I'm not unbanning it. I guess I should be clearer next time when I say all signature items are banned (or more vague?). I wasn't too sure how to announce the ban correctly because people could've interpreted it as Mega Stones being banned too. I guess, what really makes sense is all viable (yes, viable, as viable does not mean overcentralizing. It means what the definition of viable, as I used it, interprets the word as), non-Uber, Pokemon-specific items, barring Signature Z-Crystals and Mega Stones, are banned. Deep Sea Scale is basically a better Assault Vest (and, arguably, a better Eviolite) because it both allows Clamperl to use status moves and doubles Clamperl's decent Special Defense stat, which is still very lethal on top the select calcs you posted.First, I just want to point out that the OP is incorrect about Fomantis learning Superpower (under the "Contrary Users" header).
Second, I don't care too much about this at the end of the day, but I see little reason for DeepSeaScale to be banned, especially because non-HP scaling means Clamperl's base HP lets its defenses down even more. Add this to the fact that it has no reliable recovery and DSS Clamperl would not be a broken wall by any means (not with threats like Abra anyway), and it would probably prefer Tank/Set-up sets where the extra Special bulk facilitates Shell Smash set-up (see calcs). In these obviously more viable roles, DSS would allow it to check some top sweepers and potentially counter-sweep, but because it comes at the cost using LO (which is mostly better anyway), Sash, or even White Herb as well as necessitating some bulk investment for checking the biggest sweepers, it wouldn't nearly be overpowered/overcentralizing imo (and I am interpreting "all viable signature items are banned" as "all overcentralizing signature items are banned", maybe my interpretation on this 'ruling' is wrong here).
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Clamperl @ Deep Sea Scale
Timid/Hasty Nature
Ability: Shell Armor
EVs: 132 HP / 132 SpA / 240 Spe (The HP and SpA investment are slightly variable between each other but 240 Spe is all you need to outspeed the unboosted threats it can actually take on imo)
- Shell Smash
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- HP Grass/Waterfall
Exemplary Calcs:
252 SpA Life Orb Abra Energy Ball vs. 144 HP / 0 SpD Deep Sea Scale Clamperl: 187-221 (75.7 - 89.4%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
0- Atk Clamperl Waterfall vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Abra: 213-252 (111.5 - 131.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO (+2 Max Speed Clamperl still fails to outspeed this and can only OHKO with Waterfall requiring you to run mixed SS Clamperl, which can limit it otherwise)
252 SpA Life Orb Gastly Energy Ball vs. 132 HP / 0 SpD Deep Sea Scale Clamperl: 179-213 (73.3 - 87.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock
+2 124 SpA Clamperl Surf vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Gastly: 363-427 (180.5 - 212.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 Atk Life Orb Pheromosa High Jump Kick vs. 132 HP / 0 Def Clamperl: 207-243 (84.8 - 99.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
124 SpA Clamperl Surf vs. 0 HP / 0- SpD Pheromosa: 318-375 (112.3 - 132.5%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Vulpix-Alola Freeze-Dry vs. 132 HP / 0 SpD Deep Sea Scale Clamperl: 102-120 (41.8 - 49.1%) -- 12.1% chance to 2HKO after hail damage
+2 136 SpA Clamperl Surf vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Vulpix-Alola: 208-246 (95.8 - 113.3%) -- 75% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Life Orb Staryu Thunderbolt vs. 132 HP / 0 SpD Deep Sea Scale Clamperl: 127-151 (52 - 61.8%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
+2 136 SpA Clamperl Hidden Power Grass vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Staryu: 244-288 (121.3 - 143.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO
obv Clef tho:
+2 136 SpA Clamperl Surf vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Unaware Clefable: 121-144 (30.7 - 36.5%) -- guaranteed 4HKO after Leftovers recovery
So yeah despite these calcs, this mon is still balanced with DSS, so unban it pls thenk you :D
Disclaimer: I haven't played much on the actual ladder yet, so I could be wrong in this judgment.
This leads me to my next topic:


Expect more bans to come soon.
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I would like to ask everyone to participate in helping with the development of the Viability Rankings. It was conducted basically entirely off of theorymonning from just seeing every Pokemon's stats and a lot of Pokemon were obviously left out. That being said, volcanionisgood I will add Xerneas to the VR.
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