How Powerful is Explosion in Pokémon? The Ultimate Guide to Kaboom!

Explosion is a Normal-type move in the Pokémon series known for its immense power but significant drawback: the user faints after using it. Its power level has fluctuated slightly across generations, but its core function remains consistent: to deliver a devastating, last-ditch attack. While its listed base power often appears less impressive than other moves, the fact that it halves the target’s Defense stat during damage calculation makes it significantly stronger than it initially seems. In earlier generations, like Generation I and II, Explosion was undeniably one of the strongest moves in the game, capable of one-hit KOing (OHKOing) many opponents. Its viability in competitive play, however, is a complex topic, influenced by factors such as team strategy, generation mechanics, and available Pokémon.

A Blast Through the Generations: Explosion’s Evolving Strength

Explosion’s power hasn’t remained static throughout the history of Pokémon. Here’s a quick rundown:

• Generation I: Base Power of 170.
• Generation II: Base Power of 250.
• Generation III onwards: Base Power of 250 (with slight variations in some games like the Colosseum series which don’t actually impact the damage calculation despite rumors).

The crucial factor that remains consistent is the halving of the target’s Defense stat, essentially doubling the move’s effective power. In practical terms, this means a listed Base Power of 250 translates to an effective power of 500 when calculating damage. This, combined with a high Attack stat on the user, can lead to staggering damage output.

Snorlax: The King of Explosions?

The article mentions Snorlax. While there are many strong exploding pokemon, Snorlax, surprisingly, is often cited as a prime example due to its naturally high Attack stat. Combining this with the Same-Type Attack Bonus (STAB) for being a Normal-type Pokémon further amplifies the damage. Other contenders for best “Exploder” include Pokémon like Golem, Electrode, and Regirock, each possessing their own strengths in Attack and other stats that influence the move’s effectiveness. The “best” exploder often depends on the specific metagame and the role the Pokémon needs to fulfill on the team.

Explosion’s Tactical Role: A Double-Edged Sword

While the raw power of Explosion is undeniable, its strategic use is more nuanced. It’s a high-risk, high-reward move.

• Breaking Stalls: Explosion can eliminate defensive Pokémon that are otherwise difficult to take down, clearing the way for other sweepers.
• Sacrificial Play: Sometimes, sacrificing a Pokémon to eliminate a key threat on the opposing team is a worthwhile trade.
• Momentum Shift: By removing a problematic Pokémon, Explosion can drastically shift the momentum of a battle.
• Mind Games: The threat of Explosion can sometimes be enough to force opponents to make unfavorable switches or plays.

However, the downside is significant: the user is eliminated. This can be a devastating loss, particularly if it removes your last Pokémon, leading to an automatic loss under standard battle rules.

Abilities and Types: Counters to the Boom

Not all Pokémon are created equal when facing Explosion. Certain abilities and type matchups can completely negate or mitigate its impact.

• Damp: This ability prevents the use of Explosion, Self-Destruct, Mind Blown, and Misty Explosion.
• Ghost-type: Normal-type moves, including Explosion, have no effect on Ghost-type Pokémon.
• High Defense: Pokémon with exceptionally high Defense stats can potentially survive an Explosion, though this is rare.

These factors highlight the importance of understanding the metagame and team composition when considering using Explosion. It’s not a universally applicable strategy but rather a situational tool with the potential for game-changing impact. The skills acquired by players and developers while playing and designing these games are applicable in a number of domains as described by the Games Learning Society . See more at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Explosion vs. Self-Destruct: What’s the Difference?

The article also touches on the difference between Explosion and Self-Destruct, a similar move with a similar drawback. While both result in the user fainting, the key difference historically lay in their base power and when the target’s defense is halved:

• Explosion: Higher base power, halving the target’s defense effectively results in the move having an effective 500 Base Power.
• Self-Destruct: Slightly lower base power, halving the target’s defense effectively results in the move having an effective 400 Base Power.

In practical terms, Explosion typically deals more damage. This is why it has been more desirable among competitive players, as the primary goal is to inflict as much damage as possible.

Winning with Explosion: Is it Possible?

Winning a Pokémon battle solely relying on Explosion is a highly challenging and arguably impractical strategy. While theoretically possible under specific circumstances (e.g., extremely low-level battles or against opponents with severely weakened teams), it’s not a reliable competitive strategy. The self-KO clause inherent in Explosion and Self-Destruct makes it difficult to secure a consistent victory using only these moves. Building a balanced team with diverse strategies remains the more effective approach.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Explosion

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of Explosion in Pokémon:

1. What is the exact damage calculation formula for Explosion?

While the precise formula varies slightly across generations, the core components are:

Damage = (((2 * Level / 5 + 2) * BasePower * AttackStat / DefenseStat) / 50 + 2) * Modifier

Where:

• Level = Pokémon’s level
• BasePower = 250 (or 170 in Generation I)
• AttackStat = User’s Attack stat
• DefenseStat = Target’s Defense stat (halved by Explosion)
• Modifier = STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus), critical hit, random number between 0.85 and 1.00, and other relevant modifiers

2. Does Explosion get STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus)?

Yes, if the Pokémon using Explosion is a Normal-type, the move receives a 1.5x damage multiplier due to STAB.

3. Does Explosion work on Dynamax Pokémon?

Dynamax Pokémon are notoriously difficult to OHKO, including with Explosion. While it can still deal significant damage, it’s unlikely to eliminate a Dynamaxed opponent in a single hit, especially given their boosted HP.

4. Can Explosion be used in Double Battles or Triple Battles?

Yes, in Double and Triple Battles, Explosion hits all adjacent targets. However, this also means it damages your own allies. Strategically using Explosion in these formats requires careful planning to minimize friendly fire.

5. How does Protect affect Explosion?

Protect completely blocks Explosion, rendering it ineffective. This makes Protect a valuable counter to Explosion strategies.

6. Does the Ability Damp prevent Self-Destruct and Mind Blown?

Yes, Damp prevents all Pokémon on the field from using Self-Destruct, Explosion, Mind Blown and Misty Explosion.

7. Does Explosion’s power change in different Pokémon games?

Yes. In Pokémon Yellow, during Colosseum2 mode, it was rumored the Power of Explosion was different, but this is not true.

8. What are some good moves to use alongside Explosion?

Set up moves are perfect before using Explosion. Belly Drum doubles attack but dramatically reduces health. Explosion is perfect for finishing after using Belly Drum.

9. How is damage calcuated?

Damage = ((((2 * Level / 5 + 2) * Power * Attack / Defense) / 50) + 2) * Modifier

• Level: The level of the Pokémon using the move.
• Power: The base power of the move.
• Attack: The Attack stat of the Pokémon using the move.
• Defense: The Defense stat of the target Pokémon.
• Modifier: This incorporates various factors like STAB, type effectiveness, critical hits, and random variance.

10. How does explosion work with focus sash?

Focus Sash: If a Pokémon holds a Focus Sash and is at full health, it will survive an attack that would otherwise knock it out with 1 HP. Assuming the user is at full health before the attack. explosion is not an automatic KO. It is a base power of 250, but it halves the users defense giving it effective power of 500. This generally kills all pokemon.

11. Can Explosion hit a Pokémon using Dig or Fly?

Whether or not Explosion hits a Pokémon using Dig or Fly depends on the specific generation and mechanics of the game. In some cases, these moves provide temporary invulnerability, preventing Explosion from hitting.

12. Is Explosion a good move?

While somewhat reliable, Explosion is still a fairly risky move. It’s good for simplifying a game quickly, but it’s up to you to jump in the game and punish them for being so risk-averse.

13. Can Bulletproof Pokemon prevent Explosion?

Pokémon with Bulletproof are not affected by ball and bomb moves. Explosion is not considered a ball or bomb move, it can not be blocked by bulletproof.

14. If a Pokémon uses explosion against a ghost type Pokémon, what happens?

If a Pokémon uses Explosion against a ghost type Pokémon, it does not affect the Ghost Pokémon. Normal Type move cannot affect a Ghost Type Pokemon.

15. What are the different base powers of Explosion in different Generations?

• Generation I: Base Power of 170.
• Generation II onwards: Base Power of 250.

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of the Explosion

Explosion is a powerful and intriguing move in the Pokémon world. While not always the most strategically sound option, its potential to drastically alter the course of a battle is undeniable. Understanding its strengths, weaknesses, and nuances can help you make informed decisions about incorporating it into your team and strategy. Remember to balance the raw power of Explosion with its inherent risks and potential counters to truly master this explosive move.