[OVERVIEW]
Breloom is the fastest Spore user in Doubles OU and can put slower foes to sleep before they can move, so it requires less speed control than other Spore users would. It is a powerful physical attacker that doesn't mind Landorus-T that much, as it takes negligible damage from most of Landorus-T's common moves, such as Earthquake and Rock Slide, and can put Landorus-T to sleep in return, although it does need to watch out for Landorus-T U-turning into a sleep absorber. Breloom also has a strong STAB- and Technician-boosted multi-hit move in Bullet Seed, which can break Focus Sash and deal significant damage to bulky Water-types, as well as access to a STAB- and Technician-boosted priority move in Mach Punch, which can be used to KO Kangaskhan. Its coverage allows it to hit a unique set of threats super effectively, notably most Water- and Steel-types, allowing it to check many bulky Pokemon in the tier. However, Breloom is very predictable: your opponent will almost always know its moveset and will therefore be able to play around it easily. Talonflame is very common in the metagame and OHKOes Breloom. Poor bulk makes it very hard to switch Breloom in safely. It also has a subpar Speed stat that is often used as a benchmark for faster Pokemon to hit.
[SET]
name: Offensive Spore
move 1: Spore
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Bullet Seed
move 4: Protect
item: Focus Sash
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spore puts one opposing Pokemon to sleep for several turns unless it is a Grass-type, has Insomnia, Vital Spirit, or Overcoat, or is holding Safety Goggles. It is also useful against Trick Room teams because Trick Room has negative priority and most setters don't have any item or ability that prevents sleep. Of course, there are exceptions to this, such as Safety Goggles Cresselia and Overcoat Reuniclus. Bullet Seed is a powerful STAB- and Technician-boosted move that allows Breloom to OHKO some Focus Sash users such as Terrakion. However, the multi-hit nature of this move activates Sitrus Berry between hits, turning many potential 2HKOs and 3HKOs into 3HKOs and 4HKOs. Mach Punch hits Steel-types super effectively and deals heavy damage to many prominent Pokemon, most notably Mega Kangaskhan. It also has priority to alleviate Breloom's middling Speed. Protect scouts for attacks and stalls out field conditions. It also blocks Fake Out, which would break Breloom's Focus Sash.
Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs allow Breloom to outspeed as many Pokemon as possible without any speed control, while 252 Attack EVs allow it to hit as hard as possible. A Jolly nature is optimal to outpace Bisharp, which nearly always runs an Adamant nature. As Breloom is frail, Focus Sash allows it to survive one powerful attack early-game so that it can cripple the foe with Spore. An Adamant nature is an option for a higher damage output, but then Breloom sits at an extremely common Speed benchmark to beat.
Usage Tips
========
Breloom forces two-on-one situations with Spore. Take advantage of these, and don't immediately eliminate the sleeping foes because they take up space on the field while they do nothing, which can give your team free turns. Don't be afraid to let Breloom be taken down to its Focus Sash and put a major threat to sleep with Spore. Breloom is a good lead because it has access to Spore and isn't bothered by Intimidate. It can weaken slower leads and even beat faster ones with the right partners. However, be wary of clicking Spore mindlessly, as there is a moderate number of Pokemon immune to Spore as well as faster Pokemon with Substitute. Breloom should hardly ever be switched in directly, as it is quite frail, and even if its Focus Sash is intact, it usually isn't worth breaking it to switch in. Despite having access to Mach Punch, Breloom isn't that fast, so opposing priority users will usually attack first. Use Protect to scout attacks, stall out field conditions, and allow its teammate to KO a faster threat.
Team Options
========
Speed control such as Tailwind from the likes of Suicune, Togekiss, and Talonflame and Icy Wind from Cresselia helps Breloom move first to use Spore against a greater number of opposing Pokemon. Talonflame gets a special mention because of its Flying-type coverage that allows it to beat Grass-types that generally wall Breloom. Redirection support is also very helpful: in particular, Togekiss can use Follow Me in addition to Tailwind. Despite having access to Rage Powder, Amoonguss isn't a good option because it shares common checks with Breloom, which is bad for team synergy. Setup sweepers such as Mega Kangaskhan, Azumarill, and Calm Mind Cresselia enjoy being able to use sleeping foes as setup bait. Breloom appreciates Pokemon that can switch in and take hits for it, such as Heatran and Rotom-W, which can force Talonflame out. Mega Kangaskhan is a particularly great teammate because of its access to Fake Out, which allows Breloom to safely use Spore, while Kangaskhan appreciates free turns to use Power-Up Punch. Suicune also gets a special mention because it beats Fire-types and Landorus-T in addition to having access to Tailwind.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb can be used to deal more damage, but Focus Sash is usually the best option because of Breloom's poor bulk. Rock Tomb can be used over one of its two attacks to OHKO Mega Charizard Y and Talonflame on the switch and offer strong coverage in general. Superpower can be used instead of Mach Punch for extra damage if your team has priority covered on several spots, but a priority move is usually better.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Speed**: Every faster Pokemon that cripples Breloom before it can move is a very good answer to Breloom. However, they need to get a free switch to avoid being hit with Spore. If both foes are faster, they can double target and KO Breloom.
**Type Advantage**: Every Pokemon that resists Breloom's STAB moves, especially Bullet Seed, is a threat because Breloom can do nothing offensively to them. Notable examples are Mega Charizard Y, Talonflame, Gengar, Latios, and Aegislash, which don't care about either of Breloom's STAB moves. Opposing Grass-types are immune to Spore, and all of them can damage Breloom in return.
**Miscellaneous**: Pokemon commonly holding Safety Goggles, such as Cresselia, Heatran, Togekiss, and Aegislash, and those with Overcoat, such as Reuniclus and Escavalier, don't mind Breloom because they cannot be put to sleep. Taunt users, such as Thundurus and Gengar, are also good for stopping Spore. Damaging weather breaks Breloom's Focus Sash. Substitute users can block Spore and can attack while Breloom or its partner tries to break the Substitute.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Reductions in offense are detrimental to Breloom's usefulness, as they lower Breloom's damage output. Burns also break Breloom's Focus Sash.
Breloom is the fastest Spore user in Doubles OU and can put slower foes to sleep before they can move, so it requires less speed control than other Spore users would. It is a powerful physical attacker that doesn't mind Landorus-T that much, as it takes negligible damage from most of Landorus-T's common moves, such as Earthquake and Rock Slide, and can put Landorus-T to sleep in return, although it does need to watch out for Landorus-T U-turning into a sleep absorber. Breloom also has a strong STAB- and Technician-boosted multi-hit move in Bullet Seed, which can break Focus Sash and deal significant damage to bulky Water-types, as well as access to a STAB- and Technician-boosted priority move in Mach Punch, which can be used to KO Kangaskhan. Its coverage allows it to hit a unique set of threats super effectively, notably most Water- and Steel-types, allowing it to check many bulky Pokemon in the tier. However, Breloom is very predictable: your opponent will almost always know its moveset and will therefore be able to play around it easily. Talonflame is very common in the metagame and OHKOes Breloom. Poor bulk makes it very hard to switch Breloom in safely. It also has a subpar Speed stat that is often used as a benchmark for faster Pokemon to hit.
[SET]
name: Offensive Spore
move 1: Spore
move 2: Mach Punch
move 3: Bullet Seed
move 4: Protect
item: Focus Sash
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly / Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Spore puts one opposing Pokemon to sleep for several turns unless it is a Grass-type, has Insomnia, Vital Spirit, or Overcoat, or is holding Safety Goggles. It is also useful against Trick Room teams because Trick Room has negative priority and most setters don't have any item or ability that prevents sleep. Of course, there are exceptions to this, such as Safety Goggles Cresselia and Overcoat Reuniclus. Bullet Seed is a powerful STAB- and Technician-boosted move that allows Breloom to OHKO some Focus Sash users such as Terrakion. However, the multi-hit nature of this move activates Sitrus Berry between hits, turning many potential 2HKOs and 3HKOs into 3HKOs and 4HKOs. Mach Punch hits Steel-types super effectively and deals heavy damage to many prominent Pokemon, most notably Mega Kangaskhan. It also has priority to alleviate Breloom's middling Speed. Protect scouts for attacks and stalls out field conditions. It also blocks Fake Out, which would break Breloom's Focus Sash.
Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs allow Breloom to outspeed as many Pokemon as possible without any speed control, while 252 Attack EVs allow it to hit as hard as possible. A Jolly nature is optimal to outpace Bisharp, which nearly always runs an Adamant nature. As Breloom is frail, Focus Sash allows it to survive one powerful attack early-game so that it can cripple the foe with Spore. An Adamant nature is an option for a higher damage output, but then Breloom sits at an extremely common Speed benchmark to beat.
Usage Tips
========
Breloom forces two-on-one situations with Spore. Take advantage of these, and don't immediately eliminate the sleeping foes because they take up space on the field while they do nothing, which can give your team free turns. Don't be afraid to let Breloom be taken down to its Focus Sash and put a major threat to sleep with Spore. Breloom is a good lead because it has access to Spore and isn't bothered by Intimidate. It can weaken slower leads and even beat faster ones with the right partners. However, be wary of clicking Spore mindlessly, as there is a moderate number of Pokemon immune to Spore as well as faster Pokemon with Substitute. Breloom should hardly ever be switched in directly, as it is quite frail, and even if its Focus Sash is intact, it usually isn't worth breaking it to switch in. Despite having access to Mach Punch, Breloom isn't that fast, so opposing priority users will usually attack first. Use Protect to scout attacks, stall out field conditions, and allow its teammate to KO a faster threat.
Team Options
========
Speed control such as Tailwind from the likes of Suicune, Togekiss, and Talonflame and Icy Wind from Cresselia helps Breloom move first to use Spore against a greater number of opposing Pokemon. Talonflame gets a special mention because of its Flying-type coverage that allows it to beat Grass-types that generally wall Breloom. Redirection support is also very helpful: in particular, Togekiss can use Follow Me in addition to Tailwind. Despite having access to Rage Powder, Amoonguss isn't a good option because it shares common checks with Breloom, which is bad for team synergy. Setup sweepers such as Mega Kangaskhan, Azumarill, and Calm Mind Cresselia enjoy being able to use sleeping foes as setup bait. Breloom appreciates Pokemon that can switch in and take hits for it, such as Heatran and Rotom-W, which can force Talonflame out. Mega Kangaskhan is a particularly great teammate because of its access to Fake Out, which allows Breloom to safely use Spore, while Kangaskhan appreciates free turns to use Power-Up Punch. Suicune also gets a special mention because it beats Fire-types and Landorus-T in addition to having access to Tailwind.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Life Orb can be used to deal more damage, but Focus Sash is usually the best option because of Breloom's poor bulk. Rock Tomb can be used over one of its two attacks to OHKO Mega Charizard Y and Talonflame on the switch and offer strong coverage in general. Superpower can be used instead of Mach Punch for extra damage if your team has priority covered on several spots, but a priority move is usually better.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Speed**: Every faster Pokemon that cripples Breloom before it can move is a very good answer to Breloom. However, they need to get a free switch to avoid being hit with Spore. If both foes are faster, they can double target and KO Breloom.
**Type Advantage**: Every Pokemon that resists Breloom's STAB moves, especially Bullet Seed, is a threat because Breloom can do nothing offensively to them. Notable examples are Mega Charizard Y, Talonflame, Gengar, Latios, and Aegislash, which don't care about either of Breloom's STAB moves. Opposing Grass-types are immune to Spore, and all of them can damage Breloom in return.
**Miscellaneous**: Pokemon commonly holding Safety Goggles, such as Cresselia, Heatran, Togekiss, and Aegislash, and those with Overcoat, such as Reuniclus and Escavalier, don't mind Breloom because they cannot be put to sleep. Taunt users, such as Thundurus and Gengar, are also good for stopping Spore. Damaging weather breaks Breloom's Focus Sash. Substitute users can block Spore and can attack while Breloom or its partner tries to break the Substitute.
**Intimidate and Burns**: Reductions in offense are detrimental to Breloom's usefulness, as they lower Breloom's damage output. Burns also break Breloom's Focus Sash.
Last edited:
