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Move-of-the-Week Discussion #45: Ally Switch

winstein

winstein

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(Click picture to go to the Bulbapedia page)​

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, Ally Switch is chosen.

Ally Switch is an interesting move introduced in Generation 5. In an era where Triple Battles were introduced, this move could prove useful in messing with the opponent. Since this move is used before the opponent use a normal move, it could prove useful in allowing a teammate on the field to take the hit, as well as manipulating your position. Remember that this move is usable in Doubles as well, where both Pokémon switch positions. An oddity with this move is that it won't execute if you are in the middle position in a Triple Battle. This move might be a TM, but oddly, not every Psychic-type could learn it, unlike Telekinesis, which a lot more Psychics could learn.

Here's the in-game description of this move:

In-game Description (BW) said:
Type: Psychic (Status)
Base Power: --%
Accuracy: --
PP: 15

The user teleports using a strange power and switches its place with one of its allies.
Click to expand...

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):
  • What separates Psychics who could use this move and those who can't?
  • This move acts first, acting at the same time as Quick Attack. What makes this move faster than the average move in execution?
  • There is a move called Trick, which swaps the user's item with another. How is this move different from Ally Switch?
  • As mentioned, the middle Pokémon will fail to execute this move, and thus, couldn't switch positions. Would it be ideal if the user could choose the ally to switch positions with?
  • Is it possible to switch positions with another person at any time?

Here are the current users of this move:
(Level-up)​
  • Kadabra & Alakazam

    (Technical Machine)
  • Abra, Kadabra & Alakazam
  • Mew
  • Natu & Xatu
  • Ralts, Kirlia, Gardevoir & Gallade
  • Baltoy & Claydol
  • Deoxys
  • Elgyem & Beheeyem

Thanks for reading, and happy discussing!

~ The Pokémon World Forum Staff


Previous Move-of-the-Weeks:

Next Move-of-the-Week: A deadly melody.​
 
One similarity I noticed about the Pokemon that learn this move is that they are all the same Pokemon that exclusively learn Teleport. This means that it likely works very similar, but teleporting both the user and the other target.
 
Enzap said:
One similarity I noticed about the Pokemon that learn this move is that they are all the same Pokemon that exclusively learn Teleport. This means that it likely works very similar, but teleporting both the user and the other target.
Click to expand...

Yeah, now that you mentioned it, the learners are essentially the same! Except for Mew, but only because it learns every TM in existence. I suppose the designers chose whoever learns Teleport and give them this move. Still, it does pose the question on whether it would be a better idea for Teleport to have this effect instead.

Thanks for reading.
 
To be honest, I think this move is quite ridiculous, because of its VERY overspecialized effect for something... really mundane. Teleport doing this in-battle (instead of nothing) could've worked... but personally?

I'd have preffered simply steamlining the pokémon switch menu choice to allow for this. It would've been more useful (and something I have wanted since the Gen III days).
Although having it as a move prevents just switching predictions all the time... it's not like switching pokémon normally isn't that already anyways, and it's still the same turn cost.

And it'd be interesting if Pursuit worked with that mechanic then.


And seriously, is switching places with your teammate really that difficult in the middle of a battle? Is it easier for a pokémon to go back in a pokéball and get another one sent out to take a hit than just have the one ALREADY OUT take it? Because to me it just is a mechanic limitation.
 
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Oh yeah, I forgot about Mew. ^^

It might be a little late to change now, but it would make sense for Teleport to do something similar. It's times like this where I wish there was a Pokemon fighting game so Teleport could be shown as useful in battle in a more realistic way.
 
Infinity Mk-II said:
It'd be interesting if Pursuit worked with that mechanic then.
Click to expand...

That would devalue this move even more, don't you think?

Infinity Mk-II said:
And seriously, is switching places with your teammate really that difficult in the middle of a battle? Is it easier for a pokémon to go back in a pokéball and get another one sent out to take a hit than just have the one ALREADY OUT take it? Because to me it just is a mechanic limitation.
Click to expand...

In the perspective of a Double Battle, Ally Switch is more like making a "surprise switch", so the opponent didn't expect to hit another target. Normally, switching places would not work because the opponent is eyeing on what they are supposed to target, making switching places at a normal pace not productive. For a Triple battle, there is shifting involved, although it's only one place at a time and is a normal priority, so a faster Pokemon could hit a slower Pokemon attempting to shift positions. Remember that Ally Switch moves at the same pace as Quick Attack (Priority: +1), so again, it's like a "surprise switch". Basically, switching positions with a teammate is slower-paced.

As for the question on switching being easier, that would be the case if the Pokemon is not already present on the field, so say you have a Xatu and this move, and you are expecting your opponent to use Toxic. Using this move, you shift Xatu to that side, and their Toxic is bounced back and you are safe. It's also a nice way to keep a Pokemon with stat boosts on the field without losing them. So there are some advantages with this move that I believe gave it a place. Not saying it is universally useful like some other moves like Helping Hand, because it is indeed a difficult move to fit when every move counts.

Enzap said:
It might be a little late to change now, but it would make sense for Teleport to do something similar. It's times like this where I wish there was a Pokemon fighting game so Teleport could be shown as useful in battle in a more realistic way.
Click to expand...

While not a Pokemon fighting game, Smash Bros. Melee gave Mewtwo Teleport as one of its moves, which is used for recovering to a stage if it got knocked out too far. It doesn't involve switching with allies, but Teleport's ability to save Mewtwo's life makes it worth it.

Thanks for reading.
 
winstein said:
Infinity Mk-II said:
It'd be interesting if Pursuit worked with that mechanic then.
Click to expand...

That would devalue this move even more, don't you think?
Click to expand...
I was reffering in the case of "shifting" being part of the switching option, instead of this move.

Infinity Mk-II said:
And seriously, is switching places with your teammate really that difficult in the middle of a battle? Is it easier for a pokémon to go back in a pokéball and get another one sent out to take a hit than just have the one ALREADY OUT take it? Because to me it just is a mechanic limitation.
Click to expand...

In the perspective of a Double Battle, Ally Switch is more like making a "surprise switch", so the opponent didn't expect to hit another target. Normally, switching places would not work because the opponent is eyeing on what they are supposed to target, making switching places at a normal pace not productive. For a Triple battle, there is shifting involved, although it's only one place at a time and is a normal priority, so a faster Pokemon could hit a slower Pokemon attempting to shift positions. Remember that Ally Switch moves at the same pace as Quick Attack (Priority: +1), so again, it's like a "surprise switch". Basically, switching positions with a teammate is slower-paced.
Click to expand...
Well, I was thinking more on how you'd expect changing to an entirely different pokémon to be an slow action yet it is Priority +6, while switching with a pokémon already there not only is slower but impossible in doubles outside this specialized move.

... However, now that I think of it a pokéball switch probably isn't so much a matter of speed as a surprise factor, because preassumbly the target just ceases to be there and now there's a different one. Considering this, having essentially switching places at +6 wouldn't make much sense, specially considering a pokémon would follow their target...
But shifting at +1 or at least neutral does make sense in taking a hit not directed to them. Although, I guess this is already accomplished by some other moves that draw attention.

I guess some mechanic involving the pokémon initiating the switch being still targeted could work, but at THAT point we'd be taking into account pokémon movement in the battlefield, which with the small exception in triple battles is generally ignored for the sake of simplicity. (And would be more appropiate with a move that does exactly that anyways)


So yeah, nevermind. Although, for what it's worth, Rotation does have +6 shifting of sorts...
 
This move is probably the biggest waste of space on the entire TM list. Not only is it insanely overspecialised and does nothing besides switch, but the fact is that the most popular tactic for double and triple battles (spamming AOE moves) makes it completely ineffective most of the time. To think they could have had (reusable!) Roost stay as the TM51 instead of this...
 
Spectrum Achromatic said:
Would anyone bother to teach it to a Gallade, when it's more an attacker than a supporter?
Click to expand...

Remember that Ralts learn this move too, so they can't just remove compatibility with evolutions. Sure, there were some odd cases where the moves became incompatible to further evolutions (Uproar), but the evolution would still be able to inherit this move anyway. Also, I believe that Gallade could perform support too, but its movepool makes attacking a much better way to use Gallade (And there's the factor that Gallade doesn't naturally learn Wish).

Winterdaze said:
This move is probably the biggest waste of space on the entire TM list. Not only is it insanely overspecialised and does nothing besides switch, but the fact is that the most popular tactic for double and triple battles (spamming AOE moves) makes it completely ineffective most of the time. To think they could have had (reusable!) Roost stay as the TM51 instead of this...
Click to expand...

I felt that it's better to be any other move other than Roost. Roost has too good of an effect because its recovery is a lot better than several others, so Move Tutor is better. If I were to suggest a new move to replace it, it would be Hex. At least that would have given certain Pokemon an option to make use of the prevalence of status ailments, and it's singles-worthy too! But really, I hope the effect of this move would be revised to make it a bit more worthy.

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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