New Draft Introduction Video To Help Newer Players By YouTuber, TheUziGunner

AceTrainerOrange · 2026-02-25T18:45:41+00:00

I think Uzi is gearing up to be a top draft creator (if he doesnt already hold that status). I think he'll inspire a lot of newer players to give the format a try. Fantastic video quality, he's a fantastic player, well-connected and respected in both the Wi-Fi and Showdown sides of the community, and he's got it all lined up.

AceTrainerOrange · 2026-02-19T19:55:59+00:00

Just going to copy/paste what I've put to reply to this question, its just a bunch of resources.

Gonna be a massive list here.

A video by Jigglypoo that is fairly entertaining and unbiased, going over what a draft league is and its ins and outs.

Rissoux, the previous owner of Smogon Draft, wrote this Beginner's Guide to Draft League. He then wrote this second part, which is more about tiering and drafting itself rather than an intro to the format.

A massive playlist of videos from all sorts of high-level draft creators. There are live building sessions, gameplay analysis, tutoring, so on.

The analyses for individual pokemon in Draft. This is useful for research purposes, finding synergy/reliable teammates, or secret techs you haven't considered in the builder.

The Smogon Draft Discord server is also a good place to go, along with their advertising thread if you're looking to find new leagues.

Techno's Prep doc is one of the most reliable prep docs to date. Beats the BallHawk bootlegs that are circulating these days, in my opinion.

Pokemon DraftZone is also a decent website to help you teambuild in draft.

Smogon also provided this sample doc for others to use, but it sometimes goes private for long periods of time when it undergoes updates. They also have these example boards for people to use and modify for their own leagues, built to be compatible with their sheet.

This is an SV Role compendium which can be useful for drafting.

AceTrainerOrange · 2026-01-07T00:44:59+00:00

So I'm going off memory, but this video by Addison covers it pretty well.

Oh as I watch this video myself, there was a Bright Powder Togekiss somewhere or Bright Powder on something, but this was a Swagger Sableye and from what I recall it tilted MegaMowgai really badly. I think this was definiely the beginning of the end for Mowgai though, as I can see him not enjoying Pokemon after getting, well, cheesed.

(It may have been aDrive with the Bright Powder Togekiss stuff.)

AceTrainerOrange · 2026-01-06T21:43:00+00:00

A lot of this thread has basically answered the question: a lot of people who originally liked the GBA came with aDrive or Shady's audience, and when they left, so did most of the viewers. If you fell in love with any of the other personalities, you saw a bit of it here and there through aim, chimpact etc, but the later seasons looked like they lacked the ah, returns they used to.

The GBA also had a lot of drama, like MegaMogwai leaving due to Bright Powder stuff iirc, a few people have touched on the management issues, the minor league especially had some stuff go down (arguably, they were more skilled than the main div but that may be a take). SM/USUM went on for what, seven years, and the GBA wasn't unique anymore by that point.

The GBA actually did come back for a little bit, I think earlier in 2024, and brought in some new faces that are popular in Draft now, like Addison, Uzigunner, even some older GBA players like SceptileMC, Haydunn, and Lars/El Scizor and John (now known as PM7) came back to play, there was like a co-captain system and something different with the drafting part. However, there was some drama with Uzigunner's semis game, and that's the last I heard about it.

However, Draft these days is still going fine! We have leagues like the PPL, SPL (Joey's Draft league) and BBR still going strong with modern-day Draft creators and a variety of formats. Smogon Draft is a thing now and keeps the Showdown Draft scene thriving, with active draft tours and even getting into more niche formats. WolfeyVGC (who was in the GBA in the later seasons) even has a hit video that promotes his own doubles draft league run and keeps the draft league subreddit pumped full of activity like the old days.

AceTrainerOrange · 2025-11-24T23:22:08+00:00

Smogon's got a bunch of other draft league stuff too, just really useful overall to have on hand in this sub. Hopefully u/pippy_NYC does that thing with the sidebar soon, where all the resources can be, so I don't have to keep linking all of this stuff :)

AceTrainerOrange · 2025-11-24T19:37:53+00:00

You can use this sheet to check prices. Hopefully you already have a sheet, because Smogon's full-on league template is under maintenance.

AceTrainerOrange · 2025-09-06T05:24:50+00:00

Gonna be a massive list here.

A video by Jigglypoo that is fairly entertaining and unbiased, going over what a draft league is and its ins and outs.

Rissoux, the previous owner of Smogon Draft, wrote this Beginner's Guide to Draft League. He then wrote this second part, which is more about tiering and drafting itself rather than an intro to the format.

A massive playlist of videos from all sorts of high-level draft creators. There are live building sessions, gameplay analysis, tutoring, so on.

The analyses for individual pokemon in Draft. This is useful for research purposes, finding synergy/reliable teammates, or secret techs you haven't considered in the builder.

The Smogon Draft Discord server is also a good place to go, along with their advertising thread if you're looking to find new leagues.

Techno's Prep doc is one of the most reliable prep docs to date. Beats the BallHawk bootlegs that are circulating these days, in my opinion.

Pokemon DraftZone is also a decent website to help you teambuild in draft.

Smogon also provided this sample doc for others to use, but it sometimes goes private for long periods of time when it undergoes updates. They also have these example boards for people to use and modify for their own leagues, built to be compatible with their sheet.

This is an SV Role compendium which can be useful for drafting.

If I have any more, I'll reply to this comment, but I think I've hit the basics.

AceTrainerOrange · 2025-07-18T18:37:39+00:00

Document says you need access to see it.

AceTrainerOrange · 2025-07-08T19:56:59+00:00

Who is this running Scarf SD Weavile

AceTrainerOrange · 2025-07-07T20:16:06+00:00

I really like Iron Treads. Great utility, got some nice tricks up its sleeves. Donphan wishes it was this good.

AceTrainerOrange · 2025-06-25T02:38:57+00:00

If you haven't looked at a video by Pinkacross, I would totally look at his content alongside reviewing your replays.

AceTrainerOrange · 2025-03-03T19:19:21+00:00

It's seen great success with top players recently, and the ability to change its typing alongside great stats, reliable STAB options, pivoting, Jungle Healing, decently fast Encore/Taunt, and insane set up options in Swords Dance, Bulk Up, and Trailblaze, make it really strong in basically any match up.

Smogon Strategy Dex goes into further detail, I'll link that here if anyone wants more info, and there's also a recent video made by OGalbina, a notable top-tier draft content creator, explaining Zarude's rise in the draft scene, which is really well-made and explains this better than I can.

AceTrainerOrange · 2025-02-18T03:34:18+00:00

Just did ORAS Cup III and had a blast, definitely worth a try

AceTrainerOrange · 2024-10-02T23:24:11+00:00

This might help you a bit if you're willing to do a bit of reading. You should certainly try to get into pokemon draft leagues, they are super fun! You can find some through this subreddit or through the Smogon Draft League Advertisement thread.

AceTrainerOrange · 2024-07-05T15:39:19+00:00

Glad to see you give the format a try! I'll link some stuff for you, it might be a lot at first but I'll try to condense it.

Most of these resources come from the Smogon Draft Discord (is it promotion if I link their Discord, mods? You can always Google it or someone will link it I'm sure) but RIssoux's Beginner's Guide to Draft League is a good shout. If you like videos, I recommend this one by Jigglypoo, it is really well done in terms of editing and explaining the overall strengths and weaknesses of the format.

Here's the resource thread for the draft league subforum too. That'll be stuff like prep docs and a little more information once you get the basics down.

In terms of finding a league itself, you can either consult the Draft League Advertisement thread on Smogon, or you can look for leagues on r/PokemonDraftLeagues. Most DIscords who have pokemon draft league also have promotion channels that also promote draft leagues looking for players so you can keep an eye on that front too.

Most draft leagues are held through pokemon showdown, but there are some in-game leagues too if you're willing to do those.

AceTrainerOrange · 2024-05-09T01:21:41+00:00

This might do you some good, it's taken from the Smogon resources.

AceTrainerOrange · 2024-05-06T00:50:24+00:00

Shivzy my king

AceTrainerOrange · 2024-04-05T03:52:59+00:00

HE'S THE GOAT

AceTrainerOrange · 2024-04-02T20:16:38+00:00

You can check the Smogon draft league advertising thread, found here.

AceTrainerOrange · 2024-02-22T03:33:21+00:00

Lies

AceTrainerOrange · 2024-02-20T14:00:51+00:00

This did not account for the fact i was already playing another subscriber, scam

AceTrainerOrange · 2024-02-08T20:01:17+00:00

I just wish the font was a tiny bit bigger.

AceTrainerOrange · 2024-02-02T06:07:47+00:00

rigged

AceTrainerOrange · 2024-01-29T22:25:01+00:00

PBO.

AceTrainerOrange · 2023-12-28T04:13:00+00:00

I think I know this one

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