How does Phione get screwed? Well... How about it being banned from the in-game Battle Tower/Frontier? Yep, it's among the handful of Pokemon that cannot participate in those battles. Pokemon like Mewtwo, Lugia, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Kyogre, and Rayquaza; all of them powerhouses of the highest degree (they're all banned in Standard competitive play). Phione? It has the exact same base stats as Glalie. That's right, 80 across the board.
Why would they ban that? There's no reason, especially when "not-quite-Legendary" Pokemon are allowed (Dragonite, Tyranitar, Salamence, Metagross, and fucking Garchomp), as well as other Pokemon with higher average stats.
But it doesn't stop there! Official Nintendo tournaments have also taken to banning the little guy. Take a look at the rules for the upcoming 2010 Pokemon Video Game World Championships. Phione is banned, but participants are allowed to use uber Pokemon (just two of them, though). Even Latios and Latias holding Soul Dew can be used here! This makes no sense at all.
Maybe it has to do with it being guilty by association: The only way to get Phione in the games is to breed Manaphy with a Ditto (thus, making Manaphy the only Legendary so far that can breed). However, Manaphy offspring will not create more Manaphy; instead, you get Phione, a powered-down Manaphy with 20 less points in each of its stats. Perhaps it's Legendary lineage is why Phione has also been hit with Game Freak's ban stick. (Manaphy is also banned in the Battle Tower/Frontier, along with Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, and Shaymin.)
In competitive gaming, Phione is looked down upon because of it's average stats, and the fact that there are more Water-types that perform better than it (for instance, Starmie and Swampert). However, since Manaphy is banned in Standard play, Phione may be the only choice for people wanting a pure Water with the Hydration ability (the other option is Dewgong, who is Water/Ice). Or... They just skip it over completely.
But I like Phione. It's grown to be my favorite Water-type. I have one on my Doubles Rain Dance team on Pokemon Battle Revolution (and, I suppose on Diamond as well). It works well in the rights hands. ...And it's funny that I say that, because this same team also has a Parasect on it, and it does pretty well too, despite it being, well, not too good overall.
...Soon, when I have free time, I'm going to take Phione's team to the world through Battle Revolution or Diamond. I'll show them the true power of a watered-down Manaphy...
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