Should Grass Types Get Earthquake/Earth Power?

[Ghetsis-Dennis]

The sequel to my controversial thread "Should Energy Ball Be Expanded to All Fire Types," only this time, it regards Grass types gaining one or two of these powerful ground type moves. It's a common fact that Grass types have really lackluster movepools, forcing them to become stallers/annoyers. As a part of the three main elemental types, it feels like an insult, and even worse when Water is too dominant rather than being equal in power. With EQ being limited to the starters (barring Serperior, though he really needs it) and Tangrowth, and Earth Power being used only by Celebi and Sunflora, it makes the rest of the Grass types really lacking (especially Ferrothorn, because Bulldoze is mediocre at best). Sure we have Natural Gift, but that too is very limited. If the use of these two moves were to expand to the rest of the Grass types, it'll help pierce through Steel types (and nerf Water types to a certain extent) in the metagame. It may also bring a bit of improvements on the Subseed sets. So, would EQ and Earth Power help our fellow Grass types?

inb4theyrefinethewaytheyare

 

[VirtualAnomaly]

I think they should get Earth Power, but not EQ, only since it makes more sense to me. Earth Power can refer to a natural sort of thing, but earthquakes in real life are caused by tectonic plate movements in the Earth's crust, not plants. But that's just me. I do have to agree with the lackluster movepools though. Earth Power would be a nice addition.

 

[Winterdaze]

I was skeptical about Earth Power on Grass types at first, since the move seems to be predominantly distributed amongst Ground types and Pokemon with ties to volcanism or other geological phenomena. Then I found out Sunflora (who is possibly the most generic of all Grass types), learned it. So what the heck, throw the poor things a bone. It's hardly a game breaking change.

Now as for Earthquake I think the distribution is fine (except for perhaps Serperior not learning it), since it's a strength/mass thing. However I would like to see the distribution of Nature Power improved among Grass types, maybe even as a tutor move that each one can learn, since it's essentially a de facto Earthquake in Wifi battles.

 

[Zistal]

Voted "Yes" before even looking at your post. The poor Grass types need a boost, BADLY. Giving them some Ground moves, which should already be associated with the type in the first place, would be more than reasonable.

 

[ZACH ATTACK]

If not Equake/Epower, at least some decent Ground move. I realize there aren't many more, but they could make a new one in B/W 2 I guess.

 

[Kaustic]

Vileplume used Earthquake!!

lolwut.

Shiftry used Earth Power!!

pleaseno.

 

[Shiny Shinx]

Like @VirtualAnomaly said, they should get Earth Power, but not Earthquake. Half of the Grass Types don't have enough weight to cause an Earthquake in the first place, so yeah.

 

[Kaustic]

The problem with them getting Earth Power is Grass-types are hardly able to be related to volcanic activity (notice how the attack animation features the ground erupting?), and the problem with them getting Earthquake is that most of them are too lightweight to believably use it.

Obviously, there are Pokemon able to use each move that logically shouldn't be able to, but that doesn't mean we need even more Pokemon being able to use either attack illogically.

 

[Saiga]

If Earth Power is related to Volcanic activity, why the hell doesn't Typhlosion get it?

 

[Shiny Shinx]

The problem with them getting Earth Power is Grass-types are hardly able to be related to volcanic activity (notice how the attack animation features the ground erupting?), and the problem with them getting Earthquake is that most of them are too lightweight to believably use it.

Obviously, there are Pokemon able to use each move that logically shouldn't be able to, but that doesn't mean we need even more Pokemon being able to use either attack illogically.

Oh, yeah. I forgot about the volcanic part.

But yeah. I stand beside every letter in every word in every sentece that you said.

I change my opinion, I'm standing with @Kaustic.

 

[Kaustic]

If Earth Power is related to Volcanic activity, why the hell doesn't Typhlosion get it?

Typhlosion should logically be able to use it. It's the Volcano Pokemon, after all (and has access to Earthquake). I don't know why he isn't able to learn it.

The problem with them getting Earth Power is Grass-types are hardly able to be related to volcanic activity (notice how the attack animation features the ground erupting?), and the problem with them getting Earthquake is that most of them are too lightweight to believably use it.

Obviously, there are Pokemon able to use each move that logically shouldn't be able to, but that doesn't mean we need even more Pokemon being able to use either attack illogically.

Oh, yeah. I forgot about the volcanic part.

But yeah. I stand beside every letter in every word in every sentece that you said.

I change my opinion, I'm standing with @Kaustic.

Awh yeah!!

 

[Affinity]

It depends how powerful the Pokemon is. If the Pokemon is very potent with magic powers then I guess it would be deserving to be able to use Earth Power. Likewise, if a Pokemon is strong enough to cause an Earthquake, why not?

 

[Lord Clowncrete]

The sequel to the "hugely controversial" thread! I'm gonna luv this!

Want to improve grass types? Just change the type chart and you are done.
Seriously.
Most grass types perform better as supporters. I mean what will whimsicott do with earthquake? The offensive ones like sceptile, venusaur already have it. The only Pokemon who might use ground attacks better might be roserade, who already has better alternatives like toxic spikes, spikes, sleep powder, aromatherapy, etc.

P.s Ferrothorn does not need earthquake. It already suffers from the 4-move slot syndrome and uses gyro ball and power whip better.

edit: Subseed sets never use earth quake, lol. and water types won't get nerfed just because a couple of grass types get eq.

Edit2: @Envoy and @winstein I would like your opinions.

 

[Envoy]

Huh. I hadn't noticed this thread. Thanks CommanderClowncrete for pointing it out.

Anyway for my opinion:

This thread is, I believe, not quite as bad as the Energy Ball thread simply because Grass types do have notoriously shallow movepools and could do with a few improvements.

That said, CC is right about something, and that's that most Grass types don't really have any use for EQ/Earth Power. Let me elaborate.

For a change, I do agree with the OP that a lot of Grass types are relegated to support roles due to their poor movepools. Examples include Serperior, Meganium, and Shiftry. None of which seem to have been built with support in mind (as evidenced by the fact that their support movpeool is also rather lacking when compared to other support Pokemon.)

However, there are plenty of Grass type Pokemon (I daresay the majority of them) that are quite obviously built with straight up support in mind. Pokemon such as Vileplume, Jumpluff, Bellossom, Ferrothorn, Whimsicott, Cherrim, Amoongus and Parasect. These Pokemon won't benefit whatsoever from Earth Power or EQ because attacking the enemy isn't what they're concerned about. They care about statusing enemies, setting up screens, leech seeding, healing the party of status, etc.

I think that I'm actually taking a middle of the road stance on this one. I do think EQ and especially Earth Power should be more widespread among Grass types that need it (Exeggutor, Roserade, and maybe the Starters) but I don't see the point of giving these moves to the majority of Grass types. It certainly wouldn't be a bad decision (like giving Energy Ball to an already offensively capable and varied Fire type would be,) it would just be mostly...pointless.

Although I must agree that a Contrary Serperior with Earth Power, Leaf Storm, Substitute and a Hidden Power of choice would be a beautiful sight to behold.

Edit:

The user makes the ground under the target erupt with power. It may also lower the target's Sp. Def.

The description of Earth Power does not make any mention whatsoever of volcanoes or volcanic anything beyond using the word "erupt," which is in no way is limited to volcanoes, magma, lava or such things.

 

[Saiga]

The user makes the ground under the target erupt with power. It may also lower the target's Sp. Def.

The description of Earth Power does not make any mention whatsoever of volcanoes or volcanic anything beyond using the word "erupt," which is in no way is limited to volcanoes, magma, lava or such things.

The animation also hints towards the volcanic connection.

 

[Envoy]

Maybe, but that doesn't mean that Pokemon with no connection to magma shouldn't get it. For the longest time, Dragon type move animations strongly hinted at a strong connection with Fire yet outside of Charizard, few Fire type Pokemon ever got Dragon type moves.

 

[Saiga]

Maybe, but that doesn't mean that Pokemon with no connection to magma shouldn't get it. For the longest time, Dragon type move animations strongly hinted at a strong connection with Fire yet outside of Charizard, few Fire type Pokemon ever got Dragon type moves.

Oh, I was more arguing that those who do have a connection to magma get the technique, rather than keeping it from those who don't have a connection to magma. Plenty of Pokemon get it that don't have a connection to magma... like Sunflora!

 

[Zeb]

For a change, I do agree with the OP that a lot of Grass types are relegated to support roles due to their poor movepools. Examples include Serperior, Meganium, and Shiftry.

Shiftry is relegated to a support role due to its "poor" movepool? Really?

Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, the newly-boosted Growth, Seed Bomb, Leaf Storm, Sucker Punch, Dark Pulse, Low Kick, Nature Power (EQ in Wi-Fi battles), Giga Drain, Chlorophyll, X-Scissor, Rock Slide, Focus Blast and Hidden Power (but everything learns that so it can be discounted) say otherwise. It can go mixed, special or physical, and under sun with Chlorophyll it gets a nice speed boost aswell as the Growth boost. That's not relegated to supporting; that's built for offense.

Nitpicking aside:

Earth Power always struck me as something akin to Nature Power, in that the earth/ground is related to nature, so I don't see anything wrong with them being given Earth Power from a design standpoint. EQ is iffy for me, because I don't agree with half the current pokemon (all pokemon, not the Grass-types that can learn it) that learn it knowing it.

 

[Envoy]

For a change, I do agree with the OP that a lot of Grass types are relegated to support roles due to their poor movepools. Examples include Serperior, Meganium, and Shiftry.

Shiftry is relegated to a support role due to its "poor" movepool? Really?

Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, the newly-boosted Growth, Seed Bomb, Leaf Storm, Sucker Punch, Dark Pulse, Low Kick, Nature Power (EQ in Wi-Fi battles), Giga Drain, Chlorophyll, X-Scissor, Rock Slide, Focus Blast and Hidden Power (but everything learns that so it can be discounted) say otherwise. It can go mixed, special or physical, and under sun with Chlorophyll it gets a nice speed boost aswell as the Growth boost. That's not relegated to supporting; that's built for offense.

Hahaha. Fine, you got me on that one. Poor guy's still stuck in NU though.

Edit: I forgot to mention in my first post that I agree with CommanderClowncrete in that Grass types getting EQ/EP wouldn't in any way nerf the Water type (losing the ability to learn Ice type moves would nerf the Water type, and it has the added benefit of buffing the Ice type at the same time) and that Ferrothorn has no use for EQ whatsoever. He doesn't need it. All he cares about is setting up Spikes and Stealth Rock and walling stuff. He has Gyro Ball and Power Whip for offense, which is more than enough.

 

[VirtualAnomaly]

Maybe, but that doesn't mean that Pokemon with no connection to magma shouldn't get it. For the longest time, Dragon type move animations strongly hinted at a strong connection with Fire yet outside of Charizard, few Fire type Pokemon ever got Dragon type moves.

Oh, I was more arguing that those who do have a connection to magma get the technique, rather than keeping it from those who don't have a connection to magma. Plenty of Pokemon get it that don't have a connection to magma... like Sunflora!

And that's what I am saying. Earth Power is a move that draws power from the Earth, and uses it against it's opponent. Plants are connected to the Earth, so they could use it as well. Sunflora is a prime example of this situation, not to mention Shaymin, Turtwig, and Celebi.