Hayden McTavish

Machine Learning PhD student @ Duke, VGC 2013 Seniors Division World Champion.

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

I may need to make some edits, but I finally have my report out! https://t.co/PSava3KrKG

[Victory Road VGC @VGCVictoryRoad]

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

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

Oops! Hidden Power IVs got mixed up in the new format Showdown has. Try this paste to get an extra stat point on Thundurus. https://t.co/WqzdiDSYf5

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

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.
https://t.co/WutGqA02vd
Report: https://t.co/Q2tfGqHNWo

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

@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.

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

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

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

@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.

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

@Jenkins_VGC @komvgc https://t.co/cZ16Pgtg62 has a short write-up! Table below shows the probabilities with which you should click Sucker Punch in each board state.

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

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

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

@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.

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

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

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

@hyenaemoji Hi Lilith! I think the absolute best place to start might be https://t.co/hJPF6PiKfV - 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!

[Aaron T. @TBFUnreality]

Super cool paper: https://t.co/wuTMspKr2v

Teamwork Under Extreme Uncertainty: AI for Pokémon ranks 33rd in the world (on the gen 7 randbats singles ladder in august 2020)

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

@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.

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

@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.

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

@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.

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

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

[Nino @ninopokebros]

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

[VGC Pokepastes • Champions @VGCPastes]

🐹 #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!

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

@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.

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

Team: https://t.co/S9mVNXdlOF

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

[Hatterene Series @HattereneSeries]

Results from our first Scarlet/Violet event this weekend! Congrats to @Enigne_ for winning!

[Hayden McTavish @Enigne_]

@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.