Double Battles Guide: Best Moves and Tips

Use moves that attack both opponents in one turn during double battles in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (BDSP) for the Nintendo Switch. Read on to learn about the best moves for double battles and tips on how to earn more EXP.

Best Moves for Double Battles

Attack Both Opponents

It's best to use moves that attack both opponents in one turn. These moves are also good counters to redirection moves since it hits both Pokemon which mitigates its effect. Below are the opital moves that hit both opponents during Double Battles:

Move	Type	Power	Strengths & Weaknesses
Blizzard		120	・May freeze the oppontents ・Base PP of 5 ・75% accuracy
Earthquake		100	・Strong attack with good PP ・Deals damage to partner Pokemon that is touching the ground
Heat Wave		100	・May also burn the opponent
Muddy Water		95	・May also lower opponent's accuracy ・85% accuracy
Hyper Voice		90	・No extra effect
Rock Slide		75	・May also cause opponent to flinch
Swift		60	・Never misses
Icy Wind		55	・Also lowers opponents' Speed stats
Air Cutter		55	・High critical-hit ratio
Razor Leaf		55	・High critical-hit ratio ・Commonly learned, Grass-type move
Twister		40	・May also cause opponent to flinch

Non-Damaging Moves

There are moves that don't deal direct damage but are still viable and heavily effective for Double Battles. Below is the list of the best non-damaging moves to use:

Move	Type	Strengths & Weaknesses
Tailwind		・Doubles the speed of your side's Pokemon for 3 turns.
Follow Me		・All opponents aim only at the user of this move ・Can be used to distract opponents from weak Pokemon
Stealth Rock		・Damage opponents that switch into battle ・Damage dealt is affected by type match-up against the Rock-type
Toxic Spikes		・Poison opponents that switch into battle ・Doesn't affect Flying, Steel, or Poison-types
Spikes		・Damage opponents that switch into battle ・Doesn't affect Flying-type Pokemon or Pokemon with Levitate ability

Double Battle Tips

Focus on 1 Opponent First

If you're playing at a type disadvantage, you should focus on getting rid of 1 opponent first. Having 2 Pokemon deal damage to 1 opposing Pokemon in 1 round is sure to beat it and remove it from play. It's best to dispatch the Pokemon that outmaches you.

More EXP From Double Wild Encounters

When you partner up with an NPC in areas with wild Pokemon, you will battle 2 Pokemon during the wild Pokemon encounters. It's faster to farm EXP during this time, since you'll be battling and earning EXP from 2 Pokemon per wild encounter.

Additionally, your partner will restore your Pokemon's HP and PP after every wild Pokemon encounter, so there's no need to break from EXP farming to visit a Pokemon Center.

NPC Partner Heals and Fights Alongside You

During the main storyline, you'll encounter double battles where you'll be partnered up with an NPC (such as your rival, the Professor's assistant, etc.). When this happens, you'll only be able to control 1 Pokemon on your side, even when your partner's Pokemon faints.

If you Double Battle with an NPC partner, you'll have your party of up to 6 Pokemon + their Pokemon (usually 1, except in the case of your rival, who has a full party as well).

It's acceptable to let NPC Pokemon faint

It's generally okay to let your NPC partner faint, as their Pokemon is fully restored for the next battle and its moveset isn't extremely helpful anyway.

Such as in the case of Riley, most of the Pokemon in Iron Island are weak to the Ground attack Earthquake, which damages all players on the field. It would be acceptable to let Riley's Lucario (who is also weak to Earthquake) faint in order to swiftly end the battle.

Double Battle Partners

Partner	Location	Pokemon	Pokemon's Moves
Cheryl	Eterna Forest	Chansey (Lv. 15)	・Sweet Kiss ・Disarming Voice ・Tail Whip ・Life Dew
Mira	Wayward Cave	Kadabra (Lv. 18)	・Kinesis ・Psybeam ・Reflect ・Ally Switch
Riley	Iron Island	Lucario (Lv. 34)	・Screech ・Force Palm ・Metal Claw ・Laser Focus
Post-Game Only
Marley	Victory Road	Arcanine (Lv. 57)	・Burn Up ・Helping Hand ・Leer ・Howl
Buck	Stark Mountain	Claydol (Lv. 58)	・Ancient Power ・Cosmic Power ・Extrasensory ・Earth Power

Pokemon BDSP Related Guides

Beginner's Tips and Tricks

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Tips and Tricks