SM LC Doduo Bird Spam by Jake

[RMT Staff]

Introduction

This team was built by jake (formerly Zebraiken) of the Snake Draft III Terminus Taipans and used in his week 2 match vs Luthier, which can be found here. The team is a Flying-spam offense, consisting of Flyinium Z mixed Vullaby and Choice Scarf Doduo. This Brave Bird-spamming core is meant to overwhelm teams, as most can only afford a single Flying-type check. Backed by the entry hazard stacking defensive core of Onix and Ferroseed, opposing teams find switching into both birds to be a tall task. On its own, this Vullaby set can tear through most defensive cores with a single correct prediction. All it takes is one Hidden Power Grass for a team to suddenly have no Brave Bird switch-in, as many teams run Onix as their sole check to Flying-types. Knock Off into Supersonic Skystrike can break through almost every physically defensive wall in the tier, and the ones that aren't KOed by this sequence will surely go down after Stealth Rock or Spikes chip damage. Choice Scarf Doduo is there to clean late-game, but it also has offensive utility with Pursuit to trap Gastly, a huge threat to this team, and Knock Off to further reduce the opposing team's ability to switch in. Spritzee acts as a general wall and Fighting-type switch-in while providing Wish support to keep itself and the team healthy. Bulk Up Guts Timburr gives the team an additional dangerous wincon while also allowing the team to punish Scald and Will-O-Wisp spamming.

Team Members


Bone Drop (Vullaby) (F) @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe
Naive Nature
IVs: 30 HP / 30 SpA
- Brave Bird
- Knock Off
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Heat Wave

Flyinium Z mixed Vullaby is one of the most fearsome wallbreakers in the metagame. Very little can switch into a combination of Knock Off into Supersonic Skystrike or one of its coverage moves. Hidden Power Grass ensures that Onix cannot switch into it more than once, while Heat Wave catches Vullaby's second most common switch-in, Pawniard, for a 2HKO. Heat Wave also allows Vullaby to take out soft checks like Ferroseed without taking Iron Barbs and Brave Bird recoil. Because this set often forces many switches, it is important to set up Stealth Rock or Spikes. Keep in mind that this Vullaby set is 16 Speed and can OHKO opposing offensive Vullaby sets with Flyinium Z-boosted Brave Bird in order to stop Defog and keep your entry hazards on the field. Defensive walls like Spritzee can no longer withstand a Knock Off into Supersonic Skystrike once entry hazards have been set up. When using this set, you should look for as many opportunities to get it in and apply offensive pressure. It is safe to switch this set into expected Knock Offs, as it will take minimal damage and pose an immediate threat to the opposing team. However, you are immediately revealing that this is an offensive set as opposed to the Defog variant that it tends to look like at Team Preview.


Echo Peck (Doduo) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Early Bird
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Jump Kick
- Knock Off
- Pursuit

Choice Scarf Doduo has an excellent blend of Speed and power that is especially effective once checks to Flying-types have been weakened or removed. Doduo is an excellent late-game cleaner and an effective revenge killer with nearly unmatched Speed due to its Choice Scarf. Like the Vullaby set above, this set often forces many switches. Again, ensure that Stealth Rock or Spikes are set up and damage rolls will become considerably in your favor. It's worth noting that 18 Speed Choice Scarf allows Doduo to outspeed 13 Speed Shell Smash users like Clamperl and Impish Shellder. Once these threats set up, Doduo is able to either OHKO and prevent a sweep or at least chip the threat in range of Mach Punch. Pursuit allows Doduo to trap Gastly and Abra and either OHKO upon switch out or in Abra's case, break Focus Sash so that Timburr can revenge kill it later.


Gaia Crush (Onix) @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Blast
- Earthquake
- Roar

This is the standard Onix spread that will act as your Stealth Rock setter, primary Flying-type switch-in, and immunity to Volt Switch. 76 HP EVs allow Onix to survive Tectonic Rage from Diglett 15/16 times, while 196 Speed EVs give Onix a speed advantage over common Pawniard sets as well as Speed tying opposing Onix. Roar is an uncommon tech that prevents Onix from being setup bait for Shell Smash users. This move also allows you to phaze cheesy setup Pokemon like Shellos. With this team, it is extremely important to set up Stealth Rock early in the match to accumulate chip damage and deter your opponent from switching without consequence.


Spike Lash (Ferroseed) @ Eviolite
Ability: Iron Barbs
Level: 5
EVs: 84 HP / 36 Atk / 188 Def / 148 SpD / 36 Spe
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Bullet Seed
- Thunder Wave
- Knock Off

Ferroseed is the team's Spikes setter and a generally good switch-in to standard Staryu and Foongus sets. The EV spread is standard and allows Ferroseed to freely switch into the previously mentioned Pokemon as well as switch into other threatening special attackers such as non-Hidden Power Fire Abra and Gastly. Even if they do carry Hidden Power Fire, Eviolite grants Ferroseed the raw bulk to survive them if needed and retaliate with Knock Off. Knock Off also helps soften checks to Vullaby and Doduo. When facing Shell Smash spam, it is important to keep Ferroseed healthy, as it is able to tank a +2 Icicle Spear from Shellder and +2 Ice Beam from Clamperl. Thunder Wave is useful for slowing down Pokemon that threaten Vullaby and Bulk Up Timburr, especially faster special attackers. Again, entry hazard stacking should be a goal in every match you play with this team. One Spikes layer can manipulate damage rolls favorably.


Fairy Transfer (Spritzee) @ Eviolite
Ability: Aroma Veil
Level: 5
EVs: 212 HP / 196 Def / 12 SpA / 76 SpD / 12 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Wish
- Protect
- Moonblast
- Psychic

Here we have another standard set in Wish Spritzee that helps to round out the defensive core of this team. Spritzee is the designated switch-in to Fighting-types and a generally effective secondary Vullaby check. It's also a highly effective wall that can sit and spam Wish + Protect in the face of many threats in the LC metagame. Wish allows you to keep your other Pokemon healthy, so look for turns where you can freely pass into weakened teammates. Look to keep this Pokemon healthy in matchups versus Shellder, as this spread can easily tank +2 Icicle Spear and Moonblast to put it in range of Timburr's Mach Punch. Psychic was chosen over Covet to prevent Gastly from switching in for free. It also catches knocked Foongus and Mareanie on the switch in, forcing them to heal while giving you a free switch in. In dire situations, this spread can even tank a Sludge Bomb from Life Orb Gastly and KO back with Psychic. However, to do this, you must preserve Spritzee's Eviolite and health.


Craftsmanship (Timburr) @ Eviolite
Ability: Guts
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 156 Def / 156 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Knock Off
- Bulk Up

Bulk Up Timburr further bolsters the team's offensive presence while also giving it effective utility. Unlike typical Bulk Up sets, this Timburr set has much more Attack investment, allowing it to pose as a wallbreaker without setup. Guts allows Timburr to absorb Will-O-Wisp from Ponyta and switch into Scald from bulky Water-types such as Mareanie and Staryu. Mach Punch gives the team some much-needed priority, allowing Timburr to pick off weakened threats. The general bulk on this set allows Timburr to check the likes of Pawniard and Magnemite. 12 Special Defense allows Timburr to withstand even super effective attacks such as Psychic from Life Orb Gastly and KO back with Knock Off. While this may be the fourth Knock Off user on the team, having it on Timburr is especially important for drawing out walls like Spritzee and removing their Eviolite, thus making it much easier for Vullaby and Doduo to sweep later. Lastly, Bulk Up gives this team an unexpected win condition, as this set is often not expected at all. Setting up to +1 allows Timburr to face even a maximum Attack Adamant Vullaby one-on-one.

Threatlist

Entry Hazards - With no entry hazard removal on this team, Stealth Rock becomes a very noticeable weakness. Stealth Rock especially limits the effectiveness of Vullaby and Doduo, as they lose opportunities to use Brave Bird each time they switch into them. Look for opportunities to force your opponent to choose between setting up Stealth Rock and sacking their Onix. Make aggressive predictions to catch the obvious Flying-type switch-ins. Stack your own entry hazards in order to force your opponent to use Defog, thus removing entry hazards from your side of the field. Spikes will also be a nuisance to your defensive core, but Sticky Web is not really an issue for your offensive core and Choice Scarf Doduo tends to have an excellent matchup versus this type of build.

Gastly - Most Life Orb Gastly sets can punch holes through this team with a combination of its STAB Sludge Bomb and coverage such as Hidden Power Fire / Fighting, Thunderbolt, Energy Ball, etc. Because Vullaby is an offensive Naive-natured set, it will not be able to act as a pivot into this threat. Choice Scarf Doduo is able to revenge kill Gastly, but not reliably, as Pursuit is not a guaranteed OHKO. Approach this matchup with caution and ensure you are not giving Gastly a free switch in. Look for ways you can trigger Weak Armor, as Onix and Vullaby at +2 Speed will not allow Gastly to come in freely. In a worst-case scenario, Pursuit and Stealth Rock chip will greatly limit the number of Life Orb-boosted attacks it can fire off. Also, Timburr and Spritzee are able to survive super effective attacks from full and KO back with Knock Off and Psychic, respectively.

Abra - Both Focus Sash and Life Orb sets can cause trouble for this team with the right coverage. Spritzee often has its Eviolite removed while checking Fighting-types and becomes a much less effective switch-in to Abra. Ferroseed with a small amount of chip drops to Hidden Power Fire. Again, Vullaby cannot act as a check to even Focus Sash Abra, as Dazzling Gleam has a 50% chance to OHKO. However, unlike in its matchup versus Gastly, Choice Scarf Doduo can put Abra in range of Timburr's Mach Punch with Pursuit.

Shellder - Jolly Shellder at +2 can sweep through this team after a couple of Eviolites are removed. With additional Stealth Rock and Memento support from Diglett, which is commonly paired with this threat, Shellder can easily set up and get to sweeping. However, this team does have a few Pokemon in Spritzee, Ferroseed, and Timburr that can tank +2 Icicle Spear when healthy. Stealth Rock and Spikes can further chip Shellder into range of a Drain Punch into Mach Punch from Timburr. Lastly, Onix has the surprise Roar tech, which will allow you to phaze a Shellder attempting to set up and potentially get more entry hazard chip.

Mudbray - RestTalk Mudbray is a massive threat due to the lack of super effective special coverage on this team. Vullaby does have a chance to KO Mudbray with Supersonic Skystrike after a Knock Off; however, once this Pokemon starts racking up Stamina boosts, the team has a hard time dealing with it. Use Onix's Roar tech wisely, as you will likely only get one chance to do it, since Earthquake is an easy 2HKO on you. If you can Knock Off Mudbray's Eviolite early, this will greatly reduce its ability to switch in later. Bulk Up Timburr can take on Mudbray one-on-one, but you do not want to switch this into 20 Attack Earthquake, as this attack has a favorable chance to 2HKO.

Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen7lc-455227 Jake vs Luthier | Week 2 of Smogon Snake Draft

Importable

Vullaby (F) @ Flyinium Z
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 76 Def / 196 Spe
Naive Nature
IVs: 30 HP / 30 SpA
- Brave Bird
- Knock Off
- Hidden Power [Grass]
- Heat Wave

Doduo @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Early Bird
Level: 5
EVs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Brave Bird
- Jump Kick
- Knock Off
- Pursuit

Onix @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Level: 5
EVs: 76 HP / 236 Atk / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Rock Blast
- Earthquake
- Roar

Ferroseed @ Eviolite
Ability: Iron Barbs
Level: 5
EVs: 84 HP / 36 Atk / 188 Def / 148 SpD / 36 Spe
Careful Nature
- Spikes
- Bullet Seed
- Thunder Wave
- Knock Off

Spritzee @ Eviolite
Ability: Aroma Veil
Level: 5
EVs: 212 HP / 196 Def / 12 SpA / 76 SpD / 12 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Wish
- Protect
- Moonblast
- Psychic

Timburr @ Eviolite
Ability: Guts
Level: 5
EVs: 196 Atk / 156 Def / 156 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Knock Off
- Bulk Up

Credits
Created by: jake
Written by: Corporal Levi & taranteeeno
Quality checked by: Coconut
Grammar checked by: deetah
Art by: Image by Ticken & Text by TPP​