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maybe this is heaven
Welcome to the SM version of OU Player of the Week! This project will feature interviews from some of the most accomplished and influential users in the tier so that we can learn more about them.
If there is a user that you would like to see interviewed be sure to let me know.
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-Snow
favourite pokemon: Mega Abomasnow
most used pokemon: Tapu Fini, prolly. SM lacks of reliable removers.
Can you tell us a litte bit about yourself outside of Smogon?
I'm a 20 year-old guy, currently working as singer (mainly Pop, Soul and r&b) and pianist in weddings and events, studying in a singing academy. I'm from south Italy but I'm probably moving soon cause I'd like to study on the other side of the nation. Music plays an important role in my life and helped me several times in many different ways, and I feel like it's going to be this way for the upcoming years. I'm currently a tenor in a huge polyphonic choir and I'm part of a huge Orchestra which is the biggest Orchestra of south Italy, and one of the biggest in the whole nation. I used to play volleyball, as setter, but I had to give up due to study and work, although I still play some friendly match in the free time. I'm curious as fuck and I like to read a lot about basically everything, especially music related stuff.
Where did you get your name from?
My original nickname was SnowCristal, but I changed it almost a year ago. As for the origin of the nickname, you have to know Italian pokéweb is divided into clans or stuff like that. I wanted to join one of these clans so bad, but in order to join it you had to do a test. I failed that test so many times that I decided to create a series of alts and "SnowCristal" was the one with a positive result, so I kept it.
How and when did you get into competitive Pokemon?
I could describe my first competitive approach as random. It was 2011 and I wanted to fight a friend on Wi-fi but for some reason I couldn't connect with my DS. I was about to give up but this friend told me there was another way to fight: Pokémon Online. I joined it with some random alt and lost against my friend (SubToxic Darkrai was way too much to deal with) but I kept using the simulator in order to try possible squads and re-create them on DS. Step by step I met friend on the simulator and it replaced completely the console experience. It was the end of BW1 when I started joining italian tuornaments and at the end of BW2 I joined Smogon in order to play Smogtours on the old but gold "Groudon's Grotto". Step by step I met a lot of funny friends on the site and I started joining the main tournaments, like OST, Frontier and World Cups, and finally SPL this year (Sharks n_n).
What’s your favourite generation of OU and why?
My favorite generation of OU was BW2-OU before Chlorophyl and Sand Rush ban. But with the current banlists, I'd say it's SM OU. It's still an unbalanced metagame, but I love how big and various it is. You can face stall, webs, bulky offense, rain teams, stall, aurora veils, screens, stall, sand teams, terrains... did I name stall yet? I like the way Z moves changed the whole building process. There are a lot of possible sets and options so unconvential building is the key for the success in a lot of matches. It will be without any kind of doubt the best metagame, if we manage to ban the correct things or at least nerf them somehow.
What’s your favourite playstyle to use and why?
For some reason people think full stall is my main playstyle lol. Actually, I feel like my favourite playstyle is balance. I think it's the playstyle that better suits the way I play. When I play stall I feel like I need an offensive presence in order to make pressure. When I play offense, then I feel like I need something solid to tank hits. So yeh, balanced is without any kind of doubt the playstyle I have fun with.
What are your thoughts on the current metagame? How do you feel about SM in comparison to ORAS?
Thanks to the the addition of new Pokémons and Z moves, SM is just a better ORAS. It's clearly more offensive (and stall vs stall is just a pointless fight that turns into an endless switchbacks war, or simply a Dugtrio trap run) than ORAS and I like all these Z moves baiting stuff and allowing you to nuke what is supposed to be a counter if used properly. ORAS is hazardz + random Calm Mind setupper right now, and I feel like it's just boring. Every team looks exactly the same, and it's annoying to face the same archetypes, but at least it's a balanced metagame.
What are your first impressions of Marshadow? Do you think it should be quickbanned?
A godlike typing, solid stats, good coverage, one of the best abilities out there, a 195 Power peculiar Z move and Spectral Thief. I wouldn't even think to prepare for it while building, cause it would be impossible. Quickban that thing, pls. No reason to stay.
Do you believe that anything else deserves a suspect test in the near future?
Dugtrio. That mole has to go, please. It's insane and turns every matchup into a coinflip. It can easily trap a good portion of the wallbreakers (you can still run Shed Lele or Hoopa, but let's be honest, they would just suck against both stall and regular teams) and let the other members stall you easily. Protean Ninja needs to be suspected too. It has a lot of different movesets and an insane coverage. You can't really think to a good counter for him 'cause it could always have the coverage move you wouldn't expect. And Lele is op too, it should be suspected at least.
You went 3-0 through Round 1 of WCoP. What do you think was the biggest factor that allowed you to have that success?
I think that being unpredictable in terms of building gave me a huge help. Talking to my oppos after the matches they told me they couldn't really predict me to bring the stuff I brought. I brought a Mega Tyranitar g1 (and now it started being popular as it deserves), an hail g2 (even tho my dear Aboma suddenly died 'cause of a Supersonic Strike Koko :c) and a Cresselia sun team g3. In all these games, unexpected mons and teams were the key that lead me to the victory. If there's something I really dislike is when people tell me not to bring "gimmicky" mons 'cause they will lead me to lose. Or, even worse, when people tell me I'm just trying to impress the others by using weird stuff. It's a team tournament, I wouldn't use a mon just 'cause it's funny. If I bring something that is not common, it's because I feel it will work against a specific oppontent or in general. And If I lose, it's not because I decided to bring weird stuff, but because it's the game: there are 800 Pokémon, you will always end up having a good or a bad matchup. This doesn't mean I'm going to bring Cherubi, next match, obv.
What are some of your favourite individual matchups from Round 2 of WCoP? Who do you think has the best chance to cause an upset?
I'm secretly (no more) rootin for LA and Europe. Their rosters is cool and solid even tho I feel like they're underrated. Sadly, they're currently facing each other but I'm expecting both their SM matchups to be straight gas. Usa East looks scary, but kinda overrated imo.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone trying to break into the tournament setting?
My advice is: "Think out of the schemes". Everytime you'll let the others influence your thoughts about a fact, a Pokèmon, a set or an idea, that's where you're losing. And most important, don't let the "big names" scare you. Even when you face scary opponents, just think that they have nothing more than you actually have. A pc, a team builder, a mouse and a brain (uhm, this one is not taken for granted actually).
Who are some of your favourite people in the Smogon community?
I'm sure i'm going to forget a lot of them but...
Fatalitatis Sugarcult Lopunny Kicks DenisTheMenace H.M.N.I.P Miguelmart Adam the first Gondra Shogarth Kebab mlml Renny_ HQuaze NaCl nightcore Enki HQuaze Toxigen Znain The Idiot Ninja Sun Niky Celysi Vubon WhiteQueen Lord Outrage SparksBlade Pearl Isa MetalGro$$ Erzengel Kushalos Jimmy Turtwig Poek Trosko imsosorrylol M Dragon Count Riario Conflict Iloveleague Tricking Killua kun Bomber. Howkings Corckscrew Shiro. Coffe Choice Specs
Finally, can you provide us a team that you think reflects your current playstyle, with a brief explanation of how it works?
winter rhapsody (Abomasnow-Mega) @ Abomasite
Ability: Snow Warning
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 104 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 148 Spe
Mild Nature
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Blizzard
- Ice Shard
paradise lost (Magearna) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 192 HP / 252 SpA / 64 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Fleur Cannon
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]
v for valhalla (Victini) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- U-turn
- Bolt Strike
- Trick
life's lullaby (Tapu Fini) @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 224 HP / 32 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Nature's Madness
- Taunt
- Moonblast
dark silver world (Kyurem) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
- Roost
the emperor (Landorus-Therian) @ Rockium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance
Ability: Snow Warning
Shiny: Yes
EVs: 104 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 148 Spe
Mild Nature
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Blizzard
- Ice Shard
paradise lost (Magearna) @ Assault Vest
Ability: Soul-Heart
EVs: 192 HP / 252 SpA / 64 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Volt Switch
- Fleur Cannon
- Flash Cannon
- Hidden Power [Fire]
v for valhalla (Victini) @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Victory Star
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- V-create
- U-turn
- Bolt Strike
- Trick
life's lullaby (Tapu Fini) @ Leftovers
Ability: Misty Surge
EVs: 224 HP / 32 Def / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Defog
- Nature's Madness
- Taunt
- Moonblast
dark silver world (Kyurem) @ Leftovers
Ability: Pressure
EVs: 56 HP / 200 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Ice Beam
- Earth Power
- Roost
the emperor (Landorus-Therian) @ Rockium Z
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake
- Stone Edge
- Swords Dance