#299, #476: Nosepass & Probopass

Oh, nose! Not these Pokémon...

I'm not really looking forward to this review, to be honest. Probopass used to be my least favorite Pokémon along with Lickilicky, but I realized Lickilicky really is dumber and uglier and just rubs me the wrong way every time I'm looking at it, while my reaction to Probopass nowadays is more like, "Nah, not for me, thank you very much." A couple of weeks ago I realized that even Pelipper is worse than Probopass. Good GOD, if Sun and Moon don't make you despise Pelipper, I don't know what does...

Excellently papercraft Nosepass. 

Anyway, like with Lickilicky's pre-evo Lickitung, I must say I've never had a problem with Probopass's pre-evolution, Nosepass. In fact, Nosepass used to be a stand-alone rock-type Pokémon until it got this hideous evolution exactly one generation later. Like Lickitung, it is kind of mediocre, but at least it has kind of a cooler flavor and design to it, being based on a compass as well as on one of those mo'ai statues you can find on Easter Island. Its nose - based on the magnetic ethmoid bone that is located between the nasal cavity and the brain and is known to give specific species of birds their sense of direction - is always pointed northwards and exudes a strong magnetism that becomes even stronger in colder seasons; it even prevents Nosepass to face or go near others of its kind, because their noses repel each other. Not that they'd come very far, though, because Nosepass were thought to be completely unmoving until close observation has revealed that they actually move a little over ⅜ of an inch every year. If I could move so little every year without becoming Lickilicky, that would be absolutely astounding, but alas... At any rate, Nosepass is perfectly capable of sensing danger, and it raises the magnetism in its nose to draw iron objects to its body to protect itself (the same technique is used to capture prey), hence why Probopass acquires the steel typing upon evolution.

Official Sugimori art of Probopass. Now look at it and tell me that
the mustache doesn't look dumb. And that pukao makes it look
like it has some big red button on its head. This is such a shitty
design, i.m.o.

Yeah, Probopass... It's still based on a mo'ai statue, this time on a bigger one wearing a pukao, and iron filings that make it look like it has a mustache can clearly be seen beneath its humongous nose. I have a problem with those iron filings, because it's the fraudulent mustache that made me hate Probopass on Lickilicky levels. Of course, the iron filings are only present in its design because they're attracted to Probopass's tremendously magnetic nose, but along with that dumb pukao they also make its design unappealing. Like, big-time. It's a shame, really, because the concept of a compass rose (Probopass's main nose still faces the North, but it also freely controls and attacks with three units called Mini-Noses, pointing to the East, South and West, respectively) isn't a bad one by any means; it's just too poorly executed. On top of that, the evolution method of leveling up certain Pokémon in a special electromagnetic field present in the games is especially irksome when said magnetic field is nowhere in sight until near the end of the game, like New Mauville in ORAS - or Vast Poni Canyon in Sun and Moon, for that matter, because it took ages to evolve my Charjabug into a goddamn Vikavolt.

Anyway, let's not digress too much here.

Here you can clearly see the three units Probopass controls. 

Fortunately, evolving Nosepass into Probopass pays off. While Probopass doesn't have much offensive presence, its special attack is good enough for in-game purposes, especially when you take into consideration that both of its defenses are magnificent - with base 145 defense and 150 special defense, you'll be sure your Probopass can live a few hits. Competitively, however, Probopass serves more as a defensive pivot: it can set up Stealth Rock, paralyze or poison foes with a respective Thunder Wave or Toxic, Taunt opposing Pokémon into using only damaging moves to prevent them from setting up, and damage-switch with Volt Switch in order for you to gain momentum. In combination with the Leftovers for it to hold and a Calm or Bold nature, Probopass will live long enough to irritate your opponent. As for its ability, Sturdy is by far the better option and prevents Probopass from being KO'ed by ground- and fighting-type moves, to which it has quadruple weaknesses. Alternatively, Magnet Pull only works with an offensive moveset, so that Probopass can trap steel types and knock them out with an Earth Power boosted by a Modest nature. The Choice Specs may help boost its offensive prowess even further, although without Sturdy it is better to give it an Air Balloon so that it won't get hit by ground-type moves - for as long as another move doesn't make the darn thing pop, that is. It's not like Probopass's offensive movepool is all that shabby, either: it has decent STAB moves in Power Gem and Flash Cannon and very good coverage in Thunderbolt, Earth Power and even Dazzling Gleam.

The only problem is that its base 75 special attack isn't anything to write home about, so if you can make its offensive moveset work, I'd be more than happy to bestow all honor and glory upon you!

But yeah, Probopass... I may not hate it as much as I used to, but I still don't like it. I'm very, very kind in giving it two stars.

Rating: 2/5