Hey everyone, the NatDex UU tiering council has decided to suspect test Hoopa-Unbound!
Suspect Reasoning
For as long as it has been around, Hoopa-Unbound has been one of the most dangerous wallbreakers. Its STABs, coverage, and extraordinary power makes it almost impossible to switch into, and its reasonable speed stat means it outspeeds the majority of the defensive metagame. Additionally, it has a large diversity of sets (Choice Specs, Choice Band and Substitute to name a few) it can choose to run, which makes it unpredictable and makes the already arduous task of walling even harder without losing a Pokemonto it. Its 130 base special defence also comes in handy in a pinch, letting it stomach most non super effective special hits, and simultaneously making revenge killing it trickier.
Since it was freed, Hoopa-Unbound has been kept in check by pursuiters and a generally offensive metagame giving it few opportunities to come in, as well as its poor physical defence and lack of resistances mandating significant team support to get in safely. However, the meta has recently shifted to favour more bulky teams, and some Pursuit users have gotten worse, partly as a result of this shift. Additionally, Substitute sets, which have gained some popularity recently, completely bypasses Pursuit, while still threatening to devastate walls with a powerful Z move. In the eyes of the council, these factors have pushed Hoopa-Unbound over the edge.
Hoopa-Unbound definitely has its flaws, though - 80 speed, while still faster than the majority of the defensive metagame, is still slow by the rest of the tier's standards, and notably leaves it outpaced by Urshifu-Rapid-Strike, Keldeo, Terrakion, Weavile, to name a few. This, coupled with its lack of resistances and recovery, makes it reliant on teammates, coming in on weak special attacking walls, or sacking to get in. While few special attackers can both outspeed and OHKO it, they can still pick off weakened Hoopa-U, and some have U-turn to OHKO it, such as. Additionally, choice sets can become exploitable, giving things like Mega Altaria, Urshifu-Rapid Strike or Scizor opportunities to set up if it is not careful. Substitute sets can feel lacking in power against some fatter teams once the Z is used up, too.
Suspect Test Information
- **This is new to National Dex UU suspect tests** Reading this is mandatory to participate in the suspect test. The voting requirements are a minimum GXE of 79 with at least 40 games played. In addition, you may play 1 less game for every 0.2 GXE you have above 79 GXE, down to a minimum of 20 games at a GXE of 83. Also, needing more than 40 games to reach 79 GXE will suffice.
GXE minimum games 79 40 79.2 39 79.4 38 79.6 37 79.8 36 80 35 80.2 34 80.4 33 80.6 32 80.8 31 81 30 81.2 29 81.4 28 81.6 27 81.8 26 82 25 82.2 24 82.4 23 82.6 22 82.8 21 83 20
- You must use a fresh account that begins with the given prefix for this suspect test. That prefix is NDUUHU. For example, I could signup and qualify with the name NDUUHU Niadev.
- You may not impersonate or mock another user with your account name. If there is any slight hesitation, you're probably better off picking a different name. We reserve the right to null your voting requisites if you are found impersonating or mocking another user with your account name. Moderator discretion will be applied.
- If you are found trying to manipulate voting requisites in any way, you will be met with a harsh infraction. Manipulating voting requisites ranges from faking your screenshot to asking another user to forfeit.
- The Pokemon that's being suspect tested, Hoopa-Unbound, will be allowed on the National Dex UU ladder for the next two weeks so that we can properly assess its position in the metagame.
- This suspect test will go on for two weeks. It will last until May the 26th at 11:59 PM GMT+1.