Thread: Move-of-the-Week Discussion #29: Mud Sport

In Pokémon, there are lots of different moves used by different Pokémon. Every week, we shall focus the discussion on a different move, and there will be some base questions that would help you start this off. This week, Mud Sport is chosen.


(Click picture to go to the Bulbapedia page)

Originally Posted by In-game Description (BW)

Type: Ground (Status)
Accuracy: --
PP: 15

The user covers itself with mud. It weakens Electric-type moves while the user is in the battle.

Mud Sport is essentially the same as Water Sport, only that it reduces the damage of electricity rather than heat. Like Water Sport, this move is referred to as some sort of game, true to its name. This time, it's dealing with mud, so I am not surprised if there is another new move called the Leaf Sport because children like to play in leaves too. This move is also learned by a fair share of Ground-types, so it doesn't seem to have much use to them, but it could potentially help their teammates. Remember that the damage reduction is not 50% this time, but 67% (so instead of taking say, 300HP of damage, the target will take 100HP of damage).

Here are the usual possible questions about this move:

• How does certain Pokémon (who knows it) use this move?
• What kind of purpose would this move have for them (in the Pokémon World)?
• How could this move be used to aid a profession in the Pokémon World?
• Could this move realistically be used by any Pokémon who doesn't learn it normally? If yes, please explain your choices.
• How would this move be used in battling, realistically or video game-wise?

Other questions (You could ask other critical questions beyond the listed):

• Quite a lot of these users are not Ground-types. What do they have in common?
• It would seem strange that this move only last as long as the user is around, since mud doesn't just instantly disappear along with the user. Why does this move last as long as the user is around?
• What other types of "Sport" moves could logically exist?

Here are the current users of this move (put in Spoiler tag due to the large list):

• Geodude, Graveler & Golem
• Onix & Steelix
• Krabby & Kingler
• Wooper & Quagsire
• Swinub, Piloswine & Mamoswine
• Mudkip, Marshtomp & Swampert
• Zigzagoon & Linoone
• Barboach & Whiscash
• Anorith & Armaldo
• Relicanth
• Shellos & Gastrodon
• Drilbur & Excadrill
• Stunfisk
  --
• Squirtle, Wartortle & Blastoise (Breed)
• Slowpoke, Slowbro & Slowking (Breed)
• Goldeen & Seaking (Breed)
• Totodile, Croconaw & Feraligatr (Breed)
• Mantyle & Mantine (Breed)
• Stantler (Breed)
• Treecko, Grovyle & Sceptile (Breed)
• Corphish & Crawdaunt (Breed)
• Feebas & Milotic (Breed)
• Clamperl, Huntail & Gorebyss (Breed)
• Luvdisc (Breed)
• Piplup, Prinplup & Empoleon (Breed)
• Panpour & Simipour (Breed)
• Tympole, Palpitoad & Seismitoad (Breed)
• Trubbish & Garbodor (Breed)
  --
• Psyduck & Golduck (Gen 3 Event)
• Corsola (Gen 3 Event)
• Surskit & Masquerain (Gen 3 Event)
• Minun (Gen 3 Event)

Thanks for reading, and happy discussing!

~ The Pokémon World Forum Staff


Previous Move-of-the-Weeks:

• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #1 - Quash
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #2 - Gravity
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #3 - Soak
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #4 - Pain Split
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #5 - Eruption
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #6: Reflect Type
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #7: Worry Seed
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #8: Struggle Bug
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #9: Trick Room
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #10: Waterfall
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #11: Camouflage
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #12: Smack Down
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #13: Teleport
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #14: Wish
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #15: Hex
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #16: Shift Gear
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #17: Torment
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #18: Ice Shard
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #19: Taunt
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #20: Lucky Chant
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #21: Pay Day
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #22: Follow Me
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #23: Growl
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #24: Frost Breath
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #25: Water Sport
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #26: Attack Order
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #27: Focus Blast
• Move-of-the-Week Discussion #28: Guillotine

I think that some of the users love basking and "swimming" and playing in mud.

When a Pokemon uses this move, it scatters some mud all over the place, including whatever Pokemon around.

It would seem strange that this move only last as long as the user is around, since mud doesn't just instantly disappear along with the user. Why does this move last as long as the user is around?
Maybe, the mud is a part of the Pokemon itself. Like some random body part.

What kind of purpose would this move have for them (in the Pokémon World)?
Competition in the wild.

What other types of "Sport" moves could logically exist?
Dust Sport: rock-type, resists normal
Ash Sport: fire-type, resists ice
Gunk Sport: poison-type, resists fighting

"The user covers itself with mud. It weakens Electric-type moves while the user is in the battle."

One thing this makes me think about, is that doesn't this make it only useful for Ground-Type Pokemon in double battles and triple battles?
I think Flying-Types should eventually be able to learn this move as well, being the other type weak against Electric moves.

"What kind of purpose would this move have for them (in the Pokémon World)?"

Aside from battling, maybe camouflage from enemies as well depending on the location they are in.

I like the idea of camouflage being part of this move's purpose. That gives it a little more credibility as a viable move.

Lately they've done a better job at distributing this move to water types and other Pokemon who might almost make use of this move. Although it's still pretty... well, bad. One might as well raise your defense or special defense for all the good this is doing you. I think the move should be upgraded to protecting you from all Electric type moves for a few turns, similar to the move Magnet Rise.