In this context since we're talking about Gholdengo specifically, I say fair enough. All I'm saying is that we shouldn't be so focused on trying to follow game data when there could be other alternatives that could make the overall meta much more fun. I'm not entirely sure if there are other scenarios where a Pokemon gets an addition to their primary type, but when the Slow-Galar twins gets released sometime in the future I don't want all my cross evolutions to just be more of Slowbro-Galar and Slowking-Galar 2.
Also, just so that the thread isn't cluttered by this discussion, here are some cool sets I found.
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Stats: 105 / 185 / 120 / 65 / 140 / 155
Ceruledge (Scyther) @ Life Orb
Ability: Flash Fire
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance
- Bitter Blade
- X-Scissor
- Shadow Claw
A very powerful cross evolution that also happens to be a decent check to another mon posted in this sub, Primeape + Tsareena. Bug/Ghost is surpisingly good offensively and alongisde Bitter Blade you get near perfect coverage alongside healing and pretty respectable STABs. This combo is no slouch defensively either, thanks to Flash Fire, and it's got great bulk to allow for a lot of set up opportunities.
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Stats: 115 / 120 / 110 / 142 / 105 / 153
Noivern (Girafarig) @ Life Orb / Choice Specs
Ability: Infiltrator
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Timid Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Boomburst
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Nasty Plot / Heat Wave
- U-turn
An underrated Pokemon combo in my opinion that is based off of a very simple concept: STAB Boomburst. Hyper Offense is going to run wild in the meta and you know what this means: Lots of Prankster Dual Screens and a whole lot of strong set up sweepers. Cyclizar is also excellent with its ability to pass along Substitutes for its teammates to make use of. Boomburst bypasses Substitute, and Infiltrator bypasses Screens. It is THE anti Hyper Offense mon, Girafarig being the strongest special attacking Stage 1 Normal-type for this exact role. Tera Normal with this mon goes nutty. Choice Specs for more immediate damage, Life Orb if you wanna use Nasty Plot.
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Stats: 110 / 170 / 110 / 55 / 115 / 120
Gallade (Vigoroth) @ Choice Band
Ability: Sharpness
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Slash
- Sacred Sword
- Knock Off
- Stone Edge
Yeah uhh, Sharpness on Gallade makes it an even better evolution than any meta of cross evolution before, and it was already one of the best evolutions by far. Very straightforward mon, it hits very very hard and there's no other Stage 2 that makes better use of Gallade's attributes than Vigoroth (atleast, as far as I can tell).
Yo, I completely forgot Girafarig can evolve. I hardly get to find people who play Cross Evolution (though admittedly, I only stay online for 30 minutes at a time too, so there's that lol) so I assume I'm not the only one who forgot as I have yet to fight that monstrosity. Great catch, a specs set could work too I think, especially since it gains U-Turn from Noivern.
Yo, speaking of Scyther.....
Lokix (Scyther) @ Heavy-duty Boots / Choice Band
Ability: Tinted Lens
Tera Type: Bug
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Swords Dance / U-Turn
- Leech Life
- Close Combat
- Sucker Punch
Stats:108/166/118/85/110/152 (adds the typing: Dark).
A pretty straightforward set, you can make it a setup sweep if that's what you wish. Though honestly, from what I've seen, CB seems the way to go as it becomes rather difficult to safely switch into, even its suppose "checks" are still at risk of either dying outright or taking a huge amount of damage from a tinted lens STAB U-Turn. Leech life is nothing more than a stronger STAB, but I think people will replace that with something else (couldn't find anything better when running this combination), Sucker Punch makes for great revenge killing and a priority move nonetheless, while Close Combat brings it all together. Nuff said I think.
Scyther honestly is downright disgusting, would honestly go as far to say it's EASILY better than Ursaring, Bisharp, Primeape etc and is pretty much equal to Sneasel. These two gotta go in my honest opinion, but that's another discussion I suppose....