Featured Tutor #5 - Laga

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Laga
  • Can you tell us a bit about your life outside Smogon?
My life outside of smogon at the moment, is music, school and friends; all of them being connected. I go to a high school (or whatever it translates to, diff school system here in Denmark) where I have the opportunity to specialise in learning music theory as well as play music with my classmates in schooltime. It's really perfect for me, and in my sparetime when I'm not being with friends, I either go here or practice the instruments I play (I play guitar, piano, and sing)
  • When did you join the Battling 101 program?
I joined the second Doubles OU (or back then; Smogon Doubles) became a part of this program ;)
  • Why did you join Battling101 ?
I joined because I've always loved helping people get a grasp over things I have an interest for. Ever since I became good at something I've tried my best to help others, both my age and younger become good in that field.
  • Did you sign up as a tutee initially?
Yes I actually did! I originally signed up for NU about 2 years ago haha. I had fellow '14 ruiner Annoyer tutor me back then, but we didn't end up getting the most amazing round xD
  • What's your preferred style of battling?
I have absolutely no preferred style of battle. I might have one subconsciously, but in tournaments my biggest strength is unpredictability; no one in spl has really benefitted from counterstyling me, since I have managed to convince even myself that I don't favour any style. Although obviously, since I play Doubles, I don't believe in stall!! As for direct playstyle, I reckon I always have the mindset of risk vs reward in the back of my head, and don't throw too many risks on the table until endgame.
  • What style do you encourage your tutees to follow and why?
I always encourage my tutees to follow either the style they played singles most comfortably with, or if they're entirely new, I'd encourage more offense than bulk in their teamstyles. As for prediction, I always say that it's a matter of experience. Learn the trends of the metagame and anticipate based on that, as there really isn't a wrong way to predict.
  • Are there any patterns in your tutoring style?
Definitely! I always have my tutees battle friends such as Stratos, (Pwnemon), Mizuhime, Lohgock, or BLOOD TOTEM while they explain every thought they have for every turn. It takes a long time, but it's the best pattern I've ever followed in learning about the tutee's thought process.
  • How do you feel while tutoring ?
I feel an enormous thrill when a tutee makes a play that works out and that I didn't think of. It's pleasant when they play right, but when they surprise me, I feel thrilling joy :D It really is amazing helping people grasp something and them going on to more advanced stages by themselves.
  • Do you follow a process while tutoring?
Yes, but the only rule I have for myself is having 100% certainty about battling before I go on to teambuilding. It's pretty much impossible to build a team in Doubles without actual experience directly from playing the tier. People who learned by themselves have all started out with terrible teams (me included), so it's nice that they can skip that stage nowadays.
  • What's your favorite strategy that you've run? This can be from any metagame or time period.
Sand Goodstuffs Gen 5 Doubles; Audiosurfer agrees with me here ;)
  • Do you wish to get specific feedback from your tutee, and not just receive a grade?
I already ask that from them really. I constantly ask if I am writing / talking in an understandable language in fear of them not following my lead.
  • If you could improve B101, what would you change?
I genuinely don't think I can improve the frame of this program. Now that blacklists are made, I don't think we can do anything better here :)

Thanks Laga for accepting and feel free to ask him questions.
~ Leftiez and Steve Angello
 
Feel like a broken record saying how much I enjoy these, but great work regardless guys on this issue! I also have some questions for you laga. if you dont kind answer them of course.

1. Being a player who has a future long term goal of participating in events like SPL, what advice could you give to help me (and others I would assume) to achieve this distant goal?
2. What aspect of Doubles made you want to actively play it? Are their any other tiers you actively play or want to get involved with?
3. Who is your favorite player to watch in any tier? Has this person inspired you in any way?
4. What is your favorite thing about B101?

Thanks for your time if you do get round to answering these questions. Keep up the good work!
 

ryo yamada2001

ryo yamada2001
is a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnus
Deserved, during the round he tutored me I felt comfortable and I felt like I became actually pretty good for a newbie =)
Anyways I wanted to ask a few questions \o/

1. What is your favourite Pokémon to competitively use?
2. Are there any certain goals you still want to reach on Smogon, or in the tournament scene? Like win the Smogon Premier League, get a new badge etc.?
3. What is the most annoying Pokémon you constantly face in Smogon Doubles? Is there any way you counter it, or something?

Anyways, keep up the good work! Thanks in advance for answering, and thanks for tutoring a few rounds ago, I think there wouldn't be a better possible tutor to teach someone Smogon Doubles \o/
 
How did you get into doubles competition ?

Some people (and me too) think that VGC and doubles are pretty similar while it's not, could you tell us why ?

If you had to improve doubles community / section / Metagame, what it would be?

Is there any specific things to do in double teambuilding process compared to other tiers such as OU / UU / RU / NU ?

While tutoring do you take in mind that your tutee may not be experienced enough to understand what you're trying to teach him and then use more appropriate terms ? (since doubles is such a delicate tier)
 
Not sure if this is the right place to ask but since it's dubs related might as well do it

1. How do you guys plan to extend your reach towards the VGC community? Many prominent VGC players have been playing dubs, even in SPL, but VGC has cash prizes and generally better outreach it seems.

2. common doubles strategies? i sorta know sand, TR, rain, weatherless etc. are pretty good but it's hard to build synergy-wise in dubs (i'll admit I haven't made too much of an effort in this regard)
 

Laga

Forever Grande
is a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnus
1. Being a player who has a future long term goal of participating in events like SPL, what advice could you give to help me (and others I would assume) to achieve this distant goal?
2. What aspect of Doubles made you want to actively play it? Are their any other tiers you actively play or want to get involved with?
3. Who is your favorite player to watch in any tier? Has this person inspired you in any way?
4. What is your favorite thing about B101?
1: I definitely think that the main factor people underestimate is charisma. If you show up to the chat emitting a good balance of banter and politeness, managers will most definitely choose you over the other guy that plays as good as you and is a negative fella. Other than that, just do your best to prove yourself in official tournament (especially Smogon Tour) if you want to get drafted for an ou spot, or do well in Slam if you play lower tiers.
2: The tougher turn-by-turn predictions made me want to start playing doubles actively. I used to play singles and be really bad at it (I'm not that good with long-term thinking), and I just seemed to feel more in control when I first started playing doubles. Could have been the ladder being bad tho :V
3: McMeghan is a true friend and as POKEGOD RACHEE put it: McM playing ADV is like Bill Clinton playing sax. He also picked up Doubles in 2 weeks last yr.
4: My fav thing about B101 are the free chocolate-chip cookies :D
1. What is your favourite Pokémon to competitively use?
2. Are there any certain goals you still want to reach on Smogon, or in the tournament scene? Like win the Smogon Premier League, get a new badge etc.?
3. What is the most annoying Pokémon you constantly face in Smogon Doubles? Is there any way you counter it, or something?
1: Changes all the time, I gotta say that I have high hopes for Scarf Tyrantrum at the moment.
2: I definitely want to be on the winning team of SPL a year to come, but I don't think badges are that important. If I find some contributing part of this site is fun, I'll gladly have the badge show what I enjoy spending my time here on, but I don't like doing things I don't particularly want to in order to get badges.
3: Scarf Discharge Zapdos / Thundy-T + Mega Sceptile. My counter for Sceptile always gets paralyzed turn one from the Discharge, and then it just eats my teams up because of luck. This only happens when I ladder here and there tho.
How did you get into doubles competition ?
Some people (and me too) think that VGC and doubles are pretty similar while it's not, could you tell us why ?
If you had to improve doubles community / section / Metagame, what it would be?
Is there any specific things to do in double teambuilding process compared to other tiers such as OU / UU / RU / NU ?
While tutoring do you take in mind that your tutee may not be experienced enough to understand what you're trying to teach him and then use more appropriate terms ? (since doubles is such a delicate tier)
1: I got into it by being there before it was official tbh. I used to be really terrible, but with my hardcore laddering days past me, I got some solid intuition about this tier to help me when tourneys came about. I didn't really jump into it in any way specific, I just joined when it came around :)
2: VGC and Doubles are probably as different as two singles tiers. While the Pokemon used are quite a lot the same, the different access to mons makes a large impact (most notably Diancie and banned M-Mence), and the 4v4 format completely changes the games. 4v4 makes it much harder to think long term (basically impossible), but does create a new dimension, one that many enjoy, including me. I'll always like Doubles the best, since the games are a bit longer.
3: I would make Stratos become nicer to newcomers ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
4: Yes, quite a few, with one very notable standout point: Stall does not exist. This is simply set in stone, all Doubles teams carry offensive pokemon, wether they may be fast or bulky and slow, it's always attacking / supporting moves, no entry hazards or toxic. WoW and thunder wave are popular though, since they are very useful utility. Also with the method of building, you almost always build around an offensive core; you don't start off with bulky utility mons.
5: I actually always start by giving them a heads up on what moves are useful in Doubles which they've never seen in singles, such as Wide Guard, Quick Guard, Helping Hand, Follow Me, Rage Powder, Ally Switch, Fake Out (used sometimes in singles, but not nearly as good), Feint, and more. There usually isn't much misunderstanding :)
1. How do you guys plan to extend your reach towards the VGC community? Many prominent VGC players have been playing dubs, even in SPL, but VGC has cash prizes and generally better outreach it seems.
2. common doubles strategies? i sorta know sand, TR, rain, weatherless etc. are pretty good but it's hard to build synergy-wise in dubs (i'll admit I haven't made too much of an effort in this regard)
1: We haven't really discussed this, I think they co-exist fine as it is really. We won't ever be able to match their prizes, so we're fine with being the sort of simplified version with less tension involved at even the high level. We do, however, truly consider ourselves the more competitive tier ;)
2: The most common strategy right now is probably just all around goodstuffs. This seasonal, you see a shitload of usage for bulky attacker mons; Kangaskhan, Rotom-W, Heatran, Aegislash, Landorus-T are kings of usage, so basically everything that's considered "standard" is rightfully considered so. It's a bit sad to see how people aren't that creative in the seasonal though, spl usage stats where notably more varied.

:D
 

Starmei

You thought you could challenge me?
is a Tiering Contributor Alumnus
During the round laga tutored me I learned a lot about dubs and find it very enjoyable. Naturally I have already risen to the number 1 dubs player on smogon already and am winning tours weekly.

1. If you had to 'main' (play) any other tiers, which would you pick?
2. Thoughts on how dubs is being run right now? Any issues or praises
3. Any potential suspects in dubs that could/should come up in your opinion?
 
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