>>33123545It's actually much harder to prove Ash *is* a competent battler than the opposite.
Ash is a shit trainer.
- Many of his Pokemon are unevolved and he sends them in against fully evolved mons.
- Many of his Pokemon have 2 or more moves of the same type and/or underpowered moves. (For example, Ash's Oshawott, which he sent out against a Hydreigon in the Unova League, has Water Gun, Aqua Jet, Hydro Pump, and Tackle in its moveset.)
- Ash doesn't focus on teambuilding, synergy, etc. He just sends whatever Pokemon he feels like. He very rarely plans out battles or sends out Pokemon designed to stop an opponent's in advance.
- Ash doesn't focus much on base stats or weaknesses when selecting his Pokemon's moves. For example, Noivern has Boomburst, Supersonic, Acrobatics, and Dragon Claw in his moveset. Noivern has base 70 attack but base 97 special attack. Yet two of Noivern's offensive moves are physical. All of his offensive moves are also resisted by Steel-types, which is why Noivern LOST to Alain's Metang. (Idk how Noivern beat Sawyer's Doublade though. But Sawyer was a shit trainer too.)
- Ash very rarely switches his Pokemon out if he ever faces a Pokemon that is stronger. He keeps them out because "he believes in them."
