LC Doubles Cores

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LC Doubles Cores
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Core #1: Foongus + (Water-type) Shell Smasher
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Foongus @ Eviolite
Ability: Regenerator
Level: 5
EVs: 124 HP / 156 Def / 156 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Sludge Bomb
- Spore
- Rage Powder
- Protect

Tirtouga @ Berry Juice
Ability: Sturdy
Level: 5
EVs: 212 Atk / 12 Def / 76 SpD / 180 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Liquidation
- Rock Slide
- Shell Smash
- Protect

This core uses Foongus' redirection support to aid the Shell Smasher into setting up a sweep or applying great pressure. Foongus' typing resists Water-type's common weaknesses, which allows Foongus to resist the moves that will generally be thrown at the Shell Smasher. Sludge Bomb allows Foongus to get rid of Cottonee, who can otherwise switch into this core and Encore the Shell Smasher or just take it out with Giga Drain, since Grass-types ignore Rage Powder. Spore allows Foongus to pressure opposing teams with sleep, especially Trick Room teams. For this example, Tirtouga is the Shell Smasher of choice due to its consistency with Sturdy + Berry Juice, allowing it to set up without Foongus if necessary. Liquidation is the main STAB due to its higher base power over Waterfall, and Rock Slide offers spread STAB and a nice chance to flinch, especially if it connects on both opponents.

Water-types give this core some trouble, but you can easily fix this by changing Foongus' main attacking move to Giga Drain and adding Spritzee to the core. With Spritzee's Aroma Veil ability, you can prevent Cottonee and Purrloin from switching in and using Encore/Taunt to ruin the strategy. Strong Pokemon that can deal a lot damage to Foongus such as Aipom, Porygon, or Pawniard work well against the core, as they can take out Foongus with ease, leaving the Shell Smasher without any redirection support. Speed Control such as Tailwind and Trick Room can work against this core, but the latter will cause Foongus to be able to pressure you with Spore. Knock Off is a move that hurts this core as well because it removes the Shell Smasher's Berry Juice/Eviolite and leaves it vulnerable to priority, and if Foongus takes the hit instead, it will lose the bulk that it needs to tank hits for its teammate. Omanyte and Shellder also work instead of Tirtouga, although their lack of insurance without Sturdy + Berry Juice makes them less consistent in exchange for more coverage/power. Clamperl also works great in conjunction with Foongus, although you don't necessarily need to use Clamperl as a Shell Smasher, since it does very good as a wallbreaker while Foongus takes the hits for it.


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CORE #2: [Hyper Offense] Aipom + Pawniard
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Aipom @ Life Orb
Ability: Skill Link
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 116 Atk / 76 SpD / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Fake Out
- Fury Swipes
- Knock Off
- Protect

Pawniard @ Life Orb
Ability: Defiant
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 36 Def / 36 SpD / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Protect

This core is the very definition of offensive pressure. When you put together Aipom's crazy damage output with Fury Swipes, which is able to 2HKO a very large portion of the metagame with Pawniard's amazing offensive typing and access to Sucker Punch, you have a core that can serve as a great hyper offensive lead. Aipom's moveset is standard, as is Pawniard's. Aipom has Fake Out for pressure and chipping opponents, which usually will put them in KO range for Fury Swipes, which is the main STAB of choice. Knock Off allows Aipom to cripple everything that you can't hit with Fury Swipes such as Misdreavus, Tirtouga, and others. On a side note, Aipom's spread makes sure that Porygon is less likely to pick up a Special Attack boost, although it will still get the boost if it's Aipom and Pawniard on the field. Pawniard's main STABs are Knock Off and Iron Head, as per usual. Sucker Punch bypasses opponent's speed control, like Tailwind and Trick Room, so it's a great move to have, especially since Pawniard is going to be a bit frail due to the lack of Eviolite.

The counterplay against this core as a lead is tricky. One glimpse should tell you that Fighting-types should do well against this core, but truth be told, they can be overwhelmed by the sheer offense through the combination of Fake Out, Fury Swipes, Iron Head and even Sucker Punch. Aipom's 19 Speed stat means that it stands as one of the fastest Fake Out users on the metagame, so any Fighting-type will fall prey to Fake Out unless they Protect. If Scraggy is the answer, things can be a bit awkward. You will lower Aipom's attack with Intimidate to useless levels, but then Pawniard grabs a +2 boost with Defiant on top of its Life Orb, which is not desirable because Pawniard is faster than Scraggy. Mienfoo, while faster than Pawniard, can be KO'd by a combination of Fake Out + Fury Swipes, so you must thread carefully. Croagunk is somewhat effective when it's carrying Vacuum Wave, but it will be forced into Protect before it can strike, otherwise risking being double targeted and KO'd on the spot. If this core is on the opposing team but it doesn't lead, then all you need to do is make sure to apply any means of speed control that don't include Electro Web or Icy Wind, to avoid triggering Pawniard's Defiant ability. Examples include Trick Room, Tailwind, and Thunder Wave. Outside of speed control, defensive Misdreavus and Ponyta are good answers against this core, as neither Aipom nor Pawniard want to be anywhere near a fast Will-O-Wisp.