Dan Battle Commentary

https://pokepast.es/eef35bae330d4129

Turn 1 - Zapdos vs Skarmory

Since Skarmory is extremely afraid of the possibility of Zapdos Thunderbolt, it's extremely likely he switches it out here. The risk / reward here is pretty bad, and that helps me keep spikes off at the start of the match. What I want to do here, is use Light Screen. I don't know what's coming in - Blissey is the most likely thing, but could be something like Tyranitar, Swampert, Snorlax, Celebi, even Regice... any sort of electric check, but against a number of those Light Screen helps me get some spikes up, and vs the rest I can bring in hariyama very safely and start firing off Knock Offs.

Turn 2 - Zapdos vs Blissey, LS up.

As expected, Blissey switches in. This is fine for my team as blissey is a very safe switch-in for Hariyama. While I don't get spikes up here (where something like lax, pert, or cele might have enabled me to), I get to bring in Yama and Knock Off. Either I Knock Off skarmory, which helps me take it out of the picture and prevent it from spiking too aggressively, or I can find something new, get more information, and plan appropriately.

Turn 3 - Yama vs Blissey

Interesting! Wish to prevent me from generating any offensive momentum here, but since my goal is to knock off items with this thing, it doesn't really stop me doing my job. The choice is between Whirlwind and Knock Off. Knock Off is a universally great move, but Whirlwind lets me scout out more of the team. However, there's quite a luck-based element to that, as it could draw in something unpleasant like aerodactyl or metagross (which could easily be seen on this team), so getting the knock off seems safer. This team mitigates spikes by the fact that Zapdos and Skarmory aren't grounded, jirachi has wish, and pursuit tar and dugtrio aren't too heavily affected by spikes as they shouldn't be switching in repeatedly.

Turn 4 - Yama vs Zapdos

There's more options available to me on this turn... I can whirlwind to try and scout out more of the team (skarmbliss is an extremely generic combination to say the least... for good reason, it's great, but it gives me very little information to work with), or I can go to another pokemon to put on the pressure. My options would be Zapdos or Jirachi. Zapdos doesn't force in anything new, in fact blissey comes in again and that sets up a negative loop for me with spikes down. Jirachi also doesn't make much headway, as blissey could easily stop it in its tracks. So the best option for now is to Whirlwind. Drill Peck could be on his Skarmory, but even if he has it it's unlikely he'd use it here, as that first layer of spikes is extremely important to get up early on.

Turn 5 - Yama vs TTar

Ttar, the most generic thing I could drag in, haha. It still doesn't give me more information to work with, but it gives me another whirlwind to work with. The risk reward is way too bad here to stay in, as Hariyama can OHKO ttar quite easily (or do upwards of 90% even to bulky variants anyway), and Hariyama can take Tyranitar's hits well enough. I expect Skarmory to come in here again, since he wants to get up more spikes layers, and it can take a Brick Break without any issue. It's also already been knocked off, and he doesnt want to see more pokemon knocked off.

Also of note, Light Screen wears off next turn, but that's not hugely important.

Turn 6 - Yama vs TTar

Same matchup, same logic applies, albeit this time he's seen that I'm willing to whirlwind here. Still, I think the risk/reward is too bad for him to risk staying in should I get cheeky.

Turn 7 - Yama vs Gengar

From an information perspective, this is quite important. It's extremely clear here, I'm facing some sort of classic TSS. It still doesn't tell me what on earth is in the other 2 slots - there needs to be a rock resist but beyond that there's not a huge amount of restrictions, all things considered.

I have a pursuit tyranitar, but I don't know if I should bring it in here. I feel like the likeliest play is switching in Skarmory once again, trying to catch me using Knock Off.

This is a super interesting turn... I wish I had Guts (I unthinkingly left Thick Fat on it!)

Anyway, let's think about this under the assumption I do have guts, because he is going to think about it that way too. Assuming it is guts, there's almost nothing Gengar can really do to me at this point that's worth it for him. Hariyama is very bulky and Gengar hates taking unnecessary hits, as that prevents it from doing its job, especially Knock Off... it could easily die from sand later on, preventing it from sweeping. So he is almost certainly bringing Skarmory in again, the question is, do I continue to press Whirlwind, or at some point do I bring in a pokemon? Zapdos lets me set up light screen which could then enable me to get spikes up against blissey, which I think is a move I have to make at some point. Still, I am really interested to know the rest of his team and see what I'm up against first. It's clear Hariyama can sit and press whirlwind very comfortably against his team while Spikes aren't up.

Turn 8 - Zapdos vs Gengar (!)

Thinking about that turn in more depth, I understand why WoW is the play. My hariyama needs to be put on a timer, even if that means activating guts. It stops me phazing around indefinitely and forces me to enter a different position, letting him leverage the spikes and sand.

On a team like this, I imagine gengar will be quite bulky, but I don't know how afraid he is of staying in on Zapdos. He could easily consider going blissey, and it's a really safe move for him, but staying in with Gengar and attacking isn't too risky for him either, getting some useful chip on my zapdos.

I feel like he'll feel like he's slightly ahead at this point and want to play things safe, rather than try and push the advantage further, so I expect him to go blissey. I'm not bringing Hariyama back in, the downside is too big, but if he stays in with Gengar I will be frustrated. There isn't a good midground here for both gengar and blissey, so I am going to call it being blissey and use Light Screen so I can take the opportunity to get a layer of spikes up of my own. The next time hariyama draws in gengar, I want to bring tyranitar in to trap it, so I can keep pushing for chip damage with Hariyama.

Turn 9 - Zapdos vs Blissey

It's nice knowing your opponent :) The damage on zapdos sucks, but it is what it is. I can get up my Spikes now. The only thing to think about is, if he has Thunder Wave or Toxic, does he use them here, or does he just go Wish? Thunder Wave seems quite counterproductive for him against Hariyama, and doesn't progress things against Zapdos, but if he thinks Skarmory is coming in maybe he'll take the risk. I think it's more likely that if he has Toxic he will use it, because I think he values putting Hariyama on a timer. Thunder Wave is the only thing to really fear here from Skarmory... except for a Gengar double. But if that happens, at least I can get tyranitar in? Hmm. That's the most scary way the battle could go right now.

Turn 10 - Skarmory vs Skarmory

Hmm.

I have a lot of ideas here.

I think at this point, he has no fear about a possible magneton, and he wanted to cover a hariyama switch-in, and this covers it perfectly, letting him push the game forward.

If he has Taunt, then, he's using it here. And not only that, I think Taunt is a reasonably likely move for him to carry. This is really tricky...

I feel like this game has suddenly gone downhill quite fast. Blissey is where I want to get my spikes up here, and I can't seem to keep it in for long enough to capitalise.

If he taunts, even switching out to Zapdos or Jirachi doesn't make a huge difference. Neither can really make progress here, although either could potentially force in Blissey.

I think if he doesn't have taunt, then the 2nd spikes layer is not hugely valuable, he could get it later, and maybe the best option is to put pressure on with Gengar... though with Light Screen up it's only threatening me with WoW.

Jirachi covers both plays reasonably well, as they should scare out whatever comes in, and bring in something that Skarmory can go for a layer on.

Turn 11 - Jirachi vs Skarmory

I'm glad I didn't risk it. I suspected that he would be carrying that. It's not a great position but I feel like blissey or tyranitar is obliged to come in here. I could Body Slam to try and put some pressure on... I think it's quite transparent though that I want to force in tyranitar or blissey again.

My choice is really, Body Slam, Thunderbolt, or Skarmory. I don't think staying in here is worth it at all for Skarmory, as Jirachi with electric moves is not exactly uncommon, and he can get the layers up easily enough later against hariyama... still. It's really hard to actually rule it out. I know I can only 3HKO him here, and I also think he wants to prevent me from getting any offense of my own going as hard as possible...

I feel like Body Slam is the least risky option and I don't want to fall farther behind. Once I can get Skarmory in, things can start looking up, and I need to start pressuring him a little bit...

Damn I wish I had all day to think about some of these turns! haha.

Turn 12 - Jirachi vs TTar

So, he does bring in TTar here. That tells me, well, his first response to Jirachi is Tyranitar, not Blissey. In tandem with Wish it tells me his Blissey is probably quite poor against some of the more dangerous Jirachi variants, like SubCM or WishCM, and here he needs to ensure he can put pressure on it. That tyranitar is very likely physical, as it's his response to the threat of Jirachi.

It's not Choice Band, and I'm physically bulky, so I can stay in if I want. I don't want Skarmory coming back in on my own Skarmory or Hariyama again, trying to exploit this tyranitar. If he stays in and clicks earthquake, he is giving my Skarmory the room it needs, but it also prevents my Jirachi from getting going... however, he knows that since I have Body Slam, I almost certainly lack Psychic, meaning Gengar can at least come in and burn me to put pressure on me in tandem with spikes. But I can't bring in pursuit tar here... I am in a rock and a hard place again, there is no way to hedge against both TTar EQ and Gengar switching in, but the closest thing to it is using Wish.

However, since it is a version of AstaRachi, I do expect he'll bring in Gengar and I think the risk is worth trying to catch it this early on with pursuit tar.

Turn 13 - TTar vs Skarmory

He understood Jirachi couldn't do any damage there against his TTar, and he expected Hariyama to come in... so he prevented me from advancing with Skarmory. I would have thought Gengar a better play there, but it's still far from a bad one.

My tyranitar threatens here with Fire Blast, though since I am pursuit tar this thing is faster. Still, any damage I get will stick and that helps hariyama cause problems later. Also, a turn of leftovers recovery and I'm good as new and at least getting off a fire blast advances the game for me, getting some permanent and important damage.

Turn 14 - TTar vs Skarmory

That was a huge chunk of permanent damage on Skarmory, a nice sight to see! Now skarmory can't stop Hariyama from functioning, all it needs to really be dangerous now is a spikes layer and a switch-in opportunity. If i can take out gengar in the process that's even better. Toxic on TTar isn't the end of the world, it protects me from Gengar's WoW, making using it against Hariyama riskier. Still, now I really don't want to bring in Tyranitar without the support of Wish except on a guarantee'd Gengar presence.

I also don't want TTar to be in for any longer than necessary. The question is, do I stay in and attack again as he goes for a second layer, or do I switch out and find a way to generate offense that way. I feel like dan probably doesn't value the second layer and even though he can tell I probably have pursuit here, the pursuit damage on Skarmory isn't exactly world-changing if he can't get the third layer anyway. I am afraid of Dugtrio trapping me. If he does have Dugtrio, then the play here is to go for the second layer, and if I stay in and attack, either he survives and gets a third layer, or he dies and takes out my Tyranitar with Dugtrio. That is a huge risk for me that I can't rule out yet.

If he doesn't have Dugtrio, I think that he'll be considering switching out, though I'm not sure what to. Blissey could be problematic for me, though he doesn't know I'm not carrying Focus Punch or Brick Break - but that shouldnt be too big an issue for a fully healthy blissey. He could also whirlwind, scouting out my team and trying to discover my last Pokemon, or at least accrue spikes damage. The good news is about half of my team can cause this skarmory problems. However, I can't stay in to punish whirlwind because of the dug possibility. Expecting whirlwind or a second spikes layer, I think Zapdos is my only option, as I get the momentum against Skarmory back if he stays in, and I at least don't accrue 2x spikes damage on a whirlwind.

Turn 15 - Zap vs Skarm

Zap's losing quite a bit of HP... I'm far from certain he has a dugtrio in the back, but him using Spikes makes me feel a lot more like he's using it. On that team, you would probably expect Swampert last to complete it... it's not a team I'm extremely keen on if that's what it is.

One thing I am thinking about here, I think that Zapdos can really sit against a lot of this team quite safely, especially with Light Screen up. The most threatening things so far are the physical, paralyzed TTar, and ice moves from gengar and blissey. Maybe there's an aero in the back or something which can start causing damage, but at worst I feel like I can force him to try and break zapdos in order to find a turn where I can bring in Skarmory.

If I tbolt here as bliss comes in, I could try LS + Rest as a sequence, but he can pass a wish to skarmory and stop hariyama from causing problems. I can't rest against that blissey yet because I need to take out Skarmory before I can rest zapdos up without punishment.

Turn 16 - Zapdoss vs Metagross

Doesn't entirely rule out Dugtrio last. Rock Slide or Double Edge from choice band is scary, but it feels like a choice band explosion is coming... and if I bring skarmory in to it, then I'm not getting spikes today. In fact, I doubt he'd bring it in if he couldn't threaten skarm with it, even behind a light screen. I'm not certain it's a band metagross at all, and if it isn't I don't care about taking a hit with Skarmory, it's worth it.

If it is a band explosion, maybe I want Jirachi taking it... but then if it's an aero last (and i've seen those 6 before from dan), then that's really bad news too. And zapdos going down is also pretty bad. I feel like Dugtrio is my least useful pokemon, and I just don't want Skarmory catching a choice band explosion. If dug doesn't go down, I hurt metagross severely or take it out. If it does go down, I can bring in skarm safely and get my spike.

Turn 17 - Dugtrio vs Skarmory

252 Atk Choice Band Arena Trap Dugtrio Rock Slide vs. 252 HP / 4 Def Leftovers Keen Eye Skarmory: 66 - 78 (19.8 - 23.4%)

Didn't account for the possibility of him switching back out there, I guess that was a really smart bluff on his end, or maybe the metagross coming in before was misreading what zapdos was doing to do.

It sounds though from the chat, he wasn't really willing to explode, but he did want to punish Skarmory. Makes a lot of sense.

I'm going to attack with Dugtrio here. Even if it attacks into something that it does almost no damage to, the ability to switch out afterwards knowing what's coming in should let me get spikes. And even if I don't KO, skarmory will be in struggle range after this! Lol. Point is, anyway, I need some control of the game so I can actually get a spike down and get some offense going.

Turn 18 - Dugtrio vs Skarmory

Well, didn't get the roll or flinch....

discussing it in the battle chat, we determined I had around a 55% chance to prevent that second layer with Rock Slide there.

I still want the switch control, so Rock Slide again it is. Dugtrio just isn't as valuable to me here as a spike, I think. I need spikes to make the team net damage. I also don't want to give him the initiative here with Whirlwind. Sure, he can punish Rock Slide with Metagross instead, but I just need skarmory out of the picture and my Skarmory in the picture. If he does bring in metagross, I get my spike layer.

Turn 19 - Dugtrio vs Skarmory

And we see leftovers! Not banded, like I first thought, though at this stage in the game it's not a surprise.

Turn 20 - Skarmory vs Metagross

I finally get my spike. Really nothing else to it, come hell or high water, I have fought hard for this spike and I desperately need it. Turn 21 is where I am forced to think again.

Turn 21 - Skarmory vs Skarmory

He had a free switch to anything there, and chose to go Skarmory. I expect then he'll taunt me as I try and spike, and then I guess bring something in on struggle? I don't understand the Skarmory switch, maybe he just wants to whirlwind here. And if that's the case, well I'll get my next layer up because there's nothing else I can do.

Turn 22 - Skarm vs Skarm

Ok, struggle forced, unless I switch... I'm just going to struggle and take out skarmory, it does me no good risking a whirlwind here, I just need this thing taken out.

Turn 23 - Skarm vs Ttar

What he has figured out actually is that I'm not drill peck. It means, he can try and get a wish with blissey at some point to heal up skarmory. It means whenever he brings in blissey, I'll need to respond aggressively.

I'm not actually certain this ttar is physical... and i'm sure at some point he must be bringing gengar in? Are all of these plays trying to catch my tyranitar? hmm.

I have one layer up, extra layers are nice but not necessary. There might be startegic advantage to using my other options here...

If he does go Gengar and I knock it, that's really good for me now and worthwhile as a trade against a WoW. I don't see the downside to bringing in hariyama actually, ttar can't do much to hurt it the worst he can do is bring in metagross or something like aerodactyl, which does just bring skarmory back in again and lets me start phazing around more. I'm just considering, am I going to be forced to phaze around with Skarmory and try and catch gengar, or can I get going with Hariyama first? It seems to me I might be taking quite unnecessary spikes damage here if I push the issue with it. I'd rather keep it healthy so I can punish blissey more aggressively later. The question is, whirlwind or spikes now, expecting gengar might switch in... the more spikes the more teeth the phazing has. I want to see his last, and skarmory doesn't scare me... hmm

I could see focus punch from him as an otion that hurts skarmory and hariyama.

I think what I want to do is force the ttar vs gengar matchup, even if that means sacking something. Since dugtrio made it out of that craziness alive that's my go-to option now. I think Skarm+Zapdos alone can win if I take out gengar... is everything else just noise?

Turn 24 - Skarm vs Skarm

I'm not desperate for that second spikes layer, but also I don't want to bring in Zapdos any more as the burn and sand damage racking up means I need to rest very soon, and I can't do it if I switch in on Taunt. Hmm.

Turn 25 - Skarm v Skarm

He taunts again. Struggle threatens to KO skarm, but otherwise he can switch to almost anything.

I think the ttar switch before was to try and cover for Zapdos. I don't understand exactly why he's not going for Gengar here... maybe pursuit tar is just scaring him that much. if he starts phazing here, whatever comes in can end it, so I doubt he stays in, again, and there's no use in metagross coming in and giving me spikes, or that aero that might be hiding.

I think at this point either bliss comes in or gar comes in. There's no great midground there, I want tar in against gar, and I don't want tar to come in and take spikes otherwise. If he brings in bliss that forces me to go Hariyama next turn to prevent a knock. So if he goes bliss I'm fine, it's just having ttar as my only gengar answer is becoming increasingly painful.

Jirachi is a nicer option though, it threatens skarmory staying in and mashing taunt, and it gives me some room against gengar, and i can pass a wish with it if I need to, and I'm fine with blissey making an appearance anyhow.

Turn 26 - Jirachi vs TTar

This is definitely interesting. I can protect for leftovers recovery - his ttar's hp makes little difference to me as most of my pokemon either OHKO it or do almost nothing to it, what's important is the health of my own pokemon. If I protect, there's no way he punishes it i have a problem with, and I can get another protect off, healing back up almost to full. I do want to see him reveal a move like Earthquake, just so I can be more certain what I'm up against.

Turn 27 - Jirachi vs TTar

So it's a SPECIAL tar!! I was too hasty in assuming earlier. I can sit here and spam wish+protect to run him out of PP, I want to see him try and stop it. The best he can do, I think, is bring in gengar or skarmory on a protect, so I can't pass a wish to something. Even then, he has to content with Skarmory or Pursuit Tar... and if it's gengar, I think I play Tbolt there to possibly paralyze and at least get some damage.

252+ SpA Leftovers Sand Stream Tyranitar Fire Blast vs. 248 HP / 76 SpD Leftovers Jirachi: 214 - 252 (53.1 - 62.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers

With accuracy and paralysis, this is a decent calc for me. My protects are quite forced but I need to see how he plans to punish them.

Turn 28 - Jirachi vs Metagross

Interesting! So he goes metagross to punish. I could go Skarmory and play it safely, or I could try and wish to heal up Zapdos. Protect is even an option as I don't need to heal Skarmory, but it makes bringing gengar in easier. I feel like this is way too risky for him to explode though - I can protect, I can go skarmory, but yes I could also bring in Zapdos. Zapdos is not actually very crucial for me now though, and it helps me handle metagross, so I think it might be wise to use it. That being said, I'm mostly after more spikes layers now to put pressure on him faster.

Turn 29 - Zapdos vs Gengar

I successfully healed up Zapdos, and this worked out better than switching Skarmory in, as it gives me more options.

Since gengar is not sand immune, any damage on it sticks, and Tbolt 2HKOs unless it's extremely specially defensive (not unseen though). Tbolt also draws in blissey for me, which in turn lets in Hariyama and at that point I have a free Knock Off.

So tbolt seems fine, especially as Zapdos is not all that valuable to me right now.

Turn 30 - Zapdos vs TTar

0 SpA Zapdos Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Tyranitar: 124 - 147 (36.4 - 43.1%)

Since it did 40%, TTar can't have a lot of bulk investment. However, Tbolt is not guarantee'd to KO next turn at 37% (though I'd like my odds).

I really want to force blissey in to get Hariyama going and I think this is my shot. Bliss almost definitely comes in here, and yama is safe against TTar. He could double to Metagross perhaps, which could be an issue, but I can go push for more spikes layers if that happens. Gengar will start to get dangerous again though.

Turn 31 - Yama vs Blissey

Very nice. Knock Off, Brick Break, and Whirlwind are all very threatening here! My sense though is that this is the stage where Skarm comes in to fodder itself, then gengar/metagross/6th comes in as retaliation. It does occur to me, starmie or jolteon could be the last and they could cause me quite some problems. I think with Skarm out of the way, he can't phaze defensive zapdos, and then I can probably force the issue with it later down the line if that's what comes in. I'm feeling confident if his last is aero right now.

Turn 32 - Yama vs Meta

Meta being knocked is rather nice, to be honest. Now any damage to it sticks too... and that will mostly be from spikes.

Skarmory, Zapdos, and Jirachi are my options. Jirachi is the most risky by far, I don't want it sitting against metagross risking earthquakes. Skarmory and Zapdos... I have to consider then, what's he got against those? He could bring in blissey or Gengar, and both are quite deadly, and honestly I think Zapdos is the better against those two. But it's worse against Metagross and I do want some more spikes going. Versus Gengar, though, I do have pursuit tar on the board. The problem is most definitely blissey.

Turn 33 - Skarm vs TTar

252+ SpA Leftovers Sand Stream Tyranitar Fire Blast vs. 8 HP / 0 SpD Choice Band Arena Trap Dugtrio: 156 - 184 (73.2 - 86.4%)

Dugtrio dies on switch-in to it. TTar was an interesting, risky move. If I brought in Zapdos again I get another free Thunderbolt, and Blissey is forced to make decisions around 50%, at which point Yama is back in. Maybe from here he can try and make Metagross his Yama answer, but keeping bliss healthy will be a chore.

252+ SpA Leftovers Sand Stream Tyranitar Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Leftovers Keen Eye Skarmory: 209 - 246 (62.6 - 73.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers

Staying in isn't really an option too. He's really leveraging that pursuit tar to threaten me! In fact, I don't really have a great switch-in. I wonder if I can PP stall Fire Blast though, it's at 6 right now and I have protects in my arsenal. The alternative is just going for my spikes layers with skarmory, and using zapdos to fend off metagross.

Turn 34 - Zapdos vs TTar

In the end I go zapdos. I am still KOing him at that HP and I just burned 2 PP - down to 5! Soon, he's going to have problems with it. I could tbolt now just to put the pressure on again and force moves from blissey. The trouble is, he can use that to pass wishes and I really need Zapdos's HP. I think actually the move is Light Screen and then Rest, I can't really pass another wish to Zapdos too easily after another turn of burn damage, and I'm not so afraid of Rock Slide here. I just want to get a rest off and wake this thing up ASAP!

Turn 35 - Zapdos vs Blissey

I hit rest, and then I can burn 1 turn safely whatever happens. If he wants to wish up Skarmory, that lets me heal up  Zapdos just fine. If he wants to bring in Aerodactyl, I still have my skarmory to work with and get something going. If it's a special sweeper last, it can't do much work here either.

Turn 36 - Zapdos vs Blissey

I burn a sleep turn, he brings in TTar on the wish and it's a bit scarier again.

Turn 37 - Zapdos vs TTar

We know the TTar isn't bulky, and with a light screen up he has nothing to prevent a dug trap except switching ttar out. Zapdos is bulky enough I can wake it up later, and taking TTar out early would be really nice. I also don't want to risk a rock slide right now. Blissey will be at 64% coming in to spikes next, so yama starts to become even more threatening.

Hmm, I could go yama too though, but I don't want to eat so much spikes damage and the upside is smaller. What about Jirachi...? I'm scared of Gengar coming in on dug/yama.

The downside risk of going jirachi is that Blissey could come in again and threaten my Jirachi with twave...

Turn 38 - Jirachi vs TTar

Well, his ttar can't do much to me, rachi is still pretty healthy all things considered, and he has to work hard not to let me wish up yama for free right now.

Turn 39 - Rachi vs Meta

He went Ice Beam as an option to prevent Dugtrio from coming in, which was cool, but it shows me I can sit with zapdos against THAT all day too, which is great to know.

Now, do i sit here and protect on EQ just to heal rachi up to full, or do I more aggressively get skarm in? I like keeping rachi as healthy as possible so I have a lot of options. He could double in Gengar here and I feel that's not bad... do I want to tbolt? I feel with Spikes up to where they are I just want to stay as healthy as possible, I'll wear down meta eventually.

Turn 40 - Jirachi vs Bliss, 41 - Yama vs Bliss

I went yama here a bit hastily, wanting to put on the pressure. I think metagross comes in here quite safely now, but at least bliss can't heal up? I was really worried about twave here.

Turn 42 - Yama vs Meta

Yeah... bliss doesn't have twave lol. Oops! Well, pretty clear I need some layers going now. Let's get those spikes!

Turn 43 - Skarm vs Meta

Spikes or WW? Spikes or WW? The spikes should stick anyway, and I can heal up  pursuit tar if I really need to later.

Turn 44 - Skarm vs Gengar

Here comes the rub. I could protect but I want to go straight to ttar so that he cant risk the double.

Turn 45 - TTar vs Gengar

I pursuit because some damage is better than no damage, and I can't have it fleeing on me.

Turn 46 - TTar vs Gengar

He giga drains, I am in range of another giga drain or spikes afterwards, so I'm going zapdos to deny him the extra recovery. Pursuit vs Crunch is a hard call but I did not feel comfortable seeing the matchup repeat itself and just wanted to deny the recovery. The sack is also useful for later if I want to deny a switch.

Turn 47 - Zapdos vs Gengar

I can burn a sleep turn and get ice punched or I can go gengar and at least threaten to pass a wish ...

Turn 48 - Jirachi vs Aero

Makes me glad I switched to rachi now! Did cover aero nicely too, now I look smart xD.

Aero is forced to choice lock here, so it can EQ and give me a free switch, or he can hard switch out again to Gengar and get that wisp off.

Then, I'm really relying on Skarm to beat out aero. Skarm beats out metagross, as does zapdos, and mixtar I am slowly burning fire blast PP from, so hopefully I can start pressuring that too. But I really need rachi not burnt to help pass wishes to yama. Even with two layers of spikes down, yama is not doing a whole lot right now.

I'm going to need the ttar sack to take out blissey, then Rachi + Skarm can handle the rest I think? That's, if I take out gengar.

I'm gonna make a ballsy move and use tbolt to try and frustrate gengar.

Turn 49 - Jirachi vs Gengar

I was definitely praying for a crit or paralysis, haha... this thing is annoying.

I want to keep jirachi out of harm's way, and not let it get burned. I'm going zapdos cos I want to wake it up and scare this gengar. If he brings in blissey, that's what the ttar sack is for. Otherwise, it's tbolting season. If aero comes in to pressure here instead or something, then I'm bringing in skarmory and handling it that way.

Turn 50 - Zapdos vs Gengar, 51 - Zapdos vs Blissey, 52 - Dugtrio vs Blissey, 53 -  Dugtrio vs Skarmory

He brought in blissey, I did the sequence to take it out, and then he responds with Skarmory. Staying in here is dumb and I don't wanna be toxic'd. I'm assuming a whirlwind is incoming, but at least whatever comes in next can take out skarmory.

Turn 54 - Zapdos vs Skarmory

Well hey that's nice. World's freest tbolt. I don't need LS here anyways...

Turn 55 - Zapdos vs Aero

I go Skarmory here. No point risking an EQ as a panic play, or even taking spikes damage with Rachi.

Turn 56 - Skarm vs Aero

The question is, protect, spikes, tox, ww...? Spikes only helps against Tar/Meta, not really my main problems right now. I want to stay as healthy as I can versus aero to be honest, but also I don't switch in to gengar endlessly either. Is he going gar or staying in with aero (or even, bringing in ttar?). At this point, Yama+Dug is good for finishing off TTar, the question is really, how do I get tbolts off now with rachi/zapdos?

Actually, Jirachi is the play here because that covers gengar, takes rock slide, and it can afford to take spikes still if I need it to.

Turn 57 - Jirachi vs Gengar

The goal here is take out gengar and then pretty much win with skarmory and then zapdos's tbolts whenever metagross wants to get fancy...

Turn 58 - Jirachi vs Gengar

Thank you for the running commentary ninjax.

I think I want to wish up with rachi here, ensure it's the one getting the healing, then bring in yama... as it takes more spikes damage, it can be used as fodder to trap ttar... or meta... with dug later. Taunt is a possibility here from Gengar but it seems risky to me?

I don't know if I'm the only person to run taunt wisp fire grass coverage on gengar...

If he has taunt, actually, you know it might be the play. But if he has that, then, well rachi is a goner anyway and won't be a part of me holding up against aero. If it isn't taunt, then I want to wish, but even so i'll have a hard time against aero. Hmm.

If I switch out, rachi is effectively coming back in at aroudn 20% hp, which isn't great. But I am considering, what if I bring in hariyama here? It's decent vs taunt and vs ttar if it comes in, and I can knock off again threatening everything bar metagross, in turn being able to dug trap meta.... but I don't really care that much about doing that.

What I need is Jirachi to be as healthy as possible.

If he has taunt, he uses that and i stay low. If he doesn't, he goes ttar and that causes problems.

Hard turn.

Turn 59 - Jirachi vs Metagross

Protect to make the wish count, simple enough.

Turn 60 - Jirachi vs Metagross

Zapdos is actually rather valuable as a tool against gengar... hmm.

I can sack yama, trap meta, then get off a nice tbolt with zapdos.

Turn 61 - Dug vs Meta, 62 - Zapdos vs Meta

Zap is the obvious follow up because it doesnt take any passive damage here. Meta is at best good for a sack now, the question is, is that sack more valuable than his ttar? At some point, I'll be switching my zapdos into gengar to tbolt in retaliation I think...

Turn 63 - Zapdos vs Aero

+addie nicole: wait why in god's name was gar sac the play

What he said... hm. Interesting...

My guts say Jirachi.

Turn 64 - Jirachi vs Aero

And it worked out. If he EQ'd there, then... hm. well, guess i go skarm and go for a third spikes layer? Hm. I think that play might have won it for me?

Turn 65 & 66 - Jirachi vs TTar

Protect is the first play, to burn more PP, then Wish to keep jirachi healthy.

From here we just play it out.