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>complaining about GBL
Do any of you actually play PVP? You need to make a proper team that covers itself defensively (like having your lead be a good counter/check to something that counters your back line), understand matchups and which ones require baiting, have a decent safe swap (and not just hurrdurr swap in my Venusaur on a Swampert lead loss), understand and identify your opponents’ win condition in the moment, decide whether or not winning switch/shield/energy advantage is worth it. How to deny fast moves and properly time your throw, how to sneak in extra fast moves, when to over/undercharge, actual damage percentages so that you can take more risks without burning a shield, counting fast moves, how likely someone is to throw as soon as they get energy, how to catch a big move on your other mons, etc.
The shit is complex, and having a firm grasp of all mechanics takes thousands of battles and experience. You literally need to be a huge nerd and understand why you lost, if it was truly hard counters through and through, if you straight up threw a match, if lag caused a variance in expectations (vs simulations), the meta, the list is endless.
The BIGGEST advantage you can have over your opponent is properly counting fast moves while keeping track of their stored energy and hp, along with their switch timer. This is hard to do without verbally stating things to yourself out loud (which is why poketubers exist, they realized talking through a match is a straight up advantage while literally making content with no additional effort).
If you’re not doing all of this, know that the higher you climb the more likely your opponent is.
Also an algorithm exists. You’re matched up against teams that you COULD beat given proper conditions (proper alignment, sometimes double shielding a Pokémon you normally wouldn’t). Some matches literally come down to one fast move, which is where IVs come in.
Worth it? Prob not
t. Hit rank 10 before last season
