【ダブル】 Following Ray Rizzo's footsteps - Japanese Torkoal team

Thanks to Ryokon and Chiron for translating
Original Link: http://rasuku73.jimdo.com/2014/01/20/%E7%AC%AC15%E5%9B%9E-%E3%82%A2%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8A%E3%82%AA%E3%83%95%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C/ 
This is the team I used at the 15th Arena Off Convention.

I started off by building a rain-room team which revolved around Mega-Lucario, however, using Mega-Lucario was harder than I expected so instead, I decided to make a more Trick Room based team with a Scarf Lucario to help set up Trick Room.

Politoed @ Choice Specs
Ability: Drizzle
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 76 Def / 180 SAtk
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Hydro Pump
- Scald
- Ice Beam
- Focus Blast


Although weather setting abilities did get nerfed to a limited 5 turns of that weather, I still think that 'Drizzle' is a great ability. I never sent Politoed and Kingdra together as leads as I would almost always keep Politoed in the back. Because there is no gem, I used choice specs with focus blast. Focus Blast was a great move which helps defeat Ferrothorn.

Kingdra @ Focus Sash
Ability: Swift Swim
Level: 50
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Modest Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Muddy Water
- Draco Meteor
- Protect


The 'Ace Attacker' of this rain team.
I chose Focus Sash to always win mirror matches against opposing rain teams and allow Kingdra to be brought into matches without Politoed. Focus Sash is also helpful when rain stops.

Gourgeist-Super @ Mental Herb
Ability: Frisk
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 12 Def / 252 SDef
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Seed Bomb
- Will-O-Wisp
- Swagger
- Trick Room

The Trick Room setter.
The lead consisting of Lucario and Gourgeist nullifies fake outs on both sides (except from scrappy) and with mental herb on Gourgeist, there is a high chance it'll be able to set up a Trick Room. Gougeist is strong against Rotom-W, so I think it synergies very well with rain teams, but just beware of Trick+Choice item combo. I chose to use Swagger simply because I think it is a strong move, but also to effectively use against special Aegislash, which have become popular.

Lucario @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Inner Focus
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spd
Jolly Nature
- Final Gambit
- Close Combat
- Stone Edge
- Follow Me


Lucario was mainly used to support setting up Trick Room.
Electric types are often chosen as leads against rain teams, and in VGC 2014 rules, the most common electric types are Rotom and Manectric, both of which Lucario can take out with Final Gambit. Final Gambit worked effectively on these pokemon most of the time, and I think Lucario is a very powerful pokemon if the opponent is not aware of the tactic.

Torkoal @ Life Orb
Ability: White Smoke
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SAtk / 4 SDef
Quiet Nature
- Heat Wave
- Overheat
- Rock Slide
- Hidden Power [Ice]

Torkoal is the pokemon which stands out the most in this team.
I had been curious about Torkoal, however actually using it needed some courage (Base stats wise).
I eventually decided to use it with some reassurance from an acquaintance, Oyatsu.
With base 20 speed, it out speeds most pokemon under Trick Room.
The move choices were Overheat which can OHKO Aegislash, Heat Wave for a spread move option, Rock Slide for Talonflame and Charizard, and Hidden Power Ice for Garchomp and Salamence.
After using this set, I realized that Superpower would have been a better option than Rock Slide, as Talonflame usually withers on its own with recoil damage and life orb damage along with intimidate from Mawile. With Superpower, it would have been much easier to deal with Tyranitar, which gave trouble to both Gourgeist and Torkoal.

Mawile @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Brave Nature
IVs: 0 Spd
- Play Rough
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Protect

The Mega pokemon of the team.
I really think that Mega-Mawile under trickroom is very strong.
If it can hit at neutral or above type wise, it is capable of bringing most pokemon to the red HP gage. The key to using Mega-Mawile is to set up the field to allow it to attack first.  I really liked using Mega-Mawile on this team, so I want to continue using it in other teams as well.

Wolfe's Analysis

This team is especially interesting because it is an effective Trick Room team, a strategy that has been rather lacking in VGC14 compared to previous years. This team uses unconventional Pokemon both to help set up Trick Room (using Final Gambit as opposed to Fake Out/Rage Powder) and to sweep once Trick Room is up (Torkoal). It also is not entirely reliant on Trick Room, as Kingdra and Politoed are both included and if need be I am sure Lucario could be used to take out a Charizard-Y. The lack of Protect/Eruption on Torkoal surprised me at first, but on closer inspection it makes a lot of sense. I think my favorite thing about this team is the fact that it is extremely unconventional, yet each choice that was against the grain was extremely well thought through. It is neither strange for the sake of being strange nor standard because of what other players think is good. I have a feeling some of the choices here would not work on teams in general, but that doesn't matter much because they weren't meant for other teams.