Random Battles for Dummies: A Comprehensive Guide to Gen 7 Randbats

By A.
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Introduction

Whether you press it by accident or just don’t want to bother making your own team, Random Battles has always been a popular format, and is one of the most played in Pokémon Showdown!. This guide here will show you how to get your ball rolling when it comes to the format.

First Turn

  1. If you are in a disadvantageous situation, it’s generally better to play it safe and switch out to a bulky Pokémon that can take on the foe (either via typing or sheer defenses). However, this may not be always the optimal play, especially against something that can set up and gain stat boosts. In that case, it's better to always stay in and attempt to cripple the foe with a status move (e.g. Wormadam vs Xerneas: clicking Toxic).
  2. If the opponent has no reason to stay in and IF their Pokémon is not deadweight (e.g. a hazard setter like Ferrothorn), it’s best to try to predict the switch-in by using either your coverage move or any status / utility move. It’s also a good time to set up hazards of your own. Turn 1: Gligar vs Reshiram
  3. Assess your Pokémon and your team. If your lead Pokémon is something quite valuable or even a possible sweeper and you’re up against something that can answer that, it’s generally better to preserve it (see 1). Turn 1: Suicune vs Cradily
  4. Knowing damage output: As you familiarize yourself with the tier you’ll tend to have a good grasp on how much damage a Pokémon can deal to another with its attacks. Therefore, you can take calculated risks that would give you some mileage (either by knocking out the opponent’s Pokémon or forcing them to switch + dealing chip damage to the switch-in.) Turn 1: Lapras vs Shaymin
  5. Gambles: This definitely isn’t for everyone, but risky tactics early on can lead to a huge momentum gain and potentially shift the tide of the battle to your favor. Turn 2: Blissey vs Chesnaught (Blissey is one of the best Pokémon to get in Randbats due to its recovery, clerical abilities, and bulk.)

Early-game

  1. I N F O R M A T I O N: Knowing is half the battle, and due to the lack of Team Preview, this is an extremely important resource for both players. Look at your team, try to evaluate key Pokémon that will definitely be useful, and try to reveal as little as you can. This can be especially useful if you have two similar Pokémon (in terms of attacks or typing) to overload your opponent.
  2. Offensive Pressure: By having the threat of constant offensive pressure you can potentially force your opponent into deadlock situations or to reveal more of their team, giving you quite an edge later on. This resource can easily be generated in the form of moves like U-turn/Volt Switch/Baton Pass, heavy hitters like Choice Band Kartana, or simply by double switching.
  3. Entry Hazards: One of the best resources available in Random Battles. They can shift the game into your favor, and it is with utmost importance to get them up in the early-game whenever possible. However, don’t go blindly sacking your Pokémon just to get them up. (i.e. stacking hazards versus a dangerous offensive Pokémon.) Hazard removal is considerably scarce in the tier, though.
    • 3.1 Stealth Rock: Easiest entry hazard to set up and is one of the best. In Random Battles, most Pokémon can only nearly OHKO others (dealing around 88-90% damage or so), and Stealth Rock allows you to pick up the KO. It also cripples dangerous Stealth Rock-weak Pokémon like Ho-Oh and Cloyster. Coupled with offensive pressure, you can easily rack up damage with Stealth Rock, as you force your opponent to constantly switch.
    • 3.2 Spikes: Can have up to 3 layers. The same can be applied, but it will always deal the same amount of damage and isn’t affected by typing, although it has immunities (Levitate users and Flying-types). Note that the damage jump between the first layer and the second layer is minimal compared to the jump between the second layer to third layer. So sometimes it is optimal to just have Stealth Rock + one layer of Spikes, instead of two layers of Spikes, or just fire off an attack instead of laying the second layer.
    • 3.3 Toxic Spikes: A bit unique compared to the first two— while grounded Poison-types can remove it upon switching in, it is extremely lethal for teams without any of those Pokémon or entry hazard removal in the first place, as the damage will just continue to stack. Alongside another hazard this guide will mention below, this can be game-winning. One layer is better as a damage supplement, but two lets you stall better. Only set up two layers IF confident that the opponent lacks a grounded Poison-type.
    • 3.4 Sticky Web: As per the above, this entry hazard is also unique yet deadly in the right circumstances. Due to its ability to reduce the Speed of all grounded Pokémon by one stage, Sticky Web allows slower Pokémon to become lethal sweepers. Something to note is that this hazard is normally set by subpar Pokémon, in particular weaker Bug-types. (Unwinnable without Sticky Web.)

Mid-game (Determining your Win Condition)

  1. Note that how well you did early-game will definitely be a defining factor on how the mid-game is going to flow. By this time, it’s usually been around turn 12 or so, and 1-2 Pokémon on each side might’ve already been KOed. Of course this won’t always be the case, but this is a general scenario around that time.
  2. In the mid-game, your opponent would’ve most likely revealed 3-4 Pokémon already on their team, which makes this a perfect time to assess your win condition for the battle. Do you have a setup sweeper that could potentially win the match right now due to its answers being neutralized? If so, are they weakened or KOed to the point where you can safely set up? Or do you have to rely on something akin to Toxic stalling in order to win?
  3. What is a wincon?: A Pokémon that when utilized at the current gamestate can potentially win you the game. They can be anything and depend on a lot of circumstances (e.g. CB Seed Bomb Ambipom can potentially win this game, though removal of Vespiquen is crucial.). These are usually Pokémon that are able to boost their stats one way or another but aren't always the case. For setup sweepers they can be categorized into offensive sweepers and bulky sweepers. (e.g. something like Swords Dance Feraligatr can be considered an offensive sweeper, whilst Calm Mind Rest Mega Slowbro is a defensive sweeper.)
  4. Find setup opportunities: If one has a secondary setup Pokémon (say Swords Dance Kingler + Nasty Plot Simisage), you could test the waters and force out even more information from your opponent and potentially weaken checks for your chosen sweeper. By doing so, you are limiting the opponent's answers to your match winner.

Late-game

  1. The state of the late-game isn’t always constant due to the volatile nature of Random Battles, but here are a few things to keep in mind. Again, how well you did mid-game will heavily dictate how this part of the match goes, even to the point of deciding victory or defeat.
  2. Unleash thy ace card: If in an advantageous or neutral position, it could be time to reveal one of your hidden Pokémon that could seal the game, depending on what it is, what Pokémon are left for the opponent, and other factors.
  3. 1% is better than 0%: If one finds themselves in a tough situation and the only way to win seems like RNG or taking huge risks, might as well give it a shot and see how it goes. There could be a possibility that the dice roll may land in your favor. Countless of games have been won due to one player lucking out (foe missing, getting a status condition, etc.) Turn 34: Lucking out with Simisage. (the opponent did not have Ice Shard Donphan, which would’ve sealed the game.)

General Tips

  1. Observe your own team, and see what could be your match winner (generally sweepers with a little bit of support can be your best bet) Any Pokémon can fulfill this role, but some are notably better than others. Try to keep these hidden. Here are some examples:
    • Beast Boost (example): Celesteela Kartana Pheromosa Xurkitree
    • Belly Drum (example): Linoone Slurpuff
    • Bulk Up + Taunt: Mewtwo-Mega X
    • Calm Mind: Kyogre-Primal Landorus Latias-Mega Lunala Swoobat
    • Calm Mind + RestTalk: Kyogre-Primal Suicune
    • Cosmic Power (example): Sigilyph
    • Dragon Dance: Charizard-Mega X Feraligatr Gyarados Gyarados-Mega Salamence Zygarde 10% Zygarde-Complete
    • Geomancy (example): Xerneas
    • Imposter (example): Ditto
    • Power-Up Punch: Kangaskhan-Mega
    • Quiver Dance: Rimbombee Vivillon Volcarona
    • Rock Polish: Groudon-Primal Landorus Regice Rhyperior
    • Shell Smash (example): Barbaracle Carracosta Cloyster Crustle
    • Shell Smash + Baton Pass: Huntail Gorebyss
    • Swords Dance (example): Beedril-Mega Feraligatr Groudon-Primal Kartana Landorus-Therian Pinsir-Mega
    • Speed Boost + Baton Pass: Blaziken Blaziken-Mega Scolipede
  2. Reflect / Light Screen: These two moves are really good in this format— they allow you to cushion attacks, give even easier setup opportunities, or even force a switch. Most of the users of the move will be given Light Clay, so 8 turns is a lot to work with in this format. Effective usage of Reflect and Light Screen is essential to know.
  3. Defog: Removing hazards is a feat that most teams will beg for as you face hazard-stack-happy opponents. Defogging at the right time is important, as it effectively wastes your opponent’s hard work. (e.g. they keep stacking Spikes and whatnot.)
  4. Be stingy with turns: Try to prevent your opponent from freely setting up, especially if they have extremely dangerous Pokémon like Xerneas (Geomancy) and Sigilyph (Cosmic Power). This can’t happen all the time, but it’s a general note to do so.
  5. Death Fodder: Learning when or what to sack is an important factor in Random Battles— it allows for a clean opportunity to switch in, prevents any unnecessary damage, and scouts for any devastating moves or teammates the opponent might be packing. Foddering and switching around also helps if the opponent has a boosted threat that is taking constant chip damage (say from Toxic) to minimize the number of fainted Pokémon.
  6. Take a break: This goes for most tiers anyway but Random Battles especially due to how RNG is a bigger factor than for a tier like OU. If you’re experiencing bad RNGs, matchups, and whatnot, take a step back and stop playing. Not only will you save your ELO, you’ll save your temper.

Get Out There!

Random Battles is quite a fun experience, and every match is different from the last. When you have free time, why not decide to play a few games on the ladder? You could have a skill-intensive match, a crazy challenge, or just an enjoyable time ahead of you.

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