Pokemon

April 20, 2017

How to Catch Celesteela in Pokemon Moon

Celesteela is only available in Pokemon Moon version. If you have Pokemon Sun, you must trade for this Ultra Beast

This post plainly describes one method of catching the Ultra Beast known as Celesteela in Pokemon Moon Version.

What you need to catch Celesteela: Beast Balls from Aether Paradise, and healing items like Hyper Potions.

The main item you will need is a Beast Ball.

To obtain Beast Balls, you will need to follow a the sequence of events that form the Ultra Beast side quest. Note that you will also need to progress this sidequest, and capture the initial Ultra Beasts to reach a point where Celesteela will become available:

  1. Complete the main story, including a battle against the Elite Four and Champion.
  2. Go to the north coast of Akala Island, and enter the hotel on Route 8, which will trigger the Ultra Beast Sidequest.
  3. Fly or ride the Ferry (the ferry is a far slower travel method around Alola) to the Aether Paradise. Beast Balls are given as a gift in the basement laboratories.

While you can catch Ultra Beasts in ordinary manufactured PokeBalls, the Beast Ball has a far higher catch rate, which will make capturing all the strange and enigmatic Ultra Beasts easier, especially if you are aiming to catch one with a specific nature.

Healing items for your Pokemon team are also essential. I recommend Full Restores. Hyper Potions will do if you are low on PokeDollars. A way to raise some money for items is to send your Pokemon into the caves in the PokePelago to find rare treasure. You can also battle the elite four repeatedly.

With items accounted for, you will need to prepare your team.

Pokemon that will help you catch Celesteela: A Pokemon with high attack power and False Swipe, and a Pokemon that knows a status changing move like Sleep Powder or Thunder Wave.

Bringing Pokemon who can content with a steel type is essential. Steel type are all about physical defensive. A Pokemon with false swipe and a high attack power speeds everything along – Scyther or Scizor are good choices. Using False Swipe will always leave a Pokemon with 1 HP remaining.

A Pokemon who can inflict status conditions helps stop Celesteela from demolishing your team. Sleep and paralysis strategies will both help you. Alolan Raichu using Thunderwave, or a grass type using sleep powder or spore traps Celesteela, reducing its chances to attack.

As an added strategy, I added a Pokemon with focus energy and baton pass to my team. A ghost and flying type Pokemon first introduced in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl called Drifblim for example. One of these Pokemon arrived on my PokePellago’s Isle Abeens. Drifblim used focus energy and baton pass to send the boost to Scyther, which helped to add an extra attack bonus when using False Swipe.

A note on Pokemon natures and Synchronise

You can use a Pokemon with the ability Synchronise to influence the nature of wild Pokemon. An Abra with a modest nature and Synchronise will increase the chance of finding wild Pokemon with a modest nature by 50 per cent. Be aware that if your Pokemon with synchronise is at a low level, escaping from wild battles might be harder. If your Pokemon with synchronise is fainted, however, it’s ability will still work. You can also equip the Pokemon with a Smoke Ball item to ensure an escape from battle if you don’t want to leave a Pokemon fainted.

Where to find Celesteela: Malie Gardens, or Haina Desert on Ula’Ula Island.

The Ultra Beast lurks around Ula’Ula island – The largest of the four Alolan Islands. It can be found either in the Haina Desert, or in Malie Garden. Two Celesteela are available to capture.

I decided to search for Celesteela in Malie Gardens, since they were close to the Malie City Pokemon Centre, just in case anything went wrong.

Celesteela can be found in any patch of grass in the gardens, and appears on level 65.

My team had Scyther (lv67) and Drifblim (lv56) in the battle. My Abra with Synchronise was a far lower level, and I switched out Abra quickly. I used a Victreebel I had transferred from Pokemon Red version to put Celesteela to sleep with Sleep Powder.

After about five to seven turns, Scyther weakened Celesteela, lowering its HP. I then caught the Ultra Beast in a beast ball.

You can find more games related content here, and you can follow me, Joe, on twitter @thewallflyer.

February 28, 2017

How Nintendo handled the Pokemon 20th Anniversary – a retrospective

How Nintendo managed and progressed their Pokemon games on their 20th anniversary represents a significant trend in culture to look back over. This short post is a summary of what Nintendo did for Pokemon’s 20th Anniversary year.

Released a rare Pokemon each month through card distribution, or online

Legendary Pokemon usually come in sets of three, but there is always one rare, unique legendary – Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Manaphy, Phione, and Darkrai for example. Releasing one of these unique legendary Pokemon each month kept the gamer and collector fanbase engaged throughout the year.

The rarest Pokemon were always at the front of the community’s collective mind, particularly on social media. Pokemon trainers tweeted out reminders of when new Pokemon were available, and when new plushies and merchandise were on sale. When legendary Pokemon were available through a code printed on a GameStop or EB Games distribution card, gamers shared their extra cards through social media.

Re-released the three original Pokemon games, and linking these games to the most recent titles

Just as the Pokemon 20th anniversary started, Nintendo re-released Pokemon Red, Pokemon Blue, and Pokemon Yellow for the Nintendo 3DS virtual console. The release came with the announcement that the older games would link to the most recent.

Just before the end of the 20th anniversary year, the Pokemon Bank link between the oldest and newest games went live. Nintendo kept a key promise to the fanbase.

Released PokemonGO, after a strong trailer and marketing plan – the effects of which were unprecedented.

From my point of view, PokemonGO was significant, bringing Pokemon back to the levels of phenomenal popularity not seen since the mid to late 1990’s. One of the best outcomes?Many gamers  reported leaving their house, meeting people, and making new friends through the app’s outdoor gameplay.

Looking back over the past year, Nintendo has celebrated the impact their Pokemon games have had on gaming culture and the history of gaming and animation, artwork and world culture. They made several promises, and kept them.

One more legendary Pokemon distribution  event continues for another few days. The rare Pokemon Magearna is still available to download from the American Pokemon website, and from Australian website Pokemon Australia.

February 16, 2017

Collect a free bottle cap for Pokemon Sun and Moon from Nintendo

Nintendo announced on the official Pokemon website that a distribution event for a free bottle cap for Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon will run from  February 13 to March 5.

The distribution takes the form of a download code, which will be available from GameStop Worldwide, and EB games in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

You can use the bottle cap to raise your Pokemon’s stats to the highest possible number:

  • Pokemon must be at level 100 for the bottle cap to work.
  • Exchange the bottle cap with the hyper training expert in Hau’oli City Shopping Mall.
  • The Expert will ask which of your Pokemon’s stats (HP, Attack, etc.) you wish to raise to the maximum level.

Seribii.net has some information on other locations the Bottle Cap will be available around the world.

February 14, 2017

How to paint Super Sculpey with masters series miniature paints

After writing a post on Victreebel’s Pokedex entry, I was inspired to sculpt my own Victreebel miniature. This post is a recap of the sanding and painting, with some basic ‘how-to’ information in the last few paragraphs on priming surfaces and painting.

I’m using a Super Sculpey product for this project. I’m also using Masters Series Paints, and some Norton brand, wet and dry sandpaper I found at a local hardware store in 600, 800, and 1000 grade roughness.

The sculpture aspect of shaping Victreebel was not the key challenge here. My
experience base is making figures and sculpts out of clay and plasticine. The
real challenges was trying to be patient, and work slowly.

I did not succeed in having patience this time.

I baked the clay without taking time to smooth over the surface. It emerged from the over perfectly baked, but also a bit lumpy, rough, and dotted with finger marks.

The solution to this issue, was to practice sanding the polymer clay to
create a smooth surface.

Using a plastic container (which used to hold butter) as a water dish, I soaked the miniature and sandpaper in water. Then, I gently sanded Victreebel, turning the miniature back and forth under the sandpaper.

I moved upward through the sandpaper numbers, from harder to softer – from 600 through to 1000 – until the surface lost its rough texture, and the finger marks faded out.

For painting Super Sculpey, an undercoat will help, after sanding. Layering washes of colour will build up a solid coat, and reduce brush strokes.

Super Sculpey needs an undercoat with miniature paints, which I discovered. I specifically used Master Series Paints. Priming the surface with a brush on primer produced a more vibrant and full colour, even with just a wash layer.

Wash layers are a mix of pure paint, and then water, such that the painting a streak of colour on a paper towel leaves a line of colour that slowly changes to a pale, washed out version of the colour.

One of the first painting techniques for the miniature is to apply a black wash to the places where two parts of the miniature join, or where two different colours meet. In this case, it is Victreebel’s body and leaves, its mouth and top leaf, and the vine, which I made separately to glue on later.

After blocking out the joins with a black wash, and priming, I applied layers of washes to build up a solid coat of paint.

Without the primer, it took 4 layers to get close to a solid, lemon yellow colour for Victreebel’s body. For the leaves, I experimented with the primer, and the pale, meadow green colour. The result was a solid colour block in two layers.

For more information on the Master Series Paints, their Reaper Mini website has a list available paint by series, and a useful colour identification tool.

February 8, 2017

Transfer older Pokemon to Sun and Moon Version – Returning Victreebel to the Jungle

Playing Red Version on 3DS, I was re-reading old Pokedex entries. I think Victreebel’s entry is evocative:

“Said to live in huge colonies deep in jungles, although no one has ever returned from there.”

I have so many questions on this Pokemon lore. How did anyone report on these
colonies if no one returns? Are Victreebel dangerous to humans invading their territory?

Regardless, while Victeebel appears in the Kanto region, Kanto has no Jungle
setting. Kanto has grassland and forest where Bellsprout and Weepinbell reside, but no deep jungle. Since Pokemon Moon version has a jungle on Akala Island – called Lush Jungle – I decided to bring a Victreebel from the old Pokemon games, re-released on 3DS virtual console, to Pokemon Moon version.

This is a ‘How-to’ set of directions. You need Pokemon Bank access to complete the transfer. Be aware that Pokemon Bank is a paid service:

  1. Move the target Pokemon to Box 1 on the old Pokemon game.
  2. Download the PokeTransporter app for the 3DS If you have not done so already.
    • Log into the app with your Nintendo Network ID.
    • Select the old Pokemon game you wish to transfer from.
    • The PokeTransporter App will load a screen with Box 1 from the old game. Confirm that you wish to complete the transfer. Note that once a Pokemon is transferred to Sun and Moon, it cannot be sent back to the game of origin.
  3.  log into Pokemon Bank. The default location for old Pokemon transferred to Pokemon Bank is the transfer box.
  4. Select the old Pokemon, and add it to a box in your version of Pokemon Sun or Moon.

After completing these steps, I added Victreebel to my party in Pokemon Moon, and took a ride to the Lush Jungle on Akala Island, returning Victreebel to a jungle setting.

The Pokemon Bank website has more information on transferring old Pokemon to Sun and Moon versions.

January 11, 2017 Gallery

Jigglypuff Amiibo Toy Photography and Pokemon Fan Fiction

Just before New Year, I decided to test my photo skills with toy photography of my Jigglypuff amiibo. Searching for some scaled down grass tufts, and a specific rocky garden wall that could resemble Mount Moon, was not too difficult. Not having a professional set, or the facts on how to scale down for toy photograph, I’m unsure of the overall quality. Regardless, I think I’ve captured Jigglypuff’s Kanto habitat.

Inspired by Pokemon Sun and Moon’s character arc, and the photography, I thought of a short story and fan fiction set after the main events of Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon.

If you’re not into fan fiction, that’s okay, please enjoy the photos. For others interested, please read on. Spoilers for the Pokemon Sun and Moon character arcs to follow.

December 30, 2016.

Pokemon News Press – Ume Region.

Kanto, Route 3. East of Pewter City.

With just 24 hours before the New Year, and only 8 hours until my plane back home was set to depart, I made one last attempt at venturing out to snap a photo of the round Pokemon Jigglypuff. Some experts say that this Pokemon resembles a Voltorb viewed from the front. Since we don’t see very many Kanto Pokemon in the Ume Region, aside from Kangaskhan and Cubone, I had to ask  my editor.

“But, what’s a Voltorb look like again?”.

“It’s like a Magnemite, but without the magnets and screws. And bright red.”

I didn’t ask what a Magnemite was. I had a vague idea of round shapes as a I went out on the hunt.

I had  climbed up the foothills of Mount Moon when she crossed my path. A confident looking young woman walked by. She was dressed entirely in white, save for a rose coloured backpack that looked expensive, like something that might be for sale in the Kalos Region. It was simple, cut in a rucksack style, but the quality of the fabric was clear.

I turned back to my work. I had spotted some Spearow far away from the road, flying away from Mount Moon, which loomed large nearby. The shutter clicked. I snapped several photos, as the little red, brown, and black birds disappeared in the direction of Cerulean city.

“Excuse me, did you just take my photo?”

I heard a voice. Confident. Incredulous. I turned back around, and she was standing there, hands on her hips.

“No, I’m taking photos of some Spearow. Here let me show you.”
I nudged the gallery button, and held up the screen for her to see. She walked over, and looked down at the screen. Nodding, she and stood up again.

“I thought you were maybe the bad kind of photographer”

“No not me. I’m a photographer for the Pokemon News Press in the Ume region.”

“Where?”

“The Ume region is a long way south of Kanto. You need to ride a plane, even past the Sevii islands.”

“Ooh, that’s a long way, but it’s worth a long journey if you can discover more about yourself. I arrived here from the Alola region just recently.”

“Alola? You know about Komala then!”

“Yes! One of my best friends is raising a Komala!”

We caught up over Pokemon common to both our regions. Eventually, we got to talking about Jigglypuff.

“I’m looking for one, and I’m going to add one to my team.”

“Well I’m going to photograph one.”

“Let’s go then!”

She sounded so bright and confident. I wondered for a second if she was always this energetic. Eventually, walking further toward the mountain, My neck prickled. We were being watched. I looked up, aiming my camera up at the edge of Mount Moon, just over a small patch of grass. I nudged the shutter. This was my first Jigglypuff photo.

“I’m going up there to catch that Jigglypuff. Thanks so much, good to meet you!”

“Okay. Good luck! Bye!”

And she was gone, just over the ridge. I waited, sitting quietly in the grass. With the sun just starting to turn the day into lazy, gold afternoon, I saw a Jigglypuff. It was bouncing happily through the grass. This was my second photo, something that I could publish at last.

January 4, 2017

Finding the Destiny Knot in Pokemon Sun and Moon with the ability Pickup

There are two methods to finding the Destiny Knot in Pokemon Sun and Moon:

  • Saving up 48 Battle Points and buying it from the Battle Royal
  • Raising a Lilipup or Alolan Meowth with the Pickup ability, and battling and knocking out Pokemon until the Lilipup or Alolan Meowth collects the knot with a 10% chance they will find one item from a possible choice of over 24 items.

After I gathered enough Battle points from the Battle Tree and Battle Royal I decided to test out finding a Destiny Knot using Pokemon with the ability Pickup. The resulting shenanigans netted a selection of items, none of them a Destiny Knot.

For me, in my copy of Pokemon Moon, the ability Pickup was unreliable and chaotic. I have the data to prove it.

The test conditions:

    • I played for almost 2 and a half hours across three consecutive days
    • I started with a team of 4 Pokemon with the pickup ability
    • The team started on level 7 – 9, and eventually reached level 43 – 50
    • I added a fifth Pokemon the second day, which meant I had a lower level Pickup Pokemon for about half an hour before it caught up to the other party members

 

I found a lot of useful and some rare items, but the overall results? No Destiny Knot emerged from using a team of Pokemon with the ability Pickup.

destiny-knot-quest

This matches the pattern described on Seribii.net on the Pickup Ability in Pokemon Sun and Moon:

“all items [are] available at once, but with the likelihood of rarer items increasing as you level up.”

One mistake I made was venturing out with a 5 Pickup Pokemon and a sixth to knock out opponents – this allowed me to pursue other adventures, however, like completing the Pokedex. If you’re a trainer, what method do you prefer?

January 3, 2017

Finding the Destiny Knot in Pokemon Sun and Moon at the Battle Royal

My recommendation for finding the Destiny Knot in Pokemon Sun and Moon? Unequivocally, go to the Battle Royal, Royal Avenue, Akala Island off route 6 with Pokemon on level 50 or higher.

My battle team had no strategy, and they were caught from the wild during the game story. They still earned enough battle points after about two days.

  • Salamence
  • Ability: Intimidate
  • Item: Dragonium Z
  • Moveset: Flamethrower, Thunder Fang, Zen Headbutt, Dragon Claw
  • Sylveon
  • Ability: Cute Charm
  • Item: Fairium Z
  • Moveset: Moonblast, Skill Swap, Helping Hand, Misty Terrain.
  • Mudsdale
  • Ability: Stamina
  • Item: Lum Berry
  • Moveset: Earthquake, Rest, Sleep Talk, Double Kick.

Their base stats? Average, except for Salamence, who I caught from an SOS battle chain. With this team, I played my way through the Normal Rank and the Super Rank of the Battle Royal.

The Battle Royal will even give you a runner-up point or points for coming in second or third place.

At the Battle Tree, located on Poni Island, I could keep a good clip, winning a streak of 5 to 6 battles in a row before a trainer with an ice attack or bulky water type demolished Mudsdale and Salamence, leaving Sylveon to lose with only some dignity cut down.

In about two days, I had earned 49 Battle Points. Enough to purchase the Destiny Knot.

My recommendation? Play the Battle Tree and Battle Royal, even if your team is not hatched from an egg, or has a Effort Values messily strewn about, you can still win battles.

If you can keep your team awake with protective strategies, the Battle Royal can mill out a set of Battle Points for you. Or, if your team has a good variety of attacks you can slice right through one or more of your opponents.

This is part one of a two part guide. Part two is available on the Wallflyer here.

August 15, 2016

5 More Alchemy references in Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow

Japan, the birthplace of Pokemon, is not immune to the influence of Alchemy. Cross-pollination, in a cultural sense, with China no doubt infused the country with ideas of the Philosopher’s stone, Elixers, and transmutation. Drifting into the public psyche, it’s no surprise Alchemy ideas, images, and words can be re-identified in the initial Pokemon games (published by Nintendo in 1996) when looking back on the 20th anniversary.

Other fictional works from Japan use Alchemical language. The Castle of Cagliostro (1979, Tokyo Movie Shinsha) is inspired by the charlatan alchemist of the same name. A childhood spent in 1970’s Japan would have imbued Pokemon Creators like Satoshi Tajiri with a vague (at least) awareness of alchemy.

They used these basic building blocks as ideas to support their world of Pocket Monsters.

A name using these alchemical building blocks in fiction is “literary alchemy”. John Granger coined that term. It’s where fiction writers use alchemy “imagery and language” to build a world, or make milestones for a character’s journey to enlightenment and purification.

In mentioning “Azoth”, and having Solgaleo imitate the “Lion Devouring the Sun” alchemy artwork, Pokemon echoes and expands on ideas and alchemy archetypes used to weave together the Pokemon world together twenty years ago.

Here are five of those ideas:

5 . Alchemy concerned creating the philosopher’s stone, which was also know as the Elixir of life. “Elixers” are found across the Kanto region.

Elixer’s and tinctures are the core aspect of an alchemists day-to-day job. They get up, experiment, hide the recipe in an intricate, cryptic script, and then go out with the alchemist friends. Pokemon misspells the item as “elixir” (pron: “el – icks – ear”). Like most fantasy works, the item’s effects are restorative.

4 . Refining base metals into gold represents a big life goal for alchemists. Gold Orbs – “Nuggets” in the English versions – are also scattered across the Kanto region.

Using a philosopher’s stone, alchemists can transmute lead into gold. Everyone who has seen Harry Potter knows this. Delving a bit deeper, some alchemists found gold transmutation to be common. A distraction from the true goal – prolonging life and curing illness. The pursuit of gold could even be seen as toxic avarice.

Team Rocket desire wealth, and one character in Lavender Town – the place where Team Rocket committed the crime of killing a Marowak – says:

“TEAM ROCKET will do anything for the sake of gold!”

-Lavender Town Pokemon Centre NPC, 1996.

A degree of literary alchemy is at work here, casting Team Rocket in a selfish and destructive light for their desire of gold even before the player learns of their murderous rampages.

3 . Cinnabar is a naturally occurring mercury sulphide used by Alchemist in ancient Chinese culture as a principal material, and is the name of an island in the Kanto region.

In Japan, Cinnabar Island is know as “Guren Island”, which translates roughly into “Crimson Colored Lotus Island”. Remembering that literary alchemy evokes a journey to purity and enlightenment, the Lotus flower is also a symbol of enlightenment. Even if it’s red. The alchemy connection to Pokemon remains, if somewhat a bit less direct, across translations.

2. Firestones are for sale in the Celadon department store (4th floor, 2100.00 Pokedollars), but a firestone is also a half finished philosopher’s stone.

According to Diana Fernando ( Alchemy, an illustrated A to Z. 1998, Blandford) Jack Glass says to new alchemists “aim at the firestone – the stepping stone – first. It will transmute lower metals”.

If we swap out lower metals for fire type Pokemon, this statement is another thread tying Pokemon and Alchemy together. The firestone, and by extension the other elemental stones (plus the sun and moon stones from Pokemon Gold and Silver) transmute Pokemon. The link carries over into the Mega-stones introduced in Pokemon X and Y.

1. The “great work” or the steps needed to create a philosopher’s stone are 12 to 14 items long, depending on the differing alchemical lore. These stages line up with the major tasks needed to complete the Pokemon Adventure in Red, Blue, and Yellow versions.

Eight gym leaders. The elite four. The final rival battle. Capturing Mewtwo. Excluding the final tasks, there are 12 stages to becoming a Pokemon champion. With the added two obstacles, you can add defeating your rival, and capturing a powerful and notorious Pokemon. Fourteen steps altogether.

Creating a philospher’s stone commonly takes 12 steps:

1. Calcination 7. Cibation
2. Solution (or Dissolution) 8. Sublimation
3. Separation 9. Fermentation
4. Conjunction 10. Exaltation
5. Putrefaction 11. Multiplication
6. Congelation 12. Projection

The numbers do match up. In completing your Pokemon journey, you refine yourself into a Pokemon Champion, with a completed Pokedex. This is a match with a less well know Alchemy goal – improving the self, and achieving self awareness in your life.

But does this add up? Do you have any thoughts on literary alchemy in the Pokemon Games? Let me know in the commments.

August 8, 2016

Pokemon Sun and Moon – Elements and Alchemy (part 2)

In my earlier post on alchemy and Pokemon, I looked at element systems, and found connections between the new Pokemon Sun and Moon Starters, Alchemy, and element systems.

Western and classical Greek element systems enlist four elements, and ancient Chinese alchemists use a five element system. But do Rockruff and Togedemaru both have places alongside the starter Pokemon in both of these systems?

Another element system from Japanese folklore also used five elements too. I’ll return to this later, but to look back at the question from the last post:

Why Togedemaru? Since when did this Pikachu Clone become a part of the element systems speculation?

That’s a good question. and I thought that just Rockruff alone had a link to the starter Pokemon.

In fact, Rockruff is going to be the starter Pokemon for a new character in a new comic book series to be published in Japan (reported by PokeJungle).

corocoro-rockruff-comic-620x847

His sleeve has Red, Blue, and Yellow stripes – a possible clue, and reference, back to the original Pokemon games?

But the answer for why Togedemaru ties into the elemental patterns can be found by looking back at the first Pokemon games from 20 years ago.

Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow also have their own element system, and it looks a lot like the alchemical and classical patterns.

Red Blue and yellow has two starters that closely embody half of four classical elements. Charmader’s tail is on fire. Squirtle readily sprays water. But what about air and earth?

Pikachu’s Lightning forks out of the air the same way that Bulbasaur’s bulb is a plant that grows from the earth. Their design choices both evoke the elements, even if the tie is slight.

Together, the four starter Pokemon form a classic element pattern.

If Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Pikachu represent the four elements, with each being a starter you could choose, what about the starter you could not choose? What about Eevee?

Rockruff’s special link with the Pokemon Sun and Moon starters parallels Eevee’s special status as a starter Pokemon.

Professor Oak intends that the player receive Eevee before the Rival steps in and claims the little brown dog.

So what elemental system fits, which includes Eevee? The answer is one I mentioned earlier – The Japanese element pattern. Japan’s folklore describes five elements called the Godai (五大) which means “The Great Five”. They are Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Void.

Void, The fifth element, represents creative potential, nothingness, acceptance, and communication.

Godai_RBY

Eevee represents some of the aspects of the element Void – a blank slate, with the creative power to become many different Pokemon.

Comparing the older Pokemon games to the upcoming Pokemon Sun and Moon, the link between Rockruff and the starters becomes more clear.

Why Togedemaru has a place in a five element pattern, instead of any other steel type, also has an explanation. Togedemaru stands in for Pikachu, referencing the older games. A small woodland animal representing an element – Pikachu (mouse) representing air, and Togedemaru (hedgehog) representing metal.

Togedemaru is a reference back to Pikachu’s place in the older five element system. There is a similar reference to Rockruff standing in for Eevee, a small brown dog with a fluffy tail.

The design choices behind the Pokemon games and mythos certainly are deep, but what are your thoughts on these patterns and design choices? Do element systems explain the patterns of starters? Let me know in the comments.