Hisuian Arcanine has emerged as the top-performing Pokémon in Scarlet and Violet VGC, surpassing its original form in terms of success and effectiveness. With recent back-to-back regional wins in Sacramento and Lille, it is clear that Hisuian Arcanine has the edge over its Gen I counterpart. This can be attributed to two key factors.
Firstly, while both Arcanine forms have the same base stat total of 555, Hisuian Arcanine boasts a more optimal distribution. It prioritizes Attack over Special Attack, allowing it to deal even more damage with moves like Flare Blitz and Extreme Speed, effectively wearing down or knocking out opposing Pokémon.
Secondly, Hisuian Arcanine possesses a dual Fire/Rock typing, unlike the standard pure Fire-type form. This grants it access to the highly coveted move, Rock Slide, which is considered one of the best moves in VGC. With its Rock typing, Hisuian Arcanine can take advantage of the same-type attack bonus (STAB) from Rock Slide, a rarity in the current meta. Additionally, its base Speed of 90 enables it to potentially outspeed opponents and flinch them with this powerful Rock-type attack before they can even react.
Despite its poor defensive typing, with quad-weaknesses to Water and Ground attacks, Hisuian Arcanine can overcome this disadvantage through Gen IX’s Terastallization mechanic. This allows it to change its type, eliminating its biggest defensive weaknesses or enhancing its offensive capabilities.
For instance, Michael Zhang utilized a supportive Hisuian Arcanine with the Water Tera Type for defensive purposes during the Sacramento Regionals. On the other hand, Simone Sanvito opted for a more offensive approach, employing the Normal Tera Type to boost the damage output of his Choice Banded Extreme Speed. Both strategies proved successful, showcasing the versatility and adaptability of Hisuian Arcanine.
Following Sanvito’s triumph with Hisuian Arcanine, fellow VGC players have playfully teased the Lille Regional champion, who previously expressed self-deprecating remarks about his skills during the 2023 World Championships. With this latest achievement, Sanvito has secured his invitation to the highly anticipated 2024 World Championships in Honolulu, Hawaii.
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Source: DOTESPORTS
