Suggestion: Give an advantage to single type pokemon

[deneb006]

Hi,

I just signed up to this forum to share the following idea.

Correct me if I'm wrong but right now in the games, pokemon with 2 types are more interesting than single type pokemon. Yes, sometimes it can result in a 4x weakness but other than that, there are no reasons one would prefer a pure-type pokemon over a dual-type one.

What if STAB were higher for single type pokemon? For example, a pure fire pokemon using a fire move would get a 50% STAB bonus while a fire/fighting pokemon would only get 15% or 20% STAB when using a fire (or fighting) move.

What do you think?

 

[Altairis]

Wow, I haven't thought of this idea before. Although some dual-typed Pokemon are more interesting, it usually just isn't because of the type alone but also stats, movepool, etc. However, I think this could actually be a good idea, I think it would bring a lot of newer Pokemon up to the higher tiers of battling. Although, 50% STAB might be a little too aggressive. :p

 

[Tek]

Hi,

I just signed up to this forum to share the following idea.

Welcome to PC!

Correct me if I'm wrong but right now in the games, pokemon with 2 types are more interesting than single type pokemon. Yes, sometimes it can result in a 4x weakness but other than that, there are no reasons one would prefer a pure-type pokemon over a dual-type one.

Well, "interesting" is personal preference. I find some dual-types irritating, for example, Flying and Normal. I just don't understand why all the birdies get their resistance to Fighting taken away.

As far as battling goes, dual-typing has its share of disadvantages. Adding a second type gives a Pokemon new resistances and new weaknesses. But there doesn't seem to be a downfall when it comes to STABs specifically. You just get more moves with STAB.

I think the balance is good already, but it's interesting to think about what it would be like if dual-types had a reduced STAB. Thanks for sharing :]

 

[Hiatus]

Before making such changes, I'd imagine there to be a lot of things to think about, as it would more or less affect our competitive scene--a major part of Pokémon. Firstly, one advantage dual-types seem to have, if I'm not mistaken, is access to additional STAB; single-type Pokémon gains STAB on attacks that are within the same category, and dual-typed ones get more than that. Though, it does have some disadvantage, with the most recognizable one, I believe, being more weakness, as stated above.

For now, I'd have to agree with Tek; right now, things do seem pretty balanced. Personally, I honestly wouldn't mind if single-typed Pokémon's STAB power were to be increased, but to cover it up, I suppose they'd have to invent some other disadvantage for them, whether it be big or small.

Single-type Pokémon might be uncommon (especially among fully-evolved ones), but I don't necessarily think that their value needs to be raised like this. If they're giving something that would benefit these Pokémon, they might probably have to come up with something that would harm them as well, to keep everything in-check and whatnot.

 

[Megan]

Imagine Kyogre with Rain and Water Spout and a boosted Stab. This thing would be even more insane than it already is. Same goes with Xerneas and other Legendaries.

On the other hand GF seems to add more and more dual types to already existing Pokemon, like Azumarill, Mawile and Gardevoir, so, who knows, maybe someday there won't be any single type Pokemon anymore.

Changing the damage formula for single typed Pokemon would probably be more problematic, than leaving it as it is.

 

[bobandbill]

On the other hand GF seems to add more and more dual types to already existing Pokemon, like Azumarill, Mawile and Gardevoir, so, who knows, maybe someday there won't be any single type Pokemon anymore.

I think this gen is more an exception than the norm, because it's not often you get a new type (gen 2 is the only other case, and that affected one species of Pokemon and was kinda necessary given how unbalanced gen 1 was...). I think the rest that didn't gain a Fairy type will continue as before.

If such a change to STAB happened then I think it would be better to lower the bonus for dual types than to increase it for single typed Pokemon, but maybe not as much as 15-20% for dual types, that seems excessive. But I'm not quite sure it's that big a deal breaker - as said, sometimes having a second type is more of a curse than an advantage.

I do wonder about statistics now - how many monotype pokes are there, and how do they fare with battling overall? (That would include factoring in other formats - some Pokemon just do far better in Doubles than in Singles).

 

[Dr. Silver]

I'm pretty sure not having access to double weaknesses is a pretty solid advantage for Single typed Pokemon.

 

[Hiatus]

I'm sure there will be single-type Pokémon out there in future, but won't be portrayed as something common, most likely.

 

[Cerberus87]

Generally, single-type Pokémon have the advantage of not being 4x weak to anything and also they don't have more than five weaknesses I think.

 

[Boilurn]

Generally, single-type Pokémon have the advantage of not being 4x weak to anything and also they don't have more than five weaknesses I think.

That's true. I guess the only other advantage is that you get to learn the weaknesses and resistances of a single type more easily than a dual-type Pokemon. An example would be a Flying type being part-Normal, which can confuse some players as to why they take neutral damage to Fighting-type attacks, rather than a resistance.

As for proposing a more positive change for single-types, maybe increase the accuracy (25% maybe) of it's STAB moves rather than power? Just a thought.