#Sneaks the Weavile

[sneasedtomeetyou]

//Eventually these guys will get their own dedicated references but for now if you ever wanted to know what the Sneaks and Souffle family looks like here you go!

//As a bit of a reminder as to who is who!

//Sneaks is Casi's first partner Pokemon! He is very old but still going strong! He's a Mt. Coronet Weavile with some Hisuian lineage, though this doesn't manifest in any particular way and is actually pretty common for Mt. Coronet native Sneasels. Casi may have issues around the color red but she loves her Weavile so much and insists that his feathers are a deep cranberry color. His identifying features include the symmetrical facial markings, orange colored gem, and alternating crest colors.

//Gelato is Lissie's prized Absol! Former battler, former mega Pokemon, and he still can be in a pinch. These days his main job is to be a service Pokemon, alerting for potential health issues or PTSD episodes. His identifying features include his long nose, larger than average claws, long and straight horn, and curly mane fur.

//Souffle is a former show Absol. At a glance people believe she's a shiny, but in actuality she is simply a standard Absol with albinism. Her albinism leaves her hair thin and gives her a gradient color. Souffle has more distinctly cat-like features, larger rounder eyes and a shorter snout than Gelato. She has anxiety, leaving her a trembling mess that tends to alert to danger more frequently than necessary, but Casi and Lissie are making progress in easing her stress. Growing closer to Sneaks has also seemed to help.

//Parfait and Mall Goth are the result of Sneaks and Souffle growing closer than either of their trainers realized. Each took after their parent's coloration in rather odd ways. Unlike most Sneasels, Parfait's feather is on the same side as an Absol's horn. His spotted pattern will likely fade as he grows older, but it's unclear by how much. Parfait doesn't appear to be a true albino Pokemon, he's just pink. Maybe he really is shiny... Mall Goth's horn is still growing in, being regularly capped with a pool noodle so that she doesn't accidentally hurt herself or someone else. Despite the thick fringe over her eyes, she seems to be able to see perfectly fine.

[professor-amaryllis]

All else aside today Casi and I did manage to catch the ferry over to Tangelo island to get some more supplies and what Casi insists is proper beachwear for me, hah. Echo managed to catch this moment on the way back, A Lapras pod that followed the ferry for a time just as the sun was beginning to set.

[bubblegumbuck]

[sneasedtomeetyou]

My starter was a Sneasel! Before I was old enough to have my own Pokémon I loved Sneasels so much. I read books about Johtonian Sneasels and my parents would tell me stories about Hisuian Sneasels.

My imaginary friend as a kid was a Sneasel that I imagined would go running with me or was running alongside vehicles I was riding in. Though I couldn't tell you what type it was... Feels like either I was constantly changing it because I couldn't decide or I imagined it to be some combined version of them both.

It was kind of a no brainer for my family what Pokémon to get me for my birthday when they deemed me old enough and responsible enough for one.

Pokémon trainers with unorthodox starters (aka not one of the grass, fire, or water offered in your region) what is it? And what’s their story?

I’ll start

When I turned 10 I really wanted to start training pokemon but honestly was pretty scared of all of the starters in my region so my parents decided to get me a little pup Rockruff and I named her Jax and she’s who I consider my starter and she’s been with me ever since

[asherthephoenix]

Drawing the reboot cast with their Pokémon: part 6/16 Explanation for the choices: Thievul: I mean, the pokemon quite literally has "thief" in the name. It steals from it's targets when they least expect it, quite like how MK's strategy of stealing Julia's phone and watching the confessionals was not only clever but also unexpected. Liepard: A pokemon that sneaks up on targets and strikes before victims have a chance to react; as shown in MK's audition tape she likes to sneak up and take people's stuff to keep for herself and moves quickly so they don't react until she's already gone. Weavile: A sinister pokemon that attacks prey viciously, however, works together with other members of it's species to do so as it does genuinley care about it's friends. MK is able to cooperate well with Julia and before she is out of the game they take down some major threats such as Bowie, and despite their evil natures do seriously value each other.

[somegrumpynerd]

What pokemon do you think the sanses would have?

OKAY SO

(This is so long I'm so sorry, readmore for sanity)

Because I’m utterly insane, I’ve split this into 2 categories because I have different thoughts for both, but the first one is what you’ve actually asked which is what pokemon they would have if they were in some kinda pokemon trainer au. (I’m not gonna do them whole entire teams cause that would make this even longer, I’m just gonna give one or two)

For Nightmare I could see him gravitating to poison or dark types, because y’know, that’s on brand for him and he needs to be scary lol Something like muk would be a good fit with his goopiness, but what I find fascinating is that there’s a legendary pokemon that fits him like scarily well and that’s darkrai. It’s a mythical pokemon known for causing never-ending nightmares and it feeds off of them, and it also has a counterpart that helps ward off the nightmares and keep it in check. AND it’s design only has one eye showing and the shiny colours make that eye cyan. So like, that would be a perfect fit for him lol

I also think he would have a noctowl just because it scares Dream

Dream I feel like would be very grass or bug type, like he was raised in nature and I feel like he would still want that around. Especially since a lot of grass types know healing moves, it seems like that would be his kinda vibe in picking up after Nightmare’s damage. Maybe something like cherrim since that reacts to the sun or even sawsbuck since it’s also kinda tree-adjacent. And he would also be perfect to get cresselia, which is the counterpart to darkrai! It doesn’t really fit him as closely in design as darkrai does for Nightmare but it basically lives near darkrai to keep an eye on it and shows up after it’s been somewhere to help ward off the nightmares and bring people good dreams, so it’s weirdly them-coded lol (They're literally called the lunar duo)

As for the others, -Killer has a liepard to me. They’re a big majestic cat that loves to sneak up on people to steal or attack, it’s perfect for him. Also possibly a weavile would be good since they’re very quick and slashy. -I think hisuian zoroark fits Dust really well, since it’s whole situation is about dying and coming back to life out of spite and killing everything and driving others insane, it feels like it would slot into his situation nicely. -I feel like greedent would be good for Horror, maybe moreso once he’s out of his au, since they love to gather food and store it in their tails. It would probably be kinda comforting to basically have a snack buddy with you at all times. -Cross is never escaping the dog influences on his character so he gets a mightyena or maybe a mabosstiff, they’re very well trained in battle and also he loves them more than life itself he would do anything for them. -I love associating Ink with ferrets now so he gets furret, they can both hunch over together while he’s drawing lol but also maybe a grafaiai for him? They like making graffiti and colouring in the trees in the area they live in which feels like a good fit for him.

Now. Here’s where I go truly insane lol I have different answers for if you’re asking what pokemon would they be, like if this was an au where everybody is turned into a pokemon.

Nightmare and Dream are complicated because like.

There’s a pokemon called malamar which is a big evil squid that uses dark magic and one of the pokedex entries says it was even involved in history-changing events. That’s completely Nightmare right?

And there’s a pokemon called decidueye which is a big grass type owl (which I love to call back to your furry Dream) that wears a cloak/cape and shoots arrows at people. That’s totally Dream!

I feel like those two are great fits for them but the problem is if they’re two completely different pokemon they can’t be twins, so I have an alternative suggestion which is to make both of them eevees, which eventually evolve into espeon (Dream) and umbreon (Nightmare). The way to evolve eevee into those two is friendship, so it would possibly have to take place during a truce to make it the most meaningful but I think it would be cool.

Anyway, Killer is houndoom coded to me. I don’t know why, there’s just something about him that my brain cannot disconnect from this hellhound. He takes orders and he has red prominent in the colour scheme. Also the pokedex says if you get burned by a houndoom the pain is with you forever and I bet Killer would love to have that effect lol

I know people hate the rabbit association for Dust but just hear me out. Raboot is very him. It looks annoyed all the time, it has a little pocket to shove it’s hands in like his hoodie and it’s got red fur around the bottom of it’s face like the scarf he wears.

Obvious choice is a bear pokemon for Horror because everybody does that, and I could definitely see him as ursaluna with the big intimidating energy, but for some reason I get a real vibe of tyranitar about him. Just like with Killer it’s based on absolutely nothing, but I can really picture him as this big towering dinosaur with some spikes missing on one side of his head

Again, I want to make Cross lycanroc because big fierce loyal puppy with a limited colour palette, but y’know what I think is a great fit for him? Absol. It’s black and white and it has red eyes and it’s wrongly blamed for things it didn’t do so it lives in isolation, plus the mega evolution gets wings which just feel like they fit him (looking at dragon furry Cross not gonna lie lol)

They literally have an Ink pokemon and it’s smeargle. He’s a little artist who uses his tail as a paintbrush and can change the colour of the paint coming from it, they also can steal any move from other pokemon mid-battle which feels like something Ink would do lol

Anyway I need to spend the next 16 hours drawing pokesonas for skeletons now thank you <3

[leggerefiore]

Cyrus claiming to be without spirit – lacking emotions in their entirety. Meanwhile, if his Honchkrow crows a few time and rests its head on his shoulder. A hand does come to unconsciously stroke the plumage of the pokemon. It nuzzles more into him, and he begrudgingly turns his head to pay his full attention to the pokemon. Before he can complain about the neediness of its behaviour, it lets out a soft coo and gazes at him with such loving eyes. He freezes. His complaint was swallowed. Maybe he did need a break.

Houndoom then whined while looking at him from near his desk, while Weavile popped up from its corner to eagerly try to walk in front of him when he got up. He sighed. Crouching down to pet the Sharp Claw pokemon, but Houndoom soon approached and looked at him with pleasing eyes. After Weavile has its fill, he moved to the fire type, who tried to lick his face. He had to pull back to avoid the affection. Houndoom looked a bit hurt by his dodging, but Cyrus simply was not in the mood for it. Instead, he offered chin scratches. It seemed he was forgiven. Crobat them flew from above to look utterly pitiful. He let the bat pokemon perch on his arm while he rubbed its head gently. It soon was contended and flew away to return to hanging.

Cyrus's attention darted to a fish tank within the office. His Gyarados was unmoved, it seemed. He shook his head. Some extra food was offered to the water snake as an apology. It eagerly accepted. Just as he was about to step into his nap room, however. The door to his office opened. He groaned.

You appeared with a bright grin on your face. Your arms came around him tightly as he relented to your whims. He let you bury your face in his nape. The receptionist had been informed to let you up to his office in order to keep you from sneaking in or snooping. This was a rare side effect of that decision. You called out his name, and he brought an arm around you.

Must everyone in his life be so demanding? He worried his work would never get done at this rate.

[lucius-morningstar]

Hazbin Pokemon (Part 2)

Angels and Exorcists.

Vaggie's Team: Silvally -> In the poke-verse all Exorcists own one of these. As they were created to fight. Absol (Eventual Mega) -> A winged moody pokemon, whose often misunderstood why would I not add this to her team. Primeape/Annihilape -> Honestly figured this suited her more grumpy nature and when it evolves, his change is similar to Vaggie's slow but there is progress. Granbull -> A grumpy pup that constantly wears the same glare as Vaggie.. Every.. Day.. Flygon -> She may not be able to fly but that doesn't mean she can't take her lovely girl out for a flight. Corviknight -> Just her having a knight, her winged shield who can protect her. Not that she needs it. ----

Adam's Team: (The Chad team of Chad's) Buzzwole -> A pokemon that is known for it's muscle mass) Infernape -> Adam owning the wukong of monkey pokemon yea why wouldn't he. Swampert (Mega) -> Adam believes Swampert to be okay until it mega evolves, then he sees his "true" potential. Machamp -> I can definitely see this being Adam's ace pokemon, why.. Honestly just looking at it, if I have to tell you why it's pointless. Electivire -> He'll admit Electivire creeps him out but he's big and strong, enough said. Poliwrath -> A strong wrathful toad to do his bidding, yes of course he has to own one. ----

Lute's Team: Silvally -> As I said all exorcists own one. Salamence (Mega) -> A hostile speedy dragon who has a bad temper and will slaughter anyone in it's path. Need I say more. Kartana -> Its literally a sentient set of blades who will do her bidding. Mandibuzz -> It picks on the weak and wears their bones like armor as well as to show off. Kind of reminds me of Lute keeping demons blood on her to show it off. Krookodile -> A pokemon that rips its victims in two with it's strong jaws. Seems right up Lute's alley to me. Weavile -> A crafty pokemon that sneaks in and brutally attacks. Too easy. ----

Sera's Team: Pheromosa -> Honestly I just liked her for the look. Seems suitable. Zekrom -> Her sticking so harshly to her ideals, honestly how could I not give her Zekrom. Froslass -> Capable of freezing others in place, much like Sera can do with a stare. Blissey -> Put on a good front for everyone after all she does care for her people at least. Meloetta -> All angels have little pretty singing pokemon. So seemed suitable. Rapidash (Shiny/Galarian) -> Honestly I just liked how it looked with her. ----

Emily's Team: Furret -> Something cute that's it. Emily loves cute fluffy things. Cosmog -> Her little legend of choice is going to be one who still can't decide where or what they'll be. Alolan Vulpix/Ninetales -> Again fluffy and cute need I say more. Meganium -> A pokemon that helps calm her people down in times of stress or worry. Delcatty -> A sassy cat with a timid master. Yea Emily loves her regardless. Ponyta (Galarian) -> She wanted to be like Sera at one point, so she got a pokemon like hers. Plus again fluffy and cute.

[alola-reblogging]

Some random gladion HC's because he's the best 《3

♡ His clothes got ripped by his Pokemon accidentally during training, now however he rips all of his clothing purposely

♡ He's covered in multiple different scars all obed his body from training his pokemon, especially silvally when he was newly rescued, he's also got a few scars from his team skull days

♡ His Umbreon is a protector, and looms out for all of the other pokemon, whilst lycanroc is quite mischievous.

♡ His Weavile is cheeky and likes to mess with the other pokemon, Umbreon is always on their toes watching out for Weaviles pranks

♡ During the first few months after he ran away, he had only his Pokemon and no one else, he had no choice but to steal food/supplies from stores / trainers so that they could survive

♡ He always felt guilty about it but ultimately doesn't regret the choice to take in order to survive, he was very relieved when he first started earning money as a trainer, and always heavily tipped places he'd taken from kind of like a silent apology

♡ Team skull noticed his talent for thieving, as well as his strength as a trainer, and this is why they hired him

♡ Guzma and Plumeria, despite everything, are held in a high regard to Gladion because they always helped him out and welcomed him in their own way

♡ They knew the other grunts didn't consider him truly Team skull and they knew Gladion didn't want to be, but they'd always help him out even when he didn't know/ want their help

♡ Guzma fronted Gladion the cash for his motel room and even though Gladion insisted on paying him back, Guzma didn't want too

♡ Plums always sneaks extra food / supplies in his bag when he isn't looking

♡ When Guzma sided with Lusamine it really hurt Gladion, though at the time he played it off like it wasn't a big deal it bothered him greatly, at the time he knew he had bigger problems than Guzma's betrayal though

♡ When Guzma changed to help out in the end Gladions heartbeat finally calmed down and he mentally grinned inside his head

♡ His biggest regret is not taking Lillie with him and Silvally

♡ He saved some money up from Pykumuku chucking and bought a little necklace from a boutique for Lillie, he sent it anonymously to aether ahead of Lillies birthday feeling imense guilt for missing her birthday, but despite the anonymous card1 Lillie knew it could of only been from Gladion

♡ Overtime Hau wears him down to the point Gladion enjoys the midnight malasada bromamce dates

♡ He was always so lonely growing up, apart from Lillie, but they only had each other. He never got to experience friendship and never learnt to speak to people so he lacked confidence and people skills.

♡ When Hau realises Gladion actually considers him a friend now he sobs (literally everywhere) and he and Gladion sit on the beach eating soggy, tear stained malasadas

♡ Nanu always looked out for Gladion from the shadows, keeping him out of real trouble with the law, never revealing to Gladion he's the true reason he only ever got a slap on the wrist rather then juvy or jail time

That's all I got for now but I'll probably do more bc Gladion is just the best! Might do some others too like hau maybe kukui & ya boi

[zeciex]

Here is a Pokémon team for our favorite overly ambitious manipulative Hand, Otto Hightower!

Mismagius:

"Mismagius usually shows up without warning to cause havoc on unsuspecting humans or Pokémon. If it is powerful, Mismagius can use advanced incantations for various purposes, such as causing misery or happiness. People that hear its cries will usually receive headaches and hallucinations."

I feel Otto would be interested in this one because, as a Ghost type, it can turn invisible and be the perfect spy. Also, its ability to cause misery and happiness in others I feel would serve Otto well.

Metagross:

"Metagross is the result of two Metang fusing together. This gives Metagross four brains in total, all connected by a complex network of neurons. Because of these complex connections and the number of brains, this Pokémon is capable of performing complex calculations and is more intelligent than a supercomputer. It is imbued with psychic powers and uses its intelligence to analyze its opponents during battle."

For this one, the massive intelligence of the Pokémon I feel would be the draw for Otto.

Malamar:

"Malamar possesses strong hypnotic powers, which are said to be the most powerful of any Pokémon. Malamar uses its hypnotic power to force others to do its bidding. Those under Malamar's control will lose their memories surrounding the event. People often utilize this ability for nefarious deeds. Malamar's hypnotic powers are said to have played a role in several history-changing events. It lures prey with the flashing pattern on its luminescent body and hypnotic motions, then ensnares them in its tentacles. The prey is then finished off with digestive fluids."

Do I really need to say why I think Otto would want this one?

Beheeyem:

"Beheeyem communicates by flashing its multi-colored fingers in patterns; these patterns have yet to be decoded. Beheeyem can manipulate the memories of its opponents, being able to erase or even rewrite them. When humans and Pokémon fall under its hypnosis, they will wear Beheeyem shaped masks. Beheeyem can used those under its control to speak to humans. However, this hypnotic power cannot work on beings who are not very smart."

Again, do I really need to say why I think Otto would be interested in this one?

Gothitelle:

"Gothitelle's immense psychic power can distort the space around it, showing visions of distant stars and past events, but it dislikes conflict. It can predict the future from the placement and movement of stars and weeps when it discovers the lifespan of its Trainer. It has a detached nature due to seeing how all life will eventually end. The visions Gothitelle shares are said to be apparently ethereal and beautiful."

I feel Otto would want a Gothitelle due to its ability to accuracy in seeing the future and its ability to share those visions with others. Otto could use Gothitelle's future sight to manipulate others, like Viserys, in addition to using its powers to aid him in preparation for future events. The only drawback for Otto is that Gothitelle dislikes conflict, which is what Otto's actions ultimately lead to, and might therefore not listen to Otto.

Weavile:

"Weavile live in snow-covered areas and are notorious predators. Weavile is famed for its speed and agility. Weavile is also known for its intelligence and cunning nature, thanks to its brain having developed as it evolves from Sneasel. A scratch from Weavile's sharp claws can cause frostbite. Weavile travel in packs of four or five, with one of them acting as the pack leader."

In addition to being smart and cunning, Weavile, as well as Sneasel, are known for being incredibly vicious, which would make it the ideal assassin for Otto. No need to rely or ask a Kingsguard to sneak in and assassinate members of the royal family when you have a Weavile.

As you've probably noticed, each of these Pokémon are smart on their own, which I feel Otto would look for in a Pokémon in order to fufill the missions he would give them. He wouldn't be looking for a partner in a Pokémon, rather he would see them as tools to help him gain influence and power, which each of these Pokémon can do in the court of King's Landing. Beheeyem and Malamar possess incredible mental manipulation, Mismagius can affect moods and act as a spy, Metagross is a living supercomputer, Gothitelle can see and share visions of the future, and Weavile would make a perfect assassin. Each of these Pokémon would help him get and keep power.

What do you think of these picks?

"I feel Otto would be interested in this one because, as a Ghost type, it can turn invisible and be the perfect spy. Also, its ability to cause misery and happiness in others I feel would serve Otto well." --YES!! That makes perfect sense and Otto would 100% use it this way!

Otto with a supercomputer (Metagross) is so scary lol But he'd so do whatever it takes to get it because, my god, he'd use it for his evil (patriarchal) plans.

"Do I really need to say why I think Otto would want this one?" No you fucking don't, because it's so obvious and makes so much sense for him, and once again, this is scary. The fact that Otto would be able to mess with peoples memories is so insane but it's 100% in character for him.

Your assessment of Otto and his uses for these Pokémon are 100% correct and you've basically made him a super villain! I mean, he as a spy, a supercomputer, can manipulate emotions and memory, see the future and a quick and efficient assassin? There's no beating this roster.

[pokesmashorpokepass]

Gen V, Complete!

Hooray! We've taken, shall we say, a full smash census of the Unova Region's most smashable Pokemon!

As such, let us proceed with the customary look at this generations...

Sultans of Smash!

(Which, as I'm sure y'all are aware of by now, is just a fancy way of saying they got more "Smash" than "Pass" votes.)

So let's not delay further, how about we see what Gen V has to offer? Our Smashables are (under the Read More because oh man, as per usual, this gonna take a while):

1. Oh hey, looks like we're back to starting with the Grass Starter! But really, I shouldn't be too surprised, since said Grass Starter is the imposing yet regal Serperior! At 72.9% Smashable we're starting Unova off strong with a Pokemon of such noble bearing we can't help but stand at attention in the face of such a glare.

2. And next on the list, we have our Fire Starter, Emboar! With plenty to love, a charming hot-bloodedness, and a warmth both physical and emotional, it's easy to see how they earned that 68.9% Smash rating!

3. Samurai have always had a certain romance about them, not to dissimilar to the romances of European knights. And with our Water Starter, Samurott, we can see this romance (or at least a kind of romance) is alive and well! Whether it's Unovan Samurott's resemblance to a more standard samurai (and 60.1% Smash rating) or the more black knight/ronin-esque Hisuian variant (and said variant's 70.9% rating), it's clear many will be romantically interested in this samurai.

4. Seems Weavile isn't the only thief to take hearts, because we have the very literal cat burglar Liepard sneaking their way into the Sultans of Smash! As that 64.2% Smash rating demonstrates, this cat has more than just razor sharp claws in their arsenal of tools.

5. Like a bolt from the blue, it's time for the Reaper Rev- Wait, wrong series. But, incorrect references aside, our next entry does make their way onto the list from out of the blue! Zebstrika, everyone's favorite zapping zebra, has charged their way onto the list with a 55.4% Smash rating!

6. Our next entrant, I dunno what I can say about them, other than the fact that I really had to force myself to put in that "I dunno" part in the beginning there because in nearly every language, their name is a pun that means being unsure if you know the answer to a question! As you can probably guess from that, it's Audino! Not hard to see how they got here, they're cute! They're lovable! They help at Pokemon Centers! They have a 56.5% Smash rating! And, they have a Mega Evolution with a strong 67.7% rating! What can I say, everyone loves the healer! (Well the reasonable people do.)

7. You guys have a thing for parental figures, don't y'all? Why do I ask? Because next on the list we have Leavanny, the Nurturing Pokemon! With a 71.2% Smash rating, I reiterate on my point that y'all seem to have a thing for more parent-like Pokemon. Although... I suppose, considering Leavanny's habit of making plants into wearable accessories and clothes, Leavanny has the benefit of being the most likely Pokemon to make you a flower crown! And I gotta admit, hard not to appreciate a gesture like that.

8. This next one, some of y'all seemed surprised about! But me? I saw them coming a mile away, I have seen my fair share of people gushing about this Pokemon! Who is it? Why, it's none other than Scolipede! Just shy of the 70% mark with a still-majorly-impressive 69.9% Smash rating, looks like this massive bug's cool looks have attracted more than you'd think!

9. Nobility takes many forms, as seen by our next Sultan's two forms! But no matter what form Lilligant takes, her elegance and grace are evident! Whether it's the more princess like Unovan Lilligant (67.7% Smash rating) or the more sporty and athletic Hisuian Lilligant (68.7% Smash rating), the beauty of this noble flower cannot be denied.

10. Oh hey, a middle evolution! Haven't seen one of these in a while! All said though I am not surprised. Have you ever heard the expression "Girls want bad boys"? Because even though not all of y'all are women and not all Krokoroks are dudes, I think that same principal still applies! If nothing else, that 52.4% Smash rating seems to indicate something!

11. But obviously, the badder the dude, the more people want them. This is definitely real science, look we have Krookodile to prove it! They're basically the baddest crocodile ever, and they've got a solid 64.8% Smash rating to back up the conclusion!

12. When exploring the Relic Castle, one must beware any sarcophagus they see, for it may actually be a Cofagrifus! At least, I say beware, but judging by that 55.5% Smash rating, I suspect many of y'all would respond to my warning with a hearty "Don't threaten me with a good time!" And to each their own, but I'd just like to say maybe catch them first so the smashing can be done much more safely?

13. This next Pokemon may be a master of illusions, but you know what isn't illusory? Everyone's love for them! That's right, it's the Pokemon I personally was most looking forward to, Zoroark! And Oh Boy, they pulled Some Numbers, both Unovan and Hisuian alike. Coming in at a whopping 84.5% Smash and an equally impressive 84.2% Smash respectively, I'm glad to report that these two have dethroned previous record holder Hisuian Typhlosion within the vaunted ranks of the Gods of Smash! And yes, I'm counting them together as co-holders of the record. The percentages are so close I'm convinced the difference in numbers is pretty much just because they got different numbers of votes. Yes, it seems Zoroark's popularity from back when Gen V was young never really waned.

14. Anyways, coming down from the high of our new Gods of Smash, we find ourselves in the presence of the lovely Cinccino and her classy feather boa-esque fur! Coming in at a 51.5% Smash rating, seems this chinchilla cleans up quite nicely.

15. So many people love goth fashion, which is understandable as that shit rules. So it's probably no surprise that Gothitelle, who may as well be called the Goth Pokemon, managed to get a 61.9% Smash rating! They don't seem surprised either, they probably foresaw it with their powers...

16. I'm gonna be honest, I've genuinely got nothing for this one, they came out of left field for me. Reuniclus and their 50.9% Smash rating! I mean, considering they're a kind of slime creature maybe I shouldn't be too surprised (I've seen some very risque slime people art), and yet somehow I am.

17. People do love a majestic stag. Their great antlers, their graceful form and movements, some even consider them an embodiment of nature itself. So it's kinda fitting on multiple ends that our next Sultan is Sawsbuck, the embodiment of the seasons! Pulling a 56.3% rating in Spring Form, a 53.7% rating in Summer Form, a 60.3% rating in Autumn Form, and a 63.2% rating in Winter Form, Sawsbuck has something for any enjoyer of any season (Especially the colder season fans it seems).

18. On next Sultan, I must say there's a lot to appreciate. Their Typing paired with Levitate, their sucker-shaped mouth having many applications for smashing, the electricity for those of y'all into that, they have it all. Yes, it's true, Eelektross has made it into the Sultans of Smash with a 51.9% Smash rating! I'd call it shocking, but the only thing shocking here is their type. It's a shame Eelektross doesn't have any bioluminescence though, imagine the pun! (If they lit up they'd be a Lamprey! *Ba-Dum-Tss*)

19. Swinging onto the list with all the subtlety of a battleaxe, it's Haxorus! Packing some very nice armor, a head like a fine axe, and a 59.6% Smash rating, this dragon warrior is primed for more than battle!

20. When they say everybody was kung-fu fighting, what they don't tell you is everybody was doing it in hopes of impressing this next Sultan of Smash. Mienshao, the next entry on our list, showcases the power and skill of a martial artist to great effect, earning themselves a 70.5% Smash rating! By the way, did you know smashing is actually a decent form of exercise? So you know, you could call it "Training" and technically not be incorrect!

21. It's official: You dig Giant Robots, I dig Giant Robots, We dig Giant Robots! How do I know? Because of this next Pokemon, Golurk! But with Golurk being that big it's only fair their heart is sized to match. And at a 51.3% Smash rating, it's clear this Golurk isn't just for show.

22. Everybody crazy about a Sharp Dressed Man, so of course it stands to reason that Bisharp would make the list! Ranking at a 53.6% Smash rating, it’s obvious Bisharp is the Sharpest Dressed Pokemon of all.

23. Normally, with this Pokemon, there's a certain image that comes with saying they eat everything. But for many of y'all, I think Hydreigon's gonna be doing a different kind of eating. But hey, three mouths! That 61.5% Smash rating agrees with me there.

24. This next one, holy shit I actually had to keep checking over the poll period because this is the closest to a tie we've had since Persian! But it seems the sun has finally risen on this one's victory... Wait, that's not the sun, it's said victor, Volcarona! Coming in with a 50.2% Smash rating! Their smashability shines as brightly as they do, it seems.

25. With steely gaze, a heart of justice, and several literary references to The Three Musketeers, We move on to our first Gen V Legendary, Cobalion! Achieving a 50.4% Smash rating, Cobalion surely has some of the romance of the Original Three Musketeers in them.

26. But if you know The Three Musketeers, you likely know Athos (whom Cobalion is the closest equivalent to) was never the lady killer of the group. Who was, the uninitiated among you may ask? Well, that would be Aramis, whom Virizion stands in for! And indeed, Virizion seems to have definitely inherited the casanova trait from their literary inspiration, if that impressive 62% Smash rating is any indication!

27. And with this next one, the truth is obvious: Reshiram is Smashable! 69.9% Smashable, to be precise! But it's no surprise, this white dragon has much to offer, such as luxurious fur and a willingness to stand by their partner! Also this official trading card that gives them Bishōnen vibes.

28. But we can't have just Reshiram, we need to have their counterpart so as to maintain an ideal balance! Thankfully, we do! Zekrom has also made the list with a fine 68.4% Smash rating! Thus we do have both Yin and Yang here in the Sultans.

29. Did you know there's a term for a void of sorts relating to yin and yang? It's wuji, an absence of either element. And boy howdy do we have a Pokemon for that in Kyurem! That said, Kyurem is another case of "Only the Alternate Forms make it in". White Kyurem gets in with a 56.3% Smash rating, and Black Kyurem gets in with a 52.7% Smash rating. Still, it's good to know there's at least one form of Kyurem that won't leave you with a void in your heart.

30. And last but certainly not least, we have the final Sultan of Smash in Gen V, Meloetta the Mythical Muse! She dances! She Sings! She achieves a 66% Smash rating in Aria Forme and a 61.3% Smash rating in Pirouette Forme! She does it all for the joy of the people. Though we do still have one question regarding Meloetta... Will they ever bring back the mentions of her supposed red shoes she was mentioned to have lost in Gen V? We may never know...

And so, it is time to close the book on the Gen V Who's Who of Smashing. Having brought ourselves to an impressive total of 118 Sultans of Smash, I must say to keep a close eye on this blog, because Gen VI's list will hit sooner than you think!

[sneasedtomeetyou]

:{ A Video file is embedded. Valencia Island, Orange Archipelago. 10/24/24 8:40 pm. }:

The first thing you can make out is the sound of shaky breathing and the rustling of leaves, the shaky vision of the camera and the darkness of the surroundings make it hard to really make out much else. There’s a rushed, hurried feeling to it, and more than once the camera or what one can assume to be one of the subjects of the video runs into an unexpected branch and there's a moment of hushed laughter before moving on. 

Much of the video goes on like this, a few minutes of this stumbling journey before finally they slow, heavy breaths in the new quiet- well as quiet as the deep forest can truly be- overtaking the small… trail? There's a flash that blinds the camera for a moment (and the cry of a much perturbed Porygon inside of it) and a quiet Kantonian command before the gentle glow of a Mareep’s star-shaped tail dimly lights up the scene, letting us see it sort-of clearly for the first time. 

To call this a trail is generous at best, overgrown and forgotten over the years, but it seems to be of little consequence to our subjects, aside from the stray leaf or stick in their hair. At the head of our ‘adventuring party’ is Bellamy, obviously the most affected by the ordeal, leaning on their cane, laughing softly at Casimir who is, well, absolutely not all that affected. Casi twirls in place, a manic sort of energy and excitement radiating through him that even the Gardevoir and Meowscarada trailing behind them seem to have trouble not finding a little humor in. Her Weavile seems to be much more preoccupied with the forest around them, alert and casting glances in every direction. 

“That was perfect we should do that again we should do that a hundred times actually I think Ai—”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself Tenshi, there's still a ways to go from here.” There's an affection behind the words, despite the warning. “We have to go, there’s n—”

Amy’s words are cut short by Casi grabbing them by the shirt collar and pulling them down into an excited, almost desperate kiss that seems to take the wind and any real fight out of the taller woman(?), melting a little bit into the touch. When Casi finally lets her go, there's a redness creeping across their cheeks that is just possible to catch.

“I uh- right. We um. We need to go.” 

“Sure thing, Kemansou~”

Casimir prances ahead down the trail before Amy can quite react. After a shake of the head they curse under their breath and with a laugh they, and the rest of the group, turn to follow her into the dark. 

:{ Transcript ends. }:

[professor-amaryllis]

:{ A Video file is embedded. Airship Station, Valencia Island, Orange Archipelago. 10/24/24 9:57 pm. }:

It's quiet here, and dark as the video starts. Crowded forest has been replaced by clear skies, a just-waning moon shining down from the starry sky. As the camera looks around it begins to become clearer where we find ourselves- the blinking lights and quiet movement of airship docks below, slower now in the darkness but not dead, the dark shape of one or two ships or blimps docked below and the bustle of passengers or cargo being loaded and unloaded.

The camera turns completely around, showing us more of the platform we find ourselves on, dark aside from the caution lights at the edges- both to stop a collision and to warn of the dangers of falling. It seems to be the highest of the docks, free from any prying eyes above and disused so late at night, abandoned if not for the odd group standing here in the mareep-light.

There’s a nervous sort of energy in the group, whatever euphoria that had run through them seemingly sapped by the trek down the mountain. Amy counts on their free hand, doing some kind of mental math while muttering under their breath to their ‘mareep’ who follows them as they pace, limping and leaning heavily on their cane. Casi checks in with the other pokemon, talking in hushed tones to the Meowscarada and Gardevoir- a half conversation we can only hear a few words of, as telepathy can’t be recorded. Her weavile prowls at the outskirts of the gathering, his feathers raised and wary. 

After a moment Amy nods and returns to the others, a look between the two trainers and a nod signifying an agreement on… something?

Everything happens almost at once.

With a hand signal from Amy, their ‘mareep’’s tail begins to brighten, the light slowly flashing and humming at a brightness that even in video is hard to look directly at. Casi returns the Meowscarada and calls her weavile back to her, gathering him in her arms. 

A loud, deafening noise grows around them as the air shifts, whipping hair and fabric about in a frenzy. The ‘mareep’ is recalled, for one drawn out moment leaving everything in darkness…

The noise grows and grows until it feels like it can't possibly get any louder, the camera practically shaking from it and then- with a burst of blinding light- a spotlight shines down on the party, silhouetting them against the source of the sound.

:{ What the fuck is that??!! ‘:3 }:

The helicopter hovers a few dozen feet above them, pattered after a Yanmega but what catches the eye is the bright, loud, undeniable logo. Team phobia.

As the door slides open Corky leans out over the open air, a smug looking grin as she shouts what must be some snarky quip- that's entirely drowned out by the sound of the blades. Behind her a concerned looking Armarouge reaches out a hand to make sure she doesn't topple directly out. Amy seems to shout something in return, whatever it is has the pair step back from the door and-

With a flash the small group is teleported from the ground and into the space where Corky just stood, up in the… up there… and we are still watching… from down here….

:{ WHAT??!! DON’T LEAVE ME DOWN HERE!! 3:’ }:

The camera jerks and shakes, becoming unstable as it jolts ahead. The feed cuts to black.

:{ Transcript ends. }:

[bubblegumbuck]

I love drawing complex Bgs in pokemon art there are jusr so many silly objects you can make

[lesbianmichelmishina]

theories on how the hisuian variants/species went extinct:

sneasler: outcompeted by invasive weaviles. yes, sneasler has a type advantage, but that's not everything. weaviles are explicitly stated to be pack hunters while sneaslers are solo. sneasler has the higher attack, but weavile is faster. a pack of coordinated weaviles could take out a sneasler before the sneasler could even fully react. weaviles are also dark-types, so underhanded tactics are kind of their thing: stealing from sneaslers, setting up traps, sneak attacks... incidentally, this is part of what wiped neanderthals out. sapiens were smaller and weaker, so had to get more creative, which lead to us gaining the advantage with things like the atl-atl.

avalugg: look i'm sorry but ice/rock is a godawful typing. two quad weaknesses and four normal weaknesses? not to mention that hisuian avalugg sacrifices its special stats for speed compared to the kalosian, but that extra 10 speed is useless when the end result is only thirty-eight. it's a big target, it's slow, it's not going to do well.

zoroark: human hunting, probably. it's the 1800s, people only barely have an idea of conservation. if an animal/pokemon is seen as a threat to humans, it gets wiped out. the dark-type variant got away with it by just being a prankster, but the hisuian form is outright hostile to humans.

overqwil: the hisuian qwilfish is not a water-type, but it lives in water. that's... not ideal. probably got outcompeted by tentacruel, which fills a similar niche as an aquatic poison-type.

wyrdeer/kleavor: probably not actually gone completely - people just lost how to get them to evolve.

ursaluna: similar to the above, but i want to point out that outside of outbreaks, there is only ONE wild ursaluna in the game, and that one is a special case. ursaring is already a massive predator. can the ecosystem even handle multiple ursalunas in the same area? it might actually be beneficial for ursarings to not evolve.

basculegion: firstly, the white-striped basculin is noted to be very docile compared to its unovan counterparts. secondly, most of the game's basculins are found in the coastlands. firespit island will one day become stark mountain, and based on the relative sizes of the islands and the apparent fertility of the area around stark mountain, i'm guessing that a volcanic eruption happened between PLA and DPPt. take the two together, and basculin may not have been aggressive enough to survive in the suddenly much more hostile environment.

arcanine: again, fire/rock is just a bad typing, especially for something that lives so close to water. the upheaval caused by this hypothetical eruption could have been enough to push the growlithes and arcanines over the edge.

lilligant: i'm genuinely not sure. i guess maybe that gaping flying weakness let roserade outcompete it?

braviary: weaviles again. psychic/flying vs dark/ice, in an environment that the dark/ice-type is perfectly suited for? yeah, whoever introduced weaviles to sinnoh really fucked up.

electrode: honestly wouldn't be surprised if they all just lost the grass-type and became the modern version when modern pokeballs were invented. even today, top pokemon researchers are baffled.

[ohthehypocrisy]

Lanturn for Pokemon Unite!

Season 1

Season 2

Prev: Cradily - Hatterene - Tropius - Cacturne - Ditto - Weavile - Ogerpon - Coalossal - Gogoat - Galarian Slowbro - Luxray - Breloom - Uxie, Mesprit, & Azelf - Wobbuffet - Obstagoon

When pokemon turns an existing animal into an inspired creation, there are loads of creative liberties that need to be taken in order to blend together realism with fantasy. Like a two headed giraffe or a metal pincher monster bug. Lanturn as a pokemon is very far removed from its real life counterpart, but I don't hear anyone complaining about it, especially knowing what angler fish really look like.

Instead, what we got is an adorable little light fish that can brighten up anyone's day. Let's see if it can bring that positive attitude to Pokemon Unite.

-

I'll be honest, I always forget that Lanturn has a very high HP stat, as it doesn't look that fat in its sprite. Maybe it has a bit of chub to it, but most fatty fish live in the cold, like the arctic or the deep...dark. Ah, I get it. Well, HP is Lanturn's most impressive stat for sure, but its other numbers are pretty underwhelming. All that Lanturn has going for it is high HP and a helpful night light, so for that reason, I designate Lanturn with the role of a...

Supporter

-

Basic Attack - Ranged/Sp. Attack

The user casts light from its antennae, enveloping all pokemon in its warming glow. While glowing, ally pokemon have their hindrances weakened and hastened. This glow expands when Bubble, Ion Deluge, or Bubble Beam are within range.

The light glow envelops and affects the area all around the user. The range is equal to that of a ranged basic attack.

Allies within the basic attack will receive 50% less effects from hindrances. These hindrances also have their duration halved.

Chinchou and Lanturn are not protected by these effects.

The basic attack button must be held to use this effect. Mashing the button causes the light to turn on and off, making it less effective.

Bubble, Ion Deluge, and Bubble Beam expands the range of this light glow by 25% while the moves are within the area of effect.

Hindrances are everywhere in Pokemon Unite, so it helps to have some sort of protection against these effects. Like a bright candle, Lanturn's basic attack casts away these hindrances as if they were shadows in the night.

Well, it's not exactly hindrance protection, since that would be OP for a basic attack. Instead, Lanturn's basic attack weakens the effect of hindrances and hastens their duration, making them half as effective overall when inflicted. A 1 second Stun is shortened to 0.5 seconds, and a debilitating debuff is weakened substantially while in the glow of your basic attack.

This is great and all, but it does require Lanturn to be within range of its teammates in order to provide this protection. As if that's a bad thing, Supporters are supposed to support, you know?

However, the protection granted by this basic attack does not affect Lanturn itself, since it is used to having the lights on all the time. One stray hindrance can stop Lanturn from casting its light briefly, compromising the safety of the team. If you don't want to get singled out by the enemy, make sure the team you're supporting also supports you.

Support the Supporters.

-

Ability: Illuminate

Reveals any invisible or hiding enemies nearby. Reduces damage received from affected enemies by 75%.

Opposing pokemon hiding in Tall Grass or under the effects of Stealth and Invisibility will be revealed to you and all allies while they're within the area of effect of Illuminate.

It should be noted that Illuminate will not cancel the Stealth or Invisibility effects of opposing pokemon when revealed, such as Sableye's Shadow Sneak or Dragapult's Shadow Force.

If an enemy is exposed to the anti-Stealth effect of Illuminate, the damage they deal to Chinchou/Lanturn is reduced by 75%. If they deliberately reveal themselves, the damage reducing effect of Illuminate will not activate.

Invisibility effects have been as terrifying as they are annoying, ever since the beginning of the game. Greninja's Smokescreen and Gengar's Unite Move, Phantom Ambush, were sneaky but fair, but things got really bad with the introduction of Sableye's Prankster ability.

Now, most of these invisibility effects have markers that pop up when these tricky jokesters are nearby, but that doesn't make it less frustrating when one pops up out of nowhere and ruins your plans. And don't even get me started on the ambush plays from Tall Grass.

If you've cried about these invisibility effects before, it sounds like you need a Lanturn on your team. Lanturn's ability, Illuminate, reveals enemies in hiding when they are nearby. It doesn't matter if they're invisible or camping out in Tall Grass, Lanturn's light will reveal them to the enemy team.

If an invisible enemy is revealed and tries to attack Lanturn, the Illuminate ability will drastically soften the blow. It has something to do with the bright light shining right into their eyes and limiting their power or something like that. The point is, if Lanturn leads the way with its bright light, any enemy revealed by Illuminate will have their opening attack greatly reduced.

This effect only works on enemies exposed by Illuminate, so if the opponent comes out of hiding, the damage reduction effect will not trigger. Lanturn is pretty bulky for a Supporter, but any amount of burst damage will KO you, so wade these dark waters carefully.

Cast away the darkness, our shining glimmer of hope.

-

At the beginning of the game, Lanturn will start out as Chinchou. You can choose between Flash and Bubble as your first move. By Level 2, you'll have learned both.

-

Move 1: Flash

The user emits a bright light directly forward, damaging enemies and obscuring their vision if they were directly facing the user. Bubble expands the range of this attack. 8s cooldown.

Similar to Sableye's Unite Move, Phantom Ambush, Flash will only obscure the vision of opposing pokemon if they were directly facing you. The Vision Obscuring effect lasts for 3 seconds.

If Bubble is in range, Flash expands by 50%. Ion Deluge and Bubble Beam do this too, but Flash gets replaced first after evolving so this most likely won't happen.

Camera Flash Emoji. That's basically what the move Flash is, an unexpected blast of light in your general direction.

Now, that bright light does disorient the enemy if you manage to hit them in the face with this attack. Just like how Absol's Pursuit is reliant on the position of the enemy, Flash requires the enemy to look at you when you light up. It's a great way to punish the enemy for trying to go for a push, as a direct hit will obscure their vision for 3 seconds.

The range may be a bit hard to get used to, though. You can increase it with Bubble, since light refracts off of reflective surfaces. Bubble is your other move, by the way.

-

Move 2: Bubble

The user shoots a water bubble directly forward. When an ally crosses paths with Bubble, it envelops them and grants them a small shield. The bubble will pop if an enemy touches it. 6.5s cooldown.

Bubble as a projectile stops moving shortly after it is launched. It lingers in the air for about 5 seconds before it pops, damaging nearby enemies.

An ally can touch the bubble to gain 5% shield. An ally can only take one bubble shield at a time. Chinchou and Lanturn cannot receive this shield.

Bubble covers an ally with a visible veil of water when it grants them a shield. Flash, Confuse Ray, and Signal Beam have their range expanded if an ally with this shield effect is also in range.

Bubbles are fun. They're bouncy, they make a nice little pop when they blow up, and they also double as a protective barrier made of water to ward against the elements. Ok, maybe not like that, but if they were big enough, they could be.

As an attack, Bubble has Chinchou or Lanturn launch a water orb directly forward. It doesn't reach very far nor does it hit hard, but it does two things for you and your allies.

For one, Bubble refracts light, so it will extend the reach of Flash, and Confuse Ray or Signal Beam when you learn it. This makes it easier to hit multiple enemies at once with your moves, possibly disorientating the entire opposing team. That's a bit dramatic for what's supposed to be an early game move, but it's possible.

For your teammates, it grants a weak shield that they can use and wear like a protective barrier. I mean, it's just water, so it's not a very big shield, but any amount is helpful, especially for the weak power level of the early game.

Both effects can be utilized at once, as the bubble shield isn't just a visual effect. It'll still expand the range of Flash and your other moves while it's being worn by an ally, so you have a very good shot of winning the 2-v-2 fight in the Top or Bottom Lane.

Remember to say cheese.

-

At Level 5, Chinchou evolves into Lanturn. At the same time, Flash becomes either Confuse Ray or Signal Beam.

-

Move 1a: Confuse Ray

The user flashes a sinister light directly forward, damaging nearby enemies. If an opposing pokemon was directly facing the user, they will be forced to approach the user. Bubble, Ion Deluge, and Bubble Beam expands the range of this move. 6s cooldown.

At Level 10, Confuse Ray becomes Confuse Ray+.

The flash comes out faster. Reduced cooldown.

Just like Flash, Confuse Ray affects enemies that directly faced the user when the move comes out. Affected enemies will be forced to move towards the user for 1.25 seconds and cannot attack or use items while controlled.

It takes Confuse Ray 0.75 seconds to come out as a conical flash of light. Confuse Ray+ reduces this startup time to 0.25 seconds and reduces the cooldown of the move to 5 seconds.

If Bubble, Ion Deluge, or Bubble Beam are within range, the area of effect expands by 30%.

Sometimes a teammate overestimates their abilities and they overextend. It happens sometimes. It just sucks that they get KO'd and the EXP they drop powers up the opposing team, turning a handsome Level advantage into a detrimental stalemate. We all have that lapse in judgement now and then, but what if it happens because of an attack?

The hypnotic effects of Confuse Ray forces all who directly observe the beam to be drawn into the light. It's not meant to deal big damage, but rather to disrupt the enemy team's positioning and create an opening for you and your team. It pulls Defenders and All-Rounders closer towards you, away from their backup, and exposes them to the hungry jaws of your vengeful teammates.

Of course, Confuse Ray needs to actually hit the enemy dead on, which is easy enough. Except that the whole hypnotic effect is a little too overpowered, even when it's brief, so Confuse Ray comes with a short 3/4th of a second charge time before the flash comes out. This makes it very slow, but hey, this means that any enemy that gets hit by the flash can't complain about the move being hard to dodge. At least Confuse Ray+ shortens the charge time and cooldown, but even still, don't look at it and you'll be fine.

It also doesn't help Lanturn all that much if they land the Confuse Ray attack but they don't have any allies nearby to capitalize on the effect. Can't really do much damage by yourself, now can you?

If you want another way to confound the enemy, maybe Signal Beam is preferred.

-

Move 1b: Signal Beam

A confounding beam of sound and light is fired directly forward. If this move deals constant damage to an enemy, they will be Stunned for a considerable amount of time. Bubble, Ion Deluge, and Bubble Beam expands the range of this move. 9.5s cooldown.

At Level 10, Signal Beam becomes Signal Beam+.

It takes less damage to confuse the enemy.

Signal Beam deals constant damage over time in the designated direction. It continuously fires in the designated direction and can be directed with the right control stick while Signal Beam is active. Signal Beam lasts for 5 seconds.

If Signal Beam deals 15% total damage to an enemy, that enemy will be Stunned for 2 seconds. Signal Beam+ reduces this requirement to 12.5% damage.

This effect only occurs if Signal Beam deals damage directly to the enemy. It must deal damage directly to the enemy's HP, not their shields or other protective effects. Sp. Defense buffs do not impede this effect.

Signal Beam will have its range extended by 30% if it crosses paths with Bubble, Ion Deluge, or Bubble Beam.

I never quite understood Signal Beam. I mean, I know it's a light type attack, but why is it a Bug Type move? It's one of those things about Pokemon that you roll with, even though you don't quite understand it.

I know Lanturn understands how to use Signal Beam, though, as the move casts not only light, but also sound and energy. By focusing this attack through its antennae, it scrambles the air waves in such a way that prolonged contact can cause confusion and hysteria, mostly confusion.

That's not an exaggeration either. If Signal Beam deals 15% direct damage to the enemy, they'll be hit with a debilitating 2 seconds of Stun. That's longer than most Sleep effects! And it's not like Lanturn's Sp. Attack stat is bad enough that it can't do this consistently, so how is it fair?

Well, the devil is in the details, and it requires that this be dealt to the enemy directly. Signal Beam can only Stun enemies hit directly and unprotected by any shields, of which they are really easy to get a hold of. You won't see Signal Beam accomplishing much attacking opponents on their own Goal Zone, as the shields and healing will counteract the effects of the move.

The move is pretty easy to avoid as well. The range of Signal Beam is pretty small, and requires Bubble, Ion Deluge, or Bubble Beam to extend the range to be a significant threat to the opposing team. But even so, the enemy can simply move out of the way of the beam before they take the full 15% damage. At least Signal Beam+ reduces this requirement to 12.5%, but at this point in the game, shields are very common, especially through Buddy Barrier.

Neither Signal Beam or Confuse Ray are very effective without any teammates around to back you up. You need an ally Attacker or Speedster to nab the KO on an enemy controlled by Confuse Ray and you need a Defender or Attacker to tear away shields so that Signal Beam can Stun something. Geez, playing as a Supporter by yourself must be frustrating.

But if you can get your team to cooperate, you can reward them greatly with the upgrade to Bubble.

-

At Level 8, Bubble becomes either Ion Deluge or Bubble Beam.

-

Move 2a: Ion Deluge

The user scatters electric particles forward, causing them to float in the air or attach to pokemon. When attached to an ally, the particles burst when the ally receives effects from a move, negating the effects and hindrances the move would inflict. When attached to an enemy, the particles burst when an ally damages them with a move, adding a brief Stun. 9s cooldown.

At Level 12, Ion Deluge becomes Ion Deluge+.

Scatters more ion particles in a wider area.

Ion Deluge unleashes three electric orbs that float in the air for 9 seconds. When attached to a pokemon, they will linger for 10 seconds. Ion Deluge+ scatters 5 orbs in a wider area.

When attached to an ally, Ion Deluge negates the effects and hindrances inflicted on them by opposing pokemon once, though it will not reduce damage received. An ally can only have one attached Ion Deluge particle at a time, though they can get more after it bursts.

When attached to an enemy, any damage received from an ally's moves gain 0.25 seconds of Stun. This Stun hindrance will not combine with any Stun hindrances used by other moves. Lanturn cannot activate this effect.

Similar to Bubble, Confuse Ray and Signal Beam have their range extended when an affected pokemon is in range of these moves.

There are some people out there that insist that electricity is good for you, in the sense that a small controlled amount is beneficial. Sort of like how slices of cucumbers in the eyes or boiling hot mud does wonders for one's skin complexion. Well, I suppose it must be good for something, because Lanturn has figured out how to use Ion Deluge to keep its teammates healthy with ailment warding electric particles.

Ion Deluge sticks to allies when it's thrown out, visible by a small field of crackling electricity. If an ally gets hit by a move that would inflict a hindrance or a debuff, the sparks pop and negate these effects. It won't reduce the damage received and only triggers once, but one instance of protection is what most All-Rounders or Defenders need to deal with problematic opponents. You can arm 3 out of your 4 teammates with these particles, or save them all for one reliable partner. You can only stick one particle to an ally at a time, but nothing is stopping them from reapplying the particles repeatedly.

It can also stick to enemies too, though it will do more harm for them. The particles will react to moves used by your team, bursting and Stunning the enemy briefly. And I mean briefly, as in, a quarter of a second brief. Most moves come with their own Stun effect, so it won't serve to exacerbate the hindrance any more than it already does. The point of the extra Stun is to add extra value to moves that can't Stun, like Decidueye's Spirit Shackle or Machamp's Cross Chop. In this way, you're helping allies make up for their shortcomings by augmenting their abilities.

Ion Deluge+ throws out more electric particles in a wider area, making it easier to influence the battlefield by affecting more pokemon. Also, don't forget that the particles expand the range of Confuse Ray and Signal Beam, drastically increasing your reach and ability to support the team. Whether the particles are floating about or they're protecting your allies like armor, your presence will be known, like a beacon in the darkness.

Shine on, little fish.

-

Move 2b: Bubble Beam

The user launches multiple bubbles forward, each one granting an ally a small shield. Multiple bubbles can be taken at once, combining to create a big shield. 7.5s cooldown.

At Level 12, Bubble Beam becomes Bubble Beam+.

Grants bigger shields.

A line of 4 bubbles is launched forward in the designated direction.

Each bubble grants 5% shield to an ally. Each one can also be taken by a single ally and combine to grant a 20% shield.

Bubble Beam+ has each bubble grant 6% shield, which can combine to grant a 24% shield to a single ally.

Bubble Beam bubbles linger in the air for 5 seconds before popping on their own. They will deal damage in a small area in this way but can also pop when an enemy touches one.

Just like Bubble, Bubble Beam grants allies a visible veil of water as a shield, which will expand the range of Confuse Ray and Signal Beam when used within range.

The shield granted by Bubble Beam will not exceed 24% if the cooldown is manipulated in such a way that multiple bubbles from different uses of Bubble Beam attach to an ally.

Now, as crazy as this sounds, maybe your team doesn't need hindrance protection. I know, this sounds really insane, but sometimes your allies are better equipped against hindrances than you'd expect. Or maybe your team is so squishy that any protection against hindrances won't matter. In that case, maybe with a big enough shield they can survive a surprise attack or two. Time to bring on the bubbles.

While Lanturn is perfectly capable of using high power moves like Hydro Pump or Discharge, it is responsible enough to take its role as a Supporter seriously that it is willing to power down to maintain this disposition. That, and Bubble Beam is the natural progression of the shield granting effect of Bubble, times 4.

Four bubbles, four of them. Each one provides a shield to an ally when they're picked up, and each one can combine to create an even bigger shield. Because of the low cooldown of the move, you can expect to reapply the shield to a different ally, improving your team's odds of winning the fight for an objective. I mean, you could have each teammate take one shield each, but the shield will be small as a result.

In the heat of battle, this will probably happen a few times, intentionally or not. Hey, it's better than nothing, and most of the time, it'll be a Defender or All-Rounder that will be caught in the middle. Attackers and Speedsters are responsible enough to not get caught in these full party scuffles, usually.

Bubble Beam also deals respectable damage, since the enemy might get in the way of the attack. You know, just in case they think they can take the shield for themselves. You can hit an enemy four times with each bubble, but then you'd have to wait for the move to come off of cooldown before you can use it again to give an ally a shield. If you're caught by the enemy all by yourself, though, it's a decent attack to rely on, and can pack some mean KO power.

It's like how, if you were to use the correct combination of items, you could turn a Supporter like Eldegoss or Blissey into a strong Sp. Attacker. Lanturn has a bit of edge in that regard.

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Unite Move: Spotlight Secure

The user casts a bright beacon that shines down on the battlefield. The beacon can be directed, shining down and highlighting opposing pokemon. If an opposing pokemon is exposed to the beacon, they will be Stunned briefly and have their vision obscured, and have their Defense and Sp. Defense reduced greatly for a while afterwards.

When activated, Spotlight Secure shifts the camera to zoom out and expand, and a spotlight with Lanturn's face beams downward onto the ground.

This spotlight beam can be controlled and moved around at a fixed speed to direct and highlight opposing pokemon, whether they are in hiding or invisible. Spotlight Secure lasts for 12 seconds or until Lanturn is damaged.

When the spotlight beam hits an opposing pokemon, they will be Stunned for 1.5 seconds and have their Vision Obscured for 2.5 seconds. Their Defense and Sp. Defense will also be reduced by 50% for 6 seconds. Spotlight Secure cannot affect an enemy twice.

Spotlight Secure can only shine down in a wide area around Lanturn and will not reach past this area of effect.

You ever used a magnifying glass to burn ants on a clear day? If you did, you will be judged, silently, but also you understand how this Unite Move works. I don't quite understand how Lanturn is able to control this massive beam of light from the ground, but we can pretend it's using Solar Beam. Oh wait, Lanturn can't learn Solar Beam. Uhh...

The light beam Lanturn is using for its Unite Move, Spotlight Secure, is filled with powerful electricity, which is why when an opposing pokemon is caught in the beam, it Stuns and blinds them momentarily. Now, the beam of light doesn't move all that fast, it's only normal movement speed that doesn't get affected by any modifiers, but it can be directed over walls and obstacles, which helps chase down enemies.

Really, it's their own fault for getting caught, as the beam is bright and obvious, what with Lanturn's beaming face visible in the light glow. It'll even reveal enemies that are hiding in Tall Grass or under any invisibility effects, though you won't have Illuminate helping you reveal enemies.

As far as Supporter Unite Moves go, Spotlight Secure is pretty powerful in how it hinders enemies and helps allies. I've already mentioned that it Stuns enemies for a little while and obscures their vision, but it also halves the Defense and Sp. Defense of enemies caught in the light. With proper coordination, you can turn what would've been an ambush into a reverse team wipe, as the enemy will be forced out of hiding with Spotlight Secure coming their way.

As powerful as this is, it does have one glaring drawback. Lanturn focuses a lot of energy into casting and maintaining this light show, so if it gets hits, it'll lose concentration and the Unite Move will be cancelled. This is really bad if you get caught, if. The range of Spotlight Secure is large enough that you don't need to be close to the battlefield to expose nearby enemies in hiding, though keep in mind that it doesn't reach everywhere.

Watch out for ambushes too. Just like how aiming Dragonite's Unite Move, Draco Impact, takes the focus of the camera away from the pokemon, Spotlight Secure requires you to visually aim and direct the beam of light while it's active. It's best used a fair distance away from Objectives like Regieleki or the Bottom Regi, as these are hotly contested areas and the opposing team may prefer to ambush your team in order to increase the odds of securing the lead. Just make sure your hiding spot isn't too obvious, as opposing Speedsters or Attackers can rush in to shut down your light show before you can make the enemy team see the light.

With a bright enough light, you can see anything, even one's inner soul.

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Achievements

Expand the range of either Confuse Ray or Signal Beam to affect multiple opposing pokemon at once.

Lanturn is very good at casting a bright light, so in order to master this pokemon, you must master the light yourself.

Both Confuse Ray and Signal Beam can combine with either Ion Deluge or Bubble Beam to extend their range, though actually affecting opposing pokemon will be the tricky part. Note that the achievement requires you to 'affect' opposing pokemon, not damage them. In order to score points with this achievement, you need to not only successfully hinder enemies with these moves, but you must do so while their range is expanded.

Not much else to it other than to plan carefully and coordinate with your allies. Confuse Ray has a bit of a short startup before flashing and Signal Beam requires constant damage to an enemy without a shield, so make sure you're well positioned to use either move.

And make sure you've got allies backing you up. Can't really extract any benefits from hindering the enemy without an ally nearby.

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Holowear

As far as looks go, Lanturn is a bit one-note. I mean, a dainty little orb of light on top of a fish doesn't really scream stylish, so let's spool together some fashion for this flashy fish.

Starting things off, Sleepy Style Holowear gives Lanturn a night cap, some comfy PJs, and an eye mask sitting under its antennae, to help those with anxieties about sleeping in the dark while not losing any sleep itself. Starry Style Holowear decorates Lanturn in star pins and ribbons to help make it shine like a star in the night sky, you know, more than it already does. Since that antennae helps with it catching prey, Fishing Style Holowear makes sense for it, giving it a fisherman's cap and a fishing vest. Huh, a fish going fishing. To help catch the bad guys, Enforcer Style Holowear gives Lanturn a police cap, a police suit, and a utility belt stocked with sprays, pellets, snacks, and a short stick baton. And finally, to make Lanturn the center of attention, Holiday Style Holowear dresses it up with red and white ribbons, sparkly wreaths of pine, baubles and ornaments, and fixes a star around Lanturn's gleaming antennae. To light up this starry night, holy night.

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Strategy

Lights, camera, action! Playing as Lanturn requires you to be very involved in combat with a fellow teammate in order to get the most out of your contributions. Because of how Lanturn's moves combo together, it also requires coordination with an ally and enough wit for them to capitalize on the openings you provide.

First off, let's recap on what the basic attack does for Lanturn. It's a wide ranged light glow that damages all enemies nearby, but the damage multiplier is weak for what your Sp. Attack stat is. The main point of the basic attack is to protect your teammates by limiting their exposure to hindrances. Reducing their effectiveness and duration by half is a very valuable ability, but it requires you to be nearby an ally suffering from a hindrance, and therefore near an enemy on the opposing team.

It's lights out if you get hit, though, as Lanturn cannot protect itself in this way, so a hindrance hitting you dead-on will be fully effective. You're already giving more for your teammates than what you're receiving, so it's on the teammate to protect you in kind.

Most Supporters operate best when fighting from the back row, as they can safely support the team and be as involved as they can in this way. Lanturn is just as effective leading forwards thanks to its Illuminate ability revealing hiding enemies. This would make it vulnerable to ambushes, but Illuminate also drastically reduces the damage of enemies exposed by your light glow, softening the blow from the impending surprise attack. With a fellow Attacker by your side, you can foil a sneak attack in this way, giving your team the edge when it comes to fights surrounding the objective.

As for the actual moves, Confuse Ray and Signal Beam are powerful hindrance moves, but they require proper execution as explained before. You can use the cover of Tall Grass to hide the charge time of Confuse Ray, but it'll be more effective in the confusion of a team fight, provided your bulkiest allies are at the forefront of the scuffle. Signal Beam is also more effective when defending a Goal Zone or around Objectives than opposing Goal Zones, since the enemy is guaranteed to have a shield provided to them. Although, it's better to hold your fire until the enemy team has exhausted their shields from Buddy Barrier and their opening moves that provide shields, like Charizard's Flare Blitz and Metagross's Gyro Ball.

Speaking of shields, the protections you can grant to allies through Ion Deluge or Bubble Beam are not to be underestimated. Ion Deluge can protect 3 teammates at once with ionized electric particles that mutes any debuffs and hindrances received from opposing moves, though it won't soften the damage received. Ion Deluge+ drops 5 ionized particles, which is more than enough for the whole team. Lanturn can't use these particles itself, but an ally can reapply a particle when one is used up, negating as many debuffs and hindrances received as they can take. Oh, and these particles do the opposite effect when stuck to teammates, adding a very brief amount of Stun to moves when they are received by a teammate.

They don't increase the damage taken, but that's fine. Ion Deluge is about neutralizing the effect of moves, not reducing their damage. Bubble Beam, on the other hand, is all about reducing damage, as each bubble provides a small shield, and each bubble can be combined to increase the shield received. It shoots out four bubbles, one for each ally, but the shield will be small in this way. It's better for one or two allies to split these shields up evenly, since shields don't last forever. Bubble Beam deals damage since Ion Deluge can't, but it deals a surprising amount of damage to enemies, considering Lanturn's ability to use high powered attacks like Surf and Thunder. Just because it's holding back doesn't mean it won't hurt.

Finally, we need to talk about the Unite Move, Spotlight Secure, once again. Since it requires all of your focus to aim and direct this move, using the Unite Move can leave you exposed to surprise attacks, especially long range moves like Lucario's Aura Cannon or Decidueye's Nock Nock. It only takes one hit to cancel the Unite Move, so make sure to pick a safe spot to cast this beam of light.

The range of Spotlight Secure is wide and vast, but it cannot reach everywhere. Say for instance, you use Spotlight Secure in the Tall Grass near the jump pads in Theia Sky Ruins in the Central Area. You can direct the light beam to as far as the central pit and some of the Tall Grass nearby, but not to the other side in Top or Bottom Lane. You can cast this paralyzing glow over some of the well known hiding spots around the Central Area, but not all of them.

The speed of the light beam is also static as well, you cannot affect this with an X Speed or anything like that since this is a Unite Move projectile, technically speaking. You can direct it over walls and obstacles, but you won't be able to chase down Speedsters or Attackers that really don't want to get caught. You also won't see invisible pokemon in view, unless they're within Illuminate range of Lanturn itself, though you'll have bigger problems to worry about in that instance.

The main appeal of Spotlight Secure is to use it in tandem with an ally and counter any ambushes the opposing team might try to pull off. If an ally is nearby a potential hiding spot, Spotlight Secure can safely cast down into the Tall Grass to check for enemies. If you guess right, the enemy will be Stunned for 1.5 seconds, blinded for 2.5 seconds, and have their Defense and Sp. Defense halved for 6 seconds. With the right teammate nearby ready to take advantage of the opening you create here, it will most likely be game over for the caught opponents.

You don't have to take a shot in the dark, when you've got a powerful light shining your way. The deep dark is yours to conquer.

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And that's Lanturn for Pokemon Unite! Just because a new generation of pokemon is over and done with doesn't mean we can't give some special attention to the favorites of old! I certainly appreciate the novelty of a Water and Electric Type, you know, before Rotom took it away. Ah well, time marches on.

That'll be it from me for this week. See ya!