By CLeonardo77
Introduction
For this month’s meta, we wanted to craft an environment where trainers must fully commit to one side of an intense rivalry. The Rivalry Cup fits seamlessly within the Might and Mastery season, reinforcing themes of competition, duality, and strategic allegiance. Players must choose between Group 1 or Group 2, each consisting of Pokémon that act as the other group’s alter ego. Rivalries run deep, and this setup forces players to understand not only their own selections but also the inherent strengths and weaknesses of the opposing faction.
Rationale
The idea behind this meta was to explore strategic exclusivity. By limiting selections to one group or the other, players must embrace a distinct battle philosophy.
- Balanced diversity: Each side has bulky tanks, glass cannons, and versatile pivot Pokémon to ensure depth in team-building.
- Type symmetry: While each group contains similar roles, subtle variations in typing and move accessibility make for fresh dynamics.
- Lore-inspired: Rival Pokémon have long been a theme in the series, and this meta lets trainers embody that competition themselves.
What Didn’t Work / Didn’t Make the Cut
Several adjustments were necessary to maintain a fair and dynamic battlefield:
- Some pairs initially included in the roster created an imbalance, with one member too weak compared to the other. An example was Kanto Raticate / Alolan Raticate: we ended up replacing Kanto Raticate, not good enough for PvP, with Furret.
- Early iterations considered allowing limited cross-group selections, but this diluted the core rivalry concept and was ultimately discarded.
Final Remarks
The Rivalry Cup is an experiment in commitment—forcing trainers to identify with a specific battle philosophy rather than hedging between different playstyles. While some matchups may seem tilted one way or another, creative team-building and adaptability remain key to overcoming disadvantages. The meta thrives on strategic choices and forcing players to fully embrace their side of the battle.
Which path will you choose?
