Pokémon Scarlet & Violet - Leery Nigiri - Aug 3 24 E

It’s that time again—this is my report for the top 75 most used Pokémon for Ranked, double battling, for July 2024. This would be the next-to-last month of Regulation G, and by then, the dust is settling on what Restricted Pokémon people prefer to use, and the Pokémon, Restricted or not, who can counter them, or at least keep their power in check:

1. Urshifu (Rapid Strike) (±0)
2. Rillaboom (±0)
3. Incineroar (±0)
4. Raging Bolt (+3)
5. Ogerpon (±0)
5A. Hearthflame
5B. Wellspring
5C. Cornerstone
5D. Teal
6. Flutter Mane (±0)
7. Tornadus (Incarnate) (-3)
8. Farigiraf (±0)
9. Calyrex (Shadow Rider) (±0)
10. Calyrex (Ice Rider) (±0)
11. Miraidon (+2)
12. Whimsicott (+2)
13. Urshifu (Single Strike) (+7)
14. Chien-Pao (+1)
15. Grimmsnarl (+6)
16. Iron Hands (+1)
17. Amoonguss (-6)
18. Pelipper (-2)
19. Chi-Yu (-7)
20. Ursaluna (Bloodmoon) (+2)
21. Kyogre (-3)
22. Indeedee (Female) (-3)
23. Terapagos (±0)
24. Clefairy (±0)
25. Landorus (Incarnate) (±0)
26. Koraidon (±0)
27. Zamazenta (±0)
28. Smeargle (+3)
29. Annihilape (+4)
30. Volcarona (+9)
31. Zacian (-3)
32. Dragonite (-3)
33. Groudon (-1)
34. Torkoal (-4)
35. Archaludon (-1)
36. Lunala (+6)
37. Entei (+3)
38. Gholdengo (+6)
39. Ursaluna (Hisuian) (-3)
40. Walking Wake (-2)
41. Iron Valiant (±0)
42. Dondozo (+4)
43. Iron Bundle (±0)
44. Tsareena (+6)
45. Ting-Lu (-10)
46. Kingambit (+1)
47. Cresselia (+4)
48. Comfey (-3)
49. Ninetales (Alolan) (+4)
50. Mienshao (-13)
51. Sableye (-2)
52. Raichu (Kantonian) (+29)
53. Electabuzz (+19)
54. Iron Jugulis (-6)
55. Wo-Chien (-3)
56. Landorus (Therian) (+3)
57. Thundurus (Incarnate) (-3)
58. Regidrago (±0)
59. Moltres (Galarian) (-2)
60. Sinistcha (±0)
61. Maushold (+29)
62. Gastrodon (+8)
63. Regieleki (-7)
64. Tatsugiri (Curly) (±0)
65. Ditto (-10)
66. Glimmora (-3)
67. Gouging Fire (-6)
68. Talonflame (+3)
69. Umbreon (-2)
70. Sneasler (+10)
71. Tyranitar (-5)
72. Armarouge (-4)
73. Araquanid (-11)
74. Iron Treads (-9)
75. Weezing (Galarian) (±0)

Returning to the list are Kantonian Raichu, Maushold, and Sneasler. (Two of them are based on mice, while the third is based on a creature that eats mice.) They have displaced Gallade, Roaring Moon, and Alolan Muk.

As you can see, the rankings have largely stayed the same from the previous month, at least at the very top. The Pokémon have settled where they are. We’ll likely see even more Pokémon remain at these spots for the August lists, though this is odd to see this many considering the double battling lists are more volatile.

To see the big movers, you have to go further down. The first big one is Kantonian Raichu. Our old classic has returned to the list because it can redirect Raging Bolt’s Thunderclap and Miraidon’s Electro Drifts with Lightning Rod while using Fake Out to stop Tornadus from using Tailwind (or any other Pokémon from using Tailwind), at least for that first turn. Kantonian Raichu is now the highest-ranked Electric-type who isn’t a Legendary Pokémon or a Paradox Pokémon.

Maushold has returned to this list, boasting Friend Guard to reduce damage to their partners. Maushold uses moves like Follow Me, Helping Hand, and Taunt to further assist the other Pokémon. The most common recipients are frail but horrendously high-damage Pokémon, like Calyrex Shadow Roder and Lunala, though the most common partners are Urshifu (Rapid Strike) and Rillaboom.

With Miraidon becoming a staple, Sneasler has also returned to the top 75. Most have Unburden as Sneasler’s Ability, and it’s paired with Electric Seed to both boost Defense AND double its Speed. Sneasler is popularly used to eliminate Flutter Mane, though it can also easily lay waste to Incineroar and Rillaboom via super-effective attacks.

Meanwhile, Electabuzz continues to rocket upwards as an answer to Spore users, like Amoonguss and Smeargle. Just as Smeargle is becoming more popular, though much higher up on the charts, Electabuzz will rise up with it.

Type: Double Battle
Opponent: Senri
Battle Court: Naranja Academy/Uva Academy
Music: Pecharunt
My Pokémon: Elsa (Froslass), Laverne (Dragalge), Angus (Tauros) (Paldean) (Blaze Breed), Bucky (Sawsbuck)
Opponent’s Pokémon: Queen (Milotic), シャリタツ (Tatsugiri) (Curly), ヘイラシャ (Dondozo), ゴリ (ゴリランダー) (Rillaboom)

With the Dondozo and Tatsugiri event having just ended after two weeks, you can bet that the two of them will show up in at least one battle of mine. Of course, I already knew that by bringing out Tatsugiri and Queen (Milotic), they were going to switch Queen with Dondozo, because Commander activates the moment both Tatsugiri and Dondozo are on the same side of the field, not at the beginning or end of a turn. There is a downside though: Dondozo can't attack right away.

Laverne (Dragalge) used to have Haze, by the way, specifically for countering the Commander strategy. It’s not quite as popular as it used to be, so I eventually changed it out with Scald.

“ゴリ” is short for “ゴリラ” (gorilla).