Move-of-the-Week Discussion #24: Frost Breath

winstein

winstein

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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 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 week, a different move will be the centre of discussion.

After some voting between choosing a summer move (Fire) or a winter move (Ice), a winter move won out.


(Click picture to go to the Bulbapedia page)​

In-game Description (BW) said:
Type: Ice (Special)
Base Power: 40
Accuracy: 90%
PP: 10

The user blows a cold breath on the target. This attack always results in a critical hit.
Click to expand...

Introduced in Generation 5, Frost Breath guarantees a critical hit. This is the first of its kind, as previous moves require chance to get that kind of effect. Frost Breath is also one of the moves that is learned exclusively by Ice-types, giving them something to differentiate from the dominating Water-types. This move is sure to chill anybody, so it's probably cool for those who are experiencing summer right now!

Here are the usual possible questions about this move:
  • How does certain Pokémon (who knows it) 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):
  • How cold is Frost Breath?
  • Why does this move give out critical hits every time?
  • Is it good to have more moves exclusive to Ice-types? Why?

Here are the current users of this move (put in Spoiler tag due to a large learner list):
  • Dewgong
  • Cloyster
  • Smoochum & Jynx
  • Lapras
  • Articuno
  • Mew
  • Delibird
  • Snorunt, Glalie & Froslass
  • Spheal, Sealeo & Walrein
  • Regice
  • Snover & Abomasnow
  • Glaceon
  • Vanillite, Vanillish & Vanilluxe
  • Cubchoo & Beartic
  • Cryogonal

Thanks for reading, and happy discussing!

~ The Pokémon World Forum Staff


Previous Move-of-the-Weeks:
 
How cold is Frost Breath?
Enough to cause frostbites?

Why does this move give out critical hits every time?
Frostbites are really fatal, right?
 
I wonder why only Ice-types have access to Frost Breath. Surely exhaling freezing air is simpler than focusing the cold for a beam or summoning a blizzard.
 
Cerony said:
I wonder why only Ice-types have access to Frost Breath. Surely exhaling freezing air is simpler than focusing the cold for a beam or summoning a blizzard.
Click to expand...

I'm guessing Frost Breath uses their natural breath while Ice Beam and Blizzard are forced concentrations? It would explain why only Ice type learns Frost Breath if the breath has to be naturally cold to begin with.
 
They probably breath out cold air, and like Leopard said, it probably has to be natural. For the purpose in the Pokemon World, it might be because certain ice-types need it cold to survive, so they breathe out cold air. To aid a profession, they could make the Pokemon use Frost Breath to cool things like food. Kyurem seems to be able to use it, because its White Pokedex entry says it produces ultracold air, however it doesn't learn it. Sneasel and Weavile would probably be able to use the move, if they can cause blizzards. Frost Breath is probably painfully cold, and is probably always critical because of the pain.
 
Yeah... why doesn't Kyurem learn it? Maybe because it doesn't breathe?
In the movie where we can get good close-ups of Kyurem, it doesn't have any body parts that are used for breathing. Only when it changes forms to Black/White Kyurem did it develop a mouth.

That's my guess
 
I always liked to think of Frost Breath's certain critical hit being attributed to the expression of "being chilled to the bone".

What I really really want to see them do with this move in the future is to make a Pokemon with a combination of this and Technician.

60 basepower, automatic critical to 120.

It'd be like a pseudo-blizzard equivalent of Galvantula's 91% accurate Thunder.
 
33Whimsicott33 said:
I always liked to think of Frost Breath's certain critical hit being attributed to the expression of "being chilled to the bone".

What I really really want to see them do with this move in the future is to make a Pokemon with a combination of this and Technician.

60 basepower, automatic critical to 120.

It'd be like a pseudo-blizzard equivalent of Galvantula's 91% accurate Thunder.
Click to expand...

Actually, except for Mew, all Pokemon that can learn Frost Breath have their power up to one hundred twenty!
Base Power=40
STAB=+20
=60
CH=X 2
=120
So, in other words, Blizard is completely useless right now, and should be forever Debunked as one of the lamest things in history, since frost Breath Hits nine in ten chances while Blizard only hints seven in ten chances.
 
The most common impression seems to be that Frost Breath hits for critical because it gives off a shrill chill. It true because it's accurate. Usually the breath kind of covers every part of the body that makes them take more damage, unless they have protection (Shell Armour, for example).

33Whimsicott33 said:
I always liked to think of Frost Breath's certain critical hit being attributed to the expression of "being chilled to the bone".

What I really really want to see them do with this move in the future is to make a Pokemon with a combination of this and Technician.

60 basepower, automatic critical to 120.

It'd be like a pseudo-blizzard equivalent of Galvantula's 91% accurate Thunder.
Click to expand...

I would actually prefer that Frost Breath gets a power boost, since Ice-types only learn this move, they would like some sort of reason to use it over the ever-useful Ice Beam. I would say a natural base power of between 50 to 60 would suffice.

UltimateOshowatt said:
Actually, except for Mew, all Pokemon that can learn Frost Breath have their power up to one hundred twenty!
Base Power=40
STAB=+20
=60
CH=X 2
=120
So, in other words, Blizard is completely useless right now, and should be forever Debunked as one of the lamest things in history, since frost Breath Hits nine in ten chances while Blizard only hints seven in ten chances.
Click to expand...

Well, you need to take into account that the other Ice-type attacks also has STAB, so Blizzard actually hits for 180BP, because...

120 BP * 1.5 (STAB) = 180 BP

Even then, Ice Beam is the most preferred STAB because it has a hit rate of 100%. Taking into account STAB...

95 BP * 1.5 (STAB) = 142.5 BP

That is certainly stronger than Frost Breath's net power of 120 BP. Also, you have to remember that Blizzard is fully accurate in Hail, giving Ice-types a powerful weapon, although the 5 PP is a letdown. Still, if the low PP is enough to win, that's great.

Thanks for reading.
 
If an Ice-type Pokémon were to have this move + the Sniper ability, it would have a reason to use Frost Breath over Ice Beam / Blizzard (40 x 1.5 [STAB] x 3 [Sniper critical hit] = 180, which is equal to STAB Blizzard).

Advantages over Blizzard : twice as much PP (8 PP max for Blizzard, 16 for Frost Breath) and is more accurate than Blizzard outside of Hail.
Disadvantages over Blizzard : doesn't have a chance to freeze the opponent and still misses 10% of the time even if the Hail weather is up, unlike Blizzard which has a 10% chance of freezing and never misses in Hail.
 
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.
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