A PowerPoint about Restricted Formats

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Clefairy Players
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Overqwil player:
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Discord: / discord

[@ElectricWindGirlFriend]

small correction: acid spray is a single target move. this doesn't really change the idea, but I did want to clarify.

[@memesupreme5502]

The existence of restricted formats implies the existence of stricted formats

[@trainerrichard6859]

This is the dumbest joke yet I’ve been laughing for like 5 minutes

[@ZekromAndYugiAndDrago123]

Anything Goes:

[@DoinkDeetus]

Un:

[@GMeneze800]

​@@DoinkDeetus Ün Ün Ün Ün Ün Ün

[@DoinkDeetus]

@@GMeneze800 🥶🧱🔩🐲⚡

[@InsertFunnyThingHere]

It's weird because normally having overpowered centralizing pokemon completely kills creativity but when there's like 20 of them and all of them are mutually exclusive it somehow ends up creating quite a lot of creativity and the absolute wildest shit comes out sometimes

[@usernametaken017]

you might like gen 4 ubers idk

[@jakksonkobalt]

I don't think overpowered centralizing pokemon completely kills creativity. My favourite format was National Dex AG, before it got scrapped because they introduced Revival Blessing into showdown. You would see all kinds of crazy lower tier mons pulling their weight. NU and PU pokemon becoming huge annoyances to your sets. Bringing a weaker pokemon to deal with a gimmick set, or bringing a stronger pokemon not to have a dead slot against a full aggro team? You get some weird and creative sets in AG formats in general. The team I got to 1500 elo in gen 9 AG in the first 3 months had 2 mausholds, tyranitar, houndstomb, miraidon, and chi-yu.

[@june9914]

I think it’s mostly coz of how fast the vgc structure is, they don’t have as much time two ferment when a new ruleset and banlist comes around.

[@blahtest]

@@jakksonkobaltI got into the high 1800s with Fissure Machamp Webs. That format was super fun.

[@calliopehu1924]

Generally it seems like the pattern is "support pokemon get better, niche defensive walls get better, offensive mons get worse". This makes sense-restricted pokemon are generally just naturally bulky so it's hard to threaten them offensively. This is especially true with the advent of Tera. Choice Band Tera Grass Adamant Rillaboom can OHKO Kyogre with Grassy Glide, sure, but not if it clicks the sparkly button and quarters your damage

[@sonicrunn3r895]

I once saw this one post someone made where they said “if it wasn’t for Incineroar and Calyrex, Mienshao would have a job flipping burgers” and I keep thinking about that post whenever it comes to restricted formats

[@skyeblu3178]

It was in a Moxie Boosted video so probably him?

[@sonicrunn3r895]

@@skyeblu3178 Yeah probably lol

[@HenryXLII]

I had a lot of fun climbing the ladder with Cramorant Groudon as my core. It was very silly, Cram was running a focus sash with a jolly nature with the moves Surf, Tailwind, Endeavor, Icy Wind. Tera was Ghost, and my Groudon ran weakness policy. I would open up with tailwind or surf, depending on what was more important in the matchup, surf gaining double value as it not only boosted my Groudon, but activated Gulp Missile. Very few opponents will throw both their attacks at Cramorant. So it would pretty much always survive the first turn. Endeavor ensured an even trade if Cram had a missile up, and I found the dumb bird surviving way more hits than it should have. It also can't be shut down by taunt. It's definitely a gimmick set that relies on the opponent not knowing what the hell Cramorant does, but it, combined with a Wide Gaurd, Gravity Garglnacl made for one of the strangest and fun teams I have ever run.

[@MidianVGC]

Every single pokemon who has access to Wide Guard is an immediate viable option in a format plagued with Astral Barrage, Water Spout, Discharge, Glacial Lance, Precipice Blades, and Tera Starstorm. Hell, Miraidons are starting to run Dazzling Gleam.

[@LoMaLouis]

The one thing everyone can agree on is that cosmog is the single best restricted, I really dont know how it hasnt won a regional, an international, worlds and the US elections yet

[@Foolish_Spoon]

vote nebby 2024 for a bag-free nation

[@GeorgeDCowley]

Imagine if Cosmoem got Wish. Might be semi-viable.

[@OnyxOblivion]

As someone who spent years watching FSG's mostly Singles (Smogon singles at that) related Pokémon analysis, VGC is absolutely nuts the more I dive into it. In a good way.

[@druidt8949]

If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend watching Wolfey's "Why Double Battles are Harder than Single Battles" short. It is one of the clearest illustrators of the differences between Smogon/Singles and VGC/Doubles.

[@OnyxOblivion]

@@druidt8949 ill check it out

[@Cosplaybuddygiraffes]

Bonus fun niche of Clefairy (that was yes, explained in Wolfe’s video where he used it and I’m copying him): Clefairy’s comically low speed actually really helps it and its teammate counter Trick Room using After You. After You allows any chosen Pokemon on the field to move immediately after the user regardless of speed tiers, priority, etc. Meaning, a speedy behemoth like Calyrex-Shadow can still move before the opponent in Trick Room given that its partner Clefairy will be the slowest mon on the field

[@esosique5]

Pipi!

[@jakksonkobalt]

This also applies in just straight ubers as well. Often times NU or lower pokemon find weird niches in Ubers setting. My favourite was when I played a lot of gen 6 AG before Su/Mo came out where Liepard (who was in PU) saw legitimate usage in the format as it was a reliable way to counter some very annoying sets. Or, at least it was fairly common on the showdown ladder around 1600-2200 elo in AG gen 6.

[@Psychomaniac14]

from what I've heard that thing has ruined National Dex AG with a new strategy creatively named Revive Cats

[@tsukara]

@@Psychomaniac14 yeah, assist having 32pp, completely ignoring the thing that balances revival blessing (being hard locked to 1pp) with priority so they'll always get it off is really just unfun to fight if you don't have something with like extreme speed or upper hand, but at least extreme killer arceus is legal there so you can just tera normal and watch it choice band all 6 of them to death, or tapu lele if you wanna be quirky and basically just have a dead team slot 99% of the time because its not gonna be doing too much in goddamn AG where you can just have a team of 6 choice item mega rayquaza

[@bladedasher]

Never forget Uber quagsire, who fucks over kyogre in particular

[@UltimateTrap421]

I was not expecting that Boost gag, and I love it

[@PatJamma]

You glossed over why Clefairy over Clefable. For those wondering like I was, Clefairy has Friend Guard as its hidden ability while Clefable does not have access to Friend Guard upon evolution.

[@kyallon1213]

Honestly I would love to see a return of the 2010 restricted format. Up to 4 restricteds allowed on the teamsheet, but you can only bring 2 in battle.

[@Bird-wz7nx]

I feel like Scarf Ditto can be so ubiquitous that keeping a ditto with any other item in the back is a bit of a based move. I mean, there's only so many broadly useful items, but the flexibility is great if you can manage speed and can leverage the surprise factor decently well. Its even better in formats dominated with strong special attackers, where you can stack that AV, but right now the physical sweeps can get pretty crazy so maybe a sash? IDK, I haven't tested it as much this format. I generally don't enjoy playing with the Big Kids as much, so to speak...

[@Rarest26]

A very funny case is Scovillain in Koraidon teams using Spicy Extract. You know, the move we considered trash early on. Turns out it’s less trash when you can give your Amulet buddy a swords dance boost AND half defense of opponents. And if you’re a real gamer you use Mirror Herb on korai instead and do both at once.

[@bcf789]

1:27 10/10 video epic pixar's cars cameo

[@danielarputharaj9918]

This is going to sound super silly but I've been trying out sash Meowstic-M as it's the only pokemon that has prankster and learns skill swap in SV. You can use with a trick room setter (I've been using oranguru) or Amoongus to get priority trick room, priority Spore, priority instruct, etc. It also gets fake out and helping hand, which allows it to contribute past skill swap, despite it's horrible offenses. I have a team like this built around Calyrex-ice, which also has alolan ninetales for weather control and aurora veil and urshifu-dark for a fast option in case of no trick room and as another damage dealer if needed. I don't actually play vgc or even own sv but I've been inspired to make fun gimmicky sets in showdown due to videos like yours and WolfeyVGC's!

[@damarihanson3876]

I think this would go crazy in a non-restricted format

[@palatonian9618]

Ive really been enjoying spectating regulation g. Even as a total newb to the sport I like that I can follow changes in the meta. Like seeing psyshock to counter left overs (and grassy terrain and leech seed) terapagos, or foul play for calyrex ice etc

[@shaykhmhssi3246]

i've been trying a rabsca calyrex -i rental team on cart ladder this format, at one point i was in the top 400 with it (unfortunately I've dropped a lot since). bringing back a calyrex or even just an indeedee to help reset trick room in the late game can be really powerful

[@FarhanH1]

PAWMOT IN THUMBNAIL WOOOOOOOOOOOO my fav gen 9 Pokémon and also a great partner for my Miraidon

[@plaza3825]

I'm glad average mons get a chance to shine. I still wish that there's less power creep, but it is cool that GameFreak is giving players reason to use these less-cracked mons without just buffing their base stats to competitive levels

[@toniconge7003]

Thank you for posting!

[@kirbot]

Restricted formats have been ruined forever by Cosmog. He's just too powerful and needs a BIG nerf. Hopefully some of the weaker restricted mons like Calyrex Shadow Rider and Kyogre get buffed in the next generation 😊

[@CBSnB2R]

That feeling when you get a good idea for a funny team but remember that current format is restricted. I still love these formats tho.

[@eggdumbhead]

these videos make my day

[@gonliax]

The slides had me dying. Great video 😂

[@Iris_Descent]

clefairy is so funny because friend guard and follow me sound completely counterintuitive with each other but it still works

[@jerry3115]

Overqwil sweep is awesome

[@seantomlinson3320]

I lol'd at Gastrodon's comment.

[@ScrappySlowbro]

KZbin WHY DIDNT YOU RECOMMEND ME THE ONE EWG VIDEO I NEEDED IN MY LIFE FOR 4 DAYS (ur right btw he is the coolest thing ever)

[@banditrests]

Also almost everything on ESM’s teams are weird, almost like he’s playing a different format from everyone else, but MDB used one to win Stockholm

[@GyroCannon]

Overqwil acid spray + kyogre sounds delicious Kudos to whoever thought of it

[@twilightsilver6230]

gender

[@MiniOre2]

Clefable line owning the two most popular competitve formats 💪

[@deltram]

Love overqwil getting some use. *Now bring my boi drapion into the light gamefreak.*

[@curtiswilson233]

Overqwil my beloved. They shouldn't have called you ugly in middle school.

[@supermariomaker1734]

I dont like using miansho but I have used it when it was on some rental teams in the past but I don’t enjoy it but I would like to try smergle in a battle sometime because at least I don’t have to guess with spore versus wide guard.

[@flyingoctopus4304]

Don't forget Raichu who often shows up in these formats to counter Kyogre.

[@mercenariamercenaria]

nice

[@aaronlaluzerne392]

Could you please make a video on Arceus next?

[@eggmicheal3917]

i didnt know cars had calyrex shadow

[@TheVengefulVadam]

3:10 Isn't Acid Spray single-target?

[@ElectricWindGirlFriend]

wait ur right i got confused when reading its traits for research. will correct, thanks for pointing that out!

[@Lily_beez]

The biggest downside to one restricted legendary formats is the lack of viable restricted pokemon. If you're any psychic type that isn't calyrex you're outclassed, and the two dragon restricteds' from this gen make any other dragon restricted look like a joke. Asides from that you only really have zamazenta, kyoger, and terapagos left. So about 7 restricteds' total that are viable.

[@afvpegknight]

Bss with one restricted legendary is very fun

[@eliana_d]

overqwil IS the coolest thing of all time

[@shankhathefirst]

The existence of restricted formats implies the existence of an unrestricted format. Time to have a team of all broken legendaries-

[@TLNT2103-zg3sb]

Guess you could say that Anything Goes.

[@Octo_of_the_QIA]

I Stan ElectricWinfGirlFriend🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@MagicWazam]

Ah, another poke PowerPoint, time for my clicks for Palestine !

[@mewuwu9742]

I believe that normally it's 1 restricted pokemon, the 2 restricted rule was a "joke" format iirc

[@Elizabeth-by7gz]

Algorithm Comment :)

[@alucard4344]

Nah, they mid at best.

[@ElectricWindGirlFriend]

super understandable. the insane power gap creates some really annoying matchup fishing

[@mme.veronica735]

hey can someone give me the lowdown on this person's pronouns?

[@banditrests]

Worth mentioning, Tub came up with a really cool team for NAIC featuring follow me vital spirt electabuzz and a really unconventional aniliape set