Luxray’s Mediocre Potential Sparks Player Rally for Dark-Type Evolution

Fans of the popular Pokémon, Luxray, are rallying for a change to its mediocre potential, with many suggesting a Dark-type evolution. The call for this transformation gained momentum after a Reddit thread posted on Nov. 27 sparked discussions among players.

A Nostalgic Journey

Luxray, known for its appearance as part of Clement’s team in the Pokémon the Series: XY, has been a beloved character since its debut in Pokémon Diamond & Pearl in 2006. Its journey began as the timid Shinx and captured the hearts of casual players who formed a deep connection through its two evolutions.

A Competitive Disappointment

Despite its popularity among casual players, Luxray has failed to impress competitive players due to its limited potential. In the past, the difficulty of obtaining optimal natures and IV training made it frustrating for players to find the perfect version of Luxray. Additionally, Luxray’s ability, Rivalry, was considered one of the worst in the Pokémon catalog, overshadowing its more useful ability, Intimidate.

Furthermore, Luxray’s potential for Physical Electric attacks is hindered by its restricted move pool. While Luxray boasts an impressive base Attack stat of 120, its move options remain limited. This restricts its effectiveness to moves like Wild Charge, which underutilizes its potential when combined with the hidden ability Guts.

The Dark-Type Solution

Players advocating for Luxray’s evolution into a Dark-type Pokémon believe that this change would significantly enhance its threat on the battlefield. Adding the Dark typing would provide Luxray access to powerful STAB (same type attack bonus) moves. Luxray naturally learns Bite and Crunch, which offer flinch and defense debuffs respectively. Additionally, Thief becomes a more viable move option, considering the importance of itemization in competitive play.

However, not everyone is convinced that a Dark typing is the ideal solution. Some argue that Luxray’s Speed and Special Attack stats should be swapped instead. Swapping these stats would grant Luxray a better chance at earning turn order priority and utilizing its moves, like Wild Charge, more effectively. Nevertheless, this solution fails to address the issue of move set flexibility, making Luxray highly susceptible to counters.

Unlikely Changes and Future Possibilities

Despite the passionate arguments on both sides, it is unlikely that Luxray will undergo any significant tweaks in the near future. The last major typing shake-up occurred in 2013 with the introduction of Fairy-type Pokémon. If Luxray were to receive a competitive evolution, it may follow a similar path as Pokémon like Azumarill.

Whether Luxray’s potential remains untapped or it undergoes a transformative evolution, fans will continue to discuss and debate the future of this iconic Pokémon.