Pokémon Scarlet and Violet started their Ranked Battles Series 2 and some of the best teams feature Paradox Pokémon that dominate the competition.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet‘s Series 2 Battles, which started on February 1st, are gaining Master Rank trainers with versatile teams with each passing day. From VGC competitions to personal growth in the game, the best teams are unique and have great synergy across all of its Pokémon. Furthermore, this season introduced Paldea’s new Paradox Pokémon to competitive play. These version exclusive Pokémon are necessary to winning battles due to their sheer strength and high base stat.

Thankfully, not all the past Pokémon used in Series 1 are ruined with the addition of the new Paradox Pokémon. However, Gholdengo and some of the best Meowscarada builds in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, which were at around a 30-40% usage rate on Pikalytics, have dropped in rank due to their new counters. This doesn’t mean people will stop using them completely, as they make great additions alongside Pokémon like Flutter Mane and Iron Bundle. Many tournament-winning teams around the world still land in the top spots when creating synergy with these Pokémon.

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Best Single Battle Team

For Single Battle formats during Pokémon Scarlet and Violet‘s Series 2, consider using strong Pokémon that have an easy time switching in. For example, abilities such as Thermal Exchange and type immunities such as Ghost-, Fighting-, and Normal- are a huge key to winning. Another core part of a single battles team is access to getting rid of stat boosts or ignoring them completely. For example, some of the best Skeledirge builds in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet include the ability Unaware that ignores stat changes of other Pokémon, making it easier for this Pokémon to send back powerful hits. Furthermore, because single battles are fast-paced with no redirection, fewer Paradox Pokémon are used in this format because most are glass cannons.

Best Double Battle Team

For Double Battle formats during Series 2 of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet ranked battles, consider which Pokémon need help with move priority, like for some of the best Great Tusk builds in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Additionally, since there are two Pokémon on the field, consider moves such as Icy Wind from Iron Bundle, which hits both Pokémon and lowers their Speed stat. In general, using moves like Trick Room, Tailwind, and Icy Wind can quickly turn the pace of a Double Battle. However, another strategy has come into play this season with the use of the move Gravity being only given to one Pokémon in Generation 9, Sandy Shocks. This increases the accuracy of partner Pokémon’s moves, as shown by YouTuber CybertonVGC.

Best Overall Series 2 Pokémon Recommendations

In online Ranked Battles for Series 2, patterns across the two battle formats point to changing the choice of higher-stat attackers. Unfortunately, instead of the best Gholdengo builds in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet that dominated the field in the previous season, the new Special Attacker of choice is Flutter Mane, with a base stat of 135 in Special Attack and Speed alone. Furthermore, Iron Valiant shines with its same-type attack bonus moves in physical and special attacking sweeping positions. Consider making sure these two Pokémon are out-sped and taken out as a win condition to the battle.

More: How to Breed Pokémon in Scarlet & Violet

Source: YouTube/iStarlyTV, YouTube/CybertronVGC