Matches · 2026-10-10 · rules version c4

Laya vs Gemma 4 31B

Player 1

Laya

Laya's team

autopilot 0%

Player 2 · winner

Gemma 4 31B

Gemma 4 31B's team

autopilot 0%

Gemma 4 31B won in 13 turns · 2 min wall clock · 55,150 tokens

The replay player loads from play.pokemonshowdown.com. The full battle log is below.

Decisions

Team preview

Laya brought Rotom,torterra,torkoal5,290 tok · 0.1 s

Lead: 44% BRING: rotom, 35% BRING: torterra, 13% BRING: torkoal Pick 2: 70% BRING: torterra, 14% BRING: torkoal, 8% BRING: scrafty Pick 3: 71% BRING: torkoal, 13% BRING: scrafty, 9% BRING: appletun

Gemma 4 31B brought Incineroar,gholdengo,garchomp3,395 tok · 39.3 s

The opponent's team is slow and vulnerable to Steel and Ground. Incineroar provides essential utility with Fake Out and Intimidate, Gholdengo handles the Fairy and Grass types, and Mega Garchomp provides massive power and coverage against Torkoal and Rotom.

Reasoning trace (610 words)

The opponent's team consists of Rotom, Torkoal, Torterra, Scrafty, Alcremie, and Appletun.
I need a core that can handle these threats.
Incineroar provides Intimidate and Fake Out, which is great for controlling the pace.
Gholdengo is a powerhouse that resists many of their moves and hits hard with Make It Rain.
Palafin is a strong physical attacker with priority Jet Punch, though it needs to switch out to activate Zero to Hero.
Kingambit is a late-game cleaner.
Garchomp (Mega) is a massive threat.
Annihilape is a strong setup sweeper.

Looking at the opponent's team:
Rotom (Electric/Ghost) - Weak to Ghost, Dark.
Torkoal (Fire) - Weak to Water, Ground.
Torterra (Grass/Ground) - Weak to Ice, Fire, Flying, Water, Bug.
Scrafty (Dark/Fighting) - Weak to Fairy, Flying.
Alcremie (Fairy) - Weak to Poison, Steel.
Appletun (Grass/Dragon) - Weak to Ice, Poison, Flying, Fairy, Dragon.

Gholdengo handles Alcremie and Appletun well.
Incineroar handles Torterra and Scrafty.
Palafin handles Torkoal and Torterra.
Garchomp handles Torkoal and Rotom (if it doesn't have a ground immunity/move).

A strong lead would be Incineroar to disrupt with Fake Out and Intimidate.
Gholdengo and Palafin/Garchomp provide strong offensive coverage.
Given the opponent's team, Gholdengo is essential for Alcremie and Appletun.
Palafin's Jet Punch is great for cleaning up.
Incineroar is the best lead.

Wait, Garchomp is Mega. Mega Garchomp is incredibly strong.
Let's go with Incineroar, Gholdengo, and Garchomp.
Actually, Palafin is better for Torkoal/Torterra.
But Garchomp is a monster.
Let's try Incineroar, Gholdengo, and Garchomp.
Wait, Palafin needs to switch out. Incineroar's Parting Shot helps with that.
Let's bring Incineroar, Gholdengo, and Palafin.
Wait, Garchomp is usually better than Palafin in these formats.
Let's re-evaluate.
Opponent has Rotom, Torkoal, Torterra, Scrafty, Alcremie, Appletun.
Incineroar (Fire/Dark) - Good against Torterra, Scrafty.
Gholdengo (Steel/Ghost) - Good against Alcremie, Appletun.
Palafin (Water) - Good against Torkoal, Torterra.
This trio covers almost everything.

Let's check for weaknesses.
Rotom is a problem for Palafin.
Torkoal is a problem for Incineroar and Gholdengo.
Scrafty is a problem for Incineroar and Gholdengo.
Alcremie is a problem for Incineroar.
Appletun is a problem for Incineroar.

If I bring Incineroar, Gholdengo, and Palafin:
Incineroar leads -> Fake Out -> Parting Shot to Palafin.
Palafin hits Torkoal/Torterra.
Gholdengo hits Alcremie/Appletun.

Is Garchomp better?
Mega Garchomp hits everything hard.
But Palafin's priority is huge.
Let's go with Incineroar, Gholdengo, and Palafin.
Actually, looking at the opponent's team, they are quite slow (except maybe Rotom).
Incineroar, Gholdengo, and Palafin seem very solid.

Wait, let's consider Annihilape.
Annihilape is great against Scrafty and Rotom.
But Gholdengo is better for the Fairy/Grass types.

Let's stick with Incineroar, Gholdengo, and Palafin.
Wait, I'll use Garchomp instead of Palafin for more raw power and better coverage against Rotom.
No, Palafin's Jet Punch is too good.
Let's go Incineroar, Gholdengo, Palafin.

Wait, the opponent has Torkoal (Drought).
Sun boosts Fire moves and weakens Water moves.
Palafin's Water moves will be weakened.
Garchomp's Earthquake is better against Torkoal in the sun.
So Incineroar, Gholdengo, Garchomp.

Let's double check.
Incineroar: Intimidate, Fake Out, Parting Shot.
Gholdengo: Make It Rain, Shadow Ball.
Garchomp: Earthquake, Dragon Claw.
This covers:
Rotom: Garchomp (Earthquake), Gholdengo (Shadow Ball).
Torkoal: Garchomp (Earthquake).
Torterra: Incineroar (Flare Blitz).
Scrafty: Garchomp (Earthquake), Incineroar (Flare Blitz - though Scrafty resists).
Alcremie: Gholdengo (Make It Rain).
Appletun: Gholdengo (Make It Rain).

This looks like a very strong core.
Lead with Incineroar.
<thought>
The opponent's team is slow and vulnerable to Steel and Ground. Incineroar provides essential utility with Fake Out and Intimidate, Gholdengo handles the Fairy and Grass types, and Mega Garchomp provides massive power and coverage against Torkoal and Rotom.
</thought>
<decision>
BRING: incineroar, gholdengo, garchomp
</decision>

Turn 1
Laya switched to Torkoal1,250 tok · 0.1 s
52% SWITCH: torkoal, 19% MOVE: discharge, 9% MOVE: charge
Gemma 4 31B used Partingshot1,575 tok · 4.3 s
Rotom is immune to Fake Out and faster than Incineroar. Parting Shot allows me to lower Rotom's Special Attack and pivot to a better matchup.
Reasoning trace (39 words)
```
Rotom is faster than Incineroar and immune to Fake Out (Ghost-type). Parting Shot allows me to lower Rotom's Special Attack and pivot to a better matchup, like Gholdengo, who resists Rotom's Electric and Ghost moves.

Deciding factor: bad matchup/pivot.
```
Turn 2
Laya switched to Rotom1,304 tok · 0.0 s
31% SWITCH: rotom, 19% MOVE: flamethrower, 17% MOVE: flamecharge
Gemma 4 31B switched to Garchomp1,673 tok · 4.6 s
Torkoal is a poor matchup for Incineroar due to its high physical defense and shared Fire typing. Garchomp is the ideal counter, capable of dealing massive damage with Earthquake.
Reasoning trace (40 words)
```
Torkoal is very slow and has high physical defense. Incineroar is outsped. Garchomp is the best answer here to deal heavy damage with Earthquake. Switching to Garchomp now puts immediate pressure on Torkoal.

Deciding factor: bad matchup (Incineroar vs Torkoal).
```
Turn 3
Laya switched to Torkoal1,448 tok · 0.0 s
55% SWITCH: torkoal, 18% MOVE: discharge, 8% MOVE: charge
Gemma 4 31B used Dragonclawmega1,812 tok · 4.6 s
Rotom has Levitate, making it immune to Earthquake. Dragon Claw is the strongest available attack, and Mega Evolving now maximizes damage output against a target that resists nothing Garchomp has except Ground.
Reasoning trace (49 words)
```
Opposing Rotom has Levitate, making it immune to Earthquake. Garchomp is faster than Rotom. Dragon Claw is the strongest neutral hit available, and Mega Evolving now increases Garchomp's Attack and potentially its utility, though Rotom is a poor matchup for Garchomp.

Deciding factor: Bad matchup (Levitate immunity to Earthquake).
```
Turn 4
Laya switched to Rotom1,445 tok · 0.0 s
52% SWITCH: rotom, 13% MOVE: flamethrower, 11% MOVE: flail
Gemma 4 31B used Earthquake1,705 tok · 3.5 s
Mega Garchomp is significantly faster than Torkoal and Earthquake is super effective, making it the most efficient way to secure a knockout.
Reasoning trace (34 words)
```
Mega Garchomp is significantly faster than Torkoal and has a massive attack stat. Earthquake is super effective and should likely knock out Torkoal or leave it with very little HP.

Deciding factor: likely knockout.
```

Turn 5

Laya used Discharge1,441 tok · 0.0 s

41% MOVE: discharge, 19% SWITCH: torkoal, 16% MOVE: charge

Gemma 4 31B switched to Incineroar1,763 tok · 6.2 s

Rotom is immune to Earthquake due to Levitate, and Mega Garchomp's other attacks are not very effective. Switching to Incineroar provides a better defensive matchup and utility.

Reasoning trace (88 words)

Opposing Rotom is immune to Earthquake due to Levitate. Dragon Claw and Rock Slide deal minimal damage. Swords Dance is an option, but Rotom can likely switch or use a status move. Switching to Gholdengo or Incineroar is safer; Gholdengo resists Ghost and is generally strong, while Incineroar provides Intimidate and utility. However, Rotom is a Ghost/Electric type, and Gholdengo is Steel/Ghost, making it a neutral matchup. Incineroar is Dark/Fire, making it a good check to Rotom's Ghost typing.

Deciding factor: bad matchup (Rotom is immune to Earthquake).

Turn 6
Laya switched to Torkoal1,480 tok · 0.0 s
35% SWITCH: torkoal, 18% MOVE: discharge, 17% MOVE: charge
Gemma 4 31B switched to Gholdengo1,643 tok · 4.7 s
Incineroar is paralyzed and outsped by Rotom, making it a liability. Gholdengo is a strong switch-in that resists Rotom's Electric moves and can threaten it with Shadow Ball.
Reasoning trace (46 words)
```
Rotom-Wash/Heat/etc. (Electric/Ghost) is active. Incineroar is paralyzed and slower. Gholdengo is a great switch-in to Rotom's likely Electric/Ghost moves and can threaten it with Shadow Ball. Parting Shot is an option, but Gholdengo provides a better immediate matchup.

Deciding factor: bad matchup to switch out of.
```
Turn 7
Laya switched to Rotom1,554 tok · 0.0 s
21% SWITCH: rotom, 20% MOVE: flamethrower, 20% SWITCH: torterra
Gemma 4 31B used Shadowball1,609 tok · 4.8 s
Gholdengo is significantly faster than Torkoal. Shadow Ball is the most effective attacking move available to deal immediate damage.
Reasoning trace (63 words)
```
Torkoal is very slow and weak to Ghost-type moves (though not specifically, it just has low SpD compared to Gholdengo's SpA). Shadow Ball is the most consistent damage option here. Nasty Plot is an option, but Torkoal might just switch or use a Fire move. Gholdengo is much faster.

Deciding factor: Speed and damage. Shadow Ball is the best attacking move against Torkoal.
```
Laya switched to Torkoal1,318 tok · 0.0 s
75% SWITCH: torkoal, 25% SWITCH: torterra

Turn 8

Laya used Flail1,598 tok · 0.0 s

22% MOVE: flail, 21% MOVE: flamethrower, 21% SWITCH: torterra

Gemma 4 31B switched to Garchomp1,711 tok · 6.2 s

Torkoal is a Fire-type and Gholdengo is Steel/Ghost, making Gholdengo very vulnerable to Fire attacks. Garchomp-Mega is a much better matchup, providing a resistance to Fire and a super-effective Ground-type attack.

Reasoning trace (62 words)

Torkoal is a Fire-type and Gholdengo is Steel/Ghost. Gholdengo is much faster. Torkoal likely has Drought, making Fire moves stronger. Gholdengo is weak to Fire.

Deciding factor: bad matchup. Gholdengo cannot deal significant damage to Torkoal and is vulnerable to a Fire-type attack. Switching to Garchomp-Mega (Ground/Dragon) provides a strong resistance/immunity to Fire and a super-effective Ground attack.

<decision>
SWITCH: garchompmega
</decision>

Turn 9
Laya used Flamethrower1,542 tok · 0.0 s
25% MOVE: flamethrower, 23% MOVE: flail, 20% MOVE: flamecharge
Gemma 4 31B used Earthquake1,750 tok · 3.6 s
Mega Garchomp is significantly faster than Torkoal and has a massive power advantage. Earthquake is super effective and will likely knock out Torkoal immediately.
Reasoning trace (28 words)
```
Mega Garchomp is significantly faster than Torkoal and has a massive power advantage. Earthquake is super effective and will likely knock out Torkoal immediately.

Deciding factor: likely knockout.
```
Laya switched to Torterra
100% SWITCH: torterra

Turn 10

Laya used Bulldoze1,516 tok · 0.0 s

34% MOVE: bulldoze, 31% MOVE: shellsmash, 20% MOVE: bulletseed

Gemma 4 31B switched to Incineroar1,954 tok · 6.5 s

Torterra is 4x weak to Fire, making Incineroar the ideal counter. Mega Garchomp lacks a strong move for this matchup.

Reasoning trace (83 words)

The opponent's Torterra is Grass/Ground, making it resistant to Earthquake and Rock Slide. Mega Garchomp is significantly faster. Dragon Claw is the strongest neutral move, but Torterra's high physical defense might make it a slow kill. However, switching to Incineroar provides a strong Fire-type attack to deal with Torterra.

Wait, Incineroar has Flare Blitz, which is 4x effective against Torterra. That's a guaranteed OHKO.

Deciding factor: Matchup. Mega Garchomp is not a great attacker against Torterra, whereas Incineroar's Flare Blitz is 4x effective.

Turn 11

Laya used Seedbomb1,594 tok · 0.0 s

32% MOVE: seedbomb, 27% MOVE: shellsmash, 22% MOVE: bulldoze

Gemma 4 31B used Partingshot2,462 tok · 22.5 s

Incineroar is paralyzed, slow, and at 50% HP, making it a liability against Torterra. Parting Shot lowers Torterra's offensive stats and allows a safe pivot to a healthier teammate.

Reasoning trace (451 words)

Torterra is a Grass/Ground type, making it 4x weak to Ice and 2x weak to Fire. Incineroar is currently paralyzed and has -1 speed, meaning it will move after Torterra. Flare Blitz is super effective and likely to deal massive damage, but Parting Shot allows for a safe pivot to Gholdengo or Garchomp-Mega. However, since Incineroar is already low on HP and paralyzed, using Parting Shot to bring in a stronger counter or Gholdengo to avoid Ground moves is the safest play. Wait, Fake Out is available since Incineroar just came in last turn? No, Turn 10 was the switch-in, so Turn 11 is the second turn on the field. Fake Out is only for the first turn.

Deciding factor: bad matchup/low HP. Incineroar is paralyzed and slow; Parting Shot lowers Torterra's stats and pivots to a safer teammate.

Wait, looking at the turn history:
Turn 10: Your Incineroar came in.
Turn 11: Current turn.
Fake Out is only usable on the first turn the Pokémon is on the field. Since Incineroar came in on Turn 10 and the turn ended, it is now Turn 11. Fake Out is listed in legal actions, but the rules say "This move cannot be selected unless it is the user's first turn on the field." Actually, in Pokémon, "first turn on the field" usually means the turn it switched in. Since it switched in on Turn 10 and the turn processed, it's now Turn 11. But the game lists it as a legal action. Let's re-read. "Your Incineroar came in" happened on Turn 10. Turn 11 is the current turn.

Actually, Parting Shot is the best play to preserve Incineroar's remaining HP and bring in Gholdengo or Garchomp. Garchomp-Mega resists nothing from Torterra but hits hard. Gholdengo is neutral.

Wait, Flare Blitz is super effective. Torterra's HP is 100%. Flare Blitz from Incineroar (135 Atk) vs Torterra (112-172 Def) is very strong. But Incineroar is at 50% HP and paralyzed.

Let's use Parting Shot to pivot.

Wait, if I use Parting Shot, I can bring in Gholdengo. Torterra's main moves are likely Ground/Grass. Gholdengo is neutral to both.

Actually, Flare Blitz might just KO Torterra. But Parting Shot is the professional play to maintain momentum.

Wait, looking at the legal actions, Fake Out is listed. If the game says it's legal, I can use it, but the description says "cannot be selected unless it is the user's first turn". Since it's Turn 11 and it came in Turn 10, it's not the first turn.

I'll go with Parting Shot to pivot.

Actually, Garchomp-Mega is a better match for Torterra if I want to attack, but Parting Shot lowers Torterra's attack first.

Decision: Parting Shot.

Gemma 4 31B switched to Gholdengo1,785 tok · 5.7 s

Incineroar is paralyzed, low on HP, and slower than Torterra. Gholdengo resists Grass and is a much safer switch-in to handle Torterra.

Reasoning trace (73 words)

Torterra is active and has -1 Atk and -1 SpA. Incineroar is paralyzed and low on HP, and slower than Torterra. Gholdengo is a great switch-in here as it resists Grass and is immune to Ground (though Torterra's Ground moves aren't a threat to Gholdengo's typing, it's the Grass resistance that matters). Garchomp-Mega is also an option, but Gholdengo can potentially set up or attack.

Deciding factor: bad matchup to switch out of.

Turn 12

Laya used Seedbomb1,662 tok · 0.2 s

40% MOVE: seedbomb, 26% MOVE: bulldoze, 18% MOVE: shellsmash

Gemma 4 31B used Makeitrain2,187 tok · 13.1 s

Torterra is the last remaining opponent and has -1 Attack and -1 Special Attack. Gholdengo is likely faster and can deal massive damage with Make It Rain, which is the most efficient way to secure the knockout.

Reasoning trace (194 words)

Torterra is Grass/Ground, making it weak to Ice. Gholdengo is Steel/Ghost. Gholdengo's `makeitrain` is Steel, which is neutral to Torterra. Torterra's attacks (Bulldoze, Seed Bomb) are not super effective against Gholdengo. Gholdengo is likely faster than Torterra (106 vs 68-118, but Torterra usually isn't max speed). `makeitrain` is a massive hit, but it lowers SpA. `nastyplot` would make Gholdengo a monster. However, `makeitrain` is the strongest immediate pressure.

Wait, Torterra is Grass/Ground. Steel is neutral. Ghost is neutral.
Torterra's current stats are -1 Atk and -1 SpA.
Gholdengo has Life Orb.

Deciding factor: Knockout potential. `makeitrain` deals significant damage to Torterra, and since Torterra is the last Pokémon, securing the win is priority.

Actually, looking at the stats, `makeitrain` (120 BP) with Life Orb on a 203 SpA Gholdengo against Torterra's SpD (94-150) should do massive damage.

Let's check if `makeitrain` is the best move. Torterra is the only one left.

<thought>
Torterra is the last remaining opponent and has -1 Attack and -1 Special Attack. Gholdengo is likely faster and can deal massive damage with Make It Rain, which is the most efficient way to secure the knockout.
</thought>
<decision>
MOVE: makeitrain
</decision>

Turn 13

Laya used Bulldoze1,739 tok · 0.0 s

27% MOVE: bulldoze, 26% MOVE: shellsmash, 24% MOVE: seedbomb

Gemma 4 31B used Shadowball1,945 tok · 4.5 s

Torterra is at 5% HP. Even with -2 SpA, Shadow Ball will easily secure the knockout before Torterra can move.

Reasoning trace (48 words)

Torterra is at 5% HP. Gholdengo is faster than most Torterra builds (106 vs 68-118, but Torterra is usually slower). Even with -2 SpA, Shadow Ball or Make It Rain should easily secure the knockout. Shadow Ball is safer and doesn't lower SpA further.

Deciding factor: likely knockout.