Game Freak released more information about Crown Tundra today, and with Crown Tundra being released this October, I think we should get this out of the way:
Should Heatran start off banned or unbanned?
Gen 6 Pacifistmons banned Heatran and it never came off its banlist. Presumably, Heatran was banned because it is a Fire/Steel-type and is therefore immune to poison and burn.
But we left Salandit and Salazzle unbanned this gen despite their similar immunity to poison and burn, and as centralizing as Salazzle may be, we have found many ways to kill both of these buggers, which probably contributes to them still being unbanned right now. Entry hazards and getting phazed into them pushes both salamanders to wear Heavy-Duty Boots, but other ways to rack up residual damage and push them towards holding Black Sludge include Leech Seed, Sandstorm/Hail, Pain Split, confusion damage, Ghost Curse, getting poisoned by Corrosion mons (well, each other), making them hold Sticky Barb, baiting them into using Substitute and then phazing them, and luring them into being forced to Struggle. If all else fails, there's Perish Song.
So maybe we should give Heatran a chance.
A sample moveset for Heatran would probably look something like this:
Heatran @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 HP / 0 Atk / 0 SpA
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Toxic
- Torment / Protect / Will-O-Wisp / Substitute
Like Salandit and Salazzle, Heatran is similarly unable to provide cleric duties or mitigate the effects of unwanted items. About the only defensive edges Heatran has over either of them are its neutrality to Stealth Rock, its immunity to Sandstorm, and its ability to boot out trappers.
So, yay or nay to Heatran staying unbanned when Crown Tundra is released?
Should Heatran start off banned or unbanned?
Gen 6 Pacifistmons banned Heatran and it never came off its banlist. Presumably, Heatran was banned because it is a Fire/Steel-type and is therefore immune to poison and burn.
But we left Salandit and Salazzle unbanned this gen despite their similar immunity to poison and burn, and as centralizing as Salazzle may be, we have found many ways to kill both of these buggers, which probably contributes to them still being unbanned right now. Entry hazards and getting phazed into them pushes both salamanders to wear Heavy-Duty Boots, but other ways to rack up residual damage and push them towards holding Black Sludge include Leech Seed, Sandstorm/Hail, Pain Split, confusion damage, Ghost Curse, getting poisoned by Corrosion mons (well, each other), making them hold Sticky Barb, baiting them into using Substitute and then phazing them, and luring them into being forced to Struggle. If all else fails, there's Perish Song.
So maybe we should give Heatran a chance.
A sample moveset for Heatran would probably look something like this:
Heatran @ Leftovers / Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Def / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 1 HP / 0 Atk / 0 SpA
- Stealth Rock
- Roar
- Toxic
- Torment / Protect / Will-O-Wisp / Substitute
Like Salandit and Salazzle, Heatran is similarly unable to provide cleric duties or mitigate the effects of unwanted items. About the only defensive edges Heatran has over either of them are its neutrality to Stealth Rock, its immunity to Sandstorm, and its ability to boot out trappers.
So, yay or nay to Heatran staying unbanned when Crown Tundra is released?
