This will be a multi-part series that will be in both written and audio/visual format. It will cover everything from the basics to the highly advanced, but will be gradual, so you have time to learn everything covered. So today's "episode" will feature the basics.
There's a lot that goes into a competitive Pokemon. The easiest components to understand are the Pokemon's typing and their base stats. These are two factors that you can't change no matter what. You are stuck with the type and base stats.
There's a lot that goes into a competitive Pokemon. The easiest components to understand are the Pokemon's typing and their base stats. These are two factors that you can't change no matter what. You are stuck with the type and base stats.
For an example, this is Gengar. He is a Ghost/Poison type. Before we get into the stats, let's discuss typing. There are 18 types in total. Each type interacts with every other type in some way, both offensively and defensively. Each Pokemon can have one or two types. Here is a type chart:
Let's start with the easy aspect about this chart, and talk about Pokemon with single types. The left of the chart demonstrates Pokemon who are attacking, and the top demonstrates Pokemon who are receiving the attack. Each attack is broken down further into how effective it will be; Normal (1x), No Effect (0x), Super Effective (2x), Super Effective (4x), Not Very Effective (0.50x). and Not Very Effective (0.25x). Everything but "Normal" will be demonstrated in game via text that says whether or not the move was Super Effective, Not Very Effective, or if it had No Effect. Now, you might notice that I had two different numbers for Not Very Effective and for Super Effective. Super Effective moves with a 4x multiplier, and Not Very Effective moves with a 0.25x multiplier, are only used when the Pokemon receiving the attack has two types. Let's start with a singular type first. Imagine you are using a Ground type Pokemon. First, find the Ground type on the left, attacking side. Then, follow the row across. As you move across, you are being shown that type's effectiveness against other types. For example, the first column for the Defending type is Normal. When you cross the Ground row with the Normal column, you see a white box labeled 1x. This means that this attack does normal damage and is neutral. No extra damage happens! However, as you continue to move right, you will come across a black box labeled 0x under the Flying type column. This means that no matter what you do, your Ground type attack will never do a single ounce of damage. The defending type, Flying in this case, is immune to this type of damage. Continue moving right and you will come across a green box labeled 2x under the Poison column. This indicates that the Ground type hits the Poison type for Super Effective damage, or 2x the damage it normally does. Finally, continue right until you reach the red box labeled 1/2x under the Bug column. This is the opposite o the green boxes. This means that your attack is Not Very Effective and will does half its normal damage! So that's the basics of type. Now, let's talk about dual types. For our example, let's use the Pokemon Ferrothorn. Ferrothorn sports the typing of Grass/Steel.
Now that we know Ferrothorn's typing (Grass/Steel), let's take another look at the type chart.
The best way to explain this, is to look at both the Steel and Grass columns at the same time. What I want to demostrate is how dual types are affected defensively, as offensively, there is no change. Outside of a few attacks, attacks can only be of a single type, making a dual typed attacker not necessary to discuss. So, back to Ferrothorn. If you compare both the Steel and Grass columns, you'll notice that they share some red and green block from the same row. This is where the 4x and 0.25x multipliers come into play. Let's first look at the Fire row. If you look at the Fire row and both the Steel and Grass columns, you'll notice that both Grass and Steel take 2x damage from Fire. However, Ferrothorn sports both these types. That means, that instead of taking 2x damage from a Fire typed move, Ferrothorn will now take 4x damage. Now, take a look at the Grass row in comparison to the Grass and Steel columns. You will notice that both Grass and Steel take 0.50x damage from Grass. Similarly with the Fire type, since both of Ferrothorn's types resist Grass, Ferrothorn takes 0.25x damage from Grass type attacks! And that, my friends, is how to work with typing. There's a lot of types and different matchups to go through, so don't feel ashamed if you have to reference a type chart during battle! As time progresses, you'll eventually remember matchups and which types have what effectiveness.
Now before we move on to stats, there is one last thing to discuss in regards to typing, and that is the Same Type Attack Bonus, or STAB for short. STAB grants a Pokemon a 50% power increase when they are using an attack that is of the same type that they are. For example, if our Ferrothorn from earlier used a Grass type move, its power would be increased by 50%, regardless of what type you are attacking. Ferrothorn will also get this bonus with its Steel type attacks as well.
Typing aside, let's talk about Stats. As shown below, there are 6 different stats; Hp, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.
Now before we move on to stats, there is one last thing to discuss in regards to typing, and that is the Same Type Attack Bonus, or STAB for short. STAB grants a Pokemon a 50% power increase when they are using an attack that is of the same type that they are. For example, if our Ferrothorn from earlier used a Grass type move, its power would be increased by 50%, regardless of what type you are attacking. Ferrothorn will also get this bonus with its Steel type attacks as well.
Typing aside, let's talk about Stats. As shown below, there are 6 different stats; Hp, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed.
These numbers are fixed. You can influence how they grow, which we will cover later in this article, but the base values can not be changed. Each stat influences a specific attribute of a Pokemon. The numbers shown in the picture above are not the numbers that a Pokemon will have at specific levels. Instead, these are the base values, which help you compare their general strength in comparison to other Pokemon. Before we delve into the the four stats in the middle, let's discuss HP and Speed. HP is short for Hit Points, which is how much Health a Pokemon has. The Speed stat directly influences turn order. Pokemon is a turn based game. A Pokemon with a higher speed will have the ability to go first. Easy enough.
Before we discuss the other four stats, we need to discuss attacks. Every Pokemon in the game can equip up to four different attacks. Pokemon have set movepools, which means that while you have a choice of which moves to use, each Pokemon can not use every single attack in the game. Each Pokemon has a specific set of moves it can learn or be taught. Without going into every Pokemon's movepool, you can visit here to find out for yourself! Now, attacks are split into 3 different categories; Physical, Special, and Other (respective to the order in the picture below).
Before we discuss the other four stats, we need to discuss attacks. Every Pokemon in the game can equip up to four different attacks. Pokemon have set movepools, which means that while you have a choice of which moves to use, each Pokemon can not use every single attack in the game. Each Pokemon has a specific set of moves it can learn or be taught. Without going into every Pokemon's movepool, you can visit here to find out for yourself! Now, attacks are split into 3 different categories; Physical, Special, and Other (respective to the order in the picture below).
Physical and Special moves are attacks that deal damage. Other moves are attacks that can be classified as supportive or defensive that do not deal direct damage. Other moves range from Helping Hand, which boots an allies attack, to Toxic, which inflicts the Poison status.
With that interjection out of the way, let's get back to the Stats.
We needed to discuss the types of Attacks in order to understand the remaining stats. You see, Physical attacks are influenced by the Attack and Defense stats, while Special attacks are influenced by the Special Attack and Special Defense stats. And that's all there is to the basics of stats.
Of course, that's not the only basics. Each Pokemon has somewhere between 1 and 3 abilities. Abilities are passive effects. Every Pokemon in the game has at least 1 Ability. Much like moves, you have the choice of Abilities, but you can't put every single Ability on one Pokemon. They are not only limited to 1 Ability, but the choice of Ability is limited to what the Pokemon can get.
Of course, that's not the only basics. Each Pokemon has somewhere between 1 and 3 abilities. Abilities are passive effects. Every Pokemon in the game has at least 1 Ability. Much like moves, you have the choice of Abilities, but you can't put every single Ability on one Pokemon. They are not only limited to 1 Ability, but the choice of Ability is limited to what the Pokemon can get.
Ignoring the section labeled "Hidden Ability", these are the 3 Abilities that the Pokemon Raticate can obtain. I'll cover what a Hidden Ability is in the next article, but do know that these are the Abilities Raticate gets. You, as the player, gets to choose which Ability you want to use. In direct comparison, here is Gengar's Ability list:
As you can see, Gengar not only has a single ability, but it's also different than what Raticate gets. Long story short, all Pokemon get a varied selection of set Abilities, ranging from 1 to 3. Every ability has some sort of effect, and although most are positive, some can be negative!
Next up, is a quickie. Let's talk Items. Every Pokemon has the ability to equip a single Item. Much like Abilities, Items are passive effects. Unlike Abilities, almost every single Item can be used on every Pokemon, with the exception of a few, such as Mega Stones, which are Pokemon specific. Items come in various forms and effects. Take for example, the Life Orb.
Next up, is a quickie. Let's talk Items. Every Pokemon has the ability to equip a single Item. Much like Abilities, Items are passive effects. Unlike Abilities, almost every single Item can be used on every Pokemon, with the exception of a few, such as Mega Stones, which are Pokemon specific. Items come in various forms and effects. Take for example, the Life Orb.
As you can see form above, a Life Orb is an Item that when held by a Pokemon, increases their Attack's power by 30% while sacrificing 10% of its max HP per attack that hits. This is what an item does. Not all Items increase power. Some will increase the defensive stats, some will increase your speed, etc. Items are crucial, but since there are so many, it's up to you to find out which is good for your specific set. Here is a good place to look at all the available Items! Do note that Mega Stones only work with the associated Pokemon, certain items (like the Thick Club) only work with specific Pokemon, and finally, that not every single Item listed in that link have an effect in competitive battles (for example, anything listed under the Poke Ball menu can be held, but will give no added effects).
Finally, let's discuss the last 3 components that go into a competitive Pokemon. I'm going to describe them in the simplest way possible and the next article will feature how to influence these components. To begin with, let's talk Natures. Natures are the first of the 3 that effect a Pokemon's Base Stats. Natures come in various forms, but the ones you will be using will effect 1 stat positively, and 1 stat negatively.
Finally, let's discuss the last 3 components that go into a competitive Pokemon. I'm going to describe them in the simplest way possible and the next article will feature how to influence these components. To begin with, let's talk Natures. Natures are the first of the 3 that effect a Pokemon's Base Stats. Natures come in various forms, but the ones you will be using will effect 1 stat positively, and 1 stat negatively.
Before we get too involved in understanding this chart, do note that the following Natures, while have some purpose, you should not pay heed to them at this moment; Hardy, Docile, Bashful, Quirky, and Serious. These Natures do not change anything, and will not give you an advantage. That aside, let's look at the other Natures. As you can see, the left hand side of the chart shows what is increased, while the top shows what is decreased. Natures increase and decrease stats by 10%. So let's take an example. Say you want your Gengar to be offensive. As we showed earlier, it has high Speed and high Special Attack. This in mind, we want to focus on those stats. So, what we do is use either a Modest Nature or a Timid Nature. This is the beauty of Natures. Since our Gengar won't be using it's Attack stat, we can afford the 10% decrease that those two Natures give. Basically, when considering which Nature to use, consider which Stat you want to take the most advantage of.
Moving on, we come to Individual Values, or IVs for short. These are numbers that are added during the breeding process, which I'll explain in the next article. Much like Natures, IVs influence the Base Stats. IVs come within the range of 0-31, where 31 is the strongest.
Moving on, we come to Individual Values, or IVs for short. These are numbers that are added during the breeding process, which I'll explain in the next article. Much like Natures, IVs influence the Base Stats. IVs come within the range of 0-31, where 31 is the strongest.
The image above is taken from a Sun and Moon trailer, but it demonstrates how IVs influence stats. The image on the right is a Pikachu with low IVs, and the image on the left is the same Pikachu with 31 IVs across the board. AS you can see, the change isn't huge, but it is still a change nonetheless.
Finally, we have Effort Values, or EVs for short. These are numbers that are added during the training process, which again, I'll be explaining in the next article. Much like IVs and Natures, EVs influnece stats. However, the influence is much greater.
Finally, we have Effort Values, or EVs for short. These are numbers that are added during the training process, which again, I'll be explaining in the next article. Much like IVs and Natures, EVs influnece stats. However, the influence is much greater.
The top image shows a Gengar with no EVs, and the second picture shows a Gengar with EVs. Before we dive into the differences, note that each Pokemon can only have a total of 510 EVs. You can't go over that limit, however, you can go under. Now, look at the stats to the right of each image. Notice how for Special Attack, it goes from 296 to 359 with 252 EVs. This is what the EVs do. Every 4 EVs you put into a Pokemon, you'll recieve a single stat point. It doesn't sound like much, but as you can see with this example, Gengar gained a whopping 63 Special Attack!
Last but not least, I wanted to give you guys a few websites that are excellent with resources.
Serebii - Has the most up to date database of EVERYTHING you'll need to know, from where to find Pokemon, to what moves they learn, and so on. Also features forums where you can find some help.
Smogon - We will delve into formats and team building in later articles, but Smogon is the go to place to look up user created movesets. It also features a forum!
Nugget Bridge - Similar to Smogon, but it's content is purely VGC (a competitive format). It doesn't have individual movesets either, but prominently features teams that were used in official competitions. Also has a forum!
Showdown - Unlike the other 3, this one is actually an online battle simulator. What's good about this is that you can play around with your moveset and see how EVs, IVs and Natures affect your Pokemon's power.
And that is it! I will link the video here when it is done. There isn't much else that's basic, so stay tuned for future articles. Next entry will discuss Breeding and Training!
Last but not least, I wanted to give you guys a few websites that are excellent with resources.
Serebii - Has the most up to date database of EVERYTHING you'll need to know, from where to find Pokemon, to what moves they learn, and so on. Also features forums where you can find some help.
Smogon - We will delve into formats and team building in later articles, but Smogon is the go to place to look up user created movesets. It also features a forum!
Nugget Bridge - Similar to Smogon, but it's content is purely VGC (a competitive format). It doesn't have individual movesets either, but prominently features teams that were used in official competitions. Also has a forum!
Showdown - Unlike the other 3, this one is actually an online battle simulator. What's good about this is that you can play around with your moveset and see how EVs, IVs and Natures affect your Pokemon's power.
And that is it! I will link the video here when it is done. There isn't much else that's basic, so stay tuned for future articles. Next entry will discuss Breeding and Training!