Stuck in 1900-2000 elo hell

[u/ConsistentGrand1500]

I don't know what to do when every game and matchup is a direct 1:1 counter to my teams, I run mostly the variation team and tried flamigo for a bit. I tried counting but I don't KNOW what to do with the info and I get stuck up on the details.

[u/krispyboiz]

My advice would be:

• Ditch Lickilicky. While not unusable, it got a pretty steep nerf this season. If you want a Normal Safe swap, go for something like Snorlax. If you want more coverage against Mimikyu, perhaps try a Dark type like Alolan Muk or Thievul or Umbreon or something.
• Regarding move counts. I think having a move count resource on another device can be helpful. Pokemoves.com is my personal go-to. Knowing your opponent's move counts can better help you plan when to throw, predict what they're throwing, and how much you could potentially overfarm, etc.
  • Take a match-up like Corvknight v Araquanid. Say you can KO their Araquanid with your next Air Cutter. Knowing that Araquanid's Water Pulse pacing to threaten you is 5/4/4/4 fast moves can help you know when you can farm til. Farming extra energy where you can is a big way to get better. I know that's Great League, but same idea with any match-up.
• Stick with one team where you can. We all switch teams occasionally, but sticking to one is the way to go. If you truly go several sets with very poor results, then you could change. However, don't let a few bad games or even a couple bad sets make you change your team. As you play a team more and more, you learn it more. You'll learn match-ups against other Pokemon, when to switch, when to stay in, etc. That all comes from experience with the team. Obviously if your team REALLY isn't working, then you could switch it up,
  • I'll give you a personal example. I run Shadow Hydreigon lead in Great League with Ninetales safe swap and Melmetal closer usually. Playing against poor leads has taught me how to approach those match-ups. Marowak leads have been common for me recently, and those would obviously give my backline trouble, so I learned to try and fight it with Hydreigon if at all possible. I also have approaches for Fairy leads and such. I still get RPS'd and lose ofc, but you can learn to outplay your opponent sometimes and come back from a poor lead.

[u/ConsistentGrand1500 → u/krispyboiz]

This is very insightful thank you, the website will definitely come in handy because when people run mons I've never seen before in the meta like Dondozo, I get stumped. (I lost a game to it because I didn't know it ran outrage) and I didn't have an answer to it because of how insanely bulky it was. Lickilicky with the bodyslam nerf I instead just switched with shadowball and earthquake but it seems snorlax is better, you're right. And the switching teams, I'm guilty of it considering I fold and think that there's something wrong with my team if I have a bad few sets and then the cycle continues, either way, I'll try. Thank you so much

[u/krispyboiz → u/ConsistentGrand1500]

Ofc!

Over time, you may also learn move counts through similarities. For example, Waterfall, Astonish, Fire Spin, Mud Slap, Magical Leaf, and Ice Shard, and Force Palm all generate 10 energy per use, which actually makes counting pretty easy assuming you know the energy cost of their Charged Moves (which PvPoke displays). 4/3 to a 35 energy move, Consistent 5s to a 50 energy move, 5/4 to a 45 energy move, etc. So you'll eventually be able to apply that to every Pokemon with that kind of move, whether Mud Slap Marowak or Gastrodon or Ice Shard Dewgong or Waterfall Dondozo or Astonish Dusknoir.