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A Guide to Competitive Pokémon Battling: Intro

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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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Sony is reportedly engaged in discussions to form a partnership for a potential bid on Paramount

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There hasn’t been much buzz lately about any new acquisitions in the world of video game intellectual property. According to a recent report, Sony is currently engaged in discussions with a well-funded partner to potentially acquire the renowned film studio Paramount, along with all the exciting possibilities that come with such a merger.

As reported in the New York Times (thanks, ResetEra), Sony Picture Entertainment is reportedly in discussions with Apollo Global Management, an investment firm, as per two sources familiar with the matter. In the past, Apollo had made an offer to acquire Paramount for a minimum of $26 billion, but their bid was ultimately turned down.

The terms of the joint bid are currently under discussion, and there is a chance that the two parties may decide against making a formal offer. Unnamed sources have revealed that Paramount is currently in exclusive discussions with Skydance, preventing any official offer from being made at this time. Investor opposition to the recent deal that Skydance brought seems to have been significant.

The potential impact of such an acquisition is immense. First and foremost, it would introduce adaptations of Sonic and Halo into the expanding media empire of the PlayStation platform holder. Following the announcement, Paramount’s stock experienced a significant 11% surge in after-hours trading.

What are your thoughts on the news? Is there a possibility of Sony acquiring Paramount? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Helldivers 2 Players Face Overwhelming Hordes of Factory Striders

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In the ongoing conflict against the Automaton invasion fleet, the Helldivers 2 players have successfully halted their advance. However, the situation has now reached a tiresome stalemate. Yet again, the machines refuse to take a break from their relentless pursuit of progress, with reports emerging of the Factory Striders being deployed in record-breaking quantities.

There have been reports of alleged machines that were supposedly encountered during Operation Swift Disassembly, which was just the beginning of a larger campaign. However, these accounts should be taken with a grain of salt, as they are unverified and seem to be more on the imaginative side. Factory Striders have gained a reputation as formidable weapons platforms that can produce more Automatons while enduring significant damage. If the machines are able to withstand such a relentless assault, it will be necessary to develop innovative strategies.

Have you come across groups of Factory Striders in Helldivers 2? Which strategies are proving to be the most effective in taking down these armored brutes? The Orbital Railcannon Strike will prove to be a valuable asset in the comments section below.

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Todd Howard affirms that the timeline of the Fallout series is coherent and well-constructed

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The recent release of Amazon’s adaptation of Fallout has ignited a renewed interest in the series and brought attention to the captivating alternate history that forms its foundation. Fans have expressed concern that the TV show’s events might be at odds with the plot of the Obsidian Entertainment video game New Vegas. Warning: Spoilers ahead for New Vegas and Amazon’s show!

Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard and Fallout TV executive producer Jonathan Nolan recently sat down with IGN to discuss the timeline. Howard was taken aback when showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet presented him with the surprising concept of obliterating Shady Sands, the bustling capital of the New California Republic, in the aftermath of the events in New Vegas. Howard eventually warmed up to the idea: “After discussing it, we realized that this could be a significant story moment that many things hinge upon.”

It seems that they had to make some tough decisions to ensure everything fell into place, but Howard emphasizes the importance of preserving the integrity of the Fallout timeline: “We take great care with the timeline. There seems to be some confusion in certain areas. However, all the events from the previous games, including New Vegas, did occur. We take great caution in that matter. We’re really pushing the limits here, but the explosions occur right after the events of New Vegas.

What are your thoughts on this? Is it up to par? Even though it may not have a significant impact on the overall quality of the games or show, it is comforting to know that those in charge are paying attention. We value your feedback and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

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