Format Discussion Hackmons & Challenge Cups

Celever

Celever

the bear becomes the ringleader
is a Forum Moderatoris a Top Community Contributor
Approved by Irpa​

This thread is for discussion of any of the "Cup" randomised formats on Pokémon Showdown!. These are some of the coolest formats Showdown! has, with Hackmons Cup involving full randomisation, while Challenge Cup is full, but legal, randomisation. These formats have a Discord server, found here, and a beginner's guide, found here.

Below are the current Cup formats. Some are challenge-only, so why not find some friends and enjoy the chaos?

Current Hackmons Formats:
Gen 9 Hackmons Cup (Ladder)
Gen 9 Hackmons Cup Ultimate (Manual Challenge-Only, /challenge gen9hackmonscup@@@+nonexistent,+mega )
Gen 8 Hackmons Cup (Ladder)
Gen 9 Doubles Hackmons Cup (Challenge-Only)
Gen 7 Hackmons Cup (Challenge-Only)
Gen 1 Hackmons Cup (Manual Challenge-Only)

Current Challenge Cup Formats:
Gen 9 Challenge Cup 1v1 (Ladder)
Gen 9 Challenge Cup 2v2 (Ladder)
Gen 9 Challenge Cup 6v6 (Challenge-Only)
Gen 1 Challenge Cup 6v6 (Manual Challenge-Only)

Computer-Generated Teams is unaffiliated with Random Battles, and as such is not for this thread.
 
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Replay Vault​

As one of the most interesting parts about these formats is that any move, item, or ability in the game is possible of showing up, it'd be particularly cool to see hype, interesting, or funny sets and techs posted here!

To start us off we have some from Eventos (thanks to dybala for providing) and prior Challenge Cup Cups! If you have a cool replay it may get featured in the Vault!
Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9challengecup1v1-1781414660-f69fpi91iv49psk9wxp8p2mbkffcuodpw (The type of game that makes you realise you've had enough showdown for the day)
Replays
Replays

Replays
Replays
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8hackmonscup-1056864767 (Some nice setup tech)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8hackmonscup-1259100996 (Phenomenal use of... Purify!? In singles!?)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9hackmonscup-1774234274 (Unbelievably close and hype RBTT replay from 2 format GOATs)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9hackmonscup-1782478271 (awesome close game)
Replays

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8challengecup1v1-1418191398 (Hype Endure Play!)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8challengecup1v1-1440459141 (Absolutely Custapped)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8challengecup1v1-1441048768 (Perhaps the best Skill Swap ever)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8challengecup1v1-1332384004 (Drifblim having a spot of lunch to win)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8challengecup1v1-1709403858 (The most needed crit in history)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8challengecup1v1-1699000928 (Crits bailing the famed !roll 6 strategy)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8challengecup1v1-1667592576 (Excellent choices from both players that comes down to... you'll see)https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8challengecup1v1-1703142706 (Shakespeare got nothing on tragedies like this)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8challengecup2v2-1348459026 (Great use of some niche parts of sleep)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8challengecup2v2-1333664384 (Sometimes the slowest mon truly wins)
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8challengecup-1540851706 (Really cool close game)
 
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https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9hackmonscup-1782478271

This is in Hackmons Cup Ultimate, a mod where everything, no matter what, is included. This replay shows how good plays still matter in Hackmons Cup; you aren't just clicking buttons, you have to make the best of what you have. If I'd gotten feather danced earlier, I would've had no chance even with a crit.

https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9hackmonscup-1782491519

and this is just a really solid game of HCU, finals of the room tour. It was really close! Lots of cool item plays.
 
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https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9challengecup2v2-1791577962-q64xg59rtmhloeqjuv52aq0esuztdvepw

Found a very unusual thing with my opponent's team in 2v2 had their Zoroark's Illusion copying the opposing teammate, but the levels weren't copied meaning their opposing Illusion became useless in the process. I don't know if that's intentional in-game or not, but that made this mixup useless because of the level reveal. Anyone that has played 2v2 could answer me on this if that's how it works.
 
Lately I pretty much play only Hackmons Cup. Most of the times everything is just awkward, but then come the times where the stars align and one can get:
- stupid move combinations which just happen to fit the very niche situation which just happened:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9hackmonscup-1747549844
- near-sweeps from really improbable Pokémon:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen8hackmonscup-1608338679
- this Delphox:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9hackmonscup-1790251301
 
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I've noticed Hackmons Cup Gen 9 got an update today (or at least within the last few days) adding Gigantamax mons? I might be a little behind, and if this is a redundant question, my apologies, but what went on behind the scenes that led to the decision to add them being taken?
 
Sheep007 said:
I've noticed Hackmons Cup Gen 9 got an update today (or at least within the last few days) adding Gigantamax mons? I might be a little behind, and if this is a redundant question, my apologies, but what went on behind the scenes that led to the decision to add them being taken?
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It was found that in Scarlet and Violet, almost all Pokémon can be hacked into the games. As a result, the core Showdown! dev team (not actually us in rands) have added all Pokémon that can be hacked into the games on cart, as that is the rough definition of hackmons historically.
 
Celever said:
It was found that in Scarlet and Violet, almost all Pokémon can be hacked into the games. As a result, the core Showdown! dev team (not actually us in rands) have added all Pokémon that can be hacked into the games on cart, as that is the rough definition of hackmons historically.
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Thanks for the clarification! It's a shame since I think it makes the format a little less playable, but fair enough given hackmons history. On the bright side, it's nice to have the other natdex Pokémon back.
 
With Challenge Cup Cup going on, I've been looking at the format and how the level balancing affects the overall power levels. I put together a big spreadsheet showing how the overall offensive, defensive, and speed capabilities for each Pokemon compare. (Specifically, I computed the stats for a roughly-average iteration of each Pokemon, adjusted offensive stats to account for level as per the damage formula, multiplied HP x [defensive stat] to measure bulkiness, and normalized all results to the mean of their appropriate categories with a value of 100.)

You can see the data online here, or in a downloadable Excel file here if you want to sort. There are some neat trends that jump out, so I just wanted to share with anyone who's interested.
 
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