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Revision as of 23:40, 18 May 2023

960 bytes added ,  18 May 2023
→‎Rules: Added various rules that are commonly used today, rearranged in a way that's reverse-chronological, with exceptions made for omnipresent clauses. I feel like this section may need to be cleaned up in general, it's very clunky. I haven't even seen "recoil moves clause" be named anywhere except in posts made by the person who added this to the page in the first place.
m (→‎Rules: Changed player mention from a male pronoun to neutral)
(→‎Rules: Added various rules that are commonly used today, rearranged in a way that's reverse-chronological, with exceptions made for omnipresent clauses. I feel like this section may need to be cleaned up in general, it's very clunky. I haven't even seen "recoil moves clause" be named anywhere except in posts made by the person who added this to the page in the first place.)
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==Rules==
==Rules==
While normally banning unreleased and/or illegitimate Pokémon, [[move]]s, [[item]]s, and [[Ability|Abilities]], there are other sets of rules set to be followed by players in varying contexts, may they be official or otherwise.
While normally banning unreleased and/or illegitimate Pokémon, [[move]]s, [[item]]s, and [[Ability|Abilities]], there are other sets of rules set to be followed by players in varying contexts, be they official or otherwise. These are often called "clauses," a term initially seen in the ''Stadium'' series of games, used as a shorthand for more complex rules that impose restrictions on gameplay. Clauses are commonly made with the aim of reducing variance and thus producing a "fairer" metagame.  


Most rule variants employ certain restrictions, which are known as '''clauses''' in the fandom. The following clauses have seen considerable usage:
Many unofficial clauses are seen on [[Smogon]], a popular competitive Pokémon website. On Smogon, rules are often proposed through "suspect tests" initiated by a council of players particularly dedicated to the metagame in question, wherein qualified tournament and ladder players will then vote on whether or not the rule will be instated, usually requiring a majority of 61% or higher. Common Smogon-popularised clauses include [[OHKO]] clause, [[Evasion]] clause, Moody clause, and Endless battle clause, which are seen across all of their metagames, being dubbed "Smogon-wide Clauses".[https://www.smogon.com/ss/articles/clauses]
 
The following clauses have seen considerable usage:


* '''Species clause''': Each Pokémon on a player's team must be of different species or [[List of Pokémon by National Pokédex number|National Pokédex number]].
* '''Species clause''': Each Pokémon on a player's team must be of different species or [[List of Pokémon by National Pokédex number|National Pokédex number]].
* '''Level Sum Limit''': The three Pokémon that were chosen for the battle should have a specific Level Sum, e.g., in the case of the [[Poké Cup]], the Level Sum Limit must be between 150 and 155. This rule is only used in the [[Pika Cup]], the [[Petit Cup]] and both iterations of the Poké Cup.
* '''Item clause''': Each Pokémon on a player's team must be holding different items.
* '''Item clause''': Each Pokémon on a player's team must be holding different items.
* '''Cleric clause''': All pokémon must be healthy at the beginning of the battle, this means that they must have full [[HP]], full [[PP]], and no [[status condition]]s like {{status|sleep}} or {{status|freeze}} (though the [[Pokérus]] is allowed, as well as the {{status|confusion}} caused by the [[Berserk Gene]]). Games like {{eng|Pokémon Stadium}} enforce this rule automatically by "curing" all Pokémon before the battle.
* '''Sleep clause''': Each player can only have one Pokémon asleep at a time
* '''Self-KO clause''': The player automatically loses if their last Pokémon uses {{m|Selfdestruct}} or {{m|Explosion}}. {{m|Destiny Bond}} and {{m|Perish Song}} also fail when used by the last Pokémon.
**In Smogon metagames, self-inflicted sleep, such as through {{m|Rest}}, does not count.
* '''Recoil moves clause''': If both players' last pokémon faints due to a Recoil move, then the win is given to the player whose pokémon used the move.
**Rest and Sleep Talk count for the [[Pokémon Stadium series]], [[Pokémon Colosseum]], and [[Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness]]; also, in those games, when a Pokémon is sleeping and one of its teammates is attacked by a move that induces sleep like {{m|Spore}}, the move fails.
**In [[Pokémon Stadium 2]] Recoil moves don't harm the user when it is the last pokémon left and it KOs the last opposing Pokémon.
**In the event of an outright sleep ''ban'', seen in some [[Generation I]] and [[Generation V|V]] metagames, it is referred to as '''Sleep moves clause'''.
* '''OHKO clause''': {{m|Fissure}}, {{m|Horn Drill}}, {{m|Guillotine}}, and {{m|Sheer Cold}} are banned.  
* '''Freeze clause''': Each player can only have one Pokémon frozen at a time.
** In games like Pokémon Stadium, when a Pokémon is frozen and another Pokémon of the same team is attacked with a move that causes [[Freeze]], the Freeze rate is reduced to 0%.
* '''Evasion clause''': {{m|Double Team}} and {{m|Minimize}} are banned. This is sometimes expanded to include less direct measures to increase evasion, such as {{m|Acupressure}}, {{a|Moody}}, {{a|Sand Veil}}, and {{a|Snow Cloak}}.
**Some variants ban items that lower the accuracy of the opponent, like [[BrightPowder]], are banned.[https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/apply-evasion-clause-to-all-forms-of-evasion.3703252/] This is sometimes grouped under '''Evasion items clause'''.
* '''Event clause''': Pokémon and items that have only been released through [[event Pokémon|events]], such as {{p|Mew}}, are ineligible. This is often unheard of due to the Pokémon (and sometimes items) banned being specified.
* '''Event clause''': Pokémon and items that have only been released through [[event Pokémon|events]], such as {{p|Mew}}, are ineligible. This is often unheard of due to the Pokémon (and sometimes items) banned being specified.
* '''Sleep clause''': Each player can only have one Pokémon asleep at a time (Pokémon that are put to sleep due to {{m|Rest}} or {{m|Sleep Talk}} do not count).
**Rest and Sleep Talk do count for the [[Pokémon Stadium series]], [[Pokémon Colosseum]], and [[Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness]]; also, in those games, when a Pokémon is sleeping and one of its teammates is attacked by a move that induces sleep like {{m|Spore}}, the move fails.
* '''Freeze clause''': Each player can only have one Pokémon frozen at a time. In games like Pokémon Stadium 1, when a Pokémon is frozen and another Pokémon of the same team is attacked with a move that causes [[Freeze]], the Freeze rate is reduced to 0 %.
* '''Evasion clause''': {{m|Double Team}} and {{m|Minimize}} are banned. This is sometimes expanded to include less direct measures to increase evasion, such as {{m|Acupressure}}, {{a|Moody}}, {{a|Sand Veil}}, and {{a|Snow Cloak}}.
*'''Evasion items clause''': Items that lower the accuracy of the opponent, like [[BrightPowder]], are banned.[https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/apply-evasion-clause-to-all-forms-of-evasion.3703252/]
* '''One-hit KO clause''': {{m|Fissure}}, {{m|Horn Drill}}, {{m|Guillotine}}, and {{m|Sheer Cold}} are banned.
* '''Semi Invincibility clause''': Only used in Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow when the moves [[Dig]] and [[Fly]] are allowed. If a Pokémon gets stuck during the Semi Invincibility phase of the moves Dig or Fly, its next successful action must be Dig, Fly or Switch. If the next successful action is none of the ones mentioned before, the Pokemon's player loses the game. [https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/semi-invincibility-clause.3650376/]
*'''Tradebacks clause''': Only used in the [[Generation I]] games. Players can't use Pokémon or moves that are only obtainable with the [[Generation II]] games, e.g. a level 20 [[Tauros]] in the [[Pika Cup]], a level 26 [[Koffing]] in the [[Petit Cup]] or a level 100 [[Mewtwo]] with [[Flamethrower]] in the [[Prime Cup]]. Curiously the rule doesn't ban Pokémon with maximum [[Individual values|DVs]] or [[Effort values|Stat Experience]], this is because players prefer to use Pokémon with maximum statistics in Gen I matches (e.g. it is allowed to use a level 20 [[Chansey]] with max stats in the Pika Cup or a level 100 [[Exeggutor]] with max stats in the Prime Cup). Tradeback Pokémon and moves can be allowed only if the players and/or the tournament organizers agree to it.
* '''Sleep trapping clause''': Followed mainly in [[Generation II]] competitive play, {{status|sleep}}-inducing moves cannot be used in conjunction with moves that trap the opposing Pokémon permanently such as {{m|Mean Look}}; however, it is allowed to use Sleep inducing moves in conjunction with moves that only trap the opposing Pokémon for a limited time like {{m|Whirlpool}}.
*'''Mean pass clause''': Another rule exclusive of the Generation II competitive play. A Pokémon can't have a move that traps the opponent permanently (such as {{m|Spider Web}}) and {{m|Baton Pass}} in the same moveset; however, it is allowed to use moves that only trap the opposing Pokémon for a limited time, like {{m|Wrap}}, with Baton Pass. This clause is notable for having been introduced 22 years after the first games of the second generation were released.[https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/gsc-ou-mean-look-spider-web-baton-pass.3704578/]
* '''Moody clause''': The ability {{a|Moody}} is banned.
* '''Moody clause''': The ability {{a|Moody}} is banned.
* '''Swagger clause''': Followed mainly in [[Generation V]] and [[Generation VI]] competitive play, the move {{m|Swagger}} is banned.
* '''Swagger clause''': Followed mainly in [[Generation V]] and [[Generation VI]] competitive play, the move {{m|Swagger}} is banned.
* '''Self-KO clause''': The player automatically loses if their last Pokémon uses {{m|Selfdestruct}} or {{m|Explosion}}. {{m|Destiny Bond}} and {{m|Perish Song}} also fail when used by the last Pokémon.
* '''Recoil moves clause''': If both players' last pokémon faints due to a [[recoil]] move, then the win is given to the player whose Pokémon used the move.
**In [[Pokémon Stadium 2]], recoil moves don't harm the user when it is the last pokémon left and it KOs the last opposing Pokémon.
* '''Gems clause''': Exclusive to Generation V. All Gems, such as the [[Normal Gem]], are banned.
* '''Dynamax clause''': Pokemon cannot [[Dynamax]] or [[Gigantamax]].
* '''Terastal clause''': Pokemon cannot [[Terastallize]].
* '''Deoxys camouflage clause''': Seen in [[Generation III]] metagames and [[Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness]]. {{p|Deoxys}} formes are revealed upon entering battle.
* '''SleepTrap clause''': Followed mainly in [[Generation II]] competitive play, {{status|sleep}}-inducing moves cannot be used in conjunction with moves that trap the opposing Pokémon permanently such as {{m|Mean Look}}; however, it is allowed to use Sleep inducing moves in conjunction with moves that only trap the opposing Pokémon for a limited time like {{m|Whirlpool}}.
* '''TrapPass clause''': Another rule exclusive of the Generation II competitive play. A Pokémon can't have a move that traps the opponent permanently (such as {{m|Spider Web}}) and {{m|Baton Pass}} in the same moveset; however, it is allowed to use moves that only trap the opposing Pokémon for a limited time, like {{m|Wrap}}, with Baton Pass. This clause is notable for having been introduced 22 years after the first games of the second generation were released.[https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/gsc-ou-mean-look-spider-web-baton-pass.3704578/]
* '''Mega Rayquaza clause''': {{p|Rayquaza}} cannot [[Mega Evolution|Mega Evolve]].
* '''Mega Rayquaza clause''': {{p|Rayquaza}} cannot [[Mega Evolution|Mega Evolve]].
* '''Dynamax clause''': [[Dynamax]]ing is disallowed.
* '''Cleric clause''': Seen in Generations I and II. All pokémon must be healthy at the beginning of the battle, this means that they must have full [[HP]], full [[PP]], and no [[status condition]]s like {{status|sleep}} or {{status|freeze}} (though the [[Pokérus]] is allowed, as well as the {{status|confusion}} caused by the [[Berserk Gene]]). Games like {{eng|Pokémon Stadium}} enforce this rule automatically by "curing" all Pokémon before the battle.
*'''Tradeback clause''': Exclusive to Generation I metagames. Players cannot use Pokemon or moves obtained through the [[Time Capsule]] in [[Generation II]]; eg. {{m|Lovely Kiss}} {{p|Snorlax}} or {{m|Ice Punch}} {{p|Gengar}}. Exceptions are made for [[Stat Experience]] and [[DV]]s primarily for historical reasons.
* '''Invulnerability clause''': Only used in Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow when the moves [[Dig]] and [[Fly]] are allowed. If a Pokémon gets stuck during the Semi Invincibility phase of the moves Dig or Fly, its next successful action must be Dig, Fly or Switch. If the next successful action is none of the ones mentioned before, the Pokemon's player loses the game. [https://www.smogon.com/forums/threads/semi-invincibility-clause.3650376/]
* '''Level Sum Limit''': Seen in Generations I and II's official competitive formats, with the exception of [[Prime Cup]]. The three Pokémon that were chosen for the battle should have a specific Level Sum, e.g., in the case of the [[Poké Cup]], the Level Sum Limit must be between 150 and 155, effectively giving five levels to distribute amongst Pokémon.


There are other rules normally followed only by official tournaments, such as:
There are other rules normally followed only by official tournaments, such as:
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* Pokémon cannot be nicknamed with the name of another Pokémon (e.g. an {{p|Unfezant}} named "Pidove" or "Arbok").
* Pokémon cannot be nicknamed with the name of another Pokémon (e.g. an {{p|Unfezant}} named "Pidove" or "Arbok").


In addition, official [[Generation V]] tournaments have required the use of the {{DL|Pokémon Storage System|Battle Box}} feature introduced by {{game|Black and White|s}}.
In addition, official tournaments in Generation V onwards have required the use of the {{DL|Pokémon Storage System|Battle Box}} feature, locking it upon entry.


==Tiers==
==Tiers==
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