Spread moves hit both opposing Pokémon at the same time. In doubles, your opponent has two Pokémon on the field — a spread move damages both of them in a single action.
The trade-off: all spread moves deal 0.75× damage against each target compared to if they hit a single Pokémon. But because you hit two targets, one spread move can do more total damage than two single-target attacks.
Why spread moves change everything
In singles, coverage means “I can hit this one opponent’s types.” In doubles, coverage means “I can pressure both opponents at once.” This is a completely different way to think about move selection.
Consider Earthquake: in singles, it’s great Ground-type coverage. In doubles, it hits both opponents simultaneously. One Landorus-Therian using Earthquake can deal significant chip damage to both opposing Pokémon in a turn where the opponent’s team might not have a chance to respond to both threats.
Spread moves also interact with type matchups across both targets. A Fire-type like Heat Wave hitting two opponents — even if one resists it — still deals full pressure to the other. A Fairy-type spread move like Dazzling Gleam hits both Dragon-types on an opposing team for 1.5× each.
Common spread moves in Reg M-A
| Move | Type | Special / Physical | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Wave | Fire | Special | Most-used Fire spread move |
| Earthquake | Ground | Physical | Hits your partner too — coordinate carefully |
| Rock SlideRock SlidemoveA Rock-type spread move with 75 base power and a 30% flinch chance on each target it hits.Click to read more → | Rock | Physical | 30% flinch chance on both targets |
| BlizzardBlizzardmove110 base power Ice-type spread move. 70% accuracy normally, but always hits in Snow weather. The signature offensive move on Snow teams.Click to read more → | Ice | Special | 100% accuracy in Hail/Snow |
| Hyper Voice | Normal | Special | Bypasses Substitute; PixilatePixilateabilityConverts the user's Normal-type moves to Fairy-type and boosts their power by 1.2×. With STAB stacked on top, a Normal move becomes a 1.8× Fairy STAB attack.Click to read more → = Fairy spread |
| Dazzling Gleam | Fairy | Special | Hits both Dragon-types in the opposing side |
| Icy Wind | Ice | Special | Lower power but slows both opponents |
| Discharge | Electric | Special | Hits partner too; use with Ground-types |
The friendly fire rule
Several spread moves — notably Earthquake and Discharge — hit your own partner as well as both opponents. This isn’t a bug: experienced players deliberately pair Earthquake users with Flying-types or Levitate Pokémon (which are immune to Ground moves) so only the opponents take damage.
In Regulation M-A
Spread moves are everywhere. 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 → often runs Flare Blitz (single-target) over Heat Wave because Flare Blitz does more damage — but Landorus-Therian almost always runs Earthquake as a spread move cornerstone. Teams are often built around which spread moves they can safely use.