‘Pokémon Sun And Moon’ Alola Forms vs Kanto Forms: Which Are Better?

By Phillip Martinez Published 11/18/16 EST

Pokémon Sun and Moon

Platform(s)

3DS

Genre(s)

RPG

Release Date 2016-11-18

There are new Alola Form Pokemon in 'Sun and Moon' Pokemon Company

One of the biggest new features in Pokémon Sun and Moon are the introduction of Alola Forms of Kanto Pokémon.

These Alola Pokémon are the same Pokémon from Kanto but have undergone changes based on their environments. Some of these Alola Pokémon simply change one part of their typing or gain a new typing altogether. Others have more drastic alterations, like the Alola Sandshrew and Vulpix line.

However these Alola Pokémon change, there will be debate of which version of these Gen 1 Pokémon are better.

And that’s what we have come to figure out, by taking both versions of each line and pitting their base stats, abilities and movesets against each other to find out which is “better.”

Of course, this is our opinion but we would like to hear from you in the comments section which version is your preference. Also, there are possibly minor spoilers ahead, as some of these Alola Forms have not been officially revealed before launch.

RATICATE

The quintessential Route 1 Pokémon, Rattata and Raticate have adapted to life in Alola by becoming nocturnal animals. This allows for Alola Rattata and Raticate to gain the Dark-typing, making them the first Normal and Dark-type Pokémon.

But how do their stats compare? Kanto Raticate is faster and stronger in terms of attack while Alola Raticate is bulkier to match its girth having a better HP, Defense and Special Defense stat.

Kanto Raticate base stats: 55/81/60/50/70/97

Alola Raticate base stats: 75/71/70/40/80/77

Kanto Raticate has the abilities Guts, Run Away and Hustle. Alola Raticate has the abilities Gluttony, Hustle and Thick Fat.

Hustle on Alola Raticate helps make up for the lack of Attack compared to its Kanto counterpart and Thick Fat gives the bulkier Raticate even more bulk against Ice and Fire attacks. However with its defense stats not being that high to start with, you’ll need heavy investment in HP and defensive stats to make the most use of it.

Its Dark typing does give Alola Raticate a four times weakness to the common Fighting-type attacks, so it’ll be hard for this Pokémon to outlast some of these hard hitting attacks.

In terms of movesets, both version have the same movepool but Alola Raticate gets the benefit of a STAB Sucker Punch as well as STAB Crunch.

But Kanto Raticate’s Guts ability coupled with its STAB Facade makes Kanto Raticate more dangerous.

WINNER: Kanto Raticate

PERSIAN

Like Raticate, Meowth and Persian adapted to life in Alola and gained the Dark typing. However, Alola Persian and Meowth are not dual-type but strictly Dark types, so they lose their immunity to Ghost but also lose the four times weakness to Fighting-type attacks.

Kanto Persian and Alola Persian’s base stats are relatively similar, with Alola Persian getting a boost in Special Attack, where its Attack stat was giving trainers an option whether to train their Alola Persian to be a physical or special attacker.

Kanto Persian’s base stats:65/70/60/65/65/115

Alola Persian’s base stats: 65/60/60/75/65/115

Kanto Persian has the Limber, Technician and Unnerve while Alola Persian comes with the Technician, Fur Coat and Rattled abilities.

Kanto Persian benefits from Technician, boosting its existing STAB Fake Out, but Alola Persian can get a STAB Bite boosted by Technician. Alola Persian’s Fur Coat ability is interesting but with mediocre defensive stats, it can’t withstand most attacks.

The movesets for both Persians are the same, so what tips the scales? Alola Persian’s versatility to use physical and special attacks make Alola Persian the better option.

WINNER: Alola Persian

DUGTRIO

By far the most questionable Alola Form, Alola Dugtrio received some awesome hair and a Steel typing and a lot new resistances. As a Ground and Steel-type, Alola Dugtrio now resists Flying, Psychic, Normal, Bug, Fairy and Dragon while also taking away Dugtrio’s weaknesses to Grass and Ice.

While it does make Alola Dugtrio weak to common attacks like Ground and Fighting, it’s still a very good type combination.

With that new Steel typing, Alola Dugtrio Defense stat goes up a bit and sacrifices its once monstrous speed stat.

Kanto Dugtrio base stats: 35/100/50/50/70/120

Alola Dugtrio base stats: 35/100/60/50/70/110

Kanto Dugtrio’s abilities consist of Sand Veil, Arena Trap and Sand Force while Alola Dugtrio gets Sand Veil, Sand Force and the new ability Tangling Hair, which reduces the speed of a Pokémon that makes direct contact with Alola Dugtrio.

Both Dugtrio’s benefit from Sandstorm teams but Alola Dugtrio’s Tangled Hair ability makes it a great Pokémon to switch into a Fake Out or something that it resists.

With both Dugtrio having the same move sets, except for Alola Dugtrio getting Iron Head, what makes Alola Dugtrio better is its typing and Tangled Hair ability.

WINNER: Alola Dugtrio

GOLEM

The only three-stage evolution Pokémon, the Golem line gets a snazzy Alola Form. Alola Golem replaces its Ground typing with the Electric-type, making it the first Rock and Electric-type.

Unfortunately, the base stats for both Golems remain the same, despite there being plenty of Electric-type special attacks. Alola Golem could have used the boost in that stat.

Kanto Golem base stats: 80/120/130/55/65/45

Alola Golem base stats: 80/120/130/55/65/45

Kanto Golem gets the abilities Sturdy, Rock Head and Sand Veil while Alola Golem gets Sturdy, Magnet Pull and the new ability Galvanize. This new ability acts like Pixelate and Aerilate, which changes Normal-type attacks into Electric-type moves and boosts their power even further.

While removing the Ground typing takes away Golem’s four times weakness to Water and Grass attacks, it gives Alola Golem a four times weakness to Ground, which can be a problem.

Both Golems can do their jobs well if you want it as a Steal Rock lead. If you want a sweeping Golem, they can both do that as well, especially Alola Golem with its Galvanize ability but it is harder to setup.

Alola Golem gets access to Electric-type moves like Thunder Punch, Wild Charge and even Discharge while still being able to use Earthquake and other Ground-type attacks

This is pretty tight, but Alola Golem’s unique typing and ability wins out.

WINNER: Alola Golem

SANDSLASH

Sandslash undergoes a major change in Sun and Moon, as it changes from a Ground-type to a Ice and Steel-type Pokémon. With this change, Sandslash eliminates its former weaknesses (Ice, Water and Grass) and becomes an almost different Pokémon gaining new weaknesses and resistances.

Stat wise, both versions keep the same stats for the most part, but Alola Sandslash has a slightly higher Defense and Special Defense while sacrificing its Special Attack.

Kanto Sandslash base stats: 75/100/110/45/55/65

Alola Sandslash base stats: 75/100/120/25/65/65

Kanto Sandslash has the abilities Sand Veil and Sand Rush, really benefitting from Sandstorm teams while Alola Sandslash gets the abilities Snow Cloak
Slush Rush, which act the same way but in Hail.

Both Pokémon have the same move pools, except Alola Sandslash gains access to a slew of Ice-type attacks. Couple that with Alola Sandslash gaining moves like Earthquake to deal with pesky Fire types give this snow hedgehog the victory.

WINNER: Alola Sandslash

NINETALES

Like Sandslash, Ninetales goes through a major change in the Alola Region. Going from a pure Fire-type to an Ice and Fairy-type is going to the other side of the spectrum.

Both Ninetales’ stats are very similar, but Alola Ninetales sacrifices some of its Attack stat to increase its Speed stat, making it the ultimate Special Attacker.

Kanto Ninetales base stats: 73/76/75/81/100/100

Alola Ninetales base stats: 73/67/75/81/100/109

Kanto Ninetales has Flash Fire and Drought as its abilities with Drought being the best ability for Kanto Ninetales allowing the Fire-type to limit the damage from Water-type attacks and give it a one-turn Solar Beam.

Alola Ninetales does the opposite, getting Snow Cloak and Snow Warning, allowing for Hail to begin when Ninetales hits the field. Having Hail on the field makes Blizzard hit 100 percent of the time.

Both Ninetales’ move sets facilitate their respective typings with Alola Ninetales gaining access to some of the strongest Ice-type attacks and some Fairy-type moves. With a better move set and better stats, Alola Ninetales is better but Kanto Ninetales is still awesome for the role it plays.

WINNER: Alola Ninetales

Alola Grimer and Muk in 'Sun and Moon' Pokemon Company

MUK

Alola Muk gains the Dark typing in Alola, which gives it one of the best type combinations in the game. As a Poison and Dark-type, Alola Muk is only weak to Ground-type attacks making it one of the best switch-ins in the game.

Both versions of Muk keep the same base stats; they are both good at being a strong wall.

Kanto Muk base stats: 105/105/75/65/100/50

Alola Muk base stats: 105/105/75/65/100/50

Kanto Muk has the abilities, Stench, Sticky Hold and Poison Touch while Alola Muk gets Poison Touch, Gluttony and the new ability Power of Alchemy. This new ability lets Alola Muk take the ability of a fallen ally. This is potentially a game-changer, as Alola Muk can take the Levitate ability to make it immune to Ground-type attacks, giving it no weaknesses.

Moves wise, Alola Muk gains access to Knock Off, which is good for any Pokémon but gaining STAB on top of that is insane. The Power of Alchemy ability and STAB Knock Off gives Alola Muk the edge.

WINNER: Alola Muk

EXEGGUTOR

While Alola Dugtrio may be a crazy, unconventional change, Alola Exeggutor got the internet buzzing when it was first introduced as the goofy Pokémon looked weird and gained the Dragon typing, which many felt was an odd choice.

Gaining the Dragon typing does give Alola Exeggutor four times weakness to Ice-type attacks, but does take away Exeggutor’s Fire weakness.

But how does Alola Exeggutor stack to Kanto Exeggutor? Well their base stats are very similar, except Alola Exeggutor gets a bump in Attack but loses some Speed. The Speed drop doesn’t hurt Exeggutor because quickness was never one of its strengths to begin with.

Kanto Exeggutor base stats: 95/95/85/125/75/55

Alola Exeggutor base stats: 95/105/85/125/75/45

Kanto Exeggutor has the abilities Chlorophyll and Harvest while Alola Exeggutor gets Frisk and Harvest. Harvest is an amazing ability and should be the preferred ability for both, so both Pokémon benefit from having it.

Both move sets are similar, with Alola Exeggutor gaining access to Dragon-type attacks but that doesn’t really tip the scales in its favor.

So which version of Exeggutor is better? One doesn’t clearly outshine the other and it all comes down to preference and what your team needs. I prefer Kanto Exeggutor but either is good.

WINNER: Tie

RAICHU

Raichu finally gets some love in Alola, as the evolution of the company mascot has a new look, a new typing and a new lease in battling.

Gaining the Psychic typing makes Alola Raichu a unique typing and gives it access to Psychic-type attacks that it wouldn’t normally learn. Gaining more weaknesses is a con but Alola Raichu becomes a specialized Special Attacker, raising it slightly while taking away from its Attack stat.

Kanto Raichu base stats: 60/90/55/90/80/110

Alola Raichu base stats: 60/85/50/95/85/110

Kanto Raichu has the abilities Static and Lightning Rod while Alola Raichu has the new ability Surge Surfer. This ability doubles Alola Raichu’s speed when Electric Terrain is active, making it one of the fastest Pokémon around.

Not only that, but Alola Raichu gains access to its own Z-Move which can be a game-changer and that’s what ultimately gives Alola Raichu the win.

WINNER: Alola Raichu

MAROWAK

The final Alola Pokémon in Sun and Moon is Alola Marowak, which changes from a pure Ground-type to a Fire and Ghost-type Pokémon. While both versions maintain their weaknesses to Water, they both have varying resistances and weaknesses that you’ll have to tackle.

Both versions keep the exact same base stats, which is disappointing considering that Fire and Ghost types have access to plenty of Special Attacks. Making Alola Marowak a Special Attacker, and making Lightning Rod worth using, would have been great.

Kanto Marowak base stats: 60/80/110/50/80/45

Alola Marowak base stats: 60/80/110/50/80/45

Kanto Marowak’s abilities are Rock Head, Lightning Rod and Battle Armor while Alola Marowak has Cursed Body, the aforementioned Lightning Rod and Rock Head.

Alola Marowak’s move pool expands greatly with the Fire and Ghost typing. It gains access to almost all of both types attacks, Will o Wisp and Shadow Bone, its new signature move.

There are Ground-type Pokémon who are stronger than Kanto Marowak. So with a richer move pool and a relatively unique typing, Alola Marowak is the victor.

WINNER: Alola Marowak