Pokémon Competitive Battling

It’s not just your typical NPC battle.

Common Misconception A lot of people misinterpret that

every Pokémon “grow” in the same pattern. But in fact, you can manipulate their growth to maximize their stats mainly for player-versus-player battles.

Skills are not just about their base powers. They sometimes have side effects and their accuracy does matter.

Common Misconception When these are accompanied with

the removal of reduced reliance on luck in Pokémon battles, then Pokémon competitive battling is born.

Competitive Battling Pokémon competitive battling is a

type player-versus-player battle which, according to Smogon (a competitive battling site), “emphasizes an understanding of game mechanics, team organization, and battle tactics, rather than cramming four moves of differing types on your Pokémon and picking whichever one is super effective.”

Standard Rules

1. Any form of cheating and hacking is NOT ALLOWED.

2. Hold items which has a “chance” effect (ex. Quick Claw – gives the holder an 18.75% chance to attack first) are NOT ALLOWED.

3. One- hit K.O. moves (ex. Fissure, Sheer Cold, Horn Drill) are NOT ALLOWED.

Standard Rules

4. Moves that increase evasion (ex. Double Team) are NOT ALLOWED. However, moves that decrease the opponent’s accuracy (ex. Sand Attack) are allowed.

Tiers Most competitive battling groups use

tiers to segregate Pokémon according to their strengths.

Tiers vary from metagame to metagame. The lists change from time to time.

Tiers Below are the tiers listed according to

strongest to weakest:• Uber (Uber)• Overused (OU)• Borderline (BL)• Underused (UU)• Never Used (NU)• Not Fully Evolved (NFE)

Tiers - Ubers Ubers are composed of the strongest

Pokémon available for competitive battling.

This is usually composed of Pokémon too strong for the other tiers.

This is filled up mostly by, but not limited to, legendary Pokémon.

Tiers – Overused Overused Pokémon are composed of

Pokémon too strong for UU and NU and fair ok at the Uber tier.

The metagame revolves around this tier.

Usually composed of powerhouse Pokémon, offensive or defensive-wise.

Tiers - Borderline Borderline is a somewhat limbo-like

tier where Pokémon are put temporarily so they could be classified as OU or UU.

BL Pokémon can be used in OU and UU tiers as they are still under deliberation.

Tiers - Underused Underused Pokémon are composed of

Pokémon too strong for NU.

This is usually the tier sought after when players get tired of the repetitive teams in OU because of its flexibility.

Tiers – Never Used The weakest of all tiers. Fully-evolved

Pokémon not under the first four tiers are found here.

Usually a for-fun tier, but can also become competitive due to the large number of Pokémon that can be used.

Tiers – Not Fully Evolved Pokémon not at their last evolution

are under the Not Fully Evolved tier.

Pokémon without an evolution line cannot be put here.

Difference from Normal Battling

Normal Battling Competitive BattlingOne-hit K.O. moves can be used anytime, provided the player’s Pokémon knows it.

One –hit K.O. moves are not allowed, thus removing luck-based fainting.

Pokémon can increase their evasion. Pokémon cannot increase their evasion through items or skills, thus removing reliance on increased evasion of the Pokémon switched out.

Players can use any Pokémon they want.

Players’ Pokémon should vary depending on his/her playing style, strategy, and, if possible, the opponent’s Pokémon

The higher the level, the stronger the Pokémon.

A Pokémon’s strength comes from its EVs, IVs, nature, and moves which can be manipulated by the player.

Hyper Potions and Max Revives (healing items) save you from blacking out.

Usable items cannot be used in competitive battles since you cannot use them during player-versus-player battles.