User:Granto47/Pokémon competitive play

Mechanics[edit]
Before Generation IV, the damage category of a move (physical attack or special attack) was determined by the type of the move itself (for example, all Rock-type moves were physical, and all Dragon-type moves were special). The physical/special split in Generation IV changed moves to be physical or special determined on how the move attacks instead of the move's type. This was a huge change to competitive battling, with Pokémon such as Gengar or Gyarados benefiting, and Alakazam suffering. As competitive battling features human players, the style of battling is much different, with players choosing their set of four moves and one item based not only on the Pokémon's stats, but based on sets other players might run in order to counter them.

Every Pokémon has a Nature which has the potential to increase one stat by 10% and decrease another stat by 10% above a base amount. In addition, hidden attributes called EVs and IVs are used to alter stats in competitive Pokémon, usually maximizing them. EVs are earned by battling and defeating other Pokémon (with each Pokémon having a specific set of EVs they give), and IVs are assigned by the game when you obtain a Pokémon (the higher the number, the better the stats become above a set minimum amount).

Moves that have high base power but huge drawbacks, such as Giga Impact's recharge turn and Thunder's risky accuracy, are not always viable in competitive play. Instead, moves that have reliable accuracy, minimal downsides, and have decent base power, such as Body Slam and Thunderbolt, respectively, are used instead. The introduction of Mega Evolution gave previously non-viable or less viable Pokémon a purpose in the upper-tier metagame, such as Charizard and Mawile, although this mechanic (which was introduced in Generation VI), along with Z-moves (ultra-powerful moves of a particular type which could be performed by any Pokémon when holding a specific item and was introduced in Generation VII) were removed in Generation VIII. Dynamaxing was a new mechanic introduced in Generation VIII; once per battle, each player could increase one Pokémon's HP (by up to 100%) and upgrade its moves to Max Moves (powerful moves with extra effects based on the move's type). Some players, especially followers of Smogon University, criticised this mechanic and prohibit the use of it in certain formats. Certain types in early editions of the games, such as Psychic in Generation I and Dragon in Generations IV and V, were exceptionally powerful and a clear cut above the rest due to either lack of weaknesses or being resisted by only one type. Psychic was resisted by itself and Dragon was only resisted by Steel. The various types are more balanced in present metagames, although certain types are better in certain circumstances (such as Ice for offense and Steel for defense).[citation needed] In addition, because the now-split Special Attack and Special Defense stats were combined into one Special stat in Generation I, Pokémon with a high Special stat could both deal and resist Special damage extremely well (or if low, be extremely weak in both Special offense and defense).

Rules
Rulesets vary between the official tournament circuit for Pokémon, the Video Game Championships, and the competitive formats maintained by the fan made institution, Smogon University.

Video Game Championships
The rules for VGC are provided by The Pokémon Company directly. Rulesets for VGC vary throughout the lifespan of a Pokémon game and are released in periodic updates Depending on the series, certain restrictions on game mechanics or the use of certain Pokémon may be placed or lifted. Restricted mechanics have included the banning of Dynamax, Z-Crystals, and Mega Stones . Lifted restrictions have included the allowance of a limited number of restricted Legendary Pokemon per team.

VGC matches always use a double battle format. Each player sends out two Pokémon at a time and may target any Pokémon on the field. Players must choose four Pokémon from their own team of six for each tournament battle. Prior to choosing which four Pokémon will participate in battle, players may also view the opponent's team of six Pokémon on the team preview screen. Pokémon on the same team may not hold identical items. Teams may not use multiple of the same Pokémon. Pokémon are always set to level 50 in battle regardless of what level they are in offline gameplay. Mythical Pokémon have never been allowed for use in VGC.

During a battle, there are two timers running. One timer is the battle clock. If the battle clock reachers zero the winner will be decided based on either which player has more Pokémon available to battle, or if each player has the same number of Pokémon left, the winner will be decided based on the hit points of the remaining Pokémon averaged over the total hit points of the team. The second timer is an action timer for the player. The player must switch Pokémon or chose a move for their Pokémon to use before the timer reaches zero or the Pokemon's first move in its move-set will be automatically selected.

Gameplay Rules
Rules for Smogon competitive play can vary by game mode, tier, and tournament type. Certain gameplay rules apply universally to Smogon tournaments and online ladder battles. The Smogon community refers to these universal rules as standard clauses. Standard clauses include:


 * Sleep Clause, which bans players from inflicting the status condition sleep on multiple of the opponent's Pokémon.
 * Species Clause, which bans players from using multiple of the same Pokémon on their team.
 * Evasion Clause, which bans players from using moves that raise the evasion stat of a Pokémon.
 * OHKO Clause, which bans the use of the moves Sheer Cold, Fissure, Horn Drill, and Guillotine which are moves that can cause a Pokémon to faint in one turn while ignoring stats or type resistances.
 * Endless Battle Clause, which bans players from forcing a battle that is unable to end.

Under Smogon rules Pokémon are divided into tiers by usage rate. A Pokémon will be placed into a tier if it is used in a certain percentage of all battles in a tier. This percentage varies by game. Pokémon in higher tiers are not legal for use in lower tiers, but Pokémon in lower tiers may be used in the tier they have been placed in or any above it. Every tier has a ban list (abbreviated to BL), which contains Pokémon that the player base has decided are detrimental to the tier due to a lack of Pokémon able to counter it, but do not have enough usage in higher tiers to be officially placed in one. Tiers are ranked as follows:


 * Ubers: Functions as the Over Used ban list as well as its own tier. Ubers is the only tier that is not usage based.
 * OverUsed (OU): Any Pokémon not banned to Ubers may be used in OU.
 * UnderUsed (UU): Any Pokémon not in Ubers, OU, or UUBL may be used.
 * RarelyUsed (RU): Any Pokémon not in Ubers, OU, or UUBL, UU or RUBL may be used.
 * NeverUsed (NU): Any Pokémon not in Ubers, OU, or UUBL, UU, RUBL, RU, or NUBL may be used.
 * PU: Any Pokémon not in Ubers, OU, or UUBL, UU, RUBL, RU, NUBL, NU or PUBL may be used.

Pokémon that do not reach the usage threshold for any of the available tiers for a given generation are deemed untiered.