TJ
Banned deucer.
Twix
Favorite Pokemon: Unfezant
Most used Pokemon: Mesprit
Most known for: 4-2 in PUPL III, Driver, PU 1v1 Tier Leader, Wrote about 25 PU analyses
TJ: Hey Twix how are you today?
Twix: I'm doing pretty well haha.
TJ: Cool. Could you tell us more about yourself outside of Smogon? What are your hobbies and things you enjoy?
Twix: Well I'm a sixteen year-old teen from the great United States of America. Outside of Smogon I go to school, play recreational Basketball, play Baseball for my school, participate in Robotics, Debate Club, and Model UN, and just hang out with friends.
TJ: How and when did you get into competitive battling?
Twix: I started playing Pokemon in Gen 4 when I was about 7 and that's when I kinda got hooked, so I went back and played all the older games as well. I didn't really touch the game for a few years until 2013 when I found Smogon and hung around the Challenges and Tournaments room where I met a bunch of cool people, especially TONE. I played around a few tiers, but I wasn't really ever good, although I did go like 2-1 in PSPL III I think. From there I kinda followed TONE into PU when he was like % and I learned a lot from my pals Megazard, Dundies, and gasquakee (rip). I got involved in a bunch of other tiers, but was mainly a PU and Monotype main. Then I took a break for 2 years in 2015 and came back around 2 months ago.
TJ: What is your favorite PU metagame and why?
Twix: My favorite PU meta has gotta be ORAS simply because it's the best PU metagame ever and it got screwed out of PUPL because of the nazi mods. Nah but really it was the first metagame where I was really into the metagame even if it was really imbalanced at times.
TJ: Who do you look up to / admire most as a player and as a person in the PU scene?
Twix: Megazard has always been the first person I go to when I want to test a team or discuss something metagame related with so I'd say him overall. Since I've come back some of the best PU Players I've seen have been Taskr and Dibs The Dreamer, who are great builders and players.
TJ: Can you name any up and coming players showing good potential?
Twix: Personally, the main person that I see as up and coming is the legend GenZeon. He just does everything so well and I'm happy to see that he's putting more and more effort into integrating himself into the community.
TJ: How did it feel winning PUPL 3 for the Stoutlands?
Twix: It felt great to be on such a solid team and to pull it through in the end, especially since we were the clear underdogs in the roompoll after the draft. I felt pretty confident going into the the game against Taskr (maybe a little too confident) but I was just happy that I could be the last nail in the coffin, even if I might have talked a little much.
TJ: Lastly, could you provide a team that reflects you and explain it?
Twix:
Lycanroc @ Lycanium Z
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
- Drill Run
- Accelerock
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sleep Powder
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Mesprit @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Healing Wish
- U-turn
- Psychic
Qwilfish @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Poison Point
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Spikes
- Toxic Spikes
- Thunder Wave
- Waterfall
Kangaskhan @ Silk Scarf
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Double-Edge
- Toxic
- Sucker Punch
Hitmonchan @ Assault Vest
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Ice Punch
- Rapid Spin
Ability: Steadfast
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Stone Edge
- Drill Run
- Accelerock
Lilligant @ Life Orb
Ability: Chlorophyll
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Sleep Powder
- Quiver Dance
- Giga Drain
- Hidden Power [Fire]
Mesprit @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Healing Wish
- U-turn
- Psychic
Qwilfish @ Rocky Helmet
Ability: Poison Point
EVs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
Bold Nature
- Spikes
- Toxic Spikes
- Thunder Wave
- Waterfall
Kangaskhan @ Silk Scarf
Ability: Scrappy
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Fake Out
- Double-Edge
- Toxic
- Sucker Punch
Hitmonchan @ Assault Vest
Ability: Iron Fist
EVs: 200 HP / 252 Atk / 56 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Drain Punch
- Mach Punch
- Ice Punch
- Rapid Spin
Since the end of SM I've just been in love with Spikes builds, especially around Mesprit + Qwilfish hazard cores. Lycanroc is one of my favorite attackers to use because of its great Speed tier and solid movepool, as well as the fact that its Z move looks pretty sick. Kangaskhan always works well with Spikes builds due to its dual priority, similar to how Hitmonchan provides priority and hazard removal. Finally, Lilligant is just one of the best threats on the Special side and is a really solid cleaner to pair with the team.
Thanks for your time! As always, if you guys have any questions feel free to ask them!
Special s/o Haund