WHY:
I won't be long-winded: Fur Coat and Ice Scales (AKA FurScales) are legal in SV, which has enabled already-defensive Pokemon such as Hippowdon and Corviknight to become even tankier, while even not-so-bulky Pokemon like Oricorio can redeem their middling stats to become threatening bulky setup sweepers.
There are a lot of potential FurScales users--so many that I dare not try to list every single one in this post, but generally there are a couple of ways the ability is used. Physically and specially defensive walls like Hippowdon and Corviknight, respectively, more or less do what you'd expect: they switch in, eat hits, and annoy the opposition. Alternatively, we've seen setup users like Quiver Dance Volcarona/Polteageist and use Fur Coat to make themselves bulky in one stat, while boosting up the other until they're incredibly difficult to revenge kill. Even less predictable options like FurScales Iron Hands and Florges can surprise threats by tanking an attack that would normally KO, then firing off one of their own in return.
With this in mind, it's easy to understand the position in favor of ridding the metagame of FurScales. When even offensively-inclined Pokemon like Gholdengo can [very] viably effectively double a defensive stat, it can substantially raise the level of difficulty in checking them. Additionally, the sheer amount of viable ways to use the Pokemon enabled by FurScales is enough to warrant examination under a suspect test: At the point where Polteageist, one of the token "Shell Smash and go" Pokemon, can viably check supercharged wallbreakers like Choice Band Great Tusk, it's hard not to wonder if maybe that defensive power has gone too far.
That being said, defeating FurScales users isn't impossible. AAA has its fair share of offensive abilities, such as Hadron Engine, Orichalcum Pulse, Adaptability, and Sheer Force; notable wallbreakers like Dragapult, Iron Valiant, Ceruledge, and Great Tusk are excellent at pressuring foes with these abilities. Mold Breaker also gets a special note, since it completely ignores the defensive benefits of FurScales. Additionally, defensive walls like Corviknight, Clodsire, Great Tusk, and Hippowdon make it possible to actually switch into and pivot around FurScales-powered threats by using the abilities themselves. Of course, this is assuming that you correctly determine if the opposing Pokemon does in fact have FurScales; unlikely Intimidate or Ruin abilities, FurScales doesn't announce itself, so there's no reliable way to tell for certain before attacking the target. So, the question isn't whether or not FurScales can be beaten. It's a matter of determining if the tools we have available are enough to justify a metagame where bulky setup users are able to make themselves naturally even bulkier, and if the various ways to create a bulky setup users still result in a competitive, balanced metagame.
How (Suspect Details):
During a Suspect test, each player must climb the ladder until they've acquired the GXE necessary to participate in the voting. Primarily, everyone that participates needs to make an alt account following these guidelines:
With that all of that being said, it's suspect time! As usual, the actual voting will take place in the Blind Voting Forum, so posting anything other than proof of reqs and discussion isn't necessary.
Tagging Kris for implementation
I won't be long-winded: Fur Coat and Ice Scales (AKA FurScales) are legal in SV, which has enabled already-defensive Pokemon such as Hippowdon and Corviknight to become even tankier, while even not-so-bulky Pokemon like Oricorio can redeem their middling stats to become threatening bulky setup sweepers.
There are a lot of potential FurScales users--so many that I dare not try to list every single one in this post, but generally there are a couple of ways the ability is used. Physically and specially defensive walls like Hippowdon and Corviknight, respectively, more or less do what you'd expect: they switch in, eat hits, and annoy the opposition. Alternatively, we've seen setup users like Quiver Dance Volcarona/Polteageist and use Fur Coat to make themselves bulky in one stat, while boosting up the other until they're incredibly difficult to revenge kill. Even less predictable options like FurScales Iron Hands and Florges can surprise threats by tanking an attack that would normally KO, then firing off one of their own in return.
With this in mind, it's easy to understand the position in favor of ridding the metagame of FurScales. When even offensively-inclined Pokemon like Gholdengo can [very] viably effectively double a defensive stat, it can substantially raise the level of difficulty in checking them. Additionally, the sheer amount of viable ways to use the Pokemon enabled by FurScales is enough to warrant examination under a suspect test: At the point where Polteageist, one of the token "Shell Smash and go" Pokemon, can viably check supercharged wallbreakers like Choice Band Great Tusk, it's hard not to wonder if maybe that defensive power has gone too far.
That being said, defeating FurScales users isn't impossible. AAA has its fair share of offensive abilities, such as Hadron Engine, Orichalcum Pulse, Adaptability, and Sheer Force; notable wallbreakers like Dragapult, Iron Valiant, Ceruledge, and Great Tusk are excellent at pressuring foes with these abilities. Mold Breaker also gets a special note, since it completely ignores the defensive benefits of FurScales. Additionally, defensive walls like Corviknight, Clodsire, Great Tusk, and Hippowdon make it possible to actually switch into and pivot around FurScales-powered threats by using the abilities themselves. Of course, this is assuming that you correctly determine if the opposing Pokemon does in fact have FurScales; unlikely Intimidate or Ruin abilities, FurScales doesn't announce itself, so there's no reliable way to tell for certain before attacking the target. So, the question isn't whether or not FurScales can be beaten. It's a matter of determining if the tools we have available are enough to justify a metagame where bulky setup users are able to make themselves naturally even bulkier, and if the various ways to create a bulky setup users still result in a competitive, balanced metagame.
How (Suspect Details):
During a Suspect test, each player must climb the ladder until they've acquired the GXE necessary to participate in the voting. Primarily, everyone that participates needs to make an alt account following these guidelines:
- Every game must be played on the official Pokemon Showdown! site and on a new account (creation date no earlier than today, January 8th) with "FURSCA [Nick]"--for example, I could create one called "FURSCA Your Mom" to ladder with. Having the prefix at the beginning of your alt name is mandatory, AKA not in the middle (e.g. The FURSCA Man) and not at the end (e.g. The FURSCA).
- To qualify for voting, your alt must play a minimum of 25 games, and you must have a minimum GXE of 75.
- Fur Coat and Ice Scales will be allowed on the ladder during the suspect.
- The suspect test will go for two weeks and end on Sunday, January 22nd (10:59 pm GMT -5).
- Note: Fur Coat and Ice Scales will each need 60% votes in favor of a ban for that action to happen.
- When posting proof of meeting reqs, feel free to use this thread as a means to disseminate topical opinions regarding whether or not Fur Coat and Ice Scales should remain legal. (Optional)
- It is mandatory to provide proof of ownership of the alt account as well. (Post a picture of your reqs with your smogon name featured)
Tagging Kris for implementation
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