The Tragedy of Gen 3 Armaldo.

Pokemon Competitive Singles in Gen 3 has a long history. While Armaldo hasn't been a very successful Pokemon in the later games, when it debuted it was quite solid. Bug/Rock typing had its uses Defensively, and access to Knock Off and Rapid Spin along with solid Bulk and Offensive stats were noteworthy.
Unfortunately, due to Egg move incompatibility, both Knock Off and Rapid Spin cannot be on the same Armaldo set. But this Pokemon still sees occasional use by high level players for its unique niche advantages over the other common Knock Off user, Hariyama.
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Only JimCool knows about the viability of Armaldo. All other sources of information are liars and are inaccurate.
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Some will never figure out how to get Armaldo in Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet. But famous player Jim Cool is well aware of the Best Armaldo Moveset in Competitive, and even how to Armaldo Shiny Farm. Many aren't and never will be. That's just the unfortunate reality of the world.
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#competitivepokemon #pokemonshowdown #gen3

[@jimothycool]

OK Armaldo may not be the absolute Worst fossil folks.

[@Pudcup]

No, that tragedy goes to GSC fossil pokemon. They were so bad that they went fully extinct. *Shudders in 360 BST*

[@cultofmel]

We all know Aurorus is the weakest with that Rock/Ice typing

[@sharkronical]

@@cultofmelit got refrigerate hyper voice / become a hail setter. It’s pretty decent in the lower tiers (maybe before gen 9 idk)

[@SeriousStriker]

@@cultofmel It's probably Bastiodon or Rampardos tbh.

[@SquishyOfCinder]

@@SeriousStriker Bastiodon is really good in gen 9 because of tera

[@darmanistan]

no way armaldo is worse than bastiodon

[@cadetjones9205]

Bastiodon was buffed, Armaldo wasn't.

[@MogusMasterSaikawa22]

I think bastiodon got some buffs recently

[@egbertmilton4003]

@@MogusMasterSaikawa22 The buffs didn't help. Bastiodon is still garbage.

[@aaleven4728]

It's not, bastiodon still sucks

[@MogusMasterSaikawa22]

@@egbertmilton4003 right but still ashdofi

[@maskofthedragon]

Knock off is such a interesting utility move It would be really stupid if GF buffed it to out damage other dark moves or something

[@rjante2236]

Lol nah, Knock Off would never outdamage Crunch.

[@bg8561]

​@@rjante2236 65 base power × 1.5 = 97.5 bp v/s 80 bp, at least on the first turn, it IS stronger than crunch.

[@rjante2236]

@@bg8561 I was being sarcastic.

[@butteredsalmonella]

​@@bg8561 What are you talking about 😂😂. Knock Off is only 20 Base Power, they'll NEVER increase it to 65, such an unreasonable buff is unprecedented.

[@edgargaebolg9307]

​@@butteredsalmonellaYeah same with Rapid Spin. Imagine it being buffed with more damage and +1 speed, people who think that'd happen are delusional

[@insanityinacan]

It's Armaldo April, folks

[@Thund3rDrag0n12]

We up for real Armaldo hours

[@localidiot2777]

On an auesday aswell how fitting.

[@BiffTheBanana]

Armaldo is also a prominent Pokémon in the Wigglytuff story in Pokémon Explorers of Sky. Truly a Pokémon of all time

[@Skylark0000]

Pokemon mystery dungeon somehow manages to have peak character writing for all the random side characters.

[@bimasetyaputra8381]

Ah shit, i remember that side story "Junior. Try to understand. I have to answer for the things I've done. But when I've finished... Then, if I still feel the same... I'll become an explorer. I don't know when that will be... But when that day comes... When that day comes... I'd like to go exploring with you again." Brings tear to my eye

[@FissionCube]

even just listening to defend globe makes me tear up

[@Blanka767]

I through about that when YT suggested the video. Just played that part of the game a hour ago, i'm enjoying mystery dungeon a lot

[@ThePfeif25]

J-man: “Nothing is immune (to knock off)” Muk: “Am I a joke to you?”

[@rjante2236]

Real winners run Stench Muk

[@StarfieldDisarray]

Armaldo was one of two real Rapid Spinners in Gen 5 NU, sharing the spot with Torkoal. Armaldo was so flawed and people so down bad for hazard removal, they would rather run nothingmons like Eviolite Wartortle and Staryu instead and every day we prayed for Hitmonchan to drop.

[@rjante2236]

Staryu??

[@StarfieldDisarray]

@@rjante2236 People were DOWN HORRENDOUS for Rapid Spin

[@dashlord_]

@@rjante2236 yup the state of hazard removal in Gen 5 NU was so bad

[@Jsolo13]

0:45 I really thought Jim was going to reveal Armaldo’s last name here

[@mr.sandman7339]

He did, it's Armaldo Ingenthreeou

[@tonberry2670]

Rock really needs to resist itself. Like, that would help buff SO many pokemon. Armaldo, Aerodactyl, Shuckle, Crustle, Minior, Magcargo, Harcanine, Archeops ALL of these mons would KILL for this

[@Mortyst]

"Tyranitar needs a buff" is definitely one of the Gen 3 OU opinions of all time

[@Maszt14]

Lets make the s tier mon even more s tier

[@KrazyKyle-ij9vb]

​​@@Mortystokay, and that's just one rock type who managed to be good despite its typing. Even gamefreak realized how bad the type was because they gave Rock a spdef boost in sand starting in gen 4, and even then there's only 3 rocks in C tier and above in the viability rankings (and only one above C tier) Gen 3 is a similar story, Ttar is the only great rock in the tier, Aerodactyl is decent, and Armaldo... exists, and I'd hazard that they're good despite their typing and not because of it. I don't want Ttar buffed. I want *every other rock* to be buffed.

[@ieatvirgins]

Tyranitar could use the buff in 2024 tbqh

[@ramzihamdallah]

oldest way to break a rock is another rock

[@DrewZGmusic]

Party rock bug

[@matiantequera4444]

Every arm has its aldo

[@reddragonair3147]

*looks at right arm* "Hey, he's right!"

[@vanesslifeygo]

amen

[@hessiankyojin]

Every skarm has its ory

[@waisinchan2734]

Not gonna lie. When I heard the line of "Armaldo is blessed with the movepool of Knock Off and Rapid Spin along with solid Bulk", I immediate look at the three Donphan existing and say "That's quite true."

[@johnhawkins5314]

Donphan, Metal Donphan and Mega Donphan, truly the most Donphan of all time

[@BladeRabbit]

Armaldo being UUBL really goes to show how he's almost there.

[@blargghkip]

tbf, ADV UUBL is absolutely enormous

[@doma3554]

I really like Armaldo’s visual design and typing. It’s really weird and unique and bulky looking, like Tyranitar.

[@krakenblast2]

It's Armaldo's Arduous April Ascent

[@k0kok9]

Man poor Armaldo, luckily if he manages to return, because of the way egg moves work on S/V he´ll probably get back his important moves

[@shatterthineekey]

as a great man once said, snorlax will never pierce the shell of this mighty warrior

[@wahbucket501]

Armaldo April was such a resounding failure that he got his own video

[@MrShadowThief]

Armaldo and Tyrantrum are easily the coolest fossils.

[@ashketchum13579]

Big Yellow / Jimcool crossover? This is (actually) insane!

[@VerbalLearning]

If i remember correctly, then Armaldo can learn Thief and while that's obviously an inferior move to Knock Off, it would allow Armaldo to have both item disruption and rapid spin at the same time. And with how prevalent leftovers is in gen 3, you'd quickly and quite reliable be able to get one so starting out without an item might not be that big of a problem. Idk just a thought.

[@blargghkip]

You can only thief once per game though (unless you get knocked off, lmao)

[@thepurified8386]

that WOULD be a good idea... if armaldo learned thief in gen 3

[@xhinted690]

​@@blargghkip Actually Knock Off doesn't really remove a mon's item in gen 3, it only makes it unusable for the rest of the match, still counting as an equipped item, meaning you can only Thief once even if you get Knocked Off.

[@SuperEljafru]

running mimic armaldo to not only beat snorlax but also provide value in other matchups is so cool to me

[@dnmph]

So happy to see big yellow getting wider exposure. Excited for the interview!

[@gio9255]

Armaldo is amazing and underrated lead in Gen 3. It knocks off items, can spin away spikes, walls skarmory and destroy it with SD Rock blasts, destroys Celebi, claydol, starmie and t-tar with HP Bug, and rock blasts on Pokémon that think it can set up subs on it. It’s a shame it’s low speed and typing lets down a truly solid anti-meta Mon.

[@matthewpetrela6262]

In conclusion, Armando must deal with the cards they were dealt.

[@oofjeff3735]

I serisouly love these little videos about gen3 mons, its very unique brand of content

[@heliumpai7627]

Heya, Jim and Great Dandelion (paradox)! You two have permanently impacted my brain chemistry and I can't thank you enough for it. What made you two get into your favorite generations? Gen 3 and 1? And more importantly, what's your favorite flavor of ice cream?

[@loogie5515]

My beautiful little mantis shrimp boy deserved so much more than what he got 💔

[@balancemaster55]

Big yellow’s transition was amazing, I want you to ask yellow if transitioning effected them as a KZbinr or if being a KZbinr effected their decision. Cause I’m nervous af to transition especially if I decide to stream again >~

[@ieatvirgins]

You should be nervous. It's scary stuff.

[@timothylawrence8929]

⁠@@ieatvirginsidk if you had good intentions with this comment, but if you did i don’t think you worded it very well

[@balancemaster55]

@@timothylawrence8929 thank you

[@ieatvirgins]

@@timothylawrence8929 Trust me, the doctors won't fully inform you of all the long-term risks and possible side effects of the transition process. Take everything they say and do with a grain of salt.

[@timothylawrence8929]

@@ieatvirginstransition doesn’t necessarily refer to a medical transition, it can also mean a transition in how someone dresses or presents themself. Big Yellow themself hasn’t medically transitioned afaik (could be wrong there, anyone feel free to correct me if i am) but their gender presentation, at least as shown on their channel, has shifted dramatically

[@Flash33c]

Something else to know is that Anorith and Armaldo are both playable in Conquest (knowing the moves Fury Cutter & X-Scissor respectively*) whereas their counterparts in Lileep & Cradiliy are not. Granted Bastiodon is there too and Anorith is a Swarm only pokemon (i.e. rare) compared to Shieldon's rather common appearance but still. *For those curious the only other pokemon to know these moves are Scyther for Fury Cutter and Scizor and Levanny for X-Scissor.

[@99sonder]

Always been a big fan of Armaldo. It's kinda insane how Pokemon shifted in later games to move it down from being a decent choice in OU, to being Shunted down the tier ladder at a rapid pace in the very next game. Anyways, question for Big Yellow: What's your favorite worms item, and how can it be used to take town Iron Muggulus?

[@joshalbert5904]

Big yellow and Jimothy is such a goated combo

[@armaldoaster97]

I seldom ever comment but I must say thank you so much for showcasing Armaldo in a video. Armaldo is my favorite Pokemon and I really like this thorough breakdown as to why Armaldo is good in this format and poor in other's.

[@craigcrusade7594]

For the Fridge: If you could pick any pokémon, move or ability to put into any format/generation you want with the sole purpose of causing as much chaos as possible, what do you pick?

[@Ultimewtum]

I’d wanna hear you and Big Yellow discuss between the two of you what pokemon you think the most screwed over Pokemon of all time is, whether thats by generational changes, not being introduced in the right gen, or just straight up not having a good stat distribution or movepool

[@NRF-ql3bq]

Very nice analysis video! Armaldo is probably my favorite fossil alongside Aerodactyl. But its far from the best fossil Pokemon. In fact, you might be right in that it's the worst one. But I just love it's design! Glad it was usable in one gen at least (Gen 3)! Also, it was cool that Armaldo was on Steven's teams!

[@derekgunnels4856]

Rock should resist rock

[@isnanesavant]

This would actually make Ttar even better so I'm up for it

[@InsertFunnyThingHere]

I don't think that'd make a whole lot of sense though, If anything I could argue rock should be weak against rock. I think rock should get some other sort of buff

[@MaahirMomtaz12]

That would actually help them a lot. Lots of dual typed Rock Pokémon would lose their Stealth Rock weakness

[@M4x_P0w3r]

​@@InsertFunnyThingHereIf Steel resists itself and Ice does too, why not Rock?

[@kachebelka3416]

@@M4x_P0w3rbecause steel can be used to block steel and ice can’t freeze something that is already frozen. However a rock isn’t the greatest at defending against other rocks, it’ll just break.

[@egbertmilton4003]

Yeah, no, Armaldo is far from the worst Fossil Pokemon. Rampardos and Bastiodon were far worse, in typing and stat distribution, for what they were trying to do. Bastion especially fails at defense. A Pokemon that gets one shot by the strongest and common offensive types in the game has little to nothing to do.

[@michaelbuell3711]

Armaldo is my favorite pokemon of all time, love the design, I remember getting a super cool pokemon card of it when I was a kid and it's been my favorite ever since.

[@mayrontaylor150]

Question for big yellow: Would you be interested in hosting a gen1 tournament where people can only use 1 mon of each tier (tier one being the best OU mons, tier 2 OU mons that aren't quite as good, then we go to top UU mons...) I think it could be a nice way to identify small niches of some less explored mons :) Love both of your content mates, keep it up!

[@MogusMasterSaikawa22]

oh cool I quite like big yellows content myself

[@yourdagan]

Ask Big Yellow to predict how Gen 1 OU will necessarily develop in the foreseeable future. There's a widespread notion that the tier is stagnant and solved, and many people are discouraged from playing it on that account. So explaining how there is in fact still problems to be solved and promising opportunities to be explored, would go quite a way toward dispelling this notion. This would also serve as a teaser to his planned release of a big State of the Tier video he promised in his recent lower tiers video.

[@SillyBones420]

I used Armaldo in my original Ruby play through back when I was 5 years old and he was the first Pokemon I got to lvl 100, so he'll always have a special place in my heart

[@Protagulous]

Great video as always mate. Normally I don't comment but I kinda wanted to speak my mind on something and see if anyone agrees with me. I think in these situations, it does a disservice to competitive play and team building to faithfully recreate every niche programming quirk from the cartridge games out of some misguided sake of tradition. I honestly can't help but think it's pretty foolish. The example we see in this video is the bizzare fact that in gen 3, Armaldo has both rapid spin and knock off in it's moveset, but can't have them together, when it should be able to run them together. Moveset incompatibility is a completely arbitrary mechanic that is most likely a mistake/programming error on the og devs part. I attempt to justify it and then remember that it doesn't serve as a compelling balancing mechanicism either, if that's what they even intended. Would Raichu be too good if it could run surf and volt tackle on the same set? Didn't think so, it's not likely they thought so either, so my guess is that it's unintended. In situations like these, we should just say fuck it and fix the game. It's nonsensical from both a game design and balance standpoint why it exists, so why have it ya know? I do believe there is an inherent obligation to use retroactive knowledge to rectify problems for the sake of the sport's improvement. This is being played competitively, and we take it seriously. Whether the devs did shouldn't really be our concern since we have superseded the scope of their intentions already by competiting for money and glory. I guess my point is that if you can make the game better, you should. Not every community is afforded such a golden opportunity. But hey, that's just my opinion. Looking forward to your next drop as always.

[@refreshinglemonade3426]

As a Gen 2 player, I find it really interesting that Jim saying "knock off shouldn't be on things that are super powerful already" kind of mirrors how I feel about spikes. Gen 2 skarm is great at stopping tons of things but without spikes it's super hard to exert a ton of pressure.

[@mr.sandman7339]

On the opposite side of the spectrum, as someone who played gen 8 a lot when it was current, hearing that about Knock Off triggered my latent hatred of Toxapex. They set out to make the perfect defensive mon and unfortunately succeeded.

[@chess_fella]

The Tragedy and Triumph of Gen 3 Jimothy Cool.

[@dragontamer1012]

Armaldo is one of my favourite fossil mons by design but I'm sad that it sucks

[@durk8892]

I really liked Armaldo as a kid, he looks so silly. When I got older and got into competitive Pokemon I was sad that Armaldo was so bad. Glad to hear he has a niche in ADV, I might have to try the format out now

[@kiracite]

What a true tragedy. Straight from the Greek amphitheatre. I'm sobbing

[@georgemedia1069]

In Gen 3 Armaldo's Bug/Rock typing isn't as bad defensively as it would be in the later gens, folks.

[@benjabin4268]

As someone who only plays a bit of gen 3 ou and hover 1100-1300, its really interestings to hear a different perspective to what I see on ladder. I had almost forgotten that Armaldo can learn Knock off because I almost exclusively run into rapid spin versions. Probably just some weird luck though

[@dylanbusby7851]

Questions for big yellow 1 If they could pick one gen 1 mechanic to bring back what would it be? 2 what later gen Pokémon do they wish were in the gen 1 games?

[@bananaspice1967]

Omg upcoming collab between Jimmy cold and large orange

[@chilitofu3512]

jim what's a pokemon that deserves to be in gen 9 ou but currently is in uu?

[@rkovacs4190]

Question for u and yellow both: gen 3 random battles content?? Imagine covering all the variants of each mon n how good n usable certain ones n strats are etc

[@piku2able]

Question for Big Yellow (And also you Jimothy): Which Pokémon from RBY OU/Lower Tiers would you invite to your birthday party? I would 100% invite Tentacruel. Seems like a chill fellow

[@cinders11037]

what happened to the outro jimothy....... im devastated

[@rykox8877]

Please ask big yellow if showdown has the gen 1 bugged psywave that does 100%-150% of the users level (this only happens to players not AI) and if its not if it would change the gen 1 meta :) (I found this out due to smith plays pokemon datamining)

[@sythrus]

I think that most generations will eventually resemble gen 3 metas more as time goes on, as eventually people will start experimenting with Pokemon that have been dismissed as useless. I mean, looking at gen 4, infernape has seen a massive fall off of popularity recently due to people finding new and better ways to deal with it. As long as a Pokémon has unique traits within a tier, there is a chance that they will see success in some form or another, as that 'perfect teamslot'. Good example of this would be the infamous VGC pachurisu, it filled a perfect set of roles that only it could do effectively.

[@0Scar9728]

It's Armaldo April folks

[@Nalon_ssbu]

I love Armaldo, I'm so sad that it is not very good in newer gems:(

[@serranity4436]

Im assuming Knock Armaldo has almost perfect synergy with Pursuitar. Those on a sustain team with Forretress and Roar Swampert could likely outpace quite a lot with the sheer bulk

[@thefatcontrollershat]

Why are the asterices turning up in front of the move names in the first Gen 3 clip? This is insane

[@douglaspope-gz1eq]

A question for Big yellow what is your favorite Gimmick pokemon?

[@Yell0wCheese]

Questions for big Yellow: if they could add one later gen move to gen 1, which one would it be?

[@wonkytonkman2739]

Realizing that the red marks on Armaldo’s head were not actually the eyes dropped Armaldo’s competitive viability

[@justtheletterM]

When I first learned about EV training as a kid playing Platinum, an adamant Armaldo named Ivan was the very first Pokemon that I ever EV trained, and the very first pokemon that I ever got to Level 100. Then, of course, I learned about IVs, and realized that Ivan was still not good at all for competitive battling. Armaldo is truly a magnet for tragedy.

[@Asidders]

I wish you'd link to the battles showcased, if possible! (I don't quite get it)

[@joao20able]

Question for Big Yellow (also Jimothy if you're a fighting game fellow): what's your favorite guilty gear character?

[@heckinahandbasket4918]

AYO BIG YELLOW WHEN THE HAIR TUTORIAL DROPPIN

[@ImortalZeus13]

YOULL PUT SOME DAMN RESPECT ON MY MANS

[@tysondennis1016]

Armaldo armalding over not being able to slot Rapid Spin and Knock Off on the same set.

[@magnificentbuzz]

Question for Big Yellow: Is your hair naturally that good or is it a routine you've gotten down over time? Thank you.

[@purgigantevole]

Big yellow+jimothy is a dream come true

[@That_Guy_From]

Question for big yellow: if you were to 1v1 Jim, what gen would you choose? Thank you

[@jan-seli]

Aww yeah, we gaming on a Friday

[@ineedjuuce6414]

Have u ever heard the tragedy of Darth armaldo the hard?

[@tymunster]

Question suggestion for large dandelion: how big is yellow?

[@shimogane2474]

I wonder if they ever let Arnaldo just as an experiment gain access to both at the same time, I wonder where it would end up and what the best players would have to say about battling with and against this set.

[@JMalaby89]

To Big Yellow: As someone who also has a set of passions that are wildly different from each other, how do you balance your time to engage in all of them at the levels you’d like to?

[@dogman7776]

yes video

[@antpassalacqua]

Armaldo is easily in my top five favorite Pokémon

[@Blazin_Tundra]

Always loved armaldo, definitely a top 3 fossil imo.

[@jmcbango]

YOOO big yellow podcast incoming????!?!

[@darwinduckdoesarts]

Armaldo April let's gooooo!

[@10carflo22]

Question for the Fridge: What would you change about the next generation of competitive Pokémon? Would you make it similar to Gen 3’s great balance where a lot of Pokémon have a small niche?

[@thegloop5018]

question for big yellow: would you rather have £50,000 or a penny that doubles every day (in size)? keep in mind you could use the giant penny to like, get attention.

[@fums63]

Armaldo is my favorite Knock Off or Rapid Spin user.

[@henrycardona2940]

what is the purpose of seismic toss over a stab move?

[@Quartermistress]

The solution for Armaldo's egg move movepool conundrum? Just have 3 parents duh

[@ladonmccabe]

Armaldo for president

[@amazingkool]

It's Armaldo monday, folks

[@melikmourali2072]

I think you can fit almost anything you want with Salamence, Skarmory, Blissey and Starmie

[@henrycardona2940]

this video has a better like/comment/view ratio than a ted talk about disappointing our parents. we did it bois

[@olivethedoggirl9964]

I love this silly looking guy

[@evilartnboy]

Is there any way to play gen 3 doubles these days?

[@PetenarYT]

I was literally trying to make an armaldo team today and found out i cant spin and knock off. So tragic

[@dylanf3108]

Armando clears Bastiodon and I say that as someone who loved Bastiodons design

[@Rubbly]

No questions for Big Yellow, but looking forward to that discussion! Also is it just me or is Armando BUGGING OUT??

[@triviszla1536]

All hail the goated Armaldo