How some Gen 8 Pokemon could be improved? (For the Metagame)

It’s almost been a month with the release of Pokemon Sword and Shield and already, competitive players have been discussing on how the new Pokemon could be used and which ones could be viable for competitive battling including on Smogon. As I may have said, there are lots of newly introduced Pokemon that I really liked in this gen though there are some Pokemon that are already hyped for the metagame with them having various traits that could make them viable. Others have a lukewarm reception who are either mediocre or are outcasted by veteran Pokemon. If you remembered from this other article, I have come up with ways on how some unviable Pokemon could be improved. Whilst it’s still early days for the metagame with anything can be changed later on, I’ve thought of ways on how some 8^th gen Pokemon could be improved by looking at the stats, movepool and abilities they have and see on how they could shine better in the metagame.

Inteleon

Ineleon is my favourite 8th gen stater alongside Cinderace on par with the likes of Greninja, Blaziken and Decuideye. That said, Inteleon could have more moves to provide more attacking options and coverage including Focus Blast, Dark Pulse and Dragon Pulse and Nasty Plot for sweeping options. Sniper and Snipe Shot would be interesting to try once Sniper is released though maybe Swift Swim could make it more deadlier under the Rain or even give it a Special Attacking version of Moxie.

Thievul

Thievul is quite cool but stats wise, Thievul is a disaster with mediocre stats throughout even by con mons standards with it having a wider physical movepool but a poor Attack stat and better (but still mediocre) Special Attack stat but a small special movepool to make use of it. Its only decent stat is its Special Defense and Speed but its questionable on how it’ll make good use of it. The only best thing it could do is to hit hard with Nasty Plot with its minimal coverage and maybe Baton Pass the boosts though its likely to be banned by the Baton Pass clause.

If Gen 8 Pokemon were hypothetically get Mega Evolutions sometime in the future, Thievul could be the candidate that could save it, gaining a much needed boost to its stats including Special Attack and Speed. To make it stand out more, it could gain a Fire typing and have Fire type moves added for its barren movepool, sharing Houndoom’s typing to give it better coverage options. Add Adaptability as its ability and it’ll give Thievul more sweeping potential.

 

Dubwool

Even with Dubwool evolving from the cute Wooloo, I’m not sure what kind of role should Dubwool should really go for. Its stats suggest going for a defensive wall with Cotton Guard but defensive booting sets aren’t really utilised in the metagame. It also doesn’t have access to Toxic with it no longer being a TM, it lacks a recovery move and Normal type is not an ideal defensive typing unless you’re Chansey, Blissey or Snorlax (reguardless if they’re available in the Galar Dex or not). Offensive wise, it’s movepool is somewhat small and its Attack is so so at best. Perhaps it could have more supporting moves to make its defensive capabilities stand out more including Heal Bell to cure its team mates’ stats, Taunt to stall defensive threats and maybe even its own entry hazard moves that could be be used by its wool; Wool Bomb. Another signature move it could have is Wool Growth (just like on how Sheep’s wool regrows) which could be its recovery move, making Dubwool a durable wall.

Flapple

Flapple is an interesting Pokemon being part of the split evolution of Applin and having Hustle Dragon Dance sets to hit hard. Unfortunately, Flapple is head back by a lot of factors including its barren movepool outside its STABs (though amusingly, it has Heavy Slam despite being lightweight) and unimpressive stats at best with middling speed and frail defensives. To have more potential offensively, it could have higher Attack and Speed stats to make it a frail fast sweeper and more coverage moves including Sludge Bomb (since its Pokedex entry suggest that it spits out powerful acid) for Fairy types and even Flamethrower for Steel types.

Galarian Stunfisk

Stunfisk is one of the Pokemon to gain a regional form with an equally amusing design with it resembling a bear trap. That said, things doesn’t look good for its Galarian Stunfisk (probably worst than its regular counterpart) with more exploitable weakness, no Steel STAB (Iron Head would have been realistic), worse offensive capabilities and gimmicky ability. One of the main changes I have come up with which could help to make it better is to change its ability which could be Arena Trap, considering that Galarian Stunfisk is meant to be based on an animal trap although trapping abilities are polarising in the metagame and often gets banned. Its other abilities could be a contact based ability which deals damage to the opponent upon direct contact (similar to Iron Barbs and Rough Skin) or even Prankster.  Other improvements I can come up with includes making Snap Trap a Steel type move for a STAB move, Iron Head as mentioned before and a better recovery move outside of Pain Split.

Grapploct

Grapploct seems to be made to trap its opponents with its interesrting signature move Octo-Lock though its questionable on if its capable using this specific role with its middling defensives, low speed, typing and small offensive movepool. Grapploct could have more defensives to handle more hits and perhaps an additional typing to give it more resistances for it to switch into for it to trap its foes (along with the added Water Absorb ability for an immunity). Realistically, Water would be its added typing. Whilst gaining weakness to Electric and Grass types wouldn’t be a good trade off, it would at least gain more resistances including Fire, Ice and Steel and more coverage options. It could have other offensive moves including Knock Off to handle Ghost types better (since they can play around with Sucker Punch and Payback isn’t the most reliable option), Stone Edge and Poison Jab for coverage. Maybe even a recoverly move (not including Rest) to beat defensive Pokemon that it aims to trap one on one.  Other moves that could make use of its gimmick includes Sword Dance, Thunder Wave or even Confuse Ray.

Frosmoth

It’s interesting, elegant design and unique typing (even if it’s one of the worst) makes Frosmoth an interesting favourite upon its reveal. That said, I wish Frosmoth could have been better with it having a higher Speed stat which could help it to out run foes better while Quiver Dancing. It’s movepool is one of its other mayor problem with minimal type coverage. What it would need would be Freeze Dry for Water types, Psychic for Toxapex and Shadow Ball for at least neutral type coverage for Steel types (and most other Moth or Butterfly like Pokemon learn the latter two moves). Hidden Power is, at this time of writing unavailable but should it come back, Frosmoth is one of the Pokemon who really needs it to fill that missing coverage including Hidden Power Ground for Steel, Fire and Rock types.

Stonjourner

Its physically bulky, hits hard and have Stealth Rock but that’s all Stonjourner have to offer in the metagame with mono Rock typing is an ironically bad defensive typing with little much else to make it stand out. Its ability is only useful in Double Battles but I don’t think Stonjourner is made for Double Battles with its typing making it exposed to Earthquake and Surf. So what could make Stonjourner more competitively viable? Well I’ve noticed in its Pokemon Sword dex entry that it’s capable of delivering strong kicks so maybe it could have Fighting type, sharing Terrakion’s typing. It may give it more weakness but it’ll give it more offensive capabilities. Next, its new ability could boost the power of kicking moves and it could have a Rock STAB move to make use of it, along with Hi Jump Kick and even Blaze Kick which would make Stonjourner stand out more (and dare I might say, give Hitmonlee a run for money in the kicking department).

Now I’ll give some quick fire honorable mentions:

Orbeetle could have more abilities that gives it more practical use including Magic Guard to give it immunity to Stealth Rock and Life Orb recoil or Magic Bounce for more game changing potential.

Boltund could have more special attacking moves including Signal Beam (though it alongside Hidden Power are at this time of writing are unavailable) and Flamethrower since Electric types are tend to be specially based. Maybe it could have a signature move which could be a stronger version of Thunder Fang to make better use of Strong Jaw (especially since most of its physical moves are middling at best).

Centiskorch would benefit having more attacking options to fill some missing type coverage including Earthquake, Stone Edge/Rock Slide and Sucker Punch for priority. More Speed would help it too.

Sirfetch'd is certinaly an improvement over Farfetch'd all things considered. But perhaps it could either be more bulkier or have more speed to make it a glass cannon. Having a STAB priority move could also help with its low Speed stat too. 

Eiscue does have the potential to become a potent sweeper with Ice Face and Belly Drum though its mono Ice typing would hold it back a lot. It could gain an additional typing including Water type (as a realistic pick). Whilst it may not be the most ideal typing, it would at least give it a STAB Liquidation, neutralise its weakness to Fire and Steel types and maybe a STAB Aqua Jet to make it harder to revenge kill.

I would give Duraludon Mega Launcher with Aura Sphere, Dark Pulse and signature moves to make use of it, giving it more Special Attacking options to use.

Pokemon is full of possibilities and who knows if these changes would allow these Pokemon to shine more or even if they can still shine in their respective tiers as the Metagame develops. Or maybe they’ll gain more buffs in later games. Only time will tell with whatever this generation happened to have set in store.