League Spotlight #1: 059' Arcanine

Hello once again Trainers! Now that we've covered most of the basics, I've been debating a lot about where to take this beginner guide's direction to next, and I have finally come to a conclusion. Personally I feel the best way to further educate is to pull out some (perhaps many) examples of how specific Pokemon work in today's meta game. This new segment will cover the strengths and weaknesses of the species and how it can best be utilized on a team. What better species to start with than our very own guide mascot, Arcanine!

Arcanine, also known as the "Legendary Pokemon", is ironically not a legendary at all by Pokemon standards. It has however been a fan favorite since its conception way back in the first Generation, and for good reason. The police dog can be quite a power house with a base 110 attack and a decent 95 base speed. Flare Blitz is the primary attack option for our furry mono-fire type friend, while Wild Charge and Close Combat round out coverage to smack those bulky Rock and Water types that would otherwise like to switch in. It also has access to a very powerful priority move in Extreme-Speed, which was once Arcanine's signature move, allowing it to worry less about incoming revenge-killers. 

Arcanine's stat spread is very well rounded, with the bulk 90/80/80(HP/Def/SpD, respectively), and even a special attack of 100. This makes Arcanine a bit tricky to predict, as it can function as both a physical or special sweeper. Having access to the move Overheat can also work well on a mixed-attacking set. Morning Sun can be useful for recovering the recoil from Flare Blitz and Wild Charge, while his Intimidate ability combined with a high bulky EV spread and Will-o-wisp can turn him into a surprising Defensive Pivot. 

While he is inherently powerful, Arcanine does have a few drawbacks for trainers to take into consideration. Outside of a Flash Fire ability boost (which boosts only Fire type moves), Arcanine doesn't have access to attack boosting moves like Swords Dance, limiting its overall sweeping potential. This means that the most common variants will utilize items like Life Orb, Expert Belt and Choice Band. Life Orb variants have the least longevity due to compounding recoil with Flare Blitz and Wild Charge, while Expert Belt variants typically don't pack as large a punch as one would like, and Choice Banded Arcanine is unable to utilize its impressive movepool to the fullest.  

The second largest problem for Arcanine is its less than stellar speed. 95 is decent but there are many fast, powerful special sweepers that pose a huge threat to Arcanine. Dragon Dancers are also often able to tank most hits from it while returning the following round with a one hit KO. Bulky Water and Rock types are able to completely wall Arcanine if it doesn't carry the proper coverage moves. 

Lastly, we cannot forget the weakness to entry hazards, especially Stealth Rocks. While all entry hazards can cripple Arcanine, Stealth Rocks are and have been the most prevalent since the fourth generation. Taking 25% to its max HP upon switching in severely limits Arcanine's potential to knock something out without being knocked out in return. This being said, it's best to pair Arcanine with a Rapid Spinner or Defogger to clear hazards off the field. Good partners include Pokemon like Tentacruel and Starmie, as they both resist incoming Water attacks and can spin away hazards. Tentacruel can also form a walling core with defensive Arcanine, although to round it out a Flying or Grass type is recommended to brush off those powerful Earthquakes. 

Overall, Arcanine can fit onto many teams because of its versatility and large move pool, but it is key to be aware of its heavily present weaknesses, and to build around them accordingly.