Judge a Pokémon Express: Edition Five
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Introduction
Welcome to the latest Judge a Pokémon Express; let's welcome Berks, Codraroll, DHR-107, Eevee General, FellFromtheSky, GatoDelFuego, Pikachu315111, pupper!!!, heritage, {Pokemon_Vigilante}, and the Guest Facebook Reviewer, Victoria!
Next edition we'll once again be attempting to bring guest panelists—so in a few days you might see a message from me in your "Others" folder asking if you'd like to join the panel as a guest. But that's only if you've done a mini analysis on the Facebook post announcing ANY edition of JAPE... so get to it!
| Berks | Codraroll | DHR-107 | Eevee General |
| FellFromtheSky | GatoDelFuego | Pikachu315111 | |
| pupper!!! | heritage | {Pokemon_Vigilante} | Victoria |
| Click on the images to read their thoughts! | |||
Type: Null
pupper!!!
Ah, Type: Null: the chimeric warhorse of Team Skull Edgelord Gladion. No one is sure just what to think of you. You're a mishmash of Pokémon parts, slapped onto the most basic of body types: the furry bait quadruped canine. Your mask an odd jumble of geometric and rounded shapes, topped with, of all things, a wing? Type: Null is a bold, bodacious move on the part of Game Freak. It throws every Pokémon design convention out the window and follows it up with a gallon of oil and a lit match. Of course, whether that's a good thing or not is up for debate (if my description of it so far hasn't made it clear, I'm skeptical about the design merits of a Pokémon literally based around splicing a positive potpourri of body parts together in Photoshop and calling it a finished, well-planned design). Either way, Game Freak definitely has gotten my attention.
UB-01
pupper!!!
UB-01 is, in one word... meh. It looks unique, for a Pokémon (or not, since it's still unclear as to what exactly Ultra Beasts will be classified as... they appear to have types but aside from that Game Freak has yet to reveal much info on them), but it's still really bland and generic as an alien jellyfish blob. It's just so basic—its soft contours and drooping consistency denote neither power, nor grace, nor personality. A lack of a strong color scheme only makes matters worse, the dim blues and weak starbursts doing little to give it that exciting flair you'd expect from something supposed to serve as a vanguard for Game Freak's newest ambitious plot devices. For a Pokémon meant to pose a massive threat to Pokémon and the human race, it sure doesn't look like anything special...Its description says it can assume multiple shapes though, so maybe that will yield something more interesting than what we have now.
Alolan Rattata
pupper!!!
A good example of what I'd like to see more of with regards to Alolan forms: an environmentally inspired change accompanied by an injection of personality and character (something that many Generation 1 Pokémon, with the rather basic and minimalist designs, are sadly lacking). Rattata, the iconic weakling mob of Pokémon for generations, has been given a handy upgrade in the form of a sleek new coat of paint and a set of imposing new whiskers. The spiky tufts of fur on its ears and tail aren't intrusive but give it the scruffy feel you'd expect of some standard schoolboy bully who's finally managed to earn a spot in the local mafia. Although the rounded edges of its whiskers clash slightly with the scruffy, mangled look Game Freak was obviously going for, they do have a certain charm and definitely look unique enough. Finally, the darker skin tones work well with the blackened fur, earning this rat a solid A in my gradebook.
Alolan Raticate
pupper!!!
Alolan Raticate looks good. Not good in the traditional sense of course—this overweight rodent is obviously mean to the bone. Fat, feisty, and ready to rumble, this bloated iteration of everyone's favorite Kanto rodent is a testament to the potential of the Alolan forms gimmick. Clever use of design motifs (like the starburst pattern on the belly) accentuate the Pokémon's explosive growth in girth, and its spiky fur gives its rounded body some much-needed dynamism. One thing I don't understand is why they didn't run with the new mustache-style whiskers Alolan Rattata was packing... but that's a minor concern. I do think the puffed-up cheeks make its teeth look a bit strange, but I'm not sure how I would have dealt with such a problem, myself. All in all: I'm a fan.
Alola Rattata
Codraroll
In Alola, Rattata are black. Why that is, I have no idea, but it makes more sense than the original purple color. The black-and-tan color scheme conveys the image of a creature of the night, stalking around in search of a prey while hiding from predators of its own. Rattata fits well in this role, I think. It never looked much like a grassland creature, and it made very little sense for it to be purple, one of the colours that stick out the most from green. The red eyes are kept, though, with great result, I think. This is a menacing little vermin, tough as nails and quick as a shadow. I'm really warming up to the idea of a Dark-typed Rattata.
For some reasons, its whiskers have moved too. Rattata usually have a pair whiskers on its cheeks, whereas the Alola variant has something resembling a bushy mustache instead. It doesn't look completely right, but it adds a likeable bandido look that brings some character to the design. I'd say it was a smart move. With that and some rougher tufts of fur, Alola Rattata looks ready to make the sewers unsafe at night.
Alola Raticate
Codraroll
Raticate was never a pretty Pokémon to begin with, but its Alola form takes the ugliness up a few more notches. Most notably, Alola Raticate looks fat and bloated. Raticate is normally a lean, mean monster rat, but Alola Raticate looks more like an overfed hamster. It even has its mouth perpetually full of food, apparently. Imagine the yuckiness of being bitten by it!
It also looks dirtier and rougher than normal Raticate. Its fur is slightly more messy, and the dark color with splotches of gray looks grimy. Add to this the red eyes, and Alola Raticate is a notably meaner beast than its overseas cousin. Interestingly, normal Rattata has red eyes whereas Raticate does not. Keeping the red eyes conveys a closer resemblance to its pre-evolution than Raticate normally does. You can sort of see Rattata's head beneath the cheeks, ears and whiskers. I like that, actually!
Does the ugliness make it a bad design, though? Not at all, Alola Raticate looks ugly, but it's also clear that it's how it is meant to be. It is a dirty crime boss, commanding its underlings while hiding in the filth.
One nitpick, though: The mouth of Alola Raticate looks really bad. It appears that the designers wanted to show Raticate's teeth while its mouth is closed, resulting in something looking like a lipless, painted-on mouth between its bloated cheeks.
Jangmo-o
Codraroll
Oh, look, it's a stock Dragon-type! Jangmo-o reminds me slightly of Magearna; we've never seen it before, but the design looks familiar nevertheless. It's as if it promises more of something we've already seen, like Magearna screaming "pixie-like mythical Pokémon à la Diancie!" despite bearing little actual resemblance to it.
So, what does Jangmo-o bring to the table? Something à la Axew or Bagon, I think. Two evolutions, high stats, usage by a prominent Trainer in the games, and some notable presence in the Anime. It may or may not be a pseudo-legendary, but it's the best candidate we've seen so far.
Anyway, Jangmo-o has a design too. Grey, black, and yellow work well together, creating a pleasant color scheme for an interesting Pokémon. A prominent feature of the design is the scales, most notably the big heart-shaped one on its forehead. Will these be used for defensive, offensive, or even elemental purposes? Either way, I think they're important. The claws on its feet are the same color.
Jangmo-o's head has some turtle-like qualities to it. Stretched skin, a sort of beak, and a thin neck. The body is more dinosaur-like, with even more scales. The abilities are geared towards immunity to certain moves, so it seems ever more likely that Jangmo-o will be a defensive Pokémon. Jangmo-o also adds to the pile of Pokémon whose head is too large for the body, which would realistically make it fall over every time it moved its head.
Overall, I find Jangmo-o a decent, but for some reason very generic, Dragon-type. Being generic is not necessarily a bad thing, though. The previous three-stage Dragons have been generic too, but their evolutions tend to be completely awesome. I don't expect much from Jangmo-o, I don't care much about what it looks like, but I have high hopes for its final evolution. In a way, Jangmo-o's promise is more exciting than Jangmo-o itself.
Type: Null
Berks
Type: Null has a ridiculously non-Pokémon-esque name, just like Tapu Koko and all the other stuff we're seeing introduced. A symbol and a space?! That's bonkers! I find Type: Null's lore very interesting because it carries deep implications on the relationship between humans and Pokémon. Supposedly, Type: Null was "constructed" to combine the strength of a number of different Pokémon. Not only that, but that big ol' thing on its head is actually a mask "designed to control its latent powers." This thing just screams "attempt to create a man-made legendary Pokémon", and hopefully its stats and role in the game reflect that. I personally think that its pure Normal typing makes a lot of sense, as it's shared with the only other man-made Pokémon family, Porygon. That aside, I'd love to see Type: Null do some kind of type or forme change; maybe with a Plate-like item like with Arceus or a helmetless forme akin to Shaymin --> Skaymin-S. Even if neither of those things occur, Type: Null is still a really neat design that I'll be happy to add to my team.
Jangmo-o
Berks
My initial reaction to this cute lil dude essentially boils down to: o-o. Frankly put, it's adorable! Another unconventional name choice from Game Freak is one of the only unique parts of a significantly more conventional Pokémon this time around. Jangmo-o has a name straight out of Avatar (the good one) and a design straight out of My Little Pony (the good one). As a Little Cup player, I'm always excited to see small Pokémon like Jangmo-o being released because there's a good chance they'll join the LC meta. This is doubly true for Jangmo-o, as Little Cup is a little starved for some good Dragon-type Pokémon. If it gets a super neat hidden ability, has solid stats with good Speed, or has some wicked cool moveset, this little dude is gonna be on so many of my teams!
Alola Rattata
Berks
Ayyyyyyyyyy bruh, where you get yo' cut?
The best parts about this new Rattata are the improved color scheme and every. single. new. tuft. of fur. This new Alola form evokes the Scarlet Pimpernel in a brash, aloof sort of sense, albeit with significantly less scarlet. This new Rattata looks like the kind of guy you meet in a dark alley who tries to sell you some new illicit drug out of his trenchcoat and gives you a stern reprimand when you end up trying to cop some. If you haven't noticed yet, I love the mustache! It just takes everything we've already known about Rattata and accentuates it, a show of excellent design from our friends at Game Freak.
Alola Raticate
Berks
thicc
UB-01
Berks
The number 01 thing I'd like to know about UB-01 is why it takes the shape of, of all things, a jellyfish. I don't know about y'all, but when I think THINGS THAT COULD BE CALLED AN ULTRA BEAST™, I think lions, tigers, whatever Type: Null is, polar bears—that list does not include jellyfish by any reasonable standard. Nevertheless, here it is, so here it is judged. Star Jellyfish is said to resemble the movements of a young girl, and that motif is also present in its design: the floppy sunhat-looking top, the tentacles reminiscent of long hair draped around a nonexistent face, and the two longer leg-esque tentacles all lend themselves to this interpretation. Still, though, you'd only have to stretch the list of THINGS THAT COULD BE CALLED AN ULTRA BEAST™ like two spaces from "jellyfish" to find "young girl", which doesn't really sit well with me. Hopefully it'll have some ridiculous power or whatever and I'll be moved to accept its power or whatever. Whatever.
Type: Null
DHR-107
What a mish-mash of Pokémon and elements this thing seems to be. I can understand why as well if it was something that was created by humans in order to counter some sort of threat. It appears to have been made this way as some sort of hybrid, using the best parts of other Pokémon... Not that you can tell what Pokémon some of the parts are from! It appears like we have Houndoom's back legs and body (except much larger), some unknown insectoid-like Pokémon's front legs, half of Gyarados's tail, and that huge head piece that covers the front end. This apparently enables it to adapt to any situation that it should come across.
I'm mostly confused about its giant axe-style head. Apparently the head gear is to contain its latent power, as otherwise it would be too strong. It is also very heavy, causing Type: Null to lose some of its agility. Interestingly, the information on the official site says it was required to "complete a certain mission". Whether or not the games explain what this is, we will have to wait and see.
Type: Null is also Gladion's signature Pokémon, which probably means we will see it fairly often in battles with him and Team Skull. This is not that unlike fighting Jesse and James in Pokémon Yellow. He may also become a rival to you with Type: Null being powerful enough to cause the player issues.
Jangmo-o
DHR-107
This thing is pretty darn cute. Especially for a Dragon. It appears to have the same will and drive that Bagon has to fly in regards to its training. Always trying to get stronger and more powerful. This diligence will likely be highlighted with an evolution or two. I like the little heart-shaped crest it has on its head, and I hope it gets some interesting moves to use with it, like Iron Head or Zen Headbutt. The colors work together well, and I like the little armor plates that adorn its sides.
It also gets some interesting abilities. Bulletproof was unique to the Chespin line previously, but it is now being used by Jangmo-o as well. Soundproof seems like another interesting addition, as if it keeps it, it allows it to avoid moves such as Hyper Voice.
Alolan Rattata
DHR-107
Alolan Rattata seems like a pretty dull design all things considered. It changes color, gains the Dark type, and grows a mustache. That's basically it. Interestingly, there is some information relating to Yungoos being introduced to prey on the Rattata that came from Kanto, similarly to the real world events of Hawaii introducing mongooses to help with the rat infestation. It didn't really work.
Alolan Rattata appear to be nocturnal compared to Yungoos's daytime prowling. This is likely the reason that both appear. It even has changes to its ability to complete the change, gaining Gluttony and apparently losing access to both Guts and Run Away.
Alolan Raticate
DHR-107
Alolan Faticate is awesome. I love how this giant fat rat is what comes from our rather similar to Kanto form, Alolan Rattata. "Faticate" is the leader of the gang, fed by its underlings. But only the best food comes into this Raticate's court. It stockpiles food to keep and lazes away eating, hence its tremendous gain in weight.
The fat cheek pouches give it the impression that it can store food for later, much like other rodents can. Gluttony lends itself to this design too, being able to eat berries earlier in battle. Alolan Raticate takes over from being the Totem Pokémon in Verdant Cavern in Pokémon Moon, leaving Gumshoos to reside there in Pokémon Sun.
UB-01
DHR-107
Ultra Beast 01... The name has other implications. Mostly that there is likely more of them. There are many rumors surrounding the design of this Pokémon at the moment, and it's obvious why. An ethereal, supernatural design that flows and ebbs like a jellyfish in ways that are kind of unsettling for a person. We see it appear out of some soft of rift, maybe a portal to another dimension.
Ultra Beast 01 appears to be made of some sort of translucent, glass-like membrane. It's small hat-like headdress is adorned with flower-like shapes (a massively recurring theme so far in SM) that gives it a little bit of personality outside of its tentacles...
Ultra Beasts may be incredibly powerful foes for us to battle and help, but it does seem certain that they are going to be tied into the story somehow.
Alolan Rattata/Raticate
Eevee General
The Alolan forms have put a fresh spin on old favorites in a believable—and biologically sound, if you can stand to see "science" in the same sentence as "Pokémon"—way. Surely Pokémon would start to vary outside their original habitat, so it makes sense for Rattata and Raticate, for example, to look and behave differently than their counterparts from other regions. Two things. First, why is Alola the only region to feature its own unique forms? If we're supposed to accept that forms have evolved across regions, what makes Alola so special that it's the only region so far to express this genetic diversity? Second, we were given Mega Evolutions in order to spice up the roster, so why the sudden change of pace? If Megas are returning for Sun and Moon, why would Game Freak need another type of form when Mega Raticate would have sufficed? In a game that's promising Z-moves and hinting at synchro evolution, Alola forms are an unneeded addition in an already crowded lineup of changes.
Now, onto the rats themselves. Rattata is different, but is it different enough? When we've already seen Sandshrew and Vulpix make a 180-degree turn to Ice, slapping Dark onto Rattata's typing and giving its coat a new hue accounts to something of a semi-circle step. Sure, it's got some bristles sticking out of its tail and ears, and its cheek whiskers have been supplanted with an adorable mouse-stache. Other than that, it gained Gluttony, which doesn't really scream Dark to me, just lazy. Raticate on the other hand is something else entirely. It's dirtier, it's shaggier, and apparently its new gluttonous ways have paid off, as it sports a much rounder physique and giant cheeks that are probably bursting with food from the garbage bin. It looks disgusting, really, as a rat should. You could even say it went full Templeton. Maybe that means Alolan Raticate can be found hanging out with Alolan Grumpig this generation.
Type: Null
Eevee General
Type: Null is something else. No, really. It sports a Gyarados tail, Zygarde's 10% forme hind legs, and Skarmory's talons. The top half is giving me a Shadow of the Colossus vibe; that, and a scrap heap. For all its jumbled exterior, I actually like the design. It's nothing like what we've seen in Pokémon before, even if it is assembled of other Pokémon parts. I'm surprised it wasn't given a different type, however, because it certainly doesn't look Normal. Steel looks more appropriate to me, considering its upper half seems to be made from metal. There's still quite a bit of mystery surrounding Type: Null, so we may find out that its type is variable. There are also rumors that the name is just a placeholder, too. I can only hope so. If the name does stay, it's just another in a list of unorthodox decisions made this generation. (Tapu Koko I can chalk up to an injection of Island flavor, but Jangmo-o, Drampa, Bewear, and Morelull all sound like cruel jokes that we're not in on.) So Type: Null, like its nature, is a bit of a mixed bag. A unique, interesting design held back by a lackluster type and an astoundingly off-kilter name choice. Unless things change when the game is released, I'm feeling a little Type: Numb over it all.
Jangmo-o
Eevee General
Dragon is one of those types that's deviated farther and farther from its original source material. The original Dragon family was, in its fully evolved state, a true dragon. Over the years we've gotten Dragon seahorses, bats, snails, and even a "land shark" line. Our newest scion looks dragonesque, if not generically so. Its wings appear to be nonexistent, or perhaps they flattened into those oval scales seen along its sides. It bears a heart-shaped head plate with that I hope it uses to batter around its foes. The information on it is rather lackluster. Other than it training in harsh locations and never turning its back on its foe, we don't really know what sets Jangmo-o apart from other "prideful" Pokémon, nor why it has the abilities Bulletproof or Soundproof, but if I had to guess (and I think it's pretty obvious) I'd say those pearly scales are what protect its hide from bullets, bombs, and sound. Overall, I like it more than I hate it. It's cute and colorful and sports playful little ornaments. Now let's just hope it evolves into something even more resplendent so we can go from a Jangmo-o to a Jangmo-oooo.
Alolan Rattata/Raticate
FellFromtheSky
While the palette swap Alolan forms are often frowned upon as unoriginal and uninspired, I actually think that with a few other changes and good flavor reasoning, palette swapping can actually be an incredible design method. Just look at Ninetales and Sandshrew. They are perhaps even more charming than their original counterparts. Alolan Rattata has, but to a lesser degree, this same charm. Its new color scheme is made up of fairly neutral colors and is easy to look at. The new dark colors, unfortunately, are perhaps a bit blatant in saying "Rattata is now a Dark-type", though. In terms of form, Alolan Rattata has sharper claws and endearing little mustache—which are reasonable design changes to convey its new typing and flavor. Despite all these positive traits, however, Alolan Rattata just doesn't stand out from its Kanto counterpart, at least in my eyes, in the way that Ninetales and Sandshrew do.
Unlike Alolan Rattata, however, Alolan Raticate's designers truly managed to make it a new and distinct form from standard Raticate. Puffy cheeks and the pattern on its belly emphasize its chubbiness and new flavor, while spiky ears lend it a unique charm. Even better, its now red eyes have been reshaped in such a way that Alolan Raticate appears sweet and full of personality. Very solid design.
Type: Null
FellFromtheSky
This is perhaps the hardest Pokémon design for me to analyze in this batch of reveals. It's certainly a clever design, but perhaps one of the most unusual. It's a mishmash of contradictory parts, but somehow it works. Its hind legs appear mammalian, while its forelegs are almost insectoid. Its tail is akin to that of an aquatic creature, while its head is adorned with a vaguely avian-shaped helmet. Type: Null's designers certainly knew what they were doing (though not with its name)—all these contradictory parts form a cohesive design that doesn't clash with itself visually. In addition, it effectively and immediately gives me the impression of a synthetic chimera. I also quite like its color scheme. Greens, blues, and greys all lend a harmonious, even natural (cool and ironic for a synthetic Pokémon), look to the strange Type: Null. The last thing I want to note is Type: Null's neck brace, which appears to be a subtle reference to Arceus in that it looks like a dull version of the golden brace around Arceus's midsection. This is perhaps one of my favorite design elements included on Type: Null, as it references interesting in-game mythology and adds a lot to it in terms of composition.
Jangmo-o
FellFromtheSky
At a glance, I can tell Jangmo-o's designer(s) clearly put some thought into this Pokémon. The color scheme is balanced and pleasant to look at. Shades of yellow give Jangmo-o a certain cheerfulness, which is tempered by more neutral shades of grey. It's shape, too, is simplistic and balanced. While its large head is, realistically, probably a bit difficult for the little Dragon to hold up, it seems to me a wise design choice in that it does give the impression of youth and innocence. It's eyes, with striking red irises, are a shape reminiscent of Pokémon like Bagon and Prinplup. I'm guessing this was also a deliberate choice, as this particular eye shape (as well as color) conveys a lot of personality, which gels with its description as having the "pride of a warrior." Jangmo-o's other facial features are also of note—its beak-like mouth and fang are endearing, as are its ear ornaments (tufts of fur? Scales?), while its heart-shaped crest effectively reinforces its description of being a "valiant Pokémon." This is where good things end for Jangmo-o, however (at least in terms of artistic exposition), as the ornaments across its side do nothing more than clutter an otherwise balanced composition. Furthermore, the tuft of what appears to be fur on its chest is distracting and just seems out of place. I can see that the designers probably thought it looked a little plain without the aforementioned attributes, but any number of design elements could have remedied their issue. For example, wouldn't a smooth black line across its torso, replacing those odd-looking ornaments, have been a nice touch? Or perhaps they could have repeated the heart motif somewhere on its chest or along its side. At any rate, despite its flaws, Jangmo-o has a relatively well-executed and charming design (especially considering this most recently released batch of Pokémon).
UB-01
FellFromtheSky
UB-01 was clearly designed with a goal to convey other-worldliness in mind. Its lack of a face, as well as the similarities it shares with the human form, lend the design both a mysterious quality and a relatable one. Its color scheme is a combination of pale blues, suggesting a relation to the sky or the sea, that also emphasize UB-01's other-worldliness. However, composition-wise, UB-01 has some glaring flaws I can't overlook. First, it's simultaneously flat and round—by which I mean that its body appears so flat that it creates a sort of visual paradox when placed under its very round hat. Try to imagine it from an angle other than a frontal one its official art portrays it in and you'll see what I mean. In addition, the patterning on UB-01's hat only adds to this problem, as it only emphasizes the three-dimensional shape of the hat. Perhaps they could have made the design a bit more charming if they had repeated those little bubbles that appear in its two outermost tentacles inside the hat? One thing that does make me want to forgive UB-01's designers, however, is that they actually incorporated its "made of glass" flavor into its artwork. Rarely does Game Freak incorporate transparency (or other lighting/texture effects) into their designs. I think I can probably count on one hand the number of evolutionary lines with transparent or translucent features. Even Ice-types don't typically incorporate this design element! At least this feature does make UB-01 slightly more visually interesting, despite its contradictory shape.
Alola Rattata
GatoDelFuego
My first impression was to call this thing a palette swap with an added moustache, which it is, but the mythos that new Rattata and Raticate have been given is actually quite good!
Alola Raticate
GatoDelFuego
Goodness gracious does this Pokémon look disgusting. Given my previous disdain for every Alola Form Pokémon that has come so far, it's kind of surprising that I actually like Alola Raticate and Rattata. They are both portrayed as the criminals of the Alola region: Yungoos and Gumshoos the detectives are their enemies, they are constantly on the hunt for new restaurants, and Big Boss Alola Raticate gorges itself on the Rattata's tributes. It makes sense, honestly, with both Pokémon being popular with Team Rocket. Again, I would have preferred for a new Pokémon to be created instead of these two, but this is an instance where I think we should just retcon old Rattata / Raticate out of existence. If every generic Normal-type got this treatment, that'd be nice, because Rattata was one of my absolute least favorite Pokémon back in the day and it's served as a constant reminder that Vanilluxe is not that bad in comparison.
Type: Null
GatoDelFuego
The Pokémon Company must be insane. Ever since Generation V, fans have been complaining "Pokémon is just starting to look too much like Digimon! They've run out of ideas!" I've always been a staunch defender of new Pokémon showing inspiration through designs, names, and lore, and THIS is what we get in return? I can't do this any more. Let me make it clear that this Pokémon design is NOT actually that bad—scientific experiment, combination of lots of other powerful Pokémon, needs to restrain its power—that sounds good! And come on, how is a centurion's helmet not the coolest design feature ever? But all of that goes away when you see its name. I simply do not understand how something can be called "Type Colon Null" and make it past the product review board. Mr. Mime was a bad enough name; I thought we were moving BEYOND stuff like that? This name is a total disgrace to Generation VII. We have had scientific Pokémon in the past with Pokémon-like names (Porygon from polygon, Deoxys from DNA, Castform from forecasting), but this travesty is just two jargon-like words mixed together with a colon. How are they going to pronounce this in the show? Can you imagine the announcer in Pokémon Battle Revolution saying "Type: Null is sent out!"?
Jangmo-o
GatoDelFuego
Well, I suppose if we're going to have the entire Pokedex spoiled for us we might as well get a peek at the pseudo-legendary! Calling that now, because there's no way that Drampa becomes a 600 BST monster. Jangmo-o looks very original still, taking clear inspiration from dinosaurs. It looks like an Ankylosaurus to me, which is 1. awesome and 2. original. Gray plus yellow is a soothing color combination, and the proportions on its claws and tail look very nice. Going by color alone, perhaps we'll see an Electric / Dragon Pokémon? Or will we continue to buck color=type trends and wind up with something totally surprising? Either way, I'm excited to see what this little thing turns into. But again, what's up with this name?
UB-01
GatoDelFuego
Pretty much everything I said about Type Colon Null holds true for this... Pokémon? Except I like UB-01's design a lot more. Yawn, it's a girl spirit thing that became a jellyfish thing; stop trying to play coy with your little "hints" that "some people think it looks like a child!!" But jellyfish are cool. Tentacruel occupies one end of the spectrum; it's mean, it's scary, and it's dangerous. UB-01 is the other side of jellyfish: mysterious, peaceful, and beautiful. But for real, that name is driving me insane.
Alolan Rattata and Raticate
Pikachu315111
When Yungoos was revealed we were told it was brought over to handle an Alolan pest. Not only was it a clever allusion to a real life thing but it also leads to a clever new Alolan form! As it turns out Rattata was the pest Yungoos was brought in to take care of, but instead of being exterminated they began living in urban areas and became nocturnal, gaining their secondary Dark typing. The physical changes are both nicely done and appropriate. Alolan Rattata shows the fewest changes with mainly darker colored and messier fur, and its long whiskers becoming black stubs which looks like a mustache. But it doesn't keep its new face hair when it evolves into Alolan Raticate, but it does gain a few pounds. Each Alolan Rattata gang is commanded by an Alolan Raticate, thus they don't get much exercise and grew "hefty". This is exemplified in Alolan Raticate's defining feature of puffed out cheeks, no doubt made for stuffing as much food into its mouth as possible. The changes are both subtle yet obvious, balancing themselves out quite nicely.
Much like with Alolan Meowth, Dark is a good type for Alolan Rattata and Raticate to become part of. They learn plenty of Dark-type moves to get STAB for and Dark typing doesn't really change up their type match-ups that much (and since they retain their Normal typing they still get STAB on their Normal-type moves unlike Alolan Meowth). They also get better Abilities. Run Away is replaced by Gluttony (which, while not that great of an ability, is better than Run Away as we know it) and Guts is replaced by what was their Hidden Ability, Hustle (it still increases the power of their moves but now in exchange for decreased accuracy instead of needing a status ailment. This frees up their item slot by not needing a Toxic/Flame Orb and if they learn Hone Claws it'll offset the accuracy loss while also giving them another Attack boost). Of course there are some negatives. While I can't see Alolan Rattata differing much from normal Rattata's stats, Alolan Raticate is looking to have lower Speed, which was normal Raticate's best stat (which isn't saying much, but the point is that unless they move all of those points to Attack then Alolan Raticate could come out being more below average).
Jangmo-o
Pikachu315111
Every generation there's a normally catchable Pokémon whose final evolution stage, which is a three-stage evolution, has a BST of 600, similar to that of a Legendary. They're known as pseudo-legendaries and I think Jangmo-o has the potential of being the one for Gen VII. Now nothing is guaranteed, in the past we've had other Pokémon who seemed like they would be pseudo-legendaries but turned out not to be for one reason or another such as Aron. However Jangmo-o has more going for it then Aron did. Many pseudo-legendaries are Dragon-types, its description of being a valorous Pokémon, and it using the scale on its head to fight is similar to Bagon's backstory. But even if it's just a random dragon that's also alright. Jangmo-o is cute, like you fused a dragon and dog with hints of a dinosaur (the scale armor and scale on the end of its tail brings to mind the Ankylosaurus). While I usually form my team while playing through the game, I wouldn't mind adding this guy to my team if I come across it; never hurts to have a Dragon-type on your team.
Jangmo-o doesn't hide being a defensive Pokémon. While Dragon-type can play both an offensive and defensive role, it's the abilities that make the point stick. Jangmo-o gets two abilities that nullify a certain type of move: Soundproof blocks sound-based moves and Bulletproof blocks projectile-based moves. Out of the two I would say Bulletproof is the more useful, though sound moves do get past Substitutes and many can induce sleep, so Soundproof possibly isn't completely outclassed. Also a defensive pseudo-legendary isn't odd; all of them have good to high defensive stats and some even expertise in one like (Mega) Metagross and Goodra. With its gray-yellow color scheme and plate armor I'm hoping it evolves into part Steel-type so Dialga isn't the only metallic dragon in town.
Type: Null
Pikachu315111
Over the years the idea of what a chimera is has changed. Once referring to the Greek mythical creature which was a lion with an additional goat's head and a tail that was a snake, it has become a general term for any hybrid creature that doesn't have a name. It was a toss-up of which interpretation Pokémon would do, and it has revealed to be the modern day interpretation. A fish tail, a hind of a canine or feline with patches of scales, front legs of a bird, bug feet, a mane, and a steampunkish helmet with a blade attached to the top (or is the blade part of it thus more of a horn?). It's a tad ironic its name is Type: Null, because though its name means nothing its design is trying to be everything. If there was any Pokémon I would call trying to be edgy, this would be it, to the point where I find it comical. It took me a while but I like it, or at least parts of it. I think more work could have been done on its design; I feel Digimon did this premise better with Kimeramon, for which you can tell what Digimon its individual parts came from. Then again I think it's supposed to look slapped together so you gotta give or take what you get here.
If it's not its appearance being talked about its it backstory and who is seen using it. Type: Null is another manmade Pokémon; this time people tried combining different parts of Pokémon to make a Pokémon that can adapt to any situation and its power equaling a Legendary (and people have noted the ring around its helmet does vaguely resembles Arceus's arch). Yet, it's not a scientist using it, but a Team Skull admin named Gladion (an edgy character who looks like he would play Linkin Park's "Crawling" 24/7). So either Team Skull is a much more complex group than we originally thought or something else is up (and considering Gladion bears a resemblance to Aether Foundation's president, Lusamine, I'm going for the latter). I won't go over it now, but if you want to see a wild theory check my UB-01 analysis.
That just leaves gameplay speculation, and where do we start? Well, its name does allude to one thing about it: it is Normal-type. And with that big blade on its head I'm guessing it'll be a physical attacker, so STAB Slash I guess is nice to have (or you could go for the more reliably powerful Return). It's specifically mentioned the helmet slows it down (is it just me or do not a lot of Gen VII Pokémon seem fast?), though I imagine it gives it a Defense boost. That's further hinted at by its ability, Battle Armor, which prevents critical hits (though you'd think a Pokémon made from multiple Pokémon so it could adapt to any situation would get an ability like Adaptability or Protean). Time will tell whether its stats are equal to that of a Legendary, as well what role it has to play in Sun & Moon, as it's clearly not your average Pokémon.
UB-01
Pikachu315111
Why are we talking about a creature that is specifically said not to be a Pokémon? While not a Pokémon, it's certainly Pokémon-like, and though it may not be able to be used by the player that doesn't mean they won't battle it. UB-01's design is simple being a sea jelly whose tentacles are made to vaguely resemble a humanoid body, emphasized by it imitating the behavior of a young girl. Of course it's able to shapeshift so who knows what else it can do and look like. I think it's made to look alien or at least different from what we expect a Pokémon to be, though I think if you told an unaware person this was a new Pokémon they would believe it.
At this point I'd talk about battle potential, but it's not a Pokémon so how can I do this? If we are able to battle any of the Ultra Beasts this wouldn't be the first time we would be able to battle a non-Pokémon opponent in the main series. Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 introduced Pokéstar Studios, a side activity where the player made Pokémon-based movies. A neat thing about Pokéstar Studios is that you didn't always battle Pokémon opponents, many movies had you battle with a character or object in the movie. It was a neat idea and I had hoped maybe Game Freak could take this idea further by incorporating actually story bosses like this. Could the Ultra Beasts be what I was hoping for? In Pokéstar Studios the non-Pokémon opponents were still given existing abilities and moves, but that's understandable, as it was a side activity. For the Ultra Beasts they could create special abilities and moves just for them to make the battle more interesting.
But let's now address one of the main observations of UB-01... with a wild theory! By now everyone has noticed UB-01 has a bit of a resemblance to Lillie. But it's not the only one, Team Skull Enforcer's Gladion and Aether Foundation's President Lusamine also look to be related. How does this all fit together? Well here's my theory: Lillie is an Ultra Beast, but not UB-01. She is UB-00, accidentally brought to our world by an Aether Foundation experiment years before the events of Sun & Moon. UB-00 was a young Ultra Beast, so not quite knowing what's going on, shapeshifted into a younger version of the first thing it saw: Lusamine. Realizing they have a baby/child Ultra Beast, the Aether Foundation adopted UB-00 and named it "Lillie". All of the foundation's high-ranking members were interested in learning about and teaching Lillie, all except Lusamine's son: Gladion. Gladion saw Lillie as nothing but a monster that has taken his mother's attention away from him. Years passed, Gladion's jealousy grew to a hatred, and finally Gladion decides to join a rival group to the Aether Foundation, Team Skull, in order to put an end to Lillie, whom he now sees as a disguised monster waiting to threaten the world. Before Gladion left he took Type: Null, a failed attempt to make a Pokémon with the power of Legendaries so they could fight Ultra Beasts, to get ready for his battle with Lillie. Meanwhile Lillie, wanting to learn more about humans and Pokémon, became Kukui's assistant without him knowing her true nature. However, now it looks like the Ultra Beasts have found a way to enter our dimension, most likely to reclaim their kidnapped member. UB-01 acting like a young girl could be it trying to reach Lillie, Ultra Beasts having a telepathic connection with each other and that's a behavior signal it's picking up from Lillie (who most likely had this ability dulled so that she can't sense it. Wouldn't be surprised if Lillie lost much of her Ultra Beast abilities from being raised for so long as a human in a human body). I think that explains everything, so what do you think? Plausible? Improbable? Well, we won't know until the games come out, obviously a lot of other factors are missing for me to make a complete theory, so for now let's just see what Game Freak actually have planned.
Type: Null
heritage
What a unique Pokémon, from its backstory, to its overall design, right down to its name. Funnily enough, I saw the trailer on the day it came out and I honestly thought that it was a new typing instead of a Pokémon at first. I loved the concept of the Chimera from Mother 3, and Type: Null reminds me a lot of it. I want to say that Type: Null is my favorite Pokémon from Sun and Moon so far just because of the outright ridiculousness of it. It's a mishmash of so many different kinds of animals and machinery parts, I'd refer to it as "organized chaos". It has the form of a dog, but the tail looks like it would be something from a sea animal, those front claws look like they could tear you in half, and its headdress looks like a giant axe. The short lore on the website for Type: Null is very intriguing, and I'm so excited to learn more about it. The potential of removing its mask seems super cool; it reminds me a lot of Cubone. Even with all the positives that the design has, I have to admit that Normal typing is a bit boring, but it still looks like a Pokémon that is going to be a fan favorite. I just hope that we'll be able to catch it properly so it can be on my team, being a late-game Legendary of sorts would be kind of lame.
Alola Raticate
heritage
Let me get this out there for the sake of clarity: I think Alolan forms are stupid. A huge majority of them are simple color and type changes. While it works for Ninetales, pretty much all of them just look awkward. I don't even really like Marowak even though a lot of people do, mainly because of the awkward in-game model. The only one that actually deserves credit is Exeggutor, since it manages to change the actual design, but that one has its own issues because it's just ugly. But on the subject of Raticate, it's... something else entirely. Who actually thinks this abomination looks good, and why is it a copy of Ratatouille? When I saw Alolan Rattata, I was excited, even if I didn't like the base design. The potential for an evil Dark-type Raticate similar to the Dark Raticate from the Team Rocket Returns TGC brought me so much excitement and was enough to originally push aside my bias against the Alolan forms. I'm not even a big fan of Raticate, even though I usually use one in my LeafGreen playthroughs. Alolan Raticate left me with so much disappointment, much like a lot of this generation has. The first thing that sticks out is... those cheeks. Raticate is not a squirrel, and it really takes away from the intimidating teeth, which Raticate is known for. The colors are just a basic "hey look, I'm a Dark-type", without actually having the essence of a "Dark-type", and that's a huge waste of potential. Hopefully it ends up being just for Pokémon Moon as a lot of people are expecting. Aaaand hopefully Alolan Persian ends up being much better.
Jangmo-o
heritage
This little thing is so cute! Look at the way it bobs its oversized head up and down in its in-game animation, look at the huge heart on its head, the tiny fangs, it just wants to give you a hug! I assume Jangmo-o is going to be the standard pseudo-legendary dragon that every generation has, and I'm quite excited to see the final result. Maybe this will actually look like a dragon, unlike Goodra (don't get me wrong, Goodra is cute and different, it just doesn't match up to the other pseudo-legendary dragons in terms of intimidation). I can see long, stretching wings, intimidating fangs, a tail that can strike you down with a single swing... maybe this is a bit of a crazed dream coming from this small form, but looking at Bagon and Deino there's always that possibility. Now if it's a one-stage evolution it might seem a bit lacking, but Jangmo-o alone is a very simple and cute design, and one that I can definitely like.
UB-01
heritage
So now Pokémon has aliens? Is it confirmed that UB-01 is actually a Pokémon or is it just going to show up with no meaning? Uh, moving on, UB-01 does a good job capturing "alien" in its design, but other than that, it's very generic and doesn't do much to stand out. It's... visually pretty? I'm actually having a difficult time describing it; unlike a lot of other Pokémon designs, this isn't something I can generally gush about. A lot of the fan art out there does a much better job of portraying what it's supposed to be. It clearly has something to do with the Aether Foundation, so I guess you can consider me interested in what the game has in store for us in terms of story progression, but the design itself is nothing special. Maybe it will have alternate formes that improve it.
Type: Null
{Pokemon_Vigilante}
A rather unusual name for a Pokémon, as we haven't seen ANYTHING like it. What is its purpose? How do we come across it, and will it be a friend or foe initially? To say that it is unique surely suits it. It has a head that looks like the helmet of a knight with an ax wedge on top, the front legs of something that resembles The Swamp Thing, and the tail of a sea creature that lives at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
Appearance aside, I'm curious as to how powerful this Pokémon will be. I'm also curious whether or not it plays a role in moving the story forward, because we've seen numerous points in the game series thus far where the pseudo-legendary Pokémon don't even play a role in moving towards the bigger events of the game. Or is it more to the point that perhaps Type: Null was created to combat the Ultra Beasts, like UB-01? Keep in mind that we know the nature of the UBs to be a potential foe since they are labeled "A Mysterious Threat" in the reveal trailer, so it would make sense that they reveal a potential counter to that threat in the form of Type: Null.
All in all, it's going to be interesting to see how the storyline is affected by Type: Null, and I'll be sure to mark the moment I meet him by using the Pokémon Snap feature! I never got the chance to play the original Pokémon Snap, so this will be a thrilling experience for me.
UB-01
{Pokemon_Vigilante}
Anyone who ever caught a Jellicent should easily agree that this is just a superpowered carbon copy with a few small changes. I'm all for bringing in new threats to the story arc, but if you plan to do it, make sure they look authentic! Here is the moment that you should have left all your cards on the table, Nintendo, as the story arc seems be drawing to a close with these games. Sun and Moon seems like a nice way to cast a shadow on the story and let it fade away into the night, and if you plan to do it, then bring new art and Pokémon styles to light. Who knows, maybe it changes its form if it gets traded from one version to the other. Either way, this was a busted move in my opinion, because its design lacks depth and the ability to draw out emotion with conviction.
Alola Rattata
{Pokemon_Vigilante}
I'm fairly certain that the people at Nintendo decided it would be a good idea to take something already annoying and semi-hideous and make it look SO MUCH WORSE! I look at Alola Rattata and think of the old-time villains in black and white movies with the freaky mustaches. I want to scream and pray for someone to save us like the woman who was kidnapped by said old villains and tied to the railroad tracks while the locomotive of repetition comes down the line to run us over with extreme boredom. I like the black color switch from the purple, but on my end, that's the ONLY upside for me. And if you think I hate Alola Rattata, just wait til you go read my summary of Alola Raticate...
Alola Raticate
{Pokemon_Vigilante}
Tell me if you've heard this song and dance before: evil team comes to steal and sell Pokémon, and the grunts of the team need to use whatever they can get their hands on to carry that mission out. Oh, you've heard it? Me too, yet I get the feeling that we'll see it happen again with a slight twist: the Raticates that will be used will have a Dark / Normal typing! Oh no!?! How will we survive?!? There is going to be major hate for this Pokémon, because even a new paint job and body type change won't remove the disdain felt for Raticate, no matter what region he's in.
In the reveal trailer, we see that Alola Raticate is actually a totem in the Pokémon Moon side of the split screen. I'm interested to know if the totems have unique moves they couldn't otherwise access, or they're just overpowered versions of themselves. Either way, being set 12 hours apart certainly seems to affect what totem Pokémon you may come across. As is always the case, I'm sure the time difference between the games will also affect the locations in which you'll find Alola Raticate.
Alola Rattata
Facebook Guest Reviewer
Our new friend's main defining feature is not just its added Dark typing, but its rather distinguished mustache. Don't be surprised when you find Trainers who would nickname them after certain mustachioed plumbers. But seriously, I'm so grateful that the developers for Sun and Moon finally started taking divergent evolution even further than simply aesthetic changes to Vivillon or Gastrodon. This breathes new life into the original 151 friends most of us grew up with or otherwise met on our Pokémon Go walks to the grocery store. Now those irritating purple vermin have some competitive potential and added value after 20 years.
Alola Raticate
Facebook Guest Reviewer
Ratatouille, anyone? At first I was wondering why Raticate was so much more pleasantly plump than its pre-evolved form, but I realized it was all a result of this established social order/crime ring that its species established in Alola. Forget about Team Skull—Rattata are the real Mafiosi. The ability Gluttony certainly suits this ravenous rodent. I think it might be based on the concept of hamsters storing food in their large cheeks. As for its competitive potential, I'm imagining that Raticate would serve as a good tank with not one, but TWO immunities, and Gluttony that would let it restore health at an earlier rate and keep it on the field.
Type: Null
Facebook Guest Reviewer
The source of many conspiracy theories, and sadly not our awaited 19th type. Already people are comparing this one to Arceus and a variety of other Pokémon from Vaporeon to Mega Abomasnow. It's certainly a very interesting concept—a chimera, possibly the result of an alchemy experiment gone wrong to summon the God of Pokémon. But God, could they make this Pokémon any duller to look at? Its colors are so muted and dark that it doesn't seem remotely appealing and more like a big scrap heap of trash (unlike Garbodor, who was meant to be literal trash). At least its ability, Battle Armor, shields this guy from critical hit High Jump Kicks to its heavy, misshapen head. There's one question on my mind, though: where'd our mismatched friend come from? Given the introduction of the Aether Foundation in the latest promo, I don't think "Arceus" or "Mew" is the answer. Hopefully there will be more to come on this enigmatic pseudo-legendary.
UB-01
Facebook Guest Reviewer
Why am I reviewing this if it's not even a Pokémon? Joking. It looks suspiciously like Lillie, but I'm hoping that The Pokémon Company is a lot smarter than to give away what seems like its biggest plot twist for its new games. Despite the many repeated storylines of Pokémon, I am really hoping that Nintendo really shakes it up in this game. These Ultra Beasts are a hot-button topic of speculation and mystery. It has a really cool design—a squishy, cnidarian creature of glass that emits screams and transforms into young girls. As a maker of Pokémon dolls, the transparency of its "hat" frustrates and fascinates me.
Jangmo-o
Facebook Guest Reviewer
I predict this heart-headed cutie pie will be the pseudo-legendary dragon of this generation. I'm not sure how this adorable little lizard would fare competitively, considering that being a pure Dragon-type puts it at a very big disadvantage. Maybe it would have a much cooler, tougher evolved form that gains a second typing? Only time will tell. However, I do enjoy dinosaur-themed Pokémon, and this Pokémon managed to capture all the charm of a protoceratops in this skinny, wide-eyed lizard. The shiny yellow heart-shaped crest on its light gray head adds the perfect, palatable mix of toughness and cuteness with an appealing color scheme.
Conclusion
Join us again in a couple weeks as we analyze some more Pokémon!
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