STABmons Council has voted Gouging Fire for Suspect Testing!
Standard Gouging Fires would look something along these lines:
Speed Improving Booster Energy
Gouging Fire @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 88 HP / 168 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Darts
- Bitter Blade
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
Attack Improving Booster Energy
Gouging Fire @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 36 HP / 252 Atk / 220 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Darts
- Bitter Blade
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
Gouging Fire @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 88 HP / 168 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Darts
- Bitter Blade
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
Attack Improving Booster Energy
Gouging Fire @ Booster Energy
Ability: Protosynthesis
Tera Type: Flying
EVs: 36 HP / 252 Atk / 220 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Dragon Darts
- Bitter Blade
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance
Though these two options really are the tip of the iceberg as there is potential deviations possible, such as running Substitute or running Heavy Duty Boots among other unexplored possibilities.
This all being said, Gouging Fire is not without problems. There are no small number of defensive and offensive Pokémon that pressure Gouging Fire, such as Ting Lu, Landorus-Therian, and Great Tusk among others. All these Pokémon have great qualities that let them have a decent chance of handling Gouging Fire, often forcing it to Tera Flying to avoid being KO'd by STAB ground coverage. Furthermore, Landorus-therian shares the exact same speed tier, meaning that if scarfed can speed tie with a +1 attack improving Gouging Fires and in tandem with intimidate strips it of an attack boost. Ting Lu is capable of pivoting away from Gouging Fire or pressure through Precipice Blades, even rarely capable of fully shutting down a Gouging Fire through Topsy Turvy. Yet, in spite of saying this, it is undeniable that Gouging Fire is fully capable of breaking past these Pokémon, and all others, and as such we have decided to suspect test it.
Requirements:
Requirements can be achieved by getting minimum 75 GXE in 25 games on the STABmons ladder. In order to participate in the suspect, you must create a fresh alt (creation date no earlier than 3/17/2024) with the prefix STBGF at the start of the name. When you have obtained the reqs, make sure to post proof of your alt's record (generally a screenshot) in this thread, and if you wish to do so, you can also share your thoughts on the test here.
Voting:
Once the suspect period is over, everyone who has obtained reqs will be tagged. The post will then outline a process of blind voting, which will be clarified once the time arrives. For now, follow the above "Requirements" subheading to ensure that you have posted your reqs correctly. You must post on this thread in order to be tagged in the voting thread, however you do not need to include your vote on this thread.
A super-majority of 60% ban votes is required for Gouging Fire to be banned.
TL;DR
-Gouging Fire will be allowed on ladder
- The minimum GXE requirement is 75 and the minimum game count is 25
- You must ladder on a newly-created alt using the prefix STBGF
- You must post your reqs in this thread, though the voting process will happen in a separate thread. You are not required to state your vote in this thread.
- The suspect test will conclude at 3/31/2024 at 11:59 PM GMT-5
- A ban vote of 60% is required to ban Gouging Fire in STABmons.
Last edited: