Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Best Sun Teams in Regulation D
| Tags: Pokemon
| Author Joseph Shay
Weather teams have at times dominated the VGC metagame. Here are the best sun teams in Regulation D that you can use to try and counter the current meta.
These two teams from the Pokémon World Championship placed highest for sun teams, and weather teams overall.
Contents
Sun Teams
In VGC Doubles, sun teams are usually used to not only boost Fire-Type moves but also activate abilities. Chlorophyll, which increases a Pokémon's speed under sunlight, and Solar Power, which increases a Pokémon's move's power under sunlight, have been optimal abilities on sun teams for a long time. In Generation 9 we got Paradox Pokémon. Ancient Paradox Pokémon have an ability called “Protosynthesis” which boosts the Pokémon's highest stat. All of these abilities can result in a combination of powerful Pokémon!
But how do you set the sunlight in the first place? Well, that's up to a few different kinds of Pokémon. Firstly are Pokémon with the ability “Drought”. This ability is activated when a Pokémon switches in and activates the harsh sunlight for 5 turns, or 8 if the Pokémon's item is a Heat Rock. The most common Drought Pokémon are Torkoal and Groudon, with Ninetales being used infrequently. Then there are Sunny Day users: Pokémon who use the move Sunny Day to set the sunlight instead of an ability. The most common of this type are Tornadus and Thunderus.
Best Sun Teams in Regulation D
Michael Navas' World Championship team is one of the best sun teams in Regulation D because of its many modes of play. It provides options for high-speed, hyper-offense, or slow-mode play. Hisuian Liligant's Chlorophyll ability makes it a good matchup with Torkoal to outspeed opponents and put out high damage in a short amount of time. Meanwhile, Hatterene and Indeedee carry Trick Room, making it possible to use the likes of Armarouge and Ursaluna in a reversed speed setting to be the fastest and most powerful Pokémon on the field.
With techs like Rocky Helmet Indeedee to put extra damage on the likes of Urshifu, and Choice Specs to make Torkoal a full-on attacker instead of hybrid or support, this team packs enough surprises to really throw opposing teams for a loop!
Ren Kotorii – 2023 World Championship (56th)
ランドロス (Landorus) @ Life Orb Ability: Sheer Force Tera Type: Fire - Earth Power - Sandsear Storm - Sludge Bomb - Protect
リキキリン (Farigiraf) @ Sitrus Berry Ability: Armor Tail Tera Type: Fire - Psychic - Dazzling Gleam - Helping Hand - Trick Room
ウーラオス (Urshifu) @ Focus Sash Ability: Unseen Fist Tera Type: Dark - Close Combat - Wicked Blow - Sucker Punch - Detect
コータス (Torkoal) @ Charcoal Ability: Drought Tera Type: Fire - Eruption - Heat Wave - Helping Hand - Protect
ハバタクカミ (Flutter Mane) @ Choice Specs Ability: Protosynthesis Tera Type: Fairy - Moonblast - Shadow Ball - Dazzling Gleam - Icy Wind
ウインディ (Arcanine-Hisui) @ Choice Band Ability: Intimidate Tera Type: Water - Flare Blitz - Rock Slide - Close Combat - Extreme Speed
Ren's sun team is a very high-octane offense team making it easy to use while still being one of the best sun teams in Regulation D. It is a great team for both experienced players who know how to prioritize Pokémon in certain matchups, and more intermediate players who want to bash through the competition on the ladder. It has four primary attackers, with one of them being Landorus who typically serves a more hybrid offense and support role in its Therian form. The Torkoal set used here is very standard, able to either start the game strong with full HP Eruption or Helping Hand to assist a teammate in sweeping. With so many different forms of offense, it is difficult for an opponent to prioritize what members of the team they want to counter in the team preview, making it one of the best sun teams in Regulation D.