SPOILERS: Masters Eight Discussion/Speculation Thread

[Chilon]

Ashs dream is fullfilled

 

[Kurolegacy]

I kinda like Ash vs Steven now, he gives Ash some much needed type variety unlike Lance. Besides it’s not like those 2 had much in common except repping kanto

Just Alain I’m bummed abt, really hope he and Ash get an ep for closure somehow

The writers went out of their way to bring Alain back only to have him act as the sacrificial lion to further hype up Leon and you really have hope the writers actually care about giving logical plot lines for Ash closure?


Hope died with the revelation of these meaningless round 1 matchups.

 

[isrrael120]

For things like that I have the glass half full with JN, the writers can be trolls at any time as always!

that's why I have no problems with any result in M8!

 

[PokeFan2005]

As Ash has 4 match then after the win he takes 4th place and Steven drops to 8th.
In Semifinals if defeat Cynthia he takes 2nd place.

 

[Die-Hard Dragon Devotee]

As long as we get a fantastic final battle between Ash and Leon (and maybe even some big conflict right before, kinda like in the games, only it wouldn't be the Darkest Day obviously,) with friends and family watching, I'll be good.

 

[Queen Cynthia]

Here's my opinion on the first round match-ups:

I do understand why many fans are disappointed there won't be a rematch between Ash and Alain. However, I totally disagree with their opinion (and that of some youtubers like Pokeferlax) this was the worst choice ever and a shame and what not... On the contrary! This actually is the best scenario for Ash, and here's why:

Steven -> 3rd
Cynthia -> 2nd (Dear Cynthia, we all know you would not lose to Ash or anybody else if you didn't have to, courtesy of the plot ... )
Leon -> 1st

You get the obvious pattern? If Ash beats all of them, he's won against the three mightiest Champions in the world! Not only is that much better and much more prestigious than just another battle against Alain (something we already saw in the past), it would make Ash the undisputed Champion (apart from Cynthia, of course, but that's a different story) because he has faced the most powerful opponents one can think of.
So, no the writers' decision is far from being disappointing, it's actually the best scenario Ash-fans can wish for! Honestly, I'm kind of surprised some fans apparently fail to see the obvious.


As for the other match-ups:

Alain vs. Leon
Yes, Charizard is one of the most favorite Pokemon in the world and even though we know Alain has to serve as fodder, I want him to give Leon a run for his money. And by the way, a clash of two powerful Charizard, no matter how overused they may be, still is something spectacular.

Lance vs. Diantha
These two characters haven't had any connection yet, so this seemingly random match-up could have a lot of surprises for us in store. Although I personally think Lance is the greatest character and Pokemon Champion after Cynthia, I still tend to give Diantha the adavantage, simply because I can't image they'll have Lance lose against Leon again in a possible semi-finals match.

Cynthia vs. Iris
The best choice, no doubt about it! Given how Iris idolizes Cynthia, this match-up is just perfect and promises to be a super-intense and epic showdown. And as if that wasn't great already, Cynthia has finally been revealed to have a Mega-Garchomp, a dream that has come true !
Iris, you're really a lucky one! After a battle with my idol I could die in peace.

 

[Imtnt]

Here's my opinion on the first round match-ups:

I do understand why many fans are disappointed there won't by rematch between Ash and Alain. However, I totally disagree with their opinion (and that of some youtubers like Pokeferlax) this was the worst choice ever and a shame and what not... On the contrary! This actually is the best scenario for Ash, and here's why:

Steven -> 3rd
Cynthia -> 2nd (Dear Cynthia, we all know you would not lose to Ash or anybody else if you didn't have to, courtesy of the plot ... )
Leon -> 1st

You get the obvious pattern? If Ash beats all of them, he's won against the three mightiest Champions in the world! Not only is that much better and much more prestigious than just another battle against Alain (something we already saw in the past), it would make Ash the undisputed Champion (apart from Cynthia, of course, but that's a different topic) because he has faced the most powerful opponents one can think of.
So, no the writers' decision is far from being disappointing, it's actually the best scenario we can wish for! Honestly, I'm kind of surprised some fans apparently fail to see the obvious.


As for the other match-ups:

Alain vs. Leon
Yes, Charizard is one of the most favorite Pokemon in the world and even though we know Alain has to serve as fodder, I want him to give Leon a run for his money. And by the way, a clash of two powerful Charizard, no matter how overused they may be, is still something spectacular.

Lance vs. Diantha
These two characters haven't had any connection yet, so this seemingly random match-up could have a lot of surprises for us in store. Although I personally think Lance is the greatest character and Pokemon Champion after Cynthia, I still tend to give Diantha the adavantage, simply because I can't image they'll have Lance lose against Leon again in a possible match in the semi-finals.

Cynthia vs. Iris
The best choice, no doubt about it! Given how Iris idolizes Cynthia, this match-up is just perfect and promises to be a super-intense and epic showdown. And as if that wasn't great already, Cynthia has finally been revealed to have a Mega-Garchomp, a dream that has come true !
Iris, you're really a lucky one! After a battle with my idol I could die in peace.

Or maybe ash is against top 3 traniers so when he lose we accept it and wont feel sad..?

 

[isrrael120]

everything is possible I think!

 

[Kurolegacy]

Here's my opinion on the first round match-ups:

I do understand why many fans are disappointed there won't be a rematch between Ash and Alain. However, I totally disagree with their opinion (and that of some youtubers like Pokeferlax) this was the worst choice ever and a shame and what not... On the contrary! This actually is the best scenario for Ash, and here's why:

Steven -> 3rd
Cynthia -> 2nd (Dear Cynthia, we all know you would not lose to Ash or anybody else if you didn't have to, courtesy of the plot ... )
Leon -> 1st

You get the obvious pattern? If Ash beats all of them, he's won against the three mightiest Champions in the world! Not only is that much better and much more prestigious than just another battle against Alain (something we already saw in the past), it would make Ash the undisputed Champion (apart from Cynthia, of course, but that's a different story) because he has faced the most powerful opponents one can think of.
So, no the writers' decision is far from being disappointing, it's actually the best scenario Ash-fans can wish for! Honestly, I'm kind of surprised some fans apparently fail to see the obvious.


As for the other match-ups:

Alain vs. Leon
Yes, Charizard is one of the most favorite Pokemon in the world and even though we know Alain has to serve as fodder, I want him to give Leon a run for his money. And by the way, a clash of two powerful Charizard, no matter how overused they may be, still is something spectacular.

Lance vs. Diantha
These two characters haven't had any connection yet, so this seemingly random match-up could have a lot of surprises for us in store. Although I personally think Lance is the greatest character and Pokemon Champion after Cynthia, I still tend to give Diantha the adavantage, simply because I can't image they'll have Lance lose against Leon again in a possible semi-finals match.

Cynthia vs. Iris
The best choice, no doubt about it! Given how Iris idolizes Cynthia, this match-up is just perfect and promises to be a super-intense and epic showdown. And as if that wasn't great already, Cynthia has finally been revealed to have a Mega-Garchomp, a dream that has come true !
Iris, you're really a lucky one! After a battle with my idol I could die in peace.

I don’t think it’s a matter of people not seeing it as much as the combination of a bit of a contrived setup (what are the odds that out of all the opponents Ash faces that he just so happens to battle the top 3 in order?), that of Ash’s opponents, he has zero connection to Steven compared to Cynthia and Leon to the point that he didn’t even know Steven was in this competition until recently and that the writers brought in Alain completely out of the blue, an honor no other rival got thus setting up the perfect opportunity for Ash to finally get the rematch fans have been waiting for only for them to pull a bait-and-switch for 2 matches nobody was asking for. This whole thing could have easily been avoided had they simply not brought back Alain but as it stands, it’s yet another case of the writers intentionally putting something in to draw in older fans only to not deliver.

 

[cricketlaxwolvesbandy]

I want to see a repeat of the Kalos League and here is why:
Leon’s Charizard reminds me a lot of Alain’s Charizard, and is even more dominant considering it beats Alain’s powerful Mega Evolved Charizard that defeated Ash-Greninja and Pikachu in its base form. Coupled that with Leon’s Charizard destroying other powerful trainers such as Lance, Raihan and Flint. Leon sweeping the Masters 8 with Charizard is similar to Alain. Now you have Mega Ash-Lucario who is similar to Ash-Greninja. Dragonite and Dracovish never get wins in the Masters 8, and Sirfetch’d and Gengar do decently. In the finals Pikachu defeats two of Leon’s Pokemon before falling to base Charizard. Then Ash Mega Evolves Lucario and against GMAX Charizard. The battle is close but in the end Lucario faints. It wouldn’t beat right to see Ash beat a Charizard stronger than Alain’s without Greninja when he hasn’t even beaten Alain yet.

 

[Daren]

I'd really rather not see Ash lose the biggest battle in his career just because Greninja lost to Alain six years ago.

 

[Ghost Diplocaulus]

Due to the fact that we only see Gigantamax Rillaboom in previews but not Gigantamax Charizard, I've seen some people speculate that this means Leon's Charizard will likely beat Alain's Mega Charizard X in base form. Personally, I think it'd be far cooler if Rillaboom or whoever Leon's third Pokemon is was the one that defeated Alain's Charizard instead, because that'd do a significantly better job of hyping up Leon as a tough opponent: I mean, we already know that Leon's Charizard is strong, but if we get definitive confirmation that his non-ace Pokemon are also strong, then that'd make his status as World Champion far more justified. Otherwise he'd just be like Alain, who overrelies on one Pokemon to carry his whole team.

But who am I kidding. The writers aren't gonna let a Charizard lose to a lowly Not-Charizard. Especially if Ash ends up winning the whole thing, because he won't be using his Charizard, meaning he's gonna fight Leon with a team of Not-Charizards. This means that the most likely outcome of the match is that Rillaboom will defeat Chesnaught, then Gigantamax against Alain's MCX and lose, and then MCX loses to Leon's base form Charizard.

 

[Chilon]

Rillaboom becomes dynamaxt against Chesnaught. I could imagine it winning. But it could also be a KO. Only then would I classify the Charizard facing Charizard as worthy. Chesnaught doesn't have to fight Charizard. Also, on the trailer, it looked like Chesnaught and Rillaboom were evenly matched. I would strongly support the Mega vs. basic form because I just want to see a fast Charizard and not a fat dragon that just fires off its attacks from a standing position

 

[Chilon]

I'd really rather not see Ash lose the biggest battle in his career just because Greninja lost to Alain six years ago.

Six years! I hope Greninja replaces Dracovish or Farfetch I'm not sure who!

 

[Imtnt]

Due to the fact that we only see Gigantamax Rillaboom in previews but not Gigantamax Charizard, I've seen some people speculate that this means Leon's Charizard will likely beat Alain's Mega Charizard X in base form. Personally, I think it'd be far cooler if Rillaboom or whoever Leon's third Pokemon is was the one that defeated Alain's Charizard instead, because that'd do a significantly better job of hyping up Leon as a tough opponent: I mean, we already know that Leon's Charizard is strong, but if we get definitive confirmation that his non-ace Pokemon are also strong, then that'd make his status as World Champion far more justified. Otherwise he'd just be like Alain, who overrelies on one Pokemon to carry his whole team.

But who am I kidding. The writers aren't gonna let a Charizard lose to a lowly Not-A-Charizard. Especially if Ash ends up winning the whole thing, because he won't be using his Charizard, meaning he's gonna fight Leon with a team of Not-Charizards. This means that the most likely outcome of the match is that Rillaboom will defeat Chesnaught, then Gigantamax against Alain's MCX and lose, and then MCX loses to Leon's base form Charizard.

Or.. Leon got his Charizard Giganmax against Alain's MCX, can't KO fast enough so after a while he is back to his normal form - and yet he wins against MCX.

 

[FinnishPokéFan92]

Or.. Leon got his Charizard Giganmax against Alain's MCX, can't KO fast enough so after a while he is back to his normal form - and yet he wins against MCX.

Leon won't Gigantamax his Charizard here. Only one Gigantamax per match.

 

[Ghost Diplocaulus]

Or.. Leon got his Charizard Giganmax against Alain's MCX, can't KO fast enough so after a while he is back to his normal form - and yet he wins against MCX.

Dynamax can only be used once per battle, though, meaning that if Leon uses Gigantamax Rillaboom he can't use Gigantamax Charizard at all.

 

[L-05308]

Soooo, these first round battles are just 2 v 2 right? Heard some talking about them as if they are 3 v 3 - but I’ve not seen evidence of this…

I don’t mind smaller matchups, my favourite league is the Alola league though I can remember initially being disappointed at 1 v 1s in the first two rounds. Though the Alola league had more main characters where as the only ones to be the big focuses of the M8 tournament are Leon and Ash (maybe Iris will get a bit of main character treatment too)

Just so long as the matchups increase per battle and the last one is a Full Battle

 

[Ghost Diplocaulus]

Soooo, these first round battles are just 2 v 2 right? Heard some talking about them as if they are 3 v 3 - but I’ve not seen evidence of this…

Ash's battle against Raihan was 3v3, which the referee said was the same format that the Masters 8 tournament used. Additionally, one of the previews seemingly shows Lance using Dragonite, Hydreigon, and Red Gyarados.

Finally there's one leak claiming that Alain is gonna use a Malamar in his battle against Leon, but since previews only showed him with Chesnaught and M-Charizard X, that all but confirms that the battles are 3v3. Assuming the leak is true of course.

 

[Die-Hard Dragon Devotee]

Or.. Leon got his Charizard Giganmax against Alain's MCX, can't KO fast enough so after a while he is back to his normal form - and yet he wins against MCX.

Like FinnishPokéFan92 and Ghost Diplocaulus before me both said, you can only Gigantamax/Dynamax once per battle, so since we saw in the preview that Rillaboom had Gigantamaxed, that meant that Charizard wouldn't be able to. Which actually makes the second part of your statement correct-Leon's Charizard will indeed have to face Alain's Mega Charizard X as a normal Charizard with no gimmick. And yet......it'll still win.