The past week has been filled with Pokémon news. While it mostly stems from the world of Pokémon GO, there is also a big headline for Pokémon Sword and Shield. Let's dive into it!
GO CONTROVERSY
We'll begin this news roundup in the realm of Pokémon GO, which has been embroiled in controversy in recent days. Players have been vehemently expressing their disapproval of two of Niantic's recent decisions online: (1) a new feature introduced in an event, and (2) the decision to rework Pokémon spawns.
REGIONAL EGGS: Coinciding with the beginning of the World Tourism Day event, region-exclusive Pokémon were put back into Eggs. This time, every regional was put into the 5KM Eggpool, but they can only be found in their respective regions. This decision has created as created animosity towards Egg-focused events and their "pay-to-win" nature, as well as some irritation over the idea of regional Pokémon in general.
POKÉMON SPAWNS: Niantic also attempted to improve Pokémon spawns, but it has backfired horribly. While some areas have received some well-deserved spawn points, other areas have been gutted. Trainers have reported their cluster spawns going from 5+ down to two, one, or even zero.
Niantic has acknowledged the community's complaints in a statement some found dissatisfactory, and content creators like Trainer Tips and PkmnMasterHolly have sent feedback directly to Niantic. Hopefully Niantic can find a solution to this problem that allows areas to regain their lost spawn points and and keep their new ones.
REGIONAL EGGS: Coinciding with the beginning of the World Tourism Day event, region-exclusive Pokémon were put back into Eggs. This time, every regional was put into the 5KM Eggpool, but they can only be found in their respective regions. This decision has created as created animosity towards Egg-focused events and their "pay-to-win" nature, as well as some irritation over the idea of regional Pokémon in general.
POKÉMON SPAWNS: Niantic also attempted to improve Pokémon spawns, but it has backfired horribly. While some areas have received some well-deserved spawn points, other areas have been gutted. Trainers have reported their cluster spawns going from 5+ down to two, one, or even zero.
Niantic has acknowledged the community's complaints in a statement some found dissatisfactory, and content creators like Trainer Tips and PkmnMasterHolly have sent feedback directly to Niantic. Hopefully Niantic can find a solution to this problem that allows areas to regain their lost spawn points and and keep their new ones.
WORLD TOURISM DAY
In collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Niantic has brought us an event in Pokémon GO for World Tourism Day. The events features are:
Additionally, a new shirt is now available in the shop and regional Pokémon can now be found in 5KM Eggs if they are picked up in their respective regions. This includes Mime Jr., which can now be hatched out of European 5KM Eggs. Shiny versions of Mime Jr., Zangoose, and Seviper are also now available.
- Event-exclusive Field Research
- 1/4 less Stardust for trading
- Double XP for spinning new PokéStops
Additionally, a new shirt is now available in the shop and regional Pokémon can now be found in 5KM Eggs if they are picked up in their respective regions. This includes Mime Jr., which can now be hatched out of European 5KM Eggs. Shiny versions of Mime Jr., Zangoose, and Seviper are also now available.
MOVE SHAKEUP
To continue their efforts to improve Trainer Battles (and also Raid Battles in some cases), Niantic has added to new Fast Attacks: Thunder Fang and Ice Fang. No new Charged Attacks were made available.
They have also made changes to some moves:
Additionally, they have added some new moves to some Pokémon's movepools:
They have also made changes to some moves:
- Bubble Beam: Bubble Beam now has the chance to lower the opponent's Attack in Trainer Battles.
- Fire Fang: Fire Fang's power has been buffed.
- Power-Up Punch: The damage dealt by Power-Up Punch has been reduced. "This should provide clearer counterplay--not blocking your opponent's Power-Up Punch is now a more obviously right response," Niantic says.
- Psychic: "Psychic will now deal more damage and be usable sooner," making it a fantastic Psychic-type Charged Attack in all battle formats.
- Snarl: Snarl now generates energy more quickly, allowing for Charged Attacks to be unleashed more quickly.
Additionally, they have added some new moves to some Pokémon's movepools:
- Alolan Raichu: Thunder Shock
- Alolan Sandslash: Ice Punch
- Alolan Ninetales: Charm
- Golduck: Bubble Beam, Cross Chop, Synchronoise
- Arcanine: Thunder Fang
- Alolan Marowak: Fire Spin, Flame Wheel
- Steelix: Thunder Fang
- Mantine: Bubble Beam
- Suicune: Ice Fang
- Mightyena: Ice Fang, Thunder Fang
- Mawile: Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Power-Up Punch
- Hippowdon: Ice Fang, Thunder Fang
- Drapion: Ice Fang
- Weavile: Snarl
ADVENTURE SYNC
The upgraded version of Adventure Sync has rolled out to more countries. This upgrade--which allows you to receive push notifications if an never-before-caught Pokémon is nearby--is now available in Europe, India, the Philippines, and parts of Latin America.
MEWTWO
Mewtwo's delayed Raid Hour is taking place on October 8 from 6:00 to 7:00 P.M. local time. Mewtwo caught during this event will have the exclusive move Psystrike, as it did during the Ultra Bonus. You'll also be able to receive two additional free Raid Passes during the event.
After this, Mewtwo is returning to its original post as the game's EX Raid Boss. We do not know how long Mewtwo's return to EX Raids will last, however The Pokémon Company's website did say that "Mewtwo's stay as EX Raid Boss will continue only until November 12, 2019." This statement was removed from their website a few hours after it was posted.
After this, Mewtwo is returning to its original post as the game's EX Raid Boss. We do not know how long Mewtwo's return to EX Raids will last, however The Pokémon Company's website did say that "Mewtwo's stay as EX Raid Boss will continue only until November 12, 2019." This statement was removed from their website a few hours after it was posted.
CODE & HINTS
Wrapping up our GO coverage, we come to some hints and coding leaks that seem very exciting.
HINTS: Yesterday, the official Pokémon GO account on Twitter posted a tweet detailing a corrupted folder on Professor Willow's computer. This is clearly a tease at something, but as to what that thing is remains unclear. Given the circumstances and recent tease for Sword and Shield, some have theorized this may be related to the unreleased Pokémon Rotom.
While we're on the subject of hints, Niantic may be using social media to tease something else as well. They have been retweeting many different Trainers' snapshots with them and their Buddy Pokémon. Niantic have also commissioned many different celebrities, such as Morena Baccrain (Gotham, Deadpool, The Flash, etc.) and Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!), to do Unova and Buddy-themed promotions. This has caused many Trainers to conclude that a Buddy-themed update may be imminent.
CODE LEAKS: Moving on, the code and GAME_MASTER file have also given us hints at what's to come. Here's a rundown:
HINTS: Yesterday, the official Pokémon GO account on Twitter posted a tweet detailing a corrupted folder on Professor Willow's computer. This is clearly a tease at something, but as to what that thing is remains unclear. Given the circumstances and recent tease for Sword and Shield, some have theorized this may be related to the unreleased Pokémon Rotom.
While we're on the subject of hints, Niantic may be using social media to tease something else as well. They have been retweeting many different Trainers' snapshots with them and their Buddy Pokémon. Niantic have also commissioned many different celebrities, such as Morena Baccrain (Gotham, Deadpool, The Flash, etc.) and Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!), to do Unova and Buddy-themed promotions. This has caused many Trainers to conclude that a Buddy-themed update may be imminent.
CODE LEAKS: Moving on, the code and GAME_MASTER file have also given us hints at what's to come. Here's a rundown:
- Darkrai was changed so it is able to be transferred, indicating it will be a Raid Boss rather than Special Research reward.
- Some support for Galarian regional variants, indicating they may release in GO to promote Sword and Shield.
- An event titled "A Colossal Discovery."
- Support for various new moves: Horn Drill, Fissure, Lunge, Leech Life, Sacred Sword, Fell Stinger, Superpower, Drain Punch, Mirror Shot, Octazooka, Shadow Bone, Razor Shell, Lock-On, and Giga Impact.
GLIMWOOD TANGLE
Finally, we'll conclude this news roundup with Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. More news is expected to come later this week during a livestream. Sonia, the granddaughter and assistant to Professor Magnolia, has set up a live camera on The Pokémon Company's YouTube and Twitch channels. The camera will broadcast Glimwood Tangle, a forest in the Galar Region, for 24 hours. This begins at 9:00 A.M. EDT on October 4.
Thanks for reading, Trainers!
SOURCE: Niantic, The Pokémon Company, Kelven, Pokeminers (Reddit)