The young buck vs the old lion: GGFan vs Shuveit - 12/02

[GGFan]

This is the oldest log that I have, and only one of a few that have survived antiquity. It was a highly controversial battle between myself and Shuveit, a respected player who has since faded into obscurity. While I still remember a few turns clearly, I've never really analyzed this game until now.

Background information

After advancing into the semi-finals of TOS, I wanted to get as much experience as possible before the big game against Syberia. Wanting to play the best and prove myself, I found out about Shuveit, who accepted my challenge--under the condition that he use a BL team. In retrospect I assume he did this in order to make an example out of me, but I felt that my win wouldn't mean any less just because he willingly put himself at a disadvantage.

- - GGFan_is_god's STARMIE used BLIZZARD!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's TANGELA at 39% health.
ShuveitX's TANGELA used SLEEP POWDER!
GGFan_is_god's STARMIE fell asleep!
GGFan_is_god's STARMIE at 100% health.
- STARMIE is asleep.

Green as I was, I still recognized what an amazing lead Starmie is.

ShuveitX's TANGELA at 39% health.
ShuveitX's TANGELA used GROWTH!
ShuveitX's TANGELA's special rose!
GGFan_is_god's STARMIE at 100% health.
- STARMIE is asleep.
STARMIE woke up!
ShuveitX's TANGELA at 39% health.
ShuveitX's TANGELA used GROWTH!
ShuveitX's TANGELA's special rose!
GGFan_is_god's STARMIE at 100% health.
- GGFan_is_god's STARMIE used THUNDER WAVE!
ShuveitX's TANGELA was paralyzed!
ShuveitX's TANGELA at 39% health.
ShuveitX's TANGELA used MEGA DRAIN!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's TANGELA snarfed up some life!
ShuveitX's TANGELA at 69% health.
GGFan_is_god's STARMIE at 36% health.
- GGFan_is_god's STARMIE used BLIZZARD!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's TANGELA at 40% health.
TANGELA is fully paralyzed!
GGFan_is_god's STARMIE at 36% health.
- GGFan_is_god's STARMIE used BLIZZARD!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's TANGELA at 11% health.
TANGELA is fully paralyzed!
GGFan_is_god's STARMIE at 36% health.
GGFan_is_god's STARMIE used BLIZZARD!
It's super effective!
TANGELA fainted!

I'm ambivalent when it comes to my decision of keeping in Starmie. It probably would have been a much better idea to switch in Chansey, but I could have also done that if it used Growth some more. Keeping Starmie in after it woke up was definitely the right decision, though, as I considered it my ideal sleep bait, even back then.

6-5 GGFan

ShuveitX took out TANGELA!
ShuveitX sent out CLEFABLE!
GGFan_is_god's STARMIE used THUNDER WAVE!
ShuveitX's CLEFABLE was paralyzed!
ShuveitX's CLEFABLE at 100% health.
ShuveitX's CLEFABLE used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
STARMIE fainted!

Chansey would have been a good switch-in here, but I may have considered the possibility that Clefable had Body Slam. Going to Exeggutor probably would have been the best decision.

5-5 tie

GGFan_is_god took out STARMIE!
GGFan_is_god sent out GOLEM!
- ShuveitX took out CLEFABLE!
ShuveitX sent out GYARADOS!
GGFan_is_god's GOLEM at 100% health.
GGFan_is_god's GOLEM used EARTHQUAKE!
It doesn't affect ShuveitX's GYARADOS!
ShuveitX's GYARADOS at 100% health.
- GGFan_is_god took out GOLEM!
GGFan_is_god sent out SLOWBRO!
ShuveitX's GYARADOS at 100% health.
ShuveitX's GYARADOS used BLIZZARD!
It's not very effective.
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 86% health.
- GGFan_is_god took out SLOWBRO!
GGFan_is_god sent out GOLEM!
ShuveitX's GYARADOS at 100% health.
ShuveitX's GYARADOS used THUNDERBOLT!
It doesn't affect GGFan_is_god's GOLEM!
GGFan_is_god's GOLEM at 100% health.
ShuveitX's GYARADOS used SURF!
It's super effective!
GOLEM fainted!

This is one of the exchanges that I still remember. It was an "interesting" idea to have Golem come in, but I don't know what the hell I was thinking by having it stay. I should have at least had Slowbro use Thunder Wave, eat the Thunderbolt, and then have Golem come in to threaten Gyarados.

5-4 Shuveit

GGFan_is_god took out GOLEM!
GGFan_is_god sent out TAUROS!
- GGFan_is_god's TAUROS used BODY SLAM!
ShuveitX's GYARADOS was paralyzed!
ShuveitX's GYARADOS at 72% health.
ShuveitX's GYARADOS used SURF!
Critical hit!
GGFan_is_god's TAUROS at 17% health.
GGFan_is_god's TAUROS used HYPER BEAM!
ShuveitX's GYARADOS at 21% health.
ShuveitX's GYARADOS used BODY SLAM!
TAUROS fainted!

Chansey should have definitely come in instead of Tauros, but I could have killed Gyarados if not for the crit Surf. I consider this another mistake indicative of my inexperience.

5-3 Shuveit

GGFan_is_god took out TAUROS!
GGFan_is_god sent out EXEGGUTOR!
GGFan_is_god's EXEGGUTOR used PSYCHIC!
ShuveitX's GYARADOS's special fell!
GYARADOS fainted!

4-3 Shuveit

ShuveitX took out GYARADOS!
ShuveitX sent out CLEFABLE!
- GGFan_is_god's EXEGGUTOR used PSYCHIC!
ShuveitX's CLEFABLE at 66% health.
ShuveitX's CLEFABLE used THUNDER WAVE!
GGFan_is_god's EXEGGUTOR was paralyzed!
GGFan_is_god's EXEGGUTOR at 100% health.
- ShuveitX's CLEFABLE used BLIZZARD!
It's super effective!
GGFan_is_god's EXEGGUTOR at 61% health.
GGFan_is_god's EXEGGUTOR used PSYCHIC!
ShuveitX's CLEFABLE at 29% health.
ShuveitX's CLEFABLE used BLIZZARD!
It missed!
GGFan_is_god's EXEGGUTOR at 61% health.
GGFan_is_god's EXEGGUTOR used PSYCHIC!
Critical hit!
ShuveitX's CLEFABLE's special fell!
CLEFABLE fainted!

The Blizzard miss made a huge difference here. Had it connected, I would have had to send out either Slowbro or Chansey. Chansey probably would have taken a Thunder Wave, which would have given his next Pokemon a much higher chance of sweeping me. If I sent out Slowbro, he could have switched out and the game would come down to whom would land the lucky freeze.

3-3 tie

ShuveitX took out CLEFABLE!
ShuveitX sent out GOLDUCK!
- ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used AMNESIA!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK's special greatly rose!
GGFan_is_god's EXEGGUTOR at 61% health.
EXEGGUTOR is fully paralyzed!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 100% health.
- ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used ICE BEAM!
It's super effective!
GGFan_is_god's EXEGGUTOR at 6% health.
EXEGGUTOR is fully paralyzed!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 100% health.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used SURF!
Critical hit!
It's not very effective.
EXEGGUTOR fainted!

These two consecutive fps were brutal, but I probably should have switched in Chansey in the first place.

3-2 Shuveit

GGFan_is_god took out EXEGGUTOR!
GGFan_is_god sent out CHANSEY!
- ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used AMNESIA!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK's special greatly rose!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 100% health.
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDER WAVE!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK was paralyzed!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 100% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 82% health.

A crit T-Bolt was obviously my best chance at this point. Luckily (at least here), Golduck can't learn Thunder Wave, so my chances were at least decent.

GOLDUCK is fully paralyzed!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 100% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 65% health.
GOLDUCK is fully paralyzed!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 100% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 47% health.
GOLDUCK is fully paralyzed!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 100% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 29% health.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used REST!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK started sleeping!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK regained health!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 100% health.
- ShuveitX's GOLDUCK is asleep.
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 100% health.
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 83% health.
- ShuveitX's GOLDUCK woke up!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 100% health.
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 66% health.
- ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used AMNESIA!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK's special greatly rose!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 100% health.
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDER WAVE!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK was paralyzed!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 66% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 52% health.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used SURF!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 48% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used SOFTBOILED!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY heals itself!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 98% health.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 52% health.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used SURF!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 42% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used SOFTBOILED!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY heals itself!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 92% health.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 52% health.
GOLDUCK is fully paralyzed!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 92% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 38% health.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used SURF!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 42% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used SOFTBOILED!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY heals itself!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 92% health.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 38% health.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used REST!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK started sleeping!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK regained health!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 92% health.
- ShuveitX's GOLDUCK is asleep.
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 92% health.
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 86% health.
- ShuveitX's GOLDUCK woke up!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 92% health.
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDER WAVE!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK was paralyzed!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 86% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 73% health.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used ICE BEAM!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 58% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 59% health.
GOLDUCK is fully paralyzed!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 58% health.
- GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used THUNDERBOLT!
It's super effective!
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 44% health.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK used SURF!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 10% health.
- ShuveitX took out GOLDUCK!
ShuveitX sent out KANGASKHAN!

12 Thunderbolts, no crit. However, Golduck left the battlefield nearly dead, so I didn't have to worry about a freeze war.

GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 10% health.
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY used SOFTBOILED!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY heals itself!
GGFan_is_god's CHANSEY at 60% health.
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN at 100% health.
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN used HYPER BEAM!
CHANSEY fainted!
GGFan_is_god took out CHANSEY!
GGFan_is_god sent out SLOWBRO!

Now the stage was set for Slowbro. When I had discovered Slowbro, I thought it was the best Pokemon in the game. I always tried to save it for last, which is what happened here.

3-1 Shuveit

- ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN used BODY SLAM!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 61% health.
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO used THUNDER WAVE!
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN was paralyzed!
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN at 100% health.
- GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO used AMNESIA!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO's special greatly rose!
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN at 100% health.
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN used BODY SLAM!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 38% health.
- GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO used REST!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO started sleeping!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO regained health!
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN at 100% health.
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN used HYPER BEAM!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 59% health.
- GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO is asleep.
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN at 100% health.
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN must recharge!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 59% health.
- GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO woke up!
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN at 100% health.
KANGASKHAN is fully paralyzed!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 59% health.
- GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO used AMNESIA!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO's special greatly rose!
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN at 100% health.
ShuveitX's KANGASKHAN used BODY SLAM!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 35% health.
- ShuveitX took out KANGASKHAN!
ShuveitX sent out PINSIR!

Barring a crit, there wasn't much Kangaskhan could do, especially since it was paralyzed. Shuveit sent out his trump card, which made me think the game was over.

GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 35% health.
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO used REST!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO started sleeping!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO regained health!
ShuveitX's PINSIR at 100% health.
- ShuveitX's PINSIR used SWORDS DANCE!
ShuveitX's PINSIR's attack greatly rose!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 100% health.
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO is asleep.
ShuveitX's PINSIR at 100% health.
- ShuveitX's PINSIR used SWORDS DANCE!
ShuveitX's PINSIR's attack greatly rose!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 100% health.
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO woke up!
ShuveitX's PINSIR at 100% health.
- ShuveitX's PINSIR used HYPER BEAM!
It missed!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 100% health.
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO used THUNDER WAVE!
ShuveitX's PINSIR was paralyzed!
ShuveitX's PINSIR at 100% health.
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO used SURF!
PINSIR fainted!

2-1 Shuveit

This was the controversial exchange that people used against me. It seems like Shuveit should have won, but nobody realized (myself included) that Pinsir needs a near-max roll to OHKO a full-health Slowbro after two Swords Dances. Furthermore, given how I went 12 Thunderbolts without a crit, I'd say this was a prime example of Lady Fortune restoring balance to the RBY universe.


ShuveitX took out PINSIR!
ShuveitX sent out KANGASKHAN!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO used SURF!
KANGASKHAN fainted!
ShuveitX took out KANGASKHAN!
ShuveitX sent out GOLDUCK!
- GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO used SURF!
It's not very effective.
ShuveitX's GOLDUCK at 1% health.
GOLDUCK is fully paralyzed!
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO at 100% health.
GGFan_is_god's SLOWBRO used SURF!
It's not very effective.
GOLDUCK fainted!

1-0 GGFan

Overall, his team had a major Slowbro weakness, and he was the one who decided to use this inferior team in the first place. If you willingly put yourself at a disadvantage and lose, you have no excuses--in my opinion, of course.

In regard to my play, I don't think it was as bad as I thought. One could easily tell that I had a lot to learn, but I still held my own against the older, far more accomplished player. I played Slowbro judiciously enough, rather than throwing him out there too early and losing because of impetuosity. I'd say I was average here, if not a bit below.

[jorgen]

Let's stop bickering please.

As to the battle, GGFan, what sim was this played on? And the BL team you played against actually looks kind of cool, save for Pinsir. I'd have used Hypno or something there. Mr Mime, even, if Hypno was deemed too good for such a team.

Not sure I'd class his team as especially Slowbro-weak; although the lack of Exploders gives him no emergency valve to combat it, at least his Resting Golduck and Growth/MD Tangela should be able to stall it, his Gyarados should be able to go for Tbolts, and Pinsir/Kangaskhan can hit it hard Physically.

[GGFan]

The game was played on Azureheights.

It was an interesting team, sure, and one that I hadn't been exposed to. I remember dabbling into UU/BL shortly after this battle.