Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Magmar and Electabuzz Approach Could Be a Game-Changer For Gen 10

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet not only made a big difference when it comes to the series’ formula and possibly how this will change with future titles, but also in terms of new Pokemon or new tools for returning pocket monsters, dramatically changing the competitive landscape. It’s not only a matter of competitive viability, though, as increasing the options a given existing Pokemon has or introducing new ones with interesting niches means players have more freedom and can create more unique teams. A big example of this logic is what Pokemon Scarlet and Violet did for Magmar and Electabuzz, how they are now in a much better and more appealing spot, and why Gen 10 games should do more of the same.

It’s not uncommon for critters from past generations to come back in modern games changed for better or for worse, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are no exceptions. Pocket monsters like Smeargle and Incineroar were among the most problematic in the recent past, and they both came back with The Indigo Disk, but the former was just ok and the latter was stronger than ever. In the case of Magmar and Electabuzz, they were mainly given a new egg move in the form of Follow Me, and that alone made them much more powerful and compelling to use.

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Why Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Magmar and Electabuzz Buff is Great

How More Gen 10 Pokemon Could Benefit From the Follow Me Approach

Follow Me is arguably one of the best non-damaging Pokemon moves in existence alongside Rage Powder because it forces enemy critters to attack the user. While it’s completely useless in single battles, Follow Me dominates double battles because it allows attackers to remain unpunished for a turn or more as their allies take damage for them. Specifically, Magmar and Electabuzz, as well as their evolutions Magmortar and Electivire, can turn Follow Me into an even more punishing tool thanks to Flame Body and Static.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet‘s meta is dominated by several powerful physical attackers, from Booster Energy Acrobatics Roaring Moon to Water Tera Surging Strikes Urshifu, and redirection can be great to let an allied attacker live long enough to dish out damage or change the course of the battle by other means. Having Follow Me on Magmar and Electabuzz as they hold Eviolite makes them tanky and has the added effect of Flame Body or Static punishing physical attackers by either Burning or Paralyzing them, dramatically reducing their efficacy. In fact, Burn reduces physical damage dealt by 50%, and Paralysis reduces a Pokemon’s Speed to 50% of its original value as well as gives it a 25% chance not to move every turn.

Pokemon Gen 10 Needs More Groundbreaking Combos After Scarlet and Violet

Why Gen 10 Pokemon Games Should Draw Inspiration From Follow Me Magmar and Electabuzz

The reason why this is such a big change is that Magmar and Electabuzz have never really had their time in the limelight before, and even their Gen 4 evolutions didn’t make them all that powerful in comparison. Instead, Follow Me is a fantastic addition to their kits moving forward as it gives them a special niche that can be quite effective in competitive VGC as well. Pokemon Gen 10 games can capitalize on this idea and add even more similar moves to returning critters’ kits, buffing them.

Several pocket monsters could use some love in new games, such as Parasect or Sunflora getting a cross-gen evolution in Pokemon Gen 10, and although Follow Me can’t be the be-all, end-all solution to every critter’s problems, it’s a great blueprint for future games to have. If simply adding Follow Me as an egg move to two Pokemon’s kits makes them instantly much better than before, then the same can be achieved with different creatures and other moves. It remains to be seen what Gen 10 will entail, but using Pokemon Scarlet and Violet‘s Magmar and Electabuzz approach for more monsters would be an interesting choice.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Pokemon Scarlet & Pokemon Violet are the main entries in the series for Generation IX. They introduced over 100 new Pokemon and brought players to the Paldea region.

Released

November 18, 2022

ESRB

E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence

How Long To Beat

31½ Hours

Metascore

72