Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness is no ordinary RPG — every battle is a double battle, and your team strategy needs to reflect that. Here’s the ultimate team lineup to carry you through Orre without breaking a sweat.
Table of Contents
Why Team Building Is Different in Pokémon XD
Unlike mainline games, Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness runs exclusively in double battle format. Building an effective team requires synergy and type coverage. Understanding the double battle format and moves that affect multiple targets is crucial — a balanced roster should combine offense, support, and defensive utility.
Best Team of 6 — Full Breakdown
| Pokémon | Role | Key Moves |
|---|---|---|
| Espeon | Fast Special Attacker / Support | Psychic, Helping Hand, Psybeam |
| Salamence | Physical Sweeper / Intimidate | Dragon Dance, Aerial Ace, Flamethrower, Earthquake |
| Ursaring | Raw Damage Output | Return, Earthquake, Rock Tomb, Facade |
| Dewgong | Bulky Tank / Speed Control | Surf, Icy Wind, Protect, Ice Beam |
| Tyranitar | Heavy Hitter / Coverage | Rock Slide, Earthquake, Crunch, Protect |
| Ninetales | Fire Support / Weather Setter | Heat Wave, Sunny Day, Solarbeam, Protect |
Why Each Pokémon Earns Their Spot
Espeon — Helping Hand is particularly valuable in double battles, boosting an ally’s damage output. Psychic and Psybeam are solid and reliable STAB options.
Salamence — Salamence is both offensively excellent and beneficial thanks to its Intimidate ability, lowering both opposing Pokémon’s Attack upon every entry. After one or two uses of Dragon Dance, it becomes a dangerous sweeper.
Ursaring — A Soothe Bell powers up Return, making it a high-damage STAB. Earthquake and Rock Tomb expand coverage, and Facade doubles its power if burnt.
Dewgong — Icy Wind lowers both opponents’ Speed, putting your team in a more comfortable position. Protect is crucial for avoiding incoming moves and ally Earthquakes.
Tyranitar — Rock Slide is particularly effective in double battles, hitting both opponents and potentially flinching them. Earthquake provides solid spread coverage.
Ninetales — Heat Wave is a powerful STAB spread move. Sunny Day amplifies all Fire-type attacks including Salamence and Tyranitar’s Flamethrower, and makes Solarbeam usable instantly.
Pro Tips for Double Battles
- Always run Protect on multiple team members — it’s essential for surviving spread moves
- Earthquake hits your own partner, so pair it carefully with Flying-types like Salamence
- Helping Hand from Espeon makes every offensive turn more efficient
For more Pokémon team guides, gaming tips, and retro game coverage, visit TechnoSports — your ultimate gaming destination.
FAQs
Q: What is the best starter Eeveelution in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness?
Espeon is the top pick for its speed, Psychic STAB, and Helping Hand support — making it invaluable in the game’s mandatory double battle format.
Q: Is Protect worth using in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness?
Absolutely — Protect is essential in double battles to dodge spread moves like Earthquake from your own partner and avoid heavy incoming damage.
