The release of new Pokémon into the game is always an exciting opportunity for Trainers to venture out and hunt down these new additions to obtain for themselves.
With the recent release of several new Generation 5 Pokémon brought to life in Pokémon GO, Trainers are left with questions such as “Is this Pokémon good?” “Should I use this for raiding?” “Is it worth powering up?” and the main question on many Trainers’ minds which we will be covering, “Is it good for PvP?“. More specifically talking about an interesting new addition, Escavalier.
Escavalier
Escavalier can be evolved from Karrablast by either using 200 Karrablast candy or the brand new way of evolving, which involves trading with another trainer.
The only issue with this compared to the original Pokémon games is that you can’t trade your Pokémon back to your account. Finding another trainer to mirror trade Karrablast will be one of the best ways to obtain an Escavalier.
Stats Distribution
Escavalier’s stats are as follows:
- Attack: 223
- Defense: 187
- Stamina: 172
Taking a look at Escavalier’s stats, we can see its vast potential lies mainly on its massive attack stat of 223. This ties with one of the best Attackers in the Great League meta currently, Haunter.
Its Defense and Stamina are moderate, meaning that Escavalier can inflict massive amounts of damage and also withstand a few solid hits. This makes Escavalier a monster to deal with in the Great League and a new champion of Bug typing in the current meta.
Escavalier can be used in the Great League from level 19 to level 22. It’s best PvP IVs are 0 / 13 /15 at level 19.5.
Moveset Analysis
Escavalier is equipped with a vast range of diverse moves preparing it for many situations in battle.
| Fast Move | Charge Move |
|---|---|
| Counter | Aerial Ace |
| Bug Bite | Megahorn |
| Drill Run | |
| Acid Spray |
Its moveset purely depends on how you want to use Escavalier in battle. If for example, you are using it in a themed Silph Arena tournament, you will then want to choose accordingly to that cups meta. However, even in an open format, Escavalier can be a vital pick for any team composition.
Tournament Play
Escavalier has a lot of intrigue as a Steel type that beats most other Steel types with the combination of Counter and Drill Run. Since top meta picks such as Registeel, Probopass, and Bastiodon cause havoc among the Great League, this can be an extremely helpful solution.
It also has the potential to destroy common Grass type picks in the meta such as Tropius and Venusaur with the use of Aerial Ace. On top of this, Escavalier has a double resistance to both Grass and Poison types rendering Venusaur harmless.
Escavalier is an extremely solid pick in this month’s Silph Arena tournament, The Fusion Cup. This cup features Pokémon only with a dual typing. Escavalier being Bug and Steel has the qualifications to show its potential straight off the bat.
Escavalier performs well in this tournament’s meta. The strongest moveset you can run would be to have Counter as the Fast Move and running Aerial Ace and Megahorn as the Charge Moves.
With this moveset, Escavalier can beat ALL Steel and Rock types, most Grass types besides Breeloom and Amoongus, all Ice types besides Froslass, most Dark types besides Houndoom, Honchkrow & Alolan Muk, most Normal types besides Noctown and Pidgeot plus it does well against Poliwrath, Swampert, and ties with Whiscash!
Drill Run is also a solid choice as it can be used well against one of its strongest counters, Alolan Marowak. It can also be used to take down late-game tanks. Megahorn on the other hand will do better against the ‘mudbois‘ such as Swampert and Whiscash.
Counters
Although all this information may sound as if Escavalier is a busted Pokémon in the Great League, its typing means it will have a 2x weakness to Fire types. In The Fusion Cup, Pokémon such as Alolan Marowak, Charizard, Houndoom, and Infernape will melt through its defense and leave it squirming on the floor.
Another issue Escavalier users will come up against will be the dreaded Altaria. Although Escavalier resists Dragon type moves, Dragon Breath will still deal a tonne of damage because of its low Defense and Stamina stat. Keeping in mind that type moves such as Sky Attack from Altaria and even Noctowl will deal strong neutral damage because of its Bug typing.
Tips & Tricks
When using Escavalier, it is important to have Pokémon to compliment it in battle. Picking Pokemon to deal with its counters such as any of the mudbois will be a fundamental tactic in picking Escavalier for a team composition in The Fusion Cup.
Using Escavalier as a ‘Lead‘ Pokémon for this cup will be one of the best ways to use it in battle. It is a safe pick and can deal out massive chunks of damage with Counter early on in battle while quickly charging up energy for Aerial Ace. This tactic can be used to swap out into another Pokémon early to bring back into battle at a later time and deal solid damage.
Another thing to keep in mind is that none of the moves used for Escavalier in The Fusion Cup have STAB (Same Type Attack Bonus). Although this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it means that other Pokémon that have access to some of its moves will deal with a higher damage output with these moves. Diversity comes with a cost.
Parting Words
If you’re after a superb damage dealer that can deal with most of the meta in The Fusion Cup, then Escavalier is the Pokémon for you.
Although it may be difficult to acquire one with the ideal IV spread for PvP, and with such little notice to use on your team composition for this month’s cup, practice will make perfect when using this newly introduced Pokémon.
The Rare Candy you invest into Escavalier will be costly, but well and truly worth it if you’re looking to get an edge over your opponent.
Best of luck in battle, Trainers!
and enjoy jousting your opponents Pokémon to victory.
-Adam ‘Avrip’
