Theory: Hardcore Pokemon players can be divided into two groups.
Anonymous No.23180092 View ViewReport Quoted By:
And they're symbolized by the protagonist and rival of the DP season of the anime.
First off, we have the Competitive player. This is Paul.
Paul is actually heavily hinted throughout the anime to be using IV breeding and EV training techniques to get stronger teams. However, this is shouted down by Ash and Company as inhibiting the potential for bonds between Pokemon and Trainer. And they're right- in competitive battling, you don't really grow bonds with your Pokemon.
The other type is the Nuzlocker, symbolized by Ash.
Ash only gets so many Pokemon, and his training style really does seem to be "Get what you can, form friendships with the Pokemon, and battle with what you have, because your strategy makes you strong". This is the very training style that the restrictive Rules of a Nuzlocke promote- you can only catch 1 Pokemon per route, so if you get a Ratatta, tough luck, that's what you're getting, and you're probably going to end up taking it to the Elite Four. Or it's going to die trying. Or end up boxed, of course, unless you can't catch backup Mon. Then again, nobody really dies in the Anime, but Pikachu DOES come close.
Discuss.
