Day 23: Tinkaton
(BGM: Artazon from Scarlet & Violet)
Former U.S President Theodore Roosevelt once said, 'Speak softly and carry a big stick', meaning that success you're more likely to succeed if you take a nicer approach, even when everyone knows you have a more forceful option at your disposal.
Well, that's funny because the Pokemon I'm talking about today has a forceful option at her disposal…and she shouts it out loud and proud, offering it as the only option, and she doesn't care who knows it or how you feel about it.
Oh, and that big stick?...It's a giant fucking hammer!
As you can imagine, I'm of course talking about the Fairy-Steel type Pokemon from Paldea…
Tinkaton!
(Insert Tinkaton cry here)
(BGM: Battle! Penny from Scarlet & Violet)
Let me just start by saying that when I saw Tinkaton for the first time, I knew that I was going to love her…I just didn't think I'd love her to the point where she was one of my favorite Pokemon in not just Scarlet & Violet, but also one of my favorite Pokemon, period!
Let's start by talking about Tinkaton's aforementioned typing, Fairy-Steel. I love this type combo! Sure, Tinkaton might be weak to Fire and Ground type moves, but it gains an immunity to Dragon and Poison type moves, while having a resistance to most other types! I can safely say with no uncertainty that Fairy-Steel type is one of the best combinations you can give to a Pokemon, and I'm glad that they gave it to this one.
Next, her design. Tinkaton, in my opinion at least, fits the trope of 'Badass Adorable' to a T. That nice shade of pink combined with that cute smile in her official artwork is almost as eye-catching as that hammer she's holding! This hammer is bigger than Tinkaton's whole body, and it's not just for show either, Tinkaton really knows how to use that thing!
To prove that point, I present you with two words: Gigaton Hammer!
A 160 power with 100 accuracy guaranteed to put a hurting on your enemies. You want to know what the catch is? It can't be used twice in a row…that's it!
Compare that to other devastating moves like First Impression, where it can only be used once as the first move, or Hyper Beam and Giga Impact where you need to take a turn to recharge! This is beyond lenient compared to those moves!
So basically, you can use Gigaton Hammer to wipe out your opponent and then switch out when you opponent is about to send out his/her next Pokemon. Or, if your opponent survives the Gigaton Hammer you can finish it with one of Tinkaton's other moves so that Gigaton Hammer will be all charged up for the next Pokemon; like lambs to the slaughter!
What's that? Still not convinced that Tinkaton knows how to swing that hammer around? Allow me to show you her Pokedex entry.
'This intelligent Pokémon has a very daring disposition. It knocks rocks into the sky with its hammer, aiming for flying Corviknight.' - Scarlet
This psycho bitch of a Pokemon actually takes out Corviknight…for sport!
I love Tinkaton to pieces, but nowhere near as much as a I fear it.
Me: Kind of reminds me of another psycho bitch that I work with, if you know what I mean.
(I look over at Lyra who is dressed in her Luminous Peacock attire shooting peacock feather arrows at a picture of me for target practice)
Lyra/Luminous Peacock: (Shoots a perfect bullseye) Bam! Right between the eyes!
Me: (Gulps nervously)
Despite what I said about the potential power Tinkaton can have, her Physical and Special Attack stat, along with her HP and Physical Defense stat is decent at best, ranging anywhere from 70-85. Not bad, but she more than makes up for it in Special Defense and Speed.
Yeah, despite lugging that 220 lb hammer around, she's still pretty nimble. Not the fastest Pokemon in Paldea mind you, but all things considered she's pretty zippy.
As for abilities, we have Own Tempo, which prevents confusion…very useful!
There's Mold Breaker, which makes shuts down most opposing Pokemon's abilities. So, for example, Tinkaton is up against a Pokemon with Levitate and she had a Ground-type move. Tinkaton is free to use said Ground-type move on that opposing Pokemon with no problems…awesome!
But nowhere near as awesome and helpful as her hidden ability, Pickpocket! With this ability, Tinkaton can steal an item when hit by another Pokemon. This can be very useful and I can see this ability shutting down opposing players' plans.
And as always, we end this segment by going over the moves Little Miss Badass overhere can learn.
Along with Gigaton Hammer, Tinkaton can naturally learn great moves like Flash Cannon, Skitter Smack, Brutal Swing, Draining Kiss, and Knock Off if she wants to put the hurting on some enemies, or if she wants to play strategically and lower/boost stats she can learn Baby Doll Eyes, Flatter, and Sweet Kiss.
Other moves worth looking into would be Stone Edge, Swords Dance, Heavy Slam, Brick Break and Pounce. Hell, Tinkaton can learn Ice Hammer through breeding, giving her movepool more potential type coverage.
Tinkaton is really the whole package. Her type is amazing, her abilities are great, and her moves, especially Gigaton Hammer, are excellent.
The only reason I have for why Tinkaton isn't higher on this list, though, is simple…I just like the following 27 Pokemon a little bit more.
But regardless, I'm proud to call Tinkaton one of Pladea's best Pokemon, and it's always 'Hammer Time' whenever she gets involved.
Lyra: Of course you had to end this with an MC Hammer reference.
Me: I'd have to be stupid not to.
Lyra: Stupid, no. Trapped in the 90s, yes.
