What's everyone's take on alternative play styles in 3v3? We all Know hyper offensive, stall, and balance can work on the battle spot, but has anyone noticed how well other play styles work?
I've been watching some of the higher ranked players that share their videos on the global link. One of the top American players was using a trick room Slowbro to great effect. His entire team looked like a generic Hyper offensive team, but there was a Slowbro. From what I saw I noticed a Mega Kangaskhan, Tyranitar, and Talonflame. He led with Slowbro, got up a trick room and scalded things to burn them. Swapped out and healed up with regenerator, went into one of the others and would come back at a later time to set it up again. It was amazing how unprepared most people were for TR, especially if you don't immediately see it on team preview.
Next a play style close to my heart: Baton pass. Ever since the hub bub over DeNiSsSs dominating the ladder and the eventual ban of Baton Pass, I've been studying how I could incorporate it into 3v3. I've had some success as a lot of people are completely unprepared, but then I lose to things like Perish Song Mega Gengar, speed boost Blaziken, Mega Kang (Stuff DeNiSsSs never had to deal with due to it all being banned to Ubers). Also Unlike in 6v6 a single crit will lose games for you. I've lost many a game that were "In the bag" due to an untimely crit. Another problem I'm having is that BP works well with 6 Pokemon because you have options to pass into. Do I need to boost defense or special defense? Can I get a Quiver dance in before BPing to the next person. Sylveon resists Tyranitar, so I can go into her and setup while my opponent switches out. All of that isn't an option when you only have 3 Pokemon. You are forced to choose three depending on what you see in team preview and if you choose wrong you are hosed.
I got wrecked by a Volt turn team also. Landorus-T and Rotom-W and the constant intimidate spam ruined me. Also didn't help that I didn't have an ice or grass move, and my mega was mega Gyarados. The Landorus was Choice scarf and I'd assume the Rotom was Choice Specs with Trick also. I really wonder what his sweeper was.
Weather hasn't been that big of a factor, and I haven't run into a dedicated rain team in forever. Sand+Excadrill are the only ones I have seen a lot of. Every once in a while I see a Ninetails or an Abomasnow, but they aren't dedicated weather teams. I wonder if a swift swim Critdra would work in this metagame where you only need 3-5 turns of weather to be effective.