Is Walking Wake any good?

Is Walking Wake Any Good? A Deep Dive into the Paradox Pokemon

Yes, Walking Wake is exceptionally good. It’s a powerful and versatile Pokemon that has made a significant impact on both competitive play and Tera Raid battles. Its unique typing, excellent stats, and signature move make it a formidable opponent and a valuable asset to any team. Let’s break down why it earns this praise.

Walking Wake: The Facts

Walking Wake is a Water/Dragon-type Paradox Pokemon introduced in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. It’s a prehistoric relative of Suicune, boasting a striking appearance and potent abilities. Its strengths lie in its high Special Attack and Speed, making it a dangerous offensive threat. Its ability, Protosynthesis, further enhances its most significant stat in sunlight or when holding a Booster Energy, amplifying its sweeping potential.

Unparalleled Speed and Sweeping Potential

The key to Walking Wake’s effectiveness lies in its blistering speed. With a base Speed stat already impressive, access to the move Agility turns it into a terrifying sweeper. After a single Agility boost, it outpaces virtually the entire unboosted metagame, including other traditionally fast Pokemon. More importantly, it even surpasses boosted threats like Iron Valiant, Iron Moth, and Roaring Moon. This speed control is invaluable in competitive battles, allowing Walking Wake to dictate the pace and strike first.

Devastating Special Attack and Coverage

Complementing its incredible speed is Walking Wake’s exceptional Special Attack stat. This, combined with its signature move, Hydro Steam, makes it a potent damage dealer. Hydro Steam is a Water-type special attack with 80 power and 100 accuracy. Critically, its power is increased in sunlight, making it an ideal move for sun-based teams. Beyond Hydro Steam, Walking Wake can learn a variety of coverage moves, including:

  • Flamethrower: Provides excellent coverage against Grass-types, which would otherwise threaten Walking Wake.
  • Tera Blast: Allows Walking Wake to change its Tera Type and gain STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) on moves of that type, potentially turning the tables on its counters.
  • Dragon Pulse/Draco Meteor: Provides a powerful Dragon-type STAB move, though Draco Meteor comes with a Special Attack drop.

This diverse movepool allows Walking Wake to adapt to various team compositions and opponent strategies.

Walking Wake in Tera Raids

Beyond competitive play, Walking Wake is also a prominent force in Tera Raid battles. While not exceptionally difficult compared to the seven-star raids, it still presents a challenge. Bringing appropriate counters is essential for success. Miraidon and Iron Hands are generally considered strong options, leveraging Electric-type attacks to exploit Walking Wake’s weaknesses.

Synergy with Sun Teams

Walking Wake shines brightest in sun teams. The Drought ability of Torkoal sets up the sun, activating Walking Wake’s Protosynthesis, boosting its Special Attack even further and amplifying the power of Hydro Steam. Paired with other sun staples like Eject Button Hatterene, Walking Wake becomes an unstoppable force.

Limited Availability

The only real downside to Walking Wake is its limited availability. It is exclusively obtainable through limited-time event Tera Raid Battles in Pokemon Scarlet. This scarcity makes it a highly sought-after Pokemon. Furthermore, you can only catch one Walking Wake per save file, increasing its value and uniqueness.

Walking Wake: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about Walking Wake, providing further insight into its strengths, weaknesses, and usage:

  1. What are Walking Wake’s weaknesses? Walking Wake is weak to Electric, Grass, Dragon, and Fairy-type moves. However, its access to Flamethrower makes Grass-types a risky choice for direct counters.

  2. What is the best Tera Type for Walking Wake? This depends on your strategy. Tera Grass can provide crucial coverage against Water-types, while Tera Electric can boost the power of Tera Blast. Tera Fire can bolster Flamethrower while in the Sun.

  3. What is the best nature for Walking Wake? Modest is generally preferred, maximizing its Special Attack. Since it can boost Speed with Agility, the loss of Speed is acceptable to hit harder with its Special Attacks.

  4. What are the best moves for Walking Wake? A standard moveset might include: Hydro Steam, Flamethrower, Dragon Pulse (or Draco Meteor), and Agility.

  5. How do I beat Walking Wake in a Tera Raid Battle? Bring Electric or Fighting-type Pokemon with high Attack or Special Attack. Miraidon or Iron Hands are good choices. Coordinate with your teammates to break its shield quickly and exploit its weaknesses.

  6. Can I catch more than one Walking Wake? No, you can only catch one Walking Wake per save file from the event raids. However, you can participate in the raids multiple times for rewards.

  7. When will Walking Wake be available again? Walking Wake appears in limited-time event Tera Raid Battles and will likely return in future events. Keep an eye on official Pokemon news for announcements.

  8. Is Walking Wake a physical or special attacker? Walking Wake is primarily a special attacker. Its high Special Attack stat makes it more effective with special moves like Hydro Steam, Flamethrower, and Dragon Pulse.

  9. What ability does Walking Wake have? Walking Wake has the ability Protosynthesis. This ability boosts its highest stat (usually Special Attack or Speed) in sunlight or when holding a Booster Energy.

  10. What Pokemon work well with Walking Wake on a team? Torkoal is a fantastic partner, providing sun support. Other sun staples, like Venusaur, and Charizard, or supportive Pokemon like Hatterene, can also synergize well.

  11. Is Walking Wake good in competitive battling? Yes, Walking Wake is a strong pick in competitive battles. Its speed, special attack, and diverse movepool make it a threat on offense-oriented teams.

  12. Does Walking Wake have perfect IVs in the raid? No, the Walking Wake you catch in raids will not have perfect IVs. You’ll need to breed or use Bottle Caps to maximize its IVs for competitive play.

  13. What is the difference between Walking Wake and Iron Leaves? Walking Wake is a Water/Dragon-type special attacker, while Iron Leaves is a Grass/Psychic-type physical attacker. They are counterparts in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, representing different time periods.

  14. Is Iron Leaves harder to beat than Walking Wake in raids? Some players find Iron Leaves more challenging due to its reliance on physical attacks and the Electric Terrain. However, both require strategic team composition and coordination.

  15. Where can I learn more about Pokemon strategy and game design? The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) is a great resource for educators and researchers interested in game-based learning and game design principles.

Conclusion: A Force to be Reckoned With

Walking Wake is a fantastic Pokemon. Its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, making it a valuable asset to any trainer willing to put in the effort to acquire and train it. Whether you’re battling in competitive formats or tackling Tera Raids, Walking Wake is a force to be reckoned with, a testament to the exciting new additions in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. So, if you ever have the chance to catch one, don’t hesitate! You won’t regret it.

Leave a Comment