Random Battles Competitive Guide

By Pujo. Released: 2021/01/07.

Introduction

Hello everyone! If you're reading this article, you probably want to improve your skills in Gen 8 Random Battles, which is perfectly understandable. In Random Battles, both you and your opponent get a randomly generated team, with procedurally generated sets for each Pokémon. Just like in other classic tiers, your goal is to KO all six of your opponent's Pokémon to win the battle. This guide will help you improve your skills, because no, Random Battles isn't all about luck. Please note that there is always room to improve in the format, so the objective of this article is to give you a few tips regarding what you can expect to find on a Random Battles team and what you need to take into account to make optimal decisions during a game.

Use What You Get

An important aspect of Random Battles is to make the best use out of the Pokémon you get. Unfortunately, not all Pokémon are created equal, and some of them will be worse in battle than others. However, remember that every random team has potential battle plans, and it's up to you to decide how to find and follow through with them.

Although Random Battles can be a very casual format to play without thinking too much, remember that you will not know your team before the battle starts. So, it's highly recommended that you check your whole team thoroughly before making your first move. Having a clear sense of your team composition of is the first step in building a game plan.

Especially when your team is seemingly at a disadvantage, it is important to stay as knowledgeable as possible by utilizing resources such as the Random Battles damage calculator (/rcalc) and the /randbats command. Also, don't forget to make proper use of tools like Dynamax and entry hazards to turn the tables in even the most dire of situations.

Finally, keep in mind that Random Battles has a subjective leveling system that is vaguely based on tiering and Random Battles win rates, so some Pokémon that are low-tier in tiered formats can be actually quite useful here. For example, Bellossom will only dream of going higher than PU, but its combination of Quiver Dance and Strength Sap alongside its high level makes it objectively one of the biggest threats in Random Battles. Basically, don't always discount low-tier Pokémon, and don't expect all Uber and legendary Pokémon to be your wincons!

Items and Sets

The stats in Random Battles are relatively even and memorable: each Pokémon runs 85 EVs in every stat with a neutral nature. In cases where a stat being high is detrimental, like with the Attack stat of special attackers and the Speed stat of Gyro Ball and Trick Room Pokémon, the stat in question instead has 0 EVs and 0 IVs. In these cases, though, the nature is still neutral. Keep in mind that each Pokémon's listed Speed range in a battle goes from 0 EVs 0 IVs neutral nature to 85 EVs 31 IVs neutral nature, so any possible Speed stat a Pokémon will have will be shown clearly in the tooltips.

Items in Random Battles, on the other hand, are procedurally generated by the Random Battles code and depend on the Pokémon's moves, base stats, and ability. This code is changed frequently with the intention of optimizing set generation. This means that, although in the next section some common item generation rules will be reviewed, there are some exceptions to them, and more will probably appear in the future.

Item generation follows these rules:

Pokémon with 2 or fewer attacks will get Leftovers, or Black Sludge if Poison-type.
Pokémon with 3 attacks will get a Life Orb if the sum of their base HP, Defense, and Special Defense stats is less than 275. Otherwise, these Pokémon get either Leftovers or Black Sludge.

For example, Azelf has 75 HP, 70 Defense, and 70 Special Defense. The sum of Azelf's bulk is 215, which allows it to get a Life Orb if it rolls 3 attacks. Swampert, on the other hand, has 100 HP, 90 Defense, and 90 Special Defense, making the sum of its bulk 280. Therefore, even if it rolls 3 attacks, Swampert will always get Leftovers.

Pokémon with 4 matching attacks will get a Choice Item.
Choice Item generation follows these rules:
- Pokémon with 4 physical attacks or 4 special attacks, a base Speed between 60 and 108 and a base Attack or Special Attack of 100 or more can get a Choice Scarf 2/3 of the time. If they don't meet one of the stat qualifications or don't get the 2/3 chance, they'll get a Choice Specs or Choice Band instead. This is why Choice Scarf Dracozolt exists in Random Battle, but Choice Scarf Dracovish doesn't.
- Pokémon with 3 special attacks and U-turn will always get Choice Specs.
- Pokémon with Trick or Switcheroo will always get a Choice item; if they meet the above Speed range, these Pokémon will always get a Choice Scarf. Otherwise, they will always get Choice Specs or Choice Band.
- Having priority moves will always prevent a Choice Scarf from being generated in all situations.
Pokémon with 4 attacks that don't qualify for Choice items, like Rapid Spin users and mixed attackers, will get an Assault Vest if their HP + Def + SpD ≥ 235. If they don't meet the bulk minimum, Pokémon with 4 attacks will get Expert Belt, Leftovers, or Life Orb instead depending on their exact moves.
Pokémon that are weak to Rock will get Heavy-Duty Boots if they don't get a higher-priority item, such as an Assault Vest or Choice item. Pokémon that are 4x weak to Rock, such as Charizard and Frosmoth, will always get Heavy-Duty Boots. The only exception is Scyther, which can get Eviolite.
Pokémon in the lead slot will get Focus Sash if their HP + Def + SpD < 255 and they would otherwise get Life Orb or Leftovers.
Pokémon that get a Speed-boosting move will be given a Weakness Policy if their HP + Def + SpD ≥ 300 and they aren't 4x weak to Ground.

A great example of how item generation works is Drapion. Thanks to the /randbats Drapion command, we know that Drapion can get these moves: Aqua Tail, Earthquake, Knock Off, Poison Jab, Swords Dance, Taunt, and Toxic Spikes.

If Drapion rolls two status moves, such as Swords Dance and Taunt, and two attacks such as Knock Off and Earthquake, its item will be Black Sludge.
If Drapion rolls one status move, such as Swords Dance, and three attacks, such as Knock Off, Earthquake, and Poison Jab, its item will be Life Orb.
If Drapion rolls four attacks, in this case Aqua Tail, Knock Off, Earthquake, and Poison Jab, it will get a Choice Band because it has under base 100 Attack.

There are also some species that will always roll the same item, either because it's their signature item or because doing so supports a niche ability or set. For example, Pikachu always has Light Ball, Unfezant always has Scope Lens, Marowak always has Thick Club, and Ditto always has Choice Scarf. So, as we previously mentioned, becoming familiar with all the possible sets and items means practicing and keeping up with the format updates, since some of these item rules and exceptions may change in the future.

Artwork representing sets determination in Random Battles

Art by Shadowshocker.

Pivoting

Especially early-game, a solid strategy is to take advantage of Volt Switch, U-turn, Parting Shot, Teleport, and Flip Turn as much as possible. These moves are already excellent in regular tiers, but in Random Battles, they are particularly useful. It's often a goal early-game to learn as much about your opponent's team as possible; the more information you have, the better you can determine which Pokémon on your team can sweep the opponent and which Pokémon on the opponent's team could potentially sweep you. In a situation where you don't know what to do, it's important to pivot or double switch a healthy amount in order to gather information about what your opponent tends to bring in on your Pokémon.

Entry Hazards

As opposed to a well-built team in a regular tier, a Random Battles team won't always have entry hazards, and hazard removal and Magic Bounce are very rare. Entry hazards are a key part of Random Battles, since they dissuade your opponent from pivoting, increase the effectiveness of your own pivoting moves like U-turn and Volt Switch, and help your offensive Pokémon get much-needed KOs. Sometimes, the right entry hazard can even make you win a game by itself. Because of Heavy-Duty Boots, entry hazards are perceived to be overall worse, but in Random Battles, this item is generally limited to Rock-weak Pokémon. While this means Stealth Rock isn't anywhere near as appealing to set up as in previous generations, Spikes is often still game-changing to set up. Sticky Web is also extremely useful, as it allows slower threats such as Dracovish and Sirfetch'd to be even more threatening in most matchups, as well as even preventing your opponent's Pokémon from ever moving first in some more extreme matchups.

Toxic Spikes can whittle down an unlucky opponent's team more quickly than any other hazard, but it's also more inconsistent than the others due to the prevalence of Poison-types. Much like in a regular metagame with no Team Preview, though, it can force your opponent to reveal a Poison- or Steel-type Pokémon, making Toxic Spikes a great scouting tool even when your opponent has counterplay. In some matchups against heavily offensive teams, setting up a single layer of Toxic Spikes can be more efficient at wearing down foes, considering the number of switches that commonly happen in Random Battles. Two layers will cause Toxic poison, which is particularly useful at wearing down bulkier Pokémon, so don't hesitate to set a second layer if the opponent has any Pokémon that would otherwise be difficult to break.

Setting Up

A big mistake newer players should avoid is setting up too early. It can be tempting to use Geomancy with your Xerneas on turn 1 and hope to win the game in 10 turns, but try to consider everything else you can do first to help your best Pokémon sweep. Setting up entry hazards to help chip defensive Pokémon and using status moves to weaken or slow down your opponent's team will also greatly benefit your setup Pokémon. It's also prudent to only set up when you know most, if not all, of your opponent's team to ensure you don't run into a counter to your set up Pokémon, or even worse: a Ditto.

Dynamaxing Offensively

The new mechanic added in Gen 8 has been voted to stay in Gen 8 Random Battles by the community, which differentiates this format from most of the Gen 8 singles based ones. As this is one of the only venues in which Dynamax can be used, many may not know how to use it optimally. The following section will teach you how and when you use Dynamax so you can optimize your use of the most important tool in your arsenal in Random Battles.

Dynamaxing offensively can often be a great way to win a game. On the lower end of the ladder, players tend to Dynamax very early, especially with a very offensive Pokémon; most of the time, this is a mistake. Just like setting up, it is very important to check and utilize your potential support options before Dynamaxing. Be sure to wear down any potential switch-ins to your would-be Dynamax user through entry hazards, attacks, and status if you wish to get the most out of your three Dynamax turns. The best Dynamax users are Pokémon with great Speed and setup moves. Offensive Pokémon with Flying-type moves are also great Dynamaxers, as they can benefit from the Speed boost provided by Max Airstream. Pokémon with access to both setup moves and Flying-type STAB moves, like Togekiss, Noctowl, Landorus-T, and Gyarados, make incredible Dynamax users that can potentially win a game on the spot. It can often be vital to read what your opponent switches into and see what their initial switch-ins to your Pokémon are. For example, if a foe repeatedly sends out a Passimian to force out your Xurkitree, they probably don't have a proper Electric-resistant Pokémon, and Dynamaxing Xurkitree would likely result in some major damage. Or, if someone sends in Eldegoss on your Flapple, you can just Max Wyrmwind through it and sweep the team instead of switching out for a better setup opportunity.

Dynamaxing Defensively

In a situation where an opposing Pokémon too threatening to your team got the occasion to set up and you have a high chance of losing the game if it Dynamaxes, it is often smart to use Dynamax defensively to counter these threats. Once again, don't forget to take your time to check every option that you have, and don't hesitate to use the Random Battles damage calculator to know which one of your Pokémon can take a hit and potentially revenge kill the opposing threat. Max Guard is extremely useful to stall out Dynamax turns. Try not to use Max Guard twice in a row if you don't absolutely need it, as giving a Dynamaxed threat a free turn can make you lose the game on the spot.

Taking a KO

A very important aspect of Random Battles is how and when you should KO an opposing Pokémon, especially late-game. Good players tend to keep their best Pokémon in the back, especially if it has the potential to sweep the opposing team. For example, in a situation where your Choice Scarf Gardevoir can easily KO an opposing Pokémon with Moonblast, but you know your opponent has a Zacian-C in the back that can easily switch in to force Gardevoir out and proceed to set up, it is extremely important to take the KO with something that doesn't let Zacian-C set up, even if you have to sacrifice a Pokémon to do so. To avoid this kind of situation, try preventing the foe from setting up by debilitating it with status effects or using Taunt.

/rcalc and /randbats

Ladder matches on PS! have a timer of 2 minutes and 30 seconds. This is more than enough to utilize the two best tools in your arsenal, being /randbats and /rcalc. The /randbats command gives you a list of all moves a Pokémon can have. "/randbats Pikachu", for example, gives you the following list: Iron Tail, Surf, Knock Off, Volt Switch, and Volt Tackle. An important detail to note is that if you don't find a Pokémon with the /randbats command, such as Lapras for example, try to check its Gigantamax or alternative formes. In this case, Lapras doesn't exist in Gen 8 Random Battles, but Gigantamax Lapras does, so /randbats lapras-gmax works just fine. The only Pokémon that run G-Max formes in Random Battles are the ones with helpful G-Max moves, so not all G-Max formes are included. Here, the mentioned /randbats command can help you discover which Pokémon can Gigantamax, and remember that some Pokémon, like Butterfree and Copperajah, have sets for both their Gigantamax and Dynamax formes.

The /randbats command can help you get out of difficult situations, and besides allowing you to scout for the opposing team, it's often able to let you deduce a Pokémon's set options. Here's an example: if your opponent has a dangerous setup Pokémon such as Nasty Plot Azelf, but it's holding Leftovers, you know it has 2 attacks, and because almost all Pokémon have at least one STAB move, one of them must be Psyshock. Now, the question is, is the other attack Fire Blast or Dazzling Gleam? This is where pivoting and scouting come in. Switching to a Steel-type, then doubling to a Fire-resistant Pokémon or something that can be sacked can safely tell you which attack this Pokémon has. Of course, this is by no means a perfect strategy, since a good player can easily predict that and set up on the turn you double switch to scout for your options, but in a metagame where every piece of information matters, this can be the difference between winning and losing a game.

The /rcalc or /randbatscalc command gives you access to the Random Battles damage calculator. All 8 generations of Random Battles are available on the calc, and most if not all of the best players use this very regularly. The calc is currently up to date as of this article's release, and, once again, the timer gives you enough time to calc different options to help you figure out what your best one is. The calc also gives a lot of interesting information on different items and abilities Pokémon can get, making it even more useful.

Have Fun!

While there's obviously quite a lot of thinking that can go into a competitive Random Battles game, the format is fundamentally less cutthroat than tiered play. Random Battles is great because you don't need to be an expert teambuilder to start playing, and you can learn the basics quickly and apply that knowledge to more competitive formats! There's still a lot of strategy to master. In every match, there will be interesting tactics to deliberate; how quickly can you identify threats on your opponent's team? When should you Dynamax? Which member of your team is best kept in reserve? But, while every battle will present unique challenges, there will also be inevitable situations where you and your opponent end up with mismatched teams. Ultimately, Random Battles is about having fun with whatever Pokémon are thrown your way, so don't worry too much about any one loss or misplay. The ladder is always active, and conversation in the Random Battles room is always friendly and lively. Good luck, have fun, and enjoy Random Battles!

HTML by Ryota Mitarai.

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