Competitive Pokemonning- The Eighth Generation Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing are the headline new mechanics of the game. What is the difference between the two?

Answer: Gigantamaxing offers the user an exclusive move, while Dynamaxing does not

Only a small selection of Pok�mon have the ability to Gigantomax, while everything can Dynamax. Both mechanics share the same 2x boost to HP and movepool upgrade, but Gigantomaxed Pok�mon have their own, exclusive move while Gigantomaxed. For example, Gigantomaxed Gengar is the only Pok�mon in the game capable of using G-Max Terror, a very powerful Ghost type move with the added bonus of trapping the target and preventing them from switching- if they survive it, that is.

2. What happens when a Dynamaxed or Gigantomaxed Pok�mon uses a Z Move?

Answer: Trick question- Z Moves were removed from the game

Z Moves were sadly a casualty of the new Pok�mon games, likely because of how oppressive a Dynamaxed or Gigantomaxed Pok�mon with the ability to utterly nuke something into oblivion with a Z, potentially G-Max, move, would be. In some ways, Dynamaxing or Gigantamaxing is a three turn version of Z Moves, as many of the moves a Maxed Pok�mon has are of comparable power to a Z Move, and they can freely use such moves for a max of three turns.

3. Technical Machines, known as TMs, have been a mainstay within the franchise since its inception in 1997. Technical Records opened up the movesets of many Pok�mon due to how many there were, and granted Pok�mon all around the new game more depth and new dimensions to explore. Which of the following is a TR?

Answer: Spikes

Never before had Spikes been a teachable move in any way. It has never been accessible via past TMs, Move Tutors, or as an Egg move. In "Pok�mon Sword & Shield", however, the Spikes move was distributed as an easily accessible TR.

4. While a user is Dyna or Gigantomaxed, they can only remain this way for three turns, so it's best to take full advantage of the time. One of the best ways to do this is to use a Max move which boosts the user's speed. Which Max move of the following does this?

Answer: Airstream

Max Airstream, accessible if the user knows an offensive Flying type move, boosts the user's Speed by one stage upon using it. Wyrmwind debuffs the target's defense, Phantasm debuffs the target's special defense, and Flare will cause the weather to be sunny upon being used.

5. While many Pok�mon from the traditional Pokedex were removed from the game entering the eighth generation, it was imperative for Pok�mon with weather setting abilities of all kinds to remain. This is reflected in the fact that Pok�mon with the Sand Stream, Drizzle, Drought and Snow Warning abilities were allowed to stay in the game. However, one of these weathers got the raw end of the deal, and only one Pok�mon with the ability was allowed to stay in the game. What weather was this?

Answer: Drizzle

Pelipper is the only Pok�mon in the game with the ability Drizzle. Meanwhile, Sand Stream retained the services of Tyranitar, Hippowdon and Gigalith, Drought got to keep Ninetales and Torkoal, while Snow Warning was granted the return of Vanilluxe and Abomasnow.

This means that any team looking to build around a rain based strategy has to instantly set their sights on Pelipper as a member of this team, while the other weathers have a little more variety.

6. Entry hazards have been a major part of the competitive meta since the second generation, and grew in importance with the introduction of Stealth Rock and Toxic Spikes in the fourth generation. The eighth generation introduced an item which allows players to have a little more defense against them than usual. What is this item?

Answer: Heavy Duty Boots

Heavy Duty Boots grants the holder a total immunity to entry hazards. This item is crucial for Pok�mon who are seriously weak to them, such as Charizard and Centiskorch, while also being very helpful to prospective entry hazard removers who are weak to them, like Coalossal.

7. Another tool which can be used to deal with entry hazards is a new signature move, called Court Change. Which Pok�mon calls this a signature move of theirs?

Answer: Cinderace

Court Change is a wonderful move which switches the entry hazards and Reflect/Light Screen, if applicable, between the two trainers. It is an effective countermeasure to a trainer seeking to stack entry hazards on another trainer's side of the field, as Court Change quickly and effectively punishes this maneuver. While Cinderace is quite weak to entry hazards, combining Court Change with Heavy Duty Boots can turn this line of thinking against Cinderace's opponent. It even has the added niche of stealing away the opponent's Reflect and Light Screen, which can be situationally beneficial offensively and defensively.

Unfortunately, using this move will also take any entry hazards the user placed on the opposing side, and will put them on the user's side. This means it is an excellent tool, but it must be used wisely as to not backfire on the user.

8. The new cover legendaries, Zacian and Zamazenta, received signature abilities in Intrepid Sword and Intrepid Shield, respectively. What do they do?

Answer: Raise the user's Attack and Defense, respectively

With Intrepid Sword, Zacian becomes a ridiculously good wallbreaker and sweeper. In its Crowned Form, it is getting a free +1 boost to an already sky high base 170 Attack stat. This, combined with its excellent movepool, means Zacian needs no setup to effectively sweep or wallbreak- or both. This ability combined with its amazing base stats means that Zacian is doubtlessly the most potent and best all around Pok�mon in the game, capable of cutting down even prepared teams with little effort. It was already going to be quickbanned to the Uber tier with its amazing stats and movepool anyway, but Interpid Sword solidified this status without question.

Zamazenta, on the other hand, is very physically bulky with Intrepid Shield, but is nowhere close to as good overall as its rival cover legendary. As a physical wall, it can take hits well, but its defensive utility movepool is quite sparse, giving it little reason to be used over a Pok�mon such as Toxapex or Galarian Corsola in this role. It also lacks reliable recovery, and its defensive typing leaves it open to strong offensive threats such as Excadrill, Cinderace, while it is generally setup fodder for the likes of Gyarados, Charizard and, if not running Crunch, Aegislash.

9. The third legendary in the game, Eternatus, is a potent threat in itself. It can also punish hasty trainers with its signature move, Dynamax Cannon. What does this do?

Answer: Deals bonus damage to Dyna and Gigantomaxed Pokemon

Dynamax Cannon effectively removes the 2x bonus to HP that Dyna and Gigantomaxed Pok�mon enjoy upon utilizing the mechanic. Its 100 base power coming off of Eternatus' impressive Special Attack stat means that the move will also leave a mark for sure. The move itself is pretty great even if the target hasn't Dyna or Gigantomaxed.

10. One new feature about the eighth generation that somewhat flew under the radar was the removal of some popular moves. Which move of the following was NOT removed from the game?

Answer: Roost

For the first time since the fifth generation, Roost was not made available as a TM or TR. Its distribution is ultimately a lot less because of this, but the move is still available as an egg move, and Pok�mon from past generations with the move can be brought into eighth generation games.

Pursuit, Hidden Power and Return are three of 83 moves that were removed from the game.

Source: Author cavalier87

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Competitive Pokemonning- The Eighth Generation Quiz

Following the release of "Pokemon Sword and Shield", let's see how well you know about the shakeups the eighth generation have offered to the competitive meta!

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