It is quite evident that the Silph Arena, as the community-based PvP venue for Pokémon Go, has a great history about it, being not far removed from the initial days that PvP itself was introduced in Pokémon Go. Recently, the Arena has taken a look back at one of its older (past) themed cups while instituting two of them as formats for Factions - its team-based competitive format - for which this could be described as the present and future. All of these seem to be worth looking into as well.
The past is represented by the "Boulder" themed cup, the very first one from three years and a month ago. Taking a cue from the title of the very first Kanto Gym badge, the themed cup involved Pokémon species of four types: Rock, Ground, Fighting, and Steel. Back then, there wasn't much in the way of choices and the "species clause" wasn't enforced - the only time it wasn't - leading to unique and sometimes unwanted dynamics. Since then, diversity has become an important consideration with whatever themed cups the Arena instituted. There are no promises that "Boulder" may return in the future, but if it does, things may or may not change up from those times.
Meanwhile, the present involves another implementation of the "Fusion" themed cup, this time as a Factions Battlefield. This implementation is not much different from the past (aside from more species to choose from), but the ban list has changed - Wormadam is out, while Nidoqueen, Scrafty, Jellicent, and Diggersby are in. Those who have dealt with the themed cup from two years ought to understand that things are very different now, and they would have to consider new possibilities that may be brought in, in addition to the old standbys; the best team may very well have to be defined by the present.
As for the future, that involves the other Factions Battlefield, which is called "Cave". The theme involves Pokémon species of the Flying, Bug, Rock, Dragon, and Dark types, but without Mantine, Heracross, Skarmory, Regirock, Altaria, Bastiodon, Togekiss, Probopass, and Scrafty (nine species on the ban list). Since the dynamics are relatively few among the main featured types, the secondary types will decide at least some of the dynamics. For those who are tasked to battle with this Battlefield, good preparations ought to sidestep expected picks and a few other surprise ones.
Lots of things have changed since Silph Arena came into being, with new formats, new themed cups, and certainly new waves of competing Trainers. It has brought color to Pokémon Go PvP from the past all the way to the recent present. The future might not be for all to see, but in seeing how the Silph Arena has developed, the Trainers that define today ought to have a defining role in the future (of PvP in various guises) as well.
One year ago: The Consideration of Gaming Journalism
Two years ago: Lost Player Ties
Three years ago: The False Gods
Four years ago: Tournament: PTC18 Online Tournament 2
Five years ago: Pokémon and Mahjong Tile Games
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