Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: 5 Strongest New Moves in The Indigo Disk

The 15 new moves introduced by the DLC have the potential to completely change the competitive scene

The content posted in this article may contain various spoilers for different parts of The Indigo Disk DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

The Indigo Disk DLC has over 15 brand new moves to Pokémon Scarlet & Violet and calling some of them overpowered is an understatement. To either help you with team building or get you prepared to face some of them on the ladder we decided to rank the top 5 strongest moves.

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Top 5 strongest moves introduced in The Indigo Disk DLC in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

5. Upper Hand

Pokemon

Move overview:

• PP: 15
• Power: 65
• Accuracy: 100%
• Type: Fighting
• Category: Physical
• Description: The user reacts to the target’s movement and strikes with the heel of its palm, making the target flinch. This move fails if the target is not readying a priority move.

In competitive play priority moves could only be punished in two ways: you could either use a defensive move such as Protect to “waste” your opponent's move or you could use a stat increase move such as Nasty Plot. With Upper Hand you will now have a tool to offensively punish priority moves, considering many of the Pokémon which use Sucker Punch are also Dark-type Pokémon you can see how Upper Hand can become a powerful move to have.

4. Dragon Cheer

Dragon Cheer is one of those moves that on the surface might not look strong however combined with the right Pokémon it will disrupt a match’s flow / Pokemon

Move overview:

• PP: 15
• Power: 0
• Accuracy: 100%
• Type: Dragon
• Category: Status
• Description: The user raises its allies’ morale with a draconic cry so that their future attacks have a heightened chance of landing critical hits. This rouses Dragon types more.

In VGC critical hits are important to counter common teams that utilize Screens (e.g. Light Screen) and also Pokémon that spam moves which increase their defensive stat. That is why Dragon Cheer is one of those moves that on the surface might not look strong however combined with the right Pokémon it will disrupt a match’s flow. Moves such as Ivy Cudgel from Ogerpon and Dire Claw from Sneasler are both two great examples of moves with naturally high crit chance that can become 100% if used in combination with Dragon Cheer.

3. Psychic Noise

players can plan and predict when to use Psychic Noise to completely nullify part of the opposing Pokémon’s strategy / Pokemon

Move overview:

• PP: 10
• Power: 75
• Accuracy: 100%
• Type: Psychic
• Category: Special
• Description: The user attacks the target with unpleasant sound waves. For two turns, the target is prevented from recovering HP through moves, Abilities, or held items.

Pokémon has various HP recovery methods, the most common in VGC being through the usage of items such as Sitrus Berry and Leftovers. Depending on which Pokémon can learn this move, it could be a top-level threat, allowing players to plan and predict when to use Psychic Noise to completely nullify part of the opposing Pokémon’s strategy.

2. Mighty Cleave

Mighty Cleave is the signature move of Iron Boulder / Pokemon

Move overview:

• PP: 5
• Power: 95
• Accuracy: 100%
• Type: Rock
• Category: Physical
• Description: The user wields the light that has accumulated atop its head to cleave the target. This move hits even if the target protects itself.

Mighty Cleave is the signature move of Iron Boulder and is one the only good Rock-type moves in the whole game and due to this few teams care to protect themselves against this typing. The other absurd attribute of the move is its secondary effect of completely ignoring Protect, one of the best and most utilized defensive moves in competitive play. If and when Iron Boulder becomes available on ranked games and tournaments you will see players prepping their teams with it in mind.

1. Electro Shot

Move overview:

• PP: 10
• Power: 130
• Accuracy: 100%
• Type: Electric
• Category: Special
• Description: The user gathers electricity on the first turn, boosting its Sp. Atk stat, then fires a high-voltage shot on the next turn. The shot will be fired immediately in the rain.

Electro Shot is the number one move on our list and just like Mighty Cleave, it can only be learned by one Pokémon — Archaludon, the Steel & Dragon Pokémon. Its limited roster of teachable Pokémon however does not minimize how overpowered this move can be when paired with a Pokémon that can set Rain through Rain Dance or abilities. Having such a minimal setup for 100% accuracy and 130-spread power move with non-common typing is unheard of and will certainly change the competitive landscape if it becomes available.