The difference between Pokémon isn't just level, but also moves, forms, etc.
At the same level, you can't say Swift can beat Hyper Beam.
Similarly, at the same level, Charmander's and Charizard's base stats are definitely incomparable.
Under normal circumstances, the stat difference between the two is at least threefold.
Speaking of normal, there are naturally special cases.
For example, Ash's Pikachu. At the same level, Ash's Pikachu is definitely top-tier among its species!
Even stronger than a Raichu!
As for the reason… who knows?
[Professor Sycamore: In addition to the level increase, Mega Evolution also provides a stat bonus within the same tier. That's why only Black Ash's Mega Charizard can unleash such power at the low Champion tier.]
[Cynthia: Is this data from your research, Professor Sycamore?]
[Professor Sycamore: No, it's just my hypothesis. Ultimately, I don't have any successfully Mega Evolved Pokémon here to study.]
[Professor Sycamore: We know very little concrete data here, so we can only guess. For example, what happens to its typing after Mega Evolving? Do its Abilities change? Does the strength increase correlate with the depth of the bond?]
Although the live stream rewarded a booklet about Mega Evolution, it only contained the most basic explanation and listed some Pokémon capable of Mega Evolution.
Deeper descriptions… weren't in the booklet.
To research Mega Evolution further, they'd need to find a Pokémon that had completed Mega Evolution and run various tests.
But right now… such a Pokémon couldn't be found anywhere in the world!
Even in the Black World, only Ash's Charizard had done it, let alone theirs.
If there was any possibility, it might lie with Cynthia and Ash.
After all, one got a Key Stone and the other got Charizard's Mega Stone.
The combination of the two… well… the possibility wasn't high. After all, who would be willing to lend out such important items as Key Stones and Mega Stones?
And even if Cynthia really lent Ash the Key Stone, and Ash had Charizard Mega Evolve, it wouldn't be very meaningful for research.
After all, this evolution required the bond between Pokémon and human to complete. They couldn't very well ask Ash to live at the Kalos Research Institute and demonstrate evolution from time to time, right?
If Serena knew what Professor Sycamore was thinking, she might raise both hands in agreement~
[Lance: In short, the boost from Mega Evolution isn't just in level, right? This system is too broken. Compared to Mega Evolution, Dynamax has too many drawbacks…]
[Leon: Well, each has its own merits. After Dynamaxing, Max Moves can not only buff the user but also have increased power. Plus, Dynamaxing provides a short-term stat boost.]
[Leon: And the most important bonus from Dynamaxing is durability. Its incredibly massive HP isn't something Mega Evolution can easily whittle down.]
Leon promoted the Dynamax system.
After all, it was the system from his home region.
If it got reduced to a floor-wiping comparison… he'd be quite troubled, right?
[Professor Kukui: Well, I've also heard about the Dynamax system. Its biggest flaw seems to be the location restriction. It appears Dynamaxing can only be used in the Galar region, right?]
[Leon: …Yes, that can't be refuted.]
No matter how good the Dynamax system is, its biggest flaw is it can't be used anytime, anywhere!
But… the Mega Evolution system has quite a few flaws too!
Bond is one prerequisite, and Mega Stones and Key Stones are the second.
These two conditions alone are quite demanding, not to mention other uncertainties.
After all, the only current example of Mega Evolution belongs to Black World Ash.
In short… Leon does think Mega Evolution is great, but that doesn't mean Dynamaxing is rubbish!
They're different systems, each with its own advantages, right?
[Lillie: Besides Dynamax and Mega Evolution, there are also Z-Moves from our Alola!]
[Lillie: Z-Moves are like an instant, no-charge version of that "Kirin" move, just needing a little prop assistance~]
[Professor Kukui: Haha, it's not exactly a "little." You need to pass the island challenge trials to get a Z-Ring, and obtaining Z-Crystals is random. Maybe a Tapu will give you one if it's in a good mood…]
In summary, Alola's system also has many flaws, but that's normal.
Systems that greatly increase a Pokémon's power in a short time aren't so easy to obtain.
You need to give something to get something, and bear some side effects.
Setting aside the discussions in the real world, in the Black World, the Mega Evolved Charizard and Lapras are battling again!
...
In a Black World —
Lapras took some damage from Thunder Punch, and Charizard also took some from Water Gun.
In the first clash, the two sides were even. But… Lapras is a high-tier Champion!
For Charizard to achieve this was no different from shame for Lapras and Pryce.
"Rain Dance!"
Pryce was ready to set the weather.
Against a lower-level Pokémon with a type disadvantage, losing momentum would be a huge blow.
Of course, what he didn't know was… after Mega Evolving, Charizard now had the Dragon/Fire typing!
Water-type moves could no longer deal super effective damage to Charizard!
"Dragon Dance!"
The opponent activated weather, and Ash had no intention of countering it.
Even as a Mega, Charizard's offensive power was still slightly inferior to the opponent's.
For Charizard, who treated extreme offense as its defense, this was quite fatal! The same went for Ash, who favored fast-attack tactics.
So… raising its stats became a necessity now!
"Woooh~"
"Roar!!!"
Cries and roars sounded simultaneously. Dark clouds instantly gathered on the Gym's ceiling.
Charizard also danced, mystical power adding a boost to its Attack and Speed!
"Dragon Dance, again!"
Once wasn't enough; it needed to continue!
"Blizzard!"
Pryce naturally couldn't let Charizard boost again. Seizing the weather advantage, he promptly had Lapras use Blizzard.
The pattering rain in the sky was swept up by Lapras's cold wind, turning into a blizzard of tiny hailstones!
Using Blizzard successfully turned the rainy weather into hail, increasing the move's power!
Pryce knew Charizard's speed would definitely increase after Dragon Dance.
Water Gun required focus and wasn't a very fast move; it could be easily dodged.
That's why he used the area-of-effect move Blizzard!
Even if its power wasn't as high as Water Gun's…
"Never mind! Keep dancing!"
A Champion-level Blizzard still dealt decent damage to Charizard.
Coupled with the rain-turned-hail, the damage would naturally be even higher.
Charizard now had Fire and Dragon typing; its resistance to Ice hadn't changed—it was still neutral.
Even so… Ash had to boost!
After the close exchange, Ash already understood this wasn't an opponent he could defeat without stat boosts. Pryce's rich battle experience allowed him to quickly adapt to Mega Charizard. Once he adapted, Charizard's advantage would vanish!
He had to seize the moment to drag the opponent into his rhythm; only then could he defeat this veteran Champion!
Upon receiving the order, Charizard trusted Ash completely, exposing its body to the Blizzard. At the same time, its body began to dance irregularly. Fine ice and snow blew onto Charizard's body, adding patches of snow-white to its jet-black form.
After a while, most of Charizard's body turned snow-white.
Pryce couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
Even after taking such damage, it still wanted to boost?
It seemed it had judged that without boosting, it couldn't win!
But…
"Now Charizard's body is covered in ice and snow. The cold ice will not only injure it but also numb its body. The speed you boosted… is meaningless!"
Pryce sneered at Ash. After all, he was still too young!
Did he really think he could win with mindless boosting?
This wasn't a game!
The real world had many more factors to consider!
Ash smiled faintly.
"Of course I know freezing will affect Charizard's speed."
"But… I never said I had no way to deal with it. In the end, isn't it just the numbing effect of lowered body temperature? Just raise its body temperature!"
"Charizard, use Overheat!"
Overheat was also called "Burn Out"!
This move was a powerful Fire-type technique!
When used, the user's body temperature rises to the peak it can withstand, then releases extremely hot flames!
However, this move also had a major drawback: its power decreased with each successive use. But it was undeniable… the first use of Overheat was terrifyingly powerful!
At the same time—it could also melt the ice and snow on Charizard!
The moment after Ash gave the command,
Charizard's snow-covered body erupted with an intensely bright blue light!
Instantly, the ice and snow melted, and Charizard returned to its original dark form, able to move freely again!
Pryce's face darkened.
He was an Ice specialist, not a Fire specialist, so he hadn't even considered that Overheat could be used this way!
"Protect!"
Pryce had Lapras use this "cheat" move again.
An emerald green light appeared before Lapras, blocking a flame that seemed capable of burning the entire Gym!
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