Why This Format Refuses to Ban a Broken Strategy

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[@Lockirby2]

"In actual battles your opponent is not stupid" You haven't played against me, have you?

[@sidneyprice5514]

A self burn. Those are rare.

[@gregorymirabella1423]

You're not the only one.

[@bmac4]

*assuming you're playing on ladder with a minimum of 1500 Elo...mostly

[@takoyakiiii]

Nah, I'd win - Lockirby2

[@notapplicable6985]

​@@takoyakiiiiOther way, it's more like 'Nah, I'd lose'

[@njivwathomassilavwe2056]

They're babies they need all the help they can get. Trapinch has the same attack as Flygon trapping with it against babies is unfair

[@derGrolm]

Oh god, why is Trapinch so strong!?

[@MithrylG]

​@@derGrolmAnd by the same attack as Flygon, that is base 100 attack stat, which funnily enough is the same as all of Zygarde's forms

[@07Lightless]

@@derGrolmor perhaps it is Flygon that is too weak…

[@Skeloperch]

@@07Lightless That's definitely the case. 80/100/80/80/80/100 is a stat line that is good for Gen 3 but would land you firmly in PU or ZU in Gen 9. Flygon is only currently NU because the tier shifts haven't happened yet for March. It's not surviving the fall of Gyarados/Mew/Staraptor/Raikou/Cloyster/Infernape/Swampert/Heracross/Mienshao to NU.

[@yousquiddingme]

@@Skeloperch NU Gyarados is ridiculous, the power creep this gen is unprecedented

[@Sleth0theoriginal0]

"at level 5, that same thunderbolt does 34% of damage" Mew: takes 46% damage out of spite

[@BladeRabbit]

Raw Bulk: 45/45/45. Gotta love Littlecup

[@croatiancowboy]

Considering diglett was on the screen at the same time with its hp stat of 10, yeah 45/45/45 is very very solid bulk lmao. Gotta love little cup

[@hyoroemongaming569]

​@@croatiancowboywut you are joking. I look it up its true 🤯

[@adrianoctavio]

"Level 5 moves do more damage than their level 100 counterparts" awesome. With that knowledge I am ready to bring level 5s into anything goes thanks

[@blueyandicy]

Fear moment

[@mackthediplomatmtd1092]

Good luck 😅

[@ilovedogs2642]

Seeing baby Mon use z moves is funny, that tiny mole used TECHTONIC RAGE an split the land 😂

[@crazylasagna3576]

That second Shell Smash from Shelder at 10:26 told me EXACTLY how that game was ending

[@airam1721]

I guess pawniard won

[@crazylasagna3576]

@@airam1721 Depends on EV spreads and items, but assuming both are running standard sets, Shellder lives Sucker Punch and OHKOs Pawniard back.

[@airam1721]

@@crazylasagna3576 I don't actually expect pawniard to win, I mean, shell smashers without white herb definitely have sashes on them Nvm it was not at full HP, still shellder has ungodly defense. I bet it lived

[@CantusTropus]

Gen 3 OU casually being the exception in allowing Arena Trap Dugtrio and having it be perfectly reasonable, chad format

[@07Lightless]

@@misteral9045projecting a bit there buddy

[@yousquiddingme]

@@07Lightless That isn't what projecting means, he's just stupid

[@seanotdrummer]

@@07Lightlessnot what projecting means. also cope.

[@calvinanderson4245]

​@@seanotdrummerGo back to cuckchan.

[@CianNorman-Wright]

​@@misteral9045 not what projecting means. also cope.

[@mehdi7455]

I love how little cup explosiveness allows for such different bans, truly my favorite tier

[@jacobmarley7686]

Little Cup is a man's tier. The sheer offensive exhilaration from actually attacking more often than swapping. The blow for blow knock outs. OU QUAKES IN FEAR FROM SUCH TESTOSTERONE! *Masculinely pets his Alolan Vulpix*

[@sheepwithshadesgaming4717]

Extreme zigzagoon noise

[@jiankaifeng9164]

Extreme zigzagoon speed

[@nicholas7743]

​@@jiankaifeng9164okay that's good

[@Ruckus790]

Idk why but the idea of a digglet with an air balloon is very funny to me.

[@CantusTropus]

Also interesting to notice that Gen 9 is by far the Gen where OU and LC have the closest average turn count. Admittedly that's just using data from a couple of tournaments, but it still goes to show just how offense-heavy the Gen 9 metagame has become.

[@Bird-wz7nx]

Little Cup came from Stadium 2, specifically. Stadium 1 had Petit Cup, and I would love to hear your take on that utterly bizarre ruleset. Physically small mons, level 25, etc. Where would it be now? Would it be any fun?

[@bigchungus7870]

"In battle your opponent is not stupid" Low ladder gimmick players:

[@outspade]

I want there to be a metagame where the only pokemon allowed are pure grass, pure water and pure fire.

[@Oscar-ek2jx]

Do you know about monotype on showdown?

[@CadeKeefe]

They said pure

[@captainobscurity491]

2:17 I like how the gap in avg. turns between LC and OU has largely been closed in Gen 9 because stall has been nerfed in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet™️.

[@radlee13]

Nothing says it's a high powered metagame like the raw bulk of trapinch

[@hansoskar1911]

a trapper comes in on a good matchp and removes a threat without the ability for counterplay. Ok, thats like 90% of LC anayway.

[@baxterbruce9827]

It really is, and it's not even exclusive to little cup either

[@Auristmusic]

lc being fundamentally more offensive is in many ways a choice. yes lc pokemon do more damage to each other but the balance choices made across the generations to refuse to handle some of the most broken offensive options, thereby suppressing defensive counterplay more than usual, have magnified that significantly. many players have quit playing lc because of the fundamental refusal to allow different playstyles.

[@GallantBlade475]

Do you mean balancing choices on Game Freak's end, or on Smogon's?

[@Auristmusic]

@@GallantBlade475 on smogon's (and other previous communities like Pokemon Online that have also run LC metas)

[@CantusTropus]

@@GallantBlade475 Smogon, I assume. Game Freak doesn't care much even about VGC, much less about singles. Besides, petitioning Game Freak to fix something for the sake of competitive balance would be a real fool's errand, it's not their concern.

[@bmac4]

Defensive things get banned much more rarely in every meta. The math inherently pumps up offense. A High Jump Kick from any Pokemon is always going to hurt like hell whether it be from Mienfoo, Riolu, or Scraggy, as will a multi-hit move from almost any Skill Link Pokemon. I dont think banning the big players is gonna improve defense, it's just gonna make newer offensive staples.

[@Auristmusic]

@bmac4 it's not just mons that could be banned to improve LC though, although there have still been a couple that are so blatantly better than everything that should still go. It's also blatantly offense favouring items ie Berry Juice and moves like Knock Off that remove defensive counterplay to some mons.

[@netheriteingot6044]

“Unless your opponent is stupid they’re gonna switch out” Pro Players: _I predicted that you’re gonna predict me to switch and click a different move so I’ll stay_

[@Cyril_Dingemans9]

Never thought i would ever hear gale wings fletchling in my life 😂😂

[@Quazetiq]

So glad I subscribed, this content is hitting all the right spots for me atm aye.

[@hyoroemongaming569]

Atm eye?

[@Hunter_6430]

Worth noting that it’s not really Shadow Tag banned in Gen 3 so much as it is Wobbuffet and Wynaut being psychotic little goobers playing a completely different game than everyone else and naturally triggering an irrevocable Endless Battle Clause versus each other due to Struggle recoil still being proportional to damage dealt / not out-healing Leftovers and Trapping Abilities not yet allowing _each other_ to switch out. Pretty good vid freezai, any chance you’re going to Orlando Regionals in a couple weeks?

[@kefkapalazzo1]

Just came off your random battle vid a few minutes ago.

[@jcartist5881]

the title and video itself is ironic

[@AceFullbusterZ]

A freezai upload on time? Sign me up!

[@StepBaum]

The triple thumbnail change is crazy

[@King-cv5fe]

How many times is bro gonna change the thumbnail?

[@hacatu]

Also ... ghost types are fully immune to trapping and any flying type (/levitate/magnet rise) is immune to arena trap

[@myhandleiswhat]

I remember when Shadow Tag and Team Preview left their exclusivity on the Wobbufet line. People said "oh it isn't a problem" then later it's banned.

[@mikewebsters4119]

5:03 toxrill continues to haunt me

[@jman2050]

Kinda want to see a video on Scyther and why he would be the greatest LC pokemon of all time if he was ever actually allowed.

[@reclaimthunder9254]

Omw to play little cup now!

[@PokeMaster22222]

Oh, and to screw Wynaut over even more, special-attacking Dark-types are straight-up immune to Mirror Coat, and physical Ghosts are immune to Counter. Sure, those combos aren't nearly as common as their opposites, but it's still a flaw for Wynaut - he can't do anything against Houndour (Dark Pulse), Zorua, or Golett, for example.

[@PANGPOWER]

Has there been experimentation with little cup doubles?

[@cryochick9044]

Yes Ive played it

[@iamkind29]

Yeah it's a fun format.

[@zennistrad]

Missed opportunity to title this video "Why is Shadow Tag Naut broken in Little Cup?"

[@Eroil]

I suggested this idea for a vid like a year ago, gonna take credit even though it's probably unrelated lol

[@Kalaphant]

I so thought Gothita was some exploit and was so surprised that they didn't get banned lol

[@tioaranha4848]

How many times the thumbmail of this video changed

[@nigamnation]

Am I imagining things or has the thumbnail of this video changed twice 😊

[@shiningdramon1]

I find it funny that Dugtrio is banned in gen 4 OU but legal in gen 4 UU, a tier which is supposed to be lower in terms of power level.

[@frogtopia8624]

Can you do a video about gen 3? :3

[@kindadepressedguy1662]

LETS GO LC CONTENT

[@nobleneed]

You really can’t decide on a title and thumbnail for this one huh?

[@morphstarchangeling8024]

I wonder how gen 9 OU would be if trapping was legal.

[@jackpino-wn8bu]

Okay so i saw 2 of the thumbnails first the gothitelle one then the wobbuffet one and even tho i clicked on the wobbuffet one is because i actually had time to watch the video when i saw it but the gothitelle one isso much better imo

[@waitingfortheequinnox]

What most concerns me is the fact that SVOU games are only 2.5 turns longer than SVLC games

[@petrie911]

I can't remember if Wynaut is banned in gen 3 little cup because of power level or because Shadow Tag users can't switch out from each other and no one wants to deal with Wynaut vs Wynaut.

[@eeveefan132]

Probably the latter

[@bengoodwin2141]

OU council could learn from them ngl

[@EmeraldEleki7]

There's no stall in little cup? Guys I have a new favorite singles metagame

[@ashemabahumat4173]

Even the babies can handle it, smh

[@tampakc]

I'm going crazy. I swear I saw this video like half an hour ago on my feed but it had a Wobbafet and a Wynaut instead of a Gothitelle and a Gothita in the Thumbnail. Other than that the thumbnail was exactly the same. Am I going crazy?

[@jr.c.4250]

no I saw it too

[@FreezaiPokemon]

youtube has a feature that lets you upload multiple thumbnails and it tests them all by giving random people random thumbnails and collecting the results. you're seeing the other thumbnails

[@FarDawn-wg5sj]

Why did you change the thumbnail so much? It's almost like every second i look away from this tab suddenly when i refresh it's a whole nother title card

[@stevieweviealt]

2 main reasons. 1.) To find the most 'optimal' thumbnail (aka what gets the most clicks) 2.) To get people who skipped past the video prior to reconsider clicking it by presenting itself as something different.

[@stevieweviealt]

2 main reasons. 1.) To find the most 'optimal' thumbnail (aka what gets the most clicks) 2.) To get people who skipped past the video prior to reconsider clicking it by presenting itself as something different.

[@Kalaphant]

3:55 Aren't they built on switching?

[@twomew4u_]

real ones know the first thumbnail had wobb/whynaut in it

[@AndromedasCartoon]

yeah, it's called AG

[@Crohbar]

Getting Mandela Effected with the thumbnail.

[@metalmario1231]

I have had plenty of battles where the opponent is in fact....stupid

[@FredrIQ]

What about Pursuit? Why was that deemed acceptable when other trapping wasn't?

[@yeet8036]

Bcs pursuit takes move slot,is only effective against ghosts and psychics and even then these trapped mons can play around it. Pursuit is great but its not gamebreaking like shadow tag/arena trap.

[@CamVanDamme]

Has there ever been a limited switching meta? When me and my friends play Pokémon Stadium we limit the amount of switching allowed to just 3 switches per game. Just wondering if anything like this has been attempted in other circles.

[@Yas-gu1pj]

No but it would be fun to play

[@duckymomo7935]

trapping defeats the primary purpose of the switching mechanic

[@dannobob1278]

Didn't Lemon LC already make this video? Edit: Yeah I just checked he made a video on the exact same concept earlier, no credit?

[@luiginumbers6268]

When was the other one released?

[@dannobob1278]

@@luiginumbers6268 2 months ago, so pretty recently

[@stubbwinkley4015]

What is there to give credit for?

[@jacoblong9]

I get why trapping is normally banned, but my boi wobbuffet didnt deserve this indefinite ban ;-;

[@N12015]

I mean, the strategy is also considering gimmicky in Ubers UU, and I'm not sure if it would be that bad in OU considering tera. The counterplay to Gothitelle is just too prevalent, too easy to slap because having phasing and dark types is important, and the tier isn't even that offensively oriented. Dugtrio could easily be unbanned in OU and would drop because tera gives clear counterplay to dugtrio, and that mole is ridiculously frail and kinda weak.

[@caldw615]

Trapping forcing someone to Tera is still very strong. Like if you force a Heatran to Tera grass fo survive an Earthquake it means no more Tera for the Kingambit in the back.

[@N12015]

​​@@caldw615 But not "Go 5v6 in a game" strong. Tera gives a somewhat out to trapping, and considering that, again, Gothitelle and specially Dugtrio don't see any play, seems that it's worth the trade. Also, who said I'm fine with Kingambit?

[@Annadog40]

No sponser

[@PopsicleTom]

He listens. No need to crucify Freezai for one sponsor slip up. It can be hard to keep track of everything and we obviously want our boy to make money so he can keep giving us content.

[@markramos1216]

Drop it. You’re lucky you hide from behind a screen while you don’t do anything worthwhile with your life. Just enjoy the content.

[@Annadog40]

@markramos1216 so if I was in front of the screen, wut would happen?

[@AstralAkshay]

Hey baby

[@lol0999]

@@markramos1216 Cope.

[@johnc5962]

No BetterHelp sponsorship this time?

[@flozilla910]

I think arenatrap should t be banned in any format. there is so much more strong and broken shit. I think trapping is perfectly balanced and beeing able to stop switching is just as fair a tactic as any other. People just dont want to have to consider that ability for building their team. beeing trapped doesnt mean you lose your pokemon by default, we can just as well have our teams be prepared for it like defog for hazards.

[@igeomagician]

Goth girl thumbnail > blue pumching bag thumbnail

[@jaxsomon3333]

I still think banning arena trap from almost every single generation possible is so stupid. Like, at least let the one mediocre at best pokemon that has it have fun, right?

[@jaxsomon3333]

I get shadow tag. Actually good pokemon have that ability. But dugrio? With team preview so you don't have the surprise factor?

[@empty5013]

dugtrio is pretty insane, idk about ban worthy but it's not a slouch in any gen

[@tysondennis1016]

Trapping kids is okay?

[@swee_j]

opinion on hindutva?

[@nicolaslabonte4177]

Ill never take a look at LC tbh. Looks like a joke... 100% usage rate but its not banned. Id rather trapping over anything over 80-90 % usage rate.

[@oscen335]

Make sure to look if a mon steamrolls numerous teams with specific preparations before it deciding its broken or not. You prob think gen8 yveltal was more of a problem than calyrex-Shadow

[@AWoodNY]

My real question is why Little Cup is played at level 5 when Pokemon haven't hatched at level 5 since gen 3 almost 2 decades ago at this point.

[@Auristmusic]

because the original Little Cup was a level 5 format, as noted in this video

[@michael_betts]

It started as level 5 and level 1 would be much stupider, since there would be even less stat variation. With perfect Evs and IVs you need 4 base stat to hit 6 in a stat (or 12 HP) and 54 to hit 7 (or 13 HP) without Evs you need 35 and 85 respectively. This means natures actively make Pokemon weaker (since you need to hit 10 for the 10% boost to do anything) and most Pokemon are going to be 6 or 7s across the board, since you need over 100 to hit 8 in a stat.

[@FreezaiPokemon]

mainly tradition. Level 1 would be miserable for reasons @michael_betts posted. But really theres nothing besides tradition/convention stopping from people playing at say level 10

[@Auristmusic]

@FreezaiPokemon lv10 is an interesting thought, have there ever been attempts to run organised play at this level?

[@MrCoolguy416]

first lmao

[@njivwathomassilavwe2056]

Just barely not

[@waffledoctor87]

4:55 mtg player detected

[@thecaininstinct]

is it still cool to comment first

[@njivwathomassilavwe2056]

I think it's fine. But you're third

[@thecaininstinct]

@@njivwathomassilavwe2056 sad

[@raiden8929]

Never was

[@leepicredditorxd451]

it's good for the youtube algorithm :)

[@roofon]

imo your scripting could have used a little bit of work. It kind of seems like you spend a lot of time looping around the same points. Not to mention you sound decidedly unenthusiastic. Totally fine, it happens. Hope stuff goes well, and your work has definitely trended up a lot since I started watching you a few years back.

[@bigtimeepic982]

Just came to say: you need to respond to being sponsored by better help. The fact you havent said a word is crazy.