Hogg
grubbing in the ashes
Jirachi is a fading memory, and this post-OLT shift also saw some other big shake-ups, including our favorite big metal bird flying off to the greener pastures of OU. As the meta has settled over the past couple of weeks, one threat in particular has been cementing itself as particularly dangerous: Lycanroc-Dusk.
The Dusky Dog has long been a top threat in UU, having received a gigantic buff this gen in Close Combat. Boosted by Tough Claws, Close Combat does even more damage than Stone Edge, while also possessing significantly better accuracy and offensive typing. With its incredible Speed tier, two strong priority moves in Tough Claws-boosted Accelerock and Sucker Punch, and a great offensive movepool that includes Crunch to punch through Psychic types or Iron Head to threaten Galarian Weezing, Lycanroc has managed to even jump ahead of Terrakion as the number one breaker and cleaner in the tier.
Lycanroc-Dusk has been on the cusp of being voted on several times before, but always a more pressing threat has emerged. However, the recent shifts and bans have been especially kind to it. Losing Jirachi meant losing one of the few Scarfers that didn't fear a +2 Accelerock (though Sucker Punch was still a threat). Losing Skarmory meant waving goodbye to one of the few defensive Pokemon that could live an attack at +2 and KO back with Body Press.
While Lycanroc-Dusk is incredibly threatening, all is not perfect for the Very Good Boy. Its poor bulk means it has difficulty setting up without Screens support, leading many teams to abandon SD altogether in favor of four attacks with a Life Orb or Choice Band. It also is not entirely devoid of checks. Galarian Weezing is still an excellent pivot (though it must beware of Iron Head or Psychic Fangs, both of which 2HKO even defensive Weezing unboosted). Other good fighting checks such as Colbur Palossand can comfortably come into Lycanroc as long as Colbur is not broken. And on the offensive end, Scarf users that resist Rock or Dark, especially Fighting types, serve as excellent checks even if they do not switch in.
So, we open the question to the community: should Lycanroc-Dusk remain in UU? The voting requirements are a minimum GXE of 80 with at least 50 games played. In addition, you may play 1 less game for every 0.2 GXE you have above 80 GXE, down to a minimum of 30 games at a GXE of 84. As always, needing more than 50 games to reach 80 GXE is fine.
GXE | minimum games |
80 | 50 |
80.2 | 49 |
80.4 | 48 |
80.6 | 47 |
80.8 | 46 |
81 | 45 |
81.2 | 44 |
81.4 | 43 |
81.6 | 42 |
81.8 | 41 |
82 | 40 |
82.2 | 39 |
82.4 | 38 |
82.6 | 37 |
82.8 | 36 |
83 | 35 |
83.2 | 34 |
83.4 | 33 |
83.6 | 32 |
83.8 | 31 |
84 | 30 |
Other than that, the test will operate as always. There will be no suspect ladder. Instead, the standard UU ladder will remain open. Those who wish to participate in this suspect test will instead use a fresh, suspect-specific alt. All games must be played on the Pokemon Showdown! UU ladder on a fresh alt with the following format: "UU7L (Nick)." For example, I might register the alt UU7L Hogg to ladder with. You must meet the listed format in order to qualify.
Participants will have until Friday, September 25 at 8:59 PM GMT -4 to meet voting requirements and post in the Alt Identification Thread. Happy laddering!
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