View source for Double Battle

[[File:Wild double battle Pt2.png|220px|thumb|A double battle]]
A '''double battle''', also known as a '''2-on-2 battle''', is a [[Pokémon battle]] featuring up to four [[Pokémon]] actively participating at once. This game mechanic debuted in [[Generation III]]. A [[tag battle]] is a variation of a double battle with two {{pkmn|Trainer}}s battling alongside each other.

==In the games==
[[File:Wild double battle Pt.png|220px|thumb|right|A wild double battle]]
In a double battle, 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. At first, the two on one variant only occurred against specific Trainer pair classes such as twins and couples such as Gym Leaders [[Tate and Liza]], but starting with {{game|Emerald}}, double battles may occur in situations where two different Trainers see the player at the same time.

[[File:Col Battle.png|thumb|left|A Pokémon battle against a trainer in Pokémon Colosseum]]
In {{game|Colosseum}} all battles are battled as double battles, as are all trainer battles in {{Pokémon XD}} (with the exception of an optional trainer in front of the [[Pokémon HQ Lab]], the first battle against Chobin, and the fight against Spy Naps).

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

[[File:Battle Commanders.png|thumb|220px|right|Trainer double battle]]
In [[Generation IV]], there are [[stat Trainers|situations]] where the player is accompanied by an [[non-player character|NPC]]. In these situations, all wild Pokémon encounters will be double battles against two Pokémon. In such situations, it is impossible to use a [[Poké Ball]] to capture a Pokémon unless the other is knocked out first. The NPC Trainer will heal the player's team after every battle.

Generation IV also changes around the order of events slightly. Moves that target multiple Pokémon now resolve in order of the Pokémon's respective Speed stats. Pokémon are also now switched in to replace KO'd Pokémon at the end of a round of combat rather than immediately after a Pokémon is knocked out. While this affects single battles, the effect is more noticeable in double battles where it is now possible for a Pokémon's move to fail due to a lack of target if both of the opposing Pokémon are knocked out before the attacking Pokémon's turn comes.<br clear=left>

===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.  Moves that hit multiple Pokémon have their power reduced to 75% of their normal [[power|base power]] unless all other Pokémon have fainted at that point.

This chart displays all moves that work differently in double battles; moves not here either target the partner Pokémon, the user, or can target any one of the three other Pokémon out besides the user.
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|-
! class="roundytop" colspan=5 style="background:#{{cynthia color}};" align="center" | Effects on moves
|- style="background:#{{cynthia color light}}" 
! width=20% | Both of user's Pokémon
! width=20% | Either opponent
! width=20% | Both opponents 
! width=20% | Both opponents and partner
! width=20% | All Pokémon in battle
|-
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| style="background:#{{electric color}}" | {{mcolor|Discharge|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{ice color}}" | {{mcolor|Hail|f8f8f8}}
|-
| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Lucky Chant|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{ghost color}}" | {{mcolor|Destiny Bond|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{flying color}}" | {{mcolor|Air Cutter|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{ground color}}" | {{mcolor|Earthquake|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{ice color}}" | {{mcolor|Haze|f8f8f8}}
|-
| style="background:#{{psychic color}}" | {{mcolor|Reflect|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{psychic color}}" | {{mcolor|Mirror Coat|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{ice color}}" | {{mcolor|Blizzard|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Explosion|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Perish Song|f8f8f8}}
|-
| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Safeguard|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{dragon color}}" | {{mcolor|Outrage|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{water color}}" | {{mcolor|Bubble|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{fire color}}" | {{mcolor|Lava Plume|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{water color}}" | {{mcolor|Rain Dance|f8f8f8}}
|-
| style="background:#{{ice color}}" | {{mcolor|Mist|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{grass color}}" | {{mcolor|Petal Dance|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{dark color}}" | {{mcolor|Dark Void|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{ground color}}" | {{mcolor|Magnitude|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{ground color}}" | {{mcolor|Sandstorm|f8f8f8}}
|-
| style="background:#{{flying color}}" | {{mcolor|Tailwind|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Thrash|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{fire color}}" | {{mcolor|Eruption|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Selfdestruct|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{fire color}}" | {{mcolor|Sunny Day|f8f8f8}}
|-
| style="background:#{{grass color}}" | {{mcolor|Aromatherapy|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Uproar|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Growl|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{water color}}" | {{mcolor|Surf|f8f8f8}} <sup>{{color2|f8f8f8|Generation IV|IV}}</sup>
| style="background:#{{psychic color}}" | {{mcolor|Trick Room|f8f8f8}}
|-
| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Heal Bell|f8f8f8}}
|
| style="background:#{{fire color}}" | {{mcolor|Heat Wave|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Teeter Dance|f8f8f8}}
| style="background:#{{flying color}}" | {{mcolor|Defog |f8f8f8}}{{tt|*|The only effect this move has that effects all Pokémon in battle is removing the fog weather condition.}}
|-
|
|
| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Hyper Voice|f8f8f8}}
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|-
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|
| style="background:#{{ice color}}" | {{mcolor|Icy Wind|f8f8f8}}
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| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Leer|f8f8f8}}
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| style="background:#{{water color}}" | {{mcolor|Muddy Water|f8f8f8}}
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|-
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| style="background:#{{ice color}}" | {{mcolor|Powder Snow|f8f8f8}}
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|-
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| style="background:#{{grass color}}" | {{mcolor|Razor Leaf|f8f8f8}}
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|-
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| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Razor Wind|f8f8f8}}
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| style="background:#{{rock color}}" | {{mcolor|Rock Slide|f8f8f8}}
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| style="background:#{{ground color}}" | {{mcolor|Spikes|f8f8f8}}
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| style="background:#{{rock color}}" | {{mcolor|Stealth Rock|f8f8f8}}
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| style="background:#{{bug color}}" | {{mcolor|String Shot|f8f8f8}}
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|-
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| style="background:#{{water color}}" | {{mcolor|Surf|f8f8f8}} <sup>{{color2|f8f8f8|Generation III|III}}</sup>
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|-
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| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Sweet Scent|f8f8f8}}
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|-
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| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Swift|f8f8f8}}
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| style="background:#{{normal color}}" | {{mcolor|Tail Whip|f8f8f8}}
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| style="background:#{{poison color}}" | {{mcolor|Toxic Spikes|f8f8f8}}
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| style="background:#{{dragon color}}" | {{mcolor|Twister|f8f8f8}}
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|-
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| style="background:#{{psychic color}}" | {{mcolor|Heal Block|f8f8f8}}
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|-
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| style="background:#{{water color}}" | {{mcolor|Water Spout|f8f8f8}}
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|}

===Effects on abilities===
Four [[Ability|abilities]] are also adapted especially for double battles. These abilities are:

* {{a|Plus}} - When a Pokémon with Plus enters into a double battle with a Pokémon with {{a|Minus}}, the user's {{stat|Special Attack}} stat increases by 50%.
* {{a|Minus}} - When a [[Pokémon]] with Minus enters into a double battle with a Pokémon with Plus, the user's {{stat|Special Attack}} stat increases by 50%.
* {{a|Lightningrod}} - Lightningrod forces all single-target {{type2|Electric}} attacks in a double battle to strike the Pokémon with this ability. In a single battle, it will only cause the Pokémon with this ability to always be hit by Electric-type moves, no matter their accuracy. Note that Lightningrod cannot redirect {{m|Discharge}}, as it targets all other Pokémon.
* {{a|Storm Drain}} - Storm Drain is only effective in double battles and a Pokémon with this ability will force all single-target Water-type attacks used by other Pokémon to exclusively strike it. Water-type moves have 100% accuracy whether they are aimed at a Storm Drain user or not.

[[File:BW Prerelease triple battle.png|thumb|right|200px|Triple battle]]
===Triple battles===
Triple battles were introduced as a main series element in {{game|Black and White|s}}. Little is known about this feature, but triple battles as a mechanic debuted in [[Pokémon Battrio]]. Unlike Double battles, the positioning of the Pokémon in-battle will be important as the Pokémon on the left will be unable to target the Pokémon on the right and vice-versa, while the Pokémon in the middle is free to attack any other Pokémon in play, making it the prime attacking position.

==In the anime==
[[File:Doublebattleanime.PNG‎|thumb|left|190px|A double battle in the anime]]
While [[Team Rocket]] had conducted "illegal" double battles since [[EP003|the third episode]], the first official double battle occurred 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, ''[[M07|Destiny Deoxys]]''.

''[[AG072|The Bicker the Better]]'', ''[[AG177|Grating Spaces]]'', ''[[DP029|The Champ Twins!]]'', and ''[[DP147|Bagged Then Tagged!]]'' all featured tag battles; double battles with two Trainers on each side, using one Pokémon each trainer.

''[[DP050|Tag! We're It...! ]]'', ''[[DP051|Glory Blaze!]]'' and ''[[DP052|Smells Like Team Spirit!]]'' featured a [[Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition|tag battle tournament]] in which two Trainers group up to participate. Each Trainer could only use one Pokémon in a battle.

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.

==In the manga==
Doubles battles have been present in the manga long before the games. They have appeared several times in the [[Electric Tale of Pikachu]] and in the [[Pokémon Adventures]]' later arcs. Double battles were (formally) introduced into [[Pokémon Adventures]] in the {{chap|Ruby & Sapphire}}, though multiple trainers or Pokémon teaming up were common before. They first appeared in [[PS198]], when {{adv|Ruby}} challenges a {{p|Plusle}} and a {{p|Minun}}. They later appear in [[PS207]] when Ruby and the [[Swimmer]] are spotted by a {{p|Seviper}} and a {{p|Zangoose}}. In [[PS233]] to [[PS252]], {{p|Kyogre}} and {{p|Groudon}} are fought in a double battle by several people as they try to calm down the storm that they created.

In the {{Chap|FireRed & LeafGreen}}, two of the three returning lead characters fight between themselves in a double battle for the first time in the Battle Path of [[Kimberly]], and eventually result in a tie when they reach the destination at the same time (the platforms they fight on may push them forward or back depending on whether they're attacking or taking one).

Double battles also make a few appearances in the {{chap|Diamond & Pearl}}. In [[PS364]], the main characters battle a {{p|Torterra}} and an {{p|Infernape}}, while in [[PS374]] and [[PS375]], they battle against [[Cyrus]]'s {{p|Probopass}} and {{p|Magnezone}} in [[Mt. Coronet]].

==See also==
*[[Tag battle]]

[[Category:Games]]
[[Category:Terminology]]

[[de:Doppelkampf]]
[[fr:Match double]]
[[ja:ダブルバトル]]