SPOILERS: Masters Eight Discussion/Speculation Thread

[Sai]

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

They're 3 on 3 matches

 

[Die-Hard Dragon Devotee]

They're 3 on 3 matches

Confirmed?

 

[Ghost Diplocaulus]

Confirmed?

It was already revealed in a past JN episode:

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.

 

[Die-Hard Dragon Devotee]

It was already revealed in a past JN episode:

Ah, I forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder. Just realllly hoping Ash vs Leon is a full 6v6. I mean, it's most likely going to be no matter what, but still. Not to mention I'm hoping for a good full battle, too, something reminiscent of Ash vs Kukui or Ash vs Sawyer/Alain (without the same end result as the latter hopefully.)

 

[Ghost Diplocaulus]

Ah, I forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder. Just realllly hoping Ash vs Leon is a full 6v6. I mean, it's most likely going to be no matter what, but still. Not to mention I'm hoping for a good full battle, too, something reminiscent of Ash vs Kukui or Ash vs Sawyer/Alain (without the same end result as the latter hopefully.)

No problem. And yeah, same here. Admittedly Ash vs Leon does have quite a tough act to follow, since the reason the Ash vs Kukui match work so well is not just that it was a very well-animated and well-coreographed fight that allowed all of Ash's Pokemon to shine (Lycanroc may not have beaten anyone, but he brought Incineroar to his knees and forced Kukui to switch him out and then did so much damage to Braviary that Rowlet was able to beat it quite easily when it likely would not have been able to otherwise), but also because Ash had a much better established bond with Kukui than he does with Leon, had not one but two built-up-over-the-course-of-the-series rivalries being finally resolved (Torracat vs Incineroar and Pikachu vs Tapu Koko) whereas Pikachu vs Charizard has only one short spar to its name, and lastly, the Alola Team was also far more fleshed out personality-wise compared to the relatively barebones Journeys Team. Yeah, at least when it comes to raw emotions, Ash vs Leon is sadly highly unlikely to even get close to Ash vs Kukui, but I'll be happy if it at the very least is a good spectacle.

 

[Sai]

Ash vs. Leon is likely to be 6 on 6 so Ash can use his full team against him. Obviously 3 on 3 is just for the prior matches

 

[Imtnt]

No problem. And yeah, same here. Admittedly Ash vs Leon does have quite a tough act to follow, since the reason the Ash vs Kukui match work so well is not just that it was a very well-animated and well-coreographed fight that allowed all of Ash's Pokemon to shine (Lycanroc may not have beaten anyone, but he brought Incineroar to his knees and forced Kukui to switch him out and then did so much damage to Braviary that Rowlet was able to beat it quite easily when it likely would not have been able to otherwise), but also because Ash had a much better established bond with Kukui than he does with Leon, had not one but two built-up-over-the-course-of-the-series rivalries being finally resolved (Torracat vs Incineroar and Pikachu vs Tapu Koko) whereas Pikachu vs Charizard has only one short spar to its name, and lastly, the Alola Team was also far more fleshed out personality-wise compared to the relatively barebones Journeys Team. Yeah, at least when it comes to raw emotions, Ash vs Leon is sadly highly unlikely to even get close to Ash vs Kukui, but I'll be happy if it at the very least is a good spectacle.

I dont know, Kuki vs Ash was just an exhibition match, so from the one hand the writer did as he pleased, but on the other hand it could be even 3 vs 3 just because.
I think the Final round against Leon will be 6 vs 6 just to make this round count whatever result the writer wants. Offscreen they rushed it, training battles were short realy. If the final is going to have any focus or special climax it is or 6 vs 6, or 3 vs 3 taking it slow with longer on-screen, maybe even 3 episodes. If not, Ash better lose fast to make a point he is not capable on this level.

 

[Imtnt]

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

Lance used Dragonite in the 1st match as his 3rf Pokemon from what we saw in the first M8 preview.

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.

Didn't see it was Raillaboom who had Gigantamaxed in the previw, Maybe though it was a normal form in battle.

 

[Broseph08]

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

In the preview, Lance is using Dragonite, Gyarados, and Hydreigon

 

[Chilon]

Lance wins 100%

 

[Chilon]

he uses Dynamax. And then another Dyna dragon attack. He's the champ: He doesn't use dragon attacks against Gardevoir. And what other Pokemon should he Dynamax against? I think he might fight Cythia then. Although I'm very skeptical that Cynthia will even win against Iris. I wouldn't hype it that much if she wins though.

 

[FinnishPokéFan92]

he uses Dynamax. And then another Dyna dragon attack. He's the champ: He doesn't use dragon attacks against Gardevoir. And what other Pokemon should he Dynamax against? I think he might fight Cythia then. Although I'm very skeptical that Cynthia will even win against Iris. I wouldn't hype it that much if she wins though.

Cynthia will most likely win against Iris. As much as I've come to like Iris in Journeys, she doesn't have the same level of experience as Cynthia. Also, Cynthia and Lance are on different sides of the tournament bracket.

 

[Chilon]

So you think Lance will win?

 

[Chilon]

Maybe you're right and Iris loses, which of course is also possible. Because a mega development should also be conveyed as extra strong and not just win against a "normal" Pokemon. Another question: A Malamar is said to have been visible in the trailers. Could you imagine a Mr. Rime at Leon's side vs Malamar a Kalos signature Psichyc type? I find it funny. What else did Cynthia have on her team against Iris besides her Garchomp? The same with Iris herself?

 

[Imtnt]

Nah, Cynthia can't lose, simpley because Ash wont be against Iris. Though the writer could easily make Iris the winner of the whole thing....

 

[Chilon]

Thats what i say

 

[Chilon]

However, could you imagine Mr. Rime with Leon? It's his champ team in the games.

 

[LuxrayOfTheWild]

An Ash vs. Iris rematch would be boring and kinda pointless because he did already face her and he won in this series. It makes more sense to have him face Champion Cynthia. And it kinda has felt like a battle has been built up subtly over the course of 3 series. It makes more sense for his roadblock to Leon being the #2 ranked trainer and one of the most powerful Champions.

 

[Daren]

After the league match with Paul didn't Cynthia even make some comment about wanting to see Ash in the champion league?

I know it seems we're never actually seeing one of those but this is the closest we got and probably the last chance for Ash to battle Cynthia in any meaningful way.

 

[LuxrayOfTheWild]

After the league match with Paul didn't Cynthia even make some comment about wanting to see Ash in the champion league?

I know it seems we're never actually seeing one of those but this is the closest we got and probably the last chance for Ash to battle Cynthia in any meaningful way.

She did. When she was talking to Dawn, Brock, and Barry after the battle she did say this.