Smack Down move analysis: potential in Pokémon GO

Smack down is a Rock type fast move that was introduced in the latest APK (v0.101.0). There are several species in the game that can learn this move by leveling up in the main series games while some others are able to learn it by TM.

The purpose of this article will be to analyse whether or not this new move could change the metagame. Some of the species that are able to learn it in the main series games are considered meta-relevant in Pokémon GO and thus, this analysis will be useful to see if their future looks promising or not.

Huge disclaimer: Smack down has been added to the APK’s move dictionary, but it’s details (move cooldown, base power, …) are not yet visible in the GAME_MASTER file. In order to do the required study in this analysis, its parameters will be considered equal to the ones of Rock Throw. Both moves have the same Base Power and PP in the main series games, and the only difference between them is their accuracy. Keep in mind that once this move gets added to the GAME_MASTER file, this study could become out of date.

Pokémon that could learn Smack Down

The following Table recaps the list of Pokémon that can learn Smack Down by leveling up in the main series games, as well as their best current movesets and base stats (only final stage evolutions have been considered).

Pokémon	ATK	DEF	STA	Max CP	Fast Move	Charge Move
Golem  Rock Ground	211	229	160	2916	Rock Throw Rock	Stone Edge Rock
Steelix  Steel Ground	148	333	150	2439	Iron Tail Steel	Heavy Slam Steel
Rhydon  Ground Rock	222	206	210	3300	Mud Slap Ground	Stone Edge Rock
Armaldo  Rock Bug	222	183	150	2675	Fury Cutter Bug	Rock Blast Rock

Out of all these Pokémon, Golem and Rhydon are the ones with the greatest potential. Armaldo is not too bad of an attacker (in fact, it has the same base attack stat as Rhydon and an even higher base attack stat than Golem) but the other two outclass it in most scenarios. Steelix is a great gym defender with one of the highest base defense stats in the game but it is not a rock type Pokémon, and thus the move would not benefit from STAB.

Furthermore, it cannot learn any rock type charge move, and thus it will not have a dual rock type moveset. However, it would be beneficial for him in certain situations such as when it faces a fire type attacker. With Moltres being the best fire type attacker in the game (and one of its best counters), it would be a great way to catch it off guard and deal significant damage, as it has a double weakness to rock type moves.

Up to 46 different Pokémon in the game can learn Smack Down via TM in the main series games. The following Table will just recap the most interesting ones as well as some potential future additions.

Pokémon	ATK	DEF	STA	Max CP	Fast Move	Charge Move
Omastar  Rock Water	207	227	140	2685	Rock Throw* Rock	Rock Slide Rock
Kabutops  Rock Water	220	203	120	2517	Fury Cutter* Bug	Ancient Power Rock
Aerodactyl  Rock Flying	221	164	160	2608	Bite Dark	Ancient Power Rock
Tyranitar  Rock Dark	251	212	200	3670	Bite Dark	Stone Edge Rock
Aggron  Steel Rock	198	314	140	3004	Iron Tail Steel	Stone Edge Rock or Heavy Slam Steel
Regirock  Rock	179	356	160	3087	Rock Throw Rock	Stone Edge Rock
Rhyperior  Ground Rock	241	224	230	3869	Mud Slap** Ground	Stone Edge** Rock
Gigalith  Rock	226	223	170	3158	Mud Slap** Ground	Stone Edge** Rock
Terrakion  Rock Fighting	260	192	182	3468	Zen Headbutt** Psychic	Rock Slide** Rock

* Legacy move ** Move not yet confirmed

The long wait might finally be over and the one and only Tyranitar could finally get the rock type fast move it deserves. With a massive attack stat of 251 and impressive stats overall, Tyranitar is one of the Pokémon that would benefit the most from the addition of this move to its movepool. Keep in mind, though, that the move has not been added to the GAME_MASTER file yet and that probably not all of the Pokémon listed in the Table above will end up getting it. However, if Tyranitar is finally able to learn a double rock type moveset, it will instantly become the best rock type attacker in the game (as long as its move characteristics are not significantly worse than the ones for Rock Throw, which we don’t know yet).

Aerodactyl is one of the other Pokémon who could benefit a lot from the addition of Smack Down to its movepool. It will be interesting to see what Niantic decides to do in the end.

Rhyperior (Rhydon’s final evolution in Generation 4) looks very promising too. It has great stats overall but its attack stat is slightly lower than Tyranitar’s. We strongly recommend you to save a good IV Rhyhorn/Rhydon for the future, as Rhyperior could potentially be one of the best rock type attackers in the game, mainly due to its great stats. Yet again, manage your expectations as it all depends on what Niantic decides to do in the end with its movepool.

Tyranitar case study

The purpose of this section is to compare Tyranitar’s movesets in terms of cycle DPS and see if this new fast move could potentially change its viability as a rock type attacker. Furthermore, Smack Down Tyranitar will be compared to the best rock type attackers in the game as of now and to the new potential candidates in order to see where it ranks.

First of all, it is important to mention that the formula used to calculate the cycle DPS for each moveset is not perfect. In some scenarios, the final DPS is underestimated as it does not consider the energy gain from the damage taken and in other scenarios the final DPS is overestimated due to the fact that it assumes a complete last cycle right before finishing the battle. However, it still provides a good estimate that can be used to analyse the potential of each moveset.

Instead of just analysing the weave or cycle DPS, the result will be multiplied times the attack stat of Tyranitar (or the attacker that we want to analyse) and divided by 2*DEF, where a base defense stat of 100 is normally used as a general rule. We’ll call that Specific Cycle DPS. Thus, comparing different attackers with the same moveset will be possible. First of all, let’s see a comparison of the cycle DPS for each move that Tyranitar is able to learn and its potential new moveset.

* Move characteristics unknown as of now, assuming the same ones of Rock Throw

Bite and Stone Edge, which is the current mixed Tyranitar moveset, could soon be outclassed by its potential double rock type moveset. Smack Down could in fact change the metagame and make Tyranitar the best rock type attacker in the game immediately. Tyranitar has been commonly used with its dual dark type moveset, especially to counter non-Focus Blast Mewtwo, whereas Golem has been the top choice as a rock type attacker. However, this could change in the near future if Smack Down is assigned to Tyranitar.

We want to insist in the fact that this might not happen, it all depends on what Niantic decides to do with this move and how it is implemented and to which Pokémon it is assigned. Tyranitar is able to learn it via TM in the main series games and thus, it has been considered for this comparison.

Now, let’s see how Tyranitar would compare to other meta-relevant rock type attackers in the game, including Golem, Smack Down Rhydon (assuming it would be able to learn it too), Rhyperior (not yet in the game, but it evolves from Rhydon in Generation 4), Kabutops, Omastar and Aerodactyl.

Pokémon	ATK	Fast Move	Charge Move	Sp. Cycle DPS (STAB)
Tyranitar  Rock Dark	251	Smack Down* Rock	Stone Edge Rock	26.97
Rhyperior  Ground Rock	241	Smack Down* Rock	Stone Edge Rock	25.89
Rhydon  Ground Rock	222	Smack Down* Rock	Stone Edge Rock	23.85
Golem  Ground Rock	211	Rock Throw Rock	Stone Edge Rock	22.67
Omastar  Rock Water	207	Smack Down* Rock	Rock Slide Rock	22.55
Aerodactyl  Rock Flying	221	Smack Down* Rock	Ancient Power Rock	21.67
Kabutops  Rock Water	220	Smack Down* Rock	Ancient Power Rock	21.58

* Move characteristics unknown as of now, assuming the same ones of Rock Throw

Golem, the TOP choice right now as a rock type attacker, would immediately be downgraded to the third place. This fact alone is good enough to represent how meta-changing this move could be. Tyranitar would be an absolute beast and the go-to rock type attacker without any doubt. In terms of TDO (Total Damage Output), Tyranitar would also be the in the number one spot, followed closely by Rhyperior, Rhydon and then Golem.

When to use Smack Down Tyranitar

Rock type Pokémon are relevant in the current metagame. They have been more relevant in the past, but despite not being the best type out there, having a couple of good rock type attackers in your team should be required. Here is a compilation of the some of the most relevant raids in which it would be a top counter as a rock type attacker:

Raid Boss	Fast move to use	Charge move to use
Snorunt Ice	Smack Down* Rock	Stone Edge Rock
Sneasel Dark Ice	Smack Down* Rock	Stone Edge Rock
Scyther ** Bug Flying	Smack Down* Rock	Stone Edge Rock
Articuno ** Ice Flying	Smack Down* Rock	Stone Edge Rock
Zapdos ** Electric Flying	Smack Down* Rock	Stone Edge Rock
Moltres ** Fire Flying	Smack Down* Rock	Stone Edge Rock
Ho-Oh ** Fire Flying	Smack Down* Rock	Stone Edge Rock

*Move characteristics still unknown as of now **Legacy raid boss

Conclusion

The TL;DR would be:

• Smack Down Tyranitar would be the best Rock type attacker in the game
• Some other rock type Pokémon would greatly benefit too but Tyranitar would still outperform them
• It will rank pretty high against other generalists too

However, please keep in mind that Smack down has only been added to the APK’s move dictionary. This article just assumes that its characteristics (which are still unknown) will be equal to Rock Throw, but that could not be the case when the move is officially released.