This one took a while to answer, but it was easily worth it. I have to handle some IRL things, but once I am done I will get through the next batch as well. This one deserved its own post anyway.
What are your five favorite teams you've built in BW (any meta) and why?
1.
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STour &
SPL officially, but also it has seen usage by a lot of people in Classic, STour regular season, circuit tournaments, etc.
While McMeghan deserves credit for the creation of Fighting Gem Landorus-T, I do feel my structure helped optimize and popularize it over the years, especially from late '17 - mid '19. Pairing it with Scarf Garchomp allowed for pretty great coverage of common match-ups. The Landorus-T was able to lure things like Skarmory, Rotm-Wash, defensive Politoed, Gliscor, opposing Landorus-T, and the rare Tangrowth, which always dies to +2 Superpower with Fighting Gem after SR + Spike + Sand (and Tangrowth structures tend to enable Ferrothorn setting up Spikes, so this scenario popped up a ton when people spammed those dice Tangrowth structures in '17-'18). Scarf Garchomp was able to do an amazing job in late game scenarios with this support and it also cleans up Rain offense in general, which is important as Landorus-T does not do as well in that match-up. I feel this is the team I associate the most with myself nowadays and I was proud of myself for coming up with this application of the strategy.
2.
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SPL officially, but also it was the most common team for a few months in the middle of '19 after this game
It was no secret that I was supporting the Ruiners in the SPLX finals, mainly due to my disgust with the Tyrants antics. dice had come up with the Earthquake / Iron Head / Rapid Spin / Protect Leftovers Excadrill with Sand Force a few days earlier in the chat, but in making this build I was able to capture some of the most trendy and effective concepts in the metagame:
- Using Magic Guard to deter opposing status and hazard reliance for progress
- This was arguably one of the catalysts for BW experiencing another phase of Magic Guard (specifically Reuniclus) being atop the threat list. Another shoutout to McMeghan for BoltBeam Reuniclus, which We Three Kings used to success multiple times that SPL and completely changed the trajectory of the metagame.
- Using Spikes + Sand with Protect in order to make incremental progress on a more balanced build
- More of a timeless concept, but one that had been phased out a little bit for more direct offense in months preceding this
- Stacking Psychic types in order to ramp up pressure on common checks/counters and find openings in the later game
- Oftentimes seen with Latios+Alakazam or Latios+Reuniclus, but sometimes both MG users or all 3. This team fit Reuniclus more, but many different compositions have been used over the years.
The build was an immediate success. Rewer dominated with it over We Three Kings in a must-win game, it became one of the most common teams in Smogon Tour regular season, and it also saw plenty of usage in BW Cup that year. I feel this build is a bit less effective right now, but it still has some timeless concepts that it reinforced at the time. I was really happy to have come up with this.
3.
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SPL officially, but this 6 has seen ridiculous amounts of usage over the course of this year in BW Cup, circuit tournaments, PP tournaments, and even a few uses in PSI.
I do not want to claim that I was the first (or last) person to come up with this 6 originally and I have personally used >dozen different variants of this 6 over the course of this year alone, but I feel like it shot up a ton in popularity after I used it against Fakes and the specific sets I had in that game (Specs Keldeo, Scarf Latios, Sub+Agility Thundurus-T, fast Toxic Tentacruel, etc.) became the standard configuration.
Specs Keldeo under Rain was at its peak at this point in time and builds like this arguably led to a surge in Jellicent Sand balance structures with Alakazam+Spikes in the coming months, too. Regardless of this and the specific trends it touched on, it also was sick to sweep with this specific Thundurus-T set. I have always been high on the Substitute+Agility combination that I came up with a couple years prior, so winning specifically because of it was one of the best feelings. I feel like this 6 is as close to "standard" as you get for Rain offense nowadays, too, but obviously there are other variants with respectable trade-offs and the archetype will continue to evolve.
4.
and
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SPL x2 officially, but this 6 revived non-DragMag weatherless teams during mid-late 2020 I feel.
I feel that this was one of my best builds ever from a purely conceptual standpoint. The idea is that weatherless always struggles with hardcore Rain abusers like Tentacruel, which is basically granted 2-3 lives and the ability to spread status everywhere, or Pokemon teams rely on Pursuit for like Latios and Alakazam, which are basically always carrying their weight and likely doing much more against weatherless due to the lack of Tyranitar. I used Poison Heal Breloom to abuse the former. Reuniclus also sits on Tentacruel, but it enabled the wrong things and this Breloom set punishes teams immediately so well. It was the Substitute/Protect/FocusPunch/SeedBomb Breloom set that dice had popularized just a number of days prior to my usage of this. This set gained traction and so did the team.
As for the pesky Psychic types, SDef Jirachi worked well here for those Pokemon as the combination of Breloom abusing Ferrothorn, Trick Rotom-Wash luring Ferrothorn, and a bulky Spin Excadrill (or Magnezone on the initial variant) allowed for Spikes to be punished. SDef Jirachi's main issue, of course, is enabling Spikers and forfeiting momentum. These teams were able to mitigate that weakness and it allowed for a totally different pace and dynamic for a weatherless team because of that.
Finally, being able to bring back a truly timeless titan, Scarf Rotom-Wash, was one of the things I enjoyed the most about these structures. While it saw much better days back when BW was the current generation, I still believe it has viability outside of Sand. These teams being living proof of that is something I treasure.
5.
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SPL officially, but I used it dozens of times in circuit tournaments and various others used it in BW Cup/circuit tournaments as well.
"TriPsy" was a team archetype that had been used before, but I think this is one of the most disruptive modern applications of the concept. With Magic Guard surging once more in BW OU earlier this year, stacking these Pokemon in a synergistic configuration allowed for some games to get out of hand quickly. In circuit tournaments, this was one of the most reliable "noob killers", esp because it had Sash Alakazam + Scarf Latios as a safety blanket. As for my usage of it in SPL, it was still super raw and disruptive at the time, especially coming from me when I had not used many builds like this previously. I am glad I got to pull it off and it was cool to bring Endeavor Ferrothorn, even if I never showed it in the game. That set is legitimate and I refuse to hear out anyone claiming otherwise
Honorable mention to my Facade Breloom Rain from early '19. Popularizing Facade Breloom was really cool and a number of people used it right after I revealed it there in the BW Championshop finals vs Posho. The team itself I used it on never gained as much traction as these five though. Also, a few of the teams I used in WCOP '18 deserve mention, too. The Rain vs McMeghan and Sand vs lax in particular, both winning crucial playoff games. BW had a bit of a lull in progress later that year though, mainly seeing a surge in Gliscor due to the latter team and people like SoulWind utiziling it well. I could honestly keep going for 10-15 teams and have a lot to say, but that's plenty for now.
Same question but across all non-BW OU metas (including lower tiers).
1.
WCOP Magearna balance - SS OU, 2020 -
WCOP officially, but plenty of times after in other tournaments as well.
This was one of the best teams in the early WCOP metagame and a lot of people used it/similar structures to it after I brought it. It highlighted some of the best Pokemon in the metagame and was a solid build all around. Not a ton of commentary on it beyond what was said in the RMT, but I hyperlinked that above.
2.
SM NU Sand Offense - SM NU, 2018
This team was one of the few that pushed Sand over the edge in SM NU. It used a really fun concept to use Eject Button + Recycle Slowbro in order to maximize the turns and positioning of specific abusers. This led to hilarious breaking potential early and sweeping potential late. The team was absolutely vicious and poor Star got owned in like 8 turns for tiebreak of HPL by it as well.
3.
- ORAS NU, 2015 -
SPL
Believe it or not, there was a point in time when nobody used Hex Rotom in lower tiers. This team (and the concept I came up with during the planning stages) was the coming out part of the now standardized Wisp+Hex combination in NU that generation. It was a pretty huge breakthrough for me, too, as I had never really been innovative on this stage before. It was my first SPL and I was up against FLCL, who was and still is one of the best out there. Being able to win this game and come up with a top-notch Steelix lure that ultimately became a huge metagame presence in various capacities was pretty dope. I still remember shaking at team preview of this game, nervous out of my mind. It was my second ever SPL game and it was really a huge success in the moment and projecting forward for me.
4.
- SM OU, 2018 -
Smogon Tour
Zygarde had been slightly controversial before this, but seeing a totally new set outright win a game in the semifinals of Smogon Tour was ultimately something that contributed to us suspecting it later that month. This team was also just a great, consistent build that was able to clutch g3 for me, but I think that it also held some significant in the history of SM OU as well. Also, look how little Ice Beam did to it LMAO
5.
- SS OU, 2020 -
Snake and various other unofficial tournaments.
While this was not the exact 6 that was spammed during the end of SSD this year, this was the first HO with the dual Fighting core that was used on the big stage. I feel like it was one of the first dominos that fell, leading to HO being spammed throughout October/November in DLC1 SS OU. This team was also absolutely brutal and highlighted how busted Urshifu was, too.
Five favorite tournament games you've played?
Not gonna number them 1-5 because I have no true order here.
ST29 R1 vs Corazan, SM OU
This has to be one of the best played games of 2020, and I realize how cocky I sound when saying this. I don't care. I faced Charizard-Y with Charizard-Y check Heatran (hint: not a check), Weavile with Weavile check Greninja (hint: not a check), and Z-Steel Kartana with Z-Kartana check Tangrowth, which lacked HP Fire/Focus Blast. I had to get everything right while toeing a tight rope, which I managed to do. I kept Gliscor in on Weavile as it clicked Knock Off, went Gliscor on Focus Blast in the Sun, kept Rotom-Wash in on Kartana as it used Corkscrew Crash, etc. I pretty much had to be super aggressive whenever he got any momentum while making only incrmental progress every time I found an opening myself for over 100 turns. It worked and I was absolutely elated. Losing this series was a huge blow to me/my 2020 though. I played similarly well in g2 and got super unlucky, so that stunk.
SSD III W1 vs Garay oak, SM NU and
SSD III W2 vs Kushalos
Both of these games were tight because I was not playing NU in officials for years and got the top 2 ranked players in the first 2 weeks, not giving me a ton of time to get in form. I also fell behind in both games early. With a ton of attention to detail, patience, and timely aggression, I was able to pull out both in close fashion. Each of these games showed a certain level of precision and win condition analysis that I wish I found myself exhibiting more often nowadays honestly. I can go on for hours about every detail that went into my execution during these games. Two wins I am proud of for sure.
Smogon Classic VI Playoffs vs Tamahome, RBY OU
RBY was a tier that I was still not entirely familiar with. Sure, I had played it before, but I was still adapting to standard operating procedure on the fly, as these games were played. I consider myself competent at RBY currently, but at this point I was still on the fringe of competency. So I went into this game, against one of the best old generation players of all time, a bit worried. But I balled out here. I did not make too many unnecessary risks, I found a groove and a gameplan early, and I really understood the game -- for the sequences the opponent was going for in order to decipher their team/sets, for the way I could use my Pokemon in order to make the most progress directly, for the things I had to preserve in order to give myself the best chance of winning in the long haul, etc. I really think this may be one of my gutsiest performances ever. There were some turns I was genuinely scared because optimal plays are harder for me to come by in this format, but I managed to make it work no matter what happened, including some crazy inaccuracy.
Permasand Invitational I Round 6 vs xray, ADV OU
ADV is a tier I felt a lot better in than RBY, but it was still not exactly my home turf and I was using a team with some novel concepts. I was able to execute my gameplan perfectly here though. I did not take any unnecessary risks, disclose anything I needed not to, or even go out of my way to be aggressive when I was able to decipher his gameplan and remaining Pokemon from how he was playing. A lot of the greatness of modern ADV is hard to put into words in a post like this due to how much experience, energy, and attention to detail it takes to gameplan forward. The metagame has so many lovely nuisances and strategies. It has explosive offensive potential and plenty of defensive roadblocks as well. I feel like I took a ton of time to pick apart all possibilities to assure that my Salamence could seal the deal, which became a near certainty in the later stages of this game.
Honorable mention to: me vs Raiza from SPLXI semifinals -- I may have lost due to some unfortunate stuff, but I played a crazy game and the fact that I brought it back to an ~80/20 endgame state was crazy, especially given how well he played. Also, me vs SoulWind from WCOP '20 R1, but I already included my team from that battle above, so did not want to discuss that anymore.
Five favorite tournament games of others?
ABR vs SoulWind, Classic V SemiFinals BW OU
A rare marathon BW game. Both of these players helped lay the groundwork for an archetype of balance that focused on controlling momentum and spreading more passive damage. At the time, many people took a more direct approach towards making progress, even on balance builds, and it has been very cool seeing similar builds used in the aftermath. Of course, the game itself had various exciting things as well. I will not go in-depth on the whole 190 turn affair, but I would strongly advise watching it slowly with some popcorn.
Star vs John W, Smogon Tour 30 R1 SM OU
I do not think this game was one of the five best played games ever necessarily, but Star's gameplan here stands out as optimal and well executed. He was patient, he knew what trades to make, and he only took risks once he was able to feel out all of the sequences that the game had involved. I think that he displayed a certain level of mastery when it came to long-term thinking, positioning, and preservation. I think there were maybe 1-2 sloppy turns on his end and John W made some weird risks in the middle, but I really enjoyed how Star played this one.
ABR vs McMeghan, Smogon Tour 28 Finals, ORAS OU
This game needs no introduction; it was an instant classic. McMeghan employed one of the craziest strategies even he has used and ABR was left to his own devices to fend off all of the craziness that ensued. A must-watch for people who this game predates. Both players exhibited masterful competency here.
linear vs KG, SPL X Week 3, ADV OU
Some really cool things on both sides. Linear has a pretty clear gameplan he executes very well from the start, but KG's lure Zapdos gets in a ton of damage on Blissey, opening the door for KG to have a legit shot late game with a pesky Gengar and the hidden Metagross in the back even. Linear had to do so much long-term planning on the fly here and that made it really special for me as a teammate when he pulled through, but KG gave it one hell of an effort down the stretch, too. An underrated game.
ABR vs Empo, Smogon Tour 26 Playoffs R2, SM OU
This was an intense game, especially for ABR's standards in ORAS. Both had similar team structures and Empo had a pretty uncommon bring at the time in Kyurem alongside it all. Some nice back-and-forths, a closely contested endgame, and ABR barely won off of having QA on his Mega Lopunny. This one was a thriller as a spectator and I feel both played it quite well. Stuck with me for a while after when attempting to use BO in SM honestly.
Will you watch the greatest sitcom of all time, 30 Rock?
Depending on my ability to get into new shows while working in the future, yes (so maybe).
How do you deal with people constantly trying to provoke you for their own amusement, since you are well-known for always reacting?
I deal with them by just being myself. Yes, sometimes I can be a Lot, but also I have to be doing a Lot right if these people feel the need to try and bring me down instead of minding their own business. You should not feel a desire to bring something down unless it is above you to begin with... or you are just a lame person who derives satisfaction off of the dissatisfaction of others, which is a whole other issue. I'm not sure which of these two it is, but I sure as hell know I am not the problem in this dynamic and I am always going to embrace being myself. As much as I love this community, I also realize it is fortunate to have me at this point.
Honestly I find it amusing at this point and I have embraced it to an extent. People who call me out never really get anything out of it nowadays, but they keep coming for my head. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, but they can keep trying if they so please. It is true that I do respond a fair amount, even more than I should. But for every response, there are a solid dozen things I just laugh at and move on. People trying to provoke me or just saying outright absurd things -- it is who they are and that's their own problem. I do not need to be defensive 24/7. The amount of attention I receive on this website, especially isolated attention specific to myself and no larger groups, is kind of crazy. I am not sure if people are obsessed with me or just have nothing better to do with their time (it is 2020 after all, but this phenomenon predates 2020), but at this point I am more worried about their own wellbeing due to the massive amount of landscape I possess in their heads than I am about myself. If they want to spend their spare time trying to provoke me, then all I can do is wonder why they are using their spare time on me instead of themselves. Perhaps they are jealous? Perhaps they are insecure about themselves? I don't know, but it is more amusing than anything else to me at this point. All I can do is just keep being myself.
Does it weigh on you mentally, especially when it has become such a widespread, "safe" phenomenon to pick on you that even people who don't know you at all will do so? (Think those who complain about Smogon tiering and Landorus-T spamming, as they tend to single you out as one of the driving forces behind these evils.)
Not normally, no. The worst it has done in recent months is just made me walk away from my computer for 5-10 minutes to "reset" and then I was good again. A lot of people are ignorant, so I try to explain things to them. If they get it, great. If they do not get it, I cannot do anything more and I move on. Realizing that you have to have thick skin and you can only control so much is huge.
I cannot possibly make everyone happy as a leader in this community. There are contrasting interests and philosophies at every single crossroads. All I can do is use my constantly improving and evolving judgement, sense of self, and individuality to do what is best for myself and Smogon when given the opportunity. There will always be people who go out of their way to ridicule me as I am an easy target, but those people are going to have to be a lot more justified and civilized in order to derail me.
Ever since I started uploading on YouTube, this has come up a ton. I am, after all, the big bad Smogon guy who bans all the things that beat stall. How dare I do that?
Alternatively, do you accept it as an unfortunate inevitability when considering your passionate personality (which is very much a good thing fwiw) and the nature of the internet which leads to concern trolls and others of their ilk?
I have alluded to this in my responses above, but yes -- it is the reality of the situation and I view it as more of a positive reflection on myself and revealing aspect of the specific characters in the community who elect to give me a hard time than anything else. I will ALWAYS try to change for the better and reform myself to be the best version of Finchinator, which I have done countless times, but these changes are made constructively and with great contemplation. They are not done through edgy teenagers or unhinged Smogon regulars trying to sling their shit in my direction. All of that shit misses the mark. And it is oftentimes not remotely close to the mark, too.
You are familiar with the sheer amount of important yet thankless work that is necessary to maintain a site like this. Do you think doing so deserves some sort of pay, even in small amounts, especially when the site turns a profit?
Deserves? Yes. The thankless work I and many others do on this website deserves financial compensation. However, I do not blame Chaos or the system that is currently in place for not enabling this. A lot of things deserve to happen or "should" happen that are impossibilities. Contributions to this website happen in all shapes, sizes, and forms over various different timeframes. Finding a way to standardize this and monetize it specifically would be a huge task itself which would undoubtebly leave some group feeling wronged or underappreciated. Additionally, doing this all online when there is virtually no in-person component is a huge liability issue, especially given the ages of many site regulars. Many people over 18 do not even have financial independence and contribute here, legally being of working age. Finally, who knows how Nintendo/GameFreak would react to finding out this news -- if there is any chance it would lead to Smogon or PS encounering issues, then that makes it not worthwhile at all. At the end of the day, the point is that we do not know the specifics of the situation, everything that it would entail, or the potential consequences. Before all of that is known, I absolutely refuse to make a statement of what should happen. I will say that people contributing "deserve" it, but what is deserved is oftentimes a different world from what actually happens -- we both know this.
Much respect for all you do, Finch. Also reading about your Pearl adventures and the pride you took in your starter Piplup was heartwarming. I hope you're excited for those gen 4 remakes.
Thank you and same. I am quite excited for the eventual gen 4 remakes. May even get a switch for it.