The "new" Metagame and the "new" and supposedly improved NetBattle (aka Shoddybattle)

[Kawasari Mimoto]

IMFO, ShoddyBattle fails completely. Of course, note that is a rather biased opinion because I've been playing NB for over 2 years, that and I love NB's interface. >_> The new metagame is okay, I don't hate it, it makes things a lot more interesting. There's new skills that makes STAB now x2.0 instead of x1.5. <_< But new metagame + Shoddy = BAD. Why?

Shoddy's interface is horrifyingly-terrible, that's not even a word, and yet it makes sense and describes Shoddy! Why? When you get Paralyzed on Netbattle, there is a tiny "Lightning" symbol besides the Pokeball (of the Pokemon that is currently on the field) to tell you that is Paralyzed. On Shoddy, it is grey/gray. >_> The battle log pineappleing sucks in the sense that reading it bores me, I'm not even sure if there's a Save Log option.

There's also no PokeDex-data, I want to search for [insert any pokemon here] with [insert a certain move/skill here]! pineapple!!!! Where the hell is the Pokedex?

Secondly, is it just me or has Smogon's community gotten worse in terms of stupidity and arrogance? Then there's the old OU's that went down to BorderLine and even the "UU" tiers. Since when was Aero UU? wtp. Aero was one of the fastest OUs in the metagame (back in NB) that had decent movepool (Rock Slide, Aerial Ace/Hidden Power Flying, Double-Edge, Roar/EarthQuake)! STAB, STAB, Double-Edge+RockHead=no damage, and EQ for Steel or other Rock types. With maxed Speedd EVs and a Jolly nature, Aero has 394 friggin speed. How is this thing UU??!

Then there's the almighty Garchomp I've heard so much of, I've fought one on Smogon (even though it was banned since it was considered as 'Uber'), I must admit it's pretty nice since it is very easy to set up with a Yacha Berry and Swords-Dance, but I took one out easily with a pineappleing Heracross. >_> (Oh, dear lord, "Fire Fang"~, my Heracross survived one hit and Rest+Sleep-Talk'ed+MegaHorned it to death. <_<)

In my conclusion, new metagame = okay. New metagame + Shoddy = Terrible. New smogon = Ugh-community. My Heracross made Garchomp cried and GG'ed it.

[Five Second Pose]

I am interested in what Heracross you use.

Also, tell me about it. I tried to challenge ZYXWVUT and couldn't even save my team.

[Kawasari Mimoto]

I am interested in what Heracross you use.

Also, tell me about it. I tried to challenge ZYXWVUT and couldn't even save my team.

I'm not using a standard Heracross. It's the same Heracross I've been using since the NB-days. Supposed to tank 1-2 hits, then sweep (if Guts is activated), and even without, it does great. It gets pwned by Skarm pretty bad though. <_< I only have Rest on there to restore HP (and to predict Hypnosis, if I have enough speed, Rest before being Hypnosis'ed on = win) oh, and Rest to restore status in case I get Toxic'ed is nice. But with Burn, I won't bother using Rest until I'm down to 25% HP or so. Also, Life Orb complements Rest pretty nice since I restore HP, lol? Back during the NB days, I had Choice Band, and that was a lot harder to pull off with Rest and Sleeptalk.



The rest of my team is pretty wacky, I have to adjust my team again..

[Dyxanije]

Well you can't even compare Shoddy to playing people via Wi-fi, I only used Shoddy to test teams and move sets (Gardevoir ftw ^_^). With that being said I mainly used BL Pokemon in OU, it was so fun to see people get slapped around by my "lolweak" Pokemon.

As for Smogon when I used to post a bit there and I have to say back when I was an active poster there was the occasional idiot but almost everyone was cool. It's say to hear they have a lot more arrogant people around now.

When Platinum comes to the US I'll have to relearn everything, its going to be awesome xD.

[DarkestTempest]

Well, as BL doesn't have it's own metgame (something that makes me wonder why we have BL altogether), basically some guy just adds up all the statistical data and shift frequently used pokemon into OU, and less requently used pokemon into BL.

Aero isn't the only thing that went in UU. Miltank, Weezing, Articuno, Ludicolo, Venusaur, and Shedinja all went in UU. I never played UU, so I can't exactly tell how much impact it has on the UU metagame, though I've seen people using (mostly suicide lead) Aero in OU all the time.

ANd Meh. I never used NetBattle, so I can't comment on how it compares to Shoddy. I'm fine with Shoddy, though. There IS a save log function. As for 'chomp... well, Garchomp basically became so good that you either lose at least one pokemon to the standard Yachechomp, or you use some sort of specialized counter (SKill Link Icicle Spear Cloyster, and I've heard of people using Counter Blissey), which is all what contributes to the opinion "garchomp centralizes the metagame".

I don't think Garchomp will be much of concern though - Salamence just got Outrage in DP, and people are sure to use it in battles (you already see Salamence everywhere without Outrage). Supposedly Salamence doesn't have some advantages Garchomp has (weak to Stealth Rock, no 102 speed, etc.). Only time will tell how balanced is THAT.