Z-Moves: An Assessment

The big thing for this generation is Z-Moves.  In continuity, these are explained as moves that come from the Island culture.  These are, at least superficially, derived from the Haka--traditional war dances of the native New Zealand peoples.  I may be drawing inappropriate comparisons since my knowledge of the culture of these admittedly separate cultures (Hawaii and New Zealand) is lacking (to say the least), but there is some precedent there.

In the game, it is explained that a trainer's challenge, when coupled with the power-boosting attributes of different Z-Crystals, unlocks a pokemon's inner strength and unleashes this ultra-powerful Z-move.  One Z-move allowed per match.

Mechanically, this means that a pokemon needs to be holding the Z-Crystal as an item (removing its ability to hold other items).  Furthermore, there is a different Z-crystal for each type and that the pokemon needs to know a corresponding move of that same type.  For example, a pokemon needs to know Quick Attack, Tackle, or Hyper Fang (etc) to use the normal-type Z-move "Breakneck Blitz".

Mega Evolutions are conspicuously absent in this game.  Since Mega Evolutions are a Kalos-specific phenomenon that draw their power from the crystal at Anistar City sundial, it makes sense that there would be little emphasis on Mega Evolution in this game.  I like that the games are at least consistent with the differing internal mechanics and I'm curious about both how the Z-moves will be used in upcoming trials in this game as well as how they will be used in the competitive scene.

No Quarter: Battle at the Summit

What better way to truly test the strength of my new pokemon team than to battle my rival--a trainer whose strongest pokemon is 13 levels higher than mine?

Serena seems to have been busy since the last time we have fought each other, having added a bulky Altaria to her team in addition to her fully evolved Chesnaught and Vaporeon.  The presence of Absol and Meowstic are the pokemon on her side that shy her team away from being a true "Bulky Offensive" squad (my second favorite battle strategy, by the way).
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The "Rival as your friend" thing that the Pokemon series has been glomming-onto since Sapphire version has never really worked for me until fairly recently.  I guess I can attribute this to me being a dumb teenager for most of that time (I think I was fourteen when Sapphire version came out) and the one thing teenagers like more than pretending that no one understands them is being contentious. 

As a result, I wanted all of my enemies to be true enemies--and all of the battles all the time to be "epic" or "badass" without really knowing what either of these words really mean.  Even as early as last year I didn't like the "Friendly Rival" trend because I thought it was juvenile.  Now, though, I think I am starting to see what Nintendo/Gamefreak is going for.

Your rival doesn't have to be a huge jerk or even a classic "bad guy" to be threatening--and they don't need to be an imposing presence to challenge you and get you excited about a fight.  In real life there are surely people who are asses who give you a hard time.  These are people that you just can't wait to "show" as in "I'll show you one day" or "some day you'll see".  These types of rival-characters follow naturally from the "mean jerk" trope that was so especially pervasive in the 90's and early 2000's.  I am not saying that this trope is not currently relevant or motivational, but it is less effective at creating a compelling story.

More often than not the real motivators in life are the friends you know.  They are always challenging you to score better on your tests, work harder at your job, lift the bar for five more pounds, or do one more chin up.  In real life, you always feel better competing against these people as friends and rivals--and the result is a lot more of a fulfilling "hero's journey".  Battling Serena is about testing your mettle and your intestinal fortitude--and it is not one bit less exhilarating than battling Blue at the end of Pokemon Red...well, maybe just one little bit...

Now I should really stop talking about this--before I say something crazy like, "Pokemon Y has taught me to be a better person".
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The battle itself was something of a stall-fest with Serena tanking-out most of my hits and me learning how to use my Venusaur's Mega-Evolution.  Up until this point I have been using Mega Lucario and Mega Aerodactyl, but since Aero' has been left in the PC for the trip through Victory Road, I wanted to test out the durability of Mega-V.

Part of the reason the battle took so long was that I was using the opportunity to figure out what Venusaur can and can't handle in terms of stalling.  My Venusaur is currently running Sleep Powder/Poisonpowder/Leech Seed/Solarbeam at time of writing, so knowing what it can set-up on is crucial to my future Elite Four success.

The results of my experimentation: Mega Venusaur is an absolute tank.  Victory against Serena: 4-0.

Current Squad:

GRENINJA/Froakles/lvl.54
VENUSAUR/Venus/lvl.52
FLAREON/Rox/lvl.51
LUCARIO/Knives/lvl.53
DRAGALGE/Toxie/lvl.49
AERODACTYL/Scarydactyl/lvl.49

On Rotation: Gardevoir, Pikachu, Hippowdon, Scrafty

Lysandre's Reckoning

No sooner had I caught Yveltal than Lysandre barged-into the door to try to steal Yveltal back from me.  This was the first instance of real hand-to-hand human conflict in the pokemon series and I was surprised to see Lysandre use his obvious height and size advantages to his benefit to just take the pokeball out of my hands after beating me up.
...
Nah, I'm just kidding, he challenged me to a pokemon battle instead.

I had the option of using my newly-caught Yveltal.  Remembering how much trouble I had against Mienshao in my last fight, I took the Flying-Type advantage of having Yveltal in my squad and sent Ziggy the Linoone back to the box.
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Yveltal is Dark/Flying, so Mienshao's Hi Jump Kick dealt about 60% damage to me right off the bat, but I knocked him out that same turn with Oblivion Wing, a powerful Flying type move.

Next, against Lysandre's Pyroar, I sent-in Greninja, who was too slow to move first.  As a result, it had to eat one of Pyroar's Hyper-Voice attacks and survived it with exactly 1 HP left (wow).  Water Pulse did about the same amount of damage to Pyroar, but I was able to pick it off by using "Water Shuriken", a move which always moves first.

Pikachu took out Honchkrow in one hit, and then stays-in against Gyarados.  This is Lysandre's final pokemon, and I knew that Pikachu would move first and destroy that Water/Flying type with a powerful Thunderbolt move.  But Gyarados did the unexpected.  Gyarados evolved into Mega-Gyarados.

This is the point where the tide of the battle begain to turn.  Gyarados tanked Pikachu's Thunderbolt--only taking about 50% damage (this will be important later on)--and one-hit-KOed Pikachu with Earthquake.  I sent in Hippopotas to try to whittle its health down with sandstorm, but he was taken out in one hit by aqua tail.  I sent in Venusaur hoping it would survive enough to poison it, but poisonpowder missed and Venusaur died on turn two of Gyadaros' outrage.  Mega Lucario was next.  Mega Lucario was LAST.  It was over, Lucario just couldn't hit Gyarados hard enough with Shadow Claw and my fighting-type moves will be too weak.

But wait a minute...flashback...

"...Gyarados tanked Pikachu's Thunderbolt--only taking 50% damage..."

Exactly half damage?  Could it be?  When Gyarados evolves, is it no longer a flying type?  Will Aura Sphere still work?  I take a chance with aura sphere:  super effective!  Mega Gyarados is Water/Dark!  KO!

Surfin' Route 12

YES, MEGA-AERODACTYL.  YES, MEGA-AERODACTYL.  YES.

What a hugely powerful pokemon.  A bit over-designed though, what is the deal with adding ridiculous amounts of spikes to a pokemon and calling it a day these days?

 I am actually worried if I just beat the game already.  If the Mega-Evolution Guru is to be believed, I am the only Mega-Evolution user (the Mega-Evolution Descendent or something dumb like that) and as a result, Mega-Aerodactyl is going to go on a rampage throughout this game. 

What is more is that I have already found items called "Venusaurite" and "Ampharosite".  I think I should just be given the game-winning trophy now, as Mega-Aerodactyl is just a monster...and Mega-Venusaur?  I can't even...
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The road to Courmaline City was long and hard (heh, heh), but started, as all difficult journeys do, with a ray of sunshine:  A trainer gave me his Lapras as a gift (happy days!).  After this, I was able to test out my brand new HM: Surf on a huge expanse of water and ended-up in an area called "Sea-Spirit's Den". 

Seems I got my hopes up too easily though because the Sea-Spirit's Den was a single-room cave with nothing at all in it--no pokemon, no hidden items, nothing.  This actually reminded me of a similar room I stumbled upon while I was lost in the Reflecting Cave--a big room where you would normally find something like a Lugia or an Articuno.  Needless to say this will be an important site...later...Probably going to be where some Water-legendary is going to be found (since we know Nintendo just loves throwing around the legendaries in their recent games).

After quite the journey, I found myself in Courmaline City, which, apparently, is right next door to a power-plant--a fact that every person in the town was quick to remind me of while musing about how someone should go and check it out since there is no power in Paris--erhm--Lumiose City.  I've been out of Lumiose City for at least two weeks--and no one's even checked to see if the lights are still on in the Power Plant?

My rival Serena told me to meet her in front of the gym for a battle (incidentally, it was a grass-type gym)--and since I was ready this time, I took my Flareon and burned her sorry Quilladin to the ground.  Revenge was so sweet.

Current Squad:

FROGADIER/Froakles/lvl.28
IVYSAUR/Ivy/lvl.28
FLAREON/Hotfoot/lvl.26
FLOETTE/Pixie/lvl.27
SCRAGGY/Scrappy/lvl.28
AERODACTYL/Scarydactyl/lvl.29

On Rotation: Kirlia, Pikachu, Hippopotas, Lucario

The Mega-Evolution Descendent

After I swept her team with Scarydactyl, Korrina told me she would like a true battle with me as two Mega-Evolution users and ran off to the Tower of Mastery.  I ignored the fact that I have already beaten her twice (I mean, how many times do I have to prove myself anyways?) and instead focused on something she called herself, "Mega-Evolution Descendent" or something like that.

I made my way to the Tower of Lucario to fight her for our re-rematch and the Mega-Evolution Guru--erhm, Steve--told me she was the Mega-Evolution Successor and that she was upstairs.  What the hell does that mean?  Mega-Evolution Successor?  Those words mean nothing together!

I found Korrina at the top and she gave me the special snap-on, bejeweled Mega bracelet which would allow me to evolve my pokemon.  There, one of the two Lucarios (which, to me, sounds like a delicious breakfast cereal) she had with her asked her if it could battle her on my side.  Mutiny! Hahaha!

So I entered-into a battle against Korrina with her Level 32 Lucario--and I got my first taste of Mega-Evolution.  The way it works is if you have the special Livestrong Mega Bracelet on and your pokemon is holding a special stone (in this case it was called Lucarionite), you can choose an option to Mega-Evolve before your attack from the battle screen.

Of course I chose to test this out, evolving Lucario into Mega-Lucario.  After transforming, Lucario's stats in Attack, Special Attack, and Speed increased by 1.5x.  His ability changed to "Adaptability" which changes the Same Type as Attack Bonus (STAB) from 1.5x to 2.0x (fighting and steel attacks increased in power).  Finally, he changed his appearance by changing the color of his paws.  It's these big changes that are the ones that count I guess.

After the battle (which ended in exactly two turns) I got to keep the Lucario, who I named "Knives" and stuck in the box until the rest of my team gained enough levels to use him.  Hopefully by then I will know what to do about the 11 pokemon in my team!

Wait a second!  FLASHBACK...

 

 

 

Two Weeks Earlier...

I've got to go try this out.

Current Squad:

FROGADIER/Froakles/lvl.26
IVYSAUR/Ivy/lvl.25
FLAREON/Hotfoot/lvl.25
FLOETTE/Summer/lvl.25
SCRAGGY/Scrappy/lvl.25
AERODACTYL/Scarydactyl/lvl.27

On Rotation: Kirlia, Pikachu, Hippopotas, Lucario

You Say You Want an Evolution

I met the Mega-Evolution Guru (who told me to call him Steve) and he was able to answer all of my questions about Mega-Evolution and then I thanked him and went home, having beaten the whole game..


That is what I would say if any of this actually happened.

But no, the Mega-Evolution Guru had about as much to say about Mega Evolution as the Black Belt with the Pokeflute, the Prince of Versailles, the Lost Paleontologist, and the Professor Sycamore: that is, to say, fuck all.  I am personally of the opinion that if you are formally known as the guru of anything, you should be an expert in that field--or at least be able to convince a little kid that you know what you're talking about.

Steve the Mega-Evolution Guru told me that neither he nor anyone else in the world has any knowledge at all about Mega Evolution, but that it involves items and a certain ring that he only had one copy of.

Then, when the gang of Pokemon thieves showed-up, he had me battle Serena (who I assume to be my rival considering she carries Chespin) for the Magic Mega-Evolution Ring.

The battle was a back-and-forth slog--her Meowstic and Absol each took out one pokemon apiece since they were severely leveled over my pokemon, and her Quilladin decimated the rest of my team as I tried desperately to chip away at it with Pikachu.

Apparently, and this I know for a fact was different in the last generation of games, grass types cannot be Leech Seeded, nor Poisoned with Poisonpowder, so in between flinching from Quilladin's repeated Bite and Needle-Arm attacks (eight consecutive turns, are you kidding me?!?), I was allowed to continuously "fail" with Ivysaur.  Since I had Flareon and Aerodactyl in the box at the time, the battle came down to Scrappy vs. Quilladin, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally broke Quilladin's killstreak.

After being rewarded with what is apparently one of the only Magic Rings in the game, I was told to challenge Korrina, the Mega-Evolution Guru's granddaughter, for a gym badge.  Funny, cause I already beat her...I guess that battle wasn't a formal challenge though...

Current Squad:

FROGADIER/Froakles/lvl.26
IVYSAUR/Ivy/lvl.25
FLAREON/Hotfoot/lvl.25
FLOETTE/Pixie/lvl.23
SCRAGGY/Scrappy/lvl.24
AERODACTYL/Scarydactyl/lvl.25

On Rotation: Pikachu, Hippopotas, Kirlia

Meeting the Mega Evolution Guru

After earning (or not earning, I don't think she actually gave it to me in the end) my third badge, I chased the Team Flare grunt North.  You would recall that this is the guy who kept babbling on about the 3000 year legend as I was murdering his Houndour.  The Northern path he took ended at a weird gazebo-like rock formation and a dead-end.  Guess I will just have to wait to find out what the 3000 year legend is.  I have no clue how I will ever contain myself.

SO CUTE

So I went East and no sooner had I left town than I got a phone-call from Professor Sycamore who told me that since I was near Shalour City and I was still looking for information about Mega Evolution, I should stop by to visit a man in that town who might know something.

And that apparently, this man is known as the "Mega-Evolution Guru".

Wait a second, there's a Mega-Evolution guru?  I thought the errand I was sent on in the first place was to ask around for information about what mega-evolution was?  And there just happens to be some guy who is a mega-evolution guru?  Then what the hell have I been screwing around doing for the past four towns asking every po-dunk scientist I came across for information?

I feel as if every problem in the pokemon world could be solved with one or two internet searches...because even the pokedex information could probably be filled-in by reading Red's facebook notes at this point.

After waking up from my my rage-blackout I made my way towards the Reflecting Cave, the next mini-dungeon along my way to see the Mega-Evolution-blah-blah-blah.  Along the way, I caught Nidorino, Female Nidoran, Stunky, Dedenne (a new, Fairy-typed Pikachu-of-the-moment), and Throh, whom I must congratulate for looking like ass EVEN IN 3-D!

The Reflecting Cave is a cave with mirror-walls that reminds me of that one level from Pokemon Snap in the cave.  The one that had the Articuno and the Pikachu that flew around on Balloons.  Similar to "The Cave Level", Reflecting Cave is FULL of odd Psychic types of varying strength--and every single one of them decimated my under-leveled team.  I decided I needed the experience, so I fought everything I saw.

One cool thing about the reflection cave is that since some of the walls are mirrored, you can see things along cave walls that would normally be hidden--leading to a few interesting perspective puzzles--and also that trainers who are admiring themselves in the mirror will still battle you if you walk by.  They will see your reflection as you walk behind them. 

After several "Teleports" (thanks, Kirlia) back to the pokemon center and a bag full of potions and pokeballs, I made it out (in large part due to "Hotfoot" the Flareon and "Froakles" the Frogadier) with Mr. Mime, Chingling, Ferroseed, Roggenrola, Wobbuffet, Sableye, Solosis, and a new Rock/Fairy type called Carbink.

 It is actually impossible to get lost in Shalour City, especially since every single person in the town has something to say about Mega-Evolution and how the Tower of Mastery is where it is studied ("and did we mention it is just North of here...").

I entered the tower...and was greeted by a HUGE statue of Lucario.  Did I come in through the wrong door?

Current Squad:

FROGADIER/Froakles/lvl.26
IVYSAUR/Ivy/lvl.25
FLAREON/Hotfoot/lvl.25
HIPPOPOTAS/Sandman/lvl.25
SCRAGGY/Scrappy/lvl.23
AERODACTYL/Scarydactyl/lvl.25

On Rotation: Kirlia, Flabebe, Pikachu

Enter the Fashion Police

After riding on a Rhyhorn to get to the Glittering Cave, I started poking around for the professor there who was supposed to tell me about Mega Evolutions.  This would be the fourth scientist I was sent to see about this along this crazy quest train, so my hopes were definitely not high that this would resolve my problem, especially considering that I was only sent to see this scientist, a paleontologist, because the Mega stones are technically rocks and fossils are also technically rocks.  Woohoo Pokemon logic!!!

In this cave, I found the villains of the game, Team Flare.

If Team Aqua was a caricature of a villain, then Team Flare is more of a caricature of a caricature of a typical pokemon villain, and I know this weird fractal statement makes little sense, but neither does Team Flare.  The first thing that the first Team Flare gangster said when I talked to him was that, "Team Flare's goal is to make it so we're the only ones who are happy [sic]".  It takes a seriously messed-up person to accept that they are the villain--and for Team Flare to flaunt this is even more hilarious.  At least this game doesn't have that insufferable nonsense plot about understanding others from Pokemon White version...or at least not yet...

I guess Team Flare's schtick is that they are a bunch of fashion enthusiasts who just happen to belong to a pokemon gang, so at least there is a reason for my character's friends and I to actively seek them out as some sort of crazy gang war (as we have already established that my character's friends are all Pokemon Thieves). But honestly from here I am a bit confused about what their motives would be.  Team Rocket was a true gang of thieves and smugglers, Teams Aqua and Magma each wanted to destroy the world because...well, just because...but Team Flare wants people to dress nicer?

In the end I found the professor who had no information for me about Mega Evolution at all.  He did, however, give me my choice between two Pokemon fossils for my efforts.  I guess if nothing else, this game is consistent with the previous titles.

Current Squad:

FROGADIER/Froakles/lvl.19
IVYSAUR/Ivy/lvl.18
SCRAGGY/Scrappy/lvl.18
FLABEBE/Pixie/lvl.17
PIKACHU/PikaPi/lvl.18
DODUO/Birdface/lvl.18

On Rotation: Hippopotas, Ralts

Too Many Pokemon!

I previously noted that it is important to have a variety of pokemon available to catch and add to your team early and then to funnel in new pokemon in an even and consistent way--something that Ruby and Sapphire had a serious problem with--but this is just plain comical.

So I caught Snorlax (cause I always catch Snorlax), found the game's pokemon breeding center, went through a cave, Bulbasaur and Froakie both evolved (into Ivysaur and Frogadier, respectively), I found a town, found a second cave, and along the way I caught Seviper, Drifloon, Zubat, Axew, Croagunk, Onix, Sandile, Helioptile, Hippopotas, Lunatone, Solrock, Machop, Cubone, Inkay, Illumise, Ducklett, Spoink, Absol, Mienfoo, and Wingull.  Of these, I briefly had on my team: Seviper, Absol, Mienfoo, Machop, Cubone, Onix, Croagunk, Axew, and Helioptile. 

...And then I realized that I was going absolutely bonkers with all the new pokemon: I was like a fat school kid on Macaroni and Cheese day (something I have years of experience at, as a matter of fact). 

Ultimately, I decided to just leave it up to my little brother to pick for me: welcome to the team, Hippopotas.


I was originally sent to the last town to ask about Mega Evolutions, and the people there sent me on my way to Ambrette town.  When I got to Ambrette town, I found the professor I was looking for and he told me to go piss off and explore the aforementioned "second cave" (only accessible by riding on top of a Rhyhorn).  He must have had an important meeting...or perhaps he just didn't like the idea of some snot-nosed kid asking him about things he has never heard of JUST BECAUSE he is a scientist.  Because all scientists know all of science...right?   

Hint: wrong


Current Squad:

FROGADIER/Froakles/lvl.18
IVYSAUR/Ivy/lvl.18
SCRAGGY/Scrappy/lvl.18
FLABEBE/Pixie/lvl.17
PIKACHU/PikaPi/lvl.18
DODUO/Birdface/lvl.17

On Rotation: Hippopotas, Ralts

A Dirty Little Horde

Full Disclosure:  this post took a little long to get out because I got a bit lost in Lumiose City.  It's not like it is hard to navigate, it's just really really big and I'm one of the brand of gaming scum called "completionists" who have to do and see everything before moving on.  The thing is the city is not even all unlocked yet.  By this, I mean that AS PER USUAL, the game has invented some arbitrary reason why certain streets or routes are closed.  This time, it is because the power is out in the northern part of the city.  At least the reasoning in this game totally makes sense, I remember one time when I was a kid where there was no electricity in my town and I also couldn't walk around...outside...in broad daylight.

No, wait, that's right, that never happened and never would.

I made my way to the next route and my next pokemon-catching spree, where I picked-up Doduo for the active team.  It was an obvious choice between him and Farfetch'd, despite the fact that Farfetch'd (and Lickitung, for that matter) is something of a closet favorite of mine.

The Gang of Pokemon Thieves

Here, I met-up with two "supporting cast" characters of the Gang of Pokemon Thieves (my "friends"), Tierno and Trevor.  Tierno is a big guy whose only character trait is that he likes to dance (something that the game will remind you of incessantly), and Trevor's only character traits are that he is shy and smart.  Glad to have such deep and thoughtful characters this go-around!  Go Team!


Trevor gave me some Honey (and I'm glad that I resisted leading with the obvious misleading pun "Trevor gave me some sugar") to smear all over my body (okay, that line got just as creepy just as fast) to attract hordes of pokemon in tall grass.

Once again, completionist scum that I am, I had to try this out, wherein I was set-upon by five Scraggy.  "Awesome!" I thought, "time to add my favorite pokemon from white version back into my team!"

Let me preface this next point with a revelation about my play style: I hate to miss with a move.  As a matter of fact, I have never had a pokemon with the moves Fire Blast, Thunder, or Hydropump, because I would rather sacrifice the extra power for perfect accuracy (all of these moves have a 70% hit rate, and I use instead Flamethrower, Thunderbolt, and Surf respectively). 

For me, there has never been anything as terrifying as this: seeing all five Scraggy use Sand Attack on me in one turn.

This is bad enough--but then it just got worse, after my move missed, they all used Leer.  At this point I snapped and awoke several hours later in strange surroundings.

Honestly, this was one of the toughest matches I've had, or at least the most frustrating; the gang of Scraggy decimated my squad while I whittled their number down.  In the end I was reduced to just Flabebe (and tears, can't forget the tears), who I found out has a type advantage with Fairy over either Fighting or Dark (the move was super-effective against Scraggy, but Scraggy is Fight/Dark, so I'm not sure which type it was strong against) and was able to capture one of the Scraggy for my team. 

Feeling good about myself, I made it to the next town, Camphrier Town, where the guy I was supposed to talk to about "Mega-Evolutions" there told me to leave.  Obviously, it was time to call it a day.

Current Squad:

FROAKIE/Froakles/lvl.13
BULBASAUR/Bulby/lvl.13
PIKACHU/PikaPi/lvl.11
DODUO/Birdface/lvl.10
FLABEBE/Pixie/lvl.11
SCRAGGY/Scrappy/lvl.5

On Rotation: Ralts, Zigzagoon