The more I play this game, the dumber and dumber it feels. I know you can minimize the role luck plays, but sometimes you just win or lose by random chance. Was playing VGC for some fun, and I was in a horrifically losing position, H-Arc vs Iron Bundle and Tera Fire Gambit. He missed Hydro, my Rock slide hit both, and knocked out Bundle, then Gambit got flinched. Then I hit the 2nd Rock slide to win. It was just nonsense. Sure, it was my opponent's decision to field Bundle, but I hate how luck can decide to just screw someone at will.
I don't even think the 'skill-based' gens like Gen 3 are all that great either. I beat a top 10 ladder opponent, and I've never cracked top 500 on that ladder. And of course, random crits feel almost more punishing than they do in modern gens. I'm a middling player at my best, but I'm getting more and more dour about this stuff.
If anyone cares, here's the Gen 3 replay. It's nothing special. I haven't played the metagame since, it just feels pointless.
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen3ou-2025073907 
