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Should Ash have his friends coach from the sidelines during leagues again?

Should his friends coach him?

  • Yes

    Votes: 4 22.2%

  • No

    Votes: 14 77.8%
  • Total voters
    18
Paulisthebest

Paulisthebest

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After replying to the other thread about Ash's worst league loss, it got me thinking about this topic again. I remember back in Kanto, Orange League and Johto; Ash had Brock, Misty and Tracey on the sidelines right there in the "coach booth" giving him advice during battle.

Don't get me wrong, I think him without the coaches is a good indicator of his skills improving during a particular region showing us what he learned on his own and him using it to defeat other trainers. However, counting on your friends and the power of friendship thing is something this show seems to preach in more ways than one.

Do you think that it would have made a difference in Hoenn, Sinnoh and Unova for Ash to have his friends on the sidelines helping him out during battle?
 
Paulisthebest said:
After replying to the other thread about Ash's worst league loss, it got me thinking about this topic again. I remember back in Kanto, Orange League and Johto; Ash had Brock, Misty and Tracey on the sidelines right there in the "coach booth" giving him advice during battle.

Don't get me wrong, I think him without the coaches is a good indicator of his skills improving during a particular region showing us what he learned on his own and him using it to defeat other trainers. However, counting on your friends and the power of friendship thing is something this show seems to preach in more ways than one.

Do you think that it would have made a difference in Hoenn, Sinnoh and Unova for Ash to have his friends on the sidelines helping him out during battle?
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I definitely think it would've helped Ash to do better and keep faith in his abilities as a trainer more than if only slight encouragement is given.
 
Depends on the coach..
If it's a new trainer like Trip, Definitely no.
 
In terms of friends I am referring to traveling companions like Brock, Misty, etc.

Heck even Max could be of some use if he wasn't a smart a** and potentially Iris if like Max she shut up with the smart remarks
 
Honestly, no. To me that would seem like a huge regression. By now he should be experienced enough to make his own decisions without outside help. It'd be ok if he was getting tidbits of advice here and there along the way, ie gym battles and what have you, but a league is where you're suppose to showcase how far you've come, everything you've learnt and what have you. He shouldn't need coaches.

But with that being said, I would have loved to stand on the sidelines during some league matched yelling instructions lol
 
No, it always made Satoshi's wins that little bit cheaper even if he didn't really go with their advice. Really, by the league Satoshi's friends should have too much respect for him to coach.
 
I rather doubt it would have made a difference during those Leagues, especially not the Sinnoh League.
 
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Trainer Gabriel said:
I rather doubt it would have made a difference in during those Leagues, especially not the Sinnoh League.
Click to expand...

I think it might've helped in Unova, though. I mean, considering how Ash's battling skills, and generally his brainpower, regressed so much after the Sinnoh Saga ended. XD.
 
EmotionalTensionPKMN said:
I think it might've helped in Unova, though. I mean, considering how Ash's battling skills, and generally his brainpower, regressed so much after the Sinnoh Saga ended. XD.
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I suppose that might be true, from an in-universe standpoint, anyway... even though we all know that the writing of any event would never change. But I know what you're saying.

Still, I do wonder if it will or does help Ash now the same as it did before.
 
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The only thing Ash's friends need to do for him is the next time he's down to just Pikachu and about to drop out of the league - throw a Thunderstone.

Otherwise, by the time of the league Ash certainly shouldn't need help from the sidelines - but I'd really want to see more of Ash battling with them before the league to get ready, that's where they can really help him. Besides, when he's down in a league he just uses the magic 'you can do it' power that solves everything in battle - who needs tactics when you have encouragement?
 
For the love of Mike...NO! NO NO AND NO! Maybe in Kanto and Johto but with 16 years of training Ash doesnt need any side characters to coach him along. Now i would be ok if they would jeer him on from the sidelines but not in term of coaching
 
No. It made sense to do that with the Indigo League since that was the first League he was in and Ash was still a rookie, but at this point, he should be able to handle battling in a League without his traveling companions coaching him from the sidelines.
 
Why would he need anyone to coach him again? When Misty and brock did it, they did a very poor job because Ash barely took their advice, so no. Especially with Iris and Cilan being that they barely train or do much of anything between episodes as an example for him. If XY comes around, I want no one to have to say anything to Ash about training methods. In fact, I just want him to learn from his friends by watching them normally and mixing his styles with theirs. Not the other way around.
 
Wow, even I didn't expect such an overwhelming amount of you going for "No." I do see where you are coming from because the league is like all of Ash's experience and skill put into his battles.

Having coaches on the side is kind of like his friends still holding his hand would be interpreted as a weakness considering no one else is shown having one in their corner.

Brock mentioned to Misty in his first league battle in Kanto that "Ash has to battle these opponents his way..." after Misty commented that using Krabby was a mistake. So, yeah even if his team was on the sidelines its not likely that he'd take ALL their advice.
 
loser ash.jpg

Well, based on this photo I think we can all agree that he would have been able to benefit from at least SOME advice...
 
Paulisthebest said:
View attachment 87273

Well, based on this photo I think we can all agree that he would have been able to benefit from at least SOME advice...
Click to expand...

ROFL @Pikachu's face looking at Ash in Unova.

He's like, "You can never win, can you?"

Ash is like, "Don't worry. There's always next time. I might even get Top 16 in the Kalos League if I'm lucky!" JK.

I agree with you, PaulistheBest. I guess it's both of us V. everyone else on this one. XD.
 
EmotionalTensionPKMN said:
Paulisthebest said:
View attachment 87273

Well, based on this photo I think we can all agree that he would have been able to benefit from at least SOME advice...
Click to expand...

ROFL @Pikachu's face looking at Ash in Unova.

He's like, "You can never win, can you?"

Ash is like, "Don't worry. There's always next time. I might even get Top 16 in the Kalos League if I'm lucky!" JK.

I agree with you, PaulistheBest. I guess it's both of us V. everyone else on this one. XD.
Click to expand...


Interesting pattern in the first two leagues he was down to Charizard and then the next three he was down to Pikachu...

Wonder if this is hinting at something xD
 
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