Community Day is upon us once more, and this time, it's Rillaboom's moment to shine. Or is it? While its new moves are a significant part of the equation, Rillaboom will need more than just that to make a splash in the competitive PvP scene. Fortunately, the additional boost it requires can come from any one of several potential adjustments, each of which could propel it to start drumming up victories. Join me in this concise analysis, and you'll understand what I mean!
But first, let's cover the basics.
Rillaboom's Stats and Moves
Rillaboom, a Grass-type Pokémon, has the following stats:
Great League Stats:
- Attack: 133 (132 High Stat Product)
- Defense: 99 (99 High Stat Product)
- HP: 129 (131 High Stat Product)
Highest Stat Product IVs: 0-12-13, 1500 CP, Level 17
Ultra League Stats:
- Attack: 170 (169 High Stat Product)
- Defense: 127 (129 High Stat Product)
- HP: 168 (169 High Stat Product)
Highest Stat Product IVs: 0-14-15, 2495 CP, Level 28
Master League Stats (Assuming 15-15-15 IVs):
- Attack: 213
- Defense: 154
- HP: 201
CP: 3758 at Level 50
Being a pure Grass type, Rillaboom has useful resistances to Water, Electric, Ground, and opposing Grass types, but it is weak against Fire, Poison, Flying, Ice, and Bug. Its defensive typing is mediocre and not worth extensive discussion, especially since Grass types are often paired with other subtypes in various PvP metas.
And this is the part most people miss: Rillaboom's lack of bulk is a significant concern. While not the worst among starters, it is outclassed by many others, including most Fire starters, Greninja, Quaquaquaval, Sceptile, and Meowscarada. This puts Rillaboom at a disadvantage before even considering its moves.
Fast Moves:
- Razor Leaf: Grass type, 4.0 DPT, 2.0 EPT, 0.5 CD
- Scratch: (Even worse alternative)
Razor Leaf, once a dominant force, has been nerfed twice and is now rarely seen in PvP. Rillaboom's reliance on this move is a major drawback, as it limits its potential. The only other option, Scratch, is even less effective.
But here's where it gets controversial: Rillaboom's charge moves show promise, but they can't fully compensate for its fast move limitations.
Charge Moves:
- Drum Beating: Grass type, 60 damage, 35 energy, Lowers Opponent Attack -1 Stage
- Frenzy Plant (Exclusive Community Day Move): Grass type, 100 damage, 45 energy
- Grass Knot: Grass type, 90 damage, 50 energy
- Energy Ball: Grass type, 90 damage, 55 energy, 10% Chance: Reduce Opponent Defense -1 Stage
- Earth Power: Ground type, 90 damage, 55 energy, 10% Chance: Reduce Opponent Defense -1 Stage
Frenzy Plant outshines Energy Ball and Grass Knot, but Earth Power offers tempting coverage. However, Rillaboom lacks STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus) on its coverage move, unlike other Grass starters like Venusaur, Chesnaught, and Decidueye. This is a notable weakness.
The bigger issue? Combining Frenzy Plant and Earth Power leaves no room for Drum Beating, Rillaboom's best new charge move. Drum Beating is a powerful move, comparable to Leaf Blade and Rage Fist, but it's held back by Razor Leaf.
Performance with Razor Leaf:
In short, Razor Leaf isn't enough. Even with Frenzy Plant and Drum Beating, Rillaboom's Great League wins are limited to favorable matchups like Stunfisk, Marowak, and Gastrodon. It struggles against notable Ice types like Walrein and Lapras due to its fragility.
In Ultra League, Drum Beating significantly improves Rillaboom's performance, but Razor Leaf still holds it back. Frenzy Plant without Drum Beating is no better than Razor Leaf alone. Drum Beating doubles Rillaboom's win total, but Razor Leaf remains a bottleneck.
Master League is even more challenging. Despite Rillaboom's high CP, Razor Leaf prevents it from competing effectively, even against other Grass starters with lower stats.
So, is there hope? Absolutely! If Rillaboom could learn alternative fast moves like Magical Leaf, Mud Shot, Snarl, or Bullet Seed, its performance would skyrocket. Even Magical Leaf, the lowest energy gainer, would lead to significant improvements across all leagues.
Bullet Seed would further enhance Rillaboom's Great and Ultra League performance, while Snarl would provide better coverage, swapping wins in Great and Ultra Leagues. In Master League, Snarl would put Rillaboom's win rate on par with its loss rate.
Mud Shot, while a step back in Master League, would boost Rillaboom's Ultra and Great League performance, especially against Shadow Pokémon.
In conclusion, while Rillaboom's current state is underwhelming, obtaining it with Frenzy Plant during Community Day is still advisable. With the right fast move adjustments, Rillaboom could become a formidable contender in multiple PvP metas. So, go get your Frenzy Plant Rillaboom and keep an eye out for future improvements!
Thought-provoking question: Should Niantic reconsider Rillaboom's move pool to make it more competitive, or is it fair to keep it as a niche choice? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Until next time, stay tuned for more Pokémon GO analysis on Twitter and Patreon. Happy hunting, and catch you later, Pokéfriends!
