Why THESE are the Last Remaining GOOD Gen 1 Pokemon
Ray Rizzo・16 minutes read
Early Generation Pokémon like Gengar and Alakazam remain strong in competitive play, despite newer Legendary Pokémon needing to be stronger. Various Pokémon like Venusaur, Raichu, Clefairy, Arcanine, Ninetales, Wheezing, Chansey, Zapdos, and Galarian Moltres have found success with unique abilities and moves in competitive play.
Insights
- Despite the general trend of power creep in newer Legendary Pokémon, certain original Pokémon like Gengar, Alakazam, and Arcanine have remained strong in competitive play over 25 years, showcasing their enduring viability and adaptability.
- Unique abilities and strategic niches, such as Venusaur's Chlorophyll on sun teams, Raichu's Lightning Rod support, and Clefairy's redirection tactics, demonstrate that even Pokémon from early Generations can carve out successful roles in competitive battles, emphasizing the importance of diverse strategies beyond raw power.
Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free
Recent questions
What are some examples of strong Pokémon in competitive play?
Gengar, Alakazam, Venusaur, Raichu, Clefairy, Arcanine, Ninetales, Wheezing, Chansey, Zapdos, and Galarian Moltres are all examples of Pokémon that have found success in competitive play. These Pokémon showcase a variety of abilities, moves, and strategies that allow them to excel in battles and tournaments.
How do newer Legendary Pokémon maintain their status?
Newer Legendary Pokémon need to be stronger than older ones to maintain their legendary status. This concept, known as power creep, ensures that newer additions to the franchise remain relevant and impactful in battles. By introducing stronger abilities, moves, and stats, newer Legendary Pokémon can compete with and surpass their predecessors.
What unique abilities does Venusaur possess in competitive play?
Venusaur, a starter Pokémon, maintains a niche on sun teams with its Chlorophyll ability, sleep powder, and solid defenses against fairy types. These abilities allow Venusaur to support its team by providing speed boosts, status effects, and defensive capabilities that can turn the tide of battles in its favor.
How does Clefairy support its allies in battles?
Clefairy, a support Pokémon, utilizes redirection and Friend Guard ability to protect allies in battles. By drawing attention away from its teammates and reducing the damage they take, Clefairy can create opportunities for its allies to strike back and secure victories in competitive play.
What makes Zapdos a versatile choice in battles?
Zapdos, equipped with Rocky Helmet and Static, excels defensively and can threaten opponents with electric or flying moves. Its ability to restore health with Roost, control battle speed with Tailwind, and adapt to different strategies make Zapdos a versatile and solid choice in battles. Despite newer flying types like Tornadus, Zapdos remains a strong contender in competitive play.
Related videos
Summary
00:00
"Strong Pokémon in Competitive Play"
- Pokémon released in early Generations are generally weaker in the franchise, but some, like Gengar and Alakazam, remain strong in competitive play even after 25 years.
- Power creep refers to the necessity for newer Legendary Pokémon to be stronger than older ones to maintain their legendary status.
- Original 151 Pokémon are outclassed in competitive play, despite attempts to balance with new mechanics like Mega Evolution and Gigantamax forms.
- Venusaur, a starter Pokémon, maintains a niche on sun teams with its Chlorophyll ability, sleep powder, and solid defenses against fairy types.
- Raichu, with its Lightning Rod ability, supports strong water or flying types in competitive play, excelling in formats with restricted legendary Pokémon.
- Clefairy, a support Pokémon, utilizes redirection and Friend Guard ability to protect allies and has had success in regional and international events.
- Arcanine, with its all-around stats and moves, has remained successful in competitive play, adapting to different playstyles over the years.
- Ninetales, especially its Alolan form, has found success with its snow ability, setting up fast Aurora veils and providing strong support in battles.
- Wheezing, with its Neutralizing Gas ability, has become a threat in competitive play, empowering otherwise weak Pokémon like Regigigas.
- Chansey, despite being unevolved, is a powerful support Pokémon with high defenses and evasion-boosting moves, making it a challenging opponent in battles.
15:59
Versatile Zapdos and Galarian Moltres in Battles
- Zapdos, equipped with Rocky Helmet and Static, excels defensively and can threaten opponents with electric or flying moves, while also being able to restore health with Roost, making it a versatile and solid choice in battles. It can control battle speed with Tailwind and remains a strong Pokemon despite Tornadus being the preferred flying type currently.
- Galarian Moltres, introduced in Sword and Shield, has shown impressive finishes in various events, including wins at Players Cup 2 and 4, as well as a regional event in Italy. Although facing challenges in the current metagame, if future generations favor dark flying types, Galarian Moltres could easily return to its previous success. Dragonite, Mewtwo, and Mew, while not on the list, are highlighted as historically powerful Pokemon that have been overshadowed by newer legendaries and mechanics, with potential for improvement in future updates.
