A pivot move does two things at once: it accomplishes something useful (deals damage or weakens the opponent), and then the user immediately switches out, bringing in a fresh Pokémon from your back line.
Pivot moves let you control which Pokémon are on the field without wasting a turn just to switch. In doubles, where both players have two Pokémon acting simultaneously, this is extremely powerful.
The three main pivot moves
U-turn (Bug, Physical) — deals damage, then switches. No extra effect beyond the damage. The safest all-purpose pivot.
Volt Switch (Electric, Special) — same mechanic as U-turn, Electric type. Can’t be used against Ground-types (which are immune to Electric). Often run on Raichu-Alolan and Miraidon-adjacent builds.
Parting Shot (Dark, Status) — doesn’t deal damage, but lowers the opponent’s Attack and Special Attack by one stage each before switching out. The most disruptive of the three. IncineroarIncineroarpokemonThe most-used Pokémon in Reg M-A. Defines doubles tempo with Fake Out, Intimidate on every switch, and Parting Shot pivots.Click to read more → runs this frequently as a combination of IntimidateIntimidateabilityWhen this Pokémon enters the battlefield, the opposing Pokémon's Attack stat drops by one stage.Click to read more → (which lowers Attack on entry) and Parting Shot (which lowers both stats again on exit), stacking massive offensive debuffs across multiple turns.
Why momentum matters in doubles
In singles, you switch when you want to swap a bad matchup for a good one. In doubles, pivoting also lets you respond to what the opponent is doing right now — if your support Pokémon has done its job (Fake OutFake OutmoveA +3 priority Normal-type move that does small damage and forces the target to flinch — only usable on the user's first turn out.Click to read more →, TailwindTailwindmoveDoubles the Speed of every Pokémon on your side for 4 turns. Often paired with Prankster for instant priority setup.Click to read more →, whatever), you can pivot it out to bring in a fresh threat while the opponent’s turn is still resolving.
This creates a cycle: pivot in, do something, pivot out before taking damage, repeat. Teams that can maintain this cycle keep constant pressure without burning through their roster.
In Regulation M-A
Incineroar is the premier pivot in the format, almost always running both U-turn and Parting Shot. The combination of Intimidate on entry, Fake Out to disrupt, and Parting Shot or U-turn on exit makes it nearly impossible to play around cleanly. Incineroar’s entire role is often described as “pivot” — it exists to create openings, not to deal damage.