Summary
Pokemon Scarlet and Violetmay not meet the series' standards when it comes to how polished they were on launch and how smoothly some past games have typically run, but they do raise the bar to incredible levels for future games when it comes to new Pokemon. Gen 10 is likely to come in 2025 or 2026 at worst, with The Pokemon Company seemingly sticking to its successful three-year development cycle, although this has yet to be confirmed, and it’s not going to have an easy time with its new pocket monsters afterPokemon Scarlet and Violet. Gen 9 Pokemon and even some returning mons are some of the best in the series, and if there’s one that deserves some love is Gen 1’s Arbok.
Ever since its introduction, Arbok has never been one of the best Pokemon to use, and this has been one of its traits moving forward with the series. Its return with The Teal Mask DLC didn’t shake things up for players in the slightest, despite it having access to one of the most broken Abilities inPokemongames - Intimidate. Intimidate is one of the reasons whyIncineroar is one of the bestPokemon in Scarlet and Violetand every game it’s appeared in, and Gen 10 should capitalize on it for Arbok alongside the same treatment Sceptile got in Gen 9.
Why Arbok Needs an Evolution in Pokemon Gen 10
There are severalKanto Pokemon that need an evolution in Gen 10, and Arbok is one of them. Poison is not a bad type in Gen 9, especially with it being a good defensive Tera option for some critters, but it may struggle when Terastallization is gone as a gimmick, and that is most likely to happen in Gen 10 considering each battle gimmick so far has been exclusive to its generation.
Arbok Needs a Buff in Pokemon Gen 10
As such, Arbok could very much use an evolution that makes it a more valuable asset, possibly retaining Intimidate as one of its Abilities, but either dramatically changing its move pool or giving it a good secondary type - something like Dark. Even if Arbok doesn’t end up getting an evolution, it would be great if it could at least get some new tools, and that’s where Pokemon like Incineroar and Sceptile come from. For some reason, Incineroar was buffed between generations every time since Gen 7 games, and as ofPokemon Scarlet and Violet’s The Indigo Disk, it has both Parting Shot and Knock Off.
Arbok Could be a Better Pokemon With Incineroar or Sceptile’s Moves
Why Incineroar is One of the Best Pokemon in Scarlet and Violet
With Fake Out, Parting Shot, and Intimidate as an Ability it can already cycle its loop endlessly, essentially coming onto the field, lowering opposing Pokemon’s Attack, and then pivoting out with Parting Shot after a fake Out Turn. Knock Off is a bonus here that Incineroar gained with Gen 9, but it further increases its utility and damage-dealing potential, and if Arbok got a similar treatment, it would easily become much more viable even without an evolution. To further spice things up, though, Arbok could get access to moves a la Shed Tail, which was given toSceptile inPokemon Scarlet and Violet.
Why Sceptile’s Shed Tail Could be Valuable For Arbok in Pokemon Gen 10
Shed Tail is another pivoting move that would benefit a Pokemon like Arbok due to its Intimidate Ability, as it switches the user out and protects whoever comes onto the field with a substitute. This would make Arbok a much better support Pokemon, and getting an evolution to increase its base stat total would allowPokemonGen 10 gamesto do justice to this serpent Kanto pocket monster. There are several Pokemon that could use an evolution or new tools, but Arbok feels like a long-time neglected critter, especially in the face of pocket monsters like Incineroar who have been dominating the meta for a long time.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
WHERE TO PLAY
The school that you’ve enrolled in as you playPokémon ScarletandPokémon Violethosts a special independent study project. The theme of this assignment is “A Treasure Hunt.” Explore the world and seek out your very own treasure!Three stories will be woven into your adventure while traversing the sprawling Paldea region. Along Victory Road, you will go to Gyms in different locations in order to to achieve Champion Rank. On the Path of Legends, you can join Arven in search of rare ingredients. And in ★ Starfall Street ★, you’ll challenge Team Star, a group of delinquents causing trouble for the school.These stories are set in an open world, so where you go is all up to you. A world teeming with Pokémon and people to meet is waiting for you—traverse the Paldea region wherever you heart desires.
