Other Metagames At Death's Door ( Final Gambit Spam, Peak #20, 90.9% Gxe):

[Onyx Onix 7]

At Death's Door ( Final Gambit Spam, Peak #20, 90.9% Gxe):

With the unique attribute that every pokemon has access to nearly any possible ability and moveset, Balanced Hackmons has among the some of the most sophisticated and bizarre interactions between pokemon. However, among the endless possible interactions, those between the move Final Gambit are particularly intriguing. For those who don’t play Balanced Hackmons, Final Gambit is a move that uses a pokemon's remaining active HP to deal equivalent damage to an opponent. For Example: If my pokemon has 360 Hp remaining it will deal exactly 360 HP worth of damage to an opponent's pokemon regardless of stat buffs. This move isn’t commonly seen in other competitive tiers as it is relegated to few pokemon and has a commonplace Immunity in ghost. However, in Balanced Hackmons it can be used on high HP pokemon with Scrappy to bypass its weakness in traditional pokemon. And with that Gambit becomes a devastating tool that almost always guarantees a 1 for 1 trade. Given Final Gambit’s unique place in Balanced Hackmons, I devised a potential theory for a team: If one could secure 5 one for one trades could one potentially force a nigh unwinnable 1 v 1?

The Team Building Process: ​

I first began devising ways I could win the 1 v 1 as there was no point in going through the inconsistent and arduous process of forcing a 1 v 1 in Balanced that couldn’t even be consistently won. As a starting point, I looked back at a BH 1 v 1 team I had constructed for a tour game.

The BH 1 v 1 Team:

Dragapult @ Ghost Memory
Ability: Normalize
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Skill Swap
- Taunt
- Multi-Attack
- Jungle Healing

ImposterSyndrome (Chansey) (F) @ Dragon Memory
Ability: Imposter
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Soft-Boiled
- U-turn
- Aromatherapy
- Whirlwind

A Condemned Soul (Umbreon) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Encore
- Disable
- Baneful Bunker
- Shore Up​

I originally decided upon Dragapult for its Skill - Swap Normalize would guarantee the win most of the time. However, I soon realized there were a myriad of issues with Dragapult. First and foremost was its predictability. If an opponent saw the Dragapult they would immediately conserve a pokemon that was faster, had a memory, or had some other way of beating Normalize. Additionally, Dragapult would be virtually worthless outside of the 1 v 1 situation which is another issue unto itself. Since Dragapult wasn’t going to accomplish what was needed for the team function I decided upon Encore + Disable Umbreon. That is until another glaring weakness became apparent: Magic Bounce. Following some research, I realized how I could bypass Magic Bounce: Perish Song. Perish Song is a field-effect similar to Haze and always will KO’s the slowest pokemon last. Since Umbreon is slow it can reliably claim the last KO with Perish Song and win the game.

Having figured out to consistently win the 1 v 1:

A Condemned Soul (Umbreon) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Encore
- Disable
- Baneful Bunker
- Perish Song​

The phase of constructing the rest of the team around abusing Final Gambit to secure the 1 v 1 match-up could commence.

The Team:

Spool of Fate (Regidrago) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Final Gambit
- Switcheroo
- Rapid Spin
- U-turn​

Regidrago was selected as one of the primary Final Gambit abusers on the team as it possesses an absurd 200 base HP and has enough speed to reach 427 speed with a Choice Scarf. As with most of this team, Regidrago's just going to select Gambit most of the time. However, its other moves still do serve a purpose. U-Turn is used to finish off Focus Sash pokemon that survive the onslaught of Gambits and Rapid Spin serves to remove detrimental hazards in a pinch. Lastly, if there is ever a situation where the Choice Scarf absolutely needs to be discarded Switcheroo can give it to another pokemon to cripple it.

Final Refraction (Zygarde-Complete) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Counter
- Final Gambit
- Trick
- U-turn​

Zygarde was selected for the team for much of the same reason as Regidrago: It possesses an astronomical HP stat and a high enough speed stat to where a Choice Scarf allows it to outspeed most of the BH tier. U-Turn is used for the same reason as Regidrago: for finishing off Focus Sash Pokemon and pivoting if the need is there. Counter gives the team a fighting chance against Pixilate and Refidgerate as if one can predict the Extreme Speed, Counter will be able to trade with the Priority abuser and thus preserve the 1 v 1.

Of The Mirror (Giratina-Origin) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 216 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Final Gambit
- Trick
- Core Enforcer
- Astral Barrage​

Giratina, much akin to Regidrago and Zygarde, is selected for its high HP stats and passable Speed. As before, Giratina will be selecting Final Gambit 9/10 times. Since the team throws off a lot of Gambits, it’s imperative the team has a non-Gambit way to revenge kill high HP pokemon like Imposter Chansey, Blissey, or Zygarde as if the team doesn’t create a 1 v 1 in the end with Umbreon the game is over. Core Enforcer and Astral Barrage serve as a method of revenge killing high HP pokemon while doubling as a way to come back from behind if the opponent has a frail Ghost or Dragon pokemon that can be exploited.

Life's Epilogue (Blissey) (F) @ Focus Sash
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Def / 0 Spe
- Final Gambit
- Copycat
- Metal Burst
- Destiny Bond​

Blissey, in an ideal game, serves as another high HP high-speed Gambit user as it can Prankster Copycat Gambit to ensure it moves first. However, where Blissey truly is most valuable is when the team is behind on either momentum or Pokemon. When the team is behind on momentum Blissey can take a hit or two and KO back with Metal Burst or Destiny Bond to swing the game back in favor of the team. Blissey with a combination of Metal Burst and Destiny Bond has the potential to remove two pokemon over the course of the game, which can put the game back into the team's infernal grasp if somehow the pokemon lead is lost. Blissey is Ev’D to have a maximum special defense to preserve its HP against special attackers if it needs to fire off a non-Prankster Final Gambit. Its defenses on the other hand are minimized to ensure physical attacks will always KO, as that maximizes the efficacy of Metal Burst and Destiny Bond.

Death's Ferry (Giratina) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpA / 56 SpD / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Final Gambit
- Counter
- Core Enforcer
- Astral Barrage​

Similar to other forme of Giratina and every other Scrappy Abuser on the team, Giritina serves as yet another Suicide Bomber. However, unlike the other Giratina forme, Giratina Altered possesses Counter to lure in and trade with Extreme Speed users such as Xerneas or Zacian. Since the rest of Giratina Altered’s moves are necessary for its proper functioning, Trick is omitted from the set. A Modest Nature is used over a speed-boosting one to ensure Astral Barrage has the strength to obtain the key OHKO on an Eviolite Imposter after it tries to absorb a Final Gambit from the other Giratina.

A Condemned Soul (Umbreon) @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 252 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Spe
- Encore
- Disable
- Baneful Bunker
- Perish Song​

Umbreon serves as the team's sole win condition once the rest of the 5 Gambit pokemon have warped the game into a favorable 1 v 1. With the combination of Prankster Encore, Disable, and Baneful Bunker, Umbreon can thwart almost any attempt to remove it from the game until the three Perish Song turns are up, thus securing the win. Umbreon is set to a Relaxed Nature with Minimum Speed EVs to ensure it’s slower than almost any other pokemon, and will thus Perish last to its alluring but lethal song. Umbreon can also be used as a last resort to swing momentum back in the team’s favor via Encore. Be wary however, as if it Perishes prematurely or loses too much health, the game essentially is over as the team has lost its only usable win condition.

Replays and Proof of Laddering Peak: ​

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8balancedhackmons-1544489712-16n5l1lx4gxwv86hnnartihfia21lhjpw

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8balancedhackmons-1543366992-ybahz1v9vr0mm7ujtmmwee6sk6oamrrpw

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8balancedhackmons-1543042982-8sh5pkjlhzqpomxd5w8f7x6k1no50cgpw

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8balancedhackmons-1542417111-xl6co8j85986e9usg913sdqjlpueridpw

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8balancedhackmons-1542573424-cke1odcudzf4uf97dim2ewrqw1351uipw

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8balancedhackmons-1566899349-d37lsi3to4n9pb3c0xufqnoalo5sgscpw

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8balancedhackmons-1549318547-bprq8589fkb50msp7r59rcpewfhejtppw

Importable for the team: ​

https://pokepast.es/4353c945e50a1695

Threat List: ​

Extreme Speed:

Running into Pixilate / Refrigerate Extreme Speed user is essentially a death sentence unless Blissey can somehow come back with a Double Kill off of Destiny Bond and Metal Burst or if one can predict it successfully with Counter.

Choice Scarf Users:

Choice Scarf users often can’t be predicted as easily as Extreme Speed. An unexpected Choice Scarf user essentially will end the game unless Blissey is positioned to remove it with Metal Burst or Destiny Bond.

High HP Pokemon:

Higher HP pokemon pose a huge threat to the team. If they aren’t promptly revenge killed the rest of the game turns into a hazardous guessing game where if two Gambits are launched into one high HP pokemon the game is over.