POKEMON:
Lycanroc: So now we have the bio on these guys let's take a closer look at them.
So they both remain pure Rock-type. Makes sense for Midday Form though a shame for Midnight Form, with its description being part Dark-type would have really gotten its point across.
Both have the Keen Eye Ability which is rather useless. Midday's other Ability is Sand Rush and you know how the speed doubling in weather Abilities work, it's going to be its main Ability (and that's on top of it already being said to be a fast Pokemon). Sadly Midnight Form gets the short end of the stick again with its other Ability being Vital Spirit (and it might prefer Keen Eye if only so it could use Rest). Hopefully Midnight gets a decent Hidden Ability, though with ways things are going Midday will probably get an even better Hidden Ability than it.
And it's confirmed their version exclusive, being the influence of the mascot Legendary's power that has them evolve to the different forms. For years now a version exclusive evolution has been thought up but never done, closest we got was Deoxys Formes in Gen III and some Mega Stones being available in one version in XY. Now this doesn't really make them any different from a normal version exclusive, you can still trade them, just that you got to evolve them before you do.
Accelerock sounds like it has potential being a priority Rock-type move (even if it just a Quick Attack copy, both are looking like physical attacker anyway). At least I hope both get it, Accelerock does seem made to match Midday Form. Seriously, Midday Form informs us of a new Rock-type priority move while Midnight has Counter which no one but Wobbuffet really uses. What did Midnight Form do to deserve such spite?
Midday is a loyal lone wolf who strikes with high speed while Midnight is an impish instigating werewolf who is a blood knight waiting to strike back. Despite that they will trust their trainer if stick with them, Midday moreso though Midnight just doesn't want to be told to go against its fighting instinct (like that'll affect anything in-game). I still like Midday's design better, true its just a wolf with a spiky mane but we have yet to have a plain wolf and the spiky mane separates it from a normal wolf. Midnight I've gotten used to but I just find it a bit too cartoony looking to be intimidated by it which I feel what they were trying to go for. Since I'm getting Moon it'll mean I would get the Midnight Form so I'll still give it a try (if anything because I'm feeling sorry for it).
While it sounds both are physical attackers, how they strike is different. Midday will be fast, Midnight will be slow (and possibly buff up its defenses to take a few hits). Midday seems to be setting up to be a sweeper, especially in a Sandstorm team, while Midnight might take on a more of a supporter role. Midnight sounds like it would also get Swagger, Taunt, and Sucker Punch (once again making it a shame its not part Dark-type).
Here's looking forward to seeing Midday in action and hoping Midnight finds some retribution.
Oranguru: Starting with the Moon exclusive primates because that's the version I'm getting. :P
And yet another part Normal-type Pokemon (that isn't part Flying). Drampa, Stufful family, Alolan Rattata family, and now Oranguru. However aside from flavor I wonder how Oranguru being part Psychic-type would affect the way it battles? Oranguru seems to be more built around the gimmick of its Signature Move and I don't really see it attacking, but that's for a later discussion.
Both of Oranguru's Ability are to work along with its Signature Move. Inner Focus prevents flinching while Telepathy allows it to avoid damage from allies attacks. Which one is used will depend on Oranguru's partner, if the partner uses a multiple targeting move the obvious choice will be Telepathy but if it doesn't then Inner Focus might not be a bad idea (though you still may want Telepathy just so you have the option to use it with a Pokemon with a multi-targeting move).
Quick mention of its version exclusivity and how it affects me, I can't really see me using it for the main game. It's very much meant for metagame, especially Double (and maybe even Triple) battles which there aren't a lot of in the main game. I'm even hesitant to say I'll give it a try if I do catch one, guess it'll all depend what I see of the stats.
Onto the main event! Instruct is Oranguru's Signature Move and better battlers than me are already creating highly destructive combinations. A bit like Encore and Parental Bond mixed together, Oranguru (or Smeargle) gives up its turn to let the target (most likely a partner), and I quote from the site, "use its most recent move again immediately". Now the wording of that is important, because it might answer a question about turn order concerning Instruct. Simply put, what happens if the target hadn't used a move yet? From that wording it sounds like, instead of failing, the Pokemon will just use the move it did last turn before getting to use the move it selected to do on this turn (though if its the first turn that Pokemon is out the move probably will just fail). That could possibly lead into more combinations as you could do two different moves on the same turn. However most of the time I think you'd want the same move used twice so that brings another question: could Instruct have a lower priority to assure most of the time the same move will be used twice? Or is normal priority and you'll be relying on Oranguru's probably low Speed (and Smeargle, though it has a Speed of 75 so if Oranguru can get below that it might keep its gimmick). I can see buffing or even nerfing moves. Imagine this with Quiver Dance, Shell Smash, or Geomancy? Or use it to set up Spikes faster. How about it in conjunction with Super Fang to remove 75% of your opponent's remaining HP each turn? If you're the gambling type, why not try seeing if that OHKO move has a better chance at working with two attempts?
Oranguru's design is alright, though a bit odd for an orangutan who is known for their brown-orange hair (then again I suppose Darmanitan took care of that aspect). It does very much look like an older orangutan who set up nests. Honestly its Oranguru's description which is more interesting. FUN FACT: Oranguru's nickname, "the people of the forest", actually comes from the origin of the word "orangutan" (
you can read about it here if you're interested). Anyway it using human tools is what caught my eye. While probably more explains how it can use "Instruct", it reminds me of an Ability idea I had where a humanoid Pokemon can use a trainer item like a Potion or Battle Item if held in battle. There's been Signature Hidden Abilities before, could it maybe has such an Ability? Well at least its design takes into account it using items with it making the fans out of leaves and its own fur (a bit weird but hey material is scarce in the wild). Though I do wonder what in the world do they use Poke Balls for, like do they actually catch other Pokemon and command them?
Even if Instruct has lower priority I think Oranguru is going to be yet another slow Alolan Pokemon. Aside from that I really don't know where else its stats will be distributed, you'd think mostly in HP and defense but it is part Psychic-type so possibly high Special Attack? Though it does seem like a support Pokemon, with mentioning of its medical knowledge maybe it'll get Heal Bell, Healing Pulse, and Recover while it able to use items could lead to it getting Trick.
Oranguru is already looking like it'll have plenty of tricks up its sleeve and be quite a handful.
Passimian: SO... I think after this I'm going to take another look at that Chinese leak.
That's right, the rugby monkey is real. Or rather a rugby lemur, but they're all primates in the end. Now seeing it I don't think its as ridiculous as you first think of i, but still this is quite a ways out there. Like is rugby popular in Hawaii? There is a rugby union in Hawaii but it's part of the USA rugby union so not that different from other participating states. This sort of feels like a leftover from Gen V, like something the Linebacker in Big Stadium should have been using (and yes, I know the difference between American football and rugby, but the two sports are similar enough (American football sprung from the forming rugby when it was being formed from its Greco-Roman roots)). But here it is so let's discuss.
Pure Fighting, wouldn't expect anything less from an athlete of a rough sport. I would say I'm a bit surprised its not part Normal since its the Sun counterpart to Oranguru, though that would be stepping onto the Stuffel family's territory. Anyway give it Close Combat, Storm Throw, and Submission and its good to go.
Receiver is its Signature Ability where it gains the Ability of a fallen ally. Another Ability made for Double (and Triple) Battles, it seems like GameFreak are really pulling for the metagame this gen. I'm sure there's a batch of combos you can pull off with Receiver which can give Passimian several roles (Huge Power or Speed Boost for sweeping, Prankster for support, Type Changing Ability to get coverage, Arena Trap or Shadow Tag to trap, etc.. BUT they'll probably block some Abilities like Wonder Guard, Disguise, Multitype, Forecast, Parental Bond, and other Abilities which either won't make sense or would make it a bit broken).
Now seeing its design I'm more okay with it. They didn't overdesign it to make it look like its wearing clothes, it just looks like a lemur who used a big berry as a helmet and ball. I'm sure its description if filled with rugby references that I don't get (and no, even if it was full of American football references I still wouldn't get it. Not really into the rough and tumble sports). It does explain the leaf marks on its arm is meant to sort of be a logo, which makes me wonder if there will be multiple kind of marks or will it yet be another Pokemon who is said to have form differences but doesn't actually.
The boss puts the troop members through training to improve their coordination with one another and their skill in handling Berries. Apparently this training is so hard that some Passimian end up running away.
I can't help but feel this is a commentary on rugby team recruitment. Is rugby known for draft picks to switch off teams they don't like?
Passimian wants its Trainer to have the qualities of a leader as well. It watches a Trainer’s form closely when he or she throws Poke Balls, and will not listen to the orders of a Trainer with poor form.
Pfft, well fine! Stay in your Poke Ball which I threw good enough to catch YOU in. Though I can just now see in the anime someone catching one of these and Passimian constantly keeps coming out of its Poke Ball to correct its trainer's form. Maybe that's been Ash's problem throughout the years, poor Poke Ball throwing posture. Passimian will be the Pokemon to save the series.
Definitely high Attack and Defense, though not sure what else. I'm afraid everything else will be average which would stink as it would probably also like being fast, but I suppose that's where its Ability comes into play. It may not specialize at first but pass it an Ability and it'll make use out of it.
NEXT TIME: I'll talk about the Cool Features while watching through the video.
