Bored Pikachu's lukewarm analysis
Lighthouses vs Rufflespro
Based on the team previews, it looks like RufflesPro's squad is built around some strong offensive threats. I'm leaning toward a DD Mega Tyranitar or possibly a Choice Band Tyranitar. The Serperior could either be running a Screen set to support the team or a Resto-Chesto setup for more longevity. Garchomp could fill multiple roles: TankChomp for bulk, Mega Garchomp for raw power, or a Sand Veil SD set to take advantage of sand. Thundurus seems like a utility set, probably focused on spreading status and providing a pivot with Volt-Switch. Excadrill is almost certainly rocking Sand Rush to capitalize on the sandstorm, and Manaphy could go in several directions. I suspect it might have Hidden Power Fire, as it helps against Ferrothorn, and that makes sense with the Choice Band Tyranitar on the team.
On the other side, Lighthouses' team seems designed for Spikestack, featuring a Scarf Landorus to apply offensive pressure and potentially revenge-kill threats. Crawdaunt is likely either Choice Band or Swords Dance, built to clean up late-game once the opposing team has been softened up.
Turn 1: Landorus vs. Serperior. Landorus doesn't use U-turn, which suggests it might not be holding a Choice Scarf. Alternatively, it could be avoiding chip damage from Tank Chomp, which makes sense given the situation.
Turn 2: Serperior lands a key Glare on Heatran.
Turn 3: Tyranitar sets up Stealth Rock. This contradicts my initial analysis, as Tyranitar is neither DD Mega Tyranitar nor Choice Band, but rather a utility variant. This also implies that Garchomp must be the Mega on the team.
Turn 4: Crawdaunt claims a kill, further supporting the idea that Tyranitar is a utility set, as it's slower than Crawdaunt.
Turn 5: Serperior reveals its Screen set.
Turn 7: Garchomp reveals Substitute, which likely indicates a setup set designed to avoid status conditions and gain free turns.
Turn 8: Garchomp reveals Swords Dance. At this point, it's clear Garchomp is likely running Earthquake and Stone Edge as its final two moves, maximizing coverage and power.
Turn 9: Garchomp takes out Clefable.
Turn 10: Mega Latias attempts to revenge kill Mega Garchomp, but Excadrill comes in and removes all hazards.
Turn 11: This turn seems like a misstep to me—Lightghouses could have just eliminated Excadrill here.
Turn 22: This sequence feels odd to me—reducing Ferrothorn's HP here doesn’t seem ideal. Ferrothorn is a solid wall for most of the opposing team. Additionally, I would have opted for setting up Spikes, as the extra layer of hazards would be crucial against threats like Manaphy and Mega Garchomp.
Turn 25: The unfortunate paralysis here could have been a game-changing moment, especially with how much momentum RufflesPro was building.
Turn 26: Uh-oh, Thundurus is revealed to be running a Nasty Plot + Substitute set. Lava Plume can’t break the Substitute, which is a huge problem for Lighthouses' team.
Turn 28: Another unfortunate paralysis. The double paralysis is especially frustrating here, as it further hampers any chance of getting back into the game.
Turn 32-34: RufflesPro tries to fish for a Stone Edge miss by spamming Substitute, and eventually, he get the miss.
Turn 35: At this point, it’s effectively game over. Thundurus sweeps through Lighthouses’ remaining team, finishing off any chance of a comeback.
Santu vs. Blubird
Based on the team previews, it appears that Santu's team revolves around a Birdspam Hyper Offense strategy. Mew is likely the Stealth Rock setter, carrying Colbur Berry for Weavile. Excadrill may be running a Choice Scarf set for speed control. Talonflame could be either a Choice Band or Swords Dance set, likely using Flare Blitz as its offensive move. Dragonite, meanwhile, could go for either a Choice Band or Dragon Dance set.
On the other hand, Blubird's team seems to favor an offensive approach as well. Weavile is most likely running a Choice Band set to hit hard with its STAB moves. Zapdos seems to be speedy while Excadrill looks to be a utility variant. Dragonite could again be either a Choice Band or Dragon Dance set, similar to Santu's team. Manaphy is likely carrying Hidden Power Fire, possibly to deal with Ferrothorn, especially given the presence of Weavile to punish Mega Latias via Pursuit. Finally, Metagross could take on multiple roles, potentially acting as a Stealth Rock setter, an all-out attacker, or even a setup sweeper with a Power-Up Punch set.
Turn 1: This turn is exactly how I expect it to be. However, I do not expect a beatup on Weavile, and I also do not expect Mew to be Choice Scarf. Burned Weavile is terrible for Blubird because it makes revenge kills of threats such as Manaphy, Talonflame, Mega Pinsir, and Dragonite harder.
Turn 2: Blubird was forced to switch Weavile because it invites so many threats. Zapdos is a good call by Blubird because it can beat everything in Santu's team. Santu switched to Excadrill because getting Stealth Rocks up is crucial to beat Zapdos.
Turn 3: -
Turn 4: Santu switching his Mew into Zapdos is a good call because it could burn anything against Blubird, and it also could threaten to explode or trick the Choice Scarf to Zapdos. Blubird knew this would happen, and he switched into Weavile. I would say this is high-level play from both sides.
Turn 5: Santu switches his Pinsir into Weavile, expecting Weavile to click Knock Off; however, Blubird clicks Icicle Crash, which I think is a superb move because it covers everything but Manaphy.
Turn 6: Weavile continues to click Icicle Crash but it doesnt matter because Santu goes into his sole ice resist which is Manaphy.
Turn 7-14: At this point, it’s effectively game over. Manaphy sweeps through Blubird' remaining team, finishing off any chance of a comeback.
This game is really interesting because Scarf Mew is rarely used as a Stealth Rock setter, yet it works surprisingly well on BirdSpam hyper offense. It brings both a fast Stealth Rock and fast Defog, which is a really solid combo. I’m not a fan of Shadow Ball on Blubird’s Manaphy, though. If it had Energy Ball, it could’ve stopped Manaphy from sweeping so easily. Another thing I don’t like is how Blubird’s team lacks a status absorber or a support move like Healing Wish or Lunar Dance. That being said, I still think Blubird is a really solid teambuilder, and he is very capable of winning a lot of games still.
Garay Oak vs Erz
Based on the team previews, I’m going to assume that Erz’s team revolves around a Mega Diancie Sand core. Mega Diancie will likely run its standard set, while Tyranitar could be a Choice Band, Choice Scarf, or even a utility set—each option makes sense in this context. Excadrill might be running a utility set, a Sword Dance set, a Substitute set, or even a Life Orb + 3 Attacks set. Zapdos is probably a speedy variant with either a Rocky Helmet or Leftovers. Serperior is most likely the RestChesto set, although the Synthesis set is also a plausible choice. Finally, Volcanion is likely to run a Choice Scarf set to provide some extra speed control.
On the other hand, Garay Oak's team is centered around Mega Venusaur Offense. His Mega Venusaur is most likely running a Growth set to maximize its offensive potential. Landorus could be using a defensive set with Explosion, which would provide a great way to gain momentum. Weavile might be running either the Swords Dance set or a Choice Band set, both of which make sense. Volcarona could be anything really, but I think the Life Orb set works best with this team. As for Manaphy, its set could go in several directions, but if Weavile is using a Choice Band, I’d lean toward Manaphy having Hidden Power Fire to help deal with Ferrothorn. Finally, Latias is likely a utility set with options like Colbur Berry, Rocky Helmet, Choice Scarf, or even Eject Button..
Turn 1: I was expecting Garay Oak to lead with Mega Venusaur since nothing on Erz's team really threatens it. Leading with Serperior, on the other hand, seems like a risky play, but at the same time, landing a Glare on Mega Venusaur could be huge. In hindsight, Erz's decision to go for Glare was the right call, especially after Garay Oak opts to set up with Growth. It really shows how well Erz anticipated the situation.
Turn 2: Erz's decision to switch Tyranitar in against Mega Venusaur is a smart play, as the sandstorm will chip away at Mega Venusaur's health and also limit its Synthesis recovery. This turn is unfortunate for Garay Oak, as Mega Venusaur gets fully paralyzed and can't make a move, putting him at a disadvantage.
Turn 3: Erz's choice to switch Zapdos into Mega Venusaur is another clever move, as Tyranitar’s sand is crucial for Excadrill's Sand Rush, chipping down Venusaur, and Zapdos is the only Pokémon on his team that resist Giga Drain.
Turn 4: Erz's decision to Volt Switch Zapdos into Excadrill is another excellent play, as Excadrill is the only Pokémon on his team immune to Sludge Bomb.
Turn 5: Erz's choice to click Iron Head is a smart move, as it gives him the chance to paraflinch Mega Venusaur while also threatening Landorus in case it switches in.
Turn 6: Garay Oak's choice to switch his Mega Venusaur into Landorus is also a great play because Mega Venusaur is really good against Erz's team.
Turn 7: Garay Oak's decision to set up Stealth Rock is a smart one, as it will heavily punish Volcanion and Zapdos.
Turn 8: Garay Oak's decision to switch out Landorus makes sense, as it's still a valuable asset to check Excadrill and Tyranitar, while also preventing Zapdos from using Volt Switch
Turn 9: Garay Oak's decision to use Thunder Wave is a solid one, as it can cripple most of Erz's team, except for Excadrill and Zapdos. I'm assuming his Latias is holding a Colbur Berry, given that Tyranitar is still in the back to threaten Latias.
Turn 10: Instead of using Pursuit on Latias, Erz opts to set up Stealth Rock, which is a great move. Latias is likely holding a Colbur Berry, so Pursuit wouldn't have been effective, and Stealth Rock is crucial for wearing down threats like Volcarona and Weavile. Garay Oak's decision to switch Latias into Manaphy is a smart one, as Tyranitar is simply setup bait, and even Serperior struggles to take down a full-health Manaphy.
Turn 11: Erz is forced to bring in Serperior, as it's the only Pokémon that can switch into Manaphy easily and weaken it, allowing either Mega Diancie or Excadrill to revenge kill.
Turn 12: -
Turn 13: Erz is opting to use Excadrill to revenge kill Manaphy, but I disagree with this choice. Mega Diancie could also take out Manaphy, and it would be much harder for Garay Oak’s team to switch into it. Mega Diancie brings more offensive pressure with its higher Speed and strong STAB moves, which could pose a bigger threat to the opposing team overall. Garay Oak's decision to preserve Manaphy and switch into Landorus is good choice because Manaphy still could be scary with Healing Wish support.
Turn 14-15: -
Turn 16: Garay Oak's decision to use Healing Wish On Mega Venusaur is good because as I said Mega Venusaur is really good against Erz's team.
Turn 17: Once again, solid play from Erz, as he anticipated Garay Oak would go for Growth that turn. He also got a bit lucky with the crit, which definitely helped secure the advantage.
Turn 18: -
Turn 19: Erz’s decision to use Excadrill to revenge kill Mega Venusaur was definitely the right call in that situation. However, if he had Mega Evolved his Diancie to revenge kill Manaphy on turn 13, he could have used it here to take down Mega Venusaur instead.
Turn 20: -
Turn 21: Volcanion revealed Leftovers, indicating it's not scarfed, so Garay Oak can safely eliminate Erz’s Volcanion without worrying about a potential speed disadvantage.
Turn 22: -
Turn 23: Garay Oak got lucky with the flinch on Erz’s Mega Diancie, but I’d say it was somewhat deserved, considering the bad luck Garay Oak experienced a few turns earlier in the game.
Turn 24-30: This is pretty much game over now, as Weavile can clean up against almost everything, and Garay Oak has enough remaining Pokémon to handle Excadrill with Sand Rush.
This game was really interesting because both players executed their strategies exceptionally well. I’m particularly impressed by Garay Oak’s team—Mega Venusaur on a Hyper Offense team is pretty unconventional and unheard of, yet he managed to build a strong, effective lineup and secure the win in SPL. Erz’s Sand team was also solid, and I really hope he gets his first win soon; he’s definitely capable of it.
Poek vs Michealderbeste2
For this week, it looks like both players are using well-known teams. Michealderbeste2 is likely running Lusa’s team, which includes SubPsychic Manaphy, Choice Band Weavile, Heal Bell Chansey, Impish Excadrill, Physically Defensive Zapdos, and Growth Mega Venusaur. On the other hand, Poek seems to be using Santu’s team, featuring SubSD Sand Veil Garchomp, Defog Mega Scizor, Utility Tyranitar with Thunder Wave, a standard Amoonguss set, Static Zapdos, and Swords Dance Excadrill.
Turn 1: I think Poek has a strong lead here, as Tyranitar can set up Stealth Rock and the sand, which is especially useful against Mega Venusaur—particularly if it's running Hidden Power Fire instead of the Growth set. On the other hand, MDB2’s lead is solid as well, with Zapdos providing great coverage and the ability to Volt Switch if Poek leads with Tyranitar.
Turn 2: MDB2 is forced to Rapid Spin here, as clicking Earthquake would put him at a huge disadvantage if Poek switched into Zapdos. Poek anticipates this and takes advantage of the situation by clicking Superpower to punish Excadrill. This turn works out really well for Poek, as Excadrill is now left with low health.
Turn 3: Poek is now forced to switch his Tyranitar because his Tyranitar is valuable in long run. MDB2 also anticipate this and set up Stealth Rock.
Turn 4-5: -
Turn 6: MDB2 clicks Pursuit on Zapdos, likely recognizing that Mega Scizor would wall Weavile for the rest of the game. However, I disagree with this decision, as there’s the risk of getting paralyzed by Zapdos’ Static. Manaphy would have been a better choice to punish Mega Scizor, since nothing on Poek’s team, aside from Sand Rush Excadrill, really threatens it.
Turn 7-8: -
Turn 9: I understand why MDB2 chose to use Tail Glow with Manaphy that turn, but honestly, using Substitute might have been a better option. If Tyranitar had decided to switch out, Manaphy could have still used Tail Glow later, and the Substitute would have provided an extra layer of protection.
Turn 10-11: -
Turn 12-13: MDB2 decides to switch into Chansey and use Heal Bell to support both Weavile and Manaphy, which is a great move.
Turn 14: Poek clicks Earthquake, knowing that nothing on MDB2’s team can take it well, except Zapdos. However, even Zapdos isn't completely safe, as it could still be hit hard by Rock Slide. It’s a smart move to apply pressure and force MDB2 into a tough position.
Turn 15-17: -
Turn 18: Poek decides to switch into Tyranitar, recognizing that only Excadrill can reliably revenge kill Manaphy. This move puts him in a good position to handle any threats while keeping his options open.
Turn 19: Poek switches into Garchomp, likely with the goal of weakening Manaphy so that Excadrill can revenge kill it later. This move sets up a solid plan for handling Manaphy while maintaining pressure on MDB2’s team.
Turn 20: Poek uses Substitute on Garchomp, anticipating that MDB2 might switch out Manaphy. It also gives him a chance to potentially dodge Manaphy’s move, thanks to Garchomp’s Sand Veil ability, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to his play.
Turn 21-22: Game over.
Axel vs PJ
Based on the team preview, I’m going to assume PJ’s team is built around either Mega Charizard Y or Mega Charizard X with Cresselia providing support. If it’s Charizard X, it could be either a Swords Dance set with Flame Charge or a standard Dragon Dance set. The Serperior might be running a RestChesto set or possibly a Screen set. The Weavile could be Choice Band or Swords Dance, and if it’s the former, I’d also guess Manaphy has Hidden Power Fire to hit Steel-types like Ferrothorn. Excadrill is likely an utility set, and Cresselia is probably the standard support set.
As for Axel's team, it's hard to predict given how unorthodox it is, but here’s my guess: His Tornadus is likely an Assault Vest set, which would help it tank special hits. Excadrill could be running a Choice Scarf to provide some speed control. Weavile is probably a Choice Band set to maximize its offensive presence. Seismitoad is likely a Stealth Rock setter, possibly with Refresh to check Rotom-Wash. Conkeldurr could be running a Flame Orb set for Guts or an Assault Vest to take hits more reliably. Finally, Scizor is probably a Swords Dance set, looking to sweep once it gets a boost.
Turn 1: It looks like PJ’s Charizard is Mega Charizard X. I think PJ’s lead is decent, as Charizard X can definitely cause chaos if the opponent misguesses its form. However, Axel makes an excellent lead with Tornadus, as it can pivot with U-turn, effectively covering both potential Charizard forms. This gives Axel a great way to scout and maintain momentum. PJ reveals that his Charizard has Dragon Dance, so it’s likely the standard Dragon Dance set, right?
Turn 2: Oh, it turns out PJ’s Charizard also has Swords Dance. Axel’s decision to Earthquake Charizard was definitely the right call, as he needed to weaken it. Without that, Charizard could easily sweep through his team.
Turn 3: -
Turn 4: Axel’s decision to use Mega Scizor is definitely the right call, as nothing else on his team could reliably revenge kill Charizard X. However, the fact that he's using U-turn suggests that his Scizor likely doesn't have a way to hit Charizard X hard. I’m going to assume his Scizor is running Swords Dance, Bullet Punch, Roost, and U-turn—focused on pivoting and maintaining pressure while setting up.
Turn 5: Axel’s decision to use Weavile is solid, but I feel like Conkeldurr might have been a better choice. Conkeldurr could have applied pressure to the rest of PJ's team, dealing with threats more effectively and potentially taking advantage of its bulk and offensive presence.
Turn 6: I feels like Manaphy is the better option here because it could threaten alot more.
Turn 7: -
Turn 8: Bringing in Excadrill here is definitely the right play, as getting Stealth Rock up is crucial for chipping away at threats like Tornadus and Weavile. The rocks will also put extra pressure on the opponent’s team, making it harder for them to switch around freely.
Turn 9: Uturning into Weavile is great because Weavile kills everything.
Turn 10: -
Turn 11: Switching into Serperior is a great play, as it can punish nearly everything with Glare, except for a potential Guts Conkeldurr.
Turn 12: I think switching into Mega Scizor was a questionable play, especially since PJ hasn't revealed his Hidden Power yet. It turns out to be Hidden Power Fire, PJ's Weavile is very scary now.
Turn 13: Switching into Tornadus was definitely the right play, as Weavile couldn’t afford to take more damage from Stealth Rock. PJ switches in Manaphy to take the Hurricane, activating Eject Button and allowing Weavile to revenge kill Tornadus. This is a brilliant play and an awesome piece of tech—managing to pivot effectively and turn the momentum in his favor.
Turn 14-15: PJ uses Icicle Crash, knowing that Axel’s team no longer has an Ice resist after Mega Scizor goes down. Axel isn’t ready to give up just yet, though, and switches in Conkeldurr, hoping to revenge kill with Mach Punch.
Turn 16-17: Axel switches in Tornadus, anticipating that PJ wouldn't risk losing Weavile, given how valuable it is. It turns out his Tornadus is running Taunt instead of the usual Assault Vest set, which is a huge play. Taunt can shut down Cresselia’s potential Lunar Dance, preventing PJ from using it to keep his team healthy.
Turn 18: Axel keeps the pressure on by swapping into Excadrill to remove the Stealth Rock, which is especially valuable for Weavile and Tornadus. Clearing the hazards helps maintain their longevity and gives Axel more opportunities to pivot and keep up the offensive pressure.
Turn 19-20: PJ swaps in his Manaphy to threaten Excadrill and clicks Surf to take it down. However, Axel maintains the pressure by bringing in Weavile. Notice how Axel’s decision to remove Stealth Rock and avoid using Weavile recklessly plays a key role in this exchange, allowing him to make a strong, strategic play without sacrificing his important assets.
Turn 21: -
Turn 22: Removing PJ's Weavile's Choice Band is crucial, as it significantly reduces its offensive power. This helps Axel's Excadrill survive potential Knock Off or Icicle Crash, giving it a better chance to continue applying pressure and contributing to Axel’s overall strategy.
Turn 23: Pj swap in his Serperior is once again a good play because he could threaten to glare everything.
Turn 24-35: -
Turn 36: Axel did a great job to preserve his Excadrill till the end but he got unlucky abit. Well played from both sides.
Last few comments
This week, we've seen a lot of offense in play, and Manaphy, in particular, has been a standout Pokémon. It’s been a real threat, and I hope players will adjust their preparation to handle Manaphy better in the coming weeks.
- Poek, Metallica126, temp; blunderr
- RufflesPro, c0mp, devin; z0mog
- erz, London Beats; Gondra
- Garay Oak, Chiharu, robjr; SuperEpicAmpharos
- lighthouses, Niko; starmaster
- BluBirD, fade
- Axel, ACR1, Vileman; Spitfire Arcanine
- Santu, Charmflash; ABR
- MichaelDerBeste2, Paprikaflow
- pj, LpZ; starry
