Approved by Sam and Hikari
Picture provided by mazz himself
Welcome back to the UU Player of the Week Project! Took a short hiatus and now it's back. For those of you who don't know, this is a series where I take some of the more known and experienced players and interview them and have you guys leave your questions for them to answer. As always feel free to message me if you have anyone you'd like to see me interview!
Mazz
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm one of the pleothora of Canadian Smogonites that enjoys the lower-tier metagames. Albertan-born and raised. I'm a massive hockey fan, and thanks to the invention of Twitter, have been able to live and breathe the game almost 24/7. I'm currently headed into my third year of university at the U of A (same place Raseri goes :]) to continue studying geophysical engineering. During the summer I work as a heavy-duty mechanic.
Most Known For:
I'm most known for three things: being an absolute shit on Showdown, mass UU C&C and subforum contributions in Underused, and periodically dying for considerable stretches at a time. I also broke Gothitelle back in Gen V, something I'm still proud of to this day.
Favorite Pokemon:
This answer varies a lot. I've never had a specific "favourite" (learn to spell btw). Bulbasaur, Latios, Magneton, Mamoswine, Electivire, Scizor, and a bunch of other Pokemon round up a group of Pokemon I like.
Most used UU Pokemon:
Mega-Aerodactyl.
Where did you get your name from?
I've told this story a few times on Showdown. It originally started as Pokemazter3 on Pokemon Crater. 8-year-old me wasn't particularly creative. When I joined Serebii two years later I added 001 to my Pokemon Crater username. I eventually discovered the competitive section and Xat chatrooms, and decided to shorten it so it was easier to type. I settled on Pk3k1, but that was stupid so I decided on Mazz. It's stuck ever since and has become synonymous with the word "asshole".
How and when did you get into competitive battling?
As mentioned; I began my competitive career at Serebii back in mid-DPP (pre-Salamence ban). I did so originally in order to get into Wi-Fi battles and potentially get into VGC. However, I discovered clans and PO so that idea went out the window. It took me two years to get to Smogon, but I didn't use my account until quitting Serebii in 2012 or 2013. I don't quite remember. That was a lot of wasted time I'm not getting back. Everything since then is modern history.
Opinions on ORAS compared to XY?
XY was definitely better. I haven't really enjoyed ORAS and XYUU Beta was one of my most favorite metagames. The Magnezone metagame was really cool, as it made VoltTurn teams exceptionally deadly.
What is your favorite playstyle and why?
Offense. I think balance teams are silly despite how effective they are and stall doesn't work particularly well in the current metagame. That might change depending on the results of the current suspect test however. There's massive satisfaction to destroying an opposing team in less than 15 turns. I'm mildly impatient too, so offense suits me better.
What is your favorite generation of UU to play and why?
I loathed BWUU despite how much work I did during that era. Probably XYUU Beta or ADV UU. Both are colourful metagames, and XYUU Beta is insanely offensive, whereas ADV was my favourite in-game generation.
Thoughts on the Pidgeot suspect?
I'm really torn on it to be honest. I personally think there's other issues that should have been looked at prior to Mega-Pideot. I won't be surprised if it gets banned; there's a lot of stupid and/or misinformed users that are crying for its head, and that type of attitude seems to spread like wildfire around these parts.
What I do find extremely disconcerting with the suspect ladder is the lack of variety among teams, a topic I touch on a bit here.
Is there anything you'd like to see suspected after Pidgeot? If so, why?
Feraligatr, Scald, and maybe Suicune. I honestly believe Feraligatr is abhorrently broken - nothing should hit that hard after a single boost. I have a very hate-love-hate relationship with Scald, and I think that every metagame would be healthier without it. When praying for a critburn becomes the best play, there's an issue. However, if Scald doesn't get the boot, I'd like to see Suicune get a thorough looking at. It's very hard to take down the CroCune sets unless you run Guts Heracross or your own CroCune (or obscure shit like Specs Rotom-C, etc.). Like once its in and behind a couple of boosts, you're fucked. The only issues it has are that it's only a problem when set up and Scald is a bugger. Kind of torn on that one.
What is some advice you can give to new players who want to get noticed?
Appeal to your strengths, but strive to improve your weaknesses. It took me the better part of 5 years to not be a totally shit battler (still can't teambuild to save my life), so I opted to take a more studious route through Smogon via contributing. If that's your case, stick to C&C and community contributions until you can develop and hone the skills to become a better battler. The opposite holds true; if you aren't a great contributor but you're pretty decent on the ladder, stick to tournaments and the ladder and work at developing the contribution skills. Everything about this game takes practice, and it's difficult to become great in a short period of time. The more you put in, the more you get out.
How do you go about preparing for tournament matches?
I build a new team or tweak an existing one based on who I'm playing. I don't necessarily counterteam my opponents, but I notice little things like what they're weak to and habits they have; playstyles, types, and/or what Pokemon they frequently bring or lose to. I then tweak a team that I'm comfortable with in order to give myself the best possible chance of winning. The few minutes leading up to the actual fight I completely panic and usually have to take a shit because I'm so nervous. No idea why, and it's something I'm working at fixing.
Who are some of your favorite people in the Smogon community?
kokoloko, RT, PsYcH0t1c, @Ace_Emerald, Omfuga, Bouffalant, King UU, there's too may to individually list, especially out of the UU community. These goons are like an extended family. Really awesome people. Special shout-outs to Harsha, Trinitrotoluene, Redew, and Raseri. The first three I've known since prior to my time at Smogon, and Raseri cause I actually know you.
Finally can you provide for us a team that you think reflects you as a player with a brief explanation of how it works?
This is what I'd consider to be a fairly basic heavy offense team. The goal is simple; get Rocks up with Mamoswine, use Rotom-H and Heracross to whittle down walls, and then sweep with Salamence or continue breaking things with Haxorus before allowing Salamence to sweep. Mega-Blastoise provides the team with some glue by keeping hazards clear and giving me a reliable switch in against stuff like Entei. It also provides some offensive output, which keeps it from being dead weight (a flaw with most spinners, hence why I rarely carry one). I made this team before my most recent hiatus just shortly after Mamoswine and Mandibuzz dropped to UU, and I got a fair bit of mileage out of it. A well-played Florges can ruin its day, but I had Mamoswine and Heracross to help break it down or flat-out beat it. I got a lot of flak for using DoubleDance Haxorus, but it's an excellent sweeper-stallbreaker as long as its used properly. I built this team using the old core method from BW - take two offensive Pokemon that compliment each other or that can break each others' checks and counters and build outward. Feel free to use it if you want, I have no idea how it'll fare since I left.
------------
If you have any questions for mazz leave them down below!
Picture provided by mazz himself
Welcome back to the UU Player of the Week Project! Took a short hiatus and now it's back. For those of you who don't know, this is a series where I take some of the more known and experienced players and interview them and have you guys leave your questions for them to answer. As always feel free to message me if you have anyone you'd like to see me interview!
Mazz
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm one of the pleothora of Canadian Smogonites that enjoys the lower-tier metagames. Albertan-born and raised. I'm a massive hockey fan, and thanks to the invention of Twitter, have been able to live and breathe the game almost 24/7. I'm currently headed into my third year of university at the U of A (same place Raseri goes :]) to continue studying geophysical engineering. During the summer I work as a heavy-duty mechanic.
Most Known For:
I'm most known for three things: being an absolute shit on Showdown, mass UU C&C and subforum contributions in Underused, and periodically dying for considerable stretches at a time. I also broke Gothitelle back in Gen V, something I'm still proud of to this day.
Favorite Pokemon:
This answer varies a lot. I've never had a specific "favourite" (learn to spell btw). Bulbasaur, Latios, Magneton, Mamoswine, Electivire, Scizor, and a bunch of other Pokemon round up a group of Pokemon I like.
Most used UU Pokemon:
Mega-Aerodactyl.
Where did you get your name from?
I've told this story a few times on Showdown. It originally started as Pokemazter3 on Pokemon Crater. 8-year-old me wasn't particularly creative. When I joined Serebii two years later I added 001 to my Pokemon Crater username. I eventually discovered the competitive section and Xat chatrooms, and decided to shorten it so it was easier to type. I settled on Pk3k1, but that was stupid so I decided on Mazz. It's stuck ever since and has become synonymous with the word "asshole".
How and when did you get into competitive battling?
As mentioned; I began my competitive career at Serebii back in mid-DPP (pre-Salamence ban). I did so originally in order to get into Wi-Fi battles and potentially get into VGC. However, I discovered clans and PO so that idea went out the window. It took me two years to get to Smogon, but I didn't use my account until quitting Serebii in 2012 or 2013. I don't quite remember. That was a lot of wasted time I'm not getting back. Everything since then is modern history.
Opinions on ORAS compared to XY?
XY was definitely better. I haven't really enjoyed ORAS and XYUU Beta was one of my most favorite metagames. The Magnezone metagame was really cool, as it made VoltTurn teams exceptionally deadly.
What is your favorite playstyle and why?
Offense. I think balance teams are silly despite how effective they are and stall doesn't work particularly well in the current metagame. That might change depending on the results of the current suspect test however. There's massive satisfaction to destroying an opposing team in less than 15 turns. I'm mildly impatient too, so offense suits me better.
What is your favorite generation of UU to play and why?
I loathed BWUU despite how much work I did during that era. Probably XYUU Beta or ADV UU. Both are colourful metagames, and XYUU Beta is insanely offensive, whereas ADV was my favourite in-game generation.
Thoughts on the Pidgeot suspect?
I'm really torn on it to be honest. I personally think there's other issues that should have been looked at prior to Mega-Pideot. I won't be surprised if it gets banned; there's a lot of stupid and/or misinformed users that are crying for its head, and that type of attitude seems to spread like wildfire around these parts.
What I do find extremely disconcerting with the suspect ladder is the lack of variety among teams, a topic I touch on a bit here.
Is there anything you'd like to see suspected after Pidgeot? If so, why?
Feraligatr, Scald, and maybe Suicune. I honestly believe Feraligatr is abhorrently broken - nothing should hit that hard after a single boost. I have a very hate-love-hate relationship with Scald, and I think that every metagame would be healthier without it. When praying for a critburn becomes the best play, there's an issue. However, if Scald doesn't get the boot, I'd like to see Suicune get a thorough looking at. It's very hard to take down the CroCune sets unless you run Guts Heracross or your own CroCune (or obscure shit like Specs Rotom-C, etc.). Like once its in and behind a couple of boosts, you're fucked. The only issues it has are that it's only a problem when set up and Scald is a bugger. Kind of torn on that one.
What is some advice you can give to new players who want to get noticed?
Appeal to your strengths, but strive to improve your weaknesses. It took me the better part of 5 years to not be a totally shit battler (still can't teambuild to save my life), so I opted to take a more studious route through Smogon via contributing. If that's your case, stick to C&C and community contributions until you can develop and hone the skills to become a better battler. The opposite holds true; if you aren't a great contributor but you're pretty decent on the ladder, stick to tournaments and the ladder and work at developing the contribution skills. Everything about this game takes practice, and it's difficult to become great in a short period of time. The more you put in, the more you get out.
How do you go about preparing for tournament matches?
I build a new team or tweak an existing one based on who I'm playing. I don't necessarily counterteam my opponents, but I notice little things like what they're weak to and habits they have; playstyles, types, and/or what Pokemon they frequently bring or lose to. I then tweak a team that I'm comfortable with in order to give myself the best possible chance of winning. The few minutes leading up to the actual fight I completely panic and usually have to take a shit because I'm so nervous. No idea why, and it's something I'm working at fixing.
Who are some of your favorite people in the Smogon community?
kokoloko, RT, PsYcH0t1c, @Ace_Emerald, Omfuga, Bouffalant, King UU, there's too may to individually list, especially out of the UU community. These goons are like an extended family. Really awesome people. Special shout-outs to Harsha, Trinitrotoluene, Redew, and Raseri. The first three I've known since prior to my time at Smogon, and Raseri cause I actually know you.
Finally can you provide for us a team that you think reflects you as a player with a brief explanation of how it works?
Mamoswine @ Leftovers
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
Haxorus @ Lum Berry
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
Blastoise-Mega @ Blastoisinite
Ability: Mega Launcher
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Dark Pulse
- Aura Sphere
- Rapid Spin
Rotom-Heat @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overheat
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Trick
Salamence @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Fire Blast
Heracross @ Leftovers
Ability: Guts
EVs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Knock Off
Ability: Thick Fat
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Knock Off
- Earthquake
- Ice Shard
Haxorus @ Lum Berry
Ability: Mold Breaker
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Dragon Dance
- Dragon Claw
- Earthquake
Blastoise-Mega @ Blastoisinite
Ability: Mega Launcher
EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Scald
- Dark Pulse
- Aura Sphere
- Rapid Spin
Rotom-Heat @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Levitate
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Overheat
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
- Trick
Salamence @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Outrage
- Earthquake
- Dragon Claw
- Fire Blast
Heracross @ Leftovers
Ability: Guts
EVs: 112 HP / 252 Atk / 144 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat
- Megahorn
- Knock Off
This is what I'd consider to be a fairly basic heavy offense team. The goal is simple; get Rocks up with Mamoswine, use Rotom-H and Heracross to whittle down walls, and then sweep with Salamence or continue breaking things with Haxorus before allowing Salamence to sweep. Mega-Blastoise provides the team with some glue by keeping hazards clear and giving me a reliable switch in against stuff like Entei. It also provides some offensive output, which keeps it from being dead weight (a flaw with most spinners, hence why I rarely carry one). I made this team before my most recent hiatus just shortly after Mamoswine and Mandibuzz dropped to UU, and I got a fair bit of mileage out of it. A well-played Florges can ruin its day, but I had Mamoswine and Heracross to help break it down or flat-out beat it. I got a lot of flak for using DoubleDance Haxorus, but it's an excellent sweeper-stallbreaker as long as its used properly. I built this team using the old core method from BW - take two offensive Pokemon that compliment each other or that can break each others' checks and counters and build outward. Feel free to use it if you want, I have no idea how it'll fare since I left.
------------
If you have any questions for mazz leave them down below!
