Do you like Farfetch’d? Most people reading this will either say that they don’t, laugh mockingly because I mentioned Farfetch’d or be indifferent towards it. However, that judgment is not really fair. Unlike most other small, weak Pokemon, Farfetch’d never got an evolution or anything to really make it usable. It was a neat trick in Generation I to teach you the importance of patience and raising your Pokemon, but aside from that, there isn’t a lot going on for it. However, it doesn’t have to stay like that. Forgotten Pokemon like Beedrill and Mawile have gotten Mega Evolutions in the past, so why not Farfetch’d?
Below are proposed stats of my idea for Mega Farfetch’d. Next to each stat you will find a number in parenthesis that indicates how much has the stat increased (or decreased) as a result of Mega Evolution.
HP: 52 Attack: 85 (+20) Defense:80 (+25) Sp. Atk:40 (-18) Sp. Def:90 (+28) Speed: 105 (+45)
Now, you might be thinking that even with the increase in stats, Farfetch’d still seems underwhelming. After all, our little duck friend has a Base Stat Total of only 352 before Mega Evolving, and only 452 after doing so. This quite less then a lot of non-Mega-Evolved competitive Pokemon and less then every other Mega Evolution. Funnily, even with a Mega Evolution boost, its Base Stat Total is still less then almost all Mega-Evolved Pokemon before Mega Evolving. Now, you might be thinking, how can this save Farfetch’d? Two words - Huge Power. By getting Huge Power, Mega Farfetch’d gains access to one of the highest Attack stats in the game, enough to leave a lot of powerful Pokemon in its duck/stick/lunch mix wake. Its once pitiful Speed stat of 60 jumps to a great stat of 105, and its bulk is increased, although its HP can’t be increased due to how Mega Evolutions work, which still leaves it somewhat frail. Stats are not the only thing that change with Mega Evolution for our leek-wielding friend. It now becomes a Fighting/Flying type, instead of its usual Normal/Flying mix. This, aside from granting it some new, powerful moves, allows it to have great STAB coverage. This all allows Mega Farfetch’d to have a powerful presence on the battlefield, as it can, despite its low stats for a Mega Evolution, sweep entire teams, especially if they’re weakened or paralyzed. Also worth mentioning that, as a gift of its typing, Mega Farfetch’s is incredibly resilient to entry hazards, taking neutral damage from Stealth Rock and being immune to Spikes, Toxic Spikes and Sticky Web.
Now, let us look at a moveset for Mega Farfetch’d:
Standard Dux
• Close Combat
• Brave Bird
• Quick Attack
• Protect/Swords Dance
Close Combat and Brave Bird are there for powerful STAB, great coverage and great all-around moves. Their inclusion is really a no-brainer and should always be used by Mega Farfetch’d. While it no longer gets STAB on Quick Attack, this is our only option for a priority move, and it’s still going to hurt quite a bit as a courtesy of Huge Power. The final move is a toss-up between Protect and Swords Dance. Remember, Mega Evolutions keep their original Speed stat on the first turn of battle, meaning that Farfetch’d measly 60 base stat can leave it quite vulnerable to powerful attacks from your opponent or crippling status. Protect is there to allow us to survive that first turn unscathed and proceed with its full power in your hand. However, Swords Dance can boost Mega Farfetch’s already excellent Attack to monstrous levels, after which it can be hard to really stop. It comes down to your preference and your team needs. If you’re good at predicting and can reliably Mega Evolve Dux without it getting KO’d or statused, pick Swords Dance. If you’d rather play it safe, pick Protect. In any case, you won’t be disappointed.
I hope you enjoyed my concept on Mega Farfetch’d. I think it should really get a little love, especially as an old, forgotten classic of the ages past. If you like these kinds of posts, message me and I can make one for a Pokemon you’d like to see Mega Evolve. Until then. :)
Art by: jesgrad07