Before Flinchhax Togekiss and before Drunksparce, there was Fire Spin-Fire Blast Moltres in RBY. Game Freak vastly overestimated Fire Spin's power, even though it was clearly intended to be an ultimate attack - it was the last move many fire pokemon learned.
In Generation 2, it retained its 15 power and 75% accuracy... and lost what was effectively a 100% flinch rate to get a 2-5 round weak damage and trap effect. And that's all she wrote.
In Generation 5, however, Fire Spin has been boosted to a usable 35 Special Power, 85% accuracy, and traps for 5 to 6 turns by default. Additionally, there is a hold item called Pressure Button which increases the move's power - I'm not certain by how much, if anyone would like to test it, but it costs 48 Battle Points. With that price, I'm expecting a 50% increase, and I'm hoping it's 100%. The comparable cost item gives you a Levitate until you're hit, which is pretty big. There's also the Grip Claw, and I'm not sure how it'll change this gen - if it goes the way of weather rocks and lasts 8 turns, that's... pretty nice.
The following pokemon get Fire Spin: Charizard, Ninetales, Arcanine, Rapidash, Magmortar, Moltres, Houndoom, Entei, Blaziken, Torkoal, Solrock, Infernape, Shanderaa (Ghost Chandelier), Heatran, Kuitaran (Fire Anteater), Urugamosu (Fire/Bug thing of doom).
Of these pokemon, Entei, Moltres, Torkoal, Ninetales, Arcanine are fairly durable. Out of those, all of them are:
- Quick (except Torkoal)
- Have an ability that supports switching in (except Moltres and Entei, both of which have Dream World abilities that support that).
- Have a powerful offense and/or a statboosting move. Ninetales also gets the now 100% accurate Disable, which might have use. Maybe?
Depending on that Pressure Button item, I could see 'more accurate, weaker Magma Storm' having a usage. Reliable support damage for 5-6 turns isn't bad either.
Fire Spin's equivalents also got boosts. I'm pretty dumb at pokemons and also low on time, so I won't try to highlight anyone amazing. I also will not be including Gen Vers here due to being low on time.
Without further ado:
Bind: 15 BP; Physical Normal; 85% Accuracy
Wrap: 15 BP; Physical Normal; 90% Accuracy
Clamp: 35 BP; Physical Water; 85% Accuracy
Whirlpool: 35 BP; Special Water; 85% Accuracy
Sand Tomb: 35 BP; Physical Ground; 85% Accuracy
Magma Storm: 120 BP; Special Fire; 75% Accuracy
In Generation 2, it retained its 15 power and 75% accuracy... and lost what was effectively a 100% flinch rate to get a 2-5 round weak damage and trap effect. And that's all she wrote.
In Generation 5, however, Fire Spin has been boosted to a usable 35 Special Power, 85% accuracy, and traps for 5 to 6 turns by default. Additionally, there is a hold item called Pressure Button which increases the move's power - I'm not certain by how much, if anyone would like to test it, but it costs 48 Battle Points. With that price, I'm expecting a 50% increase, and I'm hoping it's 100%. The comparable cost item gives you a Levitate until you're hit, which is pretty big. There's also the Grip Claw, and I'm not sure how it'll change this gen - if it goes the way of weather rocks and lasts 8 turns, that's... pretty nice.
The following pokemon get Fire Spin: Charizard, Ninetales, Arcanine, Rapidash, Magmortar, Moltres, Houndoom, Entei, Blaziken, Torkoal, Solrock, Infernape, Shanderaa (Ghost Chandelier), Heatran, Kuitaran (Fire Anteater), Urugamosu (Fire/Bug thing of doom).
Of these pokemon, Entei, Moltres, Torkoal, Ninetales, Arcanine are fairly durable. Out of those, all of them are:
- Quick (except Torkoal)
- Have an ability that supports switching in (except Moltres and Entei, both of which have Dream World abilities that support that).
- Have a powerful offense and/or a statboosting move. Ninetales also gets the now 100% accurate Disable, which might have use. Maybe?
Depending on that Pressure Button item, I could see 'more accurate, weaker Magma Storm' having a usage. Reliable support damage for 5-6 turns isn't bad either.
Fire Spin's equivalents also got boosts. I'm pretty dumb at pokemons and also low on time, so I won't try to highlight anyone amazing. I also will not be including Gen Vers here due to being low on time.
Without further ado:
Bind: 15 BP; Physical Normal; 85% Accuracy
Carnivine, Dusknoir, Kecleon, Pinsir, Steelix, Tangrowth
Wrap: 15 BP; Physical Normal; 90% Accuracy
Arbok, Chimecho, Deoxys, Dragonite, Lickilicky, Milotic, Seviper, Shuckle, Tentacruel, Victreebel
Clamp: 35 BP; Physical Water; 85% Accuracy
Cloyster
Whirlpool: 35 BP; Special Water; 85% Accuracy
I'll just link you Gen IV, but be warned that if precedent holds, you probably cannot transfer Gen IV HM moves to Gen V...
Sand Tomb: 35 BP; Physical Ground; 85% Accuracy
Dugtrio, Flygon, Forretress, Garchomp, Gliscor, Hippowdon, Sandslash, Shuckle, Steelix, Sudowoodo, Torterra, Trapinch
Magma Storm: 120 BP; Special Fire; 75% Accuracy
Heatran
