Pokémon Trainer (SSBB): Difference between revisions

*In German: Dina Kuerten

Pokémon Trainer is ranked 29th on the tier list, placing him in the E tier. Pokémon Trainer's individual Pokémon have their own merits, and the variety in choices helps in preventing hard {{B|counter|matchup}}s. Pokémon Trainer, however, suffers from severe afflictions that no other character has to deal with. The first is the stamina mechanic, which over time will weaken the Pokémon currently in play, forcing players to either endure significant handicaps, or swap to another Pokémon they may not want to use. The incentive to switch is made even more problematic by the down time between switches, which can give their opponent a free hit or make the player give up an opportunity to capitalize on an opening. Additionally, when a Pokémon is KO'd, the player is forced to send out the next Pokémon in the lineup. The inevitable switching from this and stamina leads to two more issues: it prevents the player from only using the Pokémon best suited for the matchup (for example, against {{SSBB|King Dedede}}, the player will not be able to just rely on Squirtle, and will have to use the other Pokémon, who are hard countered by Dedede), and it forces players to learn three vastly different characters, thus significantly discouraging usage and hindering development with the character. Moreover, the Trainer's Pokémon have their own significant weaknesses. While Squirtle is often considered to be a potentially viable character due to its good mobility, attack speed, and air game, it has difficulty at KOing opponents; Charizard has the killpower Squirtle lacks, but suffers from slow aerial movement speed and laggy attacks; and Ivysaur is nearly unusable because of its abysmal air game and [[tether recovery]], alongside slow and difficult-to-land KO moves.

 

In the end, all of the Pokémon Trainer's issues result in a largely unviable fighter with overall poor [[matchups]] and sparse representation, with many hard counters (although he does have favorable matchups against {{SSBB|Donkey Kong}} and especially {{SSBB|Ness}}), but a surprisingly large amount of tournament winnings thanks to the efforts of {{Sm|TheReflexWonder}}.

Pokémon Trainer's unique ability to be three characters in one allows for many different positive effects. For instance, the three separate characters can be used together in conjunction for a powerful effect, especially since altogether the Pokémon Trainer has nine special moves, if Pokémon Change is excluded. Since all the Pokémon have varying weights and sizes, certain Pokémon can be switched to during opportune moments. For example, if the Pokémon has high damage, Charizard can be switched to since it has a higher weight. Squirtle and Ivysaur both are excellent at racking up damage, and the high damage opponent can then be KO'd by one of Charizard's high knockback moves. All of the Trainer's Pokémon experience [[type effectiveness]], however. The invincibility granted by [[Pokémon Change]] can be used to avoid attacks on the ground, such as Final Smashes, or cure status ailments. However, Pokémon Change happens automatically after a Pokémon is KO'd. If the player wants to switch back to the Pokémon they were just using they must endure 4+ seconds of Pokémon Change to get back to that last Pokémon in use, and this can be a hindrance, as not all frames of the move grant invincibility, leaving the Pokémon being brought into battle somewhat vulnerable at the end. Also, the move cannot be used in midair or while invincible. Certain Pokémon are bad for certain situations, either forcing the player to use the wrong Pokémon for certain bad situations or go through multiple Pokémon Change uses. Also, after 1 minute and 20 seconds, stamina is brought into play, significantly weakening a Pokémon's moves.

The one thing that the entire team shares is a strong grab/throw game, though each one has different ways of implementing it. Squirtle's grab has roughly average range, but its strength is in grounding an opponent in their shield with an overwhelming attack rate before rushing in for a grab. From there, it has a KO option and excellent setup options with decent damage all around. Ivysaur does things differently by focusing more on tricking the opponent into a grab; Ivysaur has one of the best [[pivot grab]]s available and will often have retreated to the edge in the process, and from there has the option to use its powerful back-throw for a KO (or up-throw, should the match-up recommend it). Charizard's long neck can outgrab most of the characters in the game due to owning the second longest non-tether grab range in ''Brawl'' (second to {{SSBB|King Dedede}}), giving it good match control options. It also has the option to grab-release, since the spacing will become perfect for a down-tilt , and potentially a KO.

{{Crowd

|char=Pokemon Trainer

|game=Brawl

|desc-us=Po-ké-mon!

|desc-jp=Po-ké-mon!

|pitch-us=Group chant

|pitch-jp=Group chant}}

*{{Sm|Coontail|USA}} - Although better known for his commentary, Coontail was also known as a high-level Pokémon Trainer player. However, because he lived in the incredibly strong [[New York/New Jersey]] region, he was never able to gain strong results using the character in local tournaments.

*{{Sm|TheReflexWonder|USA}} - Played Pokémon Trainer along with {{SSBB|Wario}} throughout his competitive ''Brawl'' career. The only Pokémon Trainer player ever to achieve significant results with him on a national level, including a 9th place finish at [[WHOBO 4]], and used him to dominate low tier events. Reflex is credited for reversing many negative opinions regarding the Trainer's low-tier viability.

The emergence of TheReflexWonder's tremendous success in his region with the Pokémon Trainer marked a bit of a reversal in the community's view of the Pokémon Trainer, however. Many players additionally began thinking that Squirtle was a character with high tier potential as a solo character. As a result, the Pokémon Trainer rose five spots on the third tier list to 27th, formally being out of the low tiers, and in the fourth tier list, he would rise three more spots to his peak at 24th. Beyond that point, though, with the Pokémon Trainer's practically nonexistent tournament results outside TheReflexWonder, general consensus became that TheReflexWonder's anomalous success with the Pokémon Trainer was entirely due to his own incredible abilities as a player, rather than the Pokémon Trainer having unrealised potential. This view was further supported by the fact that TheReflexWonder achieved greater success in tournaments with Wario than he did with the Pokémon Trainer. This resulted in the Pokémon Trainer falling four spots back down to 28th in the fifth tier list. Since then, the aforementioned view of TheReflexWonder has remained strong, and no other Pokémon Trainer player has achieved significant tournament success. This resulted in the Pokémon Trainer hovering between 28th and 29th right above the low tiers on each subsequent tier list.

==In Solo Modes==

==={{SSBB|Classic Mode}}===

In Classic Mode, Pokémon Trainer can appear as an opponent or ally in Stage 3 along with {{SSBB|Pikachu}}, {{SSBB|Jigglypuff}}, and {{SSBB|Lucario}} on [[Pokémon Stadium 2]] or [[Spear Pillar]] (with the latter available if it has been unlocked). Pokémon Trainer can also appear as an opponent in Stage 11, but only if he hasn't appeared in Stage 3.

 

===[[All-Star Mode]]===

In All-Star Mode, Pokémon Trainer is fought in Stage 18 alongside {{SSBB|Pikachu}}, {{SSBB|Jigglypuff}}, and {{SSBB|Lucario}} on [[Pokémon Stadium 2]] or [[Spear Pillar]] (with the latter available if it has been unlocked). Uniquely, the player must KO Pokémon Trainer three times to progress.

 

===[[Event Match]]es===

*'''[[Event 5: Become the Champion!]]''': As the Pokémon Trainer, the player faces off against another Pokémon Trainer and must KO all three of his Pokémon on [[Pokémon Stadium 2]]. If any of the player's Pokémon gets KO'd in this match, they cannot be used again.

*'''[[Event 14: Sproutrage of the Flower Pikmin]]''': {{SSBB|Olimar}} must protect six Pikmin from {{SSBB|Pikachu}} and the Pokémon Trainer until they all bloom into flowers.

*'''[[Event 20: All-Star Battle x1]]''': The Pokémon Trainer is one of the eight opponents fought in this event along with {{SSBB|Wario}}, {{SSBB|Meta Knight}}, {{SSBB|Pit}}, {{SSBB|Zero Suit Samus}}, Olimar, {{SSBB|Lucas}}, and {{SSBB|Diddy Kong}}.

 

*'''[[Co-Op Event 2: Master the Pokémon Tag Battle]]''': Pikachu and the Pokémon Trainer must work together to defeat a team consisting of another Pikachu and the Pokémon Trainer on [[Pokémon Stadium 2]]. If one of the Pokémon Trainer's Pokémon gets KO'd in this match, it cannot be used again.

*'''[[Co-Op Event 21: The True All-Star Battle]]''': Both players select a character and take on the entire roster on {{SSBB|Battlefield}}.

 

===[[Congratulations_screen#Super_Smash_Bros._Brawl|Ending Images]]===

The Pokémon Trainer's main and [[Final Smash]] trophies can be obtained by clearing {{SSBB|Classic Mode}} and [[All-Star]] mode respectively with the Pokémon Trainer.