I've had this idea bouncing around in my skull for the past few days... Wouldn't it be nice if Game Freak encouraged trainers to let their Pokemon keep their signature moves?
Allow me to explain. I was on Smogon, looking up Dugtrio, and I noticed something. Not a single optimized build for Dugtrio employed the move Dig. (Dig is not technically Diglett/Dugtrio's signature move, but they were initially the only Pokemon to learn it by level-up.)
This is obviously because Earthquake ends up being a better move in the long run. It has a base power of 100 (150 STAB), over Dig's base power of 80 (120 STAB). Sure, Dig provides a semi-invulnerable turn... that is, assuming the opponent doesn't have Magnitude or Earthquake. If they do, you're done.
But what if Diglett and Dugtrio got a 'signature move' x1.5 bonus when they used Dig? That would bump Dig up to 180 power, including STAB, over Earthquake's 150 base power, (since Earthquake would not get the 'signature move' bonus.) That way, Pokemon who are "supposed" to know a certain move have a greater incentive to keep it, and it adds a more interesting dynamic to the battle. Dugtrio SHOULD be more adept at digging than any other Pokemon--it's how he gets around!
This also solves the problem of specific Pokemon 'losing' their signature moves when newly-introduced Pokemon are also able to learn that move. Well, not every Pokemon can keep a move all to itself, (Hell, even Ditto shares Transform with Mew!) but Grovyle and Sceptile would be able to 'reclaim' Leaf Blade from Victreebel, Bellossom, Leafeon and Gallade. The other guys can still use it, but not as effectively as the Pokemon who created the technique.
I doubt they will ever implement this, but I think it would be a good idea if carefully tweaked.
Thoughts? Opinions?
Allow me to explain. I was on Smogon, looking up Dugtrio, and I noticed something. Not a single optimized build for Dugtrio employed the move Dig. (Dig is not technically Diglett/Dugtrio's signature move, but they were initially the only Pokemon to learn it by level-up.)
This is obviously because Earthquake ends up being a better move in the long run. It has a base power of 100 (150 STAB), over Dig's base power of 80 (120 STAB). Sure, Dig provides a semi-invulnerable turn... that is, assuming the opponent doesn't have Magnitude or Earthquake. If they do, you're done.
But what if Diglett and Dugtrio got a 'signature move' x1.5 bonus when they used Dig? That would bump Dig up to 180 power, including STAB, over Earthquake's 150 base power, (since Earthquake would not get the 'signature move' bonus.) That way, Pokemon who are "supposed" to know a certain move have a greater incentive to keep it, and it adds a more interesting dynamic to the battle. Dugtrio SHOULD be more adept at digging than any other Pokemon--it's how he gets around!
This also solves the problem of specific Pokemon 'losing' their signature moves when newly-introduced Pokemon are also able to learn that move. Well, not every Pokemon can keep a move all to itself, (Hell, even Ditto shares Transform with Mew!) but Grovyle and Sceptile would be able to 'reclaim' Leaf Blade from Victreebel, Bellossom, Leafeon and Gallade. The other guys can still use it, but not as effectively as the Pokemon who created the technique.
I doubt they will ever implement this, but I think it would be a good idea if carefully tweaked.
Thoughts? Opinions?