Move-of-the-Week Discussion #31: Nasty Plot

winstein

winstein

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(Reminder: This week is voting week)​

In Pokémon, there are lots of different moves used by different Pokémon. Every week, we shall focus the discussion on a different move, and there will be some base questions that would help you start this off. This week, Nasty Plot is chosen.


(Click picture to go to the Bulbapedia page)​

In-game Description (BW) said:
Type: Dark (Status)
Base Power: --
Accuracy: --
PP: 20

The user stimulates its brain by thinking bad thoughts. It sharply raises the user’s Sp. Atk.
Click to expand...

For a long time, there wasn't a move that boosts Special Attack sharply, while Swords Dance existed since the first Generation. That is, until we are at Generation 4, where the Special side of offence is given attention. Nasty Plot is given to a fair share of Pokémon, though not as widespread as Swords Dance. Additionally, the users are said to have evil thought when they used it, so it kind of insinuates that having an evil conscience is beneficial because it makes the user powerful. While Tail Glow was the first move to sharply raise Special Attack, it was confined to a single user at that time (Volbeat).

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?
  • 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 does thinking of bad thoughts give the user a stronger offence?
  • A few of the users that learn it by level-up only learn this move in their most basic form, but couldn't learn it once they evolve (Pichu, Chimchar and Riolu). In this case, how are they different from their evolutions?
  • Additionally, some of the users only learn this move when they are fully-evolved (Ninetales, Slowking, Honchkrow, Weavile & Porygon-Z). What differentiates them from their pre-evolved forms?

Here are the current users of this move (put in Spoiler tag due to the large list):
(Level-up)​
  • Ninetales
  • Meowth & Persian
  • Drowzee & Hypno
  • Mew
  • Pichu, Pikachu & Raichu
  • Aipom & Ambipom
  • Slowking
  • Houndour & Houndoom
  • Shiftry
  • Plusle & Minun
  • Chimchar, Monferno & Infernape
  • Honchkrow
  • Spiritomb
  • Riolu & Lucario
  • Weavile
  • Porygon-Z
  • Azelf
  • Darkrai
  • Purrloin & Liepard
  • Zorua & Zoroark
  • Vullaby & Mandibuzz
  • Thundurus

    (Breeding)
  • Zubat, Golbat & Crobat
  • Mime Jr. & Mr. Mime
  • Togepi, Togetic & Togekiss
  • Misdreavus & Mismagius
  • Smoochum & Jynx
  • Seedot, Nuzleaf & Shiftry
  • Sableye
  • Cacnea & Cacturne
  • Kecleon
  • Chatot
  • Pansage & Simisage
  • Pansear & Simisear
  • Panpour & Simipour
  • Yamask & Cofagrigus
  • Elgyem & Beheeyem

    (Event only)
  • Celebi (Gen 4)
  • Deoxys

Thanks for reading, and happy discussing!

~ The Pokémon World Forum Staff


Previous Move-of-the-Weeks:


For every four weeks, users get to vote for the next Move-of-the-Week. To narrow down the selection of potential moves, a criteria for the next move would be placed. If you want to vote, at least contribute to the topic in hand (because this topic is about the current move, not about voting for the next move). If you posted just to vote, your vote won't be considered.

One more thing: if a move is already covered in a past Move-of-the-Week, then it won't be considered, so make sure to check the list to see if the move you wish to vote had already been covered.

Criterion for next move: A move that a snake Pokémon learns (chosen because it's the Year of the Snake). Said Pokémon must have "snake" in its species name or are related to those "snake" Pokémon. The closer this move is at representing what a snake would use, the likely it is to be chosen. List:

- Ekans (Snake) & Arbok
- Onix (Rock Snake) & Steelix (Iron Snake)
- Dunsparce (Land Snake)
- Seviper (Fang Snake)
- Snivy (Grass Snake), Servine (Grass Snake) & Serperior
 
Move vote: Coil (the obvious XDD)

In the case of young pokemons, I think this may be done by mischievous thinking, not necessarily bad. Young kids are better at thinking outside the box, and they have better creativity - which, may be translated as 'elemental power' to pokemons.

As for fully evolved pokemons, I can understand Ninetales learning it because it's somehow associated with a demon fox, so it would have bad thoughts. Same goes to Weavile... though I cannot understand why Sneasel can't learn it when it's equally mischievous as well. Slowking... maybe because it's smarter than it's two other family members it can think up bad things? Honchkrow, naturally, since it's based on a mafia boss, and I don't know about Porygon-Z.
 
How Nasty Plot can be used in battle:

Maybe Nasty Plot may be used to determine strategies in battle, stimulaing the mind (and thus, raises Special Attack). The user plans its moves to aim for certain areas for a greater effect.

As for my vote, I'll vote Coil as well.
 
A few of the users that learn it by level-up only learn this move in their most basic form, but couldn't learn it once they evolve (Pichu, Chimchar and Riolu). In this case, how are they different from their evolutions?
Click to expand...

Apart from saying "To make sure the baby Pokémon have a purpose", I'm gonna guess that as the lines are normally good by default, they need to learn malicious behaviour early otherwise it just won't be in their nature when they're older. Eh... its a weird one.
 
How could this move be used to aid a profession in the Pokémon World?

would aid all the villainous teams (rocket, aqua, magma, galactic, neo-plasma) except ex-plasma.

Heres a question: Why is it Dark-type when Dark is mostly physical and not more special-oriented types, like Psy or Ghost?
 
Incoming Mortar said:
Heres a question: Why is it Dark-type when Dark is mostly physical and not more special-oriented types, like Psy or Ghost?
Click to expand...

I am going to go with the fact that flavour-wise, this move fits the Dark-type due to the way this move works. It simulates evil thoughts, which in a sense, is ungodly (for lack of a better term). Anyway, it fits well for Ghosts, since they are comparably malicious. As for Psychics... I am going to go with the theory that most of these users are better special attackers, so they got this move as a boost.

Thanks for reading.
 
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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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