How Legendaries Fix Competitive Pokémon

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Edited by: MSaboanu
00:00 - Intro
01:07 - Today's sponsor
02:25 - Raichu
03:48 - Crobat
04:59 - Mienshao
06:44 - Why they work
08:46 - Final thoughts

[@skrawvgc]

Download Raid to win a console using my link only: pl.go-ga.me/o6n27pkf and get 2 epic heroes + a free legendary! 🍀Take part in the SpringHunt event and get your gift at springhunt.plarium.com (make sure to download Raid using my link first) 💎Prizes include GAMING CONSOLES and Amazon gift cards with a total value of $10,000! and don't forget to redeem the code "SPRINGHUNT24" for more amazing rewards! Hurry, this offer is available for a limited time only!

[@Cochu]

Honestly congrats on the sponsor!!!

[@squirrelwithabanana]

Congrats on the sponsor goat!

[@user-AADZ]

I can't believe you're saying this too

[@thatsabruhmoment17]

Of course I fight with my favorites. My favorites just happen to be flutter mane, incineroar, urshifu, rillaboom, ogerpon, and calyrex shadow rider

[@EmmyBlubonic]

ogerpon is just so adorbs

[@Wafflefrieslmdh]

Holy carp same

[@NotBamOrBing]

Bad taste

[@sonicrunn3r895]

The joke would be funnier if like Simisage was the meta because no one likes it, but genuinely all 6 of these have cool designs

[@ConductorElcrest]

I’m going to tribute over your Calyrex-Shadow Rider with a kaiju

[@maximiliansaboanu3615]

wait did napoleon actually say that

[@someone-mr1ut]

Nah he stole it from Sun Tzu

[@PrinceOfHisui-5679]

@@someone-mr1ut makes sense, he did invent mien-foo

[@MochachiiinoWorks]

Hi im the one who wrote on the scribe. yes the quote is true

[@jdrmanmusiqking]

Beat me to it! You actually know some *real* history instead of the propaganda they teach in school. Napoleon absolutely stole that quote from Sun Tzu ​@@someone-mr1ut

[@M.W.2]

Good points, they still all die to astral barage from a mistake on 4 legs

[@Aaa-vp6ug]

Well not *ON* 4 legs

[@atomicpunk2360]

Shitty players online: AsTrAL bArRaGe Go BOOM!!!

[@agentrgwx8529]

I’m the only human on earth that likes that mistake

[@PedroHenrique-mk5zi]

Strong Pokémon. Weak Pokémon. That is only the selfish perception of people. Truly skilled trainers should analyse the meta, develop their teambuilding skills and create a team they believe to perform the best. Occasionaly, a stereotypical weak pokémon will fit just right in your strategy.

[@xxcridonxx7614]

Nah, I’d Calyrex shadow

[@Blutexdoingstuff]

Nah, I'd Mega Rayquaza

[@protean007]

Nah, I'd Zacian Crowned

[@slipperysnake3822]

Nad I'd Primal Groudon

[@sunbro7853]

Nah I’d Pachirisu in 2014

[@cherrypepsicola7813]

Having raichu as my fav Pokémon having it win worlds 2016 meant so much to me

[@scottcrysel]

You know the pokemon company loved it too lo

[@dannydecheeto5841]

Don’t forget Cloud Nine Golduck specifically to beat Primal Groudon

[@208getalife]

Damn bro that's crazy... *switches hearthflame Ogerpon for Koraidon and changes nothing else about my very meta team*

[@yusheitslv100]

Run both on ur team.

[@208getalife]

@@yusheitslv100 Ah, honestly I've found that Incin is a better fire, Rilla is a better grass, and you still need a Special Attacker like Flutter. Then you still need speed control and something that can answer a lot of common threats without relying on speed, so Amoongus. Between that and a nadus or other tailwind setter to ensure you aren't Eggman in a sonic game, it just doesn't have the room, Koraidon fills the role Ogerpon WOULD in a lot of teams (offensive Ogerpon, not Follow Me but even then still a little since he can support your Special Attacker and Incin) anyhow. It's a simple switch.

[@Endershock1678]

@@208getalife Ogerpon Fire is a bit questionable rn, but Ogerpon Water I find is really nice into all the special attackers running around and makes Kyogre want to cry, can switch into Groudon pretty well, and has a few great tools at its disposal

[@sham_noway]

i miss Gen 8 series 12 bc Cradily was actually goated in that format

[@elemangell2981]

Wait really!? I’m a huge Cradily fan I gotta know what it did in the format!

[@Lionwoman]

Look at my mienshao finally having some sort of spotlight.

[@leviadams8777]

Dude congrats on the sponsorship! You’re the best up and coming vgc creator. Keep up the awesome work!

[@GeorgeDCowley]

I already know some of why. When there's a limited super-power, leeching off of or negating it is huge.

[@BlueEye096]

Man as a long time (1999) Pokemon fan who has only been vaguely aware of the Competitive scene and only recently started watching more videos on VGC I am realizing that Competitive is just WAY too big brain for me, I would have never ever thought of Mienshao as having so much potential. I'm learning that a valuable skill for a VGC player is to be able to see potential in uncommon Pokemon instead of just going along with whatever the top 20 or so in usage is and only using that. Like I actually saw that Articuno VGC win live a few weeks ago and was blown away cause even I know that Articuno has always been mediocre but it looked like a god out there with the right strategy.

[@WoopWoop614]

mienshao can also run feint to break opposing wide guard, quick guard, or protect as well as finishing off any mons that have sash or survive on low hp

[@TheRubster14]

Let's goooo you got sponsor by Ray 😂 get that bag Skraw🗿

[@berry6473]

I wonder if Raichu with thunderclap would be really good, imagine catching an electric type attack and then have a strong priority move hit with boosted special attack?

[@CalvinAwesome]

Quality content, keep it up!

[@lucabertani225]

In gen 7 sun series I was consistently in top 10/20 on showdown with a xerneas/kyogre team that was centered on geomancy and psych up, and I had a parascect that kept it all together. Dry skin and wide guard completely shut down kyogre, and I could even bring it against groudon just to stop one precipice blades, rage powder and Spore were just insane utility, and fuck attacking moves, I needed all the tools available to be functional even in trick room so after you was the way. It was lethal And I swear I made that team up ok my own, after I got destroyed by a psych up lunala, but in due time i sporadically started facing temas with the same exact core, concept and 5 out of 6 mons, only with amoonguss instead of said parascect, and because of it I even had a good match up in those rare mirrors.

[@menameta1316]

Is farigiraf a counter to calyrex mienshao -immune to ghost -neutral to fighting -resists psychic -can hit mienshao for super effective

[@edwinmiramontes7622]

Could also be a potential partner to calyrex ice, due to farigraf ability to set up trickroom

[@dhsib9912]

It also learns shadow ball for calyrex shadow

[@sunbro7853]

And stops Rilla/Roar core 😊

[@sewerdork6183]

@@edwinmiramontes7622holy shit you’re right. It can also block prioty if they do set up trick room. It’s also one of the better trickroom mon with its movepool but *potentially* be outused by bronzong due to it having a very dangerous steel move, depending how the meta goes. I also think indeedee will be used the least/sleeper or remain only 2nd option throughout the entire time. Not sure why. Just gut feeling

[@pawedziedzic3250]

It walls calyrex shadow and can KO mienshao, but it doesnt really stop Calyrex from KOing its partners

[@----x-----]

This feels kinda like saying crime is GOOD because it gives the police something to do...

[@mareeoh2701]

love the content keep it up!

[@johnnyboylan]

koraidon is making sunflora playable

[@sla7889]

Another interesting aspect about raichu in the restricted meta is having volt switch, allowing it to switch out mid turn to win a major part of that meta: weather wars It also was able to switch out of mega gengars shadow tag Similar idea to the eject button hitmontop on the same team by wolf

[@leviuchiha6214]

Astral Barrage Goes boommmm

[@nitro5247]

Fight with your favorites? Ok my favorites are Ferrothorn and Landorus-Therian

[@billrowell3199]

If I want to use nasty plot calyrex shadow and mienshao which one should hold the focus sash?

[@luckiertwin2]

Great vid

[@afro025]

You still never answered the question about how legendaries "fixed" competitive Pokémon though. All you did was bring up 3 mediocre Pokemon with VERY specific niches because of the problems legendary Pokémon present in the first place. That's not legendaries fixing the problem, that's legendaries being the problem and finding solutions to them 😂

[@shakky1512]

But he did. Legendaries centralize the meta game but by doing so make otherwise useless Pokémon very good by being a specific answer to the broken legendaries or to support them. This is the answer given at the end of the video. Maybe pay attention to the video next time.

[@afro025]

@@shakky1512 Okay but he didn't. The Pokémon he used as examples, such as Raichu and Mienshao, aren't even bad or useless Pokémon in their own right. They're only seen as "useless" because of the insane gap between them and legendary Pokémon. If legendary Pokémon didn't exist, these Pokémon with these niches would still be here, and would probably be even more viable. Hell, just look at how showdown is thriving because of the different tiers smogon created, and all of the creative strategies that can be used because of it. Compare that to competitive VGC, where the strategies he presented in the video are niche for a reason, and *aren't* the norm. They aren't consistently viable, they only have one specific purpose that they do well in, and suck in everything else. And even then, he's *still* not answering how legendaries "fixed" competitive Pokémon, when they're the problem in the first place. Maybe use your brain and do your research on competitive Pokémon next time you decide to make another dumb comment like this.

[@FlygonkingVGC]

0:09 I’ve made some good flygon (as good as u can make with a flygon) teams in my days

[@jordanmeadows4115]

Raid shadow legends? You made it bro! Congrats

[@OptimusPatriot84]

My favorite would be Necrozma Dusk Mane

[@rythvicr3240]

A lot of the people that crying out about the lack of CREATIVITY in a format are really crying out about a perceived lack of DIVERSITY. They're probably seeing the same Pokemon match after match that have an advantage over a lot of the Pokemon they like and hate the feeling of being unable to compete against them (or they don't play at all and just watch, and by looking at tournament results they assume the players are just copying more successful players without thinking about it). It happens a lot in card games as well. What they don't realize is that creativity comes from knowing what threats you're likely to encounter in a tournament, and tailoring your strategy and techs to exploit weaknesses in an established meta.

[@isagonj]

Congratulations on the raid shadow legends bag

[@Mekaizer]

wow, inner focus now is a good ability xDDD

[@iancastro1327]

Bro did not let Calyrex Shadow slip

[@bigt8033]

Restriction breeds creativity. If you weren't limited to only one or two box legendaries this video would be incredibly different

[@sxewhil]

I enjoyed this

[@scottcrysel]

Fun video!

[@ConductorElcrest]

“Send Kaiju” I would LOVE to tribute over Calyrex-Shadow Rider and Calyrex-Ice Rider

[@rythvicr3240]

Eeeeeeey, do I spy a fellow yugioh player?

[@ConductorElcrest]

@@rythvicr3240 Yes!

[@godli7806]

Thou shalt know the scourge of the dirge. 🐊🔥

[@SoyFelipeCTM]

That Raichu was 100% hacked

[@MapleLunii]

Ive seen a similar comparison to powerful pokemon actually being healthy for a metagame being like chess. Important, centralizing pieces. Kinda like Gen 2 Snorlax. The entire metagame revolves around it, and ends up weirdly making things healthier overall?

[@dang8965]

I am one who says that everyone uses the same pokemon because we are not wrong there's a reason in in has shown up for yrs and even in the argument of gimmick strats we only see them for maybe 1 tournament then it's back to normal

[@CaptainSherbertTheQuestionable]

Lack of team diversity isn't a problem cause if you peek out and go to in person events then you'll see there is a ton of diversity. It has more to do with the production staff and what matches thet choose to showcase on stream. They tend to show off teams with the same collection of roughly 10 polemon over and over which makes the streams feel like they drag and make them really boring. Personally what I think they should do is pick out more teams that possess those 1% picks more frequently. In my opinion that would solve the lack of diversity arguement.

[@lorenzomabalos9851]

Calyrex Shadow Rider in a meta without Yveltal is pretty scary.

[@davidiswhat]

I'm not sure if I agree with the conclusion. Restrictions breed creativity but players are being restricted to build teams around legendaries. This means a more centralized metagame. I think most competitive players tend to like when there are like 4 tier 1 decks roaming about since it becomes mostly about tech options. If there are 8 tier 1 decks roaming about, it's hard to tech for anything. I think it whether legendaries fixes competitive pokemon depends on what kind of meta you enjoy playing. Being able to easily flex 1 slot in a closed meta vs multiple slots come to mind

[@bellowingsilence]

I’m very much “on the outside looking in” when it comes to competitive Pokemon, but have we ever had formats where they simply limit the *number* of Pokemon from a higher tier?

[@skrawvgc]

You may be thinking of smogon singles but in VGC this is exactly what the video is about! You are only allowed 1-2 “restricted” legendaries depending on the format! Resulting in teams being designed completely around their legendary and causing creative choices

[@ryanbranch1430]

I think that "centralization around super powerful Pokemon" is what I don't like about the restricted formats, though I do get your appreciation for it.

[@Waterninja20]

trying to figure out how this lets my Technician Cinccino be usable some pokemon will pop up as good choices in reg g but plenty will also just become/remain unusable. it's not really "more" creative it's more of just a shake-up imo

[@allaldenebja9911]

I didn't know Golbat was weak but seriously he should get a special attack buff and attack nerf or attack buff and special attack nerf and he should get access to sword dance since he gets nasty plot already and I also think that acrobat should get a speed buff to become a 140 base speed pokemon

[@imaboxhead3325]

My favorite pokimon is wailord he is just bad I’ve tried to make him work over and over again but it just doesn’t work (if you have ideas help your boy out)

[@Tevyn843]

I would argue that a few Pokémon carving out a niche doesn’t make a format balanced. 2016 in particular was probably the most oppressive format ever. There are always “bad” pokemon that manage to get usage in every format but restricted formats basically say “you MUST choose one (or two) of these pokemon out of this tiny pool or you can’t even play the game”

[@17cats]

based mienshao content :)

[@jinnizi]

the people who spam that karen quote wherever they can probably couldnt make it out of low ladder. even in 3v3 singels best of one on console lol.

[@earningzekrom4173]

GOOD ANIMALS

[@Alexis-wx1lf]

i can’t believe napoelon said that, i thought he was based 😫

[@AlRa-fm1kq]

wide gard going to ruin kyoger and calrex

[@AlRa-fm1kq]

for me the lack of deversity make s me want to use things that the rest dose not i can kill urshifu faster then most people in vgc without running it myself don't get me wrong i maxed out both my water and dark urshifu but i just think of them as low skill pokemon its just not my style to play with them for now its to easy to win with them and i just think it weakens me to play the meta like most people in the west , no offance i know what most pro players will run and i disstroy them by not playing the meta i lurned how counter fluttermain when it was a prob for everyone weather without any liki liki to counter weather and over time i just mastered killing lando and friends and I'm in the top 11,000 to 16,000 in master ball my aim is to hit top 300 and go for the number 1 spot

[@RocketPropelledMexican]

Honestly I wouldn't even consider Mienshao "bad"

[@breloommaster12]

Mienshao isn't really favoured in a non-restricted format, so it qualifies for this list at least.

[@cristianalarcon9071]

It's easy, the meta is so repetitive that you can counter it with niche pokemon, just like using tech cards in tcgs It doesn't encourage people to be creative, it encourages using techs, which are all around and predictable xd so legendaries just limit everything creative that could happen and narrows the list to 4 to 5 pokemon to tech, which, again, is the opposite of being creative

[@coordobaa7416]

heey, pretty cool video

[@pixilmon]

Creative teams are the best

[@pokeinator7834]

I’m VGC…it’s a bit tough,rarely do weak mons rise from the shadows to claim the crown But in singles it’s surprisingly common,come on down to smogon and you’ll find lots of unviable mons shaking up the meta,some guy is playing national dex rn with four non ou mons and still getting top 500,a guy pulled up with a lapras in one of the biggest gen 5 tournaments finals and won

[@bellowingsilence]

Where I think that’s really obnoxious, is that some Pokemon clearly tailored, by design, for doubles in their abilities and move sets are so often too weak to actually *survive* there.

[@pokeinator7834]

@@bellowingsilence hey giri’s chilling in pu ig

[@superzenmodeman]

Well, regarding the natdex ladder example, weak mons can get high on VGC ranked ladder as well. And in regards to doing well in the finals of a gen 5 tournament, I imagine that’s one of those tournaments where you can bring mons on a per-battle basis, which is notably different from being stuck to the same pokemon for an entire tournament.

[@pokeinator7834]

@@superzenmodeman it still proves weak mons can win,ofc there’re limits but they can use surprise alone to blow by their opponents,Karin says you should TRY to win with your favourites,it won’t always work out,but when it does…so beautiful Like articuno! (I know technically it was just cause it countered the meta, still counts for my point though)

[@superzenmodeman]

@@pokeinator7834 My implication was moreso that if there was a tournament format with VGC rules where players could bring mons on a per-battle basis, that level of niche application might come up there as well. It’s just a fixed team tournament for a large number of rounds makes niche mons less likely. But in something like ranked ladder, plenty of weak pokemon can do well if you capitalize off their niches and build a team that supports those niches. Though yes, even in tournament settings, there are still quite a few examples of weak pokemon being successful. The one that comes to mind for me is in gen 8 when a team with Seaking won a 900 person tournament (Lightningrod was of course a big part of it).

[@humanratteler9760]

So the main complaint was that the meta game is stale and legendary saturated. In this video we find out that it is in fact legendary saturated, and mitigated only by, in your words, examples of “hyper specific tech piece(s).” So, in your eyes, a diverse and creative team is one of a bunch of legendaries or pseudo legendaries, accompanied by a single hyper specific less common pokemon that is only useful in its ability to support a legendary pokemon on your team. The game’s all about legendaries in every way it’s spun. Meta is stale.

[@nrdscott]

I wish we could talk about it but I think there's a major factor that you and others have seemingly failed to consider

[@Ghad456]

My favourite is Ogerpon

[@itsgrimbo5629]

I love your videos but I have to say you look like yay

[@ViggleTheVirgil]

I understand the message of this video, but for me, I just don’t like how easy it is to splash these popular meta pokemon on a team and do well; Compare a seasoned competitive player busting their ass using underused pokemon versus some fresh player doing just as well if not better with same couple of busted pokemon they slapped on with no thought. It’s like Steve or the Aegis duo in Smash, they just invalidate a lot of other competitors with little to no effort compared to what low tier heroes have to endure. Not saying every pokemon should be just as viable as the next, but just kick out the couple of key threats that keep a lot of other pokemon from shining. Or maybe just quit playing comp all together and just have fun with the games in single player lol

[@asf545]

what youre describing are nieche exeptions. Legendarys ruin the online game because they make only other strong legendarys, pseudolegendarys and some nieche exeptions viable while the rest of the dex becomes unviable, a raichu winning worlds 8 years ago dosent change that. Also these players have been complaining with each format change because as a matter of fact the sv meta game didnt become more creative 0:45 , its the opposite, thats why they have been complaining. Have you even played sv online when it first came out? The ammount of pokemon and viable teams was way higher than before sv release or after the format was expanded and the first format allowed for far more experimentation/creativity. What makes you think these new formats are in any way more creative than the first sv format. First paradox pokemon were added, they(especially fluttermane and roaring moon) narrowed the list of viable pokemon down a lot but it was bearable, then the native legendarys were added wich was bad but it was still playable but now there are legendarys from other regions than paldea including meta defining DLC exclusive pokemon and the box art legendarys somehow arent. Not to mention how unfair it is that overpowered legendarys that only people who wasted 30 dollars on a DLC have access to are allowed in online play.

[@user-zi7fe4zj7g]

Strong Pokémon. Weak Pokémon. That is only the selfish perception of people .Truly skilled trainers use the meta picks babeyyy

[@garchompelago]

Pokemon, Yugioh literally any game has a meta. The metagame determines which pokemon or characters are more likely to get more wins as some pokemon or characters are objectively superior above the rest. However, using the meta options isnt an automatic win button. Theres a lot of strategy, synergy, team building and sets involved. However this seperates the casuals from the competitive players. Casuals only know how to complain about the Pokemon other people are using and they demand other players to use non-meta choises otherwise they would resort to mocking the opposition instead of trying to aim to be better. Competitive players just adapt and try to overcome the metagame by continiously improving by reviewing their teams and their plays aiming to be a better player. I always notice this. Whenever I post my team that reachers the masterball rank in ranked doubles.... The casuals will always mock me for using meta pokemon. Then I later find out that either they suck at competitive or they dont even play competitively in the first place. While competitive players will -commend my team for reaching masterball rank -point out my teams weaknesses for my reference -provides indepth explanation and suggestions in order to further improve my team. Thats why I ignore the casuals who loves to spam Karen's quote. Their words hold no value. Its just wah wah youre using strong pokemon! I cant win! Stop using strong pokemon! Wah wah! Seriously. Its useless to argue against casuals. They cant even play competitively in the first place. So instead of trying improve. They just complain. Remember, look inward. The meta doesnt always define the whole competitive scenesm theres also anti-meta picks that people dont usually use. You just have to improve and play better. Or dont and just complain. Its easier to just cry and complain than to put in effort and improve. Dont take the words of the casuals seriously. They are bad in competitive or they dont play competitive at all.

[@rockowlgamer631]

It sounds like it's because of the good abilities and movesets, NOT because of the pokemon iteself.

[@gururaven]

First the arrogant dismissal of peoples' concerns/frustrations without making counterpoints, then the raid sponsorship. I regret bothering to click on this clip.

[@thomaswinwood]

I'm not sure it's "fixing competitive Pokémon" when 950 Pokémon get ejected into space just because you can name half a dozen gimmick builds that only work because of how predictable everyone becomes when allowed to use all the series' mistakes at the same time. Ban the legendaries and mistakes like Paradox Pokémon and there'll be a hundred viable Pokémon for every Raichu and Crobat, so you can actually see some varied team construction rather than trying to pretend deciding on an EV spread for Kyogre constitutes creativity.

[@nahte123456]

That's just straight ignorant. You could remove the 200 strongest pokemon and stronger mons will still be stronger. Have you EVER even looked smogon? It has so many tiers for a reason.

[@gregorymirabella1423]

I take it you haven't actually played competitively?

[@Pierceson-up8fs]

The people most confident that there’s a quick and easy fix to something people are ignoring for no reason are always the funniest. Legendaries don’t actually change anything. 900 mons are not ever going to be properly balanced, so there will always be a small handful that will be used overwhelmingly more than the rest

[@thomaswinwood]

@@Pierceson-up8fs Sure, you can't make _everything_ viable, but a metagame with two hundred viable Pokemon is approximately four times better than one where fifty are.

[@Pierceson-up8fs]

@@thomaswinwood you’re making up a fantasy world where 200 Pokémon are viable. Sure, making up a magical scenario where everything plays out perfectly like it does in your head sounds nice, but it’s fake. You’re making stuff up. 200 Pokémon have *never* been viable in any format, even ones with legendaries banned. Because that’s not how this works. There will always be a handful of mons better than the rest that will get the most play

[@mf.t4786]

Raid Shadow Legends? Come on man. A VPN sponsor is way better.