An Introduction to 2v2

By Knuckstrike. Released: 2019/10/14.
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Art by LifeisDANK

Art by LifeisDANK.

2v2 is a metagame that has been gaining popularity as of late. Featured in the World Cup of 1v1 and the 1v1 Premier League, it's one of the most popular metagames lacking a permanent ladder. This article will teach you everything there is to know about 2v2!

What is 2v2, and what are its similarities to 1v1?

2v2 is a bring 4, pick 2 metagame. As its name suggests, both of your chosen Pokémon are sent out simultaneously. This means you don't have the option of switching out for a Pokémon you have in the back, resembling the pace of a game of 1v1. As the two Pokémon you send out have to handle everything themselves, most movesets are dedicated to high individual performance, rather than focused on team support. A good 2v2 team can work with many combinations of 2 Pokémon, so an effective attacking movepool is often important. Intimidate shuffling is not possible due to the lack of switches, and Shadow Tag's and U-turn's utility is nullified entirely. This makes games of 2v2 more prediction based and action packed than a standard game of Smogon Doubles, which favors a more positional playstyle. One prediction can turn the tide of the match, and with the 2v2 metagame being as offensive as 1v1's, one heavy hit is often all that’s required to win the game. Games of 2v2 still feature Pokémon that dominate in 1v1, such as Mega Gyarados, alongside Doubles staples.

Similarities to Smogon Doubles

Working with two Pokémon at the same time gives rise to a number of strategies that resemble Smogon Doubles more than 1v1. Fake Out is as typical a move in 2v2 as it is in Smogon Doubles, and Protect and redirection moves are still common sights. Though common in 1v1, Hyper Beam and similar sacrificial moves are seen as too risky in 2v2, as a Hyper Beam knockout does not guarantee the trainer a win and leaves the user vulnerable, potentially for the rest of the match, with games usually lasting no more than a few turns.

Common teaming strategies include Tapu Koko providing Electric Terrain for Hawlucha, Oranguru setting up Trick Room for Camerupt, and Banette working together with Whimsicott to Encore + Disable trap a foe. Disrupting an opponent can be as effective as helping your own teammates in 2v2, as Pokémon are unable to switch out to reset these disruptions. Many Pokémon that are Doubles staples work very well on 2v2 teams, such as Tapu Fini, Kartana, Kyurem-B, and Mega Charizard Y.

Effective movesets

Mega Tyranitar

Mega Tyranitar is seen as one of the best Pokémon in 2v2, and for good reason. Its Mega forme has one of the highest base stat totals of the tier, and its Rock Slides can put a dent in anything. The additional double flinch chance on Rock Slide can turn the tide in a losing match, while Crunch is a reliable and decently powerful attack.

Having Sand Stream as both a pre-Mega and a post-Mega ability is not a waste, as it enables Tyranitar to get the upper hand over other weather summoners like Pelipper and Mega Charizard Y, which are only able to put up their respective weather once during the battle. Mega Tyranitar is a powerful threat that pairs well with Fake Out users, Rock-types, and Excadrill. It often requires good prediction though, as it's rather slow before it sets up with Dragon Dance, so timing the use of Protect and Dragon Dance is crucial.

Zeraora

Zeraora is a newer addition that can give a teammate a free turn by using Fake Out or prevent an opponent from using a setup move like Trick Room with Taunt. Plasma Fists is a high-powered move, especially when boosted by Life Orb, and is Zeraora's best offensive move, as Z-Moves are banned from 2v2 play. Zeraora works best when used in conjunction with another offensive ally, as such Pokémon most appreciate the odd coverage and disturbance the tiger can provide. Hoopa-U is a premier example of a good partner, as it can hit targets trying to use Protect against Zeraora's Fake Out by breaking through their protection with its Hyperspace attacks.

Landorus-T

Though in singles metagames Landorus-T is usually seen running a physical set, in Doubles formats it can run a specially offensive set as well, depending on what the team needs. Physical Landorus-T usually opts for a physical Z-Earthquake set with Rock Tomb, while special sets use its extensive special movepool to lessen the effectiveness of an opponent's Intimidate user, like Mawile or opposing Landorus-T. It runs Ice / Ground coverage, with Hidden Power Ice hitting foes that are immune to Earth Power by virtue of their typing. As Stealth Rock and U-turn are virtually useless in 2v2, Landorus-T runs Sludge Bomb to catch Tapu Bulu off guard, as well as less common Grass-types like Whimsicott. The EVs allow Landorus-T to take Mega Swampert's Waterfall in the rain and outspeed Pelipper, making it an asset even against rain teams.

Sample teams

Mega Heracross Clefairy Mega Mawile Hoopa-U Mega Aggron Incineroar Tapu Fini Kartana Chansey Gastrodon Mega Venusaur Arcanine

Heracross-Mega @ Heracronite
Ability: Guts
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Atk / 32 Def / 24 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Rock Slide
- Pin Missile
- Bullet Seed
- Swords Dance


Clefairy @ Eviolite
Ability: Friend Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
- Encore
- Follow Me
- Protect
- Spotlight


Mawile @ Mawilite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 248 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Sucker Punch
- Protect
- Iron Head
- Focus Punch


Hoopa-Unbound @ Life Orb
Ability: Magician
EVs: 44 Atk / 56 Def / 200 SpA / 208 Spe
Mild Nature
- Hyperspace Hole
- Dark Pulse
- Hyperspace Fury
- Energy Ball

Some 2v2 teams feature two Mega Pokémon, which is very usable as long as the player remembers not to send out both at the same time. This team features some of the toughest wallbreakers in the metagame, along with a Clefairy set that allows them to do their job. Usually, one of your three offensive powerhouses can OHKO an opponent's entire team, so pick right and allow Clefairy to help them. If no single Pokémon can break through, you can also pick both Mawile and Hoopa-U, as Mawile's Intimidate helps both Pokémon tank physical hits better, on top of their already decent bulk. Heracross's multi-hit moves can break through Substitute users faster, with its coverage hitting most of the tier's prominent threats. Hoopa-U runs a specially offensive Life Orb set, as its teammates are already physically offensive. Mega Mawile is free to run Focus Punch, as Clefairy's Follow Me should prevent Mawile from taking a hit while it's tightening its focus.

The duo of Mega Heracross and Hoopa-U should be used sparingly together, as they lack the speed and bulk to break through without the Intimidate support from Mawile or the redirection from Clefairy.

Aggron-Mega @ Aggronite
Ability: Sturdy
EVs: 252 HP / 108 Atk / 140 SpD / 8 Spe
Impish Nature
- Heavy Slam
- Rock Slide
- Fire Punch
- Protect


Incineroar @ Assault Vest
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 84 Atk / 160 SpD / 12 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Snarl
- Flare Blitz
- Knock Off


Tapu Fini @ Aguav Berry
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 252 HP / 84 Def / 160 SpA / 12 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Heal Pulse
- Moonblast
- Scald
- Soak


Kartana @ Life Orb
Ability: Beast Boost
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Leaf Blade
- Sacred Sword
- X-Scissor
- Substitute

A more balanced effort, this team uses Pokémon more commonly seen in Smogon Doubles. Tapu Fini is central to the team, using its great typing and support moveset to help its teammates succeed. Its Misty Surge ability prevents its offensive teammates from getting burned while also safeguarding itself from poison. While its teammates are bulky, they lack a recovery move, so Heal Pulse is used to keep them alive.

Incineroar's Intimidate ability transforms Kartana and Aggron into better physical tanks than they already are when used in conjunction with them. Its combination of Snarl and an Assault Vest is useful if the foe is more specially oriented. Aggron and Kartana are the team's offensive members, and they work together with one of the supportive members to clean house. Kartana works very well with Tapu Fini, as Tapu Fini's Soak will make any foe glaringly weak to Kartana's cutting-edge Leaf Blade. Aggron works well with Incineroar, as the feline can soften the enemy's attacks enough to give Mega Aggron the turns it needs to break through.

Chansey @ Eviolite
Ability: Healer
EVs: 252 Def / 252 SpD / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
- Soft-Boiled
- Toxic
- Seismic Toss
- Ally Switch


Gastrodon @ Rindo Berry
Ability: Storm Drain
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Mirror Coat
- Earth Power
- Recover
- Ice Beam


Venusaur-Mega @ Venusaurite
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 252 HP / 140 Def / 112 SpD / 4 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Charm
- Giga Drain
- Protect
- Leech Seed


Arcanine @ Aguav Berry
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 44 SpD / 12 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Snarl
- Will-O-Wisp
- Morning Sun
- Flamethrower

Stall is not usually seen in a doubles format, but everything is possible in 2v2! Fortunately, due to the format's small team size and the Pokémon the opponents usually bring, battles are over quickly regardless of the used playstyle, so there's no worries of a 1000-turn battle.

Stall uses status moves to weaken a foe's attacking stats, making use of their inability to switch out and reset their (Special) Attack drops. Mega Venusaur, as bulky as it already is, can sharply drop an opposing Pokémon's Attack stat with Charm. Once foes are unable to deal much damage, it can heal back any damage it received with a combination of Leech Seed, Giga Drain, and Protect. When both foes are Leech Seeded, Venusaur can regain 50% of its health every 2 turns just from the health it recovers from Leech Seed.

Arcanine is often seen as a joke in high-level competitive play, but it can do well on 2v2 stall teams because of its access to semi-reliable recovery and the option to lower both a foe's offensive stats with Will-O-Wisp and Snarl, with Intimidate to boot. This usually weakens the foes to the point where one of the two dedicated walls has no problem holding them at bay.

The two dedicated walls on the team are Chansey and Gastrodon. As the opponent has the option of attacking either one of them when packing both a physical and a special attacker, they need to carry decent bulk both physically and specially. Both Chansey and Gastrodon also have just one weakness, a great help for a wall in Doubles. Its Rindo Berry patches Gastrodon's Grass-type weakness, tanking hits such as Mega Charizard Y's Solar Beam and giving it the option to retaliate with Mirror Coat. Chansey, on the other hand, usually has no trouble with special attacks at all and can create mindgames with Ally Switch while a teammate weakens the confused foes.

Notable tournament games

In this 1v1 Premier League semifinals game between MotoGP and AllFourtyOne, a very close game ensues between a Trick Room and an offensive team. Getting enough damage off on the Oranguru for Zeraora to KO it before its own Life Orb KOes the tiger will end up being the deciding factor in this game.

Another prediction-heavy game during the semifinals of 1v1PL, where Pigeons faces off against Anime Sans.

Links

Closing thoughts

If you'd like to start playing 2v2, it's a challenge format on Pokémon Showdown!, so it's always playable there. You can join the 1v1 room and ask for a match there. If you don't like any of the sample teams, you can get some help with building your own team in the 1v1 room or look at the Viability Rankings and set compendium linked above. You'll be able to play 2v2 on the ladder whenever it's picked as Other Metagame of the Month. Have fun!

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