had different versions of this meta pitched in the workshop at different times, so might just post this one as well, given the popularity of ideas with the "loop-team mechanic".
Basic idea is the following: How do we make a budget rotation format out of singles in the simplest and least broken way? So I give you...
Schrödinger's Stance is a singles metagame with a "pseudo-rotational" flare, where your pokemon can simultaneously be both itself and the next slot pokemon all at once. Once the team-preview ordering is complete and the battle commences, your pokemon will lose access to its last two slot moves, having them replaced by those of the next-slot pokemon. With the addition of two new moves comes the ability to be able to immediately "Stance Change" back and forth between yourself and the next slot pokemon depending on whether the selected move is yours or theirs.
Torkoal @ White Herb
Ability: Drought
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Shell Smash -> Shell Smash
- Body Press -> Body Press
- Overheat -> Fire Blast (stance change into
)
- Earth Power -> Bullet Seed (stance change into
)
Scovillain @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm -> Leaf Storm
- Flamethrower -> Flamethrower- Fire Blast -> Draco Meteor (stance change into
)
- Bullet Seed -> Hydro Steam (stance change into
)
Walking Wake @ Choice Specs
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Flip Turn -> Flip Turn
- Flamethrower -> Flamethrower- Draco Meteor -> Overheat (stance change into
)
- Hydro Steam -> Earth Power (stance change into
)
Predicted Viability Shifts
Council: None
Playability: None
Resources: None
Questions for the community: Fun to play? Too many potential 50/50 plays to be considered an OM? Any better implementation of the idea?
I realize Chimeara 1v1 utilizes the move stitching mechanic as well. Do you think that's too much of an overlap?
also open to better name ideas given the controversial nature of Schrödinger's legacy.
Basic idea is the following: How do we make a budget rotation format out of singles in the simplest and least broken way? So I give you...
- Schrödinger's Stance -
Premise
Premise
Schrödinger's Stance is a singles metagame with a "pseudo-rotational" flare, where your pokemon can simultaneously be both itself and the next slot pokemon all at once. Once the team-preview ordering is complete and the battle commences, your pokemon will lose access to its last two slot moves, having them replaced by those of the next-slot pokemon. With the addition of two new moves comes the ability to be able to immediately "Stance Change" back and forth between yourself and the next slot pokemon depending on whether the selected move is yours or theirs.
Strategy
At the cost of losing 2 of your own moves, this metagame essentially gives you the ability to bring in a party member without costing you a switch. While this is like a budget version of rotation battles, where you can only rotate in one direction, it allows you to synergically team-build and consider the best partner pairings that would give you an advantage against the opposing team. So you want your next slot pokemon to cover potential weaknesses of the preceding pokemon while team-building. One controversial element of rotation battles is the 50/50 nature of the plays. These aspects are somewhat mitigated in this meta due to there being only one partner pokemon that you can rotate into and you gaining only two moves from them.
Sample Pokemon
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/
/
)
Below is the paring of a team of three pokemon showcasing the mechanic, where the lead is a Torkoal, 2nd slot pokemon is a Scovillain, and the 3rd slot pokemon is a Walking Wake. (Keep in mind that the meta is a 6v6, and I'm just showing a 3 pokemon team). Arrows indicate how the movesets are altered:(
Torkoal @ White Herb
Ability: Drought
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Shell Smash -> Shell Smash
- Body Press -> Body Press
- Overheat -> Fire Blast (stance change into
- Earth Power -> Bullet Seed (stance change into
Scovillain @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Leaf Storm -> Leaf Storm
- Flamethrower -> Flamethrower
- Bullet Seed -> Hydro Steam (stance change into
Walking Wake @ Choice Specs
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Flip Turn -> Flip Turn
- Flamethrower -> Flamethrower
- Hydro Steam -> Earth Power (stance change into
Predicted Viability Shifts
- Given that this metagame is all about pokemon immediately assisting their party members, pokemon with complementary abilities will shine greatly in this meta. One example is weather and terrain setters being paired with pokemon receiving weather and terrain boosts as shown in the sample team.
- Trick Room is another play-style that greatly benefits from this metagame as you can bring in a threat freely without switching.
- Teams comprised of pokemon with distinct types providing defensive coverage for one another will be invaluable as you will be able to use your partner pokemon to assume a defensive stance.
- STAB stacking on the moveset of a pokemon would also be expected to be common since you're only playing with half of a pokemon and might need the coverage
- Set-up sweepers will be common with the defensive stance pokemon using all the status moves and offensive stance pokemon going for attacks
- Choice items lose viability as you lose your ability to continuously Stance Change
- Monotype teams might also lose viability due to the predictability of their STAB and new moves brought by the teammates.
Rules & FAQ
Q: How does the forme change activate?
A: Form change is high priority (~+6), similar to how Aegislash alternates between its Shield and Blade formes. Clicking on last two slot moves will immediately forme change you into your next slot partner and clicking on first two slot moves will either convert you back or keep you in your default forme.
Q: So what exactly does the forme change copy?
A: It copies all non-HP stats of the next slot pokemon up to EV spread, excluding only potential boosts from items. Ability and typing are all copied. HP is excluded due to volatility that comes with forme changing back and forth with two different HP stats. In short, stat changes work like Transform, while mechanically it is a forme transformation.
Q: What about the moveset?
A: Forme change will not affect movesets. For each pokemon, movesets will be stitched together in pairs and this is determined in team preview.
Q: How does it work with 6th or last slot pokemon in team preview?
A: This will be cyclic. Last slot pokemon will gain access to last two slot moves of the lead pokemon and will be able to forme change into them.
Q: How does fainting work?
A: Fainting will not affect move or forme access.
Q: How about switching out?
A: Switches will default you back to your original forme.
Q: How does terastalization work?
A: Once the pokemon terastallizes, type changes from forme changes will not occur.
Q: What if there is a shared move between two adjacent slot pokemon?
A: The shared move can appear in the combined moveset, if it is in 1st or 2nd slot, it is executed in the original forme, whereas if it is in the latter two slots, the move is executed as the other pokemon.
Q: How do volatile status effects such as stat stage changes work?
A: Stat changes are preserved after forme transformation, so any prior boosts or drops will be kept after stance changing into partner pokemon.
A: Form change is high priority (~+6), similar to how Aegislash alternates between its Shield and Blade formes. Clicking on last two slot moves will immediately forme change you into your next slot partner and clicking on first two slot moves will either convert you back or keep you in your default forme.
Q: So what exactly does the forme change copy?
A: It copies all non-HP stats of the next slot pokemon up to EV spread, excluding only potential boosts from items. Ability and typing are all copied. HP is excluded due to volatility that comes with forme changing back and forth with two different HP stats. In short, stat changes work like Transform, while mechanically it is a forme transformation.
Q: What about the moveset?
A: Forme change will not affect movesets. For each pokemon, movesets will be stitched together in pairs and this is determined in team preview.
Q: How does it work with 6th or last slot pokemon in team preview?
A: This will be cyclic. Last slot pokemon will gain access to last two slot moves of the lead pokemon and will be able to forme change into them.
Q: How does fainting work?
A: Fainting will not affect move or forme access.
Q: How about switching out?
A: Switches will default you back to your original forme.
Q: How does terastalization work?
A: Once the pokemon terastallizes, type changes from forme changes will not occur.
Q: What if there is a shared move between two adjacent slot pokemon?
A: The shared move can appear in the combined moveset, if it is in 1st or 2nd slot, it is executed in the original forme, whereas if it is in the latter two slots, the move is executed as the other pokemon.
Q: How do volatile status effects such as stat stage changes work?
A: Stat changes are preserved after forme transformation, so any prior boosts or drops will be kept after stance changing into partner pokemon.
Bans & Clauses
- Annihilape
- Arceus (all formes)
- Archaludon
- Baxcalibur
- Calyrex-Ice
- Calyrex-Shadow
- Chien-Pao
- Chi-Yu
- Deoxys
- Deoxys-Attack
- Dialga (all formes)
- Espathra
- Eternatus
- Flutter Mane
- Giratina (all formes)
- Gouging Fire
- Groudon
- Ho-Oh
- Iron Bundle
- Koraidon
- Kyogre
- Kyurem-Black
- Kyurem-White
- Landorus-Incarnate
- Lugia
- Lunala
- Magearna
- Mewtwo
- Miraidon
- Necrozma-Dawn Wings
- Necrozma-Dusk Mane
- Ogerpon-Hearthflame
- Palafin
- Palkia (all formes)
- Rayquaza
- Regieleki
- Reshiram
- Roaring Moon
- Shaymin-Sky
- Sneasler
- Solgaleo
- Spectrier
- Terapagos
- Ursaluna-Bloodmoon
- Urshifu (all formes)
- Volcarona
- Zacian (all formes)
- Zamazenta-Crowned
- Zekrom
- King's Rock
- Razor Fang
- Baton Pass
- Last Respects
- Shed Tail
- Arena Trap
- Moody
- Shadow Tag
- Shell Smash
- Shift Gear
- Extremespeed
- Quiver Dance
- Belly Drum
Slaking
- Species Clause
- OHKO Clause
- Sleep Moves Clause
- Evasion Clause
Council: None
Playability: None
Resources: None
Questions for the community: Fun to play? Too many potential 50/50 plays to be considered an OM? Any better implementation of the idea?
I realize Chimeara 1v1 utilizes the move stitching mechanic as well. Do you think that's too much of an overlap?
also open to better name ideas given the controversial nature of Schrödinger's legacy.
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