The Pokemon series is enjoyed by all sorts of gamers, but its battle system is incredibly complicated. There's an obscene amount of numbers and statistics that go into how much damage an attack will do, and understanding them can be a challenge for both new and veteran trainers.

The most important of these numbers are the Attack and Special Attack stat, which are the main indicators of how much damage your Pokemon can dish out. Here is a simple, comprehensive explanation of these two complicated stats, as well as everything else you need to know about these numbers in your Pokemon's description.

16 Each Affects Different Types Of Attacks 𓄧

The most important difference between these stats in battle is that each will affect different types of moves. The higher your regular Attack stat is, the greater your power will be for physical moves, while your special moves are empowered by your Special Attack stat.

Each different Pokemon species has unique stats, and some may be stronger or weaker on either front. For example, some, like Alakazam, have a much higher Special Attack stat than their regular Attack stat, and therefore must use special moves to do the most damage that they can. The reverse is true for Pokemon with a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:high Attack stat like Machamp, who makes much better✤ use of physical attꦍacks.

15 🔜 𒆙 They Represent Physical Contact And Supernatural Strikes

The stylistic difference between Attack and Special Attack is that they represent different forms of combat. The Attack stat is used for physical moves that either use a Pokemon’s body or involve the throwing of a physical object. Great examples are Karate Chop 🦩and Rock Slide, which both make a physical impact on the target.

Special Attack, meanwhile, is left for elemental and magical attacks that are usually done from a distance. These usually have tꦯo do with moves that control forces of natu♔re, like Hydro Pump or Flamethrower, but also attacks that involve more mystical forces like Psybeam or Dark Pulse.

14 Symbols Are🌌 Used For Visual Short Hand

If you find yourself unsure as to whether a certain move uses a Pokemon's Attack or Special Attack stat, look to the symbols for clarification. On the summary page for any given move (in all applicable titles), there will be at least seven pieces of information; the move's name, the available Power Points (PP for short; it's how many times the move may be used before replenishment is needed), the power level, the rate of accuracy, the typing, the description, and the category. The category is the one we're looking for right now.

If there is a symbol that resembles concentric ovals, like a slightly squished Target logo, then the move is categorized as a Special Attack. If there is a symbol that resembles a spiky explosion, li🐽ke the action bubbles from old comics, then the move is categorized simply as an Attack. In older games, like Pokemon Diamond & Pearl, the Special Attack symbol was blue/purple and the Attack symbol was red/yellow, but in more recent entries, like Pokemon Sword & Shield, the symbols are simplified into minimalistic line art.

13 ♔ Each Are Resisted By Different Defensive Stats

Two other stats go hand-in-hand with these offensive stats, and those are Defense and Special Defense. 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Pokemon with high Defense are ꦚoften physically sturdy and bulky to prevent damage from physical moves and are particularly common among rock-type and steel-type Pokemo🥀n like Onix and Steelix.

Pokemon with more mental fortitude, meanwhile, are typically going to have higher Special Defense, taking less damage from special moves. These are often Special Attack users themselves as well, such as Espeon and A🐷lcremie.

12 Some Pokemon Are Good At Both At🔯tack Types ♚

Not every single Pokemon has to be solely physical or special, and it’s important to check a Pokemon’s stats to see if you can give a wider selection of moves. has a great combination of both Attack and Speci𓆏al Attack, meaning that if you train it right, then you can safely teach it physical and special moves.

That said, while this can give you a unique advantage in battle, it’s typically more effective to stick to only one attack type per Pokemon. Versatility is impressive, but you’ll often be more powerful if you increase just one offensive stat, rather than spreading your power too thin by attempting to balance both stats𓂃 equally.

11 Some Pokemon Are Also Only♋ Super Resistant To One Or The Other

In the same way th💃at some select Pokemon have great Attack and Special Attack stats (mixed💃 attackers), only a few equally excel in both Defense and Special Defense.

Blissey, for instance, is an infamoওus special🏅 wall with an absurd base 255 HP and 135 Special Defense. It’s almost impervious to special moves, but in return, it has just 10 Defense. The key to defeating ta⛦nkier opponents, then, is knowing how they’re trained and where their best base stats lie🍌, so you can target their weaker defenses.

10 Physical Opponents Are Often ‘Easier’ To Deal Wi✨th

Those who have played competitive Pokemon or watched a little (especially in the doubles format) will probably have noticed one thing: the Intimidate Ability is very, very popular. Why? Simply because its effect, which is ꦓreducing the Attack ♋stat of the opponent(s) by one stage when the user switches in, is incredibly useful.

Physical attacking threats are very common, and their power can be cut in various ways that Special Attackers’ power can’t. Thereꦑ’s no Special Attack-reducing equivalent of this Ability, for instance. They often have more ways to set up, but a physically-oriented metagame means that there need to be more ways to make them less oppressive too.

9 Status Moves Aren’t Physical Or Speciꦍal

There is a third type of attack that would seem initially like it’s related to Special Attack, but is deeply important to distinguish it as its own sub-type. Status moves often don’t deal direct damage and instead cause effects that alte⛦r stats, inflict status ailments, or change the weather.

These aren’t calculated from either stat, with their effectiveness not being affected by either of your damage stats. As a result, Attack and Special Attack users are equally ꦺcapable of using Status moves alongside their damaging attacks.

8 Status Effects Can ꧑Also Cut A Pokemon&rsꦅquo;s Attack Stat

Confusion, taking the maximum amount of Sleep turns (1-3), and flinches are just a few of the irritati🍎ng RNG-based situations Pokemon🌃 players often find themselves in. Of the status effects, though, Bur♌n might be one of th𝓡e most detrimental.

On the surface, Burn simply deals a little residual damage each turn. For physical Pokemon, though, this status can be devastating, as it also cuts the victim’s active Attack in half. Those with the Guts Ability are spared this as they actually gain 50% Attack when statused (and the usual Burn reduction isn🔯’t applied).

7 🌱 Base Stats Are Much More Important Than Available Moves

One question a lot of newer players will ask is how such-and-such Pokemon is supposed to be used in battle. The most important thing is to play to each Pok𓃲emon’s strengths, and these can usually be ascertained quite easily from that species’ base stats.

The Psychic-type powerhouse Alakazam, for instance, has excellent Special Attack and Speed base stats (135 and 120 respectively) but is sorely lacking elsewhere. Its base Attack is only 50, meaning that while it learns some great physical moves like Zen Headbutt and the elemental punches, it really isn’t equipped to use them properly. There are much be💮tter movesets, for this powerful Psych💖ic Pokemon and others.