With Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, players are discovering a host of new critters to collect and battle with. Some have already found widespread popularity, including creatures like Lechonks which are somewhat humorous, and the legendaries Koraidon and Miraidon which players spend a ton of time with. There are also a couple of Pokemon that have flown under the radar despite having great designs and being very competitively viable if used correctly.
When playing Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, players should be on the lookout for Pokemon like Maushold, Tinkaton, and Houndstone. Although they may not be the headliners of the generation, they have impressive moves and interesting backstories worth investigating. If players learn to understand them and how their signature moves work, they could wind up being the most valued member of their team.
Houndstone and Last Respects
Greavard is an interesting Pokemon that was shown off by The Pokemon Company in the weeks leading up to the release of Scarlet and Violet. According to the Pokedex, this critter is born from the soul of a dog Pokemon that never interacted with a human in its lifetime. Although its backstory is sad, it has the chance to have a happy afterlife if it is caught by the right Trainer who raises it correctly. When it reaches level 33 at night, it eventually evolves into Houndstone, a Ghost-Type shaggy Pokemon.
There isn't anything particularly noteworthy about Houndstone. On the surface, it just looks like an old dog with hoary fur and a tombstone on its head. Consequently, it is quite easy to take it for granted when it steps onto the battlefield. However, this hound has a secret weapon. Houndstone can learn the move Last Respects. By default, this move has 50 base points, though this rises by another 50 points for every member in a player's party that has fainted. If Houndstone goes last, it results in the move being one of the most powerful in the game. Not bad for an old dog.
Tinkaton and its Hammer of Death
There are plenty of adorable Pokemon around Paldea, including Nacli and Wattrel. However, looks can be deceiving and some of the cruelest creatures have the cutest faces. This is the case with Tinkaton's evolutionary line. It begins life as Tinkatink, which is a small, pink critter. This Pokemon steals steel from metal-eating critters to make its hammer. It eventually evolves into Tinkatuff, a Pokemon that bullies Biscarp and Pawniard, and then evolves into Tinkaton. It carries a huge hammer that Harley Quinn would be jealous of. The weapon's not just for show, however. It uses it for its signature move, Gigaton Hammer, which brings a lot of pain to whoever's unlucky enough to be on the receiving end of it. This devastating Steel-Type move deals 160 points of damage, so any opponent not prepared for it is destined to be flattened.
Cyclizar and its Shed Tail
In Paldea, players are introduced to either Koraidon or Miraidon. These Pokemon are quite strange, as they look like they were designed to be mounted by humans. By climbing onto these creatures, players can easily adventure throughout the region whether they need to traverse land, ascend mountains, or cross bodies of water. As they uncover Paldea's mysteries, they learn that a Pokemon named Cyclizar is related to these Pokemon. This is not unexpected, as although players cannot ride Cyclizar, its design does have a wheel in it, making it look like a cross between a lizard and a bike.
In addition to looking cool, Cyclizar is also able to learn a move that supercharges any team - Shed Tail. This move allows Cyclizar to sacrifice half its HP to lay down a Substitute and swap out for another Pokemon in the same turn. A move called Substitute already exists, and moves that let Pokemon swap out - Baton Pass, U-Turn - also do. However, combining these moves in a single turn allows for players to set the stage for a stronger Pokemon to begin setting up for a devastating sweep without wasting a single turn. Cyclizar and Orthworm are the only ones capable of using the move thus far, and with the right strategy, Shed Tail makes a team unstoppable.
Maushold's Expanding Population
One of the most enigmatic Pokemon introduced in Scarlet and Violet is Tandemaus. While it is regarded as a single Pokemon, it is technically a family of Pokemon. Evolving them is also tricky. Trainers are expected to keep them in their party until they reach level 25, and at some point, they will evolve off-screen. Players will know the evolution is done when they check their party and discover that their Tandemaus family has gained new members. This signals that it has become a Maushold.
Maushold is not just there to be cute. It also knows a very devastating move called Population Bomb which references the Pokemon's knack for reproducing. This move can strike a whopping ten times in a single turn. Even if a Trainer is up against a tanky Pokemon, Maushold may have what it takes to chip away at it. With accuracy-increasing Items like Wide Lens, players can ensure that Maushold lands as many hits as possible.
Scarlet and Violet present an impressive array of new Pokemon to be discovered. Players can make these creatures more powerful through Terastallization, a new phenomenon that crystallizes Pokemon and boosts moves of certain Types. Special Pokemon can have Tera Types that are different from their regular types, and players can use this to their advantage to take their competitors by surprise. Players can only use their Tera Orb once per battle, and it must be recharged at a Pokemon Center, so timing is everything.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available on Nintendo Switch.