Want to SLAY COUNTLESS FOES with smol boi Trapinch?

Yes, you read the title right. I have contructed a doubles team that utilizes Trapinch as a sweeper. This may seem absurd, or even laughable, but I assure you— Trapinch is a very capable sweeper. With the right support, it can massacre teams in trick room due to its base 100 attack and incredibly low speed of 10. It also has arena trap, furthering it’s use. This is a 3 Pokémon setup, so you can fill out the rest of the team however you like. Here are the Pokes:

Trapinch @ Choice Band Ability: Arena Trap EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD Brave Nature - Rock Slide - Earthquake - Fury Cutter - First Impression

Oranguru @ Leftovers Ability: Telepathy EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD Sassy Nature - Trick Room - Rock Slide - Instruct - Ally Switch

Rapidash-Galar @ Leftovers Ability: Pastel Veil EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 Spe Jolly Nature - Swords Dance - Baton Pass - Play Rough - Zen Headbutt

Here’s how to use this team. Your main goal is to have Trapinch and Oranguru both out in trick room, preferably with Trapinch having stat boosts. From there, you can have Trapinch spam Earthquake (or sometimes rock slide), while having Oranguru provide support (mostly via instruct). Not many Pokémon can survive two Earthquakes off of a Choice Banded Trapinch.

The way I typically set up my sweeps in this manner is by leading with Galarian Rapidash and Oranguru. Oranguru uses instruct first turn on the Rapidash, while Rapidash uses swords dance. Second turn, I have Oranguru use trick room and have Rapidash use baton pass (Trapinch can take a bit more damage than you would expect, so don’t be incredibly worried about it being hit, but to be cautious because it is still fragile).

The reason I chose Rapidash for this strategy is that they are not very frail, decently fast, and have swords dance and baton pass. It can also function on it’s own decently okay. If you have a preferred Pokémon that can fill this role, you can easily replace Rapidash.

Side Note: This strategy is quite gimmicky and isn’t super consistent. While it is fun and works a decent bit, don’t expect to always win with this.

I hope you guys like this set, please leave ideas, critiques, and others commentary below.

Victories:

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8doublesou-1050842764

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8doublesou-1050845874

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8doublesou-1050866508

Losses:

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8doublesou-1050848077

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8doublesou-1050853716

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8doublesou-1050858609

Art because why not: https://m.imgur.com/a6TRAm1?r