[OVERVIEW]
In theory, Mamoswine seems to be a Pokemon that is severely underused in the Doubles OU metagame thanks to its great Attack stat and solid Ice- and Ground-type coverage allowing it to OHKO several common Pokemon in the metagame, such as Heatran, Bisharp, Landorus-T, Thundurus, and Amoonguss. In reality, however, its mediocre Speed makes it reliant on speed control, Mamoswine's typing doesn't allow it to switch into many Pokemon and makes it weak to a lot of common types, such as Fighting, Water, and Fire, and Mamoswine faces competition from the likes of Kyurem-B and Landorus-T as an Ice-type and Ground-type, respectively, both of which offer significantly more in terms of coverage and utility.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker Gone Wrong
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Ice Shard
move 3: Icicle Crash / Icicle Spear / Superpower
move 4: Protect
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake has great synergy with Mamoswine's Ice-type STAB options by giving Mamoswine the ability to hit Fire- and Steel-types super effectively. Ice Shard can help mitigate Mamoswine's low Speed by allowing it to snipe and deal pretty decent damage to faster threats to it, such as Landorus-T and Deoxys-A. Icicle Crash can be used should Mamoswine want a more reliable Ice-type STAB move. Icicle Spear is another option, as it allows Mamoswine to KO opposing Focus Sash users, such as Breloom. Alternatively, Superpower allows Mamoswine to hit Ferrothorn and Mega Kangaskhan super effectively. Protect allows Mamoswine to scout or guard it from a super effective hit that would most likely OHKO it due to its mediocre bulk.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack EVs with an Adamant nature ensure that Mamoswine has maximum damage output. Maximum Speed EVs allow Mamoswine to outrun Adamant Bisharp, Adamant Breloom, and most fast Heatran; however, a Jolly nature can be used to ensure that Mamoswine will outrun all Breloom and Heatran. Because of this, Jolly Mamoswine should use Icicle Spear in the third moveslot to OHKO Breloom through its Focus Sash. Should Mamoswine choose to run Life Orb, 29 HP IVs optimize Mamoswine's HP for Life Orb. Thick Fat is the chosen ability because it allows Mamoswine to tank Fire-type moves such as Heatran's Heat Wave. Focus Sash is preferred, as it can allow Mamoswine to tank a hit and OHKO a Pokemon that would normally threaten Life Orb Mamoswine, such as Terrakion. Life Orb, however, is an option because it further increases Mamoswine's damage output, such as allowing it to OHKO standard Amoonguss with Icicle Crash and standard Kangaskhan with Superpower. Mamoswine also does not mind the Life Orb recoil, as its defenses are bad to begin with.
Usage Tips
========
Due to Mamoswine's low defenses and terrible defensive typing, it isn't recommended to switch it into attacks except for weaker spread attacks, such as Rock Slide. Speed control is greatly appreciated, as it can allow Mamoswine to utilize its good coverage options. Ice Shard should be used when Mamoswine is facing a frail, fast threat, such as Deoxys-A. Mamoswine is a bit hard to switch in, so it is best to set the field in favorable conditions for Mamoswine, such as by baiting in Pokemon that can't beat Mamoswine such as Thundurus and Amoonguss, having a good support partner, or setting up speed control, so that it can pressure your opponent's team.
Team Options
========
Mega Charizard Y is a great teammate for Mamoswine, as it resists all of Mamoswine's weaknesses except for Water, which is weakened under Drought anyway. Speed control users are generally great partners for Mamoswine. Togekiss can redirect Fighting- and Grass-type attacks aimed at Mamoswine while also providing crucial Tailwind support. Talonflame is a more offensive Pokemon with access to Tailwind; it checks Steel-types that threaten Mamoswine while Mamoswine can check opposing Rock-types and Heatran, which is the one Steel-type Talonflame loses to. Thundurus can provide needed Thunder Wave support and has Thunderbolt to hit bulky Water-types that Mamoswine has trouble hitting. Aegislash checks Terrakion and Mega Metagross, both of which are huge threats to Mamoswine, and has access to Wide Guard to protect itself from Mamoswine's Earthquake. Mamoswine, in turn, can check Pokemon that threaten Aegislash, such as Bisharp, Heatran, and Landorus-T. Pokemon that can beat bulky Water-types, especially Rotom-W, are great partners for Mamoswine. Venusaur, a common Pokemon on sun teams, can help in that sense while also providing coverage against Grass-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mamoswine can make use of a Choice Scarf in order to function as a pseudo-Landorus-T on teams that struggle with Defiant Pokemon; however, the lack of damage output and pivoting ability really makes Mamoswine struggle in this role. Knock Off is an alternative support move that can allow Mamoswine to cripple defensive threats by removing their Sitrus Berry or Leftovers. Stealth Rock can cripple opposing Mega Charizard Y, Talonflame, and Focus Sash users.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Intimidate and Burns**: Intimidate users, such as Scrafty and Gyarados, can switch in, lower Mamoswine's Attack, and then force it out with their STAB options. Sableye can cripple Mamoswine with its Prankster Will-O-Wisp, moving even before the Choice Scarf set.
**Water-type Pokemon**: Bulky Water-types, such as Suicune and Rotom-W, don't mind taking a hit from Mamoswine and can force it out with their STAB options. Aqua Jet from Azumarill snipes Mamoswine for good damage. Volcanion, though weak to Earthquake, can tank a hit and OHKO back with Steam Eruption.
**Fighting-type Pokemon**: Faster Fighting-types, such as Keldeo and Terrakion, can force Mamoswine out with their Fighting-type STAB moves. Mach Punch from Breloom and Conkeldurr can deal massive damage to Mamoswine.
**Faster Pokemon**: One of the best ways to beat Mamoswine is to use Pokemon are faster than it to take advantage of Mamoswine's terrible bulk and defensive typing and OHKO it before it can use its powerful STAB options. Deoxys-A can outspeed Choice Scarf Mamoswine and OHKO it with Superpower.
**Wide Guard**: Wide Guard from Pokemon such as Aegislash can completely stop Mamoswine in its tracks by stopping Earthquake.
**Tailwind and Trick Room**: Tailwind can allow Pokemon that Mamoswine normally outspeeds, such as Breloom and Bisharp, to outspeed it and OHKO it instead. The same can be said for Trick Room, which turns the fact that Mamoswine can outspeed those threats into a disadvantage.
In theory, Mamoswine seems to be a Pokemon that is severely underused in the Doubles OU metagame thanks to its great Attack stat and solid Ice- and Ground-type coverage allowing it to OHKO several common Pokemon in the metagame, such as Heatran, Bisharp, Landorus-T, Thundurus, and Amoonguss. In reality, however, its mediocre Speed makes it reliant on speed control, Mamoswine's typing doesn't allow it to switch into many Pokemon and makes it weak to a lot of common types, such as Fighting, Water, and Fire, and Mamoswine faces competition from the likes of Kyurem-B and Landorus-T as an Ice-type and Ground-type, respectively, both of which offer significantly more in terms of coverage and utility.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker Gone Wrong
move 1: Earthquake
move 2: Ice Shard
move 3: Icicle Crash / Icicle Spear / Superpower
move 4: Protect
item: Focus Sash / Life Orb
ability: Thick Fat
nature: Adamant / Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Earthquake has great synergy with Mamoswine's Ice-type STAB options by giving Mamoswine the ability to hit Fire- and Steel-types super effectively. Ice Shard can help mitigate Mamoswine's low Speed by allowing it to snipe and deal pretty decent damage to faster threats to it, such as Landorus-T and Deoxys-A. Icicle Crash can be used should Mamoswine want a more reliable Ice-type STAB move. Icicle Spear is another option, as it allows Mamoswine to KO opposing Focus Sash users, such as Breloom. Alternatively, Superpower allows Mamoswine to hit Ferrothorn and Mega Kangaskhan super effectively. Protect allows Mamoswine to scout or guard it from a super effective hit that would most likely OHKO it due to its mediocre bulk.
Set Details
========
Maximum Attack EVs with an Adamant nature ensure that Mamoswine has maximum damage output. Maximum Speed EVs allow Mamoswine to outrun Adamant Bisharp, Adamant Breloom, and most fast Heatran; however, a Jolly nature can be used to ensure that Mamoswine will outrun all Breloom and Heatran. Because of this, Jolly Mamoswine should use Icicle Spear in the third moveslot to OHKO Breloom through its Focus Sash. Should Mamoswine choose to run Life Orb, 29 HP IVs optimize Mamoswine's HP for Life Orb. Thick Fat is the chosen ability because it allows Mamoswine to tank Fire-type moves such as Heatran's Heat Wave. Focus Sash is preferred, as it can allow Mamoswine to tank a hit and OHKO a Pokemon that would normally threaten Life Orb Mamoswine, such as Terrakion. Life Orb, however, is an option because it further increases Mamoswine's damage output, such as allowing it to OHKO standard Amoonguss with Icicle Crash and standard Kangaskhan with Superpower. Mamoswine also does not mind the Life Orb recoil, as its defenses are bad to begin with.
Usage Tips
========
Due to Mamoswine's low defenses and terrible defensive typing, it isn't recommended to switch it into attacks except for weaker spread attacks, such as Rock Slide. Speed control is greatly appreciated, as it can allow Mamoswine to utilize its good coverage options. Ice Shard should be used when Mamoswine is facing a frail, fast threat, such as Deoxys-A. Mamoswine is a bit hard to switch in, so it is best to set the field in favorable conditions for Mamoswine, such as by baiting in Pokemon that can't beat Mamoswine such as Thundurus and Amoonguss, having a good support partner, or setting up speed control, so that it can pressure your opponent's team.
Team Options
========
Mega Charizard Y is a great teammate for Mamoswine, as it resists all of Mamoswine's weaknesses except for Water, which is weakened under Drought anyway. Speed control users are generally great partners for Mamoswine. Togekiss can redirect Fighting- and Grass-type attacks aimed at Mamoswine while also providing crucial Tailwind support. Talonflame is a more offensive Pokemon with access to Tailwind; it checks Steel-types that threaten Mamoswine while Mamoswine can check opposing Rock-types and Heatran, which is the one Steel-type Talonflame loses to. Thundurus can provide needed Thunder Wave support and has Thunderbolt to hit bulky Water-types that Mamoswine has trouble hitting. Aegislash checks Terrakion and Mega Metagross, both of which are huge threats to Mamoswine, and has access to Wide Guard to protect itself from Mamoswine's Earthquake. Mamoswine, in turn, can check Pokemon that threaten Aegislash, such as Bisharp, Heatran, and Landorus-T. Pokemon that can beat bulky Water-types, especially Rotom-W, are great partners for Mamoswine. Venusaur, a common Pokemon on sun teams, can help in that sense while also providing coverage against Grass-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Mamoswine can make use of a Choice Scarf in order to function as a pseudo-Landorus-T on teams that struggle with Defiant Pokemon; however, the lack of damage output and pivoting ability really makes Mamoswine struggle in this role. Knock Off is an alternative support move that can allow Mamoswine to cripple defensive threats by removing their Sitrus Berry or Leftovers. Stealth Rock can cripple opposing Mega Charizard Y, Talonflame, and Focus Sash users.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Intimidate and Burns**: Intimidate users, such as Scrafty and Gyarados, can switch in, lower Mamoswine's Attack, and then force it out with their STAB options. Sableye can cripple Mamoswine with its Prankster Will-O-Wisp, moving even before the Choice Scarf set.
**Water-type Pokemon**: Bulky Water-types, such as Suicune and Rotom-W, don't mind taking a hit from Mamoswine and can force it out with their STAB options. Aqua Jet from Azumarill snipes Mamoswine for good damage. Volcanion, though weak to Earthquake, can tank a hit and OHKO back with Steam Eruption.
**Fighting-type Pokemon**: Faster Fighting-types, such as Keldeo and Terrakion, can force Mamoswine out with their Fighting-type STAB moves. Mach Punch from Breloom and Conkeldurr can deal massive damage to Mamoswine.
**Faster Pokemon**: One of the best ways to beat Mamoswine is to use Pokemon are faster than it to take advantage of Mamoswine's terrible bulk and defensive typing and OHKO it before it can use its powerful STAB options. Deoxys-A can outspeed Choice Scarf Mamoswine and OHKO it with Superpower.
**Wide Guard**: Wide Guard from Pokemon such as Aegislash can completely stop Mamoswine in its tracks by stopping Earthquake.
**Tailwind and Trick Room**: Tailwind can allow Pokemon that Mamoswine normally outspeeds, such as Breloom and Bisharp, to outspeed it and OHKO it instead. The same can be said for Trick Room, which turns the fact that Mamoswine can outspeed those threats into a disadvantage.
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