Part 43: Mini Note 02: Rotom's Form
Mini Notes 02: Rotom's Form
"Our encounter was a sudden one. It was when I found my toy robot, one that I had earlier misplaced. At that instant, a Pokémon startlingly emerged from the lawn mower's motor! Clutching my robot, I stared, transfixed by the peculiar Pokémon. The Pokémon hovered in the air, held aloft by a power unseen. As if curious and unafraid of my presence, it floated toward me. Crackling sounds accompanied it, as if from static electricity in the air. Remarkably, it seemed the Pokémon was the source of this power! In alarm, I flinched, certain that my face would be subjected to a shock. Much to my surprise, the Pokémon seemed to favor me with a smile. Finally, I came to realize that the Pokémon only wished to be friends. I have decided to name this most wondrous Pokémon 'Rotom.' Simple though it may be, Rotom emerged to me from the motor of a lawn mower. Motor and Rotom... Surely the link is obvious?
Rotom is a Pokémon that is simply sensational. The fact that it can turn invisible is simply the beginning. What makes Rotom unique is its ability to enter and operate machinery! Rotom and I became fast friends. We were perpetual companions. The electricity from its body forbade contact, however. We could not touch, let alone hug or hold hands, but we cared not. For we were bonded on a much deeper, incorporeal level. A feeling of mischief got the better of me one day. Seeing Rotom hovering, I decided to startle it--normally I would not. Perhaps frightened, Rotom discharged power beyond its usual range. I fell, stunned, into the arms of unconsciousness... When I came to, to my horror I realized that Rotom had disappeared. I searched high and low for my friend in dismay and desperation. 'Don't chastise yourself. The fault is mine. No harm done. Let us play as we always have.' Though my words poured out, my friend could not be found to hear them...
My search for Rotom carried me far from home. It was in the town's rubbish heap that I again found my old toy robot. Curiously, our eyes met, then the robot waved a hand as if in greeting. I knew then that I had found my lost friend. I ran to and hugged Rotom tight, talking on and on. The robot's eyes lit up happily as I held it. I'm certain that, within it, Rotom was emitting lots electricity. Somehow, I felt I could understand Rotom's thoughts better than before. Also, I realized that we would remain friends throughout our lives..."
So while all Rotom forms were Ghost/Electric in Gen 4, starting from Gen 5, each of the forms are a different type, therefore getting STAB on their exclusive move, as well as being much more interesting to use, though their moveset didn't change much. Let's start with the best one, the nice defensive Water type only weak to Grass and is able to abuse Gen 5's metagame with endless rain and ignoring all these damn Ground moves. Hydro Pump is an incredibly dangerous move, especially when rain boosted. It's also great against other rain types to drop Thunder on them and firing off Discharge for paralysis. All of the forms appreciate the Ground immunity, but this machine was able to make the most use of where it ended up, mainly because its move was the best and rain being so good. Pretty good considering it didn't even learn Scald!
Nice and compact, ignoring a 4x Ground weakness is great, but they usually carry Rock moves, so it's not too amazing. Overheat is a fantastic move, but it can't really be spammed like others. In the searing sun, it absolutely demolishes and Electric always pairs nicely to take down those Water types that try to take advantage. But with all the rain everywhere, it became a bit too easy to dampen and didn't learn any other Fire moves to help with it, always a shame.
Definitely the happiest form, it doesn't really benefit from Ground immunity, since it would be neutral otherwise, but it's always appreciated. Unfortunately the Grass type is usually a problem, but with all the Hurricanes flying around, not being weak to them helps a lot. Leaf Storm has the same problems as Overheat, but isn't boosted by any weather, so it's harder to recommend. Still, it can muscle past Ground moves and still really sting against rain teams. But without any other Grass moves, it's not too impressive otherwise.
Ooh, what's in the fridge? Disappointment? Okay... Frost may be the biggest, but it ain't the best, in hail, Blizzard is very deadly, but it's very unreliable outside of it and an Ice type is never a positive, balancing out its Ground immunity and neutrality to Steel. Still, it can deal with the Water types that try to stop it and it's an amazing neutral attacker with those STABs, but in the age of Fighting supremacy, its low Speed screws it over, even though it's also the rein of Dragons.
And then we come to the worst form. Firstly, its ability is completely useless, but maybe if it held an Air Balloon it can underflow and wrap around to being good again. No? Well if it was introduced in Gen 5, it probably would've gotten Hurricane, but instead we've got Air Slash. It's a perfectly fine move, but it's pathetic compared to all the others, and isn't too useful. While having the same type as Zapdos and Thunderus might sound good, it doesn't really help and has to rely on its Electric moves to push it through. Being limited to one move on the other STAB doesn't work too well if it's terrible, it turns out!