The Gunner
formerly Enzo Gorlami
Art by NicoReaper
Welcome everyone to Ubers Player of the Week! This'll be a weekly project where Arii Stella & I alternatively interview well known players every week to try to get to know them better. If anyone has suggestions on who we should interview next, feel free to shoot Arii / me a PM. Anyways, lets get to it!
Lord Outrage
Favorite Pokemon(s):
Latios
Most Known For:
3rd place ORAS Ubers Summer Seasonal, 4th Place ORAS Ubers Winter Seasonal, 2nd Place ORAS Ubers Fall Seasonal
Tell us a little about yourself.
I'm a third year Civil Engineering student. I like football a lot - playing and watching. I wanted to have a professional career when I was younger, but things didn't go as well as I thought and now its just a hobby. I really like Hip Hop too.
How did you come up with the name 'Lord Outrage'?
Before I joined Smogon, I used to play on PO and had a different name. After I joined Smogon, I wanted to open a new page so I was looking for a name. Since I was a very irritable person both online and in real life, I decided to use Outrage as a name, which means an extremely strong reaction of anger. Since the name Outrage was obviously taken, I decided to add a Lord at the beginning.
What's your favorite playstyle in Ubers and why?
My favorite playstyle is definitely stall, not only in Ubers, but also in all other competitive tiers. I feel that stall gives me insurance and makes me feel safe. I also feel in control when I use it. However, like everyone has probably noticed, I use hyper offensive teams 90% of the time in Ubers tournaments. Even though stall is my favorite playstyle I don't use it in a metagame where any other archetype is better.
You've performed well in every Ubers tournament you've competed in, how do you manage to remain so consistent?I'm a third year Civil Engineering student. I like football a lot - playing and watching. I wanted to have a professional career when I was younger, but things didn't go as well as I thought and now its just a hobby. I really like Hip Hop too.
How did you come up with the name 'Lord Outrage'?
Before I joined Smogon, I used to play on PO and had a different name. After I joined Smogon, I wanted to open a new page so I was looking for a name. Since I was a very irritable person both online and in real life, I decided to use Outrage as a name, which means an extremely strong reaction of anger. Since the name Outrage was obviously taken, I decided to add a Lord at the beginning.
What's your favorite playstyle in Ubers and why?
My favorite playstyle is definitely stall, not only in Ubers, but also in all other competitive tiers. I feel that stall gives me insurance and makes me feel safe. I also feel in control when I use it. However, like everyone has probably noticed, I use hyper offensive teams 90% of the time in Ubers tournaments. Even though stall is my favorite playstyle I don't use it in a metagame where any other archetype is better.
These are the following factors which played a part in my consistent tournament performance:
1) Teambuilding is probably the one that stands out the most. Before every tournament starts, I build a couple of new teams. Moreover, when I play someone serious who I think might prepare against me, I build again.
2) I usually prepare for good opponents. However, since I'm still active in tours, I definitely wont talk about that here. I just want to say that I never counter-team but rather accommodate teams and playstyles according to my opponent.
3) Planning during preview. I take around a minute at the start of every game during which I make a clear plan I follow during the game. After I make the plan, I usually play fast during the game to keep the momentum.
4) Learning from mistakes is really important. I usually rewatch the replays when I lose to identify if there was a turn I would've played better.
What was the most memorable moment of your all your seasonal runs?
Summer seasonal final six versus Steelphoenix. In that seasonal, I lost to Steel round 2 in a very close game three which ended earlier than planned because of a game changing crit. This fueled our already existing beef to high levels. After that, I won around 12 rounds in losers bracket and met him again in last 6, where I won 2-0. That was a win or quit series and I was able to win it quite smoothly. The feeling after winning was great.
How do you prepare yourself for big tournament games?
As mentioned in one of the previous questions, I usually only prepare for players who main in Ubers. Versus others, I use solid stuff without any preparation. Like everyone, I watch replays of my opponent, fish for weaknesses and build my teams accordingly. I also spot the sets he likes and keep them in mind when I'm building.
What's your stance on team match-up in ORAS Ubers?
I don't think that match-up is a thing in ORAS Ubers. A player who uses solid teams that has provision for all archetypes and who changes teams regularly will never struggle with matchup in my opinion. However, what I do believe, is a small edge a player might have over the other just at team preview. It's then in the hands of the disadvantaged player to play better and predict during the game to make up for the preview deficit.
What are you most looking forward to in gen 7, Pokemon Sun & Moon?
I would really like a Darkrai check that could be used on balance to make it stronger because Darkrai is a pain for balance and makes all balances look almost the same. I would also like new abilities and especially ones that would benefit the stall and balance archetypes.
Who are some of your favorite people in the Smogon/Ubers community?
I really like a lot of people and there is no place for all. I will only talk about 4 people:
James Jimmy: My oldest friend on Smogon. I met him on the ladder probably on the first day I played on PS! Then things just went up really quickly and we're really close now.
Astounded: I met Astounded more than 2 years ago on PO ladder. I was an amateur then and he was way better than me. Then we reached an equal playing level, and slayed PO ladder together. We've become really cool together now.
Hack: The person I'm grateful to most and owe my success to. When nobody wanted to buy me in UPL3 because I was just a ladder player, he saw potential in me and bought me. I ended up with best ORAS Ubers record and we won UPL that year, which was really great. He kept on supporting me tons after that too.
Wreckdra: He used to dislike me before UPL3, but when we were paired on the same team, we developed a special bond and I can't imagine Smogon without him.
Favorite UPL/Seasonal/Ubers Open game(s)?
This is my favourite game, which is from Ubers Summer Seasonal top 6 vs steelphoenix. I had problems with Steel's Choice Scarf Landorus-T all game because I had both Mewtwo and Darkrai. I thought I lost the game until the last 2-3 turns where everything changed. I set up with Mega Salamence, Primal Groudon paralysed me and died from poison just in time. When Landorus came in, I knew I would live a Stone Edge, so I had to avoid parahax to win the game. My Mega Salamence avoided parahax, refreshed, recovered, then killed Landorus and Skarmory.
Do you have any tips for newer players trying to establish themselves in the community?
I'd advise new players to ask for help when needed. There are always experienced players out there willing to help. I also recommend them to build their own teams. I don't know in other tiers, but in Ubers, a player never becomes solid without building his own teams. I also advise them to play in tournaments even if they feel they are not ready yet, they will learn a lot. Ladder is really important but at some point there's nothing new to learn there.
Finally, can you provide us a team with a brief explanation on how it works?
This is my favourite game, which is from Ubers Summer Seasonal top 6 vs steelphoenix. I had problems with Steel's Choice Scarf Landorus-T all game because I had both Mewtwo and Darkrai. I thought I lost the game until the last 2-3 turns where everything changed. I set up with Mega Salamence, Primal Groudon paralysed me and died from poison just in time. When Landorus came in, I knew I would live a Stone Edge, so I had to avoid parahax to win the game. My Mega Salamence avoided parahax, refreshed, recovered, then killed Landorus and Skarmory.
Do you have any tips for newer players trying to establish themselves in the community?
I'd advise new players to ask for help when needed. There are always experienced players out there willing to help. I also recommend them to build their own teams. I don't know in other tiers, but in Ubers, a player never becomes solid without building his own teams. I also advise them to play in tournaments even if they feel they are not ready yet, they will learn a lot. Ladder is really important but at some point there's nothing new to learn there.
Finally, can you provide us a team with a brief explanation on how it works?
Kyogre @ Blue Orb
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Origin Pulse
- Toxic
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Ho-Oh @ Choice Band
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Sacred Fire
- Earthquake
- Sleep Talk
Arceus-Water @ Splash Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 124 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Judgment
- Ice Beam
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
Giratina-Origin @ Griseous Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Hex
- Will-O-Wisp
- Dragon Tail
- Defog
Klefki (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Toxic
- Play Rough
- Spikes
Groudon @ Red Orb
Ability: Drought
EVs: 248 HP / 248 SpD / 12 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Precipice Blades
- Stone Edge
- Rest
Ability: Drizzle
EVs: 120 HP / 252 SpA / 136 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Origin Pulse
- Toxic
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
Ho-Oh @ Choice Band
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Brave Bird
- Sacred Fire
- Earthquake
- Sleep Talk
Arceus-Water @ Splash Plate
Ability: Multitype
EVs: 252 HP / 132 Def / 124 Spe
Bold Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Judgment
- Ice Beam
- Will-O-Wisp
- Recover
Giratina-Origin @ Griseous Orb
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Relaxed Nature
- Hex
- Will-O-Wisp
- Dragon Tail
- Defog
Klefki (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Toxic
- Play Rough
- Spikes
Groudon @ Red Orb
Ability: Drought
EVs: 248 HP / 248 SpD / 12 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Precipice Blades
- Stone Edge
- Rest
My favorite balance team of all. I used it for the first time more than a year ago and on multiple occasions after that. I can proudly say I discovered toxic mono attack Primal Kyogre. I used it on this team and on many other teams, and I really like how it breaks through anything not HO. The team is based around both Kyogre and Ho-oH and their abilities to break through everything. It's really important to abuse the power of those 2 pokemon versus stall, balance and BO. Versus HO, the opponent will be obsessed with keeping rocks up which will make them predictable. The team has fat tools and checks to anything used on HO. It's up to the player to predict well and abuse the opsession of the opponent with keeping rocks up. I think this team has good matchup versus everything with even matchup versus HO.
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Big thanks to Outrage for taking out time to complete this interview.
Make sure you ask him any (respectful) questions below!