TheMaskedNitpicker
Triple Threat
It has recently come to my attention that WiFi battles in Black and White are finally adopting a console-style pre-match. What does this mean? It means that when you start a battle against another player, you get to see the species of all six of their Pokémon and they get to see yours. Then you choose which of your Pokémon to send out first.
From what I gather, this happens in every Wi-Fi match, even Friend Code matches, so any new simulator for the 5th gen games is most likely going to adopt it as well.
This may seem like a very minor change to some of you, but as someone who has played an extensive amount of Pokémon Battle Revolution using this rule, I can tell you that it is significant.
It shakes up the concept of a 'lead' Pokémon. No longer will you be required to always send out the same Pokémon at the start of every match. This is not to say that the concept of a lead will immediately or completely die. At first people will make teams like they always have, with an intended lead Pokémon that sets up Stealth Rock and/or other effects. But sometimes, they'll get to the pre-match screen and realize that their lead is going to be crushed by their opponent's lead and decide to lead with something else. Eventually, people will start designing their teams differently, bearing in mind that any of their Pokémon could potentially enter a match first.
It also severely reduces the importance of 'scouting'. You can see the species of all of your opponent's Pokémon right up front. A knowledgeable, skilled opponent is going to be able to figure out what moves and abilities your Pokémon is likely to have from the combination of Pokémon on your team.
In my experience, this change is very good for the game. Picking your lead(s) adds an entirely new layer of strategy. Pre-knowledge of an opponent's team gives skilled opponents a bigger edge, since they can predict switch-ins of Pokémon that have yet to enter the match.
Discuss.
From what I gather, this happens in every Wi-Fi match, even Friend Code matches, so any new simulator for the 5th gen games is most likely going to adopt it as well.
This may seem like a very minor change to some of you, but as someone who has played an extensive amount of Pokémon Battle Revolution using this rule, I can tell you that it is significant.
It shakes up the concept of a 'lead' Pokémon. No longer will you be required to always send out the same Pokémon at the start of every match. This is not to say that the concept of a lead will immediately or completely die. At first people will make teams like they always have, with an intended lead Pokémon that sets up Stealth Rock and/or other effects. But sometimes, they'll get to the pre-match screen and realize that their lead is going to be crushed by their opponent's lead and decide to lead with something else. Eventually, people will start designing their teams differently, bearing in mind that any of their Pokémon could potentially enter a match first.
It also severely reduces the importance of 'scouting'. You can see the species of all of your opponent's Pokémon right up front. A knowledgeable, skilled opponent is going to be able to figure out what moves and abilities your Pokémon is likely to have from the combination of Pokémon on your team.
In my experience, this change is very good for the game. Picking your lead(s) adds an entirely new layer of strategy. Pre-knowledge of an opponent's team gives skilled opponents a bigger edge, since they can predict switch-ins of Pokémon that have yet to enter the match.
Discuss.