[Competitive] When did you first get into competitive battling?

See title! Are you into it more now than before? Do you feel you've improved since then?

I got into Competitive around Gen V. It's hard to say whether I'm more or less into it, because my motivation to really practice and get good comes and goes every few months or so, I definitely have a better grasp of it though and am a lot better, so it takes a little less time for me to get back into the swing of it.

I first got into competitive when i found pokemon showdown, only about 2 ish years ago.

I just started with a random match at pokémon showdown. Cool stuff! I encourage everyone to do it!

I started in B2W2 when my buddy found an app that let you Gen Pokemon (now I breed all of mine I swear). I really liked watching Shofu and Shadypenguinn's WiFi battles on YouTube which got me really into it too.

I started in Gen 5. Must've been something about that generation that got a lot of people into competitive battling I guess

But now I'm just old, retired, and washed-up

I seriously started with Gen VI, but I've been playing on Showdown during B2W2 era too. While I've been actively playing during Gen VI, I never really got back to competitive with Gen VII or VIII.

I started with Gen IV (Diamond) back in 2008-2009 here on PokeCommunity, then took a break until SwSh were released.
Looking back, I can say with confidence that I've improved.

I got into competitive pokemon when gen7 was around. The thing is I never really cared much about gen7 as a handheld.
Now I play gen2

I got into competitive battling in Gen 6 with XY. I loved seeing battle videos, and I was in a group that hosted small showdown tournaments. XY was also the first game where I completed the Pokédex and where the base for living dex began.

I am trying to get back into it with Gen 8, but I feel like a fish out of water with dynamex and the OU meta that is ongoing, and well breeding my team members for each team that I would like to try.

Gen 4 after watching Killer Nacho and Utton's videos

Gen 2 initially in 2001 until about late 2003 (yes im a dinosaur lol).

Missed most of advance and came back in late 2006/ early 2007 for DP. :) Watching Marriland on youtube actually got me back into it in 2007.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kBIFllIA8Q

Good lord this brings back memories.....

This was the original video that got me back into it, he re-uploaded this vid later. Wifi was all new and shiny back then, we never had anything like it before and i wanted to battle people.

A guy on youtube called MtgXerxes (also in 2007) also got me thinking a little bit better about how i built teams. Basically his play by play style commentary on his wifi battle highlighted predictions, risk vs reward, sets, how to think strategically etc after i watched his vids and...... the rest is history. :P

I got into competitive battling when I was a kid and initially played the red and blue versions. It was great to meet up with a kid from the neighborhood, link up, and battle right then and there! This was the beginning of it all and what led me to a journey to become the very best, like no one every was. You see, to catch them is my real test BUT to train them is my cause... I've travelled across the land, searching far and wide. I've done all I can to teach pokemon to understand the power they hold inside...

😉