Hello! This is not relevant to Pokémon, but to myself as a human being...so, if you're looking for the Pokémon content, you won't find it in this particular post. I realized that I had failed to mention that I will be away from the 27th until the 31st of July, as I am taking a mini-vacation with my family (which consists of myself and my parents). I will be taking my 3DS, but will be leaving my laptop at home. So, while I'll be playing Pokémon, I won't be blogging about it.
My school year also starts very early, on the 5th of August. While term begins much earlier than most schools, we have three weeks off for winter break, and begin summer earlier than other schools. It balances out, but there may be an absence of posts around the 5th due to re-acclimating to a school schedule.
I just wanted to broadcast that in case it seems like I've stopped posting for a bit...I'm still here; I'm just a bit busy!
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
The Battle of Legends - Brilliant Idea, or Uber-Fest Nightmare?
Well, you can sign up for the Battle of Legends! The online tournament allows for the use of any Pokémon, regardless of species, generation, or tier...with the exception of Diancie. Needless to say, it's a bit...worrisome. How do you structure your team for something like that? I mean, it's a brilliant plan-- people can use their Pokémon from previous generations for a major tournament! But, it means that Ubers aren't banned. I'm not sure whether I should load my team up with my precious beasts from Gen 5, or simply stock it with various legendaries. I also worry about Kyogre...as it's one of the most dangerous Ubers out there. I'm at least taking my Blaziken, and probably Nix (my Latios from Black 2). The pairing of Vincere (my shiny Garchomp) and Clavicus (my Therian Forme Landorus) is legendary on its own, since they compliment each other so well. Vincere can wreak havoc with Earthquake while Clavicus stands by unfazed. I may very well take my end-of-Generation-5 team and adapt it for this tournament...because, normally, none of them can participate in tournaments.
I'm a bit worried about those people who will take a team of full Ubers (the evil Zekrom/Kyurem/Yveltal/Dialga/Giratina/Kyogre team comes to mind), however, so I suppose that having a Fairy-type on my team will be necessary...it'll probably be Gardevoir, taking the place of Lua, my Cresselia. Blaze, my Heatran, will be substituted for my Blaziken...ah, I should stop talking about my team and just make a Trainer Card for it!
I'm a bit worried about those people who will take a team of full Ubers (the evil Zekrom/Kyurem/Yveltal/Dialga/Giratina/Kyogre team comes to mind), however, so I suppose that having a Fairy-type on my team will be necessary...it'll probably be Gardevoir, taking the place of Lua, my Cresselia. Blaze, my Heatran, will be substituted for my Blaziken...ah, I should stop talking about my team and just make a Trainer Card for it!
So, there you go. I realized that the final slot in my Gen 5 team was always dynamic, and so I opted to put another Dragon counter in there...Beowulf, the Kyurem that I caught in just a Poké Ball. Their move-sets haven't been finalized (and, in the case of Beowulf and Vincere, need total restructuring), but I can at least give you names:
- Vincere, Shiny Garchomp
- Clavicus, Therian Forme Landorus
- Gardevoir (from Ireland)
- Blaziken (X & Y event)
- Nix, Latios from Black 2
- Beowulf, Kyurem from Black 2
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Major Differences Between Single-Player and Competitve Battling
I feel like I've been a bit side-tracked with actual team structuring, and that I've not been talking about the fundamentals of competitive battling as much as I should. So, let's get to the very basics: how does competitive battling differ from the single-player battling you do in the main story-line(s)?
1. There are multiple humans involved.
In your main Pokémon game, you're fighting entirely against AI. Though the Artificial Intelligence has been getting smarter over the years, it's still very different from playing against other people. As a result, move-sets and Type relationships become very important when you're playing against other people (who aren't AI).
2. Tiers come into play.
I've already created a post about battling tiers (see http://mypokemonmentor.blogspot.com/2014/06/tiers-in-competitive-pokemon-battling.html if you aren't aware of the tiers or need a refresher), so I won't go over them again. However, the tier system is something that the core games of Pokémon don't normally address majorly until around when you need to fight the Elite Four and/or Champion (Champions typically have a pseudo-legendary with them-- Lance's Dragonite(s), Cynthia's Garchomp, Iris' Hydreigon, and Diantha's Goodra are some examples of Champions using pseudo-legendary Dragons). As such, a player often has to learn about the tier system before they really want to go into competitive.
3. Held items are important, and usable items become obsolete.
Held items, while beneficial in the main storyline, aren't a necessity. In the competitive world, you want to have your Pokémon holding an item that benefits him/her/them unless there is a pressing reason not to (item-stealing moves or Acrobatics, for example). Usable items aren't applicable for use in competitive battling (in terms of talking about Gen 6), which is a major departure from your Potion-using Gym Leaders in the core story-line.
4. It can be much harder than the main story-line, and thus require more strategy.
Competitive battling can be amazing in the amount of planning that must be done for a series that seems so simple! You are fighting against other humans, who may know the games just as well as, or even better than, you. As such, it can be much more difficult than would be initially imagined.
5. Your favorite Pokémon might not be a great fit for your team.
I've said before than any Pokémon can be "competitively viable," and I still believe that. However, it's worth noting that, sometimes, a Pokémon just isn't a good fit for a team. If you've already got a Pokémon that can support others well, you might not need another one. If you are going into a tournament filled with people who are using pseudo-legendaries, you might want to consider not taking your lovely Jumpluff (though I have taken my own into that situation, and annoyed a lot of people with Sleep Powder).
6. Pokémon eugenics comes into play.
There isn't really a reason to use eugenics in the core story-line...something I'm very happy about. However, especially due to the passion of some to win against their opponent at all costs, Pokémon eugenics does emerge and rear its ugly head. (If you are unsure of what Pokémon eugenics is, I've also written a post on it).
7. More features!
With the advent of Wi-Fi, players are now able to easily battle with others from all around the world in real time. Battle Videos allow players to watch their past battle and learn from their mistakes. Tournaments have moved online and offline, allowing for ease of access for those who wish to participate in events of that type. Raising Pokémon is easier than ever before with Wikis regarding evolution chain and general data for every Pokémon species in existence, making participating in multi-player battles far less of a guessing game, and more of a skill to be honed over time.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to cash in my Poké-Miles on the Global Link!
1. There are multiple humans involved.
In your main Pokémon game, you're fighting entirely against AI. Though the Artificial Intelligence has been getting smarter over the years, it's still very different from playing against other people. As a result, move-sets and Type relationships become very important when you're playing against other people (who aren't AI).
2. Tiers come into play.
I've already created a post about battling tiers (see http://mypokemonmentor.blogspot.com/2014/06/tiers-in-competitive-pokemon-battling.html if you aren't aware of the tiers or need a refresher), so I won't go over them again. However, the tier system is something that the core games of Pokémon don't normally address majorly until around when you need to fight the Elite Four and/or Champion (Champions typically have a pseudo-legendary with them-- Lance's Dragonite(s), Cynthia's Garchomp, Iris' Hydreigon, and Diantha's Goodra are some examples of Champions using pseudo-legendary Dragons). As such, a player often has to learn about the tier system before they really want to go into competitive.
3. Held items are important, and usable items become obsolete.
Held items, while beneficial in the main storyline, aren't a necessity. In the competitive world, you want to have your Pokémon holding an item that benefits him/her/them unless there is a pressing reason not to (item-stealing moves or Acrobatics, for example). Usable items aren't applicable for use in competitive battling (in terms of talking about Gen 6), which is a major departure from your Potion-using Gym Leaders in the core story-line.
4. It can be much harder than the main story-line, and thus require more strategy.
Competitive battling can be amazing in the amount of planning that must be done for a series that seems so simple! You are fighting against other humans, who may know the games just as well as, or even better than, you. As such, it can be much more difficult than would be initially imagined.
5. Your favorite Pokémon might not be a great fit for your team.
I've said before than any Pokémon can be "competitively viable," and I still believe that. However, it's worth noting that, sometimes, a Pokémon just isn't a good fit for a team. If you've already got a Pokémon that can support others well, you might not need another one. If you are going into a tournament filled with people who are using pseudo-legendaries, you might want to consider not taking your lovely Jumpluff (though I have taken my own into that situation, and annoyed a lot of people with Sleep Powder).
6. Pokémon eugenics comes into play.
There isn't really a reason to use eugenics in the core story-line...something I'm very happy about. However, especially due to the passion of some to win against their opponent at all costs, Pokémon eugenics does emerge and rear its ugly head. (If you are unsure of what Pokémon eugenics is, I've also written a post on it).
7. More features!
With the advent of Wi-Fi, players are now able to easily battle with others from all around the world in real time. Battle Videos allow players to watch their past battle and learn from their mistakes. Tournaments have moved online and offline, allowing for ease of access for those who wish to participate in events of that type. Raising Pokémon is easier than ever before with Wikis regarding evolution chain and general data for every Pokémon species in existence, making participating in multi-player battles far less of a guessing game, and more of a skill to be honed over time.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to cash in my Poké-Miles on the Global Link!
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
The Eternally-Dueling Eeveelution Duo: Umbreon and Espeon!
Here's a pair of Pokémon that are well-known in the community, not only because of their species, but in how their species relate to each other: Espeon and Umbreon. Both evolve from an Eevee who has a high friendship level with his (again, I'm using "he" as male Eevee are statistically more common) Trainer; Espeon evolve when an Eevee is level up during the day, and Umbreon during the night. So, which of these two cat-like Eeveelutions should find a home on your team? Let's take a look.
Like all Eeveelutions, Umbreon and Espeon both have a stat total of 525, with their highest stat possessing 130 points. As such, when I mark one of their stats as "highest," it is the stat that possesses 130 points.
Umbreon
Purely in terms of typing, Umbreon can super-effectively hit Espeon with any of its Dark-type moves; and, since it's a Dark-type, it has a decent advantage over Espeon in that regard! With the advent of Gen 6, however, Espeon gained a new weapon: Dazzling Gleam, which, being a Fairy-type move, super-effectively hits Umbreon. In terms of stats, Umbreon has a sad Special Attack stat with 60 points...though this is arguably balanced by his Special Defense, which is his highest stat. Unlike Espeon, Umbreon has no non-TM access to a healing move unless Pokémon eugenics comes into play (as all Eeveelutions can possess Wish if it is bred as a Egg move). Umbreon also has a Defense stat of 110, which arguably makes up for its 65-point Speed stat.
Espeon
Umbreon's antithesis is the purplish, almost-fluffy Espeon. While Umbreon appears to be superior to Espeon purely in terms of typing, Espeon has access to Dazzling Gleam, as I mentioned before. He also learns Morning Sun at Level 33! Espeon shines in terms of Special Attack, though Defense is his weakest stat. His speed is much better than Umbreon's, at 110; however, because of his Defense, it's probably a good idea to give him Morning Sun, or, at least, Protect.
Like all Eeveelutions, Umbreon and Espeon both have a stat total of 525, with their highest stat possessing 130 points. As such, when I mark one of their stats as "highest," it is the stat that possesses 130 points.
 |
| (Via funnyjunk.com) |
Umbreon
Purely in terms of typing, Umbreon can super-effectively hit Espeon with any of its Dark-type moves; and, since it's a Dark-type, it has a decent advantage over Espeon in that regard! With the advent of Gen 6, however, Espeon gained a new weapon: Dazzling Gleam, which, being a Fairy-type move, super-effectively hits Umbreon. In terms of stats, Umbreon has a sad Special Attack stat with 60 points...though this is arguably balanced by his Special Defense, which is his highest stat. Unlike Espeon, Umbreon has no non-TM access to a healing move unless Pokémon eugenics comes into play (as all Eeveelutions can possess Wish if it is bred as a Egg move). Umbreon also has a Defense stat of 110, which arguably makes up for its 65-point Speed stat.
Espeon
Umbreon's antithesis is the purplish, almost-fluffy Espeon. While Umbreon appears to be superior to Espeon purely in terms of typing, Espeon has access to Dazzling Gleam, as I mentioned before. He also learns Morning Sun at Level 33! Espeon shines in terms of Special Attack, though Defense is his weakest stat. His speed is much better than Umbreon's, at 110; however, because of his Defense, it's probably a good idea to give him Morning Sun, or, at least, Protect.
Monday, July 14, 2014
Where Did the Eeveelutions Go?
I've been absent for longer than usual, and for that I apologize. A slew of personal issues kept me from updating the blog, and even from participating in the Eevee Friendly tournament. Regardless, I will craft the Eeveelutions post(s) tomorrow. Sorry about the delay!
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
The Three-Day Eeveelution Extravaganza!
Registration for the Eevee Friendly starts in two days, and I figured that, with an Eeveelution-centric tournament just around the corner, I might as well finally make my post about competitively using the evolutions of Eevee. ("Eevee" + "evolution" = "Eeveelution.") Then, it hit me: there are nine ways that Eevee can evolve, including not evolving at all. So, I'll be spreading this out over today, tomorrow, and the 3rd: the start of registration day. I'd also like to say that the Eevee Friendly tournament puts your Eeveelutions' levels at 30 rather than 50, making it much more manageable if you have to catch more than 2 Eevee to raise into your desired form. (Eevee can be found in the wild in X & Y outside of Geosenge Town, on Route 10, at level 20-22ish.) So, let's get started!
Let's start off by peering at Eevee and its forms. For the sake of simplicity, I'll be referring to Eevee/its evolutions as "he." While I'm not discrediting all of the female Eevee out there-- far from it-- males are statistically more common and it bothers me to use "it." As of Generation 6, these are the existing Eeveelutions:
As you can tell, there's a lot of diversity between Eevee's forms. Today, we'll be talking about Eevee himself, along with Glaceon and Leafeon. (While it might make more sense to do Eevee and two of the original Eeveelutions, I'd rather that they all be on one day.)
Eevee
There's a lot of potential for Eevee, with all of his forms. However, because of Eevee's undetermined future, he can't really specialize in anything. Eevee's stats are generally very similar, though they aren't particularly great in terms of base value; his Special Defense is his best stat, at 65. He's very cute, though.
Leafeon
Leafeon and Glaceon, like Umbreon and Espeon, are siblings in terms of how they evolve. To become a Leafeon, an Eevee must level up when near a mossy rock. In terms of stats, Leafeon is an improvement in base stat value from his previous form, with his best base stat (Defense) at 130. Leafeon also has access to Leaf Blade, which is gets STAB from. If a Leafeon has Chlorophyll and is teamed up with a Flareon that has Sunny Day, he can benefit with the healing...though he's more vulnerable to Fire-types as a result. Leafeon is thought to be outdone by many Pokémon...but I still have one on my Eevee team!
Glaceon
Glaceon, like Leafeon, evolves from Eevee when in a certain area; in this case, near an icy rock. While Glaceon may, in some ways, be outdone by Vaporeon (which has access to Ice Beam), Glaceon does learn Mirror Coat, and can heal during hail-storms with Ice Body (his Hidden Ability). In terms of stats, Glaceon's best stat is his special attack, which sits at 130, as is the case with all Eeveelutions and their best base stat. Glaceon does suffer a shallow move-pool issue like Flareon, though his issues arise in the case of special moves.
Let's start off by peering at Eevee and its forms. For the sake of simplicity, I'll be referring to Eevee/its evolutions as "he." While I'm not discrediting all of the female Eevee out there-- far from it-- males are statistically more common and it bothers me to use "it." As of Generation 6, these are the existing Eeveelutions:
 |
| (Via Bulbapedia.net.) |
Eevee
There's a lot of potential for Eevee, with all of his forms. However, because of Eevee's undetermined future, he can't really specialize in anything. Eevee's stats are generally very similar, though they aren't particularly great in terms of base value; his Special Defense is his best stat, at 65. He's very cute, though.
Leafeon
Leafeon and Glaceon, like Umbreon and Espeon, are siblings in terms of how they evolve. To become a Leafeon, an Eevee must level up when near a mossy rock. In terms of stats, Leafeon is an improvement in base stat value from his previous form, with his best base stat (Defense) at 130. Leafeon also has access to Leaf Blade, which is gets STAB from. If a Leafeon has Chlorophyll and is teamed up with a Flareon that has Sunny Day, he can benefit with the healing...though he's more vulnerable to Fire-types as a result. Leafeon is thought to be outdone by many Pokémon...but I still have one on my Eevee team!
Glaceon
Glaceon, like Leafeon, evolves from Eevee when in a certain area; in this case, near an icy rock. While Glaceon may, in some ways, be outdone by Vaporeon (which has access to Ice Beam), Glaceon does learn Mirror Coat, and can heal during hail-storms with Ice Body (his Hidden Ability). In terms of stats, Glaceon's best stat is his special attack, which sits at 130, as is the case with all Eeveelutions and their best base stat. Glaceon does suffer a shallow move-pool issue like Flareon, though his issues arise in the case of special moves.
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