Extremmefan
Smash Journeyman
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2015
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- Extremmefan
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Emolga (#587) is a Flying-Electric dual-type Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Black version and Pokemon White version, both released in 2010-2011 for the Nintendo DS. Based on the japanese dwarf flying squirrel (and possibly the feathertail glider), it continues the trend of having a Pikachu-like "electric rodent" mascot per new region much in the same vein as Plusle/Minun and Pachirisu, and is the first one of that category to be dual-type, as well as being the only one available during the main quest of its original game, therefore canonically being Unova's own Pikachu.
Despite being fairly popular amongst the aforementioned electric rodents, in terms of Smash popularity it is often overshadowed by Raichu and Plusle/Minun. However outside of Smash many have asked to have it back both for Sword/Shield and for Pokemon Go, undeniably proving that it is still fairly popular.
Emolga is best known for two of its appearances: in Black/White as two members of Gym Leader Elesa's team who set themselves apart by being difficult to beat thanks to being immune to the Ground type weakness shared by most other Electric types of the time and being able to switch out on a whim thanks to the move called Volt Switch, and in the Black/White anime as a particularly notable Pokemon of Ash's travel companion Iris and who is particularly notable in there for being mostly selfish and having a rivalry with Ash's Snivy (with Snivy being the most popular starter of Unova overall, so that says a lot).
Iris's Emolga is even able to take on the combat experienced Pokemon Sawk and cleverly win without even using the type advantage (due to lacking a flying type move during said match).
The following specials are an idea of mine but could still be changed.
: Thunder Shock : basically the custom variant Pikachu had in Smash 4, Emolga shoots a small ball of electricity horizontally (or, when used in the air, at a diagonal angle) that disappears when it hits the ground. The ball hits for low damage and a bit of paralysis, but can be used as a diagonal approaching (or low recovery gimping) tool in the air. Would cancel the gliding state if used during it, however. : Spark : a cross between Skull Bash and Wonderwing, and one that would presumably be one of Emolga's better grounded approach tools. Emolga winds up for a very brief period then goes in a straight line covered in electricity. If it hits something it bounces up a bit and can follow with an aerial move, but if it whiffes Emolga slides forward a bit and is left vulnerable for a brief period in that state, which considerings its weight would be inbetween Pichu's and Pikachu's, could mean someone has the opportunity to combo it or hit it with a strong yet fast move. Would only trigger the state if used in midair and it doesn't stop while on ground, and the transition between Spark itself and the gliding state is just as much of an opportunity for someone with a fast aerial/special/projectile. : Acrobatics / Aerial Ace : either name works, but the idea is a recovery type move that'd send Emolga upwards a fair bit in a similar way as Meta Knight's recovery move. It would also automatically put Emolga in gliding mode afterwards, where it can follow with Thunder Shock or an aerial. Could probably even be used as a kill move if used near the top blastzone. : Thunder : basically Pikachu's/Pichu's, except the distance between Emolga and the cloud is slightly shorter making it harder to use to gimp low/walljump recoveries, as a tradeoff for Emolga being otherwise good against most other means of recovering. It's also fairly weaker when it hits Emolga itself, as to encourage using other moves to get opponents off of it.
- "Not relevant enough"/"It's not even in Sword/Shield or Go yet" : Relevancy has proved to only be an extra, and there is quite an amount of demand to have it back, not to mention that if it gathers enough mainline/Go demand the Smash demand would be futureproofed for when it does become relevant in the main games again. Plus being easier to work with thanks to the Pikachu/Pichu base gives it the necessary advantage to be included later in development, which can easily bypass the need for mainline relevancy with enough demand.
Edit: It's been added back to Sword/Shield through the Isle of Armor expansion DLC! And ontop of that, it also made it to Go since August 14th 2020! Meaning not even lack of relevancy is an issue now.
- "It'd just be another Pikachu clone" : Is this even a con at this point, now that Daisy and Chrom proved that this just means it'd have higher chances in general and could bypass creator biases/restrictions (with relevancy being one of those)? Clones are really just the first steps to making those characters and/or their bases more unique in the long run, therefore creating more separate playstyles over time. Even if Emolga initially gets in as a clone, keeping up the support would in the long run help make it and Pikachu more and more distinct from each other. And if it not, it's in as a unique character. Either way it's a win-win.
- "Pokemon has too many characters, make room for others" : Nothing against anyone else, but while Pokemon does have a lot of characters in the game, the generation 5 games that Emolga comes from are of high enough quality to warrant being given a character in Smash, and that is the only thing it's really missing since it has a stage and music (though neither would stop it from bringing an extra stage with extra music), making the gap even clearer. And Emolga is one of the most notable figures amongst its Pokemon, and presumably the easiest to work with at that thanks to Pikachu/Pichu already being in the game, as opposed to the starter evolution lines and the Zorua evo line having lesser clear bases.
- "There are other electric rodents that deserves it better" : Not particularly. Most of its competition there wouldn't bring anywhere as much to the table as Emolga would, not only in representing a region who was lacking a character beforehand, but also thanks to its unique dual type giving it a clearly defined playstyle. Emolga would have a clear "I prefer the air" playstyle in opposition to Pikachu's grounded aggressive playstyle, though they could both be played in a "bait and punish" style.
NEW
- "They're not going to use DLC to give more content to series already in Smash" : Byleth and Sephiroth both disprove this. Yes, Byleth is for crosspromotion, but Sephiroth also proves that they're willing to give more content to a game/series if they deem them to be lacking in that department, regardless of whether they already have a stage or not. Three to four songs doesn't do the generation five soundtracks any justice.
Ontop of this, we know from the aforementioned two, as well as Banjo and Min Min, that simpler movesets are not out of the question, so no need for extra gimmicks (though even if it were needed, we could always use a gliding limit mechanic like the Rivals of Aether workshop character linked below).
Edit: Also Pyra and Mythra happened as well, so basically we got the Sephiroth example for an actual firstparty too. There is no excuse.
Palettes
Kirby hat
A past leak from back in Smash For prerelease times
A Classic mode route
Trailer concept
Rivals of Aether workshop character, a proof of concept of Emolga in a platform fighter
Extremmefan
Guynamednelson
Kirbeh
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