Nintendo just released the next title in the Pokémon series, and players are loving it. Pokémon Champions was released on 8th April 2026 for the Nintendo Switch. Unlike other Pokémon games where players follow a story and battle different AI trainers, this game is more focused on tournament-style gameplay against actual players. And when things get competitive, tier lists become a must.
The game has Singles and Doubles battles. Today, I’m going through the best Doubles team in Pokémon Champions in order. While you might think every Pokémon has its own niche, some Pokémon simply shine brighter than others. Also, Pokémon that perform well in Singles don’t always carry over into Doubles too well. So let’s take a look at the best pairings for Doubles in Pokémon Champions.
Best Doubles Teams Tier List
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S-Tier Picks
We’re starting with S-tier picks for the Doubles format. These include:
- Incineroar
- Kingambit
- Dragapult
- Palafin
- Ursaluna
- Archaludon
- Garchomp
The reason these Pokémon are a class apart is that they excel in almost every situation. They boast top-tier stats, have great movesets with tons of built-in utility, and can counter many commonly used meta strategies in the Doubles format. Some of them also have specific moves to get you out of sticky situations, making them insanely versatile on the field.
A-Tier Picks
Next up, we’ve got the A-tier picks. Solid pick-ups, but lack the versatility to slip into the S-tier. Take a look:
- Greninja
- Hatterene
- Whimsicott
- Hydreigon
- Aegislash
- Dondozo
- Basculegion
- Gyrados
- Metagross
- Scizor
It might feel weird seeing Pokémon like Metagross and Gyrados in the A-tier, but not every Pokémon that is strong individually has that Doubles capability. This tier of Pokémon consists of solid picks for your Doubles team, but they might fall short when facing meta strategies with S-tier Pokémon. All of them excel in most stat fields, but lack either utility or versatile movesets. But there’s no harm in trying them out; they will usually prove to be successful.
B-Tier Picks
Coming down to B-Tier picks, these Pokémon wouldn’t be my first choice recommendations. Their full potential is usually unlocked in certain scenarios, making it hard to replicate. They include:
- Lucario
- Hawlucha
- Starmie
- Blastoise
- Gardevoir
- Milotic
- Talonflame
- Tatsugiri
- Sylveon
- Serperior
- Tinkaton
- Venusaur
- Charizard
This set of Pokémon has some great stats, and some of them even have unique movesets or utilities. But the problem is they’re not versatile. You’d need specific combinations of moves to make your strategy work, and even then, it might get countered by your opponent.
C-Tier Picks
The last tier includes Pokémon you should be using as a last resort, or not at all. These Pokémon don’t have many redeeming qualities and won’t be able to hold their own in most cases. Use at your own discretion. Here they are:
- Empoleon
- Tsareena
- Heracross
- Oranguru
- Feraligatr
- Chestnaught
- Kangaskhan
- Raichu
- Leafeon
- Delphox
C-Tier Pokémon are ones I’d advise avoiding under all circumstances in Pokémon Champions. The chances of winning a battle, especially in higher tiers, with these Pokémon are minimal. Unlike B-Tier Pokémon that might come in handy situationally, C-Tier picks will not benefit you in any situation. They lack good skillsets, utilities, and some have sub-par stats as well. You can take them for tryouts if this tier includes a favourite, but meta-wise, these are picks you always want to avoid.
Singles Vs Doubles Format
The most common mistake players make when forming a Doubles team in Pokémon Champions is simply throwing together their strongest Singles Pokémon. More often than not, this won’t work. Pokémon built for the Singles format will rely on their skills alone and don’t need an insane amount of teamwork to pull off their strategies.
But when playing Doubles, you’re not just against one Pokémon, you’re against two differing movesets. If one doesn’t counter you, the other will. This is why most Pokémon fail to perform in the Doubles format the same way they do in Singles, except for a few like Garchomp.
This also brings me to my next point: plan ahead. Games aren’t won simply on movesets or stats alone. You need a game plan going in on how the match will play out and what your winning strategy is. Most teams will have a trump card or strategy they pivot on. The thing with S and A-tier picks is that they have multiple outs and can change win conditions on the go, making them top-tier.
But at the end of the day, it’s a game to have fun, and the meta is constantly changing. If you’re fond of experimenting with different combinations, go ahead. Maybe one of them will turn into the next meta.
Published: Apr 10, 2026 05:15 pm