Protect is the most important move in doubles. It gives you a free turn to see what the opponent does while your partner keeps pressuring. But it has hidden costs:
Fail rate increases when used consecutively (50%, 25%, 12.5%)
Lets the opponent stack boosts (Garchomp +2 Atk from Swords Dance while your partner protects)
Does not protect from Perish Song, Pursuit, or entry hazards
Rule of thumb: use Protect reactively, not as default. If the opponent has Trick Room or Tailwind, protecting costs tempo. If you have the matchup edge, attacking beats protecting.
Fake Out: The Turn 1 Edge
Fake Out is a priority +3 move that makes its target flinch, wasting their turn. It only works if the user just entered the field. It's the move that defines leads:
Incineroar: the strongest combo (Fake Out + Intimidate on entry)
Sneasler: buys tempo before revealing Dire Claw set
Rillaboom/Whimsicott: synergy with Grassy Terrain
Counters: Queenly Majesty, Dazzling, Armor Tail (abilities that block priority), Protective Pads (item blocking contact), or simply lead with a Ghost-type.
Intimidate Math
Intimidate drops the Attack of both active opposing Pokemon by -1 on entry. That's why Incineroar sits in 62% of teams.
Competitive (Kingambit) and Defiant counter with +2 SpA/Atk → instant punish
Rattled, Oblivious, Scrappy are immune
Anti-Intimidate strategy: pack a Kingambit or Milotic; lead Special attackers (Sun Charizard-Y); or use Mist/White Herb to reset the debuff.
자주 묻는 질문
How many times can I Protect in a row?
Protect loses success rate on consecutive uses: 100% (turn 1), 50% (turn 2), 25% (turn 3), 12.5% (turn 4). In doubles you rarely protect 3 turns in a row with the same Pokemon.
Which Pokemon has the best Fake Out?
Incineroar is the best Fake Out user because it stacks Intimidate on entry with a strong offensive pivot kit (Parting Shot, Flare Blitz). Sneasler and Rillaboom follow.