Summary of "How OVERPOWERED Would Hisuian Zoroark Be in Generation 1?"

How OVERPOWERED Would Hisuian Zoroark Be in Generation 1?

Storyline & Concept

The video explores how powerful Hisuian Zoroark would be if it existed in Pokémon Generation 1. It is part of the “How Overpowered” series, which tests new or future Pokémon against the benchmark of Gen 1 Mewtwo. The goal is to determine whether modern power creep makes newer Pokémon overpowered or if they fall short of Gen 1’s top-tier standards.

The run is conducted in a solo run format, focusing on speed and efficiency rather than bulk or survivability.

Pokémon Identity & Stats

Hisuian Zoroark is characterized as a glass cannon with very high speed, attack, and special stats but low HP and defense.

Base stat total: 450 (tied 10th with Lapras and Tauros in Gen 1)
Level-up group: Medium slow, advantageous for solo runs
Typing: Normal/Ghost
- Unique in Gen 1 context
- Interesting immunities and weaknesses: Normal is immune to Ghost, Ghost is immune to Fighting

Moveset & Gameplay Highlights

Key moves used during the run include:

Shadow Claw: Main ghost-type attack; guaranteed critical hits due to high speed; strong and reliable.
U-Turn: Bug-type move used to handle Normal-type Pokémon immune to Ghost.
Mega Punch: Controversial but highly effective physical move obtained early; provides massive PP, allowing the player to skip healing and save time.
Body Slam: Learned later; favored for accuracy and power over Mega Punch eventually.
Dig: Used situationally for coverage.
Swords Dance: Held off learning until later for efficiency; primarily used in the Elite Four to boost attack.
Amnesia/Nasty Plot: Boosting moves available late in the run, but early use is inefficient.

Additional gameplay notes:

The run strategically skips many rare candies (only 4 out of 12 used), relying on the medium slow growth rate.
Emphasis on turn and PP economy to speed up the run.
Careful manipulation of critical hits and move choices minimizes turns against key trainers and gym leaders.
Some minor mistakes and risks are taken, but overall the run is optimized for speed.

Strategies & Key Tips

Mega Punch is undervalued but essential for PP management and early turn-saving.
Avoid early use of boosting moves like Meditate and Swords Dance to save time.
Use U-Turn to counter Normal types immune to Ghost moves.
Shadow Claw’s guaranteed critical hits and high effective power make it the backbone of the run.
Skipping heals and rare candies strategically saves significant time.
Manage move PP carefully to avoid unnecessary healing stops.
In the Elite Four, setup with Swords Dance is necessary due to lack of coverage and bulky opponents.
Risk-taking can be beneficial but must be balanced against potential run-ending mistakes.

Discussion on Typing & Signature Move

The Normal/Ghost typing is intriguing defensively but less impactful in a solo PvE run due to limited Fighting-type threats and lack of Ghost move variety in Gen 1.

The signature move Bitter Malice (from Legends: Arceus) was not used because of its complexity and lower effective power compared to Shadow Claw.
- In Legends: Arceus, Bitter Malice has a special frostbite status effect that halves the opponent’s special attack, a mechanic absent in Gen 1.
- In Gen 9, the move was changed to have a guaranteed attack-lowering effect but with less base power.
Shadow Claw remains the superior choice for Gen 1 runs due to its power and simplicity.

Final Results & Ranking

Hisuian Zoroark completes the run in 1 hour 46 minutes 15 seconds.
It falls slightly short of beating Gen 1 Mewtwo’s record but still performs impressively.
Receives a 99.32 rating on its tier card.
Ranks 9th overall in the “How Overpowered” series, competing with legendary Pokémon like Mega Rayquaza and Mega Mewtwo Y.
Praised for having the right stats, typing, and move pool timing for a strong solo run despite not being legendary or mythical.

Additional Notes

The video includes reflections on speedrunning culture, balancing risk vs. reward, and the importance of minor optimizations.
The creator thanks viewers and supporters, mentioning plans for future videos and run improvements.
Viewers are encouraged to consider the nuances of move choice, PP management, and turn economy in solo runs.

Featured Gamer / Source

Channel/Creator: Hiker Anthony (known for the “How Overpowered” series and solo Gen 1 runs)
References to previous runs with Pokémon like Alakazam, Gengar, Giratina, and Mega Rayquaza.

Summary

Hisuian Zoroark would be a highly effective solo-run Pokémon in Gen 1, leveraging its glass cannon stats, unique Normal/Ghost typing, and a powerful moveset centered around Shadow Claw, U-Turn, and Mega Punch. Though it doesn’t surpass Mewtwo’s legendary status, it ranks in the top 10 for power and speed, showcasing how modern Pokémon can fit into the classic game with strong performance.

The run emphasizes PP and turn management, strategic move learning, and risk-taking to optimize speed, making it a compelling addition to the “How Overpowered” series.