In the Pokemon games, it's not always obvious which monster is going to be the most competitively viable; oftentimes, niche Pokemon with the right moveset can shine in certain comps. This is less true in Pokemon GO, unfortunately. Niantic's mobile take on Pokemon dramatically simplifies the franchise's combat to make it accessible on the go, which means stripping out a ton of moves, as well as mechanics including Abilities, Held Items, type immunities, and even certain stats. As a result, certain Pokemon like Accelgor lose out on their advantages and core designs, but that's not to say Pokemon GO couldn't do something about it.
There's a certain range of Pokemon whose core advantage is their Speed stat, allowing them to act before opponents and therefore determine the course of a battle. Speed isn't everything -- it's nothing without a good moveset or high Attack/Special Attack, and priority moves can circumvent Speed altogether -- but it's one good starting point for a Pokemon design. In Pokemon GO, Shelmet's evolution Accelgor loses access to its base Speed of 145, which dwarfs its next-best base of 100 Sp. Atk, and it's only one of many Pokemon that deals with the same loss. To give mons like these a second chance, Pokemon GO could take a stab at a new version of the Speed stat.
How Pokemon GO Can Integrate Speed for Pokemon Like Accelgor
In Pokemon GO, a lot of the most useful Pokemon are the most obvious candidates. Legendary Pokemon, starters, and pseudo-Legendaries often rank highly for PvP and PvE, especially if those Pokemon have Mega Evolutions or other special transformations that make them a cut above the rest. Between this and the loss of signature playstyles for Pokemon, many regular Pokemon take a backseat. Not every Pokemon's mainline game design fits into Pokemon GO, but those who rely on Speed (such as Accelgor, Ninjask, or Greninja) could still play a special role in PoGO with a little creative liberty.
Pokemon GO Can Use Speed Both In and Out of Combat
The obvious application for Speed is in combat like Pokemon GO's other stats. Pokemon GO combat is real-time rather than turn-based like in the mainline games, but speed is still incredibly important; the viability of many Pokemon lives and dies by their access to quick-charging Fast and Charged Moves. Instead of determining turn order, Speed could slightly improve the charging speed of Charged Moves and reduce Fast Move cooldowns, allowing Pokemon with high base Speed to strike first once again.
However, given that Pokemon GO is so focused on real-world exploration, Speed could also break format by factoring into out-of-combat gameplay. For instance, each Pokemon has a set distance to generate Candy while walking as a Buddy; Speed could slightly reduce the walking distance required to get Candy, reflecting the Pokemon's own speed of exploration. The same thing could apply to Eggs. Perhaps a high-Speed Pokemon could help Pokemon GO players hatch Eggs, similarly reducing the required distance by some small percentage.
Speed Forme Deoxys would likely be a major winner if Speed is added to Pokemon GO, since it has the highest base Speed by a significant margin at 180.
Speed in Pokemon GO is a Challenge Worth Undertaking
Adding Speed to Pokemon GO wouldn't be a simple task, of course. It could entirely upend combat balance depending on the numbers themselves, and would require adjustments for every form of PvP and PvE. That said, it's not like Pokemon GO has avoided adding major new elements to its battles. Major Pokemon GO features like Mega Evolution and Dynamax add all-new layers all the time. Pokemon GO hasn't remained popular for the last decade without making strides and taking risks, so adding a fourth stat alongside HP, Attack, and Defense isn't out of the question.
Speed likely isn't a priority for Pokemon GO right now, if it's on designer radar at all, but that doesn't mean it should be discounted entirely. This one basic feature could be exactly what makes some Pokemon finally stand out in their field.
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