I don't think I am as excited about megas as I should be. Which is weird, because I do love the concept of it and making your favourite Pokémon (mine’s Gengar, Scizor, and Venusaur) even stronger than before. However, I do have some concerns with it.
The thing is with Megas is that, while they’re supposed to make a Pokémon more powerful than its base form, not all Megas are created equal, such as Mega Abomasnow, Beedrill, or Camerupt. Because when they were designed, there were megas which are clearly superior to everyone else: Mega Metagross, Salamence, Kangaskhan, Gengar, and Mawile. Lucario and Rayquaza are also broken in singles: the former has Adaptability with high attacking stats, while the latter can Mega Evolve and hold any item. There are some megas that could keep up with those broken mons at least in doubles, like Mega Charizard Y or Mega Scizor, but that’s really it. As such, I am unsure of whether the new megas will be able to keep up with the broken old mons, such as whether Mega Victreebel’s typing will be effective against Mega Gengar and Metagross. Granted, they can get some utility to give them a niche, like Mega Victreebel can confuse enemies similar to Pecharunt’s Poison Puppeteer, but they can’t be designed to be too broken. Fortunately, there are Smogon lower tiers where players can use low-tier Mega Evolutions without having to worry about the overpowered ones. I’m also wondering which mons really need a Mega Evolution. I love Hawlucha’s and Dragonite’s Mega design, but I would prefer it if mons like Milotic, Flygon, or Luxray have Mega Evolutions, considering that they fell off (at least when comparing to their competitors), and they’re still pretty popular (thanks Raihan for making Flygon and Gigalith loved again).
However, I would also prefer if some mons just didn’t get a Mega Evolution like Infernape, Hydregion, or Krookodile. They either had a good run and are still remarkably good, or their mega forms might make their design go over the top. The latter is why I prefer base Malamar over its Mega form; I prefer its hairline(?) and slightly bigger body, as well as its way to hypnotise people by flashing lights from its body.
I also would argue that not being a Mega form would actually allow them to be more flexible in their kits. Just look at Infernape’s competitive history: Choice Specs, Choice Band, Choice Scarf, Life Orb, Expert Belt (specifically Gen 4), that one niche set in Gen 6, where it had slackened off to take on Bisharp and Weavile (correct me if I am wrong). Or Hydregion being able to run a special attacking set, a mixed set, or run a defensive set with Roost and Defog.
This is also unavoidable and possibly nitpicky, since Megas are supposed to be a temporary boost in power (or aura farming at least), but Megas are just going to be designed as a min-maxed version of it, without any variety or differentiation from its base form. The only mons that would accomplish this are Mega Venusaur (who turns from a sunny speedster to a fat tank), Mega Charizard, and Mega Mewtwo X (Special to Physical attacker and gains a new typing), and Mega Garchomp, who trades speed in exchange for bulk and Sand Force.]
However, I would also prefer if some mons just didn’t get a Mega Evolution like Infernape, Hydregion, or Krookodile. They either had a good run and are still remarkably good, or their mega forms might make their design go over the top. The latter is why I prefer base Malamar over its Mega form; I prefer its hairline(?) and slightly bigger body, as well as its way to hypnotise people by flashing lights from its body.
I also would argue that not being a Mega form would actually allow them to be more flexible in their kits. Just look at Infernape’s competitive history: Choice Specs, Choice Band, Choice Scarf, Life Orb, Expert Belt (specifically Gen 4), that one niche set in Gen 6, where it had slackened off to take on Bisharp and Weavile (correct me if I am wrong). Or Hydregion being able to run a special attacking set, a mixed set, or run a defensive set with Roost and Defog.
This is also unavoidable and possibly nitpicky, since Megas are supposed to be a temporary boost in power (or aura farming at least), but Megas are just going to be designed as a min-maxed version of it, without any variety or differentiation from its base form. The only mons that would accomplish this are Mega Venusaur (who turns from a sunny speedster to a fat tank), Mega Charizard, and Mega Mewtwo X (Special to Physical attacker and gains a new typing), and Mega Garchomp, who trades speed in exchange for bulk and Sand Force.]
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XY2, oh that's a good one past me. I was so much funnier back then.
Poor Grass, I guess we did have Milo though we never battled him in Rose Stadium in the main game (worst he got matched with Raihan in Round 1).
