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We have noted some of the most centralizing threats in the NFE metagame. Due to this, we held a ban slate for Piloswine, Gurdurr, Gligar, Qwilfish-Hisui, and Magmar. A simple majority of 3/4 votes to ban the Pokemon would be banned from NFE. Here are the results:
Gurdurr, Qwilfish-Hisui, and Magmar are banned from NFE!
Gurdurr stands out as an offensive tank that is too difficult to offensively take down without using Poison-types like Koffing or Mareanie, Flying-types like Gligar or Dartrix, or Clefairy, and even then both can be consistently overwhelmed with Knock Off and the proper coverage move (High Horsepower, Ice Punch, and Poison Jab, respectively). Several games have been decided based on Gurdurr dittos and sacrificing one's own Pokemon to let their Gurdurr flourish later on.
Qwilfish-Hisui's fantastic bulk compounded with Intimidate makes it an extremely potent wall and setup sweeper, bringing immense versatility with utility in Spikes, Taunt, and even Pain Split to centralize games, forcing special attackers like Electabuzz and Magmar risk serious chip damage to threaten it out. On the offensive side, Swords Dance sets have great offensive potential, boasting options like Water-type coverage to wash away Piloswine at +2 with enough chip, and Substitute to capitalize on opposing Qwilfish-H and other weak threats like utility Naclstack and non-Encore Quaxwell and Tinkatuff.
Magmar's insane offensive potential with Choice Specs and Belly Drum makes it very unpredictable to guess based on team preview. Fantastic power combined with entry hazard removals like Quaxwell and Gurdurr prone to being overwhelmed makes it easy for it to progress and threaten nearly all the metagame without many switch-ins. Base 93 Speed combined with a multitude of offensive coverage in Scorching Sands, Focus Blast, and even Psychic makes it hard to stomach its hits, and Belly Drum sets are consistent enough to force out and set up on threats like Servine and Thwackey without too much trouble.
These Pokemon have remained among the most problematic in the metagame, but we will look forward to hearing any feedback on these Pokemon's impacts as the metagame progresses.
PERSONAL SET COMPENDIUM + CALC IMPORTABLE
(most of these are from my builder, the rest i either took from various pastes (with credit) or recreated from memory.)
NOTE: "adamant pawniard" is just another way of saying "219 speed tier" i.e. 252 ev base 60 spe, which is a common benchmark to outspeed for the crowded base 80-90 spe club, due to low cost and high potential benefits from outspeeding everything below as well i.e. jolly pilo (218), timid hattrem (216), modest wartortle (215), base 55 danger zone (hgrowlithe, lampent, pignite). The next notable speed tier is frax, which is base 67, and can run jolly, so it's not rlly a common benchmark. None of this speaks to pawniard's viability, in fact it's kinda sucky.
Pokemon
Sets
One time offensive check to frog. Arctibax is unviable.
Dusclops is known for taking pilo's attacks comfortably, but lately pressure stalling leaf storms from servine has been a more appealing niche. Still, due to missy outclassing it as a ghost type so much, dusclops remains largely unexplored with some promising qualities.
Electabuzz @ Eviolite
Ability: Static
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Bulk Up
- Supercell Slam
- Ice Punch
- Low Kick / Cross Chop / Knock Off
low kick is a consistent 80 bp vs pilo and 100 bp vs nacl, but bounces off pika and dunsparce. cross chop notably has a better treshold to ko pilo at +1.
.. support
Electabuzz @ Eviolite
Ability: Static
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 8 SpA / 160 Spe
Timid Nature
- Taunt
- Knock Off
- Psychic
- Volt Switch
Fletch has exactly one niche: to form a core with hattrem, where it answers pilo. Such a team relies on keeping hazards off all game.
.. physdef
Fletchinder @ Eviolite
Ability: Flame Body
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 Spe
Impish Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- Will-O-Wisp
- Brave Bird
Girafarig @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Sap Sipper
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 252 HP / 80 SpA / 176 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Agility
- Calm Mind
- Stored Power
- Hyper Voice
.. defensive
Defensive gligar generally has mixed investment fine tuned for its team. Its moveset is likewise flexible and should serve towards the team's game plans. Other valid moves not listed below are Stealth Rock, Spikes, Taunt, Ice Fang.
Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Immunity
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 184 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Toxic / Toxic Spikes
- Knock Off
- Earthquake / High Horsepower
- U-turn / Swords Dance
Gligar @ Eviolite
Ability: Immunity
Tera Type: Ground
EVs: 252 HP / 188 Def / 12 SpD / 56 Spe
Careful Nature
- Toxic / Toxic Spikes
- Knock Off
- Earthquake / High Horsepower
- U-turn / Swords Dance
Outspeeds adamant pawniard. physdef dump.
+2 252 SpA Monferno Overheat vs. 252 HP / 12 SpD Eviolite Gligar: 282-333 (84.4 - 99.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
.. offensive
Uncommon at the time of writing this due to high usage of pilo and physdef quax. Other widespread checks like frog and pika make gligr much more suitable for a defensive role.
Outspeeds ebuzz at +1. atk dump.
252+ Atk Choice Band Thwackey Grassy Glide vs. 20 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Hakamo-o in Grassy Terrain: 53-63 (20.7 - 24.6%) -- possible 6HKO after Grassy Terrain recovery
^ calc for sub
+2 252 SpA Servine Leaf Storm vs. 252 HP / 236+ SpD Koffing: 150-177 (52.8 - 62.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Stealth Rock and 3 layers of Spikes
Raboot counter, sun mon, webs mon ... (don't use timid even on webs, most frog run boots)
.. offensive
Lampent @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Flash Fire
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Modest Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Calm Mind
- Fire Blast
- Shadow Ball
- Energy Ball
Counters a lot of mons on paper, in practice it's very passive and vulnerable to hazards. i.e. unviable.
.. physdef
Marill @ Eviolite
Ability: Sap Sipper
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Bold Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk
- Whirlpool / Encore
- Knock Off
Properly counters both ebuzz and pika, unlike pilo and gligar (they die to knock -> focus blast/surf); and blocks volt switch unlike servine and thwackey. Still it's more passive than all of the others due to relying on sludge 30% to make progress on quax.
.. spdef
Marshtomp @ Eviolite
Ability: Torrent
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 36 SpA / 220 SpD
Sassy Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Sludge
- Earthquake
- Surf
36 SpA Marshtomp Surf vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Eviolite Piloswine: 138-164 (34.1 - 40.5%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
This set often uses scarf and trick over either np or taunt/wisp.
Perhaps the best missy answer. Offensive sets like sd and np pop up once a month, but are generally less good than another mon like combusken or raboot.
.. pivot
Monferno @ Eviolite
Ability: Blaze
Tera Type: Fire
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Slack Off
- Will-O-Wisp / U-turn
- Knock Off
- Flare Blitz
Naclstack @ Eviolite
Ability: Purifying Salt
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
Impish Nature
- Recover
- Stealth Rock / Curse / Iron Defense / Protect
- Salt Cure
- Body Press / Heavy Slam
.. maybca's mixdef
Naclstack @ Eviolite
Ability: Purifying Salt
Tera Type: Rock
EVs: 252 HP / 148 Def / 108 SpD
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Salt Cure
- Recover
- Heavy Slam
Pawniard is unviable.
.. spdef
Pawniard @ Eviolite
Ability: Pressure
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 252 HP / 232 SpD / 24 Spe
Careful Nature
- Thunder Wave
- Thief
- Sucker Punch
- Iron Head
Outspeeds para frog. spdef dump.
Pika prefers fully investing into spa for surf damage vs pilo and gligar.
.. special biased
Pikachu @ Light Ball
Ability: Lightning Rod
Tera Type: Electric
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
- Knock Off
- Surf
- Thunderbolt
- Volt Switch
Jolly pilo is an option to surprise mons that hit 200 speed tier like tink. Especially on tspikes teams, where calcs are much less strict.
.. tank
Piloswine @ Eviolite
Ability: Thick Fat
Tera Type: Ice
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Earthquake / High Horsepower
- Icicle Crash / Roar
- Ice Shard / Roar
.. band
Piloswine @ Choice Band
Ability: Thick Fat
Tera Type: Ice
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Stealth Rock / Reversal
- Earthquake / High Horsepower
- Icicle Crash
- Ice Shard
.. h
Poliwhirl @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Substitute
- Encore
- Whirlpool
- Ice Beam
The only set quax runs actually has some flexibility. Notably encore sets can hit up to 200 speed tier for pilo and at +1 for gligar and missy. Torrent is preferred if the only attacks are spin and flip turn.
.. physdef
Quaxwell @ Eviolite
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 Spe
Impish Nature
- Roost
- Rapid Spin
- Triple Axel / Brave Bird / Encore
- Flip Turn / Liquidation
Outspeeds thwackey at +1. physdef dump.
Quilladin is unviable.
.. spdef
Quilladin @ Eviolite
Ability: Bulletproof
Tera Type: Grass
EVs: 252 HP / 16 Def / 240 SpD
Careful Nature
- Synthesis
- Spikes
- Super Fang
- Wood Hammer
Band can be used to lure and threaten quax with a 2hko after rocks, if you can consistently keep hazards off your side.
Sliggoo-Hisui @ Eviolite
Ability: Sap Sipper
Tera Type: Steel
EVs: 248 HP / 16 Atk / 104 Def / 140 SpD
Careful Nature
- Rest
- Sleep Talk / Protect
- Curse
- Iron Head
Moody's not banned in this meta because the only user has always sucked. It still does currently (hazards, pilo, missy etc). Just remember that moody doesn't boost evasion since gen 8.
Tink can be a blanket check to many things, depending on the ev spread. Full investment on either defensive side, and anywhere inbetween is valid; use what your team likes best.
.. physdef
Tinkatuff (F) @ Eviolite
Ability: Pickpocket
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 224 Def / 32 Spe
Impish Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Thunder Wave
- Knock Off
- Play Rough / Ice Hammer
Outspeeds adamant pilo. physdef dump.
Balloon gets consistent usage on this set due to synergy with pickpocket, which fast paced teams make the best use of. Eject button theoretically can be used for the same reason on even faster teams like manual weather, but we've seen no success from any of those.
.. spdef
Tinkatuff (F) @ Eviolite
Ability: Mold Breaker
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 224 SpD / 32 Spe
Careful Nature
- Stealth Rock
- Encore
- Knock Off
- Play Rough
Outspeeds adamant pilo. spdef dump.
.. bu
Vigoroth @ Eviolite
Ability: Vital Spirit
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Slack Off / Taunt
- Bulk Up / Taunt
- Knock Off
- Facade
.. sub bu
Vigoroth @ Eviolite
Ability: Vital Spirit
Tera Type: Normal
EVs: 48 Def / 244 SpD / 216 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Substitute
- Bulk Up
- Knock Off
- Drain Punch
Vullaby is a weak hazard removal option, most appealing to offensive teams for its role compression. Boots can be preferred if paired with quax.
.. spdef
Vullaby (F) @ Eviolite
Ability: Weak Armor
Tera Type: Dark
EVs: 248 HP / 236 SpD / 24 Spe
Careful Nature
- Roost
- Defog
- Knock Off
- U-turn / Brave Bird / Toxic