Ask simple questions here! [READ ORIGINAL POST before posting]

[Sondero]

How is it decided which tier a Pokémon is placed in?

Which tier a Pokemon is put in is primarily based on their usage statistics. The more people use a Pokemon, the higher tier that Pokemon is put in. Ubers is the exception, because Pokemon in OU can only be banned to ubers if they're deemed too good by the OU council. There's also some other exceptions like this, like if a Pokemon is deemed too strong for a lower format, it'll be banned from a tier and only be usable in the tiers above, even if it has the usage for the lower tier. For example, if a Pokemon is deemed too strong for UU, it'll be put in UUBL, and thus only be usable in OU and above.

You can read more about tiers and such here: https://www.smogon.com/bw/articles/bw_tiers, or here: https://www.smogon.com/ingame/battle/tiering-faq

 

[DrPumpkinz]

How is it decided which tier a Pokémon is placed in?

To elaborate on what Sondero said, usage is based on their tier that a Pokemon is currently in. If a Pokemon isn't used much in OU, then it drops to UU. If that same Pokemon is not used much in UU either, it drops further to RU, and so on until it (hopefully) finds a tier in which it is used.

 

[sumwun]

Where does Showdown! get the backgrounds it uses in battles? If they come from Pokemon games, which ones?

 

[KOmuru]

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7ou-842132586

Disguise didn't activate when Excadrill hit me, but did when Talonflame did.

 

[autumn]

Excadrill has access to Mold Breaker, which allows it to bypass abilities with its attacks.

In future, try checking out the Simple Questions Simple Answers thread for questions that can be answered in one post.

 

[KOmuru]

I feel so stupid now loooooool, Thank you for responding

 

[SuperSwagster221]

Why can't I play Gen 5 Ubers?

 

[Hecate]

Why can't I play Gen 5 Ubers?

There’s not enough demand for a ladder, so it’s challenge/tournament only

 

[Highborne]

Is there a place that explains why there are no plans to add a friends list to Showdown?

 

[HoeenHero]

Is there a place that explains why there are no plans to add a friends list to Showdown?

There are plans to add a friends list, it cant be done until the client refactor is complete though. That will take some time since its just Zarel working on it when he has time.

 

[sumwun]

How long do the teambuilder and the /dt command usually take to update after tiers change?

This was probably asked already, but how did you guys get permission to make Showdown! and use copyrighted stuff?

Where does Showdown! get the backgrounds it uses in battles? If they come from Pokemon games, which ones?

 

[HoeenHero]

How long do the teambuilder and the /dt command usually take to update after tiers change?

1. No set time, server (/dt) updates with a hotpatch formats, client updates when zarel updates it.
2. afaik we didnt, pokemon just lets us exist.
3. not sure, seems like they are from X/Y to me though.

 

[michael calicchio]

So I was wondering if there was anyway to pull up the ladder rankings from previous dates? I hit number one on the BSS ladder last November and I want to show a friend I did but I don’t have a picture for it.

 

[HoeenHero]

So I was wondering if there was anyway to pull up the ladder rankings from previous dates? I hit number one on the BSS ladder last November and I want to show a friend I did but I don’t have a picture for it.

No there isn't sorry.

 

[michael calicchio]

No there isn't sorry.

Ahhhh it’s ok, would be cool though if that was a feature!

 

[sumwun]

What was the main reason why most people moved to Showdown! from Online?

 

[Hecate]

What was the main reason why most people moved to Showdown! from Online?

at a guess, both because PS became Smogon’s official sim and since it honestly works better than PO.
Though, the question is mostly opinion so that’s my best guess.

 

[sumwun]

at a guess, both because PS became Smogon’s official sim and since it honestly works better than PO.
Though, the question is mostly opinion so that’s my best guess.

Was there any reason Smogon decided we needed a different official simulator?

 

[michael calicchio]

Was there any reason Smogon decided we needed a different official simulator?

Problem is you play the same people mostly and battle spot is more difficult because you would rarely ever play the Same person twice so you will never know what to expect and makes it way harder.

 

[sumwun]

Problem is you play the same people mostly and battle spot is more difficult because you would rarely ever play the Same person twice so you will never know what to expect and makes it way harder.

I thought I was asking about Showdown! and Online. What does Battle Spot have to do with any of this? If you mean people moved to Showdown! because Online didn't have Battle Spot, then I don't think that's the main reason, because BSS and BSD are far less popular compared to formats like OU and AG.

 

[HoeenHero]

What was the main reason why most people moved to Showdown! from Online?

I did some digging.

Firstly, PO was a downloaded client, meaning you had to download updates whenever one was avalible to stay up-to-date. PS's web based client dosen't require this.
Secondly and far more importantly, PS was made with smogon in mind. The PO devs had their own priorities and server, leaving smogon PO in the hands of Antar (who was not really qualified to run the server, his words not mine). Because of this the smogon PO server often struggled with spammers, lag, and server crashes. A dedicated developer was needed. PS not only offered a focus on smogon, it had a dedicated developer who would run, maintain, and update it - Zarel.

 

[Kirkburn]

Hello. How do you make a tournament on Showdown? I know there is a guide somewhere but I don't remember where it was.

 

[Hecate]

Hello. How do you make a tournament on Showdown? I know there is a guide somewhere but I don't remember where it was.

there's this guide, or if you do "/tour help" on PS, the commands to start a room tour are there.

 

[Kirkburn]

Thank you!

Edit: I tried to use the /tour command, and it said access was denied. Why?

 

[autumn]

Thank you!

Edit: I tried to use the /tour command, and it said access was denied. Why?

Room tournaments can only be created by room drivers+ (depending on room settings) or groupchat hosts.