Is Hisuian Arcanine better? A deep dive into Legends‘ fierce fiery pup
As a long-time fan of Arcanine, I was eager to get my hands on the new Hisuian variant when Pokémon Legends: Arceus released. This majestic Legendary Pokémon holds a special place in many trainers‘ hearts, so does its Hisuian form live up to the original? Let‘s find out!
At first glance
Immediately we can see some key differences between Hisuian and Kantonian Arcanine. The fluffy white mane is gone, replaced by a wild, striped coat reflecting this Pokémon‘s more feral roots. I love the orange and brown tiger-like pattern – it looks ready to battle!
The most notable change however is the addition of the Rock typing. This ancient Arcanine roamed the Hisui mountains, so the rugged Rock type suits it perfectly. The question is – how do these changes impact its performance?
Digging into the stats
Let‘s start by comparing the base stats of both forms:
| Stat | Kantonian | Hisuian |
|---|---|---|
| HP | 90 | 90 |
| Attack | 110 | 115 |
| Defense | 80 | 80 |
| Sp. Atk | 100 | 100 |
| Sp. Def | 80 | 80 |
| Speed | 95 | 85 |
| Total | 555 | 555 |
As we can see, Hisuian Arcanine trades a bit of Speed for extra Attack power. This reinforces its physical, rock-smashing nature. While a minor change, even 10 extra base Attack can make a difference trading blows with opponents.
In terms of total base stat distribution, Hisuian Arcainine is identical to the Kantonian form at 555 BST. This keeps it from reaching pseudo-legendary status, as those Pokémon start at 600 BST.
Diving into the moves
Now let‘s compare some of the moves Hisuian Arcanine can leverage versus its Kantonian variant:
| Move | Type | Power | Kantonian? | Hisuian STAB? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flare Blitz | Fire | 120 | Yes | Yes |
| Wild Charge | Electric | 90 | Yes | No |
| Stone Edge | Rock | 100 | No | Yes |
| Crunch | Dark | 80 | Yes | No |
The big difference here is STAB – same type attack bonus. With the addition of Rock typing, Hisuian Arcainine gets STAB on strong moves like Stone Edge. This makes it a more versatile attacker.
Some calcs against popular opponents:
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Hisuian Arcanine Stone Edge vs. Talonflame: 116-137 (84 – 99.5%) — guaranteed 2HKO
-
Kantonian Arcanine Flare Blitz vs. Ferrothorn: 168-198 (47.6 – 56.1%) — 94% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
So you can see Hisuian Arcanine‘s Rock STAB blows past Talonflame‘s double weakness, while Kantonian struggles against Ferrothorn‘s defense.
Appraising the design
In my opinion, Hisuian Arcanine‘s design is a home run. The fang-like rocks jutting from its mane give it a real primal vibe, like it just wandered in from the peaks of Mount Coronet. I especially love the contrast between the orange rocky exterior and the smooth white fur on its underside.
The shiny variant takes it to another level, with a vibrant yellow coat replacing the orange. Combined with the black accents, shiny Hisuian Arcanine looks super slick. I‘d love to have one prowling around my player camp in Legends: Arceus!
Evaluating competitive viability
While Hisuian Arcanine hits harder with its Rock STAB, the added weaknesses do hurt its viability as a defensive pivot or wall. With crippling weaknesses to Water and Ground, common offensive types, Hisuian will faint far quicker than its fire-only Kantonian counterpart.
Offensively, Hisuian Arcanine finds itself outclassed by dedicated rock specialists like Rhyperior and Rampardos which boast higher Attack and Rock STAB. While usable, it isn‘t optimal as a Rock attacker.
Hisuian Arcanine shines more as a generalist attacker, where it can leverage both its Fire and Rock STAB moves for good coverage. I recommend pairing it with a Water or Ground partner to cover its weak points.
The verdict: A fierce upgrade
While not strictly superior competitively, Hisuian Arcanine‘s versatile moveset and killer visual design make it a big upgrade over the original in my book. Being able to smash with Stone Edge and flamethrow with Flare Blitz in the same match is great.
As a longtime Arcanine fan, I loved getting to use this awesome new form on my adventure through the Hisui region. Its imposing looks and strong signature moves like Raging Fury reflect the harsh mountain environment it calls home.
So in summary – Hisuian Arcanine rocks! If you‘re a fellow Canine fan like me, I highly recommend hunting this variant down. Trust me, you won‘t regret adding this majestic beast to your squad. Thanks for reading and let me know if you have any other questions!