Ash's recent battle against Paul...

[Card Slinger J]

When I saw the English dub for this I was like, wow but I wasn't too surprised really.

Some people say that using reserves seems like a crutch in battle, as for Ash I think that If he had a 6th Pokemon on his team when he only had 5 against Paul's 6 I think he would've faired a good chance probably. He might of already with Grotle.

I think If Ash had Oaked Snorlax it would've had a good chance against Paul's Magmortar considering If Snorlax had Thick Fat for resistance against Fire Type moves. It still would've been weak against Torterra's Stone Edge since Snorlax is weak to Rock and Fighting Type moves. Amazing how Monferno got around it though.

I just couldn't get over Ursaring's stamina and strength, that it took like 2 of Ash's Pokemon to Knock it out. I think what stengthed it was it's ability Guts which increased Ursaring's Attack by 50% when effected by a Status condition.

Monferno almost came through though, If Ash had Monferno use Flamethrower or Flame Wheel instead of Mach Punch against Electabuzz he would've had an edge against it because Monferno's Blaze kicked in when it was getting weak.

The end result was that this wasn't JUST a loss for Ash, it was a loss against somebody Ash felt feels wrong and knows is hurting others while still getting the higher up of things when he doesn't deserve it. Like the school bully who's popular anyway while you try your best to be nice and end up sitting at a lunch table alone. It's frustrating...

Then again despite Paul's cold heartedness, he's pretty good in terms of competitive battling as with Ash it seems like he's usually stuck using lower tier Pokemon while still going with the David vs. Goliath approach and it seems like the idea is getting kinda redundant, it's Ash's basic battle strategy, or it's just not working for him anymore.

Ash needs to step his game up, evolve his Buizel into Floatzel, or use his Reserves for the Sinnoh League cause unfortunately the way his team is right now I don't think he still stands a chance against Paul or Cynthia for that matter.

Though of course using Reserves sorta seems like a cop out (he's done it before in the Kanto Battle Frontier), using past Pokemon like Snorlax, Sceptile, Charizard, Primeape, Donphan, Heracross, Muk, and Kingler seem like a good idea. So far in Ash's Sinnoh team his best Pokemon seem to be Monferno and Staraptor. I don't know what's wrong with his Pikachu lately but it doesn't seem to be as powerful as it was during his time in Johto and Hoenn.

 

[Professor Palutena]

Snorlax is just weak to Fighting, not rock.

Maybe Pikachu is getting weak is because it needs to evolve. That defense stat isn't going to get him far against Garchomp. But evolving Pikachu destroys the series as we know it.

 

[xxashxx]

When I saw the English dub for this I was like, wow but I wasn't too surprised really.

Some people say that using reserves seems like a crutch in battle, as for Ash I think that If he had a 6th Pokemon on his team when he only had 5 against Paul's 6 I think he would've faired a good chance probably. He might of already with Grotle.

I think If Ash had Oaked Snorlax it would've had a good chance against Paul's Magmortar considering If Snorlax had Thick Fat for resistance against Fire Type moves. It still would've been weak against Torterra's Stone Edge since Snorlax is weak to Rock and Fighting Type moves. Amazing how Monferno got around it though.

I just couldn't get over Ursaring's stamina and strength, that it took like 2 of Ash's Pokemon to Knock it out. I think what stengthed it was it's ability Guts which increased Ursaring's Attack by 50% when effected by a Status condition.

Monferno almost came through though, If Ash had Monferno use Flamethrower or Flame Wheel instead of Mach Punch against Electabuzz he would've had an edge against it because Monferno's Blaze kicked in when it was getting weak.

The end result was that this wasn't JUST a loss for Ash, it was a loss against somebody Ash felt feels wrong and knows is hurting others while still getting the higher up of things when he doesn't deserve it. Like the school bully who's popular anyway while you try your best to be nice and end up sitting at a lunch table alone. It's frustrating...

Then again despite Paul's cold heartedness, he's pretty good in terms of competitive battling as with Ash it seems like he's usually stuck using lower tier Pokemon while still going with the David vs. Goliath approach and it seems like the idea is getting kinda redundant, it's Ash's basic battle strategy, or it's just not working for him anymore.

Ash needs to step his game up, evolve his Buizel into Floatzel, or use his Reserves for the Sinnoh League cause unfortunately the way his team is right now I don't think he still stands a chance against Paul or Cynthia for that matter.

Though of course using Reserves sorta seems like a cop out (he's done it before in the Kanto Battle Frontier), using past Pokemon like Snorlax, Sceptile, Charizard, Primeape, Donphan, Heracross, Muk, and Kingler seem like a good idea. So far in Ash's Sinnoh team his best Pokemon seem to be Monferno and Staraptor. I don't know what's wrong with his Pikachu lately but it doesn't seem to be as powerful as it was during his time in Johto and Hoenn.

Yeah Ash used his Pokemon badly in that match. He should have used his starter against Torterra because he has dig and when Paul used Frenzy Plant which Stunns the Pokemon for 2 turns then he could have used Flamethrower to fry it with 1 hit and the same for Electibuzz or Electivier. Forget which one but his Monferno could have KO'd 2 or 3 of his Pokemon. See Paul only relies on Power his main weakness is his defenses which Ash has not found his weak spot yet but he will and he does need to fix his team too.

 

[Juliacoolo]

What more did you expect. Ash is a horrible trainer. He doesn't use any logic when battling, and he doesn't take advantage of his oppurtuntities. We all know Ash will beat Paul eventually in the anime, the producers just want to heat up the rivalry to make it seem more valuable when Ash wins later on.

 

[Card Slinger J]

If Ash is a horrible trainer how did he manage to make the Top 16 in the Kanto Indigo Conference, Top 8 in the Johto Silver Conference despite losing to Harrison's Blaziken but beating Gary Oak his main rival, Top 8 in the Hoenn Ever Grande Conference, and champion of the Kanto Battle Frontier and Orange Islands.

Part of the reason why is that he had more powerful teams minus Pikachu than he has with his Sinnoh team. His Kanto Team in the Indigo Conference consisted of Snorlax, Charizard, Tauros, Heracross, Muk, and Squirtle.

Two of Ash's best Pokemon were Snorlax and Charizard, helping him in various battles especially in the Kanto Battle Frontier especially for beating Articuno with Charizard and Hariyama with Snorlax. I couldn't believe how Ash managed to beat Brawly's Hariyama with Treecko during their Gym Battle rematch in the Hoenn region.

Yeah Ash used his Pokemon badly in that match. He should have used his starter against Torterra because he has dig and when Paul used Frenzy Plant which Stunns the Pokemon for 2 turns then he could have used Flamethrower to fry it with 1 hit and the same for Electibuzz or Electivier. Forget which one but his Monferno could have KO'd 2 or 3 of his Pokemon. See Paul only relies on Power his main weakness is his defenses which Ash has not found his weak spot yet but he will and he does need to fix his team too.

Did it ever occur to you that Paul was utilizing on the Status abilities of his Pokemon more besides their techniques? Take for example Magmortar's Flame Body which had a devastating effect on Ash's Pikachu, or Ursaring's Guts which gave it the extra strength to succeed in battle especially with Hammer Arm.

So If Monferno had beaten Electabuzz it could've KO'ed Paul's other Pokemon is that what you're getting at? Ash is just lucky it didn't already evolve into Electivire then Monferno would've REALLY been outmatched. His Johto team was pretty good but probably not as good as his Kanto team, his Hoenn team seemed solid with Sceptile, Swellow, Torkoal, Corphish (which never evolved into Kradaunt), and a couple others.

Paul's weakness? Well to me I think it's all in the follow through with Type Advantage/Disadvantage and utilizing it to the fullest extent with highly evolved Pokemon or Pokemon that don't normally evolve like Snorlax for example. I hate to say it but Ash's Sinnoh team is lackluster compared to his team in Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn. He's gonna need to call in his reserves or train more and the way I see it Buizel NEEDS to evolve into Floatzel eventually.

If Gary was battling in Ash's place against Paul in that battle, I think Gary would've done better hands down. He has Aerodactyl, Blastoise, Nidoqueen, Electivire, Umbreon, Golem, Scizor, Nidoking, Skarmory, Kingdra, Arcanine, and a few others.

 

[Juliacoolo]

Ash is a horrible trainer. The reason he wins is because the writers know that if Ash lived up to his abnoxious self, he would never be any good, and would fail. No one would watch a show where the main customer always fails unless it is a comedy. Another reason ash wins, is that the writers make Ash's pokemon stronger than they should. Pikachu at lv.100 will usually have less than 200 HP. With Ash's Smashmouth style training, Pikachu would logically be a O/2HKO for most pokemon in any elite tourney.

 

[Seth1789110]

Ash made some HORRIBLE decisions in that match.
Paul: Honchkrow!
Ash *thinks in head* Hmmm...a flying type that flies really really REALLY fast, and is strong against Grass... "Go Grotle! Stand on two feet!"

Its disgusting. Monferno was cool though, he shoulda beat Electabuzz though. Ash shoulda saved Gliscor for 'buzz. Otherwise, he sucked. In general.

 

[xxashxx]

He could have saved his Monferno for Electibuzz since Dig is Super Effective on electric type Pokemon and also Fire Type Pokemon. He should have use Dig when Thunder Punch was thrown and when Magmortar used his moves as well. Ash could have won easily if he had used his Pokemon at the right time.

 

[Card Slinger J]

Ash made some HORRIBLE decisions in that match.
Paul: Honchkrow!
Ash *thinks in head* Hmmm...a flying type that flies really really REALLY fast, and is strong against Grass... "Go Grotle! Stand on two feet!"

Its disgusting. Monferno was cool though, he shoulda beat Electabuzz though. Ash shoulda saved Gliscor for 'buzz. Otherwise, he sucked. In general.

Battling against Weakness will only get you so far, too bad Ash never realized the consequences it has. His recent battle was a prime example of what Drake from the Hoenn Elite Four was talking about, not to let your overconfidence cloud your judgment in battle.

You'd seriously think Ash learned from his past mistakes from all the travels he's been in. But the producers still make him the same ol' Ash, with stubborness to boot. The Sinnoh Saga made Ash look really pathetic so far and ironically he hasn't even battled Volkner yet for his Beacon Badge to enter the Sinnoh League. He might switch to Pokemon Contests like Dawn and May who knows...

Ash is a horrible trainer. The reason he wins is because the writers know that if Ash lived up to his abnoxious self, he would never be any good, and would fail. No one would watch a show where the main customer always fails unless it is a comedy. Another reason ash wins, is that the writers make Ash's pokemon stronger than they should. Pikachu at lv.100 will usually have less than 200 HP. With Ash's Smashmouth style training, Pikachu would logically be a O/2HKO for most pokemon in any elite tourney.

He may be horrible when it comes to competitive battling (Post - Hoenn) but in terms of taking care of his Pokemon he's done a pretty good job on that regard. Plus nobody does a better job at putting Team Rocket in their place than Ash and his Pikachu...

In terms of competitive battling I don't think he takes it seriously enough, I mean how does he expect to become Pokemon Master If he doesn't train excessively?