Post Index:
#1: Gen 9 Random Battle/Gen 9 Random Doubles Battle - Roles and what they do
#2: Gen 9 Random Battle/Gen 9 Random Doubles Battle - How does Random Battles work exactly? Code explanation post
#3: Old Gens Random Battles - Role system differences
#4: Set Development Policy, Principles, Process, and Guidelines
Random Battles Changelog
How does Level Balancing work? How are levels decided in Random Battles?
Gen 9 Random Battles Set Suggestions
If you have any questions on any of the information in this thread, feel free to ask in the Simple Questions, Simple Answers thread, or ask me personally!
If you haven't played Random Battles for a while, the set generation may look a bit different from what you may be used to, and you'll be seeing some things in the /randbats command that might stand out to you. If you're new to Random Battles entirely, you might notice some various words that you don't know what they mean. That's because Random Battles now uses (for mostly technical purposes) a role system! A basic explanation of what this means, and a list of each role and what they mean, can be found below. Keep in mind, though, you DO NOT need to know this to enjoy Random Battles, it's just supplemental information if you're curious.
What are roles?
In Gen 9 Random Battle and Gen 9 Random Doubles Battle, each Pokemon has between one and three roles that it can fulfill; each role comes with its own movepool, which means that Pokemon in both formats can have multiple separate movepools! Outside of being a handy way to keep conflicting sets on a single Pokemon apart from each other, roles also determine which kinds of moves always generate (or which moves are forced, in other words) on the Pokemon and which items the Pokemon will get. That's almost everything they do! Functionally, you don't need to worry about it unless you're trying to deduce what your opponent's set is from what they've revealed so far.
What do the different roles do?
There are ten roles in total in each format, each with their own rules. Keep in mind, the roles are not always accurate to what the Pokemon actually does, it's just what fits best for the generator. We try, on average, to keep it as accurate as we can, though. Also, if a Pokemon can't possibly fulfill a certain condition, that condition is just ignored. (for example, if the role forces a recovery move, but it doesn't have one in its pool, it's not a problem!)
Two-attack minimum, if two attacks exist: Every role except Bulky Protect and Doubles Support
Always have an attack of the Pokemon's Tera Type, if it exists: Every role except Doubles Support
Always have setup, if it exists: Doubles Setup Sweeper, Doubles Bulky Setup, and Tera Blast user
Always have recovery, if it exists: Nothing.
Always have Protect, if it exists: Offensive Protect, Bulky Protect
Always have Fake Out or redirect moves, if they exist: Doubles Support
Always have STAB priority or Trick Room, if they exist: Doubles Wallbreaker
Generate Life Orb by default: Doubles Fast Attacker, Doubles Setup Sweeper, Doubles Wallbreaker, Offensive Protect; Tera Blast users at or above base 80 Speed or with Trick Room
Generate Sitrus Berry by default: Doubles Bulky Attacker, Doubles Bulky Setup, Bulky Protect, Doubles Support; Tera Blast users below base 80 Speed without Trick Room
Generate Life Orb, even with Fake Out: Doubles Wallbreaker
Can generate Assault Vest: Doubles Bulky Attacker, Doubles Support; Tera Blast users below base 80 Speed without Trick Room
Can generate Choice items with U-turn, Trick, Switcheroo, and Volt Switch: Anything except the Protect roles
Can generate Choice items with 4 attacks and none of the above: Choice Item user, Doubles Wallbreaker
Can generate Focus Sash: Nothing, yet.
And that's a crash course on the new role system! Again, unless you're into predicting your opponent's sets with partial information or wish to get invested in helping with sets yourself, this really isn't going to be more than a curiosity piece for you.
#1: Gen 9 Random Battle/Gen 9 Random Doubles Battle - Roles and what they do
#2: Gen 9 Random Battle/Gen 9 Random Doubles Battle - How does Random Battles work exactly? Code explanation post
#3: Old Gens Random Battles - Role system differences
#4: Set Development Policy, Principles, Process, and Guidelines
Random Battles Changelog
How does Level Balancing work? How are levels decided in Random Battles?
Gen 9 Random Battles Set Suggestions
If you have any questions on any of the information in this thread, feel free to ask in the Simple Questions, Simple Answers thread, or ask me personally!
If you haven't played Random Battles for a while, the set generation may look a bit different from what you may be used to, and you'll be seeing some things in the /randbats command that might stand out to you. If you're new to Random Battles entirely, you might notice some various words that you don't know what they mean. That's because Random Battles now uses (for mostly technical purposes) a role system! A basic explanation of what this means, and a list of each role and what they mean, can be found below. Keep in mind, though, you DO NOT need to know this to enjoy Random Battles, it's just supplemental information if you're curious.
What are roles?
In Gen 9 Random Battle and Gen 9 Random Doubles Battle, each Pokemon has between one and three roles that it can fulfill; each role comes with its own movepool, which means that Pokemon in both formats can have multiple separate movepools! Outside of being a handy way to keep conflicting sets on a single Pokemon apart from each other, roles also determine which kinds of moves always generate (or which moves are forced, in other words) on the Pokemon and which items the Pokemon will get. That's almost everything they do! Functionally, you don't need to worry about it unless you're trying to deduce what your opponent's set is from what they've revealed so far.
What do the different roles do?
There are ten roles in total in each format, each with their own rules. Keep in mind, the roles are not always accurate to what the Pokemon actually does, it's just what fits best for the generator. We try, on average, to keep it as accurate as we can, though. Also, if a Pokemon can't possibly fulfill a certain condition, that condition is just ignored. (for example, if the role forces a recovery move, but it doesn't have one in its pool, it's not a problem!)
- Fast Attacker: This is the most common role. Essentially, these Pokemon are on the offensive; they get a Life Orb as their default item if they don't have anything better (like Boots or a Choice item), they always have a move matching their Tera type if one exists, and they'll always have two attacking moves at minimum.
- Setup Sweeper: Pokemon with this role will always come with a setup move of some sort, on every set that generates! They also get a Life Orb as their default item, have a Tera-typed attack when possible, and have a minimum of two attacking moves.
- Wallbreaker: Mostly identical to Fast Attackers in function, Wallbreakers stand out in one particular fashion: They cannot get a Choice Scarf. If they're Choiced, it'll always be Band or Specs. Many Wallbreakers will typically also be on the slower side, and can't really be described as "fast" in good faith. Also, newly, Wallbreaker role forces a STAB Priority move if available on the set.
- Tera Blast user: This role is unique—there can only be one Tera Blast user on a team maximum. You aren't guaranteed one, and Pokemon that can be Tera Blast users don't always have to be Tera Blast users (tera blast users will always have another, non tera blast option). These Pokemon always come with setup if it exists in their movepool, have two attacks at minimum, have Life Orb by default, and always run Tera Blast. Again, it's important to note: Some Pokemon, like Regieleki, are Tera Blast users but do not run setup moves. This is on purpose.
- Bulky Attacker: This role forgoes Life Orb in favor of having Leftovers as the default item. They also always run any recovery or STAB priority moves they have. Not all of them have those as options, though. Other than that, they have the usual: two attacks minimum and a Tera-typed attack. Assault Vest can appear on this role with four mixed attacks.
- Bulky Setup: The bulky counterpart to Setup Sweeper, it is identical to Bulky Attacker but with setup moves forced on it. The definition of "setup" for these Pokemon can be relatively lax—some Bulky Setup users will opt for Iron Defense + Body Press, some will have more standard setup options, and there's also Oinkologne with Stuff Cheeks Salac Berry.
- Fast Bulky Setup: Surprisingly a distinction that needs to be made, Fast Bulky Setup is the kind of thing CM + Stored Power Espathra or Substitute + Bulk Up Annihilape would be described as. Fast Bulky Setup Pokemon have setup forced, have Life Orb by default with three attacks, have Leftovers by default with two attacks, and have the usual Tera-attack and two minimum attacks.
- Bulky Support: The fat role. These Pokemon do not have a minimum number of attacks to be valid, don't need a Tera-typed attack, and have Leftovers by default. They also require recovery, if it exists. Assault Vest can appear on this role with four mixed attacks, although this is pretty rare. This role also enforces Defog and Rapid Spin if the team doesn't have it yet and the move can be rolled.
- Fast Support: Fast Support Pokemon have probably the most conditions. To start, they require a Tera attack, but NOT a two-attack minimum. They get Life Orb by default with three attacks, Leftovers by default with two or fewer attacks, Heavy-Duty Boots by default with hazard removal or a pivoting move (unless they're ungrounded), and Focus Sash by default in the lead slot (unless Focus Sash is objectively bad on it). Assault Vest can appear on this role with four mixed attacks. Yes, this means you'll occasionally see AV Electrode. Enjoy!
- AV Pivot: Pokemon with this role always get Assault Vest, and always have a Tera-attack when possible. Really, that's it.
So, to put it into other terms:
Two-attack minimum, if two attacks exist: Every role except Fast Support and Bulky Support
Always have an attack of the Pokemon's Tera Type, if it exists: Every role except Bulky Support
Always have setup, if it exists: Setup Sweeper, Bulky Setup, Fast Bulky Setup, Tera Blast user
Always have recovery, if it exists: Bulky Attacker, Bulky Setup, Bulky Support
Always have hazard removal, if it exists and the team doesn't already have it: Bulky Support
Life Orb by default unconditionally: Fast Attacker, Setup Sweeper, Wallbreaker, Tera Blast user
Leftovers by default unconditionally: Bulky Attacker, Bulky Setup, Bulky Support
Life Orb/Leftovers depending on # of attacks: Fast Support, Fast Bulky Setup
Can generate Assault Vest: Bulky Attacker, Bulky Support, AV Pivot (always)
Can generate Focus Sash: Fast Support, and ONLY Fast Support
- Doubles Fast Attacker: Essentially, these Pokemon are on the offensive; they get a Life Orb as their default item if they don't have anything better, they always have a move matching their Tera type if one exists, and they'll always have two attacking moves at minimum. Note that in Doubles, most Pokemon do not get Choice items with 4 attacks; the only ways this role can get a Choice item are with Trick/Switcheroo/U-turn/Volt Switch.
- Doubles Setup Sweeper: Pokemon with this role will always come with a setup move of some sort, on every set that generates! They also get a Life Orb as their default item, have a Tera-typed attack when possible, and have a minimum of two attacking moves.
- Doubles Wallbreaker: This role is drastically different from in Singles. These Pokemon have Life Orb as their default item; however, they are able to get Choice items with 4 Physical or 4 Special attacks. If they're Choiced, it'll always be Band or Specs. These Pokemon also always have Trick Room and STAB Priority attacks if their movepool contains them. Additionally, they can uniquely get a Life Orb with Fake Out.
- Doubles Bulky Attacker: This role forgoes Life Orb in favor of having Sitrus Berry as the default item. Other than that, they have the usual: two attacks minimum and a Tera-typed attack. Assault Vest can appear on this role with four attacks.
- Doubles Bulky Setup: The bulky counterpart to Setup Sweeper, it is identical to Bulky Attacker but with setup moves forced on it. The definition of "setup" for these Pokemon can be relatively lax—some Bulky Setup users will opt for Iron Defense + Body Press, and some will have more standard setup options.
- Tera Blast user: This role is unique—there can only be one Tera Blast user on a team maximum. You aren't guaranteed one, and Pokemon that can be Tera Blast users don't always have to be Tera Blast users (tera blast users will always have another, non tera blast option). These Pokemon always come with setup if it exists in their movepool, have two attacks at minimum, and always run Tera Blast. Items for this work strangely. If the Pokemon is at or above 80 base Speed or has Trick Room, it gets Life Orb as their default item, similar to Fast Attacker. If they are slower than 80 base Speed, they can get Sitrus Berry or Assault Vest. Again, it's important to note: Some Pokemon, like Regieleki and Dragonite, are Tera Blast users but do not run setup moves. This is on purpose.
- Offensive Protect: These Pokemon are Fast Attackers with Protect enforced. To review, they have a Tera-typed attack when possible, have two attacks at minimum, and have Life Orb as their default item.
- Bulky Protect: These Pokemon similarly have Protect enforced. They also always have a Tera-typed attack when possible. However, they can run one attack and be fine. These Pokemon get Leftovers if they are running a setup move, and Sitrus Berry otherwise.
- Doubles Support: The passive role. These Pokemon can run only one attack and be valid, don't need a Tera-typed attack, and have Sitrus Berry by default. They also require Fake Out and redirect moves, if they exist. Assault Vest can appear on this role with four attacks, although this is pretty rare.
- Choice Item user: Pokemon with this role always get a Choice item, and always have a Tera-attack when possible. Really, that's it.
Two-attack minimum, if two attacks exist: Every role except Bulky Protect and Doubles Support
Always have an attack of the Pokemon's Tera Type, if it exists: Every role except Doubles Support
Always have setup, if it exists: Doubles Setup Sweeper, Doubles Bulky Setup, and Tera Blast user
Always have recovery, if it exists: Nothing.
Always have Protect, if it exists: Offensive Protect, Bulky Protect
Always have Fake Out or redirect moves, if they exist: Doubles Support
Always have STAB priority or Trick Room, if they exist: Doubles Wallbreaker
Generate Life Orb by default: Doubles Fast Attacker, Doubles Setup Sweeper, Doubles Wallbreaker, Offensive Protect; Tera Blast users at or above base 80 Speed or with Trick Room
Generate Sitrus Berry by default: Doubles Bulky Attacker, Doubles Bulky Setup, Bulky Protect, Doubles Support; Tera Blast users below base 80 Speed without Trick Room
Generate Life Orb, even with Fake Out: Doubles Wallbreaker
Can generate Assault Vest: Doubles Bulky Attacker, Doubles Support; Tera Blast users below base 80 Speed without Trick Room
Can generate Choice items with U-turn, Trick, Switcheroo, and Volt Switch: Anything except the Protect roles
Can generate Choice items with 4 attacks and none of the above: Choice Item user, Doubles Wallbreaker
Can generate Focus Sash: Nothing, yet.
And that's a crash course on the new role system! Again, unless you're into predicting your opponent's sets with partial information or wish to get invested in helping with sets yourself, this really isn't going to be more than a curiosity piece for you.
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