Volcarona, Mega Pinsir and Kleavor as raid attackers (Full Evaluation)

TL;DR

Mega Pinsir is present greatest Bug attacker. However for reinforcing group harm, it’s means worse than Primal Kyogre within the sixth slot (and worse than Mega Scizor in giant lobbies). Will likely be outclassed by Mega Heracross.

Regardless that Volcarona is the very best non-mega Bug and an awesome Hearth sort, in observe, it’s a Chandelure clone in each energy and utilization. Even a bit weaker as anti-Psychic, truly. Additionally worse than Hydreigon, Reshiram and shadow Hearth sorts. NOT value the price.

• Nonetheless, in wet climate or with Primal Kyogre enhance, Volcarona, Shadow Pinsir and Shadow Scizor turn out to be the very best anti-Psychic counters on common.
• Bug sorts can even see extra use once we get to Gen 8-9 legendaries, a number of of that are double weak to Bug – along with Hoopa Unbound and probably Zarude raids.

Kleavor at present sucks as a result of unhealthy quick strikes. However even when it will get quick strikes, it would nonetheless be worse than many present choices (Vikavolt, Gigalith/Tyranitar). Its shadow and/or higher charged strikes (Stone Axe, Bug Buzz) will assist, however they’re doubtless years away or could not occur in any respect, and possibly received’t be thrilling anymore when/in the event that they occur.

Preserve studying for:

• Volcarona vs. Pheromosa, Chandelure (Hearth & Ghost), Hydreigon and Darmanitan
• Primal Kyogre enhance defined
• Bug vs. Darkish and Ghost
• When bugs are literally helpful: Bosses with double weaknesses, plots with wet/Primal Kyogre enhance
• Future potential of Volcarona and Kleavor (Bug, Hearth and Rock)
• Ought to I evolve a Scyther (common/shadow) to Scizor now, or watch for Kleavor?
• Listing of my earlier analyses, in Appendix

Introduction

The start of Could has been a closely bug-focused month for some cause. Within the final 10 days, we’ve had:

• Larvesta is now hatching from 2km, 5km and 10km eggs, with ~1% probability. It evolves to Volcarona (Bug/Hearth) utilizing 400 candies.
• Kleavor (Bug/Rock) had its debut in a raid day final Saturday, Could 6. Word that Scyther is “at present unable to evolve into Kleavor in Pokémon GO.”
• Mega Pinsir (Bug/Flying) is now in Mega Raids till the morning of Could 24.
  • DO NOT PURIFY your Shadow Pinsir! Except you clearly know what you’re doing. You’ll see why later.

All three new releases have good base stats which can be probably related for raids, not simply as Bug sorts, but additionally for the Hearth and Rock subtypings. (Mega Pinsir can’t function a Flying attacker, because it learns no Flying-type strikes in PoGO.)

Sadly, not all of them had their potential realized as a result of unhealthy strikes (Kleavor), not all of them will likely be virtually related to most gamers as a result of accessibility (Volcarona), and most essential of all, Bug sorts are historically weak.

Bug is Tremendous Efficient in opposition to Grass, Darkish and Psychic, which implies its major position in PoGo raids is as anti-Psychic attackers. That’s a profitable title given the massive variety of Psychic-type raid bosses, however they must compete with the a lot stronger Darkish and Ghost sorts for this position.

Will any of them change the established order? We’ll reply the query at present within the following elements:

• Half 1: Bug attackers in a vacuum
  • Total charts, Mega charts, Volcarona vs. Pheromosa
• Half 2: Bug attackers in comparison with Darkish and Ghost
• Half 3: When will you truly use a Bug sort?
  • Double weaknesses, Climate enhance & Primal Kyogre enhance
• Half 4: Volcarona as a Hearth attacker
• Half 5: Future potential of Volcarona and Kleavor
  • Kleavor with correct movesets
  • Volcarona and Kleavor with signature transfer estimations
• Half 6: Verdict on Volcarona and Kleavor/Scyther
  • Ought to I evolve my Scyther to Scizor now? Or watch for when/if I can evolve it to Kleavor sooner or later?

Should you’re on desktop and need to bounce to a selected half, search “Half X”.

Now you can comply with me (@teban54) on Twitter!

Half 1: Bug attackers, in a vacuum

[Part 1 TL;DR] Mega Pinsir is greatest Bug in uncooked energy, however for reinforcing group harm, it’s means worse than Primal Kyogre (and likewise Mega Scizor in medium-to-large lobbies).

Volcarona is greatest non-mega Bug, even higher than shadows, and far more dependable than Pheromosa.

Kleavor sucks as a result of no Bug quick transfer.

Charts of ASE with and with out dodging are here. (They’re now separated from the ASE/ASTTW chart, in an try to enhance readability.)

If we simply have a look at Bug attackers amongst themselves, with out evaluating them to different sorts:

Mega Pinsir (Bug Chunk/X-Scissor) is now the very best Bug attacker general, in particular person energy.

• Vital enchancment over Mega Scizor (which isn’t shocking as Mega Scizor has fairly defensive stats).
• Quick transfer selection: Bug Chunk is mostly higher than Fury Cutter, however each are comparable and viable.
• Mega Heracross will finally outclass it, as I’ll point out later.
• Mega comparability plots in later sections…

Volcarona (Bug Chunk/Bug Buzz) is now the very best non-mega Bug attacker… Except you actually, actually, actually love DPS and solely DPS.

• Pheromosa is a “paper cannon” that do rather well in theoretical metrics, however is means too flimsy in observe (extra so than nearly some other glass cannon you’ve heard of). My vote remains to be on Volcarona.
• In any other case, Volcarona cleanly outperforms all non-megas. Even Shadow Pinsir and Shadow Scizor fall behind.
• Extra on Volcarona vs. Pheromosa in later sections…

Kleavor sadly didn’t get any Bug-type quick transfer (I’ll clarify this in Half 5). It technically does seem on the backside of the chart, however until you’re determined for a Bug sort (e.g. Hoopa Unbound raids), don’t.

Shoutout to Vikavolt as the present greatest price range Bug attacker. Should you’re not a whale and don’t have one of many shadows that has not been in rotation for years, it’s your greatest non-mega Bug. Time to provide these Grubbins just a little bit extra consideration, perhaps…)

Volcarona vs. Pheromosa

[Section TL;DR] Regardless of sky excessive DPS, Pheromosa is a paper cannon. It’s extraordinarily unreliable, and even for the handful of bosses the place it constantly “outperforms” Volcarona in estimator, it nonetheless has a loopy variety of deaths. My vote nonetheless goes to Volcarona, besides mayyybe 1 Pheromosa as a lead.

Pheromosa technically has a lot greater theoretical DPS – 24%! – than Volcarona (Table). The large DPS even will get it barely greater ER… In concept.

The issue? Pheromosa is a “paper cannon” – not even a glass cannon. As I stated in its personal article again in August:

• Pheromosa’s bulk is much like Haunter and Machop – no, not Gengar and Machamp, not even Machoke. (It’s additionally on par with Deoxys Regular, which is simply as impractical because the meme Deoxys Assault.)
• To make issues worse, Pheromosa is weak to Psychic strikes, which drags it down additional in opposition to Psychic bosses it’s speculated to counter.

Because of this, we get the comparability chart above.

• Estimator seems like a draw that’s barely in favor of Volcarona, however bear in mind, this doesn’t think about how a lot higher every of them is.
• This distribution chart does present the extent to which each is healthier than the opposite… And its form is the weirdest I’ve ever seen. 40% of the time, Volcarona has a considerably higher estimator than Pheromosa (by 10% or extra).
• Pheromosa does appear to “win” in TTW, or when you dodge. However at what price?

What’s not proven right here is the variety of deaths. Pheromosa usually will get 2-3 occasions as many deaths as Volcarona does! You possibly can see from this photograph gallery:

• Arduous-hitting bosses put up some insane numbers of deaths for Pheromosa. 76 in opposition to T5 Mewtwo, 106 in opposition to Hoopa Unbound (you realize, the one case for utilizing bug sorts), and 166 in opposition to Mega Latias… Yikes. Whereas Volcarona additionally must relobby 1-2 occasions, it nonetheless has lower than half that many deaths.
• Even defensive bosses, comparable to Uxie and Cresselia, can nonetheless give Pheromosa a tough time. It takes a typing benefit, comparable to Darkish Pulse Darkrai, for deaths to be comparable.
• Deoxys Protection is principally the one boss the place Pheromosa constantly “outperforms” Volcarona in each estimator and TTW, but it surely nonetheless has a loopy variety of deaths.

Total, Pheromosa is simply too glassy to be reliably helpful. I can see some use for a group with 1 Pheromosa + 5 others (Volcarona, shadows, and so forth), however even then, I’m afraid it would have an effect on relobbies. Don’t even start serious about constructing 6 Pheromosas.

It’s not like having 6 of both is practical, anyway…

Bug-type Mega Comparisons

[Section TL;DR] Let’s be actual, for reinforcing others, simply use Primal Kyogre. In case you continue to need a Bug mega, Pinsir is healthier for small lobbies, Scizor is marginally higher at group harm in 5+ participant lobbies. None of this issues when randos will use Darkish and Ghost sorts.

As typical, this chart seems on the query “which mega contributes essentially the most harm to the group”, accounting for each its personal harm output and its mega enhance to different raiders.

Nonetheless, as I famous on the chart… That is now a fairly out of date query for Bug sorts, as a result of realistically, you’ll use Primal Kyogre if you wish to enhance different gamers.

• Primal enhance stays lively so long as somebody has a Primal of their celebration of 6, even when it simply stays within the background and never on the battlefield. (Due to research by u/Nikaidou_Shinku)
• Primal Kyogre boosts Water, Electrical and Bug sorts (the three sorts that get climate enhance in wet climate).
• Because of this, the optimum configuration for anti-Psychic is that this:
  • Participant A makes use of 5 bugs + 1 Primal Kyogre
  • All others use 6 bugs, and so they all get 30% enhance for all the length
  • Participant A relobbies as quickly because the 5 bugs faint
  • (If Participant B additionally places a Primal Kyogre on the again, Participant A additionally will get 30% enhance)

Retaining the 30% enhance for so long as doable is far more essential than utilizing a Bug-type mega that solely retains the enhance whereas it’s alive. This eliminates the necessity for utilizing a Bug-type mega for harm boosts.

Should you can’t or don’t need to use Primal Kyogre… With impartial typings, Mega Pinsir is healthier for small teams (1-3), whereas Mega Scizor turns into marginally higher in bigger teams as a result of its bulk.

• Mega Scizor has the benefit of resisting Psychic strikes. If the boss has a Psychic charged transfer, it would doubtless be a lot better than Mega Pinsir by advantage of dwelling longer.
• Mega Heracross will finally outclass each.

In observe, this may hardly ever play out for uncoordinated raids. In opposition to Psychic bosses, it’s much more doubtless that others will use Ghost and Darkish sorts, so it’s higher to run a Ghost– or Darkish-type mega than a Bug-type one. Or run a Mega Alakazam or Gardevoir with Shadow Ball for boosted XLs.

• In case you nonetheless determine to run a Bug-type mega… Trying on the backside proper chart, even when others use Hydreigon, the distinction between Pinsir and Scizor turns into extraordinarily small at 7 gamers. For a big group, Scizor remains to be the way in which to go.

Half 2: Bug attackers in comparison with Darkish and Ghost

[Part 2 TL;DR] Volcarona < Chandelure < Hydreigon, and Mega Pinsir ≈ Giratina-O < Hydreigon. Till we get to Gen 8-9 legendaries, there’s not a lot want for a Bug group when you have already got a Darkish/Ghost one.

In observe, what issues is just not the highest counters of every sort, however the prime counters in opposition to every raid boss.

As established within the introduction, Bug attackers nearly completely function anti-Psychic counters in observe. There’s no scarcity of Psychic bosses (it’s one of the widespread typings amongst legendaries), however Bug attackers are usually overpowered by the a lot stronger Darkish and Ghost attackers:

The above chart reveals impartial climate with out Primal Kyogre enhance. Underneath this setup…

Mega Pinsir – the very best Bug attacker – remains to be solely on par with prime non-mega Darkish and Ghost sorts.

• Its closest analogy is Darkrai. Persistently beneath Hydreigon and Shadow Weavile, much like Shadow Power Giratina-O and Gholdengo ^{(which overperforms on this setup)} relying on metric.

Volcarona is even decrease, typically a bit beneath Chandelure, and constantly beneath Hydreigon.

• Extra on these comparisons subsequent part…

Any Bug sort not named Mega Pinsir or Volcarona are usually not aggressive.

• One of the best of the “premium” Bug sorts, shadows and Pheromosa, are “solely” at or simply above Weavile degree.
• Extra inexpensive bug sorts – Vikavolt and beneath – are often worse than Tyranitar.

Volcarona vs. Chandelure and Hydreigon (anti-Psychic)

Properly… I believe the chart speaks for itself.

The one saving grace I can consider is that Volcarona’s worst-case efficiency is extra constant ^{(notably in opposition to Focus Blast Mewtwo which deletes Hydreigon, and stuff like Darkish Pulse Deoxys-A and Shadow Ball Mega Alakazam which can be unhealthy for Chandelure)}. However even then, these situations don’t matter a lot in observe.

Should you really feel that is underwhelming, sure it’s. Particularly given the “greatest Bug sort” hype, and particularly given how Volcarona is obtained. A particularly uncommon egg-exclusive 400 sweet evolution is worse than TWO Group Day Pokémon previously 12 months. Wow.

• Not sudden, we knew this is able to occur ever since Gen 5 launch began. However nonetheless…

Utilization instances (raid boss protection) of Bug vs. Darkish/Ghost

[Section TL;DR] Present protection about the identical (variations are Lugia, Giratinas, Tapu Lele and Hoopa-U). Darkish/Ghost have extra use for remaining Gen 7 raids, whereas Bug lastly will get to shine once we get to Gen 8-9. No have to stress out about Bug groups now.

What bosses can you employ these sorts in opposition to? T5+ raids solely:

• Solely Bug: Darkrai, Hoopa Unbound, Zarude*, Shaymin Land*, Calyrex, Wo-Chien, Ting-Lu, Iron Leaves*, Brute Bonnet*
• Solely Darkish or Ghost: Giratina (x2), Lugia, Blacephalon, Solgaleo, Lunala, Necrozma DM/DW*, Spectrier, Calyrex SR*, Galarian Articuno*
• Solely Ghost: Tapu Lele, Mega Mewtwo X, Marshadow*, Scream Tail*, Flutter Mane*
• Solely Bug or Darkish: Meloetta Aria*
• All three: Azelf, Cresselia, Deoxys (x4), Latias, Latios (& their megas), Mesprit, Mewtwo/Armored/Mega Y, Uxie, Necrozma/Extremely*, Calyrex IR*

Italics are unreleased Pokémon. * are in case it involves raids.

My impression:

• Most present bosses are dealt with by all three sorts.
• Lugia and Giratinas are uniquely countered by Darkish/Ghost (and Tapu Lele by Ghost), however all three have higher counters elsewhere.
• Bug sorts uniquely counter Hoopa Unbound, and that’s about it. (There’s additionally Darkrai, however combating is means higher there.)
• Darkish and Ghost sorts have a lot better protection within the fast, foreseeable future (Gen 7). That is primarily as a result of Solgaleo, Lunala and Blacephalon.
• Alternatively, Bug sorts will actually stand out once we get to the Gen 8-9 time-frame, notably in opposition to Calyrex, Wo-Chien and Iron Leaves – all three being double weak to Bug. (Additionally speculative Zarude raids.)

As I stated within the TL;DR, this makes Bug sorts a comparatively far future funding, particularly for almost all who have already got a Darkish/Ghost group. Aside from “in case Hoopa Unbound comes again but once more”, there’s not a lot cause to favor Bug sorts proper now over Darkish/Ghost sorts.

Half 3: When will you truly use a Bug sort?

Provided that Bug sorts are weaker than different counters (Half 2 above, and Volcarona = Machamp in opposition to Darkish sorts), they must depend on two situations to face out:

• Bosses which can be double weak to Bug, the place they turn out to be the most suitable choice robotically; OR,
• A harm enhance to Bug sorts, both as a result of wet climate, or as a result of somebody is working Primal Kyogre.

Fortuitously, there’s one thing to be stated about each.

Double weaknesses

The next legendary and potential legendary raid bosses are double weak to Bug:

• Now: Hoopa Unbound
• Future: Calyrex (Gen 8), Wo-Chien, Iron Leaves, Brute Bonnet* (Gen 9)
  • * Brute Bonnet is a non-legendary Paradox. It’s not clear whether or not Paradox Pokemon will likely be raid-inclusive, so proper now it’s simply hypothesis. (Technically Iron Leaves can also be not a legendary, however I’d say it’s extra more likely to be in raids.)
• Speculative: Zarude

So though Bug sorts are underwhelming proper now, there will be a time sooner or later the place they’ll shine much more: Once we get to the Gen 8-9 launch time-frame. That is nearly completely as a result of Calyrex, Wo-Chien and Iron Leaves.

Nonetheless, the truth that they’re to date out means there’s no pressing want for a Bug-type group. Except you assume we’ll see Hoopa (once more) or Zarude in Elite Raids, it’s a coin flip between whether or not we’ll see Calyrex raids first, or whether or not Larvesta Group Day ^{(or potential future bug-type choices that I’ll element in Half 5)} occurs first.

^{The query is… Will the sport nonetheless be alive by then?}

Wet Climate Increase and Primal Kyogre Increase

[Section TL;DR] With wet climate or background Primal Kyogre enhance, Volcarona, Shadow Pinsir and Shadow Scizor turn out to be the BEST non-mega counters in opposition to mono Psychic bosses on common! Higher than Hydreigon and others.

Should you can’t wait till Gen 8… The excellent news is, Bug sorts are usually not hopeless in any case!

On the left, now we have the identical plot that I confirmed in Half 2… The one which’s fairly miserable for Bug sorts.

On the precise is when Bug sorts get a 20% harm enhance, however Darkish and Ghost sorts don’t. All of a sudden, they appear much more promising!

• Mega Pinsir remains to be worse than Mega Gengar, however higher than all the pieces else.
• Volcarona is now A LOT higher than even Hydreigon! It’s the very best non-mega underneath this setup.
• Bug-type Shadows (Pinsir and Scizor) are additionally higher than Hydreigon. Pheromosa is just under (although nonetheless very unreliable).
• Even Vikavolt joins the league of a number of top-tier Darkish/Ghost sorts: Giratina-O, Darkrai, Gholdengo (and > Chandelure). Though it’s nonetheless worse than Hydreigon.

Methods to get the enhance within the first place?

Choice 1: Anticipate wet climate in recreation after which head out in rain to do a neighborhood raid. Lol.

Choice 2: Have somebody in your group run a Primal Kyogre within the sixth slot. Fortunately, that is completely doable underneath your management!

Kyogre (Primal)

Water

• As talked about above in “Bug-type Mega Comparisons”… Primal Kyogre gives the mega enhance (30% Water/Electrical/Bug, 10% different sorts) even when it’s within the background. You will get nearly everlasting mega enhance this fashion!
• Recap on how you can do it:
  • Participant A makes use of 5 bugs + 1 Primal Kyogre
  • All others use 6 bugs, and so they all get 30% enhance for all the length
  • Participant A relobbies as quickly because the 5 bugs faint
  • (If Participant B additionally places a Primal Kyogre on the again, Participant A additionally will get 30% enhance)

With a Primal Kyogre within the background, Bug assaults get boosted 18% greater than Darkish and Ghost assaults, nearly the identical because the 20% pure climate enhance. In essence, Primal Kyogre “creates” a wet climate enhance. Subsequently, the rating record is identical because the right-hand aspect plot.

Specifically, with Primal Kyogre enhance: Volcarona, Shadow Pinsir and Shadow Scizor turn out to be the BEST non-mega counters in opposition to mono Psychic-type bosses (Mewtwo, Cresselia, Deoxys, Lake Trio). They’re higher than Hydreigon and all different non-megas, on common.

• Even Vikavolt turns into an awesome counter.
• In opposition to Lati@s in all tiers, Shadow dragons and Shadow Mamoswine typically nonetheless take the lead.

To be clear, I don’t assume anybody wants to construct a group of Volcarona and/or shadow bugs for this state of affairs… However for many who can coordinate about Primal utilization, and occur to have the sources for these Bug sorts, this can be a nice and related case for powering them up.

Half 4: Volcarona as a Hearth attacker

[Part 4 TL;DR] Volcarona ≈ Darmanitan ≈ Chandelure. All worse than Reshiram and shadows, however they’re the very best non-legendary non-shadow non-megas.

Don’t neglect that Volcarona additionally has nice stats for a Hearth-type attacker, and had been extremely anticipated since Gen 5 launch because of this, along with its Bug-type capabilities.

Nonetheless, 2023 is just not 2019…

Charts of ASE with and with out dodging are here.

Volcarona (Hearth Spin/Overheat) is just about similar to Darmanitan and Chandelure. Collectively, they’re the greatest non-legendary non-shadow non-mega hearth attackers, however effectively beneath Fusion Flare Reshiram and shadow Hearth sorts (Moltres, Entei, Apex Ho-Oh, Blaziken, Charizard, Typhlosion).

• Extra on comparability of those three in later sections…
• Word: L30 Reshiram = L45 Volcarona, L40 Shadow Blaziken = L50 Volcarona.

If this reminds you of the Volcarona vs. Chandelure comparability as anti-Psychic… Sure, it means Volcarona and Chandelure have very comparable roles in raids, along with comparable energy.

If this was 2019 when Gen 5’s launch first began, Volcarona would have topped the chart. Since then, we’ve had Shadows, Reshiram, Megas, Litwick CD, Reshiram once more with an OP transfer, and extra Shadows (Blaziken nonetheless being accessible). Sadly, at present Volcarona’s energy is not value its rarity.

Chandelure and Darmanitan have been launched at simply the precise time… However Volcarona wasn’t.

Volcarona vs. Chandelure vs. Darmanitan

Because of this I stated all three are just about similar. None of those numbers even exceeded 70%.

These simulation outcomes are nearly what you’d count on from their ER and DPS numbers (Table):

• Volcarona has notably higher bulk, but additionally the bottom DPS of the three. As such, it will get a bonus in Estimator, whereas TTW and Estimator Dodge often favor the glassier Darmanitan and Chandelure.
• Darmanitan has greater DPS than Chandelure with comparable bulk, however not notably totally different, and Chandelure has an arguably higher typing.

I received’t share the distribution plots ^{(although you may request for them)}, however these additionally look fairly comparable throughout all three. Vital typing benefits are fairly uncommon, often lower than 5%, and might favor any of them.

Half 5: Future potential of Volcarona and Kleavor

[Part 5 TL;DR] The one probably thrilling modifications are most likely years away. By the point they occur, they’ll doubtless not be thrilling anymore.

• Kleavor with Fury Cutter < Vikavolt. Even Shadow Kleavor < Volcarona. It takes Shadow Kleavor/Scizor with hypothetical Bug Buzz to outclass Volcarona.
• Kleavor > Scizor (in all types) if each have the identical strikes.
• Kleavor with Smack Down <= Tyranitar. Even Stone Axe Kleavor << Rampardos and Rhyperior. Shadow Kleavor with SD = Rampardos, however worse than any of the longer term shadows.
• Fiery Dance Volcarona < Reshiram and shadows. Shadow Volcarona ≈ Reshiram, if it ever occurs.

Each Volcarona and Kleavor have room for enchancment of their movesets:

• Kleavor is clearly lacking STAB quick strikes, both Bug or Rock.
• Each have signature strikes, which can come to GO sooner or later: Volcarona’s Fiery Dance (Hearth sort), and Kleavor’s Stone Axe (Rock sort).
• Whereas Volcarona already has its greatest non-signature moveset, Kleavor can theoretically get Bug Buzz as an improve over X-Scissor, although it’s unlikely.
• Moreover, Shadow Kleavor could turn out to be a factor, if Niantic permits us to evolve Scyther into Kleavor sooner or later.
• Shadow Volcarona will presumably come finally… However who is aware of how lengthy it would take.

This part seems on the potential of all of them, in all three sorts: Bug, Rock and Hearth. However earlier than that, let me briefly clarify…

[Why does Kleavor not have a STAB fast move in GO?]

In brief, it’s as a result of Niantic needed to comply with Kleavor’s moveset in Pokemon Legends: Arceus (PLA). Kleavor has a really restrictive learnset there, with none Bug– or Rock-type “quick strikes” accessible.

In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (SV), Kleavor does have a wider datamined learnset that features Fury Cutter and Smack Down. Earlier than its launch, this was the premise for hypothesis that Kleavor might get them in GO. Nonetheless, till Pokémon HOME is on the market for SV, you may’t legally get a Kleavor that is aware of Fury Cutter or Smack Down in any recreation… But.

It’s broadly believed that when HOME assist for SV drops (which can occur quickly), Fury Cutter and Smack Down Kleavor could turn out to be doable in GO, together with many different potential transfer updates (e.g. Counter Ursaluna, Sludge Bomb Sneasler). The query will then be whether or not Niantic remembers so as to add them in GO.

Kleavor (and Scizor)’s potential as bug attackers

Charts of ASE with and with out dodging are here.

Essential word: All Kleavor sims, and particularly Shadow Kleavor sims, are estimates.

• Pokebattler nonetheless has the unsuitable stats for Kleavor (260 base assault) that was erroneously pushed to Recreation Grasp for some time, whereas Kleavor’s right stats have 253 assault. So I ran sims with 260 Kleavor, then scaled them down proportionally to estimate. These strains within the chart are for 253 Kleavor, however is probably not completely correct.
• Likewise, Shadow Kleavor doesn’t exist in GM or Pokebattler but. I scaled the 253 Kleavor stats utilizing the distinction between Pinsir and Shadow Pinsir.

First, let me shortly record what (speculative) future modifications I confirmed right here, and how doubtless they might occur:

• Kleavor with Fury Cutter. Very doubtless in some unspecified time in the future, probably quickly.
• Shadow Kleavor. Presumably, this may occur finally when Niantic permits us to evolve our Scyther into Kleavor… However nobody is aware of when, or if it would occur in any respect.
• Kleavor and Scizor with Bug Buzz, together with all their types.
  • This one will most likely want a Scyther Group Day or some kind. Theoretically, Bug Buzz could be added throughout a GBL replace, however that’s fairly unlikely.
  • That’s additionally why I included Scizor right here. If a Scyther CD occurs, it’s doable that each get Bug Buzz because the CD transfer, or Scizor will get BB and Kleavor will get Stone Axe as a substitute.

Now, how good can they be?

• Kleavor with Fury Cutter/XS: Between the Vikavolt/Genesect/Yanmega tier and the Pinsir/Escavalier/Scizor tier.
  • Usable however not adequate, since Vikavolt is far more accessible and never raid-exclusive.
  • Nonetheless, it’s above Scizor. In actual fact, Kleavor > Scizor if they’ve the identical moveset, since Kleavor has higher stats.
• Shadow Kleavor with FC/XS: Higher than Shadow Pinsir and Shadow Scizor. Solely beneath Volcarona.
  • May have been thrilling – the very best realistically obtainable bug sort – if we might get Shadow Kleavor now. Alas.
  • Future Shadow Yanmega will doubtless be comparable or higher.
• Kleavor types with Bug Buzz: Common Kleavor jumps above Vikavolt, however nonetheless effectively beneath Volcarona. The large deal is Shadow Kleavor, which might lastly overtake Volcarona.
• Scizor types with Bug Buzz: Worse than respective BB Kleavor types. Common Scizor falls inside the Vikavolt tier. Shadow Scizor can also be higher than Volcarona, however wose than Shadow BB Kleavor.
  • Mega Scizor with Bug Buzz principally catches up with Mega Pinsir.

These might have had some thrilling potential… However something apart from the primary bullet level will doubtless take years to occur, if ever. At that time, even Larvesta CD turns into extra doubtless. Except you’re actually excited or involved about Shadow Kleavor/Scizor with Bug Buzz outclassing Volcarona, none of those are notably related.

• Even serious about how lengthy it would take to evolve Scyther into Kleavor is regarding. It took 4+ years for Niantic to permit us to evolve Exeggcute and Cubone into their Alolan evolutions, and even then they have been just for a restricted time period.

To not neglect… Hydreigon outclasses all of them in observe, anyway.

One last item to say: Mega Heracross will finally turn out to be the very best Bug attacker, interval. Stronger than Mega Pinsir.

(Extra data on Shadow Yanmega, and another future choices like Bug Buzz Vikavolt, could be present in my outdated Bug-type evaluation in August.)

Kleavor’s potential as a rock attacker

Charts of ASE with and with out dodging are here.

Essential word: All Kleavor sims, and particularly Shadow Kleavor sims, are estimates. Defined above.

Kleavor

BugRock

Proper now, Kleavor with Fast Assault technically reveals up on the chart, however on the very backside. Worse than Aggron, lol.

Sadly, common Kleavor’s potential stays restricted, even when it will get higher strikes.

• With simply Smack Down, it’s nonetheless “solely” on the tier of Smack Down Tyranitar (worse estimator, higher TTW). And SD Tyranitar itself has fallen behind in any case these years…
• Even with a signature transfer Stone Axe – and even when it’s as overpowered as Rock Wrecker – it’s solely higher than CD Gigalith. Has bother reaching Terrakion/Tyrantrum degree, and considerably beneath Rampardos and Rhyperior.

Shadow Kleavor is once more the larger deal – however provided that you ignore different future shadows.

• Shadow Kleavor with simply Smack Down is actually a Rampardos clone.
• Shadow Kleavor with Stone Axe is the one with actual potential. As of at present, it could possibly turn out to be the very best non-mega Rock attacker, overpowering Rampardos and Shadow Tyranitar.
• Nonetheless, that is provided that you ignore all different unreleased Rock-type shadows. Shadow Rhyperior and Shadow Rampardos will each simply outclass Shadow Kleavor with any transfer ^{(until Stone Axe turns into means too OP)}. Shadow Gigalith can even most likely be much like Shadow Kleavor with Stone Axe, however far more practical.

As soon as once more, Shadow Kleavor would have been attention-grabbing if it was launched proper now. However by the point we lastly get it – and at last get Stone Axe – I’m afraid even its ceiling wouldn’t be notable anymore.

(Extra data on the longer term shadows I discussed could be present in my older Rock-type analyses: Tyranitar CD and Gigalith CD.)

Volcarona’s potential as a hearth attacker (Fiery Dance and Shadow)

Charts of ASE with and with out dodging are here.

Volcarona

BugHearth

Volcarona with Fiery Dance could also be too farfetch’d to consider, however I’d say it’s certain to occur finally – it’s a pure CD transfer selection for a Larvesta CD.

Sadly, with out the shadow remedy, even Fiery Dance Volcarona received’t be top-tier. If the transfer is a Blast Burn clone (already an OP transfer, and much like Fusion Flare), FD Volcarona <= Shadow Blaziken, and means worse than Fusion Flare Reshiram.

Shadow Volcarona is once more the larger deal. Even with out Fiery Dance, it’s already much like Reshiram, if not barely higher. However good luck hoping it would occur earlier than the sport dies.

Half 6: Verdict on Volcarona and Kleavor/Scyther

Volcarona

BugHearth

Volcarona, as of now, is basically only a Chandelure clone (if not worse). Mainly equal as Hearth attackers, and a bit worse as anti-Psychic counters (with a number of variations on what bosses they can be utilized in opposition to, comparable to Hoopa-U vs Giratinas and Lugia).

Thus, for anybody that did December CD 2022, Volcarona is totally NOT value its present price. Even when you simply began this 12 months, I’d nonetheless attain the identical conclusion – there are many premium Hearth and Darkish/Ghost sorts which can be accessible and higher.

There are legit arguments for caring about Volcarona when it turns into much less uncommon sooner or later: Gen 8-9 legendary bosses which can be double weak to Bug, and being the very best anti-Psychic counter with a coordinated Primal Kyogre enhance (or in rain). However for essentially the most half, ready for its CD and unique transfer doesn’t make you miss out an excessive amount of.

Kleavor‘s present state is laughable, so I’ll simply bounce to future prospects. The main target right here is: Ought to I evolve a Scyther (common or shadow) to Scizor now, or wait a pair years and evolve it to Kleavor as a substitute?

Concerns:

• For any particular person Scyther, its greatest end result (on an infinite time horizon) might be a Kleavor, because it has higher stats than Scizor. (Except you assume Scizor will get Bug Buzz in the future and Kleavor received’t.)
• For a non-shadow Scyther, even its absolute ceiling doesn’t matter an excessive amount of. One of the best-case situations (listed beneath), with the absolute best strikes, are nonetheless not definitely worth the wait. Would possibly as effectively evolve no less than one for Mega Scizor.
  • Kleavor (Bug): Above or beneath Vikavolt
  • Kleavor (Rock): Under Rhyperior
  • Scizor (Bug): Identical as Vikavolt, however can mega evolve
• Shadow Scyther has greater future potential, particularly as Shadow Kleavor, however nonetheless a bit meh until they get higher charged strikes (Stone Axe, Bug Buzz).
  • Shadow Kleavor with out new charged strikes is close to or beneath non-shadow Rampardos and Volcarona. ^{Sure, Volcarona principally doesn’t exist now, but it surely most likely will when Shadow Kleavor turns into a factor in any respect.}
  • Even IF Shadow Kleavor and Scizor get the higher charged strikes, in observe, they’re nonetheless worse than Hydreigon and the longer term Rock-type shadows that can doubtless exist by then. To not point out how unlikely getting Bug Buzz is (although it is perhaps extra doubtless on Scizor).
  • Bug Buzz does get them to prime the Bug-type charts, so there’s that.
• Shadow Scizor has some makes use of proper now, particularly with Primal Kyogre enhance, however could be changed with Shadow Pinsir. Neither are essential by any means.

On the finish of the day, the principle concern is… How for much longer do you count on to play the sport?

Predicting the longer term is tough, if not unimaginable. As seen from Volcarona’s hype vs. actuality, what you count on could not at all times play out early sufficient to reap their advantages.

Sure, Larvesta CD is probably going inevitable. One can argue that Scyther is a possible CD candidate, too, and that it could even occur sooner. However all the recreation could be completely totally different by the point they occur, and that’s assuming the sport nonetheless exists.

When you have some Shadow Scythers that you just discover no use for, I’d nonetheless recommend ready, if solely due to how uncommon Shadow Scyther is now (it hasn’t been accessible for 1.5 years). Even when a Scyther CD occurs, you received’t be getting Shadow Scythers on that day.

Nonetheless, when you do need the enjoyment of coordinating with mates to make use of Shadow Scizors and Primal Kyogre to take down Mewtwo… By all means, do it. That most likely provides you higher worth than ready an unknown variety of years for an opportunity at Shadow Kleavor, or Shadow Scizor with Bug Buzz. (Take into account Shadow Pinsir fulfills that position too.)

Personally, I’ll maintain my very own Shadow Scythers unevolved. However that’s as a result of I have already got 6 Shadow Pinsirs (lol), so getting a Shadow Scizor provides little worth to me. That will or could not apply to your wants and desires.

Finally, do what makes you cheerful.

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Articles developing subsequent

• Fast evaluation on Blast Burn Delphox for Could CD.

Appendix: Previous analyses on different sorts

• Bug: This text
  • For one more set of future attackers: Bug Out
• Darkish/Ghost: Gholdengo & DIB Melmetal
  • For Tyranitar speculations: Tyranitar CD Traditional
  • For Giratina-O comparisons: Shadow Power Giratina-O
• Dragon: Breaking Swipe Rayquaza
  • For full future attackers: Mega Salamence
• Electrical: Reshiram & Zekrom with Fusion strikes
  • Mega Mewtwo Y (Thunderbolt) knowledge is unsuitable
  • For Xurkitree comparability: Bug Out
• Fairy: Togekiss CD
  • For full future attackers and detailed fairy-dragon comparisons: Mega Gardevoir
• Preventing: Shadow Mewtwo (Half 2 Terrakion part), with a number of future and speculative attackers
  • For future megas: September GBL replace (Mega Mewtwo X knowledge is unsuitable)
  • Additionally Galarian birds, Extremely Beasts & Sneasler
• Hearth: This text
  • For extra on Shadow Blaziken: Shadow Sceptile & Blaziken
  • For extra on Reshiram and Zekrom: Reshiram & Zekrom with Fusion strikes
  • Mega Mewtwo Y (Flamethrower) knowledge is unsuitable
  • For full future attackers: Gen 3 mega starters
• Flying: Staraptor CD
• Grass: Tsareena
  • For extra on Shadow Sceptile: Shadow Sceptile & Blaziken
  • For full future attackers: Kartana and Gen 3 mega starters
  • For Chesnaught-specific plots: Chesnaught CD
• Floor: Mamoswine CD Traditional
  • For extra on Groudon: Primal Kyogre & Groudon
• Ice: Mamoswine CD Traditional
  • For full future attackers: Kyurem & Mega Glalie
  • Mega Mewtwo Y (Ice Beam) knowledge is unsuitable
• Psychic: Mega Gardevoir
  • For Shadow Mewtwo with IVs: Shadow Mewtwo
  • For full future attackers: September replace/Psychic Spectacular
  • Mega Mewtwo knowledge is unsuitable
• Rock: This text
  • For Tyranitar speculations: Tyranitar CD Traditional
  • For full future attackers: Gigalith CD
• Metal: Gholdengo & DIB Melmetal
  • For full future attackers: Mega Aggron
• Water: Mega Slowbro CD
  • For extra on Primal Kyogre: Primal Kyogre & Groudon
  • For full future attackers: Gen 3 mega starters

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