Why Movepools are Close to Everything - The Flareon Theorem 

Complete the series: Why Abilities are Everything - The Regigigas Theorum

Honorable mention to Aerodactyl for having Rock Head as an ability but not Head Smash or Brave Bird in its move pools.

Flareon's lackluster move pool truly reached meme status when the "However, Flareon is the only fully evolved Fire type Pokémon that cannot learn Solar Beam" thing hit the field.

I remember reading an entry from Serebii's Pokémon of the week/month things years ago, and I have never forgotten the all caps "GIVE IT FLARE BLITZ" written into Flareon's competitive viability section.

When Flareon finally got the physical fire stab it wanted, power creep ensured it didn’t matter.

If anything I'd call this the Smeargle Theorem. That thing has miserable stats yet still finds niches for itself because it has access to nearly every move in the series.

Something else about movepools not mentioned in this video is that, roughly, a bigger move pool means more viable sets, more viable sets means more unpredictability, and more unpredictability means it’s harder to counter something because you don’t know what set it’s running. For example- Lando-T can run offensive SD, band, scarf, explosion lead, bulky pivot with SR, and even a surprise specs set, and you have to at keep in mind this versatility when you run into it. If are not anticipating what set they are running and they catch you off guard, you can potentially lose the game right then and there. Half the battle is just discovering which set Lando-T is running, and that’s something only possible with its huge movepool of viable moves. As briefly mentioned in the Snorlax segment, even just the addition of one move can make a huge difference for what opponents might anticipate or team build for, regardless of if you are using that move or not; the addition of Slack Off to Snorlax would also be a buff to, say, a choice band set, because they also have to anticipate a belly drum set, 3 attack + slack off set, utility set, and curse set that are bolstered or even exist because of the addition of Slack Off

A relatively new Pokétuber named Zen Mode has a series about fixing weaker Pokémon. So far, he's only changed one 'mon's type, and has left all stats alone; instead, he focuses on evolution level, abilities, and moves. I would say updating the moves has been the most impactful so far, and is perhaps the greatest example of The Flareon Theorem out there.

Lilligant has got to be one of the most promising grass type offensive mons, with acess to both sleep powder and quiver dance, and even own tempo to spam petal dance without regrets. But she just falls flat for the lack of coverage. She basically only learns grass and normal type offensive moves, and polen puff, wich is nice but not exactly the best coverage a grass type would want.

The Pidove line is a great example of this as well. 2nd best ATK stat after Starraptor. Nearly exclusively special moveset.

I always found Normal types interesting in this regard. By definition they cannot have supereffective STAB moves, so I believe they are compensated by receiving crazy dense movepools with many types available. This explains why Porygon and Snorlax could learn Thunderbolt in Gen 1, or why Cyclizar can learn Power Whip in Gen 9, because movepool variety makes up for the "eh" stab type. And while I haven't seen them use such movepools extensively so far, it does make for a neat surprise factor in terms of options. Hopefully this beneficial trait becomes more handy with time.

You know a theorem is true when the opposite extreme can be listed as an only weakness. In ORAS, Clefable was consistently S tier in OU. It just did everything. I distinctly remember it’s one weakness on smogon being “you can only bring 4 moves”

You could also call it the Weavile theorem, since the utility and best attacking moves were taken away from Weavile, causing it to plummet to RU. Still has massive speed, but it's movepool still took a hit. Sincerely, a Weavile fan who is totally miffed it got nerfed

Gen 9 move dexit has really done a number on a couple of mons. Weavile losing Knock Off and Triple Axel sent it from S-tier OU to RU, Blissey and Chansey losing Toxic sent them down to RU as well, Slow twins losing Teleport and Scald also made them significantly worse. Landorus-Therian is gonna have a hard time now too after losing Defog, Knock Off, and Toxic (and to a lesser extent, Rock Polish).

The thing that will always bother me is how some electric moves like Zing Zap or Volt Tackle are basically just: "Put electricity all around yourself and charge the opponent" Yet these moves are still just signature moves for one or two mons. Same thing with Plasma Fists, it's basically Ion Deluge but as a punching move, if something like Electivire can learn Ion Deluge (I forgot if it can) while also having powerful fists, then it should also be able to learn Plasma Fists. Physical electric types really deserve some attention.

I think a lot of Pokémon could be made infinitely better by a single addition to their move pool. Shell smash for kingler, slack off for snorlax, and recover for swampert are all good examples.

I’m loving these theorem videos FSG, and it’s so cool to see these theorems fleshed out that have been underlying concepts throughout all of your many “how good was:” videos

I would also put Klingklang in this theorem. Good typing, amazing buffing move and reasonable attack power, but only learns steel/electric movies aside from Return.

I'd like to propose the Electivire theorem - Or why coverage isn't everything.

Fire and Electric really really need good generic physical moves that don't have recoil, similar to Water's Liquidation.

shoutouts to Gen 5 giving Flareon Guts but not Flare Blitz. Really synergizes well with that Heal Bell they gave it!

I vivdly remember a conversation before Gen 6 came out: "Maybe Flareon will finally get THAT move." "You mean Solarbeam?"

There's a romhack called Energized Emerald where Flareon gets Contrary as an ability. With it and moves like Superpower, Overheat, and a new fire type Hammer Arm move, it's become a scary little beastie.

Would be great to see a theorum covering x4 weakness mons and why it’s either not the end of the world or how having a combination of types that can result in a x4 weakness is actually extremely strong either defensively or offensive. There’s lots of stuff one could cover about this topic. Also the options for names is vast, for example: Volcarona, Garchomp, Scizor, Swampert, Heatran, Landorus, Ferrothorn, Weavile, Tyranitar, etc.

I recently played HGSS again and used a Flareon on my team. I didn't have access to move tutors for better attacks so it was stuck with a really bad moveset, to the point where I taught it Strength just for more power

It's not just Flare Blitz. Flareon lacks SO MANY normal generic or fitting physical movepool options. I will list them: - does NOT get EQ; - does NOT get Rock Slide nor Stone Edge; - does NOT get Solar Beam, Grass Knot, or any other Grass-type coverage move that would wreck any of its weakness types, aside from Trailblaze... which is a 50-base power move. except if you happen to get a Grass-Tera Type Eevee/Flareon so it can use Tera Blast; - does NOT get CRUNCH even though it gets BITE?!; - NO Close Combat (to use as a suicide banded guts set); - NO Foul Play; - NO Iron Head OR Iron Tail (IT HAS A GIANT TAIL, WHY NOT?!); - NO Low Sweep; - No Lunge; - NO Play Rough; - LOST access to Superpower; - NO Zen Headbutt seriously, the more I looked into it the more depressed I got.

It's not every day you see someone admit that Flareon had some legitimately potential, but it says a lot that about Flareon when the maker of Renegade Platinum not only gave it Flare Blitz, but also Close Combat by level up. And they even re-scrambled its stats to look more like Leafeon's.

Honestly Leafeon has a lot going for it... Gen 5 gave it chlorophyll making it one of the fastest grass types in sun, gen 8 gave it Solar Blade (which gen 9 then took away) giving sun Leafeon a monstrous attack to use, and gen 9 gave it terastalization and tera blast to give a second stab move and also remove the criplling weaknesses of the grass type. The biggest things holding a sun sweeping leafeon back these days are just how abysmal the movepool is and the fact it's 110 atk stat is good but not great... Forcing it to need swords dance. But even at +6 atk there's too many holes in the movepool that every team will have SOMETHING to hard wall it. It needs coverage... Some good physical rock, steel, or fairy move options would go a LOOOONG way in helping Leafeon potentially become viable in lower smogon tiers

Next episode: Why healing makes all the difference - The mega aggron theorem (or the chansey theorem)

Another video idea is “The pachirisu theorem” where a pokemon can have success if it has a combination of unique traits that no other Pokémon can replicate.

Perhaps we could get a "Wild Charge Theorem:" or how Pokemon of certain types (like Electric, Rock and Fire) without a useful signature move being unviable/less viable because their preferred method of attack either has really risky moves (Physical Fire types relying on Flare Blitz and its nasty recoil), very few viable moves which simply might not appear in their moveset (if a Special-attacking Rock type lacks Power Gem . . .) or both (the many Physical Electric types stuck with Wild Charge and only Wild Charge).

Shocked you didnt mention Kyurem Black, I thought that was a good example of a victim of the Flareon Theorum

Might I nominate the victims of Move Dexit - i.e. Skuntank's niche as a Pursuiter being deleted, and Stoutland's STAB being reduced from Return to Strength

I would propose the Avalugg Theorem: Why Typing Matters. While a smaller theorem to be sure, you have to admit lots of Pokemon are let down by their typing even today because their typing doesn't support the Pokemon's niche. Avalugg is a prime example, having great defensive stats and decent moves for the role with Recover and Rapid Spin and the Hisuian Form also having entry hazards, but it has the worst defensive typing in the game especially the Hisuian Form. If Avalugg had Weavile-like stats of of being a sweeper with that typing it could be deadly but like real life glaciers during climate change Avalugg doesn't stand a chance as it is. On the opposite side of the coin consider how much the Fairy type revolutionized the game and even meh Pokemon became viable just by being a Fairy type.

Snorlax and flareon desperately needing that one move reminds me of black kyurem needing a reliable physical ice move. Black kyurem is an honourable mention of the flareon theorem imo

I feel like Butterfree, Ribombee, and Vivillon apply to this discussion as well. All three have access to quiver dance/sleep powder and would be awful without it. Ribombee has a strong hazard in sticky web, and the two butterflies can go for sash sweeper or a sub/sleep/stab/dance set. All three have a niche, and only because of their movepools.

It might be interesting to make a video about how some of these rules are completely flipped on their head in doubles. Stuff like super high speed pokemon with other bad stats are a lot worse in doubles, meanwhile something like Regieleki was absolutely dominant in VGC (granted it's movepool is better for VGC than singles)

Would be good if you show de " the pachirisu theorem", how the envirement of the meta can make a bad pokémon become good

Yah wanna know what makes Flareon's move pool even more annoying? In lgpe, one of the special partner eevee tutor moves, is a powerful, physical fire type move that doesn't do recoil, and has a 100% chance to burn. If they gave Flareon that move, yeah it wouldn't be ou material, but it could at least do something in the lower tiers.

Honorable mention to Blacephalon: it’s lack of good attacking moves make it a one trick pony, but it makes up for it with a good offensive typing and sheer speed & firepower.

I’m loving this series so much. Can we get a Slaking theorem for abilities? Or like a [comment section help me out] theorem for Pokémon who may have excellent roles but the meta game doesn’t care about that role

6:02 "If [Regieleki] existed in a generation with just hidden power... It'd likely be one of the most terrifying pokemon around." HOME's coming in a few days, and Regieleki gets Tera Blast, so we'll see just how devastating it is soon.

I love this could be renamed "the RBY theorem". Also, you should do a video about those Pokémon with a tiny movepool but just the right moves to make them good.

Smeargle has always been a weird case. Its stats suck ass with a straw, but it can do so many sick things with his movepool... even causing Dark Void's nerf, poor Darkrai 😢

With all of these new theorems running around, I wonder if we'll get a "Has nearly everything to be good, but ONE specific thing causes it to be shot down from great." kind of Theorem. A Slaking Theorem, perhaps? Plus, it's been a while, so it'd be nice to reference the Slaking & Gigas videos again.

Why a good ability is everything: The Shedinja Theorem

I'd like to add in the curious case of Contrary Lurantis. In its debut generation, Lurantis didn't have a lot going for it. A pure grass type with a relatively subpar move pool (although it makes for a good Torkoal partner). A pretty pokemon for sure, but not a pretty good pokemon. Funnily enough tho, Lurantis was also given Contrary as a hidden ability. As a physical attacker this is great, since it never needs to worry about intimidate or other stat reductions, and most contrary pokemon get a stat reducing move that matches their main attacking stat. Not Lurantis though. It got Leaf Storm. A great move, but definitely was not good on Lurantis. After its generation came and went, it was brought back into Sword and Shield where it was able to flourish. It was given the move Superpower, which as many know, lowers the users' attack and defense. It was perfect for Lurantis, and while it still didn't see a lot of play, it at least gained a second niche as a Trick Room Attacker. Then Scarlet and Violet came, where they took away Superpower, bringing Lurantis back down to where it started, albeit in a much stronger game.

I’d like to thank you for this series, it’s helping me understand what competitive pokemon is in a more digestible format for me, like focusing more on the applications of why things matter could be super helpful I think

All eevees could be competitively viable by either flipping one of its base stats, or giving it a better movepool. Even now with its current moves, if flareons speed and spdef flipped, it would be at the very least a good niche.

The fire type move! The physical fire type move is real!!

I love the thumbnails. Always top tier.

Dang, you guys are popping off with these Theorem videos. These have been great to help explain various nuances of the Pokemon competitive scene to my friends that don't actually play it themselves.

Look mom I made it! That aside, I'm enjoying this series thus far. Can't wait to see the other "theorems" that everybody's been suggesting in the comments lol

Imagine if Flareon got Drought or Sheer Force, followed by the move Wild Charge which goes with the theme of high power moves with drawbacks (Such as Flare Blitz, Superpower, Double-Edge, etc). Suddenly you got a much more interesting pokémon. From a doubles perspective it's basically just a support outclassed by other supports or a turn one surprise in slower metas if you go for a Jolly Scarf set only for it to be walled the next turn. Crunch or High Horsepower would also be interesting but it wouldn't go with the theme of the good moves Flareon currently has.

I appreciate a lot the fact that you read the comments and made videos about each topic that was requested :D

I'm really loving this new series. It's a fresh take on your analysis you did for Pokemon. Looking forward to what you cover next.

Possible ideas for future theorems: Why abilities are sometimes everything: The Slaking theorem Why typing is almost everything: The avalugg/aurorus/iron thorns theorem Why availability is sometimes everything: The pachirisu theorem Why balanced stats are not everything: The lucario theorem (this one being about how mixed attackers, pokemon with average stats all around, etc, are not as good as those with unbalanced stats towards a niche)

Maximising huggability: Solving the Flareon theorem

Neat analysis video! Thanks for uploading!

A moment of silence to all physical electric types without signature moves(bolt strike, double shock, plasma fist etc). When your type's best options for physical damage is wild charge and thunder punch....

Seems like all the Eeveelutions have thin movepools, but some are more affected by it than others, & Umbreon is also majorly affected by it in a different way than is Flareon. Might a video on the effect of set damage or similarly consistent damage moves on competitives be a good theme at some point?

If you do an Ability Theorem, Clefable will show up AGAIN. This mon is just a perfect case study on what does and doesn't make a mon viable.

This is one of the best thumbnails ive seen on youtube

Ideas: 1) Why abilities are everything - the Pelliper theorem 2) Why a bad defensive typing isn't neccesarilly nothing - the Tyranitar theorem 3) Why HP isn't everything - the Guzzlord theorem

These thumbnails just keep getting better and better LMAO

I want the "blissey theorem" where health can mean everything or nothing in viability.

that Clerks reference lol there's been a Steam group for years called "The Petition Against Flareon Uselessness".. it's sad that it never worked out, but we've been faithful to her this whole time.

dude i am loving the art of the thumbnails, keep going with the good work 👍

THE MOVEPOOLS! THE MOVEPOOLS IS REAAAALLL!

Could you imagine if they increased the move slots from four to six.

incredible thumbnail, props to the artist

I appreciate your channel so much because over the years ive played the ds and gba pokemon games very religiously. Finally moving into some romhacks, but ive never been as good as i could be because there were some things i still didn't know. I understood the fundamentals, and what i was playing. But seeing how the high level competition plays has given me such an incredible edge when playing some of the games and i think applying that to the ROM hacks will make them a like. Really fun. Drayano sure did amp up his battles in blaze black 🖤

*THE OOOOOONE PIEEEEEECE*

I remember when I first got into smogon battles on pkm showdown I was looking through pokemon on serebii to build a team and I saw how flareon had such an insane attack stat. I was thinking " how do I never see this pokemon?". Then I look at the move pool and I was stunned that flareon didn't learn flare blitz.

My favorite part is how I saw the comment in the last video, then it became this video! Way to appreciate your community!!

You should do a why typing isn’t everything: The Tyranitar theorem

Houndstone being Uber thanks to one move and untired without it 💀

I felt the emotion here! :D and appreciated it!

Great video! This is so true. There are some Pokémon that just have such a wide movepool, that you can have some really unique builds and strategies. I'm not as familiar with the more modern movepools, but I remember back in earlier generations some Pokémon were crippled by their movepools (or there was only one viable moveset). The physical/special split actually benefited a number of Pokémon in Gen 4. Although, of course, there were Pokémon on the opposite end of the spectrum like Nidoking who could learn a crazy amount of moves.

This video is a 10/10 on the thumbnail alone

If Flareon ever got a fire type version of Quick Attack, it might find some success.

God the thumbnail for this one is so good.

BKC really saw an opportunity to further rent about ADV Snorlax and ran with it lmfao excellent video as always, thanks FSG crew!

FSG: Regieleki would be terrifying with hidden power. SV: You are 100% correct. In fact, I'll do you one better.

So many times I ignored Clefairy until the first time I caught one and realised with one I could plug pretty much any gap in my team. Aerodactyl in gen 1 & 2 had great stats but awful moves. In gen 3 I actually really like using it.

Got so caught off guard with that Clerks reference. And here I was thinking I was watching children's programming.

The chopper-flareon edit is CRAZY

The physical special split catapulted some of my favorite Pokémon into viability like gyrados. That could be an interesting topic

Why did almost every Grass-type Pokémon up to Gen 6-7 have movepools entirely consisting of Grass moves, Normal moves, Toxic, and Sunny Day? It was really lame.

That thumbnail, I can feel the frustration from here 🤣

idk who did them, but great job to whoever did the visuals, they're so seamless and well timed

I know that it may be a weird pick, but Zamazenta having an excellent defense stat, an ability that further boosts it and in the gen that introduced a fighting type move that uses the user's defense stat to deal damage, but for some reason, they decided that Zamazenta shouldn't have Body Press in gen 8.

The next should be: Why typing can be everything - The Aggron Theorum

God, I love that thumbnail!

I used to regularly take part in smaller doubles tournaments, and I distinctly remember Flareon with Curse on one of my Trick Room teams. It used Detect + Leftovers as well, and you have no idea how hard it carried me through the battles. This is why I love Pokemon held back by their speed so much, Trick Room can work wonders for them

I think klinklang could also be a good example of this. Its stats spread are surprisingly good, but since the coverage moves it has were wild charge and normal move, it is not as optimal as those with more coverage.

Dusknoir has a great movepool, Ice Punch is perfect for dealing with all those pesky Lando-T's

From mon design to base stats to move pools, the design choices have always been dubious.

One thing that I think should have been mentioned was that Mew's high equal stats and massive movepool meant that if someone sent it out, you had no way of telling what role it filled until after it moved.

It should've been called Scizor theorem, it has a demonstration of how moveset is everything in Gen 3 BAD once it got a moveset it turned into an always strong good pokemon