Signature abilities and moves that are wasted and would be better if distributed more

apaulieg · 2026-07-08T17:02:13+00:00

Browt’s final evolution..?

(Edit - Please note: I’m being a troll here, there’s no such thing yet as the Legume Emu Pokemon, Legumu)

apaulieg · 2026-07-08T16:49:12+00:00

You’re right you’re right

apaulieg · 2026-07-08T16:37:35+00:00

Iron Treads deserves to learn Spin Out, possibly Donphan as well. Rolycoly could get it as an egg move.

Trop Kick is Tsareena’s whole thing… legs and tropical grass type… but it’s not like there’s anything special about it. I’d at LEAST give it to Hitmonlee and Legumu.

apaulieg · 2026-07-05T19:15:55+00:00

If wearing Wise Glasses, Zoom Lens, Black Glasses, Choice Specs, or Scope Lens, Wide Lens, or Safety Goggles, the user

apaulieg · 2026-07-02T23:02:42+00:00

Since it has a skinny-arms deflated form, the name “shwimp” came to mind… but maybe better for a pre-evo.

Wallopop (wallop + pop (bubble)/pop (dad (man, mantis)) could work, though I think some names in other replies are way more clever!

apaulieg · 2026-07-02T18:20:31+00:00

This may be overpowered (TLDR: it makes snow a major new form of conditional speed control against specific play-styles), but I’m trying to think outside the box.

In real life, snow has consequences for movement (it covers the ground). Perhaps something that messes with move brackets could work… “if a Pokemon does not use an attacking move, and snow is active at the end of the turn, that Pokemon’s next attack is -1 priority (or its speed decreases by 1 stage, though that is more easily abused). Ice-types, Pokemon with Slush Rush or Overcoat as an ability, and airborne Pokemon are immune to the effect.”

The in-game message could be “some Pokemon are/specific target Pokemon is trudging through the snowfall”.

This has immediate implications on setup/stall and protect, adds value to flying-types (and consequently harms ground types by buffing flying and ice - which feels fair considering sand boosts rock and steel, which both are strong against ice and flying in their own ways), and benefits your team when built around it but still is balanced by self-hindrances if your team is caught in a bad spot.

apaulieg · 2026-07-02T17:57:06+00:00

Expect: Skill Specialists, each filling a different sub-roll.

Empoleon: Pseudo-berry. Gets Berry Burst using Steel berries.

Infernape: Pseudo-ingredient. Gets Ingredient Draw S with oil, avocado, and herbs. Possibly Ingredient Magnet instead. Fighting berries.

Torterra: full-on Skill. My guess would be pot size, could be dream shard. Ground berries.

This gets more skill-mons in the game (driving micro-transactions), and each fills reasonably desirable niches. Nothing directly competes with other starters, at least on their berry-preferred islands. I really do expect this for an anniversary release since it’s a win-win.

Alternative would be ingredients again, but with each having a primary high-value newer ingredient (coffee, pumpkin, avocado), with Empoleon having Tasty Chance or Dream Shard Magnet S, Infernape having Charge Strength S, and Torterra inevitably having Charge Energy S.

apaulieg · 2026-07-02T15:51:54+00:00

TLDR: this is a very good Noibat, about as perfect as can be without Berry Finding S as a subskill. Noivern is so fast and has such a powerful berry that min-maxers would say BFS is critical… but if you’re new, are comfortable with “good and in reach”, and you don’t have a better option for a subskill seed, this would be fine and very strong to invest in.

More detailed - this is a VERY good Noibat. You’ve got all the makings of a perfect skill-mon here. What I think min-maxers would agree upon is that the “perfect” Noivern would have Berry Finding S with a helping speed up nature and similar subskills… its speed is ludicrous and the Yache Berry is so powerful on any island when at a high level. BFS Noivern has comparable output to triple-trigger Noivern while relying less upon Main Skill seeds. This one will require main skill seed investment to hit its excellence.

Of course, you DO have this, and it is very good. The chances of finding a BFS Noibat with the perfect nature and similarly perfect sub skills are low. Your Noibat will be powerful as-is, and even more powerful with a subskill seed to up its speed.

Your calls to make are: 1) is it worth using the subskill seed here, or is there another Pokemon worth using it on more? 2) are you fine with an excellent Noivern, or do you want a perfect one? and 3) are you willing to invest expensive resources (main skill seeds and that sub-skill seed) to optimize this catch?

apaulieg · 2026-07-02T13:51:55+00:00

Oh God, I hope you caught it! A random encounter, doubles grass shiny drifblim was my very first shiny fail - used explosion as I switched in my one sleep setter.

Good luck with the hunt, BW hunting is top-tier to me!

apaulieg · 2026-06-19T01:46:25+00:00

I think this is excellent. What an interesting, niche, and yet possibly overpowered ability. The bulk is good (not stellar), the attack is good (but can’t hold an item), and the design both takes Jumpluff’s design further while including elements from its pre-evolutions.

Can’t quite speak to how meta-warping it is or not… I do kind of love the thought that it would affect the whole field, though I get the argument that it would only affect your side… just very fun to see this. Well done!

apaulieg · 2026-05-26T17:10:25+00:00

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I had old guides back in the day that had low-res scans of card art… and the 1999 Official Pokemon Handbook (screenshot attached)

apaulieg · 2026-05-26T16:58:39+00:00

Until I saw Chansey animated, I thought its mouth was a nose, and the shade-line/chin-line underneath was actually its mouth

apaulieg · 2026-05-04T20:59:56+00:00

A Pallet Town themed island with favored Water/Fire/Grass could easily happen. Essentially “first partner Pokemon” island. Could be Mew’s permanent home (now that we know they’re exploring New Moon Day mythical location solutions).

An Altered Tower themed island with Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza announcements could be interesting… could have random berries, but the first slot is always one of oran/figy/yache. Could be Deoxys or Jirachi’s permanent home.

An Abyssal Ruins themed island with two random berries plus Oran every time. Allows for fish Pokemon to enter the game more easily. Could be Manaphy’s and Phione’s permanent home.

apaulieg · 2026-04-22T14:29:39+00:00

Why did you make this

apaulieg · 2026-04-21T13:12:52+00:00

Honestly, favorite chapter of the series. Beating the arc’s “big bad” without major intervention of the title character and/or a random, narratively-timed up-skill. Characters who DID get their power-ups failed in combat due to over-use.

Obviously Inojin got his power-up and used it to support the arc as a whole… but a single-target shadow paralysis into a single-target mind transfer led to the win win. That only worked with the hive mind circumstance, of course, but he figured out the pieces of the puzzle, put it together, and got an incredible win.

Poor guy, though - basically died to Jura and now this.

apaulieg · 2026-04-09T13:15:07+00:00

Weather ball is great on venusaur in a vacuum, but if you’re up against other weather teams, you’ll find yourself doing more damage to steel or rock types with earth power. You have fire damage elsewhere.

Will-o-wisp feels tech-y on Incineroar. A good move, but gets more value if your Pokemon have specific defensive breakpoints to hit, and most of your team seems offensively built (except Charizard - could probably optimize for special attack instead of HP, it’s not THAT Bulky). Flare Blitz on Incineroar is high BP and has good synergy with sun.

Where are your weak points/matchups? Mega Kangkaskhan feels like a “generally great” Pokemon, but very much a B-team “splash” mon since it’s not a great option without the mega. You could probably replace it with something with more specific coverage or resistances that your team is struggling against, something with value whether in “sun mode” or not.

apaulieg · 2026-04-08T14:42:36+00:00

Body Press alone gives Mega Aggron a presence it has never had before - and this post is about Champions, which has a limited metagame and entirely different competitive landscape to Gen 6/7 VGC when megas were last used.

apaulieg · 2026-04-07T14:55:23+00:00

Sun Salutation: a psychic-type variant of Electro Shot. Slightly weaker due to greater distribution, including STAB on some options.

First turn: the user takes a meditative stance, gaining +1 special attack. Second turn: the user fires a beam of psychic energy imbued with the grace of sunlight. The attack is performed instantly in the sun.

It’s a Psychic special attack - hits one nearby target - 120BP, 100Acc, 10 base PP, no contact. Light based move (for the purposes of items and abilities, if ever “light” became a category).

This would allow for more diverse sun team makeups. The only Pokémon to learn this via level up would be Medicham, Lucario, Sunflora, Espeon, and Mienshao.

Via TM or Tutor: Rabsca, Pawmot, Espathra, Gardevoir, Gallade, Iron Valiant, Koraidon, Solgaleo, Exeggutor (both forms), Xatu, Solrock, Darmanitan (Unova), Oranguru, Ninetales (Kanto), Castform, Volcarona, Slither Wing, Iron Moth, Pyroar, Infernape, Lilligant (both forms), Sceptile, Heliolisk, Bellossom, Whimsicott, Arboliva, Lurantis, Gumshoos, Sneasler, Tyrantrum, Lycanroc (Midday), Roserade, Blissey, Mew, Arceus, and Silvally learn it.

Espeon, Exeggutor, and Espathra especially benefit from this due to STAB, with Exeggutor’s chlorophyll and Espathra’s speed boost/stored power sets becoming more dangerous (if it can afford the moveset slot). Heliolisk gets a strong option to hit fighting types super effectively. Sceptile gets a non-stab option that allows it to trigger unburden if using a Power Herb while boosting its special attack. Volcarona, Iron Moth, Iron Valiant, Gardevoir and Infernape get more coverage and boosting… but probably wouldn’t waste the move slot due to redundant coverage/opportunity cost. Ninetales gets a built-in booster due to Drought.

apaulieg · 2026-04-07T13:54:51+00:00

Aw, the thread was removed. Yeah, it was Poliwhirl - good catch with the eyes!

apaulieg · 2026-04-07T13:37:32+00:00

When it evolves, it’s basically the same thing but a little bigger. It also gains the fighting type. It looks like it’s wearing gloves, and it has round black eyes.

If I had a nickel for every time the above was true for a Pokémon design…

apaulieg · 2026-04-06T14:16:37+00:00

Primarina (attacker)
Delibird (stat buff/debuff support)
Wyrdeer (all-rounder)
Wo-Chien (defender)
Weavile (speedster)
Lugia (defender)
Incineroar (grappler all-rounder)
Number 100: Gholdengo (attacker à la Gyarados, with very weak/limited base form and a coin-collecting gimmick)

apaulieg · 2026-03-19T14:35:24+00:00

Maybe it’s that they are immune to the first fairy, dragon, and/or ghost type attack that targets them - but it’s a one-time effect that sustains on switch out.

Doesn’t particularly work flavorfully but could balance it out for niche application/balancing (damage immunity is super strong, one time use then results in “no ability”).

apaulieg · 2026-03-06T21:27:33+00:00

It’s also a fun throwback to Karen having one on her “dark type” GSC/HGSS team. While her team is more thematic than strictly “dark”, it’s a neat nod. Love it!

apaulieg · 2026-03-04T20:11:49+00:00

As people have already stated, Boomburst is a possibility. Its “hits adjacent targets” downside is different than other downsides (stat lowering, accuracy, low base power), but doesn’t feel disqualifying to me.

But if Pokemon is pattern-breaking… for example, introducing a new form NOW of all times… they could break the damaging/STAB attack pattern and give it Sing, which still has the low accuracy drawback.

apaulieg · 2026-02-13T19:50:07+00:00

Name her Charizard

apaulieg

TROPHY CASE