Hidden Power???

[Booker]

My question is why do so many people use this in competitive teams? as far as i can tell, it's base power at the highest is 70? aren't there better moves to teach other then this?

 

[Tyros]

Sure, there are, but sometimes, it's the only way for a Pokemon to get a move of a certain type. For example... Say a Pokemon would really benefit with a fire type move. But... It wouldn't ever learn any fire time move normally. Level up, move tutor, egg move... None of them.

Best answer to that? Hidden Power: Fire. 70 Power really isn't all that bad, anyway. n.n

This example works with any other type too, obviously.

- Tyros

 

[Booker]

so basically it's a last resort?

 

[Tyros]

Nope! It's just another way of thinking strategy on what types of moves would benefit your Pokemon best. n.n

Thinking sheer power, sure, you could use all moves that have, like, 90+ power, but if you're concerned with having super-effective hit type coverage (something very, very important) Hidden Power can be exactly what you're looking for.

So, it's not so much a last resort as, something you might consider as a useful option.

- Tyros

 

[Myles Grey]

Keep in mind how common the elemental punches are, they're only 75 power.

 

[Blazevoir]

But Hidden Power is Special. A Special Sweeper would rather have HP Ice (70) than Ice Punch.

 

[DCM]

Some pokemon have bad movepools. Yanmega has no way of hitting steels/fires/rock pokemon for super effective. So he uses HP ground to round out his moveset.

 

[Our Wasted Years]

My question is why do so many people use this in competitive teams? as far as i can tell, it's base power at the highest is 70? aren't there better moves to teach other then this?

Let's just use this as an example:

You have a Jolteon, your opponent has a Swampert.
Jolteon has no move in his move pool to KO the Swampert. If you give your Jolteon Hidden Power Grass there is a possible chance you might OHKO the Swampert. Sure you can sit there all day Protecting, Subbding down, using Shadow Ball, etc etc etc but that wont help you. Without your Jolteon having Hidden Power Grass you'd be a sitting duck.

You get the picture?

 

[Sleet]

It's a last resort when it comes to giving a Pokémon an attack of a certain type, but certainly not a last resort when it comes to giving a Pokémon a fourth move.

 

[DCM]

Basically, it just rounds out the movepool for pokemon that lack a good movepool. Starmie will rarely use a Hidden Power (except maybe Ground and Fighting, in rare cases) because his movepool is good enough as it is. Where as jolteon, to use the above example, has issues with a moveset.

 

[Booker]

thanks guys that cleared up a lot of question but is it base power always 70?

 

[Our Wasted Years]

thanks guys that cleared up a lot of question but is it base power always 70?

http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Hidden_Power_calculation

 

[Booker]

great.. this makes things complicated

 

[Myles Grey]

That's just calculations for us more geekier ones. In reality, it's more or less random for each individual Pokemon: any type except Normal and any power ranging from 30-70.