Pet Mods: Introduction to Blank Canvas A and B
| « Previous Article | Next Article » |
Art by gaboswampert.
Pet Mods typically are metagames with an arbitrary premise compared to other tiers, in which a council gains submissions by an interested userbase around the given topic, changing or even adding Pokémon, items, abilities, and so on, which then eventually build up to a unique tier in itself.
Unlike most other Pet Mods, submissions for Blank Canvas showcase teamwork, as the premise of the format demands that multiple users gather together to design different parts of a brand new Fakémon from a basic outline, all while staying within a given budget for base stats, types, moves, and abilities, resulting in a metagame where conflicting design ideas often lead to all sorts of results.
Blank Canvas has been so popular as a Pet Mod that it has managed to gather spin-offs, such as Blank Canvas B, which acts as a higher tier from the original (and retroactively named) Blank Canvas A; a detached metagame reboot in Blank Canvas C; and a Random Battles spotlight ladder based on Blank Canvas B.
Top Threats (Blank Canvas A)
Badjur
Sprite by Gaboswampert
Type: Normal
Stats: 85 / 100 / 70 / 60 / 75 / 80 [475 BST]
Notable Moves: Facade, U-turn, Wild Charge, Protect, Howl, Play Rough
Abilities: Poison Heal
Badjur may look underpowered, but the truth is that Blank Canvas A has quite a low power level, with Badjur in particular standing out among the best stallbreakers the metagame has to offer thanks to its immunity to status and avoidance of passivity. It once outperformed so much of the Blank Canvas A metagame that it has been a victim of nerfs multiple times, such as eventually losing Spikes, Swords Dance, and Knock Off.
Socknbusk'n
Sprite by Gaboswampert
Type: Normal / Fighting
Stats: 95 / 95 / 75 / 40 / 70 / 110 [485 BST]
Notable Moves: Close Combat, Rapid Spin, U-turn, Fake Out, Body Slam, Mach Punch
Abilities: Scrappy
Rather similar to Mega Lopunny in usage, Socknbusk'n compresses roles as an offensive pivot, speed control, and even as an entry hazard remover with a reliable Rapid Spin that can't be blocked by Ghost-types. While Socknbusk'n may look like it's above the usual power level of Blank Canvas A, its reliance on contact moves leaves it vulnerable to getting worn down by a common check in Rough Skin Jack-o-swarm. Socknbusk'n is also not too difficult to wall, as it lacks setup options, demanding stallbreaking support to maximize its potential.
Blobbiam
Sprite by Gaboswampert
Type: Water / Fairy
Stats: 95 / 100 / 110 / 20 / 80 / 75 [480 BST]
Notable Moves: Liquidation, Flip Turn, Play Rough, Knock Off, Ice Punch, Heal Bell
Abilities: Volt Absorb
Blobbiam is one of the best blanket physical walls and slow pivots in the tier and is also the sole viable cleric. This makes it appear on stall and balance teams alike, as it still holds a decent Attack stat to wear down offensive foes and hinder them with Knock Off, but its lack of reliable recovery also means that its use demands clever management across a battle for what it's meant to be checked with.
Piss
Sprite by Gaboswampert
Type: Normal
Stats: 70 / 95 / 60 / 50 / 60 / 95 [430 BST]
Notable Moves: Extreme Speed, Double-Edge, Flare Blitz, Wild Charge, U-turn, Collision Course, Thunder Wave, Taunt
Abilities: Magic Guard
Having one of the lowest base stat totals in Blank Canvas as a whole, Piss also has the widest movepool to take advantage of. Adding to that, its inability to take indirect damage thanks to Magic Guard enables it to make the most of its wide coverage to constantly apply offensive pressure. It also makes Piss a good scout against passive foes, which is a valuable niche in Blank Canvas A, as the tier favors bulkier team structures.
Vipult
Sprite by Gaboswampert
Type: Poison / Dark
Stats: 100 / 65 / 70 / 100 / 110 / 70 [505 BST]
Notable Moves: Knock Off, Mortal Spin, U-turn, Sludge Bomb, Dark Pulse
Abilities: Intimidate
Vipult's good mixed bulk and support movepool enable it to act as a defensive pivot that can hinder switch-ins like Jack-o-swarm, Craggon, and Piss. Its non-reliance on status moves also means that Vipult is a good Assault Vest user, increasing its bulk to ease handling foes like Goblantern and Kadraoke.
Faeruin
Sprite by Gaboswampert
Type: Ghost / Fairy
Stats: 90 / 96 / 70 / 40 / 80 / 93 [469 BST]
Notable Moves: Play Rough, Poltergeist, Rapid Spin, Bulk Up, Defog, Encore, Memento
Abilities: Prankster / Wandering Spirit
While its dual screens setter role has fallen off with the ban of Light Clay from Blank Canvas A, Faeruin's good STAB combination still enables it to perform an offensive support role. It can force switches to then use utility moves like Rapid Spin to remove entry hazards from foes it pressures out like Craggon, gaining momentum on slower checks like Jack-o-swarm with Encore, or even leaning more offensively as a late-game sweeper with Bulk Up.
Jack-o-swarm
Sprite by Wizard Rex
Type: Steel / Flying
Stats: 90 / 50 / 95 / 70 / 90 / 70 [465 BST]
Notable Moves: Roost, Defog, Stealth Rock, Flash Cannon, Air Slash, Earth Power
Abilities: Pickpocket (Rough Skin)
Jack-o-swarm is one of the premier physical walls in the tier. It makes the most of its typing and Rough Skin to wear down foes such as Socknbusk'n as it finds opportunities to set or remove entry hazards on the field. While it may be passive, especially by Blank Canvas B's standards, Jack-o-swarm's capability to act as a blanket wall while also having longevity with Roost can't be ignored.
Pinaturbo
Sprite by Gaboswampert
Type: Fire
Stats: 70 / 70 / 60 / 100 / 95 / 115 [510 BST]
Notable Moves: Flamethrower, Earth Power, Parting Shot, Dazzling Gleam, Taunt, Will-O-Wisp, Fire Spin
Abilities: Mold Breaker (Regenerator)
Being the fastest option in the Blank Canvas A metagame, Pinaturbo has some similarities to Astrolotl as an offensive support Fire-type that retains non-passive longevity with Regenerator, using its decent special bulk to come in and pivot on some special attackers. While its physical bulk may leave something to be desired, Pinaturbo's capability to lure physical attackers can be used positively to punish them on the switch with Will-O-Wisp.
Craggon
Sprite by Gaboswampert
Type: Dragon / Ground
Stats: 120 / 81 / 81 / 82 / 81 / 100 [545 BST]
Notable Moves: Earthquake, Dragon Tail, Earth Power, Draco Meteor, Spikes, Rest
Abilities: Natural Cure (Emergency Exit)
Unlike most other defensive options in Blank Canvas A, Craggon is one of the few without reliable recovery, but this is mitigated by its access to Natural Cure + Rest, which considerably increases its longevity in exchange for the inability to stay in long-term to check certain foes. Therefore, it demands additional counterplay to foes like Pinaturbo, Piss, and Socknbusk'n so that it's not overwhelmed. Craggon's bulk may be deceptively high given its base stat total, but it's still relatively lower than Garchomp's, for reference; Craggon's high stats instead enable it to act as a fast wall, and its STAB options reduce passivity concerns.
Fettogre
Sprite by Gaboswampert
Type: Ghost / Fighting
Stats: 70 / 45 / 140 / 45 / 80 / 55 [435 BST]
Notable Moves: Body Press, Night Shade, Flip Turn, Leech Seed, Substitute
Abilities: Immunity (Oblivious)
Contrary to what its optimal offensive typing would imply, Fettogre's low offenses instead limit it to the role of a physical wall, with it notably being one of the few that can stand up to Mortal Spin without being weak to the coverage usually prepared in anticipation for the Steel- and Poison-types thanks to its access to Immunity. Leech Seed grants it some recovery while also providing support to its team; this, coupled with Night Shade and a strong Body Press, makes the opponent think twice before using Fettogre as setup fodder.
Goblantern
Sprite by Gaboswampert
Type: Fire / Grass
Stats: 90 / 40 / 80 / 100 / 80 / 77 [467 BST]
Notable Moves: Torch Song, Matcha Gotcha, Earth Power, Synthesis, Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave
Abilities: Prankster
While its stats may be a bit lacking, Goblantern's rather optimal movepool enables it to compress the role of a setup sweeper and offensive support. It finds setup opportunities by spreading status then wearing down switch-ins with Torch Song, eventually enabling a sweep if left unchecked. This role is further complemented by Matcha Gotcha's synergy with Torch Song, increasing its longevity while retaining offensive pressure.
Kadraoke
Sprite by Gaboswampert
Type: Dragon / Psychic
Stats: 90 / 30 / 80 / 85 / 100 / 85 [470 BST]
Notable Moves: Clanging Scales, Psychic Noise, Sparkling Aria, Fire Blast, Agility, Take Heart, Slack Off
Abilities: Punk Rock
As one of the best stallbreakers and late-game sweepers Blank Canvas A has to offer, Kadraoke makes the most of the common setup opportunities it finds between its good defensive typing and innate offensive pressure, often enabling it to sweep late-game with the combination of Agility + Throat Spray. It's mainly held back by its inability to fit all the coverage and setup options it may want to secure matchups against faster foes and defensive cores at the same time.
Top Threats (Blank Canvas B)
Maldractice
Type: Dragon / Poison
Stats: 110 / 100 / 60 / 20 / 115 / 40 [445 BST]
Notable Moves: Dragon Tail, Gunk Shot, Poison Jab, Outrage, Fire Lash, Toxic, Toxic Spikes, Soft-Boiled, Heal Bell, Dragon Dance
Abilities: Own Tempo (Corrosion)
In spite of having the lowest base stat total in Blank Canvas B, Maldractice is a potent special wall with some stallbreaking qualities thanks to the combination of Toxic + Corrosion, as well as Fire Lash enabling it to eventually overwhelm Steel-type checks. However, its low physical bulk, Speed, and glaring case of four-moveslot syndrome still make it reasonable to force out.
Borealis
Type: Ice / Flying
Stats: 95 / 75 / 90 / 95 / 90 / 131 [576 BST]
Notable Moves: Ice Beam, Hurricane, Air Slash, Dark Pulse, Focus Blast, Tail Glow
Abilities: Supreme Overlord
Holding the highest Speed tier in Blank Canvas B, Borealis is quite simple in terms of usage, being kept for late-game to make the most of Supreme Overlord and try to counter sweep with its decent offensive typing and capability to overwhelm most of the defensive metagame with Tail Glow. While it can also see use mid-game as a revenge killer and wallbreaker, its low longevity due to being extremely vulnerable to Stealth Rock discourages such usage.
Flarenheit
Sprite by Rasdanation
Type: Ice / Fire
Stats: 55 / 110 / 50 / 70 / 40 / 130 [455 BST]]
Notable Moves: Pyro Ball, Mountain Gale, Triple Axel, Liquidation, U-turn, Will-O-Wisp
Abilities: Motor Drive (Surge Surfer)
Quite similar to Borealis as a fast offensive Ice-type, Flarenheit instead leans more into the role of an offensive pivot and revenge killer, often inviting Water-types into the field for its allies to take advantage of. Additionally, Flarenheit's poor defensive typing and low bulk even by Blank Canvas A standards still limit its capability to enter the field either with the support of a slow pivot such as Blobbiam or as a revenge killer.
Geoporka
Type: Grass / Poison
Stats: 100 / 85 / 80 / 70 / 95 / 45 [475 BST]
Notable Moves: Leaf Blade, Poison Jab, Knock Off, Toxic, Stun Spore, Strength Sap, Bulk Up
Abilities: Thick Fat
Geoporka's uncommon weaknesses alongside a solid movepool render it into one of the best blanket physical walls the metagame has to offer. Geoporka's often difficult to 2HKO thanks to Strength Sap increasing its longevity, granting it breathing room to either wear down the opposing team or hard switch to an ally more safely, and more situationally using it to find setup opportunities with Bulk Up. Geoporka's lacking offensive coverage options, combined with the more recent nerfs such as its decrease in mixed bulk and removal of Leech Seed access, has kept it as a reasonable but otherwise still dominant part of the metagame.
Fausteil
Type: Fire / Flying
Stats: 110 / 90 / 80 / 35 / 110 / 50 [475 BST]
Notable Moves: Bitter Blade, Drill Peck, Knock Off, Flip Turn, Roost, Defog, Will-O-Wisp
Abilities: Flame Body
Fausteil is one of the best defensive pivots the Blank Canvas metagame has to offer, having a great defensive typing and mixed bulk that is complemented by its great longevity between Roost and Bitter Blade, all while also compressing the role of a long-term status spreader with Flame Body. Fausteil's great special bulk and good physically defensive typing also grant it nice opportunities to come in and remove entry hazards with Defog, though it still has to watch out for Knock Off from foes such as Geoporka and Twinktaton.
Twinkaton
Type: Fairy / Steel
Stats: 90 / 75 / 75 / 75 / 120 / 45 [480 BST]
Notable Moves: Gigaton Hammer, Spirit Break, Springtide Storm, Make It Rain, Knock Off, Stealth Rock, Wish, Protect, Will-O-Wisp
Abilities: Mold Breaker (Filter)
Being the equivalent to Tinkaton in the tier in several ways, Twinkaton's excellent special bulk, defensive typing, and capability to limit special setup sweepers with its Fairy-type STAB moves grant it several opportunities to enter the field and hinder the other team with moves such as Knock Off, Will-O-Wisp, and Stealth Rock to then perform as a special wall. This is all while also minimizing its passivity with great Steel-type STAB options that can overwhelm worn-down foes mid- to late-game.
Geigeramp
Type: Poison / Electric
Stats: 100 / 50 / 100 / 100 / 100 / 75 [525 BST]
Notable Moves: Thunder Cage, Thunderclap, Mortal Spin, Nuzzle, Will-O-Wisp, Toxic Spikes
Abilities: Levitate
Geigeramp's heavily optimized type combination alongside Levitate leaves it with a wide variety of resistances that synergize to enable its usage as a stallbreaker, status spreader, and entry hazard remover. Even though it's an Electric-type not immediately forced out by Ground-types thanks to its ability, Geigeramp is still forced out by them, as its movepool leaves it with no way whatsoever to pressure them beyond spreading status. Its lack of reliable recovery also means that it's often limited to bulky balance teams, as those structures can afford Wish passing to ease its long-term usage.
Seaode
Type: Water / Rock
Stats: 70 / 110 / 100 / 40 / 70 / 95 [485 BST]
Notable Moves: Wave Crash, Stone Edge, Stone Axe, Wood Hammer, Rapid Spin, Flip Turn
Abilities: Rock Head
Seaode's wallbreaking potential is complemented by its decent amount of utility that can even find reasonable use in Choice Band sets. This enables it to spread some utility or even perform as a pivot as well thanks to the switches it forces, especially as its STAB combination has surprisingly few resistances in the metagame. Choice Scarf sets also excel as leads while also compressing a speed control role, often making Seaode quite easy to justify in a team.
Bazhigangquan
Type: Fighting / Steel
Stats: 101 / 104 / 100 / 35 / 61 / 68 [469 BST]
Notable Moves: Mach Punch, Bullet Punch, Drain Punch, Rock Tomb, Bulk Up, Taunt, Toxic Spikes
Abilities: Technician
Bazhigangquan's access to priority STAB moves, complemented by Technician and a good defensive typing, enables it to compress roles as a late-game sweeper and speed control. It often has a free moveslot to better suit the needs of a team, ranging from hindering defensive checks with Taunt to laying layers of Toxic Spikes.
Dastard
Type: Fairy / Poison
Stats: 80 / 90 / 110 / 100 / 80 / 100 [560 BST]
Notable Moves: Sludge Bomb, Alluring Voice, Fire Blast, Stored Power, No Retreat
Abilities: Competitive
A great defensive typing that is immune to poison enables Dastard to perform as one of the most threatening late-game sweepers in the tier, often becoming surprisingly difficult to stop after a No Retreat. However, its vulnerability to Steel-types, as well as its limited matchups against offense teams, demands clever usage and support to place it in a favorable position.
Deadward
Type: Dark / Flying
Stats: 90 / 100 / 85 / 40 / 90 / 110 [515 BST]
Notable Moves: Brave Bird, Knock Off, U-turn, Roost, Defog, Protect, Wish
Abilities: Filter (Intimidate)
Having similar roles to Fausteil, Deadward's high Speed and access to Intimidate set it apart, enabling it to lean more into the role of a jack of all trades. It provides offensive support, as it hinders foes with Knock Off, pressures out vulnerable targets such as Geoporka with Brave Bird, and eases momentum by pivoting with U-turn.
Porcupyre
Type: Dark / Fire
Stats: 90 / 90 / 125 / 40 / 80 / 70 [495 BST]
Notable Moves: Knock Off, Blaze Kick, Circle Throw, Recover, Burning Bulwalk, Will-O-Wisp, Stealth Rock
Abilities: Bulletproof (Rough Skin)
Porcupyre's great physical bulk is complemented by its ease at spreading burns, often discouraging the usage of U-turn thanks to its access to Burning Bulwalk and Rough Skin. It also proceeds to set Stealth Rock or wear down and hinder foes with Knock Off. The immunity to Focus Blast and Sludge Bomb also grants Bulletproof variants a niche, as then they can more reliably check special attackers such as Borealis and Dastard.
Actaniathan
Type: Water / Steel
Stats: 100 / 40 / 80 / 105 / 105 / 50 [480 BST]
Notable Moves: Flip Turn, Surf, Doom Desire, Flash Cannon, Freeze-Dry, Recover, Toxic, Defog
Abilities: Torrent (Lightning Rod)
Actaniathan is one of the best special walls the tier has to offer, with its Water / Steel typing alongside Lightning Rod being infamous in multiple Pet Mod metagames for often resulting in heavy centralization around them. In Actaniathan's case, this is mitigated by its lack of setup options and passivity against opposing Steel-types.
Final Thoughts
Blank Canvas enables plenty of opportunities to collaborate with other users to create something bigger than the sum of its parts, go on and try checking it out with the rest of its community!
Pet Mods Discord Server | Blank Canvas Discord Server
| « Previous Article | Next Article » |