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maybe this is heaven
Welcome to the SM version of OU Player of the Week! This project will feature interviews from some of the most accomplished and influential users in the tier so that we can learn more about them.
If there is a user that you would like to see interviewed be sure to let me know.
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ABR
Favourite pokemon: Alakazam
Most used pokemon: Landorus-Therian
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself outside of Smogon?
I am 19 years old and I primarily live in New York but attend university elsewhere. Speaking of university, I'm currently finishing up my freshman year. I intend to major in finance and I'll be applying to the business school next year. In terms of hobbies I really enjoy pokemon of course, going for runs, listening to music, and playing sports recreationally.
Where did you get your name from?
Adam B___ R___ = my name
How and when did you get into competitive Pokemon?
I was always into the main game series (sapphire > red > silver > emerald > pearl was the order i played them), and thus I found my way to youtube. Discovering youtubers like pimpnite and theflamingspade, I was eventually led to PO around the end of BW2. I only played for a few weeks though and eventually quit until around a year after XY's release, where I primarily played on pokebattle. What drew me to Smogon was actually the announcement of the first Official Ladder Tour, and as soon as I got on PS and PB was dying I made the transition.
What’s your favourite generation of OU and why?
Current gen aside because I'm kind of biased there and it can't really be compared without hindsight, I enjoy the first 3 gens of pokemon the most. RBY is really just pure positioning and % management. There are no hazards, leftovers, just your switches (positioning) and attacking. It is unironically like chess in this sense. GSC is probably the most competitively balanced tier, and I feel it is the gen that rewards the better player the most. 1-2 big turns don't really win GSC games, it's about how well you play and establish a win condition over a longer period of time. ADV as a tier is extremely diverse and fun, with a lot of cool offensive options and unique strategies. It isn't as "pure" as the older gens but I still love playing it. If I had to pick a single one I enjoy the most then probably GSC.
What’s your favourite playstyle to use and why?
I use everything besides extremely offensive HO (think azelf birdspam), but most of my builds gravitate towards bulky offense. I don't like being overly passive (unless I'm very confident in a matchup) but I also don't like when 1-2 turns with HO are insanely crucial and not as easy to execute. With some bulky support, pivoting is done much more easily and you don't always have to sacrifice too much offensive presence.
What are your thoughts on the current metagame and how do you feel about SM in comparison to ORAS?
I like both gens but SM is way more fresh and dynamic. The current state of ORAS is pretty set in stone, with certain cores and combinations being a dominant structure for a long time now. That's not to say there's no room for innovation, but it is much harder to come by and not really necessary. SM on the other hand leaves room for many unique offensive strategies, especially when aided by Z moves. I really love the introduction of Z moves because they offer essentially limitless creative options when teambuilding. I also feel almost every playstyle is viable at the moment.
Do you believe anything is suspect-worthy at the moment?
I'm really glad that Pheromosa is out of the way, but I'm sure everyone knows Metagross and Greninja are on the radar. I'm not swayed one way or another on either of these pokemon right now but they are clearly the most controversial and powerful so they'll probably be tested soon.
You’re currently in the top 4 of OST. Could you give us a little bit of insight into what that experience has been like? How do you usually prepare for tournament matches?
Compared to other tournaments, OST is always weird because there is no qualification or playoff phase. In something like SmogTour I have to grind 9 weeks and then do a playoff phase, so there's a lot more buildup there. In OST it feels like I didn't really even do that much to get here but now all of a sudden I'm in the semifinals. That being said I look forward to the remainder of this tournament.
In terms of my preparation for tour matches, I almost always build new teams for every opponent. This generally involves analyzing what I expect my opponent to bring, and then building what I feel necessary to counteract that.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone trying to break into the tournament setting?
You only get better at tournaments by playing in tournaments (spectate a lot too). I used to be mostly a ladder guy and I tried out for SPL/WCoP but never made the rosters. I realized that merely trying out and asking people doesn't really get you anywhere so I made a run at individual tournaments. If you do well enough then you will be noticed and you'll keep participating in all the tournaments you want. I also think the competitive nature of tournaments really forces players to improve themselves, if they really want to win that is.
Who are some of your favourite people in the Smogon community?
blunder, teal6, and Omfuga are probably my closest friends on this website, but I've met a ton of other great people through smogon. BKC is someone I look up to as a tour player, as he seems to dominate every gen of OU he pursues and even has trophies to show for it, all while being incredibly passionate about the game. I think smogon is a great social place in general and the friends are probably what keeps most people here. I have way too many friends to individually shout out so s/o OLT crew for being my go-to daily chat.
Finally, can you provide us a team that you think reflects your current playstyle, with a brief explanation of how it works?
Scizor-Mega (M) @ Scizorite
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Defog
- Roost
Landorus-Therian @ Rockium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
Keldeo-Resolute @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Rest
Tyranitar (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 236 Atk / 60 SpD / 212 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Fire Punch
- Pursuit
Mew @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 36 SpD / 56 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp
- Soft-Boiled
Tapu Koko @ Wise Glasses
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Volt Switch
Ability: Light Metal
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
Impish Nature
- Bullet Punch
- U-turn
- Defog
- Roost
Landorus-Therian @ Rockium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Substitute
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
Keldeo-Resolute @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Justified
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Hydro Pump
- Secret Sword
- Rest
Tyranitar (M) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 236 Atk / 60 SpD / 212 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Fire Punch
- Pursuit
Mew @ Leftovers
Ability: Synchronize
EVs: 248 HP / 168 Def / 36 SpD / 56 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off
- Will-O-Wisp
- Soft-Boiled
Tapu Koko @ Wise Glasses
Ability: Electric Surge
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Thunderbolt
- Dazzling Gleam
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Volt Switch
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