Fire Pledge, Water Pledge, and Grass Pledge

[Swagmander]

I recently picked up the Pokemon Black and White Strategy Guide from my local library, and was skimming through to see if there was anything from the main story I might have overlooked. I was pleasantly surprised to find the locations of a few items I missed, but I also discovered information about the combination moves I had not before seen online.

If Fire Pledge and Grass Pledge are used, the move will transform into a single Fire type move with 150 Base power. A sea of flames which damages the opposing Pokemon appears afterwards.

If Water Pledge and Fire Pledge are used, the move will transform into a single Water type move with 150 Base power. A rainbow which increases the likelihood of added effects appears afterwards.

If Grass Pledge and Water Pledge are used, the move will transform into a single Grass type move with 150 Base power. A swamp which lowers the opposing Pokemons' speed appears afterwards.

I had previously not known this information, I thought that usage of two of these moves on the same turn would result in 50 base power each and then create the respective effect, but I guess they really combine.

I have a couple questions about these moves though:
1) Which Pokemon's Special Attack is used in calculating the damage done by a combination move?
2) Does the 150 base power combination attack receive STAB?
3) Is there any speed manipulation involved in combination attacks? If my Fire Pokemon has the fastest speed on the field, yet my Grass Pokemon is the slowest on the field, will the moves still combine before the opponent gets to attack?

I really feel that these moves could result in prime strategies for Double and Triple Battles, so let's discuss.

[Blue Harvest]

The damage doesn't double or combine, the Pokemon just attack one after another (I think, IIRC the second attack's power may double).

FireGrass effectively hits all your foes with a four turn Fire Spin.

WaterFire gives all your Pokemon Serene Grace (I'm not sure about the opponent)

GrassWater for all intents and purposes gives you a free Tailwind


The Serene Grace one could be cool and the Fire Spin thing would really add up with sandstorm or Hail. The Tailwind one.. well you might as well just use Tailwind.

[Shining Fire]

^What she said.

[Swagmander]

The damage doesn't double or combine, the Pokemon just attack one after another (I think, IIRC the second attack's power may double).

I tested it in-game with my Samurott and Venusaur in a wild double battle. The Pokemon which goes first gets this message: "[Pokemon] is waiting for [Pokemon's] attack!" The moves combine into one move that targets one Pokemon, if I didn't make that clear already. Grass + Fire = Fire Type move, Grass + Water = Grass Type move, and Water + Fire = Water Type move. You can target two different Pokemon with your two pledges, but the move that is of the type that wins out in each equation is the only one that hits. If someone could test all three at once in a Triple Battle and see what it does, that would be highly appreciated

[Donovansrb10]

I tried that weeks ago. The fastest 2 pokèmon use their combined pledge, and the slowest uses their regular pledge.

[chanseychansey77]

FireGrass, as Blue Harvest stated, could add up in Sandstorm/Hail/Toxic, though I wonder if any Fire starter would be good in Sandstorm.

WaterGrass gives you a free Tailwind, though since two Prankster Pokemon (Whimsicott and Tornadus) have Tailwind, just go with Tailwind.

FireWater seems the most useful, an 150 base Water type move that boosts Secondary effects likelihood. Especially if you combine it with Serene Grace. Can you say Togekiss with Ancient power, Roost, Ominous Wind and Aura Sphere?

[kaiser soze]

are the effects permanent? (ie last longer than tailwind)?

[Tyranitarquake]

are the effects permanent? (ie last longer than tailwind)?

thats what i wanna know- how long do the effects last?

[Swagmander]

FireWater seems the most useful, an 150 base Water type move that boosts Secondary effects likelihood. Especially if you combine it with Serene Grace. Can you say Togekiss with Ancient power, Roost, Ominous Wind and Aura Sphere?

The effect doesn't stack if your Pokemon already has Serene Grace. I see it being useful with Scald or Discharge.

are the effects permanent? (ie last longer than tailwind)?

The effects last 5 turns.

[legendarypokemonmaster]

I pledge allegiance, to the flag...
Braviary should so get pledge of allegiance as a move.

On Topic: You know, I never thought about using the pledges instead of TW, it might be a good idea.

[Donovansrb10]

^The move name would be too long for the game's script. :P

[legendarypokemonmaster]

Don't be such a party pooper =P It could be shortened I guess.

[Swagmander]

Fire Pledge + Water Pledge... then follow it up with Rock Slide given to a fast Pokemon? It's kind of hax-y, but you'll totally incapitate both opposing Pokemon roughly 29% of the time. Air Slash on Charizard looks good too. Typhlosion's Lava Plume with 30% burn chance doubled? Yes please!

[RifleAvenger]

And here I thought these moves were useless. I just thought the secondary effects were flavor text...

Does the Fire-Grass prevent the foe from switching, just like other trapping type moves? It'd be pretty cool if it did.

[Donovansrb10]

Fire Pledge + Water Pledge... then follow it up with Rock Slide given to a fast Pokemon? It's kind of hax-y, but you'll totally incapitate both opposing Pokemon roughly 29% of the time. Air Slash on Charizard looks good too. Typhlosion's Lava Plume with 30% burn chance doubled? Yes please!

lols at the sight of opponents pokèmon all burned in 1 turn.
-
It's better than Will-O-Wisp! XD

[Swagmander]

I have a big question regarding these moves, however. If one Pokemon faints while awaiting the other's pledge move, do the two moves combine? I doubt it...

[Zachmac]

lols at the sight of opponents pokèmon all burned in 1 turn.
-
It's better than Will-O-Wisp! XD

Proof: 60% chance to burn each enemy, while doing damage, or 75% to burn one with no damage.

[JASP01]

These moves really could be interesting...

--But--, they'll require good synergy. Just like anything, you can't just throw them together. I figure it'll be outclassed by other things, like Landorus and Thunderus in double battles. BUT, they really do have a chance to shine. You just can't throw them out there though. Hmmm...


... Water+Fire pledge suicide-ish leads, with Politoed and Dragonite next... Dragonite getting "Serene Grace" with 100% accuracy Hurricane, and an increased chance of confusion... Now that would be hell.

[Zachmac]

These moves really could be interesting...

--But--, they'll require good synergy. Just like anything, you can't just throw them together. I figure it'll be outclassed by other things, like Landorus and Thunderus in double battles. BUT, they really do have a chance to shine. You just can't throw them out there though. Hmmm...


... Water+Fire pledge suicide-ish leads, with Politoed and Dragonite next... Dragonite getting "Serene Grace" with 100% accuracy Hurricane, and an increased chance of confusion... Now that would be hell.

I've thrown teams together without synergy. As long as they work well together.

Well, you'll still want decent synergy, so Sandroom Porygon2/Tyranitar/Gigalith with no fighting resistance.

And the politoed would be scarfed into Scald or Ice beam.

[Swagmander]

I'd Tailwind first before going with Water + Fire, I think leading with Swampert and Whimsicott (two common OUs anyway) would throw off the opponent of your hax strategy. Then you could switch/U-Turn into Typhlosion (Which resists three of Whimsicott's weaknesses). Commence devastating with Swampert's Muddy Water and Typlosion's Lava Plume.