[OVERVIEW]
Doduo's excellent Attack stat, powerful STAB moves, and good coverage options make it one of the best physical attackers in the LC metagame. It typically takes on the role of a powerful wallbreaker, using its very good Speed stat and coverage options to wear down opposing teams or to end games against slower teams. It is helped in its wallbreaking by its coverage options, which make it impossible to safely switch into. Doduo can also flip its wallbreaking set on its head and run a Choice Scarf set, which outspeeds most of the Pokemon that typically revenge kill it and can reliably clean up weakened teams late-game. However, Doduo suffers from poor defensive stats that leave it vulnerable to revenge killing and priority attacks. Furthermore, its most powerful and spammable move, Brave Bird, has significant recoil damage, which, coupled with its Stealth Rock weakness, means it tends to get worn down very fast.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Jump Kick
move 4: Quick Attack / Return
item: Berry Juice / Life Orb
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is an incredibly powerful STAB attack that does significant damage to anything that doesn't resist it, though at the cost of dealing significant recoil damage to Doduo. Knock Off can be used to remove the items of Pokemon that switch into Doduo, softening them up for Doduo or its teammates to better deal with them. Jump Kick hits Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon for super effective damage, making it risky for these Pokemon to switch into a predicted Brave Bird. Quick Attack gives Doduo a priority move that hits fairly hard thanks to its high Attack. Return is an alternative that gives Doduo another powerful STAB move that hits Pokemon that resist Brave Bird and don't mind Jump Kick, such as Chinchou, without causing recoil damage, but most Pokemon are hit plenty hard by Doduo's first three moves. Substitute is a possibility as well, which lets Doduo activate Berry Juice when necessary and play around Pawniard's Sucker Punch.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread maximizes Doduo's Attack, to allow it to hit as hard as possible, and its Speed, to allow it to outspeed a majority of the metagame while breaking it down. With a Jolly nature, Doduo hits 18 Speed, allowing it to become even harder to switch into and reliably outspeed the likes of Cottonee, Snivy, and Chinchou. Berry Juice is useful to allow Doduo to take weak priority attacks or switch into Stealth Rock more times during a match, making it less prone to getting worn down. Life Orb is an alternative that makes Doduo one of the hardest-hitting attackers in the metagame, enhancing its wallbreaking capability, but this often lets it attack only two or three times over the course of a game before KOing itself with recoil. Early Bird is the preferred ability, as both of Doduo's other abilities are practically useless competitively.
Usage Tips
========
Doduo should be brought in either by a slow pivot or after a Pokemon faints, as it doesn't have the bulk to take even most resisted hits reliably. After it comes in, Doduo can spam its powerful attacks. Knock Off is a good choice early-game to wear down Doduo's checks and counters. After Pokemon that resist Flying have been worn down or picked off with Jump Kick, Doduo can spam Brave Bird to clean up opposing teams. Scouting for opposing Choice Scarf users is helpful so Doduo isn't unexpectedly outsped while attempting to attack.
Team Options
========
Slow pivots allow Doduo to enter the match safely. Mienfoo does this well, as it can also beat the Rock- and Steel-types that threaten Doduo while wearing down teams with Knock Off, as does Chinchou, which checks the Electric-type Pokemon that resist Brave Bird. Pokemon such as Onix, Omanyte, and Archen synergize with Doduo fairly well and can set up entry hazards that wear down opposing teams and make Doduo even more difficult to switch into. Entry hazard control is also appreciated; Staryu and Drilbur can spin away Stealth Rock that wears Doduo down. Offensive Pokemon that share checks and counters with Doduo can wear down said Pokemon. Other Flying-types work especially well, including Vullaby and Rufflet, as do Normal-type attackers such as Aipom. Diglett and Trapinch also make very good partners to Doduo, being able to trap and remove Rock-, Steel-, and Electric-type Pokemon that aim to check it. Lastly, Healing Wish and Z-Memento users, such as Cottonee, make good partners for Doduo, allowing it to wear down its own checks and counters and then healing it to sweep late in the game.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Jump Kick
move 4: Return / Quick Attack
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is Doduo's most powerful and spammable move, dealing enormous damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Knock Off removes defensive items, such as Eviolite and Berry Juice, from switch-ins to Doduo, allowing Doduo or its teammates to beat them more easily late in the match. Jump Kick hits the Steel- and Rock-types that resist Brave Bird for super effective damage and makes Doduo very hard to switch into. Return is another powerful STAB move that doesn't inflict recoil damage on Doduo while still hitting what doesn't resist it for good damage. Quick Attack is an alternative that lets Doduo act as an emergency revenge killer against weakened faster Pokemon or weakened Pokemon with priority.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread maximizes Doduo's Attack and Speed stats so it can clean as well as possible. With a Jolly nature and a Choice Scarf, Doduo hits 27 Speed, tying with Choice Scarf Gastly and outspeeding Choice Scarf users such as Chinchou and Mienfoo as well as boosted Pokemon such as Dragon Dance Scraggy and most Shell Smash Omanyte and Shellder. Choice Scarf Doduo also outspeeds Adamant Alolan Sandshrew in hail and Modest Bellsprout in sun, so it can check weather teams if necessary. An Adamant nature can be run to increase Doduo's attacking power, but it will Speed tie with some of the aforementioned threats and lose to the weather sweepers. Early Bird is used because Doduo's other two abilities are more or less competitively useless.
Usage Tips
========
Use this set as a revenge killer or a late-game cleaner. Avoid switching Doduo into attacks, as it has poor bulk and already is worn down quickly due to its reliance on Brave Bird to clean opposing teams. Once it is in, Doduo can spam its powerful Brave Bird, or, if Rock-type checks have yet to be weakened, lure them in and KO or weaken them with Knock Off or Jump Kick. If Doduo is attempting to clean late-game, be wary of Brave Bird recoil damage, and lock Doduo into Return if possible.
Team Options
========
Entry hazards are extremely helpful to wear down Pokemon so Doduo can take them out. Teammates such as Onix, Omanyte, and Dwebble can set Stealth Rock effectively and have good synergy with Doduo. This Doduo set can't wear down its own checks and counters very well due to its inability to switch moves, so Pokemon that can wear these checks and counters down for it make good partners. Aipom, Vullaby, and Rufflet all bring in common checks to Doduo and can wear them down for Doduo to sweep later in a game. Slow pivots allow Doduo to enter the match safely. Mienfoo does this well, as it can also beat the Rock- and Steel-types that threaten Doduo while wearing down teams with Knock Off, as does Chinchou, which checks the Electric-type Pokemon that resist Brave Bird. Finally, Diglett and Trapinch make very good partners to Doduo, able to trap and remove Rock-, Steel-, and Electric-type Pokemon that aim to check it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Double-Edge is an option for a more powerful Normal-type STAB move, but it comes with high recoil damage to Doduo. Various Hidden Powers, including Hidden Power Grass, can be run to surprise various checks to Doduo that aren't KOed by a coverage move, such as Tirtouga. A Focus Sash set with Flail or Endeavor and Quick Attack is possible, but it requires substantial support to use. Swords Dance can be used to bring Doduo's Attack to insane levels, but due to its frailty, Doduo will rarely be able to get the move off safely. Agility can be used to boost Doduo's Speed, but, similarly to Swords Dance, Doduo has trouble finding opportunities to use it. Drill Peck can be used as a Flying-type STAB move with no recoil, but it comes at the cost of substantial power. Thrash is a more powerful Normal-type STAB move, but it locks Doduo into it, which can give the Pokemon that resist it free setup turns. Steel Wing is a potential coverage move for Archen, but it forces Doduo to forgo more generally useful coverage. Roost is a possibility to recover Doduo's HP, but Doduo will usually not get this opportunity because it is so frail. Finally, Facade is an option as an extremely powerful Normal-type STAB move for when Doduo is inflicted with a status condition, but most Pokemon that inflict status conditions will outright KO Doduo anyway.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Revenge Killers**: As Doduo is nearly impossible to switch into safely, the best way to take it out is offensively. Choice Scarf users such as Magnemite, Chinchou, and Pawniard easily outspeed and KO non-Choice Scarf Doduo, as do naturally fast Pokemon such as Elekid and Abra. The Choice Scarf variant is more susceptible to priority, such as Pawniard's Sucker Punch, which will wear it down rapidly.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types, especially those with high Defense, make decent Doduo checks, though they have to be wary of Jump Kick. Weak Armor users such as Dwebble and Omanyte can take an attack while gaining a Speed boost and take out Doduo or set up Stealth Rock. Onix and Tirtouga both can survive a Jump Kick and KO in return, and defensive Archen deserves a special mention as one of the few Pokemon that are not 2HKOed by any Doduo variant from full health.
**Electric-types**: Electric-type Pokemon can make good checks to Doduo. Chinchou and Magnemite can take a hit and KO back or outspeed non-Choice Scarf Doduo with Choice Scarves of their own and revenge kill it. Elekid can outspeed non-Choice Scarf Doduo and take it out, although it takes substantial damage from Quick Attack, and Choice Scarf variants of Elekid are among the only Pokemon that outspeed and take out Choice Scarf Doduo.
Doduo's excellent Attack stat, powerful STAB moves, and good coverage options make it one of the best physical attackers in the LC metagame. It typically takes on the role of a powerful wallbreaker, using its very good Speed stat and coverage options to wear down opposing teams or to end games against slower teams. It is helped in its wallbreaking by its coverage options, which make it impossible to safely switch into. Doduo can also flip its wallbreaking set on its head and run a Choice Scarf set, which outspeeds most of the Pokemon that typically revenge kill it and can reliably clean up weakened teams late-game. However, Doduo suffers from poor defensive stats that leave it vulnerable to revenge killing and priority attacks. Furthermore, its most powerful and spammable move, Brave Bird, has significant recoil damage, which, coupled with its Stealth Rock weakness, means it tends to get worn down very fast.
[SET]
name: Physical Attacker
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Jump Kick
move 4: Quick Attack / Return
item: Berry Juice / Life Orb
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is an incredibly powerful STAB attack that does significant damage to anything that doesn't resist it, though at the cost of dealing significant recoil damage to Doduo. Knock Off can be used to remove the items of Pokemon that switch into Doduo, softening them up for Doduo or its teammates to better deal with them. Jump Kick hits Rock- and Steel-type Pokemon for super effective damage, making it risky for these Pokemon to switch into a predicted Brave Bird. Quick Attack gives Doduo a priority move that hits fairly hard thanks to its high Attack. Return is an alternative that gives Doduo another powerful STAB move that hits Pokemon that resist Brave Bird and don't mind Jump Kick, such as Chinchou, without causing recoil damage, but most Pokemon are hit plenty hard by Doduo's first three moves. Substitute is a possibility as well, which lets Doduo activate Berry Juice when necessary and play around Pawniard's Sucker Punch.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread maximizes Doduo's Attack, to allow it to hit as hard as possible, and its Speed, to allow it to outspeed a majority of the metagame while breaking it down. With a Jolly nature, Doduo hits 18 Speed, allowing it to become even harder to switch into and reliably outspeed the likes of Cottonee, Snivy, and Chinchou. Berry Juice is useful to allow Doduo to take weak priority attacks or switch into Stealth Rock more times during a match, making it less prone to getting worn down. Life Orb is an alternative that makes Doduo one of the hardest-hitting attackers in the metagame, enhancing its wallbreaking capability, but this often lets it attack only two or three times over the course of a game before KOing itself with recoil. Early Bird is the preferred ability, as both of Doduo's other abilities are practically useless competitively.
Usage Tips
========
Doduo should be brought in either by a slow pivot or after a Pokemon faints, as it doesn't have the bulk to take even most resisted hits reliably. After it comes in, Doduo can spam its powerful attacks. Knock Off is a good choice early-game to wear down Doduo's checks and counters. After Pokemon that resist Flying have been worn down or picked off with Jump Kick, Doduo can spam Brave Bird to clean up opposing teams. Scouting for opposing Choice Scarf users is helpful so Doduo isn't unexpectedly outsped while attempting to attack.
Team Options
========
Slow pivots allow Doduo to enter the match safely. Mienfoo does this well, as it can also beat the Rock- and Steel-types that threaten Doduo while wearing down teams with Knock Off, as does Chinchou, which checks the Electric-type Pokemon that resist Brave Bird. Pokemon such as Onix, Omanyte, and Archen synergize with Doduo fairly well and can set up entry hazards that wear down opposing teams and make Doduo even more difficult to switch into. Entry hazard control is also appreciated; Staryu and Drilbur can spin away Stealth Rock that wears Doduo down. Offensive Pokemon that share checks and counters with Doduo can wear down said Pokemon. Other Flying-types work especially well, including Vullaby and Rufflet, as do Normal-type attackers such as Aipom. Diglett and Trapinch also make very good partners to Doduo, being able to trap and remove Rock-, Steel-, and Electric-type Pokemon that aim to check it. Lastly, Healing Wish and Z-Memento users, such as Cottonee, make good partners for Doduo, allowing it to wear down its own checks and counters and then healing it to sweep late in the game.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Brave Bird
move 2: Knock Off
move 3: Jump Kick
move 4: Return / Quick Attack
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Early Bird
nature: Jolly
evs: 236 Atk / 236 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Brave Bird is Doduo's most powerful and spammable move, dealing enormous damage to anything that doesn't resist it. Knock Off removes defensive items, such as Eviolite and Berry Juice, from switch-ins to Doduo, allowing Doduo or its teammates to beat them more easily late in the match. Jump Kick hits the Steel- and Rock-types that resist Brave Bird for super effective damage and makes Doduo very hard to switch into. Return is another powerful STAB move that doesn't inflict recoil damage on Doduo while still hitting what doesn't resist it for good damage. Quick Attack is an alternative that lets Doduo act as an emergency revenge killer against weakened faster Pokemon or weakened Pokemon with priority.
Set Details
========
The given EV spread maximizes Doduo's Attack and Speed stats so it can clean as well as possible. With a Jolly nature and a Choice Scarf, Doduo hits 27 Speed, tying with Choice Scarf Gastly and outspeeding Choice Scarf users such as Chinchou and Mienfoo as well as boosted Pokemon such as Dragon Dance Scraggy and most Shell Smash Omanyte and Shellder. Choice Scarf Doduo also outspeeds Adamant Alolan Sandshrew in hail and Modest Bellsprout in sun, so it can check weather teams if necessary. An Adamant nature can be run to increase Doduo's attacking power, but it will Speed tie with some of the aforementioned threats and lose to the weather sweepers. Early Bird is used because Doduo's other two abilities are more or less competitively useless.
Usage Tips
========
Use this set as a revenge killer or a late-game cleaner. Avoid switching Doduo into attacks, as it has poor bulk and already is worn down quickly due to its reliance on Brave Bird to clean opposing teams. Once it is in, Doduo can spam its powerful Brave Bird, or, if Rock-type checks have yet to be weakened, lure them in and KO or weaken them with Knock Off or Jump Kick. If Doduo is attempting to clean late-game, be wary of Brave Bird recoil damage, and lock Doduo into Return if possible.
Team Options
========
Entry hazards are extremely helpful to wear down Pokemon so Doduo can take them out. Teammates such as Onix, Omanyte, and Dwebble can set Stealth Rock effectively and have good synergy with Doduo. This Doduo set can't wear down its own checks and counters very well due to its inability to switch moves, so Pokemon that can wear these checks and counters down for it make good partners. Aipom, Vullaby, and Rufflet all bring in common checks to Doduo and can wear them down for Doduo to sweep later in a game. Slow pivots allow Doduo to enter the match safely. Mienfoo does this well, as it can also beat the Rock- and Steel-types that threaten Doduo while wearing down teams with Knock Off, as does Chinchou, which checks the Electric-type Pokemon that resist Brave Bird. Finally, Diglett and Trapinch make very good partners to Doduo, able to trap and remove Rock-, Steel-, and Electric-type Pokemon that aim to check it.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Double-Edge is an option for a more powerful Normal-type STAB move, but it comes with high recoil damage to Doduo. Various Hidden Powers, including Hidden Power Grass, can be run to surprise various checks to Doduo that aren't KOed by a coverage move, such as Tirtouga. A Focus Sash set with Flail or Endeavor and Quick Attack is possible, but it requires substantial support to use. Swords Dance can be used to bring Doduo's Attack to insane levels, but due to its frailty, Doduo will rarely be able to get the move off safely. Agility can be used to boost Doduo's Speed, but, similarly to Swords Dance, Doduo has trouble finding opportunities to use it. Drill Peck can be used as a Flying-type STAB move with no recoil, but it comes at the cost of substantial power. Thrash is a more powerful Normal-type STAB move, but it locks Doduo into it, which can give the Pokemon that resist it free setup turns. Steel Wing is a potential coverage move for Archen, but it forces Doduo to forgo more generally useful coverage. Roost is a possibility to recover Doduo's HP, but Doduo will usually not get this opportunity because it is so frail. Finally, Facade is an option as an extremely powerful Normal-type STAB move for when Doduo is inflicted with a status condition, but most Pokemon that inflict status conditions will outright KO Doduo anyway.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Revenge Killers**: As Doduo is nearly impossible to switch into safely, the best way to take it out is offensively. Choice Scarf users such as Magnemite, Chinchou, and Pawniard easily outspeed and KO non-Choice Scarf Doduo, as do naturally fast Pokemon such as Elekid and Abra. The Choice Scarf variant is more susceptible to priority, such as Pawniard's Sucker Punch, which will wear it down rapidly.
**Rock-types**: Rock-types, especially those with high Defense, make decent Doduo checks, though they have to be wary of Jump Kick. Weak Armor users such as Dwebble and Omanyte can take an attack while gaining a Speed boost and take out Doduo or set up Stealth Rock. Onix and Tirtouga both can survive a Jump Kick and KO in return, and defensive Archen deserves a special mention as one of the few Pokemon that are not 2HKOed by any Doduo variant from full health.
**Electric-types**: Electric-type Pokemon can make good checks to Doduo. Chinchou and Magnemite can take a hit and KO back or outspeed non-Choice Scarf Doduo with Choice Scarves of their own and revenge kill it. Elekid can outspeed non-Choice Scarf Doduo and take it out, although it takes substantial damage from Quick Attack, and Choice Scarf variants of Elekid are among the only Pokemon that outspeed and take out Choice Scarf Doduo.
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