Dark_Force
Well-Known Member
In RBY, the metagame was a very unbalanced one, with psychic types being almost impossible to counter. There were also many glitches which some people used to take advantage of. Also, speed increased critical hit rate, so speedy pokemon like persian were useful then. The metagame wasn't very varied, so many teams were very similar.
In GSC, this completely changed. Now, thanks to pokemon like Blissey and suicune, the metagame became a very defensive, stallish one. Prediction was key in Battles, and with poor predicution on both Battles could even last over 150 turns on things like Netbattle, if neither team could put a dent in the other.
When Ruby/Sapphire came out (before frlg and the rest of the kanto/johto pokemon) this changed once again. Now, thanks to EVs, a team of stallers and annoyers was not as effective as sweepers and other pokemon. Since only 200 pokemon were available, teams were very similar, with metagross and salamence being must-have pokemon on any offensive teams. Pokemon classed as underused now, such as zangoose and co., were very effective in the original rs 200. This was a very fast-pased, offensive metagame
Emerald, LeafGreen and FireRed reintroduced us to all the pokemon missing from rs, including all the annoyers and tanks from before. This means that the metagame was slightly less offensive, but not as slow as the gsc metagame. Since there are now so many pokemon, it is very hard to make a team that can counter all of them, so offensive teams still rule the roost.
With Diamond and Pearl, i expect many new offensive-and defensive-pokemon to be introduced, changing the metagame. Many new type-combos will mean some very powerful pokemon in the current metagame may be slightly less useful. The metagame will probably remain very offensive, but with pokemon that make playing even slightly defensive possible.
How do you think DP will affect the metagame?
~DF~
In GSC, this completely changed. Now, thanks to pokemon like Blissey and suicune, the metagame became a very defensive, stallish one. Prediction was key in Battles, and with poor predicution on both Battles could even last over 150 turns on things like Netbattle, if neither team could put a dent in the other.
When Ruby/Sapphire came out (before frlg and the rest of the kanto/johto pokemon) this changed once again. Now, thanks to EVs, a team of stallers and annoyers was not as effective as sweepers and other pokemon. Since only 200 pokemon were available, teams were very similar, with metagross and salamence being must-have pokemon on any offensive teams. Pokemon classed as underused now, such as zangoose and co., were very effective in the original rs 200. This was a very fast-pased, offensive metagame
Emerald, LeafGreen and FireRed reintroduced us to all the pokemon missing from rs, including all the annoyers and tanks from before. This means that the metagame was slightly less offensive, but not as slow as the gsc metagame. Since there are now so many pokemon, it is very hard to make a team that can counter all of them, so offensive teams still rule the roost.
With Diamond and Pearl, i expect many new offensive-and defensive-pokemon to be introduced, changing the metagame. Many new type-combos will mean some very powerful pokemon in the current metagame may be slightly less useful. The metagame will probably remain very offensive, but with pokemon that make playing even slightly defensive possible.
How do you think DP will affect the metagame?
~DF~