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#anipoke Y'know, one of the most common criticisms of Ash vs Paul is that Paul should've used his Lake Acuity team, and I gotta say I've always disagreed with that.
It may have been superficially satisfying, but it would actually directly contradict the point of both battles.
It may have been superficially satisfying, but it would actually directly contradict the point of both battles.
Paul's LA team was a direct counterteam to Ash's. We see this all throughout the LA battle, so many moves and strategies made specifically to exploit Ash's physical and psychological weaknesses.
Not only was this a crushing loss for Ash, it was literally an unavoidable one.
Not only was this a crushing loss for Ash, it was literally an unavoidable one.
It's perhaps best shown with Grotle vs Honchkrow. Ash, desperate for vengeance, keeps Grotle in against against his better judgment, ignorantly disregarding the type and mobility disadvantage with no real plan. And what happens? Reality ensues, and Grotle loses.
It's a microcosm to the theme of the entire battle: Ash can't beat Paul through faith alone, and he can't overcome impossible odds just because he wants to. These are things Ash was rather infamous for before this series, and why I like to say DP was a deconstruction of Ash.
Of course, as we all know, Ash doesn't just give up after that. He ultimately learns that while it's okay to believe in yourself, you need to be smart about it. He starts finding a balance between Paul's cold logic and his own impulsive heart.
If Ash hadn't learned that, the...
If Ash hadn't learned that, the...
league battle wouldn't have been any different from Lake Acuity. Paul would've counterteamed him again, and he would've been destroyed again. He was already showing signs of that with Drapion, losing half his team back-to-back because of how predictable his team was to Paul.
Ash using his own LA team was risky enough already, but Ash found JUST the right ways to throw Paul off with his improved training, improved mindset, and trademark improvised strategies. And of course, Infernape's Blaze.
Even just the mere fact that Ash used his reserves in...
Even just the mere fact that Ash used his reserves in...
the Sinnoh League is a mark of his development. Keep in mind, the reason Paul even needed two scouts is because he couldn't know for sure what Ash was using beforehand. In turn, Ash knew he needed his reserves because he knew he would've been too predictable otherwise.
And that's just a testament to how good the Sinnoh League is. This is the only time in the entire anime where Ash's reserves aren't just fanservice, they were a REQUIREMENT for the story. Ash literally HAD to call on them to make it as far as he did.
So... yeah. DP stans rise up
So... yeah. DP stans rise up
