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Lockdown
Have you ever wanted to build a team utilising moves like Gravity or Trick Room, only to be held back by the short duration of the moves? Well then, Lockdown is the metagame for you! At the end of Turn 6, whatever changes have been made to the battlefield become permanent. So whatever weather, entry hazards, Rooms, Terrains or Sports might be in place will stay until the end of the battle.
Rules:
Mechanic: At the end of Turn 6, battlefield changes become permanent
Clauses: OU clauses
Bans: OU banlist, Heat Rock, Damp Rock, Icy Rock, Smooth Rock, Terrain Extender
Unbans: Genesect
Strategy:
With the possibility of permanent Trick Room, slow powerful Pokemon like Conkeldurr, Rhyperior and Reuniclus become much more threatening. Suicide leads are naturally far more effective in this metagame, as the hazards they set become permanent after Turn 6. Weather based teams are far more effective now, as they can keep their weather permanent, letting Pokemon like Kabutops, Tangrowth, Excadrill and Alolan Sandslash effectively have a permanent +2 Speed boost. We may even see Magic Room and Wonder Room teams, who knows.
Increased Viability:
Slow, Powerful Pokemon
If you can get Trick Room set up, these Pokemon go from slow powerhouses to fast powerhouses that can still take hits if need be. Conkeldurr and Reuniclus don't fear status thanks to Guts and Magic Guard, respectively, while Rhyperior has Swords Dance and STAB EdgeQuake. Escavalier has only one weakness (albeit a 4X one) and in Trick Room will be the fastest Pokemon on the battlefield.
Sweepers with Swift Swim, Chlorophyll, Sand Rush and Slush Rush
Normally, the Pokemon get at most six turns to sweep with their newfound Speed, here with permanent weather they can have that Speed indefinitely. Kabutops, Excadrill and Sandslash can all boost their damage output with Swords Dance, while Venusaur gets Growth. Venusaur can also use Grassy Terrain to become hugely powerful, while Kabutops's STAB Waterfall has power on par with a STAB Close Combat in Rain.
Suicide Leads
With only six turns to get rid of entry hazards, suicide leads are far better in this metagame. Aerodactyl has 2nd fastest Taunt in existence after its own mega; Minior is immune to status above 51% HP and can use a fast Explosion to prevent Defog and Rapid Spin; Heatran has wonderful typing and has STAB Magma Storm to break Focus Sashes; Forretress's access to Sturdy lets it use a Custap Berry - it also gets Spikes, Toxic Spikes and can set Sunny Day and Gravity.
Decreased Viability:
Fast Frail Pokemon
In a metagame where Trick Room can be permanent, high Speed and low bulk will make you cannon fodder for teams that utilise the move. And while base 125 Speed may be impressive when the skies are clear, it's a different story if your opponent can get their weather set up. Beartic, which normally has an unimpressive base 55 Speed, can outrun base 145s in Hail thanks to Slush Rush.
Q&A:
Q: What conditions become permanent at the end of Turn 6?
A: Sun, Rain, Sandstorm, Hail, Trick Room, Wonder Room, Magic Room, Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Sticky Web, Electric Terrain, Misty Terrain, Grassy Terrain, Psychic Terrain, Mud Sport, Water Sport & Gravity.
Q: What happens if I use Stealth Rock etc. after Turn 7?
A: The move will fail. Same story with Drought, Drizzle etc.
Q: What happens if I use Defog / Rapid Spin after Turn 7?
A: Rapid Spin will still do damage and remove Leech Seed and other trapping moves, but it won't remove hazards. Defog will still remove Screens and lower Evasion, but it will not remove hazards. If you switch in a grounded Poison-type after Turn 7, it will not remove Toxic Spikes.
Q: Why are the weather rocks and Terrain Extender banned?
A: Because you could simply click Sunny Day (or whatever move you're using) on Turn 1, and if your opponent didn't have a Pokemon which could also summon weather or Terrain, you would be home and dry. With them banned, the weather / terrain setter must be switched in on Turn 3 or later, opening up the field for more counterplays.
Resources: See below for Viability Rankings, Sample Teams, Replays and Analyses
Playability: Playable on Dragon Heaven
Code: Here, credit to Spandan
Ban History:
Nothing yet
Unbans
Unbanned on 12 / 5 / 2016. With the threat of permanent Trick Room and permanent weather, Genesect's Choice Scarf set (i.e. it's main set) becomes far less threatening. Additionally, its bulk is below average despite a good typing, making it hard to switch in, especially with the threat of permanent hazards. It may well end up being broken, but for now I'm giving it another chance.
New Threats
The Guardian Deities
With the ability to automatically summon their respective terrains thanks to their abilities, these Pokemon are sure to become major players in the metagame. Electric types love the power boost of Electric Terrain, while Trick Room teams will love the priority immunity that comes with Psychic Terrain, Grass types and Ground weak Pokemon will love Grassy Terrain, and bulkier teams will love the status immunity of Misty Terrain.
Gone, but not forgotten
With their mega stones being unavailable, sadly Lockdown waves goodbye to Abomasnow-Mega, Camerupt-Mega and Swampert-Mega. Abomasnow-Mega was a strong anti metagame Pokemon, threatening both Rain teams and Trick Room teams. Camerupt-Mega was arguably the best Mega for Trick Room teams thanks to its great power, solid bulk and typing and Sheer Force. Swampert-Mega was the best Mega for rain teams, with its huge Attack stat, great bulk and typing. While Talonflame is still with us, the buff to Stealth Rock and the nerf to Gale Wings mean its viability is drastically reduced.
Lockdown
Have you ever wanted to build a team utilising moves like Gravity or Trick Room, only to be held back by the short duration of the moves? Well then, Lockdown is the metagame for you! At the end of Turn 6, whatever changes have been made to the battlefield become permanent. So whatever weather, entry hazards, Rooms, Terrains or Sports might be in place will stay until the end of the battle.
Rules:
Mechanic: At the end of Turn 6, battlefield changes become permanent
Clauses: OU clauses
Bans: OU banlist, Heat Rock, Damp Rock, Icy Rock, Smooth Rock, Terrain Extender
Unbans: Genesect
Strategy:
With the possibility of permanent Trick Room, slow powerful Pokemon like Conkeldurr, Rhyperior and Reuniclus become much more threatening. Suicide leads are naturally far more effective in this metagame, as the hazards they set become permanent after Turn 6. Weather based teams are far more effective now, as they can keep their weather permanent, letting Pokemon like Kabutops, Tangrowth, Excadrill and Alolan Sandslash effectively have a permanent +2 Speed boost. We may even see Magic Room and Wonder Room teams, who knows.
Increased Viability:
Slow, Powerful Pokemon
If you can get Trick Room set up, these Pokemon go from slow powerhouses to fast powerhouses that can still take hits if need be. Conkeldurr and Reuniclus don't fear status thanks to Guts and Magic Guard, respectively, while Rhyperior has Swords Dance and STAB EdgeQuake. Escavalier has only one weakness (albeit a 4X one) and in Trick Room will be the fastest Pokemon on the battlefield.
Sweepers with Swift Swim, Chlorophyll, Sand Rush and Slush Rush
Normally, the Pokemon get at most six turns to sweep with their newfound Speed, here with permanent weather they can have that Speed indefinitely. Kabutops, Excadrill and Sandslash can all boost their damage output with Swords Dance, while Venusaur gets Growth. Venusaur can also use Grassy Terrain to become hugely powerful, while Kabutops's STAB Waterfall has power on par with a STAB Close Combat in Rain.
Suicide Leads
With only six turns to get rid of entry hazards, suicide leads are far better in this metagame. Aerodactyl has 2nd fastest Taunt in existence after its own mega; Minior is immune to status above 51% HP and can use a fast Explosion to prevent Defog and Rapid Spin; Heatran has wonderful typing and has STAB Magma Storm to break Focus Sashes; Forretress's access to Sturdy lets it use a Custap Berry - it also gets Spikes, Toxic Spikes and can set Sunny Day and Gravity.
Decreased Viability:
Fast Frail Pokemon
In a metagame where Trick Room can be permanent, high Speed and low bulk will make you cannon fodder for teams that utilise the move. And while base 125 Speed may be impressive when the skies are clear, it's a different story if your opponent can get their weather set up. Beartic, which normally has an unimpressive base 55 Speed, can outrun base 145s in Hail thanks to Slush Rush.
Q&A:
Q: What conditions become permanent at the end of Turn 6?
A: Sun, Rain, Sandstorm, Hail, Trick Room, Wonder Room, Magic Room, Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Sticky Web, Electric Terrain, Misty Terrain, Grassy Terrain, Psychic Terrain, Mud Sport, Water Sport & Gravity.
Q: What happens if I use Stealth Rock etc. after Turn 7?
A: The move will fail. Same story with Drought, Drizzle etc.
Q: What happens if I use Defog / Rapid Spin after Turn 7?
A: Rapid Spin will still do damage and remove Leech Seed and other trapping moves, but it won't remove hazards. Defog will still remove Screens and lower Evasion, but it will not remove hazards. If you switch in a grounded Poison-type after Turn 7, it will not remove Toxic Spikes.
Q: Why are the weather rocks and Terrain Extender banned?
A: Because you could simply click Sunny Day (or whatever move you're using) on Turn 1, and if your opponent didn't have a Pokemon which could also summon weather or Terrain, you would be home and dry. With them banned, the weather / terrain setter must be switched in on Turn 3 or later, opening up the field for more counterplays.
Resources: See below for Viability Rankings, Sample Teams, Replays and Analyses
Playability: Playable on Dragon Heaven
Code: Here, credit to Spandan
Ban History:
Nothing yet
Unbans
New Threats
The Guardian Deities
With the ability to automatically summon their respective terrains thanks to their abilities, these Pokemon are sure to become major players in the metagame. Electric types love the power boost of Electric Terrain, while Trick Room teams will love the priority immunity that comes with Psychic Terrain, Grass types and Ground weak Pokemon will love Grassy Terrain, and bulkier teams will love the status immunity of Misty Terrain.
Gone, but not forgotten
With their mega stones being unavailable, sadly Lockdown waves goodbye to Abomasnow-Mega, Camerupt-Mega and Swampert-Mega. Abomasnow-Mega was a strong anti metagame Pokemon, threatening both Rain teams and Trick Room teams. Camerupt-Mega was arguably the best Mega for Trick Room teams thanks to its great power, solid bulk and typing and Sheer Force. Swampert-Mega was the best Mega for rain teams, with its huge Attack stat, great bulk and typing. While Talonflame is still with us, the buff to Stealth Rock and the nerf to Gale Wings mean its viability is drastically reduced.
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