Ranking ALL 16 Form Change Abilities in Pokémon

[@Illeea]

multitype can also use a z-crystal to change type while silvally cannot. you lose the damage boost but gain a z-move.

[@WhimsicottFanatic]

I don't think I'll ever understand why the Memories weren't just Key Items and you change Silvally's type through those while still having an item slot free

[@calebehhh-jx7ic]

@WhimsicottFanatic Whaaat? What do you mean the fans dont want a blatant copy of arceus?!?

[@Nmoment-uv6jc]

​@@WhimsicottFanatic for resemblance to arceus. It's a bad choice in competitive balance standarts, but they werent that focused in that during gen 7.

[@kyclerealman]

​@@calebehhh-jx7ic I think that's exactly what people would've wanted actually.

[@CuddlyTheMadElite]

I think it’d be cool if Silvally could be any type, including dual type. idk how you’d implement it, but you should be able to give it a primary type and a secondary type as well.

[@allieginter8438]

15:29 "This is really the only form change ability where the user starts out in its stronger form" Wishiwashi will remember this

[@bread7259]

Well if you wanna get super technical, Schooling doesn't activate until Wishiwashi is level 20 so it does kinda sorta start out in solo form

[@terrariaskeletonpre1.0.39]

@@bread7259 not only that, but technically you send it into battle in the solo form, it just reverts into the schooling form the moment it hits the battle

[@x_bell1142]

I forgor 💀

[@ChillgrayTheFlower]

🐟

[@BlazePlayzGames62]

⁠@@ChillgrayTheFlower 🐟🐟🐟🐟 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟 🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟🐟

[@Subatomicfish]

The crazy thing about Aeigislash is that it’s relatively slow, so odds are pretty good it’ll attack after the opponent, so it will still be in its defensive form when it gets hit, and since kings shield is like protect, it has priority, so it’ll protect it that turn and also change it back to shield form to prepare for the next incoming attack. So it’s pretty close to having both its attack and defense stats as 140, making its effective base stat total 680. Obviously lots of caveats, but that’s what really put it into perspective for me

[@Edelweiss1102]

It also works very well with a number of things. Weakness Policy was practically invented for Aegislash, it can nearly always take a super effective hit in defense form and then hit back very hard. It's also great to play mind games after it made a move. Does the opponent go for a switch or set up, potentially costing him a juicy hit? Or does he attack, and you go for King's Shield, lowering his attack in the process? Lot of stuff to play around it. Yeah it got nerfed, isn't currently in the game and a plethora of new broken Ghost and Dark types have brought it back down to earth a bit. But it can still be very threatening under the right circumstances, there's a reason this thing was banned to Ubers for 2 Gens straight.

[@morganjary]

The good old Swords Dance with massive defenses; shadow sneak for a KO, King's Shield to cripple the revenge killer and back to Shadow Sneak. It was absolutely silly, he had priority when to ignore his low speed, AND ALSO had low speed to be able to tank hits before getting hit. No wonder it got nerfed.

[@NikNak32]

Yeah I knew stance change was going to be the best form altering ability but it's nice to learn about the others that I've overlooked.

[@ronnieketchum1241]

Stance Change is MADE for Aegislash. In Fact Aegislash is arguably the best non legendary Pokémon period. Covering both defenses. 1v1 most threats. Has a Great offensive or stall movepool. Excellent Ghost Steel Typing.

[@davidegaruti2582]

​@@morganjaryyou could also use secret sword to attack afther the opponent and do more damage that way

[@TheRageBaiter]

I love shields down for the fact that no one, including me, knows how it works. The amount of battles I've won with my low tier little space rock because someone tried to status it as I shell smash is astonishing.

[@anonymousfog501]

Ol' Reliable: Shell Smash, White Herb, Acrobatics

[@x_bell1142]

I didn't even know either until I made this video

[@archerwarp3239]

@@x_bell1142I abuse that knowledge with a sash,like who needs defense when your gonna die to prio anyways? May as well make the best of it

[@LiamR-pg7od]

@@anonymousfog501 fr

[@overlordjace9716]

the fact that shields down's status immunity cant be stopped by neutralizing gas, mold breaker or mycelium might gives minior such a unique niche as a setup sweeper

[@CuddlyTheMadElite]

One thing about Zen Mode Darmanitan is that because you need to be at half HP, you will be even frailer than regular Darmanitan. For example, regular Darmanitan takes 67-79% damage from Tera Normal Extreme Speed Dragonite. After Zen Mode, it’ll take 40-47%. However that is effectively 80-94% because you’re a maximum 50% of your HP. So you’re slower, frailer, and likely doing less damage in one of the forms, not even counting Sheer Force.

[@christiancinnabars1402]

Zen Mode should have _really_ worked the opposite way, starting Darmanitan out in Zen Mode and only switching forms when a condition is met. It would align better with those desert Darmanitans being in Zen Mode despite having full HP. Turning it back to normal when it goes below half HP would make sense to have the Ability be the complete opposite of what it is now, but that would probably suck in practice (imagine setting up a Calm Mind or two, and suddenly you have 30 base Sp. Atk and no Psychic STAB). Maybe if you use a physical move like Flare Blitz, then Darmanitan would switch back to its normal form. That way, it's more of an emergency "our HP is low and we can't tank anymore, so we need to prioritize Speed" button instead of your opponent completely trivializing your moveset once you hit the 50% HP margin.

[@CuddlyTheMadElite]

@@christiancinnabars1402 That would be better but not by much since it’d only be useful for Belly Drum sets where it can leverage its bulk in Zen Mode more. I think it’d be better if it was like Tera Shift where you get to be Zen Mode form immediately, or like Deoxys where its not even tied to an ability. Also heard someone suggest Zen Mode activating when the Darm uses Calm Mind, which would make sense and not have synergy problems.

[@TheWarnvenoda]

Darmanitan should definitely take even less damage when in Zen form… it really looks so « solid » and it’s so handicaped by its speed and all… Or they could rework the whole Darmanitan mechanic with a signature move that makes Darmanitan take its Zen form when used…

[@Nukatha]

Game Freak really wants water types to conditionally have legendary stats. Wishiwashi, Battle Bond Greninja, Palafin, and Dondozo.

[@Nmoment-uv6jc]

Multitype arceus

[@maxstrike3022]

"Battle Bone" lmao😂😂

[@ThisIsAHandle-xz5yo]

@@maxstrike3022burrito bone better

[@Otherversian]

God (Arceus) really loves his soggy little goblin children.

[@antra21]

And I LOVE it 🥰

[@TheVengefulVadam]

I think you heavily underrate Gulp Missile’s utility. Sure, there are other moves used by other Pokemon that offer the same effects. However, the fact the only requirement to access these effects is to use Surf, it’s kind of scary to go up against, especially the Gorging form. There was a Gen 9 OU team recently that used a lead Cramorant using Endure + Custap Berry + Surf to guarantee a paralysis (even if it’s a ground-type!) + 25% chip damage against whatever was in front of it. It’s way better than Castform, Cherrim, and even Eiscue’s forms imo.

[@AshBlossomWorshiper]

Agreed.

[@x_bell1142]

You know what, that's totally fair. Like I said at the end, the lower ranked ones are pretty interchangeable, so I don't feel strongly about Cramorant being at the rank it is. If you feel that it should be higher, I wouldn't argue with you!

[@notnath14]

Yeah, Gulp Missile is bad because it's on Cramorant, not because the ability itself is bad. It even got kinda banned in Hackmons because you could have Cramorant enter battle with a Pikachu in its mouth and even with Cramorant's stats that was broken.

[@Eroil]

Yeah was looking for a comment about this, definitely agreed. Not the best ability of all time but it has good utility, and as Cramorant has access to Roost it can use it multiple times easily

[@hulabulia1329]

Cramorant (specifically the pikachu form) is actually banned in balanced hackmons on showdown

[@whatamidoing725]

14:03 the fact that arceus can also hold z crystals to change its type is also another thing arceus has over silvally

[@x_bell1142]

True, good point!

[@TheDekuSlayor]

I disagree with Hunger Switch being underwhelming, as it has one massive benefit - it's extremely relatable and both forms are cute.

[@x_bell1142]

Very fair

[@FunnyFany]

"You don't have all the facts!" "Which are?" "I love him."

[@ceulgai2817]

Germlin detected

[@saktzeddie9681]

No Ice ❌ Noise ✅

[@Cyn_the_goober]

i always find it funny that it consistently gets misspelled as "Noice" like the michael rosen meme

[@dinostorion]

@@Cyn_the_goober it's not misspelled. the game actually calls it noice

[@menelik6652]

it would be funny if terapagos form change thing was blocked by neutralizing gass

[@x_bell1142]

It would be rather humorous

[@Yesenn]

I think it should. Currently Terapagos' "base form" has basically no reason to exist, or at least have unique stats. It's kinda like the active and inactive "forms' of Xerneas.

[@luizfelipevbf5567]

@@Yesenn Baby Terapagos exists for one reason and one reason only, merchandising.

[@Yesenn]

@@luizfelipevbf5567 To me, it doesn't even look cute. Normal Terapagos looks cooler *and* cuter, lol

[@teno777]

@@YesennAnd make it completely irrelevant in battle ? No, it shouldn’t lose its ability ever, come on… and the first form is purely a flavour form.

[@patroka]

Fwiw, Eiscue’s form change and stat spread makes a lot more sense when you realize it gets Belly Drum. The form change allows it to eat a hit, and it then becomes extremely fast and can sweep teams. That said, it still isn’t very good and I’m not sure if it should really even change places on this list, simply due to being too predictable and reliant on your opponent doing something specific.

[@SPZ-gv2on]

The issue is that it's only threatening if your opponent lets it drum and hits it physically. You can just swap in a random special attacker vs it at almost no risk. Before drum it does no damage, and if it drums any special hit now ohkos it and it's slow.

[@bleh491]

@@SPZ-gv2on Endure is a nice fall back for when this happens. Maybe throw in a salac berry for the extra speed (or use saftey goggles for weather coverage) and hit them hard with a reversal/ice spinner/liquidation

[@blake..-]

“Being weak will not be held against it” you mentioned low stats almost every time haha

[@jacksonhorrocks4281]

If the form switch was good

[@aaronking2020]

​@@jacksonhorrocks4281 you can't tell me schooling wouldnt be crazy on a mon with a decent hp stat

[@tomwantshelp]

Cherrim is a VGC World Champion! OK it wasn’t at Master level but it still shows the ability has genuine use.

[@x_bell1142]

I actually didn't know that!

[@EvlynDusk_a_girl]

8:22 Cherrim was a pokemon extremly viable in triple battle though, since it can boost both offensives stats of it's two allies in the sunlight, plus give an additional boost with Helping Hands, it was extremly good paired with mega Charizard Y, but since triple battles don't exist anymore in pokemon, it get mid

[@EvlynDusk_a_girl]

However Eiscue's Ice Face is worst than Cherrim's Flower Gift since it didn't had good usages unlike Cherrim, L

[@GravityIsFalling]

Bringing up triple battles is crazy I mean at that point you can say salazzle (the hot fire poison reptile) is good because it’s good in random battles

[@EvlynDusk_a_girl]

@@GravityIsFalling I dont said that Cherrim is good because of triple battle, I said that AT LEAST Cherrim was viable in a format, unlike Eiscue

[@hailthequeenFM]

It won a Regional in 2009 with Groudon

[@dude6074]

It's in Pokémon showdown rn

[@valiantchris6456]

If I had a nickel for every Ghost/Steel Pokémon with a busted ability, I have *TWO* nickels. Which isn't a lot but it's insane that it happened twice.

[@mamelouk]

maybe they'll nerf gholdengo in gen10 too who knows

[@SPZ-gv2on]

​@@mameloukI wouldn't be surprised. It's been a massive pain in vgc for the game's entire life barring legendary metas.

[@Ze_Carrot]

Zen darmanitan is so fuckin cool if the ability just changed it outright it would be so fuckin cool

[@mewion6774]

I'm stealing this from a video I saw, but Calm Mind should permanently turn it into zen mode

[@Ze_Carrot]

@@mewion6774 saw the same vid

[@daniellejackson6543]

In all seriousness if it was darmanitan's base form, it would be a threat. For one, special attackers take advantage of sheer force more than physical attackers and a dual stab one with 105 defenses and hp is threatening, and if it had trick room it may even be an ou version of ice rider in ubers.

[@discord4039]

Imagine if Zen form had an extra buff of making all physical moves count as special moves

[@timmyreobed5043]

Tera Shift on Terapagos is literally just the result of someone at TPC saying that it's not marketable enough and they want to sell more plushies.

[@x_bell1142]

@@timmyreobed5043 True

[@youtube-kit9450]

Unovan Darmanitan Zen-Mode just fucking infuriates me. Change at half HP from a fragile physical glass cannon to a tanky slow special attacker. Split the attacking stats, which is a death wish for any pokémon? Check. Hamper its tankiness by having it have to be at half HP? Check. Have it have no ability until that half HP is achieved when you're glass cannon as hell? Check. Everything in that design works against it. It cannot even keep its form once you reach over half HP, so you cannot just flare blitz shit until you trigger zen mode, then have a berry recover its HP and blast the opponent with psychics or something. Minior, as mediocre a pokémon it might be (I personally love it), did execute the concept perfectly - immunity to status and high defenses while at high HP, meaning you can set up and shit first. Then change to a fast, hard hitting glass cannon form to buttblast the opponent.

[@Zackattack151]

They should add a delta stream castform variant which is just insanely strong but you can only use it against mega rayquaza

[@x_bell1142]

They should

[@AdlerTuley]

Or with Mega Rayquaza as its partner. That might be scary.

[@segasonic4952]

Considering they Gave Mikey(MandjTV) Shiny Castforms, they might do it in Pokemon Legends ZA cause Megas Are Back.

[@agent5333]

Don’t even announce it, just sneak it in.

[@kirbstagoontheaxolotl]

What would a Windy/Delta Stream form Castform get? I'd assume Weather Ball would become Flying or Dragon type, based on Delta Stream only coming through Mega Rayquaza

[@M3rtyville]

can we take a minute and get mind blown that Unown doesn't have a form like Wishiwashi where a bunch of Unown appear, give it a massive stat buff and some moves alongside it? The ice penguins form change should also apply on rain and sun where you get the faster form. Multitype is also better than RKS system since it works with Z-Crystals.

[@diegotimon4570]

Terapagos' change is stupid It should have been like Xerneas, where it has a non-battle and battle forms, and that non-battle form not apearing in battle not even as an "intro" Terapagos' form change is a waste of time with initial stats that don't matter

[@x_bell1142]

True, why even have the original form if it's never going to be used in battle?

[@Gloomdrake]

The best Pokémon with a non-battle form and a battle form is still Clodsire

[@diegotimon4570]

@@Gloomdrake Coldsire doesn't change forms, though? You mean the spikes on its back? Thats not really a form change (although it is cool)

[@Gloomdrake]

@@diegotimon4570 out of battle, he’s a silly little guy, always smiling. In battle, he gets serious

[@diegotimon4570]

@@Gloomdrake Fair point

[@tomrejor4842]

If we change perspective on wishiwashi, and we consider it's base form to be the solo form, which I'd argue it is, it has technically an insane ability, that allows it to gain a woping 445 base stats as long as it is above 25% of it's health, which is to my knowledge (and it may be lacking) the biggest amount of base stat increase through any ability, mechanic or even Evolution, in the game. So a drawback any pokemon would 100% take. --Yes, I'm just playing devil's advocate but it's fun--

[@Nosretep]

I'd at least give it 60+ Speed and Recover.

[@bread7259]

19:31 Obstruct and Silk Trap are also protect variants which lower stats if hit by contact moves

[@anonymousfog501]

Additionally there's Spiky Shield, Baneful Bunker, and Burning Bulwark, which damages, inflicts Poison, and inflicts Burn respectively

[@sythrus]

And dont forget burning bulwark which is effectively old kings shield but better, since it halves attack by burning (kings shield got nerfed to a -1 attack insteas of -2)

[@JackLeighton-uh6sl]

@@sythrus halves base power of moves you mean, comes into play very often since body press and foul play are both contact moves

[@sythrus]

@@JackLeighton-uh6sl yes, i know, (it did used to reduce attack by 50% but that was changed for body press, idr what the interaction was with foul play tho)

[@x_bell1142]

You know what I totally forgot about those. Thanks for pointing them out!

[@riguor9876]

The Idea behind eiscue seems to be to come in on a physical attacker, and get them to attack you for no damage while you set up belly drum, and suddenly you have a +6 attack pokemon with base 130 speed. Even at base 80 attack, +6 stages is *very* strong, and ice is a good offensive type. In practice, the efficacy of the ability is entirely reliant on your opponent playing suboptimally. if your opponent has to waste a turn either way, they can just switch to a special attacker, since a turn 1 eiscue threatens nothing and without the opponent hitting you with a physical attack you don't get your 130 base speed.

[@sinteleon]

About castform, it ensures weatherball always gets STAB. it also means it also always gets stab on Z-Moved Weatherball (one of the few moves which can activate different Z-Moves based on stage conditions).

[@SangoProductions213]

As someone who plays Pokemon Tabletop, Aegislash is the only pokemon other than a Magikarp that my character has swung around like a sword. It is fun.

[@nacl4988]

Important note about Mimikyu. Self damage, Status, snd Hazards do not count. Which means that first turn, it can set up, or attack with Life Orb, and you cant punch it back, Even if you had Hazards up

[@EndiXIV]

Should terapagos even count tho? Like for all intents and purposes there is no form change at all, since you can literally only use it in its 2nd form. There's essentially 1 form

[@DrMinaDeZoneAcerola]

It still counts if you have neutralizing gas to make it stay in its normal form so yes there is 3 forms

[@GravityIsFalling]

@@DrMinaDeZoneAcerola Mo

[@EndiXIV]

@@DrMinaDeZoneAcerola ah that makes sense ty!

[@CuddlyTheMadElite]

Actually Tera Shift can’t be supressed by Neutralizing Gas. The only way to even use the base form of Terapagos is if you hack your game, similar to how you could use Megas, Primals, and Eternamax Eternatus.

[@DrMinaDeZoneAcerola]

@@CuddlyTheMadElite oh interesting

[@tim..indeed]

They should add an ability to Darmanitan where it starts out in Zen mode and goes into regular mode at 50% hp.

[@fortello7219]

I feel like some of these abilities need to be actual abilities, rather than JUST a form change. Like Castform, which simply changes the type, should get a stat buff based on which type of weather is set. (Also, that would be a funny way to punish weather wars. If every time, not just the first time, the weather changed Castform got a stat buff it could become an anti meta staple. Especially if the buffs were+1 to 2 different stats.)

[@youtubeuniversity3638]

Imagine if Castform got HUGE statboosts, but only if an enemy mon sets the weather not if any ally mon does.

[@mrthomas_19218]

Palafin also evolves at lvl 38 which is theorized to be a reference to 1938, the year of the first Superman comic, that along with the switch out and the name hero mode really makes the Superman reference strong

[@x_bell1142]

That's cool!

[@vidmanandrew09]

@@x_bell1142 But there’s a bit of a drawback. You need to be in co-op mode to get this dolphin to Evolve at all.

[@gigatonwatch]

19:29 Silk Trap and Obstruct both work exactly like King's Shield, but for speed and defence respectively, and Burning Bulwark effectively does the same thing asa King's Shield, since it halves the attacker's attack.

[@x_bell1142]

I forgot about those, my bad!

[@rekttangela2262]

Cherrim's ability is so good that it actually won a vgc tournament (I believe it was in the juniors devision, but still amazing) despite how bad its stats are, being able to give a calm mind to one of your pokemon for just having the sun up is amazing, and I definitely think it should've been higher up

[@NinF37]

Love these videos. As someone who is a very casual pokemon fan, I really appreciate the detail you go into. for example, when you say whether it goes back or not after healing and how it can heal itself, things not said directly in the in game description. Plus, the visuals that accompany your explanations really help!

[@x_bell1142]

Thanks!

[@AlfredoPuente8]

Castform really needs a stat buff when it transforms.

[@MishKoz]

In a perfect world, Groudon and Cherrim would be perfect partners...💔

[@SolaricSage116]

Enter Koraidon and Cherrim.

[@peeboweebo]

you are forgetting eiscue gets belly drum, so it can take a physical attack and use belly drum so it outspeeds and deals 4x damage.

[@hollowlord8548]

Special attack says hi

[@hollowlord8548]

Or any pokemon with higher speed

[@hollowlord8548]

Or priority

[@hollowlord8548]

Or taunt

[@hollowlord8548]

Or haze

[@Julnz]

7:24 I’d give castform some extra points simply because it’s BST is 420

[@Blibers]

Nice~

[@bb4life141]

19:24 nah, Obstruct lowers defense by 2 stages and Silk Trap by 1 stage but speed instead. Unfortunately I think none of them can protect from status moves

[@x_bell1142]

I forgot about these, that's my bad!

[@undrhil]

7:35 it also allows for whether ball to be the same type as Castform

[@i.c.2552]

I've once seen a comment suggesting a rework for the Unovan Darmanitan's Zen Mode, in which the ability activates upon using Calm Mind

[@Palindome]

Technically kings shield isn't the only 'protect' move that can lower the opponents attack. Burning bulwark inflicts burn on the opponent, and burn automatically lowers the opponent's attack stat (though king's shield is still the only one that lowers the opponent's attack by a 'stage')

[@Avatodor]

Love your videos! Keep making entertaining content like this!

[@x_bell1142]

Thanks!

[@SuperChristopher-ll8bd]

One correction that may or may not have been mentioned already. Castform's Weather Forms also change the type of the move Weather Ball. AKA Normal = Normal, Sunny = Fire, Rainy = Water, and Snowy = Ice.

[@x_bell1142]

Weather Ball changing type has nothing to do with Castform's ability and everything to do with the weather. Other Pokémon can learn this move too, making it not an exclusive characteristic to Castform even if I was counting it.

[@SuperChristopher-ll8bd]

@@x_bell1142 wasn't aware other pokemon could learn it. That's my bad.

[@alfredsupersauce]

6:32 calling paralyzing a really underwhelming secondary effect is insane. How many millions of battles have had their outcome changed from a single full para? Cramorant still isn’t good but paralysis is. Edit: Thinking more about gulp missile it would actually be crazy on a Pokémon with better stats. Rough skin is considered a solid ability and it does less recoil damage and only activates on contact moves. Gulp missile doing 25% recoil and having a secondary effect and activating on all damaging moves is crazy. If cram had good bulk to stick around longer and activate its ability more it’d be busted. Only bad thing is you’re using surf to activate the ability but gulping form lowers def instead of spdef, so that’s some anti synergy.

[@x_bell1142]

I've realized this now and would place Cramorant higher up. I never really felt strong about any of the lower ranked placements, so if you feel that Cramorant should be higher, that's fair.

[@WatchYoruba]

Well done!

[@x_bell1142]

Thanks

[@snahthe3rd]

Fantastic video no dead internet theory I mean this whole hearted here good work and solid ratings

[@entothechesnautknight1762]

One thing i want to bring up is that if you look at the distribution of form change abilities, there are barely any before gen 6, and most of them were added in gen 7+. Even Greninja and Zygarde's were only added in gen 7. Aegislash was *so fucking cool* that it pretty much single-handedly turned form changes from an occasional tool into a garenteed trope for *multiple* pokemon every single generation.

[@digifreak90]

My biggest issue with Wishiwashi is that the change happens at the end of the turn. At least, that's how it works in Sun/Moon as I had one on my team (single player, not competitive), it had gotten attacked and reverted to solo form, so on the next turn I healed it to full using an item, but since the change didn't happen until the end of the turn, it didn't have the boosted defense of Schooling form to withstand the attack, so it got OHKO'd.

[@mettatonex7221]

Did you know that in Gen 7, Z-Crystals also served to change Arceus' type? It was trickier to use because Arceus has to already have a move of the correct type to hold a Z-Crystal, which doesn't include Judgement, so for instance if you wanted Arceus-Ground, you need to have Earthquake or Earth Power on your kit first.

[@x_bell1142]

I did know that but I totally forgot to mention that in the video. Even more reason for Arceus to be in front of Silvally in the ranking

[@Ratstail91]

Back in gen 6, I had a competitive team with Aegislash and a defensive-healing Wailord as my leads. It was a hell of a lot of fun.

[@migueeeelet]

Something i really like about Aegislash's form change is that it's incredibly straightforward and easy to use. Even if you don't care for it you'll still be rewarded with the massive attack increase that, due to its low speed, is very likely to happen AFTER the enemy attacks... which will hit its shield form!

[@x_bell1142]

True

[@nacl4988]

Side note, Cramorant is actually among the best Pokémon in the game in Hackmons, Because it can cheat its form conditions to start as PikaForm, making it incredibly dangerous to just attack

[@theauditor3224]

I went years without knowing darmanatan had a second form

[@Kilo6Charlie]

I wondered if, because I forgot half these abilities, stuff like Slow Start and Defeatist would be counted. I'd argue they probably SHOULD, but fair enough

[@dominicrojasbarillas6972]

13:06 RKS System could work without an equiped item, changing the type with a key item outside of combat, this not only differentiates it from Arceus who can change with an item that boosts its attacks or the Z Crystal, but this way Sylvally will have space to have any item, making the ability practically useless, but better that than having to have a useless item for a useless ability to be a steel type. I mean, imagine if Rotom had to have the electro-domestic equipped to access his other forms and without having the levitation ability, it would be quite wasted. I say all this because it is generally more viable to use Type: Null with Eviolite and his battle armor ability than Silvally with any of its types, which makes me feel bad for him.

[@Bismarck-S]

Cherrim isn’t dependent on the ability though, the flower gift ability merrely gives a bonus to your partner Pokémon in sunlight

[@x_bell1142]

I explained that Flower Gift was changed so that the ability IS what causes the form change in generation 5. The form change is purely aesthetic but it is still dependent on the ability.

[@Bismarck-S]

@@x_bell1142 Huh, from what I've understood the ability is not what causes the from change, it only gives the boosts, but I guess I was wrong, and the wiki too.

[@LesbianWitchAcademia]

Another thing to note about what makes Stance Change so good for Aegislash is that it actually makes Aegislash's pathetic speed a positive, as it will get outsped by the vast majority of pokemon with actual offensive stats, meaning that it will eat their attack in its much tankier shield form before swapping to blade form to retaliate. And since its speed is just high enough that it can outspeed extremely slow walls, it can actually move before them without having to worry about taking a strong hit to its very poor defenses in Blade Form. It really is perfectly designed to use its ability to the absolute full potential.

[@omegaryder7855]

I think eiscues form change needs to take into account a better form of belly drum in front of a physical attacker, as it can then buff power and speed in one turn, while taking the initial damage in its tankier form

[@obviouslyanonymous]

I will never forget the horrors that were Aegislash fresh off X and Y release. To me it was one of the biggest signs of the direction Pokemon was headed

[@dabluepittoo-aqua4213]

I find Palafin's so funny and cute. A superhero Pokemon complete with it's own 'secret identity' gimmick is really creative, I love it. Helps that it's super good in battle too!

[@kirbstagoontheaxolotl]

I would like to slightly defend Castform: It can be an amazingly solid pokemon when used correctly. I'm in the midst of an emerald nuzlocke, and sure while Castform needs a turn to set up weather, the payoff is a pokemon that can hit with a garanteed STAB move with Weather Ball (Which will be changing types with Castform, and under Sun and Rain it gets boosted to 100 power) when you have limited options for Winona, the gift one comes in clutch, having the three weather moves and Weather Ball, so you just need to take a turn to set up hail on Winona's Swablu and oneshot most of her pokemon, and it makes a solid double battle partner if needed

[@somewhereovertheraincloud]

Am I tweaking or did u forget meloetta? Or was it mentioned somewhere and I just missed it? Or does it not count as a form change because it’s not an ability? Because meloetta can switch with relic song. Not sure if I’m just dumb and skipped it accidentally.

[@x_bell1142]

You are tweaking. I mentioned during the ranking criteria portion at 1:27 that it does not count.

[@ghostnium02]

When i was going to play pokemon moon for the second time, i wanted to use only Alolan Pokemon, and really wanted a flying type in my team. So my friend said to me "Minior is a cool flying type with multiple colors", i started researching about this pokemon in Pokeinfo and as i studied about him i was becoming more and more perplexed about how strong he would be with that ability and being a physical and special attacker with good bulk before the transformation and shell smash, also having two good stab moves for both his types and attacks stats, basically my lovely little rock. (It also has one of the best shiny's too)

[@CrimpyPlate]

On the note of Terapagos, I have to wonder why its "normal form" is even a thing. As you said, there's no circumstance where you can use it in its normal form. Yet it still has stats of its own? Why?

[@x_bell1142]

It honestly should have just been an aesthetic change like it is with Xerneas

[@quirkyturtl]

it was a lovely video, good luck

[@wernt0]

17:26 This is something I want to try. What if you have a Galarian Weezing out with Neutralising Gas as its ability?

[@x_bell1142]

Neutralizing Gas would do nothing, Tera Shift is unaffected by it

[@benballard5930]

i feel like eiscue should be higher. It's not amazing, but it gives you essentially a free belly drum if you come in against any physical attacker, and if you do take a physical move after belly drum, the crazy speed gives you sweep potential.

[@wannabestrega]

I’m assuming the logic for Zygarde getting so much HP is the accumulation of cells. So, why can’t Wishiwashi get this same buff since it a bunch of small fish together? Poor Wishiwashi…

[@x_bell1142]

True, it totally should!

[@digifreak90]

I mean, while it would make sense from a lore perspective, from a programming stand point, I can understand why it doesn't work that way, imagine having to recalculate its current health every time it changes forms. It works fine for Zygarde because it only changes forms once per battle, even if you switch it out. Wishiwashi changes every time its HP passes the 25% threshold. Plus, the way the HP calculation works for Zygarde is that the amount of damage it took is subtracted from its new maximum, if Wishiwashi worked the same way, it would probably get KO'd just from changing back to solo form if its base stat was significantly lower.

[@Flapjack3734]

I wish Cramorant was #825 in the pokedex because he literally ATE #25, pikachu, in one of his forms

[@x_bell1142]

That would have been good

[@michaelpolk2344]

8:56 “Noice face” has me absolutely cackling. Please tell me you did that on purpose and know that it’s “no ice” 😂

[@x_bell1142]

I assure you that it was on purpose

[@salvadorcorreia7327]

Nice video man!

[@x_bell1142]

Thanks!

[@gutpunchYT]

galarian darmanitan's zen moment form is also extremely accessible due to the fact that g-darm gets access to belly drum- maxing your attack and immediately switching it's form. 135 speed is nothing to scoff at! another minor benefit is that because gorilla tactics is so powerful and used more often, opponents will more often be caught off guard by a zen moment one and suprise factor on such an offensive pokemon can be very impactful

[@eeveewithcoffee9554]

I wonder if the reason castform doesn’t have a sandstorm form is because back in gen 3, weather ball was it’s signature move and always special. Fire, water, and ice were always special attacks but ground and rock were physical attacks. There isn’t a sandstorm special option so they never added a form for it

[@nezcron]

zen mode would've been cool if it was the same archetype but boosted it's stats overall, making it powerful but still weak punishing a failure to one shot it

[@x_bell1142]

True

[@APerson-ws4cw]

Eiscue's form change actually has a really good niche. It gets belly drum, so that high speed in noice form let's it do a lot of work with +6 attack, and ice face form let's it safely set up against physical attackers!

[@lutelatti]

Doesn't Ogerpon change forms depending on the mask kinda like Arceus? Surprised that she's not on the list.

[@x_bell1142]

@@lutelatti Yes, but that had nothing to do with its ability. For Arceus and Silvally, giving them a certain item activates their ability, causing them to change form

[@chettiarsirusraj9501]

The Ash battle bond Greninja is a Gen-6 Kalos thing(the gen with Mega evolution) not a Gen-7 Alola thing were Z-crystals were the the gen/region gimic. Gen-1[Kanto], Gen-2[Jhoto], Gen-3[Hoenn], Gen-4[Sinnoah], Gen-5[Unova], Gen-6[Kalos], Gen-7[Alola], Gen-8[Galar], Gen-9[Paldaya]. Sorry in advance if some of my region names have spelling mistakes.

[@x_bell1142]

@@chettiarsirusraj9501 This is just incorrect. Greninja with Battle Bond was only made available in Gen 7.

[@thod-thod]

King's shield isn't the only protect variant with a property like this. Silk Trap and Obstruct do the same with Speed and Defense.

[@x_bell1142]

@@thod-thod Yes, I forgot about those

[@childmanmanreal]

If zygarde isn’t top three I’m gonna cry hell yeah my boy gets what he deserves!!!! Legends Z-A gonna make him even better

[@ussxrequin]

Good video, yes :3

[@Dv03_best]

8:11 poor regi, the only exception

[@x_bell1142]

Slow Start is still not an ability in Legends Arceus, it was reworked to become a status condition unique to Regigigas

[@Dv03_best]

Oh yeah. Close enough tho imo

[@drjekyll5402]

Aegislash also changes stance when using a status move

[@Spark31Gaming]

I think the Crammorant's gulp missile is underrated just a tad. Spreading paralysis while getting hit *guaranteed* is value that you cant always get from using a move, and 25% chip is far from a small amount. Stuff like custap berry endure crammorant is more viable than iceface at least.

[@hulabulia1329]

Cramorant actually had a niche in balanced hackmons where you can start off with the pikachu version, and was actually banned

[@dominicjannazo7144]

Castform is a great idea for a silly gimmick. It even is effected by shadow sky in XD, getting a unique wrather ball variant (no form change though)

[@Michaelkors172]

Great vid, subbed

[@x_bell1142]

Thanks!

[@pengwino828]

I’ll never understand why flower gift boosts attack. Why not boost special attack or both? I genuinely think it was a mistake that’s just stuck around.

[@kandlekittenz7670]

What about Ogerpon's form changes? Ik it doesn't change stats at all at first but having an ability change not only once in "base" form (sturdy for rock, defiant for grass, water absorb for water, and mold breaker for fire), but teraformed it changes AGAIN to embody aspect to just purely raise different stats is huge edit, plus it gets Ivy Cudgel, which is similar to arceus' and silvally's sig moves

[@x_bell1142]

Ogerpon's form change is not due to an ability but rather a held item. This video is only about form changing abilities.

[@Ghoztle]

I wish it was easier to get galarian darmanitans zen form I absolutely love it

[@digifreak90]

Do you mean, getting the ability on Darmanitan, or activating it in battle? Because if you're just talking about activating it in battle, just use Belly Drum.

[@Ghoztle]

@ I meant activating it. I know you can use belly drum but that would be pointless since it’s so frail that if I used belly drum the darmanitan would faint that turn from being attacked

[@jamesshroogle6331]

I think Miniors ability fits it perfectly as a sash Shell Smash user. Not being able to be paralyzed, toxiced or burned to die right after sash is very helpful, while the only downside is that sash might not get activated if the enemy cant OHKO it in its tanky form, thus not giving acrobatics a boost because the item didnt activate. While Minior isnt good, I think this ability is a cool and fitting form change

[@Kyeuss]

Nice man keep it up

[@x_bell1142]

Thanks!

[@Shadfillet]

17:25 wouldn't Neutralising gas make it possible for the base form to be used in battle?

[@faccio_cose]

No, neutralising gas cannot really stop any Ability, there are some that are immune to it

[@freddykrueger1699]

17:24 Just wondering, this is the case even when under the effects of Neutralizing Gas?

[@x_bell1142]

@@freddykrueger1699 It is still the case. Tera Shift cannot be suppressed by Neutralizing Gas, nor can it suppress any ability on this list, except for Castform’s Forecast, Cherrim’s Flower Gift, and Morpeko’s Hunger Switch

[@freddykrueger1699]

Dang, unfortunate- I wanted to use smol tortle.

[@Randomnessed]

17:02 Gen 6 competitive scene:Am i a joke to you?

[@x_bell1142]

Power Construct did not exist yet in Gen 6, so yes it is a joke to me

[@ShadowEclipex]

Why Terapagos base form even have a stats? The only thing I can maybe think it being seperate in battle is Illusion shininigans.

[@jdelacruz14791]

What about zoroark's illusion ability? Doesn't that also count as a form change ability also? Also, what about ditto?

[@wizendwolf]

18:27 ITS MY BABY BOIIIIIIII

[@felipecarvalho6003]

Great video!

[@x_bell1142]

Thanks!