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Y'know, it's not impossible to re-introduce a threat later in the metagame! Landorus and Aegislash are known quantities. Since both exhibited all the same broken characteristics as they did last gen, I don't see the harm in quick-banning them initially so that we can focus attention on the new...

A broken Pokemon, according to the policy framework, reduces teambuilding skill because it reduces teambuilding choice. So far as I can tell, this is the only justification given for banning a broken Pokemon. Stealth Rock also reduces teambuilding choice via extreme centralisation and has...

Stealth Rock is the definition of a broken element. When defining broken elements, the policy framework states that a broken Pokemon doesn't necessarily affect battling skill, since both players are free to use it, but should be banned for inhibiting teambuilding skill. The entire concept of...

I'd be looking at things like: Does the increased number of viable threats strain defensive play? Or are defensive teams conversely too effective when they can't be pressured by Stealth Rock? Does the match-up issue worsen or improve? Do matches tend to drag on significantly longer? What...

Posting for Hot dog pizza The thread is NOT the suspect thread. The argument here is to reach a conclusion on whether SR should be suspected. To do that we need objective evidence and data on how SR affects the meta in a controlled manner. To do that we would need a SR-less ladder or a ban of...

And by tiering for the upper echelons, you create a system which further encourages improvement... Clearly I experienced some cognitive dissonance in suggesting that majority enjoyment could be reflected by the subjective opinion of the minority who vote. The enjoyment of higher-end players...

Don't suspect tests take into account this subjectivity? "Uncompetitive", "broken" and "unhealthy" are also entirely subjective after all. This reeks of elitism, but the point (correct me if wrong) is that the majority of common players hold wrong opinions and will pervert the game against the...

What are we tiering for? As per Aldaron's policy framework, tiering decisions are made such that player skill determines the result of a match to the greatest extent possible. This framework, I will argue, is somewhat deficient. I have a utilitarian view of tiering. Tiering should aim to...

Consider Scald, which was discussed as a possible suspect on the grounds of being uncompetitive. Would you really want to ban every effective Pokemon in OU which uses Scald, when you could just ban the uncompetitive element itself? To me, limiting collateral damage should always be taken...

Been running AV Muk to deal with Lele and Psy-spam: 252+ SpA Choice Specs Tapu Lele Moonblast vs. 248 HP / 252+ SpD Assault Vest Muk: 123-145 (29.7 - 35.1%) -- 19.9% chance to 3HKO Poison Touch and STAB Knock Off make it surprisingly hard to switch into. Alomomola also seems really nice so...

This issue reflects the central conflict we have between producing better metagames and being faithful to the cartridges. With Z-Moves, Gamefreak has introduced an element which clearly favours less experienced players. Z-Moves are unpredictable and devalue defensive responses to threats, while...

I think the complex EV spread is a bit wasteful on a Pokemon running Assault Vest, no recovery and Poison Touch. Just maximise special bulk.

Not too keen on Choice sets when Psychic is your best STAB :/ I think the best three move coverage will be Psyshock / Moonblast / HP Fire, with Calm Mind or Substitute being by far the best options for the last moveslot.

Jesus Christ. The whole point of wanting to have a test is to get facts. There are no other facts available besides the BW no-SR ladder. All the rhetoric I and others have used has been aimed at achieving exactly this.

Oh come on, the argument "the hazard remover can switch directly against the Stealth Rock user" clearly isn't a good one. Sometimes they can, more often they can't. This also worsens the luck-based match-up problem (very significantly in some cases), which I know is omnipresent but which we...

This is actually an argument for testing Stealth Rock. If your Defogger can't switch directly into the opponent's Stealth Rock setter, then it's often too easy for the opponent to pressure you while you desperately try to get your Defogger into play. It puts the onus on the Defog user to outplay...

Ajwf's post raises good points, but it doesn't hold a great deal of weight to me. It is true that in drawn-out battles where pp becomes a factor, Stealth Rock is a primary component of strategy (exhausting the opponent's means of removing or blocking it, along with exhausting Heal Bell pp etc)...

Specs with Dark Pulse, Draco, Fire Blast, Sludge Bomb would be how I'd play it. It can afford to run a Modest nature so it's scarcely weaker than Hydreigon, but with vastly improved defenses.

Acast For the last time, enjoyment is measurable by majority decision. You might disagree with that point of view, but please at least address it. King UU Let's simplify this. By testing Stealth Rock as I propose, we potentially make the metagame more enjoyable and we settle the arguments...

Yes, I'm defining "better" arbitrarily. I didn't think that anyone would dispute that making a game more enjoyable would be "better", but there you go. You're just repeating yourself here for the sake of posturing. Yes, that's right. I believe that rewarding skill is a means to an end, that...