View source for Double Battle

A '''double battle''', also known a a '''2-on-2 battle''' or '''tag battle''', is a [[Pokémon battle]] featuring up to four [[Pokémon]] actively participating at once.

Each Pokémon is part of a duo, meaning that the battle takes place between two teams of two.  The number of [[Pokémon trainer]]s participating in the battle can be two - in which each trainer uses two Pokémon, three - in which a pair of trainers each using a single Pokémon face off against a trainer using two, or four trainers - with each trainer using a single Pokémon.

Double battles were introduced into the [[Pokémon games]] in [[Generation III]]. However, the idea had been presented in the [[Pokémon anime]] and the [[Electric Tale of Pikachu]] manga long before that.

=Pokémon Pairs often used in Double Battles=
*Two of the exact same Pokémon
*A Pokémon and its evolved or pre-evolved form
*Two Pokémon of the same type
*A Pokémon with high attack and a pokémon high defense.
*A Pokémon venerable to thunder-type attacks and a Pokémon with the {{a|Lightningrod}} ability.
*A Pokémon venerable to water-type attacks and a Pokémon with the {{a|Storm Drain}} ability.

*Any two [[Starter Pokémon]]
*[[Pikachu]] with a Pikachu-like Pokémon({{p|Plusle}}, {{p|Minun}}, {{p|Marill}} and {{p|Pachirisu}})
*[[Butterfree]] and [[Beedrill]]
*[[Pidgeot]], [[Noctowl]], [[Swellow]], and/or [[Staraptor]]
*[[Nidoqueen]] and [[Nidoking]]
*[[Clefable]]/[[Clefairy]] and [[Wigglytuff]]/[[Jigglypuff]]
*[[Vileplume]] and [[Victreebel]]
*[[Arcanine]] and [[Ninetales]]
*[[Alakazam]] and [[Machamp]]
*[[Hitmonlee]], [[Hitmonchan]], and/or [[Hitmontop]]
*[[Arbok]] and [[Weezing]] 
*Ditto with another Pokémon
*[[Magmortar]]/[[Magmar]] and [[Electivire]]/[[Electabuzz]]
*[[Pinsir]] and [[Heracross]]
*[[Gyarados]] and [[Milotic]]
*Rarely [[Magikarp]] and [[Feebas]]
*[[Tauros]] and [[Miltank]]
*Any combination of [[Eevee]]'s Evolutions usually 
[[Vaporeon]], [[Jolteon]] and/or [[Flareon]]. [[Umbreon]] and [[Espeon]]. [[Leafeon]] and [[Glaceon]] 
*[[Omastar]] and [[Kabutops]]
*[[Dragonite]], [[Tyranitar]], [[Salamence]], [[Metagross]], [[Aggron]], [[Flygon]], and/or [[Garchomp]]
*[[Bellossom]] with [[Vileplume]] and/or [[Sunflora]]
*[[Quagsire]] and [[Whiscash]]
*[[Beautifly]] with [[Dustox]] or [[Butterfree]]
*[[Ludicolo]] and [[Shiftry]]
*[[Plusle]] and [[Minun]]
*[[Volbeat]] and [[Illumise]] 
*[[Zangoose]] and [[Seviper]]
*[[Lunatone]] and [[Solrock]]
*[[Cradily]] and [[Armaldo]]
*[[Banette]] and [[Dusclops]]/{{p|Dusknoir}}
*[[Glalie]] and [[Froslass]]
*[[Huntail]] and [[Gorebyss]]
*[[Rampardos]] and [[Bastiodon]]
*{{p|Bonsly}}/{{p|Sudowoodo}} and {{p|Mime Jr.}}/{{p|Mr.Mime}}
*{{p|Gallade}} and {{p|Gardevoir}} 
  
==Legendary Pairs often used in Double Battles==
*Two of [[Kanto]]'s [[legendary birds]]
*Two of [[Johto]]'s [[legendary beasts]]
*Two of [[Hoenn]]'s [[legendary golems]] and/or {{p|Regigigas}}
*Two of [[Sinnoh]]'s [[lake trio]]
*Two of [[weather trio|Hoenn's trio]] of [[weather conditions|weather]] ({{p|Groudon}}, {{p|Kyogre}}, and {{p|Rayquaza}})
*{{p|Groudon}} with {{p|Cherrim}}, fire-type Pokémon, and other Pokémon that benefit from sunlight.
*{{p|Kyogre}} with {{p|Ludicolo}}, water-type Pokémon, and oter Pokémon that benefit from rain
*{{p|Deoxys}} with another {{p|Deoxys}} of a different form.
*Two of the cute [[legendary pokémon]]
*{{p|Mew}} and {{p|Mewtwo}}
*{{p|Latios}} and {{p|Latias}}
*{{p|Dialga}} and {{p|Palkia}}, sometimes grouped with {{p|Giratina}}, {{p|Heatran}} and {{p|Arceus}}
*{{p|Darkrai}} with {{p|Cresselia}} or a Pokémon who's attacks are geared towards sleeping Pokémon.

==Effects on moves==
Many different [[move]]s are made especially for double battles, such as {{m|Helping Hand}}.  Some others, such as {{m|Surf}}, can have noticeably different effects.  Below is a list of moves which act differently in double battles.  Unlisted moves act the same as in normal single battles.

===May be used on user or partner===
*{{m|Acid Armor}}
*{{m|Agility}}
*{{m|Amnesia}}
*{{m|Aromatherapy}}
*{{m|Barrier}}
*{{m|Baton Pass}}
*{{m|Belly Drum}}
*{{m|Bide}}
*{{m|Bulk Up}}
*{{m|Calm Mind}}
*{{m|Camouflage}}
*{{m|Charge}}
*{{m|Conversion}}
*{{m|Conversion2}}
*{{m|Cosmic Power}}
*{{m|Defense Curl}}
*{{m|Destiny Bond}}
*{{m|Detect}}
*{{m|Double Team}}
*{{m|Dragon Dance}}
*{{m|Endure}}
*{{m|Focus Energy}}
*{{m|Follow Me}}
*{{m|Growth}}
*{{m|Grudge}}
*{{m|Hail}}
*{{m|Harden}}
*{{m|Haze}}
*{{m|Heal Bell}}
*{{m|Helping Hand}}
*{{m|Howl}}
*{{m|Imprison}}
*{{m|Ingrain}}
*{{m|Iron Defense}}
*{{m|Light Screen}}
*{{m|Meditate}}
*{{m|Milk Drink}}
*{{m|Minimize}}
*{{m|Mist}}
*{{m|Moonlight}}
*{{m|Morning Sun}}
*{{m|Mud Sport}}
*{{m|Perish Song}}
*{{m|Protect}}
*{{m|Rain Dance}}
*{{m|Recover}}
*{{m|Recycle}}
*{{m|Reflect}}
*{{m|Refresh}}
*{{m|Rest}}
*{{m|Safeguard}}
*{{m|Sandstorm}}
*{{m|Sharpen}}
*{{m|Slack Off}}
*{{m|Softboiled}}
*{{m|Splash}}
*{{m|Stockpile}}
*{{m|Substitute}}
*{{m|Sunny Day}}
*{{m|Swallow}}
*{{m|Swords Dance}}
*{{m|Synthesis}}
*{{m|Tail Glow}}
*{{m|Teleport}}
*{{m|Water Sport}}
*{{m|Wish}}
*{{m|Withdraw}}

===Target depends on status of battle===
*{{m|Assist}}
*{{m|Counter}}
*{{m|Magic Coat}}
*{{m|Metronome}}
*{{m|Mirror Coat}}
*{{m|Mirror Move}}
*{{m|Nature Power}}
*{{m|Sleep Talk}}
*{{m|Snatch}}

===May hit either opponent===
*{{m|Thrash}}
*{{m|Petal Dance}}
*{{m|Outrage}}
*{{m|Uproar}}

===Hits both opponents===
*{{m|Acid}}
*{{m|Air Cutter}}
*{{m|Blizzard}}
*{{m|Bubble}}
*{{m|Eruption}}
*{{m|Growl}}
*{{m|Heat Wave}}
*{{m|Hyper Voice}}
*{{m|Icy Wind}}
*{{m|Leer}}
*{{m|Muddy Water}}
*{{m|Powder Snow}}
*{{m|Razor Leaf}}
*{{m|Razor Wind}}
*{{m|Rock Slide}}
*{{m|Surf}}
*{{m|String Shot}}
*{{m|Sweet Scent}}
*{{m|Swift}}
*{{m|Tail Whip}}
*{{m|Twister}}
*{{m|Water Spout}}

===Hits both opponents and partner===
*{{m|Earthquake}}
*{{m|Explosion}}
*{{m|Magnitude}}
*{{m|Selfdestruct}}
*{{m|Teeter Dance}}
*{{m|Surf}} ([[Generation IV]])
*{{m|Lava Plume}}

===Affects all Pokémon in battle===
*{{m|Spikes}}

==Effects on abilities==
Many [[abilities]], such as Plus, are also adapted especially for double battles.  Below is a list of abilities geared towards double battles:

*{{a|Plus}}
*{{a|Minus}}
*{{a|Lightningrod}}
*{{a|Storm Drain}}

==In the anime==
The first official double battle occured in ''[[EP108|Pokémon Double Trouble]]''.  In order to win the [[Badge#Jade Star Badge|Jade Star Badge]], Ash had to defeat [[Luana]]'s {{p|Marowak}} and {{p|Alakazam}} in a double battle.  While [[Ash's Pikachu]] and [[Ash's Charizard|Charizard]] were initially unwilling to cooperate, they eventually overcame it to win the battle.

After the release of Ruby and Sapphire, double battles were seen in the anime more often.  The first took place in ''[[AG014|All in a Day's Wurmple]]''. [[Forrester Franklin]] introduced the concept to Ash and they had a battle that Ash won. As in the games, Ash's Gym Battle against [[Tate and Liza]] was a double battle. The Double Battle style has been used in contests; more specifically, all four battle rounds of the Grand Festival. Additionally, in order to qualify for the finals of the [[Ever Grande Conference]], competitors must win three double battles in the preliminaries. Double battles also appeared in the seventh movie, ''[[Destiny Deoxys]]''.

''[[AG072|The Bicker the Better]]'', ''[[AG176|Grating Spaces]]'' and [[DP029]] all featured tag battles; double battles with two trainers on each side.

While not counting as official battles, battles with Team Rocket are usually two-on-two, as has been the case since ''[[EP003|Ash Catches a Pokémon]]''. In that episode, Ash complained that it was against the rules. Perhaps to account for this, Forrester stated that double battles are accepted under [[Hoenn]]'s official Pokémon league rules.

[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[de:Doppelkampf]]