>>38720693>Which I do. Hydreigon isn't meant to be bulky, Hydreigon is supposed to be a sweeper. Same with ElectivireI wasn't writing that as a criticism of your specific example. Just in answer to your question of "What other ways can a Pokemon be buffed?" Also Electivire has always been about its attack options being varied more than anything. It being mixed is important to what it is.
Also being buffed to the level of being a standard part of the modern competitive meta isn't the only way to be buffed, and is realistically a completely pointless unattainable goal and usually not what GF intends with their buffs. Even with the minmaxes posted ITT, even the joke ones, you're still going to be outclassed by those 670+ BST legends and megas.
Most buffs are done more to bring them up to modern standards for what their original intentions were. To give the Mantine example again, it was clearly intended to be a special bulky tank, but with that being such a common trope with Water types and power creep being a thing, it needed more bulk to be brought up to standards and mechanically stand out again.
Some good examples of buff ideas:
>>38711519 is somewhat in line with Imposter Ditto, maintains Castforms theming and intended utility but makes it actually reasonable to use, adds something that's missing (Sandstorm form), greatly increases the value of its utility and thanks to Castforms low BST, it isn't in danger of becoming insanely OP with weather on switch in.
>>38710433is just giving it access to something it's oddly lacking to make use of its own ability (STAB Water contact move to go along with Poison Touch).
