Cinderace isn’t broken one bit. Just because he can run multiple sets doesn’t make him broken. He is not on chi-yu’s level, he is not on palafins level, and he is walled by plenty of mons in this current meta. I find it funny how we call him broken when he is just Meowscarada adjacent.ok lets start a quick discussion on cinderace:
This guy functionally beats every mon in the tier with 10+ sets like band, bu taunt, passho counter, scarf, specs, etc. etc. Consistent counterplay doesn't really exist, every mon conceivably loses to some cinder set, and with the annihilape suspect currently ongoing its making getting reqs an even more difficult chore. Our options as of right now are leave cinderace in the tier, suspect/qb cinderace after the annihilape suspect, qb cinder now, or qb cinder now and resuspect it after the annihilape suspect. I'm personally in favor of qb'ing cinder asap to reduce the amount of inconsistency and mu fishing on the suspect ladder, and just not resuspecting it later. I think cinder is a clear cut case of broken mon with no viable counterplay that doesn't leave a team with massive holes, especially in the current broken-check-broken meta we find ourselves in. The 1v1 council is interested in hearing the thoughts of the community before taking action, but as the ape suspect is nearing its close a fast decision is the best choice we have right now.
I feel like every time a strong Pokémon is being ya know (strong), we are quick to throw the word broken around.
without a doubt cinderace is strong but broken? Not at all and I will tell you why.
- Cinderace has good coverage but cannot run all of his moves. The popular sets are running court change. When means effectively he can only have two coverage moves outside of his PB and CC. Most will run u-turn for quick pivots or sucker punch for priority. Effectively leaving him with only three to four viable coverage options.
I should note that if some opts to not run CC then they can have more coverage but then cinderace become just a coverage Mon and loses its unique niche which makes it potent in our trap stack meta. Additionally in a hazard stacking meta if Cinderace is not running heavy duty boots and opting for a more choice band or bulk up/SD set, his glaring weakness to hazards become all to obvious. - There are way too many answers for him, regardless of sets.
- Libro nerf makes it a shell of its previously potent self
A few OU mons that check his most popular sets of choice band and heavy duty boots:
- Dondozo (best check in the meta)
- Defensive Toxapex (Depending on zen headbutt coverage
- Great Tusk (depending on zen headbutt coverage)
- Skeledirge
- Ceruledge (wins 1v1 more often that not)
- Chi-Yu Scarf man handles him
- Dragapult specs or band (depending on sucker punch coverage)
- Full rain teams that are popular now completely stuff him as well.
- Clodsire ( if you are not running zen headbutt, then this is pesky although is is usually a special wall)
- Choiceband Roaring Moon outspeeds at jolly and OHKOs with earthquake
- Popular bulky Dragonite with no attack investment handles Cinderace in 2 rounds
- Garchomp is self explanatory
Treats lower than OU and are valuable checks:
- Slowbro
- Choice band Azumarill AJ has a 69% chance to OHKO
- Rotom Wash (situational)