Datamining done before the official release ofPokemon Scarlet and Violeton a ROM of the game revealed a lot of Pokemon that would be coming to the Paldean region from old games. These include pocket monsters from every previous region like Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres from Kanto, Typhlosion from Johto, Rayquaza from Hoenn, the Lake Guardians from Sinnoh, Meloetta from Unova, the starters from Kalos, Decidueye from Alola, and the starters from Galar. These Pokemon will be able to betransferred toPokemon Scarlet and VioletthroughPokemon Home.
Another pair of monsters that will be available are the box Legendaries ofPokemon Sword and Shield, Zacian and Zamazenta. The two Pokemon ruled competitive formats that they were not banned in because of their insane stats, moves, and solid typings. With Zacian especially being prolific because of its base 170 Attack stat when it’s in its Crowned Sword form and its signature move Behemoth Blade having 100 base power and STAB. Zacian’s Ability, Intrepid Sword, was also overpowered, providing a boost to the user’s Attack stat by one stage anytime it entered the field. However, both Zacian and Zamazenta are receiving hefty nerfs if they are transferred up intoPokemon Scarlet and Violet.
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Why Zamazenta Is Far Worse in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
While both of the Generation 8 Legendaries got nerfs, with Zacian getting its Attack stat cut by 20 when in the Crowned Sword form and 10 in its normal form. Intrepid Sword is getting altered to only activate once per battle instead of every time the user gets switched in. Behemoth Blade wasn’t altered due to it hitting Dynamax or G-Max Pokemon for double damage, instead of reworking it GameFreak just removed Zacian’s signature move. However, Zacian is a far better Pokemon than Zamazenta so these nerfs likely won’t kill Zacian incompetitivePokemonbattles. Zamazenta, on the other hand, may have seen its last days among the elite Pokemon in competitive formats.
Zamazenta inPokemon Sword and Shieldwas a powerful critter thanks to it having a staggering base stat total of 720, a versatile Fighting andSteel-type Pokemon, as well as a great Ability in Dauntless Shield that raises the user’s Defense every time it enters the battle. With a base Defense and Special Defense stat of 145 and the boost from Dauntless Shield, Zamazenta was a phenomenal tank that could also use Rest to heal up if it ever got low on health. It was so good that it ended up being put into the Uber tier in singles formats and was restricted in VGC. It also got access to Behemoth Bash, its signature move with 100 base power and STAB on top of that, and other powerful moves like Close Combat.
However, just like Zacian, it is getting significant nerfs inPokemon Scarlet and Violet. Its base stat total is getting cut to 700 by seeing both its Physical Defense and Special Defense lowered to 140, as well as its Attack being cut to 120 from 130 in the previous generation ofPokemongames. Dauntless Shield is getting the same treatment as Intrepid Sword too, being reduced to only the first turn that Zamazenta switches in on. This cuts its tanking potential severely and makes it a less viable Pokemon as a whole. Additionally, its signature move Behemoth Bash is getting outright removed just like Behemoth Blade. Instead of finding a rework for it doing double damage toPokemon SwordandShield’s Dynamaxed Pokemon, GameFreak just decided to cut it as a whole.
These nerfs will likely affect Zamazenta far more than Zacian because Zacian was a better Pokemon in the first place, and is better at what its role will be oncePokemon Homeis updated to allow transferring into thePokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Paldea region. On the other hand, Zamazenta will serve as a far frailer tank now than it did back in its heyday ofPokemon Sword and Shieldand also not be able to deal as much damage back to opponents as it used to.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetare available on Nintendo Switch now.
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