Secret Power vs. Hidden Power: A Deep Dive into Pokémon Move Mechanics
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The Pokémon world is filled with fascinating moves, each with its unique properties and strategic applications. Two moves that often cause confusion, particularly for newer players, are Secret Power and Hidden Power. While both sound intriguing, they are vastly different in how they function, their usefulness, and their impact on battles.
In short, Secret Power is a Normal-type move with a fixed base power of 70, and its secondary effect is determined by the battle environment. Hidden Power, on the other hand, is a special move whose type and base power (up to 70) are determined by a Pokémon’s Individual Values (IVs). One is a gimmick move with situational benefits, while the other can be a key strategic move for coverage and dealing super effective damage.
Understanding Secret Power
What is Secret Power?
Secret Power is a Normal-type move, introduced in Generation III, that deals damage and has a 30% chance of causing a secondary effect. This effect is not static; rather, it changes based on the environment of the battle. For example, if the battle takes place in tall grass, the secondary effect might be paralysis. In a cave, it might be flinching. This makes it a situational move, with its effectiveness heavily dependent on where the battle is being held.
The Gimmick of Secret Power
The strength of Secret Power is not in its offensive potential or reliability. Instead, its purpose lies more in its ability to offer a variety of effects depending on the situation. While these secondary effects can sometimes be beneficial, they are not predictable or consistent enough to make Secret Power a cornerstone of most strategies. In most cases, a Normal-type attack with a guaranteed effect or another more powerful move would be better to utilize.
Secret Power in Battle
- Type: Always Normal
- Base Power: 70
- Effect: 30% chance of causing a secondary effect, determined by the environment.
- Physical or Special: Secret Power is considered a physical attack since it is a Normal-type move. This is true even though it has a secondary effect associated with special type moves.
Understanding Hidden Power
What is Hidden Power?
Hidden Power is a special move that, unlike Secret Power, has its type and power directly determined by a Pokémon’s IVs. IVs are hidden stats inherent to each Pokémon, influencing their individual strengths. This means no two Pokémon will necessarily have the same Hidden Power type and base power. The base power can vary, but is always capped at 70. This adds an element of unpredictability to the move.
The Strategic Significance of Hidden Power
Unlike Secret Power, Hidden Power is extremely valuable for its versatility and the potential for strategic advantages. The primary advantage comes from the ability to potentially have a coverage move that your Pokémon might otherwise lack. This can allow a special attacking Pokémon to strike enemies that they normally would not be able to deal damage to.
For example, a Pokémon weak to Fire, but capable of learning Hidden Power, could potentially learn Hidden Power Rock to give themselves a fighting chance against Fire types. This makes Hidden Power a good option for Pokémon with shallow movepools.
How Hidden Power is Determined
The type of Hidden Power is determined using the two least significant bits of the Attack and Defense IVs, concatenated in that order (Attack then Defense). Here’s a basic breakdown:
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Convert IVs to Binary: For each IV, convert the numerical value into its binary representation.
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Extract Least Significant Bits: Take the two rightmost digits of the binary representations for both Attack (a) and Defense (b).
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Concatenate: Combine the two digits like this “ab”
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Determine Type: Based on the number “ab,” your Hidden Power will be one of the following types:
- 00 – Fighting
- 01 – Flying
- 10 – Poison
- 11 – Ground
- 00 – Rock
- 01 – Bug
- 10 – Ghost
- 11 – Steel
- 00 – Fire
- 01 – Water
- 10 – Grass
- 11 – Electric
- 00 – Psychic
- 01 – Ice
- 10 – Dragon
- 11 – Dark
Hidden Power in Battle
- Type: Determined by IVs (can be any type besides Normal or Fairy)
- Base Power: Up to 70, also determined by IVs.
- Effect: Inflicts damage.
- Physical or Special: Hidden Power is generally a special attack, except in Generation III where the Physical/Special division was determined by the move type.
Secret Power vs. Hidden Power: Key Differences Summarized
| Feature | Secret Power | Hidden Power |
|---|---|---|
| —————- | ——————————————— | ————————————————– |
| Type | Always Normal | Determined by IVs (excluding Normal and Fairy) |
| Base Power | Always 70 | Up to 70, determined by IVs |
| Secondary Effect | 30% chance, determined by environment | None |
| Usefulness | Gimmicky, situationally useful | Highly strategic, for coverage and unique damage |
| Physical/Special | Physical | Special (except in Generation III, where type dictates) |
| Predictability | Highly predictable (Normal type, fixed power) | Type and power are random to the user, based on IVs |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Hidden Power a STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) move?
A Pokémon receives STAB only when the move’s type matches the Pokémon’s type. For example, if a Fire-type Pokémon has a Fire-type Hidden Power, it will receive STAB. However, a pure Normal-type Pokémon can never get STAB from Hidden Power because Hidden Power can’t be Normal type.
2. Can Hidden Power be changed?
No, the type of Hidden Power is permanently set by a Pokémon’s IVs and cannot be altered.
3. What is the best Hidden Power type to have?
There isn’t a single “best” type; it depends on your Pokémon and its needs. For example, Hidden Power Ice is often sought after for Electric-types to deal with Ground and Dragon types. Similarly, Hidden Power Fire is good for Steel types that are 4x weak against fire. The “best” Hidden Power is often the one that compensates for a Pokémon’s weaknesses or offers needed coverage against common threats.
4. Is Secret Power always physical?
Yes, Secret Power is always classified as a physical Normal-type move.
5. Does Hidden Power change with level?
No, Hidden Power does not change with a Pokémon’s level. It is based solely on a Pokémon’s IVs, which are fixed when the Pokémon is generated.
6. How does Secret Power work in battle?
Secret Power has a 30% chance of triggering a secondary effect that varies based on the battle environment. For example, in tall grass, it may inflict paralysis, and in a cave it may inflict flinching.
7. Can you use Ability Patch to change the hidden power type?
No, an Ability Patch only changes a Pokemon’s Ability to its Hidden Ability. It will not alter a Hidden Power’s Type.
8. Is Hidden Power useful in competitive battling?
Yes, Hidden Power is extremely useful in competitive battling for providing coverage against types that your Pokémon may be weak to or cannot easily deal damage to. It’s a great move for special attackers who have a limited movepool.
9. Is Secret Power useful in competitive battling?
Secret Power is generally not useful in competitive battling due to its fixed Normal-type nature, situational effects, and lack of reliability. A lot of other moves offer much better utility.
10. What happens if a Pokémon uses Secret Power in a location with no set environment?
In locations without a specific environment, Secret Power defaults to causing paralysis.
11. Is Hidden Power a good move to use on every pokemon?
While Hidden Power can be useful, it is not universally good for every Pokemon. If a Pokémon has other more consistent coverage moves, it might be better to avoid Hidden Power altogether.
12. Why is Hidden Power considered strong?
Hidden Power’s strength lies in its unpredictability and potential for coverage against enemy Pokémon. Its ability to have a type that can help deal with a Pokémon’s weakness is what makes it so valuable.
13. How do you calculate Hidden Power type?
The type is calculated using the two least significant bits of the Attack and Defense IVs combined as explained above.
14. What is the base power for Hidden Power in Pokemon Go?
Hidden Power is a Normal-type move in Pokemon Go with a base power of 15 in Gym and Raid battles. In Go Battle League, it has a base power of 9.
15. Does Hidden Power have an effect outside of inflicting damage?
No, unlike Secret Power, Hidden Power only inflicts damage. Its only “effect” is the type of damage it does.
In conclusion, Secret Power and Hidden Power are very different moves, despite sounding similar. Secret Power is a gimmicky move based on the environment, whereas Hidden Power is a strategically useful move whose type and power are dependent on the user’s IVs. Understanding their differences is critical to maximizing your strategy.