What?
BH Council is beginning a suspect on Dynamax as per discussion in the Balanced Hackmons thread and discord (see below)
Why?
(Discussion has taken place from the beginning of the meta, but some relevant posts on the matter can be seen here, here, here, here, and here)
- Dynamax, the shiny new feature of Generation 8, allows the user to double its HP and gain access to powerful Max Moves for a maximum of three turns (as the mechanic ends upon removing the mon from battle).
- Other features of Dynamaxing, at least the ones most relevant to Balanced Hackmons, include:
- Breaking choice locks from items like Choice Band, shaking off Encore to attack with Max Moves
- Becoming immune to moves like Low Kick, Entrainment, and Whirlwind
- Becoming immune to flinching
- Becoming immune to Destiny Bond.
- The aforementioned features have caused concern from the community, which has expressed how the Dynamax mechanic introduces an uncompetitive aspect into the metagame via 50/50 situations that can sometimes determine the outcome of a battle.
- An example: Choice Specs Reshiram uses Blue Flare as Flash Fire Melmetal switches in to check it. Reshiram, carrying Earth Power, has the option to break its choice lock by Dynamaxing and 2HKO Melmetal with Max Quake or to switch out to a teammate that handles Melmetal. Meanwhile, Melmetal can do little in return and is punished for staying in to trap or pivot on the opponent if the Reshiram Dynamaxes.
- These features also make revenge killing offensive threats more difficult, particularly due to the increased bulk but also due to being immune to flinching and Destiny Bond.
- Counterplay Dynamax does exist, though. Plus, as stated before, it only lasts three turns and can only be used once per battle.
- Retaliating by Dynamaxing your mon to fight back with its own Max Moves or protect with Max Guard
- Countering with moves like Behemoth Blade and Dynamax Cannon, which deal double damage to Dynamaxed targets.
- Using pivoting moves like U-turn or Volt Switch on offensive Pokemon to scout for opponents using Dynamax as a means to revenge kill or survive an attack that would normally KO (this is followed by switching to an appropriate teammate after pivoting)
- A more niche option is wasting the opponent’s Dynamax turns with use of Substitute, but this requires either a fast user or Prankster user and takes up a valuable moveslot.
- We will be using the new suspect process laid out by Zarel here (aka no COIL).
- Therefore the requirements are simply 83 GXE with at least 45 games.
- Do so by making a new alt with the sequence “MAX” in it anywhere, but not separated.
- The alt must have a creation date on or after March 13, 2020
MaximumDestruction (Acceptable)
MadAboutXrays (Unacceptable)
Where?
You must post your proof of reqs in this thread and play your games on the main pokemonshowdown.com sim.
Dynamax will be allowed in the ladder for the duration of this suspect; I would recommend using it as much as you can to get a feel of how it is in the meta and have a good idea of if it is broken/unhealthy, or if it is perfectly manageable after all.
Do:
- Post your proof of reqs and, if you wish, your stance on the matter briefly, in this thread. Read the following CAREFULLY on how to do so:
- Post in this thread if you have any questions about THIS SUSPECT PROCESS
- Post your stance on the matter in this thread without proof of requirements (This should be posted in the main thread instead)
- Post anything in this thread unrelated to this suspect (with or without proof)
This suspect period will last until March 27th, 2020 @ 11:59 EST We will try to begin the voting process immediately after confirming some other details on how it will be done and posting the Voter ID Thread similar to past suspects.
GLHF!
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TLDR?
- 83 GXE after 45 games with a new alt
- “MAX” alt with image proof IN THIS THREAD
- Dynamax ALLOWED on ladder
- DEADLINE: March 27th, 2020 @ 11:59 EST