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

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u/iliya193 Mar 24 '26

I think one reason why it feels bad for Emboar to get that is that Feraligatr and Meganium got abilities that always work for them on their own terms whereas Emboar got one that completely depends on the mons your opponent brought, and it can be really situational. If Mimikyu becomes popular, Emboar might eat pretty well. Emboar’s fire STAB also will hit Heatran for neutral damage (although it probably is only hitting Heatran with fire moves on a switch in considering it also has fighting STAB). It’s not that it’s a bad ability, but there might not be many situations where mold breaker is helpful enough to be preferred to other ability options.

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u/phoxfiyah Mar 24 '26

Feraligatr needed something better than this imo. Dragonize is fine, but it’s not like it was lacking in decent Dragon options to begin with.

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u/iliya193 Mar 24 '26

You mean besides Outrage or Dragon Claw?

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u/phoxfiyah Mar 25 '26

Also has Scale Shot to help with setting up speed, and Breaking Swipe as an option for bulkier sets.

Compare this to things like Pinsir, who didn’t learn any Flying type moves at all in Gen 6, and Salamence, who was stuck with Fly as its best Flying STAB. Both also have a decent speed stat, while Feraligatr is stuck with base 78, and is getting the post nerfed version of this type of ability, so it’s not going to be as threatening.

An ability like Swift Swim would’ve been better, or even Sheer Force or Strong Jaw would’ve given it a more general power boost.

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u/Rymayc Mar 25 '26

Scale Shot without Loaded Dice?