++ Standard Clauses ++
Uber Clause: The following pokemon are deemed to be unbalancingly powerful and are not allowed to be used:
Update 08/25/09
Despite Smogon's decision to remove Latias from the Uber tier and place it into the OU tier, here at D/P Gaming, Latias will still be considered illegal to use and will be included as being banned by our version of the Uber Clause until further notice. Your Pokémon cannot use moves like Explosion or Self-Destruct to win if it's the only Pokémon remaining on your team. The same applies for Perish Song and Destiny Bond.
Sleep Clause: The sleep clause means that you cannot put 2 enemy Pokemon to sleep at the same time. This means, if you put my Gengar to sleep, and I switched out for Arcanine, you cannot put Arcanine to sleep until Gengar has woken up. However, if you KO the sleeping Pokemon (Gengar in this case), feel free to use your sleep moves again. Please note, that Pokemon who have induced their own sleep, commonly through using Rest, then
that does not count towards the clause.
Evasion Clause: One of the most questioned clauses, but it's right up there with Uber and Sleep for importance. Basically, this clause means you cannot use evasion increasing moves like Double Team and Minimize. This clause has appeared due to the fact that any Pokemon who can use TMs can learn double team, and there's no way to get rid of the evasion bonuses except through the move Haze, or if the opponent switches out. Further leading to the unfairness of double team is the fact that after 2 uses, only about 60% of your attacks can hit the foe at all and to finish it off, double team can be baton passed to a stronger, faster or sturdier Pokemon.
Species Clause: This clause means you can't have more than 1 of the same Pokemon (or any of it's same evolutionary chain) on your team. This is mainly used just because it's kind of annoying to see 4 Garchomps or a Charmander and Charizard or something ridiculous like that. This clause is oftentimes not used, but will normally be active during tournament play. This clause of course does not effect the use of multiple
Eeveelutions or any other pokes with optional evolutions.
OHKO Clause: Moves like Fissure, Guillotine, Horn Drill and Sheer Cold are banned from use as the only surefire counter to OHKO moves is to have a focus sash/focus band, an ability that prevents them, or to not get hit by them. While some may argue there's only a small chance of getting hit by them, this only makes it even more frustrating when a player that's better than another loses. Because moves like these require more luck than skill to use, they are typically banned.
Item Clause: By far the most common non-standard rule, item clause states that each Pokemon on the team must be holding a different item from one another. So no double leftovers or focus sash. Items that do the same thing but aren't the same however are allowed. An example of this: Leftovers and Black Sludge.
Luck "Hax" Item Clause: In online competitive play, the term "Hax" refers to when something unlucky occurs to you. Most of the time this is that 30% chance to freeze from a Ice beam, or something of that nature and it's just the way the game goes. Although, when it comes to hold items that have small chance of completely turning the game around just out of sheer chance, it's deemed rather frustrating and very similar to the OHKO Clause. For this reason, when this clause is in effect, that means the following items are banned from use: Brightpowder, Quick Claw, Focus Band and King's Rock.
No Pokesav Rule: No Pokemon created by Pokesav (whether they're within the natural limits or not) are allowed to be used in any battles hosted here on the Battle Tower. Since it is hard for us to check most teams for illegitimate Pokemon, this rule will primarily be based upon the honor system, so if you want a battle involving Pokesav'd Pokemon, please take your request to the
Wi-Fi Battling section. Failure to follow this rule will result in having your earned pointed stripped and possible removal from being allowed to compete in the Battle Tower or any of it's sponsored events.
