First off, dang, that is a sick picture. Please go take a look at this artist at the original link: https://twitter.com/ginnaaaaaaan/status/1747287281281753110
Now if only these two were as absolutely cool as this picture, I wouldn't be saying much in this post. Sadly, this is far from the case. I've complained about this before, but it is really a slap in the face of Bug type enjoyers like us to go from the fantastic and strong Bugs from Sword/Shield and then find out Spidops has worse stats than an Ivysaur.COME ON. This crazy design and awesome Pokedex entries, and then the developers decide to go and make this the single weakest fully evolved Pokemon introduced in Scarlet and Violet. Only Squawkabilly even comes close to rivaling poor Spidops in suckage. Who looks at this spider and says "Ok, now make sure this is by far the worst Pokemon you can possibly use in this game???" Spidops has been absolutely shafted and we're going to do our best to help it bring something to the table in this game.
Lokix is the final form of the other Bug type you can get in the early game, Nymble. It's doing better than Spidops at least with 450 total stats to work with, but its far from impressive in a game where power creep has never been stronger. With these incredible Bug types thrown in the metaphorical game balance bin, its no wonder I haven't even been able to bring myself to finish a Gen 9 playthrough. Woof. Fortunately, the designers have left us everything we need to do some really cool things with our early route Gen 9 Bugs, so let's get started on an overhaul.
1. Stats
This is an easy fix, at least. Buffs across the board for both of these Pokemon. We're increasing the stat total for both to a respectable 470. I don't want to go too crazy because these are not end-game powerhouses and I don't want to set them up as such. That being said, I think their designs and moves warrant them being placed a step up from other early game Mons like Butterfree or Ariados.
Spidops is getting much needed buffs to HP, Attack, Defense, and perhaps surprisingly, Speed. I want to make sure that with its signature speed-reducing moves it has a Speed stat that can actually take advantage of a weakened foe. Lokix, on the other hand, is just getting a nice 10 point boost to both Attack and Sp. Defense. As a bit of a glass cannon, it needs to actually be damaging enough to make the poor defenses worth it, and 55 Sp. Defense was a bit too poor even for an intentionally frail Pokemon.
2. Movepool
Finally, some good news, both of these Pokemon actually bring some pretty neat moves to the game and now they'll finally get the chance to show them off with their buffed stats. I'm looking to expand on their existing themes while adding some appropriate new options and buffing some existing moves.
Spidops is naturally all about stealth, precise attacks, and restraining its opponent. It's signature move, Silk Trap, is a better version of Protect that also lowers the Speed of any direct attackers. It also learns moves like Counter, Circle Throw, and Throat Chop which all blend in exceptionally well to the idea of someone trained in special operations as part of an elite, covert fighting force. To build on that, I'm buffing it's other "signature" move, Skitter Smack, to serve as a slower but stronger Feint. The base power is dropping to 60 and accuracy is increasing 100%, but instead of lowering Sp. Attack it now hits behind Protect and similar moves while also dropping the effect so its allies can also get hits off. You can't hide behind a shield when this special operative is on the offensive.
I'm also adding a move to play off of speed control. You could argue that reducing the opponent's speed is its own reward, but I want Spidops to have specific ways to benefit from a slowed opponent too. Introducing Web Garrote, a 70 base power Bug type move that doubles in strength if the user moves before the opponent. Now there is a very tangible reward for Spidops if you successfully predict a physical move and counter with Silk Trap. (I might change the name because garrotes are pretty dark, but Pokemon is no stranger to messed up lore).
Moving on to Lokix, this Pokemon is quite obviously a kicking machine. It's in the name! I want to keep Axe Kick as its most potent move, so no High Jump Kick to steal that thunder. We are definitely going to add some more kicks, however, with Blaze Kick, Rolling Kick, and Triple Kick added to its level up learn set and Triple Axel being available as either a tutor or TM move. Finally, as a nod to its mechanical design with fold up legs and its "Showdown Mode" that the Pokedex can't stop talking about, I'm replacing Agility with Shift Gear. It will be difficult to find a time to boost with its frail defenses, but if its ally can distract foes, Shift Gear will allow Lokix to jump far ahead of its middling Speed tier and become a huge threat to the enemy team with an attack buff to boot.
3. Abilities
Spidops continues its trend of being horrible with some real bottom tier abilities. At least they're lore appropriate, but preventing sleep and hitting harder on switch ins do not do a whole lot to improve its usability. Instead, we'll add the following:
- Technician
- Infiltrator
- Arena Trap
As a special operative, Spidops trains itself to use moves to their maximum ability and Technician is a great fit thematically and gives a substantial power boost to a lot of its key moves. This hits the newly buffed Skitter Smack, Circle Throw, and Assurance in its level up learn set, along with with coverage moves from TMs like Pounce, Aerial Ace, Rock Tomb, and Trailblaze. Infiltrator and Arena Trap, meanwhile, serve as very lore appropriate abilities that play off Spidops skill at maneuvering around opponents and striking unseen or setting up traps in its environment. Finally the "Trap" Pokemon has access to something with trap in the name. Arena Trap as the hidden ability gives you a more technical option later in the game when the ability patch becomes available and switching out becomes a bigger deal that could hinder a player's strategy.
Lokix is already halfway there with the phenomenal Tinted Lens ability, ensuring its often resisted Bug, Dark, and Fighting moves still hit incredibly hard. I'm going to move that over to Swarm's spot and throw in the new hidden ability, Reckless. If you want to boost Axe Kick and Double Edge to their maximum power, Reckless is for you. Finally, I'm fixing the bizarre issue of Showdown Mode. All of its Pokedex entries mention Lokix entering this extreme fighting stance called Showdown mode that takes a huge toll on its body but allows it to quickly end fights with extreme power. Yet, this is all flavor, none of this translates over to actual gameplay. We already made a nod to Showdown Mode by adding Shift Gear to Lokix's movepool, but we can go farther.
Lokix's second standard ability will now be Showdown Mode. A Pokemon with this ability has its Attack stat boosted by 1.5 times, but it takes damage equal to 1/6th of its max HP after every turn. Essentially, a physical version of the Solar Power ability. Because Showdown Mode doesn't rely on weather effects being in place, I'm increasing the health loss from 1/8th HP drain to 1/6th to balance its power. Lokix is already pretty frail, so in a double battle situation it is rarely going to be lasting the full six turns that Showdown Mode would allow. This really necessitates that Lokix hits hard as quickly as possible, ideally taking out an opponent every single turn until it faints. This also means you rarely want to send out Lokix as your front-runner, instead keeping it on the bench until any defensive opponents that could stop its assault have been cleared and speed control has been set up to stop faster foes that could threaten Lokix's weak defenses. Showdown Mode thus provides incredible power, but truly is an incredible toll on Lokix just as the Pokedex has recorded.
Conclusion
I hope with these changes that we have righted the gameplay wrongs that Game Freak has left with these awesome Pokemon designs.Lokix is hitting harder and faster with multiple ways to threaten foes at the player's discretion. Spidops is sneaking around opponents and using its Silk Trap to weak foes for the kill with a boosted Web Garrote or Technician boosted coverage moves. Now they are primed for an adventure with tougher opponents that Bugmerald offers.
I also think this leaves these two Pokemon with their own unique identity compared to Pokemon that use some of the same tools. Spidops lowering speed to get a crushing blow off contrasts with Galvantula, who is more focused on continual damage over time and Ariados, who is more concerned with boosting with either Focus Energy or Swords Dance and then hitting hard with priority moves. For Lokix, it cements its place as the Bug type that focuses on recklessly powerful kicks to take down as many foes as it can before it goes down. The other kicking Bug, Pheromosa, will still be akin to a glass cannon but it will have more focus on its pheromones and mixed offensive abilities then straight up raw physical offense like Lokix.
Have fun using the coolest Bugs in Paldea!
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