I’ve been doing this on showdown since 2018. I feel you bro. I’ll never forget the day I woke up, lost two phone ladder games in a row while sitting on the toilet and then had a terrible morning. And it was all my fault. Curses!
You don’t see stuff like this during other World Cups. There’s a whole generation discovering America for the first time right now without the news and the BS and they freaking LOVE it.
Last weekend I became the FIRST Champion of Pokémon Champions by winning the 2026 Indianapolis Regional! It truly was an unforgettable experience- having to face the best of the best in order to claim the top spot! Shoutouts to my family and @sohaibmufti and @Ink_VG.
Never stop saying "dozen" and "half dozen". Never stop using the word you read in an old novella. Never stop using your regional jargon. Don't succumb to an internationalized English stripped of its whimsy and romanticism in the name of streamlining global commerce.
One of my favorite things about Pokemon as a competitive game is the sheer amount of options it gives the player in teambuilding, so it may be surprising that I actually think the limited options Champions presents is actually a huge win in many ways
You cannot go anyhwere in the US anymore without feeling taking advantage of. Every restaurant, every lease agreement, every purchase. Everything is so blatantly predatory. Like they don't even care to be subtle about the fact that they're operating in bad faith.
And we're all just submissive to it
Gengar is the perfect Pokémon.
He’s essential to every trainer’s starting 6, with a versatile and unpredictable moveset.
If he’s taken damage? Hypnosis —> Dream Eater will put your opponent to sleep, suck their HP, and replenish yours. With the right trainer, he can’t be killed.
Not to mention he’s immune to normal, fighting, and ground-type moves, rendering even the strongest Pokémon like Machamp absolutely useless.
Beyond his obvious tactical advantages, Gengar’s aesthetic is big and menacing, but at the same time, virtually nonexistent — a ghost with a grin. He’s dark purple, which represents luxury, power, wisdom, and… mystery.
Gengar is shrouded in lore, rumored to be Clefable’s shadow. Nicknamed the “trickster entity,” his presence is marked by a sudden drop in temperature. He’s literally “chill af”
Oh and the only way to get Gengar was with a link cable & a homie (through a trade). His evolution wasn’t possible through level-grinding, only kinship.
Gengar is king
📣 We’re counting down to the official 1.4.5 trailer! Check back tomorrow for the big reveal and stay tuned for the full changelog on launch day, January 27th!