Day 19: Alakazam

(BGM: Pokemon Tower from Fire Red and Leaf Green)

Let me tell you all about the absolute nightmare that was OG Psychic types.

Back in the days of Red/Blue/Green/Yellow, Psychic types were utterly broken! Back then, Psychics didn't resist anything other than itself. They had some of the strongest moves in the game. And the types that could defeat them, that being Bug and Ghost types, did a very crappy job at it, between having weak moves like Night Shade, Lick, Twineedle, and Pre-Generation 7 Leech Life, and most of the Bug and Ghost types in the game were part Poison, something that Psychics took out like gangbusters!

Basically, you were practically screwed if you went up against these literal monsters.

Fortunately in future Pokemon generations, the Psychic type has been nerfed significantly thanks to things like the introduction of the Dark-Type, stronger Bug and Ghost type Pokemon and moves, and the physical/special split that Generation 4 brought along.

While I think we're all glad that Psychic types are nowhere near as overpowered as they were in the days of yore, it's still crazy to think that they were once a truly unstoppable force of nature with the king of them all…at least as far as Generation 1 and non-legendaries are concerned…was the yellow, mustachioed, magnificent, spoon-wielding bastard himself…

Alakazam!

(Insert Alakazam cry here)

(BGM: Vs. Kanto Gym Leader from HeartGold and SoulSilver)

Ladies and gentlemen, the Doctor Strange of Pokemon. That's my nickname for Alakazam and I'm sticking to it.

Even before I became a fan of Pokemon, my cousin had the original 'Official Pokemon Handbook', and I remember spending hours just looking through it and learning a bit about the original 151 Pokemon, with Alakazam in particular being one that caught my eye. He had a mysterious vibe to him, fitting for a Psychic type, and I couldn't tell what exactly he was supposed to be based on. I wasn't sure if Alakazam, and by extension Abra and Kadabra, was based on a fox, a cat, or what. All I know was he looked badass and he had a big mustache to prove his badassery, and that was enough for me.

Fast forward to when I actually became a Pokefan, and Alakzam is one of my all time favorite Pokemon, one of my favorite Psychic types, and my second favorite Generation 1 Pokemon.

Why do I hold Alakazam in such high regard? Let me list the reasons.

First, let's talk about his stats. Unfortunately, much like Salazzle, Alakazam is a glass canon having a very weak Physical Defense stat and low HP stat to boot. However, his Special Defense stat is pretty good, but nowhere as good as his 120 Speed stat and 135 Special Attack stat! That special attack stat is the reason why Alakazam was so broken in Generation 1! And, while the franchise has gone through many innovations that nerfed the Psychic type, Alakazam can prove time and time again that he can still be a force to be reckoned with.

For starters it has some pretty good abilities. Synchronize to inflict the same status condition that was inflicted upon him by an opposing Pokemon, Inner Focus to prevent flinching, and for a hidden ability we have Magic Guard which, for those who remember Sigilyph, protects Alakazam from indirect damage. Since Alakazam is a glass cannon, I feel like Magic Guard is the ability you really want.

Now let's go over his moves. Pretty much all of the attacking moves that Alakazam learns naturally is of its own type, Psychic. And it's pretty much what you expect; Confusion, Psychic, Psybeam, Future Sight, and Psycho Cut…for some reason…Alakazam's Physical Attack stat is trash, why does he learn this move? Anyway, Alakazam can also learn some good stalling moves like Recover, and stat boosting moves like Calm Mind, Reflect, and Light Screen.

And as for the moves he can learn through other means…oh, ho, ho! Strap in!

Being a Psychic type, Alakazam can learn a wide variety of Special Attacking moves such as Focus Blast, Energy Ball, Shadow Ball, Dazzling Gleam, Shock Wave, Hyper Beam, Tri Attack, Psyshock, and hell, before Gen 4's physical/special split, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, and Fire Punch were great moves teach this thing!

Alakazam gets a lot of fun toys to play with, and with his great speed stat he's guaranteed to use at least one of them while leaving a mark on the opponent in the process.

And I can't end this segment without talking about Mega Alakazam! Yes, someone thought it was a good idea to give this Special Attacking Psychic type nuke of a Pokemon a mega form! In this form, Mega Alakazam looks even more majestic and wizard-like with a white beard, red ruby on his forehead, five levitating spoons, and even Alakazam himself is seated while levitating.

In his mega form, Alakazam's ability becomes Trace, giving it the ability of whatever Pokemon he's facing off against, so opponents going up against a Mega Alakazam better choose their Pokemon wisely.

As for his stats, Mega Alakazam gets a small boost to both defenses…but then his Speed stat becomes 150 and his Special Attack stat becomes 175!

Yeah, suffice it to say, when Alakazam goes Mega, we're being sent right back to the days of Generation 1 when Psychic types were at their peak!

Alakazam is one of the OG psychic types and one of the greatest psychic types of all time and for good reason. It has some impressive moves that give it great coverage, it comes with some very useful abilities, and it's speed and special attack stats are among the strongest of any pokemon in any game that he's in.

What else can I say about Alakazam except that he is, and always will be, the Poke-Sorcerer Supreme!