Banner by Skarm™
Welcome to OU's Player of the week, a project
where I interview well known players to gain insight on how they battle, as well as get to know some things about them. The goal of this thread is to have these high level players give insight to other players in this community in hopes of creating a better overall experience in the OU environment. As always, if there's someone you'd like to see interviewed, feel free to shoot me a PM. So without further ado, lets get to it!
PDC
Generally speaking, i'm probably best known as the "kid who got COPPA banned" awhile back, but as of recent I've managed to do pretty well in tournaments like Smogon Tour, OLT, and some other random stuff. I plan on doing good in SPL this year, and also hopefully making Top 16 again in Smogon Tour 19!
Favorite Pokemon:
Rayquaza. When I was like 6 or so I turned on the TV upstairs and watched the Deoxys-Rayquaza movie. I didn't even know it was a Pokemon at the time, but damn it looked so cool.
Most used Pokemon:
People typically know me by the balanced esqe teams that I like to use with Mega Venu, Heatran, Gliscor, Clefable, Lando-I, etc. But I also use Charizard-Y / Keldeo quite a bit as well.
Where did you get your name from?
When I was 9 I signed up on Pokebeach forums under the name of PALKIA DIALGA CLASH. I had just watched the 10th Pokemon movie and I really couldn't think of anything else to sign up with that wasn't my name. I thought that Palkia and Dialga were "clashing" basically, so that's how the name was born. After awhile people got tired of calling me "palkia dialga clash" all the time, and shortened it to PDC.
How and when did you get into competitive battling?
I got into competitive Mons around late 2009 on Shoddy Battle officially, but I believe that I played around on Shoddy in 2008 as well, but just had no idea what was going on. The reason I got into competitive mons was probably because I was just "good at it" from the start for my age. I generally knew what was going on in the games, and I realized that winning was something that was fun. I was never really that amazing at any other game / sport, so I figured I might as well continue to play something that I could win consistently at. Over time I realized that Pokebeach wasn't the best place to get competitive advice, and I shifted to Smogon.
How do you feel about how ORAS plays compared to XY?
I don't really like it. I feel that XY was more balanced (although honestly I would like Greninja banned there as well!) and generally more fun for my type of play. ORAS is pretty different from XY in that the metagame seems to have shifted some Mons roles completely, while also changing general archetypes of balanced teams completely. ORAS is a metagame which I truly feel that you cannot have a counter to everything. Something is bound to sweep you 6-0, and if your opponent is lucky enough to have that mon, then you're essentially fucked.
Is there anything that stands out as being suspect worthy to you?
Mega-Metagross probably. That shit is crazy with how hard it hits, and how it really gives Metagross the chance to abuse it's movepool.
What’s your favorite playstyle and why?
Balance / Bulky offense is by far my favorite style of team in BW - XY. It just feels right, like if I play my cards right I will always be in control of the game. I also really enjoy using many of the Mons that are commonly seen on balance teams, and generally enjoy building them. I would honestly say that my playstyle is very similar to Hugo's (not just because I constantly use his teams) in that I typically focus on more balanced or bulky cores which are generally innovative and fun to use, something that keeps you in control.
How did you get into YouTube, and how has it affected you as a battler/person?
I always wanted to do Youtube, but when I first started I was really scared that other people in this community were going to start ridiculing me for being a "Youtuber" at first. But as time went on I noticed that more and more people enjoyed my content, and even some other people started doing Youtube again (BKC)! It hasn't really affected me all that much, aside from me realizing that playing while commentating is one of the worst things to do, it just gets distracting.
Oh, and yeah, I also wanted to get a little money on the side...so you should all subscribe!!!!!
Whats it like being known as the "Tele Slayer"?
Exhilarating. Honestly, beating tele wasn't all that big a deal. I know there was a lot of hype around that game, but in the end I kind of feel bad for being one of the people involved in "kicking" somebody out the community.
Do you have any advice for newer players, and for Smogon in general?
KEEP TRYING. Don't give up when you lose a tournament (even though I do all the time and then bitch endlessly but this about you not me), and keep on playing if you really want to be good. Play tournaments, all types and get the experience in a tournament environment down. Once you do ok in a couple of unofficial tours, move on towards official tours! Playing in tournaments a lot if what makes players good, not the ladder.
Remember that it is just a game and you're here to have fun, no matter how serious this community gets, Pokemon is really just a game, and is not more important than the friendship.
Don't take shit either from people calling you bad or whatnot, because generally the people calling you a "shitty player"are probably worse players than you anyway.
What players do you look up to / are good friends with?
This will probably be the longest of my response, since I look up to / am good friends with a lot of people on this forum.
Kevin Garrett / Limitless / Pride - The old trio I used to aspire to be like back on Pokebeach. Without these 3 I probably wouldn't have had the real hunger to become good at this game. I wanted to do well in tournaments like them, and manage to win games as consistently as they did.
bad ass - bad ass is one of the best players I know honestly. While he may call himself washed up, he is a fantastic player who has a specific style of play which I can only describe as "unpredictable". He gets inside your head, and he is also a great mentor.
BKC - A great friend who i've known for about 3 years now since he ended up on U.S. East in 2012. I don't think there are many other people who have shown such support for me in the tournament scene from giving me teams to cheering me on. Also probably one of the reasons I want to win a Smogon Tour!
SoulWind - Back in the year 2011 when I was banned, I laddered all the fucking time since I had nothing to do. That is when I met SoulWind. We were both unknown aside from being ladder heroes essentially, but before long SW would turn into a star player that would reach the finals of a Smogon Tour. It really is funny how you can go from being 2 unknown players who spent their days trying to reach #1, to being friends who help each-other throughout the tournament season.
gr8astard - HUGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. One of the best builders of our generation, Hugo has shown that you can really change the perception of you in a community like Smogon very quickly. From being known as the man who cheated DestinyUnknown from a trophy to one of the most looked up to people in the community, it has been quite the road. The reason I look up to Hugo is because of how he is essentially the Earthworm of the new generations, being able to play BW and XY to high levels, AND team build in them as well.
the rest of US BEAST from 2011-2014
TPO3 - While you haven't had the time to come on lately or play in SPL, you have been my rival for the past 5 years, and without your motivation I don't think it would have been possible to do well in any tournament. ur the real mvp.
Stone_Cold - The man who invited me on U.S east in 2011, Stone essentially started my lust for the tournament scene and playing on a team and co-operating with other people. If you didn't draft me on U.S. East back then, I don't think I would have been able to list anybody above, as I probably would have quit by now / never met them.
Finally, can you provide us a team that’s a good fit for this metagame and reflects your playstyle?
ONLY SHALLOW (Starmie) @ Leftovers
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Def / 4 SpA / 16 SpD / 224 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Reflect Type
LOVELESS (Venusaur) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Def / 156 SpD / 56 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Synthesis
BRING DA RUCKUS (Gliscor) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Def / 176 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Roost
RUINER (Heatran) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Lava Plume
- Taunt
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
MEAT GRINDER (Landorus) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Earth Power
- Focus Blast
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Ice]
ALICE IN CHAINS (Clefable) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 8 SpA / 16 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Focus Blast
- Soft-Boiled
Ability: Natural Cure
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Def / 4 SpA / 16 SpD / 224 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Rapid Spin
- Recover
- Reflect Type
LOVELESS (Venusaur) @ Venusaurite
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 HP / 44 Def / 156 SpD / 56 Spe
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 SpA / 30 Spe
- Giga Drain
- Sludge Bomb
- Hidden Power [Fire]
- Synthesis
BRING DA RUCKUS (Gliscor) @ Toxic Orb
Ability: Poison Heal
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Def / 176 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Knock Off
- Roost
RUINER (Heatran) @ Leftovers
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Lava Plume
- Taunt
- Toxic
- Stealth Rock
MEAT GRINDER (Landorus) (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sheer Force
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 30 Def
- Earth Power
- Focus Blast
- Psychic
- Hidden Power [Ice]
ALICE IN CHAINS (Clefable) @ Leftovers
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 8 SpA / 16 SpD
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Moonblast
- Focus Blast
- Soft-Boiled
My SPL Week 1 team vs Reymedy, this team is my "signature balance" which I built to beat up French cores and bulkier team archetypes. While it may be 6-0d by Gengar and Alakazam, that's how you know it's truly a PDC team.
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Leave any questions for the based Tele slayer down below, and he'll answer them. I'd like to thank him for doing this, and see yall next week!
