In datamines done before Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's release in November 2022, it was brought to light that all the Galarian starters would be transferable from Pokemon Home to the ninth generation of Pokemon thanks to a ROM of the game making its way into the public's hands. All the games' data was leaked in a few days and among the leaked transferable Pokemon are the Rillaboom, Cinderace, and Inteleon lines. Players have already had the opportunity to fight and catch Cinderace in seven-star Tera Raids, and it can be assumed that both Rillaboom and Inteleon could be in similar positions soon enough.
With the only two seven-star Tera Raids featuring old starters so far, some people have predicted that more starters will be made available even before the link to Pokemon Home allows players to transfer their old mons to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. However, some may be less viable than they once were. Rillaboom is slated to lose Grassy Glide, its signature move, and while it still has some viability in competitive formats, the loss of it and other coverage moves on top of that make it difficult to see it getting as much usage as it once did. Cinderace also had Libero altered to make the Ability only work once per battle - a significant blow to what made the Ability such a threat. With the two strongest Galarian starters already seeming less useful in competitive, it's no wonder that Inteleon may get overshadowed.
Why Inteleon Is Not Good in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
While on paper Inteleon does have things to appreciate about it, like having base 125 Special Attack and 120 Speed stats, it simply doesn't have enough bulk to have any sort of staying power in battle. It only gets a meager 65 base stat in physical and special defenses, and only 70 points in HP. It's a glass cannon, and it doesn't have great special moves to capitalize on the things that could make it potentially good.
Among the best Pokemon TM moves it learns is a special Water-type attack, Hydro Cannon, which does have 150 base power but only gets 90% accuracy and prevents the user from moving on its next turn. The next best is Hydro Pump with 110 base power, but it only has 80% accuracy - an unreliable amount to say the least. So, the best high-accuracy special attack it gets STAB on is Surf with 90 base power, and that's likely the best option for a Water move on Inteleon.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Choice Specs will likely be the item that Inteleon will hold, as that will increase the user's Special Attack by 50%, but locks them into the first move they choose until they switch out. Then the moves would probably be Surf or Hydro Pump, Dark Pulse, Ice Beam, and U-Turn. It gives Inteleon the potential to do high damage, but it won't live long and gets out-sped by other Pokemon that fill similar roles like Meowscarada (who would one-shot it with Flower Trick), Iron Valiant is just better with more type variety and differing methods of dishing out damage, and especially gets outshone by the new regional bird, Kilowattrel.
How Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Kilowattrel Compares to Inteleon
Among Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's best bird Pokemon is Kilowattrel, which currently fills a similar niche to what Inteleon could hypothetically do in the meta right now, but is a far better option. With a higher speed stat of 125, it moves faster than Inteleon and only has 20 points less in its Special Attack. However, if provided with rain, it can hit harder because of STAB Thunder, which gets perfect accuracy in this specific weather.
It also doesn't typically run Choice Specs, which opens up three more move slots that it can use than Inteleon. Furthermore, the bird Pokemon has access to Tailwind, which made Murkrow one of the top 5 Pokemon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Kilowattrel can pivot out with U-Turn after using Thunder, unlike Inteleon which would be locked into Hydro Pump and have to either faint or allow a party member to switch into damage or a set-up. While Kilowattrel is also fairly frail, it also gets a better defensive typing with Electric and Flying coming with five built-in resistances and an immunity at the cost of only two weaknesses.
Water-type Pokemon, on the other hand, resist four types, are immune to none, and are weak to two types as well. Kilowattrel can get an additional immunity though with its ability Volt Absorb which not only makes it immune to Electric-types, but heals the user if it's hit by an Electric-type attack instead. It is more effective in every facet that Inteleon could hope to be useful in, ultimately making the Water-type starter from Galar a subpar addition to Pokemon Scarlet and Violet.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are available on the Nintendo Switch now.
