Key things
- Clipped content from leaked Pokemon games, such as the Melt move, reveal interesting insights into the future potential of the series.
- The Melt move would be strategically valuable in competitive play and double battles, as well as difficult for new players to learn.
- While Gen 10 may be on the horizon, the likelihood of the cut Gen 5 content returning is low, including the Melt move.
Last week, Game Freak was the target of one of the biggest hacking attempts ever seen, if not the biggest, and managed to flood the internet with an incredible amount of undisclosed details regarding Pokemon games from Gen 1 to Gen 9. This unprecedented attack even led to some games in the series appearing online with their source codes and information about Gen 10 and Pokemon Legends: ZA also began to float to the surface. With so many leaks, it's easy to miss some of the interesting things that happened, such as cut content from the past Pokemon games.
The abbreviated content is more often compelling to analyze as it speaks to what could still be coming to the series as well as why it didn't happen when it was first conceived. For example, PokemonThe leaked Jynx Mega Evolution is being talked about a lot online as it might make a comeback Pokemon Legends: ZA alongside the leaked new Mega Evolutions for Zygarde and Zeraora. Among other leaks related to Pokemon black and whiteit was reported that one move was planned for the games and never saw the light of day – one called Melt.
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Pokemon Black and White's Leaked Cut Move is a double-edged sword
Pokémon Black and White's Cut Fire-Type Move would be the perfect ice breaker for new players
Melt was supposed to be a Fire-type status move with 100 base accuracy and 15 PP, with text stating “Changes opponent's steel type to normal type. Turns opponent's ice type to water type.” Text may be inaccurate due to being translated from Japanese, and Pokemon the games were very different in terms of design and competition in Gen 5. The modern version of this move would most likely turn any Pokemon into a normal type if it's Steel and water if it's ice regardless of whether it's friend or foe. This is exactly why this move would be a big deal.
Under normal circumstances, provided no secondary types are present on the defending creatures, Fire-type attacks are super effective against both Steel- and Ice-type Pokémon.
For newcomers to the series who have not yet fully familiarized themselves with the table of types v Pokemon Games, turning an enemy Ice-type Pokemon into a Water-type that is actually resistant to fire would be a lesson learned the hard way. At the same time, removing Steel-type's weakness to Fire by making it a Normal Pokemon could have been just as problematic. However, this move could be quite useful in duels.
Why Pokémon Black and White Cut Move would be great in competition
One of the main elements Pokemon games are strategy, whether on a casual level as you engage with the main story, or on a competitive level in high-end environments. The most used competitive format in Pokemon with a big edge are double battles that involve a different kind of strategy than singles, as players can use combos to make certain Pokémon much stronger or weaker than they would normally be. A good example is Indeedee next to a Pokemon like Hatterene to extend AoE power damage when used on Psychic Terrain. In the case of Melta, this could be great for both allies and opponents.
For example, if you Melt a Pokemon with the Prankster ability, it will go first with that move because of the priority brackets. Players could perhaps use this on a Steel/Fairy-type ally Pokemon, one of the strongest combo types in the series, to make it fire resistant rather than neutral. Likewise, a Pokemon like Abomasnow that is four times weak to Fire could become Water/Trass with Melt and become neutral to Fire. Depending on what type of Pokemon would have access to Melt, it could also be great on enemy pets, for example an ally attack suddenly weakens an ice-type mon against Grass and it turns on the opponent.
There would be endless requests for a move like Melt in the series. Yet while Pokemon Gen 10 may show up as early as next year with a trailer cut from content from the franchise's days, as Gen 5 seems pretty unlikely to return, so fans shouldn't hold their breath for Melt.