I've actually been considering this so far; before this Gen I loved T-Tar, and still do; back in fourth I ran a devastating Sand team (Tar, Scizor, Spiritomb, Gengar, Cradily, Forretress, if anyone can remember fourth Gen's meta so well), and as such was thoroughly sick of Sandstorm in fifth, but at that point was reluctant to be running Tar on a team that lost more than it benefited from the sand. Now, what he lost in the ability to set up a whole play style and quite badly over-centralise the weather war, he gained in splashability; he's much more useable on a variety of teams that can use his defensive presence in the sand early on, or use him late-game to clean up, without having to worry about buffeting Life-orbers and walls that don't like the residual HP loss.
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Other Most Improved Pokemon
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I've actually been considering this so far; before this Gen I loved T-Tar, and still do; back in fourth I ran a devastating Sand team (Tar, Scizor, Spiritomb, Gengar, Cradily, Forretress, if anyone can remember fourth Gen's meta so well), and as such was thoroughly sick of Sandstorm in fifth, but at that point was reluctant to be running Tar on a team that lost more than it benefited from the sand. Now, what he lost in the ability to set up a whole play style and quite badly over-centralise the weather war, he gained in splashability; he's much more useable on a variety of teams that can use his defensive presence in the sand early on, or use him late-game to clean up, without having to worry about buffeting Life-orbers and walls that don't like the residual HP loss.
Actually I think Granbull may be able to jump several tiers due to this. A fighting resist than can use intimidate is pretty huge, especially one who can hit very hard back (Does it learn play rough though?). UU for instance would be very happy about this, considering the large pool of fighting types it has, and also other nasty things like scarfgon, DD kingdra, and probably dark types on the outer (except for bisharp).
Heatran and galvantula come to mind, heatran enjoys the rain nerf and the introduction of fairies as well as being an offensive mon that isn't particularly bothered by sticky web, and Galvantula--> stickyweb--> gg On the topic of new sticky webbers, smeargle might gain a new niche as a lead assuming galvantula doesn't end up outclassing it. Because of this, insomnia ariados might actually make a good anti-lead. It also beats grass types like breloom by blocking spore / sleep powder with insomnia, and can hit fairies with poison jab too!
Isn't he going to be ubers again?
Got to say Scolipede. Speed boost and Baton pass? Yes please.
Got to say, my fav grass starter Serperior having access to Contrary is pretty neat too.
Got to say, my fav grass starter Serperior having access to Contrary is pretty neat too.
What looks as the most decisive factor in most of these bump-ups is the Fairy type addition to old pokemon. The most notable benefactors of the new typing include:
The other smaller factor (with big results) improving pokemon is the addition of Speed Boost to Scolipede. With access to Baton Pass, Swords Dance and good offensive coverage, it will become a highly effective Baton Passer.
My "most improved pokemon" to take the cake will have to be Mawille, because of the fact that I can see it being used on many different teams as both a good offensive and defensive addition to teams. Most of the other improved pokemon swing to either offense or defense, however I can see M-Mawille being used exceptionally on both sides of the table.
- Azumaril
- Gardeviour
- Mawille
- Togekiss
The other smaller factor (with big results) improving pokemon is the addition of Speed Boost to Scolipede. With access to Baton Pass, Swords Dance and good offensive coverage, it will become a highly effective Baton Passer.
My "most improved pokemon" to take the cake will have to be Mawille, because of the fact that I can see it being used on many different teams as both a good offensive and defensive addition to teams. Most of the other improved pokemon swing to either offense or defense, however I can see M-Mawille being used exceptionally on both sides of the table.
While it's true that it gets no good Flying STAB to use (it gets Sky Attack, but I wouldn't count that as "good" per se) it's sometimes easy to forget that he's a Normal type too. You can make some pretty decent headway with Unfezant by spamming Return. I've always thought it was a fairly underrated Pokémon - it's not good or anything but it's not the worst out of the regional derp birds like many people say - surely that dubious honour is reserved for Fearow.
I'd be careful saying he "finally," got contrary - unless I'm missing something huge, he's not obtainable in X and Y, with or without Contrary, and so even come December when we can transfer up, he won't have Contrary that way. So, its just as illegal as it ever was to have Contrary Serperior on cartridge, although I'll admit that I don't know the sim's stance on that. I'm assuming that when it was down to Dream world releases, they were only available on Showdown once they were released.
EDIT: Contrary and Dragon Pulse also isn't legal, seeing as Dragon Pulse is only obtainable via Black and White 2 tutors, which, assuming it might be available in some way at some point, limits the set a lot (the closes egg move he gets is Twister).
He does learn Play Rough at level 43 (http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-xy/210.shtml)!
Aside from that, I pretty much agree with your post! I was thinking about OU when I said he wouldn't move up, guess I'll have to correct that.
And the removal of perma-rain; perma-sand and perma-hail makes him dance; as does the reduced prevalence of Dragon/Flying types due to Fairies.
As does Baton Pass being legal on him now.
As does Mega Blaziken.
Talonflame is outsped at +1 and is fragile as all hell so would probobly trade with recoil; and wouldn't even get to attack after it takes 50% from rocks. MegaPinsir is far too slow and is OHKO'ed by -insert fire move here-
There are only two things this gen that makes Blaziken weaker [Azumarill now resists both STABs and Perma-Sun is gone; despite the fact it was HJK spam mostly] and they don't outweigh the positives. [No more perma-rain; residual damage from sand and hail are lessened; fairy countering Dragons is an indirect buff] I would be amazed if he even gets tested in OU.
Fearow isn't the 'derp bird'; Pidgeot is; especially as Fearow>Pidgeot.
And Noctowl is worse than both.
What about Farfetch'd? Lol
I might say Crobat.
He has the new buffed infiltrator to play with, meaning he can pick off weakened set up sweepers in lower tiers like submind chandy, he also packs a nice resistance to fairy, increasing his already decent/good defensive typing, and finally, last but most certainly not least, he holds the fastest non priority (fuck talonflame) of fastest pspinner (pseudo spinner, I'm hoping to get a ball rolling here.) thanks to the new defog, which not only greatly increases his support capabilities, but also allows dedicated voltturn teams to remove hazards without completely killing off their momentum, although at the cost of your own hazards, it could still be appreciated.
tl;dr, Crobat is gooood.
He has the new buffed infiltrator to play with, meaning he can pick off weakened set up sweepers in lower tiers like submind chandy, he also packs a nice resistance to fairy, increasing his already decent/good defensive typing, and finally, last but most certainly not least, he holds the fastest non priority (fuck talonflame) of fastest pspinner (pseudo spinner, I'm hoping to get a ball rolling here.) thanks to the new defog, which not only greatly increases his support capabilities, but also allows dedicated voltturn teams to remove hazards without completely killing off their momentum, although at the cost of your own hazards, it could still be appreciated.
tl;dr, Crobat is gooood.
I'm gonna say Lucario.
Our beloved doge has been OU for two consecutive generations, but has bounced from "shaky" to "solid" OU countless times, back and forth. Being struck with a hurtcore 4-slot syndrome doesn't help, and the rise of Landorus-T made it way worse.
But then, it happened. Lucario mega evolved, and became the closest thing in the whole game to a perfect Pokémon, with no counters and less than 10 viable checks.
Mawile, Gardevoir, Scolipede, Togekiss, and Scizor all deserve notable mentions, though.
Our beloved doge has been OU for two consecutive generations, but has bounced from "shaky" to "solid" OU countless times, back and forth. Being struck with a hurtcore 4-slot syndrome doesn't help, and the rise of Landorus-T made it way worse.
But then, it happened. Lucario mega evolved, and became the closest thing in the whole game to a perfect Pokémon, with no counters and less than 10 viable checks.
Mawile, Gardevoir, Scolipede, Togekiss, and Scizor all deserve notable mentions, though.
With Gale Wings, Talonflame will gain priority flying STAB over Blaziken; either a Brave Bird or Acrobatics will end Blaziken's day; Mega or otherwise.
Again, with Aerialate, MegaPinsir gains a flying priority, now STAB, quick-attack over Blaziken. So, with that new collossal attack, Blaziken again is hard checked.
I personally feel that TR teams have gained absolute behemoths in the ways of Mega Ampharos, Mega Mawile and Mega Scizor too. Thus, all three have improved greatly, Scizor possibly the most simply because its CB set is still terrifying.
I forgot about Gale Wings; and outright did not know about Pinsir getting Quick Attack. [Although Talonflame is still checked by simply switching out because it loses 50% from SR; plus any damage it takes from switching in otherwise]
Shuckle. It's one of the few pokemon who gets access to the amazing Spider Web and is the only pokemon with the move(aside from Smeargle) with Stealth Rocks. Coupled with Sturdy and a Custap Berry you're guaranteed to get both up bar taunt. Add on Toxic and Shucke can easily weaken the opponent if they can't get rid of Shuckle quick enough. Power Split can be used to neuter most non-mixed attackers allowing an offensive threat to come in and set up once Shuckle's dead. Alternatively it can use encore to stop anything hoping to setup on it. Shuckle is an amazing lead this Gen!
Oh I disagree. Fearow get's Drill run for steels and rocks at least. Farfetch'd is the most mediocre derp bird!
Love that Ariados is now legit.
Hopping onto the mawile bandwagon, but loved it even in gen 3 when it was useless.
Hopping onto the mawile bandwagon, but loved it even in gen 3 when it was useless.
Personally I think it's OU(pushing possible Uber). It's taken some "balanced" nerfs since B/W but still very much a threat.
Personally I'd put:
Alakazam, Gengar, Kangaskhan(New moves and Mega...oh my), Scoliopede(Just replaced one of my favourite Pokemons ever(Ninjask) because of this), Mawile(Mega!) and Azumarill(Aqua Jet?)
For me personally, I think Charizard is BL1 AT MOST!
I thought I saw a Contrary Seviper and a claim that you can get Servines from the Friend Safari in another thread? And now that both parents can pass on moves and abilities, you should be able to breed one with Dragon Pulse once the PokeBank opens.
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