Unpopular opinions

Maybe because it’s a Psuedo-Legendary that isn’t Draconic in nature, has a history of being very good in both singles and doubles, and it and its Mega was Steven Stone’s signature Pokémon? ( Wallace was better BTW )
It's probably worth noting that pseudo-legendaries are popular as a whole since they often end up as valued team members, memorable boss fights, or both.

For me personally, I also think of Metagross as the Iconic Steel-type, the same way Charizard ends up as the Iconic Fire-type. Most other nonlegendary Steel-type lines either don't get close to the focus that comes with being a pseudo-legend and champion's ace, or their Steel typing isn't as prominent in their design as their other type.
 
Metagross is a Pokemon I can't like, and don't understand its popularity outside of "It's a robooooot"
I think a lot of it comes from Steven having one, since he's probably the most popular character from the Hoenn games, and a lot of kids from when R/S/E were the latest Pokémon games remember getting their asses kicked by him. It's basically what Cynthia did for Garchomp.
 
I think a lot of it comes from Steven having one, since he's probably the most popular character from the Hoenn games, and a lot of kids from when R/S/E were the latest Pokémon games remember getting their asses kicked by him. It's basically what Cynthia did for Garchomp.
I mean yeah it's the same thing with Garchomp in almost every way. Psuedo of the region, (in Metagross's case one of 2) used by one of if not THE strongest trainer in the region, and just good in battle. On the topic of Metagross, people probably forget it more often than Salamence, and I don't really know why.
 
On the topic of Metagross, people probably forget it more often than Salamence, and I don't really know why.
Salamence is the fast attack-heavy Dragon type that people are used to seeing in pseudo-legendary Pokémon, which I think leads to a lot of people being attracted to it over Metagross. I wouldn't call either of them forgettable, though.
 
(Applying to Post-Tundra VGC)

My Unpopular Opinion(s):

1. Bulky/Support Tapu Fini > Calm Mind Fini
2. Prankster Thundurus-I > Defiant Thundurus-I

Fini: It's prob a personal bias as Fini is my fav Tapu and in my Top 3 favs for Gen7 VGC formats but... I feel like Fini RARELY generates Wins from Calm Mind in a D/Gmax meta than it would/does as a Haze, Heal Pulse, Screens, Taunt user! To get even more unpopular, I think SOAK Tapu Fini is under explored as well and could do serious work on the right team(s)!!

Thundurus: Obv Thundy has proved itself a damn good Dynamax Mon but the new Speed mechanics with it's access to Rain Dance and Scary Face is HUGE. Another great move in Prankster Eerie Impulse plus old standby's T-Wave, Taunt, and Swagger allow Thundurus pretty unique support options that can pay off big time!

Just my 2-cents... Not trying to trigger anybody lol
 
Thundurus: Obv Thundy has proved itself a damn good Dynamax Mon but the new Speed mechanics with it's access to Rain Dance and Scary Face is HUGE. Another great move in Prankster Eerie Impulse plus old standby's T-Wave, Taunt, and Swagger allow Thundurus pretty unique support options that can pay off big time!
Best Thundurus set -

Zeus (Thundurus) (M) @ Yache Berry
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Bulk Up
- Eerie Impulse
- Taunt
- Rest
 
Excuse the doublepost but this just came to me so hey why not

The Pokemon anime has never been truly "good" in a traditional sense. When the supposed peak of the series was a C-list shonen that aint a good sign. Gen 1/2 just got nostalgia on their side and as I alluded to earlier DP/XY only look decent comparatively (Everyone clings to Infernape's final Blaze cuz its literally one of the only stimulating visuals in pokeani history alongside the definitely not a father son kamehameha in alola league)


Dont get the hype for the latest episode. Basically, Iris became champion of Unova, a character I dislike and barely got any better, so I'm not going to feel anything for that offscreen accomplishment.

Also, Ash defeats her and ascends to top 100, really? He ascended that quickly this soon? I dunno, at this moment the Pokemon anime is reaching levels of desperate and meaningless fanservice, like saying "please look how accomplished our characters are and care" without putting any effort.
 
Dont get the hype for the latest episode. Basically, Iris became champion of Unova, a character I dislike and barely got any better, so I'm not going to feel anything for that offscreen accomplishment.

Also, Ash defeats her and ascends to top 100, really? He ascended that quickly this soon? I dunno, at this moment the Pokemon anime is reaching levels of desperate and meaningless fanservice, like saying "please look how accomplished our characters are and care" without putting any effort.
I agree. While I find Iris more likable and cute in this episode, it felt kinda unnatural since it felt to me that she was behind Ash in terms of skill but suddenly she is a champion without any accomplishment in all of Best Wishes aka. Black and White seasons.
In addition, Ash being Alola's champion is ignored in the episode too making it feel uncomfortable for me to watch.

You mentioned the ranking and the show teasing her being the champion, but I felt the battle kinda ended no different than any other battle. I know it's just 2vs2, but I kinda expected more from the battle between two champions. Perhaps spend 2 episodes on this fight.
It makes Iris look less important than Bea, just a gym leader.
And while I get that a lower ranked trainer from one region can be better than another regions best trainer, Unova has Roxie who solos her competitors with a Koffing.
 
Dont get the hype for the latest episode. Basically, Iris became champion of Unova, a character I dislike and barely got any better, so I'm not going to feel anything for that offscreen accomplishment.

Also, Ash defeats her and ascends to top 100, really? He ascended that quickly this soon? I dunno, at this moment the Pokemon anime is reaching levels of desperate and meaningless fanservice, like saying "please look how accomplished our characters are and care" without putting any effort.
Anime Iris is Champion now?

...Does she still have the Axew?
 
You mentioned the ranking and the show teasing her being the champion, but I felt the battle kinda ended no different than any other battle. I know it's just 2vs2, but I kinda expected more from the battle between two champions. Perhaps spend 2 episodes on this fight.
It makes Iris look less important than Bea, just a gym leader.

Yeah, been hearing about that too. For a Champion battle this was pretty anticlimatic.

Anime Iris is Champion now?

...Does she still have the Axew?

It's Haxorus now. Frankly, it's pretty nice since Axew always dreamed to evolve.
 
Haxorus evolving was kinda spoiled in the MV for the original journey's opening song, which features Pikachu, Pichu, Lucario, and Haxorus in the BG. But it's not really that big of a spoiler since it was very predictable for her axew to be evolved
 
Best Thundurus set -

Zeus (Thundurus) (M) @ Yache Berry
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Bulk Up
- Eerie Impulse
- Taunt
- Rest

PLEASE tell me you actually run this set before! Haha too bad Thundurus can't learn Toxic anymore tho! With Toxic over Taunt, could be a decent Hail-Mary lol
 
PLEASE tell me you actually run this set before! Haha too bad Thundurus can't learn Toxic anymore tho! With Toxic over Taunt, could be a decent Hail-Mary lol
I do legitimately use this set. I play 1v1 mainly, so I made some themed teams of the legendary trios, one being the Fujin trio (Thundurus-Incarnate, Tornadus-Incarnate, Landorus-Incarnate) and I also make... odd sets to say the least. I came up with this, and this is probably my most used on the team.

Now, on the topic of unpopular opinions. Every pokemon has a purpose to exist. One thing I thought of was Dodrio. Not the most loved, and I can see many people saying it was unneeded. But when it was first introduced it was pretty good with its speed and attack, 2 stabs that worked well with said stats and was an upgrade to all of the flying types you would have at that point, with it evolving earlier than Pidgeotto and still having better stats and moveset. And I do mean every pokemon. While I cannot list all of them, I guarantee I can find a use for every pokemon when they were introduced.
 
While I cannot list all of them, I guarantee I can find a use for every pokemon when they were introduced.

Unown.

I have a rough time believing this, unless "a use" includes memes, folklorical reference, or straight experimentation.

Well they didn't say it was a "good" use.

And I'm only being semi-sarcastic. Like, sure, as long as the Pokemon can learn multiple moves you can come up with a strategy it can use... but whether it'll do anything to make it viable is a separate question. Like, let's take Scatterbug. Now it's much like the other basic stage gen bug where it learns practically nothing and lucky if it gets any TMs, Tutors, or Egg Moves. Heck, Scatterbug was dexited so I'm looking at it's Gen VII movepool. Still, if asked to try and make it "useful", here what I would do:

Ability:
(If Double Battle & available: Friend Guard)
(If Single Battle or can only use standard Abilities: Compound Eyes)
Held Item:
(If has Friend Guard: Zoom Lens/Wide Lens)
(If has Compound Eyes: King's Rock/Quick Claw)
Moves:
(If Double Battle: Rage Powder, Stun Spore, String Shot, Bug Bite)
(If Single Battle: Poison Powder/Stun Spore, String Shot, Bug Bite, Tackle)
Strategy: Be as annoying as possible.
In a Double Battle use Rage Powder every turn to make the opponent waste at least a single turn taking out Scatterbug. If opponent's Pokemon are immune to Rage Powder (meaning they're likely a Grass-type or have Safety Goggles thus immune to Stun Spore too) try slowing them down with a String Shot. If you somehow are able to get their active Pokemon all to -6 Speed (or to a low enough Speed you feel comfortable at), I guess go on the offense with Bug Bite (though if you suspect their Pokemon is holding a Berry you can try a Bug Bite early to get rid of it). Having access to Friend Guard is nice as it reduces damage to likely your main attacker, though Compound Eyes would make Stun Spore more likely to hit.
In a Single Battle try to hit it either with Poison Powder (just accepting it's likely fate of fainting before doing any significant damage so try and leave a lasting impression) or Stun Spore (if you want to to actually try and hopefully this will buy Scatterbug some turns if it's not OHKOed). Eitherway, next decision is another multi-choice: String Shot (wanting to try and set up advantage for the next Pokemon out after Scatterbug) or Bug Bite/Tackle (actually try fighting back, though once again if you suspect your opponent has a Berry you can use Bug Bite to get rid of it). If you went the String Shot option and got the opponent's Pokemon down to a Speed you're comfortable with and still not fainted (you may want to check your opponent didn't fall asleep... or laughed themselves to death; remember if they did either that's a forfeit which means you won with Scatterbug!), than go nuts with Bug Bite/Tackle.

Now, is the above a good solid strategy? DISTORTION WORLD NO. Even in Little Cup Scatterbug ain't surviving for long enough to start actually attacking; lucky to even get a String Shot off. However, as basic and probably not very effective as this is, for Scatterbug, this is a "use" for it.

Of course, Scatterbug is """lucky""" to have access to some useful Abilities and Rage Powder for use in Doubles. Other gen bugs not so much (though a few get Electroweb which Scatterbug doesn't for some reason, but at most that just replaces String Shot as the Speed decreasing move). And then we have Pokemon like Unown where the ONLY choice you have (aside not using it, a choice you should always make) is what item it holds (well, I guess also Hidden Power's Type though that's a one-time decision thing) and I don't know what non-joke item I could even give it (maybe just a Sitrus Berry? King's Rock/Quick Claw if you're feeling really generous?).
 
It's worth noting that sometimes a Pokemon's potential "purpose" for existing even in the context of its own generation may not necessarily even be for battles. Skitty and Delcatty for example are pretty terrible in battle, but in the games they debuted in they had Contests, which Delcatty's aesthetic and movepool are nigh perfect for. This isn't just Skitty for that matter either: several Gen 3 Pokemon, while poorly suited for the field of battle, can shine excellently in certain categories of contests thanks to their movepools and their designs making them ideal contest candidates. Luvdisc for one can also shine pretty greatly in the contest sphere (also Wallace and Juan use a Luvdisc, and both are Coordinators in at least some canons). Mawile can excel in Tough Contests, and Sableye shines in the Smart Contests, even though both are mediocre battle wise (without their Megas).

Overall, Gen 3 is the most notable example, but in some instances a Pokemon's reason for existing may actually be outside of the battlefield and aligns more to showcase or be used as a part of a feature that defines that game they debuted in.
 
probably something to do with showing off fancy skills at coding 26 different letter variants, until spinda came one generation later
...wow it got outclassed at the thing it was showing off by spinda
554715F6-C3B8-4D7D-9258-66DC59964A04.png
nothing like collecting 90 unown cards hahaha
 
It's worth noting that sometimes a Pokemon's potential "purpose" for existing even in the context of its own generation may not necessarily even be for battles. Skitty and Delcatty for example are pretty terrible in battle, but in the games they debuted in they had Contests, which Delcatty's aesthetic and movepool are nigh perfect for. This isn't just Skitty for that matter either: several Gen 3 Pokemon, while poorly suited for the field of battle, can shine excellently in certain categories of contests thanks to their movepools and their designs making them ideal contest candidates. Luvdisc for one can also shine pretty greatly in the contest sphere (also Wallace and Juan use a Luvdisc, and both are Coordinators in at least some canons). Mawile can excel in Tough Contests, and Sableye shines in the Smart Contests, even though both are mediocre battle wise (without their Megas).

Overall, Gen 3 is the most notable example, but in some instances a Pokemon's reason for existing may actually be outside of the battlefield and aligns more to showcase or be used as a part of a feature that defines that game they debuted in.
Perhaps, but that does not means they are 100% futureproof. Contests only returned in Generation 4 (plus their remake) and ORAS, and we never seen the contests ever again since, meaning that outside those games, we really cannot see the Skitty’s line cuteness, Luvdisc’s “beauty”, Mawile’s toughness without its Mega Evolution, or Sableye’s intellegence in full action anymore, and lost some of their appeals since.

If anything, even the single-staged Gen 1 Pokémon - including those that were one before getting an evolution and / or pre-evolution in later generations - aged better than, say, Roselia before it got an entire line, and especially Volbeat, Illumise, and Luvdisc.

It does not help that a too few of “gimmicky” or contextually unique / helpful get compensation the moment their appeal is lost.
 
I think Unown's defining trait is just to be this bizarre, alien creature. This is most obviously demonstrated by the various methods and places you encounter it, but I think it works in combat too. While only applicable to its debut generation, Hidden Power was a previously unknown move, so you have this weird Pokemon who seems to constantly shift its form and type with no rhyme or reason. But also, I think it being completely bereft of viability works towards this. Pokemon like Luvdisc and Delibird are horrendous, sure, but you can at least tell what they're supposed to do, even if they're bad at it. Unown has no discernible purpose whatsoever among the rest of the fully-evolved Pokemon, so it doesn't feel created, and I mean that both in-universe and by the developers. Regardless of how much of that is intentional, it contributes to how every aspect of Unown feels like it doesn't belong in this world.
 
And I'm only being semi-sarcastic. Like, sure, as long as the Pokemon can learn multiple moves you can come up with a strategy it can use... but whether it'll do anything to make it viable is a separate question. Like, let's take Scatterbug. Now it's much like the other basic stage gen bug where it learns practically nothing and lucky if it gets any TMs, Tutors, or Egg Moves. Heck, Scatterbug was dexited so I'm looking at it's Gen VII movepool. Still, if asked to try and make it "useful", here what I would do:
As ScraftyIsTheBest said, its use doesn't need to be battle-related. It's use is the early-game bug for the region with generally bad stats. As with other early-game bugs, it evolves into the cocoon, which isn't amazing either. Finally, it evolves into the adult bug, in this case being Vivillion. It evolves into this early, and is made to be used early-game... powerhouse? of sorts. It also gives a fun way to customise the patern of the Vivillion with the changing of the region.

Perhaps, but that does not means they are 100% futureproof. Contests only returned in Generation 4 (plus their remake) and ORAS, and we never seen the contests ever again since, meaning that outside those games, we really cannot see the Skitty’s line cuteness, Luvdisc’s “beauty”, Mawile’s toughness without its Mega Evolution, or Sableye’s intellegence in full action anymore, and lost some of their appeals since.
I mean even now, Luvdisc is still a reliable source of heart scales, which are useful for move reminders or just selling. Sableye now has its gimmick with prankster, and Mawile... well, it got an interesting mega... Delcatty has a fun ability, being normalize.
 
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