The Best and Worst Gimmick Pokemon

This video is brought to you by The Ridge Wallet! Get the best offer available offer with my link: ridge.com/jpr
Some Pokemon only have one purpose, and that purpose is to be mildly annoying at best.
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(0:00): What IS a Gimmick Pokemon?
(1:38): Kanto
(3:11): Johto
(7:02): Hoenn
(9:22): Sinnoh
(10:08): Unova
(10:32): Kalos
(11:00): Alola
(13:03): Galar
(13:45): Paldea

[@JPRPokeTrainer98]

Big thanks to The Ridge for sponsoring today's video! Get the best available offer with my link: ridge.com/jpr Which Gimmick Pokemon is YOUR favorite? Mine is probably Castform :)

[@zero4337]

Ridge wallets are overpriced.

[@AdminAbuse]

Overpriced and overrated

[@Lanzetsu]

Gen5 has Sawsbuck which changes forms based on the time of year, it didn't "change" for real as a transformation but you could only get different versions on each month because of the rotation.

[@guillermorey2574]

I really think that you should have included Vivillon (Because its gimmick its that its form is determined by real life country of hatching) the Pokémon that encourage trading in the GTS and Inkay (For the whole evolving with the 3DS upside down), even if both this Pokémon are part of evolution families

[@dustinvance243]

@@Lanzetsu there was also the Zoroark line with its unique ability illusion allowing it to disguise itself as the last member in your party. Which would have been amazing for the mind games if it weren't for the introduction of team preview. Although given the marketing around it as well as how it was implemented, I can see why it was left off. It was basically advertised as gen 5 Lucario. Except you could actually get Lucario. Unlike Zorua and Zoroark which you couldn't get without an event Celebi or an event shiny Entei, Raikou, or Suicune. But luckily the Zoroark line was breedable so if you knew somebody that had them, they could breed it for you.

[@Sousabird]

I love that in the Pokemon 3 movie, the Unown have the power to warp reality, and in the games they're unbelievably useless.

[@JPRPokeTrainer98]

the most misleading piece of pokemon media lol

[@GhostrareStardust]

Naw they read it had an attack called hidden power and rolled with it

[@TheDukeofCheese12]

I’ll play Devil’s advocate here and say there were a lot of Unown in that cave, meanwhile you’re fighting just one Unown at a time

[@spitfire7170]

because of that movie I kept believing the Unown had some amazing hidden potential until my college years lol

[@karma_v2977]

@@spitfire7170 well they do have a "hidden power"

[@Riftrender]

Unknown makes sense in that it takes thousands of them to do that as you need thousands and thousands of letters to make a story, but that single letter by itself isn't very useful.

[@robertlupa8273]

Unless it's *E,* then it's hilarious.

[@teebin]

L

[@yungmuney5903]

So unown taking a page from wishiwashi when?

[@Fig_Bender]

@@robertlupa8273 E E E EEEE

[@darkomodo-o1870]

And also the unown are meant to represent the thousand arms of arceus

[@egc998]

I’m surprised Plusle and Minun weren’t considered gimmick pokemon

[@jameslambert5198]

Same with Spinda

[@God_Delibird]

Poor minun is just a worse plusle, and it's not like plusle is good to begin with.

[@hyperfixatedd]

Oh yeah! To showcase the double battle feature

[@phyllojoe5346]

Likely because every generation has a pikachu clone. Yes there are two of them but that is all

[@sparking023]

Every gen has a Pikachu adjacent, right? Plusle, Minum, Pachirisu, Dedenne... Wait, that's Mimikyu's whole schtick, how's it not a gimmick pokémon?

[@AndrewFullerton]

Eevee was 100% a gimmick pokemon at the beginning. It's a one-of with three potential evolution lines to require trading, shows off the elemental evolution stones as soon as you're able to buy them, is *literally* named after evolution just to drive the point home. There have been alternate evolution lines since then, but in context it's totally unique.

[@hyperfixatedd]

Yeah, the "no evolution" requirement kinda butchers Pokemon like Eevee, Zoroark,..

[@HoundOfwar1]

Also Eevees further evolutions are usually to show off new mechanics of the game. Gen 2 had a day/night cycle and friendship, gen 4 had location based evolutions, gen 6 had Pokemon Amie etc etc

[@gjmguy7994]

@Paulo Prudente That rule makes no sense IMO. You can’t tell me Slaking, Palafin, and archeops aren’t gimmicks.

[@jbcatz5]

If you look at branched evolution lines Wurmple carries the distinction of being the only Pokémon that evolves randomly pretty much into one of two possible Pokémon. When you level it up to at least 7 it’s entirely random as far as you can tell whether it’ll be a Silcoon or a Cascoon.

[@TheMissingLink2]

Even with those "rules" Victini still qualifies. Yeah, it's a mythical but the pokemon is mew stat wise, with a base 180 stab attack, that will never miss thanks to it's ability. V-create hits like a freaking truck with no breaks. Not to mention, the lore of victory, and it literally breaking the norm of the pokedex starting with a starter pokemon.

[@naganut9718]

Fun fact: Chatot was actually banned in tournaments for one reason, chatter. With the mike feature you can record slurs to your opponent, hence they banned it. Rly funny ngl

[@Swagpion]

Also it was only good when loud so eardrums had to be spared

[@JazzoBeat]

I loved fighting the most offensive bird ever

[@FTChomp9980]

Chatot had one filthy beak.

[@weebalo_]

Me and the boys screaming the n word so our chatot becomes the strongest possible

[@BBWahoo]

@@weebalo_ NIGTHOT

[@oldoutlet6946]

I'd argue Mimikyu is also a gimmick Pokemon, in that it has a signature ability unique to it and falls in line with its concept.

[@stahby]

if it was a gimmick it isn't anything past "tank 1 hit for free" which would make it boring as hell imo

[@caiusdrakegaming8087]

@@stahby I mean... no less boring that Ditto's or Castform's gimmicks.

[@BlueCardGanks592]

I feel like Luvdisc should have been mentioned in gen 3, it’s only purpose is to give out heartscales

[@stigmaoftherose]

How dare you. Lovedisc is amazing.

[@abrawolf]

I almost lost to a wild lovdisc once. It spamed sweet kiss and attract so I could never hit and even if I broke out of confusion I would go right back into it with water pulse. It was the most annoying bs

[@BlueCardGanks592]

@@stigmaoftherose Oh yeah it also doesn’t count cause it evolves into Alomomola

[@BlueCardGanks592]

@@abrawolf It actually does work in Showdown random battles too where levels are scaled

[@AdminAbuse]

@@stigmaoftherose you can't even spell it's name right

[@that-guy-pearce]

I feel like no one talks about how Gen 3 introduced so many gimmick pokemon just to be counterparts in double battles. Plusle and Minun, Volbeat and Illumise, Zangoose and Seviper, Solrock and Lunatone, arguably Latios and Latias, and I might be forgetting some. Heck you could argue it's the reason there are two regional birds, two pseudos, and two evolutions of Wurmple

[@samurott1591]

What’s the other regional bird besides Swellow?

[@vibe6223]

@@samurott1591 Wingull probably

[@Squirtle_Squad_Supremacy]

@@samurott1591 Pelipper

[@Jettingson]

@@vibe6223 too bad it's not a regional bird

[@michaellane5381]

Um what? 2 wurmples is because each gen had 2 3-Evo bugs, poison based and psychic/flying(based attacks, not typing) final, cocoon in between, it was kinda the thing since gen 1, and all other bugs are just 1 or 2 evolutions in that generation. Except oddballs like Shedinja

[@theshekellord]

I’d argue that Gen 5 does have a gimmick Pokemon in form of Zorua and Zoroark. Their illusion ability is their gimmick and I personally like it a lot even if it’s not very good.

[@mrdizaster404]

Though I was very late to the party, was going to comment zoroark:"am I a joke to you?"

[@Godoflegos]

You could add all sorts of things if you ignore the rules laid out. But, as is, it doesn't count because it had an evolution on release.

[@nickkelley9139]

@@Godoflegos Yeah well the Zorua line shows how dumb the rule is.

[@Godoflegos]

@@nickkelley9139 Complaining that they aren't included is just as arbitrary as the ruleset itself. With 1000+ Pokemon, you have to set some sort of boundaries.

[@CraftsmanOfAwsomenes]

@@GodoflegosThe “no evolution” rule is completely asinine. Zoroark was marketed on its gimmick and there are numerous Pokémon tied to gimmick mechanics to show off new features like Malamar, Palafin, or Sylveon. Eevee is also very obviously a gimmick Pokemon.

[@Evan-mt7bc]

Komala is the only Pokemon to just have a baseline status condition baked into it's ability treating it as permanently asleep being able to use moves like Sleep Talk innately, being unable to be status conditioned and dealing double damage with moves like Facade.

[@gator-tater9827]

Ditto has also become surprisingly useful in competitive battling as well! With impostor copying any stat changes of the opponent, it now functions as a great answer to set up sweepers, especially in high powered meta games like Ubers: It equips a Choice Scarf and then uses the opponent’s boosts against them by out speeding and KOing, sometimes even leading to a reverse sweep.

[@ShiningJudgment666]

It's pretty much conditionally useful and can be used to measure the balance of a metagame.

[@Julian-pw5mv]

@@ShiningJudgment666 yeah, if ditto is strong, a meta is usually terrible lmao.

[@joshuanovack480]

Not to mention its great at PP stalling since it comes in with 5 pp for every move everytime.

[@user-gt5dq1lm3q]

The downside to Furfrou is that if you change its Trim in the Kalos games, it automatically reverts to its base form if you deposit it in a box, meaning that, at this point in time, the only way to obtain the other trims is to trade with other players around the world since the Furfrou Trims are region-locked in different parts of the world in Pokemon GO. It took me quite some time and a lot of extra legendaries from the Dynamax Adventures to get them all.

[@mjdxp5688]

It's ridiculous how you can go on the GTS and see people offering rare shinies in exchange for rare Furfrou forms, and even more ridiculous that those trades rarely even get accepted because Furfrou is honesty probably rarer

[@AznYunHou]

oh wow, never knew that Furfrou forms were region exclusive

[@user-gt5dq1lm3q]

@@AznYunHou They’re region exclusive in Pokemon GO. You can get all the Trims in X and Y, but you can’t transfer them to HOME, since, they instantly revert to the Base Trim as soon as you deposit them in a Box in X and Y.

[@miimiiandco.8721]

I thought they reverted when you take them *out* of the box.

[@michaelnelson1127]

@@mjdxp5688 Even more ridiculous is that they’re not even limited to shinies. Practically every time I check out the GTS to try and trade something, they almost always want either a Furfrou trim or a Vivillon form. I’m honestly sick of these mons being treated as trade bans.

[@theauditor3224]

For gen 7 you forgot meneor. The cute meteor pokemon that loses its shell when taking damage but gets faster and hits harder (while taking more damage)

[@agarnes100]

Kind of surprised Vivillon isn't on the list. Collect every region Vivillon was an impossible gimmick.

[@caiusdrakegaming8087]

The majority of gimmick pokemon don't work with the 'no evolution' rule JPR used for this video.

[@glowcloudwheatproducts495]

That unown rant is so accurate it hurts. Especially the part about the "unown dumping ground". So many cool ruins in pokemon games robbed of any interest by such a nothing pokemon

[@mjdxp5688]

It would be so cool if you could evolve one of your Unown if you collected all of them and put them in the same box or something, they could all combine into one super Pokémon with super high stats. It could be balanced out by only knowing Hidden Power, but having extremely high offensive stats.

[@joelrobinson5457]

@@mjdxp5688 that would be amazing, or if you collect a pattern that spells a word, it would change form like wishiwashy depending on what box it comes from, whatever word you spell changes its stats and moveset, as well as form. It could be epic, like if you spell fire it would use fire moves and have a form that spells fire while the individuals all trail flames and glow, so much potential

[@criptide6696]

They kinda helped unknown by adding sigigliph, but it’s still not the best Pokémon

[@lupin5489]

Just realizing with this that Gimmighoul/Goldengo is pretty much what Unown should have been

[@oslonicl6251]

@@joelrobinson5457 it's all fun and games, until.. N... I...

[@Jettingson]

They retroactively gave Unown a connection to Arceus, that bumps it up a bit I'd say

[@genesisrhapsodos477]

i'm surprised sawsbuck not mentioned here, i think it's kinda gimmicky how it change it's appearance every season

[@The777brown]

No pokes that evolve

[@genesisrhapsodos477]

@@The777brown he got wobuffet there, and he's evolve right?

[@theshekellord]

@@The777brown He had shedninja on the list, who can only be obtained via evolving nincada

[@thezygardiantrio9434]

@@genesisrhapsodos477 pretty sure it was no pokemon that evolved when they where introduced, Wynaut was introduced one gen after Wobbufet, but i still think the rule is dumb due to Eevee arguably having its whole gimmick be its many evolutions

[@thezygardiantrio9434]

@@theshekellord i mean, even though most people consider Sheinja a part of the Nincada line Nincanda TECHNICALLY doesn’t evolve into it so i guess thats why its on the list?

[@a_cup_of_joe540]

My favorite gimmick pokemon is rampardos for the strat of destroying or getting destroyed, zero in between

[@BBWahoo]

Ah, the BPD pokemon. Next to archeops

[@jerfuhrer2581]

As a kid, I collected Unown and was super upset that they were weak. But I guessed that I just had to collect all of the forms and spell something special with all 5 or 6 of them to unlock their full powers. I tried "POWER", "UNLOCK", "UNOWN", "STRONG", "ALPHA", "REVEAL" None of them did ANYTHING!!!

[@nathanielbass771]

you're not the only one. as a kid, I met this one guy that was obsessed with unown. He was trying to raise every unown to level 100

[@CaptainBurke]

Lore wise the Unown are linked with Arceus in some capacity, whether it be little tools of his or an extension of him directly. In game they are terrible, but if we could carry more than 6 at a time, it can be assumed they’d be greater in power. There’s the legend of Arceus shaping the universe with his 1,000 arms, which could very well be the Unown.

[@thebananaboy9104]

If you look at the shape of Arceus, it kind of resembles a hand (the neck and legs resemble fingers, and the tail would be the wrist). Considering in PLA, Arceus says it gives you a PART of it's body, means that the Arceus you recieve could very well be one of the 1000 hands.

[@eisgnom7383]

I mean yeah duh what is a god without his bible

[@nategraham6946]

Wobbuffet was my very first shiny Pokémon, and I actually used it, to some mild success. I think the needing a Pokémon to not evolve is a bit much of a restriction. If you rule that out, that opens up Cherrim in Gen 4 and Deerling/Sawsbuck in Gen 5.

[@raynmanshorts9275]

Excluding Pokemon like Sawsbuck (meant to show off the seasons mechanic), Slaking (show off abilities), and Plusle/Minun (double battles) really shows the weakness of the criteria. Each of those are far more "gimmick" Pokemon than Pokemon like Shedinja. Actually, why _were_ Plusle and Minun excluded from this list?

[@goGothitaLOL]

can't forget Vivilion, Aegislash, Zoroark (all along the likes of Sawsbuck and Slaking), Mimikyu, and Minior

[@gentrelane]

Their "hidden power" is language. That's what the ability to warp reality really symbolizes. Written language. Hard to translate that power into battle strength I guess ✍️ It's funny that the concept goes over so many heads when it's so on the nose

[@yurisei6732]

Would have been really cool if when you filled your party with Unown that spelled a word, their abilities/stats changed based on that word.

[@crowqueenamps]

Honestly, having them just not be catchable at all would have been better. More mysterious as well, ya know.

[@shade4759]

something like Zygarde Cells or Gholdengo Coins

[@laurenh.1770]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention gimmighoul and gholdengo. I know you had a rule about evolutions but that Pokémon only exists so people spend hours collecting tiny coins

[@tktyga77]

I'm honestly surprised you didn't include Komala as a candidate for a gimmick Pokémon, heeding how much of one it can be. I guess I saw for some reason some usability of it similar to that of Shedinja, but you tell me how good the ability Comatose can be alongside its usable sets

[@screenspelunkers1026]

It’s actually pretty. Kind of like a physical Goldhengo to a degree.

[@wolfetteplays8894]

Yep, just use worry seed on it and have it mimic ingrain, then you’re good 👍

[@PokemonRules141]

I think with Unown, one is supposed to be very weak but they act as the programming language of the Pokemon world thus you need a lot of them to make cool stuff happen like the events of Pokemon 3.

[@kindlingking]

I wish it had ability/move that makes it stronger for each unown in your party

[@nunyabiznes33]

@@kindlingking also give it a Beat Up move where each hit is a different type to match each type your Pokemons with Hidden Power have. If al your Pokes have HP of a different type then that's 6 different types of hit. That should be hard to dodge.

[@John-Stark]

Wish that it was an easy way too get legendaries and shinies like get them if you spell the name out they spawn a roaming legendary

[@Castersvarog]

Something worth mentioning about Wishiwashi is that it doesn’t need to get hit to transform, it just needs enough health and be above level 20. It’s problem is that it just doesn’t have enough HP despite its massive defenses along with a rather shallow move pool, only really having earthquake, hydro pump, Ice beam and U turn making it pretty predictable. And where’s Spinda? I’d have expected that Mon if all Mons to appear gives how it’s only really got it’s millions of patterns to its name.

[@stigmaoftherose]

My first playthough of sumo used a wishiwashi as the main pokemon once I caught one. It soloed the E4 as it turns out once I got into post game i found out it had 5 max IVs so it was a super powerful sweeper with both physical and special moves a neutral nature so I could use both offensive stats with no def drop off, it was just an all around king mon.

[@robertlupa8273]

@@stigmaoftherose "once I got into post game i found out it had 5 max IVs" :O

[@stigmaoftherose]

@robert lupa yeah as the game just came out I had no idea how it's ability worked so I had done a bunch of SOS chaining to get a wild one to activate its ability. Which means I chained a sos to the point it had forced quite a few max IVs and I got lucky on the other ones.

[@RoflCannon6]

In order to have a gimmick, the Pokémon has to have something that it does that is unique. The only thing unique about Spinda is it’s patterns. It doesn’t actually do anything unique. So it’s not a gimmick Pokemon.

[@thirteenfury]

Spinda could have and maybe should have been the confusion counterpart to Komala. Moveset that takes advantage of the confusion status and a confused Spinda can't be affected by other temporary status conditions (Attract, Leech Seed, Disable, etc).

[@ThePhl4ever]

I feel like Palafin could be considered a gimicky pokemon even though it evolves just based on its evolution method and it's ability

[@mjdxp5688]

I think evolutions should have been counted in general, considering Shedinja is clearly an evolution.

[@Andrew-ch3xj]

@@mjdxp5688 not really

[@Lissy_YT481]

​@@Andrew-ch3xj technically-

[@Wesley_H]

Ditto, Smeargle and Kecleon come to mind. Fun fact, in the original Pokémon Snap on the N64, there is a cave section with some Bulbasaur that have goofy looking dot eyes. Hit them with a Pester Ball, and you’ll reveal them as Dittos. But what I’d really like to know is why Castform and Rotom can’t change form in Pokémon go when Furfrou can?

[@thirteenfury]

For real. I mean, changes in the weather are an integral part of which Pokémon spawn the most. Castform is built for that kind of gameplay system.

[@jbcatz5]

Deoxys could be a gimmick legendary. It’s two main features are its origins, one of the closest things to an alien in the Pokemon canon (hence the persistent rumour about it being linked to the space center in Mossdeep in Gen 3), and its ability to transform into different formes.

[@takarijbartleby]

Deerling & Sawsbuck, depite being an evolutionary line, was definitely designed in Gen 5 with the Season mechanic in mind. Altho Seasons have not returned since then...

[@nunyabiznes33]

If they ever inteoduce it back they should give the Sawsbuck line a signature move whose typing and effect changes with the seasons.

[@takarijbartleby]

@Nunya Biznes It is in Generation 9, although it received nothing as far as I know

[@RGC_animation]

Out of so many hours of playing Pokemon, I had never ever noticed that Wubbufet literally cannot deal any damage unless being attacked, wow.

[@thatman666]

Makes sense because of what it's based on: A Punching Bag. Also it has the highest base HP amongst all Psychic Pokémon.

[@AdminAbuse]

That's it's whole gimmick tbh

[@robertlupa8273]

(unless it runs out of moves and uses Struggle)

[@vivimannequin]

You could run all status moves and assault vest for it to use struggle but I've come to learn that wobbuffet's attack stat is worse than magikarp's and won't be sweeping anything without stab

[@MartinMKGamerJohnson]

What’s funny, is that I actually went and caught all of the Unown types in Platinum a few years ago just to say that I did, and during that process, I got a FULL 1/8192 ODDS SHINY. My first og full odds of getting a shiny pokemon….it was the “G” Unown.

[@garfieldslippers]

Gee, that's lucky

[@leftoxfluxinton3388]

What castform lacks in viability in the mainline game it makes up for in the Mystery Dungeon games. Being able to change the weather at any point on a floor and having it last WAY longer than in the mainline games, Weatherball being a long reaching decently powerful special move that can be one of four different types, and getting a STAB boost regardless of type makes castform a pretty potent party member for most dungeons

[@NoahDaGreat]

Smeargle can be good under certain circumstances. It's the only pokemon that can learn both Circle Throw and Surging Strike. The only pokemon that can benefit using them at full potential thanks to the Technician Ability.

[@ShiningJudgment666]

Too bad its stats are utter garbage. Even its best stat isn't anything good.

[@NoahDaGreat]

@ShiningJudgment666 true but with the 2, it can still OhKO. More or less with Surging Strike. But can't take a hit

[@miimiiandco.8721]

@@ShiningJudgment666 Honestly, thank goodness it's stats are bad. Being able to learn every move in the game is an incredible trait all on it's own. We don't want Smeargle running around with Gigaton Hammers.

[@lmads8023]

@@ShiningJudgment666 hasn't it won competitive tournaments?

[@ShiningJudgment666]

@@lmads8023 It's not thanks to its stats, that's for sure.

[@CorruptdKetchup]

I love dondozo and tatsugiri’s similarly goofy yet wildly different designs, and the fact that Tatsugiri controls Dozo from inside its mouth if very funny to me.

[@rizkit1752]

For Unown, I feel like GameFreak missed a great opportunity with that Pokemon. Like how you'd need to collect 999 Gimmieghoul coins to evolve a Gimmieghoul, they should make it where if you catch all 28 Unown shapes, you'll be to evolve one Unown into Several Unown, like the ones in the movie. Giving it close to legendary stats, and learning all sorts of moves instead of just Hidden Power. Making the Pokemon actually really threatening, and one worth going through the hassle of getting all 28 forms. I can understand not doing that when Unown debut in gen 2 due to time and technology limitations... but come on, I feel like they could totally do something like that in this day and age, and I find it to be a crime they haven't.

[@I_Am_Bowi]

Castforms ability should summon the weather corresponding to the weather move in its first moveslot on top of doing what it is doing already

[@mazharsiddiqi7288]

As MANDJTV would say: HAIL YEAH!

[@Squirtle_Squad_Supremacy]

@@mazharsiddiqi7288 Snow More

[@nunyabiznes33]

Rain on me

[@Ryanwizardstaff]

I would have included Aegislash, Palafin, and Shuckle in the conversation as well.

[@LegoReader12345hello]

The first two evolve, but if we were going to include pokemon that evolve, I would have included Gimmighoul

[@Ryanwizardstaff]

@@LegoReader12345hello Yeah I forgot he had criteria in where they don't evolve. I would also like to add Zorua/Zoroark to the mix as well.

[@MyName-fx6ul]

he literally forgot Mimikyu lol

[@Ryanwizardstaff]

@@MyName-fx6ul You're right

[@LegoReader12345hello]

@@MyName-fx6ul he totally should have have included mimikyu, it’s my favorite alola pokemon

[@kurt50alien]

In the Gen 3 games, aren't Plusle and Minun gimmick Mons by the rules in the video? They don't have an evolution line, they're unique build comes from the Plus and Minus abilities making them work well together in double battles, and aren't they the posters for double battles because of those abilites?

[@yuumijungle548]

funfact: unown actually taught me about how evs worked as a kid. for some reason i was training my raikou in the unown ruins in leafgreen and i noticed that once i leveled up i got an unusual high +10 in attack and special attack, when normally you would only get like 3 per level up.

[@kanibelazy0585]

In VGC, Shedninja is actually popular back then due to the fact it counters the one of the most dangerous mon in VGC at that time Kyogre

[@rea1cyru5]

Smeargle is actually super popular in PokeMMO due to being able to carry the optimal moveset for a catcher.

[@Elfos64]

One thing you neglected about Kecleon, it actually made Hidden Power more useful, or at least slightly more practical to use. Normally, you're left guessing what type of move it gave you based on invisible factors. Sure, you could figure it out from trial and error based on how it responds to certain types of Pokémon, but it's *SO* much more convenient to just use it against a Kecleon and let the Color Change tell you what type it was.

[@Lobster_Dance]

It is unfortunate that the Unknown didn’t provide a super powered version when you collected all of them

[@Moonstriker2514]

I am surprised you didn't mention Plusle and Minun for gen 3 they were literally made for double battles Kyruem I consider a gimmick with its ability to fuse with Reshiram or Zekrom Passimian with its ability Reciever Cramorant and its Gulp Missile

[@stigmaoftherose]

Alolan muk has the same ability as passimian but just a different name, power of alchemy,and as its hidden ability so you had to actually grind for it but still not a gimic as a result IMO.

[@aQrator]

For Passimian specifically, receiver isn't really of massive relevance to its gameplay style. If it is a gimmick, then so would any pokemon with a signature ability be, and I wouldn't argue Alolan Muk or Greninja are gimmicks Cramorant I do agree with though

[@bx5815]

I hope there will be a new tomb/book item in the next gen that evolves unown once you collect all letters

[@timskanaal8639]

Pyukumuku is a pretty fun stall pokemon with recover, toxic, soak, and counter. And one of the best defensive typings

[@herrabanani]

actually gen 1 ditto did have a small niche in ubers of all places. you could bring it in against a paralized mew or mewtwo, transform into them and waste some pp or get lucky crits and a ko. mew also sometimes ran transform to surprise the opponent (not clear on how that set worked exactly)

[@VampirePrinceKRS]

wouldn't Minior also count as a gimmick? the different colors plus it's unique signature ability. I'm surprised you missed mentioning it since it's also in the footage for Pyukumuku.

[@stigmaoftherose]

Minior is actually really good so it fails criteria number 4.

[@normamc1983]

@@stigmaoftherose criteria 4 was a joke so minior could have been mentioned

[@user-jl7cz2pe6d]

If you look up missed potential, you can find Unown! Which is spelled with other Unowns

[@loneranger7831]

I remember hearing stories about people that would level 100 their unknowns. And even I got an unknown to a high level thinking it would be good in gen 4

[@TheForgottenTainted]

Shednija is one of my favorite Pokémon, because it’s gimmick doesn’t automatically make it bad. You can use certain strategies to make it op

[@pathos7527]

Wait, why did Wishiwashi make the list but Minior didn’t? If anything Minior’s gimmick is more relevant because it’s more likely to actual take effect in battle since it triggers at 50% instead of 25%. Plus the immunity to major status conditions while in meteor form is a more dynamic element than just high stats.

[@lucasalarcon3230]

He also forget ilusion from gen 5, kyurem and zygarde forms and i will exclude pyukumuku because he isn't doing something new

[@CellThePerfectAndroid]

Shedinja actually saved me in my last Emerald playthrough, i had nothing well fit against Wallace's Gyarados, my Flygon was at low HP(and was not the best option against Gyarados Anyway), my Swampert was at a little more than Half HP(she also didn't had a well fit moveset to use against Gyarados), my Seviper, Gardevoir and Breloom were all fainted, my only hope was this small Ghostly bug(which for context, i didn't knew Wallace's Gyarados didn't had bite), it was quite literally a leap of faith. But then, i began to grim after a realization: He couldn't be hurt by Gyarados. I slowly but surely took Gyarados' HP, and then... He fainted. The 1 HP bug that took 13 levels(which felt like years) to evolve, was the one whom gave me victory. Although it probably didn't happened, I'm pretty sure i heard him saying "Stand proud Gyarados, you are strong." It truly was our Lobotomy Kaisen.

[@marceloasensiofilho3833]

Wobuffett ended up being banned in singles. It is pretty OP

[@BirdCraftSSB]

That was mainly because of its ability Shadow Tag

[@zenitsuyaboi9879]

It wasn't banned because of it being too strong. It was banned for forcing endless battles

[@sayvionwashington1939]

It's less Wobuffett and more Shadow Tag and Gothitelle being Satan incarnate.

[@marceloasensiofilho3833]

@@zenitsuyaboi9879 it was also a pokemon that allowed to remove a pokemon from the opponent in a 1 for 1 trade. Yeah it was pretty good

[@Swagpion]

@@marceloasensiofilho3833 no, it was just the ability being problematic.

[@ryuuronin9852]

Sometimes I wonder what competitive would look like if Shedinja had stats better than a 90 in attack and 30 in sp attack. Probably would have included evos like Slaking, Palafin, Aegislash, and Darmanitan (both forms). If you ask me, what makes a gimmick is how all encompassing their ability and/or signature move is, how much the play style revolves around that one aspect of it's build. Though arguably any Mon that is locked into only one ability would qualify for this.

[@ShiningJudgment666]

Shedinja is utterly broken in Nuzlockes. You just take it against a trainer that can't do anything to it and you can cheese a lot of battles.

[@SJrad]

A good speed stat is arguably more important not insanely fast like it’s brethren ninjaskc heck, slower than base 100. Idk 90? Like it can outspeed some things but not most things. Also yeah better attack stat too

[@ryuuronin9852]

@@SJrad I'm actually fine with the low speed due to it already being the ultimate tank in the right circumstances (sandstorms and status moves not withstanding), as well as Trick Room being abundantly used for dedicated teams. Just the ability to hit back well is all I think it needs, that or going all in on the stall moveset like toxic spikes or the like. 90 is much lower than what you'd give any Pokemon normally designated as a physical attacker, and it learns quite a few good special moves it can't really use well.

[@FTChomp9980]

Ditto is basically a breeder that's the gimmick. Unknown has some good lore but in the game its lame. Gimmighoul is the One Piece!

[@robertlupa8273]

I don't watch One Piece and I don't like the new money mon. :/

[@rafaelmehret5952]

In Kalos I would consider Aegislash a gimmick pokemon as well, and a VERY good one at that. It is a gimmick being able to change forms redisitributing its stats either in attack or defense depending on its moves. When used correctly it is extremely powerful, but the player needs to learn how it works to properly make use of it

[@WhatIsMyPorpoise]

I do like that legends arceus ties hidden power to unown only while also changing it to be always super-effective. It actually make it quite strong.

[@mazharsiddiqi7288]

Great video 10:27 Gunsparce, the Dunsparce evolution that we deserved Surprised didn't include Plusle and Minun with there Plus and Minus ability since were meant to promote the Gen 3 double battles

[@JPRPokeTrainer98]

Thanks! Originally they were included, but I felt since they're relatively inoffensive in anyway, they didn't add much to the vid

[@mazharsiddiqi7288]

@JPRPokeTrainer98 I see what you mean I think you could've included them since in a way they are the prototype to Tatsugiri and Dondozo with Commander ability as the partner dependant Pokémon pair

[@aizakkurhoads7527]

We have reached a point in Pokémon where people have forgotten that Wobbuffet was in Ubers tier. That thing wreaked havoc in competitive battling for a while.

[@jormungand72]

Castform is like the "magic weather rock", an item I always give my players in DnD games. the rock will tell you the current weather. If the rock is wet, its raining, if its hard to see, its foggy, if its dry, its sunny.

[@cloutcarti9827]

Wb spinda? 😢

[@giornogiovanna3311]

If gen 2 ever gets another remake they better do a post game hunt similar to the hunt for gimighoul coins in gen 9 for unown and once you caught all the unown and organize them in the box it finally gets an evo and evolves( and having one shiny unown and the rest being normal will make the evo shiny)

[@takatacheroki2624]

Alternative idea: You have to catch all 28 forms of Unown to open a secret path (only available post-game) that leads to the Sinjoh Ruins, where Arceus awaits. Or, you have to catch all 28 forms of Unown to make Entei appear in a state where you can actually battle and catch it, as a little nod to the movie.

[@adrianpivotto1916]

I know we aren't counting evolutions but zorua and zoroak from gen 5 definitely have a gimmick and they use it well

[@megasean3000]

How to make Unown awesome: Have all 28 forms combine into one Pokemon. We all saw how straight up broken the Unown are when they’re together. This takes it to the next level. When combined, they have double the base stats of a regular Unown, can learn other moves besides Hidden Power and have a new ability and signature move.

[@jbcatz5]

I know baby Pokémon evolve, but they can come off as gimmicky. They mark a unique capability of breeding, use the happiness mechanic and pad out the Pokédex with new Pokémon without needing to come up with new lines entirely. Tyrogue’s evolution method is still unique to it, manipulating its stats to determine whether it evolves into Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan or Hitmontop. Later gens would add another layer to their gimmick, incense pots needed to be held. Speaking of baby Pokémon and held items, Emerald added in Pichu learning Volt Tackle as an egg move if one of the Pikachu used to breed it holds a Light Ball, another one where the phenomena is unique to that Pokémon line and item combo.

[@goGothitaLOL]

and then they finally removed the Incense items in S/V (onwards possibly), meaning can now get a Budew or Azurill just as easily as you can get a Togepi, Riolu, Elekid, or Magby

[@castform7]

As a resident Castform enjoyer, I'll still love him even if he's utter garbage and didn't get a Sandstorm form and only got shinies for his other forms like 20 years later. He's just so charming to me.

[@marcronos]

I think that Plusle/Minun could also be considered gimmick Pokemon, created to showcase the double battles feature that was introduced in gen 3. As for gen 5, I would also consider Deerling and Sawsbuck as gimmick, since they change appearence according to the season.

[@lalamike25]

Ditto in 6v6 singles is one of the most useful Pokémon that exists. Choice Scarf Ditto is the best "no u" counter to setup sweepers

[@PopcornMax179]

Having unown in your party that spelt certain words should've unlocked secrets in the games.

[@BLOODY__FATALITY]

I had no idea chatot had a move based on recording your voice through the DS mic. That's nuts.

[@blueskyalchemist623]

Delibird: “Ho Ho Ho, presents for everyone” Iron Bundle: “Y’all are naughty kids. Prepare for your demise!”

[@ethantreadway9478]

Video request: The Best and Worst of Paldea. This has a type specialist for most major battles.

[@Autisticjesus]

Fun fact on generation 8 anything goes ditto was an absolute beast of a Pokémon because you couldn’t set up to sweep if your opponent had one

[@djt08031996]

Unown actually isn't beyond saving imo. They just need to give it an evolution that requires you to have all the forms. Simple way to add to the mystique while fixing its stats and movepool

[@mushroomdude123]

To be fair to Ditto, it is CRACKED in metagames with broken pokemon in them. I can’t count the amount of times I’ve seen someone copy Xerneas/Zacian/Calyrex and reverse swwep.

[@PlunkSama]

My therapist: "Gunsparce isn't real, it can't hurt you." Gunsparce: "10:27"

[@Grantypoo]

One of my favorite internet trends/memes as of recent is people reminding viewers to drink water. As someone who has drunk way more water in the past few years than I ever used to, I'm proud of people telling others to move away from the soda for one gosh diddily darn moment

[@tsukinoakuma]

There was a rumor in my neighborhood that if you could spell "CELEBI" using Unown, you would be able to encounter a wild Celebi

[@preservedfroth5159]

I would have thought the Hoothoot and Deerling lines would have been shown here, with the fact that they are used to show off the new time and weather mechanics respectively.

[@no.1machopfan503]

In addition to Machop, gimmick Pokémon are my absolute JAM! So I greatly appreciate this video! Throughout 2019 I actually used Shedinja in VGC, alongside a Golduck with Soak, which changed Shedinja to a Water-type reducing the number of types it's weak to to just 2 (while alternatively threatening 3 of the 5 types Shedinja is normally weak to). I didn't compete much in Sun and Moon series due to other commitments, but the core did take down the reigning World Champion at the Oceania Championships, plus it got some consistent top 4 results throughout Ultra Series (where it was in a team with no Mega, and the Golduck was Scarfed with Cloud Nine). In addition, I for one would consider Zoroark a gimmick through its Illusion ability. But I guess by your logic it doesn't count since it's an evolved Pokémon.

[@xavyx8874]

Got the video recomended in my feed, nice thumbnail!!

[@BlastHeart96]

I’m still unreasonably angry that we never got those other Castform formes especially Sandstorm and MAYBE even terrains.

[@Saltor6]

I'm surprised Togepi wasn't mentioned as a gen 2 gimmick pokemon to show off egg hatching. Its signature move is a bit sketchy but I'd say Metronome counts even though it's not exclusive.

[@shiningjoot6369]

Squawkabilly is actually a really good support pokemon because it can run Choice Scarf Intimidate Parting Shot

[@bleachcraft8]

So fun castform fact, it was actually pokemon go that gave castforms weather forms their shiny variants. Which makes it the only major addition to main series games from go besides meltan and melmetal

[@WorthyEpert1]

If I remember correctly, in one of the games for the gameboy if you caught all the Unowns and had the little printer attachment, you could print out words/sentences that use the unowns

[@TheKirbylore]

You’re sleeping on Pyukumuku. Can it attack? No. Can it toxic stall? Hell yeah. Soak, Toxic, Protect, and Recover with unaware and you’re a menace

[@RDGamer321]

I can feel a certain Team Sky Leader that was offended by the thought of no one caring about his special little Castform.

[@hk_4014]

Those ex delta species dittos were awesome back in the day lol. Especially the reverse holos

[@Seanabo]

I didn't even know about Wobbufet's mechanic because i never bothered trying to use it in a battle lmao

[@survivordave]

Oricorio's Dancer ability is amazing, making it a great companion to Volcorona and Lilligant for Fiery Dance, Petal Dance, and Quiver Dance. In Ultra Sun/Moon you could teach Lilligant Role Play which meant you could have her Role Play Dancer and get 4 moves off in a turn! That worked gangbusters when I played Ultra Sun online. I don't think they let her keep Role Play in subsequent games though.

[@DedicatedCaffeineUser]

Kecleon may be pretty useless in the main series games, but it’s an absolute powerhouse in the mystery dungeon series.

[@akumayoxiruma]

Generation 5: I think Zorua and Zoroark are gimmick Pokémon whose ability - just like Shedinja's and Ditto's - has impacted the game significantly ever since. Still today, there are children on Pokémon Showdown who call their opponent "a hacker" because their psychic, normal, fighting or ghost moves don't work on the opponent's Zoroark in disguise.

[@frogace55]

Fun Fact on Wobbuffet: It's the reason that the official format is Doubles nowadays. Since it got Shadow Tag when abilities came out, the concern was if two of hem got sent in, it could just be a never-ending stalemate

[@jwanie366]

4:32 as a player whose first full year of VGC competition was in 2016, I was pretty happy about that nerf lol

[@Zebulization]

For a brief time unknown were usable in the trading card game. Not the origionals that triggered abilities by filling your bench in order to spell words, a later set. Unknown that turned themselves into held items, unknown that could perform damage swap (only between unknown) Unknown that shuffled themselves back into the deck, and thus removed a damaged pokemon without counting as a knockout. I had good fun with an unknown deck.