Move-of-the-Week Discussion #16: Shift Gear

winstein

winstein

Mari-yo Puyo
Retired Staff
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
4,710
Reaction score
187
In Pokémon, there are lots of different moves used by different Pokémon. However, there are certain moves we don't normally see being used, heard about, or used in a meaningful manner. On the other hand, there are moves we see that are famous or used often. In this type of discussion, we shall discuss the ins-and-outs of the move of the topic, and there will be some base questions that would help you start this off. Every Saturday, a different move will be the centre of discussion.


(Click picture to go to the Bulbapedia page)​

In-game Description (Move) said:
Type: Steel (Status)
Accuracy: --
PP: 10

The user rotates its gears, raising its Attack and sharply raising its Speed.
Click to expand...

This is our first time covering a signature move. In this case, it is only learned by our fellow cog-based Pokémon introduced in Generation 5. This move, along with Gear Grind, makes them really unique indeed. When this move is used, it will give the user a single Attack boost and two Speed boosts! Essentially, this is an upgraded Dragon Dance. Perhaps you could use your imagination on the question of other potentially qualified users since it's a signature move.

Here are the usual possible questions about this move:
  • How do these Gear Pokémon use this move?
  • What kind of purpose would this move have for them (in the Pokémon World)?
  • How could this move be used to aid a profession in the Pokémon World?
  • Realistically, would there be any advantage or disadvantage associated with using this move? If yes, what kind of advantage/disadvantage would the user have when they use it?
  • Could this move realistically be used by any Pokémon who doesn't learn it normally? If yes, please explain your choices.
  • How would this move be used in battling, realistically or video game-wise?

Other questions (You could ask other critical questions beyond the listed):
  • What kind of change will happen if this move is used?
  • Is it possible for these gears to be overworked if this move is used too much?

Here are the current users of this move:
  • Klink, Klang & Klinklang

Thanks for reading, and happy discussing!

~ The Pokémon World Forum Staff


Previous Move-of-the-Weeks:
 
Is it possible for these gears to be overworked if this move is used too much?

Hmm. If based on real life, gears would "detach" and would never work with the spinning flow.

How do these Gear Pokémon use this move?

Hmm. They would speed up their gear-spinning. (speed) And if you tried to put a finger on a spinning gear, it's painful. (attack)
 
What kind of purpose would this move have for them (in the Pokémon World)?
Maybe if there was a wild one, it could keep on using Shift Gear to protect itself or to flee quickly.

Could this move realistically be used by any Pokémon who doesn't learn it normally? If yes, please explain your choices.
I highly doubt it could be used by any other Pokemon that doesn't learn it normally.

How could this move be used to aid a profession in the Pokémon World?
Maybe if someone had a factory powered by tons of Klink and Klang, they could have them use Shift Gear to speed up the production. idk
 
I visualize that they actually have more complex sets of indentations and mechanism, and this move switches to a faster one. There's a limit on the gears they have, naturally, and you don't want to overwork just the highest gear all the time which requires more force to be applied anyway.

This move could perhaps be learned by a pokémon that could have clockwork within them, but through an special event, as it'd be akin to making a modification to a machine.
Perhaps through this unique way, the Golurk line could have it, being an ancient machine, or even Magnezone. Maybe even some outside-event Genesect, though adding clockwork to whatever technology it uses seems pretty silly.
 
I would assume to use Shift Gear, they "shift into high gear" and begin spinning faster. It's possible that they do this by stimulating themselves with electricity, since they do learn a lot of Electric moves.

As shown in the the Victini movies, Klink, Klang, and Klinklang can be used to power machinery by fitting into a gear system of said machine. Shift Gear would allow them to control the movements of the machine at a faster or slower rate. Since it's implied that these Pokémon are the results of human activity, I don't really see this move being used much in nature other than in battles.

I don't think any other current Pokémon should be able to use Shift Gear since no other Pokémon are based on or contain visible gears.

Because of Shift Gear, Klinklang are a pain to battle. If you let one power up with this more than once or twice, it's extremely difficult to defeat, especially since it's strong defensively as well. The key to using it is to find or make an opportunity to set up, like most set up moves, either by baiting your opponent to switch or by using Substitute.
 
They'd probably be useful in factories where a lot of gears are needed.

But even if you let them Shift Gear, you can always KO them with a STAB'd Earthquake or Fighting-type move the moment you see them because only their Speed and Attacks are boosted, not their Defense/Spe. Defense. If it had another additional effect that would boost their Defenses as well, then it'll be pretty scary.

Like someone said above, the Magnemite family could possible learn it by breeding.
 
Dark Blueberry said:
Like someone said above, the Magnemite family could possible learn it by breeding.
Click to expand...

Problem with this is that, since Magnemite is genderless, they cannot acquire Egg Moves. Perhaps an Event move or future level up move would be more appropriate.

If Magnezone used this move to double Speed, it will outspeed anything up to a Base 95 Pokemon with a Scarf. Not bad! Magneton using this move, on the other hand, will put it above anything with a base 115 Pokemon with a Scarf.

Thanks for reading.
 
How do these Gear Pokémon use this move?

This question...well, I think it's actually been answered already, by official sources! If anyone has Pokédex 3D/Pro, open it up.
You can see animations for all three Gear Pokémon of them spinning faster. In particular, Klang and Klinklang have the small gear with a face which moves towards the larger gear, and it starts to spin faster. Klinklang's animation for this also makes the red energy core gear glow and move from the smaller gear to the larger one.
When I saw this, I assumed it to be the move Shift Gear in action, like a few of animations for Pokédex 3D/Pro are in relation to sources like the anime. Examples:

  • Keldeo's Ordinary Forme in Pokédex 3D Pro has an animation that shows it using Hydro Pump as per M15
  • Reshiram and Zekrom are both seen using their Turboblaze/Teravolt abilities and Fusion Flare/Fusion Bolt moves
  • Victini is seen using V-Create as his second animation.
In fact, a lot of Legendary Pokémon especially are seen using a move with one of their animations. I'm not sure if there are many others that demonstrate a move usage beside those that I listed, though, as I don't have Pokédex 3D Pro (which releases...edit: TOMORROW as of this post date!).
 
Please note: The thread is from 13 years ago.
Please take the age of this thread into consideration in writing your reply. Depending on what exactly you wanted to say, you may want to consider if it would be better to post a new thread instead.
Back
Top Bottom