Ever wondered what it would be like to play the best format in the best gen? In Ruby and Sapphire, a new way to battle was introduced: Double battles. Doubles offers dynamic play much different from singles formats. Gen 3 Doubles OU, simply ADV Doubles or RSE Doubles, is the purest form of doubles. It's fluid, skill intensive, and most of all, you've never seen anything like it.
ADV Doubles Trivia: In Norman's rematch in Emerald, he fights you with two Slakings and a Skill Swap Chansey.
The following clauses are in effect:





- xzern's rain (updated by zeefable)





- SEA's swampert





- SEA's deodoom
- SEA's GarKou
- zee's anti boomspam
Outdated Samples





- xzern's sun





- finally's ddance
Viability Rankings
Notable Threats:

One of the best mons in the game, if not the best. Steel typing coupled with incredible power stipulates Metagross will usually get a good trade. Intimidate immunity and high attack make it the best user of Explosion. In a similar vein, Metagross is one of the few mons who can tank an oncoming Explosion. That being said, Metagross is a common sight on ADV Doubles teams for its ability to effectively check itself. ADV Doubles Metagross is comparable to GSC Snorlax. Metagross can reliably run a basic offensive tank set, agility, choice band, or even a special variant.

Gengar paired with Metagross makes for a fantastic lead for its Explosion immunity and offensive coverage. For example, on weather teams, you can let Gengar set up your weather move of choice and let Metagross explode to pivot into your weather abuser. Aside from that, Gengar's coverage lets it offensively check almost anything you want.

Currently unbanned, Deoxys Speed offers good utility, but is generally weak offensively. Deoxys can use its taunt to disrupt other leads, prevent an opponent from using protect, and may be able to make use of a Calm Mind set or something. Its speed and bolt beam coverage mean it can fulfill a similar offensive role to Gengar, while also boasting the ability to snipe certain other fast, frail mons.

Like Metagross, Tyranitar can run a couple different sets, like ddance, choice band, or a special variant. Tyranitar is also decent for disrupting opposing weather teams, as it is the only mon who can summon weather on switch-in.
Interested in doubles history? Here are some of the oldest doubles threads on the planet.
https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/2vs2-tier-list-as-of-december.7064/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/general-analysis-the-2vs2-metagame.6329/
Some points:
ADV Doubles Trivia: In Norman's rematch in Emerald, he fights you with two Slakings and a Skill Swap Chansey.
The following clauses are in effect:
- Species Clause
- Evasion Clause
- OHKO Clause
- Mewtwo
- Mew
- Lugia
- Ho-oh
- Latias
- Latios
- Kyogre
- Groudon
- Rayquaza
- Deoxys
- Deoxys-D
- Deoxys-A
- Wobbuffet
- Wynaut
- Deoxys-S
- ADV Doubles format can be accessed in challenges through Gen 3 Custom Doubles Game on Showdown.
- The most important: When a Pokemon is made to faint, the replacement is sent in before the turn ends.
- There is no team preview. The first two slots on your team are your lead.
- Types are physical or special, not moves.
- Hidden Power exists and has 70 BP.
- Protect has a 1/2 chance of working in succession, instead of 1/3.
- Spread moves have 50% damage reduction, instead of 75%.
- Spread moves that target the entire field (Earthquake, Explosion) have no spread reduction.
- Type-specific boosting items like Charcoal only boost moves by 10%.
- Steel resists Ghost and Dark.
- Explosion deals double damage.
- Sandstorm does not boost Rock types' Sp.Def.
- Ability-summoned weather conditions are permanent.
- Surf does not damage your ally.
- Critical hits do 2x damage.






























Outdated Samples












Viability Rankings
Notable Threats:
- Explosion

One of the best mons in the game, if not the best. Steel typing coupled with incredible power stipulates Metagross will usually get a good trade. Intimidate immunity and high attack make it the best user of Explosion. In a similar vein, Metagross is one of the few mons who can tank an oncoming Explosion. That being said, Metagross is a common sight on ADV Doubles teams for its ability to effectively check itself. ADV Doubles Metagross is comparable to GSC Snorlax. Metagross can reliably run a basic offensive tank set, agility, choice band, or even a special variant.
Bulky Attacker
Metagross @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 4 Def / 252 HP / 252 Atk or EVs: 208 HP / 236 Atk / 16 Def / 48 SpD (lives moltres heat wave)
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake / Rock Slide
- Explosion
- Protect
Choice Band
Metagross @ Choice Band
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 128 HP / 252 Atk / 128 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Explosion
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
Agility
Metagross @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Agility
- Explosion
- Protect
Metagross @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 4 Def / 252 HP / 252 Atk or EVs: 208 HP / 236 Atk / 16 Def / 48 SpD (lives moltres heat wave)
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Earthquake / Rock Slide
- Explosion
- Protect
Choice Band
Metagross @ Choice Band
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 128 HP / 252 Atk / 128 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Explosion
- Earthquake
- Rock Slide
Agility
Metagross @ Leftovers
Ability: Clear Body
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Meteor Mash
- Agility
- Explosion
- Protect

Gengar paired with Metagross makes for a fantastic lead for its Explosion immunity and offensive coverage. For example, on weather teams, you can let Gengar set up your weather move of choice and let Metagross explode to pivot into your weather abuser. Aside from that, Gengar's coverage lets it offensively check almost anything you want.
Offensive
Gengar @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Punch
- Thunderbolt
- Fire Punch
- Protect
Weather Lead
Gengar @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder / Thunderbolt
- Ice Punch / Fire Punch
- Rain Dance / Sunny Day
- Protect / Explosion / Will-o-wisp
Gengar @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Ice Punch
- Thunderbolt
- Fire Punch
- Protect
Weather Lead
Gengar @ Leftovers
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunder / Thunderbolt
- Ice Punch / Fire Punch
- Rain Dance / Sunny Day
- Protect / Explosion / Will-o-wisp

Currently unbanned, Deoxys Speed offers good utility, but is generally weak offensively. Deoxys can use its taunt to disrupt other leads, prevent an opponent from using protect, and may be able to make use of a Calm Mind set or something. Its speed and bolt beam coverage mean it can fulfill a similar offensive role to Gengar, while also boasting the ability to snipe certain other fast, frail mons.
Deoxys doesnt need any speed investment to outrun Aerodactyl and Jolteon. You can run more for certain benchmarks like the deoxys mirror or a setup sweeper with a certain boost.
Support:
Deoxys-Speed @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Thunder Wave / Sunny Day / Rain Dance
- Psychic / Ice Beam / Thunderbolt
- Protect
Calm Mind:
Deoxys-Speed @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Psychic / Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam / Thunderbolt / Substitute
- Protect
Support:
Deoxys-Speed @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Taunt
- Thunder Wave / Sunny Day / Rain Dance
- Psychic / Ice Beam / Thunderbolt
- Protect
Calm Mind:
Deoxys-Speed @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Psychic / Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam / Thunderbolt / Substitute
- Protect

Like Metagross, Tyranitar can run a couple different sets, like ddance, choice band, or a special variant. Tyranitar is also decent for disrupting opposing weather teams, as it is the only mon who can summon weather on switch-in.
Dragon Dance
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Protect
Choice Band
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Brave Nature
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Rock]
- Fire Blast
Tyranitar @ Leftovers
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Protect
Choice Band
Tyranitar @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA
Brave Nature
- Rock Slide
- Earthquake
- Hidden Power [Rock]
- Fire Blast
Interested in doubles history? Here are some of the oldest doubles threads on the planet.
https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/2vs2-tier-list-as-of-december.7064/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/general-analysis-the-2vs2-metagame.6329/
Some points:
- What are some other good mons? Cores? Leads? Teams?
- Lead metagame: Some thought should be put into your first two mons, how can you secure early momentum?
- The sample sets that I posted might not be perfect. If you have any additions or ideas, you are free to post about it.
- Is Explosion too volatile?
- Should Deoxys Speed remain legal? I left it legal from my discovery of the above threads.
- Can we free anything else? Mew? Lati@s?
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