Based on community and council discussion, the BH Council is beginning a suspect on both Bolt Beak and Glacial Lance.
Why?
Bolt Beak is a unique Electric-type move that reaches 170 Base Power if its user moves first or the opponent switches out. With 16 PP and basically no drawbacks to using it, Bolt Beak is highly spammable thanks to its strength and valuable coverage to hit Water- and Flying-types.
Glacial Lance is a non-contact 130 BP Ice-type move with no drawbacks. With only 8 PP, Glacial Lance can’t be used as freely but its power is consistent regardless of turn order. This move notably gives physical breakers a reliable Ice-type move to punish the bulky Dragon-types used to check Bolt Beak users. Non-contact also means Rocky Helmet and Spiky Shield / Baneful Bunker can't punish its users.
When these moves are used together on the same Pokemon like Zacian-C and Regieleki or even the same team on separate breakers, they create a near unwallable coverage commonly known as BoltBeam. However, these moves are not without answers.
- Bolt Beak’s Base Power is cut in half by moving before its user. This can be achieved in many viable ways, including but not limited to: Prankster status moves, priority attacks like Extreme Speed, Sucker Punch, or Triage, and simply moving faster via higher Speed, Choice Scarf, or Speed boosting abilities.
- Abilities such as Fur Coat and Volt Absorb on Dragon-, Steel-, and Water-types are commonly used in attempt to check Bolt Beak and Glacial Lance users.
- However, Mold Breaker abilities combined with these moves bypass both of these.
- Certain Pokemon naturally resist and/or are neutral to these attacks, like Ferrothorn, Reshiram, Palkia, Steelix, and Swampert. Each of these are viable and can run defensive abilities like Fur Coat, or Flash Fire for Ferrothorn and Steelix, in order to check Bolt Beak and Glacial Lance users but aren't always reliable as they are susceptible to Mold Breaker and strong coverage moves.
- We will be using the new suspect process laid out by Zarel here (aka no COIL).
- ***NEW PLEASE READ***The voting requirements are a minimum GXE of 80 with at least 40 games played. In addition, you may play 1 less game for every 0.4 GXE you have above 80 GXE, down to a minimum of 25 games at a GXE of 86.
GXE Required | Minimum # of games |
|---|---|
| 80 | 40 |
| 80.4 | 39 |
| 80.8 | 38 |
| 81.2 | 37 |
| 81.6 | 36 |
| 82 | 35 |
| 82.4 | 34 |
| 82.8 | 33 |
| 83.2 | 32 |
| 83.6 | 31 |
| 84 | 30 |
| 84.4 | 29 |
| 84.8 | 28 |
| 85.2 | 27 |
| 85.6 | 26 |
| 86 | 25 |
- Do so by making a new alt with the sequence “FSM” in it anywhere, but not separated.
- The alt must have a creation date on or after February 12, 2021
Where?
You must post your proof of reqs in this thread and play your games on the main pokemonshowdown.com sim.
Bolt Beak and Glacial Lance will be allowed in the ladder for the duration of this suspect; I would recommend using them as much as you can to get a feel of how they are in the meta and have a good idea of if they broken/unhealthy, if one is fine and the other is not, or if both are perfectly manageable after all.
Do:
- Post your proof of reqs and, if you wish, your stance on the matter briefly, in this thread. Read the following CAREFULLY on how to do so:
- Post in this thread if you have any questions about THIS SUSPECT PROCESS.
Do NOT:
- Post your stance on the matter in this thread without proof of requirements (This should be posted in the main thread instead)
- Post anything in this thread unrelated to this suspect (with or without proof)
When?
This suspect period will last until February 26, 2021. We will try to begin the voting process immediately after confirming some other details on how it will be done and posting the Voter ID Thread similar to past suspects.
Note: You will be voting on Bolt Beak and Glacial Lance separately in the voting thread. Each will require a 60% majority to be banned.
GLHF!
---
TLDR?
- 80 GXE after 40 games with a new alt (READ THE NEW REQUIREMENTS)
- “FSM” alt with image proof IN THIS THREAD
- Bolt Beak and Glacial Lance ALLOWED on ladder
- DEADLINE: February 26, 2021
- This suspect test counts toward the Tier Contributor badge!
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