Garchomp: The Unstoppable Force or an Overhyped Dragon?
Garchomp, a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, has long been a subject of discussion and debate within the competitive Pokémon community. Its formidable stats, extensive movepool, and imposing dragon-like appearance have cemented its status as a powerful threat. However, the question of whether Garchomp should learn Dragon Dance, a move that boosts its Speed and Attack, remains a contentious point. This article delves into the intricacies of Garchomp's capabilities, its historical performance, and the potential implications of it gaining access to Dragon Dance, exploring why this seemingly simple addition could have significant repercussions on the Pokémon metagame.
Garchomp's Established Prowess
Garchomp is characterized by its large, bipedal, dragon-like form, predominantly navy blue with striking red and gold accents. Its shark-like head, complete with distinctive appendages, gives it an intimidating presence. As a pseudo-legendary, it boasts exceptionally high base stats, making it a naturally potent Pokémon. Its movepool is already "outstanding," as noted by some commentators, providing it with a wide array of offensive and utility options. Furthermore, Garchomp possesses well-placed stats that contribute to its overall effectiveness. The move Swords Dance, which significantly boosts its Attack, is already a staple in many Garchomp sets, allowing it to become a devastating physical attacker.
The effectiveness of Garchomp has been so pronounced that it was quickly recognized as a top-tier threat. Back in the early days of Generation 4, during Smogon's testing phases, it became apparent that Garchomp was "so well prepared for OU that they rushed it to Ubers." Ubers is the tier reserved for the most powerful Pokémon, those deemed too dominant for the standard OverUsed (OU) metagame. Since its initial reclassification, Garchomp's status as an Uber has been "pretty much unquestioned," a testament to its inherent power. This historical context is crucial when considering any potential buffs, as Garchomp has a proven track record of dominating the highest levels of play.
The Dragon Dance Dilemma
The core of the debate revolves around Garchomp learning Dragon Dance. This move, which increases both Speed and Attack by one stage, is a classic setup move for many powerful sweepers. The question arises: "So do they think Garchomp would be OP if he learned it?" Some players have envisioned a scenario where teaching Garchomp Dragon Dance along with a powerful STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) move like Dragon Rush would make it "nearly unstoppable."
However, the counterargument suggests that while adding Dragon Dance "will certainly make him better," it might not necessarily push Garchomp into an "OP" (Overpowered) state, especially considering it "already has an outstanding movepool, well placed stats and Swords Dance." The reasoning here is that Garchomp's existing strengths are already so significant that adding another boosting move might be redundant or, at best, a marginal improvement. The fact that it is already in Ubers due to its current attributes further complicates the discussion; any addition that enhances its offensive capabilities could potentially exacerbate its dominance.
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Garchomp in the Current Metagame: Scarlet & Violet
Examining Garchomp's performance in more recent generations, particularly in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (SV), provides a nuanced perspective. In the SV OU tier, Garchomp is described as "not really that great." This statement might seem counterintuitive given its history, but the current metagame presents unique challenges. The tier is "filled with so many offensive threats like Chinese Weavile and Nemo," which can quickly overwhelm Garchomp. Consequently, even a Swords Dance-boosted Garchomp can "get eclipsed" by these faster and more potent offensive Pokémon.
Furthermore, Garchomp's own offensive presence faces hurdles. Its primary Dragon-type STAB moves, Outrage and Dragon Claw, are no longer considered top-tier choices. Outrage, while powerful, can be risky due to the potential for the opponent to switch in a Pokémon that resists Dragon-type attacks and gain a free turn to set up or attack. Dragon Claw, on the other hand, is often "just too weak" to break through common defensive Pokémon or even strong offensive threats. Last generation, Garchomp had access to Scale Shot, a multi-hit Dragon-type move. While "heavily RNG dependent," it "at least allowed Garchomp to be a terrifying sweeper." The absence of such a move in the current landscape limits Garchomp's sweeping potential.
The current assessment places Garchomp's effectiveness in SV OU in the B+ to A- range. This suggests that while it remains a viable Pokémon, it is not the universally dominant force it once was. The problem is not necessarily Garchomp's speed - "102 speed is not too slow" - but rather the broader landscape of offensive threats and the limitations of its current movepool.
The Role of Terastalization and Other Sets
Terastalization, a new mechanic introduced in Scarlet & Violet, offers Garchomp new avenues for strategic play. "What makes sd Chomp interesting however is terastal." By changing its type, Garchomp can mitigate its weaknesses. For instance, a Tera Fire or Tera Steel type can turn its Ice and Fairy weaknesses into resistances. Tera Fire, in particular, "allows it to melt Corviknight," a common defensive Pokémon.
Despite these advantages, the "lack of dragon stab is the real problem." Stone Edge, another popular coverage move, is also underperforming due to the prevalence of Pokémon like "Past Donphan." Moreover, certain sets can be "walled by a certain unaware catfish, Dondozo," which is "really bad."
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Interestingly, some analyses suggest that even a "mix Garchomp is probably better than sd" in the current meta. A mixed set can utilize its Special Attack alongside its physical prowess to "draco the likes of Past Donphan and Dondozo while melting Corviknight as well." This highlights the adaptability of Garchomp but also underscores the evolving nature of competitive Pokémon battles, where specific move combinations and type matchups can drastically alter a Pokémon's effectiveness.
The Implications of Garchomp Learning Dragon Dance
Returning to the central question, if Garchomp were to learn Dragon Dance, what would be the consequences? Given its existing "outstanding movepool, well placed stats and Swords Dance," adding Dragon Dance would undoubtedly enhance its sweeping capabilities. A Garchomp that can boost both its Speed and Attack simultaneously would become an even more immediate and terrifying threat. It would be able to outspeed more Pokémon after a single boost, increasing its offensive pressure and making it harder to wall.
However, the argument that it might not become "OP" stems from the fact that Garchomp is already in Ubers. Adding a move that makes it even stronger might simply solidify its position in that tier, rather than disrupting the balance of the OU metagame. The discussion about Garchomp's movepool limitations in SV, particularly the diminished effectiveness of its Dragon STABs and the reliance on coverage moves like Stone Edge, suggests that Dragon Dance might not be the magic bullet some assume. It would certainly improve its sweeping potential, but the fundamental issues of its STAB coverage and the sheer offensive pressure from other Pokémon in the OU tier might still prevent it from being a universally dominant force outside of Ubers.
The "Gamefreak is full of assholes" sentiment, often expressed when discussing Pokémon distribution and move learnsets, highlights the perceived intentionality behind these decisions. Game Freak, the developer, often balances Pokémon by carefully controlling which moves they can learn. The exclusion of Dragon Dance from Garchomp's learnset, despite its thematic appropriateness and potential power, is likely a deliberate choice to maintain a certain level of balance within the competitive ecosystem. This decision prevents Garchomp from becoming excessively powerful and ensures that other Pokémon have a chance to shine.
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tags: #Garchomp #learn #Dragon #Dance
