Talk:Novelty Pokémon

Smeargle

Smeargle is in the OU tier, but the article states that it is not used frequentlyEdge578 17:22, 15 July 2009 (UTC)

We generally don't base the content of the articles here off of Smogon's tiers. Missingno. Master wants YOU! Join the Order of the Glitch! (my talk page) 18:03, 15 July 2009 (UTC)

'Cute' Pokémon

should we list some of the pokemon that seem to only be there to attr4act customers (eg. Pichu, Pachirisu etc) --TiTAn 18:16, 20 August 2009 (UTC)

That would be too opinionated. Some people might think that Probopass is cute, and want to add it to this list. —darklordtrom 22:12, 20 August 2009 (UTC)

Why is Pachirisu novelty?

It has decent stats. I don't see why it's in here. --ケンジのガール 03:05, 9 October 2009 (UTC)

It's novelty because its stats are not competitive-reliable. A combination of Speed and Special Defense for an Electric Pokemon is weird. It does not have very high Special Attack, like most Electrics do. Its movepool is extremely shadowed, and its paper-thin regular Defense stat really hurts its butt. Timson622222 03:20, 9 October 2009 (UTC)

Those are all good reasons for why Pachirisu isn't viable competitively, but they don't make it a novelty (That's not intended as a slight at Timson622222, since the question did relate to stats). I really think the definition of novelty Pokémon needs to be tightened, before this page ends up listing every non-evolving Pokémon with poor stats. Pachirisu, Volbeat, Luvdisc and Sableye don't have any compelling reasons to be here. Even Farfetch'd is stretching things a bit, to be honest.Bikini Miltank 21:25, 14 October 2009 (UTC)

So in your opinion, what IS a novelty Pokemon? Oh yeah, and Luvdisc is pathetic. Timson622222 00:42, 15 October 2009 (UTC)

In my opinion? A Pokémon designed around a particular novelty or gimmick, in terms of in-game function. Thus you have Ditto, Kecleon, Castform, Unown, Smeargle and so on. Spinda's gimmick is purely cosmetic, but it probably qualifies too. Your opinion on the parameters may vary, but that's my understanding of the term.

Now, it's true that the article as currently written defines a novelty Pokémon as basically any non-evolving weak Pokémon with a shallow movepool. Firstly, this has never been my understanding of the term 'novelty Pokémon', and secondly, if we're going to use that definition then we might as well give up now, since what constitutes a weak Pokémon is highly subjective. Bikini Miltank 11:12, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

Most Pokémon on that list have something unique. My opinion is that Sableye (unique type combination, so what? unique abilities, others have them too), Kecleon (again, unique abilities), Volbeat (Signature move is for that), Delibird (see the previous one), Luvdisc (unique held item, so what?) and Pachirisu (NOTHING special) do not belong here. Others have something notable to mention. UltimateSephiroth ^{(about me · chat · edits)} 11:31, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

I agree with Pachirisu being taken off. The page only puts Pachirisu there because of it being "weak" and the only other reason it gives is that it can learn Super Fang. By that definition Rattata should be on this list. Turtwig A Contributions Talk 11:40, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

Additionally, the assumption that these Pokémon are "novelty Pokémon" means that the list may not be able to remain very consistent. After all, Pachirisu could be made infinitely more usable if given a stronger evolution. Ditto (not the Pokémon!) for Farfetch'd and Sableye, although I think Luvdisc's only real role being a source for Heart Scales, it's plenty appropriate on this list. Similarly, Volbeat and Illumise were basically made for the same reason as Plusle and Minun: to showcase the double battle system. --AndyPKMN 11:57, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

There's a case to be made for Kecleon remaining, at least. Kecleon is built around its unique ability, whereas the same can't be said for Sableye, which only has Stall in 50% of cases. Back in Gen 1, Porygon's possession of two unique moves, one of them (Conversion) being rather quirky, might have put it in contention for this list too. Of course, if we're restricting this list to Pokémon with no evolutions, then it no longer qualifies.

We need to decide which features define novelty Pokémon, and which are features that novelty Pokémon just usually have. The most contentious one, to my mind, is 'weakness'. Does a Pokémon have to be weak in order to qualify as a novelty, or is it just the case that most novelty Pokémon happen to be weak? You can make the case for either. The term 'novelty' does imply something that is entertaining but of limited practical use. On the other hand, Arceus is designed around the Multitype gimmick, and certainly isn't weak.

I'm willing to be persuaded either way on this. I just think that we need some proper criteria for inclusion, be they strict or inclusive, because right now the article is very muddled. Bikini Miltank 14:43, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

Abra

Do you think Abra could be classed as a novelty Pokémon? Although it has useful evolutions, it is not particularly useful unevolved, except for Teleporting. And being able to teleport is a novelty! Taromon 22:00, 19 December 2009 (UTC)

Pokemon that evolve arent novelty because they evolve. also, Abra can learn TMs, making it useful. -- MAGNEDETH 22:11, 19 December 2009 (UTC)

Illumise

Volbeat is classified here (and to be honest, I agree). However shouldn't that classify Illumise as one as well. I think that they, like Plusle and Minun, where added for the sake of double battles.