#pokemon analysis

(I can't be bothered to find Lysandre's XY or USUM model right now, but I'd assume it's similar)

I know these are minor details irrelevant to most, but I really like looking at how differently these two stand

Lysandre is standing ramrod straight. He's tense, legs straight and together, fists balled, and he's staring the viewer down; overall, a very aggressive and confrontational stance

L is basically the opposite of all this. He's hunched, his legs are slightly bent and apart, hands held in a rather neutral manner, and he isn't positioned perfectly frontally towards the viewer - instead, his torso is turning a bit to the side; overall, he seems relaxed, if not even a bit apprehensive

Another thing I like is that they're wearing completely different things, but there's a clear visual continuity between them, thanks to elements such as the ruff and a splash of orange at their neck area (hoodie and cravat respectively). I also feel like L's open coat gives him a more open and relaxed vibe than Lysandre, with his buttoned up and perfectly ironed out everything

AKA my take on why I think the 4-move limit is garbage

Firstly, to address the Donphan in the room, I have no quarrels with the 4-move limit in-game. It makes sense with the mechanics and, esp with recent games removing the necessity of the Move Re-learner, no complaints there.

I'm mostly taking about the anime.

In my mind, the number and variety of moves a Pokemon knows should be at least semi-correlated to their age and level of training. I don't expect a newly hatched Charmander to be slinging around Fire Blasts. And honestly, I'd expect truly juvenile Pokemon to not even have "moves" at all. Instead, based on innate wild behaviors, they have maybe growl and then the generic attack motion from PMD that can't even be referred to as "Tackle" or "Pound" yet. As they get older and grow from their potato phase - ignoring how most Pokemon who hatched on-screen in the anime as a fully-grown first-evolution size - into leggy juveniles, they can start developing "moves" of their own.

Take Ponyta as an example, maybe a benchmark growth marker is when they are stable enough on their legs and have gained enough weight that they can actually use Tackle or Stomp confidently without tipping over. Or when Pokemon like Poochyena's teeth have grown in enough that they could actually perform the actions of Bite. Even Pikachu only had Thunder shock when he and Ash started traveling together. He didn't even learn Quick Attack/Agility (Gen 1 really treated them as the same thing) until the pair was actively training to face Lt. Surge and Raichu for the second time. Raichu is also an example of how evolution can cause you to skip moves, as Lt. Surge's Raichu was evolved to quickly via Thunderstone and missed learning moves as a Pikachu, instead filling its moveset with O'KO power moves.

Going along with this, I think that Pokemon that have more specialized training are able to retain more moves. Drawing from the idea of "Use it or lose it," I feel like captive Pokemon that battle more often are better at retaining their moves as well as their execution being more polished vs a wild or retired Pokemon who only pulls out a specialty moves one or twice a month. This also compliments the quip from the first Pokemon episode where the Pokedex remarks that "Wild Pokemon tend to be jealous of human-trained Pokemon," which could be due to the trained Pokemon being more adept at using multiple, high-powered moves. In the eyes of a wild Pokemon, assuming similar pressures of survival with wild animals, a stronger, more diverse moveset would likely increase survival rates and ease of living. I'd expect Ash's Pikachu to have a more polished Iron Tail due to how often it's utilized in battle vs a wild pikachu. I feel like we've also heard that about trainers "training up" their Pokemon's moves to be stronger, thereby implying that they were less powerful when they started work. And with repetition and use, they're able to learn new moves.

In learning new moves, I have a theory of Move Evolution. New moves can either be trained up from scratch, like Ash's Pikachu learning Iron Tail in Hoenn, or they can result from a current move being strengthened to such an extent that the move evolves on its own, like the Charmander and Squirtle in the PMD anime special where their Ember and Bubble morphed into Flamethrower and Water Gun respectively. Returning to my main complaint, Pikachu's Volt Tackle originated from Quick Attack in a high-stress situation. However, with Move Evolution, it's all based on power and control originating from that individual Pokemon. This also implies that if Pokemon can turn the power all the way up to create a new move, then they can also dial it back to potentially revert to the move's prior form, with a few exceptions.

Pikachu learning Volt Tackle on the fly seems like a divergent path of Move evolution, as he was still easily able to parse out the difference between the two moves, and his use of Volt Tackle seemed to take more visible effort. But I don't think that's always true, especially with linear Move Evolutions, or leveling up moves. Taking the pair from the PMD example again, I feel that it'd be easier for Charmander to revert to Ember than Squirtle reverting to Bubble. In Charmander's case, his multiple sparks of flame morphed into the new Flamethrower move. So if he were to input less power, then I imagine he'd either revert to the Ember sparks, or at least get a smaller/thinner stream of fire. The phenomenon would probably translate to Pikachu as well, morphing between Thunderbolt and Thunder Shock. Squirtle, on the other hand, there's a change in energy shape as well as power, converting from just bits of water filled with air to a direct stream of water. So, if Squirtle were to lessen the power of his move, I think he'd just get a weaker trickle of water and he'd have to consciously choose to use Bubble in order to get bubbles to appear. However, this special debuted before the move Bubble Beam, which seems like a more natural progression of power. Or you could imagine there's a deviation in Move Evolution with the base move of Bubble acting as the cornerstone.

All of this rambling is leading to the theory I have that I don't think highly-trained Pokemon would naturally forget their moves. I think a lot of it would come down to a matter of skill and use of their moves. Definitely move prowess could be diminished or even extinct due to lack of use or other training methods, but I don't think that process is immediate or necessarily purposeful. I don't expect World Champion Ash's Pikachu to be slinging around Thunder shocks with the same ease as his signature Thunderbolt, but I don't believe that the potential for the use of Thunder shock is lost either. In order for Pikachu to keep showcasing the new moves the franchise was developing, I believe his moveset was cut, also to simplify the animation budget. However, if all those factors were negated, I believe that Pikachu would realistically still be using Volt Tackle along with his Champion moveset and that it shouldn't be an issue.

Anywho, that's my two-cents on the matter. If you made it this far, remember to hydrate yourselves

so i got to thinking

are people in the Pokemon Universe™️ born with colored hair? like. was dot born with purple and pink hair. was she just born with purple hair? what if she’s brown haired like murdock. did liko always have half-blue hair? it seems that lucius’ hair was always blue so maybe..and did roy’s hair always have that red

and on the hair gel note,

and there’s worse

Amethio connects to Zygarde because Zygarde isn't strong when alone, much like how Amethio is able to fully shine when he's with people that understand and are liken to him. It's only when you see him break off from the Explorers and follow his own path do you see him grow, much like (anime) Zygarde after being with Bonnie in XYZ.

Coral is a flippant thing, but does care. Her recklessness is simply part of her nature—much like Yveltal is to the trio of life (iirc, thats their name.) Predestined to fulfill its role via chaos and destruction, like how even when Coral decides to help at the end, she's still chaotic.

On the other hand, Sidian is the opposite. He's much more down to Earth and responsible, much like (and I'm specifically referencing the movie counterpart), Volcanion. The middle balance between flippancy and determination, like how Volcanion is based on steam engines.

Chalce parallels Xerneas in the obvious fact that she loves life. Youth, specifically. She's a teacher. She cares and wants to sustain the vulnerable; similar to how Xerneas does in, specifically, the gen 6 anime, where it watches over Bonnie.

And I think the most interesting to me is Spinel and Hoopa, which I believe to be the strongest connection after Amethio and Zygarde. Because Spinel, like Hoopa, becomes absorbed in power. Fusing with the Laquium core like Hoopa does with the ring to become Hoopa Unbound in a moment of desperation.

Urbain and Taunie's actions in Legends Z-A have always fascinated me. And after finishing the game, I've figured out why. I played with Urbain, so I'm mainly going to be name dropping him, but Taunie also applies to this.

When we're introduced Urbain, we see that he's the leader of Team MZ, a group that's supposed to be helping protect Lumiose City from the Rogue Mega Pokemon, and wants to help Hotel Z grow to thank A-Z for taking him in.

He's nice, a bit blunt but a friendly rival who wants to help you experience and love the city the same way he did.

Then you start seeing his actions in the Corbeau arc. He takes out a loan for an ad, doesn't read the fine print and now they're in debt! Despite this, Urbain doesn't seem to scared or worried about the Rust Syndicate like Lida and Naveen are.

When we defeat a Rogue Mega with him, he goes off to help someone else, and Lida herself is annoyed at how he helps strangers but not his friends who have to clean up his mess.

Then you've got the Jacinthe arc, where after being informed of the new wave of Rogue Megas, he casually quits the tournament and we go to help.

We see more of his aggressive personality, how he's irritated at Jacinthe for bothering them, and telling her they're not participating in her tournament.

One thing about Urbain and Taunie is that they always goes out of his way to help others whenever they ask, no questions asked. They clearly prioritise the hotel and the Rogue Mega Pokemon over anything else.

Then we learn that they've come to Lumiose, looking for someone, wearing their late mom's jacket, and then A-Z took them in.

One thing I've noticed is that all their actions tend to be selfish, not in the "only for myself" way but in the "this is the best for everyone else" way.

I'd say Urbain and Taunie's selfishness comes from the fact being the savior of Lumiose is something they've been preparing for If they can't save the city or help A-Z, what are they worth?

Their self worth is so tied to them helping others that they desperately do anything to help, not seeing the consequences of their actions.

If they aren't helping people, then they feel as if they don't have worth. Have they actually earned this, or are they just kids who got lucky?

In their attempt to show they can help, they end up not thinking things out thoroughly and getting them and their friends in trouble because of it.

It's why even if they lose against you in the final battle, they still go with Floette. If something happened in Ange, we could possibly get badly hurt. And Urbain and Taunie don't want anyone to get hurt, so they'll take the consequences.

Their live call from Ange almost felt like a goodbye call from them. Like they were also expecting to die in there, and just didn't want to worry anyone else.

Before the announcement of Legends ZA, specifically its nature as a modern-day sequel to X and Y, almost everyone, including me, thought the Legends subseries of the mainline Pokemon games was all set in the past. But the reveal of Legends ZA made me rethink what makes Pokemon a "Legends" game. I believe I have a good idea of what makes a Pokemon Legends game. It all comes down to five major elements.

The first major element is its use of the same themes and even several plot beats, if not the same general plot, as its base game. Sinnoh, as a region, has a heavy emphasis on mythology and the higher powers of not only the region but the universe itself. It only makes sense that the first Legends game would be set in a time when some of these myths are either forming or myths unknown to the present are still present in the past. In comparison, Kalos is centered around life and death, the importance of balance, and how to create a fulfilling and sustainable future. Meta-wise, XY is considered one of the weakest Pokemon games, needing some fleshing out. It makes a lot of sense why they chose to make a sequel to give Kalos its moment to shine...mostly. I also feel like AZ's backstory alone gives us all the Kalos backstory we need.

The second major element is its various new gameplay styles. So far, both Legends games have utilized more diverse gameplay styles over the simple, classic turn-based combat of most mainline games. Both games have the trainer take damage and black out without even battling with a Pokemon. It also allowed players to catch Pokemon without engaging in a battle. Alpha Pokemon, big red-eyed Pokemon with better stats, also roam through the Legends games. Legends Arceus went with a more complex turn-based battle system, where once a battle is initiated, speed determines how many turns a Pokemon can take at once. It also incorporates Agile and Strong Styles, which cost more PP. The Agile style allows a Pokemon to potentially go first and might even allow for two moves at once, at the cost of lower attack power, status effect, or stat increase. The Strong Style allows a Pokemon to conduct a stronger version of its move, but at the risk of letting the opponent attack twice or even more. In contrast, Legends ZA did away with turn-based combat with real-time combat. Suddenly, combat is just like the anime: fast-paced, and Pokemon can move. Instead of PP, moves have cooldowns. For Mega Evolution, there's the Mega Power bar, which, once full, can allow a Pokemon to Mega Evolve until the bar runs out. Mega Power moves, done via a Mega Evolved Pokemon or a Pokemon using some of the Mega Power, are the same as the Strong Style of Legends Arceus. I really hope future Legends games expand on what we got and introduce new gameplay styles.

The third major element is reanalyzing and revisiting a region and its cast through a new perspective and a more mature lens. We revisit Sinnoh from a time when humans and Pokémon weren't close with one another. The concept of death is thrown a lot, with it being explicitly stated that you could die in this region. Suddenly, a region where there's a soothing jazz vibe takes on a whole dangerous survival vibe. Then there's Volo. A character associated with Cynthia, one of the big goods of the Sinnoh games. However, Volo has the same goals and mindset as Cyrus, but he has Cynthia's personality, always curious about history and myths, and fascinated by our character's potential and role. In comparison, we revisit Kalos, or more specifically Lumiose City, as tourists. It turns out the events of X and Y have led a lot of people to leave the city and, by extension, Kalos. The urban redevelopment plan is meant not only to retain its current residents but also to attract tourists. However, as the plot goes on and the side quests reveal, a lot of people dislike the urban redevelopment plan. The disruption to normal life with the Battle Zones, the lack of sleep, and even getting back home. The Wild Zones only divide Pokemon from humans and vice versa. The redevelopment also increases rent and makes living in the city much more expensive, with Lida being one character who was worried about her future when she couldn't pay rent. I really appreciate how the Legend games feel more "mature" but not coming across as edgy.

The fourth major element is a focus on Legendaries and Mythicals that didn't get their moment to shine. One couldn't even access Arceus through legal means until Legends Arceus. It's fitting that, given Arceus' status as the Pokemon God, it's only natural for the first Legends game to focus on said being. Likewise, for Kalos, Zygarde is infamous for not getting its third version game (Pokemon Z) to be the central focus. Instead, Zygarde was pushed into Alola as a side quest. Zygarde is finally able to shine in Legends ZA and then some. The way the writers somehow explained Zygarde's appearance in Alola truly shows that, despite GF's flaws, when it comes down to lore connections, they generally excel.

The final major element is the "Legends" component. Aside from the Legendaries and Mythicals, there's a natural and logical pattern of focusing on the legends of the regions. In Legends Arceus, it's tied around the Sinnoh, or rather, the Hisui region itself. A region full of mysteries to uncover and ponder. In Legends ZA, it's tied to Lumiose City and AZ. AZ is a living legend as one of the oldest human beings in Pokemon. The iconic Prism Tower ends up becoming much more of a legend than one might presume.

Pokemon Legends is one of the best things to come out of the Switch Era. It allows Pokemon to tell stories that they couldn't explore in the standard mainline titles and experiment with various gameplay styles. I cannot wait to see what region they'll tackle next.

While this isn't about speculation, I'll give my two dimes into what I consider to be the ideal for each region when they get their Legends game:

Legends games set in Kanto and Galar work better as prequels.

Legends games set in Hoenn and Unova work better as sequels.