Is there really such a thing? Let's take 4th gen DPPt as an example. For the purposes of this thread, let's neglect the fact that some Pokemon (Garchomp, Shaymin-S, etc) were once OU but declared Uber, and simply consider the generation in any given period.
In the beginning, Alakazam and Rhyperior were OU. As the years went by, both dropped to UU, where they acquitted themselves well. The question is, did Alakazam and Rhyperior drop to UU because of metagame shifts, or because of increasing player skill?
Needless to say Alakazam and Rhyperior dropping in usage must have shifted the OU metagame. But one could also argue that Alakazam and Rhyperior simply aren't cut out for OU, and as players realized that, their usage plummeted and eventually they fell into UU. How much of metagame shifts really happen because of the rise of counters and checks, and how much of it is because of increasing player skill / the discovery of new sets and strategies, strategies which players could always have used to high effectiveness but simply weren't aware of?
If I take the player who was #1 on the ladder three years ago playing his best team and match him up against the player currently #1 on the ladder using his best team, who will win? Will the match favour the newer team (who presumably has had more time discovering what the best strategies are), or will it favour the older team (because the new team hasn't adequately prepared for forgotten threats), or will it be a balanced game?
If the new team wins, would it also be possible to argue that (for example) a Darkrai counter in 5th gen OU has always existed but simply hasn't been discovered, and therefore that it is premature to ban Darkrai? After all, there once were calls for Cresselia to be 5th gen Uber, but eventually the metagame learned to deal with her. If the old team wins, would it be fair to argue that the newer players are all copycats who simply follow the strategies used by the top battlers (who were for some reason using Celebi and Scizor at that time), oblivious to completely viable alternatives like Alakazam and Rhyperior? If the game is balanced, would it be possible to say that old teams are better since they prepare against both threats fallen into disuse + not yet invented?
What do you think?
In the beginning, Alakazam and Rhyperior were OU. As the years went by, both dropped to UU, where they acquitted themselves well. The question is, did Alakazam and Rhyperior drop to UU because of metagame shifts, or because of increasing player skill?
Needless to say Alakazam and Rhyperior dropping in usage must have shifted the OU metagame. But one could also argue that Alakazam and Rhyperior simply aren't cut out for OU, and as players realized that, their usage plummeted and eventually they fell into UU. How much of metagame shifts really happen because of the rise of counters and checks, and how much of it is because of increasing player skill / the discovery of new sets and strategies, strategies which players could always have used to high effectiveness but simply weren't aware of?
If I take the player who was #1 on the ladder three years ago playing his best team and match him up against the player currently #1 on the ladder using his best team, who will win? Will the match favour the newer team (who presumably has had more time discovering what the best strategies are), or will it favour the older team (because the new team hasn't adequately prepared for forgotten threats), or will it be a balanced game?
If the new team wins, would it also be possible to argue that (for example) a Darkrai counter in 5th gen OU has always existed but simply hasn't been discovered, and therefore that it is premature to ban Darkrai? After all, there once were calls for Cresselia to be 5th gen Uber, but eventually the metagame learned to deal with her. If the old team wins, would it be fair to argue that the newer players are all copycats who simply follow the strategies used by the top battlers (who were for some reason using Celebi and Scizor at that time), oblivious to completely viable alternatives like Alakazam and Rhyperior? If the game is balanced, would it be possible to say that old teams are better since they prepare against both threats fallen into disuse + not yet invented?
What do you think?