Pet Mod VGC 20XX [2.5 - Good gimmicks]

Which format do you enjoy most

  • 6v6 Singles

    Votes: 17 42.5%
  • VGC

    Votes: 20 50.0%
  • Battle Stadium Singles

    Votes: 3 7.5%

  • Total voters
    40
Wyrm Smash: Abstain. Physical Dragon Pokémon aren't in desperate need of a strong physical Dragon move. There's the popular Loaded Dice Scale Shot set in VGC, and you also have the option to run Dragon Rush in Gravity if you so desire. If this move wins, I hope we are careful with its distribution since Dragon Pokémon tend to have high BSTs and a good Atk stat.

Therapy: No. Coaching is fine because there are more natural answers to physical attackers, such as Intimidate and Burn, while natural answers to special attackers are very limited. Special attackers also tend to have more spread moves in general (like Heat Wave, Muddy Water, Dazzling Gleam, Eruption, etc.) unlike physical attackers who are usually limited to Earthquake and Rock Slide. This makes Therapy much more potent for special attackers.

Psycho Smash: Yes. Perhaps, we could extend it to some non STAB Pokémon, like, idk, Golduck. In any case, if either or both of Therapy and Psycho Smash make it in, it might not be a bad idea to distribute Punishment more to ensure there's some option to deal with it. At the moment, there are only 2 Punishment users, iirc: Fieratt and Kagunawa. I could re-add this move to Pokémon like Weavile since it naturally learns it in previous generations.

Frog Song: Abstain. I'm not totally against the idea, but I would rather click Acid Spray or Fake Tears or Helping Hand to provide some damage boost.

Mother's Love: No. It's always cool to see some underused Pokémon like Kangaskhan getting some love to shine. Though, I should note nothing prevents the user from having their ally click Protect in order to get protected later from the user. It's also a good thing that redirection can be checked by stuff like spread moves in general. I'm therefore a little bit wary and am not sure what this move would do to improve the metagame or the gaming experience in a significant and meaningful way. The metagame already has good redirectors in Matokoda, Metagross-Prime or Conotox. More options is never a bad idea but if we are to teach Mother's Love to more Pokémon, it should be really limited to make the Mother's Love user feel distinct amongst themselves. Which kind of defeats the purpose of having a more widespread move.

Fallout: Abstain. Feels situational.

Undermine: Abstain. Seems interesting alongside certain Pokémon but we are not really lacking good Ground coverage move.

Ninjitsu: No. Feels more like a signature move, which kind of defeats the purpose of distributing moves.

Metronome: No. Irrelevant in competitive, thus a waste of space. I really don't like bloating the space unless it's a really important move.

False Swipe: No. Too strong still. I'd be more lenient if it was like 100 BP.

Texture Swap: No. This is actually a move that does sth new and could contribute sth. unique to the metagame depending on the Pokémon but right now, it feels unviable because you waste a turn on a single Pokémon for not much great gain in return.

Infliction: No. I don't really know what it offers to the metagame since there isn't any explanation.

Final Hammer: No, because it's broken.

Iron Slash: Abstain. I don't mind too much but it's not a move that we really need.

East Sea Wave: Yes. It's not a move I consider super necessary for the metagame, but it does sound interesting, and I would be intrigued to see it in action.

Forceful Hug: Abstain.

Water Bomb: Abstain. I think it's important to ask Ubertrainer2000 if they really would be fine to modify Flotsam Hook, though. I also think it's fine to make the effect last 4 or 5 turns since, I assume, the turn you click Water Bomb also counts. And the metagame also has good viable Water Pokémon like Golisopod or Gyarados. Furthermore, it only affects new incoming Pokémon if I understand the ability correctly since it seems to function like a hazard. Edit: I forgot to mention that Paranoia would still be unaffected by Water Bomb because it's not affected by Sheer Force. Which is why Clear Amulet protects you from Paranoia while Covert Cloak doesn't.

Rampage: Yes. Sounds fine for experimentation, and I like that this move is mostly only on non STAB users.

Water Sport / Mud Sport: Yes.

Strongarm: Yes.
 
Avalanche buff: Yes
Chip Away buff: Yes
Wailing Wraith: Yes
Fallout: No
Undermine: No. Just run High Horsepower at that BP.
Ninjitsu: Yes
Metronome buff: Abstain
False Swipe buff: No
Texture Swap: No
Infliction: No (agreed with Sugarbear)
Final Hammer: No
Iron Slash: Abstain (changing to Yes if following BlueRay’s suggestion)
East Sea Wave: Abstain
Strongarm: Yes
 
Wyrm Smash: No
Therapy: Abstain
Psycho Smash: Abstain
Frog Song: No
Mother's Love: No
Avalanche: Yes
Chip Away: Yes
Wailing Wraith: Yes
Texture Swap: No
Infliction: No
Final Hammer: No
Iron Slash: No
East Sea Wave: Abstain
Forceful Hug: Yes
Water Bomb: No
Rampage: Yes
Water/Mud Sport: No
Strongarm: Yes
 
Last edited:
If Ninjitsu makes in, there would be only one user at the moment: Accelgor. Which is a low number for a move to be distributed. So, I decided to take a look at the builder and find potential candidates that could join Accelgor:

- Spinarak line (both Koga and Janina are Poison specialists and themed after ninjas. They also use Ariados known for its tricks. It also learns Psychic, making it an excellent choice for Ninjitsu flavour wise)
- Shiftry (like Ariados, it's also known for tricks)
- Croagunk line (has an assassine like style, like Accelgor. Koga himself also uses Toxicroak to further draw attention to it)
- the Scyther line could also fit if they make sense
 
If Ninjitsu makes in, there would be only one user at the moment: Accelgor. Which is a low number for a move to be distributed. So, I decided to take a look at the builder and find potential candidates that could join Accelgor:

- Spinarak line (both Koga and Janina are Poison specialists and themed after ninjas. They also use Ariados known for its tricks. It also learns Psychic, making it an excellent choice for Ninjitsu flavour wise)
- Shiftry (like Ariados, it's also known for tricks)
- Croagunk line (has an assassine like style, like Accelgor. Koga himself also uses Toxicroak to further draw attention to it)
- the Scyther line could also fit if they make sense
distributing it to Spinarak line, Shiftry, and Croagunk line all sound like good ideas (that I don't know how I didn't think of). Not as big of a fan of Scyther getting it, but I wouldn't hate it.
 
Avalanche Buff: Yes
Chip Away Buff: Yes
False Swipe Buff: No
Metronome Distribution: Abstain
Wyrm Smash: No. Scale Shot is a much more interesting design that would be mostly overshadowed by this. The distribution is the nail in the coffin - I could see this being a fun addition for select Dragons such as Judigon but as a universal tool this is very boring.

Therapy: No. See Blueray's comments.

Psycho Smash: No. Way too much overlap with Psyshock, and shockingly few use cases that currently exist given the sparse distribution of Amnesia. A similar effect on a different type could work decently, but I do not think this is a very significant addition to the game as a Psychic move.

Frog Song: Abstain, I guess? The flavor window for this is almost exactly Politoed, Seismitoad, and nothing else. Sure.

Mother's Love: No. Extremely powercrept version of one the strongest moves in the game. Even with the tiny distribution it's a lot.

Wailing Wrath: Yes. Cool tool for Skeledirge if we ever add it.

Fallout: No. I have no idea what the use case for this is.

Undermine: Yes. This is a very bizarre and underpowered coverage tool that can be distributed to the right Pokemon rather than High Horsepower or similar. It being weak and awkward as a penalty for something having access to Ground coverage is pretty cool, I think. Distribution maybe needs a few more hits though.

Ninjitsu: Yes, with the distribution proposed by Blueray. Cool tool for Greninja if we ever add it.

Texture Swap: No. Definitely too weak to actually see play, which will probably always be the case, but it has got to be a little stronger than it is written as here to be a worthwhile inclusion.

Infliction: No for coding difficulty and hidden information ridiculousness.

Final Hammer: No. Needs very particular distribution and requires really odd factors to be taken into account to figure out a use case for that distribution (random moves like Growl or Leer can make this unrelated move completely broken). Also Struggle is not a fun move to have to reasonably include in a gameplan.

Iron Slash: No. Pretty strong and very boring. No distribution to specifically anchor it.

East Sea Wave: Abstain. This effect is super cool but specifically with the described distribution it is sort of weak as an actual inclusion to the game.

Forceful Hug: Yes. Specifically would want a distribution change. I see this as a fairly rare move that is usually found off-type, kind of like Megahorn. Not really a fan of this on mons like Deermetrius, Tinkaton, or potential future inclusions like Azumarill.

Water Bomb: No. This is a really weird and roundabout way to try to make Mist again.

Rampage: No. This move is practically a typed Hyper Beam with a significantly less impactful downside, especially when the wording of it means pokemon like Intimidate Gyarados / Tauros and Tyranitar simply do not have a substantial downside with it. The distribution is well designed though, especially with mostly non-STAB users. With a more substantial downside this is a definite Yes - maybe turn the ability into Defeatist rather than Stall?

Water Sport / Mud Sport: No. I do not want to add Spore with extra steps to the game.

Strongarm: Abstain.

Pretty negative on this batch but that more speaks to how thoroughly the vanilla games fill out niches than anything.
 
Last edited:
Avalanche Buff: Yes
Chip Away Buff: Yes
False Swipe Buff: No
Metronome Distribution: Abstain
Wyrm Smash: No. Scale Shot is a much more interesting design that would be mostly overshadowed by this. The distribution is the nail in the coffin - I could see this being a fun addition for select Dragons such as Judigon but as a universal tool this is very boring.

Therapy: No. See Blueray's comments.

Psycho Smash: No. Way too much overlap with Psyshock, and shockingly few use cases that currently exist given the sparse distribution of Amnesia. A similar effect on a different type could work decently, but I do not think this is a very significant addition to the game as a Psychic move.

Frog Song: Abstain, I guess? The flavor window for this is almost exactly Politoed, Seismitoad, and nothing else. Sure.

Mother's Love: No. Extremely powercrept version of one the strongest moves in the game. Even with the tiny distribution it's a lot.

Wailing Wrath: Yes. Cool tool for Skeledirge if we ever add it.

Fallout: No. I have no idea what the use case for this is.

Undermine: Yes. This is a very bizarre and underpowered coverage tool that can be distributed to the right Pokemon rather than High Horsepower or similar. It being weak and awkward as a penalty for something having access to Ground coverage is pretty cool, I think. Distribution maybe needs a few more hits though.

Ninjitsu: Yes, with the distribution proposed by Blueray. Cool tool for Greninja if we ever add it.

Texture Swap: No. Definitely too weak to actually see play, which will probably always be the case, but it has got to be a little stronger than it is written as here to be a worthwhile inclusion.

Infliction: No for coding difficulty and hidden information ridiculousness.

Final Hammer: No. Needs very particular distribution and requires really odd factors to be taken into account to figure out a use case for that distribution (random moves like Growl or Leer can make this unrelated move completely broken). Also Struggle is not a fun move to have to reasonably include in a gameplan.

Iron Slash: No. Pretty strong and very boring. No distribution to specifically anchor it.

East Sea Wave: Abstain. This effect is super cool but specifically with the described distribution it is sort of weak as an actual inclusion to the game.

Forceful Hug: Yes. Specifically would want a distribution change. I see this as a fairly rare move that is usually found off-type, kind of like Megahorn. Not really a fan of this on mons like Deermetrius, Tinkaton, or potential future inclusions like Azumarill.

Water Bomb: No. This is a really weird and roundabout way to try to make Mist again.

Rampage: No. This move is practically a typed Hyper Beam with a significantly less impactful downside, especially when the wording of it means pokemon like Intimidate Gyarados / Tauros and Tyranitar simply do not have a substantial downside with it. The distribution is well designed though, especially with mostly non-STAB users. With a more substantial downside this is a definite Yes - maybe turn the ability into Defeatist rather than Stall?

Water Sport / Mud Sport: No. I do not want to add Spore with extra steps to the game.

Strongarm: Abstain.

Pretty negative on this batch but that more speaks to how thoroughly the vanilla games fill out niches than anything.
Vote what you want to be in or you don’t want to, but I do not agree with “how thoroughly the vanilla games fill out niches” thing at all, specifically regarding moves. A majority of new moves from Gen 6 to 9 are signature moves which can’t really fill out niches, and are either not good to too strong even on it’s sole user, leaving only few that are reasonably good, or just there to compensate a Pokémon’s low base Attack / Special Attack like Maushold’s Population Bomb and Tinkaton’s Gigaton Hammer. More about flavor than anything else, basically.

Alongside, the DLC New Moves are more misses than hits. Sword and Shield has moves that are interesting conceptually but are:
  • Either repeat of what came before (Flip Turn to U-Turn / Volt Switch, Skitter Smack to Lunge, Scorching Sands to Scald, Dual Wingbeat to Double Hit / Dual Chop)…
  • Or too situational or too weak (Steel Roller, Misty Terrain compared to even Self-Destruct, Corrosive Gas compared to Knock Off, Lash Out due to only doubling power on the turn stats reduced, etc)…
Leaving only Scale Shot, Coaching, Meteor Beam, Triple Axel (due to being better than Triple Kick power-wise), Expanding Force, Grassy Slide and Rising Voltage. Not a bad number, but out of 18, that’s pretty low.

Among non-signature moves introduced in Indigo Disk, history repeats despite fewer quantity of these moves. Hard Press is already similar to Wring Out and Crush Grup but with less maximum BP, Alluring Voice facing the same issue with Lash Out for only confusing on current turn, Supercell Slam being Electric-type Jump Kick, Temper Flare being Fire-type Temper Tantrum, and Upper Hand being too situational (doesn’t work if target isn’t using a priority move), leaving only Dragon Cheer and Psychic Noise being both unique and good new moves.

None of these moves are game-breakingly good per say, but otherwise, I’d advice to look at the vanilla moves more closely on if there are type-differing repeats or moves that turned out too situstional in VGC or otherwise despite being conceptially interesting.
 
Last edited:
And that’s a wrap on this slate, well done to all the people who’s moves got through. Will kick off the next slate tomorrow
 
Alright, it's time for the next slate! Sorry this one's a bit late, took me longer to think of something. And so, I give you slate 2.5, Good Gimmicks! For this slate, I want you to design a Pokemon that's a bit goofy but can still be a credible threat. BST Limit is 500. You can create 2 Pokemon for this slate, and after the votes have been counted the 3 with the most votes will be put through. Good luck everyone!

Now we're not going to be having any more slates for a few weeks after this one, and that's because we're going to be having another tournament! But this tournament is different from the last one. This one is going to be a Draft Tournament!
Each player will be given a budget of 1000 Pokedollars. We will meet in the Showdown server where VGC20XX is playable, and hold an auction. We take it in turns to nominate a Pokemon, and it starts off at P$50, and if no one else bids on it you have to buy it for P$50. Once a player has outbid the others, they get that Pokemon and no one else can use it (if it has multiple forms, you can choose which one). You may not change your team in any way between rounds. This opens the door to so many interesting strategies. Do you spend big money on the more viable Pokemon, and cheap out on the supporting ones? Do you go in with a plan right from the start and rigidly stick to that as much as possible, or do you try to be more flexible? Do you nominate bad Pokemon to trip up your opponents?
As with before, there will be prizes for this tournament. Top 4: You get to create a Pokemon with a base stat total limit of 500. 2nd place: You get to create something with a BST limit of 550, and create a new item. 1st: you get to create a Pokemon with a BST limit of 600, create a new item and a new non-signature ability.
 
- Would be good to know which moves and which returning Pokémon (if there are any) made it in, for the ease of submissions.
- As for the draft tournament, I'll be greatly looking forward to it. The wording "You may not change your team in any way between rounds" surprised me a bit. Does this mean we will all face each other in a single day? If so, that might be problematic for players with different time zones. If that's not the case, I assume we will need to contact someone (one of the forum's moderators, for instance) and send them our pokepastes to ensure no one cheats. Moreover, this seems to imply we can only draft up to 6 Pokémon.
- Below, my two subs.

Name: Frosmoth-Ma'adowr

Ability: Shield Dust
/ Fur Coat / Scale Shift
Scale Shift: User's primary type changes to the primary type of its ally, if possible. Ability updates itself every time there's a new ally.

Type: Normal / Bug

Stats:

HP: 70
Attack: 55
Defense: 60
Special Attack: 125
Special Defense: 90
Speed: 75
BST: 475

Height: 1.3 m
Weight: 42.0 kg
Gender Ratio: male (50.0%), female (50.0%)

New Moves: Dispersion

Dispersion: Normal, Special, 90 BP, 100% acc., 10 PP, effect: This move's type is based on user's primary type and hits all opposing Pokémon.

Physical MovesSpecial MovesStatus Moves
-Dispersion, Hyper Voice-

Description:
1) Concept
- Frosmoth-Ma'adowr and its other counterpart basically look the same, even where colour is concerned, making it generally very difficult to distinguish it from its base form. Usually, Frosmoth-Ma'adowr lives in warmer regions, unlike its original form, and it evolves at day.
- The Normal type plays with the different colours and motifs on a moth's wings.
- Fwiw, Frosmoth-Ma'adowr looses almost any Ice-type move, except for moves like Icy Wind.


Description:
2) Competitive
- Frosmoth-Ma'adowr is the face of "Type Swapping" where the secondary Bug type offers defensive and offensive value to any other type. For instance, Fire, Electric, Ground, Rock, and Steel appreciate the Ground neutrality while Dark or Psychic may appreciate the fact that Bug hits opposing Dark Pokémon for super-effective damage.
- Currently, there's no viable Quiver Dance user in the format. So, Frosmoth-Ma'adowr can neatly fill this niche and fit on many teams since it also provides speed control in Tailwind and Icy Wind and has tools like Wide Guard to protect the team. Wide Guard is also valuable for any team trying to stack types since you basically nullify spread moves that might hurt your susceptible team otherwise. Dispersion, on the other hand, can make up for an ally not attacking. This could happen if the new ally was sent out during a turn, for instance.
- As a Scale Shift user, Frosmoth-Ma'adowr allows for skill expression since at any point in the game, you can change its primary type to gain defensive or offensive advantage. At the same time, Frosmoth-Ma'adowr is well balanced by its rather mediocre stats for the most part, such as Def and Spe. Moreover, Dispersion can be easily shut down by Wide Guard.
- Alternatively, you could rely on Fur Coat. When combined with Quiver Dance, they technically make Frosmoth-Ma'adowr resilient on both defensive sides.

Name: Pikachu-Tag (Pikachu & Zekrom)

Ability: Stormbreaker

Stormbreaker: Combines the effect of Lightning Rod + Teravolt.

Type: Electric / Dragon

Stats:

HP: 67
Attack: 102
Defense: 80
Special Attack: 85
Special Defense: 75
Speed: 90
BST: 499

Height: 3.3 m
Weight: 351.0 kg
Gender Ratio: -

New Moves: Tag Bolt

Tag Bolt: Electric, Physical, 100 BP, 100% acc., 5 PP, effect: If user attacks before ally does, ally attacks immediately afterwards.

Physical MovesSpecial MovesStatus Moves
Tag Bolt--

Description:
1) Concept
- If you are familiar with TCG, you might recognize where Pikachu-Tag comes from. This Pokémon is incompatible with Eviolite and Light Ball and has its movepool based on both Pikachu and Zekrom. Here's the image:

33.png


Description:
2) Competitive
- Pikachu-Tag's main gimmick is Tag Bolt to encourage teamwork. Moreover, it has tools like Nuzzle, Dragon Dance, and Scale Shot to activate this signature move more likely or to enable Electro Ball.
- Electric/Dragon comes with a useful resistance profile and will perfectly work with the common Fire/Water/Grass core while also being able to pressure such a core. With access to Fake Out, Breaking Swipe, Nuzzle or Feint, Pikachu-Tag can greatly support the team. Moreover, Stormbreaker is pretty much anti-metagame because it pressures the normally Electric-immune Swampert-Rift and forces the centralising Wizareetin-Gravelord to avoid clicking Electric moves. While there are Lightning Rod users in Zebstrika and Zebsonavolt, the former is underwhelming while the latter prefers Inflammation.
- While Pikachu-Tag's stats are rather mediocre, they should be enough for bulk investment and Assault Vest if you so desire. Furthermore, moves like Bolt Strike or Draco Meteor havee high BP and can make up for the rather modest offensive stats.
 
Last edited:
As for the draft tournament, I'll be greatly looking forward to it. The wording "You may not change your team in any way between rounds" surprised me a bit. Does this mean we will all face each other in a single day? If so, that might be problematic for players with different time zones. If that's not the case, I assume we will need to contact someone (one of the forum's moderators, for instance) and send them our pokepastes to ensure no one cheats. Moreover, this seems to imply we can only draft up to 6 Pokémon.

What that means is that we have an auction for our Pokemon, then once everyone has 6 we build and then play the tournament as normal. We don’t have to all face each other in 1 day, that’s too extreme.
 
My bad, Winning moves:

Avalanche Buff
Chip Away Buff
Wailing Wraith
East Sea Wave
Forceful Hug
Rampage
Mud Sport / Water Sport Buff
Strongarm

Returning Pokemon:
Braviary + Mighty Blow
Manidbuzz
Alakazam
Breloom + Circle Throw, Swarming Strike and Triple Kick
 
My bad, Winning moves:

Avalanche Buff
Chip Away Buff
Wailing Wraith
East Sea Wave
Forceful Hug
Rampage
Mud Sport / Water Sport Buff
Strongarm

Returning Pokemon:
Braviary + Mighty Blow
Manidbuzz
Alakazam
Breloom + Circle Throw, Swarming Strike and Triple Kick
And what about the returning Pokémon before the move slate? I remember there were also some nomminations. Did any of them make it in?
 
There's already Braviary. So, I think either Braviary or Pidgeot has to go.

I’d say Pidgeot - Braviary has better bulk, a more useful and better coverage. I can’t think of a reason to use Pisgeot over Braviary even with the Attack buff
 
VGC Log, #98481: We have successfully managed to make it into the library of Gravelord Wizareetin's castle: Despite our weather and terrain setters having fallen, we have pushed through with the help of Supuru, the Water Gym Leader of Oriva. With the TM she gave out to us, we've been able to wash our way through to find out the truth we were searching for in a book labelled "DIAMOND HAND SECRETS": Wizareetin was in fact brought back to life by Dr. Liberty in an attempt to bring the Diamond Hand's members back from the grave in another dimension, all to find a Metagross of the prime era, but it is quite clear that Wizareetin must now be put down. The book stated, in a note from "Daiyafia", that should Wizareetin go out of control, a levitating Dark/Ghost type should be able to sort him out. However, first, some gimmicky Pokémon from forests and villages destroyed by Gravelord Wizareetin's wrath have offered their help to help us take this evil wizard down!
UPDATE: A Commander Urchin probably won't cut it, so RIP Urchill, we've replaced him with something FAR more interesting!

4Sci0tm.png

Name: Tarousel (Tarot + Carousel)
Type: ==
Stats: 85/32/108/65/110/45 (445)
Abilities: Mirror Armor/Forewarn/Rotator
New Ability
: Rotator: When Tarousel is sent out, all Pokémon on the battlefield will gain the Rotate Attack if they do not already know it, being added to their moveset. This includes the Tarousel itself. A Pokémon knowing Rotate will forget it if it switches out. Rotate is a 1 PP Ally Switch clone, except it is a Steel-type move. However, it will fail if there is not a Tarousel on the battlefield. This ability cannot be Traced, swapped, nulified, or removed.
Weight: 142.3 lbs.
Physical Moves: Sunsteel Strike, Foul Play, Knock Off, Lash Out, Flame Charge, Flare Blitz, Temper Flare, Phantom Force, Take Down, Facade, Giga Impact, Endeavor, Zen Headbutt, Iron Head, Heavy Slam, Gyro Ball, Hard Press
Special Moves: Wailing Wraith, Moongeist Beam, Passive Aggressive, Confusion, Synchronoise, Dark Pulse, Dazzling Gleam, Fire Spin, Heat Wave, Flamethrower, Overheat, Burning Jealousy, Shadow Ball, Swift, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Psybeam, Psyshock, Psychic, Future Sight, Expanding Force, Psychic Noise, Steel Beam, Flash Cannon
Status Moves: Ally Switch, Teleport, Safeguard, Taunt, Thunder Wave, Confuse Ray, Spite, Curse, Protect, Rest, Substitute, Sleep Talk, Psych Up, Reflect, Light Screen, Imprison, Trick, Trick Room, Psychic Terrain, Iron Defense
Flavor: Tarousel is a living carousel that is said to have come from a fun fair owned by a fortune tellers that, with her enchanted tarot deck, could predict any future correctly. When she perished, her deck supposedly fused itself with the carousel to form Tarousel, whose presence can be noted by the sounding of a creepy tune that sounds like a broken music box. It has a carousel seat for each tarot card, and if you ride on them, you will feel that tarot's fortune become a reality in front of your very eyes.
Role: Tarousel is a rather unique wall that has the power to grant everyone a one-time Ally Switch that only works while it is out. Using this Ally Switch, you can have your Pokémon swap places with Tarousel to absorb a deadly blow, and although it's offenses aren't the best in the world, it can provide it's own support by setting up screens and Trick Room. Tarousel's defences are through the roof, and it's typing grants it four weaknesses, so Sun teams and Gravelord Wizareetin will excel at frying it: Compared to Bronzong, a similar wall with the same typing as Tarousel, Tarousel has slightly less defences (To be honest, though, Tarousel's stats are worse than Bronzong's in every way but it's HP and Speed, which are higher) but has a lot more utility. It also gets access to Moongeist Beam, one of the most powerful Special Ghost-type moves. However, you must remember that your enemies also get the free Ally Switches as well! Should Rotator not fit your tastes, it also has access to Mirror Armor, which can deflect stat reductions, and Forewarn, which can help scout out enemy moves. When playing against it, be careful when you Rotate: If your Pokémon use Rotate and Tarousel switches out, they will do nothing on that turn!
S8uLPyL.png

Name: Popillion (Pop + Papilion)
Type: =
Attack Order - BUG

Stats: 118/27/88/40/80/110 (433)
Abilities: Water Bubble/Misty Surge/Color Change
Weight: 1.2 lbs.
Physical Moves: Forceful Hug, Spiral Punch, Pounce, U-Turn, Bug Bite, Lunge, Skitter Smack, Acrobatics, Aerial Ace, Fly, Dual Wingbeat, Take Down, Facade, Body Slam, Giga Impact, Zen Headbutt, Liquidation, Waterfall
Special Moves: Paranoia, East Sea Wave, Bubble, Bubble Beam, Struggle Bug, Bug Buzz, Pollen Puff, Disarming Voice, Draining Kiss, Misty Explosion, Dazzling Gleam, Alluring Voice, Focus Blast, Aura Sphere, Air Cutter, Air Slash, Hurricane, Icy Wind, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Swift, Hyper Voice, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Psybeam, Psyshock, Psychic, Expanding Force, Psychic Noise, Surf, Hydro Pump, Water Pulse, Chilling Water, Scald, Whirlpool
Status Moves: Quiver Dance, Life Dew, Defog, Aqua Ring, String Shot, Charm, Misty Terrain, Tailwind, Protect, Rest, Substitute, Sleep Talk, Encore, Helping Hand, Reflect, Light Screen, Gravity, Rain Dance
Flavor: Popillion is a Pokémon that is almost entirely made of soap bubbles, said to have been born from a reaction between a weak butterfly Pokémon and a bottle of washing up liquid. It's a very friendly Pokémon that spreads it's bubbles far and wide to help clean up dirty areas, but it is also a germophobe, refusing to leave an area until all of the dirt in an area is gone. The bubbles that make up it's wings can be shaped into any shape imaginable, and they can be used to cover an entire forest in soap bubbles that never go away. True to it's typing, it does not get along well with Araquanid.
Role: A rather chaotic Pokémon with an unholy combination of Water Bubble and Quiver Dance, it may have low Special Attack, but once it sets up with Quiver Dance, it can use East Sea Wave to wipe out the competition, also supporting both Lullux's rain and it's Misty Surge ability that can protect it from status conditions. It also has an amazing typing, as well as Kecleon's Color Change ability as a gimmick. However, it's really vulnerable to Gravelord Wizareetin. Compared to Araquanid, the other Water Bubble user, Popillion has less defences in exchange for more HP and speed.
 
Last edited:
Distribution Ideas for a few moves that weren't totally clarified
100%
Gyarados, Tokujira, Beartic

Probably No but maybe?
Zebsonavolt, Snorlax, Perrserker

Unsure Flavor
Magikite, Bennusule, Judigon, Mountalon, Almgid

Definitely No
Everything else that would get Dark STAB

100%
Kangaskhan, Beartic, Snorlax, Wresteddy

I think it works?
Tangrowth, Muk, Muk-Alola

Probably No but maybe?
Hariyama, Golurk

Unsure Flavor
Possmortem, Tokujira

As a meme
Drampa, Reuniclus/Valoseus

Definitely No
Tinkaton, Ulmiraj, Deermetrius, Golisopod

New Mon Concept

Avigutaw
Ice / Ghost
Levitate
100/ 72/ 95/ 52/125/ 61 - 505 BST*
Weight: 11 kg

Name combines "Aviguti", a term referring to the inuit name for the Milky Way, which acts in part as a barrier between the living and the dead, and "Jackdaw", a type of corvid. Sort of mixing wells between Auroras and the Milky Way here, but I don't really have time to iron this out any more. Visually think of what might happen if the Witch-like elements of Murkrow were emphasized in an evolution vs the Mafia Grunt elements, with a color scheme of dark purple and extremely bright aurora patterns/colors.

Relevant Moves:
Icicle Spear, Ice Shard, Last Respects, Shadow Sneak, Spirit Break, Resonance, Icy Wind, Snarl, Roost, Parting Shot, Taunt, Cosmic Power, Will-O-Wisp, Pain Split

Icicle Spear, Ice Shard, Last Respects, Phantom Force, Shadow Sneak, Brave Bird, Drill Peck, Dual Wingbeat, Spirit Break, Assurance, Payback, Thief, Smack Down, Bone Rush
Blizzard, Ice Beam, Frost Breath, Icy Wind, Resonance, Wailing Wraith, Anguish Cry, Hex, Air Slash, Dark Pulse, Dazzling Gleam, Psychic Noise, Snarl, Sheer Cold, Night Shade
Snowscape, Aurora Veil, Haze, Mist, Curse, Spite, Grudge, Confuse Ray, Roost, Feather Dance, Parting Shot, Taunt, Fake Tears, Cosmic Power, Role Play, Will-O-Wisp, Disable, Pain Split, Perish Song, Mean Look

Resonance
Ice, 70 BP, 100 Acc, 5 PP, Special, Spread, 0 priority(!)
Sound-Based
If the user took damage in the same turn before using this move then, after landing this attack, the user's side of the field is protected by Aurora Veil. This effect does not require Snow as a prerequisite.

This is definitely a design that aims to leverage a couple of especially powerful tools. Resonance is an extremely powerful tool on a slow and bulky Pokemon, allowing a team to play positions to either bait attacks into Avigutaw to get Aurora Veil as crucial bulk for a portion of the battle or to make it a prickly target that can freely use disruptive tools like Will-O-Wisp, Icy Wind, Snarl, or Parting Shot. Resonance being an attack makes it unaffected by Taunt, Avigutaw being a Ghost type makes it immune to Fake Out, and the effect being tied to a spread move that can't be protected by one foe all come together to make it difficult to disrupt Resonance through passive means. On the other side of that coin, Last Respects is an infamously powerful attack in the right situations, here giving Avigutaw a tool to alleviate what could otherwise end up being a cripplingly passive playstyle while also letting it potentially run a more direct offense set despite it's low Attack. Together, these tools make for a pretty gimmicky kit that can force prickly positions.

*This is aiming to be a variant of Honchkrow, which itself has 505 BST. I could change it to be 500 if we want to be sticklers, or wait to submit this another time but I hope you simply don't mind the small stretch of the rules.

Thoughts on UberTrainer's submissions

bXPaTHn.png

Name: Urchill (Urchin + Chill)
Type: =
Stats: 45/110/50/50/60/120 (435)
Abilities: Commander*/Rough Skin/Ice Scales
*When hiding inside a Dondozo this way, Order Up will raise Dondozo's Special Defence by 1.
*This Pokémon has Commander as one of it's abilities. As such, should it win, :dondozo: Dondozo will also be added to the metagame so that it's ability can work.
The way Commander + Dondozo is designed means that adding a new Commander Pokemon that still interfaces with Dondozo kind of just means you're making a change to the game that is approximately equal to just adding Dondozo and Tatsugiri. That isn't something I'd reject outright on principal, but in practice it is kind of a loophole addition of that combo rather than the meaningful addition of something new. And of course if the Commander on Urchill had a different target, this would be a whole other conversation.

S8uLPyL.png

Name: Popillion (Pop + Papilion)
Type: =
Attack Order - BUG

Stats: 92/67/88/75/80/90 (492)
Abilities: Water Bubble/Misty Surge/Color Change
Special Moves: ...East Sea Wave, ... Hydro Pump, ...
Status Moves: Quiver Dance, ...
Water Bubble is a very cool ability but it is also a very very very strong one. It's best compared to Huge Power; Azumarill's Physical Attacks deal damage equivalent to a Pokemon with 150 base Attack when fully invested despite it only have 50 base Attack. This can be compared to Araquanid, whose Special Attack is 50; with maximum investment, that is effectively equivalent to 150 when it uses Water type special attacks. With 70 base Attack, Araquanid's physical Water type attacks deal absolute truckloads of damage, equivalent to an astounding 185 base Attack. On top of this, Araquanid has some very notable constraints with it's damage; it has no forms of safe Water type Spread Damage, (only Surf, which hits allies, no Muddy Water) it has no moves like Swords Dance to boost its own stats, the highest Base Power move it can use with its higher attacking stat caps out at a relatively low 85, and it has especially low speed which makes it require support.

This is to say, Popillion is extremely strong. The higher speed and lower bulk compared to Araquanid is a reasonably distinctive set of traits to set it apart, but the 75 Special Attack is far from being underpowered, and if anything veers toward being overpowered with the surrounding traits.
 
Last edited:
The way Commander + Dondozo is designed means that adding a new Commander Pokemon that still interfaces with Dondozo kind of just means you're making a change to the game that is approximately equal to just adding Dondozo and Tatsugiri. That isn't something I'd reject outright on principal, but in practice it is kind of a loophole addition of that combo rather than the meaningful addition of something new. And of course if the Commander on Urchill had a different target, this would be a whole other conversation.


Water Bubble is a very cool ability but it is also a very very very strong one. It's best compared to Huge Power; Azumarill's Physical Attacks deal damage equivalent to a Pokemon with 150 base Attack when fully invested despite it only have 50 base Attack. This can be compared to Araquanid, whose Special Attack is 50; with maximum investment, that is effectively equivalent to 150 when it uses Water type special attacks. With 70 base Attack, Araquanid's physical Water type attacks deal absolute truckloads of damage, equivalent to an astounding 185 base Attack. On top of this, Araquanid has some very notable constraints with it's damage; it has no forms of safe Water type Spread Damage, (only Surf, which hits allies, no Muddy Water) it has no moves like Swords Dance to boost its own stats, the highest Base Power move it can use with its higher attacking stat caps out at a relatively low 85, and it has especially low speed which makes it require support.

This is to say, Popillion is extremely strong. The higher speed and lower bulk compared to Araquanid is a reasonably distinctive set of traits to set it apart, but the 75 Special Attack is far from being underpowered, and if anything veers toward being overpowered with the surrounding traits.
OK, I've made changes to both of those! Popillion now has less Attack and Special Attack, while Urchill now goes inside the mouth of a Beartic instead of a Dondozo.
 
Back
Top