What Pokémon are Banned in Smogon?
Smogon, a popular online Pokémon battling platform, has a list of banned Pokémon that are deemed too powerful or unbalanced for competitive play. These Pokémon are prohibited from being used in official tournaments and battles, ensuring a more level playing field for all participants. In this article, we’ll explore the Pokémon that are currently banned in Smogon, their reasons for being banned, and some notable exceptions.
Gen 9 Ban List
Smogon has recently introduced a ban list for Generation 9 Pokémon, which includes a total of 8 Pokémon. These Pokémon are:
- Flutter Mane
- Palafin
- Iron Bundle
- Chi-Yu
- Annihilape
- Espathra
- Chien-Pao
- Regieleki
These Pokémon were deemed too powerful and unbalanced, making them unsuitable for competitive play. The ban list is subject to change, and Smogon may reevaluate these Pokémon in the future.
Competitive Ban List
The competitive ban list includes a total of 14 Pokémon that are banned from official tournaments and battles. These Pokémon are:
- Giratina
- Necrozma
- Darkrai
- Shaymin
- Archeops
- Chip-Chip Ice Axe
- Delinquent
- Flabébé
- Forest of Giant Plants
- Mega Rayquaza
- Typhlosion
- Dragonite
- Tyranitar
- Heatran
These Pokémon were deemed too powerful or unbalanced, making them unsuitable for competitive play. The ban list is subject to change, and Smogon may reevaluate these Pokémon in the future.
Reasons for Banning
Pokémon are banned for a variety of reasons, including:
- Overpowered movesets: Some Pokémon have access to moves that are too powerful or unbalanced, making them difficult to counter.
- Unbalanced stats: Some Pokémon have stats that are too high or too low, making them difficult to balance.
- Abuse of mechanics: Some Pokémon are able to exploit game mechanics in ways that are deemed unfair or unbalanced.
Notable Exceptions
While some Pokémon are banned, there are some notable exceptions. For example:
- Mega Evolution: Mega Evolutions are not banned, even if the Pokémon itself is banned. This means that some Pokémon can still be used in their Mega Evolved form.
- Event-exclusive Pokémon: Some Pokémon are only available through special events or distributions, and are not banned even if they are considered overpowered.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Smogon has a list of banned Pokémon that are deemed too powerful or unbalanced for competitive play. These Pokémon are prohibited from being used in official tournaments and battles, ensuring a more level playing field for all participants. The ban list is subject to change, and Smogon may reevaluate these Pokémon in the future.
Table: Banned Pokémon
| Pokémon | Reason for Banning |
|---|---|
| Flutter Mane | Overpowered moveset |
| Palafin | Unbalanced stats |
| Iron Bundle | Abuse of mechanics |
| Chi-Yu | Overpowered moveset |
| Annihilape | Unbalanced stats |
| Espatra | Abuse of mechanics |
| Chien-Pao | Overpowered moveset |
| Regieleki | Unbalanced stats |
| Giratina | Overpowered moveset |
| Necrozma | Unbalanced stats |
| Darkrai | Abuse of mechanics |
| Shaymin | Overpowered moveset |
| Archeops | Unbalanced stats |
| Chip-Chip Ice Axe | Abuse of mechanics |
| Delinquent | Overpowered moveset |
| Flabébé | Unbalanced stats |
| Forest of Giant Plants | Abuse of mechanics |
| Mega Rayquaza | Overpowered moveset |
| Typhlosion | Unbalanced stats |
| Dragonite | Abuse of mechanics |
| Tyranitar | Overpowered moveset |
| Heatran | Unbalanced stats |
Note: This table is not exhaustive and is subject to change as new Pokémon are introduced and the ban list is updated.