Hayden McTavish

I may need to make some edits, but I finally have my report out! vgcwithhats.com/2015/12/04/ste…

We're glad to announce that we will host a side stream for the 🗺️ 2025 World Championships! 📺 #PokemonWorlds #PlayPokemon For the first time EVER, we'll feature different VGC matches than those on the main stream! 🥳 🎙️ @Enigne_ @TheGreekKoala @Shmonstah @charismaacheck

Oops! Hidden Power IVs got mixed up in the new format Showdown has. Try this paste to get an extra stat point on Thundurus. pokepast.es/e453a2ab7fde28…

Here's the team I won Seniors Worlds with in VGC 2013, if anyone would like to see how awesome Machamp is while the VGC 2013 ladder is live on Showdown! I spent all of the 2012 and 2013 seasons refining just this team <3. pokepast.es/149ae0c0984018… Report: nuggetbridge.com/reports/armed-…

@CertainLightVGC @Jenkins_VGC @komvgc Sounds like a valid representation of the endgame to me! The caveat is that the transition probabilities depend on the player strategies for each state. Jenkins' question is to learn the best strategy for P1 such that its transition probabilities don't depend on P2's strategy.

@Enigne_ @Jenkins_VGC @komvgc (2/2) then we optimise by finding the matrix that neutralises the probability of moving to each "win" state at all time points for both players. I graduated 9 years ago and haven't stared at a MC since, so happy to be wrong, was just my first instinct

With dark urshifu and raging bolt dominating the metagame, you’ve probably been caught in an endgame where you and your opponent have to guess when to attack. Ever wondered about the optimal strategy for these endgames? Well I have the paper for you! docs.google.com/document/d/1fN…

@komvgc @Jenkins_VGC Here are the probabilities from the protecting player! I updated the document with these too.

@Enigne_ @Jenkins_VGC Does this have a companion table for probabilities from the protecting player?

@Jenkins_VGC @komvgc The approach I used was a fairly general approach for optimal endgame solving: define the different possible board states, and the probabilistic transitions between them based on player actions. I think AI will solve Pokemon endgames some day by using approximations of this.

@Jenkins_VGC @komvgc docs.google.com/document/d/1hS… has a short write-up! Table below shows the probabilities with which you should click Sucker Punch in each board state.

@komvgc @Jenkins_VGC I think that should translate to an induction proof over (# of successful protects) and (# of pp left)

@komvgc @Jenkins_VGC There's definitely a dynamic programming way to compute the equilibrium! I was working on that last year, I'll go dig up my notes if folks are interested.

@MaeveODork @FayeMata Faye switching 4 times in two turns was absolutely the highlight of the day for me! Such a cleverly played set.

@hyenaemoji Hi Lilith! I think the absolute best place to start might be vgcguide.com - a spectacular resource put together by some amazing players I really admire in the community. Awesome that you're thinking of getting into vgc - I hope you find you love it as much as I do!

Super cool paper: arxiv.org/pdf/2212.13338… Teamwork Under Extreme Uncertainty: AI for Pokémon ranks 33rd in the world (on the gen 7 randbats singles ladder in august 2020)

@Dimsunlight This was exactly me before San Diego! Good luck, and lmk if it's ever helpful to bounce ideas off of one more person.

I had forgotten how uncomfortable regionals prep could get 😅 all the possible teambuilding choices are overwhelming me

@Dimsunlight The coolest generality of application, to me, is that there are lots of tools to make an opponent pay for complexity! Setting speed control doesn't help vs priority, setting up a Pokemon doesn't help if you're facing a salt cure timer with protects, focus sash, & disguise.

My takeaway from MeLuCa's team: all of the pieces are very simple! None of it requires any set up at all. The closest is Garganacl, who really just needs to attack one or two times and wait. It's an Occam's Razor solution -- no fluff, and therefore generality of application.

@MeLuCaVGC Even without the screenshots, it's super clear just from how incisively you discussed the team in interviews! It was such a treat to see how you've been continually improving the team, even after being at such a high point last month.

On the question who created the 6, I'd like to argue that it was me 🙄 Chronologically ordered, Dec. 4, Dec. 9 and Dec. 14. Changes over time should be visible in the team report. Since my flight got delayed about 3 hours, I might just finish it in the next 3 hours 😅

@MeLuCaVGC Huge congratulations! Your play was a joy to watch, and this team is so interesting!

Returning to an in-person tournament after a 7 years of break, and winning it all feels surreal. I guess I was just lucky in many ways. I'd like to say thank you to all of my opponents, the staffs, and everyone who cheered for me! Hasta la vistar, San Diego!

Congrats to @AnimusVGC for winning our tourney last night! LOOK! 🥇 Animus 🥈 @MunkeyVGC 🔝4️⃣ @ChrisDanzo @gingergaming17 🔝🎱 @brilli_lorenzo @Enigne_ @Breadvgc @esrennen TOP 16: @Azulite_poke @jiho30010 @CrozzStorm @semprq @scotchtape_vgc @MosquitoVGC @kimnaise @p4k0sss777

🐹 #SandshrewBot UPDATE! Instantly convert your Poképaste into an OPEN TEAM SHEET paste with our new /openteam command! As online tours transition to the open team sheet format, we thought this feature would be cool for everyone! Note: It is private to keep your team info safe!

@sinBADNE Sucker punch may be better! Assurance was based on some imperfect theorying from me about handling sub gholdengo. That said, it does give Grim a way to do a lot of damage w/ double targeting, even to a special attacker. This was really nice for punishing/stopping Trick Room.

@Enigne_ Just a few questions I had. Why assurance on grim instead of sucker punch or foul play? And why dragon torkoal?

Team: pokepast.es/4a00deb7a6ac14… Feel free to share any constructive thoughts you have! Sharing even tentative ideas before San Diego is scary, but I learn more in the long run this way. MVPs: Scizor + Tauros Useful Sets: Occa Steel Scizor, Bulky Dragon Torkoal

@Dralro Really nice defensive typing, movepool, and ability! It had awesome synergy with Flutter Mane and Chi Yu, giving some crucial resistances, some physical damage control, and ghost/fighting coverage between it and Flutter Mane. Matched up awesome vs fires, barring burns/sun.

@Enigne_ Why was Tauros an MVP? And what would you say are some of the mons he matches up against the best?