Swablu ► Altaria
| Ball | Pokémon | Types | Region | Location | Games | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
Dragon/Flying | Hoenn | Route 114 | Alpha Sapphire | 2014 |
| Fast Attacks | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Breath | Dragon | Special | 60 | 100% | 20 |
| Peck | Flying | Physical | 35 | 100% | 35 |
| Main Attacks | Type | Category | Power | Accuracy | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Pulse | Dragon | Special | 85 | 100% | 10 |
| Dazzling Gleam | Fairy | Special | 80 | 100% | 10 |
| Sky Attack | Flying | Physical | 140 | 90% | 5 |
| Moonblast | Fairy | Special | 95 | 100% | 15 |
I’ve always had a soft spot for Swablu, possibly because it’s the definition of simple but effective. And hey, it’s a bird with clouds for wings, that is fun imagery. It is also notable for being one of the first few Dragon types you can catch within the game, without having to wait until the post-game or all the way until the very end.
Altaria is one of those designs that I feel pretty much alone in liking as much as I do. Pokémon has been hard-veering away from the sharp and edgy designs of Generation 1 with only a few exceptions here and there, and they’ve been doing that since Generation 2, so Altaria is the opposite of intimidating, with it’s cutesy anime girl eyes and rounded cheeks. And indeed, it does look goofy, but in a way that feels authentic, in a similar way that birds will often look goofy.
In terms of raising it, you might want to consider Return in Alpha Sapphire, especially as it turns into a Fairy type move upon Mega Evolution, decimating the entire post-game story in the process. You can also take advantage of Rest in the original thanks to it’s Natural Cure ability. But outside of that, simply load it up with strong attacking moves, like Ice Beam, Flamethrower, Draco Meteor, Earthquake, etc.
"Art by Verminator Studios"