In each generation, there is usually one unexpected Pokemon that rises to the top of the competitive meta, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet gave an unlikely Dark/Flying type the chance to shine. Murkrow is not most players' idea of a strong monster, with a measly base stat total of 405 and a much more powerful evolution in Honchkrow. However, this monster cemented itself as must-use member of numerous teams thanks to a combination of factors that affected a common competitive strategy going into Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
The choice to use Murkrow over Honchkrow may seem strange at a glance, but Murkrow has one advantage that Honchkrow doesn't that makes it the preferred choice despite its lower base stat total. Murkrow has access to the awesome Hidden Ability Prankster, which gives status moves speed priority, whereas it trades this Ability for Moxie when it evolves. As crucial as Prankster is for setting up a variety of strategies, Murkrow has several other aspects that made it uniquely suited to rise to the top of the Gen 9 meta.
Murkrow's Typing, Ability, and Move Pool
One of the most important elements of competitive battles is managing the stats of a player's team through various stat-boosting moves. Some competitive teams will take advantage of moves like Light Screen or Reflect to bolster their entire teams' Defense and Special Defense for the turns they are active, which synergize well with Prankster, as the Pokemon using them will get speed priority thanks to this ability. However, while mons like Gen 8's Grimmsnarl are better suited Prankster users than Murkrow for accomplishing this particular strategy, Murkrow is the creature of choice for players looking to set up Tailwind in a similar fashion.
Tailwind is a fantastic support move in competitive battles because it boosts the speed of all Pokemon on a player's team while it is active. In generations past, popular critters with access to both Tailwind and the Prankster ability like Whimsicott and Tornadus were much stronger go-to mons for this strategy. However, these Pokemon are not available in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and the only critter with access to both is now Murkrow, meaning it's a mandatory team member for players hoping to utilize this speed-boosting combo.
While this status alone would qualify Murkrow as a must-use Pokemon, its Dark/Flying typing adds to its overall utility. This type combo has weaknesses to Rock, Ice, Electric, and Fairy, which are all common offensive types. However, it also has immunities to Ground and Psychic-type attacks, which counterbalance its high number of weaknesses. In addition to those immunities, its Dark typing has the unique ability to block opposing Pokemon from activating the Prankster ability for themselves. This gives Murkrow the twofold benefit of being able to use Prankster itself while blocking opponents from trying the same strategy.
Murkrow also has access to the move Haze, which resets all stat changes on the battlefield. This is useful for negating the adverse side effects of moves like Gholdengo's Make It Rain or Hydreigon's Draco Meteor when paired with Murkrow as a partner. Haze also gets priority thanks to Prankster and could be used for negating stat-affecting moves used by the opponent as well, such as Swords Dance or the Ability Intimidate. Unfortunately, Murkrow's time at the top may not last, because players have since found strategies utilizing threats like Dondozo to diminish its usage. Still, when recounting the early days of Scarlet and Violet, it'll be remembered as a star in the Gen 9 competitive scene.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available now for Nintendo Switch.