Transcript

The Lavos AKA “Unfortunate doesn’t begin to describe my series…” copypasta is the most famous meme within the competitive Pokemon community. Lavos during that time was a highly prominent competitive Pokémon player in Smogon/Pokémon Showdown.

The copypasta came from a ragequit post by him in the Smogon forum after a series of unlucky events (losing to Waterfall flinch + Para spam) in a tournament.

After the lost, it sparked the greatest ragequit of all time stemming from his attitude towards the game and its community. The original Lavos forum post and full context leading up to the iconic moment are often celebrated by the Smogon community.

"Unfortunate" doesn't begin to describe my series, this game rewards blind luck and nothing else, I am beyond convinced at this point. After getting completely tooled by scheduling with my opponent changing times on me last minute and refusing to provide confirmation prior to the day of the match as to play times, losing this way somehow felt even worse than I had thought possible. My preparation was superior, my play was superior, and I lost, so I don't see a reason to continue engaging in an activity where what is within my control is overwhelmingly outweighed by what is not.

I am done with competitive Pokemon, and you won't get a fond farewell. This community is infected to its roots with a degenerative disease that grows stronger over time but stops short of killing its host. Tournaments used to have a competitive spirit at their heart, this has been transplanted and replaced with an artificial organ that feeds on vitriol and mockery from insecure little boys that heckle by the sidelines and tear each other to shreds over scraps of attention. The environment we fostered has trapped us all like this in a vicious cycle, and escaping it requires acceptance of the harshest reality we all scramble to explain away, that none of the countless straining efforts we put ourselves through here will ever amount to one single shining glimmer of significance. I would make this the end, but World Cup is still ongoing, and I would never leave so many great friends out to dry, so I'll suffer through a few more games for them.

One last thing before I leave you all to react with disdain, ridicule, and self-righteous fervor, before you do everything in your power to minimize my words and thoughts, box them up and shove them to some cobwebbed corner of your memory, and hope they disappear forever as a stain on your finite time ground to dust. From this moment on, nothing you say matters to me. The foulest insults you hurl with intent to wound will calmly settle at the earth before my feet, and the venom you spit will bring all the pain of a warm summer breeze. You are less than anything you can conceive, while I carry on, brimming with joy distilled from detachment.

My preparation was superior, my play was superior, and I lost, so I don't see a reason to continue engaging in an activity where what is within my control is overwhelmingly outweighed by what is not. I am done with competitive Pokemon, and you won't get a fond farewell. 

Lavos in-game chat before the ragequit

i fucking had you

i had you

thunderpunch rachi guaranteed ohko

this was the single biggest threat to my fucking team

i played around it to the best of my ability

and this bullshit

after rby too

enjoy your fucking trophy dude, i quit.

Lavos forfeited.

Lavos good ending

"Outplayed" doesn't begin to describe my series, this game rewards pure skill and nothing else, I am beyond convinced at this point. After getting completely blessed by scheduling with my opponent sticking to the planned time and agreeing to provide confirmation prior to the day of the match as to play times, losing this way somehow felt even better than I had thought possible. My opponent's preparation was superior, my opponent's play was superior, and he won, so I don't see a reason to stop engaging in an activity where what is not within my control is overwhelmingly outweighed by what is.

I am continuing with competitive Pokemon, and you won't get any kind of farewell. This community is flourishing to its roots with a purifying health that grows stronger over time and persists in bolstering its host. Tournaments have a competitive spirit at their heart, this has been cultivated and sustained by a natural organ that feeds on admiration and respect from confident mature men that cheer by the sidelines and bond with each other over appreciation of their shared hobby. The environment we fostered has welcomed us all like this into a gentle camaraderie, and joining it encourages acceptance of the sweetest reality we all blissfully cherish, that all of the countless straining efforts we put ourselves through here will always amount to endless radiant blazes of significance. I won't make this the end, and World Cup is still ongoing, and I would never leave so many great friends out to dry, so I'll enjoy many more games for them.

One last thing before I leave you all to react with approval, praise, and humble satisfaction, before you do everything in your power to enhance my words and thoughts, frame them and display them on some polished trophy stand of your memory, and hope they last forever as a centerpiece of your finite time raised to prominence. From this moment on, everything you say matters to me. The kindest compliments you extend with intent to uplift will energetically propel themselves to the forefront of my mind, and the support you express will bring all the comfort of a warm summer breeze. You are more than anything you can conceive, while I carry on, brimming with joy distilled from affection.