B/W introduced a lot of pokes. There is a mixture of base speeds ranging from 20 to 140 (from what I remember). What do you think the benchmark is going to be like?
Now (in gen 4) the benchmark is around 95-100 Base Speed. My impression is you'd better be somewhat bulky if you cannot reach that.
I think, despite the sheer massive range of speeds, it will remain basically pretty much the same. There are quite a few 95+, 100- pokemon which have quirky speeds like 97 and 98 (not seen before), most prominently the new pseudo legendary dragon - Ononokusu - with 97.
However, quick feet, motor drive and a new ability - breakable armor - are given to quite a few pokemon. On top of those attack activated abilities, there are new pokemon inducing and abusing weather (the new sand throw on the scary mole :O).
The new item, Swimming Goggles, increases the speed of a water pokemon.
Jesus, its not just choice scarf now is it?
The breakable armor ability is the most interesting and abusable. On serebii, it says that it decreases attack upon getting hit by a physical attack, but boosts speed. In another source, it is defense rather than attack that is decreased (which makes more sense in both competitive terms and logical terms since it is breakable armor). Either way, Omastar will benefit from this hugely. I expect Smogon to EV Pokemon with the breakable armor boost in mind, especially physical ones.
"... the speed ev's enable *insert Pokemon name* to outspeed Omastar, who will survive a *insert physical attack hit* with half health left"
Swimming Goggles is another interesting item which can be abused in so many ways. For the sakes of this article, we have a life orb for speed without the recoil for waters. Again, I could see a lot of things using this. Perhaps the new overconfident Gyarados? Maybe (s)he has a reason to get cocky after all.
On top of all that, new items yet to be discovered, speed just got a whole lot more interesting.
Discuss!!!
Now (in gen 4) the benchmark is around 95-100 Base Speed. My impression is you'd better be somewhat bulky if you cannot reach that.
I think, despite the sheer massive range of speeds, it will remain basically pretty much the same. There are quite a few 95+, 100- pokemon which have quirky speeds like 97 and 98 (not seen before), most prominently the new pseudo legendary dragon - Ononokusu - with 97.
However, quick feet, motor drive and a new ability - breakable armor - are given to quite a few pokemon. On top of those attack activated abilities, there are new pokemon inducing and abusing weather (the new sand throw on the scary mole :O).
The new item, Swimming Goggles, increases the speed of a water pokemon.
Jesus, its not just choice scarf now is it?
The breakable armor ability is the most interesting and abusable. On serebii, it says that it decreases attack upon getting hit by a physical attack, but boosts speed. In another source, it is defense rather than attack that is decreased (which makes more sense in both competitive terms and logical terms since it is breakable armor). Either way, Omastar will benefit from this hugely. I expect Smogon to EV Pokemon with the breakable armor boost in mind, especially physical ones.
"... the speed ev's enable *insert Pokemon name* to outspeed Omastar, who will survive a *insert physical attack hit* with half health left"
Swimming Goggles is another interesting item which can be abused in so many ways. For the sakes of this article, we have a life orb for speed without the recoil for waters. Again, I could see a lot of things using this. Perhaps the new overconfident Gyarados? Maybe (s)he has a reason to get cocky after all.
On top of all that, new items yet to be discovered, speed just got a whole lot more interesting.
Discuss!!!
