Approved by jas
We are done with this month's Dark Horse Tournament. To see the final bracket, click <here>. Feel free to reply if you want to discuss how the Dark Horses performed!
Objective: To identify which unexplored Pokémon in the CAP metagame are lacking usage for good reason and which have the potential to actually be Dark Horses in ladder/tournament play.
Overview/Rules: There are multiple stages of play within the CAP Dark Horse Competition, and points will be rewarded to individuals who are successful at each stage. The point status will be gathered and listed in this thread, so feel free to test your metal and aim to grab one of the top spots on our leader board! Of course, the main goal here is to have fun and explore some new things in the CAP meta!
The first stage of play will be done at a daily level, in which potential Pokemon "candidates" to become our Dark Horses for the month will be declared each day for the first two weeks of every month. Each candidate will be a Pokemon that doesn't see a ton of use in the meta (Read: Currently has a ranking of C+ or lower, or most preferably no ranking at all--view the list here). Once the day's Pokemon candidate is declared, participants and users have 24 hours to make a team using the day's chosen Pokemon. If a user is able to win 3 qualifying ladder matches using the day's Pokemon plus 1 additional match against a room voice or higher ranked individual (this one doesn't have to be a ladder match), then he/she is allowed to post his/her replays to this thread. After being reviewed, if the replays stand up, the user will gain 1 point to be added to their point standings. Anyone is allowed to participate, but you cannot earn more than 1 point per day. Furthermore, in order for your matches to qualify, there are some additional rules:
-You must use the day's listed Dark Horse candidate on your team in all 3 of your ladder victories, and in your battle against a user of room authority. You may change teams and moves, but the usage of the day's Pokemon is required in all 4 matches submitted.
-You must submit replays to this thread as proof for all 4 matches.
-You must, at some point in the battle, use the Dark Horse candidate out on the field.
-Instant rage quits, or questionable time outs, will NOT count as legitimate matches and will not qualify. However, stuff like a turn 15 rage quit after you knocked out 3 of the opponent's Pokemon probably will count, as long as the day's Dark Horse candidate was able to have some screen time.
Each day for the first 14 days of the month there will be a new candidate Pokemon to test out on your teams, so be sure to check the thread for updates.
After the first 14 days are up, participants and CAP forum goers are allowed to vote on which of the 14 mons will likely have the strongest impact upon the CAP meta. Votes shall be cast using a strawpoll link as to prevent the thread from being clogged up. Voting will last for 3 days, and voters are encouraged to review replays to gather information on how well the candidates did. The 3 or 4 Dark Horse Candidates with the most votes will become the Dark Horses for the month, and will be featured in the month's tournament.
Starting on the 17th of every month after the voting is concluded, sign ups for the Dark Horse Tournament will be in open. To sign up, reply to the thread with the bolded phrase "I want to sign up for the Dark Horse Tournament" and then PM (inbox) the team you will be using to HeaLnDeaL. Teams can be modified only until Sept 19th at 8PM Eastern Time, at which point the current inboxed version of the team you have submitted will be copied and shared between the replay reviewers to assist in their reviews. If it is found that your team deviated during tournament play from the one you submitted, then you will be disqualified. Everyone entering must have at least one of this month’s voted Dark Horses on their team in order to participate.
Sign ups will end on the night of the 19th or the morning of the 20th. Afterwards, a bracket will promptly be posted. Each round will last only 48 hours, so if you're a participant be sure to contact your current opponent right away to schedule a time to have your battle. Whether you win or lose, both participants in each match are expected to reply to the thread to declare the result. Additionally, each user is to PM HeaLnDeaL a link to the replay of the match in the off chance of a dispute (and to verify that your team has not changed).
The winner of the Monthly Dark Horse Tournament will receive 10 points to be added to their point total, whereas the runner-up will receive 6 points and 3rd and 4th place both will receive 2 points.
Overall Schedule for the Dark Horse Monthly Competition:
1st through 14th: Daily Battles, in which a new Dark Horse Candidate will be declared every day. Participants have 24 hours once the day's candidate is decalred to gain 5 eligible ladder victories using the candidate Pokemon and to post their replays to this thread.
15th through 17th: Voting will be open for the Dark Horse candidates, with votes cast on the external straw poll link provided. Voters are encouraged to review replays and vote for the Pokemon that they believe will have the biggest impact/greatest chance to succeed in the CAP meta.
18th/19th: Sign Ups for the tournament open. Be sure to reply to the thread and to PM your team to the tournament manager.
20th/21st: First Round of the tournament.
21st/22nd: Second Round of the tournament.
23rd/24th: Third Round of the tournament.
Etc, until all rounds are completed and a victor is named. If there is still time left at the end of the month once the tournament is over, we will spend some time analyzing the Dark Horses at a critical level.
This Thread: Within this thread, users are allowed post replays for daily candidate battles if they are trying to show proof of their 5 victories. Additionally, people are allowed to comment on battles found in the battle log, and to in general have conversations about how successful the candidate Pokémon/Dark Horses actually are within the CAP metagame. Furthermore, suggestions for mandatory Pokémon at the daily level are allowed as long as you back up your post with solid reasoning. Please, do not suggest any Pokémon that have a viability ranking of B- or higher in the Viability Thread, as these Pokémon have already been fairly explored/exposed to the metagame; suggesting Pokémon that do not have a viability rank for the CAP meta is preferred. Suggestions will be taken into consideration, but not all suggestions will automatically filter through.
However, this thread is not the place to cast votes for any monthly Dark Horse polls, as otherwise the things would become too cluttered. Instead, use the provided strawpoll link at the top of this post to cast votes when voting becomes available.
Additionally, at the end of a tournament, users are encouraged to assess and analyze how well the Dark Horses performed, and there will be a rough "conclusion" of sorts that will try to offer insight in to how viable the Dark Horses were, which flaws hindered them in the tournament play, and which traits helped them succeed in turn.
We are done with this month's Dark Horse Tournament. To see the final bracket, click <here>. Feel free to reply if you want to discuss how the Dark Horses performed!
Objective: To identify which unexplored Pokémon in the CAP metagame are lacking usage for good reason and which have the potential to actually be Dark Horses in ladder/tournament play.
Overview/Rules: There are multiple stages of play within the CAP Dark Horse Competition, and points will be rewarded to individuals who are successful at each stage. The point status will be gathered and listed in this thread, so feel free to test your metal and aim to grab one of the top spots on our leader board! Of course, the main goal here is to have fun and explore some new things in the CAP meta!
The first stage of play will be done at a daily level, in which potential Pokemon "candidates" to become our Dark Horses for the month will be declared each day for the first two weeks of every month. Each candidate will be a Pokemon that doesn't see a ton of use in the meta (Read: Currently has a ranking of C+ or lower, or most preferably no ranking at all--view the list here). Once the day's Pokemon candidate is declared, participants and users have 24 hours to make a team using the day's chosen Pokemon. If a user is able to win 3 qualifying ladder matches using the day's Pokemon plus 1 additional match against a room voice or higher ranked individual (this one doesn't have to be a ladder match), then he/she is allowed to post his/her replays to this thread. After being reviewed, if the replays stand up, the user will gain 1 point to be added to their point standings. Anyone is allowed to participate, but you cannot earn more than 1 point per day. Furthermore, in order for your matches to qualify, there are some additional rules:
-You must use the day's listed Dark Horse candidate on your team in all 3 of your ladder victories, and in your battle against a user of room authority. You may change teams and moves, but the usage of the day's Pokemon is required in all 4 matches submitted.
-You must submit replays to this thread as proof for all 4 matches.
-You must, at some point in the battle, use the Dark Horse candidate out on the field.
-Instant rage quits, or questionable time outs, will NOT count as legitimate matches and will not qualify. However, stuff like a turn 15 rage quit after you knocked out 3 of the opponent's Pokemon probably will count, as long as the day's Dark Horse candidate was able to have some screen time.
Each day for the first 14 days of the month there will be a new candidate Pokemon to test out on your teams, so be sure to check the thread for updates.
After the first 14 days are up, participants and CAP forum goers are allowed to vote on which of the 14 mons will likely have the strongest impact upon the CAP meta. Votes shall be cast using a strawpoll link as to prevent the thread from being clogged up. Voting will last for 3 days, and voters are encouraged to review replays to gather information on how well the candidates did. The 3 or 4 Dark Horse Candidates with the most votes will become the Dark Horses for the month, and will be featured in the month's tournament.
Starting on the 17th of every month after the voting is concluded, sign ups for the Dark Horse Tournament will be in open. To sign up, reply to the thread with the bolded phrase "I want to sign up for the Dark Horse Tournament" and then PM (inbox) the team you will be using to HeaLnDeaL. Teams can be modified only until Sept 19th at 8PM Eastern Time, at which point the current inboxed version of the team you have submitted will be copied and shared between the replay reviewers to assist in their reviews. If it is found that your team deviated during tournament play from the one you submitted, then you will be disqualified. Everyone entering must have at least one of this month’s voted Dark Horses on their team in order to participate.
Sign ups will end on the night of the 19th or the morning of the 20th. Afterwards, a bracket will promptly be posted. Each round will last only 48 hours, so if you're a participant be sure to contact your current opponent right away to schedule a time to have your battle. Whether you win or lose, both participants in each match are expected to reply to the thread to declare the result. Additionally, each user is to PM HeaLnDeaL a link to the replay of the match in the off chance of a dispute (and to verify that your team has not changed).
The winner of the Monthly Dark Horse Tournament will receive 10 points to be added to their point total, whereas the runner-up will receive 6 points and 3rd and 4th place both will receive 2 points.
Overall Schedule for the Dark Horse Monthly Competition:
1st through 14th: Daily Battles, in which a new Dark Horse Candidate will be declared every day. Participants have 24 hours once the day's candidate is decalred to gain 5 eligible ladder victories using the candidate Pokemon and to post their replays to this thread.
15th through 17th: Voting will be open for the Dark Horse candidates, with votes cast on the external straw poll link provided. Voters are encouraged to review replays and vote for the Pokemon that they believe will have the biggest impact/greatest chance to succeed in the CAP meta.
18th/19th: Sign Ups for the tournament open. Be sure to reply to the thread and to PM your team to the tournament manager.
20th/21st: First Round of the tournament.
21st/22nd: Second Round of the tournament.
23rd/24th: Third Round of the tournament.
Etc, until all rounds are completed and a victor is named. If there is still time left at the end of the month once the tournament is over, we will spend some time analyzing the Dark Horses at a critical level.
This Thread: Within this thread, users are allowed post replays for daily candidate battles if they are trying to show proof of their 5 victories. Additionally, people are allowed to comment on battles found in the battle log, and to in general have conversations about how successful the candidate Pokémon/Dark Horses actually are within the CAP metagame. Furthermore, suggestions for mandatory Pokémon at the daily level are allowed as long as you back up your post with solid reasoning. Please, do not suggest any Pokémon that have a viability ranking of B- or higher in the Viability Thread, as these Pokémon have already been fairly explored/exposed to the metagame; suggesting Pokémon that do not have a viability rank for the CAP meta is preferred. Suggestions will be taken into consideration, but not all suggestions will automatically filter through.
However, this thread is not the place to cast votes for any monthly Dark Horse polls, as otherwise the things would become too cluttered. Instead, use the provided strawpoll link at the top of this post to cast votes when voting becomes available.
Additionally, at the end of a tournament, users are encouraged to assess and analyze how well the Dark Horses performed, and there will be a rough "conclusion" of sorts that will try to offer insight in to how viable the Dark Horses were, which flaws hindered them in the tournament play, and which traits helped them succeed in turn.
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