VGC 2015 WORLDS RECAP: Why "Battle Spot" Won Worlds
Fantastic report Kevin, thank you for the time and effort you dedicated for this (i was waiting for a post-Worlds topic :P)
Mmmm.. there's not much left to discuss, because you explained really well every key point. I'm not gonna lie: i'm disappointed. US Nationals showed us how we were already one step behind JPN metagame, because we were using variations of their old (or even no longer used) team archetypes (JPN Sand and M-Garde + Double Genies) claiming to be using innovative teams. The exact same moment when you then build a team to counter one of these archetypes, you are not one but TWO steps behind JPN meta. Anyway i didn't expect a complete flop like this.
EU and US players focused too much on having answers/countering each others instead of having a game strategy to perform based on the opponent's team. That's what Japanese players had: a strategy.
Let's give a look at Shoma's team (World Champion):
M-Kangaskhan
Heatran
Landorus-T
Thundurus
Cresselia
Amoonguss
It seems like a standard team if you just look at it. Infact, it is on paper - on team preview-, and that's why the surprise elements of Sub Heatran, AV Lando-T, Safety Googgles Protect Thundy, Protect Cresselia and Sunny Day Amoonguss will catch you off guard.. "it's a standard team" but with unique elements which can help against a bad match up or in bad situations.
http://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/w...s/masters/
Another common misunderstanding would be to think the team is built around M-Kangaskhan. Sure, it could be if you look at the type resistances table. To be honest, i think M-Kangaskhan is being used by Japanese teams only as a bulky Fake Out supporter (to prove this, most of the M-Kang were bulky Adamant sets) with the ability to put some offensive pressure on the opponent thanks to its great attack power and coverage, also drawing the attention to itself while its partners could do stuffs (but knowing that, in a competition like Worlds, their M-Kang would have been at -1 Attack most of the time). Thanks to Fake Out (targeting the most dangerous threat to M-Kang's partner): Heatran can fire off a strong Heat Wave or set up a Substitute - AV Lando-T (almost impossible to OHKO) is able to deal a ton of damage on anything thanks to its movepool - Thundurus has a turn to TWave/Swagger - Cresselia can set up Trick Room - Amoonguss can Spore or even Sunny Day if the opponent is leading with Rain or Sand.
I wanted to see diversified teams too but i have to admit that there is a reason why these standard looking teams - with surprises - reached top8 so easily, and this is because these are the best pokemon in their role in this format.
Let's not forget there was a 10,000$ scholarship award for 1st place too, please. There is a difference between those who consider Pokemon as an eSport (whose goal is to win prizes in important live events) and those who play for fun and/or watch other players in action blaming them for using Landorus-T.
Mmmm.. there's not much left to discuss, because you explained really well every key point. I'm not gonna lie: i'm disappointed. US Nationals showed us how we were already one step behind JPN metagame, because we were using variations of their old (or even no longer used) team archetypes (JPN Sand and M-Garde + Double Genies) claiming to be using innovative teams. The exact same moment when you then build a team to counter one of these archetypes, you are not one but TWO steps behind JPN meta. Anyway i didn't expect a complete flop like this.
EU and US players focused too much on having answers/countering each others instead of having a game strategy to perform based on the opponent's team. That's what Japanese players had: a strategy.
Let's give a look at Shoma's team (World Champion):
M-Kangaskhan
Heatran
Landorus-T
Thundurus
Cresselia
Amoonguss
It seems like a standard team if you just look at it. Infact, it is on paper - on team preview-, and that's why the surprise elements of Sub Heatran, AV Lando-T, Safety Googgles Protect Thundy, Protect Cresselia and Sunny Day Amoonguss will catch you off guard.. "it's a standard team" but with unique elements which can help against a bad match up or in bad situations.
http://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/w...s/masters/
Another common misunderstanding would be to think the team is built around M-Kangaskhan. Sure, it could be if you look at the type resistances table. To be honest, i think M-Kangaskhan is being used by Japanese teams only as a bulky Fake Out supporter (to prove this, most of the M-Kang were bulky Adamant sets) with the ability to put some offensive pressure on the opponent thanks to its great attack power and coverage, also drawing the attention to itself while its partners could do stuffs (but knowing that, in a competition like Worlds, their M-Kang would have been at -1 Attack most of the time). Thanks to Fake Out (targeting the most dangerous threat to M-Kang's partner): Heatran can fire off a strong Heat Wave or set up a Substitute - AV Lando-T (almost impossible to OHKO) is able to deal a ton of damage on anything thanks to its movepool - Thundurus has a turn to TWave/Swagger - Cresselia can set up Trick Room - Amoonguss can Spore or even Sunny Day if the opponent is leading with Rain or Sand.
I wanted to see diversified teams too but i have to admit that there is a reason why these standard looking teams - with surprises - reached top8 so easily, and this is because these are the best pokemon in their role in this format.
Let's not forget there was a 10,000$ scholarship award for 1st place too, please. There is a difference between those who consider Pokemon as an eSport (whose goal is to win prizes in important live events) and those who play for fun and/or watch other players in action blaming them for using Landorus-T.
