SPOILERS! Mysteries and Conspiracies of Pokemon

[Pikachu315111]

As Karxrida said, flavor text is exactly why there are seemingly double Abilities.

ALL The Expy Abilities

Can't Sleep

Insomnia: The Pokemon generally have heightened senses; they can't sleep because their mind is getting tons of stimuli thus constantly active.
Vital Spirit (jp. Willingness): The Pokemon generally is one you would considered strong willed and/or stubborn; they can't sleep because they don't want to.
Sweet Veil: The Pokemon releases energy that makes Pokemon awake and active, like they're on a sugar high.

Strongest One There Is

Huge Power (jp. Muscleman): I would actually consider this the "generic" version of this Ability. It gives the idea the Pokemon's muscles are highly developed for what you would normally considered "normal" for a creature like it. That's why the Marill family, Mega Mawile, and the Bunnelby family get it (do you expect rabbits and a fairy to be super strong?) and the Machop family doesn't (they're Fighting-types based on bodybuilders, you expect them to be muscular).
Pure Power (jp. Yoga Power): The Japanese name says it all, you get this from doing yoga which the Meditite family does. Well I guess the idea is that the Pokemon reaches a spiritual revelation/high that allows them to unleash their full potential.

Electrifying

Plus & Minus: A difficult one to peg down. Originally only used by Plusle and Minun to power up each other in Double Battles, it was changed so you can have two the same ones and more Pokemon were given them. I could say Plus Pokemon generate positive charged currents and Minus generate negative charged currents but that really doesn't explain much. I can see sort of a vague pattern like Pokemon with Plus being or having something that's red or a shade of red (Mareep the only exception, getting it due to its evolutions) while Pokemon with Minus are or have something that's blue. The Klink family gets both because Klinklank has a red and blue gear (and they could probably generate both currents of electricity depending what way they're spinning).

Can't Touch This

Rough Skin: The Pokemon's skin/scales is hard and positioned in a way that they cut what rubs against it. Its also a reference to shark's scales which are as I described which is why all the shark-like Pokemon have it, odd one being out is Druddigon though it still makes sense being its based on a dragon (has scales) and gargoyle (hard as stone).
Iron Bards (jp Steel Thorns): The Pokemon has spikes made of metal sticking out of its body. Pretty much only the Ferroseed family can have this Ability unless they decide not to be so literal with it.

What A Lovely Day

Air Lock: The Pokemon stops the air from moving, halting all weather.
Cloud Nine (jp No Weather): One thing to note is that this Ability is actually a pun in Japan. Not only does it mean "no weather" (no tenki) but it can also mean "carefree" (notenki). This is why the Psyduck family originally got it though later on so did others probably to have more weather clearers. Anyway back to flavor, this one gives the idea the Pokemon is causing the weather to move on.

Coming Through

Mold Breaker (jp. Mold-Breaking): Generally the Pokemon look to have a way it can pierce through something.
Terravolt (jp Terravoltage) & Turboblaze: I think the idea is that the Pokemon just overloads the opponent with either electricity or fire.

That's The Best You Got

Filter: Tough to pin down, it might have two meanings. For the Psychic-types, Pokemon who's weaknesses are based on the three common fears (darkness, ghosts, and bugs), it could be the Pokemon is concentrating on not letting its phobia get the better of it. For Mega Aggron it could be that its literally filtering the attack and preventing a chunk of it from affecting it.
Solid Rock (jp Hard Rock): The rock that makes up the Pokemon is very hard that it can withstand against damage done by weaknesses.

You Can't Run Nor Hide

Shadow Tag (jp Stepping on Shadows): The Pokemon uses supernatural powers to hold down the opponent's shadow, making the opponent unable to get away.
Arena Trap (jp Antlion): The Pokemon digs a sink hole making escape for non-flying/levitating opponent impossible.

Got Nothing On Me

White Smoke: The Pokemon releases any negative effect put onto it as a white smoke. Alternatively the white smoke has cleansing/medicinal properties.
Clear Body: The Pokemon's body is extra smooth that negative effects can't stick and slide off.

Keeping Cool

Heatproof: The metal the Pokemon is made of is tempered to withstand high temperatures.
Thick Fat: Sort of half similar. The Pokemon's fat reserves keeps the Pokemon warm from cold Ice-type attacks and decrease the damage from Fire-type attacks by burning off calories instead.

What Weak Point

Battle Armor (jp. Kabuto Armor): The Pokemon who have this armor has some kind of natural external protection such as a exoskeleton or a bony helmet.
Shell Armor: Pokemon has a shell.

So, with 11 sets of sort of exact copies Abilities why did Cacophony get dummied out? Once again, flavor text. Here's the definition of Cacophony:

a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

If Cacophony was meant to make the user immune to Sound-based moves than my guess the idea would be the Pokemon is able to create enough noise itself it'll deafen/absorb the attack (like maybe Loudred and Exploud would get it). But Soundproof just means the Pokemon is immune to sound and if a Pokemon is able to create loud enough noise to deafen/absorb sound based moves it'll have to be soundproof to not hurt itself anyway.

stage7_4 has an interesting theory with it maybe meant to be a powering-up move and honestly if that was the case I don't see why they removed it (even if the move doesn't do damage many sound based status moves only has a percentage of working or lowered accuracy). Maybe they considered it would make sound based moves too powerful (a more accurate Sing and Grass Whistle? And some gimmicky sound based moves can get really high in Power as is).

 

[Karxrida]

Arena Trap is not a clone of Shadow Tag so much as an inferior version, as is the case with Heatproof and Thick Fat. The inferior effect is still justified by the flavor, but calling them clones is incorrect.

Although I do question why Thick Fat lowers Fire damage. I thought fat helped retain body heat, so shouldn't it cause more damage? Plus the whole "burning fat" thing (I know it's not meant to be literal but it's too good to pass up).

 

[Darth Manaphy]

Arena Trap is not a clone of Shadow Tag so much as an inferior version, as is the case with Heatproof and Thick Fat. The inferior effect is still justified by the flavor, but calling them clones is incorrect.

Although I do question why Thick Fat lowers Fire damage. I thought fat helped retain body heat, so shouldn't it cause more damage? Plus the whole "burning fat" thing (I know it's not meant to be literal but it's too good to pass up).

Probably the fat acts less as fat as we're used to it and more as insulation. So, Thick Fat works against both cold and heat. There's no doubt in my mind that Pokemon can develop their own fully insulating fat.

 

[Pikachu315111]

Arena Trap is not a clone of Shadow Tag so much as an inferior version, as is the case with Heatproof and Thick Fat. The inferior effect is still justified by the flavor, but calling them clones is incorrect.

Although I do question why Thick Fat lowers Fire damage. I thought fat helped retain body heat, so shouldn't it cause more damage? Plus the whole "burning fat" thing (I know it's not meant to be literal but it's too good to pass up).

I felt that if a move was a lesser version of another move that did its effect plus something else it was still worth mentioning the difference because in that case why not give the Pokemon who got the lesser Ability the better Ability? As we've discussed, flavor text.

Probably the fat acts less as fat as we're used to it and more as insulation. So, Thick Fat works against both cold and heat. There's no doubt in my mind that Pokemon can develop their own fully insulating fat.

And let's not forget that some animals use fat to survive in hot temperatures. Camels store fat in their humps which they can metabolize to hydrate themselves. So if a Pokemon with Thick Fat is hit with a Fire-type attack instead of the Thick Fat Pokemon receiving the full damage they just metabolize fat which hydrates their body and thus decrease the damage from Fire-type attacks.

And what Karxrida describes sounds similar to the Ability Dry Skin, heals when hit with Water-type moves (or is raining) but extra damage when hit by Fire-type moves (or when sunny). If they were to do an copy of the Ability I think they would do it with different types.

 

[stage7_4]

Although I do question why Thick Fat lowers Fire damage. I thought fat helped retain body heat, so shouldn't it cause more damage? Plus the whole "burning fat" thing (I know it's not meant to be literal but it's too good to pass up).

Ooh I get to science here! Yay!

Fat is an insulator, which means it is a material that resists the transfer of heat (has low thermal conductivity). Nothing goes in, nothing goes out (well, more like everything goes, just more slowly). So an insulated object can't lose heat very fast ("get cold" since "cold" is the loss of heat), nor can it gain heat very fast.

It's the same principle as ice in a cooler, the cooler is insulated to prevent the hot surroundings from rapidly giving heat to the colder interior.

EDIT: Darn, gotta give some credit to Darth Manaphy. Ninja'd me.

The reason people think fat only retains body heat is because mammals (like us!) produce energy from the food we eat. So since we have an internal heat generator, having a lot of fat is less useful since it inhibits our ability to lose heat to the environment (unless we want to keep the heat in a cold climate).

 

[Pikachu315111]

Well I think we have some answers about the Silhouette Pokemon...

Hide

Just gonna wait for the Silhouette thread to open back up...

BTW can anyone translate this? For one thing what's with the helmet Greninja (gee, I wonder who that could be... ;)) is wearing?

EDIT: Karxrida opened his own thread HERE.

 

[JTD783]

Well I think we have some answers about the Silhouette Pokemon...

Hide

Just gonna wait for the Silhouette thread to open back up...

BTW can anyone translate this? For one thing what's with the helmet Greninja (gee, I wonder who that could be... ;)) is wearing?

According to Seribii, the thing with Greninja is some kind of costume or clothing. Not sure if its anything important to the main series, but you never know.

 

[Master X]

Hello! Been reading the thread for a while (30 pages in...) and while I have a big list of mysteries to post, one that has bugged me for a while I seem to have found an answer for. That being...

You know Pokemon X/Y's E4? And that just before leaving one room there is a wolf statue on the left side of the door, and a dead ghost in rags statue (faceless, by the way) on the right side. Just search "Pokemon X E4 statues" at google and go to images. They can also be seen in a Smash Bros stage, at least those you can see on google (I don't have Smash). I always was under the assumption they were going to be new normal mon from Z, BUT with the new form reveals, then someone posted about what Zygarde's new forms meant in mythology terms...

"Fenrir, the wolf
-Jörmungandr, the serpent
-Hel

Now what is Hel you wonder?

A "humanoid" goddess of the dead."

The statues? Statue on the left, sat upright wolf. Statue on the right, a humanoid ghost (dead). They were meant to represent Zygarde all this time. I guess that's one long X/Y mystery solved. And on another...

The statue on the right? Faceless ghost of the dead? Faceless men mentioned in the swamp house in X/Y? I propose Z actually has some sort of "followers of Zygarde" and that these "faceless men" are they.

What does anyone think?

 

[Norne]

Sounds like a bad fanfiction, but hey that didn't stop some folks with the Lord Rayquaza.

They are going to end up doing some over the top thing to make the legendary look almighty wich will piss off the rainbow Llama hooves lickers for a while filled with annoying cut scenes we won't be able to skip when trying to soft reset for good stats.

The ghost things(swamp house included) are just a part of Japanese pop culture, kids freaking love ghost tales on Japan, whereas the rest of the world like to overthink on them trying to find a deeper meaning.

 

[Master X]

Sounds like a bad fanfiction, but hey that didn't stop some folks with the Lord Rayquaza.

They are going to end up doing some over the top thing to make the legendary look almighty wich will pass off the rainbow Llama hooves lickers for a while filled with annoying cut scenes we won't be able to skip when trying to soft reset for good stats.

The ghost things(swamp house included) are just a part of Japanese pop culture, kids freaking love ghost tales on Japan, whereas the rest of the world like to overthink on them trying to find a deeper meaning.

But what is your opinions of the statues, since Pokemon has long since abandoned "normal world animals", and the two statues just happen to be a wolf and an undead faceless ghost, both mythological representations of Zygarde's new forms? It still seems way too coincidental to me.

I actually don't want the above theory to be true, and had hoped that those statues represented normal new Mon for Z (with only half the new Mon X/Y, the rest in the eastern region for Z, the "other region" theory) but if they really represent the above, that kind of nixes it.

Anyways, see you in thirty pages *goes back to reading*

 

[Pikachu315111]

Hello! Been reading the thread for a while (30 pages in...) and while I have a big list of mysteries to post, one that has bugged me for a while I seem to have found an answer for. That being...

You know Pokemon X/Y's E4? And that just before leaving one room there is a wolf statue on the left side of the door, and a dead ghost in rags statue (faceless, by the way) on the right side. Just search "Pokemon X E4 statues" at google and go to images. They can also be seen in a Smash Bros stage, at least those you can see on google (I don't have Smash). I always was under the assumption they were going to be new normal mon from Z, BUT with the new form reveals, then someone posted about what Zygarde's new forms meant in mythology terms...

"Fenrir, the wolf
-Jörmungandr, the serpent
-Hel

Now what is Hel you wonder?

A "humanoid" goddess of the dead."

The statues? Statue on the left, sat upright wolf. Statue on the right, a humanoid ghost (dead). They were meant to represent Zygarde all this time. I guess that's one long X/Y mystery solved. And on another...

The statue on the right? Faceless ghost of the dead? Faceless men mentioned in the swamp house in X/Y? I propose Z actually has some sort of "followers of Zygarde" and that these "faceless men" are they.

What does anyone think?

I applaud you for your theory, but I'm afraid there's a few holes in it. Here are the statues in question:

Hide

Ignore the names, it's yet another theory about what the statues represent:

Had your theory worked the canine could very well have be Zygarde 10% and I guess the giant statue being Zygarde Perfect, but it's the humanoid figure where the theory falls apart. Even if we were to say the giant statue is Zygarde 50% and the humanoid represents Zygarde Perfect, that's a bit too loose of a connection for me. Why would Perfect Zygarde's statue be small?

As for the statue being faceless, that has no consequence. It's just a design style, actually how can you even tell the face underneath the hood is blank? The giant statue only has eyes and the dog statue doesn't have a face as well. Also the "Ghost Story" of the faceless men are a reference to a Japanese Yokai called "Noppera-bo". They impersonate someone you know before having their face vanish to scare you.

That said you have an interesting point about the statues possibly resembling Loki children, however unless they reveal a humanoid Zygarde forme I don't think they're referencing Zygarde's forms. Though I do think there's at least one more Zygarde Forme, maybe a 25% since it seems odd to me it jumps from 10 to 50 to 100. Something feels missing, like if we were doubling values that would mean there should be something between 10 and 50. But until then I have to put your theory in question.

 

[Master X]

Fair enough. I didn't take the third statue into account because to be honest it doesn't look like any/or seem to even represent any of Zygarde's (known) forms. I don't think it even has anything to do with Diancie either. I mean, looks nothing like it…nor does it represent it in anyway. That big statue…I think it's "something" else. Another legendary? After Zygarde hits 100% it can use a mega stone for yet another form? Is it a new "Creator" Arceus form that is stood up like a man? As for the first two statues representing/even looking like Volcanion (release it already!) and Hoopa…it seems even less likely than my theory, despite being popular. I'd say all three DO mean something though, but...

You are right, we are looking art this with incomplete info. Before I'd finished reading the new Zygarde description I'd assumed there was a form for every 10%, not just 10, 50 and 100.

As for ghost stories. Well yes, BUT there are plenty of Pokemon based around myths, being a myth doesn't exclude it from having an actual reference as a mon, either (though obviously you didn't mean that, just saying).

We'll both keep our theories and we'll see next year. I just hope it's not one of those unfinished mysteries GF loves so much. Mysteries are great discussion points, but knowing there's no answer is a nasty bite.

I just love the fact the game writer is an ancient civilisations/ancient aliens/ancient myths/OOPA obsessed person like me. Literally every game is drenched in it, especially X/Y. I expect answers in Z.

 

[jordanthejq12]

I daresay this Zygarde business will keep us occupied for a long while. Why do these formes exist? Do they behave any differently in lore? on the field? And that's not forgetting that Volcanion and Floette-Eternal have yet to be confirmed by GF, much less officially released.

There's also the question of which forme gets Thousand Arrows and Thousand Waves. 50% Forme, aka the one we all know and love, has Land's Wrath as a signature move, and there are these two unreleased moves that will presumably go to different formes, so how will that work? What makes Zygarde so special? Also, remember he's only a 600 BST. If he's getting this treatment he's almost certainly going to be promoted to cover legend, meaning one of his formes, presumably the Perfect one, will have a 680 BST. How will that work out, I wonder?

And while the question of Z or X2/Y2 is still in the air, my money's on Z because of the arrangement of formes. Zygarde's present incarnation is 50% Forme, and there is a single Forme, the Perfect Forme, that can be presumed to be more powerful than it. Maybe. We've yet to get any more details on these Core and Cell Formes.

Admittedly, some of these questions are more gameplay-oriented, but the story you can create with these new toys is just as important as the backstory they already have. Suffice it to say that there are enough questions to fuel this thread for a long time.

 

[Mulan15262]

And while the question of Z or X2/Y2 is still in the air, my money's on Z because of the arrangement of formes. Zygarde's present incarnation is 50% Forme, and there is a single Forme, the Perfect Forme, that can be presumed to be more powerful than it. Maybe. We've yet to get any more details on these Core and Cell Formes.

Don't forget about the possibility of Pokemon Z and Pokemon &, which would explain the anime series being called XY&Z, instead of just being called XYZ.

Seriously, though, I'm guessing that it will be X2 and Y2 as, this way, they can get more money from people who buy both.

 

[Darth Manaphy]

Don't forget about the possibility of Pokemon Z and Pokemon &, which would explain the anime series being called XY&Z, instead of just being called XYZ.

Seriously, though, I'm guessing that it will be X2 and Y2 as, this way, they can get more money from people who buy both.

Maybe XZ and YZ describing that either too much things are growing and choking the planet (XZ) or too many things are dying (YZ) after the superweapon's reveal. But that's getting way too much into baseless speculation

 

[stage7_4]

Don't forget about the possibility of Pokemon Z and Pokemon &, which would explain the anime series being called XY&Z, instead of just being called XYZ.

I think they just added the & just so the series wouldn't be called Pokemon: eXamine Your Zipper. Even Japan hates puns.

While I know we're stuggling to connect Zygarde to Norse mythology, I got the feeling that there's another green monster that seems strangely familiar to this...

Oh, hi Noishe.

For those who don't know, this is Noishe (No-ish), a dog-like companion from Tales of Symphonia. He was a minor character (really just used to ride around the overworld map), but he has an interesting backstory. In the Symphonia world, he's a creature called a Protozoan, one of their "first races" that spend their entire lives evolving. It's said (but never seen) that Noishe was once fish-like, then bird-like, before becoming this dog. He will eventually evolve twice more, the next one is unknown but the last is a human hero that fights monsters.

When I saw the Zygarde dog and humanoid forms, this guy was the first thing I thought of. Like the Kalos games, Symphonia has a strong Norse mythology, but "Protozoan" doesn't seem to fit into any of that, but it does remind me of cellular metamorphosis. I hope there is just some myth I'm forgetting about, my Norse isn't that strong.

Beyond that the only other myth connection I can think of for Zygarde right now is either Tam Lin or Cu-Chulian (which is a giant stretch, for one it's Irish mythos) or some staged evolution version of ragnarok (single cell/Fafnir? -> Fenrir-> Nidhogg/Jormungandr -> Surtr/Surt). And again the Thousand Arrows/Thousand Waves seems Izanagi/Izanami, it's really confusing me. Hopefully more info to come on Gamefreak's part.

 

[Norne]

Fenrir is kind on the same mythos as the other guys, at least geographically the hound of Chulain would be a very big stretch since the light warrior was pretty much the poster child of Geass and war, but can't tie in properly with the other myths.

 

[Master X]

Something else to add to the recent info, it being about Ash Greninja.

Apparently it gains its new "Ash" look attire through its deep bond with Ash, but the interesting thing is, it says it's only ever happened "once" before in the past of the pokemon world. It's pretty obvious that they mean AZ's Floette, right?

I wonder if this is a hint, some of the starters will get altered colour schemes in Z depending on clothing on the MC when they evolve? The only trouble with THAT though is what if they bring clothing back? That's a LOT of palette swaps for 3 Pokemon. Maybe a hint the clothing customisation isn't coming back? (All that hassle…) I can just see GameFAQs forum turn to hell itself if everyone finds out their precious "customisation" is not coming back.

 

[Oriolous]

Something else to add to the recent info, it being about Ash Greninja.

Apparently it gains its new "Ash" look attire through its deep bond with Ash, but the interesting thing is, it says it's only ever happened "once" before in the past of the pokemon world. It's pretty obvious that they mean AZ's Floette, right?

I wonder if this is a hint, some of the starters will get altered colour schemes in Z depending on clothing on the MC when they evolve? The only trouble with THAT though is what if they bring clothing back? That's a LOT of palette swaps for 3 Pokemon. Maybe a hint the clothing customisation isn't coming back? (All that hassle…) I can just see GameFAQs forum turn to hell itself if everyone finds out their precious "customisation" is not coming back.

They specified it hasn't been seen in several HUNDRED years, and Floette was 3000 years ago. It is obviously NOT a reference to AZ's Floette.

In any case, I expect that this is just Ash being a case of protagonist-ex-machina. He's the protagonist, so he must be special always.

 

[Master X]

They specified it hasn't been seen in several HUNDRED years, and Floette was 3000 years ago. It is obviously NOT a reference to AZ's Floette.

In any case, I expect that this is just Ash being a case of protagonist-ex-machina. He's the protagonist, so he must be special always.

Oops! Read wrong…LOL

However, AZ's Floette does seem to match that pattern, though. So it probably is one of these new bond pattern things.

Hmm…didn't the last war occur several hundred years ago? I wonder if it's linked to the last recorded occurrence?

However these changes occur, no doubt this will happen on the anime before we get game info, later this year maybe?

OH, and just got to the Ghetsis setting N's team up to be beaten by him. That's some good eye there. *Claps*

 

[Karxrida]

I'm pretty sure Floette-E was either changed by being revived by the Ultimate Weapon or is the last Floette of its flower type. The bond thing couldn't have happened since she ditched AZ once she found out what he did to get her back.

Light of Ruin's beam also resembles the laser fired by the Ultimate Weapon, hinting at the change being induced by the resurrection.

 

[Oriolous]

I'm pretty sure Floette-E was either changed by being revived by the Ultimate Weapon or is the last Floette of its flower type. The bond thing couldn't have happened since she ditched AZ once she found out what he did to get her back.

Light of Ruin's beam also resembles the laser fired by the Ultimate Weapon, hinting at the change being induced by the resurrection.

This is what I always thought. Because they were careful not to reveal what Floette looked like prior to her resurrection, it implies it was a drastic change. And as a side note, Floette ditched him yes... but out of love. Once he learned what he needed to (the value of ALL Pokemon life), she came back with her bond as strong as ever.

 

[Karxrida]

This is what I always thought. Because they were careful not to reveal what Floette looked like prior to her resurrection, it implies it was a drastic change. And as a side note, Floette ditched him yes... but out of love. Once he learned what he needed to (the value of ALL Pokemon life), she came back with her bond as strong as ever.

I don't know about you, but I'd have a hard time being remotely affectionate for someone who killed a ton of people and created a doomsday device to bring me back from the grave.

I'm pretty sure that bond was kaput until he finally redeemed himself 3,000 years later.

 

[Oriolous]

I don't know about you, but I'd have a hard time being remotely affectionate for someone who killed a ton of people and created a doomsday device to bring me back from the grave.

I'm pretty sure that bond was kaput until he finally redeemed himself 3,000 years later.

Love makes you do mysterious things. My ex betrayed me and tore out my heart and I still love her, as much as it hurts me. Besides, it's been proven throughout multiple canons that Pokemon view love much differently than humans do, and are less easily swayed by things that humans would find abhorrent as long as the reasons behind the means was good.

Also, why the blazes would she show up out of nowhere unless she were following AZ until such a point that he fully redeemed?

 

[Karxrida]

Love makes you do mysterious things. My ex betrayed me and tore out my heart and I still love her, as much as it hurts me.

I've never been in a romantic relationship so this is only conjecture, but I'm pretty sure not everyone would react the same way you did. Some people would loathe your ex, some would just get depressed, others would probably have very conflicted feelings like you did.

Besides, it's been proven throughout multiple canons that Pokemon view love much differently than humans do, and are less easily swayed by things that humans would find abhorrent as long as the reasons behind the means was good.

It was made perfectly clear that she knew what AZ did was horribly wrong and left him because of it. I also wouldn't take other canons into account because there are written by different people and tend to butt heads with each other already.

Also, why the blazes would she show up out of nowhere unless she were following AZ until such a point that he fully redeemed?

Plot convenience and Rule of Drama.