Pokémon Showdown is the premiere battle simulator for competitive Pokémon matches. Featuring a ladder system, multiple formats, and teambuilding guides, Pokémon Showdown is a fantastic launch point for those itching to sink their teeth into high-level play. The simulator has many intuitive and snappy features but can easily overwhelm those unfamiliar with competitive Pokémon. Here is what you need to know to get started.

What is Pokémon Showdown?

Pokémon Showdown was created by programmer Guangcong Luo—more commonly known by the alias Zarel—and first opened in October 2011.  The simulator mimics the environments of standard PvP/WiFi Pokémon battling. Pokémon Showdown is primarily played via a web browser, though it also offers a downloadable client. The downloadable version has a caveat in that it can only access the main server. Pokémon Showdown can also be played on mobile devices.

It should be noted that Nintendo does host tournaments for its Pokémon titles. However, these are infrequent and present in select geographical locations. The benefit of Pokémon Showdown is that it allows you to participate in competitive matches with anyone at any time. Making an account is free and painless; the site allows you to add friends or find specific users should you wish to avoid random players.

Ties to Smogon

Although Pokémon Showdown was released in 2011, it did not develop much initial recognition. Its stock rapidly grew on July 2, 2012, when Smogon endorsed it as its official battle simulator. Smogon University, usually abridged as Smogon, is an online website and resource dedicated to the competitive Pokémon scene. The site was first established in 2004, though competitive sources and communities predate it. Smogon borrows its name from Koffing’s German title; the floating, toxic critter also serves as Smogon’s official mascot. While Smogon has no official connection to the Pokémon Company, it is still considered the authoritative source of competitive information.

Site Features and Teambuilding

The main site for Pokémon Showdown consists of various customizable options. From the main screen, you can peruse various lobbies and chatrooms where people will discuss the metagame and other miscellaneous topics. Avatars used for battle can be altered from the top-right settings cog, amongst gobs of other options. If you would rather spectate a battle than compete in one, search for an ongoing fight via the “Watch a Battle” button on the lower left. Another important button that can be found in this area is the Teambuilder.

Pokémon Showdown makes building teams intuitive and straightforward. From the Teambuilder tab, you can select a format and get to work. Pokémon Showdown provides several prebuilt sample teams should the user be disinclined to form their own. But you can also make Pokemon from scratch, choosing their moves, Natures, Abilities, and other properties. Showdown also allows the importation of both individual Pokémon and teams from other sources. This can be performed via URL or copying-and-pasting text into its text box. Before diving into teambuilding, however, it is key to understand what format you will partake in.

Pokémon Showdown Formats

Pokémon Showdown supports multiple formats across every generation of Pokémon, based on Smogon’s categorization system. Almost all of the formats present a ranking structure in the form of a ladder. As the user wins successive matches, they will amass points that positions them on higher rungs. When accessed, the Ladder tab will display all formats. Choosing one will showcase the top 500 players for each category. For the uninitiated, it may be necessary to describe some of the most common formats.

OverUsed (OU)

OU is the most widely played and supported of the main tiers. Every other tier’s existence and roster hinges on OU. OU features the most viable Pokémon in competitive play for each generation. OU is the tier used in most tournaments and mastering it will propel you to a deeper understanding of the metagame.

UnderUsed (UU)

Tiers are largely based on usage stats and other community-based considerations. If a Pokémon does not see enough play to merit a spot in OU, it will then end up in UU. The sheer number of monsters and strategies to choose inevitably leads to viability struggles. Pokémon will be placed in lower and lower tiers if they do not cut it in higher ones.

Ubers

Some Pokémon are so dominant that their presence can disrupt the balance of power. An example of this is Mewtwo, whose colossal power would centralize the game around both using and countering it. The Ubers tier exists to relegate these cases of Pokémon who are too mighty for normal play. You can think of it as a sort of ban list, similar to TCGs that have unbalanced or overpowered cards.

Little Cup

Little Cup is a fun and endearing format that features unevolved Pokémon. Most of the tiers will emphasize final evolutions due to higher stats and powerful abilities. Little Cup lets the juniors get some shine. It has an inherent level cap of 5 and disallows single-stage evolution Pokémon for balancing purposes.

These comprise just a few of the many formats users will find on Pokémon Showdown. There are also more niche or noncompetitive modes, such as Random Battle which provides a randomized team of creatures in which to duke it out. Each generation of Pokémon contains most of these tiers. One can choose to ladder in Generation III OU for instance. Or you can try your hand at Generation I Little Cup. 

Pokémon Showdown Clauses

Beyond the formats listed above, certain Clauses need to be considered when battling on Pokémon Showdown. These Clauses exist to create a fairer competitive environment. Broadly speaking, they are used to allay some of the often maddening RNG elements within Pokémon games. Here are just a few of the Clauses of which you should be aware:

OHKO Clause

This clause bans One-hit knockout moves (OHKO). Techniques like Fissure, Guillotine, and Sheer Cold reside in this category. These moves immediately knock out an opposing Pokémon by setting their HP to 0, though with low probability. Even with shoddy odds, eliminating an important piece of your foe’s game plan randomly and brainlessly is not healthy for a competitive game.

Sleep Clause

The Sleep Clause only allows one Pokémon per team to be asleep at any given time, barring the move Rest. The Sleep status is debilitating, incapacitating your Pokémon for a random amount of turns. Still, it is an important ailment for gameplay and the Clause allows for calculated decisions on when to deploy it. Being able to indiscriminately spread Sleep on the opponent, however, would be far less balanced. 

Evasion Clause

Pokémon games feature moves like Double Team and Minimize that increase the user’s evasion stat. If you faced an AI in-game using one of these skills, you can venture a reasonable guess as to why they are banned. Being able to avoid every move and win through random chance rather than skill or strategic play is . This provides an opportune segue for the next Clause.

Moody Clause

Moody is an ability that was introduced in Generation V. During the end of each turn, the Pokemon with Moody will increase a random stat by 2 stages and decrease another by 1. Prior to Generation VIII, this included stats like evasion and accuracy. Still, the banning of Moody falls into the same vein as the Evasion Clause. It allows the user a lucky victory based on randomness rather than intelligent play.

Species Clause

The Species Clause allows for only 1 instance of a Pokémon per team based on its National Pokedex number. This would mean that you can only have 1 Rotom on your team, despite Rotom having different forms. Some Pokémon are fair on their own. However, having multiple on a single team could rapidly become centralizing, which is the impetus for this Clause.

Endless Battle Clause

The Endless Battle Clause is more niche but effectively disables movesets and strategies designed to troll opponents. The example that Smogon gives is a Slowbro that knows Recycle, Heal Pulse, Slack Off, and Block while it holds a Leppa Berry. This Slowbro can prevent its opponent from switching, stall it so it uses up all of its PP, and then heal both it and itself when it begins to use Struggle. This tactic is meant to elicit a forfeit (or rage quit) and is heavily discouraged.

Time for a Showdown

Getting into the competitive Pokémon scene is not a straightforward task. Despite surface-level perceptions, Pokémon games are mechanically intricate. Effectively understanding the constellation of Natures, Abilities, movepools, and statlines takes considerable time. Metagames are consistently shifting as new monsters, items, and abilities are added with each generation. Even within the same generation, new DLC or games can upend the pool of viable Pokémon. Honing your skills and becoming a great player will require patience and consistent effort.

Pokémon Showdown makes all of this far more attainable. It allows even those who do not own the official games to learn to play them at a prominent level. If learning about competitive Pokémon interests you, Pokémon Showdown offers numerous resources to take the first step. It would also be beneficial to check out experienced players, like pokeaimMD, to witness their knowledge in action. Whichever path you choose, you will be challenged to be the very best, like no one ever was.

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