Chingling is a pretty good Pokemon in Diamond, Pearl and Platinum.
Yes, it's not Abra. It's not Ralts. Heck it's not even Girafarig. But if you play to Chimecho's strengths, it's not too bad. Relatively early friendship evolution in the mid 20s with some Bicycle use. Most Pokemon fans would also be surprised that Chingling has base 65 Special Attack, which is rather good offense as far as unevolved Pokemon go. The Chingling line also is blessed with a Fast Exp Growth rate, which most of its competition can't say they have.
The cornerstone to making Chimecho good is level 25 Yawn. Combined with the infinite Protect TM from Veilstone Department Store, you more or less have a decently fast user of Spore that simply requires you to eat a hit (which, given Chimecho's decent bulk, is plenty plausible). Given Chimecho's only decent movepool, it has more than enough room for this combo, because it only really wants Psychic (sadly via TM, which you're basically forced to do because it is stuck with Confusion until...level 46 Extrasensory wow someone at Game Freak hated Chimecho, but I digress) for STAB. Yawn + Protect also combos nicely with the Dream Eater TM, which you get at Valor Lakefront with Rock Climb after seven badges, and that TM is so free it is basically uncontested. While Chimecho has an average Gym performance, it never outright feels like it was dragging my team down like actually bad Pokemon like Barboach do.
Don't believe me? Go look at the last episode of my Platinum LP. You too will become a Chimecho truther.
Yes, it's not Abra. It's not Ralts. Heck it's not even Girafarig. But if you play to Chimecho's strengths, it's not too bad. Relatively early friendship evolution in the mid 20s with some Bicycle use. Most Pokemon fans would also be surprised that Chingling has base 65 Special Attack, which is rather good offense as far as unevolved Pokemon go. The Chingling line also is blessed with a Fast Exp Growth rate, which most of its competition can't say they have.
The cornerstone to making Chimecho good is level 25 Yawn. Combined with the infinite Protect TM from Veilstone Department Store, you more or less have a decently fast user of Spore that simply requires you to eat a hit (which, given Chimecho's decent bulk, is plenty plausible). Given Chimecho's only decent movepool, it has more than enough room for this combo, because it only really wants Psychic (sadly via TM, which you're basically forced to do because it is stuck with Confusion until...level 46 Extrasensory wow someone at Game Freak hated Chimecho, but I digress) for STAB. Yawn + Protect also combos nicely with the Dream Eater TM, which you get at Valor Lakefront with Rock Climb after seven badges, and that TM is so free it is basically uncontested. While Chimecho has an average Gym performance, it never outright feels like it was dragging my team down like actually bad Pokemon like Barboach do.
Don't believe me? Go look at the last episode of my Platinum LP. You too will become a Chimecho truther.
