Pokémon's Competitive Edge: How Ava Reid Transformed 'Winterveil' into a YA Dystopia

From Pokéballs to Political Espionage

It's easy to forget how deeply rooted in strategy and competition Pokémon actually is. While most people think of the franchise as a children's game, it's also a serious competitive sport with rules, tournaments, and an intricate ecosystem of teams and strategies. For fantasy author Ava Reid, who just released her new YA dystopian novel Winterveil, this strategic complexity provided the perfect blueprint for her latest story.

'I, like so many of us, grew up playing Pokémon as a kid,' Reid tells me. 'Playing FireRed, LeafGreen. I have all my Pokémon plushies right behind me on my couch right now. But it was during the pandemic that I think so many of us got very involved in kind of esoteric hobbies, and my hobby that I got really into during COVID was competitive Pokémon, specifically.'

She's referring to Video Game Championships, or VGC, which is the official competitive format run by The Pokémon Company. Unlike casual play, VGC requires players to build and maintain teams of Pokémon with careful consideration of type matchups, abilities, and move sets—think chess, but with more variables. It's a deeply mathematical and tactical experience that Reid found irresistible.

Strategic Worldbuilding

In Winterveil, this competitive mindset becomes the backbone of an entire academy system where students are trained as elite assets in a Cold War that's lasted nearly a century. The book's protagonist group is pulled together for a mysterious mission, set against a backdrop of eerie war simulations and cutthroat competitions.

The parallels between VGC and the world of Winterveil run deeper than surface similarities. The strategic depth of competitive Pokémon translates directly into how characters approach challenges in the academy. Just as players must carefully analyze opponents' team compositions, students must evaluate their fellow students for strengths and weaknesses.

What Makes VGC Special?

One thing Reid especially admires about competitive Pokémon is how it's both accessible and incredibly complex. The casual version of the game can be enjoyed by anyone, but the competitive scene requires deep knowledge of probability, math, and strategic decision-making.

'It's very chesslike. It's strategic, it's tactical, but it's so much more complicated than that,' Reid explains. 'There's so many ways to customize your Pokémon. There's a lot of math and mathematical equations and probabilities and percentages.' This complexity is what she wanted to capture in Winterveil.

The result is a story where the characters don't just fight—they calculate. Their battles aren't simply physical but mental, strategic, and deeply rooted in understanding the game they're playing. This is a departure from the typical YA dystopian narrative that relies more on action and rebellion, instead focusing on intelligence, manipulation, and long-term planning.

Competitive Spirit in Literature

Reid's work has always blended literary depth with emotional resonance, but her new book takes this to a new level by drawing on the structured chaos of competitive play. In Winterveil, the academy setting becomes not just a place of study but a battlefield for young minds, where success is measured in points and prestige rather than physical prowess.

This approach also speaks to a larger trend in modern YA fiction—where complex, strategic worlds reflect the digital age's increasing importance on skill-based competition. Whether it's video games, esports, or academic competitions, young readers are more likely to connect with stories that mirror these experiences.

The Future of 'Winterveil'

While Winterveil is the first in a planned duology, it stands on its own as a compelling exploration of how strategic thinking can be both a tool and a weapon. As Reid prepares for her next project, she's already looking ahead to the sequels, teasing that characters like Waltrude will return, along with new perspectives from Marozia and Gamelyn—each adding layers of complexity to an already intricate world.

Her ability to blend cultural phenomena like Pokémon with serious literary themes isn't just innovative—it's a testament to how storytelling can evolve when we take inspiration from unexpected places. In the end, Winterveil proves that sometimes the most intense battles aren't fought with swords or spells, but with calculated moves and precise strategy.