DPP OU: Figuring Out Your Opponent's Last Pokemon

Apologies for the audio at points, not sure why it's so finicky. With the right volume 98% of it should be there, though, and I think anything that does cut out is easy to figure out based on the accompanying context. I hope this video is of some use to you in exploring an important part of becoming a better DPP player. Even if you're a veteran, there might be something in here for you, or you might just enjoy the listen in general. I'm happy to answer any questions - replays you might have, theories about what teams need to cover, the whole shebang. If there are any requests on videos to do in the future I'd gladly hear those as well. I forgot to mention this in the video but you should be thinking about these things right from turn 1. Metagross lead? Starmie/Tyranitar/Dragonite/Rotom-W/second steel is a common archetype, those Pokemon could definitely pop up. Alternatively, Magnezone offense is a possibility. This kinda thing, if I ever do a part 2 I'll definitely cover this more. Try to get a read on how your opponent is playing; if he's really deadset on targeting a wall of yours, he's probably got some strategy that wants that wall weakened or dead. Explosion Gengar's tendency to lure Blissey might mean he's going for a Zapdos or CM Jirachi sweep, for example. He also might want to keep his sweeper intact for lategame - Agility Empoleon's not much of a threat if it loses most of its health checking Rain Dance Kingdra. On the other hand, not every team is formulaic and predictable, and neither is the opponent - maybe he's just spamming attacks and might leave himself open to a loss without realizing it, then he might be reckless with a counter to a 'mon - he might just randomly Explode his Heatran and lose to your SD Scizor. Play to the state of the game, not turn-by-turning your opponent. Less disastrous if it goes wrong and is a good habit to get into since this applies especially in generations with team preview. Besides just his play, as mentioned earlier, know the metagame and thus the notable combinations of Pokemon, as well as the likely needs of teams (i.e. Fighting resist, Infernape check). Practice this theory a lot. It will take time. It's never going to be 100% perfect, but the amount of games you'll turn around by even having a semblance of a grasp on this thing is going to be a lot.