>>44919361Pokemon is very loose with its mechanics, perhaps even looser than they would be. Look at how they retconned so many things lately. Vikavolt and Magnezone evolve from Thunder Stones. Gardevoir and several other Pokemon had their egg groups changed. In every generation, a Pokemon's movepool changes entirely with the inclusion of certain moves and the exclusion of others. Pokemon's abilities are changed. Pokemon's stats are changed. The effects of moves, abilities, and items are changed. Do you get it now? Game Freak is making this game casual for a casualized audience. Look at Power Whip's description being changed:
>Gen IV: The user violently whirls its vines or tentacles to harshly lash the foe.Vines and tentacles only, and the foe only. Even though Power Whip can technically hit your ally in a Double Battle. Even though Lickilicky can use this move despite not having a vine or a tentacle.
>Gens V-VI: The user violently whirls its vines or tentacles to harshly lash the target.Now it is the target, no longer the foe. Fewer restrictions.
>Gen VII+: The user violently whirls its vines, tentacles, or the like to harshly lash the target.The like. Finally, we have "the like." Everything that can be used as a whip is now in play. Necks. Arms. Legs. Tails. Whiskers. Tongues. Anything that can be a whip is now a whip. Gyarados can use its tail but maybe even its whiskers too, or its neck.
It doesn't matter how or why Pokemon is changing. Follow the patterns and trends. How many of us were aware that Game Freak subtly changed the text and conditions of Power Whip before our very eyes?
Correcting a mistake and accommodating for more things beyond the original parameters. Using logic to expand choice.
