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Approved by Amaranth. Post format stolen from MrAldo, which was stolen by vani, which was originally stolen from Sylvi
Hello RBY enthusiasts! With SPL XVI underway, this thread will be used to discuss RBY related topics, whether it's about the players, general metagame trends, matches, predictions or anything else related to SPL.
It's an absolute disgrace that some RBY players are drafted while BeeOrSomething is not.
BeeOrSomething is excellent player and has helped me a lot during my RBY tournaments, I've progressed in this tier thanks to him. He deserves much more credit and his undraft remains an absolute disgrace.
Aliss, nicole7735, SaDiSTiCNarwhal, Sceptross, and I recorded the SPL XVI RBY Smogcast! I've also included the stats I collected and our final Power Rankings below.
Alpha Ruiners- Amaranth (7k), Laroxyl
Amaranth (ITA)
Team: 19-24 all-time SPL (19-21 RBY) and 19-24 overall Invitational: 14-8 Record | 1st, Top 16, Top 24, Top 16, and 3rd Finishes Individual: #20 Pokemon Perfect Rankings | RBY Invitational I Champion | Global Championship 2020 Champion | RBY Invitational V Semifinalist | RBY Circuit 2020 Semifinalist | Global Championship 2021 Semifinalist
I have a lot of faith in Amaranth. Went 5-5 in SPL IX, the only other pool that rivals this one, has a 7-4 SPL & RBY Invitational win under his belt, one of the best at preparing in RBY Tournaments, and finally free'd from the shackles of Head TD and running RBY.
Although he claims to be retired, Amaranth can be found helping propel Team Italy to the finals of the inaugural RBY World Cup of Pokemon (while also hosting it!) with a 5-1 record (finally hitting .500 in RBY Forum Team Tours!) and berating his poor SPL XIV RBY OU playerafter she almost loses to Kingler. At his peak, Amaranth is one of the best RBY OU players of all time, dating back to the Pokemon Perfect days, with major Invitational, SPL, and Circuit success, including an Invitational I victory and a 7-4 SPL XI. With nothing left to prove, will we see the first ever Invitational repeat champion or will his finishes keep diminishing?
Amaranth follows in an elite line of Italian RBYers and is one of the best players in the tier's history who is responsible for a large proportion of metagame shifts and top teams in recent history. He won SPL IX with the Wolfpack into being crowned champion of the first Invitational in 2018 followed up by another streak of dominance in 2020 by going 7-4 in SPL XI and then winning Global Championship VI. After a simply ok Invitational II and a forgettable SPL XIII, we'll see if it's time for Amaranth to regain his crown.
4. Amaranth (Circus Maximus Tigers)
Amaranth has to be one of the biggest RBY tryhards around and I love it. Didn't have the most successful individual 2021 and he would have liked, but he has yet to go negative in his three SPLs (5-5, 5-5, 7-4) and after taking a break last year, I hope to see him continue his success.
Circus Maximus Tigers- Genesis7 (3k), Don Eduardo, shiloh, M Dragon
Genesis7 (CAN)
Team: 9-9 all-time SPL (4-5 RBY) and 18-23 overall Invitational: 1-4 Record | Top 24 and Top 32 Finishes Individual: #15 Pokemon Perfect Rankings | Circuit 2024 Finalist | Global Championship 2024 Finalist | Global Championship 2023 Finalist | Summer Seasonal 2022 Finalist | Circuit 2022 Semifinalist | Winter Seasonal 2022 Semifinalist | 1x PP Cup Winner | PP Circuit 2022 Winner
Congregation of the Classiest- Kaz (3k), BIHI, McMeghan
Kaz (FRA)
Team: 12-14 all-time SPL (all RBY) and 12-14 overall Invitational: 12-8 Record | 2nd, 2nd, Top 16, and Top 24 Finishes Individual: 18-7 RBYPL/RBYWC | #23 Pokemon Perfect Rankings | RBY Invitational III Finalist | RBY Invitational I Finalist | Ladder Tournament 2024 Finalist | Circuit 2023 Semifinalist | Cup 2023 Semifinalist | 2x PP Master Tour Winner
Maître à Penser. As the only player with two money finishes ($200.46 in winnings), second best differential (+6), third most wins (12), and never finishing in the bottom half, Kaz is the most accomplished individual in Invitational history. And ever since his return, Kaz has been one of the most accomplished RBYers over the last two years: Invitational III Finalist (including a win with Hitmonchan), Ladder Tournament 2024 Finalist, RBY Circuit 2023 Semifinalist, RBY Cup 2023 Semifinalist, and 13-5 RBYPL/RBYWC. All of this is without mentioning his boomer-era accomplishments: #23 in the Pokemon Perfect Rankings, one of the seven players to ever win multiple Pokemon Perfect Master Tournaments, and Invitational I Finalist. What's most impressive, however, is Kaz's role as a mentor for the French RBY community, most notably in leading France to a combined 27-9 pools record over RBYWC. Kaz's dedication to teaching and mentoring ensures his legacy will extend far beyond his individual achievements, shaping the future of the French RBY community and inspiring players for generations to come. Can Kaz finally break through and claim his first Invitational title, after falling just short twice, elevating France as the first country with two triumphant champions?
5. Kaz (Congregation of the Classiest)
Kaz returned from the dead last year to participate in Invitational III and many wondered if he was ready for a full-on return to the competitive RBY OU scene. After another Invitational Silver Medal, including wins over chuva de perereca and marcoasd while only losing to the eventual champion Khaetis twice, and a 5-1 performance in RBYPL III, he's made it clear he still has it. One of the seven players to ever win multiple Pokemon Perfect Master Tournaments and the only player with two money finishes in Invitational, will this be the year he finally takes the entire thing home?
Kaz is our third straight boomer that I'm glad the newer RBYers will be able to see in action. He is one of only seven players to win multiple Pokemon Perfect Master Tournaments and had huge wins in his Invitational I Finals run over marcoasd and Nails while only losing to the eventual champion Amaranth twice. Is he ready for a full-on return to the competitive RBY OU scene or has the gap since he last competed at the highest level simply too long to make any noise?
Team: 3-8 all-time SPL (all RBY) and 3-8 overall Invitational: 17-10 Record | Top 12, 3rd, Top 16, 4th, and Top 12 Finishes Individual: #17 Pokemon Perfect Rankings | Winter Seasonal 2024 Finalist | Invitational IV Semifinalist | Invitational II Semifinalist | Ladder Tournament 2024 Semifinalist
After returning from a long hiatus last year, Sceptross quickly got back to his winning ways, placing 4th in Invitational IV and solidifying himself as the only player who's competed in every Invitational and yet to finish in the bottom half. Opinions of him were universally within the RBY community going into the SPL XV draft, but a not-so-strong SPL track record saw him go undrafted. While it would have been easy to lose all motivated, Sceptross decided to respond with 2nd and 3rd/4th place showings in the following two circuit tournaments and a 3-1 RBYWC playoffs performance. Like many, Sceptross can use a strong Invitational performance to catapult himself into SPL XVI starter discussion. Can he become the second player ever with two money finishes, and perhaps even deliver Iberia its first ever Invitational championship, or will the looming ghosts of Omastar continue to haunt him?
An old Pokemon Perfect boomer, Sceptross is the only player who's competed in every Invitational so far and has yet to finish in the bottom half. An avid ladderer and enthusiast when active, he's returned from a months long hiatus and has already gotten right back into it when it comes to discussing the merits and applications of Substitute Slowbro and Tentacruel in RBY OU. While he might not have the peaks in Pokemon Perfect and SPL as some others, Sceptross always shows up for Invitational, with Top 12, 3rd, and Top 16 finishes. An active Sceptross is quite dangerous - will he have enough time to derust or will his streak of Invitational success end here?
Sceptross is another old Pokemon Perfect player, but one that never saw the same level of success as some of the other names you'll come across in during this tournament. Despite his SPL shortcomings, Sceptross seems to always perform in Invitational with Top 12 and 3rd place rankings to his name and a strong 7-4 record overall. Will he be able to show up and win once more?
Team: 25-24 all-time SPL (14-14 RBY) and 25-24 overall Invitational: 7-6 Record | Top 8, Top 12, and Top 24 Finishes Individual: RBY Cup 2021 Champion | Summer Seasonal 2021 Finalist
Mirroring two years ago, spies is once again back from the dead to play in this year's edition of RBY Invitational. With eleven years between their peaks as an RBY OU player -- 6-3 in SPL I (2010) and RBY Cup VII Champion & 1st overall seed in Circuit Championship (2021) -- and completely vanishing at perhaps the peak of his powers -- never logging on Smogon again and only participating in Invitational III since dropping out of SPL XIII -- spies is the most polarizing and mysterious player in this tournament. With rumors of being an active ladderer, he may be in better RBY shape than most think - which spies will show up in Invitational V?
Yes, you read that right. spies is back from the dead to play in year's edition of RBY Invitational. Long ago, spies came back after a long hiatus to start in SPL XII after going 6-3 all the way back in SPL I. Then, everything changed when it was apparent he was not up to par and struggled to a 3-8 record. Only by expanding his outdated view on the metagame and grinding the circuit could get him back into elite shape - and it sure did as spies won the 2021 RBY Cup and was ready to start again in SPL XIII. But when the Cryonicles needed him most, he vanished. A few months past, and yours truly discovered a back and ready RBYer, still named spies. And although his RBY OU skills are great, he has a lot to prove before he's ready to be crowned one of the best again. But I believe, spies can win RBY Invitational III.
6. spies (Cryonicles)
After a disappointing SPL XII, spies also dominated the rest of 2021 with Top 8 in Global Championships, Top 8 in Invitational, 2nd in Summer Seasonal, 5-3 RBYPL and 1st in RBY Cup. Let's see if he can have similar success (6-3) as he did all the way back in SPL I!
Ever Grande BIGS- chuva de perereca (14.5k), ABR, Excal
chuva de perereca (ESP)
Team: 17-13 all-time SPL (all RBY) and 12-9 overall Invitational: 7-6 Record | Top 32, 2nd, and Top 24 Finishes Individual: 14-3 RBYPL/RBYWC | RBY Invitational IV Finalist | Winter Seasonal 2022 Champion | RBY Circuit 2022 Finalist | RBY Circuit 2021 Semifinalist | Summer Seasonal 2021 Semifinalist | Winter Seasonal 2021 Semifinalist
After his dominant 2021 and early 2022, which included an 8-3 SPL XIII & Winter Seasonal Championship, chuva de perereca was primed to solidify himself as the next big thing in RBY with a strong Invitational III debut. However, he fizzled out quickly with a 0-2 record and then went on to finish negative in SPL XIV. With his circuit days over and the hype fading in late 2023, chuva de perereca turned his thinking around and went on an absurd run: 2nd place in Invitational IV, 5-4 in the most stacked RBY pool of all time in SPL XV, and 6-1 in RBYWC II. Back in the dreaded spotlight, can chuva de perereca deliver under the brightest of lights?
6. chuva de perereca (Cryonicles)
chuva — Today at 1:20 PM
pls dont hype me im washed and i hate the game
2. chuva de perereca (Alpha Ruiners)
chuva continued to dominate RBY after his very impressive 8-3 in SPL XIII and should thrive with so much publicly available information at his disposal.
2. chuva de perereca (Ruiners)
Going from 10th to 2nd in the Power Rankings and no longer being able to dodge the dreaded spotlight, we have chuva de perereca, one of two who can claim to be the best overall RBY OU player throughout 2022. He was relatively unknown in 2021 before his SPL debut, but he dominated in 2022 with an 8-3 SPL XIII and a first place in RBY Winter Seasonal, top 3 in RBY Cup, and top 8 in RBY Winter Seasonal. While he struggled in RBY Invitational III, facing relatively obscure scouts with little to no information, he bounced back with a 5-1 RBY PL III, finished 2nd in the 2022 Circuit, and is primed to thrive in the data-filled SPL environment. He keeps up with metagame trends more than most and even creates his own, and as one of the best players and preparers in the tournament, chuva de perereca can be expected to begin 2023 with a bang.
chuva de perereca has level up'd the most of any recent RBY OU player - from ladder hero to grinding with spies to prolonged circuit success to an elite 8-3 record in his SPL debut. One of the best preppers in the pool, we'll see if chuva de perereca can live up to the hype of the next big thing in RBY with a strong Invitational debut.
9. chuva de perereca (Alpha Ruiners)
Honorary "new played ranked last", chuva's lack of experience is made up by his great showing in circuit this year. Can't wait to see what he does on the big stage.
Indie Scooters- Gefährlicher Random (23k), RaiZen1704
Gefährlicher Random (GER)
Team: 20-13 all-time SPL (12-7 RBY) and 42-24 overall Invitational: 10-2 Record | 1st and Top 6 Finishes Individual: RBY Invitational IV Champion | Summer Seasonal 2022 Champion
Two years ago, Gefährlicher Random missed out on being invited to Invitational by one spot and sure did make whomever decided the invite list look bad. In SPL XIV, we saw an incredible upset, where the Invitational Play Ins outcast finished with a brilliant 6-3 record. And in Invitational IV, after finally making his way to the biggest RBY stage, he simply dominated in his debut. 6-0 en route to victory, with wins over LNumbers, marcoasd, Hipmonlee, Excal, Laroxyl, and chuva de pereca, marking the fourth straight Invitational where a first-time player won it all. After another six-win campaign in SPL XV, which notably included the strongest RBY OU pool of all time, can Gefährlicher Random cement himself as one of the most dominant and successful RBY OU players of the modern era with a strong Invitational sophomore campaign?
4. Gefährlicher Random (Indie Scooters)
Ranking Felix fourth after a 6-3 SPL XIV and RBY Invitational IV win feels incredibly disrespectful and speaks to how absurd this pool is. The Germans are incredibly good at RBY and have shaped the tier over the past few years and would not be surprised if Felix finishes with the best record.
In 2021, Gefährlicher Random had an absurd year in Official Team Tournaments, where he finished 3rd overall with 15 wins, including a dazzling 8-1 in in SCL I playing SS OU. In 2022, he made the switch to RBY from CG OU and lit the 2022 Circuit on fire, finishing Top 8 in the RBY Winter Seasonal, Top 8 in the RBY Global Championship, 1st in the RBY Summer Seasonal, and Top 16 in the RBY Circuit Championship. In 2023, we saw an incredible upset, where the Invitational Play Ins outcast finished with a brilliant 6-3 record in SPL XIV. Last year's biggest snub, Gefährlicher Random has made his way to this big stage; can his trademarked zoomer playstyle help usher in a new era of RBY?
5. Gefährlicher Random (Indie Scooters)
Despite my questions of his value as a 19k RBY retain, Felix is absolutely cracked at this tier. Combined with BIHI who might sub in, this is the most dangerous slot in the pool.
6. Gefährlicher Random (Indie Scooters)
Our third retain on this list, Gefährlicher Random is most well known for his SS OU expertise but has recently picked up RBY OU and is one of the hottest and most promising players today. He finished Top 8 in the RBY Winter Seasonal, Top 8 in the RBY Global Championship, 1st in the RBY Summer Seasonal, and Top 16 in the RBY Circuit Championship, taking down numerous SPL-level players and lighting the circuit scene on fire. He's worked closely with Serpi over the past year and has impressed everyone with his rapid improvement and exceptional piloting. With BIHI, who defeated chuva de perereca and Heroic Troller in back-to-back playoff tiebreaker series last SPL, waiting in the wings for a potential lineup shuffle and additional support from former RBY Invitational Champion Excal, the Indie Scooters have perhaps the most dangerous RBY OU slot in the tournament.
Stark Sharks- nicole7735 (6k), Conflict, violet river
nicole7735 (NZL)
Team: N/A Invitational: 7-4 Record | Top 32 and 2nd Finishes Individual: 16-12 RBYPL/RBYWC | Summer Seasonal 2023 Champion
Our second Play Ins victor, nicole7735 is 2023's most hyped up-and-coming RBY mainer, and for good reason. Originally beginning as a RBY Lower Tiers player, she's shifted some of her focus into OU and is looking like a potential SPL starter with a year or two more of experience. She went 3-1 in RBYWC, with her only loss being to Heroic Troller, and helped lead underdog Oceania to Quarterfinals. She took down chub, Mendeez, kjdaas, and Ice Yazu to blaze through Play Ins and debut in her first Invitational in her first year seriously playing the tier. Up against the greatest RBYer of all time, marcoasd, in Round 1, it'll be exciting to see if nicole7735 can make any noise.
Team Raiders- Serpi (27.5k), Aliss, BlazingDark
Serpi (GER)
Team: 24-14 all-time SPL (all RBY) and 27-15 overall Invitational: 11-8 Record | 4th, Top 8, Top 24, and Top 12 Finishes Individual: 36-13 RBYPL/RBYWC | Winter Seasonal 2024 Champion | Spring Seasonal 2024 Champion | Ladder Tournament 2024 Champion | Global Championship 2023 Champion | Winter Seasonal 2021 Champion | RBY Circuit 2023 Finalist | RBY Cup 2023 Finalist | Global Championship 2022 Finalist | Summer Seasonal 2022 Semifinalist | Invitational II Semifinalist | RBY Cup 2021 Semifinalist | Summer Seasonal 2021 Semifinalist | PP Circuit 2021 Champion
Two years ago, I asked if Serpi would finally find peak RBY OU success and solidify himself as the guy to beat, and he most certainly did. Last year, I asked if Serpi could build off his status as the best RBY OU player on the planet and further cement himself in RBY history with an Invitational IV win, but he was upset in the first round and could only finish in the Top 24. Despite this, Serpi had yet another dominant year in RBY. Since last year's Invitational, Serpi went 6-3 in SPL XV, finished 1st in Winter Seasonal 2024, 1st in Ladder Tournament 2024, 1st in Global Championship 2023, 2nd in RBY Circuit 2023, and 2nd in RBY Cup 2023, is up to +21 in RBYPL/RBYWC, and is already 2-0 playing SV Ubers in the World Cup of Pokemon 2024. Can Serpi catch up to Heroic Troller, or even quite possibly surpass him, as the best RBY OU player of the modern era with an Invitational V victory?
3. Serpi (Stark Sharks)
Ranking Serpi third after a 8-3 SPL XIV, including beating Heroic Troller in Finals and forcing the Sharks not to pick RBY in tiebreaker, feels incredibly disrespectful and speaks to how absurd this pool is. The Germans are incredibly good at RBY and have shaped the tier over the past few years and would not be surprised if Serpi finishes with the best record.
Dare I say, Serpi is the best RBY OU player on the planet at the moment. He went 8-3 in SPL XIV, including playoff victories over chuva de perereca and Heroic Troller to propel the Team Raiders to their second SPL title in as many years, and that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of Serpi's RBY dominance. He has an absolutely absurd 23-6 (79%, +17!!!!) record in RBYPL and RBYWC, including a 7-0 run to lead Germany to the first ever RBYWC victory, dominated the 2021 and 2022 Circuits, and has 4th and Top 8 places in Invitational. Last Invitational, I asked if Serpi would finally find peak RBY OU success and solidify himself as the guy to beat, and he most certainly has. Quite possibly the favorite going in, can he further cement himself in RBY history with an Invitational IV win?
3. Serpi (Team Raiders)
chuva or Serpi have been the best overall RBYers throughout 2022 as a whole. After back-to-back 5-4 SPLs and 4th place Invitationals, I think this is the year he finally hits the magic record of 6-3.
3. Serpi (Team Raiders)
Mirroring chuva de perereca, we have Serpi, another continuously elite player throughout 2022 RBY OU, who thus moved up two spots from his SPL XIII ranking. One of the hottest RBY OU players at the moment, Serpi has had consistently excellent results across all tournaments: back-to-back positive SPLs, back-to-back 4th place finishes in RBY Invitational, and top finishes throughout the circuit. He's already transformed himself into one of the best modern-day RBY OU players after picking up the tier just a few years ago. Will the help of Aliss and his calculated playstyle help him continue to grow from up-and-comer in SPL XII to on the cusp in SPL XIII to solidifying himself as the guy to beat in SPL XIV, or will he be stuck at 5-4 for the third straight season?
Serpi might be the most consistently elite RBYer at the moment - continued circuit dominance, a strong 4th place finish in Invitational II, and back-to-back positive SPLs. No matter how prestigious the tour, he shows up and wins. Will he finally find peak RBY OU success and solidify himself as the guy to beat in his second run in Invitational?
5. Serpi (Indie Scooters)
Serpi dominated 2021 with 1st in Winter Seasonal, Top 4 in RBY Cup, Top 4 in Invitational, and winning the PP Circuit. I expect him to build off his successful 5-4 SBY XII debut.
Wi-Fi Wolfpack- Prinz (11.5k), Isza, Mako
Prinz (ITA)
Team: 25-20 all-time SPL (14-15 RBY) and 38-35 overall Invitational: N/A Individual: #14 Pokemon Perfect Rankings | RBY Cup 2018 Champion | Global Championship 2019 Champion | 1x PP Season Winner | 1x PP Cup Winner | 4x PP Master Tour Winner
Tier 1
Team Raiders - Serpi, Aliss, BlazingDark
Indie Scooters - Gefährlicher Random, RaiZen1704
Ever Grande BIGS - chuva de perereca, ABR, Excal
Aliss, nicole7735, SaDiSTiCNarwhal, Sceptross, and I recorded the SPL XVI RBY Smogcast! I've also included the stats I collected and our final Power Rankings below.
- Amaranth, Laroxyl
- Genesis7, Don Eduardo, shiloh
- Kaz
- Sceptross, Vileman, Quarante8 
- spies
- chuva de perereca, Hayburner
- Gefährlicher Random, RaiZen1704
- nicole7735, violet river
- Serpi, BlazingDark
- Prinz, Isza
