Tournaments ORASPL V - Battle of the Week

[Ruffles]

Amazing art by stexx
Hosted by goldmason, evakiyama! and AC7​

Every week we will highlight our favorite match in each tier. It will be based on what we think is the most hype battle, due to featuring the best players, evenly matched players, a particular story arc, or just memes. This is something purely casual and fun, so please enjoy!

We are taking volunteers who want to help us write this, especially for Ubers, DOU, UU, LC, and Monotype. Even if you are interested in writing for 1 tier only, please reach out to me on discord (rufflespro).

Week 1

Ubers - keys vs. The Strap
Both of these players are highly regarded ORAS Ubers players that have missed ORASPL 2024. TheStrap in particular had a memorable season in ORASPL 2023, ending up as the 2nd best record with 5-1. Meanwhile Keys only played 3 games of Ubers with a 2-1 record, but perhaps much more relevant, had a recent stellar performance in ORAS Undergrounds with a perfect 5-0 record.

DOU - bagel vs. eragon
Eragon is the undisputed goat of XY DOU last year, as he went 7-0. In a tier where most people prefer to play teams that have become standard, Eragon chooses to continuously innovate and churn out creative teams that have been banger after banger. On the other hand, Bagel is a consistent DOU player who went 3-1 in XY DOU in the most recent DPL. Far from someone who should be underestimated, but going up against the XY DOU goat, can he pull the upset?

OU Bo3 - Metallica126 vs. ACR1
Both of these players are SPL starters with positive records. Although neither of them have started ORAS in SPL, both of them extensively play ORAS. Both play in many forum tours such as RoAPL and ORASPL, but ACR1 particularly finished 2nd place in the 2024 ORAS Invitationals. Both known for their aggressive plays using offense, be sure to tune into this heated match!

OU - Always! vs. Destro16
Always and Destro stand out to me as on the come up ORAS stars. Both of them have wins against big names under their belt, both of them bring unique builds that are hard to predict, and both of them tend to be underrated. In the builder, I'd give the edge to Always!, but in the game, I'd give it to Destro16. This match will perhaps give us more insight on the lifelong debate of teams vs. plays.

UU - dunoks vs. col49
Dunoks holds a 2024 ORASPL record of 3-2. Col49 holds the best GSC record in UUPL, with a stellar 6-1. Although Col49 does not have any recent ORAS UU records, I was told by multiple UU mains that he might be the best in the pool after Pak. Will someone who has more experience in ORAS UU like Dunoks have the advantage? Or will it be Col49? Personally, as long as the 49 doesn't stand for age, I think they might have a better chance.

RU - xXcrossbowXx vs. LBN
Crossbow went 4-4 in SM RU in RUPL, and 4-3 in SS RU in RUGL. Meanwhile, LBN went 5-2 in SV RU in RUPL, and 5-3 in BW/SS in RUGL. Although neither of them have recent ORAS RU records or have started in the last two ORASPLs, both are great RU players that have great potential, and I will be personally interested in their journey.

NU - Ninja vs. kiru
Kiru (Roxie), an ORASPL manager and ORASPL 2024 record holder of 3-2, is going up against Ninja, who has not played in either 2023 or 2024 ORASPL. However, he holds the record of 6-2 in NUPL, in DPP. A great DPP NU player vs. a very consistent ORAS NU player, who will win?

PU - asa vs. LpZ
PU tier leader Asa vs. BW PU enthusiast and addict LpZ. Neither of them main ORAS PU, but both of them are highly regarded in the PU community. This is a battle that will surely be interesting to watch.

ZU - 5gen vs. 5Dots
There is no context needed here whatsoever. Two players that start their name with "5" playing the same tier. Rumors say that loser has to change the 5 into 4.

LC - Extinct! vs. Raichy
As someone who knows absolutely nothing about LC, I am personally looking forward to this game because I have been impressed by Extinct!, especially after an impressive 4-1 performance in ORAS Underground.

Monotype - Cielau vs. Wincon
Wincon is 5-2 in MFPL in ORAS Monotype, holding the best record. Meanwhile, Cielau was absent from playing in that tournament, but holds the best record in 2024 ORASPL, with a stunning 6-1 record. A very strong and competitive game from the very first week. Will the wincon manifest?

​

Written by Ruffles

 

[Ruffles]

Every week we will also pick our favorite 5 replays of said week

Best of Week 1

OU - BlazingDark vs. Magician
The age-old consistent spike-stack fat team vs. a modern sand hyper offense team bring by Magician. On paper, the prep is great and Magician had a magical match up. However, BlazingDark persevered and made play after play. Every inch his opponent gave him, he took a mile. Although Magician may have played slightly passive in some turns, the real magic happened with BlazingDark's plays that clutched a bleak looking game.

OU - Seasons vs. Avarice
In a very close game where the end devolved into guesswork where neither the audience nor the players knew what was happening anymore, this game is a sure enjoyable watch. A quick and fast 24 turn game that emobdies the risk taking and quick thinking that classic ORAS is known for in offense mirrors.

RU - Mr. Aldo vs. Lacks
Although both players brought venusaur + flygon, both teams are creative and unique. Lacks brought double dark type, a tried and true strategy of type stacking your offensive mons, going up against Aldo's Diancie. Meanwhile Aldo brings two of my favorite mons, Fletchinder and Meloetta, and makes good use of both of them! A super close and exciting match where both players looked like they could win at any point.

PU - TJ vs. ManofMany
Both teams had Marawork and adequate counterplay with Swanna and Tangela. However, TJ's Marowak and Swanna got significantly more value due to TJ's good positioning and aggressive playstyle. In a near mirror matchup, TJ showcased his real prowess as a player.

ZU - Toto vs. Fish Anemometer
Nothing screams more ZU than a Scraggy vs. Scraggy measuring contest. In a match where the winner would be decided by who is better at neutralizing the opposing scraggy, Toto takes the win. Him using Sand to shorten Jumpluff's lifespan through sand chip, rocks, and nerfed Synthesis, set up him up for the perfect end game for Scraggy to win.​

Written by Ruffles

Stay tuned for W2 BotW!

 

[Ruffles]

BotW - Week 2

Ubers - skimmythegod vs. keys
Although both these players lost last week, Keys lost to potentially the best in the pool, The Strap. Meanwhile, Skimmy was acted on by scummy managers. Both of them are fired up from their losses last week and I'm sure they will try hard to bounce back. The real question is, when will Keys bring Klefki?

DOU - Chris32156 vs SingleThunder
This matchup brings an interesting pairing of fresh blood vs experience with Chris facing off against one of ORAS DOU's staples in SingleThunder. Chris had a pretty strong showing last week piloting sample TVALKS balance to success vs an aggressive sun HO team. SingleThunder handily dealt with a strong player in Jello last week with an aggressive Mega Diancie Bisharp offense team. Despite lacking much experience in ORAS, I believe the offensive trade-focused nature of the tier lends itself to Chris's strengths.

OU Bo3 - devin vs. lighthouses
Devin won a pretty convincing showing in w1, meanwhile Lighthouses... You know what? Everybody knows who these two are and how hype this match is. The real question that's bothering me is - I still don't know if lighthouses means houses that are light (not heavy) or the lighthouses on the shores for ships. The fans must know.

OU - c0mp vs. BlazingDark
Although he's an SM main, c0mp might be the very best in the Bo1 pool if not the whole pool, a seasoned SPL player. Meanwhile, BlazingDark is another great player who had a fantastic showing last week with an incredible comeback. BlazingDark also made quite the impression in ORAS during 2025 WCoP for France. Will BD be able to upset the SM king? BTW did I mention c0mp loves SM?

UU - Pak vs. Xiri
Pak is the king of UU and he may very well go the entire season without a single loss, he's literally the father of UU. However, Xiri is a great player and he is not easy to beat. He's a great lower tier player, so it really depends on his motivation and focus for this. Since he lost last week, I suspect he wants to bounce back - and what better opportunity to do that vs. Pak?

RU - Oathkeeper vs. MrAldo
Ex co-managers Oathkeeper and MrAldo face off in Aldo's favorite tier, RU. However, Oathkeeper is not unfamiliar with that tier either, as both these players are ORAS lower tier veterans, playing these tiers since their inception and before most of us could even walk. Who is the stronger veteran? Who is still cool with the young ones? Personally, I'd give the edge to Aldo because he likes to cook with niche mons like Meloetta and Fletchinder that I really like.

NU - Feaniix vs. Ampha
These two players had the strongest showing in NU last week. Feaniix was using an extremely well built and sexy looking team, and then with one good switch took the entire game. Meanwhile, Ampha brought some crazy offense that just forced the opponent to make compromise after compromise until he was out of mons. Personally, Feaniix's team was just so cool, I have to give him the edge.

PU - BluBirD vs. TJ
BluBird from the Naruto song vs. TJ from T.J. Maxx face off in this incredibly stacked tier. I mean every PU game is a candidate for BotW, it's that stacked. TJ is perhaps the #1 PU player in my eyes, and had an incredibly strong showing w1. Meanwhile, BluBird is a very skilled builder and player who is new to PU, but I believe the tier's flexibility allows for his creativity to shine. I would still give it to the American department store chain since he's just that good.

ZU - sleid vs. Havocknight
Oldest ZU mod vs. newest ZU mod? At least something like that I'm too lazy to double check so I'm running with that. Both of these players have strong ORAS ZU showing during w1. Havocknight has been killing it in ZUPL as well, boasting an impressive 4-0 record. Some would say it's fake since he still hasn't faced the other 4-0 player who happens to be very handsome, but it's impressive nonetheless. Excited for this match!

LC - gali vs. bleahey
I picked this game not only because I am interested in Gali's games, but also because both these players won pretty convincingly w1. Gali in particular is like the best LC or something because I have never seen this person drop a game. BUT! Maybe Bleahey can do it?

Monotype - Foolycl vs. zIcarus
This is quite the interesting story here. ZIcarus held the best record in MPL, a very impressive 6-1 score. His only loss? Foolycl. Yeah. They have beef. Moreover, Foolycl is a manager and possibly a fan of the anime, FLCL. If the second part is true, I'm rooting for him​

Written by Ruffles, with the help of bagel and zIcarus
Ubers/UU/LC still open to volunteers