigon can handle the threats listed above more easily, but it still wouldn't change the fact of its awkward speed, lack of STAB spread move, and weaknesses to common type coverage (fighting, dragon, ice). Thus, I would argue strongly that the removal of Draco Meteor from Hydreigon's move pool is unjustifiable in the context of the doubles format, and it instead would be preferable to simply ban Hydreigon Draco Meteor use from singles play only. *sad hydreigon noises*

Here's a piece of classical music I composed! Hope you enjoy :D

Updated OP as of Season #3 Here is a compilation of all tournament finals teams going back to CC 214: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ER3k8HDbE-oheiLh-NLulexDBEUd6wBdopufgyR9ngA/edit?usp=sharing

Updates according to viability rankings discord: Tyranitar -> S Tier Porygon2 -> A Tier Pelipper -> A Tier Crobat -> A Tier Whimsicott -> A- Tier Jellicent -> B+ Tier Escavalier -> B- Tier

Haha I learned from the best! With a few tweaks of my own, of course... XD

Thanks for referencing my guide! I've just updated it to include a sample team of mine in case people need a place to start :)

Added Tailwind Framework

Doubles Teambuilding Frameworks Welcome to the new and updated Doubles Teambuilding Frameworks! This guide aims to suggest common structures to successful teams. The teams listed are from recent tournament finals. Please let me know if you want your team removing or adding. - Disclaimer - As PokeMMO Doubles doesn't have many over-centralising Pokemon, this guide focuses on team archetypes that do have centralising Pokemon at their core, for example weather setters and Trick Room users. Frameworks will tend to over-generalise, so take this guide with a pinch of salt! Please let me know if you have any suggestions or criticisms! I'd love to know if you have had tournament/ladder success with any of these frameworks! Rain @OrangeManiac - CC #222; Doubles Season #3 Finale - East @Imabetheverybest1 - Doubles Season #1 Finale - East @Kamowanthere - Martial Rapidity Corazones - Clash of Supercomputers Paramore - CC #235 1: Pelipper - Often runs tailwind, in case opposing tailwind users try to remove swift swim boosts. Choice Scarf sets are also quite common. 2: Swift Swim - Kingdra and Ludicolo are the usual suspects. Kingdra is more popular here, as it has a high SpA stat, and access to STAB Draco Meteor 3: Electric Type/Swift Swim #2 - Electric types deal with opposing Pelipper and flying types like Togekiss, which can otherwise be a real pain for rain teams without a strong electric STAB. Usually runs Thunder. 4: Steel Type - As rain reduces damage done by fire type moves by 50%, steel types are a staple in most rain teams. 5: Rain Abuser / Filler - The next two slots are really up to you. Aim to round out the team against potential weaknesses, such as Trick Room. OrangeManiac uses Ludicolo as a secondary swift swim user, while Corazones uses Gastrodon to abuse its ability Storm Drain, which gives it a +1 SpA boost every time its partner uses Surf. 6: Filler Sand @HALOTT - CC #237 Fermie - CC #225 @Baneadito - CC #218; Pachanga Said the Changa Javierrrrrr - CC #215 Queest - Did someone say Party? 1: Tyranitar 2: Excadrill 3: Speed Control / Ground Immune - Typically, most sand teams tend to run 2-3 ground immune Pokemon, so that Excadrill can freely spam earthquakes. Crobat and Salamence are excellent partners: Crobat can take out many of the common fighting types that threaten both Tyranitar and Excadrill, and Salamence can also provide a Draco Meteor nuke. Fast tailwind users are the go-to choice here due to the gen 8 speed mechanics, so Javierrrrrr uses Whimsicott for priority Tailwind. Notice that Queest uses a full trick room sand team. 4: Fake Out - 4 out of 5 teams listed use fighting type Pokemon with access to moves like fake out and wide guard to support the team. Fake out allows for easier set ups, and wide guard stops oncoming spread moves such as earthquake and surf, which both threaten Tyranitar and Excadrill. Javierrrr breaks this pattern by using Gyarados, who is immune to Earthquake, and can support the team with access to various defensive options, such as taunt, thunder wave and intimidate. 5: Trick Room Check/Mode - As Tyranitar is able to function in and out of Trick Room, 2 out of 4 teams run an optional Trick Room mode. The other 2 teams use Pokemon which can hit common TR setters like Reuniclus for super effective damage, or stop a Trick Room set up with taunt. 6: Filler - Again, use this slot to cover the team's weaknesses. Bulky water types like Rotom-Wash are especially very popular on sand teams, as they offer some resistance to rain teams. Note that all 4 teams have a ground immunity in this slot. Trick Room @OrangeManiac - CC #231; Did someone say Party? @OrangeManiac - CC #222 @jjjjhh - CC #227 @iamchameleon - CC #228 1: Trick Room Setter - Principally Reuniclus for its commendable power and typing, this first slot should be dedicated to your primary trick room setter. Reuniclus is a great partner for Tyranitar, as it handles the fighting types Tyranitar struggles with 2: Fake Out - This slot is usually occupied by Hariyama, as it also functions well as a trick room sweeper with a powerful STAB in Guts-boosted Close Combat. 3: Weather Setter - I'm only listing teams with a Sand Stream user here, as SunRoom and RainRoom deserve separate archetypes. Gigalith is an interesting choice on iamchameleon's team. It has a lower speed stat than Tyranitar, but sacrifices Dark type STAB. 4: Secondary Trick Room - Chandelure and Porygon2 are the most popular choices here. Chandelure provides fantastic offense, whilst Porygon2 provides fantastic defense, each with unique support options. 5: Support - OrangeManiac uses Salamence as both a fast mode outside of trick room, and as a way to nuke threats to Trick Room set ups with STAB Dragon Gem Draco Meteor. The other two teams listed utilise redirection support, which benefits the whole team. 6: Filler - This should round out the team. Tertiary trick room setters are a good option if you want even more solidarity to a full trick room team. Tailwind MinyHan - Nosy Pig, Best Pig EYL - Doubles Season #3 Finale - West; ShanQi - Nosy Pig, Best Pig @iamchameleon - CC #223 Fermie - CC #223 @PoseidonWrath - CC #233 1: Tailwind Setter - Fast/Priority Tailwind speed boosts apply immediately due to Gen 8 speed mechanics. Crobat is the most common choice here, however, Whimsicott has access to priority Fake Tears, which supports any relevant special attackers on the team 2: Anti-TR Lead - This season has seen the rise of Mienshao+Chandelure leads as a way to counter the common Hariyama+Reuniclus core. As long as it is in play, Imprison Chandelure will stop any Trick Room users from setting up. Chandelure can also hit most of the common Trick Room users for super effective damage, bar Porygon2 3: Anti-TR Lead #2 / Tailwind Sweeper/Setter - Having a powerful fighting STAB as well as access to fake out allows the anti-TR lead to provide an answer to Porygon2, which Chandelure otherwise struggles against. NB - (252 Atk Life Orb Mienshao Close Combat vs. 244 HP / 156 Def Eviolite Porygon2: 159-190 (83.2 - 99.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO). Notice that EYL uses Salamence as a secondary Tailwind Setter. 4: Weather Setter (Anti-Rain) - Usually Tyranitar, this slot ensures that any Swift Swim bonuses are not granted by winning the weather war. Iamchameleon's team has a unique addition in Vanilluxe, which utilises icy wind to further the team's speed advantage. 5: Filler - Most teams listed use a bulky steel type in slot 5: Metagross deals with Trick Room quite well, and can use Explosion to gain momentum over the opponent. Note that Rotom-W completes a Fire-Water-Grass core in Fermie's Team. 6: Filler RainRoom ALLLZ - Season 2 Finale - West LeoTsb - CC #232 @Huargensy - CC #229 @JhowCrazy - duality of three 1: Pelipper - Rain Setter. At 65 speed, it is slow enough to run a Trick Room set. Interestingly, a 0- Spe Pelipper will underspeed a 0- Spe Tyranitar in Trick Room, meaning that it will win the weather war on switch in if Trick Room is set up. 2: Jellicent - Jellicent is the only real reason to run a RainRoom team (no alliteration intended XD). With access to Water Spout, it becomes a powerful offensive threat under Trick Room conditions. It can also be used as a Trick Room setter, with fake out immunity and some item flexibility if a Mental Herb is on the cards. Generally, gem-boosted Water Spout is the best way to go. 3: TR Setter - Porygon2 is the TR setter of choice here. It has great type synergy with Jellicent, as normal/ghost types cancel out each other's weaknesses (bar dark/electric/grass). It has a fantastic movepool (as Porygon is a Gen 1 pokemon), with both offensive and supportive options, as well as incredible bulk. 4: Bulky Steel Type - Metagross is the usual suspect here. Being able to use explosion next to Jellicent with impunity is a fantastic way to set up Trick Room offensively, clearing out any unsuspecting targets. It also handles the fighting types that Porygon2 is weak to. Bronzong is an interesting choice on jhowteon's team, with access to explosion, as well as a vast support movepool, including Trick Room, Ally Switch and Rain Dance to name a few. 5: Fighting Type/Fake Out - There is a surprising amount of continuity in all 4 teams listed as to the next two slots (so far!). All teams employ either fake out or redirection support, and provide fighting/grass type coverage to handle the various Tyranitars and bulky waters that pose a threat to a Jellicent sweep. Hariyama and Conkeldurr are welcome additions to any Trick Room team, providing a guts-boosted close combat for a nuke under Trick Room. Hitmontop is used on LeoTsb/ALLLZ's teams, as it is able to function inside and outside of Trick Room, given that Ludicolo is used for a "fast-mode." 6: Grass Type - Lots of variety here. Ludicolo has access to fake out and swift swim, so it provides a fast mode if the opposing team has good trick room counters. Parasect is an ingenious option on @Huargensy's team, with access to rage powder and dry skin to facilitate a Jellicent sweep. Lastly, Abomasnow on jhowteon's team was probably used as a way to counter @Imabetheverybest1's Garchomp/Rotom-W/Gastrodon core, so it's a specific counter-pick, and shouldn't be considered as a general option. Set up lancyl - Spinning Top; HannzPizarro - CC #262 EYL - CC #264 fengrinrin - CC #261 1: Set Up Sweeper #1 - Poliwrath has recently seen a surge in popularity, thanks to its access to belly drum. With sufficient support, it can sweep through teams with a one-turn set up. Focus energy Kingdra with Sniper is also quite a popular set up sweeper - once it has set up, draco meteor and muddy water will have a 100% critical hit chance, meaning draco meteor's SpA drop no longer applies. 2: Set Up Sweeper #2 - If you choose Poliwrath as a set up sweeper, you'll ideally want something which can handle electric types. Gliscor and Hydreigon both resist electric, and are both excellent set up sweepers in their own right, with swords dance+hyper cutter and nasty plot respectively. Fengrinrin uses lucario as a secondary set up sweeper, as inner focus will prevent its swords dance boost from being taken away. Other notable set up sweepers: Dragonite (dragon dance+inner focus), Volcarona (quiver dance), Scizor (swords dance), Rotom-W (nasty plot) etc... 3: Togekiss - Staple on any set up team, as with blastoise. A huge support movepool, notably follow me, air slash, tailwind, and imprison, which is fantastic for stopping opposing set up teams 4: Blastoise - Access to both fake out and follow me, with great bulk, make Blastoise a fantastic support pokemon. 5-6: Support - The remaining pokemon aim to round out the team's weaknesses. Amoonguss has access to spore, and rage powder, which makes it immune to opposing imprison+follow me strategies. Hitmontop is a very common support pokemon, with access to intimidate, fake out, feint, wide guard, ally switch etc... Electabuzz is an interesting addition to EYL and lancyl's teams - with eviolite it is able to tank the majority of powerful moves in the metagame, and with access to follow me, feint, electroweb and static, makes it a powerful support option which is also resistant to the electric types which threaten togekiss and blastoise. Sample Teams The following teams have been created by using the above frameworks. Please feel free to contribute! Tailwind [Importable] And that's it so far! Please let me know what you think! Future frameworks: SunRoom

PokeMMO uses the Generation 8 base power for all moves, as far as I'm aware, which means leech life (as CaptnBaklava rightly said) has 80 base power. Use the latest Pokemon Damage Calculator to see how much damage moves do :)

I'd also like to point out that Leaf Storm is now also available for Ludicolo, if you're looking for more of a hit and run strategy

Ah okay, I'll have a think about alternating between Mamoswine/Amoonguss/Reuniclus and see which I like best :)

Agreed. My main question was if you have any ideas of how to improve the matchup with TR leads if there aren't many swappable slots?

Updated Team: https://pokepast.es/d954aeaa3b93df37 Will add this to OP

As I suspected. However, I'm already considering having Oblivious Mamoswine over Garchomp thanks to @iJulian's rate, so it's a bit of a toss-up. Any ideas here? Having Mamoswine as an extra answer to Togekiss leads is also a very attractive prospect...

Thank you mate, lots to consider here! You mentioned an anti TR mon - which slot do you envision swapping out for this?

Beautiful! Thanks so much, I really appreciate it :)