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Look at the metagame of Generation V and you’ll see that weather is the dominant force of Generation V. Entire teams are built around strategies of utilizing rain, sun, sandstorms and hail. A subpar Pokémon can be turned into a nightmarish attacker or a defensive powerhouse under the right weather conditions. | Look at the metagame of Generation V and you’ll see that weather is the dominant force of Generation V. Entire teams are built around strategies of utilizing rain, sun, sandstorms and hail. A subpar Pokémon can be turned into a nightmarish attacker or a defensive powerhouse under the right weather conditions. | ||
What’s interesting about weather is that it took several generations to become the dominant force it is today. Rain, sun and sandstorm were interesting novelties and welcome boosts for corresponding Pokémon when it was first introduced in Generation II. Generation III brought permanent weather-summoning abilities, but these remained confined to the legendary Uber tier, though Sandstorm-producing Sand Stream leaked out via Tyranitar. Abilities also allowed Pokémon to take better advantage of weather, such as speed-doubling Swift Swim or Chlorophyll. [[File:Sunny_Day_III.png|thumb|300px|Prepare to burn.]] | What’s interesting about weather is that it took several generations to become the dominant force it is today. Rain, sun and sandstorm were interesting novelties and welcome boosts for corresponding Pokémon when it was first introduced in Generation II. Generation III brought permanent weather-summoning abilities, but these remained confined to the legendary Uber tier, though Sandstorm-producing Sand Stream leaked out via Tyranitar. Abilities also allowed Pokémon to take better advantage of weather, such as speed-doubling Swift Swim or Chlorophyll. [[File:Sunny_Day_III.png|left|thumb|300px|Prepare to burn.]] | ||
Weather finally came full-circle in Generation V with Drizzle and Drought being granted to Politoed and Ninetales, respectively. Now all three major weather conditions could be utilized in standard play, although hail still had its niche too. Now it’s not uncommon to see weather conditions shift several times throughout the course of a battle. | Weather finally came full-circle in Generation V with Drizzle and Drought being granted to Politoed and Ninetales, respectively. Now all three major weather conditions could be utilized in standard play, although hail still had its niche too. Now it’s not uncommon to see weather conditions shift several times throughout the course of a battle. | ||
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'''2. Dark and Steel''' | '''2. Dark and Steel''' | ||
Let’s face it: Psychic was a broken type in Generation I. They benefitted from the fact that the Special stat counted for both Special Attack and Special Defense plus the fact that since there were so many Poison Pokémon in Kanto, Psychic was super effective against 1/4th of all Pokémon, and then there was its advantage against Fighting on top of that. Ghost, the type that was supposed to counter it, had no useful moves and the only Ghost Pokémon were also half Poison. [[File:Crunch_Stad2.png | Let’s face it: Psychic was a broken type in Generation I. They benefitted from the fact that the Special stat counted for both Special Attack and Special Defense plus the fact that since there were so many Poison Pokémon in Kanto, Psychic was super effective against 1/4th of all Pokémon, and then there was its advantage against Fighting on top of that. Ghost, the type that was supposed to counter it, had no useful moves and the only Ghost Pokémon were also half Poison. [[File:Crunch_Stad2.png|thumb|250px|Psychic's nightmare.]] | ||
Gold and Silver delivered a one-two punch to Psychic. The introduction of the Dark and Steel types represented the first real balancing of the battle system. Not only did Steel resist Psychic, Dark was outright immune and its attacks were super effective against Psychic. Dark and Steel also gave new life to Bug and Fighting types, which had few advantages against other types in Generation I. Fighting in particular became one of the two most important offensive types in the game: It ties with Ground to deliver super effective moves against five types. | Gold and Silver delivered a one-two punch to Psychic. The introduction of the Dark and Steel types represented the first real balancing of the battle system. Not only did Steel resist Psychic, Dark was outright immune and its attacks were super effective against Psychic. Dark and Steel also gave new life to Bug and Fighting types, which had few advantages against other types in Generation I. Fighting in particular became one of the two most important offensive types in the game: It ties with Ground to deliver super effective moves against five types. | ||
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'''Honorable Mentions''' | '''Honorable Mentions''' | ||
Stealth Rock- This isn’t so much an innovation to the system but it still qualifies as a game changer. Whether you like what it did to the metagame or not, Stealth Rock undeniably set the foundations for the Generation IV metagame. Entire types found themselves at a disadvantage simply because of a rock weakness. Pokémon with a double-weakness to Rock found themselves quickly exiled from common use. This is probably why Stealth Rock was no longer a TM in Black and White, although it’s returned as a Move Tutor in Black 2 and White 2. | ''The Special Split-'' One would think this would be right up there next to the Physical/Special Split, but this one wasn’t nearly as game changing. It simply came off as something that was a logical fix to make: Attack and Defense dealt in physical fighting, so why should a single stat cover both how hard a Pokémon’s special moves could hit and how much it could take? | ||
''Stealth Rock-'' This isn’t so much an innovation to the system but it still qualifies as a game changer. Whether you like what it did to the metagame or not, Stealth Rock undeniably set the foundations for the Generation IV metagame. Entire types found themselves at a disadvantage simply because of a rock weakness. Pokémon with a double-weakness to Rock found themselves quickly exiled from common use. This is probably why Stealth Rock was no longer a TM in Black and White, although it’s returned as a Move Tutor in Black 2 and White 2. | |||
Charizard, you are still dearly missed. | Charizard, you are still dearly missed. | ||
Megahorn/Outrage/Shadow Ball- These three moves didn’t so much change the game as they made their respective types legitimate threats. Bug, Dragon and Ghost had zero useful moves in Generation I. Bug and Ghost only had the weak Leech Life and Lick to do regular damage, while Dragon had no moves outside of the set damage of Dragon Rage. These three moves finally gave these types a chance to shine, and later generations would only keep up the generosity. [[File:Ash_Heracross_Megahorn.png|thumb|200px|The moment Bug became dangerous.]] | ''Megahorn/Outrage/Shadow Ball-'' These three moves didn’t so much change the game as they made their respective types legitimate threats. Bug, Dragon and Ghost had zero useful moves in Generation I. Bug and Ghost only had the weak Leech Life and Lick to do regular damage, while Dragon had no moves outside of the set damage of Dragon Rage. These three moves finally gave these types a chance to shine, and later generations would only keep up the generosity. [[File:Ash_Heracross_Megahorn.png|left|thumb|200px|The moment Bug became dangerous.]] | ||
Agree? Disagree? Let me know on the forum discussion! | Agree? Disagree? Let me know on the forum discussion! | ||
''GodofPH, AKA Pat Hessman, is a senior studying Film at Montana State University. He wrote a series of articles for Bulbanews prior to the Black and White release entitled "Looking Forward". He is relearning that Torchic is gifted by Professor Birch and not Professor Elm.'' | ''GodofPH, AKA Pat Hessman, is a senior studying Film at Montana State University. He wrote a series of articles for Bulbanews prior to the Black and White release entitled "Looking Forward". He is relearning that Torchic is gifted by Professor Birch and not Professor Elm.'' | ||