[OVERVIEW]
Doublade boasts a great Ghost / Steel typing that gives it resistances to common types such as Fighting, Dragon, Fairy, Psychic, Steel, and Rock. With a high Defense stat, which is further boosted by Eviolite, Doublade is able to check numerous threats in the tier, including Heracross, Tyrantrum, Florges, Cresselia, Snorlax, Stoutland, Toxicroak, Virizion, and Mega Glalie. Doublade is a staple on most offensive teams, as it provides a blanket check to a lot of threats while still retaining an offensive presence. It also has access to Swords Dance, which allows it to become a setup sweeper, as it raises its decently high Attack. Furthermore, Doublade has moves that complement Swords Dance, mainly Shadow Sneak, which gives the it much-needed priority.
However, Doublade's low Special Defense stat means that it gets worn down quickly by special attacks. Doublade also relies on Eviolite to tank hits and is thus crippled heavily if it loses it. Doublade also has no reliable recovery, meaning that it can be worn down more easily, especially because most of the Pokemon that Doublade checks carry coverage moves to hit it.
[SET]
name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Iron Head
move 3: Shadow Claw
move 4: Shadow Sneak
item: Eviolite
ability: No Guard
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 HP / 160 Atk / 96 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Swords Dance boosts Doublade's Attack stat, allowing it to break through threats. Iron Head is the premier STAB move, as it allows Doublade to break Rock- and Fairy-types such as Florges, Diancie, Comfey, and Gigalith. Shadow Claw is the secondary STAB move that lets Doublade beat bulky Psychic-type Pokemon such as Cresselia, Reuniclus, and Necrozma. Shadow Sneak gives Doublade priority that, after a Swords Dance, allows it to pressure offensive teams. Sacred Sword can be used over Iron Head to deal with Curse + Earthquake Snorlax easily, but Iron Head usually does the same job, unless Doublade switches into a boosted Earthquake.
Set Details
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Maximum HP investment increases Doublade's bulk and ability to take hits. Eviolite increases Doublade's Defense and Special Defense, allowing it to take more hits. The Special Defense EVs let Doublade live two Moonblasts from Choice Specs Gardevoir and two Boombursts from Choice Specs Swellow after Stealth Rock damage, allowing Doublade to be a soft check for them. The rest of the EVs are poured into Attack with an Adamant nature to increase Doublade's offensive capabilities.
Usage Tips
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Switch Doublade into Pokemon whose primary STAB moves it resists. Keep the game's current condition in mind, and try not to switch into one of their coverage moves. Note that the opponent will usually be hesitant to click Normal- and Fighting-type moves when they see a Doublade on the opposing team; use that to your advantage. Moreover, Reuniclus tends to run Gigavolt Havoc to lure Doublade and surprise KO it, so try to switch to a Ground-type after switching into Reuniclus. Set up with Doublade when the opposing team is weakened, as Doublade can then have an easier time cleaning with Shadow Sneak. Having entry hazards stacked on the opponent's side of the field allows Doublade's checks to be worn down. Play very carefully if there is a Zoroark on the opposing team, as the opponent might try to lure Doublade with Zoroark.
Team Options
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Dark-types such as Sharpedo, Zoroark, Pangoro, and Alolan Persian have good type synergy with Doublade; Doublade checks Fighting- and Fairy-types while they check Ghost-types and, other than Alolan Persian, provide offensive pressure. Alolan Persian supports Doublade by providing it with setup opportunities and recovery with Z-Memento. Ice-types such as Sneasel, Froslass, and Mega Glalie also support Doublade, as they can easily deal with Ground-types, which Doublade struggles to get past. Sneasel also pressures the opposing team with Knock Off, crippling foes for Doublade, while Froslass and Glalie support Doublade with Spikes, and Doublade supports them by spinblocking. Bulky Water-types such as Mantine, Milotic, and Slowbro also support Doublade by being Ground-type switch-ins, and they can also cripple the foe with Toxic or Scald burns. Grass-types such as Shaymin, Venusaur, Roserade, and Virizion support Doublade by giving it a Ground- and Water-type switch-in, as well as by weakening the opposing team with strong attacks, or in Virizion's case, by setting up with Swords Dance and hitting hard. Defensively, Wish users such as Umbreon and Florges are good teammates, as they can restore Doublade's HP.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A specially defensive RestTalk set can be used to check more threats, but its offensive capabilities are minimal, and the set can only shine in stall teams. Pursuit allows Doublade to wear down the threats that it checks, but Doublade suffers from four-moveslot syndrome, and Pursuit is relatively weak. Toxic can be used to cripple switch-ins like Mantine, Gligar, and Milotic, but Doublade usually does not have any space for it.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Ground-types**: Nidoqueen and Gligar can switch into Doublade's attacks and KO or weaken it. However, Gligar has to be careful, as Doublade can set up on Gligar's weak Earthquake and threaten it.
**Bulky Water-types**: Milotic and Mantine can switch into Doublade's attacks and attempt to burn it with Scald, rendering it useless. They also have access to Haze, which makes Doublade's setup futile.
**Strong Special Attackers**: Moltres, Salazzle, Rotom-H, and specially offensive Sharpedo can KO Doublade with their STAB moves. Swellow and Choice Specs Zoroark aren't afraid of Shadow Sneak and can take Doublade down with Heat Wave and Dark Pulse, respectively.
**Spikes**: Although it is resistant to Stealth Rock, Doublade is very susceptible to Spikes and can be worn down very easily if Spikes are up.
**Knock Off**: A lot of Pokemon carry Knock Off as their coverage move, which severely cripples Doublade.
**Unaware**: Pyukumuku and Quagsire can shut Doublade down completely. Pyukumuku can use Soak + Toxic to deal with Doublade.
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