Saturday, October 18, 2014

Mossdeep, we have a problem

So it seems like while Primal Reversion works just like mega evolution, it doesn't actually count towards the limit of one mega, meaning you can potentially use BOTH Primal Kyogre and Primal Groudon, and still use a mega evolution on the side. Now the question is, would you want to use Primal Kyogre? The big difference in terms of ability is that Kyogre gains a relatively useless Fire immunity, but the stats are very questionable, with no less than 50 extra points in the useless attack stat. It basically boils down to a 15% boost in special attack and 13% in special defense - and no extra speed. Nowhere near the Choice items it's using so much right now. For Groudon it's really a no-brainer, though. It'll be interesting to see where it all goes, but the fact that you can use Primals at will without taking your mega slot is certainly going to make an impact.

It's also pretty much confirmed that aside from evolutions to old Pokémon (such as Gallade, Dusknoir, etc.), there is indeed no Dex expansion. While people argue that HGSS didn't have one either, not only was the Johto Dex bigger than Hoenn's, but the main game made much less of a percentage of a whole thing than RSE used to. This is why it's so much more of a problem now than it was then.

Finally, the new Hoopa is confirmed to be an alternate form, with the transformation triggered by a key item. So Magician actually makes some sense after all... too bad there's still the major issue of it being a terrible ability even when it works properly.

28 comments:

  1. What's this? Uber teams will have Primal Kyogre, Primal Groudon, either Mega Rayquaza or either Mega Mewtwo, and three others? Okay, I'm probably exaggerating a bit...

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    1. They CAN. Doesn't mean they WILL. Especially since as I said, Primal Kyogre is quite disappointing.

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    2. Good thing I'm getting Omega Ruby. Let's face it. People WILL milk being able to use Primal Groudon and a Mega both for all it's worth. At least Groudon can finally stand up to its eternal nemesis now. Previously, Kyogre just drowned it with Water Spout. Now, its best option is Ice Beam without Primal Form or Mega Rayquaza...

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    3. NEUTRAL Ice Beam, thank you very much.

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    4. At least Groudon had STAB for ITS neutral hit. Ironic. Since Gen 4, Groudon has been Kyogre's punching bag. Now, it'll be the other way around...

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    5. It's not impossible that the only reason Kyogre might carry the Blue Orb at all would be to be able to overwrite Desolate Land. That's probably the biggest asset Primal Kyogre has at this point. And frankly, Mega Rayquaza just might do a better job for being immune to Ground, resisting Fire and even being neutral against Stone Edge due to Delta Stream.

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  2. It's going to suck for people who like playing in free battles in-game, because every team is going to include the two Primal Pokemon and one other mega evolution, likely Rayquaza, Mewtwo, Blaziken or Gengar.

    I think ORAS will have an expanded postgame, from the information we have so far. To what extent and what additional Pokemon we'll receive, I have no idea.

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    1. Well, if nearly everyone does, we can always just pack a team with counters.

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    2. Only counters will be each other, Mega Rayquaza, and Shedinja and Zekrom for Kyogre...

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    3. I genuinely think people using Primal Kyogre just because it's Primal Kyogre are going to shoot themselves in the foot, and that Choiced sets might remain superior.

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    4. I have an affectionate nickname for the Choiced set. I call it, "Nuke"...

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  3. A fast Earthquake for Groudon might do the trick. Or a fast Earth Power, that might be better due to Groudon's absurd defense.

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  4. My Scarfed Kyogre named Win Button lives to see another day.

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    1. Your naming conventions are so very unoriginal. If I had one K could nickname, I'd name it Nuke...

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  5. There is one major benefit to Primal Kyogre - if your team has no other pokemon who use Rain, it's self-cleaning.

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    1. In case you want to run the likes of Ho-Oh or Blaziken, right? Either way, I wouldn't call it a big clincher over the awesomeness of the Scarfed variant.

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    2. Yeah, I guess there's little point in canceling the weather if it means you can just nuke everything but Shedinja, Palkia, Chansey, Blissey, and Sturdy/Focus Sash...

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    3. Not a big clincher, sure, but it's a good extra. And it also doesn't lock you into a single attack, which helps occasionally

      I suppose you could also run some sort of physical set, or maybe even a mixed set of some kind (running a physical move to beat Chansey and Blissey), which that extra attack gives you a bit of. Shame Kyogre's physical movepool is about as AMAZING as Gogoat's... just Aqua Tail/Waterfall, Brick Break, EQ, Rock Slide, Iron Head, Return, and Avalanche.

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  6. Keep in mind that Primal Kyogre's ability will probably be more useful in double battles than single battles, as is the case with a lot of underwhelming abilities. I agree that it'd be hard to use Primal over non- in most situations but it still has its uses.

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    1. Such as overwriting Desolate Land, which just might be its biggest selling point.

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  7. Extreme weathers can override each other, meaning overriding desolate land only works if Groudon is the last man standing. I see Could 9 Golduck as being the real counter for Groudon.

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    1. ...that makes no sense. If Primal Kyogre switches in on Primal Groudon, then Primordial Sea overwrites Desolate Land...

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    2. But then Groudon can just switch out, then come back to override Primordial sea if Kyogre is still on the field. It works both ways. Cloud 9 is the only thing that can shut down the effects of extreme weathers.

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    3. And during these two turns Kyogre is capable of doing whatever it wants. A switch is supposed to give you momentum, not set up another switch that will give you momentum. Switching twice in a row just to get your weather back is a TERRIBLE idea.

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  8. And this wouldn't give Groudon time to swords dance? It just sounds like a bad idea to switch like that. Kyogre is the this almighty counter you're making him out to be. Palkia with Earth Power is a far better option.

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    1. My point exactly. You don't send one in and expect its counterpart to stay the hell away, they're both scared of each other and very capable of forcing each other out, a dynamic you don't see too often. They can only really beat each other when the other is already on the field, otherwise you're better off relying on the rest of your team. And with better members than Golduck, please. This isn't gen 3 anymore, where an otherwise garbage Pokémon could see use just because it beats ONE top threat (read: Magneton).

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    2. Either way, what I'm trying to say is, at least Primal Kyogre can do something against Primal Groudon, even if it's not the most reliable thing. Choiced Kyogre WILL get clobbered every time, though.

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