Pokémon Scarlet & Violet - One-Two Punch - Aug 18 24 E

Since this is the last Pokémon Scarlet and Violet battle video I’ll put up for this month, here are the top 75 most used Pokémon in Ranked, single battling, for July 2024:

1. Flutter Mane (±0)
2. Chien-Pao (+1)
3. Dragonite (-1)
4. Urshifu (Rapid Strike) (+1)
5. Ting-Lu (-1)
6. Ursaluna (Bloodmoon) (+2)
7. Dondozo (±0)
8. Miraidon (-2)
9. Koraidon (+3)
10. Calyrex (Shadow Rider) (-1)
11. Scizor (±0)
12. Ogerpon (-2)
12A. Hearthflame
12B. Teal
12C. Wellspring
12D. Cornerstone
13. Landorus (Therian) (+2)
14. Chi-Yu (+8)
15. Gliscor (+14)
16. Glimmora (-3)
17. Sneasler (-3)
18. Zacian (Crowned) (-2)
19. Grimmsnarl (+5)
20. Skeledirge (+8)
21. Iron Treads (+17)
22. Mimikyu (-3)
23. Clodsire (+4)
24. Ditto (-3)
25. Archaludon (-7)
26. Corviknight (+4)
27. Rillaboom (-10)
28. Garganacl (+6)
29. Iron Bundle (-9)
30. Ho-Oh (-4)
31. Alomomola (±0)
32. Terapagos (+4)
33. Hippowdon (-8)
34. Kyogre (+1)
35. Calyrex (Ice Rider) (-2)
36. Ursaluna (Hisuian) (-13)
37. Eternatus (+18)
38. Lunala (+4)
39. Iron Hands (+5)
40. Primarina (+5)
41. Whimsicott (+23)
42. Toxapex (-5)
43. Gholdengo (-5)
44. Goodra (Hisuian) (+6)
45. Lugia (+1)
46. Gothitelle (-15)
47. Raging Bolt (+10)
48. Breloom (±0)
49. Walking Wake (-2)
50. Incineroar (-10)
51. Iron Valiant (±0)
52. Muk (Alolan) (+2)
53. Ninetales (Alolan) (±0)
54. Heatran (-11)
55. Necrozma (Dusk Mane) (+6)
56. Ceruledge (-4)
57. Pelipper (+24)
58. Urshifu (Single Strike) (-9)
59. Wo-Chien (-18)
60. Weezing (Galarian) (NEW)
61. Tyranitar (+8)
62. Dragapult (-2)
63. Iron Moth (-4)
64. Kingambit (-8)
65. Meowscarada (-3)
66. Rotom (Heat) (-8)
67. Azumarill (+3)
68. Roaring Moon (-3)
69. Latios (+17)
70. Porygon2 (-4)
71. Basculegion (Male) (+3)
72. Annihilape (-9)
73. Baxcalibur (+21)
74. Garchomp (-2)
75. Serperior (+1)

Entering this list are Pelipper, Galarian Weezing, Latios, and Baxcalibur. Leaving this list are Latias, Arboliva, Great Tusk, and Rayquaza.

Gliscor and Iron Treads have shot up, most likely as means to counter Miraidon. Unlike Landorus, these two actually have Abilities of use fighting Miraidon. In particular, Iron Treads can use Miraidon’s Hadron Engine against it by boosting Speed with Quark Drive. This strategy was put to use in the semifinals of the 2024 Pokémon World Championships.

Eternatus is rising quickly as the Restricted Pokémon of choice. It beats Urshifu Rapid Strike and Chien-Pao with ease.

Whimsicott is being put to use in single battles by catching the opposing Pokémon in a status move with Encore, upon which it can set up Leech Seed and either Light Screen or Substitute and wear them away.

Pelipper has re-entered the top 75 by using Drizzle-boosted Surfs to stop the harsh sunlight from Koraidon’s Orichalcum Pulse and to pick off Ting-Lu and Urshifu Rapid Strike.

Latios has pulled ahead of its sister in single battling as a special attacker who resists both of Urshifu Rapid Strike’s types, as well as Dondozo. (Latias is currently in 81st place.)

Baxcalibur also returns to the top 75, using the same strategies as before—but utilizing Tera Ground, with boosted Earthquakes, it can pull a nasty surprise for Miraidon, especially after Scale Shot.

And lastly, Galarian Weezing enters the top 75 in single battling for the first time, and as it was ranked 150+ the previous month, I put the “NEW” tag on it. Through Neutralizing Gas, it’s able to get the drop on most of the Treasures of Ruin, Paradox Pokémon, a lot of Restricted Pokémon, and, with help from Will-o-wisp, both Urshifu.

Type: Single Battle
Opponent: Tuesday
Battle Court: Blueberry Academy
Music: Kanto Pokémon
My Pokémon: Dax (Kleavor), Manny (Hitmonchan), Wanda (Delphox)
Opponent’s Pokémon: Dry Bones (Torkoal), Artemis (Leafeon), Pooling Calm (Walking Wake)

I realized I hadn’t shown any of Manny (Hitmonchan) this week so far, and for this team’s debut, that just won’t do! So I’ll show two matches featuring him. Here is the first—and admittedly, I did get lucky there. Not sure if I would’ve won otherwise. Walking Wake packs an incredible wallop!

Torkoal is named after the Dry Bones enemies in Super Mario. Leafeon’s nickname comes from the Greek goddess, including of nature and plant life. (Incidentally, because she’s also the goddess of the Moon and the hunt, my character in Ultra Moon is named Artemis.) Not sure about Walking Wake and “Pooling Calm” though.

Type: Single Battle
Opponent: てっつー (Tettsuu)
Battle Court: Mesagoza (Central Square)
Music: Kitakami Pokémon
My Pokémon: Manny (Hitmonchan), Ishmael (Kingdra), Wanda (Delphox)
Opponent’s Pokémon: けんか (Kenka) (Ursaluna) (Bloodmoon), カネクレー (Kanekuree) (Gholdengo), カイリュー (Dragonite)

Here’s the second battle! This time, I begin with Manny. I took what I learned in previous battles and made changes to better prepare for what I saw. One of them is Gholdengo, and I equipped Manny to have an answer to that Pokémon.

My opponent’s Ursaluna and Gholdengo are nicknamed, but I don’t know enough Japanese to understand them.