So, being the first to break 1600 and the current top player in this month's Partners in Crime ladder, Soul Dew Latias, it is a prime time to demonstrate how I believe I have been so successful. I present to you my team.
The Mastermind (Alakazam) @ Alakazite
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Psychic
- Dazzling Gleam
- Protect
- Skill Swap
Right off the bat, we start with Mega Alakazam. First off, it's one of the fastest Pokemon in Doubles OU, tying with Deoxys Attack and only being outsped by Pheromosa, Ninjask, and Deoxys Speed. This, in itself, is a very important part of the team, often being paired with Greninja as the lead for the team. Psychic is good for STAB (and deals great damage to Tapu Koko, which I have no direct super effective moves for), Dazzling Gleam takes a chunk out many of the top Dragons like Noivern and Salamence, as well as Pokemon like Kommo-O and Scrafty in a single blow. Protect is essential on at least a few mons, but in particular it's good on Alakazam with Protean Gren as a partner to prevent opposing Marshadow from Shadow Sneaking and picking up the KO with Psychic. Skill Swap is great because it helps to do a few things. One, Trace has the chance to copy the foe's weather speed ability, but you can outright steal it if it doesn't work as intended. Two, it helps to beat meme strats like Normalize or Traunt in a pinch. And three, if Krook is on the field, or the foe has a Lando, Skill Swap Intimidate can be very useful. Magic Guard is also very useful if the need to Mega Evolve doesn't arise.
The Spy (Greninja) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Protean
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Ice Beam
- Water Shuriken
- Hydro Pump
- U-turn
Next up, Greninja. Its main purpose is to provide others with coverage, but in particular Water Shuriken plays a huge role. Faster opponent that can use a super effective move on you? Water Shuriken Protean fixes that problem with ease. More importantly, Water Shuriken pairs with Cloyster's Skill Link and Marshadow's Technician for some great damage. In particular, 5 hits from Water Shuriken OHKOs things like Pheromosa, Deoxys-Attack when not under Psychic Terrain, Excadrill, and deals massive damage to threats like Landorus-T and Heatran. Crucially, though, Mega Camerupt doesn't like it, even under Trick Room. While most teams with it pair it with Volcanion to prevent Water type damage, Greninja can decide it doesn't care thanks to Kyurem-Black, and take it down in just three hits of Water Shuriken. Stakataka needs to be worn down a bit beforehand, but it still takes a solid chunk either way. The amount of priority on this team definitely contributes to its success, and so Tapu Lele is a big threat, especially when it's Scarfed. Gren pairs best with Alakazam, which can use each other's coverage hand in hand to great success.
The Bruiser (Krookodile) (M) @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
- Power Trip
Intimidate mon, check. Why not Lando? Besides having no exploitable 4x weakness, Krook also blocks Prankster moves. Gren does as well for Turn 1, but that's much less reliable. EQ, Knock Off, and Stone Edge provide some standard Krook power, but Power Trip is where it gets interesting. When paired with Cloyster, Shell Smash brings up this move's power to very high levels. Although, it is very niche in that sense, and Protect could be better in some cases. Other than that, it's the same old bulky Krook we all know and love.
The Enforcer (Kyurem-Black) @ Electrium Z
Ability: Teravolt
EVs: 24 HP / 248 Atk / 236 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fusion Bolt
- Dragon Claw
- Protect
- Iron Head
Now this is one of the two Pokemon with seemingly bizarre EVs, but those points in Speed are there to outspeed Dragonite. Other than that, it's just a pretty standard Electrium Z Kyurem. Teravolt is great for things like Sturdy Skarm, but in particular, this is my main answer to Celesteela and Volcanion. When paired with Cloyster, though, this powerhouse can set up a Shell Smash and run through entire teams. Protect is here to have another Protect mon, since there is no reason for another move. Iron Head pairs well with the faster Pokemon of the team (mostly Gren and Marshadow), because it allows them to deal with top-level threats like Diancie-Mega and Tapu Lele before they can hit Kyurem. Unless Lele is Scarfed.
The Tactician (Marshadow) @ Leftovers
Ability: Technician
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Spectral Thief
- Shadow Sneak
- Substitute
- Force Palm
Another priority user, Marshadow is also useful in dealing with setup users, thanks to Substitute and Spectral Thief. Force Palm is there over Close Combat because it doesn't drop the defenses, which helps when delaing with things like Bisharp and Tyranitar. Leftovers helps Marshadow to take a bit more punishment, as it is one of the most crucial members of the team. Often, if Marshadow steals some good boosts, it can make it nightmarish to deal with.
The Bomb (Cloyster) (M) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Skill Link
EVs: 220 Atk / 36 SpA / 252 Spe
Naive Nature
- Shell Smash
- Icicle Spear
- Rock Blast
- Ice Shard
Finally, the panic button. Shell Smash automatically allows it or any of its teammates to become massive threats, calling most of the attention to them, which can lead to Protect mindgame shenanigans that put you in an advanageous position or straight up result in victory. It also helps getting over Intimidate in a pinch, but in the end, Cloyster is mostly used for Ice Shard. The strange investment into SpA allows it to deal moderate damage with Water Shuriken if it needs to, as well as Ice Beam and Hydro Pump from Greninja once it gets off a Shell Smash.
The main threats to this team are Triage Comfey and Scarfed Lele. Because those guys can do some damage if the opponent is competent. Other than that, it deals very well with all sorts of playstyles, such as weather, mono-flying, Trick Room, Contrary, Dancer, and setup, provided you know what you're doing.