Whats your biggest weakness as a player?

Started by ZeoStar December 14th, 2017 6:33 PM
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  • 27 replies

ZeoStar

Seen 4 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
11,403 posts
5.6 Years
I've reached 1800 on the Random Battle Showdown ladder. I'm wondering why I can't get this success on any of their real tiers. There's some sort of weakness I have, but I've yet to figure it out.

What do you consider your own biggest weakness as a player?
Age 25
Female
Seen June 19th, 2019
Posted March 5th, 2018
1,259 posts
13.7 Years
I don't know all the Pokémon's abilities, moves and setups by heart. This just makes things harder for me because I often don't know what the opposite player is planning and I don't know what I can expect. With Pokémon I'm more familiar with I'm usually fine, so it's just a lack of knowledge.

wolf

he/him
Seen 15 Hours Ago
Posted October 23rd, 2022
8,259 posts
14.7 Years
I can be too passive and reactionary when I play, but I'm usually only like that when I'm out of practice.
Team building, not knowing the competitive scene and not knowing where to learn about the competitive scene
We have a lot of resources here if that helps any. :) There's a lot you can do to learn about the competitive scene. Check the moveset and overall usage stats as well as viability rankings for what's popular or viable. Review teams on Smogon's RMT section (or here) that have peaked on the ladder or seem to be successful. Watch replays of major PC or Smogon tournaments for team building ideas and to see how people play. A lot of it comes down to practice.
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noa

sleeping cutie

Age 30
Female
Seattle
Seen November 29th, 2020
Posted July 20th, 2020
5,474 posts
7.6 Years
I choke and panic a lot, especially when people are watching me. That or I'm too carelessly with my core Pokemon and let them die too quickly.

Megan

She/Her, It/Its
Online now
Posted 1 Hour Ago
17,751 posts
10.3 Years
I'm fascinated by the theoretical side of competitive battling. I like to ponder over team composition, team synergy, strategy, etc forever and ever. It's frustrating, but at the same time fun.

However I have no motivation to play, whatsoever. Even when I manage to build a team, I usually just go "I can test this later" and never actually do it.
I've reached 1800 on the Random Battle Showdown ladder. I'm wondering why I can't get this success on any of their real tiers. There's some sort of weakness I have, but I've yet to figure it out.
Your weakness is that you don't know how to play against good players. Play more on the actual ladders and you'll get better.
I choke and panic a lot, especially when people are watching me. That or I'm too carelessly with my core Pokemon and let them die too quickly.
Consider getting a coach. He can help you getting over your panic, can give you tips when you really need them and after a battle can help you analyze the match in order to figure out what you should do and what to avoid the next time. Also, play more: it helps you feel more secure with what you do.
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ZeoStar

Seen 4 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
11,403 posts
5.6 Years
I'm fascinated by the theoretical side of competitive battling. I like to ponder over team composition, team synergy, strategy, etc forever and ever. It's frustrating, but at the same time fun.

However I have no motivation to play, whatsoever. Even when I manage to build a team, I usually just go "I can test this later" and never actually do it.

Your weakness is that you don't know how to play against good players. Play more on the actual ladders and you'll get better.
The ladder has given me more problems than anything. It's matched me against multiple top players, including a #1 ranked player. Going against players so far ahead in skill hurts more than it helps when all I'm trying to do is learn.

I'm not improving by playing the low ladder either, as soon as I get past the unorthodox teams and get my chance against a real team, I'm pushed back down. It almost feels like a rigged system.

In fact, when I decided to give competitive a try for the first time, one of my first matches was against a #1 player using a stall team. It was dragged into nearly 100 turns and nothing beneficial comes from that.

I find systems that allow random match making to be better, and I've had great success on those. However I still like Showdown a lot, because I can experiment with anything and everything.

5qwerty

WHOLLY MOLEY

Male
Seen 4 Days Ago
Posted December 14th, 2022
2,012 posts
14.1 Years
The ladder has given me more problems than anything. It's matched me against multiple top players, including a #1 ranked player. Going against players so far ahead in skill hurts more than it helps when all I'm trying to do is learn.

I'm not improving by playing the low ladder either, as soon as I get past the unorthodox teams and get my chance against a real team, I'm pushed back down. It almost feels like a rigged system.
You can always ask one of us for practice matches or just to talk - that's one way of learning. Personally I watched some PokéTubers to learn the fastest, but everyone learns differently.

As for ranking, don't worry about it too much. Player ranks raise and drop all the time - once you reach a certain level of consistency your chances of beating the "rank 1" player is as high as his chances of beating you. The ladder isn't even a good measurement of skill, as there are styles/teams that work better on the ladder.

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 1 Day Ago
Posted 1 Day Ago
I've reached 1800 on the Random Battle Showdown ladder. I'm wondering why I can't get this success on any of their real tiers. There's some sort of weakness I have, but I've yet to figure it out.

What do you consider your own biggest weakness as a player?
If you don't have a problem in random but you do in other metas, maybe team building is a big problem? That's the biggest difference there, so it'd make sense to look at that if you want to do better elsewhere.

Honestly, my biggest problem is consistency. I get distracted by other interests and things so my competitive battling comes in phases. By the time I'm actually getting half decent I fall off and stop for a while and then when I come back the meta has changed or something and I'm rusty and I have to learn all over again.
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ZeoStar

Seen 4 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
11,403 posts
5.6 Years
If you don't have a problem in random but you do in other metas, maybe team building is a big problem? That's the biggest difference there, so it'd make sense to look at that if you want to do better elsewhere.

Honestly, my biggest problem is consistency. I get distracted by other interests and things so my competitive battling comes in phases. By the time I'm actually getting half decent I fall off and stop for a while and then when I come back the meta has changed or something and I'm rusty and I have to learn all over again.
I've improved a lot since I created this topic. I found out my problem, and I was building teams where I would just throw things together, instead of properly building around something.

I'm still not a great player by any means, but before I could barely win at all, even on the very bottom of the ladder. This time I was able to make top 300 on the UU suspect test with over 70% GXE.

Right now I've been playing around with a Mega Pidgeot team I created, and I've been having lots of fun using it

(This is a replay of it if your interest in seeing) https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen7uususpecttest-699214094

ViolentCharizard14

The Violent One

Male
India
Seen June 12th, 2018
Posted February 6th, 2018
22 posts
6.4 Years
Freaking Fairy types always beating my team -_-
I don't have a problem with Fairy types but how can they beat Dragon types? Just Think about it a little fairy beating a huge fire breathing dragon.
"Feel The Power Burning In Your Heart"

Leòmhann teine

Age 22
Male
Seen April 6th, 2018
Posted March 8th, 2018
368 posts
8.8 Years
I get tunnel vision easily and focus too much on what is already on the field instead of anticipating a switch. I also don’t have most of the competitive set ups memorized at all and I tend to do things like putting Luxray on my team instead of something good like Rotom Wash.

Shiny Pokemon I have caught: Rapidash (SS), Linoone (E), Spinda (E), Bibarel (Pt), Weedle (FR), Garbodor (X), Chansey(x5) (X), Audino(x2) (X), Flechinder (Mn), Whiscash (Mn), Magby (Mn), Caterpie (X)

Hall of Fame Post
Male
Terryville, Connecticut
Seen March 6th, 2018
Posted February 28th, 2018
53 posts
5.6 Years
I use a Monotype Steel Team which has done well in some competitive battles, monthly competitions, and the Battle Tree, utilizing my favorite Pokemon. Probopass, Klefki, Bronzong, Ferrothorn, Forretress and Mega-Steelix; I also sub in Magnezone for sheer power and Aegislash for some great physical wearing-down. I've also gotten over my pride, somewhat, on not using Legendaries, but mostly to give Celesteela a go.

As a result, Fire, Fighting and Ground attacks are the bane of my existence, lol, but I have plenty of tactics on dealing with those shortcomings, since I've compiled my weaknesses and adjusted my team to deal with them accordingly.

Personally, my weakness is likely being stubborn about not using pokemon because they're super high ranked on Smogon uber tiers or whatever; I fine-trim my EVs and IVs, natures and such to optimize their combat potential, but I usually stick to the things I like in order to be successful. Gaming should be about having fun, right? Also, I usually think Legendaries are cheap and too frequent online for easy wins, so I usually don't use them.

I think Celesteela is cool though, in terms of design, appearance, and playstyle. That's as far as I may go though!

ZeoStar

Seen 4 Hours Ago
Posted 16 Hours Ago
11,403 posts
5.6 Years
Now that I play somewhat decent, my biggest problem now is knowing when to quit.

It's impossible to autopilot through matches, especially in the 1400-1500's.

Also, It's hard to know when to predict and not to predict, sometimes one over prediction can lose you an entire game.
Male
Hoenn Region
Seen November 16th, 2020
Posted November 16th, 2020
43 posts
5.1 Years
I lack background knowledge of tiers and competitive sets such as offensive or defensive or spreading both together. I recognize OU, RU, or UU but do not know how to make an effective and balance team set. For instance, I would much love to reach Battle № 50 in the Battle Tree against the legendary Red or Blue for both SM and USUM but I only reach to 29, then have to start from the beginning. For Showdown, I have intense, yet satisfying battles but lose because I do not add any legendary or mythical pokemon as many people do (Note: I play just standard 6 v 6 7th Gen). Any who, I keep a persistent mind-set and change my move-sets, natures, and abilities of my MONS. I have some saved battle footage recorded in Moon but need an audio adapter to record the sound onto my phone. My laptop does not have an audio adapter, so my AUX cable is useless at the moment. When I do afford one I will share my battle and experience on a thread.

gimmepie

Age 27
Male
Australia
Seen 1 Day Ago
Posted 1 Day Ago
I lack background knowledge of tiers and competitive sets such as offensive or defensive or spreading both together. I recognize OU, RU, or UU but do not know how to make an effective and balance team set. For instance, I would much love to reach Battle № 50 in the Battle Tree against the legendary Red or Blue for both SM and USUM but I only reach to 29, then have to start from the beginning. For Showdown, I have intense, yet satisfying battles but lose because I do not add any legendary or mythical pokemon as many people do (Note: I play just standard 6 v 6 7th Gen). Any who, I keep a persistent mind-set and change my move-sets, natures, and abilities of my MONS. I have some saved battle footage recorded in Moon but need an audio adapter to record the sound onto my phone. My laptop does not have an audio adapter, so my AUX cable is useless at the moment. When I do afford one I will share my battle and experience on a thread.
Not using legendaries hurts you but it's possible to manage I guess. It's a bit silly a mindset to have though imo, since most of the legendary mon in OU and below are worse than several of the regular mon available.
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