7/28/19 edit: Using this post as a quick way to access Ranshop:
Ranshop
Hello there! Welcome to OM Mashup! This is an introduction post to Pure Hackmons, the mashup between Balanced Hackmons and Anything Goes!
From Generation 6 to Generation 7, many changes have been made to this meta and I am here to explain the biggest changes and how they would greatly impact this metagame.
Please note: All of this is just a speculation of how the meta would turn out.
The list of changes will be separated into four categories: Nerfs, Abilities, Moves, and Mechanics.
Let's start with nerfs!
Nerfs:
Every new generation comes with its lists of moves and abilities to nerf. Generation 7 however took nerfing to higher standards as they bring a much higher impact to the metagame we know of today.
List of nerfs:
Prankster
Generation 7 made it to where Prankster no longer affects Dark-type Pokemon when moves are being used against them.
Pokemon expected to be the most impacted: Sableye, Spiritomb, Yveltal, Giratina
Due to this nerf, Dark-type Pokemon are no longer able to be phazed or statused out by common Prankster users, with the common being Giratina.
Giratina worked as a Prankster no only because it was able to phaze out anything, but because it could set up a quick Curse and then Recover.
Prankster Giratina, who previously benefitted the most from Prankster, is no longer allowed to use Curse on common Dark-types, which is why it hinders from Prankster the most.
Dark Void
Dark Void's accuracy was nerfed to 50% and can only be used by Darkrai.
Pokemon expected to be the most impacted: Safety Goggles users, Pokemon without No Guard.
Due to Dark Void being hindered, it is more likely for many players to resort to Spore, which Safety Googles blocks.
This marks the reason Safety Goggles users can benefit from this nerf. It makes them have to worry less about Dark Void.
Dark Void was the goto move for users without No Guard if they felt unsafe using Spore. With this nerf, the large majority of the Pokemon in this metagame who carry sleep inducing moves can only resort to Spore, which is often blocked off by Safety Goggles.
No Guard users are unaffected
Soul Dew
Soul Dew used to help Latias/Latios' Special Attack and Special Defense to 1.5x in battle. However, Generation 7 nerfed it to where instead of boosting their stats, Dragon and Psychic-type moves are merely boosted by 1.2x.
Pokemon expected to be the most impacted: Mega Latias/Mega Latios
Soul Dew largely affects just Latias and Latios. In Hackmons, Mega Latias and Mega Latios have the ability to benefit from Soul Dew just as Chansey benefits from Eviolite during transformation. However, since Soul Dew's boosts are now restricted to Latias and Latios' STAB attacks, their performance is for certain hindering.
Destiny Bond
You can now only use Destiny Bond once every two turns.
Pokemon expected to be the most impacted: Sweepers, Prankster users
Prankster lands on the unlucky side of the mountain once again as a significant role for Prankster Pokemon is to make sure they use Destiny Bond first in order to take sweepers down with them. Because Pokemon cannot use Destiny Bond for more than one consecutive turn, sweepers are able to take advantage by continuing to set up when they predict an opponent is going to use Destiny Bond.
Sheer Cold
Sheer Cold no longer affects Ice-type Pokemon.
Pokemon expected to be the most impacted: Ice-types, particularly Kyurem-Black, No Guard users
Due to the fact that Ice-type are no longer affected by Sheer Cold, more of these types of Pokemon are expected to florish in the metagame. This should come especially in Kyurem-Black's case due to its previous success as a bulky Ice-type -ate user. Kyurem-Black is more likely able to replace Wonder Guard Pokemon on certain occasions.
No Guard users are hindered as they have now lost what was previously the only OHKO move able to hit all 18 types. This will make it harder for No Guard users to choose one OHKO move to rely on in battle, as we now have a type to block each of them.
Gale Wings
Gale Wings is only put into effect if the user is at full HP.
Pokemon expected to be the most impacted: Mega Rayquaza, Yveltal
Generation 7 made Gale Wings virtually useless in the metagame since it's now only in effect of its users are in full HP. In Generation 6 Mega Rayquaza and Yveltal were the biggest Gale Wings abusers utilizing in Recovery and type-changing moves. This nerf gives these two Pokemon ond less option as to how they can be utilized.
-ate
The power of -ate attacks has been decreased from 1.3x to 1.2x
Pokemon expected to gain the most impact: -ate users, mostly Kyurem-Black, Mega Rayquaza, and Mega Diancie
This nerf doesn't affect the performance of -ate users too much but it makes their normal-type attacks slightly weaker. Regardless, it is likely for the best -ate users, especially Mega Diancie, Mega Rayquaza, and Black Kyurem to be successful.
Skill Swap
Pokemon given Imposter by Skill Swap will no longer automatically transform into their opponent.
Pokemon expected to be the most impacted: Imposter users, particularly Chansey
When PH was played in the past, it was possible for an untransformed Imposter Chansey to transform other Pokemon into itself by using Skill Swap. Since it can no longer do this, Chansey will have to run other moves for dealing with its opponent when it's not transformed.
When it comes to Pure Hackmons, abilities are one of if not the biggest factor when determining how Pokemon are used. Generation 7 packed us with many new crazy abilities to explore. The list below are what is most likely to affect the metagame as a whole.
List of abilities
Innards Out
Best user(s): Chansey, Blissey
Innards out is an ability that brings opponents down the same amount of HP as the user took when they get hit with a final blow. In short, this means if a 714 HP Blissey with Innards Out gets hit and OHKOed with a Close Combat, the Close Combat user also loses 714 HP.
This ability greatly impacts the use of Wonder Guard and other big pivots in the metagame as they will no longer feel safe to use U-Turn. This ability also makes Chansey/Blissey more threatening to sweepers as they now have an additional method of beating them.
Queenly Majesty/Dazzling
Best user(s): Sweepers (Examples: Mega Rayquaza, Mega Latios, Pheromosa)
Queenly Majesty and Dazzling block priority moves from opposing Pokemon. This allows Pokemon to set up and sweep easier simply because priority is commonly used especially in -ates to outpace and KO sweepers. If they can block priority, they only have one less worry.
Galvanize
Best user(s): Zekrom
Similar to Pixilate, Refrigerate, and Aerilate, Galvanize now transforms Normal-type moves into Electric-type moves and boosts their attacks by 1.2x power. This helps Zekrom achieve more in the metagame as it is the best electric-type Pokemon competitively despite its lacking speed and this new opportunity has been given for not only its speed to matter less, but for its Electric STAB to be used more.
Comatose
Best user(s): Giratina, Zygarde-Complete, Deoxys-Speed
This ability prevents Pokemon from being statused as they are deemed asleep. They can still use any attack in battle but they can also use Sleep Talk indefinitely. This ability works great not only because it blocks status but because it gives users the opportunity to once again use Whirlwind or Roar first in battle! If you give Comatose Pokemon Sleep Talk and Whirlwind, Whirlwind is able to be brought out at normal priority. Pokemon with this ability would love to carry Choice Scarf or have incredible speed. Other Pokemon would also like to be bulky and packed with HP in case their opponent is using the same strategy.
Triage
Best user(s): Mega Rayquaza
Triage gives every healing move +3 priority. This affects particularly Mega Rayquaza the most as this Pokemon should often tend to set up and attack with Oblivion Wing. Since Oblivion Wing gives +3 priority under Triage, Mega Rayquaza will be moving in first most turns. This of course affects other Pokemon, however in most other cases, Pokemon carrying recovery moves would rather have Prankster, since getting priority wouldn't be exclusive to healing and Oblivion Wing is the only significant attack move that heals a great amount.
Water Bubble
Best user(s): Primal Kyogre
Water Bubble doubles the power of Water-type attacks. Honestly, I don't see this ability taking a great effect in this metagame, however, I see how it could work great with the absence of Wonder Guard Pokemon on the field due to the terrifying amount of damage Water-type moves would be able to pull off.
The moves made in Generation 7 seem to possibly mark the biggest effect in the entire metagame. This is all done because of new secondary features added to these moves that weren't here for previous generations.
List of moves
Sunsteel Strike/Moongeist Beam/Photon Geyser
Pokemon expected to be the most impacted: Mewtwo-Mega-X, Mewtwo-Mega-Y, Kartana, Other Huge Power/Pure Power or Protean users.
These three moves are known as the "Mold Breaker" moves as they break through almost any type of ability, including Wonder Guard. These moves will be the primary cause of what most likely will be a deduction of Wonder Guard Pokemon in the metagame. Sunsteel Strike or Photon Geyser when combined with Huge Power will be able to lead to a destructive force capable of slashing trough teams without any trouble. Moongeist Beam or Photon Geyser with a combination of Protean should allow Pokemon to set up without having to worry as much about being blocked off by Wonder Guard.
(Mewtwo-Mega-X is the biggest Huge Power abuser and Mewtwo-Mega-Y should be the biggest Protean abuser)
Spectral Thief
Pokemon expected to be the most impacted: Bulky users, Unaware Pokemon, Sweepers
Spectral Thief is a move that goes through Substitute and steals every positive stat boost your opponent gave to themselves. This severely hinders sweepers as it gives them less of an opportunity to sweep. Perhaps even less than ever before, but we can't be sure about this. Bulky Pokemon such as Giratina, Zygarde-Complete, and Yveltal would love to run this move as it would help them continue walling their way throughout an entire match. Unaware Pokemon would also enjoy having this move as it helps their team feel safer about switching into the sweeper.
Power Trip
Pokemon expected to be the most impacted: Sweepers, Unaware Pokemon
Power Trip works exactly like Stored Power, except it's Dark-type and physical. The main advantages this move has over Stored Power is that no Pokemon is immune to it and physical sweepers can now give it a shot. Unaware Pokemon are placed at a disadvantage as they can be overrun just from the sheer power of this move after plenty of setup boosts.
There is no doubt every generation has a change in mechanics! Some mechanics change for the better, some change for the worse. Others are just a light breeze through the atmosphere. Here are what I think some of the most important mechanic changes are for Gen 7.
List of mechanics
Crystal-free Z-Moves
Crystal-free Z-Moves means you are able to use Z-Moves without a crystal for this metagame since it is a Hackmons meta. Simply type down the name of the move in the teambuilder to add a Z-Move to your Pokemon. These moves still do take a moveslot from your Pokemon and each Crystal-free Z-move has only 1pp, so be careful.
Recommendations: Searing Sunraze Smash, Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom, Extreme Evoboost
Removal of the EV limit
The Removal of the EV limit means you are now free to run more than 510 EVs on every Pokemon.
Terrain abilities
Generation 7 introduced us with 4 terrain abilities.
Electric Surge summons Electric Terrain, Grassy Surge summons Grassy Terrain, Misty Surge summons Misty Terrain, and Psychic Surge summons the newly added Psychic Terrain. Psychic Terrain will be useful to sweepers and Psychic-type Pokemon who want to use Photon Geyser as priority cannot hit them under this terrain unless they are flying and it boosts the power of Psychic-type attacks.
Due to the many types of nerfs, abilities, moves, and additional mechanics, Pure Hackmons has changed so much since its last debut in Gen 6.
mentioned above. Predicting what the most significant changes would be in this metagame wasn't a hard task. I'll explain below.
Out of the significant changes, I predict for this community to see a small decline in Wonder Guard usage to be the biggest. Wonder Guard as an ability has been drastically nerfed by the introduction of "Mold Breaker" moves and even Innards Out, since a large amount of pivots are Wonder Guard users. This can cause players to either restrict themselves to weaker Wonder Guard users or in a more plausible manner, force players to use alternatives to U-Turn (Parting Shot and Volt Switch are recommended). Sheer Cold's nerf allows for there to be a type that is immune to at least one OHKO move. Ice-type Pokemon will also now be more frequent as they can now block off Deoxys-Speed's Sheer Cold attack. During Gen 6, Wonder Guard Pokemon were extremely notorious for being able to block off Sheer Cold, regardless of them not being the only option. However due to an additional option to block Sheer Cold being brought to Gen 7, it is a possibility for players to use those options to substitute for a Wonder Guard (Sturdy is another significant option).
To tie along with Wonder Guards being used less, Huge Power and Pure Power Pokemon are for certain going to be more centralizing. Since they now have the ability to carry Sunsteel Strike they can hit the majority of Wonder Guards with this move and narrow down their other moves for those who can resist. This in theory should make Huge Power/Pure Power Pokemon significantly harder to deal with for every team. However, this doesn't mean you still can't prepare! Innards Out Pokemon can be notorious for easily taking down Huge Power/Pure Power Pokemon and like in Generation 6, Huge Power/Pure Power Pokemon still always have 4-moveslot syndrome. You can always use Wonder Guard Pokemon with types only weak to the less common attacks Huge Power/Pure Power Pokemon may have. You can also run Fur Coat Pokemon that resist Sunsteel Strike and can take other attacks. These are just a portion of the best options to go against Huge Power Pokemon.
Crystal-free Z-Moves otherwise known as (CFZs) for many people seem that they can have a chance of being overwhelming. However, I don't believe for this to be the case. Due to the removal of the EV limit and the PP of these moves only being 1, I see these moves as being easily able to become outclassed in most cases. I will use the moves I recommended as examples.
Searing Sunraze Smash/Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom: These moves may have 200 BP and can only be used once but the Pokemon that like this attack the most would much rather have the 8 PP Sunsteel Strike/Moongiest Beam, able to tear though numerous different Pokemon. Teams are likely to have at least one or two Pokemon capable of walling Searing Sunraze Smash or Menacing Moonraze Maelstrom and once that move is gone, it's gone for good. Many teams are still expected to have around two Wonder Guard Pokemon, and if neither of them are significantly damaged, these moves can truly show to be a waste.
Extreme Evoboost: This is a great setup move for boosting each stat by +2, however, it has the same problem as every other Z-Move. It can only be used once. This move is outclassed by Shell Smash, Quiver Dance, and Shift Gear simply due to the higher chances your Pokemon has of being forced to switch out, whether it's by a 1v1 match-up or by force using Whirlwind/Roar. If you have used Extreme Evoboost and are forced to switch out in order to obtain victory (which is a common thing among great players), you will no longer be able to use the move and your Pokemon would virtually become useless for the rest of the match. Ingrain can be used to prevent Roar or Whirlwind from switching your Pokemon out, but in this meta, many other Pokemon have the opportunity to take advantage of this, especially if they're Unaware or another Pokemon able to wall a Extreme Evoboost user's attacks. It's better to keep running the same types of setup moves that were more common in Generation 6 in order for your Pokemon to stay more efficient.
Prior to Generation 7, there was an EV limit for PH, but as of a year ago, it was removed. The removed EV limit allows the majority of the metagame to become much bulkier than usual. This especially helps in Generation 7 as Huge Power/Pure Power Pokemon with .Mold Breaker moves are on the run. I expect the removal of this limit to greatly benefit the use of every Pokemon in Pure Hackmons as if otherwise, players would've likely been doomed to play a metagame like this.
Thank you all for reading. If you want to ask any questions, contact
Ransei on Pokemon Showdown or Smogon. You can also PM on Discord by searching for Ransei#6792.
