Star
OGC & Tour Head
We will be testing Baton Pass (again) in ADV OU. This post will provide context on why, explain the voting structure and outline the qualifications to vote. This thread can also be used to discuss the suspect and advocate for whatever outcomes. Those unable to post in this thread can use the ROA companion thread.
Why test Baton Pass?
Despite limiting Baton Pass to 3 users and banning Mr. Mime in previous tests, Baton Pass has proven it's still an issue in ADV. It has been used successfully in several major tours (ADV Cup, Classic Playoffs, Callous Invitational) over the past few months and remains an uncompetitive strategy.
The most popular style of Baton Pass teams currently revolves around using the move on Zapdos, Vaporeon and Hypno. You can find several replays of how the team functions below. Counterplay to the style is difficult for several reasons. The lead slot is very versatile and the ubiquity of Zapdos (the mon that generally boosts first) makes it hard to identify that you are facing a Baton Pass team. Additionally, Vaporeon and Hypno are able to use Roar and Taunt respectively to get around typical Baton Pass counterplay like Roar/Whirlwind.
We have community support to test Baton Pass again, as evidenced by this survey conducted by McMeghan in the ADV community discord.
Replays:
ADV Cup:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen3ou-577063
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen3ou-579146
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen3ou-580936
Classic Quarterfinals:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen3ou-591418
Callous Invitational (BP limited to 2 users in this tour and ABR still needed to win multiple 50/50s):
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen3ou-586617
ROA Olympics:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen3ou-1444020991-vtsdelbls418q5nxvyj1h2trepahuivpw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen3ou-1436492231-wak90oaytjhnx66fju57utfjjb0mf7bpw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen3ou-1428576676-hez8dplpdsfl289dv1eo9a4merfg32qpw
Runoff Voting Structure
There are several possible ways to hinder Baton Pass. The council feels that rather than picking just one ourselves, we would rather hold a runoff vote between several options. We think this is the best option because it maximizes the voters' say in exactly how Baton Pass is dealt with. The options on the table are below (edited from original according to post below):
Voting Qualifications
The tournament-based qualifications are as follows. For SPL, voters must have played at least six ADV games OR won at least three games. For ADV Cup, we will take the top twelve. For Callous Invitational V, the top 16 finishers qualify. For ADV Circuit Championship 2021, we will take the top five. Under these requirements, the following players qualify:
To qualify via the ladder, players must reach 1500+ ELO and 85% GXE simultaneously. No game cap. Please use the following prefix at the start of your alt: ADVBP2. The ladder window will last for two weeks 11/28 - 12/12 ending at 11:59PM GMT -5. Submit requirements to the ROA companion thread any time you fulfill them.
Why test Baton Pass?
Despite limiting Baton Pass to 3 users and banning Mr. Mime in previous tests, Baton Pass has proven it's still an issue in ADV. It has been used successfully in several major tours (ADV Cup, Classic Playoffs, Callous Invitational) over the past few months and remains an uncompetitive strategy.
The most popular style of Baton Pass teams currently revolves around using the move on Zapdos, Vaporeon and Hypno. You can find several replays of how the team functions below. Counterplay to the style is difficult for several reasons. The lead slot is very versatile and the ubiquity of Zapdos (the mon that generally boosts first) makes it hard to identify that you are facing a Baton Pass team. Additionally, Vaporeon and Hypno are able to use Roar and Taunt respectively to get around typical Baton Pass counterplay like Roar/Whirlwind.
We have community support to test Baton Pass again, as evidenced by this survey conducted by McMeghan in the ADV community discord.
Replays:
ADV Cup:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen3ou-577063
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen3ou-579146
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen3ou-580936
Classic Quarterfinals:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen3ou-591418
Callous Invitational (BP limited to 2 users in this tour and ABR still needed to win multiple 50/50s):
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/smogtours-gen3ou-586617
ROA Olympics:
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen3ou-1444020991-vtsdelbls418q5nxvyj1h2trepahuivpw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen3ou-1436492231-wak90oaytjhnx66fju57utfjjb0mf7bpw
https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen3ou-1428576676-hez8dplpdsfl289dv1eo9a4merfg32qpw
Runoff Voting Structure
There are several possible ways to hinder Baton Pass. The council feels that rather than picking just one ourselves, we would rather hold a runoff vote between several options. We think this is the best option because it maximizes the voters' say in exactly how Baton Pass is dealt with. The options on the table are below (edited from original according to post below):
- Keep Baton Pass as is (Limited to 3 users on a team)
- Limit to 2 Baton Pass users on a team and Ban the combination of Baton Pass + Taunt
- Limit to 1 form of stat-boosting alongside Baton Pass across the whole team
- Ban the combination of Baton Pass + Speed Boosts
- Ban the combination of Baton Pass + Any Stat Boosts (Drypass only)
Voting Qualifications
The tournament-based qualifications are as follows. For SPL, voters must have played at least six ADV games OR won at least three games. For ADV Cup, we will take the top twelve. For Callous Invitational V, the top 16 finishers qualify. For ADV Circuit Championship 2021, we will take the top five. Under these requirements, the following players qualify:
- SPL: Star, Golden Sun, Gilbert Arenas, thelinearcurve, McMeghan, umbry, Hclat, Endill
- ADV Cup: Star, shiloh, Teclis, umbry, ABR, Aliss, McMeghan, ziloXX, Horodro, Dragon Claw, CyberOdin, Bushtush
- Callous Invitational V: Star, Altina, Endill, Gilbert Arenas, Tricking, ABR, johnnyg2, Hclat, undisputed, mikmer, z0mog, Mana, dice, McMeghan, Tamahome, SoulWind
- ADV Circuit Championship 2021: McMeghan, Fakes, Star, umbry, CyberOdin
To qualify via the ladder, players must reach 1500+ ELO and 85% GXE simultaneously. No game cap. Please use the following prefix at the start of your alt: ADVBP2. The ladder window will last for two weeks 11/28 - 12/12 ending at 11:59PM GMT -5. Submit requirements to the ROA companion thread any time you fulfill them.
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