Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Day 8: A machine for Floettes

After all the gameplay-related stuff, how about a quick peek at the game's backstory? Apparently Team Flare wants to use the machine that is totally not fueled by the souls of Pokémon for goals that are not at all nefarious, which will definitely not result in a Pokémon genocide.

Anyway, after the Mega Tyranitar balloon from yesterday, we got slightly more cheerful news today, with the appearance of a Mega Aggron balloon! I wonder if it'll get a boost to its special attack? (Nah, just kidding... I hope. It needs everything EXCEPT that. It also needs to keep Rock Head, or otherwise get an ability that'll be an improvement over it. Solid Rock maybe?) Also, I hear Fairy Aura and Dark Aura affect teammates in doubles and triples. Here's to hoping it doesn't get the Victory Star treatment and has its effect reduced to negligeable proportions because of that. I mean, Yveltal got screwed over so hard with Oblivion Wing's inexplicable type change already... just watch as Geomancy does exactly what it says on the tin and turns out to be a GROUND move. This feels like the kind of thing Trollfreak would do.

So, we got a lot of info already, and I couldn't be happier about it. Not only because we know stuff earlier than we should, but because when the games come out, there will be a flood of so much new information that we won't know where to start, and at least with many things out of the way less elements are likely to get lost in the mix.

Edit: Okay, I haven't received anything in regards to that yet, but I still have to set the record straight. Remember those rumors I wouldn't even name a few days ago? We're talking nerfs to Stealth Rock and perma-weather here. Let me be clear: NOTHING HAS BEEN PROVEN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. For now, all we have is rumors, and no proof whatsoever (and no, one random guy just saying it on Smogon doesn't qualify as proof. Heck, there are conflicting reports on Stealth Rock. Some say it's a 20% damage reduction, others claim it's diminishing returns, others yet say both. So until we have proof, I would very much like it if we didn't jump the gun, okay?

Edit 2: There's something I want to show you, and I'm just going to copypaste what I wrote in the TSG forums on here:

Note that all stat spreads, with the exception of Mega Mewtwo Y and possibly Mega Lucario, are approximations, even the ones that give specific numbers. Also note that Mega Aerodactyl gets Tough Claws... WHICH DOESN'T AFFECT EDGEQUAKE. Great going, Trollfreak. At least it can use Aqua Tail and Fire Fang with it... and I guess Aerial Ace being powered up might make it an option, depending on the size of the boost? But seriously, why not Strong Jaw? It gets Crunch and the elemental fangs, so it'd be a bit more unpredictable. I'm not really impressed by the stat boosts either, even though they're somewhat guesswork due to IVs and EVs, and since Aerodactyl is used almost exclusively as a lead and loves the Focus Sash so much, losing this item may actually be a LOSING trade.

Also, Mega Abomasnow keeps Snow Warning, so it can still keep coming back in to set hail. And while it gains a bit in both defenses, holy crap look at those attack stats. Shame the speed's so low, but Abomasnow was so slow to start with that it's not going to make that much of a difference. Does hail finally have the inducer it's been looking for for so long?

Edit 3: Mega Gardevoir stat spread: 68 HP, 85 Atk, 65 Def, 165 SA, 135 SD, 100 Spd

Shame the points that went into attack didn't go into defense instead (if you're going to revive a dead Pokémon, do it all the way, dammit!), but otherwise I quite like these changes. The extra speed is especially welcome, as even if it's going to be involved in a lot of speed ties for being in the most overpopulated speed bracket ever, it's still going to outpace so much stuff it couldn't before. It also gets the ability Pixilate, which turns Normal moves into Fairy, just like Refrigerate turns them into Ice. I guess it all depends on whether or not Gardevoir gains access to a good special Fairy move, but if not then Hyper Voice will be viable as a failsafe.

19 comments:

  1. If the leakers cared about competitive play, you would think testing Stealth Rock would be a priority for them. I mean, it wouldn't be hard, just grab a Pokemon with SR and start testing on trainers or something (Actually, is it a TM this generation?). Hopefully we'll get information soon. The effects of weather are a lot harder to test.

    Also, thank you for revealing the rumor. I couldn't find anything on it when I checked earlier, and it's been eating at me since you mentioned it.

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    1. Stealth Rock wasn't a TM in gen 5, only a tutor. So it won't be that easy to come by, I'm afraid. Still, some Pokémon that get it by level-up, such as Roggenrola, ARE in the Kalos Dex, so there wouldn't be any excuse if they did care.

      Same thing you said goes for perma-weather, too. With Tyranitar, Hippowdon and Abomasnow all in the Kalos Dex, if the leakers cared that much we'd know already.

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    2. To be fair, the main leakers were more concerned with getting through the game and finding the new Kalos pokemon. We barely know anything about new moves at all, let alone changes to existing moves (I only know about Fire/Grass/Water Pledge being upped in power to base 80 because of one photo of Fennekin's evolution and focus was on another move altogether). It's not a matter of caring, but of priorities, and with so many new things in the game I'm guessing a few old abilities aren't as high since they're only useful in competitive battles, not all that useful in game. That said, I did hear again today that weather abilities now only work for 5 turns, 10 with those stones (I guess upped from 8?) and that re-sending out the pokemon doesn't reset the turn counter for it. Of course, one guy on a forum isn't proof. And I know you probably are on the same thread(s) as me, just saying for anyone else.

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    3. True. Even so, it's probably the absolute highest priority for those of us who DO care, so I'm a bit surprised no one even asked.

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    4. To the contrary, it's being asked left and right. But other things are being asked as well, and the leakers aren't really looking at everything to answer every question, nor should we ask them to. Figuring out all the changes is a team effort and best to let these guys finish the game and enjoy it without worrying about us asking them a thousand questions.

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    5. On the plus side, you figure it took a few weeks to know everything about BW/B2W2, and we were still dealing with the Japanese games. Now, we'll at least be able to discover the games ourselves while we wait for complete information. Plus, we are about two weeks ahead of schedule about knowing anything, so we can't be too hasty. And I know at least a few hundred people will be compiling info like crazy over the next month or so (hell we're even getting into game mechanics, as someone's claiming they reverted the experience system back to pre-genV format, though no proof...). Plus, I think a lot of people will probably want to wait until they can transfer their old pokemon over before getting big on competitive battling.

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  2. Slowflake, I know you despise Pikachu, but this may be worth a look: http://mynintendonews.com/2013/10/08/new-unprecedented-pokemon-game-apparently-in-development-possibly-pikachu-related/

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    1. I have nonspecific feelings towards this nonspecific news.

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    2. Another article on the same subject: http://nintendoeverything.com/news-regarding-change-modification-for-pikachu-on-the-way/

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    3. President of Pokemon company is worried this "unprecedented change" could ruin pikachu's popularity. Concerning new changes to pikachus, the two things I want most to happen to it is becoming electric/fairy and getting a mega evolution. Oh look, everyone in the comments is complaining that they don't want it to have a mega evolution. I must have such bad taste. But those things are too obvious. The change must be something we can't even predict.

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  3. Why on God's green Earth would GF makes Malamar a physical-based Pokemon?

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    1. Why not?

      I have more of an issue with the fact that it might not have a single stat in the triple digits.

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    2. I just hope that It can learn some decent physical moves to use that ATK stat.

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    3. Yeah, it obviously isn't getting Crunch or Night Slash, so that's a little worrying, and unfortunately Foul Play isn't that amazing on a Pokémon with Malamar's stat spread. Still better than nothing, I guess.

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    4. I suppose I guess, Unrelated but I'm liking the starter trio's stats a lot more than Gen 5. Especially Greninja's. I think that in the rain, It can be a threat.
      But I guess I'm a little biased for my favorite Gen 6 starter.

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    5. This may come as a shock to you, but I actually kind of like Delphox's design. Though it was not what the previous forms implied the final form would look, I do still like it. It reminding me of a character from Ōkami does not hurt, either...
      I just hope THESE starters do not suck like the last ones...

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  4. I guess they determined SR got nerfed, as neutral damage is now about 10% based on pixel counts. No indication on super effective SR damage yet but it seems at least some change has been implemented. Wonder if damage is changed for spikes too, though not as important....

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