How Good Was Blacephalon Actually? - History Of Blacephalon In Competitive Pokemon

Ladies and gentlemen, get ready to dive into the depths of the Pokémon universe. Today, we're taking a journey through the intriguing, the mysterious, the absolutely enigmatic, Blissphalon. Now, we're not clowning around, and we certainly haven't lost our heads. It's time to explore this bizarre creation that is Blissphalon. It's one of Pokémon's more disturbing designs, and trust me, that's saying something. At first glance, it might not seem all that unsettling, but there's something peculiar about its humanoid shape combined with a seemingly faceless head. The real shocker here is that Blissphalon is, in fact, an evil cloud, yes, you heard that right, an evil cloud, and wait for it, it makes its own head explode! In case you were wondering, its Japanese name even means "head goes boom." But Blissphalon's name isn't just a random jumble of letters; it's like a cryptic puzzle waiting to be unraveled. You see, it's a fusion of "blast" and "encephalin" (or brain), or you could say it's close to "encephalus," which means "having no head." Blissphalon isn't your ordinary Pokémon; it's one of the extra-dimensional Ultra Beasts with the fittingly terrifying code name UB Burst. So, brace yourselves as we delve into the realm of competitive Pokémon battles and explore if Blissphalon was able to inspire similar fear in the heads of the competitive scene's battlers.

The Competitive Scene - Where Blissphalon Roamed

In the world of competitive Pokémon battles, Blissphalon didn't always use its signature move "Mind Blown." Yes, as strong as it was, it didn't quite need to go all the way to unleash a move with 150 base power, especially when it cost half of its health. It's not like Blissphalon had to make its own head explode to deal damage and be a frightening force. Ghost stories may be meant to induce fright, and Blissphalon's introduction in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon did just that. It was notoriously frail, and its typing was littered with significant weaknesses, including the dreaded Stealth Rock and the relentless pursuit of its opponents. These weaknesses, alongside moves like Knock Off, Earthquake, and various Water-type attacks, painted a grim picture.

But, and here's the kicker, Blissphalon's offensive potential was off the charts. With a base Speed stat of 107, it was excellent, outpacing many speedy threats. Pair that with its mind-blowing 151 base Special Attack stat (yes, it's higher than Kyogre's), and you've got a recipe for destruction. Blissphalon used these stats to unleash its fiery wrath. Moves like Flamethrower and Fire Blast, or even the occasional Overheat, were like a blazing comet through the Pokémon tiers, tearing through defensive staples like Magearna, Celesteela, Tapu Bulu, and Tangrowth.

Blissphalon's incredible strength made sure that any neutral target, except for the unyielding Chansey, was in for a world of pain. Even Gliscor, known for its special bulk, couldn't stand up to Blissphalon's power. It was so fierce that it didn't even flinch when faced with resisted stab moves. Blissphalon's Frailty was evident, but it was no pushover. It was like that lightning bolt in a bottle that you just couldn't contain.

The Unique Niche - Taking Risks and Reaping Rewards

But, and there's always a but, Blissphalon's frailty and susceptibility to common moves meant it didn't have a massive presence in the Battle Spot. It was so fragile that it didn't even want to switch into resisted stab moves. Blissphalon was a powerhouse, not a guardian. Its unique niche was distinctive. Unlike other frail offensive Pokémon, it didn't offer any valuable defensive utility. It was like a one-trick pony, but what a trick it was!

The daring trainers who embraced Blissphalon knew that it was a high-risk, high-reward Pokémon. Often, risky Pokémon fall flat and don't justify their faults, but Blissphalon was different. Its extraordinary power and remarkable coverage, coupled with a fantastic Speed stat, made it a legitimate threat.

But, there's a twist. While it was challenging to get Blissphalon onto the field by itself due to its fragility, it had a bag of tricks up its sleeve. With teammates like Landorus Therian, Tornadus-Therian, Tapu Koko, and Magearna, it had no problem getting into position against opposing Pokémon that threatened to thwart its wickedly strong attacks.

Once Blissphalon hit the battlefield, it was like a hurricane, nearly impossible to prevent from getting a KO. Its immense neutral power tore through common defensive cores with ease. Toxapex, Heatran, and Gliscor were like paper in the wind. And even with the looming threat of Tyranitar, a well-placed Hidden Power Fighting could turn the tide.

Blissphalon's Journey into Gen 8

The story of Blissphalon continued into Gen 8. This generation brought some changes, and not all of them were in Blissphalon's favor. Hidden Power was gone, but that wasn't a deal-breaker. The real game-changer was the removal of Pursuit. No longer did Blissphalon have to fear being trapped by Tyranitar; it was free to unleash its fiery onslaught without looking over its shoulder.

Blissphalon made its mark early in Gen 8, and the metagame was instantly shaken. In a metagame dominated by other powerhouses like Specter and Cinderace, Blissphalon found its place. It dropped to the earliest stage of Crown Tundra YuYu, but don't be fooled by the tier—it was anything but a pushover.

Specs Blissphalon smashed through everything in its path, and its choice scarf set was like a lightning bolt on steroids. It could clean up opposing teams with ruthless efficiency, threatening any type of team it faced. The tables were turned, and it was no longer just a wall breaker; it was a formidable threat that teams had to prepare for earnestly.

But, of course, nothing is without its weaknesses. Blissphalon's Stealth Rock weakness was significant, and it had a brutal weakness to spread moves. However, the challenge wasn't just to beat Blissphalon; it was to do it before it did so much damage that its team had easy pickings to finish the game.

With its versatility and the ability to fit into different team styles, Blissphalon became a force to be reckoned with in Gen 8 OU. It wasn't just a niche pick; it was a powerhouse that demanded attention.

Blissphalon in VGC

In the VGC scene, Blissphalon wasn't a staple. Its frailty was even more exploitable in a doubles format, especially with its devastating weakness to spread moves. But it still managed to carve out a niche for itself in Series 7. Its primary role was as a choice scarf user, just like in Generation 7. It could unleash powerful Heat Waves and deal with opposing ghosts effectively. Being able to hit Cresselia super effectively was an added bonus.

Blissphalon found success