1. Out of the bulky Pokemon mentioned in the Concept Assessment thread, which ones do we want CAP23 to threaten? Why are these the best Pokemon to target with trapping moves? Are there some we don't want CAP23 to threaten? Why or why not?
There seems to be a running trend of having Landorus-T as being a prime candidate to threaten because of it being so OP; despite Tomohawk, Colossoil, and Arghonaut all placing higher in usage and being more bulky. I'm not sure it's such a bad thing, but the main complaint I have with it choosing XYZ as being threats to specifically counter with CAP23, the risk ends up like the original Arghonaut concept of when those mon eventually lose their status - either through the presence of CAP23 in the meta, or the presence of CAP23 within the team making them untenable.
If we look at those 4 mons, and include Zapdos, Ferrothorn as well, you're looking at 6 bulky mon within the top 10 usage for 1760. These mon can either stay in and take a hit (especially with no weakness to STAB), or use something to switch out anyway. We can't even trap Landorus, Zapdos, Colossoil can all U-Turn/Volt Switch out, as can Tapu Koko, Volkraken, Krilowatt, Syclant, Crucibelle, Kitsunoh, Malaconda, and Pelipper; more than half of the top 20 used pokemon in the meta currently are straight up immune to the trapping effect by being able to switch out, while another, Chansey is immune to Anchor Shot straight up. Sweet, so we've got 12 mon which we cannot effectively trap in the top 20. If this CAP ever gets anywhere near the top 20, then there's also going to be more mon in the top 20 which can pivot out.
There is Zygarde, a lovely like bulkasaurus who can SubCoil and his SE with Dragon Tail if it wish to phase us out, and inflict shuffle damage. Any other mon except for Arghonaut (although it does have Roar despite that) can do the shuffle if it has Roar or Whirlwind.
Mega-Sableye can Knock Off for additional SE damage, inflict status, heal, and wants to use its bulk to stay in with, given that it's not hit SE.
2. What other Pokemon should CAP23 threaten? Explain why and how it can relate back to trapping moves. Keep in mind this can be non-bulky Pokemon as well.
Kerfluffle should be at risk of being threatened; it's combination of Parting Shot and Fairy means that it's resilient to the trapping, and with it's stats, can chance a 2HKO, dependent on stats (and whether an effective 4 Attack set allows for Assault Vest to be viable), with it's LO Moonblast. It's not going to get any more threatening than that. It's pretty much always going to force a switch, which doesn't really leave Kerfluffle to be risking much unless we throw on something like Gunk Shot to specifically counter it. I think Anchor Shot should be in the moveset to let it play around it for that purpose, but you can also try and make it easier to predict by giving it an ability such as Rattled, Justified or Defiant, which would make it not want to risk Parting Shot out. I think that Kerfluffle should remain threatening, but not to the extent where "it has Parting Shot, immune to CAP23's main damage dealing STAB and it has a fast SE STAB, CAP23 should instantly switch and be unthreatening. Pursuit is obviously a no-go, but I've mentioned it a few times that Stakeout and Pursuit go together like Pork and Beans. It provides that instant thought process on what is CAP23 running. Is it going to instantly run away? Is it going to stay in, take the hit/predict the Parting Shot and do additional damage to me (as a LO user around 80% HP, can it kill with a +/- 0 Anchor Shot, or does it have a more threatening Gunk Shot.
It adds a lot more complexity to what is currently the premier threat against CAP23 by typing alone.
3. Are there certain Pokemon that have an easy time against the trapping effect? Should these Pokemon easily check or counter CAP23? Why or why not?
Normal-types (of which there's only really Chansey, and potentially Snorlax who could switch into Anchor Shot and begin to Curse up), Phasers, mon who can put a Timer on Trapping effect while outlasting the trap and the resultant time to kill (i.e Leech Seeder, Toxic, Burns), pivot users, and mon who already recieve a benefit from switching out and little benefit from staying in.
Garchomp is one such threat; able to set up Stealth Rocks, Toxic, use the Super-effective Dragon Tail, and punish the contact making moves (although STAB Spirit Shackle is neither resisted, nor contact making) to shuffle the deck, and throw some pain down elsewhere. Zygarde is less effective at that, but SubCoil or SubDance wants to stay in anyway. I don't see a problem with Garchomp being a possible contender here. It's low usage, outclassed by Zygarde,
Colossoil Resists Ghost damage, and isn't hit SE by Dragon, and can U-Turn out into a fairy type (say if locked into Outrage) or normal (if facing an expected Spirit Shackle and it outspeeds), and deals pretty horrific damage with it's STAB Pursuit/Sucker Punch/Knock Off.
Do we want Phazing to be a thing that CAP23 is weak to? There's a lot of discussions over mon which use it. Is it intended to be a viable counter? Or do we want to have it immune to it with Suction Cups?
Do we want CAP23 to be expressly weak to Dark types and moves as ubiquitous Knock off, or does it have to be forced to wear Z Crystals, or is Sticky Hold a viable option?
These are definite anti-concept things, and need to be discussed NOW rather than in the abilities thread, because otherwise that's just wasted time.
Skarmory, Chomp and Arghonaut can phase well among others, but the ability to phase is not a result of the mon, but a result of the move itself. If this is going to be something you want to allow or stop shpuld be discussee within threats.