Competitive Battling Discussion Of The Week 18

[PG24]

This week we're going to talk about what the game would be like without entry hazards. If you don't know already, entry hazards are moves that damage Pokemon when they switch into battle. Many Pokemon who have a horrible Stealth Rock weakness, such as Dragonite, Volcarona, and Gyarados, will have their sweeps hindered.

So, what do you think the game would be like without entry hazards?

 

[bacon]

Well first and foremost, no stall! We wouldn't be seeing anything from the likes of Skarmory and Forretress. Ferrothorn would take a hit but would likely still be a top contender in OU due to its useful typing and movepool.

It's difficult to say whether heavy offense would reign supreme in such an environment, but I think the answer would most likely be "yes". Although offensive Pokemon miss the chance to use hazards to secure OHKOs, loosing a weakness to Stealth Rock truly is a game breaker for Pokemon such as Volcarona and Dragonite. Focus Sash is now an amazing item which essentially always gives you a free turn for Rock, Ground and Steel types immune to Sandstorm (Hail isn't common enough to worry about).

Truth be told, a game without hazards sounds kinda crumby. :C

 

[Inigo Montoya]

No SR? Volcarona, DNite, Tornadus, Salamence and Sun teams are now overcentralizing. Stall is now gone. Brokun meta iz brokun.

In a game without entry hazards, lets just say the Uber list would be a lot longer. Hyper offense would most likely rule the world. I'd probably quit competitive battling if that happened D:

 

[Guts]

I agree with bacon, the metagame would become extremely fast-paced and more offensive. You'd have things like Dragonite, Tornadus, Volcarona, and many others who would have a much easier time getting sweeps off, since they can come into battle at full health. I'd also think that with hazards gone, Focus Sash would see a lot more play, so frailer Pokemon are almost always guaranteed to get their hits in and/or set up boosting moves. It would be really cool and unusual to see many games played without hazards.
*cough* tournament *cough*

 

[Chillarmy]

As others have said, I'd say that Volcanora and Dragonite would be very broken and probably banned. Also, Sun teams abusers like Charizard will have an easier time switching in repeatedly.

 

[Shadow Scyther]

Sun teams would be broken. Charizard and Volcarona just switching in without taking any damage and then setting up or attacking immediately. Dragonite would be probably uber. Pokemon weak to Stealth Rocks like Tornadus and Salamence will raise in usage and stall would be non existent.

 

[One Approved]

Without any hazards, you'd have to find other ways to build up residual damage. For example, the one team Pride's been using based on stuff like Wash Rotom/Scizor/Scarf Land Bro/Mienshao. You just spam u-turn/volt switch, and rack up residual damage that way. (Of course, Xatu wouldn't exist onthat team.)

Dragonite and Volcarona would pretty much dominate the metagame. Without a way to break MultiScale, or a way to nuke Volcarona's health, they'd each have a much easier time setting up. They wouldn't need to bother with any spinners.

 

[Cinesra]

The metagame would turn into even more of a weather war. With Sand and Hail now being the only ways to ensure Multiscale is broken, there will be an equal rise in Rain and Sun to fight back.

 

[Juliacoolo]

Offensive Ttar (In conjunction with a team that fits it) would move way up usage wise. Not only would his auto-sandstorm be one of the little remaining Sash/Multiscale/LeftoverHealDamage/Sturdy (In some cases) killers, but TTar also has favorable match-ups against many of the other pokes who would rise in usage.

Volcarona, Dnite, Tornadus, Mence, and a few others all can struggle with TTar. The Sp.D boost helps with Bug Buzzes and Stab Hurricanes.

 

[47bennyg]

Not sure if this would be true at all (considering my lack of experience), but i think that the OU metagame would radically different and maybe Ubers would be more played and more balanced, considering a lot of threats would jump up to Uber level without rocks. Then of course on the other side some things drop out of OU like Tentacruel, Foretress, Espeon, and Xatu. Deoxys-S sets become more one-dimensional (attacking), Taunt use won't happen anymore, Tyranitar use goes up and Ferro goes down due to more sun, Darmanitan might rise up to OU because he has more health to absorb his recoil moves, Hail teams see more play as Abomasnow can switch safely, and Magic Guard users might use another ability (Regenerator Reuniclus maybe???). All in all, no hazards takes everything we know and flips it upside down. Also, it puts even more emphasis on the most important factor of the game: the weather.

 

[Cinesra]

Taunt still stops things like status, whirlwind/roar, and recover, so that'll stay. Magic Guard also prevents weather, burn, and poison damage so that would probably stay on Reuniclus if he remained in OU. We would probably see a rise in Baton Pass teams since Ninjask doesn't have to fear losing half its health per switch in. Maybe Staraptor will rise to OU?

 

[R-C]

Their would be one major change. Their would no longer be stall. Skarmory,Ferrothorn,Forretress will no longer be seen much at all. And Spinners wouldn't be around either. So the Metagame would change drastically.

- R-C