About
Showderp is a somewhat influential Pokemon community that originated from 4chan.org’s /vp/ board. Their purpose is to give a designated “champion” a team of Pokemon, decided by the first six responses to his or her claim, and then play a series of battles on Pokemon Showdown, the competitive battle simulator with the highest population of users. Afterwards, the champion will either request a new team or a new champion, and the process repeats. Generally speaking, Pokemon movesets created or popularized by Showderp are the most visible representation of the community, as members will attempt to deceive opponents into believing that the champion is Marriland or some other notable Pokemon player for amusement.
History
On April 11, 2013, Pokemon Showdown user apt-get (AKA LC Guy) created a thread on 4chan.org’s /vp/ board requesting a team of Pokemon to use on Pokemon Showdown’s Overused tier ladder. Although it was untitled at the time, this is generally agreed to be the first Showderp thread.[1]
Impact
Showderp Pokemon teams often make use of unorthodox battle strategies, whether original or not. Many of these sets have been granted varying degrees of notoriety on Pokemon Showdown and Smogon through Showderp’s usage of them. Perhaps most notable is a Sigilyph set nicknamed “BLOODTOTEM.” Although the members of Showderp did not invent it themselves, they caused an uproar in the Pokemon Showdown community by challenging user LonelyNess during a live stream and spamming “BLOODFORTHEBLOODTOTEM” during the battle, increasing the profile of both Sigilyph and Showderp itself.
Showderp champions were also largely responsible for the popularization of “Funbro,” a Slowbro capable of stalling battles indefinitely. Pokemon Showdown implemented an Endless Battle Clause to combat the increasingly present usage of “Funbro.”
Fandom
Showderp congregates in various locations, primarily /vp/ and Pokemon Showdown. One can be redirected to the most recent Showderp thread on /vp/ by visiting showderp.crabdance.com.[2] Other locations frequented by the community expect visitors to have spent time in both the thread and battles beforehand, but are otherwise welcoming. By either visiting play.pokemonshowdown.com/showderp or typing “/join showderp” into Pokemon Showdown’s chat client, one can visit the community’s official chatroom.[3] They also have a message board[4], as well as an official website in development.[5]
Showderp also has a TVTropes article[6] and a Wordpress page.[7]
Search Interest
External References
[1]4chan – http://archive.foolz.us/vp/thread/11966556/ / Posted on 4-11-2013
[2]Crabdance – Showderp Thread
[3]Showderp Chatroom – Showderp
[4]Showderp Forums – Showderp: The Experience
[5]Showderp – Official Website
[6]TVTropes – Website/Showderp
[7]Wordpress – LC Guys Grotto