#zygarde is order and balance and stuff

[duckbang]

You ever listen to a song that smacks you on the head and doesn't let you go until you do A Thing with it?

because yeah i listened to a song and a few hours later i had this

Original video

if anyone has known me for any length of time you will know i'm normal about kalos and it is Showing

[1358456]

Pokemon Nicknames

So, Yakuza 8 is right around the corner. And instead of excitement, I feel... anxiety and dread. So to distract myself, I finally took a look at my Ultra Moon version, after spending a while trying to find the thing.

This is something I wanted to do for a while. The last time I played the thing was before I went away the first time, back before the Switch Pikachu/Eevee games came out. So it’s been a few years. Thus it’s time to take a look at all my level 100 Pokémon, check out what nicknames I gave those things, and try to remember why I gave them those names. … This is going to take a while. It’s going to be a LONG post. Even though this is the “filtered” listing that only counts my Pokémon in Ultra Moon, as I left a ton of stuff behind in ORAS, a bunch in Moon for breeding, and in the Pokémon Bank that’s probably been deleted by now. I’m missing a ton of stuff in Ultra Moon. Like… I used to have a shiny IV 31 all Adamant Articuno. And a shiny Mantine named Hierarch. But I don’t see those here in Ultra Moon. Fortunately, I think vast majority of those left behind are repeats or redundant versions of existing Pokémon. … Except for Mantine. Wonder where that went, and why… Though a better question might be why I even made a Mantine in the first place.

I used to arrange my level 100 Pokémon in the order they reached level 100, but at some point before XY, I changed it so that they’re arranged in the boxes by numerical order in primary typing. It made things a lot easier for finding stuff for friendly battles. And it became the ONE time where same type combinations with different type orders actually came into effect. Like… a Golem is Rock/Ground, thus is in the Rock box. Rhyperior is Ground/Rock, thus is in the Ground box. … Did you know that the Rhyhorn line is Ground type first?

Anyways. Here we go. The format is simple. “Pokémon: Nickname (S for shiny). Reasoning/comment.” For example: “Emboar: Manbearpig (S). It looks like a half man, half bear, and half pig.” And those that don’t have nicknames would be listed afterwards. For example: “None: Regigigas x2 (S x2).”

Normal

Pidgeot: Vengeance (S). … I don’t remember why I called it this. Maybe because it has a Mega, and so it’s the revenge of the original bird?

Raticate: Zergling (S). Starcraft unit. Zerg Zergling. Weak, cheap, fast, melee attacker. But when you see one, there’s about a million more somewhere nearby, probably underground. Kind of suitable for a rat in the Pokémon world. After all, Rattata and Raticate are EVERYWHERE.

Chansey: Egg Block. … Eviolite wall, so... I guess that's suitable? I'm surprised I didn't call it Lurker Egg. Using Lurker Eggs to wall off ramps is an actual thing, and Lurker Eggs are near invulnerable, especially on high ground.

Kangaskhan: Foresight (S). I think it’s a Pokémon Special reference, how Kangaskhan in Generation I could hit a Ghost type back then, back before it got Scrappy.

Ditto: Infestor. Starcraft 2 unit. Zerg Infestor. I think a Zerg Changeling would fit the best, given Ditto’s shape and behavior. But Imposter Ditto copies an opponent immediately, and with Choice Scarf, would kill the target first and be a threat to the next Pokémon. So effectively, the Ditto steals the opponent’s Pokémon. Like a Zerg Infestor with Neural Parasite, which takes control of a targeted enemy unit for about 7 seconds. It somehow works on a capital ship or purely robotic units because game balance reasons. “Assimilation successful.” That line from Destiny is copied from the targets that are hit by Neural Parasite. “Assimilation successful. Awaiting directives. I obey. For the Swarm.” When an Infestor uses Neural Parasite, it extends out a tentacle, which is also why in Destiny, Zygarde uses a tentacle for mind control.

Ursaring: Grizzly (S). … Real creative. I also probably picked that name because it’s a Halo Wars unit. There are a few of those.

Porygon2: Console (S). Computer based names for the Porygon line. At least for those that I bothered naming.

Blissey: Ignorance (S). Ignorance is bliss.

Swellow: Coconut (S). “What, a swallow, carrying a coconut?!”

Slaking: Guerilla (S). … Guerilla the gorilla??

Staraptor: Scourge (S). Starcraft unit. Zerg Scourge. Fast aerial suicide unit with no defenses. … That explains the Reckless Staraptor with Life Orb and recoil moves. Too bad Staraptor isn’t that fast.

Lopunny: Pink Fury (S). Heh. Shiny one is pink, I guess.

Lickilicky: Alberto (S). … I have a Lickilicky? Hm. … I think this is a Pokémon Movie 10 reference.

Porygon Z x3: Virus, Windows 8, Windows Z (S x3). More computer based names.

Cinccino: Mint Slap (S). … ??? I guess it slaps a lot with Skill Link?

Braviary: Wargle (S). … I think that’s just the JP name.

Type: Null: Type: Normal. … The one Pokémon that ruins my format for this post, but… I see why I named it this. I’ve faced Pokémon with no types before, and this ain’t one of them.

None: Tauros, Snorlax (S), Porygon2, Stantler (S), Zangoose (S), Ambipom (S), Regigigas x2 (S x2), Arceus, Stoutland (S), Bouffalant (S), Meloetta x2.

… I have a Stoutland and Bouffalant, apparently. I forgot that Bouffalant was a thing until today. I’m surprised I didn’t call it Afro Bull. It's a buffalo, but whatever. Afro Buff? If I had to give it a name now I’d probably call it Punch Perm, since that’s what Kasuga Ichiban from Yakuza 7 tries to get but the stylist messes it up so he ends up with an afro. “Hey miss, what have you done? This… isn’t a punch perm, isn’t it?!”

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Poison

Muk: Frank (S). … The Simpsons reference? Frank Grimes?

Crobat x2: Blackbat, Bat Boy (S). … I… have no idea. A Crobat is purple, not black, and the shiny one is pink…

Drapion: Brutalisk (S). Starcraft 2 campaign unit. Zerg Brutalisk. I guess Drapion kind of looks like one.

Toxapex: Spine Bunker. … A mix of Zerg Spine Crawler and a Terran Bunker? Or just a bunker with spines coming out of it? I probably should've called it Mophead.

None: Nidoking (S), Dragalge (S), Toxapex, Salazzle, Naganadel x2 (S).

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Fire

Charizard x3: Firebat, Charred, Hellbat (S x2). Terran Firebat, Starcraft unit. Terran Hellbat, Stacraft 2 unit. Both of which are usually horrible in most situations. But suitable for a Fire type with vague bat-like features?

Ninetales: Firefox (S). … Internet browser.

Arcanine: Windfury (S). I think its JP name is Windie?

Rapidash: Burnout (S). … I have a Rapidash? … ??? I guess the shiny is kind of like burnt out ash?

Flareon: Booster (S). I think I named all the Eevee Evolutions with their JP names.

Typhlosion: Ragnaros. Ah yes. My brother’s damned Eruption All-in Typhlosion. I got blasted by this thing so many times I had to make my own. Behold, Ragnaros the Firelord! … This thing was real useful in BP farming in the last Battle Frontier that had Triple Battle format. 200 wins in a row without losing once.

Blaziken: Devastator (S). … The removed Devastator Missiles upgrade for the Terran Missile Turret in Starcraft 2 Wings of Liberty campaign?

Camerupt: Lava Bomb (S). … I have one of these, huh? Heh.

Torkoal: Furnace (S). … Same as above.

Infernape x2: Hellstorm x2 (S x2). Hellstorm Battery upgrade for the Terran Missile Turret in Starcraft 2 Wings of Liberty campaign. … Why do I have two with the same name, but one’s Jolly and the other is Timid? Hmm… I did notice that I use repeat nicknames quite a bit. Well, given how many Pokémon are in these boxes, I can’t be bothered to give them all super unique names. Especially for those that I don't use.

Magmortar: Pyrocannon (S). I… guess that’s suitable? Though Firebat might’ve been a better name since Terran Firebats also shoot flames from their “hands” (wrist-mounted gauntlets). If I can call a Swellow, an Exeggutor, and an Exeggutor-Alola all as "Coconut", then I think I can call a Charizard and a Magmortar as "Firebat".

Emboar: Manbearpig (S). Just like in the example. Half man, half bear, half pig.

Darmanitan: Hideyoshi (S). The V shaped fire eyebrow reminded me of the medieval Japanese helmet crest things, which reminded me of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the guy who unified the warring states era Japan in 1590, and then immediately attacked Korea in 1592.

Talonflame: Phoenix. Starcraft 2 unit. Protoss Phoenix. Very fast “air superiority” fighter that can barely fight air units that aren’t Mutalisks. Suitable for a Talonflame that has mediocre offenses but is very fast. … And is a fiery bird.

Blacephalon: Doink. … I think my “brother” named this for me.

None: Marowak-Alola (S), Moltres (S), Entei (S), Ho-oh x2 (S x2), Blaziken, Infernape, Heatran (S), Arceus-Fire, Emboar, Delphox, Talonflame (S), Volcanion, Incineroar x2.

Huh. I wonder where my Dream World RNG Ho-oh went. Those can't be shiny.

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Ice

Sandslash-Alola: Iceslash. … Ha ha ha.

Jynx: Aberration (S). … That’s kind of a rude nickname. … Also, Starcraft 2 campaign unit. Zerg Aberration. “What is that… thing? Was it human?”

Glalie x2: Icy Eyes, Lurker (S x2). Shiny Glalie only has its eye color changed. So I see changed eyes, thus… Icy… Eyes. … Oh, and Lurker, Starcraft unit. Zerg Lurker. Mega Glalie’s unhinged jaws reminded me of the Brood War Lurker’s portrait.

Glaceon x2: Glacia x2 (S x2). One’s Timid for Scarf shenanigans, one’s Modest for modest bulk.

Mamoswine: Mammoth (S). … Real original. Also, Halo 4’s mobile base “vehicle”. A bigger, slower, fatter Elephant with a MAC gun. Ironically, the Mammoth here is faster than the thing I named Elephant.

Froslass: Frostbolt (S). Knows Ice Beam and Thunderbolt, so frost and bolt.

Vanilluxe: SundaeCone (S). … Because it’s a sundae and a cone (and a straw stuck in the brain).

None: Ninetales-Alola, Articuno (S), Walrein (S), Regice x3 (S x3), Cryogonal (S).

I think that Walrein is from Generation IV when I abused Acid Rain...

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Water

Blastoise: Thor (S). Starcraft 2 unit. Terran Thor. A big ass mech loaded up with cannons and missile pods, on the arms and the back. Just like a Mega Blastoise. “I could aim, but with this thing, I don’t have to.”

Golduck: Zombie (S). Pokémon Special reference. Zombie Psyduck?

Tentacruel: GlitchCity (S). I believe I mentioned this in my Yellow version run.

Slowbro: Devourer (S). Starcraft unit. Zerg Devourer. Not exactly similar to a Slowbro, but the Mega Slowbro has the Shellder devouring the host Slowpoke, so… sure. Why not.

Cloyster: Clampearl (S). … Sure. Why not. Better than a Clamperl that didn’t spell “pearl” properly. I know I used to have one named Clamps, which was a Futurama reference. Wonder what happened to that Cloyster…

Starmie: Beacon (S). The core is a beacon that blinks, apparently, so sure. I remember considering naming it as Mothership after the Starcraft 2 unit. But a Starmie was too good for that name. If I had to pick a name now, I’d probably call it “Q”. The 44Hy glitch Pokémon has the same Dex number as a Slowbro, and its evolution glitch Pokémon Q has the same Dex number as Starmie.

Gyarados x2: Rampant, Denial (S x2). Rampant because it likes to rampage, and Denial because it’s not a Dragon and will never be, but it’s in denial. If I had to name it now, I’d probably call it either Dragonfish or Kasuga, since Kasuga Ichiban from Yakuza 7 has a Dragonfish on his back and it’s basically a Gyarados. And it still ain’t a dragon. “A fresh-faced punk like me can’t go casually rocking a dragon.”

Lapras: Loch Ness (S). Based on that monster that sounds like a plesiosaur.

Vaporeon: Showers (S). Just like all the others.

Azumarill: Chopper (S). … Didn’t Crystal’s mother have a Marill helicopter?

Politoed: Neptulon (S). Neptulon the Tide Hunter?

Octillery: SecWind (S). … Holy crap, is that a Fortress 2 Blue reference? I haven’t seen or heard anything of that game in like… 23 years. … SecWind was the octopus tank, I think, hence the nickname…

Kingdra: Vortex (S). Starcraft 2 ability… or was before it was removed. Protoss Mothership used to have the Vortex ability that everyone complained about being too strong. Now the Mothership is just a total waste of time and resources. … Oh, and Kingdra’s Dex data says that it creates a vortex when it yawns or something.

Pelipper: Cement (S). … I think there was a cartoon somewhere that used a pelican as a cement mixer of some sort. I don’t know.

Sharpedo: Jaws (S). … Real creative.

Crawdaunt: CorpseFish (S). … Because of its pre-evolution form.

Huntail: Shellfang (S). … Because it used to have shells as a Clamperl but now it has fangs?

Gorebyss: Sakura (S). I think its JP name is Sakurabyss or something?

Empoleon: Augustus (S). Emperor penguin, thus first western emperor.

Floatzel: Burn Mark (S). … Oh, I remember this reference. It’s a dark, messed up tale.

Samurott: Ultralisk (S). Starcraft unit. Zerg Ultralisk. Big, bulky, surprisingly fast melee unit. … But this one is Modest, so it’s NOT a physical attacker. … ??? I know I used to have an Adamant one, but I guess that one’s lost in the bank now.

Seismitoed: Puddler (S). … Pfft…

Jellicent: Pringles (S). … I think it’s pretty clear why…

Greninja: Nightingale (S). … The bird, the nurse, or the anti-ninja flooring? Heh. “Nightingales. It’s called a nightingale floor. Protection against ninjas.”

Wishiwashi: Swarmling. Starcraft 2 Heart of the Swarm campaign unit. Zerg Zergling, Swarmling strain. Morphs almost instantly, comes in 3s instead of 2s. Useful for insta-swarming enemies. Suitable for Wishiwashi, especially since Swarmlings suck ass.

Bruxish: W.T.Fish. … I think my thoughts on this Pokémon are pretty clear.

None: Blastoise (S), Kingler (S), Feraligatr, Suicune x2 (S), Swampert (S), Milotic x2 (S x2), Kyogre (S), Palkia (S), Manaphy (S), Arceus-Water, Carracosta (S), Keldeo, Primarina, Araquanid, Tapu Fini x2.

I think I stopped caring about the game before the shiny Tapus other than Koko were released? Hmm. Oh well. … And I had a Carracosta? Huh.

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Ground

Sandslash: Lurker (S). Starcraft unit. Zerg Lurker. Burrows underground to attack with seismic spines. And I guess the Starcraft 2 Lurkers kind of look like a Sandslash? At least more than the Brood War one.

Dugtrio-Alola: Iron Hair. … Steel type. Hair.

Marowak: Ghost (S). Generation I Pokémon Tower reference. Not the Starcraft unit. That reference is for the other “Ghost”.

Donphan: Elephant (S). … Sigh. Definitely called it this because of the Halo 3 vehicle. “Press X to flip… wait, what? How did you do that?”

Flygon: Spirit (S). I believe the Dex data says that Flygon is sometimes referred to as a desert spirit?

Claydol: Possessed (S). … I guess it’s a possessed doll?

Rhyperior: Rhino (S). … Let’s just say that it’s because of a Halo Wars vehicle.

Gliscor x2: Scorpion x2 (S x2). … Halo’s Scorpion tanks. I named both of them the same because I guess I didn’t know what else to call them.

Excadrill x2: Impaler, Ravager (S x2). Zerg Impaler. Starcraft 2 Heart of the Swarm campaign unit, alternate to the Lurker. Burrows to attack, hits a single target like a truck. Zerg Ravager. Starcraft 2 Legacy of the Void unit. … Not really related to Excadrill. Hmm…

Krookodile x2: SandBandit, Crocolisk (S x2). Apparently I have 3 of these, one of which is not named. F*ck that one, I guess.

Mudsdale: The Slow One. Ah yes. My thoughts on this horse once I saw the stats after the blind playthrough. “That is one slow ass horse.”

None: Dugtrio (S), Groudon x2 (S x2), Hippowdon (S), Krookodile (S), Landorus x2 (S).

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Flying

Noivern x2: Dusk Wings, Night Wolf. Both Starcraft 2 campaign units. Dusk Wings are the standard mercenary variants of the Terran Banshee, and Night Wolf is the Mengsk Elite variant of the Terran Banshee. … Noivern is pretty unrelated to a Banshee though. Banshee is not that fast (without Hyperflight Rotors), and can cloak to become invisible, and it hits really hard. Noivern doesn’t hit that hard.

None: Arceus-Flying, Tornadus x2.

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Electric

Raichu x2: Static, Marine (S x2). The Static one doesn’t have Static. … Marine because… Starcraft unit. Terran Marine. Slow, no durability, cheap unit with one of the highest DPS per cost with stim. I believe I gave that name to a Light Ball Pikachu, but the Light Ball didn’t survive the generational transfer, so the Pikachu got turned into a Raichu. If I had to name it now, I'd probably name it after another random Pokémon, referring to how I keep merging Pikachu with another Pokémon in my recent Yellow version runs to create abominations. "Here's a... Pikachu shaped Mimikyu?"

Magneton x2: Nostalgia, Magnet (S x2). Ah, the nostalgia.

Electrode: Grenade. Because all it seems to do is blow up. I used to have a shiny one too. Wonder where that went. ... I guess it blew up?

Jolteon: Thunders (S). Same as all the others.

Amphaos: Prophecy (S). … I… think it’s because Ampharos’s JP name is Denryuu, which could refer to “electric dragon”, and many years later, it got a Mega that’s part Dragon type.

Manectric: Spark (S). Does not know Spark.

Luxray: Rontgen (S). The man who discovered X-rays. I think the actual name has an accented o, but I can’t use that in a Pokémon game… I think.

Magnezone: Platform (S). I guess… it’s like a floating platform?

Electivire: Extension (S). Its twin tail looks like an extension cord.

Rotom-Ice: Battery (S). Suitable for a Rotom.

None: Raichu-Alola (S), Zapdos (S), Raikou x2 (S x2), Magnezone, Eelektross x2 (S x2), Thundurus x2 (S), Tapu Koko x2 (S), Xurkitree x2, Zeraora.

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Grass

Venusaur: Mystery (S). It’s a mystery. … No, it’s not. JP name reference.

Victreebel: GoldenBell (S). Why do I have one?

Exeggutor: Coconut (S). A bit more suitable for this name than Swellow. Less funny though.

Exeggutor-Alola: Coconut (S). Same as above.

Meganium: Mega Peon (S). Crystal’s nickname for her Meganium, but slightly different.

Sunflora: Smiley (S). Why.

Sceptile: Insurance (S). Insurance gecko.

Breloom: Ember (S). I remember this pun. Hinoko vs. Kinoko. Ember vs. Mushroom.

Abomasnow: Frost Nova (S). Ehh…

Tangrowth: ROOT (S). ROOT gaming. E-sports team.

Leafeon: Leafia (S). Just like the others.

Whimsicott: Crawler (S). … I think it’s supposed to be Spore Crawler, but it didn’t fit. Zerg Spore Crawler. The anti-air “static” defense building for Zerg that can crawl around, hence the name. But that’s very unrelated to Whimsicott.

Amoonguss: Goomba (S). Gee. I wonder why.

Ferrothorn: Spike Ball (S). Genius.

Decidueye: Cedric (S). Cedric the Owl.

None: Vileplume (S), Torterra (S), Roserade (S), Cherrim (S), Shaymin (S), Serperior, Lilligant x2 (S x2), Virizion x2 (S x2), Chesnaught, Tapu Bulu, Kartana x2.

I thought I had a Serperior named Banana (because it looks like a peeling banana), but I think I replaced the shiny one with the Contrary one, and that one isn’t named. … And I have a lot of weird Grass types, probably because of Drought teams. ... And didn't I have a Cacturne named Li'l Prick? Hmm...

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Psychic

Alakazam: Marauder (S). Starcraft 2 unit. Terran Marauder. … Has nothing to do with Alakazam, however. So... why the hell did I...

Mr. Mime: Barrier (S). … It makes barriers.

Xatu: Fry (S). Futurama reference? The man who saw the past, present, and the future? Xatu’s lore is that it can see the past and the future at the same time or something.

Espeon: Eifi (S). Same as the others.

Wobbuffet: Sandbag (S). In Korea, punching bags are referred to as sandbags. It’s one of those English words that are not used in that sense by English speaking countries.

Gardevoir: Guardian (S). I think I used the same nickname in my Platinum version run on this Tumblr. Not related to the Starcraft unit. Zerg Guardian is a long ranged crab-shaped flyer. Looks nothing like Gardevoir.

Gallade x2: Zealot, Vanguard (S x2). Starcraft unit, Protoss Zealot. Strong, slow melee attacker that uses twin psi blades. And Vanguard… Starcraft 2 Legacy of the Void campaign unit. Tal’darim variant of the Immortal. … I think the Gallade has the name Vanguard not because of the unit, but because of the word’s meaning.

Swoobat: Mutalisk (S). Starcraft unit. Zerg Mutalisk. A single Mutalisk is fast, very annoying, made of tissue paper, and can barely attack. But they are super annoying. Just like this bat.

Sigilyph x2: Chimecho?, Guardian (S x2). It’s supposed to be a guardian totem or something, and it looks like a Chimecho that’s seen some sh*t.

Gothitelle: VampireKid (S). South Park reference. “We’re Goth! We’re not freaking vampire kids!”

Reuniclus x2: Nuclear x2 (S x2). Modest one and a Quiet one. … Sure.

Beheeyem: Invasion (S). Pokémon version of an alien invasion? Heh.

Solgaleo x2: Solarite, Gateway. Solarite, the ultra “rare” resource from the Starcraft 2 Legacy of the Void campaign. And Gateway, the Starcraft building. Protoss Gateway. Used to warp in non-robotic ground units. … Or used to, anyways. Solgaleo was given this name because of…

Lunala: Stargate. Starcraft building. Protoss Stargate. Used to warp in Protoss air units. This Lunala is the result of evolving Cosmog. And Cosmoem (or whatever its evolution form is called) looked like a Warp Stargate. And it’s fitting to give the name Stargate to something that has wings. Protoss has three unit production buildings: Gateway/Warp Gate, Stargate, and Robotics Facility. So if I named Lunala as Stargate, then Solgaleo has to be named Gateway. … I don’t think I can call anything Robotics Facility. And not just because of the length.

Necrozma-Sol: Ragnaros. The Lightlord variant.

Necrozma-Lun: Void Ray. Starcraft 2 unit. Protoss Void Ray. … I guess Photon Geyser is kind of like a Void Ray’s Prismatic Beam? … Not really, but just like how this Necrozma form came from a Lunala, a Void Ray comes out of a Stargate.

None: Mewtwo x2 (S x2), Mew x2 (S), Lugia x2 (S), Celebi, Deoxys x2, Uxie x2 (S x2), Mesprit x2 (S x2), Azelf x2 (S x2), Cresselia x2 (S x2), Victini x2, Hoopa x2, Tapu Lele x2.

Looks like I nicknamed every non-Legendary Psychic type. For the longest time, I didn’t nickname Legendary Pokémon, but I changed that late into Generation VI.

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Ghost

Gengar x2: Haunted, Ghost (S x2). … Haunted because of Haunter, and Ghost because of Haunter’s JP name. Wow. … Also, Starcraft unit. Terran Ghost. Sucked ass in Brood War, but is the most OP unit in Starcraft 2. Counters everything except Terran. Maybe suitable for a Mega Gengar given how its Shadow Tag is insanely useful against everything except other Ghost types.

Banette: Joker (S). … Because of Prankster upon going Mega?

Dusclops: Reaper (S). Starcraft 2 unit. Terran Reaper. … Um… Terran Reapers are very fast and mobile, and are made of wet tissue paper when used by anyone except Byun… and maybe Clem and Maru. Not suitable for a slow and bulky Dusclops that even has Eviolite, but the lore of Dusclops and Dusknoir…

Drifblim: Satellite (S). Another Pokémon Movie 10 reference?

Mismagius x2: Malice, Resentment (S x2). I guess these kinds of names are suitable for Ghost types. I’m pretty sure I used to have one named Banshee, after the Starcraft 2 unit.

Spiritomb: Preserver (S). … ??? I guess a Spiritomb in that keystone is like a preserves jar of... spirits? No idea.

Dusknoir: Reaper Man (S). I think that’s what Dusclops and Dusknoir are in the Pokémon world? “I thought I was signing up to be a Repo Man. Imagine my surprise.”

Cofagrigus: Jerky (S). Futurama reference. “This is an outrage! I was going to eat that mummy!”

Chandelure: Dark Light (S). … Didn’t I name a DE chapter after this thing? Or is that the other way around? Hmm…

Trevenant: Unstumped. It’s a ghost of a tree stump that uprooted itself? I could’ve called it Spine Crawler… if it fit.

Gourgeist: Baneling. Starcraft 2 unit. Zerg Baneling. It rolls and explodes. … So why does this thing not have Explosion? Oh, I may have used this in a Ghost-only online tournament, so Explosion would've been dumb.

Palossand: Sandmahal. The Tajmahal, but with sand.

Mimikyu: Vorazun (S). Starcraft 2 Legacy of the Void hero. Vorazun, the Matriarch of the Dark Templar. I guess I gave this that name because this one is female.

None: Giratina x3 (S x3), Dhelmise.

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Bug

Beedrill: Spear (S). JP name.

Venomoth: I SEE YOU (S). … Look at those big ass eyes.

Scyther: The Ace (S). Because I gave it Aerial Ace. I believe none of the “meta” builds give Scizor Aerial Ace, but I always gave it that move and it has done WONDERS. … I made the Scizor first, so when I made Scyther later, I gave it that name.

Pinsir: Meta Boost (S). Starcraft 2 and Red Bull joke. When you finish researching Metabolic Boost upgrade in the Zerg Spawning Pool, the Zerglings gain wings (aesthetics) and move faster. When Pinsir goes Mega, it gains wings and is a lot faster. So Meta Boost gives you wings.

Forretress: Fortress 2 (S). Another Fortress 2 Blue reference, just not nearly as clever.

Scizor: Strike (S). JP name.

Ninjask: Hokkaido (S). Splinter Cell Chaos Theory reference. The anti-ninja flooring and all ninja references in that game are in the Hokkaido level. “I knew it! I knew there were ninjas here!”

Vespiquen: Swarm Host (S). Starcraft 2 unit. Zerg Swarm Host. Spawns two free Locusts with timed life to attack. What better name to give to a Vespiquen that can order around a swarm of minions?

Yanmega: Viper (S). Starcraft 2 unit. Zerg Viper. An OP flying spellcaster that can somehow yank over Terran Battlecruisers and Protoss Motherships with its tongue. … Game balance reasons. Yanmega resembles one quite a lot.

Scolipede x2: Pandora, Defiler (S x2). Pandora… because of the JP name? And Defiler. Starcraft unit. Zerg Defiler. The most OP spellcaster to ever have existed in any RTS game. Fitting that the one named Defiler is a Toxic stall, like a Defiler with Plague and Dark Swarm.

Escavalier: Chargelot (S). Starcraft 2 unit nickname. Protoss Zealot, upon finishing the Charge upgrade from the Twilight Council, is referred to as a Chargelot.

Galvantula: Phobia (S). I hate spiders.

Durant: iAnt (S). … Iron ant? Maybe? Or maybe a joke at the iPad related stuff, given how this thing looks robotic?

Volcarona: Supernova (S). Starcraft 2 Wings of Liberty campaign mission. It was also the only sun-related thing I could come up with that seemed suitable for a sun-shaped Volcarona. … Does not know Explosion, however.

Vikavolt: Railgun. Kind of looks like one, hits like one.

Ribombee: Winter. … It has a scarf?

Golisopod: Cowardice (S). It runs away the moment it’s been slapped once.

Buzzwole: Hulkquito. … It’s a hulking mosquito.

None: Pinsir (S), Heracross x2 (S x2), Shedinja (S), Genesect x2 (S), Pheromosa x2.

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Rock

Golem: Jones (S). Indiana Jones reference.

Golem-Alola: Magnedude. Geodude, but… magnetic.

Kabutops: Hex 182 (S). Yellow version reference. Hex value, or Special stat, of 182 is used for the Kabutops fossil Missingno.

Aerodactyl x2: Hex 183 x2 (S x2). Same as above. Special stat 183 for Aerodactyl fossil Missingno.

Tyranitar x3: Leviathan, Immortal, Mythic (S x3). Leviathan… the Starcraft 2 Zerg “capital ship”? The 11 km long creature? Immortal… Starcraft 2 unit. Protoss Immortal. High durability, hits like a truck. Mythic… um… I think there was a Halo video maker named Mythic Tyrant?

Cradily: Uprooted (S). I… guess it’s a plant that moves?

Rampardos: Soft Skull (S). It has Head Smash. Does not have Rock Head.

Gigalith: Crystalisk (S). It looks like it’s made of crystal, and –lisk because… Zerg naming convention that I just used for this.

Archeops: Pansy (S). Hey, it’s that bird that turned out to be just a tiny bird and nothing else. It’s a Defeatist. Thus I call it pansy.

Barbaracle: Clump (S). … It’s a… clump of… something, I guess.

Tyrantrum: King Krush. It’s a big ass dinosaur that charges. … Has Head Smash with Rock Head.

Aurorus: Frosted. … ?

Minior: Starfall (S). It’s a shooting star.

Nihilego: Morbo. Futurama reference. Morbo the Annihilator. Nihilego, annihilator, whatever.

Stakataka: Sgt. Stacker. Halo reference, given the name. “I can see myself in your visor! … Pretty.”

None: Omastar (S), Armaldo (S), Regirock x3 (S x3), Arceus-Rock, Gigalith, Terrakion (S), Aurorus, Diancie x2 (S), Lycanroc.

If I had the option nowadays, I’d probably call Diancie one of the following: Artosis, Tasteless, Pylon, or Tastosis. It’d be a Starcraft and Pokémon Movie 17 joke. If I recall, Diancie goes through the entire plot of the movie because it didn't know how to construct additional Pylons. Even though there were workers and mineral fields everywhere. Did they lose the Nexus?

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Dragon

Dragonite x2: DragKnight, The Storm (S x2). Drag… sure. The Storm because it’s in a Drizzle team.

Altaria x2: Cottonball, Dreamhack (S x2). It looks like a ball of cotton upon going Mega. … Dreamhack? The E-sports tournament?

Salamence x4: Tempest, Ferocity, Temper, Carnage (S x4). Ferocity, Temper, and Carnage because of moves like Outrage and Thrash. Tempest… the Starcraft 2 unit. Protoss Tempest. A long range siege capital ship unit that sucks absolute ass after all those nerfs. But a Mega Salamence does resemble a Protoss Tempest. At least the wings do, anyways.

Garchomp x2: Reclaimer, Demolition (S x2). “I told you to upgrade your combat skin, reclaimer!”

Haxorus: Viking (S). Starcraft 2 unit. Terran Viking. Hits way too hard at way too long a range for its cost. … Haxorus is given that name because of the twin axes at its jaw, and that reminded me of Viking axes, I guess. So it's unrelated to the Terran flier that can land.

Kommo-o: Drakonid. If I had to give it a name now, I’d probably call it Komaki, the seemingly immortal old man from the Yakuza games who teaches Kiryu the techniques of the Komaki style, which is just the finer stuff of Kiryu’s Dragon style. Even has a similar name. While Kommo-o looks like it can pull off a Komaki Tiger Drop, I don’t think it can do a Komaki Dragon King Essence. I wonder if one day, we’ll see a Dragon type Pokémon that just looks like a dude. Martial arts dragon?

None: Latias x2 (S x2), Latios (S), Rayquaza x2 (S x2), Arceus-Dragon, Reshiram, Zekrom x2, Kyurem x2 (S x2), Goodra (S), Zygarde x2 (S x2).

The event Zygarde obviously couldn’t be named. If I could, I might have called it Infestor for Destiny reference reasons. Or Lego, since it’s a big thing built from little pieces. Maybe Assembly? I also remember a time when I had 4 Latias and 3 Latios in this box, which prompted the Great Purge that's responsible for wiping out a lot of redundant Pokémon. I mean, I don't need 5 Rayquazas... They all went into the Bank and... probably lost to the ages.

... Once upon a time, I used to name all the main Dragons as "Dragon" something. And since back then, nicknames had 10 character slots, that meant each one had 4 letters to suit it. So there were names like DragonWing (Dragonite), DragonClaw (Garchomp), etc. After DragonAxe and DragonFist, I overhauled the names. There were... a lot of repeat Dragon types. There are 4 Salamence here. The first of these was the 10th one I made. The rest are lost to the ages.

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Dark

Umbreon: Blacky (S). Like all the others.

Houndoom: Hellion (S). Starcraft 2 unit. Terran Hellion, transforms into Terran Hellbat. Fast flamethrower-mounted racecar. It’s the only fire-based unit that’s fast enough for a Mega Houndoom.

Sableye x2: Profanity, !@#? (S). It’s rage-inducing.

Absol x2: Disaster, Cataclysm (S x2). Absol’s lore. I would’ve called one Catastrophe, but that doesn’t fit in Generation V where I did the RNG.

Honchkrow: Vulture (S). Starcraft unit. Terran Vulture. Fast, surprisingly durable, hits light (small) units like a truck, has three Spider Mines that blow up for catastrophic damage. … Honchkrow is a vulture of sorts, so… that. And not the Terran unit. Though a crow isn’t exactly a vulture…

Weavile x2: Scout, Destroyer (S x2). Destroyer the Choice Band variant. Also, Starcraft 2 Legacy of the Void campaign unit. Protoss Destroyer, the Tal’darim variant of the Void Ray that sucks ass. That Weavile proved to be more useful. Scout… Starcraft unit. Protoss Scout. The most overpriced unit in the game, the best anti capital ship unit in the game… for a race that doesn’t need it. … That Weavile is called Scout because this variant is just used for poking and prodding. Scouting, if you will. … And I guess as an Ice type, the Weavile also shreds “air units”?

Scrafty: PantShield (S). It uses its pants like shields.

Zoroark: Stalker (S). Starcraft 2 unit. Protoss Stalker. Dark Templar faction, hence fitting the Dark type. Stalkers suck absolute ass at direct combat, since it has the most powerful ability in most games: the ability to instantly teleport (Blink). So Stalkers are used to poke and prod, like Zoroark with Illusion. Just like Stalkers, Zoroark will die immediately upon confrontation.

Bisharp x2: Promotion, Centurion (S x2). From a Pawn to a Bishop. Promotion! And Starcraft 2 Legacy of the Void campaign unit. Protoss Centurion. The Nerazim (Dark Templar) faction variant of the Zealot. … Not really related to a Bisharp, but hey, why not.

Hydreigon x2: Hydralisk, Hunter (S x2). Starcraft unit. Zerg Hydralisk. It has a tendency of being eviscerated in cutscenes, but it’s one of the most cost efficient, spammable unit in the game… against Protoss. And a Hydreigon is a hydra, so… Hydralisk it is. And the other one is called Hunter, short for Hunter Killer, the Brood War hero variant of the Hydralisk. Hunter Killers, the mega Hydras of doom and demise.

Yveltal: Brood Lord. Starcraft 2 unit. Zerg Brood Lord. Big, slow flyer. Shoots small timed-life Broodlings at targets to attack, the Broodlings attack from the ground, acts as body-blockers for enemy ground units. Yveltal resembles a Brood Lord. Though nowadays, I’d give that name to Dragapult (look at Moon’s Practice Battle Short Story), and give Yveltal the name Deathwing.

Guzzlord: Pit Lord. … I don’t know.

None: Darkrai (S), Zoroark (S), Mandibuzz (S), Yveltal (S).

I apparently didn't name the Jolly variant of Zoroark. Maybe I should've called it Sentry, after Protoss Sentries in Starcraft 2, since it makes Hallucinations. And is insanely fragile, like Zoroark!

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Steel

Steelix: Mr. Money (S). The shiny one looks like it’s made of gold. This one goes Mega, unlike the unnamed one.

Skarmory: Scars (S). Very creative.

Mawile: Mouthful (S). … I think it’s pretty obvious.

Aggron x2: Adamantium, Bossman (S x2). I believe its JP name is Bossgodora? And Adamantium the Adamant (Mega) Aggron.

Metagross x2: Reaver, Processor (S x2). Okay, it’s a machine, hence Processor. And… Stacraft unit. Protoss Reaver. An extremely slow robotic slug that makes and shoots Scarabs that deal catastrophic damage. I may have given Mega Metagross that name because in Starcraft 2 Legacy of the Void campaign, the Reaver is back and is super fast while dealing even more damage.

Bronzong: Emile (S). … Another reference I understand but can’t explain since it’s quite long and very messed up. This “Emile” is not a name. It’s a sound effect. E-mi-le.

Klefki: Lockdown. Starcraft ability. Terran Ghosts’ Lockdown. Disables a target mechanical/robotic unit for about 43 seconds. An insane ability that’s garbage because it’s attached to the Ghost, which you only really make in Terran vs. Zerg, and nothing Zerg is mechanical or robotic. But suitable for a name for Klefki, which is a chain of keys, and this one is has Thunderwave, Reflect, Light Screen, and Spikes. So a harmless asshole variant. Like the Starcraft Ghost. Not the Starcraft 2 Ghost that kills every Zerg unit in an instant.

Celesteela: Kerbal. … Kerbal Space Program. I mean, the thing looks like a rocket project gone pear-shaped.

None: Steelix (S), Registeel x2 (S x2), Jirachi x2 (S), Dialga x2 (S x2), Arceus-Steel, Cobalion (S), Aegislash (S), Klefki, Magearna x2.

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Fairy

Clefable x2: Unsingable, Pixely (S x2). “Many times we’re given rhymes that are quite unsingable!”

Togekiss x2: Cursed Joy, Misery (S x2). … Serene Grace related shenanigans, I see.

Slurpuff: Cupcake. Because it is one. That came to life.

Sylveon x2: Nymphia x2 (S x2). As with the rest.

None: Arceus-Fairy, Florges (S), Xerneas x2 (S x2), Silvally-Fairy (S).

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Fighting

Primeape: Monkeyball (S). It’s a ball shaped pissed off monkey.

Machamp: Phantom (S). A Pokémon Movie 9 reference.

Hitmonchan: Megaton (S). Megaton Punch, or Mega Punch.

Hitmontop: Drillbit (S). The drill part in the drill press. I once replaced one with a plastic pen and…

Medicham: Mediator (S). … Meditator but with a typo, or the weapon of the Starcraft 2 mercenary variant of the Marauder? Marauders use Punisher Grenades. The Hammer Securities use The Mediator.

Lucario x2: Templar, Promethean (S x2). Templar, the ranged variant, named after Protoss warriors. And the physical variant named after Halo’s Forerunner Prometheans. Unfortunately, Lucario does not learn Discharge or Thunderbolt, so this Templar doesn’t know Psionic Storm. Forgot the research from the Templar Archives again?

Conkeldurr: Concrete (S). … It has cinder blocks.

Sawk: Spartan (S). … Halo’s Spartans? … Why? … Oh. Because Sawk has Sturdy, so “Spartans never die” thing.

Mienshao: Iron Scarf (S). Heh. Because it looks like its arms are really long scarves and it attacks with them. Given how high its Atk stat is…

Hawlucha: Scourge. Same as Staraptor, except Hawlucha isn’t a suicide unit. If I had to name this thing now… A Hawlucha is supposed to be a Mexican Luchadore wrestler, right? But it’s also a bird? … Is it supposed to be a fighting chicken as well? … If that’s the case, I’d call it PTSD. Chickens… Eggjanaika why...

None: Hitmonlee (S), Conkeldurr (S), Passimian, Marshadow

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I’m done. Whew. I am missing a lot of stuff. I know I RNGed a Persian in HGSS. Wonder where that went. I guess a lot of them were for the Mimic-Rage glitch abuse in DPPt and BW/BW2, so those got flagged while transferring to XY. After all, Latios doesn't normally learn Water Spout and Hurricane. Even then, I still have way too much stuff. … How many Pokémon is that in my 100s boxes? … And how many of those were shiny? Sheesh. I RNGed a LOT over the years. Though the Generation VI and VII shiny Pokémon were not the result of RNG, because I can only RNG in Generation III (sort of), IV, and V.

And I see a LOT of Starcraft references. I wasn’t kidding when I said that its references were everywhere. Since my Pokémon playing days far pre-date my Yakuza playing days, the Yakuza references aren’t in the Pokémon nicknames. Not that I can use a whole lot anyways.

[pinkhairandpokemon]

I hope Kalos will be alright. Lots of scary stuff happening on Rotomblr right now…

Yveltal is strong. I’m sure she’ll put a stop to whatever bullshit evildoers try to pull on Kalos. Zygarde will undoubtedly do what they can to keep the order in balance.

Xerneas though…

…

-Auberi

[dahniwitchoflight]

Pokemon Legends Ideas

speaking of pokemon though...

ideas for the various Pokemon Legends remake line:

Pokemon Legends: The Ancient Jungle/Mew

Based on an ancient jungle environment where fossil and dinosaur pokemon thrive an abound, the environment is thick muggy jungle and the lore of the game focuses on the discovery of the ancient pokemon Mew perhaps by following clues related to the origins of Ditto as potentially related to Mew, side stories about the origins of the legendary bird pokemon (also, even though Lugia is gen 2, perhaps he could be included here since hes the supposed leader of the bird trio? and the Johto game would focus on Ho-oh and the Beasts anyway) Mewtwo obivously wouldn’t feature but that’s fine he doesn’t need to, could easily have stories about Meltan and Melmetal instead, who are ancient pokemon

Pokemon Legends: The Burned Tower/Ho-oh

Based on a more traditional ancient Japanese style retelling of the origins of Ho-oh and the Legendary Beast trio, see the original tower burned, maybe finally see who exactly were the three original pokemon lost in the flames? with side stories about Celebi’s ancient forest and it’s travels through time but also GIVE ME UNOWN LORE BLEASE

Pokemon Legends: The Great Meteor/Jirachi

Goes into the ancient stories of the draconid people introduced in the delta episode of the ORAS remakes, Primal Ancient Kyogre and Groudon, at the peak of their power, a time where meteors constantly fell upon the earth and the first ever Mega-Evolution of Rayquaza, from the wish the first lorekeeper made upon the rainbow stone (Maybe this was originally just Jirachi themselves), plenty of side story content in the form of the Regi’s (Including Regigigas and Regidraco/Regieleki) and the twin Latias/Latios

Pokemon Legends: Arceus, duh

(but I can hope it’s not JUST Arceus, ples give some spotlight to the tons of underused in lore legendaries this gen, Darkrai, Cresselia, Shaymin, Manaphy, HEATRAN)

Pokemon Legends: The First Dragon/Kyurem/??? Pokemon that might have a different name then Kyurem

OBVIOUSLY gonna be about the first dragon, the true singular form of the original dragon that split into Kyurem, Reshiram and Zekrom and the conflict between the early factions of humans hinted from the story of black and white, give the Justice trio (Terrakion, Cobalion, Virizion, Keldeo) some side story content in the form of being active in those ancient human conflicts, Victini lore, the weather trio representing the wilderness of nature back in those times, Genesect very likely wouldn’t be a thing, but Meloetta could

Pokemon Legends: The Ultimate Weapon/Zygarde

Huge potential here for a pokemon game set during the great kalosian WAR, view the original stories of King AZ and the unique floette, how their story happened, give Zygarde some sort of role or function as antagonist against those who would create the weapon out of a captured Zerneas/Yveltal in it’s role as balancer of the natural order, easy easy side content stories, flesh out Diancie’s connection to the Carbinks, go into the story of that huge crystal sundial of Anistar City, Hoopa gots some cool stuff, and Volcanion could even have a role as something cool

Pokemon Legends: Ultra Space/Necrozma

While they could focus on Magearna for this game, since Magearna is the only pokemon with some Ancient Lore from within the region itself attached to it from this gen, I fell like Sun and Moon’s fancy legends game would actually be better served by exploring much deeper into the role of the Ultra Space, you get glimpses of the alien worlds when visiting the ultra beasts natural habitats, and you get the main Necrozma based city in ultraspace

Modern Alola is actually already very traditional, already holding fast to ancient observations and traditions that going back to plain olden times alola I feel wouldn’t do as much? Esp cuz all the interesting stuff back then the aura and totem Pokémon, all happened because of Necrozma’s fall into the world from Ultra Space

I think the intro would be best served as starting in the distant past of Alola sure, but then Necrozma falls out of Ultra Space, rips open a wormhole, and our protagonist is then Sucked Into it and their journey is throughout the cosmos of the space inbetween and giving legendary like lore to the actual Ultra Beasts themselves, Lunala and Solgaleo and Cosmog/Cosmoem originate from here anyway, so they could still be included in this story as our way back, perhaps as our original ally in the fight to stop Necrozma from devouring all the light of our world in the travels through ultra space

Marshadow and Zeraora should get some obvious love as well for sure

Pokemon Legends: The Darkest Day/Eternatus

So it’s true that we have a clear once a time story with the darkest day event from Eternatus’s history

but funnily enough, I kinda always figured that that “Darkest day” was actually Necrozma’s doing that got falsely attributed to Eternatus, since yknow, in eating of the light of the world, the day would actually darken, and doesn’t Eternatus look REALLY like something that popped out of an Ultra Wormhole? really makes you think...certainly would be a hell of a coincedence

On the flipside for “okay but what else would they do in ancient galar”, I feel like if they did do a Galar Legends game, I think a pokemon King Arthur type legendary story would be very cool, just legit make a pokemonized King Arthur/Calyrex story and we would go Nuts over it

sooo, Pokemon Legends: The Old Kingdom/Calyrex

obviously Calyrex and his steeds would be the main focus of this ancient tale with some sprinklings of Zacian/Zamazenta, but really when you glean through the ancient stories hidden in the galar, more of it focuses on the Acnient Kings of the galar region, and really Eternatus already got explored enough in the actual galar games anyway, give me the Dark Hidden Lore of Galar

but again, still some very cool side content with Zarude and Urshifu at least and perhaps maybe a tad more of the cuckoo galarian bird trio? make it tie all the way back to Legends Kanto game somehow? Ancient bird rivalry between twin trios of legendary birds would be a neat thing to explore

though how neat would it be if they actually tied all fo the ancient apolcalyptic stories from across the regions into one connected story?

in Hoenn it was that a great meteor threatened to destroy the planet so person wishes on a falling shiny rock to make the apocalypse go away, SunMoon has Necrozma darkening the sky and eating the light and when they got shattered it caused powerful shiny rocks to coalesce out of the sky, SwordShield had twin kings wish upon a magic shiny rock to make the darkest day go away

hey wait a minute, seeing a pattern there...

wonder if the great war of kalos old was also fought under some sky darkening event? and if it also involved the magical power of some shiny rock? and each region’s story is just their personal twist on the same ancient event, in the land of old, when all regions were once one...

what if the ancient conflict in Black/White’s history was actually the same war from kalos’s history? And it was actually a war between Unova and Kalos? Same war from two different sides of the conflict

[pokemaniacal]

Pokémon Moon, Episode 18: In Which I Reluctantly Embrace My Alleged Destiny

Four islands, seven trials, four Kahunas, all behind me.  In the old days, I’m told, that would have basically been it.  I mean, there’s supposed to be a rematch against all four Kahunas up on Mount Lanakila.  As far as I can tell, though, that’s traditionally less about the battles themselves and more about getting absolutely plastered on the beach afterwards.  The after-party for Professor Kukui’s Final Trial is said to have been the stuff of legends, and saw the genesis of three new cocktails, twenty-four herbal hangover remedies, the Alolan form of Grimer, the character of the Masked Royal, and a devastating new Rock-type move that was instantly banned by sixteen different Pokémon Leagues.  Sadly, Kukui’s own plans for the Alola region demand a few sacrifices, and one of those will be taking the whole ritual of the Final Trial more seriously than the Alolans have previously been accustomed to.  I gather that he means to assemble the Kahunas on the mountain as a sort of ready-made Elite Four, then invite any and all trainers who have previously completed the Island Challenge to run the gauntlet, leaving any who make it through to compete for the spoils of victory.  Personally, I’d rather leave them to it, but unfortunately, that’s not an option – Tapu Koko is the Tapu of Conflict, of competition and ambition; it didn’t give me a Z-ring and send me out on a quest so I could save the world from Lusamine and her Ultra mumbo-jumbo, it gave me a Z-ring and sent me out on a quest so I could take part in pointless sporting events for its sadistic entertainment.  The show must go on.

When I travel to the base of Mount Lanakila, Gladion meets me there to shoot the breeze for a bit.  He has the good sense to stay out of this Trial nonsense, of course, so won’t be joining me for my trip up the mountain.  He just wants to thank me for deciding to help his mother rather than leaving her to die in the Endless Void, which of course I would have been well within my rights to do. “I know we aren’t friends.  But we aren’t enemies anymore either.”  I give him a wry smile. “Honestly, dude, I don’t think I’ve met anyone in these islands that I like better yet.”  He looks puzzled. “My sister?” “Clingy and irrational.” “Professor Kukui?” “Loud and obnoxious.” “Kahuna Hala?” “Oh, don’t even get me started…” “…my mother?” “Well… you have to admit she’s got style…” I muse.  Gladion pauses. “…Hau?” he hazards.  I stare in amazement, then burst out laughing. “BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  AH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  HAH!  Ahhhh… no.”  Gladion stares back at me.  “Ah, I… guess he’s growing on me.  He’s got… kind of an infectious mood, you know?” “Believe me, I do,” Gladion answers, smiling. “But yeah, seriously.  You’re competent and pragmatic, but honourable.  It’s a rare combination.  Besides, I like how you hate everything.  It reminds me of me.” “I’ll… take that as a compliment,” he replies hesitantly. “So, rivals?” I suggest.  “We gonna battle or what?”

Gladion has apparently gotten his Golbat to evolve into Crobat, which speaks volumes for his psychological progress towards inner peace and balance, and he’s added a Lucario to his arsenal, another Pokémon that would be unlikely to follow a trainer with a deeply conflicted soul.  More interestingly, though, he has also managed to evolve his partner, the enigmatic artificial Pokémon designated Type: Null (or at least, I think it’s evolved; the Rotomdex registers it as a new species, anyway) – it has shed the control mask that once kept its powers in check, revealing a feathery white griffon head, and now has full command of the type-changing abilities the Aether Foundation stole from Arceus, including a Judgement-like type-shifting technique called Multi Attack.  Gladion has renamed it Silvally, a name of his own choosing since it is the first of its kind in existence.  That was the missing element to ensure the eventual success of the original Aether Foundation experiment – they neglected to give their created Pokémon any sort of companionship or care for their psychological health, warping them to the point that they couldn’t control their abilities.  You’d think the sciences would have learned from the mistakes of the Mewtwo incident… but at least Gladion has.

Mount Lanakila has a “Victory Road” of sorts, in the form of the rugged and often freezing route up the mountain, though it doesn’t actually bear the name and is shorter and more straightforward than other paths that have been given the traditional moniker in regions we’ve visited, or even in comparison to the Vast Poni Canyon.  I suppose Kukui and the Alolans simply didn’t think that particular bit of the Pokémon League template was a super high priority.  I’m sure in a few years they will have renovated it into some godawful fifty-kilometre-long deathtrap with spike pits, acid wells, rolling boulders, and so on.  By the time I get to the end and check into the Pokémon Centre just below the summit, Hau is right behind me.  He’s been busy – in the days since we raided Aether Paradise, he’s zipped around Alola finishing all the trials he missed, including defeating his grandfather and the other Kahunas.  Dude’s crazy motivated, you have to give him that.  He’s levelled up, and added a surprisingly powerful Komala to his team – certainly an appropriate choice, given their similar carefree attitudes towards… everything.  He’s not confident in challenging the Elite Four yet, though, and I suppose there’s no reason he has to, now that the Final Trial isn’t really a thing anymore.  After a quick battle, he wishes me luck and sends me on my way to Kukui’s shiny new Pokémon League building.

The new complex is built inside the mountain’s peak itself, which must have been a tremendously expensive operation, but I suppose the Alolans must have felt it was worth it to have the Pokémon League here, at one of the holiest places in the entire island chain.  There’s a gate close to the summit, where the path stops; only an experienced climber could hope to get any higher than this.  Professor Kukui is waiting for me outside, and ushers me into the chambers of the Elite Four.  The inside of the peak is a huge cavern, its walls studded with brightly coloured crystals, with four smaller caves branching off from the main one.  Taking a page from the books of the Unova and Kalos Leagues, the Alola League seems to allow trainers to choose the order in which they challenge the Elite Four, before returning to a dais in the main chamber that transports you to the Champion’s room at the summit. “Mount Lanakila is where we’ve always finished up the Island Challenge.  We built our Pokémon League up here, as high into the heavens as we could get, to show our respect for our legendary Pokémon and honour it,” Kukui explains. “I’m just glad you decided to spring for central heating,” I say, still shivering a little from the cold outside.  He laughs. “I went all the way to Indigo Plateau, yeah!  Right to the Pokémon League headquarters… and I went right up at them, cousin!  I saw my team battling for me through it all, pouring their souls into their moves for me.  And then that last guy, that Dragon user in the cape…” Kukui trails off into silence, lost in the memory. “Yeah, he… has that effect on people.”  I wrinkle my nose.  “It’s the Blackthorn heritage.  They have a devotion to Pokémon and battle that’s… almost religious.  Intense.  Kinda scary actually.  That last battle… that was the moment, wasn’t it?”  He looks up at me, puzzled.  “The moment you decided you had to form a new Pokémon League here in Alola?  You wouldn’t be the first person to completely change the direction of your life after a battle with Lance.  Like I said, he… has that effect on people.”  Kukui laughs again. “That he does.  Well, you know the drill!”  He sweeps his hand around, gesturing to each of the chambers of the Elite Four.  “I expect you to show me some intense moves and real heart-stopping battles in there!  Good luck!”

I expected the four Kahunas to make up the Alolan Elite Four, since they’re traditionally the opponents you face in your Final Trial, but it turns out only two actually answered Kukui’s call.  Hala and Olivia occupy the chambers on the cavern’s western side.  Hala has brought a range of powerful Fighting Pokémon, including one I haven’t previously encountered, the mighty Crabominable, an Ice-type evolution of Crabrawler with massive bruiser arms.  Though strong, they are no match for my Toucannon and Psychu.  Olivia manages to mess me up a bit more when I try to use Zygarde’s Dragon Dance to steamroll her, but get stopped in my tracks by her Carbink’s colossal defences and Fairy attacks.  Decidueye manages to bring things back under control and secure a win, though.  Nanu evidently couldn’t be bothered to answer Kukui’s summons, because he is clearly far more sensible than me.  When Tapu Bulu decided to appoint him the Ula’Ula Kahuna (for reasons known only to itself), refusing would have invited the wrath of the divine, but refusing to join the Elite Four incurs only the wrath of Professor Kukui, which Nanu is perfectly comfortable with.  In his place, the young Ghost specialist Captain Acerola accepted a position at Mount Lanakila.  She has some interesting Pokémon too, including a giant sandcastle called Palossand that can only be the evolved form of Sandygast, and another Pokémon entirely new to me by the name of Dhelmise – a seaweed-draped living anchor that looks like it should be a Water- or Steel-type but is actually Grass/Ghost, confusing me long enough to beat the brains out of my poor Decidueye and forcing me to deal with all her other Pokémon without any decisive advantage against Ghost-types specifically.  Still, Golisopod, Salazzle and Zygarde are able to salvage the situation.  Hapu isn’t on the Elite Four either, presumably because of her still recent promotion to Kahuna and lack of experience compared to Olivia and Hala.  Her place is filled by… a champion golfer?  Because… sure???  Kukui has filled the final slot with an invitation to Kahili, a Flying Pokémon master who was an accomplished trainer in Alola years ago and has been travelling the world as a pro golfer ever since.  Despite my initial scepticism, she’s as strong as any Kahuna.  Thanks to her Mandibuzz’ toughness and Dark attacks, she defies my efforts to sweep her Flying-type team with Psychu, and her Skarmory was able to lay down some Spikes before being defeated to mess things up for me.  My own Toucannon winds up being instrumental in this fight.  With all four enemies defeated, I return to the central dais.  Professor Kukui is no longer in the main hall.  Nor, for that matter, are there any other challengers; I haven’t seen any since I got here.  Hesitantly, I step onto the dais and am teleported away.

I am standing under a vast crystal dome, the open sky visible above.  This is the highest place in all Alola, above the clouds and bathed in the light of the sun.  With the wind kept out by the dome, everything is eerily still.  A staircase in front of me leads up to the arena of the final battle – circular, its floor glowing a gentle blue.  At the opposite end is a simple stone throne emblazoned with a Pokéball symbol.  No one is sitting in it.  I can’t hear any voices; no one else is here.  There is no Champion to battle, no Totem Pokémon to face, no other successful challengers to compete with.  I walk to the centre of the arena. “Hello?” I call out.  “Hello?”  My words echo back to me off the dome, but there is no answer.  A minute later, I hear the teleporter pad behind me activate again, and Professor Kukui walks up the stairs. “Well, you made it, cousin.  Congratulations!” he tells me.  I look around again and turn to him. “I made it,” I reply.  “But no one else is here.  Aren’t there a lot of trainers who were waiting to challenge the new Elite Four?  Wasn’t there going to be a… like, a tournament or something?  What happens now?”  Kukui grins at me. “Now,” he says, “you take your seat.”  He gestures to the throne at the end of the arena.  I look at the throne, then at him, then back at the throne, then back to him. “My seat?” “You’re the first to defeat Alola’s Elite Four.  The first in history!”  He pumps his fist in the air.  “If anyone else gets this far, they’ll have one more person to battle: you.  Now you’re the Pokémon League Champion, oh yeah!”  My eyes widen. “Oh, I knew it; I f#$%ing knew it.  This is what that ridiculous bargain-basement Zapdos was planning all along – make me the Champion so none of you have to deal with it.  Well, I- I- I don’t want it!  And what’s more, you don’t need it!” “Having a Champion is what puts Alola on the map!” he replies emphatically.  “We gotta have someone we can hold up and say ‘this is our strongest’ to compete with the rest of the world!  Someone who can stand for Alola’s ideals!” “And I’m the best you can find?  For goodness’ sake; I’m not even Alolan!” “So much the better.  This region needs some new blood to help us change things up a bit!  An outsider to be the Metronome that lends us a bit of unpredictability so we can Transform!” “No, no, listen, listen.  There’s a lot to be said for having a Pokémon League, for having a central authority that manages Pokémon training, punishes abuse, sponsors educational programs and local tournaments, codifies rules and move lists, raises funding for research, all that good stuff.  It’s more than you can do with just four Kahunas and a bunch of teenage Captains, ‘specially with a secret cabal of four lazy, absentminded, egotistical legendary Pokémon running everything.  But it’s not like you need a Champion to lead it.  Honestly that whole idea’s pretty archaic.” “What’s that supposed to mean?  Kanto has a Champion, and so do Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh…” “Yeah, but sometimes the Champion is a huge dickbag!” I interrupt.  “I mean… the strongest trainer makes all the rules?  It’s very… ‘the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must,’ don’t you think?  Imagine what would happen if a real bastard became Champion and tried to use the Pokémon League to seize political power!” “No Pokémon trainer strong enough to become Champion could be that bad,” Kukui counters.  “Defeating the four Kahunas takes the teamwork of Helping Hand, the empathy of Heal Pulse, the protectiveness of Wide Guard, and the selflessness of Lunar Dance!” “…this is me we’re talking about here,” I remind him.  “And Pokémon battling is literally the only sport that works like this.  Can you imagine if FIFA were run by whichever team won the last World Cup?” Kukui thinks about it. “Yeah; I reckon it would be a huge improvement.” “…okay, that was a bad example.  But you see what I mean.”  He nods. “Well, it sounds to me as though you have a lot of very interesting and worthwhile ideas about how to run a Pokémon League.” “Exactly!” I agree – then notice him smirking.  “Er- I mean- no!  No, absolutely not!  It’s bollocks, all of it!  I’ve not a sensible thought in my head!  And more to the point, I’m on holiday!” “Maybe… but you’re still a trainer, aren’t you, cousin?”  That smirk is back. “Yes…” I reply warily. “And there’s one thing no trainer can ever refuse.” He reaches into his lab coat, pulls out a Pokéball, and summons a solar Lycanroc.  “Bring it!”  I don’t have to battle him.  I can turn around, leave, and never look back.  I should turn around, leave, and never look back. “…oh, Arceus $#!tting DAMN IT!”

Kukui is well-travelled and highly experienced, with a team of powerful Pokémon worthy of any Champion.  Besides Lycanroc, he deploys a Braviary, Magnezone, Snorlax, a strange new Alolan Ninetales with Ice powers, and a Pokémon instantly recognisable as Litten’s final form, Incineroar.  It looks like yet another Fire/Fighting starter, with a wrestler’s powerful build and bulging chest muscles, but unfortunately for my poor Psychu, it turns out to actually be a Dark-type, and promptly slams my Pokémon into the ground with its signature move, Darkest Lariat.  It even manages to put some serious hurt on my Zygarde with Outrage, but ultimately doesn’t have the endurance to outlast the World Shaker.  Kukui is very nearly my equal… but not quite.  As Incineroar falls, he laughs deep and loud. “Amazing!  It’s like I always say, the strongest moves are the ones a trainer and Pokémon choose together in the heat of the moment, and you just proved me right!  The Pokémon and the trainers in Alola really are the best… and I want everyone in the world to know that, too!  That’s always been my dream!” “You chose an odd way to show it, then,” I tell him.  “Making a foreigner your first Champion.” “It’s funny how life works out sometimes,” he shrugs.  “But maybe that’s just what we need?  Someone to give Alola something to aspire to… and something to challenge and defeat!” “Hmph.  Fine, fine, whatever.  But the moment someone makes it here and beats me, I am out of here, no ifs, no buts.”

The team:

Tane the Decidueye Male, Timid nature, Overgrow ability Level 50 Steel Wing, Leaf Blade, Synthesis, Spirit Shackle

Rhea the Toucannon Female, Lax nature, Keen Eye ability Level 51 Bullet Seed, Roost, Beak Blast, Brick Break

Ashley the Psychu Female, Timid nature, Surge Surfer ability Level 50 Thunderbolt, Focus Blast, Nasty Plot, Psychic

Joanna the Salazzle Female, Timid nature, Corrosion ability Level 50 Flamethrower, Nasty Plot, Sludge Bomb, Dragon Pulse

Sigourney the Golisopod Female, Careful nature, Emergency Exit ability Level 49 Brick Break, Liquidation, First Impression, Leech Life

Zygarde Genderless, Sassy nature, Aura Break ability Level 50 Outrage, Stone Edge, Dragon Dance, Thousand Arrows

[regionofishtar]

THE RULES FOR DRAGONS

1) Rayquaza is the first dragon, born from a fragment of Ouroborus which entered the Pokemon Universe. It combined with the energies which existed therein, and became Rayquaza.

2) Rayquaza created the other Dragon Deities, in order:

Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, to assist Arceus in controlling the three powerful spirits.

Latios and Latias, as his children and companions.

The Original Dragon, to bring Balance.

Would later Split into Zekrom, Reshiram, and Kyurem.

Zygarde formed from Rayquazan Aether mixing with the Auras of Yveltal and Xerneas.

This is why it is fragmented. The Aether was fragmented, so too was the Legendary born of it.

Lizandra, by mating with a strange, Dragon Typed Mew (Landilizandra in disguise).

Kulkulkurn, Tlaloch, and Howlotl would be created by Lizandra to serve her.

3) The Gods, once they existed either in the space between the worlds, or on PokeWorld Prime, would visit and create avatars for these new worlds. Since these are not the original gods, their origins can and do vary greatly from world to world. What is important to remember is that these Avatars are not the Originals, the Origins as given in #2 are how the gods in general came into being.

4) Rayquazan Aether originates from Rayquaza and is the source of anything connected to the Dragon Type.

5) There are four types of dragons:

True Dragons: Dragon Typed Pokemon

Hemi Dragons: Dragon Egg Group Pokemon

Quasi Dragons: Hidden Power Dragon Pokemon

Pseudo Dragons: Connected with dragons, but lacking the prior three conditions.

6) Humans, typically the Q-Type, can be Typed.

Credit goes to @preussischen for about 90% of this stuff. I would say everything other than Lizandra and her Trio and Ouroborus are either hers or me using her concepts as a jumping off point.

[puclpodcast]

Pokemon Draft League Discussion with OldManTup

Pokemon Draft Discussion with OldManTup

To listen to the full interview check out the link below.

  Clod9: Today I’m interviewing OldManTup about his experiences in Draft League. How Many draft leagues have you been in?

OldManTup: I started off in the GBA, I did a few stints in the PPL D2, I was in the NSTL, another i can’t remember, the NPA so at least 5.

  C9: Which out of those was your favorite draft league?

Tup: The one i can’t remember i had a really good team. It was relatively broken and under appreciated. I really liked my run the NPA the Season I was there. A lot of really good people play in that league and I made my first playoff run.

  C9: What do you think is essential to a good draft? Something you would always want to plan to have on your team?

Tup: When people ask me what people should look for in their draft the first thing i tell them is to establish what your particular playstyle is going to be in the draft. It doesn’t matter if you have the 6 most broken mons the league you draft in, if they don’t fit a playstyle that you are effective utilizing you are not going to be successful. You might win some matches , but all in all you are not going to enjoy the way you play and you are not going to have the success you should despite how good you draft. Someone from the league (PDL) asked my that question and they showed me a draft plan. I was like, “This is the team that you presented, this is how that team is going to play. Is that your playstyle”. That was something they hadn’t thought about. That is something that happened to me the first times I drafted and I struggled. I struggled hard. I was drafting good mons as opposed to drafting mons I’m familiar with or that fit a playstyle that I am comfortable with. To finish off this question with a story. If I were to sit down and make a draft plan. I like bulky mons. I like having switch ins to everything. Mons like Hippowdon, mons like Zygarde 50% (Which is banned in PDL). Mons like that. Mons that can take a hit and sustain themselves. Those are the cores of my team. As well as pivot mons so volt switch and u-turn. Those are the things i look for when building a team. So you need to make a list. These are the thing I need on a team to be successful. Then pick what you think is most important to you. For me If I see Zygarde 50% in a league, granted I’ve only gotten it twice, but it’s a mon I know is successful and I can run with. Another mon I like to draft first round is Excadrill. It has fantastic typing, underappreciated bulk with its hit points. Even without sand support it can fit on most teams.

  C9: You have a really interesting take on what is essential for a good draft. A lot of the times you hear you need a couple things that can set up rocks or mons that can get rid of hazards. Which makes you pick specific mons versus what you are saying which is to pick to your playstyle.

Tup: Now for a lot of people that is high on their priority with. It is just my specific playstyle. I don’t 100% need SR on one of my top value mons in order to be successful in the way i play. I don’t draft mons that are weak to SR so hazard removal isn’t high on my list. If the people drafting are use to OU then that is going to be higher up on their list of thing than someone who just plays to the beat of their own drum.

  C9: What’s your worst habit you have when preparing for a draft?

Tup: My worst habit when trying to prepare for a draft, is leaning to hard on the people who are helping me with my draft. (Front Office). A lot of the times when I’ve drafted not to my playstyle, I’ve leaned too hard on the recommendation of the people who drafted good mons for my team and not good mons for me. A good example, is the GBA D-league S2, when M&J TV was debuting in draft format. He was paired up with MegaMogwai (Who was a coach at the time). Mogwai drafted him a beast of a team. But it wasn’t a team M&J TV could play with so he struggled. It depends on what you plan on going into the league to do. Are you going to have fun, hang out with friends, or are you going to be more competitive. I try to balance them both but the competitiveness usually ends up a little higher. That’s why you have to draft a team that you enjoy because you are going to have to enjoy it whether you win or lose. You don’t want to sit there with a team, shaking your head asking yourself, “Why did I draft all these pokemon” A lot people can fall into the trap of, “Oh this is really good. A lot of top draft competitors take it so I’ll be successful with it.”

  C9: What would be your Round 1 Pick 1 if you couldn’t pick Zygarde 50%?

Tup: It depends on the league that I’m in. A lot of the leagues that I’m still affiliated with, I’ve been with for so long that I’m familiar with the draft tendencies of the coaches I’m playing with, That I know when i can let something that in one league i have to pick in Round 1, I can let slide a few rounds. In the GBA particularly one that comes to mind is, my favorite mega to draft in Ultra Sun Ultra Moon, is M-Beedrill and that never ever gets picked.

  C9: Why do you like M-Beedrill so much?

Tup: M-Beedrill has like 130-150 attack plus adaptability. So you have Adaptability U-Turn and that does so much damage. My last match in the UUTC was against J3di DJ. I had M-Beedrill out and he had Galvantula. Granted I was Adamant M-Beedrill but it clean one shot it. I just wanted switch priority. I think it’s underrated. It doesn’t have the best coverage and has maybe 3 sets but its so good. Especially in draft. There are not a lot of things on every team that are common counters to what M-Beedrill brings to the table. Most teams have 1-2 things that stand in the way of M-Beedrill setting up and just crapping all over a team. This isn’t the case for OU since Lando or Celesteela Counter it.

  C9:  I know you were a part of the NPA which is a 24 person draft. The PDL is the same with a 24 person draft with is very different between the standard 16 team draft. What are the main differences you’ve realized between the 24 person draft and the 16 person draft?

Tup: The things I’ve noticed; The more people you have in a draft the sooner you want to pick your low tier value mons. Usually they stack the upper tiers and the lower tiers (T4, T5) are just filled with the leftover stuff and nobody has anything. There are 3-4  good mons, Don’t get wrong there are good mons, but the crem dela crem stuff that you want that can fit into a team you might have to take Rounds 3,4,5 as opposed to letting it fall to your 7,8,9 pick. Other than that you don’t plan heavily when you have a draft of that many people, cause if you over plan, you are redrawing your draft plan 3-5 times in a single round.  

  C9: Where do you want to be placed in a draft/ Where do you think is most optimal ?

Tup: Optimal is either the wheel picks, First or last, or relatively close to that because generally you are getting relatively close picks. It’s forever between you next picks but you have guaranteed a pair of mons that you can pair together, that give you an optimal synergy for your team. I’ve noticed that when I’ve been there, it’s easier to build a more synergetic team. Opposed to when you are in the middle of the draft, and I’ve been there and I hate it, it’s like you get to pick 1 mon and you have to hope that something that pairs well with that mon is available 16 – 30 picks later. You find a lot more parody in a league with more people, because no one ends up with a really broken team because they got good picks in the draft.

  C9: Is there any pokemon that you’ve hated going up against or causes annoyance?

Tup: It usually is something i like to play with. Gliscor is what first comes to mind, cause if you have a competent opponent it will just ruin your day, unless you happen to knock it’s toxic orb off or burn it when it switches in the first time. It gets healing through that. Sustainability through roost. It’s 4x weak to ice but if the guy has a good draft it is just one of the mons that doesn’t have to be terribly bulky cause it has enough speed and power and can just rain on your parade.

  C9: The first thing that comes to my mind is Mamoswine because I find between the ground and ice moves most teams don’t have a good switch into it but onto a different topic, What advice do you have for people that are on a losing streak, especially if you start off behind.

Tup: I actually have a lot of experience on this topic because I am the all time losingest coach in the GBA. The first season I only had 1 win and i won a crit. One of the last seasons i was win less. I never made playoffs in the GBA and I think the best I’ve done is an even win loss record. But i mean, Keep your head up. Learn from your mistakes. All i can say is watch your replay. Figure out where you went wrong and try to not make that mistake again. There are some matches that you are not going to win based off your teams match up vs another team. There was a team in the UUTC, one week where i was looking and the guys team and I thought, “Unless the guy plays (t)rubbish I’m not going to win.” It wasn’t that i didn’t have confidence in myself it was just the 10 he had vs the 10 i had , I just didn’t have an answer for certain mons. Keep your head up and push on through. Understand that nobody is perfect and nobody wins all their games in these formats. Make it learning experience and try to come back better the next week.

  C9: Who do you think is the best player  for someone new to watch to learn about draft league format and it’s strategies?

Tup: There are a couple of people that come to mind. First is Pokeaim, if you don’t know him or heard of him your head is under a rock cause i think he is the most popular and successful person when it comes to what we do on the youtube. Another is PokeMEN aka John. He just became PG so you can watch it with your kids. He is very good about explaining what is going on in his matches. El Scizor from the GBA, if you can get through his thick German accent, he is very good, especially with his team builders. He usually has very detailed descriptions and shows his evs on screen. He almost always goes through explaining why things are the way they are. Gym Leader Geo is one of my favorite people I’ve ever played draft format with. He always plays so unique it’s someone you can watch to get a better understanding of how to put unique techs into your team that will help you beat things. (Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVZvUG-ic34 from the GBA Season 5. It’s one of the best cases of using a unique set to beat a team)

  C9: What is a mon you think is underrated in draft league format?

Tup: The first one that comes to mind, because it is one of my favorites to use is Miltank. Miltank is almost always nestled in T4,T5 and it is SO good. It plays the cleric role, it sets rocks, it has 100 base speed and it’s a tank! IT can set up, it has thick fat and sap sipper. You are stacking resistances on top of your self. Ice and fire are usually two of the biggest weaknesses you have worry about synergy wise and having a Pokemon in your back pocket that can resist both of those and is only weak to fighting which is super easy to overcome in draft league. I love it. I can sit in there for day and heal up, or curse set up, and even body slam to spread around that yellow magic (Paralysis). Another mon, is Mismagius. That thing needs a team around it. It doesn’t work on every team. It has 105 speed, and insane special bulky which is overlooked. It has just enough special attack to be useful, and can calm mind or nasty plot up. I think it’s undervalued and when put in the right team in an attacking role it can just drop bombs.

  C9: Besides the GBA Season 9 are you in any other leagues and will you be uploading more draft content to your youTube?

Tup: Not currently. The only other league im active in is the NPA and I don’t think they are coming back until Gen 8. While I’m in the GBA and NPA I try not to do too many other things since they are large platforms and it takes a lot more time to provide the content that that platform requires.

  C9: As a parent, and a Pokemon fan, have you brought the world of Pokemon onto your children’s lives and do they enjoy it?

Tup: My older daughter does more than my younger daughter. My older daughter is a spitting image of me when it comes to things in nerd culture go. We all go out and do Pokemon GOing together, we always try and do the community days. For those that don’t know my children are soon to be 13 and 8. My oldest daughter plays the game, not competitive, just enjoying the game the way it should be enjoyed.

  C9: Do you ever show them your video and get their feedback?

Tup: My oldest daughter is subscribed to my channel and watches them but not so much. She isn’t huge into competitive battling. It’s more like, “Dad you have this pokemon on your team and it’s cute,you should have used that one” Which makes perfect sense.

  Now for the lightning Round!

  C9: What is your favorite region?

Tup: Kanto

  C9: If you had to pick: Attack or Special Attack?

Tup: Physical Attack

  C9: What is your battle style:  Stall/Hyper Offense/Bulky Offense/Balance?

Tup: Balance with a dash of switch initiative

  C9: Do you prefer Speed or Trick Room?

Tup: Speed

  C9: What is your favorite Weather; Hail/Sand/Rain or Sun?

Tup: Sand

  C9: Electric/Misty/Grassy or Psychic Terrain?

Tup: None, They all suck and I hate them with a passion.

  C9: Favorite status to inflict: Sleep/Freeze/Paralysis/Burn or Poison?

Tup: Yellow magic all day every day!

  C9: What is your favorite draft league story?

Tup: IT was in the GBA and it was only my favorite because it was successful. I was playing against Foofoo who was a coach in the GBA at the time. He had a crobat and it was his last mon. I bluffed the entire match that I was scarf heracross and it wasn’t. I had 3 left and he had 1. He was just convinced that he was getting a stone edge to the face and i clicked Earthquake. He was faster than me and went for roost. So he grounded himself and I went for Earthquake. I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much until I watched it. He live records so i got to see his live reaction when he uploaded his video. I’m not good at bluffing i’ll be 100% transparent with that and it worked and he was just aghast that he was faster than me.

  C9: Thank you very much for joining us this week and pick your brain on draft league.

Tup: No problem, I just want to let all the PUCL Draft League competitors to know I wish you all luck in the upcoming season. Hopefully if the stars aline I’ll be joining you in the next season and we will get to play each other. IF you have any questions, not that I’m a super expert or anything I’ve just been around the block, hit me up. My DMs are always open. Some of you already have, but feel free if you need. Don’t ever be afraid to reach out and ask for help.

  To listen to the full interview see the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6JFSyBSrr0&feature=youtu.be

from Pokemon Draft League Discussion with OldManTup

[1358456]

Reality

I was thinking about one of the core ideas of Legacy, and how... reality just f*cks that over completely. Not "reality" as in what I'm personally going through, but "reality" as in... if the story stuff was to actually happen.

Like... in Destiny, throughout the whole Mega Hunter ordeal, has any Dex Holder eaten anything? Or gone to the bathroom? I'm pretty sure in SA, Platinum didn't eat anything for like a week since she was either doing something hellacious or unconscious.

Would be a REAL shame if the Dex Holders died of thirst because they all forgot or couldn't drink anything during the chaos.

In the RS arc, Ruby and Sapphire were on the Mirage Island for like 3 weeks, weren't they? No food (other than Liechi Berries which I believe are categorized as bitter), no water (can't drink sea water), no bathroom or any structure really, etc.

Ruby: "I am NOT going to... GO behind a tree like a damn savage!"

... It's obviously for the better. There are some logical/realistic things that must be thrown out the window for the sake of the story.

Ruby: "Archie... Maxie... could you just pause your insane bullsh*t for just... an hour? I really have to go to the bathroom... and eat something." Wallace: "... Really?" Ruby: "It's been 3 freaking weeks!"

And in terms of logical "oversights"... consider Y in Destiny. She's turning into a skeleton slowly. ... How do her clothes stay on? Shirt can stay thanks to gravity, but shorts... when Y's lower half is nothing but bones, there's literally nothing left to hold up said clothing.

Y: "You can kiss my... ... huh. I got no ass left. ... This is why I hate clothes shopping now! I have no ass!"

And her boots. Her left leg is completely skeletal, which means... there's really no way her boot will stay on. And she won't have any hair on the left half of her head since... that's just a skull now. ... Does that also mean she has half of a brain left?

And Y wouldn't be able to talk without a tongue or lips. Just a skeletal jaw? Can't talk. Nothing to talk with.

And the visual weirdness once the deterioration reaches her chest... and the deterioration all goes from left to right. While for someone like White or Yellow it wouldn't be noticeable, but for Y... that's quite a shift in balance. ... Speaking of which, her left half weighs significantly less so... huh. Apparently bones weigh approx 15% of a person, so if Y's entire left half becomes skeletal, she'd lose approx 43% of her weight.

White: "Wow! How did you lose so much weight? Please share your secret!" Y: "... Seriously?"

THEN the problem with moving bones without muscles to actually pull them. Bones can't move on their own. And on and on.

And of course, physical oversights. Like... the Light Stone IS Reshiram. And Dark Stone IS Zekrom. Now, the law of conservation of mass means that unless Reshiram and Zekrom become mostly gas and dissipate, their... entire beings are still in the Light Stone and Dark Stone. So... the Light Stone would weigh pretty much the same as Reshiram itself, which weighs 330 kg. You don't compress something and expect it to be lighter. It'll weigh the same, like a tiny neutron star still weighing mostly the same as when it was a full star. So even if White found the Light Stone... good luck moving it. It now weighs as much as Reshiram, Black, and some other debris all added up, so probably around 400 kg.

Now, I bring this up because... the critical event in Legacy that created the story in the first place... would be foiled IMMEDIATELY if certain realistic stuff were to be applied.

So... yeah. Need to ignore those. For the sake of the story, some realism must be thrown out the window! I can't go into much detail without risk of spoiling something.

It'd be a very gag-comic like twist if all the realistic stuff were applied in any manga story, really. "It seems that everyone under Zygarde's control have died. Apparently it forgot to order them to eat and drink."