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Gouging Fire has been a powerhouse of an offensive threat ever since it has dropped in DLC2. Boasting strong offensive stats enabled with its further great bulk, it makes for a threatening Dragon Dance sweeper, with strong Fire STAB in Flare Blitz that can bulldoze over most neutral targets and great coverage in STAB Outrage and Earthquake that allow it to trample over most popular Fire-type counterplay like Primordial Sea Zapdos and Well-Baked Gholdengo. Paired with great abilities in Magic Guard, Desolate Land, Sword of Ruin and even potentially Earth Eater it makes for no wonder that Gouging has made quite the impact with its debut.
This overwhelming prowess as an offensive threat has however raised some eyebrows. Its list of truly secure counterplay after a Dragon Dance is limited, with the rising relevance of WBB Corv, a previously disliked set, within the meta as a testament to the unique challenges it can create when faced in the teambuilder. Outside of less popular niche options to check it, other checks like Unaware Deoxys-Defense, Unaware Mandibuzz and Physically Defensive Great Tusk/Primarina exist but are certainly not the most secure. Unaware checks can fold from sheer power of Deso/SoR sets and Tusk/Primairna can be similarly overwhelmed and can even eat attacks from them with its bulk to run over them. It isn't too hard for Gouging to get in and get to work as well given its large bulk and okay typing can afford it good setup opportunities on mons like Iron Moth/Heatran. Even supposedly secure checks like WBB Corv can even fold to the likes of Turboblaze sets, while not common, speaks to the power of Gouging Fire that many could consider unhealthy.
On the flipside, Gouging Fire isn't perfect either. Its speed, while respectable, isn't that great and makes setting up not entirely easy despite its good bulk, threatened by many common mons like Iron Boulder and Latios and still able to be revenged by the likes of Choice Scarf Roaring Moon and Walking Wake even after a +1 which can make it palatable to deal with offensively. While checks like Physically Defensive Tusk and Unaware Deoxys-Defense aren't entirely secure they still work for the most part which can be good enough, and it isn't too hard to find overlapping checks, with even RegenVest Swamp acting as a potential check. Gouging Fire isn't so easy to use either, it can prove somewhat hard to use with the increased popularity of hard checks like WBB Corv and lack of other utility. Though it can run Turboblaze and EE, it trades a lot of power in exchange which can worsen matchups into its other checks, making these sets less popular. It wants Morning Sun to serve its ability to come in multiple times in a game with its bulk but at the same time wants EQ for WBB Gholdengo. STAB Outrage is strong but at the same time can be limiting to use as coverage given its effect of forcing you into the move, serving it up for an easy revenge kill. Heat Crash can bypass recoil on non-MG sets but sacrifices your MU into Tusk and Iron Hands and otherwise having to live with severe recoil. Many options exist that can be threatening but ultimately suffers from its limited moveslots.
So hence the AAA Council has decided to leave it up to the community to decide whether this controversial lion of offense will remain within the metagame or prove too much and be removed!
How (Suspect Details):
During a Suspect test, each player must climb the ladder until they've acquired the GXE necessary to participate in the voting. Primarily, everyone that participates needs to make an alt account following these guidelines:
- Every game must be played on the official Pokemon Showdown! site and on a new account (creation date no earlier than today, Thursday, 25th January with "AAAGF "--for example, I could create one called "AAAGF Man" to ladder with. Having the prefix at the beginning of your alt name is mandatory, AKA not in the middle (e.g. The AAAGF Man) and not at the end (e.g. The AAAGF).
- AAALT accounts registered after this suspect test goes up and are attached to a signup in the AAALT thread can also be used to qualify for the suspect while also contributing towards AAALT.
- To qualify for voting, your alt must meet the required GXE and games played threshold; it starts at 78% GXE at 25 games, down to 75% GXE at 40+ games.
- Gouging Fire will be allowed on the ladder during the suspect.
- The suspect test will go for two weeks and end on Thursday, 8th February at 10:00pm GMT -6
- When posting proof of meeting reqs, feel free to use this thread as a means to disseminate topical opinions regarding whether or not Gouging Fire should be banned (Optional)
- It is mandatory to provide proof of ownership of the alt account as well. (Post a picture of your reqs with your smogon name featured)
