mushamu
God jihyo
Approved by the Monotype Moderator Team
Taken over from Cam
Credits to SEO for the banner
During this project, I will be interviewing some of the most influential players in Monotype today whether it be based on their exceptional contribution to the metagame or their outstanding performance in tours. If anyone has suggestions on who should be interviewed next, feel free to PM me your ideas.
This week I am interviewing someone whos been a long time community member. He's recently joined the Monotype Staff and the Monotype QC team and is currently managing in Monotype Winter Premier!
maroon (iExca)
Tell us a little about your life outside of Smogon.
- I have pretty much lived in California for all of my life and am enrolled in Community College in California. I have really bounced between a ton of different majors, from originally entering undecided, then going to Psychology, then going to undecided again, finally landing again in you guessed it, Psychology. Outside of school I enjoy hanging out with friends, listening to music, watching movies, going to the beach, and hiking.
What are you most known for in the Smogon Community?
- Probably for having been a tryhard in the Monotype community for quite a while, now though probably being really involved in different parts of the forum such as being on the QC team and more recently managing a team in MWP, i guess.
What inspired you to play Pokemon competitively?
- Honestly, kinda vague. But probably in High School, when I first found out about PS it was from a few friends playing Random Battles. I really liked it and played more eventually trying out Monotype, and then getting into leagues such as HM and Phoenix were I started playing competitively.
What’s your favorite Pokémon personally and competitively?
- Personally probably my favorite Pokemon is the Infernape line. Mostly because when I first started playing Pokemon was around the time of Pokemon Diamond, I used it from start to end without catching any other Pokemon aside Dialga. Kinda nostalgia, I guess. Competitively probably Victini and Excadrill, because of their ability to act as fantastic wallbreakers and probably some of my more used Pokemon.
What’s your favorite type personally and competitively?
- My favorite type personally is probably Ground because I played that the most when I first started Monotype, as for competitively my favorite type is probably Psychic, because its has lots of choices and has been a consistent type for a while.
Who are some of the people you’ve looked up to during your time on Pokémon Showdown and in the Monotype community?
-I guess like Lycan and Eien as they both are consistent and fantastic monotype players and are always interesting to watch battle.
What are your thoughts on SM Monotype compared to ORAS Monotype?
- I think both metagames are fairly balanced now, especially after the recent bans in ORAS. In ORAS alot more types such as Poison, Electric and others were unviable, however in USM Monotype only very few types can't be used successfully as compared to ORAS. Which is cool and I'd say USM Monotype is overall more Balanced than ORAS Monotype, but ORAS is better lol.
With Monotype Winter Premier taking place, what are your thoughts on Monotype OMs in general? Favorite Monotyle OM? Least favorite?
- MWP is an interesting tour, yeah let me put it that way. Seeing as most of these metagames that aren't played any other time of the year, makes them sort of whack. Like many OMs have seen lots of usage in a few types at best, but not much usage in the others, perhaps this is because they are undeveloped or whatever but it can get kind of boring. You can kind of see this like in Monotype Ubers Week 1 where Water was brought 5/8 games.
What do u think of the managing experience so far seeing as this is your first time managing in a team tournament?
- I think managing has been a fun experience so far. Everything from creating a draft plan to prepping each week has been fun in their own ways. Think our team environment is good, everybody seems to get along and are good about preparing each week, which is what I think has allowed us to do well so far in the tour, as well as it having been a good experience as a manager.
Do you have any advice for newer players that are trying to improve?
- Feel like this is over said, but it really just takes practice and understanding how each different Pokemon works in the metagame. Watching replays from top level players and playing lots of games are honestly the best way to improve. Also take advantage of all of Monotype's resources, such as the Viability Rankings, Sample Teams, Smogon Pokedex, etc. they are literally there to help newer players improve and get a grasp on the metagame.
With MWP season being here, are there any newer faces that you think would be worth keeping an eye on?
Think particularly, Sedertz is a very good and underrated player in Monotype OMs such as AAA and STABmons as well as Nexecutioner, who has been picking it up in MWP and other Monothreat tours. Outside of the tour, Metariolu shows interest in lots of different Monotype metagames ranging from current to old gens and some of the oms. Metariolu should be interesting to see grow as a player.
Can you showcase a team that represents your style as a player and how to use it?
Taken over from Cam
Credits to SEO for the banner
During this project, I will be interviewing some of the most influential players in Monotype today whether it be based on their exceptional contribution to the metagame or their outstanding performance in tours. If anyone has suggestions on who should be interviewed next, feel free to PM me your ideas.
This week I am interviewing someone whos been a long time community member. He's recently joined the Monotype Staff and the Monotype QC team and is currently managing in Monotype Winter Premier!
maroon (iExca)
Tell us a little about your life outside of Smogon.
- I have pretty much lived in California for all of my life and am enrolled in Community College in California. I have really bounced between a ton of different majors, from originally entering undecided, then going to Psychology, then going to undecided again, finally landing again in you guessed it, Psychology. Outside of school I enjoy hanging out with friends, listening to music, watching movies, going to the beach, and hiking.
What are you most known for in the Smogon Community?
- Probably for having been a tryhard in the Monotype community for quite a while, now though probably being really involved in different parts of the forum such as being on the QC team and more recently managing a team in MWP, i guess.
What inspired you to play Pokemon competitively?
- Honestly, kinda vague. But probably in High School, when I first found out about PS it was from a few friends playing Random Battles. I really liked it and played more eventually trying out Monotype, and then getting into leagues such as HM and Phoenix were I started playing competitively.
What’s your favorite Pokémon personally and competitively?
- Personally probably my favorite Pokemon is the Infernape line. Mostly because when I first started playing Pokemon was around the time of Pokemon Diamond, I used it from start to end without catching any other Pokemon aside Dialga. Kinda nostalgia, I guess. Competitively probably Victini and Excadrill, because of their ability to act as fantastic wallbreakers and probably some of my more used Pokemon.
What’s your favorite type personally and competitively?
- My favorite type personally is probably Ground because I played that the most when I first started Monotype, as for competitively my favorite type is probably Psychic, because its has lots of choices and has been a consistent type for a while.
Who are some of the people you’ve looked up to during your time on Pokémon Showdown and in the Monotype community?
-I guess like Lycan and Eien as they both are consistent and fantastic monotype players and are always interesting to watch battle.
What are your thoughts on SM Monotype compared to ORAS Monotype?
- I think both metagames are fairly balanced now, especially after the recent bans in ORAS. In ORAS alot more types such as Poison, Electric and others were unviable, however in USM Monotype only very few types can't be used successfully as compared to ORAS. Which is cool and I'd say USM Monotype is overall more Balanced than ORAS Monotype, but ORAS is better lol.
With Monotype Winter Premier taking place, what are your thoughts on Monotype OMs in general? Favorite Monotyle OM? Least favorite?
- MWP is an interesting tour, yeah let me put it that way. Seeing as most of these metagames that aren't played any other time of the year, makes them sort of whack. Like many OMs have seen lots of usage in a few types at best, but not much usage in the others, perhaps this is because they are undeveloped or whatever but it can get kind of boring. You can kind of see this like in Monotype Ubers Week 1 where Water was brought 5/8 games.
What do u think of the managing experience so far seeing as this is your first time managing in a team tournament?
- I think managing has been a fun experience so far. Everything from creating a draft plan to prepping each week has been fun in their own ways. Think our team environment is good, everybody seems to get along and are good about preparing each week, which is what I think has allowed us to do well so far in the tour, as well as it having been a good experience as a manager.
Do you have any advice for newer players that are trying to improve?
- Feel like this is over said, but it really just takes practice and understanding how each different Pokemon works in the metagame. Watching replays from top level players and playing lots of games are honestly the best way to improve. Also take advantage of all of Monotype's resources, such as the Viability Rankings, Sample Teams, Smogon Pokedex, etc. they are literally there to help newer players improve and get a grasp on the metagame.
With MWP season being here, are there any newer faces that you think would be worth keeping an eye on?
Think particularly, Sedertz is a very good and underrated player in Monotype OMs such as AAA and STABmons as well as Nexecutioner, who has been picking it up in MWP and other Monothreat tours. Outside of the tour, Metariolu shows interest in lots of different Monotype metagames ranging from current to old gens and some of the oms. Metariolu should be interesting to see grow as a player.
Can you showcase a team that represents your style as a player and how to use it?
Gardevoir-Mega @ Gardevoirite
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hyper Voice
- Focus Blast
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
Reuniclus @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Acid Armor
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Recover
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 176 SpD / 80 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Thunder Wave
- U-turn
- Iron Head
- Stealth Rock
Latios @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Defog
- Memento
Victini @ Choice Band
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- U-turn
- Trick
Celebi @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 60 SpA / 48 SpD / 20 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Giga Drain
- Earth Power
- Recover
Ability: Trace
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Hyper Voice
- Focus Blast
- Will-O-Wisp
- Taunt
Reuniclus @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Acid Armor
- Calm Mind
- Psyshock
- Recover
Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 252 HP / 176 SpD / 80 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Thunder Wave
- U-turn
- Iron Head
- Stealth Rock
Latios @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Draco Meteor
- Psyshock
- Defog
- Memento
Victini @ Choice Band
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- Bolt Strike
- U-turn
- Trick
Celebi @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 252 HP / 128 Def / 60 SpA / 48 SpD / 20 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Nasty Plot
- Giga Drain
- Earth Power
- Recover
-this team is a bulky offense psychic team that i have been using lately, with many ideas being from USM Monotype. Such as using Colbur Celebi to check Mega Sharpedo and to use Reuniclus as a dual setup sweeper. The idea initially was to build a team around Calm Mind + Acid Armor Reuniclus, a set in USM OU for ORAS Monotype. Which coincidentally is how I build a few of my ORAS teams. So since Reuniclus can't touch Dark-type Pokemon the mega Pokemon I decided to go with was Mega Gardevoir as it can beat all Dark-types, even ones Mega Gallade can't such as Mandibuzz while also providing a Dragon immunity. The Gardevoir also allows Reuniclus to setup easier by being able to cripple Physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp allowing it to clean late-game with more ease. The team needed a strong physical wallbreaker and that is where Band Victini came in, and Scarf Latios was the form of speed control and emergency defogger. The team overall is meant to get Reuniclus to be able to clean late-game and has a great matchup against fatter teams thanks to Taunt Mega Gardevoir and Choice Band Victini. This is probably my favorite team to use for ORAS Monotype right now.
Any last words you want to leave us with?
- Looking forward to the rest of the MWP Tour, should be fun to see how all teams do! LGI NATUS!
Free Chras vs. Charmflash salty suite cause drama is :umusmug:
This concludes my interview with iExca! A huge thanks to him for his time for the interview! If anyone has questions for him feel free to ask him!
Any last words you want to leave us with?
- Looking forward to the rest of the MWP Tour, should be fun to see how all teams do! LGI NATUS!
Free Chras vs. Charmflash salty suite cause drama is :umusmug:
This concludes my interview with iExca! A huge thanks to him for his time for the interview! If anyone has questions for him feel free to ask him!