Saturday, October 5, 2013

Day 5: Eye of the cyclone

Another day, another Pokédex update! Central, Coastal and Mountain! Of note is the fact that only one Pokémon in Central is missing... could it be Audino? Xerneas and Yveltal are also accounted for, but even though we know their exact placement, as well as Druddigon's, I don't want to pronounce myself on the number of legendaries, especially since the minor ones could be located elsewhere, like they did in BW2 where the genies and the musketeers were in the middle of everything. Also, interesting fact: to my knowledge, among the gen 6 Pokémon we knew about beforehand, Noivern is the only one who's still unaccounted for. I know many people wanted to use it, and they're going to rage that it's either obtained very late, or very rare.

Edit: Your gym leaders, ladies and gentlemen. Also, here's a picture of Goodra, complete with stats. This seems like our pseudo-legendary, considering not only the stats, but the fact that it evolves at level 70. You read that right, SEVENTY. Remember the days when we thought the usual 45-55 range was absurdly late? Why are they doing this? Do they want to make sure these guys are post-game only or something, while still giving you their earlier stages in the main game? Because this is just silly. As is the fact that it's not very intimidating-looking. I mean, Dragonite isn't very much so either, but it still has that imposing aura that this thing clearly lacks. But still, man, LEVEL 70. Gen 7 pseudo-legendary evolves at level 100, calling it now.

Just as interesting is the fact that you can now compensate for poor IVs with extra EVs in a given stat. It appears that a Pokémon with an IV of 28 to a certain stat can invest 12 extra EVs (four per missing stat point) to reach the max stat you'd have with a perfect 31 IV. At this point it's assumed that the overall EV cap is still 510, but if it isn't the case I'll get back to you on that. The impact will be most clear in-game, since most high-end competitive players use simulators, and max IVs still provide a huge advantage since you won't need to sacrifice EVs you could use elsewhere to max out the stat you want. The only reason why you wouldn't use max IVs is to tweak Hidden Power's type, and even there you can get every type by just taking off a single IV in certain stats. Still, it's a slight extra for cartridge players, so there's that.

Edit 2: Aegislash's ability, Stance Change, is what allows it to change form mid-battle. Darmanitan and Meloetta can attest to how terrible this idea usually is, but I don't know how it'll turn out in this case. When it uses an attack move or something like Swords Dance, it turns into its attack form which has ludicrous attack stats but miserable defense stats, and when it uses a defensive move like its signature move, King's Shield (back to this in a minute), it turns into its defense form, which has the offense and defense forms swapped. So it seems at least impractical for a defensive gig, especially since it's going to have to deal damage at some point, but better in terms of pure offense... or it would if it had better speed, at least. Thank god for Autotomize, right? As for King's Shield, it's another one of these Protect clones with an added effect vs. contact moves, like Chesnaught has. This one lowers attack by two levels, which will inevitably force contact move users to switch out (unless for some reason you're using Own Tempo Petal Dance Lilligant outside of in-game (DON'T).

Edit 3: One thing I forgot to say about Goodra: it's another freaking Dragon pseudo-legendary. Gamefreak clearly knows the type is overpowered, but while the type's merits themselves are tremendous, it has a lot to do with the fact that there are so many legendaries and pseudo-legendaries that are Dragon. We have seven pseudo-legendaries now, and five of them are dragons. Gamefreak, STAHP.

Also, I'd like to amend what I said about Aegislash: sure, a purely defensive gig is a terrible idea, but it pretty much gets the best of both worlds as a setup sweeper. Set up with massive defenses up, then attack with huge attack stats. On both sides of the spectrum on top of that. Of course, it depends on the movepool, but the more I think about it, the more I like this notion.

Edit 4: Clarification of Aegislash's ability: the form change, if any, takes place immediately before Aegislash's attack. Certain moves, such as Swords Dance, don't alter your form, so if you're in Blade form you'll be setting up naked, and if you're in Shield form, you'll stay that way and set up behind huge defenses. Whether Autotomize works the same is unknown. More on it as it comes.

Also, a Noivern pre-evolution has been found, ending the incredibly long wait. Trivia: Noibat and Noivern are the only dual-typed Flying-types that have Flying have their first type. Everything else has it as their second type.

Edit 5: The champion has a Mega Gardevoir. Good news is that Gardevoir actually needs the hand, and here's fingers crossed that Gallade has one too. Also note that this is most likely her ace (even though she has a Goodra as well), and it's level 68. Never before has a main game Pokémon clocked in at a higher level. This says a lot either about the Exp. Share and full experience for everyone that participates increasing the level curve, or the length of the main game. Or possibly both.

Edit 6: Previous rumors that there were 70 new Pokémon, aside from events, may be false. The actual number appears to be... 69. (NO IT'S NEVER BEEN FUNNY AND NEVER WILL.) Kanpachi just got the National Dex, and Yveltal is number 717. We know there's another Pokémon in the Mountain Dex after Yveltal, which is likely to be the Z legendary at 718. The implications of that are huge, because since the Z legendary is the only one of the 69 that's still unaccounted for, this means NO NEW MINOR LEGENDARIES. Only the uber trio, a few events, and that's it. Be honest: even with the introduction of mega evolutions, did ANYONE call a number in the double digits, let alone one as low as 69? Also note that 42 of them were officially revealed at this point, meaning that in the lead-up to release they revealed no less than 60% of the new Pokémon. That's... A LOT.

Edit 7: I've been told that there's one Pokémon between Yveltal and the Z legendary, making the 70 figure accurate. However, there appears to be a post-game, contradicting what that guy who brought up the 70 figure said about that. Said post-game features the Battle Maison (can they be any more obnoxious with the French theme? Aside from Clay, Unova wasn't Murrcan at all, as I recall...), which is basically the Battle Tower. For 200 BP, you can buy an Ability Capsule, an item that will change a non-DW's Pokémon ability to its other regular one. So if you have an Adamant Swarm Scizor you've been saving for this moment, here's your chance! There's also a place called the Friend Safari, which takes your friend list and generates a list of Pokémon you can find in it from it. The details are still nebulous at this time, to say the least.

13 comments:

  1. I can't wait to see the Gym Leaders' line-ups and levels. Or the level curve in general.

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  2. Wow. Valerie looks like a youkai that would fit in in Touhou. May as well introduce her to Cirno...
    At least Hydreigon looks cool. Guess they want to harken to the days of Dragonite...

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    1. Who actually looked intimidating back in Red and Blue, mind you.

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    2. Though those sprites were full of uncanny valleyness (looks at Golbat). Official art for it was never exactly...intimidating (was it intimidating in official art in Red and Blue?). Well, at least we can get the Salamence line fairly early-ish...

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  3. So any word on where Noibat is found? Is it as rare or late as Noivern, or does it come early enough for use in-game?

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    1. It's number 113 in the Mountain Dex. Not looking good.

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  4. Sweet. I also like Gardevoir, and it figures that the Champion would be using a Mega Evolution. Next best thing to them acing with a Legendary, I guess. Hey, it was cool that N did it even though the game designers kind of intended for it to be no threat...which is probably why they let N use it in battle, actually. Well, at least Alder's grandson got to use a Latios that would not God mode its opponents. Also why we never see any Shedinjas used by AI trainers (so those people who do not pack a move of the Rock, Ghost, Dark, Fire, or Flying persuasion. No trainer worth anything would not, but Game Freak was prepared. At least the noobs will not think Wonder Guard Sableye and Spiritomb will be quite so "unstoppable" with Fairy). Correct me if I am wrong about Shedinja, and the battle facilities do not count...

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  5. The person who originally posted the 70 pokemon rumor specified that the Z legend was 2 spaces after Yveltal. He also specified their numbering.

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    1. Of course then it turns out that Z legend has no space between it and Yveltal.
      Which is really weird because the guy also specifically mentioned the kanto birds are roaming (and they are) and the other odds and ends he talked about re: light post game were true to. Maybe he had X version and miscounted because of the space where Yveltal was being blanks

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    2. There are going to be RUNNERS this Generation?! UUUUUUUUGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!...

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  6. i just finished planning my team
    froakie's final evolution
    charizard
    ampharos
    Goodra
    Absol
    Xerneas/Sylveon dont know which one to use

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  7. That last gym leader's name is Wulfric, and gives the Iceberg badge. Am I going crazy, or is that a reference to Ulfric Stormcloak from Skyrim? He's also kinda wearing a cloak but not really, it's probably just me. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

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