Battling Against Pokémon... and Algorithms

Many Pokémon games are undeniably about battling, whether one to one or few to few. However, behind all those battles, there may be another "force" that is in play to set up certain circumstances. That "force" would be algorithms that determine specific opponents or situations, which can change the course of progressions. They seem to be the determinants for some notable situations, and it seems necessary to flesh out how they might be so.

Some Trainers in Pokémon Go have noticed in the Go Battle League that after a successful run in a set with one team, the next set with the same team becomes less successful. Changing to another team then may allow for greater success. This implies that there is a certain algorithm that determines matchups, likely based on the compositions of teams of Trainers, and they advocate setting up several teams (3 or more) and rotate each one into different sets. Their advice seems to be proven to work even if the algorithm isn't proven, but the case that it is as such is highly likely.

In similar vein, there is a belief that those who had used Raid Passes that they had actually purchased (Remote or Premium) and not gotten as freebies through Research and the like will get Pokémon that are Shiny, of good stats, or both. The belief supports the conjecture that an algorithm is also in place to make sure that they will get their desired Pokémon, or at least eventually as some luck still plays a part regardless in determining the stats and Shiny aspect of Pokémon obtained from raids. Likewise, the algorithm is not proven, but some testimonies indicate the apparent case.

Meanwhile, Pokémon Unite has its own apparent algorithm for Ranked matches, in which the Trainer with the lowest rank becomes the determinant for the opponents that are faced. One time, when I and two friends wanted to go into a Ranked match, they suggested that I create the lobby so that the opponents are more of my rank (I'm at Great rank and they're at Expert rank), and the advice was fruitful in some ways. The advice is something I'll consider when initiating other Ranked matches with other friends who play, and this definitely supports the existence of the algorithm.

There will always be battles at hand in many Pokémon games, and the outcomes of much of those will always be decided by skills of Trainers. Yet it seems before skills decide things, it may be that some algorithms to set up adversaries and even outcomes decide things beforehand. Though inconclusive in some respects, they may be considered a significant "force" that directs Trainers for the usage of their "forces" to succeed in battle.

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