>since inception, Donphan had to compete with Sandslash
>fell into obscurity until gen 5 where it was OU for a few months
>fell further and further into mediocrity
>Gen 9 rolls around and now has past and future selves that totally invalidate its existence even further
How does it feel being a Donphan fan, I wonder? Do fans have to latch themselves to Tusk and Treads to feel good now? I mean, what can it even do to differentiate itself from its counterparts?
>I mean, what can it even do to differentiate itself from its counterparts?
Look better
donphan looked cool in the pokemon movie and that's really all that matters
>fanfic meta
donphan was never good in real formats
>had to compete with sandslash
you mean the mon it mogs in every stat but speed?
L
>since inception, Donphan had to compete with Sandslash
Donphan has been better than Sandslash in every gen the two have been in. Even now in the most powercrept generation by far. Don has a solid place in UU while Sandslash is hanging by a thread in NU.
Neither has accomplished anything in VGC but VGC is a different beast all together and the majority of Pokémon have never even placed in regional.
it only had better base stats, lacking swords dance
there's an argument for gen iii viability in sandslash's favor
Donphan had it better than certain Pokemon though.
Phanpy is one of my favourite mons and I don't really care about Donphan. It was fun having 5 level 100 Phanpys with Pick Up follow me around in HG/SS endgame while EV training trying to get PP ups.
>you can't like X if it's not viable in "competitive" battles
I wish they would cull competitive autism from Pokémon games
How else are people supposed to constantly horsewhip Meganium into a bloody pulp as if they have nothing else to do then?
thanks to this movie donphan became iconic.
also ash used one in the anime.
meanwhile sandslash isn even raticate tier
To be fair, Donphan was at least considered special enough that it got an episode that actually had the shiny version be the centre focus.
>noo every pokemon has to be a smoggy wet dream!!! game freak what were you THINKING why is this funny elephant not the best!!
mental illness
Worry not OP, we at Smogon are working on a new JU tier below ZU where your beloved can shine. JU stands for Johto sUcks btw, it'll be exclusive to them since even their cover legends are weaker than Magikarp.
>LET'S SLAP PINK SPIKES ON DONPHAN AND CALL IT A NEW POKEMON
>LET'S TURN DONPHAN INTO A ROBOT AND CALL IT A NEW POKEMON
paradox mons were a mistake and they are some of the laziest designs in the whole series. i am offended by paradox mons as a Donphan fan
Paradox mon clearly exist so that GF can create a catered VGC metagame of mons that they can remove from the next game if they wish to push some other catered assortment of pokemon next.
Donphan is a valid niche choice in gen 2 OU as rapid spinner that can take hits that Cl-l-l-loyster and Foretress can't take. Mind you, it's not better than both of them overall but on certain teams it can be. Meanwhile Sandslash was never a viable Pokemon at all.
I'm not bothering to read rest of your message because you already proved that you have no idea what you're talking about in first point.
>since inception, Donphan had to compete with Sandslash
LMAO, literally said no one ever
I like Sandslash but it's one of the biggest shitmons ever created, the only thing Sandslash ever got is the privilege to be a gen I pokemon.
IIRC A-Sandslash is the worst regional form ever created too.
To me, all it needs is defense curl and rollout