Start broad

Early in a format, reliable roles matter more than clever one-game tech. Build teams with speed control, support, defensive pivots, and enough damage to punish passive openings.

Test one hypothesis at a time

Use current-era fixture data as a sandbox. If a threat looks important, run calcs and play lead tests before changing multiple slots.

Keep exports clean

The best teams are easy to review. Keep Showdown exports, matchup notes, and damage benchmarks attached to the same team record.