After months of qualification, after dodging the unpleasant 17 point tiebreaker only to end up with a not particularly less unpleasant 16 point tiebreaker, it's now time for playoffs to unfold. And once again, we will crown a new Classic champion in the next few weeks! For the occasion, the
Classic Hall of Fame has been updated! Now let's introduce the contenders for the white trophy.
1.
PDC –
39 points
PDC is coming off one of the very best runs in Smogon Classic, ending at a total of 39 points and displaying overall great consistency across the five generations featured in this tournament, ending up in at least quarterfinals of 4/5 cups. His run is actually the third best run all-time in terms of points, and he equalized Lavos at 29 wins for the most wins during the qualification phase. This is all the more impressive that
PDC had such a run without winning a cup, which puts him well ahead of previous non-cup-winning run records.
He joined the very small circle of people with more than 100 total wins across all Classic seasons, making it in the top 10 of best Classic overall records. He became the third best DPP Cup record and also joined the top 10 best BW2 Cup all-time records along the way. After qualifying twice for playoffs, in 2015 and in 2020, this is his once in five years chance to prove he is indeed the strongest contender for the title!
2.
Skarpherim –
36 points
The triple ribbon winner strikes again with a strong performance in oldgen by being the second ever to achieve a double cup win in the same season, after
Jimmy Turtwig in 2018. Ending up at a total of 36 points,
Skarpherim's run is impressive, collecting a grand total of zero win both in BW2 and DPP but making past quarterfinals in the three other cups, while obviously winning two of them. For his only second participation in the tournament,
Skarpherim is now in the top 10 best runs of the tournament, and sits with one of the very best win ratio in the history of the tournament with 24 wins for 3 losses.
With a 82.22% overall win ratio, he is one of the most dominant participants in playoffs in 2025. While he might be more known for his ADV performances, both as a cup winner and a defending ADV circuit champion, he also sits at 93.75% win ratio in GSC Cup with an impressive 15-1 record.
3.
elodin –
30 points
elodin is the most accustomed to Classic playoffs this year, as it's the fourth time he qualifies for playoffs. With a nice 23-4 record, he also joins the very small circle of people with more than 100 total wins across all Classic seasons, making it in the top 10 of best Classic overall records, just one win above
PDC. With a much deserved win in DPP Cup,
elodin has become the 4th best DPP Cup all-time record. He also has entered the top 10 best ADV Cup and RBY Cup all-time records.
Will he be able to outperform his strongest performance from ten years ago?
4.
D4 Repertoire –
21 points
With a huge drop-off in points, the next in line is
D4 Repertoire, who makes his debut in Classic playoffs. While you may instinctively know him for his 7-2 GSC record in SPL, it also happens to be his least proven tier in Classic, whereas his records in the other four generations are more solid: 6-2 in DPP, 7-2 in ADV and DPP, and 8-2 and RBY.
5.
GaryTheGengar –
20 points
GaryTheGengar is the first player to achieve a second win in BW2 Cup, which also puts him at 4th in all-time BW2 Cup records with a stunning 33-6 record, and makes him 21st in the all-time overall records. Now, can he replicate his BW2 success in other gens during playoffs?
6.
Kristyl –
20 points
Kristyl is probably one of the strongest underdogs in playoffs this season, as she proved to be in 2022 when she made semifinals. Her skills in DPP and ADV no longer need to be proven, as she's won circuit majors for both and was the best record in the first DPP Invitational. This time, however, she owes her qualification to solid runs both in GSC and RBY, which proves she can be a menace in pretty much any gen now and will be a fierce adversary in playoffs.
7.
Fear –
20 points
Each Classic season needs a dad in playoffs and 2025 is no exception. Surprisingly though, this is
Fear's first time in playoffs. You obviously all know him for his prowess in GSC after who knows how many crazy seasons in SPL, and this is no surprise to see it is indeed his best gen in Classic, although his ADV record comes close and is nothing to be ashamed of. After all,
Fear has known most of the gens when they were current gens, it would thus be a mistake to underestimate him in any other Classic gen. Will he follow the steps of his fellow dinosaur comrades
august,
Conflict and
M Dragon?
8.
Garay oak –
19 points
Garay oak returns to Classic playoffs after an early exit in 2023. He's proven to be a very solid player the past few years, with a particularly wide range of tiers played with at least decent success. ADV in particular has proven to be one of his best ones and I wouldn't underestimate him in any other tier either. Can he prove he's become one of the best jack-of-all-trades on the site and unlock the mighty Slam+Classic combo on his trophy set?
9.
Fakes –
18 points
It is probably fair to say that
Fakes is among the favorites to win the whole thing. He's right next
elodin and
PDC in terms of best overall records in Classic, with an impressive 106-45 total record. His last SPL appearance proved how sharp he was in BW2, he's the second best all-time record in ADV Invitationals and actually won the most recent iteration, and his semifinals run in ADV Cup also made him the second best all-time record in ADV Cup.
10.
ima –
18 points
ima is new to Classic playoffs, we're usually used to seeing him in fairy gens. He doesn't owe his qualification to any particular deep run, his success was instead more evenly spread across generations and is a sign he can probably take a game in any tier.
11.
JabbaTheGriffin –
17 points
JabbaTheGriffin returns to playoffs for the second time consecutively. He's mostly known for playing ADV and DPP but like the other old farts out there, he was around when most of the generations were current gens and can probably make things happen.
12.
Kingler –
17 points
Kingler came back from the dead and returns to Classic playoffs for the first time since 2019. If you've talked to him on discord at any point these past few weeks, you already know how much pride he seems to have taken in losing to McMeghan that one time he made playoffs, and you know how eager he is to once again lose in R1. This much of a loser mentality doesn't deserve a longer write-up tbh, go back to retirement old man.
13.
Amaranth –
17 points
This happens to be the first incursion in Classic playoffs for
Amaranth as well. He's easily the sharpest in RBY this season, he's won multiple individual tournaments in RBY, which includes the very first RBY Invitational. He's been into BW2 a bit recently and has had decent success in that generation during his run. Will he prove he's capable of more than that?
14.
OmBrArch –
17 points
OmBrArch is also new to Classic playoffs! Those who know him already know he mains GSC, although just like everyone in this tournament, he owes his qualification to a deep run in BW2 Cup, which proves he can be a threat outside of his main tier.
15.
Exiline –
17 points
Exiline returns to Classic playoffs after his first appearance in 2021. The very first RBY Circuit champion owes both his qualifications to a great run in BW2 Cup, the most recent one going all the way up to finals. Will he be able to replicate this success in playoffs?
16.
coco or
Tenebricite –
16 points
Despite being 13th in overall all-time Classic records,
coco made playoffs only once before. Even if he might be more known for playing ADV and DPP, his records are very evenly spread across all five generations, which proves he can do better than an early Top 16 exit. On the other side,
Tenebricite is part of a funny storyline, missing playoffs by losing in DPP Cup semifinals and therefore preventing us from an awful tiebreaker at 17 points... only to still compete in a tiebreaker later. One can only hope he will manage to defeat his final opponent to finally qualify and challenge the first seed.
With a much deserved and longtime coming win in RBY Cup,
Peasounay has now the second best all time records in RBY Cup, what a goat!
Malekith has entered the top three all-time overall records in Classic, surpassing
McMeghan with a total of 143 wins. He's also top three in ADV Cup and GSC Cup all-time records. Next year shall be yours old man.
SoulWind was already first in all-time records for BW2 Cup, DPP Cup and RBY Cup, he's now taken the throne in GSC Cup as well. Thank god
McMeghan shall never be dethroned in ADV Cup...
