"Possible move changes to look out for in the next rework"

#PokemonGO: Gen 2’s introduction brought a huge move rework to the table, featuring the addition of 30 brand new moves and the rebalance of some of the old metagame’s issues, most importantly the buff of Fighting types. More than half of Gen 1 mons (81 to be precise) saw some kind of reshuffle to their movepool, which led to some attacks becoming valuable legacy ones, like Snorlax’s Body Slam, Exeggutor’s Confusion or Gengar’s Shadow Claw.With Gen 3 around the corner and 9 new moves already found in the code, another move rework, even if not as impressive as the previous one, is pretty much expected. A lot of speculation around the subject has sparked recently, and while all the possible changes are too many to accurately predict, I decided to analyze here some of the ones that could have some kind of impact on the current meta. This might also help some of you prepare for potential future legacy moves.All the possible new moves listed here are based on each pokemon’s learnset in the Gen 6 main games. The moves marked with an asterisk (*) aren’t currently in the game.WHAT COULD GAIN RELEVANCEWith each rework some theoretically powerful pokemon are left out of the metagame, cursed by subpar movesets, and Niantic has been using move reworks to rebalance them. As I said, Fighting types were the most striking example last time around, and these are some of the mons that could be targeted next.GyaradosQuick move: Waterfall. This is probably the most anticipated change here. Waterfall looks designed to be Gyarados’ long awaited STAB quick move, which could finally and rightfully make it the best Water attacker in the game.Charge moves: Aqua Tail / Surf, Earthquake. If Waterfall is added we can also expect a shuffle in Gyarados’ charge moves, so I’d suggest getting Hydro Pump while you can, in case it’s made legacy and ends up as the superior option. Aqua Tail is the most likely alternative (naturally learned and one of its trademark attacks), followed by the recently implemented Surf. If Gyarados ever becomes a raid boss during Gen 3, I can also see it getting a pesky Ground move as coverage for its double weakness.Make sure to keep: Hydro Pump.RhydonQuick move: Smack Down*. Ground is the new Fighting. It’s by far the type that needs to be rebalanced the most in the current meta, thus I expect Rhydon to get some major adjustments. Much like Gyarados, it’s gotten the short end of the stick since the beginning of the game, and was actually left untouched in the last rework. Mud Slap is probably going to get a good buff, and Smack Down might also be added to make it relevant as a Rock attacker.Charge moves: Rock Blast, Drill Run. If Niantic decides to also give Rhydon some new charge attacks while they’re at it, the two above would be very fitting options. They’re both learned by level up and respectably powerful. Earthquake might also get buffed if a Ground type rebalance really happens, so keep an eye on it.Make sure to keep: Stone Edge, Earthquake.DonphanQuick move: Mud Slap. The rolling elephant is in desperate need of a quick STAB in order to finally gain its place as the second best Ground attacker. The easy solution, Mud Slap, is actually only learned through breeding in the handheld games, but so are Counter, Play Rough and Heavy Slam therefore I don’t think that would be a problem.OmastarQuick move: Smack Down* / Rollout*. Rock is another type that could really use some rebalance, as there are pretty much no alternatives to Golem and Rock Throw right now. The introduction of Smack Down would do wonders in that regard, as it’s available for most Rock mons and it’s very fitting as a quick attack. With that, Omastar’s viability wouldn’t be tied to its rare legacy moveset anymore, and it’d consequently become a more valuable raid boss. The thematically appropriate Rollout is another possibility, learned by less other mons but naturally by Lord Helix.AerodactylQuick moves: Smack Down*, Wing Attack. Aerodactyl is one of those iconic mons ruined by a terrible movepool in PoGo. Smack Down could finally let it shine as a Rock type, while Wing Attack is learned naturally and I’m not quite sure why it hasn’t got it yet.Charge moves: Rock Slide / Stone Edge, Sky Attack. The latter would make Aerodactyl a decent Flying attacker, while with a good double Rock moveset (Rock Slide is naturally learned too) it could even battle for Golem's throne and bring some much needed variety to the table.KabutopsQuick move: Smack Down*. Like Aerodactyl, Kabutops never got any STAB fast attacks and didn’t found any possible use as a result. With Smack Down and Stone Edge, though, it might make for a perfectly viable Rock glass cannon.Make sure to keep: Stone Edge.KinglerCharge move: Crabhammer*. This signature move has been highly requested for months, and with Gen 3’s Crawdaunt it now has one more reason to be added. If powerful enough it could finally make Kingler useful as a glass cannon for raids, thanks to its absurdly high attack stat.Make sure to keep: Kingler. Don’t transfer all of them.GengarQuick move: Lick. It’s learned by level up, more thematically fitting than ever and offers great dodging versatility – this could be a quite likely change for Gengar. I’d then suggest keeping at least one with Hex for now, just in case it’s made legacy and ends up as the better option. We already went through that with Shadow Claw.Make sure to keep: Hex.PSEUDO LEGENDARIESThe Gen 2 move rework also brought some major shuffling to Dragonite’s movepool. That might as well become a routine for pseudos, in an effort to keep them always fresh and valuable. If that proves to be the case, here’s what could happen.DragoniteQuick move: Wing Attack. While there isn’t much of an alternative for Dragon Tail (if not Dragon Breath again), an interesting change would be adding Wing Attack, which is naturally learned and one of Dragonite’s trademark moves in the original games. That would make it a top tier Flying attacker – something we don’t even have yet –, so I’d suggest holding on to Hurricane in case it’s simultaneously made legacy.Charge moves: Stone Edge / Fire Blast / Focus Blast, Draco Meteor. If Dragonite eventually becomes a Tier 4 raid boss, I can see Niantic throw a defensive move in its roster (like Fire Blast on T-tar) to keep up with its double Ice weakness. The three above, or equivalents like Flamethrower and Rock Slide, are all viable candidates. The new addition Draco Meteor could theoretically replace Outrage, but I think they’ll only assign it to Salamence to give it more appeal and a slight edge as a Dragon attacker. That’s actually one more reason for Dragonite to gain a double Flying moveset, as it would fill a different role and be different enough from its Gen 3 equivalent.Make sure to keep: Hurricane.TyranitarQuick moves: Snarl, Smack Down*. Like Dragon Breath, Bite could easily be replaced by a slower move in the form of Snarl. We might also see a Rock attack like Smack Down being added, but I think that’s less likely – it’d make Tyranitar the undisputed king of two meta types at the same time, which is a bit too overcentralizing.Charge moves: Dark Pulse, Rock Slide. These two, both learned by level up, would be most suited to take the place of Crunch and Stone Edge. Foul Play is a bit more unlikely, since Tyranitar can only get it in ORAS via move tutor. I also wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a generalist charge move, like Hyper Beam for Dragonite.Make sure to keep: Bite, Crunch, Stone Edge.LEGENDARIESI can’t know if Niantic is willing to change moves to already “expired” legendaries, or even to legendaries in general, as we don’t have a precedent yet. However there are a few of them that could really use some new moves to become viable, and the playerbase has been quite vocal about it, so I’d personally be hopeful in that regard.Ho-ohQuick moves: Gust* , Incinerate*. As of now, Ho-oh is sadly irrelevant due to its weird movepool, and these two are its only chances for STAB quick moves. They’re perfectly suited for that too, with low damage, high PP and large availability in the original games. Gust is learned naturally by both Ho-oh and Lugia.Charge move: Sacred Fire*. So far Niantic has been very inconsistent when it comes to signature moves, implemeting just 2 of them – Marowak’s Bone Club and the unused Psystrike –, but already coding 4 of the Hoenn legendaries’ ones. Ho-oh is one mon that could really benefit from his, the powerful Sacred Fire, to improve its disappointing performance as a Fire attacker.LugiaQuick move: Gust*. If it's introduced for Ho-oh I can see Niantic doing the same for its counterpart. It’d also give it the option of a double Flying moveset.Charge move: Aeroblast*. Lugia just doesn’t feel the same without shooting air lazers! This iconic signature move should’ve really been here from the beginning, but I hope they don’t think it’s too late.SuicuneQuick move: Waterfall. We all know how terrible Suicune is by now. With Waterfall implemented, Niantic might take the opportunity to at least give it a STAB quick move.Charge move: Surf. Another possible addition to make the water dog a little better. It could take the place of the very weak Bubble Beam.MewtwoCharge move: Psystrike. This is its signature move and it’s always been in the game code (with 50 energy and 100 damage), but for some odd reason it was never actually assigned. With the nerfed stats and the current movepool – especially the lackluster Psychic, which might use a future buff – Mewtwo’s true potential as a Psychic attacker feels a bit lost so far. Adding Psystrike would be a great way to fix that. via /r/TheSilphRoad http://ift.tt/2BNDiDl