It's been a hit or miss year for new releases in Pokémon GO. Yes, we've had some excitement with Mimikyu (if we ever get to use it!) and Flamigo… but also a lot of disappointment with Klawf, Kilowattrel, Glimmora, Orbeetle, and most recently, the whole debacle of the regional-but-not-but-yes-actually-a-regional Sandaconda. Well I'm happy to say that the rather quiet upcoming release (on the other side of the weekend) of ORTHWORM looks like it's one of the good ones! How good? Let's dive in and see with today's "Quick Bites" PvP analysis, shall we?
ORTHWORM Stats and Stuff
Steel Type
GREAT LEAGUE:
Attack: 108 (on average)
Defense: 154 (on average)
HP: 122 (on average)
(Highest Stat Product IVs: 0-15-14 1498 CP, Level 25)
ULTRA LEAGUE:
Attack: 144 (on average)
Defense: 195 (on average)
HP: 154 (on average)
(Highest Stat Product IVs: 8-15-15, 2496 CP, Level 50)
Our last Quick Bites solo spotlight was on Orbeetle, which was, frankly, a total bust in PvP. But the one thing it got right was having excellent bulk, behind only three other bulky Bugs in Great League and notably THE bulkiest Bug now in Ultra League. Well, Orthworm's total stat product and overall bulk are nearly identical. At a quick glance, however, as compared to where Orbeetle ranks among other Bugs, Orthworm ranks much lower than its Steel contemporaries, with a stat product lower than a dozen other Steels in Great League (behind Bastiodon, Aegislash, Registeel, Probopass, Steelix, Galarian Stunfisk, Trashadam, Skarmory, Corviknight, Tinkaton, and Ferrothorn) and eighth in Ultra League (behind all of those besides Basti, Aegis, Probo, Trashy, and Skarm). Stil, it's within the Top 75 (viable) Pokémon overall in Great League, and the Top 40 in Ultra, so obviously it's plenty thicc. In Great League, other than Orbeetle, its closest comparisons are Amoonguss, Sealeo, Gligar, Tentacruel/Toedscruel, and fellow Steels Forretress and Metang, while in Ultra it's right up there with Blastoise, Serperior, Avalugg, and again Forretress. Pretty good company!
And unlike everything mentioned above aside from Registeel, Orthworm is a mono-Steel Pokémon. That means weaknesses to Fire, Fighting, and Ground, but also no less than eleven resistances… in order, Bug , Dragon, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Ice, Normal, Psychic, Rock, Steel, and 2x to Poison.
In other words, all the pieces are there with its stats and typing to find PvP success. But Orbeetle and so many other seemingly promising Pokémon are undone by poor moves. Is Orthworm among them too? Well, I'm happy to say that NO, Orthworm does not suffer this same ignominious fate! While its only STAB fast move is the thematic but PvP-unviable Iron Tail (3.33 Damage Per Turn but only 2.33 Energy Per Turn), it also comes with Mud Slap (3.66 DPT and 3.33 EPT), clearly a MUCH better way to go even without Same Type Attack Bonus damage. Even better, in Limited formats with lots of Steels, Mud Slap gives it a big le–er, tail up on the competition with super effective slapping.
And thankfully there's no real dropoff with the charge moves either. Rock Tomb (50 energy, 75 damage + guaranteed Attack debuff to the opponent) is again not STAB, but who cares when you can reach it in exactly five fast moves (each Mud Slap generates 10 energy) with no energy waste? You also have Iron Head which is okay, if a bit dull at the same 50 energy for only 70 damage… on paper, though it usually ends up dealing more damage than Rock Tomb anyway thanks to benefitting from STAB, and of course offers what could be key coverage, particularly against Fairies which neither Mud Slap nor Rock Tomb hit super effectively like Iron Head does. (And there's plenty of overlap, such as Mud Slap and Rock Tomb hitting Fire types super effectively, Rock Tomb and Iron Head both smashing Ice types super effectively, and Mud Slap and Iron Head both cracking open Rock types with super effective damage.) There is very, very little that resists Ground, Rock, and Steel damage. (And this is the part of the analysis where the readers hammer that reply button to tell me all the Pokémon that DO. 🤓 Love you too, dear readers!) There's also Earthquake, which has some legit use as well, but it's a bit more awkward at 65 damage and of course offers no additional coverage with Mud Slap driving things.
So, good bulk, a good defensive typings, and good moves? How does it all shake out?
PvP PERFORMANCE
So a couple fun facts before we get to all the numbers. First off, Orthworm is the only mono-Steel type to sport Mud Slap (the only other Steel types with it at all are half-Ground Excadrill and Alolan Dugtrio), and is also the only Mud Slapper that also has Rock Tomb other than Claydol and understandably-little-seen Klawf.
But anyway, enough teasing… time for some sims! Starting in Great League, where Orthworm comes out of the gate with a decent record. It's at least an improvement on other Steely Mud Slappers Excadrill and Alolan Duggie, as well as fellow Mud Slap/Rock Tomb user Claydol, though it admittedly falls short of the top Mud Slap users like Gastrodon and Toedscruel, though it does stand tall alongside Mud Slapper staple Marowak, which is actually pretty impressive seeing as how Marowak has cheaper moves, comparable bulk, and STAB on Mud Slap. I would even call ShadoWak and Orthworm sidegrades to each other, with Marowak getting wins like Forretress, both Stunfisks, Sableye, Drapion, Quagsire, Togekiss, Fearow, and of course, Fighting-type Shadow Annihilape, but Orthworm instead outlasting Guzzlord, Shelgon, Wigglytuff, Florgres, Furret, and Cradilly thanks to its resistances, as well as Water types like Azumarill, Empoleon, and Shadow Feraligatr that terrorize Ground type Marowak, but not so much a Steel type like Orthworm! The two stay neck and neck with each other in other even shield scenarios as well, with a similar spread of differing wins that mostly come down to their typings and associated resistances (or not). Orthie is pretty good at Great League level, folks!
But it is perhaps even more impressive if you push one deep into XL territory for Ultra League, with a legit winning record now! And that's actually the best record for ANY Mud Slapper at this level… better than Golurk, better than Toedscruel and Torterra, better than Nidoqueen, better now than even Gastrodon! While others like Queen and Gastro can tackle things that plague Steely Orthworm like Dusknoir, Stunfisk, Skeledirge, Nidoqueen, Watery Shadow Claw users (Feraligatr and/or Golisopod), and Fighters like Kommo-o, Virizion, Cobalion, and Annihilape, they cannot handle stuff Orthie can like Regidrago, Giratina, Jellicent, Drifblim, Articuno, Scizor, Lapras, Alolan Ninetales, and more. (A more complete comparison can be found here.) And Orthworm maintains that superiority in other even shield matchups as well, consistently outpacing Gastrodon and Nidoqueen by 6-7 wins (blame my daughter for picking up on the fact that I accidentally stumbled into THAT meme.. got her old man's bad sense of humor)… at least.
…and it may be able to get even better than that. At Ultra League level, you can replace the underwhelming Iron Head with Earthquake to add on Stunfisk in 1v1 shielding, and Guzzlord, Malamar, Shadow Nidoqueen, and at least a tie with Greninja with shields down. In terms of winning record among Steel types, Orthworm is right up there with Corviknight, fellow mono-Steel bulkster Registeel, and fellow snek-like Steelix. I can't promise Orthworm will suddenly move up into the meta as a top performer… but it legit has the potential to do so.
IN SUMMATION
It's funny how we've had numerous Pokémon arrive with a lot of hooplah only to end up collecting dust, and then things like Orthworm that seem to be underhyped and then send out far more ripples in the meta. I don't see this steely snek redefining any metas on its own, but could it slide its way into existing meta play? I think it certainly has that potential, and it well worth a grind during this event, even (and perhaps especially) for Ultra League!
Alright, that's it for today, folks. Until next time, you can always find me on Twitter with regular GO analysis nuggets or Patreon.
Good hunting, and catch you next time, Pokéfriends!
by JRE47