Ok, time for me to make a post again. I'd have done it earlier but (insert excuse about work, lack of time, etc.)
Firstly, the reasons it might be unbanned: If it would help the meta overall, it should be unbanned. And if there isn't a good reason why it is banned, then by default it should be unbanned as unbanning pokemon helps diversity within the tier. (This isn't to be confused with the concept of no change happening unless there's a reason for a change. If unbanning wouldn't increase diversity, then the side pushing for a ban would need to give a solid reason as to why we should unban.)
So basically, the side against unbanning Blaziken has to prove it shouldn't be unbanned. Now, let's bring up the tiering philosophy again:
Of these, #3 will be the quickest. Fire wouldn't be overly powerful with Blaziken, although it certainly wouldn't be a bad type. It would still struggle against things like Water, however, and Stealth Rock would still be a big issue. The main concern is that Fighting would be very strong. With five pokemon capable of opening holes in teams, the idea that Blaziken could clean up with ease becomes very real. Alternatively, a Swords Dance Blaziken set could easily open holes such that a mon such as Mega Gallade could sweep. It's difficult to imagine types like Steel standing any chance whatsoever against this kind of thing, while more even types such as Bug or Ghost would become far more one-sided.
The main concern, however, is that Blaziken would be broken. That's not to say it would sweep every type. But a quick look at the damage calc is enough to tell us that a large number of types have very little that can respond to Blaze. A set with Flare Blitz, HJK, Knock off and either Protect or SD (depending on whether it's a cleaner or wallbreaker) will inflict a huge amount of damage to the following if used well: Rock, Steel, Ice, Bug, Grass, Dark, Normal, Poison, Ghost, Psychic. That is to say, it will generally get a KO when it comes in. Now, forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I seem to remember the reason we banned Talonflame was because it got a KO every time it came in against Bug, Grass and Fighting. Since banning it Bug and Fighting have done well and Grass is (arguably) still a usable type. And sure, Fighting could revenge kill it with Terrakion just like Bug can revenge kill Talon with M-Pinsir. But that doesn't stop it from being broken.
Moreover, Blaziken has options. Water walls it? It'd be a shame if it could run Thunder Punch and suddenly your Azumarill isn't looking such a great counter any more.
It's not just that though. As people have pointed out, types like Flying and Dragon don't particularly care unless it's a blaze set dedicated to dealing damage to those types in particular (e.g. that replay involving work up blaziken). In other words, Blaziken makes pretty much every game involving Fire or Fighting matchup-reliant. And here's where we get onto the idea of whether it would add to or subtract from the meta. Diversity in monotype is only partially about the pokemon that can be used on each type, and far more about how evenly matched the types are, and reducing the number of usable types will always decrease the overall diversity.
tl;dr Unbanning Blaziken would reduce overall diversity, increase matchup advantage, allow a broken pokemon into the meta and potentially make Fighting overpowered. Therefore, it should not be unbanned.
Firstly, the reasons it might be unbanned: If it would help the meta overall, it should be unbanned. And if there isn't a good reason why it is banned, then by default it should be unbanned as unbanning pokemon helps diversity within the tier. (This isn't to be confused with the concept of no change happening unless there's a reason for a change. If unbanning wouldn't increase diversity, then the side pushing for a ban would need to give a solid reason as to why we should unban.)
So basically, the side against unbanning Blaziken has to prove it shouldn't be unbanned. Now, let's bring up the tiering philosophy again:
As per usual, #1 is important but not hugely complex. It just tells us not to unban Blaze solely on Fire. It's mostly #2 and #3 which will be important here. There's also the idea of whether unbanning would add to or subtract from the metagame, which I will get to later.Tiering Philosophy said:
Of these, #3 will be the quickest. Fire wouldn't be overly powerful with Blaziken, although it certainly wouldn't be a bad type. It would still struggle against things like Water, however, and Stealth Rock would still be a big issue. The main concern is that Fighting would be very strong. With five pokemon capable of opening holes in teams, the idea that Blaziken could clean up with ease becomes very real. Alternatively, a Swords Dance Blaziken set could easily open holes such that a mon such as Mega Gallade could sweep. It's difficult to imagine types like Steel standing any chance whatsoever against this kind of thing, while more even types such as Bug or Ghost would become far more one-sided.
The main concern, however, is that Blaziken would be broken. That's not to say it would sweep every type. But a quick look at the damage calc is enough to tell us that a large number of types have very little that can respond to Blaze. A set with Flare Blitz, HJK, Knock off and either Protect or SD (depending on whether it's a cleaner or wallbreaker) will inflict a huge amount of damage to the following if used well: Rock, Steel, Ice, Bug, Grass, Dark, Normal, Poison, Ghost, Psychic. That is to say, it will generally get a KO when it comes in. Now, forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I seem to remember the reason we banned Talonflame was because it got a KO every time it came in against Bug, Grass and Fighting. Since banning it Bug and Fighting have done well and Grass is (arguably) still a usable type. And sure, Fighting could revenge kill it with Terrakion just like Bug can revenge kill Talon with M-Pinsir. But that doesn't stop it from being broken.
Moreover, Blaziken has options. Water walls it? It'd be a shame if it could run Thunder Punch and suddenly your Azumarill isn't looking such a great counter any more.
It's not just that though. As people have pointed out, types like Flying and Dragon don't particularly care unless it's a blaze set dedicated to dealing damage to those types in particular (e.g. that replay involving work up blaziken). In other words, Blaziken makes pretty much every game involving Fire or Fighting matchup-reliant. And here's where we get onto the idea of whether it would add to or subtract from the meta. Diversity in monotype is only partially about the pokemon that can be used on each type, and far more about how evenly matched the types are, and reducing the number of usable types will always decrease the overall diversity.
tl;dr Unbanning Blaziken would reduce overall diversity, increase matchup advantage, allow a broken pokemon into the meta and potentially make Fighting overpowered. Therefore, it should not be unbanned.
