Pokémon Scarlet and Violet sees invention of ingenious rock-paper-scissors tournament using new “Upper Hand” move 

Nintendo released The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 2: The Indigo Disk for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet on December 14.  The latest DLC introduces a new move called “Upper Hand,” which players have cleverly used to invent an  exhilarating game of Pokémon rock-paper-scissors. 

Upper Hand is a damage- dealing fighting-type move. It has a relatively average Power at 65, but what’s special about it is its unique effect. If the opponent selects a move with increased priority such as Quick Attack or Mach Punch, Upper Hand will strike first and cause the target to flinch. On the other hand, if the opponent selects a move without increased priority or a non-attack move, Upper Hand will fail. Japanese X user Kyuka (@pokemononly354) invented a clever rock-paper-scissors-like game that makes use of this effect, and it has taken off among players to the point that there’s even an unofficial tournament being held. 

In the “P1 Gran Prix,” organized by Kyuka, each competitor participates with a single Hitmonchan, and the Hitmonchan is only allowed to know the moves Focus Punch, Mach Punch and Upper Hand, so victory is decided based solely on the player’s choices. 

Among the three, Focus Punch is the strongest, with a Power of 150, but it has a decreased priority (-3), which means it takes time to execute. If the player gets hit before being able to execute it, Focus Punch will fail. In other words, within this tournament, Focus Punch will always lose to Mach Punch. Conversely, as an increased priority attack (+1), Macha Punch will always be overpowered by Upper Hand. Lastly, as Focus Punch is not of increased priority, it will win (and deal great damage) when up against Upper Hand. The dynamic between these three moves makes for a perfect recreation of rock-paper-scissors. 

A video that captures the thrill of the tournament quicky went viral in the community. The players are locked in a series of “draws,” both dishing out Mach Punches consecutively. However, with only one hit remaining, one of the players goes for a Focus Punch, and the opponent, having expected another Mach Punch, goes for Upper Hand, leading to their demise. Pokémon players worldwide have started itching to compete with others in the fun new mini game. 

Kyuka, the inventor of the game and tournament, has previously hosted a “Teacup Grand Prix” which featured only Sinistea and had similar, rock-paper-scissors-like rules. Their motivation for both the Sinistea and Hitmonchan tournaments was to highlight minor Pokémon that don’t normally get a lot of action in ranked battles. When they saw the new “Upper Hand” move, they knew it would work perfectly for rock-paper-scissors, and they began to think up a unique set of rules and moves for the tournament. They mention that the Focus Punch is what makes the game so exciting, as its power allows you to overwhelm the opponent, so everyone’s nervously waiting for the right timing to go for it. 

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are available for the Nintendo Switch. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC Part 1 and 2 have been released, and an epilogue is scheduled to launch on January 11. 

Written by. Amber V based on the original Japanese article (original article’s publication date: 2023-12-23 18:39 JST)