History DiscOneNuke / Pokemon

* Fletchling carries on like Starly, getting fairly powerful as you teach it new moves, and then it becomes Fletchinder and starts getting STAB coverage in the offensively-strong Fire type. Once you raise it to Level 35 and evolve it into Talonflame, it becomes a swift and hard-hitting fiery bird of prey with a great offensive typing, and it eventually gets access to endgame moves like Brave Bird and Flare Blitz (the latter via Heart Scale at the Move Reminder). If you happen to run across one with its hidden ability Gale Wings via Wonder Trade, you have hit [[GameBreaker a major metagame jackpot]]. Gale Wings Talonflame rules over the entire Gen VI metagame because its ability gave it +1 priority to all Flying-type moves. This includes Brave Bird, a 120 base power damaging move, and Roost, a HP-recovering move. Gale Wings Talonflame can hit the opponents or recover its hit points reliably before anyone else moves, even under the influence of Trick Room. Bring a Choice Band or Life Orb to boost its damage output further and you get a powerful sweeper. It is so much a GameBreaker that it have to be [[{{Nerf}} nerfed]] to the ground in the next generation.

* Eevee can be found in the wild not too long after you reach Akala Island, and you can get an Eevee egg from the Nursery by talking to one of the breeders there. Because the Soothe Bell is obtained on Melemele Island, and Pokémon Refresh is available since the game's first hour, it's highly possible to obtain an Espeon, Umbreon, or a Sylveon before even facing the first totem on Akala. Evolving them gives a pretty large boost to their stats - and Sylveon is ''trivially'' easy to obtain. Further, similar to Salamence above, the wild Eevee on Routes 4 and 6 may call for help and summon an [[GlassCannon Espeon]] (during the day) or [[StoneWall Umbreon]] (at night). This allows you to catch one directly and skip over the friendship grinding (Espeon can possible have the Hidden Ability, Magic Bounce).

** Hidden Ability Shroomish with [[SpamAttack Bullet Seed]], or Shroomish in general with moves like [[BareFistedMonk Focus Punch, Drain Punch]], early Seed Bomb, and so on. When it evolves into Breloom it will gain the coveted Technician ability that go so well with some of its best moves.

** In Generation I, Magikarp is first made accessible through the [[SchmuckBait Magikarp Salesman]] in the Pokémon Center outside of Mt. Moon as soon as you beat the first gym. While 500 Pokédollars for a [[JokeCharacter Magikarp]] might seem like a waste at first, and Generation I is easily the hardest generation to raise a Magikarp due to the lack of Exp. Share, some babying will evolve it into Gyarados, which can be taught [=BubbleBeam=] (obtainable as a TM from Misty) to give it a powerful STAB attack that abuses its (then) high Special attack. This will allow Gyarados to ''plow'' through opponents even deep into the game. In fact, a freshly-evolved Gyarados is actually the best weapon against Misty's Starmie, being able to tank its Bubblebeams due to also having 100 Special ''and'' resisting its own type, and already being slower means it's not hampered by the Speed reduction[[note]]By contrast, one would have to overgrind any of the available Grass-types by that point or Pikachu, possibly close to or beyond level 30 just so their own Special-powered moves will actually make enough of a dent before Starmie tears them apart with Bubblebeam[[/note]]. It arguably acts as a much better InfinityMinusOneSword than Dragonite, due to having far more options and accessibility; Dragonite's only real viability for all that insane effort to obtain one is its high Attack stat allowing it to spam Wrap and fuel Hyper Beam, which, while not insignificant, is something Gyarados would probably have been able to already do much sooner.

** In ''[[VideoGameRemake Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]]'', Abra again can be caught in the Granite Cave and be fully evolved via trading before the Dewford Town Gym. However, in this game you get the [=DexNav=] that allow you to not only find one with an Egg Move instead of Teleport (making it ''much'' easier to catch it) but potentially one with coveted Hidden Ability: Magic Guard. It can continue nuking throughout the whole game, especially with coverage moves via TM and when Mega Evolution becomes available to use.

* In the Route immediately after you can find a Bagon. Bagon doesn't learn Dragon Breath until 31, but is still a fairly strong pokemon, as Dragon types tend to be. Its final evolution is Salamence, who's faster than Haxorus with a MUCH higher special attack while being marginally weaker in Attack.

** In ''[[VideoGameRemake HeartGold and SoulSilver]]'', you can once again buy Abra from the Game Corner. While it doesn't have access to any inexpensive [=TMs=] like in the originals, it now comes one level away from evolving. You can teach Alakazam [[BareFistedMonk Focus Blast]] for Whitney and can teach it [[CastingAShadow Shadow Ball]] after beating Morty.

* Bagon have a 1% encounter rate in the wild on the first island. If you're lucky/patient enough to catch one, you can give it an Eviolite (boosts the defenses of Pokémon who haven't fully evolved) and have a strong MightyGlacier until it fully evolves into [[InfinityMinusOneSword Salamence]]. If you [[LuckBasedMission really want to push your luck]], allow Bagon to call for help and there's a 1% chance it will call a Salamence that is 40 levels lower than when it naturally evolves. Salamence practically erases all early-game difficulty, as there's nothing that threatens a 600 BST Dragon/Flying 'Mon until the second Grand Trial and it can remain a quality party member into the endgame.

* Route 4 gives you access to Budew, a baby Pokémon with the chance to have perfect [=IVs=]. Grass/Poison is a great type combo in the early game, with advantages over several gyms. If you're lucky enough to snag one with the Natural Cure ability, then you'll never have to worry about sleep or paralysis slowing it down in-between battles. Budew and its evolutions are faster than Bulbasaur and have a higher special attack, and when it evolves it can learn useful coverage moves like [[CastingAShadow Shadow Ball]], sniping any psychic types. If you're feeling really audacious, Roserade can even learn Sunny Day and start throwing Weather Balls around - a fire-type move more powerful than Flamethrower in sunny weather.

* And ANOTHER area from Black 2 and White 2 full of solid Pokémon for you to use is the Lostlorn Forest, which you can access not long after getting the third badge. Every single Pokémon findable there except male Combee makes a great addition to your team: Heracross in Black 2 is just as powerful as in HGSS, though White 2 instead gets the less powerful but still good Pinsir, with equal Attack and Swords Dance to utilize. A female Combee will evolve into [[StoneWall Vespiquen]] at the low level of 21, with defenses strong enough to survive many things it's weak to and decent attacks, including Heal Order just four levels after evolution. Roselia has very high Special Attack, can utilize many ways to get the foe poisoned and slam them with Venoshock, and use strong Grass-type attacks like Giga Drain and Petal Dance, then it can evolve into a Pokémon with monstrous Special stats. Didn't get a Sewaddle early in the game? Here you can catch an evolved Swadloon instead. Same with Venipede, who evolves into a devastating [[LightningBruiser Scolipede]]. Lastly, Petilil and Cottonee evolve into monstrous Pokémon (though Cottonee needs the Prankster ability to really be effective). So if you're short on team members, the Lostlorn Forest will be sure to offer.

** In ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', Kangaskhan is a rare (5%) encounter in Glittering Cave, accessible between the first and second gyms. Its moveset contains numerous quality Normal-type attacks (including coming with the multi-hit [[RapidFireFisticuffs Comet Punch]]), it learns its SecretArt Dizzy Punch (which can cause Confusion) at level 34 (formerly it took into the ''40s''), and can once again learn the easily acquired Return via TM. It remains a viable team member late in the game (especially if it has Scrappy ability), even if it is no longer "nuke" like.

** In ''[[VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver HeartGold and SoulSilver]]'', Kangaskhan is a common encounter on early Pokéwalker routes, even before the first gym. As a single-stage Pokémon, it's stats far surpass anything else reasonably available that early, and it can quickly learn Headbutt for a solid STAB move with the potential to cause flinching and later Return which, with max friendship, deals 102 base damage that Kangaskhan will get a STAB on top of. Because Kangaskhan is an all-female species, it will be immune to [[WakeupCallBoss Whitney's Miltank]]'s Attract and as a Normal-type, it will be immune to Morty's Ghost-types, while potentially being able to hit them if you get one with the Scrappy ability. While it drops off as a "nuke" after that, it remains a viable party member into the late game.

* Before the fourth Gym, a Scyther can be caught in the National Park's Bug Catching Contest each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Get one with the Technician ability (boosts the power of weaker moves) and it will power up Wing Attack on top of the STAB boost, as well as Quick Attack and Pursuit. This alone will allow Scyther to slice through most opponents without breaking a sweat. Further, you can acquire a Metal Coat from the wild Magnemite on Routes 38 and 39, trade Scyther holding it back and forth with a friend, and evolve it into [[MightyGlacier Scizor]]. With its Steel-type, only one weakness, and no notable Trainers that make primary use of the type, Scizor can clear house like nobody's business.

* Once ''Omega Ruby'' players have the Mach Bike, they can backtrack to Granite Cave and explore the lower levels where wild Mawile lurk. While normally nothing too special, the Move Maniac in Fallarbor Town can teach it Iron Head and Play Rough, two very strong moves that are not normally learned until the late 40's. The catch is that he requires heart scales, and fortunately there happen to be two hidden on Slateport's beach. This gives you a Mon before the fourth gym that hits like a truck and shrugs off most damage thanks to its fantastic Steel/Fairy typing and high defense stats. To top it all off Mawile's Mega Stone is available early in Verdanturf Town. Even among the Mega Pokémon, Mega Mawile is very powerful due to its sky high attack, ensuring that you'll be steamrolling nearly everything the game throws at you. If you're really lucky, you can catch one with a good Egg Move, too e.g. the Elemental Fangs.

** In ''[[VideoGameRemake Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]]'', Abra again can be caught in the Granite Cave and be fully evolved before the Dewford gym. However, in this game you get the [=DexNav=] that allow you to not only find one with an Egg Move instead of Teleport (making it ''much'' easier to catch it) but potentially one with coveted Hidden Ability: Magic Guard. It can continue nuking throughout the whole game, especially with coverage moves via TM and when Mega evolution becomes available to use.

* Once ''Omega Ruby'' players have the Mach Bike, they can backtrack to Granite Cave and explore the lower levels where wild Mawile lurk. While normally nothing too special, the Move Maniac in Fallarbor Town can teach it Iron Head and Play Rough, two very strong moves that are not normally learned until the late 40's. The catch is that he requires heart scales, and fortunately there happen to be two hidden on Slateport's beach. This gives you a Mon before the fourth gym that hits like a truck and shrugs off most damage thanks to its fantastic Steel/Fairy typing and high defense stats. To top it all off Mawile's Mega Stone is available early in Verdanturf Town. Even among the Mega Pokémon, Mega Mawile is very powerful due to its sky high attack, ensuring that you'll be steamrolling nearly everything the game throws at you.

** Hidden Ability Shroomish with Bullet Seed, or Shroomish in general with moves like [[BareFistedMonk Focus Punch, Drain Punch]], early Seed Bomb, and so on. When it evolves into Breloom it will gain the coveted Technician ability.

** In ''[[VideoGameRemake Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]]'', Abra again can be caught in the Granite Cave and be fully evolved before the Dewford gym. However, in this game you get the [=DexNav=] that allow you to not only find one with an Egg Move instead of Teleport (making it ''much'' easier to catch it) but potentially one with coveted Hidden Ability Magic Guard. It can continue nuking throughout the whole game, especially with coverage moves via TM and when Mega evolution becomes available.

** On Route 4, there is a Level 25 Braviary or [[StoneWall Mandibuzz]] depending on the version you're playing and the day, namely Monday in White 2 for Braviary and Thursday in Black 2 for Mandibuzz. They normally level up from their pre-evolved forms at Level ''54'', but not only have these ones evolved early, they come with their Hidden Abilities. Mandibuzz gets Weak Armour which drops its Defense upon being hit by boosts its Special Defense, which it can actually put to good use with supportive moves like Tailwind or a boosting move like Nasty Plot, while Braviary gets Defiant, which will boost its already pretty high Attack by two stages if it's afflicted by a stat drop. With abilities like Intimidate or moves like Metal Sound flying around, Braviary can take the stat drops and take advantage of them.

** On Route 4, there is a Level 25 Braviary or Mandibuzz depending on the version you're playing and the day, namely Monday in White 2 for Braviary and Thursday in Black 2 for Mandibuzz. They normally level up from their pre-evolved forms at Level ''54'', but not only have these ones evolved early, they come with their Hidden Abilities. Mandibuzz gets Weak Armour which drops its Defense upon being hit by boosts its Special Defense, which it can actually put to good use with supportive moves like Tailwind or a boosting move like Nasty Plot, while Braviary gets Defiant, which will boost its already pretty high Attack by two stages if it's afflicted by a stat drop. With abilities like Intimidate or moves like Metal Sound flying around, Braviary can take the stat drops and take advantage of them.

* And ANOTHER area from Black 2 and White 2 full of solid Pokémon for you to use is the Lostlorn Forest, which you can access not long after getting the third badge. Every single Pokémon findable there except male Combee makes a great addition to your team: Heracross in Black 2 is just as powerful as in HGSS, though White 2 instead gets the less powerful but still good Pinsir, with equal Attack and Swords Dance to utilize. A female Combee will evolve into [[StoneWall Vespiquen]] at the low level of 21, with defenses strong enough to survive many things it's weak to and decent attacks, including Heal Order just four levels after evolution. Roselia has very high Special Attack, can utilize many ways to get the foe poisoned and slam them with Venoshock, and use strong Grass-type attacks like Giga Drain and Petal Dance, then it can evolve into a Pokémon with monstrous Special stats. Didn't get a Sewaddle early in the game? Here you can catch an evolved Swadloon instead. Same with Venipede, who evolves into a devastating [[LightningBrusier Scolipede]]. Lastly, Petilil and Cottonee evolve into monstrous Pokémon (though Cottonee needs the Prankster ability to really be effective). So if you're short on team members, the Lostlorn Forest will be sure to offer.

** On Route 4, there is a Lv 25 Braviary or Mandibuzz depending on the version you're playing and the day, namely Monday in White 2 for Braviary and Thursday in Black 2 for Mandibuzz. They normally level up from their pre-evolved forms at Lv ''54'', but not only have these ones evolved early, they come with their Hidden Abilities. Mandibuzz gets Weak Armour which drops its Defense upon being hit by boosts its Special Defense, which it can actually put to good use with supportive moves like Tailwind or a boosting move like Nasty Plot, while Braviary gets Defiant, which will boost its already pretty high Attack by two stages if it's afflicted by a stat drop. With abilities like Intimidate or moves like Metal Sound flying around, Braviary can take the stat drops and take advantage of them.

* In the same area, you can find Whismur. It learns Uproar at Level 5, as a Normal-type move it gets STAB, and as of Generation V Uproar has a power of 90. The result, your little Level 5 Whismur can throw around 135 base-power attacks with no drawback, for three turns in a row, with the added benefit of being immune to Sleep while Uproar is active. If you're lucky you can find one with a Hidden Ability in the Horde that eventually becomes Scrappy when it becomes Exploud, allowing it hit Ghost-types with Boomburst.

* The Ralts line returns in this role, and is a Psychic/Fairy type now, giving it a boost. The two types complement themselves greatly, with the Fairy typing patching up its weaknesses to Bug and Dark as well as Psychic being strong against the Fairy-type's weakness to Poison. The only issue is Steel-types, and Dark-type moves are now neutral to them as well. With the Exp. Share, Ralts can now be [[MagikarpPower easily trained up in the background until it can take care of itself]]. Later in the game, the Gardevoirite can be obtained once you face the box art legendary, and Mega Gardevoir has a blistering 165 base Special Attack. You could solo the Elite Four with it alone (minus Steven).

* Unlike ''Sword and Shield'', here there are no pesky restrictions holding you back from catching high-level 'mons right off the bat, though catch rates and team obedience improves as you unlock more badges on the Victory Road storyline. If you're patient, have luck on your side and plenty of items, you could easily explore the region for a bit and find a suitably high-leveled Pokemon to add to your team. HOWEVER, there are Terastalized Pokemon that have higher levels than normal even in the early game. If you can lower its HP enough against a Terastalized Pokemon, it is possible to catch them. And if you do, you'll be in for a power trip provided your Pokémon would listen to you should you get your Pokemon's level near the current obedience cap.

* The Ralts line returns in this role, and is a Psychic/Fairy type now, giving it a boost. The two types complement themselves greatly, with the Fairy typing patching up its weaknesses to Bug and Dark as well as Psychic being strong against the Fairy-type's weakness to Poison. The only issue is Steel-types, and Dark-type moves are now neutral to them as well. With the Exp. Share, Ralts can now be [[MagikarpPower easily trained up in the background until it can take care of itself]]. Later in the game, the Gardevoirite can be obtained once you face the box art legendary, and Mega Gardevoir has a blistering 165 base Special Attack.

** Hidden Ability Shroomish with Bullet Seed, or Shroomish in general with moves like [[BareFistedMonk Focus Punch, Drain Punch]], early Seed Bomb, and so on.

* The Ralts line returns in this role, and is a Psychic/Fairy type now, giving it a boost. The two types complement themselves greatly, with the Fairy typing patching up its weaknesses to Bug and Dark as well as Psychic being strong against the Fairy-type's weakness to Poison. The only issue is Steel-types, and Shadow Ball is now neutral to them as well. With the Exp. Share, Ralts can now be [[MagikarpPower easily trained up in the background until it can take care of itself]]. Later in the game, the Gardevoirite can be obtained once you face the box art legendary, and Mega Gardevoir has a blistering 165 base Special Attack.