Gholdengo: Banned or Not? The Definitive Answer and Comprehensive Guide

Yes, Gholdengo has been banned in several competitive Pokémon formats, including OU (OverUsed), but its ban status is context-dependent and varies across different formats. Understanding why it’s banned, where it’s banned, and the broader implications for competitive battling is crucial for any serious Pokémon player. This article will explore Gholdengo’s ban status, the reasons behind it, and answer frequently asked questions surrounding this powerful Pokémon.

Why the Ban Hammer Fell: Understanding Gholdengo’s Dominance

Gholdengo, with its unique Ghost/Steel typing and signature ability Good as Gold (which makes it immune to status moves), quickly rose to prominence in the Scarlet and Violet competitive scene. Its offensive prowess, coupled with its defensive utility, made it a centralizing force in the metagame. Here’s a breakdown of the key factors that led to its ban:

• Good as Gold Ability: This ability completely shuts down common strategies relying on status moves like Toxic, Will-O-Wisp, and Thunder Wave. This drastically limits counterplay options and forces opponents to rely solely on direct damage, making Gholdengo incredibly difficult to cripple.
• Excellent Typing: Ghost/Steel offers a powerful combination of offensive and defensive capabilities. It provides key resistances to common attacking types and allows Gholdengo to threaten a wide range of Pokémon.
• Versatile Movepool: Gholdengo boasts access to powerful moves like Make It Rain, Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt, and Focus Blast, giving it excellent coverage against various threats. It can also utilize moves like Nasty Plot to boost its Special Attack, making it even more dangerous.
• Dominating Role Compression: Gholdengo could effectively fill multiple roles on a team, functioning as both an offensive powerhouse and a defensive pivot. This made teambuilding significantly easier, as it could free up valuable team slots for other specialized Pokémon.
• Centralization of the Metagame: Due to its overwhelming power and versatility, the entire competitive metagame began to revolve around Gholdengo. Players were forced to specifically build teams to counter it, limiting creativity and diversity in team compositions.

This combination of factors ultimately led to Gholdengo being deemed too powerful and unhealthy for the competitive environment, resulting in its ban from several formats.

Where is Gholdengo Banned? A Tier-by-Tier Breakdown

Gholdengo’s ban status isn’t universal. It varies depending on the specific competitive format. Here’s a rundown:

• Smogon OU (OverUsed): Gholdengo was banned from Smogon’s OverUsed tier in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. This is one of the most popular competitive formats. Its ban was based on the factors described above.
• Smogon Ubers: This tier is where Pokémon deemed too powerful for OU reside. Gholdengo is legal in Ubers.
• Smogon Other Tiers (UU, RU, NU, PU): Since the purpose of lower tiers is to allow OU-banned Pokémon to see play and test the meta, Gholdengo is currently banned from all the other Smogon tiers as well.
• VGC (Video Game Championships): The official competitive format organized by The Pokémon Company International. Gholdengo is legal in the VGC. The rules and format differ significantly from Smogon rules, which affects the power level of individual Pokémon. VGC’s double battle format and item clauses contribute to a different metagame where Gholdengo’s dominance is less pronounced.
• Other Formats: Gholdengo’s ban status in less common or custom formats will depend on the specific rules established by those communities.

It’s essential to check the specific rules and regulations of the format you’re playing to determine Gholdengo’s legality.

The Impact of Gholdengo’s Ban

Gholdengo’s ban has had a significant impact on the competitive landscape.

• Increased Metagame Diversity: With Gholdengo removed from the equation, players have more freedom to experiment with different team compositions and strategies. The metagame has become less centralized and more diverse.
• Shifting Power Dynamics: The ban has created opportunities for other Pokémon to rise in prominence. Pokémon that were previously overshadowed by Gholdengo now have a chance to shine.
• Greater Emphasis on Strategic Teambuilding: Without Gholdengo’s ability to single-handedly carry teams, players must focus on building more well-rounded and synergistic teams to succeed.

The ban of Gholdengo signifies a continuous effort to maintain a balanced and healthy competitive environment in Pokémon.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Gholdengo and Competitive Pokémon

Here are some frequently asked questions related to Gholdengo’s ban and broader competitive Pokémon concepts:

1. What does “banned” mean in competitive Pokémon?

A “banned” Pokémon is one that is prohibited from being used in a specific competitive format due to its perceived overwhelming power, centralizing influence, or unhealthy impact on the metagame.

2. Who decides which Pokémon get banned?

The specific body responsible for banning Pokémon varies depending on the format. In Smogon’s tiers, bans are typically decided by the council for that tier, often following a suspect test where players vote on whether a Pokémon should be banned. The Games Learning Society may not directly decide on bans, but the data and analysis they promote can indirectly inform community discussions around balance. See more at GamesLearningSociety.org. In VGC, The Pokémon Company International sets the rules and ban list.

3. What is a “suspect test”?

A suspect test is a process used by Smogon to determine whether a Pokémon should be banned from a tier. Players who meet certain criteria (e.g., having a high ranking on the ladder) are given the opportunity to use the Pokémon in question and vote on whether it should be banned.

4. What’s the difference between Smogon and VGC?

Smogon is an online competitive Pokémon community that develops its own rules and tiers. VGC is the official competitive format organized by The Pokémon Company International. Smogon focuses on singles battles with specific rules about item usage and team preview, while VGC uses double battles with a different set of rules.

5. Why isn’t Gholdengo banned in VGC?

The double battle format, item clauses, and team preview in VGC create a different competitive environment where Gholdengo’s strengths are less pronounced. The availability of multiple threats and different strategies makes it harder for Gholdengo to dominate.

6. Can I still use Gholdengo in casual battles?

Yes, Gholdengo is still legal for use in casual battles and most online battles that don’t adhere to specific competitive rulesets. The ban only applies to competitive formats where it is deemed too powerful.

7. What are some good alternatives to Gholdengo in OU?

Depending on the specific role you want to fill, alternatives could include powerful special attackers like Volcarona, Iron Moth, or Serperior. Pokémon with strong defensive utility and status immunity like Gliscor can also fill some of Gholdengo’s niche.

8. How often do Pokémon get banned?

The frequency of bans varies depending on the health of the metagame. New Pokémon are often subject to suspect tests shortly after their release, and bans can occur at any time if a Pokémon is deemed too problematic.

9. What happens to a Pokémon after it’s banned?

In Smogon, banned Pokémon are typically moved to the Ubers tier or left unranked if deemed too powerful even for Ubers. This allows them to still be used in certain formats, while preventing them from dominating the tier they were banned from.

10. What are the criteria for a Pokémon to be considered “broken”?

A Pokémon is typically considered “broken” if it is too powerful relative to the rest of the metagame. Factors that contribute to this include overwhelming offensive or defensive stats, an ability that is too strong or versatile, a movepool that provides too much coverage, and the ability to invalidate common counterplay strategies.

11. How does a Pokémon’s typing affect its ban status?

A Pokémon’s typing is a significant factor in its overall power level. A good typing can provide key resistances and immunities, making it difficult to handle. For example, Gholdengo’s Ghost/Steel typing is highly advantageous defensively.

12. Does popularity influence ban decisions?

While popularity alone doesn’t directly cause a ban, a Pokémon’s high usage rate can indicate that it is overly centralizing and potentially problematic for the metagame. If a large percentage of teams are using a particular Pokémon, it suggests that it is significantly more effective than other options.

13. What is the difference between a quickban and a suspect test ban?

A quickban is an immediate ban implemented by a council without a suspect test, typically in cases where a Pokémon is obviously broken upon initial release. A suspect test ban is a ban that follows a formal suspect test process, where players vote on whether the Pokémon should be banned.

14. Can a banned Pokémon ever be unbanned?

Yes, it is possible for a banned Pokémon to be unbanned. This typically occurs if changes to the game, such as new Pokémon or move additions/changes, have significantly altered the metagame and reduced the previously banned Pokémon’s dominance. The Pokémon may then undergo a “retest” where its impact on the metagame is reassessed.

15. Why is Pokémon GO not mentioned?

Pokémon GO is not typically considered a relevant part of the core competitive Pokémon scene, which revolves around the main series games (Scarlet, Violet, etc.) and their associated competitive formats (VGC, Smogon). Pokémon GO’s battle system and mechanics differ significantly, making direct comparisons difficult.