So the official English release for the first Gen VII tcg set has not been announced but we do know the bulk (if not entirety) of them now from the Japanese Sun and Moon sets.
I am so very disappointed! After so much excitement from XY10 and XY11 heralding a Golden Age of neglected Pokemon revival, SM1 seems to continue from XY12 as the end of that Golden Age...
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Not a
single neglected Pokèmon is included in the new sets(s)*. Literally every Gen I-VI Pokèmon included in SM1 featured
at least once in an XY set not to mention BW while some (even excluding babies, Abra and Kadabra) are still unheard of since Gen IV. Shame. Shame. Shame.
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For fun, here is a rundown of each returning Pokèmon with a "rigorous scientific analysis" (not really) of each:
1.
Caterpie, Metapod, Butterfree:
Role in SM1: 3-form Grass type
Appearances in XY: 3 x Caterpie-Metapod, 2 x Butterfree
Appearances in BW: 0
Alternatives: Bulbasaur-Venusaur (Neglected since BW save for Venusaur EX), Turtwig-Torterra (Neglected since BW, only Gen IV starter not featured in XY)
Grade: C-. Though neglected through Gen V, Gen VI more than made up for the Caterpie line's absence. That being said, the alternatives *did* each get BW prints and the saturation of Venusaur EXs took some attention away from Bulbasaur neglect.
2.
Paras-Parasect
Role in SM1: 2-form grass
Appearances in XY: 2
Appearances in BW: 0
Alternatives: Scyther-Scizor (Scyther neglected since BW), Sunkern-Sunflora (Neglected since DP), Deerling-Sawsbuck (Sawsbuck severely neglected since BW), Dwebble-Crustle (neglected since BW), Lileep-Cradily (Neglected since BW)
Grade: D. Paras is way too recent to get more prints when we are waiting on several neglected Pokèmon. Gets a pass for being neglected itself through Gen IV
3. Growlithe-Arcanine
Role in SM1: 2-form Fire type
Appearances in XY: 2 x Growlithe, 2 x Arcanine + 1 BREAK
Appearances in BW: 3 x Growlithe, 2 x Arcanine
Alternatives: Darumaka-Darmanitan (neglected since BW).
Grade: D-. Arguably, Darumaka isn't neglected seeing as it has only missed 1 Gen since appearing, nonetheless-Growlithe-Arcanine had earned a break.
4. Torkoal
Role in SM1: 1 -form Fire type
Appearances in XY: 1 + "Team Magma's Torkoal"
Appearances in BW: 1
Alternatives: None
Grade: A-. Torkoal is not an overused Pokèmon nor does it have a neglected alternative.
5. Psyduck-Golduck
Role in SM1: 2-form water type
Appearances in XY: 1 + Golduck BREAK
Appearances in BW: 2
Alternatives: Squirtle-Wartortle(?) (neglected since BW, however-undesirable as incomplete line), Wailmer-Wailord (Wailmer neglected since BW), Tirtouga-Carracosta (Neglected since BW).
Grade: B. Not Necessarily overused,simply too recent to already getting new cards.
6. Shellder-Cloyster
Role in SM1: 2-form water type
Appearances in XY: 4 x shellder, 3 x cloyster
Appearances in BW: 0
Alternatives: Squirtle-Wartortle(?) (neglected since BW, however-undesirable as incomplete line), Wailmer-Wailord (Wailmer neglected since BW), Tirtouga-Carracosta (Neglected since BW).
Grade: C+. Similar situation to Psyduck-Golduck except neglected in BW and overused in XY leading to a slightly lower grade
7. Lapras
Role in SM1: Basic UR water type (GX).
Appearances in XY: 2
Appearances in BW: 3
Alternatives: Delibird (Neglected since BW), Basculin (neglected since BW), Cryogonal (Neglected since BW)
Grade: D. Although Lapras gets plenty of love in both Gen V and VI, it gets a pass as there are really no neglected alternatives that fit the mantle of GX.
8. Zubat-Crobat
Role in SM1: 3-form psychic type
Appearances in XY: 2 x Zubat, 2 x Golbat, 1 x Crobat
Appearances in BW: 1 x Zubat, 1 x Golbat, 2 x Crobat
Alternatives: Abra-Alakazam [
].
Grade: B+. Zubat-Crobat are used pretty sparingly and there are as-yet no truly neglected 3-stage psychic types (that can be used) neglected enough to gripe about. Solid pass.
9. Espeon
Role in SM1: Stage 1 UR Psychic type GX
Appearances in XY: 1 (+full art)
Appearances in BW: 3
Alternatives: Darmanitan zen(?)
Grade: B. Espeon has plenty of love and arguably there are many stage-1 psychic types more in need of a card than it but Espeon is exceptional in that it evolved from a necessarily different type (specifically colorless) and is an Eeveelution. As such, there is no solid alternative except maybe Darmanitan (zen) as it a. Is a stage 1 psychic than evolves from a different type and b. has an alternative form. However, Espeon's role is simply too niche for anything other than a pass and more circumstances should have been different.
10. Makuhita-Hariyama
Role in SM1: 2-form fighting type
Appearances in XY: 1
Appearances in: BW: 2
Alternatives: Onix-Steelix (Neglected as an evolutionary line since BW), Phanpy-Donphan (Neglected since BW), Cranidos-Rampardos (Neglected since DP), Throh+Sawk(?)(Neglected since BW), Archen-Archeops (neglected since BW).
Grade: F. Fossils were making a comeback and we still left XY with one neglected since Gen IV!, there were at least 3 better choices than the very fairly treated Makuhita line. Throh and Sawk are arguable since although they are not a basic and Stage 1 to fit the same role, they nonetheless would need to appear in a pair
11. Sandile-Krookodile
Role in SM1: 3-form Dark type
Appearances in XY: 2 x Sandile, 2 x Krokorok, 2 x Krookodile
Appearances in BW: 4 x Sandile, 4 x Krokorok, 5 x Krookodile
Alternatives: None.
Grade: A-. 3-stage Dark types are few and far-between (Deino-Hydreigon being a notable other, however this line is far from neglected). The fact that the dark types use a fairly well-represented 3-stage form aside from a distribution of more neglected 1 and 2 form dark types is arguable a lost opportunity. Nonetheless as far as the specific role goes, it is one of the only options.
12. Skarmory
Role in SM1: 1-form metal type
Appearances in XY: 3 + full art
Appearances in BW 3
Alternatives: None.
Grade: C. Mawile, Jirachi, Dialga and Palkia are all arguably
more neglected than Skarmory and therefore could fill the same role- however all made at least 1 appearance each in XY and are far from neglected in their own right.
13. Kangaskhan
Role in SM1: 1-form colorless
Appearances in XY: 2+ full art + Mega + sr Mega
Appearances in BW: 1
Alternatives: Ditto (Neglected since BW save for XY promo), Castform (neglected since DP), Kecleon (Neglected since BW), Zangoose(?) (Neglected since DP save for 'Team Magma's Zangoose')
Grade: F. Kangaskhan fills a role with at least 2 better alternatives and several alternatives not even listed (eg. Audino is more a more neglected colorless basic) despite making several XY appearances and appearing as recently as XY10.
14. Eevee
Role in SM1: Basic colorless, unique evolution dynamic
Appearances in XY: 3
Appearances in BW: 8
Alternatives: Castform(?) (Neglected since DP) Kecleon? (Neglected since BW).
Grade: C+. Eevee is uniquely Eevee and so gets a pass despite arguable overuse of it and its evolutionary forms, it also accounts for 2 of the stage 1 GX forms featured in SM1. Minimal tweaking could arguably fix this and we cound instead have multi-form shenagigans with, say, Kecleon or Castform or even Arceus. However, Eevee's role is nonetheless unique as is and therefore get's a solid pass.
15. Spinda
Role in SM1: 1-form colorless
Appearances in XY: 1
Appearances in BW: 2
Alternatives: Ditto (Neglected since BW -XY promo), Castform (neglected since DP), Kecleon (Neglected since BW), Zangoose(?) (Neglected since DP save for 'Team Magma's Zangoose')
Grade: F. See Kangaskhan above. Not as overused as Kangaskhan but not as liked either. Could have held out the spotlight longer for what was a perfect niche for Kecleon.
16. Lillipup-Stoutland
Role in SM1: 3-form colorless
Appearances in XY: 1
Appearances in BW: 4
Alternatives: None.
Grade: B+. Until babies are brought back, Lillipup-Stoutland was arguably the best choice for a 3-form colorless. Assuming a 3 form colorless was necessary.
17. Pinsir
Role in SM1: 1-form grass
Appearances in XY: 2
Appearances in BW: 1
Alternatives: Heracross(?)(EX in XY), Scyther(?) (Neglected since BW), Carnivine (neglected since BW)
Grade D+. Heracross was due for a non-EX, meanwhile Pinsir's inclusion technically means further neglect for its Mega evolution. The inclusion of Scizor EX in XY10 means fan-favourite Scyther has been missing too long, perhaps a Scyther sans Scizor was worth considering.
18. Surskit-Masquerain
Role in SM1: 2-form grass
Appearances in XY: 1
Appearances in BW: 2
Alternatives: Scyther-Scizor (Scyther neglected since BW), Sunkern-Sunflora (Neglected since DP), Deerling-Sawsbuck (Sawsbuck severely neglected since BW), Dwebble-Crustle (neglected since BW)
Grade F. Like Paras above, but worse.
19. Poliwag-Poliwrath
Role in SM1: 3-form Water type
Appearances in XY: 2 (+ 1 x Politoed)
Appearances in BW: 0
Alternatives: Squirtle-Blastoise (Squirtle+Wartortle Neglected since BW)
Grade: B-. Not deserving of a low score let alone a fail but loses points for implicitly neglecting Politoed and taking a place that could have been for squirtle (Though Blastoise's overuse makes neglect of Squirtle increasingly easy)
20. Corsola
Role in SM1: 1 -form water type
Appearances in XY: 2
Appearances in BW: 0
Alternatives: Delibird (Neglected since BW), Basculin (neglected since BW), Cryogonal (Neglected since BW), Qwilfish(?)
Grade: F. Both Qwilfish and Corsola were neglected in BW yet Corsola got 2 XY prints to Qwilfish's 1 and that was back in XY2. Ignoring that, there were at least 3 other better alternatives (Same as Lapras except without the GX issue).
21. Wingull-Pelipper
Role in SM1: 2-form water type
Appearances in XY: 1
Appearances in BW: 0
Squirtle-Wartortle(?) (neglected since BW, however-undesirable as incomplete line), Wailmer-Wailord (Wailmer neglected since BW), Tirtouga-Carracosta (Neglected since BW).
Grade: A. Wingull is technically more neglected than many of its alternatives. Enough even to forgive the recency of the last print.
22. Chinchou-Lanturn
Role in SM1: 2-form lightning type
Appearances in XY: 1
Appearances in BW: 2
Alternatives: None.
Grade: A. Not neglected, not overused and not placeholding against a better contender as of yet.
23. Drowsee-Hypno
Role in SM1: 3-form fighting type
Appearances in XY: 1
Appearances in BW: 3
Alternatives: Ekans-Arbok(?), Grimer-Muk(?) (neglected since BW, Alolan form in SM1), Chingling-Chimecho (Neglected since DP), Yamask-Cofagrigus (BW)
Grade: D. Most of Drowzee-Hypno's alternatives have 'buts' attached: Ekans-Arbok were also neglected in BW and only got one XY print waaay bak in XY1...but it still got an XY print, Grimer and Muk are due for a reprint...but have their Alolan form featured, Chimecho is severely neglected and could take this role if paired with Chingling...but Chingling is a baby type which are 'disqualified' for now, Yamask and Cofagrigus should probably have gotten the place over Drowzee-Hypno. Weak pass.
24: Roggenrola-Gigalith
Role in SM1: 2-form psychic type
Appearances in XY: 3 x Drowzee, 2 x Hypno
Appearances in BW: 0
Alternatives: Aron-Aggron(?) (Aron, Lairon neglected since BW save for 'Team Magma's Aron/Lairon'),
Grade: A. Not overused, technically a better contender than it's most neglected alternative.
25. Umbreon
Role in SM1: Stage 1 UR Dark type GX
Appearances in XY: 2 (+full art)
Appearances in BW: 4
Alternatives: None(?)
Grade: C+. See Espeon. Loses points for being slightly more overused
26. Carvanha-Sharpedo
Role in SM1: 2-form dark type
Appearances in XY: 1 x Carvanha, 2 x Sharpedo (including 'Team Aqua's____')
Appearances in BW: 1
Alternatives: Houndour-Houndoom (Houndour neglected since BW)
Grade: C. Nearly a dead heat with the alternative, loses due to Houndour's neglect. Maintains a steady pass.
27. Snubbull-Granbull
Role in SM1: 2-form Fairy type
Appearances in XY: 5 x Snubbull, 4 x Granbull
Appearances in BW: 0
Alternatives: None.
Grade: B. Fairly overused in XY but neglected through BW, no fairy is thus far left behind.
28. Dratini-Dragonite
Role in SM1: 3-form Dragon type
Appearances in XY: 1 x Dratini, 1 x Dragonair, 4 x Dragonite + 2 Full arts
Appearances in BW: 3 x Dratini, 3 x Dragonair, 2 x Dragonite
Alternatives: None.
Grade: A-. Dragonite is technically overused however there is limited choice for 3-form dragon types and so far they are roughly evenly spread.
29. Tauros
Role in SM1: Basic UR colorless type GX
Appearances in XY: 2
Appearances in BW: 0
Alternatives: Ditto (Neglected since BW save for XY promo), Castform (neglected since DP), Kecleon (Neglected since BW), Zangoose(?) (Neglected since DP save for 'Team Magma's Zangoose')
Grade: A-. None of the alternatives are particularly suited for GX. Tauros being neglected through BW also helps
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And that's my take on it anyway:
*The closest to an exception this is Alolan Grimer-Muk seeing as Grimer-Muk have been neglected since BW Plasma Freeze. However,
Alolan Grimer and Muk are Gen VII Pokèmon, not the neglected Gen I Pokèmon. No points for effort.
