Or Normal, like Fury Attack or Horn Attack.It's likely steel type purely because the only types that would have possibly made sense for it would have been steel, ice or rock.
Or Psychic, because smart.
Or Normal, like Fury Attack or Horn Attack.It's likely steel type purely because the only types that would have possibly made sense for it would have been steel, ice or rock.
Normal I thought of but it'd likely just have overlapped with Horn Attack at that point, Psychic I really doubt. The "Smart" is just a very ... questionable name, but doesnt actually have anything to do with being clever, just precision.Or Normal, like Fury Attack or Horn Attack.
Or Psychic, because smart.
You're not necessarily wrong but I have to ask how much the usage of "ow, that smarts" would be used in japan, and then specifically used in the sense of "Smart Horn/Strike" -> "This horn/strike, will smart"It seems like no one in this thread remembers smart has multiple meanings
"(of a wound or part of the body) feel or cause a sharp stinging pain."
In the sense that if you get something like a splinter, you might say "ow that smarts". So the "smart" part of the name specifically refers to the perforation already, since it would usually only be used in that context. If you get blunt trauma, you would usually default to "hurts" over "smarts". That's what differentiates it from something like Horn Attack, since horns are likelier to inflict blunt trauma than an actual stabwound, if you've ever watched nature documentaries.
so about that one...Kinda surprised that there isn't a Steel-type slashing/cutting move already, considering how many Steel-type pokémon have sharp claws or blades. I guess there is Metal Claw, but it is closer to Scratch in move design.
I knew I should have added that caveat A more generic, widely distributed Steel-type slashing move is what I meant
I imagined you were referring to a generic one, but still felt like being annoyingI knew I should have added that caveat A more generic, widely distributed Steel-type slashing move is what I meant
There's Metal Claw, which isn't good, but fills the niche from a flavor perspective. From a usable STAB perspective, Steel is just SOL in general, and I don't think calling out a specific sort of move matters as much as the general lack of options in the 80-120 bp range. If something doesn't get Iron Head or a signature move, welp, good luck.
Tbh it's probably to prevent the exact opposite and avoid replicating the Ice Punch Wooper/Ghastly scenario.
I find it odd that none of these guys learn moves based on their material of choice. Timburr doesn't learn Wood Hammer, Conkeldurr doesn't learn Sand Tomb, Gurdurr doesn't learn... I dunno fuckin' Metal Burst or some shit. It seems like such a no-brainer for a family themed around fighting with various construction materials, especially before Gen 8 when prevo-exclusive moves were a thing.
My understanding is that Wood Hammer is not 'using a piece of wood as a hammer'. It's supposed to involve charging into the target with a hard, plant body and hitting it downward like a hammer (the wood is probably chosen as it is plant-related and strong).
I find it odd that none of these guys learn moves based on their material of choice. Timburr doesn't learn Wood Hammer, Conkeldurr doesn't learn Sand Tomb, Gurdurr doesn't learn... I dunno fuckin' Metal Burst or some shit. It seems like such a no-brainer for a family themed around fighting with various construction materials, especially before Gen 8 when prevo-exclusive moves were a thing.
My understanding is that Wood Hammer is not 'using a piece of wood as a hammer'. It's supposed to involve charging into the target with a hard, plant body and hitting it downward like a hammer (the wood is probably chosen as it is plant-related and strong).
Well bulbapedia is pretty clear on thisMy understanding is that Wood Hammer is not 'using a piece of wood as a hammer'. It's supposed to involve charging into the target with a hard, plant body and hitting it downward like a hammer (the wood is probably chosen as it is plant-related and strong).
It uses Wood Hammer with its "tail", which is a chunk of woodWell bulbapedia is pretty clear on this
https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Wood_Hammer_(move)
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The anime usage of the move does show that they do indeed use literal logs for this move but it has to be a part of their body. Which makes sense as they are mostly grass types and they actually have log-resembling parts or turn one of their parts into a rugged, harder log piece. And well Sudowoodoo is not grass type but it's pretending to be a tree so...
There are two exceptions, Komala who uses a literal log for it, and Mimikyu who uuuh... I'm unsure how Mimikyu uses Wood Hammer, probably something about ghost powers or whatever.
Based off the fact Komala can use its actual log for it, one would assume that so would Timburr. But as I wrote above, it's very likely they didn't add it because then it wouldn't make sense for its evolutions.
Steel Beam, duh.Gurdurr doesn't learn... I dunno fuckin' Metal Burst or some shit.
I find it odd that none of these guys learn moves based on their material of choice. Timburr doesn't learn Wood Hammer, Conkeldurr doesn't learn Sand Tomb, Gurdurr doesn't learn... I dunno fuckin' Metal Burst or some shit.
Guys we're overlooking the more obvious choice for Timburr to learn: Branch Poke.My understanding is that Wood Hammer is not 'using a piece of wood as a hammer'. It's supposed to involve charging into the target with a hard, plant body and hitting it downward like a hammer (the wood is probably chosen as it is plant-related and strong).
Actually a Steel-type move they can all reasonably learn would be Heavy Slam. Though honestly they'd probably do better with Gyro Ball.Steel Beam, duh.
(Yeah, I know, I know ...)
In addition to what has been said justifying the inclusive nature of the move, this got me curious: Mew is the only non-Ghost Type that learns it (cause Mews gimmick is it can learn every TM & Tutor), but are there any Ghost-types in SwSh that doesn't learn it?Despite the fact the move involves the user hitting the target with its own item, something that could be done via telekinesis, the only non-Ghost-type, Psychic-type Pokémon that can learn the move is Mew.
Eh, if it still looks like there would be some Pokemon who has metal blades part of their design that they use for attacking (Scyther family, Kabutops, Skarmory, Empoleon, Excadrill, Escavalie, Pawniard family, Durant, Cobalion, Honedge family, Alolan Sandshrew family, Kartana, Corviknight, Galarian Meowth family, Zacian) I don't see what's the foul of making a Steel-type version of Leaf Blade and call it a day. Like, there's a lot of punching moves, there's even an Ability that works with it, yet no one is saying there's too many of those.There's already like a million "slash" moves (Slash, Night Slash, Psycho Cut, Cut, Fury Cutter, X-Scissor come to mind). Adding a "steel type slash" probably felt redundant, expecially when a relatively widely distributed steel type attack already exists (Iron Head)
Honestly I'm not even sure why they made Smart Strike in the first place (or why the English translators changed it from "Smart Horn"). And it doesn't make sense Kartana learns it. It feels like it may have started out as a Steel-type cutting move wanting to give something to Kartana (it's essentially a Steel-type Aerial Ace which in Japan is named after a sword technique), but out of the blue someone went "hey, if we made it a horn attack we can spread it to a wider range of Pokemon!", and did that but kept it on Kartana anyway without much justification besides it was originally designed for it.They're pretty clearly taking liberties with what constitutes a horn when assigning the move to Pokémon but the Japanese name really is "Smart Horn" in katakana.
It's a bit of an odd move in general; not sure why piercing attack with a horn that always hits is Steel-type. Maybe it's using the horn as a radar to home in on opponents?
I'd say them already being possessed objects is itself why they can't learn the move - they probably can't possess multiple objects at once. The honedge line in particular seems to be bound to swords after being killed by them (insert suicide squad reference here). Mimikyu might not want to take it's spirit out from under the rag to possess the item? Although this one might just be for balancing reasons tbh, same with dragapult. In fact dragapult I'm just going to say was probably 100% due to balancing, it was tearing up VGC with phantom force.Turns out, there 11, or 6 families if you wanted to group them up: Drifloon family, Mimikyu, Honedge family, Blacephalon, Dreepy family, & Spectrier. Not sure why they were excluded, it's very odd in some of their cases as the Drifloon family and Honedge family are already possessed objects. Mimikyu may not be possessing something but its obviously manipulating its disguise which included a stick that its using as a tail.
But Shedinja, Rotom, Yamask family, Golett family, Phantump family, Pumpkaboo family, Sandygast family, Dhelmise, and Sinistea family are also possessing something yet they learn it. Though I guess for Honedge is would simply prefer to attack with the sword that its possessing (and it does get Shadow Claw... by TM... though I think people use Aegislash as a special attacker anyway).I'd say them already being possessed objects is itself why they can't learn the move - they probably can't possess multiple objects at once. The honedge line in particular seems to be bound to swords after being killed by them (insert suicide squad reference here). Mimikyu might not want to take it's spirit out from under the rag to possess the item? Although this one might just be for balancing reasons tbh, same with dragapult. In fact dragapult I'm just going to say was probably 100% due to balancing, it was tearing up VGC with phantom force.
I always interpreted Drifloon as a spirit manifested in the form of a balloon rather than a possessed tangible balloon. That was the vibe I got off it's dex entries. Blacephalpn being an alien probably doesn't possess things the same way ghosts in the Pokemon dimension do. In addition to what spookysocialist said, I probably wouldn't be surprised if honedge got blueballed out of it for balance reasons, considering they went as far as to nerf aegislash's BST lol.In addition to what has been said justifying the inclusive nature of the move, this got me curious: Mew is the only non-Ghost Type that learns it (cause Mews gimmick is it can learn every TM & Tutor), but are there any Ghost-types in SwSh that doesn't learn it?
Turns out, there 11, or 6 families if you wanted to group them up: Drifloon family, Mimikyu, Honedge family, Blacephalon, Dreepy family, & Spectrier. Not sure why they were excluded, it's very odd in some of their cases as the Drifloon family and Honedge family are already possessed objects. Mimikyu may not be possessing something but its obviously manipulating its disguise which included a stick that its using as a tail.
Eh, if it still looks like there would be some Pokemon who has metal blades part of their design that they use for attacking (Scyther family, Kabutops, Skarmory, Empoleon, Excadrill, Escavalie, Pawniard family, Durant, Cobalion, Honedge family, Alolan Sandshrew family, Kartana, Corviknight, Galarian Meowth family, Zacian) I don't see what's the foul of making a Steel-type version of Leaf Blade and call it a day. Like, there's a lot of punching moves, there's even an Ability that works with it, yet no one is saying there's too many of those.
Or they could get creative, like maybe have a Steel-type version of Thrash which implies rapid slashing (Slicing Storm) or copy of Triple Kick that implies a succession of strong sword swings (Slice Dice).
Honestly I'm not even sure why they made Smart Strike in the first place (or why the English translators changed it from "Smart Horn"). And it doesn't make sense Kartana learns it. It feels like it may have started out as a Steel-type cutting move wanting to give something to Kartana (it's essentially a Steel-type Aerial Ace which in Japan is named after a sword technique), but out of the blue someone went "hey, if we made it a horn attack we can spread it to a wider range of Pokemon!", and did that but kept it on Kartana anyway without much justification besides it was originally designed for it.