Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gen 9 Doubles OU?
Gen 9 Doubles OU is Smogon's main doubles format for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Unlike VGC, you bring all 6 Pokémon — there is no pick-4 mechanic. Two Pokémon are active at a time. The format bans the strongest restricted Legendaries but allows many Pokémon legal in VGC. Battles use Gen 9 mechanics including Terastallization.
What are the best Pokémon in Gen 9 Doubles OU?
Top Doubles OU threats include Flutter Mane, Tornadus, Amoonguss, Urshifu-Rapid-Strike, Indeedee-F, Farigiraf, Iron Hands, and Rillaboom. Trick Room and redirection-based strategies are dominant archetypes. Flutter Mane is particularly powerful due to its Protosynthesis ability under sun and wide offensive coverage.
How is Doubles OU different from VGC?
Both are doubles formats, but they differ in several key ways. VGC is bring-6-pick-4 while Doubles OU is bring-all-6. VGC allows one restricted Legendary while Doubles OU bans box legendaries entirely. The banlists diverge significantly — Pokémon legal in one format may be banned in the other. VGC uses Nintendo's rules; Doubles OU uses Smogon's community banlist.
How do I build a Gen 9 Doubles OU team?
Start with a core pairing — a fast offensive threat and a support Pokémon that enables it, like Flutter Mane with Tornadus for Tailwind. Add redirection support (Amoonguss or Indeedee-F), a Trick Room option for speed control, and coverage to handle opposing weather and terrain setters. Check the sample teams above for proven Doubles OU structures.
What Pokémon are banned in Gen 9 Doubles OU?
Gen 9 Doubles OU bans restricted Legendaries including Miraidon, Koraidon, Calyrex-Shadow, and Zacian-Crowned, along with other Pokémon deemed too powerful for the tier. The banlist is maintained by Smogon's Doubles OU council and differs from both VGC and singles OU restrictions.
How do I copy a Doubles OU team into Showdown?
Click any team card to open it, then hit the copy button. Open Pokémon Showdown, go to the Teambuilder, click "Import from text", paste the team, and save. Select Gen 9 Doubles OU as the format.
Where can I find Gen 9 Doubles OU sample teams?
This page shows Doubles OU teams shared on crob.at by the community. Official sample teams and tier resources are posted on the Smogon Doubles OU forum. The Pokémon Showdown Teambuilder includes curated Doubles OU samples under the Gen 9 Doubles OU format.
