By Matt
Probably one of the most overlooked moves ever, Hidden Power has existed for quite a long time now. One of the first Pokemon to utilize it was Unown, in the Johto region. It is the hieroglyphic Pokemon, and what is strange about it is that Hidden Power is the only move it will use. For reasons that still can’t be explained, Unown has no compatability with other TMs or HMs, making it an enigmatic Pokemon. So, what exactly is Hidden Power?
It is a TM that has been available in many Pokemon games, and just about any Pokemon can learn this move. Hidden Power is described as a move that varies in power and type by the Pokemon who use it. In its original state, it is a Normal-type move, but each Pokemon can change it and mutate it to change into another type. This move is dependent on each Pokemon’s Indiviual Values, meaning that even Pokemon of the same species can have a Hidden Power with a different type. But how do you figure out the type of your Pokemon’s Hidden Power?
The first method is the process of elimination, which is by using type matchups. Type immunities come in handy here, since you can eliminate all the types that do not have immunities. There used to be a way to calculate Hidden Power manually (which still exists today). To save time, though, there is a trainer in a Pokemon center in one of the cities who will tell you your Pokemon’s type of Hidden Power.
For those that want to know the mechanics of this strange move, Individual Values are added up, which can be easily found by using an Individual Values (IV) Calculator. After typing your Pokemon’s stats in, you can find a column that shows its possible IVs, which you can then use for the calculation. Using the stats HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed in that order, the numbers 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 will be variables that can be used. However, if a Pokemon’s IV is an even number in that stat, it will be 0 instead of that number above. Once you have everything ready, multiply the sum of those numbers by 15, and round down. Divide by 63, round down again, and you will get a number between 0 and 15. Starting from 0, Hidden Power’s type is Fighting, Flying, Poison, Ground, Rock, Bug, Ghost, Steel, Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Psychic, Ice, Dragon, and Dark. Remember that Hidden Power is a Special move, so special sweepers can use it to cover their weaknesses.
To determine power, there’s another formula more complex than determining type, but the IV Calculator fortunately determines that for you. To make sure it isn’t an overpowered move, most Hidden Power values range from about 30-60, making it only a last resort for those surrounded by horrible type matchups. Now that the creators of Pokemon are aware of people trying to figure out the mechanics of Hidden Power, it’s a good thing they put in a person to determine the type, which now shows that they are aware of Pokemon enthusiasts.
Tags: Nintendo DS, Pokemon Black & White, Unknown