Overview
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Doublade boasts an incredible typing that gives it several immunities such as Fighting, Poison, and Normal, in addition to resistances such as Dragon, Rock, Grass, and most importantly Psychic, making it an excellent check to a lot of top-tier threats such as Reuniclus, Cresselia, Cobalion, Virizion, Slurpuff, and Glalie. In addition, Doublade's Ghost typing also makes it one of the best spinblockers in the tier. It also has very high Defense and can use Eviolite to boost its Defense further, making it incredibly physically bulky, although its Special Defense is a bit lacking even after the boost, making it vulnerable to different special attackers such as Heliolisk and Meloetta. Doublade's movepool isn't lacking, having access to moves such as Shadow Sneak which has priority, Shadow Claw and Iron Head as STAB moves, along with Sacred Sword as coverage to hit Houndoom and Mega Steelix. Despite having high Attack, Doublade doesn't hit exceptionally hard thanks to having STAB moves with relatively low Base Power. Additionally, its Speed is extremely low, making it slower than a lot of Pokemon, and the weakness to Knock Off and prevalent Pokemon such as Meloetta, Houndoom, and Mega Steelix isn't appealing either. Finally, Doublade's ability is utterly useless and actually hinders it, making moves like Fire Blast never miss.
Swords Dance
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name: Swords Dance
move 1: Swords Dance
move 2: Shadow Claw
move 3: Shadow Sneak
move 4: Sacred Sword / Iron Head
ability: No Guard
item: Eviolite
evs: 212 HP / 252 Atk / 44 Spe
nature: Adamant
Moves
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Swords Dance boosts Doublade's Attack stat to respectable levels, allowing it to sweep teams easily. Shadow Claw is a good STAB attack that hits Psychic-types super effectively as well as hitting Water-types neutrally. Shadow Sneak is a priority move that allows Doublade to successfully sweep offensive teams without a problem when boosted. Sacred Sword is Doublade's best coverage move, as it hits Houndoom super effectively on the switch, as well as hitting Mega Steelix and Cobalion, while still doing Iron Head's job of hitting Rhyperior and Tyrantrum. Iron Head can be ran over it, though, if a stronger STAB move is desired.
Set Details
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The given EVs are to outspeed 0 Speed Rhyperior while maximizing Attack with an Adamant nature. The remainder EVs are placed into HP for more overall bulk. The Speed EVs can be taken from Attack if you wish to preserve bulk by maximizing HP. Eviolite is the best item for Doublade, as it boosts Doublade's defenses.
Usage Tips
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Don't be afraid to switch Doublade into things it checks such as Cobalion, Virizion, Whimsicott, Aromatisse, Glalie, and Durant. Although do be aware that some of them can carry moves or sets specifically to beat Doublade, such as Virizion's Calm Mind set, Glalie's Super Fang, or Durant's Crunch. Doublade can't be trapped by Dugtrio (due to its Ghost typing), so this allows Doublade to play a bit recklessly unlike Drapion or Steelix; in addition, Doublade can OHKO Dugtrio with a +2 Shadow Sneak. Doublade can be used as a spinblocker if you want it to be, although switching into Hitmonlee's Knock Off isn't ideal. It can be used as a setup sweeper once its checks have been gone or put in Shadow Sneak's KO range.
Team Options
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Dugtrio (with Substitute to dodge Sucker Punch) traps a lot of Pokemon that Doublade struggles with, such as Drapion, Skuntank, Heliolisk, Houndoom, Delphox, Emboar, and a weakened Meloetta. Because Doublade can be used as a spinblocker, it can find a place in entry hazard-stacking hyper offense teams along with Crustle or Qwilfish to set up entry hazards. In addition, entry hazards can weaken Pokemon for Doublade to have an easier time to sweep. On balanced teams, Wish support is appreciated because Doublade lacks any form of recovery. Specially defensive Alomomola and Aromatisse are great for that, and they also share some good defensive synergy with Doublade. Houndoom can Pursuit trap Meloetta, threaten to KO Mega Steelix with Fire Blast, and can muscle through both Spiritomb and Skuntank. However, it shares some weaknesses with Doublade. Doublade can also lure in and weaken Pokemon for other Pokemon to sweep. Examples include weakening Mega Steelix with Sacred Sword for both Reuniclus and Tyrantrum, or weakening bulky Water-types for Houndoom.
Other Options
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Doublade doesn't exactly have many other options. Magnet Rise can be cool for using Steelix and Rhyperior (which lack Roar) as setup fodder. Gyro Ball can be used, although Doublade likes having some Speed to outspeed Pokemon in the base 20-40 Speed tier, lessening Gyro Ball's power. Pursuit is an option to trap some Psychic-types that Doublade forces out, but it's weak and Doublade has no place for it on the set. Thanks to No Guard, Toxic can never miss, and it can be used along a defensive set with RestTalk to let Doublade act as a wall.
Checks & Counters
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**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Drapion, Skuntank, Spiritomb, and especially Houndoom can all take on Doublade by either KOing it or forcing it out. Drapion carries Knock Off while Skuntank and Spiritomb can carry Foul Play to KO Doublade if it has set up a Swords Dance, while the latter can also burn Doublade with Will-O-Wisp. Houndoom resists both of Doublade's STAB moves, only fears Sacred Sword, and can OHKO back with Fire Blast, which will never miss because of No Guard, or Dark Pulse. In addition, all of them can Pursuit trap Doublade to weaken or KO it as it switches out. Shiftry is another Dark-type with Knock Off, but it can't directly switch in, as Iron Head can 2HKO it.
**Special Attackers**: Special attackers such as Heliolisk, Clawitzer, and especially Meloetta are all excellent checks to Doublade. Heliolisk is immune to Shadow Claw and Shadow Sneak while not 2HKOed by Iron Head, and it is able to 2HKO with Thunderbolt in return. Clawitzer resists Iron Head and OHKOes with Dark Pulse, and Meloetta is immune to Shadow Claw and Shadow Sneak and can OHKO with Shadow Ball. Additionally, Rotom-C resists Iron Head and 2HKOes with Thunderbolt. Finally, Exploud is also immune to both Ghost-type STAB moves and is able to OHKO Doublade with either Focus Blast or Fire Blast, which will never miss thanks to No Guard.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types, primarily Quagsire, Mega Camerupt, and Mega Steelix, are good checks to Doublade. Quagsire can wall Doublade thanks to Unaware and access to Recover and can wear Doublade down with Earthquake or Scald. Mega Camerupt does not fear any of Doublade's attacks and is able to OHKO with Earth Power or Fire Blast, while Mega Steelix can use Doublade as a setup fodder with Curse if it lacks Sacred Sword, and in general threaten Doublade with Earthquake. Rhyperior can live a +2 Iron Head if needed, and Earthquake can 2HKO. Seismitoad is also worth noting, as it can 2HKO with Earth Power while being able to tank some of Doublade's hits.
**Fire-types**: Emboar is a good check to Doublade, as an Adamant Flare Blitz has a high chance of OHKOing Doublade with Expert Belt after Stealth Rock; however, that's Emboar's problem, as it can't reliably OHKO Doublade without Life Orb or Choice Band. Delphox, though it is susceptible to Shadow Sneak, can still live one after Stealth Rock and OHKO back with Fire Blast.
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