For the majority, a new mainstream Pokémon The game is a chance to fill up the Pokédex, battle through a series of gyms, and enjoy watching your group of monster friends evolve their way to glory. For a few, it’s a new dawn in a fiercely competitive landscape, as new Generation 9 Pokémon are tested for their worth in stage battle. And it seems Houndstone, the evolved form of that Good boy Greavardfound its way onto the banned list.
It’s extraordinary how different players perceive fighting Pokémon differently. For most, it’s a game of rock-paper-scissors, where you attack back and forth until you defeat the wild monster and move on. For those in the competitive landscape, however, it’s a highly complex and elaborate endeavor, where the intricate details beyond the heads of others can be of vital importance. And then there are Pokémon that when played a certain way break things.
Along with Houndstone in this crime is Flutter Mane, a Paradox Pokémon with ancient ties to Misdreavus. Like Game Rant report, Flutter Mane is a Pokémon that only ticks too many boxes to be a fair feature in battle. Those are Ghosts and Elves, limited to only two weak points—Ma and Steel—resistant to Bugs and immune to Combat, Dragon, and Normal. On top of all of that (there are many), the Vibrating Mane is also stacked in Speed and Special Attack. It’s too much fun to fight against, and Smogon Academy—a major source of competition Pokémon play—yes voted to ban it.
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However, Houndstone is even more extreme. While it boasts impressive Attack and Defense abilities, the problem lies in its signature move, Ultimate Respect. According to Smogon, it’s a Pokémon they won’t give a second glance at, not even being considered for their “Overused” list of most-played Pokémon, until Last Respects gets noticed.
The strength of the sick attack is matched based on how many other Pokémon in your party have fainted, gaining 50 bp from the original 50 for each Pokémon. That means, as your last Pokémon on the team, it can take out enemies at an all-time high of 300bp. Smogon describes this as “unmanageable”, adding, “Even if some Pokemon are left, it can still have a 200 or 250 BP STAB move.”
In other words, it hits very, very hard, very fast, practically nothing can resist. Due to its game-shattering ways, it has received criticism. Bad dog. On your bed.
There is a chance to come back. If the last respects are available to others The Pokémon, as it seems, is suspected, then the specific action will be banned and Houndstone will be allowed out of the kennel.
