[Rant] The Problem with Mega Evolution · 6:35pm Jun 29th, 2016
This is something I've wanted to cover for a little while now, but never really found the chance to. Well, now that I have ass-loads of free time on my hands, I'd say there's no better time than now, right? But before we go over this, I want to make something very clear. See that title up there? That's a semi-lie.
I don't hate Mega Evolution.
In fact, I actually really like it! Well, besides the fact stupid kids keep spamming Mega Mewtwo X & Y, but I digress. Mega Evolution is a unique concept to competitive Pokemon battling that more often than not helps some Pokemon out. Obviously GameFreak has gone a little overboard with the Mega Evolution stuff, what with Mega Rayquaza not needing to hold a mega stone in order to evolve, but some Pokemon like Sceptile are given the Dragon-type. Combine that with Dual Chop and a Dragon STAB and you have an amazing competitive battler.
But Mega Evolution itself is not what I'm talking about. What I'm talking about, and actually worried about, is that GameFreak will completely forget about giving older Pokemon regular evolutions.
I don't necessarily want Mega Evolution to leave, mind you. Again, great competitive use if you're not spamming legendaries like the child you may or may not be. But there are times when I think Mega Evolution isn't exactly the right way to go. I'm just nervous GameFreak is using Mega Evolution as an easy way out of making regular evolutions and thinking of new ways to get them to evolve. That's just lazy.
Take Dunsparce, of all Pokemon, here.
Dunsparce is the pure definition of a missed opportunity. Everyone keeps bashing it because of its poor stats, but what some people don't realize is that its move pool is gigantic, able to use a wide variety of different types of moves. Not to mention it also has Serene Grace as one of its abilities, meaning moves like Shadow Ball, Thunderbolt and Flamethrower will have their secondary effects chances boosted.
Everyone keeps wanting it to have a Mega Evolution, but a theme I've noticed is that Mega Evolutions must have their abilities changed. This means goodbye Serene Grace and hello something completely different. And yeah, the new ability could still be good, but chances are you won't be getting much better than Serene Grace. But with a regular evolution, Dunsparce got to keep Serene Grace, get increased stats, maybe get a type change, and still be able to hold an item!
Speaking of which, if Pokemon just started Mega Evolving nowadays, items would be useless due to Megas not being able to use items. Well, with the exception of Mega Rayquaza, but he sucks so he doesn't count. I know that's just my inner child being an asshole, but would you really want to fight some little kid who just uses legendary Pokemon because fuck you? Yeah, that's what I thought.
Sorry, that was a bit off topic. The point is, items are an important competitive element to any battle, and because Mega Evolution exists everyone wants to use them with no regard for items anymore. Suddenly everything crumbles down into a mess of spamming Mega Pokemon everywhere. The only way to counter Mega Evolution is to have Mega Evolution yourself, so some people will spam the Mega Mewtwos and Mega Rayquaza over and over again until everyone needs to use them to counter them and nothing becomes fun anymore.
...again, I'm going off topic. But just think about that, alright?
I don't hate Mega Evolution. I really do like it! But GameFreak needs to remember to balance things out with regular evolution of older Pokemon or shit like the thing I mentioned above may happen. Well, it might not get to be as bad as that, but something along those lines may definitely happen.
Tell me your thoughts on the matter in the comments below! I know by the end of that rant I sorta went out of control, but I feel as if I made my point clear enough. Until then, this is SuperKamek signing off!
PS:
Do you really want to always have Dunsparce in your team holding Dunsparcite and looking as dopey as ever, or do you want a sleek new evolution that keeps Dunsparce like that forever and doesn't look like a hindrance to your team where you don't have to watch the Mega Evolution cutscene over and over and over and over and over and over and over again? Think about that.
On one hand Pokemon like Mawile became a huge boost (although I admit it would have been better as normal evolution)
On the other hand I'm still waiting for the baby Kangaskhan
Thing is other then that Serene Grace.... can you REALLY say that Dunsparce has a good moveset itself? I mean back when I was young and I played Pokemon? I got a Dunsparce and it looked neat....... I nearly lost MOST of my battles with it and I did use Serene Grace.
4056483
Well, you lost because Dunsparce is a shit Pokemon. I can't disagree with that.
But its move pool is actually impressive! Click the link below and go down the the "Moves" section. For a taste of what's to come, it can learn Spite, Earthquake, Gyro Ball, Dream Eater, Poison Jab, Calm Mind, Ice Beam, Curse, Agility, Ancient Power, Roost, Drill Run, Thief, Attract, Wild Charge, Rock Slide, Iron Tail, Aqua Tail, Zen Headbutt, Pain Split and Stealth Rock.
http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Dunsparce_(Pok%C3%A9mon)
4056472
Yeah, that's another thing I wish GameFreak brought back! Baby Pokemon!
4056502 I only now realize the irony that they used a mega evolution to replace a baby pokemon
I agree with you. Hell, I'm still waiting for my starter to get a mega evolution. They can focus on that and give others regular evolutions.
4056530
Yep
It does get annoying seeing the same old megas every time I try my hand at competitive battling. Hm, maybe in the upcoming games they will fix some of these things.
4056708
I sure hope so. But there's hope! Notice the bracelet on the main character's wrist? That doesn't look like a mega stone to me. I think they're gonna replace Mega Evolution, at LEAST until the end of the game.
4056871 Wounder what they will replace it with.
4056879
There have been theories, but the most popular one, from what I can gather, is something called Synchro Evolution, which makes a Pokemon look a bit like you. A good example of Synchro Evolution is Ash's Greninja.
img04.deviantart.net/c522/i/2016/110/6/4/ash_greninja___greninjash___satoshi_gekkouga_by_alexalan-d9zkkgr.png
4056894 Hm, now that would be interesting.