Disclaimer: The UU Senate will not be entertaining posts on changes in tiering status. This is a discussion topic only. These Pokemon are not about to be let back into the UnderUsed tier.
With that in mind, and the recent banning of Gothitelle behind us, let's take a look at a banlist that hasn't changed a lot over the past few months. It contains some of the most notorious Pokemon to ever lay foot in the tier, Staraptor and Kyurem, and one of the most difficult tactics to play against, trapping. Because these Pokemon are typically overlooked in the Overused tier, I feel that there's room to discuss these past threats. How would they fare in today's metagame? Would they still be ban-worthy? Let's hear your take on the Pokemon of BL and how they would affect today's metagame! Without further ado, the Pokemon banished to BL:
Staraptor
Type: Normal / Flying
Base Stats: 85 / 120 / 70 / 50 / 50 / 100
Ability: Intimidate / Reckless
Staraptor wasn't the first Pokemon banned from the UnderUsed tier, but it's technically the strongest to have done so. Thanks to Reckless, Staraptor was able to break the tier in half, seeing above 45% usage and was effectively stopped by only Impish Rhyperior. This insane offensive pressure saw Staraptor out of the tier shortly after the Drought ban. If Staraptor were to be implemented in today's UnderUsed tier, which it won't be, but let's use our imaginations, how would it affect the metagame? What would be used to counter it? Which Pokemon would work well alongside Staraptor? All elements bar Staraptor actually being allowed back into the tier are up for discussion.
Kyurem
Type: Dragon / Ice
Base Stats: 125 / 130 / 90 / 130 / 90 / 95
Ability: Pressure
Even before the ban of Staraptor, Kyurem found itself out the door alone in the BL tier, as it's Uber-like stats and Dragon STAB deemed it too powerful in a metagame that still had Snow Warning in its ranks. If Kyurem were allowed back into the UnderUsed tier, and I reiterate, it won't be anytime soon, how would it affect the current metagame? Would the tutor moves it was blessed with in the transition to BW2 continue to make it too powerful for the Underused tier? All aspects barring Kyurem being legal in UnderUsed are up for discussion, so theorymon to your little hearts' content!
Wobbuffet
Type: Psychic
Base Stats: 190 / 33 / 58 / 33 / 58 / 33
Ability: Shadow Tag / Telepathy
Wobbuffet, the former Uber, has moved from OU's banlist to UU's, was banned at the same time Staraptor was. Capable of trapping Choice Item users and handily revenge killing them, bar CB Heracross and Escavalier locked in Megahorn. Wobbuffet was also notorious for trapping and Encoring the opponent into a harmless move, giving Wobbuffet a free switch to a set up sweeper. Considering the threat-level posed by common set-up sweepers, such as Kingdra or Raikou, this tactic was deemed too good for UU. However, a lot has changed since Wobbuffet's stint in UU, leaving everything about its reintroduction to the tier is up for discussion.
Gothitelle
Type: Psychic
Base stats: 70 / 55 / 95 / 95 / 110 / 65
Ability: Frisk / Shadow Tag
Gothitelle, UU's most recent ban was able to abuse its new toy, Shadow Tag, in order to trap and take down defensive threats, allowing powerful sweepers such as Darmanitan and Heracross to rip through weakened teams. Thus it was deemed unhealthy for the metagame and banished to BL. Although its only been about a month and not a whole lot has changed in the tier, anything aside from welcoming Goth back into the tier is up for discussion.
With that in mind, and the recent banning of Gothitelle behind us, let's take a look at a banlist that hasn't changed a lot over the past few months. It contains some of the most notorious Pokemon to ever lay foot in the tier, Staraptor and Kyurem, and one of the most difficult tactics to play against, trapping. Because these Pokemon are typically overlooked in the Overused tier, I feel that there's room to discuss these past threats. How would they fare in today's metagame? Would they still be ban-worthy? Let's hear your take on the Pokemon of BL and how they would affect today's metagame! Without further ado, the Pokemon banished to BL:
Staraptor
Type: Normal / Flying
Base Stats: 85 / 120 / 70 / 50 / 50 / 100
Ability: Intimidate / Reckless
Staraptor wasn't the first Pokemon banned from the UnderUsed tier, but it's technically the strongest to have done so. Thanks to Reckless, Staraptor was able to break the tier in half, seeing above 45% usage and was effectively stopped by only Impish Rhyperior. This insane offensive pressure saw Staraptor out of the tier shortly after the Drought ban. If Staraptor were to be implemented in today's UnderUsed tier, which it won't be, but let's use our imaginations, how would it affect the metagame? What would be used to counter it? Which Pokemon would work well alongside Staraptor? All elements bar Staraptor actually being allowed back into the tier are up for discussion.
Kyurem
Type: Dragon / Ice
Base Stats: 125 / 130 / 90 / 130 / 90 / 95
Ability: Pressure
Even before the ban of Staraptor, Kyurem found itself out the door alone in the BL tier, as it's Uber-like stats and Dragon STAB deemed it too powerful in a metagame that still had Snow Warning in its ranks. If Kyurem were allowed back into the UnderUsed tier, and I reiterate, it won't be anytime soon, how would it affect the current metagame? Would the tutor moves it was blessed with in the transition to BW2 continue to make it too powerful for the Underused tier? All aspects barring Kyurem being legal in UnderUsed are up for discussion, so theorymon to your little hearts' content!
Wobbuffet
Type: Psychic
Base Stats: 190 / 33 / 58 / 33 / 58 / 33
Ability: Shadow Tag / Telepathy
Wobbuffet, the former Uber, has moved from OU's banlist to UU's, was banned at the same time Staraptor was. Capable of trapping Choice Item users and handily revenge killing them, bar CB Heracross and Escavalier locked in Megahorn. Wobbuffet was also notorious for trapping and Encoring the opponent into a harmless move, giving Wobbuffet a free switch to a set up sweeper. Considering the threat-level posed by common set-up sweepers, such as Kingdra or Raikou, this tactic was deemed too good for UU. However, a lot has changed since Wobbuffet's stint in UU, leaving everything about its reintroduction to the tier is up for discussion.
Gothitelle
Type: Psychic
Base stats: 70 / 55 / 95 / 95 / 110 / 65
Ability: Frisk / Shadow Tag
Gothitelle, UU's most recent ban was able to abuse its new toy, Shadow Tag, in order to trap and take down defensive threats, allowing powerful sweepers such as Darmanitan and Heracross to rip through weakened teams. Thus it was deemed unhealthy for the metagame and banished to BL. Although its only been about a month and not a whole lot has changed in the tier, anything aside from welcoming Goth back into the tier is up for discussion.