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Ray Jay · Sep 5th, 2012, 1:14:38 AM

Welcome to this month's edition of the suspect test, featuring Drilbur. If you're confused about why this thread is up, refer to here.

Drilbur is essentially the face of offensive sand. No good offensive sand team foregoes using Drilbur. It easily outpaces the entire unboosted metagame, and possesses massive Attack in conjunction with Swords Dance. Its movepool isn't shabby either, and includes some BW2 additions (Stealth Rock, Mold Breaker Rapid Spin). The question of Drilbur's place in LC has been challenged many a time (when PO still had LC, Drilbur was banned), with most critics pointing to the slot it all but necessitates on a team to counter it.

This thread will serve as discussion for whether or not Drilbur is truly "broken" in today's metagame. Please note that the council has decided to put this thread up not because we think Drilbur is banworthy right this instant, but because we think it deserves a closer look.

After the discussion and inspection period (which will last just under a month) here is finished, the council members will have a vote. For current council members, please refer here. Should a council member resign or be removed during this suspect period, a stand-in voting council member will be chosen based on thoughtful participation in this thread and the community in general.

Things to Consider:

What aspects of Drilbur are relatively "balanced" when compared to other Pokemon? What parts are not?
Are Drilbur's counters (Bronzor, Shroomish) used solely to counter Drilbur?
It has been stated that with proper team support, certain variants of Swords Dance Drilbur are unbeatable. Is this true?
Is sand a common strategy because Drilbur is so good or because it is a good all around strategy.
Is Drilbur's fantastic variance in movepool a good thing for the metagame or a bad one?
Drilbur is one of the Pokemon that have forced Mienfoo to start running extremely defensive spreads, slowing down the pace of the metagame as Mienfoo is the most commonly used Pokemon. What significance does this have, and how different would a Drilbur-less metagame actually be?

Sep 5th, 2012, 1:14:38 AM	#1
Ray Jay Clearly cannot choose the wine in front of you Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,507	Suspect: Drilbur Welcome to this month's edition of the suspect test, featuring Drilbur. If you're confused about why this thread is up, refer to here. Drilbur is essentially the face of offensive sand. No good offensive sand team foregoes using Drilbur. It easily outpaces the entire unboosted metagame, and possesses massive Attack in conjunction with Swords Dance. Its movepool isn't shabby either, and includes some BW2 additions (Stealth Rock, Mold Breaker Rapid Spin). The question of Drilbur's place in LC has been challenged many a time (when PO still had LC, Drilbur was banned), with most critics pointing to the slot it all but necessitates on a team to counter it. This thread will serve as discussion for whether or not Drilbur is truly "broken" in today's metagame. Please note that the council has decided to put this thread up not because we think Drilbur is banworthy right this instant, but because we think it deserves a closer look. After the discussion and inspection period (which will last just under a month) here is finished, the council members will have a vote. For current council members, please refer here. Should a council member resign or be removed during this suspect period, a stand-in voting council member will be chosen based on thoughtful participation in this thread and the community in general. Things to Consider: What aspects of Drilbur are relatively "balanced" when compared to other Pokemon? What parts are not? Are Drilbur's counters (Bronzor, Shroomish) used solely to counter Drilbur? It has been stated that with proper team support, certain variants of Swords Dance Drilbur are unbeatable. Is this true? Is sand a common strategy because Drilbur is so good or because it is a good all around strategy. Is Drilbur's fantastic variance in movepool a good thing for the metagame or a bad one? Drilbur is one of the Pokemon that have forced Mienfoo to start running extremely defensive spreads, slowing down the pace of the metagame as Mienfoo is the most commonly used Pokemon. What significance does this have, and how different would a Drilbur-less metagame actually be? __________________ Don't count the days, make the days count. Katakiri: How did you even get into this university? Last edited by Aerrow; Sep 15th, 2012 at 5:54:19 PM.