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Seconding this. I'm using the Lugia-PDon-MSableye core you proposed for stall in addition to Sylveon for Wish and Heal Bell support and it's immensely pressured by Darkrai. Sableye does not take Dark Pulse well at all. I've tried Rest-Talk Xerneas instead, which does completely neuter Darkrai...
Shadow Tag: Ban
It's pretty clear that Shadow Tag decides games by condensing the number of turns into only a few meaningful ones right before the trap. Doing this inherently invites 50/50s, as players are forced to guess on which turn the Shadow Tag Pokemon will come in. 50/50s are the real...
You are claiming that risk/reward decision making is what makes poker competitive, and I completely agree - this actually supports my claim. Consistently making smart decisions (not necessarily prediction-based decisions) is what makes both poker and pokemon more than blind "prediction and mind...
You're missing my argument. People are better at Pokemon because they consistently make solid plays and know when to take risks that are both safe but also have good reward. They aren't better at Pokemon because they're better at reading your mind and know exactly what move you're going to click...
I disagree. Mindgames are luck, especially on an online game when you can't even see the opponent's reactions, etc. The only reason "mindgames" like rock-paper-scissor contests and poker tournaments are even a thing is because one is in actual physical contact with the person, and one could, if...
Just addressing your first point. It is true not all coverage moves can be run at the same time. As you said, depending on the coverage Shadow Tag is forced to choose what it can beat. But that's the point - because Shadow Tag can choose what it can beat, teams using Shadow Tag choose coverage...
There are some things I think you seem to blow off. First, oftentimes a Destiny Bond kill is all Mega Gengar needs to do its job. In fact, Mega Gengar doesn't even need to trade one for one to be effective - if I can take away 50% from that Landorus-T so my EKiller can set up and sweep later...
Oh lol I believe that was me. Scarf Xern is pretty good. Close Combat doesn't hits anything outside of Chansey as mentioned above but I was just messing around. Here's the set I've been using
Xerneas @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Fairy Aura
EVs: 76 Atk / 248 SpA / 184 Spe
Rash Nature
- Moonblast
-...
Gengarite: Ban
Shadow Tag is uncompetitive because switching, possibly the most important mechanic in Pokemon singles. By negating switching, users of Shadow Tag can choose which of the opponent's Pokemon to take out, exacerbating issues of team matchup. This has serious implications on the...
Sure, I guess it seems like I'm nitpicking your examples. But there also is an underlying argument in what I said: for every threatening offensive pokemon, there exist many viable defensive pivots which can mitigate the risk in 50/50s. If I lose the 50/50, I'm guaranteed to lose not too much...
Protect can be used to scout. Things like Tyranitar, Ho-Oh, Chansey and Blissey, Sp.D. Kyogre, Arceus-Water, and even Arceus-Rock and Arceus-Fairy are all viable Pokemon that can be used to sponge hits and either retaliate or act as a pivot. For example, if I send Ho-oh in on Draco Meteor...
I'll concede that pro-ban players ought to give more evidence why losing a mon to Shadow Tag has such serious implications on the result of the game, but could you please stop looking towards that game as an example of someone making a comeback from a Shadow Tag deficit? First, MM2 used Trick...