Quick programming note: technically, the AAA council has implemented Terastal Clause by council action, so this is actually an immediate suspect to potentially remove it and re-allow Terastallizing. The full reasoning for this exact mechanism can be found here.
WHY:
Another generation, another controversial new mechanic. A quick rundown for those not familiar with it: every Pokemon has a Tera type; once per battle (and per team) a Pokemon can Terastallize, turning into its Tera type with some new mechanics. Defensively, the Pokemon becomes monotype matching its Tera type. Offensively, if it Terastallizes into a new type, it keeps its original STAB typing(s) as well as gains the new one. If it Terastallizes into a type that matches one of its original types, it gains super STAB on that type (roughly equal to Adaptability); if it was dual typed, it still keeps its other STAB at normal power.
This has a wide range of potential applications. Powerful wallbreakers can super charge their STAB moves (Iron Bundle using Tera Water Hydro Pump to 2HKO Chansey), gain a new typing to blow by supposed checks (Tera Fairy Kingambit deleting Iron Hands), or super charge coverage moves (Tera Electric Flutter Mane getting by Ice Scales Corviknight). Three-move STAB coverage can bypass a wide range of walls, and all AAA players should be familiar with how powerful Adaptability is; adding Adaptability on top of another ability is absurd.
Tera also has defensive applications; Avalugg can shed its awful Ice typing and become Fairy or Steel, Palossand can dodge incoming Dark and Ghost attacks with a well-timed Tera, and Clodsire can transform into a Water-type to eat an incoming Hydro Pump. More sinisterly, offensive Pokemon can still utilize Tera defensively as well; Dragapult is an infamous example, as a late-revealed Tera Electric can lure and KO opposing Dragonite that think they can safely revenge kill it.
That last point is something that I want to drive home; type matchups have long been one of the most important aspects of competitive Pokemon and are crucial to to gameplay. Bringing bulky Water-types to check opposing Water-types has been a valid teambuilding structure for generations, but suddenly that Water-type can be Electric instead and blow by you. It can also create unhealthy 50/50s; Iron Hands can normally reliably revenge kill Kingambit, but what if it's hiding Fairy Tera and one shots it instead? The unpredictability of Tera is a large and potentially destabilizing element, to say nothing of the buffs it offers as well.
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, November 22nd) with "TERAAA [Nick]"--for example, I could create one called "TERAAA UT" to ladder with. Having the prefix at the beginning of your alt name is mandatory, AKA not in the middle (e.g. The TERAAA Man) and not at the end (e.g. The TERAAA).
- To qualify for voting, your alt must play a minimum of 25 games, and you must have a minimum GXE of 75.
- Terastallizing will be allowed on the ladder during the suspect.
- The suspect test will go for two weeks and end on Tuesday, December 6th (11:59 pm GMT -5).
- When posting proof of meeting reqs, feel free to use this thread as a means to disseminate topical opinions regarding whether or not Terastallizing should remain banned. (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