Power Ceiling
(really can't think of anything good for a name)
Metagame Premise:
Moves that boost stats lose those effects!
This means that a status move that only boosts a stat
fails if used(or is just banned, whatever's easier), and moves with raised stats as an effect keep the rest of the move the same.
Abilities and items that boost stats are unaffected, unless they actively increase a stat stage.
Examples:
Quiver Dance and Dragon Dance would not work at all
Flame Charge, Fiery Dance, and Ancient Power would be incapable of boosting the stat, but would still do damage.
Guts and Quick Feet would still boost the Pokemon's stats, since they multiply the stat by a certain amount. However, Speed Boost and Moxie would not boost, since they explicitly raise the stat by 1 stage.
Initial Banlist:
Besides the standard Ubers bans, I don't think many other mons would get banned for a while in this meta. Actually, some Ubers mons might find themselves unbanned due to the nature of the meta.
The biggest example of this is Espathra. This mon was so unbelievably busted since it could boost speed and special attack and easily sweep. Now, it has no possible way to boost a stat, and its most useful ability would be Frisk.
However, the rest of Ubers probably would be better off staying there.
Potential Bans and Threats:
The key players here would fall into 2 categories: Unstoppable Forces and Immovable Objects
Unstoppable Forces
This would include a few different kinds of threats, namely mons with super high attacking stats(Iron Moth, Baxcalibur, Roaring Moon, Kingambit) that can wallbreak without boosting, other boosters(Choice Items, Guts, Huge/Pure Power) which don't have the same potential, but would have another leg up on the high stats, since a raised in-game stat is leagues better, and BP boosted moves, and their enablers(facade, sharpness, hex, venoshock, technician(?), Kingambit again) since bp is really the only way to increase your damage. Also, with HOME dropping uhhh... TODAY?! guts ursaluna will be one of the most potent wallbreakers.
Immovable Objects
The main things here are the main damage sponges available right now. Garganacl would prove a massive issue to me, as status might be the only way to chip down pokemon. Clodsire will be a curious case, since it has no reason to run unaware anymore, so water absorb is a very good fallback. The main defensive utility of pokemon will be
stat lowering. Intimidate, burns, paralysis, chilling water, and mystical fire all seem like they will also run rampant, as well as
recovery moves. Overall, without bans, there will be an EXTREME abundance of damage sponge/bulky offense/stall teams in this meta, but this will also allow some yet unsung heroes to rise again.
Big Winners:
As mentioned before, some massive winners are Ursaluna, which will have more ability to switch in and immense wallbreaking capability, Kingambit, who with Supreme Overlord and a versatile movepool can offer good sweeping potential, Garganacl, who soaks up damage and salt cures, with not much wallbreakers to beat it, and Clodsire, which basically does the same thing. Honorable mentions include Toxapex, which has an extra moveslot for not running haze, and Blissey, which does Blissey things better now.
Big Losers:
Do you have a pokemon that relies on a setup move to do things? TOO BAD! Ddancers, Qdancers, Sdancers, Bdrummers, all can't do that anymore. Espathra isn't in an awful spot, since its utility with Lumina Crash is improved. Azumarill is now completely walled by Clodsire, so Medicham will rise in popularity(maybe). Maushold was never amazingly popular, but now tidy up only removes hazards(and subs), so it will reallybarely have a sort-of niche for that. Gholdengo might drop a bit, since it can't re-boost with nasty plot after a Make It Rain.
Unaware is the big one, since it's just fundamentally worse, now that it
only ignores stat
drops, and most unaware Pokemon(hi DonBozo) don't really have another good ability to use.
Questions for the Community:
Is there any better name for this?(please help I'm so uncreative with names)
Would a protosynthesis boost be looped in with the intrepid sword category or the guts category? For me it seems like it is more like guts, but it might be more closely programmed with stat-stage raising abils.
Should all stat stage changes be completely removed? This would mean a whole different meta and could be worth trying, but for now I feel just raises should be removed.
If stat stage drops are also removed, how would balancing be different?
Is this too restrictive of a format? Also, since I was too lazy to fully check, has this idea been brought up before, and how can I improve it?
BTW, Contrary is a weird thing, i'm airing on the side of disable any boosts from contrary, but there might be something easier. Honestly, it could just be banned but please lmk what your opinions are.