After considering community feedback and analyzing the metagame after the removal of Dynamaxing, it has become apparent that Dugtrio (and Arena Trap as a whole by extension) has become a serious issue in the current National Dex OU metagame. With it's ability to trap a wide array of grounded opponents, Dugtrio can provide seeming-less support to a myriad of offensive threats such as Genesect, Mega Metagross, Mega Charizard Y, Tapu Lele, Heatran, Mega Alakazam, etc... by removing their respective offensive / defensive checks. Knowing this, Dugtrio has enforced a large impact on teambuilding as otherwise metagame staples such as Heatran, Magearna, Mega Medicham, Chansey, Toxapex, non Choice Scarf Tapu Lele, and Mega Mawile struggle to deal with the looming threat of Dugtrio trapping and removing their presence, causing a hole in the majority of offensive / defensive cores and enabling it's offensive partners to abuse the removal of their checks. Dugtrio's support ranges from offensive teams all the way to full stall, where it's unmatched revenge killing capabilities enable defensive teams in particular to deal with otherwise great stallbreakers such as the aforementioned Mega Mawile, Tapu Lele, Mega Medicham alongside other dangerous threats such as CB Tyranitar, Dracovish, and Victini. The flexibility of it's sets also can cause nuance in terms of "counterplay", as Focus Sash, Groundium Z, and Choice Banded sets all require a different approach in reacting to it.
Dugtrio just causes too much of a nuisance both in teambuilding and in practice to be deemed healthy in the current metagame, and thus will be quickbanned from National Dex OU. The reason why we are approaching Arena Trap as a whole however mainly falls in line on how we approached Shadow Tag as well, in which the ability was inherently deemed uncompetitive and we would like to avoid targeting specific abusers of such ability and cause a domino affect of bans which will not only waste time, but delay the metagame in progressing to a a more competitive pathway.
While the council acknowledges Genesect is also raising concerns and is likely still unhealthy despite Dugtrio's departure, we cannot deny that Dugtrio was a great asset for Genesect and would like to see how it performs in a meta without Arena Trap for a short period before making a final decison
Tagging
The Immortal
Thanks in advance!
