Reshiram and Zekrom are the penultimate duo

It's hard to believe the monthly legendary Pokémon distribution events are wrapping up soon. I'm sure it'll be no time at all before Nintendo starts the cycle anew, but for 2018, there are only two giveaways left. This month, it's Reshira?m and Zekro?m, and then we're closing out November with Ho-Oh and Lugia.

Here's how to get?? the black and white duo hailing from the Unova region:

In the UK, you hav?e from October 5 - October 21, 2018 via Nintendo Network. Easy enough.

• In Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon, go to the main menu and pick "Mystery Gift."
• Choose "Receive Gift."
• Select "Get via Internet."
• Go to any Pokémon Center and talk to the delivery person inside for Reshiram or Zekrom.

In the US, the distribution runs fr?om October 19 - October 28, 2018 via Target.

• In Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon, go to the main menu and pick "Mystery Gift."
• Choose "Receive Gift."
• Select "Get with Code/Password," then "Yes" and "Yes."
• Enter the code from Target.
• Go to any Pokémon Center and talk to the delivery person inside for Reshiram or Zekrom.

Despite good intentions, I definitely fell off the legendary distribution schedule. Once you let one month slip by you, the next missed opportunity comes and goes in an in?stant, and then they stockpile.

If I had stuck wi?th this and the old monthly mythical 'mons, I would've had quite a collec?tion.

Ah well. If there's one specific Pokémon I need to seek out, it's the fresh-faced Zeraora. To obtain the "lightning-fast" Mythical beast, swing by GameStop from October 19 - November 9, 2018 for a code. Zeraor??a is level 50 and knows Plasma Fists, Thunder Punch, ??Close Combat, and Thunder.

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August distribution event details

With so many active Pokémon games right now, each with their own Pokédex to fill out, there's never a dull moment in the quest to catch 'em all. In this month's distribution event for Pokémon Sun/Moon and Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, the iconic red-and-blue pair Groudon and Kyogre are yours to claim.

You can find the ol' Ruby and Sapphire legendaries via code distribution by heading to GameStop in the US and EB Games in Canada. Sun players can get Kyogre, while Moon players can get Groudon.

This ?legendary distribution event is live no??w and will run until August 26, 2018.

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Opt-in while you can

If you're one to keep up with legendary Pokémon giveaways, this is going to be a heck of a year. There's something new every month up through November.?? Next month, we're getting Regigigas and Heatran.

It's still February, so why bring that up now?

For this particular distribution event, the Pokémon will be obtainable via a code in next month's Pokémon Trainer Club newsletter; you'll need to sign up and opt-in for the email by March 1.

Do that (or just get a hold of a code, I guess!), and you can nab either Regigigas or Heatran in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon. Sometimes, when you look at a word for too long, it seems totally alien. The same goes for Pokémon -- and I've been staring at these weirdos for entirely too long.

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Just head to GameStop or EB Games

Not all of us are capable of making an automated Pokémon-collecting machine to amass a horde of shiny monsters. That's what distribution events are for! The latest one for Pokémon Sun and Moon star??ts? this week at GameStop and EB Games -- it's your chance to nab a Shiny Silvally.

Codes are available now through? November 13, 2017 at participating stores (or until supplies run out).

This particular Pok&eacut?e;mon is level 100, holds a Gold Bottle Cap, and knows the moves Multi-Attack, Parting Shot, Punishment, and Scary Face. Str??ange-looking creature that Silvally. Mighty strange.

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It's a fighting/ghost type

The latest Pokémon distri??bution is now underway?? at GameStop.

Today through October 23, you'll be able to head to the retailer and score a code for the mythical Marshadow in Pokémon Sun and Moon. The little ghost son is level 50 and notably come?s with Marshadium Z, enabling it to use its fancy-pants Z-Move called Soul-Steal??ing 7-Star Strike.

Unlike some ghost types, Marshadow's Pokédex entries aren't the stuff of nightmares. "Able to conceal itself in shadows, it never?? appears before humans, so its very existence was the stuff of myth. It lurks in the shadows of others, copying their movements and powers. This Pokémon is craven and cowering."

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Somehow mobile devices don't count

Every now and then, a game developer likes to state something so blatantly obvious that your shoulders will spontaneously shrug in utter bafflement. In a recent interview with Game Informer, Game Freak (the developer behind Pokemon) thought it was necessary to go on record to state that Pokemon is unlikely to be heading to any platforms not created b??y Nintendo.

Their official claim, as stated by Junichi Masuda (one of the directors from Game Freak), is, "With Pokémon, at least, we really feel it is really important to be with Nintendo, specifically with the Pokémon titles, so I don’t think that [release on another platform] would ever happen." Well, gee, ??I'm s??o shocked.

Apparently the topic of ownership over the IP is what brought this about, to which the answer is not just "Nintendo." Masuda said, "Everyone really knows Nintendo; there is a familiarity with the brand, and they have that really strong brand and Pokémon being assoc??iated with that and being affiliated with that brand is very important.?" So...what?

As it turns out, Game Freak maintains partial ownership of the Pokemon brand alongside Nintendo and Creatures (a third company). If Game Freak truly wanted to, they could buy out Nintendo and Creature's shares of the fr??anchise and take it to other platform holders. I guess they are sticking with Nintendo out of a show of respect?

I'm really just kind of confused why this was even a question. Why would Nintendo allow for Game Freak to take Pokemon elsewhere? Even if Nintendo doesn't hold total ownership of the IP, if Game ?Freak wanted to ??leave Nintendo for another company, I'm almost certain Nintendo would just buy them and their assets and then seize ownership of the brand.

It also then brings up questions about, if Pokemon isn't solely owned by Nintendo, why Game Freak hasn't shopped around the idea to anyone else. Clearly in the late '90s, Nintendo was the only one willing to take a chance, but Sony and Microsoft would love to have something as gigantic as Pokemon on their consoles today. Th??is whole story seems really odd and I'm just left wi??th more questions than answers.

So, for the time being, here is a clearly obvious answer to a particularly stupid question. Why isn't Pokemon on another platform? Nintendo ar??en't dumb asses. Case closed.

Game Freak Says They Don’t Expect Pokémon Appearing On Any Non-Nintendo Platforms [Siliconera]

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You'll just have to stop by your local Gamestop

The next free Pokémon giveaway for Sun and Moon is happening right now. If you live in the United States, just visit a part?icipating GameSto??p to receive the free code.

The Pokemon in question is a "battle-ready" Salazzle, as Chris previously reported. The Salazzle is level 50 and holds a Focus Sash, an item that lets the P??okémon endure an attack that would no??rmally kill it in one hit. The item only has one use.

This Salazzle also knows the following moves:

• Fakeout
• Toxic
• Sludge Bomb
• Flamethrower

Salazzle is a fire and poison type Pokémon with the special ability Corrosion. That ability allows it to inflict poison on Pokémon that wou??ld normally be immune, like Steel types. 

Once you have your code in hand, simply select Mystery Gift from the main menu and choose to receive your gi??ft via code/password. Once you enter your code y??ou can pick up Salazzle from the deliveryman in the Pokémon Center. You'll be able to swing by GameStop for a code until September 4.

Pokemon Sun and Moon players can now get another ??free Pokemon [GameSpot]

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Use the code 'SABLEVOLANT' for four more

Y??ou're here for Mega Stones, and we??'ve got just the ticket.

Start up your copy of Pokémon Sun or Moon, hit "Mystery Gift" from the main menu, and enter the code "SABLEVOLANT" for the stuff you'll need to Mega Evolve your precious Tyranitar, Abomasnow, Manectric, and Aggron. From there, just pop into a Pokémon Center and pick up your lo??ot.

Is there a Pokémon huggability ranking floating around the dark corners?? of the net? It's an off-kilter pick, but I'd probably place Mega Manectric pretty high up there (at severe risk to my health, I'm sure).

Pokémon [Twitter]

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Code: INTIMIDATE

It's once again Mystery Gift time in Pokémon Sun and Moon. The Pokémon Company has several freebies for folks who have tran?sferred in Mawile, Beedrill, Audino, and Medicham from the Pokémon Bank, or for anyone who just wants to stock up on their respective Mega Stones in advance.

The process, as ever:

1. Select Mystery Gift on the main menu.

2. Select Receive Gift.

3. Select Get ??with Code/Passwor??d, then Yes, and then Yes again to connect to the Internet.

4. Enter your password ["INTIMIDATE"].

5. Watch as you receive the Mega Stones.

6. Speak to the delive?ryman in any Pokémon Center to pick up your? Mega Stones.

7. Be sure to save your game!

I?? do like the name of that code for Mega Beedrill and Mega Mawile, but Audin?o? Haha.

Mega Stone Power Times Four [Pokemon via Serebii.net]

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M2DESCENT

Mega Mewtwo in Pokémon Sun and Moon? Sure, why not!

If you've brought Mewtwo into the game using the Pokémon Bank, there's a now-active code for Mewtwonite X and Mewtwonite Y, the Mega Stones needed for it to evolve into Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y, respect?ively. That code is "M2DESCENT" and it's the only way to make this happen currently since held items (in this case?? Mega Stones) are lost in the Bank transportation process.

• Select Mystery Gift on the main menu.
• Select Receive Gift.
• Select Get with Code/Password, then Yes, and then Yes again to connect to the Internet.
• Enter the code M2DESCENT
• Watch as you receive Mega Stones!
• Speak to the deliveryman in any Pokémon Center to pick up your Mega Stones.
• Be sure to save your game!

You and your Mewtwo are now? free to run off and terrorize Alola as you please.

Also, I stumbled on this gif a??nd it's a very unsettling gif inde?ed. Look away!

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Its goal was surpassed in less than a day

It wouldn't be much of an exaggeration to say that Pokémon Sun and Moon's Global Missions feature had a bit of a rocky start. The first two events -- which required players to capture 100 million Pokémon and scan 1 million of the creatures respectively -- both ended up in failure, although players were still rewarded for their efforts. Thankfully, the third Global Mission was far more successful, with players easily managing to exceed the one million Pokémon trade goal that was?? set b?y the game's developers.

Well, on the 28th of February, a fourth Global Mission began. This one tasked players to earn 250,000 Battle Points in the Battle Tree, which is accessible after completing the main story of Pokémon Sun and Moon. Within 24 hours, participants of this event had managed to acquire over 500,000 BP, ?doubling the amount required to complete the event.

As per usual, to participate in this event, all you need to do is head on over to Festival Plaza and talk to the lady in the castle. From there, you just need to go to the Battle Tree and earn some Battle Points. The reward for completing the Global Mission is 2,000 Festival Coins, or 4,000 if you happen to have your game tied to a Pokémon Global Link account.

Players who earn at least 3 Battle Points will be rewarded with 5 Rare Candies, which can be used to level up their Pokémon. Participants of the event will also receive a Heavy Ball as a ??bonus for their collective effort in acquiring over 500,000 Battle Points.

Considering that fourth Pokémon Sun and Moon Global Mission began only yesterday, the fact that it's already been completed is quite an impressive feat, although the? success of it could easily be attributed to its relative simplicity when compared to its predecessors. Either way, if you happen to own a copy of one or both of these games, you should definitely consider signing up for this event before March 13 to get your hands on those Festival Coins and Rare Candi?es.

Tuesday: Pokémon Sun & Moon - Global Mission + Battle Competition + Pokémon Sh?uffle Events [Serebii]

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Get in there and participate for the rewards

The first two Global Missions for Pokémon Sun and Moon were resounding failures, but the third time is in fact the charm. For our third mission, Game Freak has tasked players with t?rading as many Pokémon as possible through the GTS, and as of today, we've exceeded the initial million-trade goal.

As such, if you haven't signed up, you really ??should! Head into the Festival Plaza and talk to the lady in the castle so you'll get 2,000 Festival Coins when everything's said and done.

Assuming we can reach two million trades by February 14, which should be entirely doable given the current pace and the Great Magnemite Scheme, participants will also get a free Friend Ball.

Serebii [Twitter via Polygon]

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Plus some other quality of life improvements

[Update: The Pokémon Bank has been upgraded with new features, and creatures can now be transferred from older games into Sun and Moon. The Bank is givin??g out Mew's ?Z-Crystal to commemorate the patch, which will take up 496 blocks on your memory card.]

One of the most interesting features promised for the most recent Pokémon titles, Sun and Moon, was the ability to transfer in creatures captured in the eShop versions of Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow. 

Nintendo of Hong Kong released some details about the forthcoming update. One of the big questions has been how transferred Pokémon would be updated to fit in with more modern creatures, since monsters caught in the first generation didn't have natures, abilities, or separate stats for Special Attack and Defense. According to Serebii.net, Pokémon transferred from Red, Blue or Yellow will have at least three maxed out Individual Values, or IVs. They'll also have a random?ized nature and ability, meaning there's a chance transferred Pokémon may have their hidden ability when they enter the Bank. Pokémon that you transfer in this way will be easy to spot, since they'll have a special GameBoy mark that goes in the same place you'd see a shiny star or Pokérus indicator.

In addition to the information about transfers, Serebii reports that the National Pokédex in each of your games will sync up with the Pokémon Bank, listing the creatures that you've seen and caught in each game and merging them with your Pokédex in every game you access the Bank with. This should make it much, much easier to complete a National Pokédex since you won't necessarily have to have all 802 creatures in one place. Of course, that won't stop crazy people like myself from trying to bui??ld a "Living Pokédex."

Finally, there were some details provided about how you'll be able to cross-reference information between your va?rious game cartridges. It seems that Battle Points will be able to be stored in the Bank, which will make it easier to save up for rare items. The Bank will also keep track of a multitude of stats including Pokémon captured and eggs hatched across all the games it's compatible ??with. 

It sounds like there are several quality of life improvements on the way, and I'll be happy to finally have a full Pokédex again when this update drops. Using the Pokémon Bank isn't especially complicated, but you may want to brush up on how it works using our guide now that the patch is live. 

Pokémon Sun and Moon - Bank Update [Serebii.Net]

Pokémon Bank has been updated for #PokemonSunMoon! To celebrate, all Pokémon Bank users can receive Mew’s Z-Crystal! //t.co/XSh23CubsI pic.twitter.com/pZEU0sdDkH

— Pokémon (@Pokemon) January 25, 2017

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Global Mission #2 starts December 27

The debut Global Mission in Pokémon Sun and Moon was a disaster. This limited-time challenge ran from November 29 to December 12 and asked players to collectively catch 100 million Pokémon. That's obviously a lot, but still manageable, right? We ended up pulling in under 16.5 million. Yeah.

The next mission will hopefully fare better. It starts tomorrow, December 27, and will have us using the game's Island Scan feature to "capture or defeat" a million Pokémon by January 29. That should be doable, assuming enough people have bothered to look through the bottom-screen menu and search for QR codes. After you scan 10 codes, you can use the scanner to summon a specific Pokémon, which you'd then?? need to find and catch (or send to?? an early grave) for the purposes of this mission.

To participate, just hit "Festival Plaza" from the touch-screen menu, and then walk straight up to the castle. There's a woman inside, on the r?ight, who will get you sorted for the Global Mission.

If we pull this million-'mon feat off, we'll earn 2,017 Festival Coins, and if we don't, we'll still get 217 FC. If your account is tied to the Pokémon Global Link, you'll earn double those amounts, win or lose.

[Via Serebii.net]

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Pokemon Sun and Moon!

There was a lot of competition for the Best 3DS Game for 2016, including a handful of other JRPGs, but in a landslide victory (taking almost half the votes among nine entries), the award goes to Pokémon Sun and Moon.

There was a ton of hype for the newest Pokémon games ever since that Alolan Exeggutor was a palm tree, and it just kept building with demure Meowth and boy band Dugtrio. Heck, we liked the new and remixed Pokémon so much we wrote a whole post about our favorites.

For bringing the classic monster pocketing back into the collective consciousness with a tropical twist, Pokémon Sun and Moon are Destructoid's Best 3DS Game(s) of 2016.

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But everyone gets a prize anyway

The first Global Mission for Pokémon Sun and Moon ended last night, and unfortunately, the global Pokémon community didn't manage to meet the target. Players were challenged t?o catch 100 million Pokémon during the event, which ran from November 29 to December 12. If the number were reached, every player who participated wou??ld have been awarded 2,000 Festival Coins (?FC). Unfortunately, participants only caught 16,423,231 during the event -- still impressive, but nowhere close to the goal.

All is not lost, however. Everyone who signed up to participate in the mission will still receive a consolation prize of 100 FC, double that if they had registered their copy of Sun or Moon on the Pokémon Global Link before beginning the mission.?? If you did participate, you can claim your reward by speaking to the woman on the right ?inside the Festival Plaza castle.

This is all kind of a bummer, but Serebii.net reports that Game Freak have noted the numbers and plan to adjust the goals for future events based on the data collected from this one. Speaking of which, the next mission is set to begin just after Christmas on December 27. Reportedly, it will involve using QR codes to look for Pokémon using Island Scans, so you might want to have the code list handy.

Pokémon Sun & Moon - Global Missions [Serebii.net via Nintendo Everything]

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But only if you've beaten the game

Update: Added European/Australian QR code below.

As mentioned previously, Pokémon Sun and Moon are getting their first mythic Pokémon starting today. Magearna is a Steel/Fairy type and resembles a clockwork doll with a pokéball dress. Its typin?g means it's only weak to Ground and Fire moves, and has useful immunities to Poison and Dragon attacks. It takes lessened damage from nine other types, making it a great defensive wall for your team.

Unlike most other Pokémon distributions, Magearna can be accessed using Sun and Moon's QR code scanning feature. You can scan the code on the official Pokémon website, or access it below. This code may only work with North American copies of Sun and Moon, but we'll update this page once the ?European?? and Australian codes are released.

_{North American Magearna QR Code}

_{European/Australian QR code, via Serebii.net}

To download Magearna, you'll have to have become the Alolan champion first. If you've beaten the game, you can scan this code, then pick up your Magearna at the Antiquities of the Ages store at the top right of Hau'oli ??City's Mall. This can only be done once per game. Scanning the code will grant 20 QR points instead of the usual 10. 

Magearna arrives at level 50 and is holding a bottle cap, which can be traded to help with IV training. It will know the moves Flash Cannon, Lucky Chant, Helping Hand, and its signature move, Fleur Cannon. Its ability Soul-Heart will boost its already impressive special attack stat whenever a Pokémon faints. 

The distribution site says that "This code will continue to work indefinitely, so there's no rush to beat the ?game!" That being said, I've seen it reported elsewher?e that Magearna won't be distributed after March 5, 2017. That sounds like plenty of time, but you may want to get it as soon as you can.

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Hold me closer, tiny dancer

Every month this year, Pokémon players around the world have been able to download a new digital creature to celebrate the franchise's 20th anniversary, one that's not available through normal gameplay. The final Pokémon featured this way is Meloetta, previously only available to people who played Pokémon Black or White or the sequels.

The good news is that this Meloetta is available without the need for code cards or anything but your 3DS, your game and an internet connection. Unfortunately, it'll be stuck in your older games for the time being, as it's only available to players of Pokémon  X, Y, Alpha Sapphire or Omega Ruby. However, it will be transferable once the Pokémon bank allows relocations to Pokémon Sun and Moon early next year.

To get your Meloetta, load up your copy of Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire and select Mystery Gift from the main menu. Choose Receive Gift, open the communication channel, and then select Get Via Internet. You'll need your 3DS connected to the internet to redeem it, and each copy can only receive one Meloetta. When you've done that, you'll be able to pick up Meloetta in any Pokémon center. The distrib?ution runs from now through December 24, so make sure to get it before it's no longer available.

Meloetta is fairly unique among Pokémon, as it's one of very few that can change its element typing during a battle. To do so, it'll need to learn the move Relic Song, which allows it to shift between a Normal/Psychic type and a Normal/Fighting type. Once you have your Meloetta, take it to Snowbelle City in Pokémon X or Y, or to Mauville City in Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire.

This Meloetta will come into your game at level 100 and is holding a PP Max, which allows you to increase ho??w many times you can use a favored move. It will know only three moves, presumably to make it easier to learn Relic Song. The other moves it starts with are Quick Attack, Confusion, and Round. It has th??e Serene Grace ability, which increases the chance that its moves will have additional effect -- handy, since Relic Song has a chance to cause the Sleep status effect.

The other Pokémon available this month won't begin its distribution until December fifth. Magearna is sort of a steampunk, clockwork rabbity thing, and was featured in the most recent Pokémon movie in Japan. Magearna will be the third special Pokémon available to Pokémon Sun and Moon, and the first that won't be available through normal gameplay. You can still get a special Munchlax with a Snorlax-specific Z-Crystal until January 11, and you can also earn a Greninja by playing through Sun and Moon's demo version and transferring your data to the main ga??me.

Magearna will be made available on the official Pokémon website via a new distribution method, using QR codes. You can already use QR codes to encounter many types of Pokémon you wouldn't normally run across, but this is the first time they're being used as part of an event. To download Magearna using QR codes you'll have to complete the main storyline in Sun or Moon, but you should have plenty of time since the distribution will run from December fifth until March fifth next year. We'll have more on Magearn??a when it becomes available next Monday.

2016 events [Serebii.net]

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Making X and Y look like chumps

Earlier this morning, Nintendo announced that Pokemon Sun and Moon had an incredibly successful launch in Europe. So successful, in fact, that the 1.5 million units sold was Europe's "biggest?? launch of a Nintendo game." The prosperity has made its way across the Atlantic, too.

Piggybacking off the Europe story, Nintendo has sent out another press release stating that Pokemon Sun and Moon are also the fastest-selling Nintendo games in the Americas. They sold a combined 3.7 million units since their November 18 release. That's an 85 percent increase over the former record-holder, Pokemon X and Y.

It's a quick start, and one that could probably have been predicted. A certain mobile game has brought the pocket monsters to the forefront of the public consciousness. Some people found themselves with the renewed vigor to play a Pokemon game, and that t?ranslated to an immediate boom.

Don't expect it to be a flash in the pan, though; Pokemon titles have long tails, steadily accumulating sales over the years. For instance, X and Y are up to 15.64 million global sales to date. Sun and Moon was always destined for success, mostly by virtue of the series it's a part of. That it's breaking reco?rds shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone. What we should keep an eye on is how high it can climb.

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Measure your life out in potions consumed

ポケットモンスター サン ムーン
釣ったコイキング1匹だけで殿堂入りすることができました！
今晩は寿司を食べようと思います！ pic.twitter.com/w74o34UUy8

— なかのんさん☺︎CDJ全通 (@Nakano_Official) November 23, 2016

A Japanese player seems to have tore up Pokemon Sun and Moon's (well, one or the other) Elite Four and go?tten to the Pokemon Hall of Fame using?? only a level 70 Magikarp.

The pitiful fish was kept from its birthright -- evolution into a kick ass sea dragon -- and dragged through th?e toughest trainers alive using Flail (which gets stronger when its HP is ?low) and a load of potions/patience.

It took some ingenuity, too, like burning through Flail to use Struggle against ghost types, or stalling some battles so long that the opposing Pokemon ran out of moves and had to use Struggle, which also hurts the user, according to a Rocket News translation. Never let someone t??ell you something is impossible, no mat??ter how pointless.

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Wanted: fainted or paralyzed

_{[And check out community member Inquisitve Ravenclaw! He helped with the wanted posters. I hear he's a commissionable artist!]}

As most people went out of their way to stay spoiler-free for the new Pokémon Sun and Moon, I went in the opposite direction. I checked out Smogon in the days leading up to their release, n?ot to spoil the story but to see how the new Pokémon would stack up and shape the meta against the existing Pok&ea?cute;mon universe.

All the data I'm using was a result of the hardworking (and arguably morally gray) data miners from the Smogon website. So it goes without saying that if you're still clawing your way through the main Sun and Moon story and wish to stay unspoiled on details like what kind of new Pokémon there are in the games, then y??ou should stop reading here. If you've beaten the game or just don't care too much, then here are some of my top picks?? to be aware of in your seventh-generation Pokémon team building.

Salazzle
Fire/Poison
W??anted for: high speed/special attack sweeping power and the ability to poison anything

If the Alola region should be known for anything, it’s the easygoing, laid-back atmosphere of its Hawaiian-inspired designs. And it seems all that relaxing has really left most of the Alola-dex Pokémon really wanting in the speed department. Which is why Salazzle is somewhat of an odd duck for its ??amazing speed.

Salazzle has some of the absolute worst bulk I've ever seen. I've? heard of friends getting their Salandits ko'd by Dragon Rage; getting laid out by an attack that does a fixed 40 damage. But in addition to being in an enviable position of doing some serious poison damage t??o the influx of fairy types wandering the meta, Salazzle's ability, Corrosion, means she can use Toxic to cripple some seriously tough walls who think they can switch in on her.

Minior
Rock/Flying
Wanted for: an aggressiv?e disposition combined with ??Shell Smash

Sweepers would gladly give their left Poké Ball t??o have access to Shell Smash. Having instant access to Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, and Agility in one turn is certainly a powerful tool that has to be kept in low distribution before the entire metagame would collapse under the weight of all that offensive pressure.

And then there's Minior.

Minior has already been advertised on trailers for being a weird flying rock that changes from a defensiv??e stance to an offensive stance once it loses half its health. The thing trailers didn't show is that Minior is basically Aegislash with Shell Smash and access to the flying type move Acrobatics. That's a 110 STAB move, coming off of +2 attack and speed. You're going to need something seriously tough like a Skarmory to even hope to tank that kind of power.

The Alolan Fairy Guardians
Wanted ??for: terrain setting and boosted STAB moves

Alola's four fairy type guardians have a special grip on the spotlight due to their ability to instantly set the four major new terrain settings, which are basically weather effects without being weather effects. In other words, any of the four guardians' terrain specialties also stack on existing weather patterns like rain or sun. Tapu Koko's Electric Terrain, Tapu Lele's Psychic Terrain, Tapu Fini's Misty Terrain, and Tapu Bulu's Grassy Terrain are all strong effects that look to basically increase the shenanigans that started when Ruby and Sapphire started the weather wars.

So in addition to boosting all the guardians' natural power levels, the terrain effects conferred all sorts of wacky bonuses. They all have their uses but my favorite is probably going to be Psychic Terrain, boosting the power of psy??chic attacks and blocking priority moves for anything touching the ground. Say goodbye to revenge killers using choice bands alongside Aqua Jet, Bullet Punch, or Quick Attack.

Araquanid
Bug/Water
Wanted for: it's ability?, Water Bubble, resis??ts fire and nearly triples its water damage

The discovery thread for Araquanid was one wild ride. At first, everyone thought Araquanid's mediocre bulk and even worse offens??ive presence had sentenced Araquanid to the depths of obscurity. Then it was discovered through rigorous testing that the description to its ability, Water Bubble, neglects to mention doubling the damage of its water attacks. Even further, this ability isn't just Adaptability by changing the STAB boost from 1.5x to 2.0x. This ability straight up doubles the damage of water attacks before even applying the 1.5x STAB.

This ability singlehandedly saves this excellently designed Pokémon from lower tiers. With investment in bulk, Araquanid can become a literal tank. It's not as if a tank can load anything other than tank shells but that doesn't mean a lack of variety hurts its ?ability to blow through anything in its path.

Did I mention Water Bubble ?pre??vents burn? Araquanid is good at one thing and nothing is going to stop it from doing that one thing: firing off absurdly powerful water moves.

Toxapex
Water/Poison
Wan??ted for: Strong defenses and on-demand critical hits

Have you ever been hit by a critical hit and cursed your bad luck? Have you ever knocked out a tough encounter with a lucky crit and thanked your good luck? Toxapex has an answer for your n??eeds in the form of its ability, Merciless. Oh sure, Toxapex also has access to Regenera??tor, complementing its solid defensive bulk with a good 33% heal on a switch out. But Merciless allows this poison Pokémon, with poison attacks, to land automatic critical hits on poisoned targets.

Toxapex has the interesting option to wall teams with poison while also piling on the damag?e with critical hits.

Mimikyu
Fairy/Ghost
Wanted for??: identity theft, disguising, and blocking

Often times Game Freak has a habit of introducing new mascot Pokémon with no skills to pay the bills in battles. Emolga is predictable and Pachirisu is beyond the veil of nicheness. But Mimikyu, the ghost that literally rips off Pikachu, has an ability that doesn't just work thematically but is very potent. Mimikyu's?? disguise, which also functions as its ability, Disguise, works as?? a free one-hit shield.

The possibilities from a free hit are vast and broad. Need to stop a sweep? Send in Mimikyu with a red card item, which forcefully switches t??hem out. Want to sweep yourself? Set up a substitute and enjoy a few uninterrupted turns of Swords Dance. Heck, Mimikyu can probably go three turns without taking any direct damage if it uses Protect, any move, and Protect again.

Alolan Ninetails
Ice/Fairy
Wanted ?for: Scattere??d hailstorms with one count in screen setups

My favorite Alolan form Kanto Pokémon has some extreme uniqueness and some one-of-a-kind utilit??y. While ice/fairy leaves Ninetails vulnerable to some powerful attacks, being able to scare a large portion of Pokémon thanks to the fact that many have secondary typings in ground, grass, or flying, plus checking dark, fighting, and dragon makes Ninetails an interesting get for a team. But Alolan Ninetails may be best known for the synergy between Snow Warning setting up hailing weather and a very rare move, Aurora Veil. While it can only be used while it's hailing, Aurora Veil performs the power of Reflect and Light Screen at once, halving all damage before even factoring in that Reflect and Light Screen themselves can still be stacked on top of Aurora Veil.

Hail is a very uncommon weather strategy, requiring careful planning to take advantage of extra passive damage without?? hurting yourself. But it can be argued that even if you can resist a 100% accurate Blizzard attack, would you really be interested in toughing out that ?kind of massive damage if you knew you were only going to be able to retaliate with half your usual power? I'm looking forward to these kinds of crazy shenanigans, personally.

Pheramosa
Bug/Fighting
Wanted? for: Absolutely th??e most lethal legs in the world. Do not engage carelessly!

UB-02 Beauty, aka Pheramosa, is in possession of the most dangerous legs in the game. To give you an idea of just how powerful Pheramosa's legs are, imagine being able to o??utspeed Mega Aerodactyl, who's whole gameplan is based on speed, then OHKOing it with a High Jump? Kick. Even though Pheramosa has the glass frame of a ballerina that's ready to snap at the slightest breeze, just like ballerinas, Pheramosa is packing serious power where it counts.

This beast's offenses are also blessed. It's equally dangerous physically as well as specially, meaning it'll be hard preparing something that will want to take either hit. So if you think you can throw out a ghost to phase through High Jump Kick and call it a day, you're still going to have to be mindful of?? things like Bug Buzz or Ice Beam.

Full sto?p, Pheramosa is a legendary that's fully deserving of the title Ultra Beast.

Kartana
Grass/Steel
Wanted for: Serial stabbin?gs, lacerations, and general wanton slicing of everything in its path

If you think Gallade is cool but lacks the speed when things get hairy, then say hello to Kartana. This papercraft disaster has access to nearly every cutting themed attack in the game despite being a Grass/Steel Pokémon. Night Slash, Psycho Cut,?? Leaf Blade, Sacred Sword, Air Cutter, X-Scissor, and even the new steel type horn attack, Smart Strike. Good luck guessing its move set when you encounter it in battle. If Pheramosa is too frail for you, then you'll be glad to know this walking cutlery drawer is as strong as a steel-tempered knife and sharp enough to cut through just about anything. Even with an attack ??base of 181, it still has the nerve to be able to use Swords Dance. It's almost overkill.

While there are other Ultra Beasts with different approaches to high stat powers, Kartana has the easiest time of things with high attack, defense, and speed. While Kartana will burn just as easily as its typing implies to fire attacks and relatively low HP, it has enough defense and high enough speed to really be a problem requi??ring creative problem-solving skills to get around in a battle.

And those are just a few of my favorite picks to be on the lookout for in battling for the seventh gen. The meta hasn't come close to settling with the recent release of Sun and Moon. Who knows what kind of strategies any enterprising strategist can come up with when they combine a ??zeal for strategy with a love of visual design like a flaming, dancing hula ghost, an absurdly skinny bug monster, or a crab with claws the size of boxing gloves.

Have you found any favorites you definitely want on you?r team?

The post Pokemon Sun and Moon’s most wanted appeared first on Destructoid.

Discount does not require Prime

Edit: Apparently, this deal also extends to the 3DS version of Mario Maker, Pokémon Sun and Moon, as well as the recent Paper Mario: Color Splash. T?he? article originally stated that the discount stacks with Prime savings, that was incorrect.

The Wii U is dead. Long live the Wii U.

Although The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been delayed repeatedly, Nintendo insists that it'll still come out on the Wii U next year. For anyone hoping to pick it up on Nintendo's current home console, Amazon has a pre??tty good deal going right now?.

You can preorder Breath of the Wild for 15% off of its normal MSRP right now by following this link. This knocks the price from $60 down to $51. This discount does not stack with the 20% savings Amazon Prime members receive on all new games, but if you do have Prime you can preorder Breath of the Wild for as little as $47.99 before tax. 

This sounds like a pretty solid deal on what will probably be the Wii U's swan song, though Nintendo has confirmed that Breath of the Wild ??;will also?? be available on the Switch. It's not clear whether this is a limited time promotion, so you may want to hurry if this deal piques your interest.

The post Zelda: Breath of the Wild 15% off at Amazon appeared first on Destructoid.

Friends forever

Pokemon trainers are going to have to get to know a few of their pocket monsters awfully well in order to get them to evolve. In Pokemon Sun and Moon, Eevee, Munchlax, Pichu, and Type: Null all require high ha??ppiness ratings to level them up to their next forms. It can be a t??edious and time-consuming task. Luckily, someone figured out a way to game the system.

According to a thread on reddit, there's an easy way to evolv?e thes?e Pokemon, and it only takes approximately 10 minutes each. Here are the steps from user Leafeon111, verbatim:

1. Find two TMs that your Pokemon can learn (for example I used Echoed Voice and Protect)
2. Replace one of their moves with one TM
3. Replace the move taught with one TM with the other TM
4. Repeat step 3 for 5 - 10 minutes
5. Level up your Pokemon

It's not exactly petting them for hours on end, but it gets the trick done. Players who make use of this shortcut will find themselves with another entry into the Pokedex, a loyal pal who will fight alongside its trainer, and a ton of extra time to hunt down other Pokemon. In conflict resolution, we call that win-win-win.

PSA: An easier way to increase happiness [reddit]

The post A guide to quick??ly increasing Pokemon happines?s in Sun and Moon appeared first on Destructoid.

How to introduce your kids, and what you need to know

I was recently attending a social event with some friends, and one of them had brought her two boys along, ages 11 and 9. One of the only other kids at the function (also 11) had brought along her 3DS to keep occupied. The boys were transfixed, and when I spoke to their mother about it she said all they want to talk about anymore is Pokémon. They were hoping to get Pokémon as?? a gift this year for Christmas, but she didn't really know where to begin. I offered to help, since this is something I can call myself an expert in without hyperbole. I thought the information might be helpful for other people too, so if you're interested, read on. 

What is Pokémon?

Pokémon is a global phenomenon, and it'??s been consistently popular since its release twenty years ago. Pokémon is a Japanese portmanteau word, a combination of the words Pocket and Monsters. Pokémon branded merchandise is everywhere, and you can find Pikachu's smiling face on pretty much everything, but the core of the Pokémon experience has always been the video games. 

Pokémon is a game about capturing and raising different monsters, then using them to battle other characters in the world. Battles are usually fought one-on-one, and there are only 3 possible outcomes-- you can win, lose, or run away. Running is self evident. Winning means you caused all the opponent creatures to "faint." Losing means that all your creatures have fainted, and in apparent sympathy for the little beasts, you yourself faint and wake up at the nearest hospital, missing some of your in-game cash. Your party is made up of a maximum of six Pokémon, and each is limited to f??our moves.

Each Pokémon can gain experience and levels up to 100, and some have the ability to "evolve," gaining a statistic boost and sometimes unlocking new abilities. Evolv?ing means that the creature takes on a new form and becomes more powerful, and each evolution from the base form is considered a separate species. As one of my scientist friends pointed out recently, the process is more akin to rapid, spontaneous mutation than actual evolution.

How do you play it?

There are several different goals, and it's up to the player which they want to tackle at any given time. Every game tasks players with defeating regional leaders, then making their way to a nexus where they can take on the area's toughest trainers, eventually becoming the champion. Once that's done, the game usually expands and lets them hunt down some much more powerful creatures. Along the way, they'll help take down a local ?criminal organization and make friends with a research scientist and some powerful trainers from around the area. All of this happens within the game world, but kids can also use the creatures they've trained to battle against other players in the games' competitive mode, and this is probably what they'll be interested in doing during recess and after school.

 Apart from becoming the local champion, players can attempt to fill in their Pokédex, an index o??f Pokémon that keeps track of what creatures they've encountered and/or caught for themselves. With over 800 different species, this task alone can easily occupy hours and hours of playtime. Say what you want about Po??kémon, but the entertainment value for your dollar is exceptional. 

It's worth pointing out that you can't actually complete your Pokédex with just one game. Every Pokémon game has two different versions, and although the main quest and gameplay will be identical, both versions will have a few exclusive monsters that the player will need to trade to obta?in. It may also be necessary to import monsters ??from older versions of the games, or trade for these as well.

Fortunately, trading is built in to the games, and there are several ways to do it. Players in the same room can trade with each other wirelessly using the 3DS's built in communications features, and if people live farther away, they can trad?e across? the internet. Once you have your system set to access your home's wi-fi, you can make trade requests on the internet or search for creatures that fill in your gaps and offer whatever the other player is looking for in return. This doesn't cost anything apart from whatever you're already paying for internet access. Unfortunately, this latter service is no longer available for legacy Pokémon games. While local trading is still possible in these older titles, you can't access the internet with any Pokémon game that came out before 2013.

That brings us to the different generations of Pokémon. Every couple of years, Game Freak, the developer for the mainline Pokémon titles, releases a new batch of monsters that weren't available in previous games. There are seven of these generations now that Pokémon Sunand Moon have released, and fortunately, each generation is backwards-compatible with almost all that came before it. One ??really nice thing about Pokémon is that any progress you make tends to carry over into future games.  

To import creatures from the older games requires a subscription to the Pokémon Bank, a service that allows for storage and transfer of up to 3,000 individual creatures per account. Accessing the Bank costs $5 per year, and The Pokemon Company has promised that the creatures that are stored there will be available in perpetuity. It's not necessary to use the Pokémon Bank, but it's always an option, and it seems as though the Bank is how The Pokemon Company intends to make sure their games will be compatible with one another in the future. This compatibility may eventually include ancillary games like Pokémon GO and the remakes of Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow that were released on the 3DS eShop. 

Where do I start?

Pokémon GO was inescapable this summer, and that's the easiest entry point for most kids. GO runs on any Android or iOS devi?ce with internet and a GPS, though it has several issues that make it less easy to recommend than one of the mainline Pokémon games. It's far less compelling, there's no story to speak of, it tends to crash frequently, and the gameplay honestly isn't much fun. 

GO is free-to-play, though a better term might be free-to-start. I've managed to play without spending any money, though doing so is much more difficult if you live in a rural area without? an easy way to replenish your stock of Pokéballs at Pokéstops. There are lots of microtransactions available to s??peed up the rate at which you gain experience, help hatch eggs faster, or just give yourself more balls to throw.

Keep in mind that Pokémon GO has no option for trading right now, and one on one battling has yet to be implemented. If your kids have never owned a handheld device befo??re this might interest them briefly, but they'll probably still want one of the mainline games.

How much will that cost?

One option you might consider is buying some legacy hardware and software. The older games have pretty much the same gameplay as the newest ones, and cost a fraction of what you'd shell out for brand new hardware and software. If you go this route I'd recommend picking up a DS lite and Pokémon Black, White, Black 2 or White 2. In my opinion, these games had the best story and gameplay of the older generations. The downside is that anyone playing these older titles won't be able to battle or trade with anyone playing newer games. Since part of what ma??kes Pokémon so much fun is its social elements, this may not go over very ?well with your kids. However, if you don't think they'll know any better, this is probably the best, most cost-efficient option.

If you're buying a DS unit s??econdhand, pay particular attention to the hinges where the two screens are connected. If possible, open and close the clamshell a few times. If there are cracks in the plastic, don't buy that system. DS consoles are very hardy, ??but when the hinges fail it costs more to have them repaired than a brand new console would cost.

If you know your kids will want to play Pokémon with their friends, there are still some ways to make that happen without breaking the bank. Nintendo's current generation of handheld hardware is the 3DS family of systems, and there are several different models and price ??points available. Every 3DS is backwards compatible with DS software, meaning older Pokémon games will work in a 3DS too. The entry level model has most of the 3DS's features stripped out, and it's called the 2DS. This model starts at $79.99, and as the name implies, it doesn't have the 3D functionality other models in the line possess. It's worth pointing out that this model doesn't have the clamshell design most other DS models do, meaning the screens are more likely to get scratched or otherwise damaged. On the other hand, this also means there aren't any hinge?s to break since it's one solid piece of plastic.

_{This particular model is only available in Japan, but gives you an idea of what to look for.}

Some 2DS units come with a game pre-installed on the included SD card, but at the time of writing, there's no Pokémon bundle available, meaning the games will need to be purchased separately. The most recent games are Pokémon Sun and Moon, which cost about $40 apiece and released Friday. You can also get Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphirefor any 2DS or 3DS console, though none of these is currently compatible with Sun and Moon. Creatures will be transferrable from these games to Sun and Moon&??nbsp;eventuall?y, but not until early in 2017. Doing so will require use of the Pokémon Bank.

The next best option is probably the New 3DS Nintendo announced for Black Friday. These will cost $99.99 and come in black or white, though they're not available for pre-order. Unfortunately, Nintendo products can sometimes be hard to find, and we're never sure if they've made enough to meet demand. Hopefully, these 3DS will be available in greater quantities than the NES Classic that's been selling out everywhere this season. The New 3DS has many more features than the 2DS, including more powerful hardware, additional buttons and controls, and the ability to display supported games in 3 dimensions. As a cost-cutting measure, these units do not come with a charging cable, so add $10 to the price tag if you don't already have one of those. These consoles don't?? come with any games installed, so you'll also need to buy Pokémon titles separately. 

One other option is to buy a refurbished 3DS console direct from Nintendo. I've bought consoles this way in the past, and can attest that it's almost as good as a brand-new system, and costs considerably less. There may be some blemishes or cosmetic damage, but if there's anything deal breaking, you can almost always re??turn the unit to Nintendo and request a replacement. Once again, these units will not come with a Pokémon game installed, so you'll need to pick that up as well.

What else do I need to know?

Pokémon requires players to be able to read and navigate the game's world, though the games are pretty good about letting the player know where they need to go next. Kids who can read without assistance should be fine. If they can't read, they probably won't have much fun with the games. Additionally, most titles in the series require the player to solve simple logic and spatial puzzles to proceed, and progress is often gated by their creatures' abilities. One of the series' more esoteric challenges required players to translate braille into English to gain access to some powerful monsters, though this was completely optional and far more complicated than the puzzles usual?ly get.

It could be argued that the games are at least somewhat educational, since players wi?ll learn how to navigate using their in-game map and directions given by characters in the game. It also teaches strategy and tactics, since each creature has specific strengths and weaknesses against every other type. They'll probably even pick up some math, since moves can do differing amounts of damage based on the opposing creature's vulnerabilities. A huge part of every game is building a team that can deal with anything the opposing trainers can throw at it, though it's always possible to just sink time into leveling your favorite monsters and use brute force as your path to victory. 

Pokémon is largely non-violent for a series that's bas?ed on fighting. No one is ever seen dying, though characters do occasionally reference death. Some of the descriptions for Ghost-type Pokémon can be disturbing, though these will probably go over most kids' heads.

A lot of news stories have brought up the potential for pedophiles to make use of Pokémon to lure and act against children. Pokémon's online features make it very hard to exchange personal information, presumably to prevent this sort of thing from happening. These stories are largely hogwash, but it doesn't hurt to stay involved with your kids and make sure you know where they are. If they want to take a walk with Pokémon GO, make sure they're in a group, or walk with ??them. If they want to go to a tou??rnament to battle with other kids, do the same thing. 

_{You don't have to go to quite this extreme.}

Overall, it's my opinion that Pokémon is good for kids. It enco?urages them to be social and make friends with others, and it gives them endless opportunities to discuss strategies and tactics. They can also share creatures they've caught with their friends, and one of the games' central themes is the power of friendship. Many have imitated the formula, but no one has managed to duplicate the combination of accessibility, depth, and mindshare with children that's made Pokémon a success for the last two decades.

The post A parent’s guide to Pokemon appeared first on Destructoid.

Over the Moon

With the successful launch of Pokemon Sun and Moon, it looks like Nintendo and Game Freak are shifting their priorities to the future of the series. According to a rumor posted on Eurogamer corroborated by multiple sources, Pokemon Stars will mark the debut of the series on a home console. The game will be a Switch port of the existing Sun and Moon with obvious changes that previous third versions of Pokemon games have had (like Yellow or Crystal).

The Switch port will feature higher resolution assets along with trade support to the 3DS via the Pokemon Bank app. While the release date won't coincide with the launch of Nintendo's new console, the game should be arriving before the end of 2017. I can definitely see why Nintendo didn't want this information out before the launch of Sun and Moon, because I'm now dead set on waiting.

I've wanted a full console Pokemon game for as long as I can remember. I appreciate the portability the Game Boy brought to the table, but seeing those creatures on a larger screen and with almost realisti?c proportions would make me so happy. The last sp?eck of childhood wonder in me could whisk away happy.

Sources: Nintendo Switch to get Pokémon Sun and Moon version [Eurogamer]

The post R??umor: Pokemo??n is headed to the Switch with Pokemon Stars appeared first on Destructoid.

Aha, I got a Lunala

Even though the "reading under the covers" stereotype sounds like it belongs in the movies, that's what I did with Pokemon Red with a Game Boy snake light growing up. Throughout the years as I grew, Pokemon mostly stayed the same -- a testament to its staying power and its slow creep of staleness. Granted I've enjoyed each entry in its own way, but they're not all created equal. Some of them just gave us more of what we cra??ved, but others provided enhancements we didn't even know we wanted.

Pokemon Moon doesn't go too crazy in the latter department, but it takes all of the strides X & Y made and goes a little further.

Pokemon Moon (3DS)
Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: The Pokemon Company
Release: November 18, 2016
MSRP: $39.99

[Also check out our review of Pokémon Sun.]

Having been to Hawaii before, I was jazzed to see it represented in the? form of Alola, and I really thi?nk Game Freak did it right. Not only is it a new and captivating setting that manages to mix in both eastern and western sensibilities (both culturally and in terms of its architecture), but it's also just so damn charming and upbeat.

Right from the jump I was on board with Professor Kukui, the game's new Oak, and the rest of the cast kind of just fell into place. It gets a little too hand-holdy and preachy sometimes, but in that vein, it really did feel like I was experiencing an entire season of the anime. Take that for what you will, as you'll need to wade through all of that to get to the hardcore number crunching if you loathe the show, but I liked the change of pace. That's mostly because Sun & Moon has a way of making you feel special in a wa??y its predecessors really haven't.

It's the little things like Kukui giving you an "exclusive" living Rotom Pokedex that made me smile. Then there's the mixups with the general flow of the critical path -- gyms are now island trials, and trial leaders can be tough "Totem Pokemon" that can call in reinforcements to make it a 2v1 fight. There's still "Kahuna" battles occasionally that amount to gym battles, but tri??als can involve exploration and light puzzle solving before a boss. The operative word here is "light" as many of them are far too simplistic (they need to go way harder next time in an attempt to make some of the weaker trials more interesting), but the effort is appreciated and by no means are any of them poorly designed.

While the interactions and the locales were fun, the world-ending narrative really wasn't. I won't spoil too much but it once again deals with an impending threat with some obvious twists and turns, and Team Skull, effectively the Team Rocket of Sun & Moon, is laughab??ly bad at times. I like how a lot of the antagonistic clans from past games were legitimately insidious, but Skull is played off as a black sheep gang of?? sorts, and it never really pays off. The whole "yo yo yo, dawg" dialogue doesn't really help their case either.

But as usual, I was always excited to move on and see what was next. Whether it was the promise of a new Pokemon or the chance ??to see another area, I spent several late nights above covers playing (you're ?not my dad). And speaking of traveling, it's a lot more convienent now. No longer do you need a mule to load HMs onto to get around -- everything is done through "ride pagers" with set creatures, like Charizard for flying and Tauros for general riding.

The kicker is it's not limited to certain areas like Gogoat riding in X & Y, as you can essentially call your rides anywhere on the map as long as you're outdoors. A lot of you that don't play Pokemon are probably groaning at this long overdue "feature," but it's there now, and I hope it stays. Flying around really helps obfuscate the new ?setup too, as you're not technically walking through one giant world, but four large i??slands and a smaller man-made structure in the sea. Initially it feels like the game is too linear, but over time when you're constantly getting poked into going back to old areas with new powers, it feels more expansive.

The nuts and bolts are altered as well, with bet?ter box management tools, detailed new creature models, the 1v1v1 "Battle Royal" style matches, and of course, several lengthy endgame questlines and additional legendaries to find. And unlike several other games in the series, the world doesn't feel like it's on pause after the credits roll. Alola is more alive than nearly any other region, and there's constant (but not overdone) references to other zones and important characters that? make you feel like it actually belongs. Although I really loved the Kalos region last generation, it did feel more isolated than I'd like.

When you get down to it though this is still that same turn-based Pokemon from 20 years ago, and in the face of competition, some of that tried-and-true wallpaper is starting to peel. The combat system needs a bigger mixup next time around, as Z-Moves don't really cut it and don't fe??el as impactful as Mega Evolutions. It's not that they're bad or gamebreaking per se, they just feel...there. The strict rule of only gett?ing to use one Z-Move per battle (across your entire party) is such a bummer, especially if you've seen it 50 times already and have your battle animations turned off.

You get the sense that it was almost made to hawk that plastic ring that goes on sale later this month to kids, because halfway through the adventure I kind of forgot they were there because Z-Powers take up an item slot, and are earned bit by bit through trial completions in add??ition to their "once per battle" guideline. I found?? myself choosing between useful items, berries, and Z-Powers, and in some cases (read: five out of six party members), I chucked the idea entirely.

But for every issue I found with Pokemon Moon, whether it was an old problem that just caught up with the series or something new -- I found solace in the indomitable likability of a cast member, or the thrill of finding another party member that I would battle with for years to come. I'm already seeing myself playing for several hundred hours before the end of 2016, and I haven't even fully experienced all of the online features yet. Such is the power of Pokemon, and I hope we get to see Alola's influences linger as Game Freak gears up for its next adventur?e.

_{[This review is based on a re??tail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Pokemon Moon appeared first on Destructoid.

It's almost time

You're going to be hearing a lot more about Pokemon Sun and Moon once the review embargo lifts tomorrow morning, but f??or now, here's a last-minute trailer you may (or may not, depending on your spoiler stance!) want to catch. I'm sure you know the drill by now given all the le?aks.

This particular video shows the starter trio's eventual Z-Move attacks, some of the wild-looking "Ultra Beasts," and the irreplaceable Alola forms of Diglett and Dugtrio. Those locks are luscious.

I truly hope future games in the series cont?inue this regional variant concept.

The post Ultra Beasts and Z-Moves galore in ??this Pokemon Sun ?and Moon trailer appeared first on Destructoid.