The competitive meta of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet is still in its infancy, but that hasn't stopped experts from analyzing the competitive potential of new Pokemon. The Paldea region is home to 400 Pokemon both old and new. This isn't even accounting for the addition of Pokemon Home in Spring 2023, as well as new Pokemon to be included via DLC.
One of the biggest threats in any competitive Pokemon battle is a wall. Pokemon that fill this role threaten opposing teams by being difficult to kill. However, some Pokemon are perfect for getting rid of major threats like these, especially among the newly-added Pokemon. These six are some useful wallbreakers that players should look to include on their teams.
6 Gholdengo
Walls often take advantage of their high HP and Defense while inflicting status ailments on their opponents. This allows them to stay alive while slowly draining opponent Pokemon. However, this strategy is null and void when it comes to Gholdengo, the evolved form of Gimmighoul. It's a difficult Pokemon to obtain, requiring 1,000 Gimmighoul coins for evolution, but it's worth it.
Once Gholdengo is acquired, walls should be afraid. Its ability, Good as Gold, makes it immune to all status moves, leaving walls with little offensive power. Combined with its varied movepool and incredible Special Attack stat, walls should come prepared with some beefy Special Defense stats. Otherwise, they'll face the wrath of Gholdengo.
5 Chi-Yu
Of course, Legendary Pokemon are notable for their raw strength. This is especially the case with Scarlet & Violet's four Treasures of Ruin. Chi-Yu, for instance, is Dark/Fire-typed. Its ability, Beads of Ruin, lowers the Special Defense of all Pokemon in battle. This ability only complements its already high Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed stats.
Especially in double battles paired with Pokemon with lackluster Special Defense to begin with, Chi-Yu is a serious threat upon switch-in. Even specially defensive Pokemon will be threatened by its ability, which results in a serious disadvantage for walls. While Chi-Yu's movepool leaves a lot to be desired, it has enough hard-hitting moves to make a difference, especially after lowering defenses.
4 Chien-Pao
The Dark/Ice-type Treasure of Ruin, Chien-Pao, is already a fan-favorite of competitive Pokemon battlers. Similar to Chi-Yu, its ability lowers the physical Defense of all Pokemon in battle, which makes it a threat to physically defensive walls. However, what Chien-Pao boasts over Chi-Yu is a more diverse movepool of physical attacks.
Aside from STAB moves, Chien-Pao also gains access to Psychic-type moves like Zen Headbutt, which covers its 4x Fighting-type weakness. The use of Tera Types can also effect its vulnerability to the common Fairy-type by becoming Poison or Steel, relying on its powerful Attack and Speed stats to damage any Pokemon that comes its way.
3 Iron Moth
Paradox Pokemon are a new addition to Scarlet & Violet, reinterpreting older Pokemon in mysterious past and future forms. Most of these new Pokemon have Legendary-worthy stats in their own right, such as the Fire/Poison-type Iron Moth, which resembles Volcarona. However, this Violet-exclusive Pokemon packs way more of a punch than the original Gen 5 Pokemon.
Thanks to its ability Quark Drive, Iron Moth can receive a boost in its already-high Special Attack stat. In addition to above average Special Defense and Speed, Iron Moth is an incredibly threatening Special Attacker in the competitive meta. With the ability to poison walls and deal double damage with Venoshock, Iron Moth is a true wallbreaker.
2 Iron Hands
Another Violet exclusive, Iron Hands is the futuristic form of Hariyama, originally a Fighting-type Pokemon. Its Paradox form, however, gets the addition of Electric-typing. Not only can Iron Hands benefit from powerful STAB physical attacks, but it also boasts incredible stats in HP and Attack. This makes it incredibly bulky and hard to kill, while also a certified wall destroyer.
Combined with coverage moves like Play Rough, Iron Head, and Earthquake, Iron Hands is an absolute menace on the field. The addition of Quark Drive as its ability will also double its health, making it a rare combination of a wall that breaks other walls. The only thing it lacks is speed, which is something not many walls have to begin with.
1 Roaring Moon
While Salamence is already a powerful Pokemon to begin with, he gets outshined by Roaring Moon, its Scarlet-exclusive Paradox Form with Dragon/Dark typing. Instead of Quark Drive, Salamence gets Photosynthesis, which achieves the same effect of raising its highest stat, but under the condition of Sunny Day rather than Electric Terrain.
This makes Roaring Moon an incredibly strong physical attacker with a decent Speed stat, but it does have one glaring weakness: Fairy-types. Fortunately, it has access to a few Steel-type moves like Metal Claw to deal damage against them, and can avoid its defensive weakness with the usage of Tera Types. What's more, its incredible Attack makes many of its other weaknesses negligible.