It’s Time to Admit Hisuian Pokemon Are Broken

When Pokemon Legends: Arceus came out, many Pokemon fans were excited about the many new Hisuian regional forms and evolutions, such as Hisuian Zoroark, Sneasler, Ursaluna, and the three starters. It was unclear back then whether and when these Pokemon would find their way into the main series, or even into competitive play, as it seemed complicated to integrate critters from the old version of the Sinnoh region into Pokemon lore. It wasn’t immediately clear that Pokemon Legends: Arceus was a mainline Pokemon game, either, for that matter. As of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Hisuian Pokemon made their debut in Paldea and VGC, and it was immediately clear that they were broken.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus and later Pokemon Legends: Z-A didn’t have abilities for Pokemon, which meant that every pocket monster would have its kit changed and fully revealed only when it became available to use in Gen 9. Some of these Pokemon are not great by VGC standards, but most of them end up being very strong in various competitive formats, from low-power to the likes of Regulation I for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Now that Pokemon Champions is here, and so are several Hisuian Pokemon, it’s time to admit that they are a bit too strong overall.

If you have played even just a couple of games in Pokemon Champions‘ double battles format, which is the preferred and official one for VGC, you will know that there is no escaping Sneasler and Basculegion. These two Pokemon are everywhere, and they are very powerful. Not only that, but Hisuian Arcanine, Hisuian Typhlosion, and Hisuian Zoroark are all found relatively often in many teams.

• Pokemon Champions‘ Sneasler applies pressure with Fake Out, has incredibly optimized stats that make it both physically powerful and speedy, becoming the fastest non-Choice Scarf Pokemon on the field with White Herb and Unburden, and it has access to very strong moves like Dire Claw and Close Combat.
• Basculegion is currently one of the best Pokemon in Pokemon Champions because it can deal incredible damage with its Water attacks on its own if it’s a Choice Scarf Adaptability set, and equally good damage if it’s a Swift Swim rain set because rain boosts Water damage. On top of that, if used in the second half of a match, it can destroy most opposing Pokemon with Last Respects.
• Hisuian Arcanine can be a fantastic Intimidate user with great offensive power and Speed, while also pressuring opponents with spread damage from Rock Slide and flinching. It also learns Flare Blitz to take care of problematic Pokemon like Kingambit, Venusaur, and Whimsicott. Hisuian Arcanine can even act as an Incineroar counter in Pokemon Champions due to its type and Intimidate.
• Hisuian Zoroark is very interesting to use because it forces the opponent to go through mental gymnastics to determine which Pokemon they are actually battling. It can also act as Speed control with Icy Wind, it’s immune to Fake Out, and it can deal some good damage against the likes of Basculegion with Shadow Ball.
• Hisuian Typhlosion can be a very fast and powerful Choice Scarf Pokemon to use, often paired with Heat Wave, Eruption, and Shadow Ball to dish out good damage at the start of a turn. It also has utility with Frisk, which reveals the held items of opposing Pokemon.

How The Remaining Hisuian Pokemon Will Reshape Pokemon Champions’ Meta

• Hisuian Lilligant will most likely be a threat when it’s added, as it can be paired with Mega Charizard Y to have powerful sun teams in Pokemon Champions. This Pokemon has access to Chlorophyll, making it very fast in the sun, and even if its type combo is not amazing, it has access to very strong moves like Close Combat and Solar Blade to immediately apply pressure on the opponent.
• Overqwil is a very powerful Pokemon that can be paired with rain teams in Pokemon Champions due to its Swift Swim ability, or it can be used with Intimidate instead. Since it’s a Dark/Poison critter, it’s only weak to Ground, and it can deal massive damage with its signature move, Barb Barrage.
• Ursaluna is one of the best Ground-type Pokemon ever, and also one of the best Trick Room users ever. It has Guts to power itself up with Flame Orb and then deal even more damage with STAB Facade, as well as its powerful signature move, Headlong Rush.

There are some Hisuian Pokemon that don’t really shine above others, but that can also change when more items are added and depending on how the meta evolves. Wyrdeer, Kleavor, Hisuian Samurott, Hisuian Decidueye, Hisuian Goodra, and Hisuian Avalugg are all in the game at the moment, but they don’t see a lot of play. Missing ones also include Hisuian Electrode and Enamorus, with the former being mediocre at best, and the latter being very powerful.

What follows is that many Hisuian Pokemon are simply very strong, and will inevitably see more and more play throughout the series. Some are not as good, but still have their own niches, and it’s rare for Hisuian Pokemon to be straight up bad. Those that do perform are incredible, though, and it may be worth playing or replaying Pokemon Legends: Arceus thanks to Pokemon Champions.