Ok, so, there was a
controversial replay floating around in the Monotype chatroom today. I decided to post it and give you all my thoughts here on the forum.
So in this, an Ice user literally 6-0'es an, in my opinion, well-built Steel team from what I could see. The only problem may be lack of special attackers, but the Steel user does have Genesect and Heatran, IMO the only special attackers Steel should run. Maybe Luke, but that's a bit eh.
A small overview of what happened: Ice user got a good lead matchup, KyuW v Ferro. Ferro is obviously forced to switch. Heatran comes in, the best check Steel has to Kyurem-W. Balloon is popped, and Heatran is then popped with Earth Power. That was important. This shows that Steel's best answer to Kyurem-W can easily be popped by a coverage move, and if KyuW isn't Choiced....WELP.
Then it's forced out, Rotom sets up Reflect on ScarfDrill, and switches to Avalugg. Ice user doubles back to Kyurem, sealing the game. Literally the Steel user could only watch as Reflect gave Kyurem enough survivability to live all of their attacks and OHKO each of them with Fusion Flare. GG
Honestly, that was just a simple double switch, something that can be seen in almost every decently high battle. At least, that's what I've seen and when I've played, double switches happen about once a battle from each user. What happens here is, that single double switch ends the match from Turn 6, when the Steel user had 5 Pokemon left. Some might be arguing that this happens sometimes; a bad team causes a loss, or a combination of a couple Pokemon eliminating each others checks can sweep earlier, depending on matchup.
However, I see
two differences here:
- First, the Steel team wasn't even awful. It was a bit generic, in my opinion, but that itself is a statement that it wasn't poorly built team. Generic teams become generic because they use the best mons of the type. They are looked down upon not because they are really bad, but because building them requires little creativity and people get salty when they lose to a team that looks exactly like 356567 other teams they played before. Anyway, back on topic. The team wasn't that poorly built, it could reliably take on most types in this meta, and looked decent. Yet, it was torn apart by a team that had a disadvantage to it, all thanks to literally one Pokemon. This is, in my opinion, the sign of a broken mon that needs to go.
2. Second, one thing I thought interesting, was that the 'check' to Kyurem-W was KO'ed by Kyurem-W itself, simply running a normal coverage move. Some might say that then this is a bad check, which may be true, but it really is the best Steel has to offer against this thing, besides revenge killing (which failed too, thanks to a Reflect). I challenge you to find a better check than Heatran, and if you do, I will reconsider (by check I mean check, not revenge killer). When your best check is completely bopped by the mon it's trying to check, something is wrong. This is another sign, in my opinion, of a Pokemon being severely broken.
Side note I want to mention: The
unpredictability of Kyurem-W is also a huge factor in its strength and 'brokenness'. It could be running Scarf, so that Revenge Killing it is useless outside like, Scarf Gene (which still needs to run a Steel STAB to do much) or scarf Thundurus-T (which still can't OHKO unless Rocks damage has been taken). You could also run a Sub Set, like scpinion, for the extra bulk and ability to ward off status and weak attacks. This is also something to consider when discussing, as all of these sets, and more, are completely viable, and while most accomplish a separate goal from the others, they each are doing very well, too well in my opinion, at achieving that goal.
Keep in mind that one battle doesn't guarantee anything, I just wanted to show that Ice w/ Kyurem-W can completely 6-0 a Steel team used by a decent user; the ladder match took place at ~1500, in my opinion a good spot to be at if you ladder a bit. So take what you want from this, I'll try to get my own replays, but school just started and I'm a lazy (BAN ME PLEASE) :[
That's all for now people, see ya!