Seeing as how there has been some policy discussion on the combination of No Guard and confusion inducing moves lately, I thought I'd throw in a recent experience I had with it in the OU environment (Random Battle). Even though it isn't my own bad luck in this case, the replay illustrates quite nicely how this seemingly strategic game will often come down to random coinflips, and how even the best plays and team-match-up can't save you from the almighty RNG:
This replay features my first use of the terror known as Mega Pidgeot, which singlehandedly proceeded to hax its way through the opposing team, much to my opponent's dismay. Despite making all the right plays, he wasn't able to get a single hit off against the bird once it got into play safely. After losing four of his Pokemon to confusion and critical hits, he threw the game for understandable reasons.
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Anyway, there have already been several opinions in this thread stating that the absence of secondary effects can be counted as hax as well, and I generally agree with that sentiment (even though it was admittedly the choice of those users to take the gamble, making it somewhat less aggravating). Getting hit consistently after using Double Team, and not getting flinches with Serene Grace Air Slashes have already been mentioned as examples on the previous pages.
However, the following replay has to be one of the most amazing and miraculous thing's I've ever seen on Pokemon Showdown, and actually happened to a friend not too long ago:
Even though it can be fairly unreliable as seen in this replay, the move Scald is commonly used as a deterrent for physical attackers, and in most cases it fulfills that role rather well. Avoiding the Scald burn more than one time is already going against the odds, and can be considered as bad luck on the opponents part. The chances of avoiding a Scald burn for 24(!) turns as seen in this replay are extremely small, at under 0.02%. To put this into perspective, the opponent was twice as likely to find a shiny Pokemon on a random encounter than to not get a Scald burn after all those turns!
This replay features my first use of the terror known as Mega Pidgeot, which singlehandedly proceeded to hax its way through the opposing team, much to my opponent's dismay. Despite making all the right plays, he wasn't able to get a single hit off against the bird once it got into play safely. After losing four of his Pokemon to confusion and critical hits, he threw the game for understandable reasons.
Pidgeot used Hurricane!
The opposing Spiritomb lost 52.2% of its health!
The opposing Spiritomb became confused!
The opposing Spiritomb is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
Pidgeot used Roost!
Pidgeot restored its HP.
The opposing Spiritomb is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
Pidgeot used Hurricane!
The opposing Charizard lost 45.6% of its health!
The opposing Charizard became confused!
The opposing Charizard is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
The opposing Charizard fainted!
Pidgeot used Hurricane!
The opposing Vanilluxe lost 44.1% of its health!
The opposing Vanilluxe became confused!
The opposing Vanilluxe is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
The opposing Vanilluxe fainted!
Pidgeot used Hurricane!
A critical hit! The opposing Castform lost 87.3% of its health!
The opposing Castform became confused!
The opposing Castform is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
The opposing Spiritomb lost 52.2% of its health!
The opposing Spiritomb became confused!
The opposing Spiritomb is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
Pidgeot used Roost!
Pidgeot restored its HP.
The opposing Spiritomb is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
Pidgeot used Hurricane!
The opposing Charizard lost 45.6% of its health!
The opposing Charizard became confused!
The opposing Charizard is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
The opposing Charizard fainted!
Pidgeot used Hurricane!
The opposing Vanilluxe lost 44.1% of its health!
The opposing Vanilluxe became confused!
The opposing Vanilluxe is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
The opposing Vanilluxe fainted!
Pidgeot used Hurricane!
A critical hit! The opposing Castform lost 87.3% of its health!
The opposing Castform became confused!
The opposing Castform is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
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Anyway, there have already been several opinions in this thread stating that the absence of secondary effects can be counted as hax as well, and I generally agree with that sentiment (even though it was admittedly the choice of those users to take the gamble, making it somewhat less aggravating). Getting hit consistently after using Double Team, and not getting flinches with Serene Grace Air Slashes have already been mentioned as examples on the previous pages.
However, the following replay has to be one of the most amazing and miraculous thing's I've ever seen on Pokemon Showdown, and actually happened to a friend not too long ago:
Even though it can be fairly unreliable as seen in this replay, the move Scald is commonly used as a deterrent for physical attackers, and in most cases it fulfills that role rather well. Avoiding the Scald burn more than one time is already going against the odds, and can be considered as bad luck on the opponents part. The chances of avoiding a Scald burn for 24(!) turns as seen in this replay are extremely small, at under 0.02%. To put this into perspective, the opponent was twice as likely to find a shiny Pokemon on a random encounter than to not get a Scald burn after all those turns!
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