Would this Malamar Gen 8 OU doubles strategy work?

Question

I had a cool idea with the old squid. So Topsy-Turvy is a move that swaps your targets. This Pokémon also has access to Scary Face. Let’s say your teammate is Hydregion. Right off the bat you use Draco Meteor with Hydregion at some opponent’s Pokémon and Malamar uses Scary Face on Hydregion. Then the next turn Malamar uses Topsy-Turvy on Hydregion and BOOM you have a +2 SpAtk, +2 Spe literal three-headed monster. I also don’t think this would be extremely hard to pull off. Would this work?

Comments

Three word: Bugs and Fairies. You're also assuming that no one gets 2HKOd or OHKOd.

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Bugs aren't that common, Close Combat is more likely to be a problem.

Whether it's viable or not I love the idea!

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Malamar and Hydreigon are both in (DUU), so it would probably be better if you don't bring Hydreigon as a whole and also don't use Scary Face on Malamar. Replace Hydreigon with Dragapult with Draco Meteor and immediately use Topsy-Turvy and that will still give Dragapult the SpA boost because of Malamar's low Speed. Maybe a Focus Sash would help too because Malamar is super frail. Protect is also a good idea on it.

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When I said Bug, I was mainly referring to U-Turn.

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I'd say probably not, because experienced opponents will guess that you're using Malamar for some kind of gimmick and then use fake out or double-target it.

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I play Gen 8 doubles OU a lot and a lot of fake out users like Rillaboom and Incineroar are used(One of my friends put fake out on an Indeedee with Psychic surge & that didn't go well) so unless your opponent does not have fake out(which is really low) this strategy will not work

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Maybe try this in UU

Answer 1

This strategy can be stopped by fake out, taunt, encore, follow me, trick room, snarl, rage powder, and parting shot. Additionally, these Pokemon can OHKO one of yours with their most common moveset.

252 SpA Whimsicott Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Hydreigon: 480-568 (147.6 - 174.7%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Genesect U-turn vs. 252 HP / 128 Def Malamar: 420-496 (111.7 - 131.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Zygarde Superpower vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Hydreigon: 392-462 (120.6 - 142.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
0 SpA Diancie Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Hydreigon: 448-532 (137.8 - 163.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
144 SpA Tapu Fini Moonblast vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Hydreigon: 496-588 (152.6 - 180.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Dracovish Fishious Rend (170 BP) vs. 252 HP / 128 Def Malamar: 343-405 (91.2 - 107.7%) -- 50% chance to OHKO

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So the average team probably carries at least 2 or 3 checks to your strategy, even though they don't specifically prepare for it. It's not worth using.
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