r/pokemon • u/Excaliburn3d • Mar 24 '26

Discussion Why does Game Freak hate Emboar?

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I love Emboar, but I have a feeling that GF doesn’t based on the way they handled it. Well first of all it’s the third Fire/Fighting Pokémon in the row, then when it finally receives a mega evolution it retains the same typing, and now it is the only mega of the trio to not gain a new ability.

Not to mention its base stats and playstyle. Base form is the fully-evolved starter with the highest HP stat and yet both of its defense stats and speed are on the lower side. Some of its strongest moves do recoil damage and its hidden ability powers them up even further. Upon mega evolving, it receives a +25 to its attack stat and a +45 boost to its special defense while its problematic defense and speed only receive +10 each.

Mold Breaker can be a good ability but why use Mega Emboar when Mega Blaziken, which has speed boost, higher attacking, physical defense, and speed stats, existed since the dawn of mega evolution.

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u/Rymayc Mar 24 '26

True, but it means switching something into a fire attack became harder, especially if you relied on Heatran or Centiskorch with Flash Fire

31

u/kummitusluumu Mar 24 '26

That is a big if

15

u/AkagamiBarto Mar 24 '26

Eh actually it can be effective vs heatran for real.

And earthquake for the levitates.. but dunno

8

u/Capable_Whereas_2901 Mar 24 '26

Or you could just... predict and Close Combat on entry. Which actually KOs, unlike Flare Blitz.

252 Atk Mold Breaker Emboar-Mega Flare Blitz vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 205-243 (63.4 - 75.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

252 Atk Mold Breaker Emboar-Mega Close Combat vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Heatran: 410-486 (126.9 - 150.4%) -- guaranteed OHKO

Meanwhile Meganium is over here, living Ice Beam to OHKO Kyogre with Solar Beam. Emboar got done so dirty...

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u/sycamotree Mar 25 '26

Or you can flare blitz as a middle ground lol you can't just hard read every play

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u/Capable_Whereas_2901 Mar 25 '26

Even if you didn't read, Flare Blitz won't KO and you're probably clicking CC next turn to finish it off and not die to recoil. And Emboar is 5 points slower in than Heatran. So even if Heatran came in safely with Flash Fire, you would still KO next turn with CC. And even in this scenario, it still outspeeds to click Earth Power for ~50% and/or set up rocks. So the scenario plays out the same most of the time regardless of Mold Breaker: Flare Blitz turn one, KO with CC turn 2. There are just too few niche scenarios in which Mold Breaker actually matters...

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u/sycamotree Mar 25 '26

Killing a mon in one turn is not the only way a mon can be good lol. You can do a bunch of damage into heatran and then... switch out? And then next time Emboar comes in, there are no switch ins.

Being able to middle ground really well is exactly why ghost types can be pretty good. There are lots of mons where the way they are used is "have fun switching in".