stellar ✿

some lil trainers (including @catandcrown)

(Requested by @puresilverdemon - I hope you enjoy!)

At its core, the Champion role is about being a cultural figurehead, one that represents the region on the international stage and nurtures the development of the League. Historically, the Champion was a designated protector for a given region, selected to defend the land from external and internal threats, but the modern-day role bears only shades of these ancient duties. Said role is also subject to variation; not all Leagues are the same, and certain regions allow Champions to have more responsibility than others.  

The Indigo League 

Due to the sheer volume of challengers that this League attracts - and the resulting high turnover of Champions - the duties attached to the role have diminished in the last few decades. The Indigo League is staunchly determined to stay true to its roots, but a position that changes hands so frequently cannot require long-term commitment, nor a hugely specific skill-set. Especially when the League has next to no say in who takes it.

As a result, the Indigo Champion is expected and encouraged to participate in League meetings, but is not contractually required to. Such meetings may pertain to the appointment of new Elites and Gym Leaders, the dismissal of current ones, strategies to attract more challengers of a particular type speciality, funding allocations, scheduling, networking events, and countless other day-to-day headaches. Champions that fully engage with League matters - Lance, for example - are always well-respected, but they are few and far between. The majority are either more interested in the flashy side of Champion life (like Blue) or are simply badly-suited to governance, despite their best efforts (such as Gold).

The only steadfast duties of the Indigo Champion pertain to battle, public appearances, and traditional duties. If a Champion is defeated, they must escort the victorious opponent into the Hall of Fame. Blue caused a great deal of embarrassment when he refused to extend this ritual to Red. Red was a similar (albeit less obtuse) headache when it came to making public appearances, and sparked utter chaos when he disappeared. 

Many suspect the Indigo Champion’s duties will reduce further over the next few years. If not for the League’s grim dedication to tradition, they might have adopted a system similar to Kalos’s a long time ago.

The Hoenn and Sinnoh Leagues

While not identical, the systems in Hoenn and Sinnoh are similar enough to be discussed in tandem. Neither League has a hugely high Champion turnover, as the Indigo League draws away a large proportion of challengers. As a result, Hoennese and Sinnohan Champions can be expected to stay in the role for longer, and thus retain more of the responsibilities that Indigo Champions need not concern themselves with.

Aside from overseeing the League, the Hoennese Champion must demonstrate a vested interest in the region’s cultural and spiritual practices. They are granted passage to the Cave of Origin and must visit it on the first day of each year, so as to pay their respects and vow to protect new life. An annual visit to Mt Pyre is also traditional, usually in the seventh lunar month, in order to honour the dead.

The expectations on the Sinnohan Champion are not dissimilar. After winning the title, challengers must cement it at Spear Pillar, by kneeling at the stone altar and pledging their dedication before Arceus. It falls to the defeated Champion to guide them there. Ascending Mt Coronet is no quick or easy feat, and many believe that the prospect turns away potential candidates. There has been talk of removing the ritual, or at least holding it in a more accessible location, but Cynthia refuses to let the motion pass.

The Unova League  

The Unovan League is significantly younger than the Japanese Leagues, but the Champion role comes with an unexpected amount of responsibility. More than in any other region, the Unovan Champion is expected to network with Gym Leaders and the towns and cities that surround them. While the Champions in Kalos and the Japanese regions rarely battle outside of official matches, the Unovan Champion is encouraged to engage with grassroots training communities and battle informally wherever possible. The League has no desire for the role to seem removed or elite, because their ethos and marketing centres heavily on the notion that anybody can make it to the top. 

The Kalos League  

The Kalosian League is controversial for a handful of reasons, but predominantly because their Champion position is not entirely open. Unlike in other regions, where the Champion changes with immediate effect in the event of a defeat, the Kalosian position is reviewed every two years. All challengers who defeat the Champion within that period are used to comprise a pool of applicants, from which the most suitable choice is selected. Said choice is supposedly based on strength and availability alone, but many believe that it is simply a way to exercise more control over who takes the position. Nonetheless, the process does afford a little more job security than most regions can offer, as it guarantees that the Champion will retain the role for at least two years.  

In terms of duties, the Kalosian Champion is required to oversee the appointment of all Gym Leaders and Elite Four members, attend exhibition matches, and particularly demonstrate the region’s prowess abroad. Unlike Galar and the Japanese regions, which have fairly localised battle scenes, the Kalosian league is particularly known for its international presence. The Champion must be willing to travel. 

The Alolan League

The fine details of the Alolan Champion position are yet to be worked out, given the newness of the League. Some have suggested that the Champion take a spiritual role; others claim that this would give the position a false sense of grandeur. On the other hand, keeping it as a mere celebrity role makes the residents of Ula’ula nervous - what if Tapu Bulu came to believe that the Champion was being worshipped in its place? How might it react?

Nobody is sure. Nobody is very sure about anything, when it comes to the new League.

The Galar League

When it comes to challenging the League, making mistakes is part of the whole experience. No matter when or how you do it, it won’t pan out quite as you expect, and everyone’s experience is different. That said, a little advice can go a long way, so here are my top things to remember:

1. Unofficial gyms are great for everyday training.

In the big cities, official Gyms are crowded, oversubscribed, and pretty dang expensive. Unofficial gyms might not be affiliated with the League, but they’re perfectly serviceable for everyday training. Most are staffed with an array of type specialists, who can advise you on everything from battle technique to how you hold yourself on the pitch. If you’re of school age or taking a gap year, you can usually flash your trainer card and get the same discounts you would in an official Gym. Make use of them. Book a one-on-one session if you can.

That’s not to say you should avoid official Gyms. They’re usually much better equipped, and taking lessons from the Gym Leader themselves will give you a feel for their style. But there’s no need to spend all your time there - especially as the cafés are daylight robbery. 

2. If you’re staying at a Pokémon Centre, don’t sleep late.

Aside from dorms, most Centres have communal kitchens and cheap laundry services. If you want to have any chance of getting near them, rise early. When it comes to charging phones and Pokédexes, you just need to get lucky - nab a plug, defend it, but try not to hog it. If there’s a queue of people who need juice, priority goes to whoever’s on the lowest percentage. A few weeks into your journey, 40% will become the new 100%. 

3. For the love of god, don’t keep your trainer card in a random pocket.

You will lose it, and replacing it is a nightmare. You’ll have to cancel the old card and order a new one at full price, even if you received your initial one through an Access Scheme. What’s more, you can’t challenge Gym Leaders without a valid ID, nor enter most paying tournaments, even if the booking was made before the loss of the card. Save yourself the grief and keep it in your wallet. 

4. You don’t need to stick with one style of battling.

Even if you know what kind of trainer you want to be, don’t be afraid to mess around, especially in friendly battles. Try out doubles and triples, swap pokémon for a few matches, restrict your team to contact or non-contact moves. Even if it’s just for a laugh, you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll learn. 

5. There is no one way to approach your challenge.  

Nobody’s experience is the same, so don’t feel self-conscious about not doing it ‘right’. Some people don’t take on the Gyms until they’re well into adulthood. Some people don’t leave home, preferring to train locally and travel out to each Gym in turn. Some are seasoned trainers, already having collected badges in other regions. Some are utter novices. Some approach the challenge casually, seeing it as something for the CV. Others view it as a path towards sponsorship and a long-term career in the battle industry. The one uniting factor? Everybody is too preoccupied with their own experience to judge other people’s. Try to learn from the variety of people rather than comparing yourself to them.

6. You can split the costs of a storage subscription with friends.

For a lot of people, the Gym challenge goes hand in hand with capturing new pokémon. Some Trainer Access Schemes offer a storage account among their benefits, but the schemes are less common than they used to be, and some find the subscriptions offered too basic. Split between a few people, an unlimited Box subscription is good value for money - it also allows you to create several accounts, so you can each keep your spare pokémon in a secure place. 

7. When you’re battling casually, it’s best to keep money out of it.

While it’s tempting to lay bets and battle for big bucks, it can cause arguments, especially when it’s day 90 and everyone’s stressed and sweaty and worn out. In friendly matches with strangers, the last square of chocolate or the comfiest armchair in the Pokémon Centre lounge are as tempting prizes as any. 

8. Remember that Gym Leaders are just regular people.

The sooner you stop treating them like huge celebrities, the more comfortable you’ll be in their presence, and the easier it will be to learn from them. Ask them as many (battle-related) questions as you can, put yourself forward, and make sure they understand your style. This is especially important if you plan to challenge the Elite Four, as Gym Leaders can put you in touch with agents and sponsors, as well as offer you advanced lessons when the time comes. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for selfies with them, though. 9 times out of 10, they’ll be cool with it.  

9. It’s worth investing in decent Pokéballs   

Cheap Pokéballs can smell fear, and they will pick the worst opportunity to malfunction or run dry. Some pokémon aren’t permitted to run free in public spaces, so the last thing you want is for them to be forcibly ejected. You also don’t want to gear up for a Gym battle or a tournament, only to have your Pokéball lose power and lock. Silph Pokéballs might be eye-wateringly expensive, but they last for life and never need to be charged. They’re also incredibly secure, boasting touch ID and wireless connectivity to the Box system. In the face of repeated, forcible ejection attempts, the pokémon will be withdrawn from the ball and placed into a linked storage account, which means you don’t need to need to worry about theft. 

10. You will have to come to terms with your own abilities.

Deep down, we all think we’re hotshots at battling. Even if we doubt our skills, we still think we’ll catch a wave at the right moment - suddenly, everything will click, and we’ll start breezing through the Gyms, winning tournaments, making a beeline for that Champion spot.

Fortunately and unfortunately, that’s not the case. The bitter pill to swallow: even when you beat them, Gym Leaders are much more skilled than you are. Some of them are among the best trainers in the world, but their job is to battle at your level and exploit the weaknesses in your technique. As you improve, they will adjust how much pressure they put on you, so you can actually expect to lose more when you challenge later Gyms.

Even once you collect all of your badges, it’s highly unlikely that you will be able to best a Gym Leader in a genuine, all-out battle. Novice trainers often get hung up on this - that they only won because the Gym Leader allowed them to, that they haven’t beaten them for real.

In the current age, most professional battles are broadcast on television, often hours - or even days - after they take place. As such, most televised battles go through some form of post-production. Even if this editing is minimal, designed only to streamline and clarify beats of the match, the viewing experience is markedly different from seeing a battle in the flesh. If you’re lucky enough to get a ticket to a stadium match, here’s a few things that you can expect:

There will be pauses. Lots of them. If the match isn’t live, producers often edit out non-significant interventions by the referee, of which there are always plenty. Refs are cautious about excessive force and there are lots of finicky rules about how long moves can be sustained, so the whistle will go if anyone oversteps. ‘Breathing room’ intervals are also frequent; every half-minute or so, referees will command the pokémon to step apart, just for a few seconds. This gives them time to collect themselves, as well as breaking up combat that has become too one-sided. 

At the same time, everything will seem faster than it does on the television. Post-production offers the opportunity for clear camera angles, close-ups and illustrative slow-motion - none of this is available in a live match. You will see a pokémon get knocked out and have no idea how it happened.

On a similar note, expect to be confused. Some stadiums will mic the trainers so that their commands are audible to the audience, some will only provide in-ear comms so that the trainer can be heard by their pokémon. In either case, it will be hard to follow what’s happening. Trainers often give commands in code or shorthand so as to retain the element of surprise. What little you can make sense of will be blanketed by cheering. 

If you’re going to see a fire specialist, don’t get seats for the front row. There may be tickets available. They may be staggeringly good value for money. Don’t be tempted. You will spend the entire battle sweating into your seat. 

Commentators vary in quality and not all stadiums will have them. Whether you find them a lifeline or a nuisance usually depends on your level of knowledge about battling. Trainers and enthusiasts tend to get annoyed by their ‘stating the obvious’; casual fans rely on it. In any case, live commentating is much less cohesive - and far more excitable - than the kind that accompanies a pre-recorded match. 

Rain Dance will, nine times out of ten, extend beyond the arena. Don’t bring an umbrella. The people behind will hate you for it. 

A television camera can never capture just how blinding Dazzling Gleam can be. At the last PWT, Flannery infamously donned sunglasses during her battle with Valerie. Everyone made memes about it, but protective eyewear is actually recommended at certain matches, especially if you’re in the front row. 

Surprisingly there aren't that many Pokemon based on microscopic things. I say "surprisingly" because a Pokemon based around a cell like this is a great idea. Even better is that it's a psychic-type, using that gel around its body to protect itself without really bothering to develop everything else. Cool!

In terms of design I love Solosis' face. It's just got a fun shape to its mouth that you don't see a lot in Pokemon, and gives it a more unique look than most. The green colors are also pleasant.

The only thing I don't care for is that yellow swirl (Bulbapedia claims it's an endoplasmic reticulum but I don't really see it). It doesn't add much and kind of off-balances an otherwise symmetrical design.

Duosion is a great middle evo, not looking too much like either Solosis or Reuniclus. The yellow swirl is gone and the overall shape is a bit more advanced, with a pointed body and some neat little leg nubs. The floating bit at the head also is a nice touch, and helps show off it's gel-like body.

I also like the mitosis touch here, with the dex noting how its two brains will fight with each other. Kind of a shame that it doesn't actually split into two when it evolves, but Reuniclus is still good so I can't complain too much.

Speaking of which, Reuniclus I don't like as much as the other two, even if it's still a good final evo. I'm not big on it having a lower body with hands and legs; it just feels more normal compared to its pre-evos. I also feel like the arms are a bit busy with all the floating bits compared to everything else; you really could've just had the bulk of them be empty with just the red circles in the palms.

With that said, the hands as a whole are a nice addition to the design, as are the little ears. It doesn't go overboard or lose the spirit of its pre-evos either. Overall, it feels like a nice, logical progression from Dusion, and the whole line feels very cohesive. Overall, some great cells.

side note, am I the only one who finds this one Reuniclus dex entry really funny

A few people in the past have asked me what my favorite bug-type Pokemon line is, and my answer is always the same: these guys, 100%, for reasons I'll be getting into throughout this review.

Sewaddle is somewhat ironic in the sense that leaf bugs don't have a metamorphis stage, let alone start off looking like caterpillars—but Pokemon are interesting monsters first and biological creatures second, so I am more than happy to give this cute little thing a pass.

Visually, the leaf wrap forming a swaddling blanket is both a clever way to integrate leaves into the design and a nice way to add something unique, given that we've already had tons of caterpillar Pokemon already. It also gives Sewaddle's design a nice bit of practicality, as it can do this while it sleeps:

The colors are nice—just a simple yellow, orange, and green—and I love the stylized but still very bug-like eyes and mouth. I don't think the random balls on the head were needed (I guess they're meant to tie into the leaves on Swadloon's head?) and the underbelly probably didn't need to be included either, but those are minor nitpicks in an otherwise solid design.

I unironically think that Swadloon is The Best middle evolution stage of any Pokemon, period. Look at this delightfully grumpy teenager. How could you not love them?

With the entire line having a leaf clothing motif, giving Swadloon a leaf blanket is both something it can have that makes it unique, yet something that still ties back into the rest of the design. Even better, making it a grumpy little cocoon gives it a great personality and a different shape than the rest of the line. Everything just comes together here to form a perfect concept and a perfect transitional middle stage.

By the time we finally get to Leavanny, it becomes obvious what this line actually is: a "walking leaf", aka a leaf bug/insect:

Taking the basic concept of a bug that looks like a leaf and making it into a motherly Pokemon that sews clothes for itself and other Pokemon is a charming concept, and I really like the overall look of Leavanny here.

The yellow and green palette works great, the leaf shape is repeated throughout (such as the antennae), and the little .v. face is really charming. It's suitably insect-like (with the far apart eyes and simple mouth), but humanoid enough that it doesn't come across as too alien. It comes across as wearing clothes, but not the point where it seems too implausible or silly. Just a fantastic little bug all around