Pokémon has adapted over the years in both the games and the anime in order to keep things fresh and try to avoid too much repetition. The addition of Double Battles was perhaps one of the most intriguing concepts to be introduced in both formats, as it allowed for new interesting strategies and exciting combinations.
In the anime especially, Double Battles have allowed for multiple Pokémon to be showcased at the same time, making for some exciting spectacles. Double Battles are certainly the most efficient way to train for any budding trainer, but to see stronger trainers such as Gym Leaders engage in the format further cements the idea that Double Battles are the ultimate test of strength and cunning.
10 Ash's Corphish & Swellow Overcame The Odds To Defeat Tucker & His Formidable Team At The Battle Dome
In the episode aptly named "Tactics Theatrics!" Ash faced off against the tricky Tucker in a Double Battle at the Battle Dome. Tucker used two known behemoths in the Pokémon world in Swampert and Arcanine, with some dazzling combinations to overwhelm Ash's team of Corphish and Swellow.
Corpish and Swellow had both made a good account of themselves during Ash's Hoenn campaign, each with impressive win-rates respectively, and they overcame the odds to persevere here as well. The ensuing battle was one of the best in terms of visuals of the entire Battle Frontier arc.
9 Ash's Grand Trial Battle Against Olivia Saw Rockruff's Chaotic Nature Knock Out Its Partner
Ash's adventures through Alola in the Sun & Moon series of the anime will forever be known for Ash's first official Pokémon League victory, but he had plenty of other intense and entertaining battles on his journey to the Manalo Conference.
His second Grand Trial against Akala Island's Kahuna Olivia was a Double Battle, pitting her Rock-types Probopass and Lycanroc up against Ash's fired up Rockruff and his Rowlet. This wasn't Probopass's first appearance in the anime, but Olivia's was shown making particularly effective use of the mini-noses in making it a tricky encounter. The fast pace of the battle, with Ash's Rockruff acting up and even knocking out its teammate Rowlet, made for a compelling Double Battle and planted the seeds for Rockruff's inevitable evolution.
8 Pikachu & Charizard Struggled To Get Along Against Luana's Alakazam & Marowak But Ultimately Prevailed
Double Battles weren't all too frequent towards the beginning of the anime, at least in an official capacity, disregarding exchanges with the likes of Team Rocket. During the Orange Islands arc, however, Ash finally engaged in an official Double Battle with his Pikachu and Charizard teaming up to face Luana, with her Alakazam and Marowak.
Double Battles that tell a story while simultaneously showing interesting combinations and engaging visuals are generally the ones that resonate the best with fans, and this was certainly one of those. Charizard and Pikachu had previously established a grudge and disagreement, which bled into this battle, initially hampering their chances before they resolved their issues and prevailed, earning Ash his final Orange League Badge.
7 Tate & Liza's Twin Connection Still Wasn't Enough For Thunder Armor
Often considered to be a feared Gym Battle in the Gen III games, the anime version of the Mossdeep Gym Double Battle between Ash and the Psychic twins Tate & Liza didn't quite live up to these expectations, but was entertaining nonetheless.
The combination of Lunatone and Solrock going up against Pikachu and Swellow should've been something of a mismatch in the Gym Leaders' favor, but a bizarre tactic from Ash saw the challenger pick up the win. Ash had Pikachu use Thunder on itself and Swellow, which generated a form of Thunder Armor, shifting momentum and allowing Ash's duo to emerge victorious.
6 Dawn & Zoey's Double Battle Brought The Sinnoh Contest Circuit To A Close In Enthralling Fashion
Contest Battles are often overlooked when considering the best and most entertaining battles in the anime, but there have certainly been plenty of good entries over the years, featuring the likes of May and Dawn. In Diamond & Pearl, Dawn's main friend and rival was Zoey, who played a massive role in Dawn's development as a budding Pokémon Coordinator.
Their Double Battle in the final of the Pokémon Contest Grand Festival was the culmination of all the hard work and effort that both had put into their training leading up to this moment. Dawn's Piplup and Togekiss put up a brave display but were ultimately outwitted and outplayed by Zoey's Glameow and Gallade.
5 Ash's Glalie & Grovyle Overcame Severe Type Disadvantages To Defeat Clark
The early rounds of the Ever Grande Conference in Hoenn were decided by Double Battles. In the final Double Battle round, Ash faced off against "The Conductor" Clark, with Ash's Glalie and Grovyle squaring off against his Charizard and Quilava.
This was the battle that really got the intensity for the Hoenn League going, just in time for the 6-on-6 rounds. Up against a serious type disadvantage, Ash's duo managed to prevail against the odds by eliminating Quilava, at the expense of Grovyle, with Glalie having to overcome Charizard by itself. This battle showcased the power of Ash's Glalie, with it able to overcome a Pokémon as powerful and generally protected as Charizard.
4 Fierce Rivals Ash & Paul Were Able To Win The Hearthome Tag Battle Tournament Despite Their Differences
The Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition saw several impressive Double Battles involving the teams of rivals Ash & Paul, Dawn & Conway, and Brock & Holly. It culminated with Ash's Chimchar and Paul's Elekid facing off against Dawn's Buizel and Conway's Heracross.
Dawn and Conway showcased their good team cohesion and chemistry with some scintillating combinations, until the momentum shifted due to Paul's Elekid evolving into Electabuzz. The fact that Chimchar had only just been released by Paul and captured by Ash, only to be used immediately on a team with its former owner, made for an intense and somewhat unpredictable battle that didn't disappoint.
3 May Finally Got An Impressive Victory Over Drew In An Intense Double Battle
With Pokémon Contests being properly introduced for the first time in the Ruby & Sapphire series of the anime, it was important to showcase plenty of rivalries for May, the protagonist for all things Contest-related. Arguably her best and most competitive rivalry was built with a fellow Coordinator named Drew, with the two facing off on multiple occasions and gradually building a solid level of mutual respect.
Drew built up a habit of defeating May, but in the quarter finals of the Kanto Grand Festival, May and her Squirtle-Combusken combination defeated Drew with his Absol and Flygon in an intense Contest Double Battle. For a Contest Battle, hard and brutal blows were exchanged, eventually leading into some spectacular move combinations, making for quite the spectacle.
2 Riolu Finally Evolved Into Lucario During The High-Stakes Double Battle Against Chairman Rose
As fun and cheerful as Pokémon Journeys has been so far, the events surrounding the "Darkest Day" and Eternatus added legitimate stakes and a level of intensity that has been consistent in recent seasons when the heroes go up against villains enacting a sinister plan.
While Leon initially attempted to contain Eternatus and Goh fought Oleana, Ash was left to face the disillusioned Chairman Rose in a Double Battle, with Riolu and Pikachu facing off against Copperajah and Ferrothorn. Ash's smaller Pokémon had to deal with the initial onslaught from the hulking Steel-types, but they prevailed with stellar teamwork and Riolu eventually evolving into Lucario, which was a huge moment for Ash and the anime in general.
1 Ash's Double Battle Against Olympia Saw Frustrating Tactics & Teamwork From The Clever Gym Leader
The X & Y series of the Pokémon anime saw several incredible battles, due in part to the fact that Ash had one of his best ever teams to date. One of the Gym battles that stood out the most was Ash's Double Battle with the Psychic-type specialist Gym Leader of Anistar City, Olympia.
Olympia utilized a pair of Meowstic, male and female, with them making frustratingly effective use of their own Abilities and support moves, mixed with meticulous planning surrounding the delayed use of Future Sight. Ash's Talonflame and Frogadier had to dig deep and persevere in the face of adversity and defeat. Ash eventually had to call upon his faithful Pikachu in order to prepare for and eventually counter an incoming Future Sight attack, using the change in momentum to pick up the win in what was an entertaining affair.