Written by 5gen
After months of quick bans and council bans, ZU is ready to move into suspect tests to address problematic elements of the metagame. The ZU council deliberated and voted internally whether Centiskorch should be quick/council banned or have a suspect test. Reasoning for a quick/council ban on Centiskorch mainly revolved around how unhealthy Centiskorch is, that the recent tier shifts were drastic enough to justify another quick ban, and that council believes it is banworthy. Conversely, reasoning for a suspect included how it would be an overreach by council to quick ban Centiskorch and bypass a community vote, how a quick ban here would lower the bar for future bans and suspect tests, and arguing that the meta did not change enough to justify a quick ban vote.
Centiskorch has been a fearsome wallbreaker for the months that it has been in ZU. Thanks to Fire Lash and great coverage options coupled with base 115 Attack, very few Pokemon can reliably switch into Centiskorch. Without Garbodor around, only Qwilfish can reliably switch into Centiskorch. Soft checks such as Altaria, Cramorant, Miltank, and Rapidash are susceptible to Knock Off and/or coverage options and are easy to wear down or beat as a result. One of the central aspects of what makes Centiskorch so unhealthy is its ability to break down teams and checks for its teammates. This makes building notably difficult because teams are often forced to run Qwilfish and/or Altaria or multiple soft checks. It also makes it quite easy to fold to pressure and adequately formulate a game plan because of how well Centiskorch breaks down teams and forces certain plays. In addition, because Centiskorch has great special bulk and Flash Fire, it can often switch into or 1v1 Pokemon such as Alcremie, Frosmoth, Ninetales, etc. Centiskorch's typing also makes it a situational check to Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Sawk, Thwackey, and Klinklang. It also pressures slower Pokemon and walls such as Ferroseed, Clefairy, Audino, Tangela, Perrserker, and so on quite well. All these scenarios mean that Centiskorch has plenty of opportunities to come in and also pressures numerous Pokemon 1v1. These examples help show how unhealthy and difficult it can be to prepare for and play against Centiskorch. Finally, Centiskorch fits on all sorts of teams from offensive to balance. This means Centiskorch has a large cast of Pokemon it can support and vice versa, which contributes to how difficult building can be in this metagame.
On the flipside, Centiskorch has key flaws that (arguably) prevent it from being a broken force in the metagame. These flaws include Centiskorch's susceptibility to item removal and relatively low Speed. Knock Off is an incredibly common move in ZU and is one of the primary ways to play around Centiskorch because without Heavy-Duty Boots, it loses half its healthy to Stealth Rock and is worn down by other entry hazards. For example, Centiskorch can pivot into or 1v1 Pokemon such as Tangela, Clefairy, Ferroseed, Uxie, Thwackey, and so on but risks losing its Heavy-Duty Boots in the process. Another flaw Centiskorch has is its relatively low Speed which leaves it vulnerable to faster Pokemon such as Basculin, Rotom-S, and Choice Specs Poliwrath. Other Pokemon such as Silvally-Ground, Cincinno, Sawk, and Articuno usually pack coverage for Centiskorch and can revenge kill it or force it out. While Centiskorch lacks reliable defensive counterplay aside from Qwilfish, there are numerous soft checks and offensive Pokemon teams can use (i.e Altaria, Rapidash, Rocky Helmet Miltank, Cramorant, Coalossal, Wishiwashi, aforementioned offensive threats) to prepare for Centiskorch. And although Centiskorch has many favourable matchups and Leech Life to keep itself somewhat healthy, it is prone to being worn down and weak to Toxic. As such, teams can focus on chipping away at Centiskorch, trying to remove its Heavy-Duty Boots, and pressuring it with faster Pokemon.
After months of quick bans and council bans, ZU is ready to move into suspect tests to address problematic elements of the metagame. The ZU council deliberated and voted internally whether Centiskorch should be quick/council banned or have a suspect test. Reasoning for a quick/council ban on Centiskorch mainly revolved around how unhealthy Centiskorch is, that the recent tier shifts were drastic enough to justify another quick ban, and that council believes it is banworthy. Conversely, reasoning for a suspect included how it would be an overreach by council to quick ban Centiskorch and bypass a community vote, how a quick ban here would lower the bar for future bans and suspect tests, and arguing that the meta did not change enough to justify a quick ban vote.
Centiskorch has been a fearsome wallbreaker for the months that it has been in ZU. Thanks to Fire Lash and great coverage options coupled with base 115 Attack, very few Pokemon can reliably switch into Centiskorch. Without Garbodor around, only Qwilfish can reliably switch into Centiskorch. Soft checks such as Altaria, Cramorant, Miltank, and Rapidash are susceptible to Knock Off and/or coverage options and are easy to wear down or beat as a result. One of the central aspects of what makes Centiskorch so unhealthy is its ability to break down teams and checks for its teammates. This makes building notably difficult because teams are often forced to run Qwilfish and/or Altaria or multiple soft checks. It also makes it quite easy to fold to pressure and adequately formulate a game plan because of how well Centiskorch breaks down teams and forces certain plays. In addition, because Centiskorch has great special bulk and Flash Fire, it can often switch into or 1v1 Pokemon such as Alcremie, Frosmoth, Ninetales, etc. Centiskorch's typing also makes it a situational check to Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Sawk, Thwackey, and Klinklang. It also pressures slower Pokemon and walls such as Ferroseed, Clefairy, Audino, Tangela, Perrserker, and so on quite well. All these scenarios mean that Centiskorch has plenty of opportunities to come in and also pressures numerous Pokemon 1v1. These examples help show how unhealthy and difficult it can be to prepare for and play against Centiskorch. Finally, Centiskorch fits on all sorts of teams from offensive to balance. This means Centiskorch has a large cast of Pokemon it can support and vice versa, which contributes to how difficult building can be in this metagame.
On the flipside, Centiskorch has key flaws that (arguably) prevent it from being a broken force in the metagame. These flaws include Centiskorch's susceptibility to item removal and relatively low Speed. Knock Off is an incredibly common move in ZU and is one of the primary ways to play around Centiskorch because without Heavy-Duty Boots, it loses half its healthy to Stealth Rock and is worn down by other entry hazards. For example, Centiskorch can pivot into or 1v1 Pokemon such as Tangela, Clefairy, Ferroseed, Uxie, Thwackey, and so on but risks losing its Heavy-Duty Boots in the process. Another flaw Centiskorch has is its relatively low Speed which leaves it vulnerable to faster Pokemon such as Basculin, Rotom-S, and Choice Specs Poliwrath. Other Pokemon such as Silvally-Ground, Cincinno, Sawk, and Articuno usually pack coverage for Centiskorch and can revenge kill it or force it out. While Centiskorch lacks reliable defensive counterplay aside from Qwilfish, there are numerous soft checks and offensive Pokemon teams can use (i.e Altaria, Rapidash, Rocky Helmet Miltank, Cramorant, Coalossal, Wishiwashi, aforementioned offensive threats) to prepare for Centiskorch. And although Centiskorch has many favourable matchups and Leech Life to keep itself somewhat healthy, it is prone to being worn down and weak to Toxic. As such, teams can focus on chipping away at Centiskorch, trying to remove its Heavy-Duty Boots, and pressuring it with faster Pokemon.
- ***THIS IS NEW TO GEN 8 SUSPECTS*** Reading this is mandatory for participating in the suspect test. The voting requirements are a minimum GXE of 77 with at least 50 games played. In addition, you may play 1 less game for every 0.2 GXE you have above 77 GXE, down to a minimum of 30 games at a GXE of 81. Also, needing more than 50 games to reach 77 GXE will suffice.
| GXE | minimum games |
77 | 50 |
77.2 | 49 |
77.4 | 48 |
77.6 | 47 |
77.8 | 46 |
78 | 45 |
78.2 | 44 |
78.4 | 43 |
78.6 | 42 |
78.8 | 41 |
79 | 40 |
79.2 | 39 |
79.4 | 38 |
79.6 | 37 |
79.8 | 36 |
80 | 35 |
80.2 | 34 |
80.4 | 33 |
80.6 | 32 |
80.8 | 31 |
81 | 30 |
- You must signup with a newly registered account on Pokemon Showdown! that begins with the appropriate prefix for the suspect test. For this suspect test, the prefix will be ZUCS (ZU Centiskorch Suspect). For example, I might signup with the ladder account ZUCS gen.
- Laddering with an account that impersonates, mocks, or insults another Smogon user or breaks Pokemon Showdown! rules may be disqualified from voting and infracted. Moderator discretion will be applied here. If there is any doubt or hesitance when making the alt, just pick another name. There are infinite possibilities and we have had trouble for this repeatedly. If you wish to participate in the suspect, you should be able to exhibit decent enough judgement here. We will not be lenient.
- The aspect being tested, Centiskorch, will be allowed on the ladder.
- Any form of voting manipulation will result in swift and severe punishment. You are more than welcome to state your argument to as many people as you so please, but do not use any kind of underhanded tactics to get a result you desire. Bribery, blackmail, or any other type of tactic used to sway votes will be handled and sanctioned.
- Do not attempt to cheat the ladder. We will know if you did not actually achieve voting requisites, so don't do it. Harsh sanctions will be applied.
- Unlike previous tests, we will be posting the voting identification thread immediately after this thread. Please avoid getting more games before getting confirmed.
- The suspect test will go on for ten days, lasting until Monday July 19th at 2:00 PM GMT -4, and then we will put up the voting thread in the Blind Voting subforum.
(Ground)
and the recently ban of 
or 
, and while not doing too much, is still super-effective on 
and twave from 
, non scarf 
, so even vs an ice type, it has as much of a chance of winning as the ice has.
or 
or 
. Scarf 
or 
is pretty notable, it's already very good.
or 
too.
's stab Scald is super effective on Groundvally