I'm just going to debate about Wobbuffet here.
Lets look at the reasons why Wobbuffet should be banned to Ubers:
- It is "irritating" and supposedly "sucks the fun" out of every game its in
- It has no counters
- It can take down any pokemon with Shadow Tag, especially walls
- It is "cheap"
Point 1:
It is irritating.
Competitive pokemon will never be about fun. Wobbuffet is there, live with it. Cresselia and Blissey are irritating, but we don't ban them, right?
But there are effective ways to deal with them. Just the first sentence sounds a little off putting, to be honest, it's a $35 children's video game, not a sport.
Point 2:
It has no counters.
The "no counters" argument has been thrown around a lot of times, and it is worth noting that the top tier pokemon also have "no counters" at first.
Take Heracross. It is "stopped completely by Gliscor", or so they say. In reality, you could just slap an LO and HP Ice on Heracross, and Gliscor would be neutered. A more practical moveset would be this:
Heracross @ Burn Orb
Guts
Adamant, 252 Attack, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Swords Dance
Megahorn
Close Combat
Facade
After a Swords Dance, Heracross reaches 1149 Attack, enough to do more than 85% to a standard Gliscor, standing a 2.56% chance of KOing it, with Stealth Rock down a 79.49% chance of KOing it.
The definition of a counter:
A counter must be able to both switch into the pokémon it's supposed to counter, with little to no risk to itself, and also pose an immediate threat to said pokémon.
Variants of Gliscor without AA would not counter a Sub/SD Heracross. The set listed above shows that Gliscor would not be able to switch in against Heracross without taking significant damage or being KOed. Skarmory and Hippowdon fall to Close Combat.
Wobbuffet has no counters simply because of its ability. It should be treated as seperate from the conventional pokemon as "counters" do not apply to it.
The "no counters" does not show its strength and brokenness.
Actually, it shows it's brokeness quite well.
Point 3:
It can take down any pokemon with Shadow Tag and Encore, including walls.
A lot of people overestimate Wobbuffet's defensive capabilities as well as its ability to deal with other pokemon. Wobbuffet gains the Psychic type, a liability this generation with the introduction of Pursuit, physical Dark moves and Special Shadow Ball.
Wobbuffet has no notable resistances that could be exploited in the switchin, as most pokemon who carry Psychic or Fighting moves have something to deal with Wobbuffet.
So, Wobbuffet can't come in on sweepers. But what about walls? Wobbuffet could easily come in and let something setup right?
Not really. If Wobbuffet comes in on, say Blissey, you could select a non-damaging move and proceed to see a setup sweeper coming in. In reality however, you have to have something to deal with setup sweepers, be it revenge killing, entry hazards or effective walling.
Wobbazard got hurt by Stealth Rock. A lot.
This is all assuming you are playing against a moron, right? Any good Wobbo user can pick who it comes out on, and what move it comes out on. It wouldn't straight come out on a poke that is using a move that can 2HKO on the spot. The inclusion of Choice items helped it out somewhat, as well as Reflect & Light Screen, to allow survivability, and the ability to switch in.
Okay, time for the infamous and arguably the best Wobbuffet set in existence.
"TickleWobb"
Wobbuffet @ Leftovers
Shadow Tag
Lonely (+Atk -Def), 128 Def/128 SpD/252 Speed
Encore
Tickle
Counter
Mirror Coat
The nature is not a mistake as on the rare occassions Wobb with Tickle was handed out it had a predetermined Lonely nature.
Strategy is simple. Come in on a wall's non damaging move, Encore, the higher speed would lock the non-damaging move in, and start Tickling and refresh Encore whenever you want.
After getting it to -6 Def (Tickle), send in CBTyranitar and Pursuit.
This set is rare because of the complete non-existence of Tickle Wobbuffet in the WiFi metagame. As such, it is not a great threat, and discussions are now undergoing in Shoddy about whether event moves should be banned given the restricted IVs and Nature for it.
As such, only the Tickle Wobbuffet merits further discussion, but the standards don't really pose a threat.
Point 4:
It is "cheap".
I doubt it costs much. You get one for free in Lavaridge, and Lax Incense is free unless you dropped it.
D=If this is sarcasm, it's also chessy. Otherwise, please don't twist words or meanings. I know it was sarcasm, but that is a tad low brow.
"Cheap" does not have any relevance when we are talking competitively. In my opinion, it is just somebody whining because their team does not have an effective way to deal with the threat it poses.
F.E.A.R. Rattata is also cheap, but one thing at a time. Which would be an effective way to deal with it? You can't shove Shed Shell on every poke, to say so would be unreasonable.
Overcentralisation
There has been no evidence of Wobbuffet being overcentralising to the metagame, Shed Shell usages stayed the same, no pokemon were used a lot to counter Wobbuffet. If you want to prove overcentralisation, you have to have to statistics to back it up.
At the same time, all other pokemon cannot suffice by slapping a Shed Shell on them. Nor can any pokemon be used to counter Wobby, simply because a SMART user keeps them the heck away from those who are an immediate threat to it, like Gya. There is no real way to counter it.
Why is it not used on Shoddy?
Sorry, not on shoddy, I'll leave that alone.
The community is biased against Wobbuffet, many players on Shoddy don't bother preparing or anticipating Wobbuffet, others who use it get flamed. There are several instances of Wobbuffet being used effectively by top-tier players, most notably Doorman's stall team. I doubt respect matters if you are playing to win.
Hm. Taking the game way too seriously. That doesn't really prove much for or against Wobbo.
And BTW, Sleep Clause is broken with Magic Coat as it is a status inflictor, same with Encoring a Hypnosis.
