quick ref test guide + practice

We need more refs, that is evident. It's hard for some of us to tutor people to ref due to how busy we can be. Therefore, I hope this can help.

These are kind of listed from most important to least.

• familiarize yourself with this: http://bmgf.bulbagarden.net/showthread.php?t=56302
• the Reffing Encyclopedia is nice, but the move, ability, and item information can be lacking; acquire the Smogon search plugin (Reffing Encyclopedia plagiarizes off Smogon anyway), searching for moves and abilities is quick and easy, a wealth of other battle mechanics information can be found here: http://www.smogon.com/dp/articles/
• time can be important in passing the ref test; familiarize yourself with common moves, most of them are the same thing just a different type/effect: Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, Flamethrower, Surf, Earthquake, Stone Edge, Psychic, Close Combat, Thunder Wave, Toxic, Will-o-wisp, Hidden Power, Taunt, Encore, Agility, Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, Rock Polish, Dragon Dance, Calm Mind, Protect
• keep the following in mind every turn for both Pokemon and you should be fine for the most part: Status Effects, Ability, Move, Item, Misc. Effect (SeAMIMe), do note that this is not the order those things are resolved
• make sure to mark any changes in a Pokemon's stats, and any additional effects it has on it
• always ask for Gender and Ability of a Pokemon and make sure it can actually have that Ability (and Gender I guess)
• make sure that the Pokemon learns that move, but don't take too long, again, it helps to be familiar with moves, Charizard obviously learns Flamethrower
• the proper way to handle an illegal move or ability is to tell the ref tester to select a legal one
• burn status halves a Pokemon's attack
• critical hits double the damage dealt after all of the following are ignored for the duration of the critical hit: the user's [Special] Attack drops, excluding burn, the target's [Special] Defense gains, including Reflect and Light Screen
• Leech Seed removes 12.5% from the targeted Pokemon, but adds however much is lost to the user; for example, if you Leech Seed a Blissey, you will get back more health than if you Leech Seed a Shuckle
• when a faster Pokemon uses Taunt and the other Pokemon uses a move a move that doesn't work under Taunt the same turn, that move will fail; after that, the Taunted Pokemon is unable to SELECT a move that doesn't work under Taunt until Taunt is gone, that means if the Pokemon attempts to choose a move that doesn't work under Taunt, the ref will tell them to use a different move, instead of the Pokemon using the move and then failing
• Hidden Power can only be 16 of 17 types! which one can it not be?
• Life Orb does not cause recoil when attacking a Substitute
• oldest trick in the book: Venusaur doesn't learn Stun Spore

PRACTICE?!

This is the part where you can contribute. Make up any battle scenario, and it will be reffed and edited into this post. Specify any items and whether you want a certain something to hit or miss, and whether an effect should happen. Someone else or I will put the reffing in spoilers, so you can practice how to do it, and check yourself.

All calculations using 'old' calc
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Spoiler

Bulbasaur, Life Orb, Overgrow, Male
Charmander, Expert Belt, Blaze, Male

Bulbasaur 100% (Spe+1)
Charmander 75.18%

Bulbasaur: use Leech Seed and hit
Charmander: use Ember and burn

Spoiler

Bulbasaur uses Leech Seed. Hits! (roll 90 or lower)
Charmander uses Ember. Burn! (roll 10 or lower)
Charmander is sapped by Leech Seed. Bulbasaur regains some health.
Bulbasaur is hurt by its Burn.

Bulbasaur 61.56% (Brn) (Spe+1)
Charmander 62.77% (Leech)

Spoiler

Roserade, Natural Cure, Male
Mew, Leftovers, Synchronize, Genderless

Roserade 100%
Mew 100% (Leech Seed)

Roserade uses Stun Spore.
Mew uses Poison Jab.

Spoiler

Mew uses Poison Jab. (shouldn't roll for poison)
Roserade uses Stun Spore. Hits! (roll 75 or lower)(Synchronize happens)
(no message about Leftovers for Mew is displayed because Mew is at 100%, and Leftovers takes place before Leech Seed in end-of-turn effects)
Mew is sapped by Leech Seed. Roserade regains some health.

Roserade 87.65% (Prz)
Mew 87.62% (Prz)(Leech)

Spoiler

All secondary effects occur, if possible
Bibarel, Male, Unaware
Wigglytuff, Female, Cute Charm

Bibarel 100% (Def+1)
Wigglytuff 75% (Sub) (Atk+1) (Def+1)

Bibarel uses Waterfall
Wigglytuff uses Wake-Up Slap

Spoiler

Bibarel uses Waterfall
Bibarel becomes infatuated by Wigglytuff's Cute Charm (roll 30 or lower)
The Substitute breaks
Wigglytuff uses Wake-Up Slap

Bibarel 80.66% (Infatu) (Def+1)
Wigglytuff 75% (Atk+1) (Def+1)

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Post questions about reffing certain things as well, or offer other reffing tips.

 

So we post a battle scenario that we arent sure of and a ref will post here telling us what is correct?

 

The purpose is to make up any scenario(s) you want so others can practice reffing it. You can already know how to do it. Let's make a goal of creating a 100. :cheers:

 

This is an awesome guide. Thanks a lot!

 

Stuff like End of Turn Effects and Move Priority can also be found in the RefPedia, and it saves you the load times or if you don't know which articles it is on Smogon.

 

I ha end of turn priorities bookmarked and switched comp and lost it. Ataroz link <3

it's a post on smogon btw.=

 

This link.

http://www.smogon.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2157593&postcount=21

Anyway, I think I was too harsh on the Reffing Encyclopedia. It kind of is this thread now that I look at it. However, one day I'm going to rewrite to be kind of more compact, and not have stupid stuff. Like you don't really need to know the two abilities that prevent paralysis. For that, you would reference the ability itself, rather than the status paralysis. Not to mention the formatting is horrendous.

 

That was the problems I had with the Refpedia when I was first learning. Not lack of information, but finding it. I think complaining because something ridiculously technical isnt there really isnt fair on it, becase those situations probably arent common enough to be documented.

 

This i think will be a grewat way to help refs, and pewople that want to become refs. I'll check back. Oh, and does this have anything to do with what i asked you?

 

So there's a shortage of refs, huh? Maybe I really should do those last few questions in the Ref Quiz... /lazy
Though if I did become a ref, I'd be a forum-only ref. Not sure if that would be worth it...

 

Nah, this was created before that.

If nobody wants to make up any crazy complicated battle scenarios, I'll start making them myself. :disgust:

 

I can sum up this thread in 5 words: Oh NOW you tell me!

With this I might be able to actually PASS the test this time.

 

I suppose I can start out with a simple one that I normally use as part of my test.

I like to do buildup turns, so this was actually a 2 turn scenario which I summarized into one. So ignore how weird it is to have a 100% Leech Seed Pokemon.

Roserade, Natural Cure, Male
Mew, Leftovers, Synchronize, Genderless

Roserade 100%
Mew 100% (Leech Seed)

Roserade uses Stun Spore.
Mew uses Poison Jab.

Answer:

Spoiler

Mew uses Poison Jab. (shouldn't roll for poison)
Roserade uses Stun Spore. Hits! (roll 75 or lower)(Synchronize happens)
Mew regains some health with Leftovers. (shouldn't regain since Mew is at 100%)
Mew is sapped by Leech Seed. Roserade regains some health.

Roserade 87.34% (Par)
Mew 87.62% (Par)(Leech Seed)

 

I have a couple of questions about the ref test, is the format that you ref one 3v3 battle organised by the ref tester, or is it like a series or short scenarios?

Also about the speed as clearly a ref should be fairly quick. What kind of time frame for say one turn is acceptable, assuming it is around they are around the complexity of the above two.

Finally can we have more of these scenarios,[I'm having fun practising reffing].

 

This is great Pidge. Oh and I have two little random tips I got from Ataro.

1. Scoring a critical hit DOUBLES the power of the move AND ignores any defensive stat boosts the opponent may have (for that turn only).
2. Safegaurd allows Yawn to work, but you won't fall asleep while you have Safegaurd up.

Might come up with a situation later

 

Cool. 8)

You ref an infinite vs infinite battle. The ref tester usually makes it up as you go along, or has a few things set in mind to test. The test is over when the tester decides he or she can accurately tell if you should pass or fail.

Rule of thumb is you shouldn't be taking more than 5 minutes a turn, especially not if it is very simple. It's kind of up to the ref tester's discrepancy.

Yes. More scenarios are planned. Anyone can submit one. Even if it's easy.

I'm not sure about 2.

http://www.smogon.com/dp/moves/yawn



Expect updates soon, or a mod can do it.

 

lol, silly me. That shows how much I've learned, huh?

Got one, Psywave. The base power that is rolled, say 50, is how much HEALTH the opponent uses, not the Base Power of the move. Learned that from a basic battle against a goddamn lucky Spoink. Correct me if I'm wrong though.

 

http://www.smogon.com/dp/moves/psywave

Yes, the amount of HP the opponent loses can vary from 50 to 150 in intervals of 10, because in the URPG levels are always 100. It can be thought of as a varying Night Shade or Seismic Toss. I don't see how 50 is lucky, though, since that is the lowest amount that can occur. Also, base power and damage are NOT synonymous. Keep this in mind when reading the effects of items, abilities, and moves.

 

50 was an example. 130-150 three or four times is lucky.

 

When I am practicing for reffing, I prefer to use Bulbapedia, because I can look up a move and have it in front of me within seconds. Also, I can have two tabs designated for each Pokemon, that way I can take two seconds to look up and see if a mon has that move or not. Any thoughts?