Elegant, isn't it?


Move Name: Ice Skate

Move Typing: Ice

Base Power: --

Accuracy:--

PP: 20 (32)

Category: Other

Move Effect (and chance of the effect happen):

Description: The user skates graceously around the field, not only raising its Special Attack but also sharply raising its Speed.

Effect: Raises the user's Speed by +2 and it's Special Attack by +1.

Condition (Sound based, punch, does contact, etc): --

Move Distribution and Why:
Dewgong
Cloyster
Lapras
Jynx family
Articuno
Delibird
Shiftry
Snorunt
Glalie
Walrein family
Regice
Abomasnow family
Weavile family
Glaceon
Mamoswine family
Frosslass
Vaniluxe family
Bearctic family
Cryogonal
Kyurem
Empoleon

If we take a look at the Ice-types base Speed, we can assume that most Ice-types are fairly slow by OU standards and need a Choice Scarf to outspeed some pokémon. Yes, there is Ice Shard, but it's sometimes horribly weak. And Thick Fat Mamoswine is illegal with Ice Shard. A Speed boosting move is all that they need to sweep freely. Why Empoleon and Shiftry? Pure flavor. Empoleon lives on icy lands, while Shiftry has actually Ice Skates in his feet

What effect the move will have on the metagame / What niche does this fill / What importance does the move have

• Revenge kill Randorosu,
• SubPetaya Empoleon now only needs two turns to become a beast,
• Encouragement of using Ice-types,
• Not game-breaking since all them are still weak to Mach Punch and Vacuum Wave (There is Frosslass, but Bullet Punch hurts).

So this is. Feel free to comment about Ice Skate and the effect it will cause on the metagame.

Err, wouldn't +3 be too powerful?

No. They're still killed by priority.

Besides, there's a move for +3 special attack or +3 defense.

Yeah. Maybe we need a +3 Atk too...

Flavor wise, Lapras and Wallrein don't really go. But I do want to see a Speedy Lapras, so we'll keep it.

However, I think the move should change a little. What's the difference between +2 and +3 speed? After a certain point, you outspeed (close to) everything anyway, and only a handful of scarfed pokemon can outspeed you. So +3 may be kind of uneccessary, +2 will suffice. But I don't want to make this an Agility or Rock Polish clone, so I think we should add a +1 SAtk to it. +1 in a stat isn't terribly game breaking, but it definitely helps. These pokemon can use the +1 SAtk to have a little extra power to their attacks, making it easier for them to pull off sweeps. It also makes it easier for them to take out hardcore walls (ie Burungeru, Nattorei, Blissey). We have Gear Change (+1 Atk, +2 Spe), so why not have this new version? They wouldn't be unstoppable, because they are still SR weak, grounded, and weak to three priority moves (Vacuum Wave, Mach Punch, Bullet Punch). Plus, if we redistribute Mach Punch (like I'm hoping to), it would help restrain this new version.

Hmmm... Liked the idea of +1 SpA and +2 Spe. I'll think about it.

I like the idea, though we would definitely need to restrict the distribution to balance its power (i.e. don't give it to Kyurem). The only real difference between +3 and +2 is for 'mons with terrible speed, and even then the difference is negligible.

Another option would be to give +2 Spe outside hail and only add the +1 SpA in hail. Then we may be able to give it a bit wider distribution as the move would virtually require hail to be effective. It would be like a hail version of Growth.

Actually Scarf Lati@s outspeeds a +2 Mamoswine by miserable 7 points and ten can KO with Surf...

And Mamoswine KO's with Ice Shard first. Maybe you should make this +2 Spe and +1 Atk and a variation that's +2 Spe and +1 SpA.