Top 5 Offensive Pokemon Ruined By Their Movepool

[@donjuan6996]

GameFreak: “We can’t give this Pokémon that move. It would be too broken.” Also GameFreak: *creates Flutter Mane*

[@gladoseon4117]

They even buffed Incineroar

[@Tantrum2u]

Gen 8: An electric type with the most speed and good special attack and an ability that boosts its STAB would be broken if it got coverage Gen 9: 252+ SpA Choice Specs Hadron Engine Miraidon Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 252+ SpD Clodsire: 345-406 (74.3 - 87.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

[@classarank7youtubeherokeyb63]

"Can you imagine regigigas without its ability? It would be as strong as a legendary pokemon!" - Gamefreak, probably

[@futureDreamer4]

Facts

[@nullpoint3346]

@@classarank7youtubeherokeyb63 Regigigas _is_ a legendary, it even looks like Arceus for feck's sake.

[@njivwathomassilavwe2056]

Every special attacking Pokemon relying on Focus Miss for coverage

[@fokspoks]

MonkeDori

[@guilhermedalcin1136]

Every rock type relying on stone edge/rock slide, honestly.

[@Inserteggpunshere]

Typhlosion

[@SsjRedneck]

​@@guilhermedalcin1136 the fact we have 0 good 100% accurate rock moves is insane to me after all this time

[@IllIlllIlllI-d9e]

​@@SsjRedneckOgerpon?

[@DatMageDoe]

Bonus mention to Kyurem-Black, an Ubers by stats mon whose lack of access to a good physical Ice move made it so weak that it dropped to OU, and was perfectly fine there. And the very moment it got a physical Ice move worth actually using, it immediately shot back to Ubers.

[@Superluigi881]

@@DatMageDoe Kyurem not getting ice punch is absolute blasphemy.

[@SoulBro12]

The same could be said with regular Kyurem. The fact that it can run so many sets from both attacking spectrums plus roost, sub, protect and ddance made it ban worthy

[@fulltimeslackerii8229]

I think it was the combo of DD + usable stab that made it broken iirc

[@Entelarmer]

It wasn't just missing psychical ice move. It was missing on physical side in general.

[@Jlaps941]

Kyurem-Black getting ice punch ✋🏻 Wooper and Gastly getting Ice Punch 👍🏻

[@666blaziken]

Ampharos not getting tail glow is a crime. It doesn't help that story wise it lights up the lighthouse in olivine city.

[@opposumness3107]

Wow, you're absolutely right. How have I missed this all my life?!

[@Birdsflight44]

I remember being so confused when Tail Glow was first introduced. I had literally assumed it was made for Ampharos, because it was a part of the main game series's plot

[@broidkanymore-zc4lt]

nah lets give it to a manaphy with dreadlocks instead

[@DrakonLameth]

Aerodactyl: "Give me some strong moves I can use, you've ignored me for generations and left me with a shallow move pool!" Flareon (with the rest of the eevees in the shadows): "First time?"

[@cyphate]

Dont forget, in gen 9 you can use tera normal guts flareon with facade, trailblaze and flare blitz. So a with a little effort you can turn one of the eeveelutions into swellow!

[@jamesrobson8308]

​@@cyphateoooh

[@BoredomIncarnate16]

I swear, the new yet not and possibly never will be used Sizzly Slide (who names these Moves?) should've been given to Flareon (except possibly with a new name).

[@jamesrobson8308]

@@BoredomIncarnate16 god thosse moves would be fun to added in the main games but I feel like they'd be too broken or some of em

[@CasualVideoGamer]

While not necessarily broken, when Flareon got Flare Blitz, it definitely got better. I ran choice scarf Flareon for a while with the focus being on Flare Blitz. It does pretty well in the lower tiers. Or at least, it did. Haven't played competitive since gen 7.

[@glacierwolf2155]

Blacephalon not being able to learn Hidden Power Fighting due to having 3 perfect IVs is literally the definition of "Suffering from success."

[@Thinkaton10]

When was 3 perfect iv considered successful. Get some better examples atleast.

[@justanoreo2.0]

​@@Thinkaton10 because in 99.9% of the time perfect ivs are better? First time here?

[@youtubename853]

​@@justanoreo2.0100% of the time they need at least 5 perfect IVs tho, that's what he meant

[@justanoreo2.0]

@@youtubename853 i know that anything but speed and attack iv are always max but I was saying cause normally it would at least cut the grind down a bit :/

[@youtubename853]

@@justanoreo2.0 frfr, dude's just being obnoxious

[@Benbre08]

Focus blast is kinda like the avatar, when the world needed it to land, it missed

[@Reinoiro]

And then it only landed 100 turns later

[@Benbre08]

@@Reinoiro When you need the focus blast to land, it wont land, if your opponent uses the move, he'll land it 20 times in a row

[@Nin-Saber]

I love how trainer npcs will sometimes use Focus Blast to finish off a low hp target. As if the cpu wants to flex.

[@Benbre08]

@@Nin-Saber They're flexing the power of rng

[@axearmor214]

@Benbre08 Unless you have Gravity support.

[@et34t34fdf]

I feel like gamefreak trolled us even earlier than that, in gen 2, they gave Lance aerodactyl rock slide, they knew we wanted this, only for us to find out aerodactyl didn't learn it either through level-up or egg-move, so they gave Lance's aerodactyl yet another illegal move, just to piss us all of.

[@totallynotabot6003]

Lance also has illegal Dragonite

[@mylestomsik4720]

lance also has that barrier dragonite

[@joshuakim5240]

Gen2 Lance yet again showing off how powerful shameless cheating is.

[@Birdsflight44]

My headcanon is that he actively adopts abused pokemon who were forced into evolving early/learning the wrong moves/etc. Hence why he goes ape on Team Rocket in gen 2. "Use Hyper Beam" indeed.

[@mylestomsik4720]

@@Birdsflight44 still don't know why hyper beam is on like all his pokemon in johto in his champion fight (i know all of them learn it naturally unlike the dragonite with barrier)

[@afriendlycampfire260]

Im so pissed off that the one time focus blast can be ACTUALLY useful They dont give it to pidgeot

[@UnchainedPandoran]

There’s always choice specs Machamp…

[@GameFreakSucks]

And not to mention Pidgeot lacks good special normal moves like hyper voice or boomburst

[@unhappyninetales]

​@@UnchainedPandoran cursed

[@dozokhu7392]

Thinking back it yeah, Focus Blast on it would have been sick! If it comes back to the games I really hope they correct that. Means almost nothing for base pidgeot viability but everything for the mega.

[@Bruce_P-Z]

@@UnchainedPandoranno. bad. shut you

[@EdmacZ]

Electivire: "Why am I still here? Just to suffer?"

[@theskullboy8700]

Other types: **laughs in good physical stab**

[@Nin-Saber]

"GAMEFREAK! GIVE ME IRON FIST AND MY LIFE IS YOURS!"

[@ronaldvexdian2182]

Hey, to be fair, it’s at least good in single player. Having that much coverage is nice. Shoutout to Zaprong the Elekid that you get in Gale of Darkness. Boy has all the elemental punches and cross chop.

[@cristhianmlr]

"Every night I can feel my Motor Drive"

[@SethJV]

Luxray: "At least you're fast..."

[@adamthespinygiant]

I want to give a dishonorable mention to Klinklang. It’s best 3 stats are 100 Attack, 115 Defense, and 90 Speed. But it’s movepool is nothing but Steel, Electric, and Normal moves. So it has absolutely no access to coverage attacks against the typical weaknesses for pure Steel types. Edit: It also can learn a Psychic and Rock type moves via TM. Unfortunately that Psychic type move in question is Ally Switch which doesn’t help Kilnklang’s cause.

[@girlweird833]

That's a very good example.

[@ilov6888]

Due to limited movepool, klinklang always being walled by steelix, steelix walled everything klinklang offer

[@adamthespinygiant]

@@ilov6888 it’s no wonder it was in the top 5 of MysticUmbreon’s Top 10 Weakest Steel Types

[@Dawg347]

What they did to Klinklang really grinds my gears.

[@riccardocasu5576]

Add that the rock move is Power Gem (redunant with electric coverage and useless on a physical attacker) and the only two physical coverage moves that Klinklang ever got was the transfer-only Rock Smash (40 BP is already bad even without a boost) and Assurance (a paltry 60 base power in most cases). Ironically, Revavroom suffered a similar issue of Klinklang (a steel-type Shift Gear abuser with no coverage outside Bulldoze or Overheat from an anemic 54 SpA) but seems that they learned the lesson, since it got both High Horsepower and Temper Flare in the DLC to fix the issue.

[@SharKing319]

I'm very surprised Aerodactyl's section got _no_ mention of its """movepool""" in Gen 1. If you thought Aerodactyl never getting Head Smash and Brave Bird was bad (and it is), imagine it not even getting Rock Slide and having practically nothing to work with, betraying a stat spread that would've been legitimately excellent in Gen 1.

[@riccardocasu5576]

Aerodactyl with no STAB or at least Earthquake for coverage in RBY was really a shame. Rock/Flying is insane on defensive side in RBY and Aerodactyl also had the same speed (and crit ratio) of Mewtwo.

[@Flaming_Rok]

@@riccardocasu5576 Thankfully over enough time, it's now doing great in NU, absolutely dumpstering Swords Dance Charizard and being the fastest Pokemon in the tier (Electrode got moved to UU).

[@jman2050]

⁠@@Flaming_RokAnd ironically a big part of its kit is its big dumb flying STAB. Turns out that taking two turns to activate is an acceptable trade off for a 140 BP nuke in a tier with a power level as low as RBY NU

[@banditrests]

@@SharKing319 my favorite example is Lance’s aerodactyl in Gen 2 illegally having rock slide because even the devs knew it’s move pool sucked.

[@Flaming_Rok]

@@jman2050 turns out nothing really likes swapping into STAB sky attack from aero aside from...kabutops, magneton and graveler, and the latter isn't great

[@chaosgallade2331]

Aside from Klinklang, who has a shallow movepool to use Shift Gear with, some mention should go to Sceptile. It had some weird special non-Hidden Power coverage moves in Gen III to go with Leaf Blade (Crunch, Dragon Claw, Thunder Punch, though these were enough to put together a usable, albeit not optimal offensive special set if the right Hidden Power type wasn't there in cart), but those moves (and Leaf Blade itself) became physical in the physical/special split. Yes, it kept Hidden Power (and gained Tera Blast in Scarlet/Violet) to patch coverage gaps, but the few non-Hidden Power/Grass moves it got in the exchange were Focus Blast and Dragon Pulse. Its physical movepool is good, but it has to use its lower Attack to make the most out of it.

[@_Koyomi_]

They really need to buff Sceptile's attack stat and lower its special, but they just won't do that for whatever reason

[@AshleyoftheSwiftspear-pb8cs]

Would be interesting to see a video on the losers and winners of the physical special split.

[@emitheorbit1118]

Imo, she should be given more special attacks like Earth Power or Pollen Puff to make use of that special attack stat

[@tktyga77]

​​@@AshleyoftheSwiftspear-pb8cs & ways to fix up the losses. Better yet, the whole Sceptile line getting access to Growth would do them some good & help up legit mixed sets, especially in sun settings

[@Eldred91]

Sceptile really should've been designed to be primarily a physical attacker from the start. Its visual design fits much more as a physical attacker as well.

[@Cofri176]

I think Banette deserves to be mentioned here. Litaraly one fighting move would do wonders for it, or at least its mega

[@braedenwinstead1984]

Natdex player spotted

[@Naito115]

Be careful with the wording, they might give it Detect

[@Cofri176]

@@Naito115 why do i feel they might...

[@lasercraft32]

I'm so glad you mention Lilligant in this video... Its terrible move pool has baffled me since Black & White. Can you really call it "fixing" when Hisuian Lilligant is an entirely different form? The more accurate word would be "replacing." I'm still mad about that... Instead of helping Lilligant by giving it more moves to work with, they instead replace it with a physical attacker who loses all of Lilligant's charm, and spits in the original's face by giving it moves like Ice Spinner, Poison Jab, Acrobatics, a ton of fighting type moves, _and_ a physical attack quiver dance, just to rub it in. It might as well be an entirely different Pokemon, and the original is still just as useless as before. :/

[@harukaze7388]

Unovan Lilligant's entire coverage moveset: - Pollen Puff - Alluring Voice - Dream Eater (formerly) - Hidden Power/Tera Blast That's it that's the whole thing. She deserves to be more than support. Look at this list. -Give her Fiery Dance.- Give her, Pixilate or a fairy type. Give her anything. Actually I looked at the list again and no give her Fiery Dance. I love Hisuian Lilligant. She gets Ice Spinner.

[@lasercraft32]

@@harukaze7388 And she only RECENTLY got Alluring Voice. In SwSh she was stuck with just grass moves and Pollen Puff (didn't even have Hidden Power since they removed it that generation, and Tera Blast didn't exist at the time). I genuinely do not know why GameFreak designed her this way...

[@harukaze7388]

​@@lasercraft32 Pollen Puff feels so insulting too. Randomly Ribbonbee's signature move? While not, literally any coverage. She even lacks Normal moves. She really should've had Grass/Fairy like Whimsicott. Like, of all pokemon she's a *dryad,* she's more of a forest nymph than Sylveon. They could've even taken the Hisui lore to give her retroactively moves that fit her from her predecesor, but not even that.

[@goGothitaLOL]

@@harukaze7388at least they recently give her Weather Ball too for the first time

[@goGothitaLOL]

@@harukaze7388 you forgot Weather Ball, which she also only recently got access to the move Not even in gen 8 when it first became a TM, but gen 9

[@ShakerSilver]

I can't believe that the Pikachu-line is hogging electric-type Double-Edge all to themselves while Zebstrika and Electivire starve...

[@theskullboy8700]

Down with pikawaze

[@lynxfresh5214]

If Zebstrika and Electivire are starving then Luxray is pretty much skin and bones...

[@1stCallipostle]

At least they invented Supercell Slam. Not perfect, but way better than wild charge in singles.

[@jman2050]

Eelektross also weeps in a corner

[@MaahirMomtaz12]

@@1stCallipostle Just predict that no Ground-type switches in

[@pokemnfan1]

Shout-out to Klinklang, a pokemon with good stats and a great boosting move for sweeping, but no offensive moves except Gear Grind.

[@homerman76]

They really like to do electric and steel types dirty in the movepool department

[@franslair2199]

​@@homerman76i kinda like the general concept of electric types being very good offensively, but walled by ground types and not being given the tools to punch through said ground types

[@staringcorgi6475]

@@homerman76it’s a foolish endeavor to make a physical electric type which is why electric fighting was never made since that pokemon would fail since they’re getting a type that would make them weak to the pokemon that fighting types are supposed to be good against rock or steal types which usually run earthquake. Edit. Forgot about gen 9 existing and can you blame me.

[@miikaroos3809]

​@@staringcorgi6475 There are Electric/Fighting Pokémon in Gen 9, though.

[@mylestomsik4720]

@@staringcorgi6475 iron hands.

[@t-greenrock404]

I didn’t even think about how brutal Aero would be Head Smash and Brave Bird, giving it has ROCK HEAD. Stab moves with ridiculous power and an ability that blocks their recoil. That’s huge.

[@Castersvarog]

Shout out to Sceptile, for being one of the only Pokémon who actually got _worse_ during the physical/special split. Imagine going from Leaf blade/Crunch/Thunder Punch and Dragon claw to Leaf storm/Hidden power and Dragon pulse, what a downgrade now it’s another dull Subseed grass type

[@lynxfresh5214]

I've seen plenty of rom hacks where the only change to Sceptile (no new moves, abilities or forms) is just swapping it's Atk and SpAtk stats lol!

[@roshanyuvaraj6771]

It says something when a move that was formerly Sceptile's Signature move is used better by a pokemon that isn't even a grass type.

[@bdt2002gaming]

I’ve never understood this take, since Sceptile’s special movepool post-Gen 3 is larger than one might expect, provided some of that comes from it being a great Hidden Power user. The real problem is that it’s very frail and also lacks a special boosting move. It makes no sense, sure, but Quiver Dance Mega Sceptile would go unbelievably hard 💀

[@luciusirving5926]

​@@bdt2002gamingIt makes no sense giving the Bulbasaur line Growth and not other grass starters.

[@bdt2002gaming]

@@luciusirving5926 Me when Kanto bias:

[@tboltgames]

There's a perfect opportunity for Game freak to give Mega Pidgeot Focus Blast in Legends Z-A, assuming it has abilities.

[@lukassrensen3208]

My favorite fact about aerodactyl is the fact that, despite being among the first pokemon to get rock head back in gen 3 it's only ever been able to learn two recoil moves. Take down, via level up... and double edge. Only learned specifically from FRLG move tutor. meaning that if you've ever wanted to take advantage of aerodactyls coolest ability beyond throwing out sad 85% accurate take downs (which is extra useless btw since aerodactyl, like basically every other pokemon in existence, can learn return which has a higher BP and accuracy) you'd need to transfer one all the way up from gen 3.

[@nebeelal-momani3301]

The fact seismitoad didn't have ANY physical water moves while having higher physical attacks until like 2 generations later always made me irate when I was younger.

[@goGothitaLOL]

And if you thought Seismitoad had it rough, then you should see Poliwrath Getting no good Fighting STAB for 7 fucking generations straight. No Close Combat, No Superpower, No (High) Jump Kick, No Drain Punch, No Mach Punch, Not even Cross Chop, the strongest Fighting STAB it had to settle for the longest is kid you not goddamn Submission of all things. For all its drawbacks, Submission ain’t much stronger than Brick Break which you’re better off using, even Sky Uppercut was better than this (and we all know the story of S/M Kommo-o) By the time it did finally get some of those Fighting STABs, too little too late.

[@Brown95P]

Mega-Pidgeot and Aerodactyl are definitely the saddest in the list. Like come on, No Guard Focus Blast (+ Hurricane)? Rock Head Head Smash + Brave Bird? How do you *_even miss_* such opportunities?

[@iBenjamin1000]

I keep trying to tell people that there probably isn’t enough time to look over every Pokémon new and old and identify what are the best new moves to give it.

[@egbertmilton4003]

@@iBenjamin1000 They're the most successful media franchise in the world, they definitely have the time for it. They'd lose minimal profit. They just don't care about balance.

[@GeorgeDCowley]

@@egbertmilton4003 Especially since they only have 4-500 Pokemon a generation, now.

[@dariomerisio24]

There is also the option to stop to create new ugly and no sense abomination and fix the previous one. So you can have much time to investe in balance

[@Superluigi881]

Luxray. That is all. Good god what an awful movepool. Especially in gen 4.

[@byronrush9802]

Yep that's the main reason I stopped using it all together it just sit in my PC every other playthrough

[@Superluigi881]

@@punkysnarks I don't think a full overhaul is needed. Just a speed stat and movepool that can actually make use of that attack stat.

[@josephbulkin9222]

@@punkysnarks first stage? Its Attack stat is 120!

[@lynxfresh5214]

​@@Superluigi881 Agreed in a rom hack I played awhile back Luxray look like this: Type: Electric Hp: 80 Atk:120 Def:79 Spatk:85 Spdef:79 Spd:90 BST-533 Abilities: Intimidate, Guts and Galvanize (HA) Notable moves: Iron Head, Play Rough, Pursuit, Wild Charge (buffed to 110 power, on a side note Volt Tackle got buffed to 140 for the Pikachu line) plus STAB (via HA) on Double Edge, Quick Attack and Return. Actual useful and realistic buffs without overhauling the core identity of a Pokèmon imo.

[@noahberan6498]

Luxray has good moves now, it just needs better speed. I say switch its speed with its Special attack, and buff Wild charge and it'll be good

[@banditrests]

The real problem is the massive gaps in move pools across the board, like physical flying types that aren’t birds or any special flying type, all special ghost and dark moves being low power, the ubiquitous no physical electric moves etc. You could fix all of it by redistribution of signature moves that already exist

[@byronrush9802]

Or having the option of it being able to be switched because of the Pokemon who's using it

[@banditrests]

@@byronrush9802 I have absolutely no idea what you meant by that, can you please elaborate?

[@adamou20501]

Shadow ball and dark pulse are usually distributed very well tho, I'd argue physical ghost and dark types have it a lot worse than special ones because poltergeist is distributed to basically nobody and knock is pretty rare

[@Bruce_P-Z]

@@adamou20501Poltergeist also sucks with how good Knock Off is

[@banditrests]

@@adamou20501 The problem there is that they have only 80 base power. They could at least increase distribution of Night Daze or infernal parade so every special ghost and dark type doesn’t have to run the same two moves. There are some pretty reasonable physical dark moves, especially knock off, but you’re right that physical ghost types are kind of screwed if they don’t have poltergeist or last respects. Rage fist and spectral thief might be to much but they could at least give out shadow bone since Lucario gets bone rush the bone moves aren’t totally exclusive or spirit shackle.

[@JaNaeNicole90]

I have never once played Pokemon competitively or plan to, yet I find myself watching these videos weekly (for the better part of 3+ years 😅)

[@aberomoa5149]

Love how most of these issues are fixed in romhacks and fangames. In some cases, they just make the mon much more comfortable to use/more viable. Not even in a game breaking manner, just straight-up fair upgrades.

[@totallynotabot6003]

Drayano makes good ones. Renegade Platinum doesn't go overboard like other hacks.

[@darianclark3980]

Ahh yes, the Flareon Theorem Sequel, Electivire Boogaloo And Yet, How Good is ____ Type Actually Hasn't Got a Sequel Still??

[@bdt2002gaming]

Jimothy Cool actually just finished his series on this yesterday lol

[@Eldred91]

I second the Jimothy Cool recommendation for vids that cover types.

[@chadnorris8257]

It is a tragedy that the rock/flying type, with rock head, doesn't get head smash and brave bird. Two potent stabs, normally balanced by recoil, used freely by the apex predator of an ancient age.

[@cosminetron]

By God, GF please release volt tackle

[@youtube-kit9450]

Or just buff wild charge to 120 BP. Differentiate Volt Tackle from it by Volt Tackle having less recoil, like how Head Charge is with Double-Edge. Physial Electric types would like the buff to BP, and Pikachu's paperthin HP stat would appreciate the reduced recoil.

[@arafzaman760]

Or rework supercell slam Make it an electric type close combat clone

[@switchnslider1636]

@@arafzaman760Nah make Electric type CC it’s own move and buff SS to 140 base power for the gamblers 🥶🥶

[@martytu20]

@@youtube-kit9450or Volt tackle hits the weaker of the opposing mon’s defense.

[@GeorgeDCowley]

Electric and Rock-type Swift.

[@togakhan1274]

The video with the opposite conceprt of this would be so cool! Imagine recovery moves on Snorlax, Mudsdale, Goodra H, Kommo O etc. We can go even further and think about defensive mons lacking utility moves. See, Eldegoss lacking literally ANYTHING to do vs Grass types except for flimsy Pollen Puffs.

[@sarctechie]

Tapu Bulu not having Play Rough is CRIMINAL

[@amberhernandez]

The physical Tapu have no physical Fairy STAB. The special Tapu have Play Rough (and Moonblast). We truly live in a PokéSociety.

[@misterzygarde6431]

They really should give Electivire and Luxray the ability, Galvanize

[@deshawnanderson2649]

World, The time has come to…

[@dse763]

This is why I put galvanize much higher than Aerilate or Refrigerate : many physical electrics will kill to have this ability to have good STAB at last.

[@FrostGhidorahEX]

I think this could get a sequel discussing mons who's moveset is too varied Sometimes a mon wants moves to cover all its bases However doing so inevitably leaves it stuck with one key move having to be left behind This is Four Move Slot Syndrome

[@SuperSensei]

I disagree, having a Pokemon like Tyrannitar for example, is amazing having such a big move pool. Having a big move pool means it could be utilized in a ton of different ways with all sorts of team compositions.

[@CreaturGiratina]

The fact it took 9 generations to get an OK Electric physical move is a crime

[@2LettersSho]

Z-Crystals and Dynamax were a great way to keep kicking that can down the hill for a good while there :D

[@orshteinbok7762]

There are a lot of good signature physical electric type moves, they just need to get distributed to other mons, u telling me iron hands can't learn plasma fists? Or they can just remove wild charge and replace it with volt tackle, at least then they get an electric type flare blitz which is good

[@2LettersSho]

​@@orshteinbok7762 Okay, flavourfully you're right, Hands is the most "Plasma Fists" Pokémon imaginable but my god does that guy have a lot already! Earthquake and Rock Slide for some reason, we're lucky he didn't get Knock Off :D

[@DeadlockDrago]

The funny thing about giving aerodactyl Head Smash and Brave Bird is that it wouldn't even be much of a boost to the long deleted mega, since it loses the rock head that would keep it healthy.

[@goGothitaLOL]

Tough Claws-boosted Head Smash on Mega would deal a shits load at the cost of half your HP Which is hilarious, and that’s without mentioning DDance

[@rishabhanand4973]

Mega Aerodactyl could definitely make good use of dual wingbeat if it was 100 percent accurate. Idk why dual wingbeat doesn't have 100 accuracy. It's not even that strong a move. The only reason Dragonite uses it is because that's literally Dragonite's only flying stab apart from the 2 turn fly

[@goGothitaLOL]

@@rishabhanand4973 And they still took Wingbeat away from Dnite, to offset Tera Normal Extreme Speed

[@StinkyFish2]

I just wish Gamefreak gave aerodactyl brave bird or head smash

[@Unotuchable]

It's ability blocks recoil but it literally only has the one recoil move

[@MaahirMomtaz12]

@@StinkyFish2 If it was in Gen 9 then maybe. They gave the Nosepass line Head Smash back after not being able to learn it in Gen 4 thus having it removed in Gen 5 onwards

[@goGothitaLOL]

@@Unotuchableand that one recoil move is fucking Take Down

[@joshuakim5240]

@@Unotuchable And even worse is that the ONE gimmick where that would actually become somewhat decent (Tera Normal) is in a gen where it isn't in the available dex roster.

[@Earthboundmike]

Wait, hidden power fairy, doesn't exist? Uh, you know, thinking about it I'd never heard of it being used so, ya, that makes sense? Holy.

[@anyaforger844]

How do you use "uh, you know, so" in text

[@2fort]

you forgot Klinklang, with a total of three usable phyical moves in Return, Wild Charge and Gear Grind

[@PocketFan25]

I would also like to point out that Pidgeot has always also been missing out on normal STAB, which would have allowed it to smack rotom wash for big damages, but despite this they didn't even bother in giving it hyper voice. I get not having Boomburst (Despite fellow birds Swellow and Chatot having it-) but not even HYPER VOICE?! IT'S A DAMN BIRD, THEY'RE KNOWN FOR CHIRPING.

[@Rougealienpirate]

I’m surprised none of the eeveelotions were mentioned since their biggest problems are usually their very limited move pools

[@justjoannak]

Absolutely agree with this

[@norkbork]

not me checking halfway through the pidgeot section if this part was actually about tornadus and i just hallucinated it being about pidgeot

[@nicolasromani3523]

Lilligant is one of my favorite Pokémon, so it hurts seeing it's lack of power and coverage hold it back from becoming a Quiver Dancing threat with sleep powder. However, Hisuian Lilligant serves to fix many of the line's problem. Wich makes me glad.

[@minglelupeas]

My favorite is Drowzee and Hypno not being able to learn dream eater naturally, despite being based off a dream eating yokai, it’s for whatever reason only through TM.

[@danielmaynard239]

I want to mention how Dusclops lost Earthquake in gen 9, and it sucks that it did

[@EggscellentTree]

Rip, weird how they removed it.

[@goGothitaLOL]

Dusknoir still had it tho They also weirdly removed T-Bolt from Darkrai and Volbeat, leaving them with Thunder

[@danielmaynard239]

@@goGothitaLOL Dusclops is more important to me since it's my favorite Pokémon

[@thescorchingpteranodon7986]

Pidgeot should get Focus Blast and Boomburst in Legends ZA.

[@EggscellentTree]

But boomburst is swellow's and exploud's thing , why make this mon outclass them in what they do?

[@RobinOfYlisse]

@@EggscellentTree why is it a swellow thing though? always thought that was bizarre. it's clearly made for exploud

[@EggscellentTree]

@@RobinOfYlisse Gamefreak probably didn't think swellow would be used as special attacker with its 50 special attack and gave boomburst to swellow. But they saw it actually used it more than the physical set, they decided to buff it's base special attack by 50% (from 50->75). As for why it got it ,maybe the bird it's based on is known for its singing , who knows. But yeah, unfortunate swellow kinda outclassed exploud after it got the stat buff.

[@jamesgiles4517]

Why being a legendary isn't everything: the regice theorem

[@JSmithBlog]

More like the Regigigas Theorem

[@This_0ne_Person]

@@JSmithBlog Just call it the Regi theorem, as all regis bar Eleki have been hovering around the lowest tiers (excluding their debut generations, in which all of them have been UU/UUBL)

[@yungmuney5903]

Mesprit theorum?

[@graylee945]

Tera Electric Regieleki was literally broken in early Gen 9 competitive though 😭 ​@@This_0ne_Person

[@Superluigi881]

@@jamesgiles4517 Being a slow bulky ice type is suffering.

[@JuicyDjeusse]

11:22 Ahh yes, the gen 2 pokemon "Danpy". Pre-evolution of Phonphan

[@anilkarakaya9343]

Crime to not put unfezant here. Its stats are extremely similar to lokix with better attack and the bird has no coverage except night slash.

[@goGothitaLOL]

AKA, poor man’s Staraptor

[@-libertyprimev1-902]

The moment H-Arcanine was given Rock Head + Head Smash any arguement to not give the same combo to Aerodactyl and ESPECIALLY Rampardos went out the window... These are Fossil Pokemon that have had their very DNA corrupted by the stone their previous remains were sealed in, again ESPECIALLY RAMPARDOS which it's dino inspiration is known for an extreme thick skull and spine structure that absorb insane blows.

[@lucaiozzo8273]

I found Iron Thorns really funny. It has one of the best attack's stats of all paradoxes and stab on electric and rock moves, wich are wonderfull ofensive options, but also the two worst types when it comes to physical attacks. You have both the inaccuracy of every decent damage rock type move and the lack of damage of every electric type move with no real benefit

[@justinanderson2631]

Alternative video title: Why fighting type coverage matters

[@modestMismagius105]

lilligant being one of my favorite pokemon is rough, I've tried using it casually and even there you can feel just how limited its movepool is

[@SneakyGliscor21]

I think Goodra is another great example of this, it's generally considered the worst pseudo and I feel like it'd be much higher if just got access to recover. And it's easily justifiable, Gastrodon, Magcargo, and Hydrapple can all learn it and yet Goodra cant?

[@Ludakolo]

The Blacephalon segment is really an illustration of why Hidden Power was always kind of stupid.

[@sado2692]

Giving more coverage was really just the solution for deleting hidden power

[@homerman76]

No, it's an example of why Gamefreak needs to do better with coverage distribution

[@skeetermania3202]

@@homerman76Luckily, there’s now Tera Blast.

[@GeorgeDCowley]

@@skeetermania3202 Which only one Pokemon per battle can properly utilize. I wouldn't be averse to Hidden Power being determined by Tera Type, though.

[@lynxfresh5214]

​@@GeorgeDCowley And it's just another Generational gimmick so not a true buff, by Gen 10 most mons that relied on Tera will drop like a rock in usage.

[@Nameless_mixes]

It’s crazy how Lilligant is so underwhelming in singles when it can be a real menace in doubles. Pair it with Torkoal and you’ve got a dangerous combo. Drought pairs well with Chlorophyl and makes it easy to put opponents to sleep with Sleep Powder or let Torkoal hit first with After You. Or if Trick Room’s set up, it has Helping Hand to boost moves like Eruption and Heat Wave. If you aren’t prepared, it’ll run circles around you.

[@SplodgeOfChippy]

Keldeo's movepool also sucks, at least give it ice beam

[@chaosgallade2331]

It has Icy Wind, but that’s very weak. It can 2HKO Tangrowth and only 3HKOs Assault Vest variants. Ice Beam would have been fantastic.

[@TheMightyWobb]

Your focus blasts always miss. Your opponents' focus blasts never miss.

[@daunderrated3106]

So what if you play with your friend who's focus blast would hit tho or it is another paradox

[@HMZeroTwo]

I know it was hard for you to not bring up Flareon in this video

[@doorbox788]

i’ve been complaining about aerodactyl not having brave bird and head smash for years! Glad to see someone agrees

[@frostyclaw5098]

the Electivire theorem or still the Flareon theorem.

[@goGothitaLOL]

There’s already a Flareon theorem It’s why movepool is near everything

[@ShenaniganBros1]

0:21 WING ATTACK??!!!! Charmanders use Wing Attack, Pidgeys use Wing Attack not AERODACTYL!

[@makepr]

Charmander doesnt learn wing attack?

[@ShenaniganBros1]

@@makepr it gets it as an egg move

[@makepr]

@@ShenaniganBros1 ou it was recent as gen 8. Huh, live and learn i guess.

[@ScorchyScorch]

Next Video "Defensive Pokemon Ruined by their Movepool": answer no recovery

[@skeetermania3202]

Why is this such a cliche? Why couldn’t this just be listed as a balancing factor (Snorlax being a possible example)?

[@ronnieketchum1241]

Special Fighting Coverage is something that GF 100% needs to add. So many guys need it.

[@daverowe1081]

Blacephelon's extremely specific circumstances keeping it from having the ONE move that would give it fantastic coverage is a cruel joke

[@sagacious03]

Interesting analysis video! Thanks for uploading! It really seems like often, game design & developer intent for metagames often end up conflicting with what competitive players want, huh?

[@sarasaland4709]

4:31 "Staraptor and Honchkrow's Brave Bird bludgeoned you badly enough to blacklist them to BL" I agree. I got hurt pretty bad and told Smogon ban them.

[@joekewl7539]

I recall STABmons having Head Smash Brave Bird Aerodactyl be an absolute goddamn menace. Orb or Band, if that hit first it was gonna knock you aside like a bunch of bowling pins.

[@GymLeaderJasmine]

It would’ve probably been too difficult to mess with the coding of Hidden Power to account for a new type, so they just left it as is. But I like the idea that they spared Hydreigon from HP Fairy.

[@justjoannak]

I agree with this

[@bookmoth-d1q]

Liligant is one of my favorite pokemon and I've been having fun running it on a Sun team in natdex. Quiver Dance / Petal Dance / Weather Ball / HP Rock gets some work done, but I wish it had Power Gem SO badly.

[@Julius72958]

Regieleki in gen 8 where it was UU because it only had electric moves , screens and explosion is a good contender. The moment it got tera blast ice, even if tera was needed for it, it became way too strong and got the fastest quick ban to date ( and keep in mind its ability was NERFED from 50 % to 30 % ). Now imagine if regieleki had even more moves

[@danieleoliva7371]

It is incredible the fact that in each video he always talks o mentions about Electivire

[@goGothitaLOL]

- Top 5 Most disappointing Pokémon - Evolutions that didn’t help these Pokemon - Top 5 Offensive Pokémon ruined by their movepools It has it all

[@Salemwaaa]

Focus Blast gets a gun they pull the trigger and miss every shot and that’s how their name was changed to Focus _MISS_

[@Dinamosaur]

Not giving Aerodactyl Brave Bird and Head Smash for being too powerful could've made sense like...15 years ago! Pokémon aren't even pretending to be balanced anymore!

[@DrCoeloCephalo]

I have often stated Pokemon is in a really weird middle ground where there is not as much customization as there should be like games like Dragon Quest Monsters and Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth with their skill inheritance. It also lacks true specialization on the other end of the spectrum compared to Yo-Kai Watch so alot of monsters struggle to really stand out of be unique. The movepool system is a big culprit of that and this video only helps prove alot of my points cuz if there was just a bit more customization with skillsets, more of these Pokemon would get the options they need to be more consistent.

[@AshleyoftheSwiftspear-pb8cs]

Once again proving that point that Digimon wins again baby! It’s always Agumon o clock!

[@warrockenjoyer2170]

​@@AshleyoftheSwiftspear-pb8csI understood that reference

[@Bothrops_Asper_89]

I haven't player more than the first two gbc DQM games, but yeah. There's a huge difference in how Pokemon and DQM use monsters. At least in the latter, you can use whatever monster you want and turn it into a competitive threat. And there's some aspects to certain monsters, like those skull-faced butterflies and the moths being immune to explosion-type attacks, or dragons being powerful but easily countered by sleep-inducing attacks.

[@homerman76]

​@@AshleyoftheSwiftspear-pb8cs Digimon for the win

[@1stCallipostle]

The issue is, without restrictions being decently heavy handed, every Pokemon is just a model and a stat block. Niches become muddy and indistinct quick

[@steezygraytripplesgamer7641]

“On paper this thing should bust some heads” is a statement!!!! Great video like always.

[@friedpinnapple]

Flareon my child you were done dirty.

[@GeorgeDCowley]

It has Flame Charge, now.

[@friedpinnapple]

@@GeorgeDCowley flareon has 65 speed and 130 attacks. It needed moves to take advantage of that stat. It started with fire fang (65 power) in gen 4 and it took till gen 6 to get flareblitz (120 power + recoil) There was no middle ground until this generation with temper flare (75 power) For Coverage it has bite, trail blaze, dig, body slam or other normal type moves. Iron tail in some previous generations.

[@brothermichael8442]

Pidgeot not having Focus Miss is an utter crime.

[@cerulean_moon]

To be fair, Aerodactyl did get Dual Wingbeat in gen 8

[@EricKingOfScots]

Give my boy Aerodactyl his recoil moves for Arceus's sake!

[@attilaszanto2275]

If Crobat can have Brave Bird, why not Aerodactyl?

[@spectrum-5]

sometimes i wonder why crobat can learn brave bird despite not even *_being_* a bird at all

[@-libertyprimev1-902]

Admittedly Lilligant does do some work in doubles with Own Tempo + Petal Dance next to Oricorio... Lead with Quiver Dance on Lilligant and Tailwind on Oricorio to outspeed damn near everything, then Petal Dance with Lilligant which will never be confused by it due to Own Tempo neither will Oricorio because it's just calling the move (also not getting locked up) on top of both being in an "outrage" state to ignore redirection moves like Follow Me. That +1 Spatk (stab) 120 BP move twice plus a Rev Dance that can be any type with Tera will take out most opponents in 1 turn even when resisted.

[@Charlotte-33179]

I bet lilligant would definitely be a fairy type if it had released in gen 6, that would have fixed the coverage issues. Itd be cool if theyd changed it to one in that gen tbh

[@Rudoku1]

They made Whimsicott a Fairy type instead, so I think they just wanted it to suck.

[@Charlotte-33179]

@Rudoku1 I forgot about that as I wrote this, it makes even less sense considering that fact

[@alexpannoni2620]

And to think, Electivire is "suppose" to be Paul's strongest ace pokemon in the Sinnoh anime.

[@musiyevonchilla6769]

What about Electrode? Hes one of the fastest Pokemon out there & his 80 Special Attack is also at least usable. Issue is: he is too frail to make use of his supportive Moves such as T- Wave & has no special coverage at all except for Tera Blast

[@logeyperogi1805]

Can’t believe I’m still waiting for the Torkoal video

[@Thomlin12]

Aerodactyl *did* get a moveset buff in Gen 8. They gave it Dragon Dance

[@goGothitaLOL]

and STAB Dual Wingbeat too

[@chrisjoseph3883]

Aerodactyl not getting brave bird is a travesty…

[@travisowens8905]

and then we get pokémon like wooper who can learn ice punch. they just need a big update to at least make it sound reasonable

[@BlueAizu_]

My headcanon is that Wooper forms a big fist-shaped block of ice on its tail and uses that

[@primrosevale1995]

@@BlueAizu_ It just makes arms out of ice.

[@mcdonnell-douglasdc-1056]

Aerodactyl has Rock Head, but has no access to Rock Head or Brave Bird. Mega Pidgeot had No Guard, but can't learn Focus Miss.

[@primrosevale1995]

How to fix these Pokémon: Blacephalon: The main problem with Fighting coverage for Blacephalon is the limited amount of special Fighting moves. However, alongside the obvious Focus Blast, one option that would be incredible on it would be Vacuum Wave. Yeah it's weaker than even Fighting-type Hidden Power, but it gives Blacephalon something it current doesn't have: priority. Couple it with a team that can chip down Tyranitar and you have a perfect way to deliver the final hit. Alternatively, you could give other coverage that also covers Tyranitar, like Dazzling Gleam, Earth Power, or Energy Ball. Mega Pidgeot: With this Mega we're gonna do something a bit more. To be honest, it was a stupid idea to make Mega Pidgeot solely a Special attacker. It doesn't learn that many special attacks at all, and even then Special Attack is Pidgeot's lowest stat. So, we're gonna change its stats to make it more of a mixed attacker. Something like this: HP: 83 Attack: 80 -> 110 Defense: 80 Sp. Atk: 135 -> 110 Sp. Def: 80 Speed: 121 Now its Special Attack isn't astronomical but isn't terrible either, and you can viably run a mixed set with it, especially with Work Up. As for new moves, for its STABs we're adding Crush Claw (which now has many more chances to decrease Defense), Slash, Hyper Voice, and making Take Down and Double Edge something it learns naturally (as it's limited to Gen 1 TM or Gen 3 tutor), all to give it better combined STABs since its already fine for Flying STAB. If you need Fighting coverage, there's plenty of candidates that make sense it for it and base Pidgeot (since Focus Blast on its own makes no sense), such as: * Storm Throw and Circle Throw: Take these from Throh and give them to Pidgeot, they may be kinda weak but one is a guaranteed crit and the other, while having decreased priority, switches the opponent out. * Superpower and/or Hammer Arm: It's not Close Combat and they both decrease stats Mega Pidgeot uses, but they're both pretty strong. * Flying Press: A bit of a stretch but acts as STAB and Fighting coverage all in one. * Reversal and Vacuum Wave: Aren't affected by No Guard but the former takes advantage of Brave Bird and Double Edge, while the other helps it agaianst faster opponents in general as well. Aerodactyl: I mean it does get Dual Wingbeat. But beyond Head Smash and Brave Bird, other STABs it should get are Accelerock and Acrobatics, one acting as good priority while the other gives it great item strategies. Lilligant: First off, give this Pokémon Dancer instead of Oblivious. Now it can copy opposing Clangorous Soul, Fiery Dance, Lunar Dance, Petal Dance, and Quiver Dances to fix some of its problems with coverage and give it more power/utility, especially in Doubles. But if you wanna go beyond that, I say give it Poison utility through Acid Spray and Clear Smog, as well as Ground coverage in Earth Power and maybe Scorching Sands. Electivire: Flip its Defense and Special Defense stats, then take 20 points from its speed put it into its HP and Defense. Last time I checked gorillas and yetis are known for their power and strength, not speed. And heck, it already has Motor Drive to deal with that anyway. Something like this: HP: 75 -> 85 Attack: 123 -> 123 Defense: 67 -> 77 Sp. Atk: 95 -> 95 Sp. Def: 85 -> 85 Speed: 95 -> 75 Yes, Supercell Slam is a nice addition, but since most good physical Electric moves are signature moves, I say screw Zeraora or Pawmot and give it either Plasma Fists or Double Shock, after all, those tails do make the latter feel quite fitting. As for special Electric moves, give it Electro Shot as a new rain option and Parabolic Charge for easy HP gain, especially in Doubles. And if you want Fighting and Ice coverage besides Close Combat and Triple Axel, you have plenty of options, including: * Drain Punch: For recovery purposes of course. * Dynamic Punch: Yeah high chance to miss, but it's powerful and confusion is always helpful. * Force Palm: Not terribly powerful but is a way to paralyze Ground-types and deal damage at the same time. * Hammer Arm: Pretty strong, pretty accurate, and you can mitigate the Speed decrease with Trailblaze or Motor Spirit, or leave it to make it a better Trick Room threat. * Reversal: If Electivire is going to risk Supercell Slam misses, it might as well use that to its advantage. * Upper Hand: Useful way to deal with priority that might try to take advantage of its Speed issues. * Mach Punch: Useful priority in itself. * Ice Hammer: An Ice-type Hammer Arm. Same benefits as that move. * Ice Spinner: Useful power and makes it able to affect terrain.

[@goGothitaLOL]

It always has Hammer Arm as a egg move since day 1 if I’m not mistaken Nobody uses because it lowers Spe

[@primrosevale1995]

@@goGothitaLOL Use it in Doubles with a Discharge user or include Trailblaze and you pretty much mitigate that.

[@hawkticus_history_corner]

All physical Electric types could wind up here, sinoly😢 because GF refuses to make an Electric Body Slam

[@Clearance04]

If only Growlithe could learn Growl😓

[@SylentVoidkeeper]

It's too wide of a category to make in one spot, but honorable mention to every defensive wall without a reliable recovery (looking at you, Dusclops/Dusknoir)

[@specs.weedle]

Aggron needs shore up and/or drain punch

[@josephbulkin9222]

The Electivire clips don't show it off fairly. The special attacks are used on pokemon with very high special defense(Vaporeon,Azelf, Celebi), while the physical attacks are used on mons with very high defense(Swampert, Hippowdon, Tangrowth). Something you learn early on in pokemon is to use physical attacks on speciall defensive pokemon, and to use special attacks on physically defensive pokemon. If you are doing the opposite, it is your own fault and you are not using Electivire properly.

[@nkemjikaononuju6423]

Then again another thing you learn earlier on in pokemon is to not leave physically or specially weak in with strong physical or special attackers. I'm sure that Electrvire isn't usable in higher tier because its "used wrong".

[@silver_was_found]

Mega Pidgeot my beloved. If only it had more coverage... once you've tasted Radical Red Mega Pidgeot there's no going back

[@TheStickCollector]

Nothing like getting screwed over because you aren't a legendary or something.

[@eightteentwo]

For Electivire, I'd also give it Volt Tackle. Maybe add Reckless as a secondary ability for some extra oomph. Some moves just should not remain signature moves. Especially for non-legendary/mythical mons Lilligant's much tricker. Maybe Fiery Dance? Actually, Chlorophyll Liligant with Fiery Dance could be a decent lower-tier sun sweeper. If there were any rock or ground moves that made sense with it, that'd be better, but if it wants to run Quiver Dance + Sleep Powder, that doesn't leave room for a third offensive move. Maybe also add a Fairy move since its dex entries remind me of comfey and aromatise. The others all have the obvious solution in the video, but MAN Aerodactyl with Head Smash + Brave Bird sounds scary.

[@hajaszekpl4842]

Very interesting, however strangely enough, this does not change the fact that there are 49 million kangaroos in Australia and 3.5 million people in Uruguay, so if kangaroos attacked Uruguay, each person would have to fight 14 kangaroos.

[@hajaszekpl4842]

I don't know why i feel the need to send it everywhere

[@miracleseedgardens8991]

10:29 FSG:aero needs HEAD SMASH! Also FSG: proceeds to show aero getting whomped by every head smash pokemon