Alolan Forms, New Pokemon, Island Challenges, and Z-Moves in 'Sun' and 'Moon'!

[Professor Palutena]

Theory I have:

We know each island has it's own Deity Guardian and I'm willing to bet that they have the same types as the Kahuna, as we know that Hala is the Melemele Kahuna and Tapu Koko is the Melemele Guardian (Tapu Koko was also seen under Hala's control). This might also mean that Sophocles is the Melemele Trial Captain, since he fits with the Electric theme.

So from this, I'm inferring that we're getting a regional quartet of fairies: Electric/Fairy, Water/Fairy, Grass/Fairy and Fire/Fairy.

 

[garbodorable]

Ok, I already mentioned this but I'm seriously getting bummed out over the possibility of gyms not existing in this game. I'm apparently in the minority but I really love the concept of the pokemon gym as a place designed for certain type of pokemon with puzzles, trainers and appropriate TM that you get after defeating the leader. I just get the feeling these challenges won't be as good (that grass type specialist is asking you to collect some ingredients instead of actually battling you). At best, I can hope that gyms are part of the challenge. I get that they are really turning the franchise upside down with this generation but I still find it hard to believe they would give up on gyms and elite four just like that.

I share your concern, partly because gym leaders are often my favorite characters in Pokemon, and partly because I'm worried there just won't be enough to do with only 4 big obstacles instead of 8. But there's a few things to think about:

1) The island trial puzzles could end up being more involved than gym puzzles usually are, since they're given much more space to work with. For instance, Kiawe's trial involves memorizing dance moves somehow, which sounds complicated and similar to what we might expect from a dancing-oriented gym leader. And they can be multi-stage too; in Lana's you might have to track down a raging pokemon, and then go through the steps to calm it down.

2) On top of that, each trial has both a Totem pokemon you must defeat, which is set up something like a gym battle, and a kahuna you must defeat, which is also like a gym battle. So that's kind of like 8 main battles. And they help to unlock the next step from island to island, so there should be a sense of progress like you get from gym badges and HM rewards. I'm especially intrigued by the Totem pokemon, since fighting a strong pokemon that summons others into the battle is not something we've experienced before in this series.

3) Some of the rumors have suggested that after you complete the island trials, you help to "build" a Pokemon league in Alola. It would be awesome if you can give gyms to some of the unique, strong trainers you faced along the way, and then go battle leveled-up versions of their teams. I doubt that will happen, or that it will be that involved, but a Pokemon League Management Simulator is a game I would totally play.

 

[ElfieIsLovely]

I feel like megas will return but they haven't spoke on them because they want this new Move Mechanic to shine because let's be honest for example let's say mega Flygon or Hydreigon was announced on the 12th it would steamroll these new bond moves and everyone would forget them, the popularity of Megas would steal the show. So they'll probably be announced late. Marowak will probably be like one of those fire man dancers in Hawaii, since he could be give the Alola treatment as his trainer specializes in Fire types but his ace is Marowak.

 

[JRMFTW]

Just way too much information to comprehend from this!
But one thing from this is certain, I WILL use the new Z-Move with my Magikarp and it will demolish it's enemies. >

 

[ElfieIsLovely]

Am I the only one naming My new sandshrew and Sandslash snowshrew and Snowslash respectively?

 

[Ami Dark]

Oh my God they made Delta Species a thing on the games. And apparently Trials replace gyms? Good riddance. Man, I feel like anything can happen from now on.

Ok guys now I'm hyped choo choo

EDIT: OMG guys what if Poké Rides replace friggin HMs???

Machoke, use Rocksmash!*Hops on Machokes back and rides him as he just walks into rocks over...and over...and over again*

 

[MrCoolViking]

Theory I have:

We know each island has it's own Deity Guardian and I'm willing to bet that they have the same types as the Kahuna, as we know that Hala is the Melemele Kahuna and Tapu Koko is the Melemele Guardian (Tapu Koko was also seen under Hala's control). This might also mean that Sophocles is the Melemele Trial Captain, since he fits with the Electric theme.

So from this, I'm inferring that we're getting a regional quartet of fairies: Electric/Fairy, Water/Fairy, Grass/Fairy and Fire/Fairy.

I think so, too! After all, I theorized such in an another, earlier thread:

Tapu Koko is the Guardian of Melemele Island, and apparently the other islands will have Guardians, too.

Since Tapu Koko is Electric/Fairy, I wonder if they will have the same Type Combo, or another?
If they are going to be different, I would guess that the Guardian of:

- The "Geyser Island" probably will be Fire/Fairy.
- The Notheastern Island will be Grass/Fairy.
- The Ice Mountain Island will be Ice/Fairy (or maybe Water/Fairy?).

What do you think?

I would love if it came true...! It would be my first...!

 

[Lorde]

Am I the only one naming My new sandshrew and Sandslash snowshrew and Snowslash respectively?

I actually said those names in one of my posts in this article. I'm totally doing that!

 

[Anees Azeemi]

Does anybody feels like mini meteor or minior seems related to solrock more than lunatone .It is definitely a pre-evolution (it's species meteor pokemon) to one or both of those pokemon. This could mean that they expand the Meteor family (maybe MEGA or Normal evolution are introduced). If Nintendo ends MEGA evolution I will be very upset (it was my favorite thing yet). This set of pokemon is pretty cool too(better than Bewear). Let's hope more alolan forms exists(wouldn't it be nice to discover sceptile's alolan form). And please nintendo find other alolan evolution types than Ice.

 

[Mitja]

:^)

In all seriousness though, besides continuously feeling that we're getting WAY TOO MUCH revealed again and again, I gotta say, yesterdays news get all my YES.
I love everything we got.

Alolan forms have 10 times as much potential for bringing fresh air for "returning old Pokemon" than Mega evolutions ever had, and not just temporary but permanent, while also being an implementation of "variations" that the fandom has been dreaming about to some degree.
I have 2 things that worry be in regards to them however:
1. Seeing how the only 3 shown so far are all genI-pokemon, I fear that this will be once again 90% focused on pandering to the first generation, some for gen2 and 3, while pretending the rest barely exist... for the love of this months event-pokemon, the newer generations deserve attention too...
2. so few shown and so many of them being "Ice type variations", that better not be handled as an excuse for not adding some legit new Ice designs. When I said "Ice needs more basic/generic evolutionary lines", I did not mean "Slap Ice type on existing basic/generic evolutionary lines"! /jk

The only part that didn't hype me THAT much are the Z-moves... I expected the "super moves" to be more akin true signature moves, rather than being golden-sun-summon-level-of-destruction-moves that come for each type, but why not.

 

[Lorde]

Does anybody feels like mini meteor or minior seems related to solrock more than lunatone. It is definitely a pre-evolution (it's species meteor pokemon) to one or both of those pokemon. This could mean that they expand the Meteor family (maybe MEGA or Normal evolution are introduced).

Minor is its own separate thing that just happens to seem like Solrock and Lunatone. It's not connected to Solrock or Lunatone in any way, as it's just a meteor. Also, since Pokemon hasn't done any evolutions or prevolutions if old Pokemon in almost a decade now, I don't think yell be doing it here either.

Mega Evolution however, is a different story. If it does exist, then I'd be surprised if we DIDN'T get Solrock and Lunatone Mega Evolutions. But since Mega Evolution is likely returning (though they're holding up on it so it doesn't grab attention from everything else).

 

[Sashlyr]

Alola description of Exeggutor:

"The environment of the Alola region, where strong sunlight pours down all year round, brought about this change in Exeggutor’s form. The people of Alola boast that the Alolan Exeggutor is the true form of Exeggutor."

Emerald dex entry of Exeggutor:

"Originally from the tropics, Exeggutor's heads grow larger from exposure to strong sunlight. It is said that when the heads fall, they group to form an Exeggcute."

Is very interesting, so the Alola Exeggutor IS the real form of Exeggutor?

 

[crystal_pidgeot]

The Poke Ride Pokemon should have been Pidgeot and not Charizard. Reasons;

1. Pidgeot can fly in strong wings, Charizard, cannot
2, Pidgeot's feathers are water resistant, like other birds while Charizard isn't and would be a liability
3, Pidgeot won't die if caught in a typhoon, Charizard will
4, Pidgeot can fly at mach 2, Charizard can't

There isn't any reason to choose Charizard for this for any other reason than it being Charizard and Im tired of more appropriate Pokemon being passed up for it. You're on a series of islands that attract storms with water everywhere. Who thought it would be a good idea for a Charizard to do this? I mean, did they not watch the first Pokemon movie?

This seems like an insurance scam...

 

[TrainerLoganPoke]

Bolt is right we probably will be able to gain egg moves from these forms which can be really cool.


On an unrelated note I hate that everyone just assumes that there won't be gyms because of the challenges.

 

[Team Rocket Fan]

does anyone else get the feeling that we won't be getting any new mega evolutions this generation?

Exactly what I was thinking! But we can't be sure just yet. Maybe they want to introduce these first. I think Megas are here to stay. At least I hope

 

[Celever]

The Poke Ride Pokemon should have been Pidgeot and not Charizard. Reasons;

1. Pidgeot can fly in strong wings, Charizard, cannot
2, Pidgeot's feathers are water resistant, like other birds while Charizard isn't and would be a liability
3, Pidgeot won't die if caught in a typhoon, Charizard will
4, Pidgeot can fly at mach 2, Charizard can't

There isn't any reason to choose Charizard for this for any other reason than it being Charizard and Im tired of more appropriate Pokemon being passed up for it. You're on a series of islands that attract storms with water everywhere. Who thought it would be a good idea for a Charizard to do this? I mean, did they not watch the first Pokemon movie?

This seems like an insurance scam...

I wouldn't count out Pidgeot just yet actually! Already in promo art we've got an example of a trainer riding Tauros, even though the main Pokémon being ridden when the feature was shown off was a Mudsdale, and looking at XY Rhyhorn, Gogoat, Mamoswine and Skiddo can also all be ridden, and they all control a little differently. It's incredibly unlikely for there to only be one flying Pokémon we can ride. I mean, we already know that Mega-Lati@s can be ridden a la Poké Ride, and given the lack of super iconic flying Pokémon, Pidgeot is a good candidate to get the spot, so I wouldn't start complaining so hardcore just yet! Other Pokémon I think would be good include Tropius (and its almost certain Alola forme) and Noctowl for late night fliers. Other Water-Type Pokémon could also include Lanturn if Dive is in this game (and I really hope it is), and maybe Wailord for pure hilarity! We've only just been introduced to this mechanic, so there's a lot of creativity and depth I think we're yet to see.

 

[Keeper of Night]

Alola description of Exeggutor:

"The environment of the Alola region, where strong sunlight pours down all year round, brought about this change in Exeggutor’s form. The people of Alola boast that the Alolan Exeggutor is the true form of Exeggutor."

Emerald dex entry of Exeggutor:

"Originally from the tropics, Exeggutor's heads grow larger from exposure to strong sunlight. It is said that when the heads fall, they group to form an Exeggcute."

Is very interesting, so the Alola Exeggutor IS the real form of Exeggutor?

I brought this up in skype, but if they continue this trend, there's really no telling how many of the Pokemon we have now could actually be a regional variant, and we never could have known. Hippowdon is my favorite example. Maybe there's a water equilivant for it out there somewhere? Maybe the only reason we found the Ground type in Sinnoh was because that was the environment it was drove to to take on a Ground form? There's so many possibilities now. Anything can happen!
I can only hope they keep up the regional form trend, because it is probably the coolest thing that Pokemon has done since adding shiny forms in GSC.

 

[TrainerLoganPoke]

Is anyone else hoping for Crawdaunt to get an alolan form purely so we can finally learn where it came from.

 

[garbodorable]

Exactly what I was thinking! But we can't be sure just yet. Maybe they want to introduce these first. I think Megas are here to stay. At least I hope

With Z-moves and Alolan forms, I can see how they don't want to emphasize too many similar features with Mega Evos. Just imagine trying to explain all three to someone who never played gen VI:

"So there are some pokemon with radical form differences based on where you catch them, and some that use held items to launch powerful attacks once per battle, and some that use held items to induce radical form differences once per battle, but those forms aren't the same as the regional forms, and they can't be in a changed form and use the powerful attacks, but the ones with regional forms can", etc.

I doubt Mega Evolution will be erased entirely, but I could see it being relegated to a postgame and metagame thing, not a part of Alola's story.

 

[Lorde]

On an unrelated note I hate that everyone just assumes that there won't be gyms because of the challenges.

The Kahuna is pretty much the gym leader, while the "puzzle" of the gym is taken by the tasks the Trial Captains have you do. Those are two of the essential things of the gym. But where are the gym trainers? One "super" Pokemon takes the place of that. The totem Pokemon.

The island trials are Alola's form of gyms, and people need to except that gyms are not going to be in this game. They will be in future generations. But as this trial thing may be awesome, it's just a region exclusive.