Move-of-the-Week Discussion #67: Hidden Power

winstein

winstein

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(It's voting week!)

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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, Hidden Power is chosen.

Introduced in Generation 2, Hidden Power's claim to fame is having a different type depending on the user's stats. In fact, it's one of the best ways to achieve offensive coverage for any attacker (Special attackers mainly from Generation 4 onwards). Even though this move is a Normal-type, it cannot become a Normal-type attack. Its power used to be different among Pokémon, but that changed in Generation 6, where the power is constant, although the variable type remains. It remains to be seen if there can be a Hidden Power Fairy, though (at this time, it hasn't been proven). It might be forgotten now, but it used to be Unown's signature move, for it used to be the only one who can have it naturally.

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

In-game Description (XY) said:
Type: Normal (Special)
Base Power: 60
Accuracy: 100%
PP: 15

A unique attack that varies in type depending on the Pokémon using it.
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 kind of characteristics cause Hidden Power's type (and before that, power) to be different among Pokémon, realistically speaking?
  • With every Pokémon having an individual Hidden Power, would this be used as a guide in fortune telling or personality test, like horoscopes are done?
  • Is is better if this move has a variable power, or a constant power? What reason is your choice?
  • Of all the Pokémon, Unown knows this move as its only move. Why are they incapable of learning any other move?

Here are the current users of this move:
(Level-up)​
  • Slowking
  • Unown
  • Meditite & Medicham
  • Burmy, Wormadam & Mothim
  • Shellos & Gastrodon
  • Solosis, Duosion & Reuniclus
  • Elgyem & Beheeyem

    (Technical Machine TM10)
  • (Every Pokémon with the ability to learn TMs that are not in their level-up moves)

Thanks for reading, and happy discussing!

~ The General Pokémon 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.

Criterion for next move: Generation 6 Starter's Signature Move (Spiky Shield, Mystical Fire, Water Shuriken, Mat Block)
 
Hidden Power is interesting to me because it's hard to be sure exactly where the power that was hidden comes from. The fact that it changes types and strength depending on the user suggests that it's a power that the pokemon have to derive from within themselves, and this is supported by the fact that it's learned by a lot of Psychic pokemon like Reuniclus and Slowking.

But then again, it also seems to have an external component, since Burmy and Shellos really don't seem to have any special "focusing" powers, and are known for being pokemon that are different depending on their surroundings. Maybe they coincidentally discovered this power and this new "advantage" is driving divergent evolution processes in these species. IDK, interested to see what others think.
 
Please note: The thread is from 12 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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