Gaming

A Guide to Competitive Pokémon Battling: Intro

Published

9 years ago

May 26, 2015

Yes, I am a self-professed Pokémon nerd. I’ve played all the games, have both versions of each game, and I can name every Pokémon by Pokédex order. Needless to say this has helped me pick up tones of babes.

As Pokémon is the second largest gaming franchise on the planet (second only to Mario) it makes sense that its competitive battling scene is simply huge. I quite often see a lot of people on the internet that are looking to get into Pokémon Battling, but see all these numbers and subsequently get scared out.

Which is why I’m doing this series to explain it in as simple terms as possible. First I want to address a controversial aspect of the competitive scene: tiers.

Smogon University is a website that opened in 2004, and its goal was to provide advice and strategies for competitive Pokémon battling. One of the things Smogon players use is a tier ranking, in which Pokémon are assorted based on the usage of Pokémon and their proficiency in battle in relation to their competitors.

For example, Salamence was largely outclassed in the fourth generation of Pokémon by Garchomp, as it was a faster threat that proved to be a more effective physical attacker, however Garchomp’s ability sand veil made it more difficult to hit in a sandstorm; this combined with its formidable speed and attacking power made it a little too difficult for some players to fight when on a sand team. As a result Garchomp was banned.

The banning of Pokémon for being too powerful is a large part of what Smogon has made controversial. Personally, I’m not pro-tier. I think that if you’re willing to send Sandslash out against Palkia then you deserve everything you get, however I can understand why some players want to be able to play competitively with Pokémon that they enjoy using without having to worry about getting outclassed by better Pokémon. For that reason my advice is, if you don’t like Smogon’s tiers, don’t use them, they don’t have any real authority over you and it’s completely your call.

Just don’t be surprised if people complain about your Darkrai destroying their team.

The next thing I want to explain is EVs and IVs as this is usually where players are put off of the competitive scene.

EVs or Effort values are points that go into your Pokémon’s stats based on what Pokémon they beat in battle, if you beat a magikarp you will get an EV point in speed, if you beat an Audino you will get one in HP etc. Every 4 EVs will give your Pokémon 1 additional point in the chosen stat.

Your Pokémon can have a maximum of 508 usable EVs and each stat can hold a maximum of 252 IVs. With Gen 6 introducing super training it is now far easier to understand:

Say you have a Pokémon like Jolteon, who is a speedy attacker, the common EV spread to maximise his usefulness would be 252 EVs in speed, and 252 in special attack as those are what he excels out, with either a modest or timid nature which would give a boost to his special attack or speed, while reducing his physical attack (which is fine because he won’t be using it).

So to create this Jolteon you would acquire an Eevee or Jolteon who has never battled before and has no EVs and play the super training mini game with your Pokémon until you have maximised their potential EVs. Here is a video explanation:

It really is that simple.

IVs or individual values are more akin to your Pokémon’s genetics, Pokémon will have a point between 1 and 31 as their IV in each of their stats, and the higher to 31 they are, the closer to the absolute max a Pokémon can have. Now the difference is not too drastic, but many people will selective breed their Pokémon for set IVs to make sure their Pokémon has the maximum advantage based on what they want it to do.

I’ve done it myself once with my Hydreigon, which has the absolute maximum special attack possible for that Pokémon. You don’t have to IV breed to stay competitive on the field, however there’s no reason not to if you want that extra competitive edge. However I will be the first to admit I’m not too knowledgeable when it comes to IV breeding so I would recommend you do additional research!

So these are just some of the basics, join me next time when I explain the basics of how to structure a team!

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I'm a writer based somewhere in the UK, I like fiction, dinosaurs, martial arts, holding hands and long walks on the beach.

Gaming

Helldivers 2 has quickly become one of Sony’s top-selling games in the US

Published

9 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Zach Riley

Helldivers 2 proved to be a surprising success, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry. As per Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, it currently ranks as Sony’s seventh highest grossing game in the United States to date, trailing behind a trio of Spider-Man titles, a couple of God of War games, and Ghost of Tsushima. It’s only been on the market for less than three months and is not even being sold at full price.

According to Piscatella, a significant factor contributing to the game’s success is its release on PC. He mentioned that, based on Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker, the game has consistently ranked first in terms of active users on Steam in the US since its launch, including April. The release of Helldivers 2 on both PlayStation and PC has been an extraordinary triumph.

He stated that Helldivers 2 has already become the seventh highest-grossing Sony-published game in history. Without a PC, it would not currently be considered one of the top 20 games. While I’m emphasizing the success of the PC SKU, it’s important to note that I’m not disregarding the success of the PlayStation SKU. I just wanted to clarify that. This launch has proven to be incredibly successful.

Prior to the release of Helldivers 2, Sony made it clear that they would be launching their live service-style titles simultaneously on both the PS5 and PC. The success of this approach will undoubtedly strengthen their strategic vision. It will be intriguing to witness if the company reveals official sales figures in the near future, as the title appears to be one of the platform holder’s most successful sellers to date.

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Gaming

The developer of Stellar Blade for the PS5 Expressing gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support amidst a recent controversy surrounding censorship

Published

9 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Zach Riley

Shift Up, the Korean developer, seems to be reconsidering its contentious alterations to the Stellar Blade outfit. In a message to fans, they have urged everyone to stay tuned for updates and expressed gratitude for the passionate feedback from players. For those who may not be aware, a petition gained significant attention over the weekend when gamers discovered changes made to a few of the game’s costumes through a day-one patch.

The launch day update includes a fantastic New Game + mode, but some players were disappointed by the changes made to protagonist Eve’s outfit. These alterations sparked debates about censorship. Director Hyung-Tae Kim later clarified that this was the studio’s original vision, but he acknowledged that it may require further persuasion to win over users. Internal discussions were also underway to address any concerns.

Thanks to all our Stellar Blade fans for your passion & feedback. Stay tuned for updates🤍 pic.twitter.com/jCRzM4OQBS

— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) May 1, 2024

There is no definitive confirmation regarding the reversal of the outfits, but considering the language used in the statement and the widespread controversy surrounding the alterations, it is highly likely that a future patch will restore the original costumes. If you want to get a sneak peek at all of Eve’s different outfits and learn how to unlock them, be sure to take a look at our comprehensive guide, All Outfits and How to Get Them.

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Gaming

Will Stellar Blade be available for PC?

Published

2 days ago

April 30, 2024

Zach Riley

It’s quite possible. Fans all over the world are interested in Shift Up’s highly anticipated action-adventure game, Stellar Blade. With its captivating post-apocalyptic setting reminiscent of Nier and a compelling protagonist named Eve, it’s no wonder the game has generated such widespread attention.

The game consistently impresses with its stunning visuals and high-octane action, leaving players in awe with each new trailer.

Yet, just like other noteworthy second-party and third-party game releases, fans are pondering: Will Stellar Blade be available on PC?

In this article, we delve into the details to determine the platform availability of the highly anticipated title.

Will Stellar Blade be available on PC? Allow me to provide you with the answer.

Unfortunately, Stellar Blade will not be available on PC, at least not initially. Currently, the game is only available on PlayStation 5 starting on April 26, 2024.

Regrettably, it appears that there is no indication of a potential PC release for Stellar Blade in the future. In most cases, trailers for PlayStation timed-exclusive titles conclude with a disclaimer that specifies the duration of their exclusivity.

In the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launch trailer, it is explicitly stated that the game will only be accessible on other platforms starting on May 29, 2024.

Regrettably, when it comes to the stellar blade, there is no indication of such.

It’s important to note that Sony Entertainment Interactive published Stellar Blade, unlike Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This means that the chances of it being released on PC or other platforms in the near future are even slimmer.

However, it is worth noting that there is a chance the game might be released on PC in the future, given PlayStation’s track record of bringing their exclusive titles to the platform. However, it could be a while before this comes to fruition.

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