Pokemon Scarlet & Violet - 18th Nov 2022! **OFFICIAL INFO ONLY**

Honestly speaking... no

Something that I saw pointed in random youtube videos a few days ago, with Champions coming out, Mythicals will not be locked out by "being there for events" anymore. Most likely you'll be able to "buy" any pokemon with enough grinding just by playing.

This means, Myths may at some point be part of official formats. They've been tackling with it on "non-relevant" seasons so far, but with Champions coming, it's not completely impossible that we eventually get official score-valid formats with Mythical mons allowed. And we want nothing of unnerfed Dark Void there.

I meant only in reference to singles, but hey either way.
 
I meant only in reference to singles, but hey either way.
The main thing is that GameFreaks (for somewhat understandable reasons) are against having "different mechanics in singles/doubles" because it's unintuitive.

The only differing mechanic is as we know, the dmg spread / screens having reduced effectiveness, but otherwise they don't want people going through their mostly single battle focused game be confused when their moves have different effects once they transition to postgame and double battles focused PvP.

Ofc they could also just... actually have proper descriptions for what moves do and how things work but... we know they hate being precise about game mechanics apparently. *looks at EV/IVs being basically ignored for generations until they *finally* got a proper numeric showing in Champions*
 
Don't know where else to post this, so I'll post it here.

Today I found out there's a small group of Team Star dropouts at the northwest corner of Tagtree Thicket. Not only that, if you talk to the "leader" of the group, he gives you a Team Star-style Sporty Hat.
 
The main thing is that GameFreaks (for somewhat understandable reasons) are against having "different mechanics in singles/doubles" because it's unintuitive.

The only differing mechanic is as we know, the dmg spread / screens having reduced effectiveness, but otherwise they don't want people going through their mostly single battle focused game be confused when their moves have different effects once they transition to postgame and double battles focused PvP.

Ofc they could also just... actually have proper descriptions for what moves do and how things work but... we know they hate being precise about game mechanics apparently. *looks at EV/IVs being basically ignored for generations until they *finally* got a proper numeric showing in Champions*
I think if they wanted a move to specifically function differently in doubles they probably would just, like, say it. Dragon Darts does that.

Like yeah gamefreak does obfuscate some details about some moves, but for the most part the only thing they hide is the universal spread damage thing & specific % chance of a move's side effect going off. There's variosu niche interactions that can sprout for that but that's so in the weeds it's not super worth doing (like there's no real reason to specify the specific way dragon darts targets things in doubles or how it reroutes itself, the important thing is it will get split if there's multiple opponents.

Something like appending "If there are multiple opponents, this move is less accurate but can hit both of them" would fit perfectly fine if they chose to do so for a specific move.
 

Shiny Koraidon and Miraidon are being distributed as serial codes in Japan to celebrate Legends Z-A's release (from September 26 to October 15).
https://www.pokemon.co.jp/info/2025/09/250912_gm01.html
26c7227ccaf8ff7050503c5a46678f0cae4d5d22.png


EDIT:
...And the rest of the world may soon follow suit.

This is how I found out EB Games exists again after becoming gamestop.
 
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Well, that's some lovely timing for them to announce an exclusive shiny distribution at a store chain that recently closed several chains around me. I was coping praying they'd put them behind 7* raids or something
 
*Sees Shiny Koraidon & Miraidon announced*
:blobwizard:
*Sees it's via in-game store and said store is GameStop*
:blobglare::facepalm::puff::fukyu::blobsad:

WHY?!

Please don't let it be a card, PLEASE don't let it be a card, PLEASE DON'T LET IT BE A CARD!

EDIT: F***! According to Serebii it is a serial code! Like, do they think just because its been years since the last serial code that what happened with the Shiny Raquaza isn't going to happen again? Pokemon card frenzy is still on insane levels. Oh, right, it seems like Japan's solution is that, over there, you have to show the clerk your Pokemon home screen for them to give you a card. And I'm sure in Japan that system is going to work great... BUT IT WON'T IN THE US! Hey, The Pokemon Company USA, WTF? You know that ain't going to work here! You know GameStop store clerks aren't going to bother with that and just let the first few scalpers who come in take all the stack (if the employee themselves don't scalp it).

Just make it a limited time online distribution! Or at the very least for those of us who ordered it off the Pokemon website just slip it in as a thank you for directly giving you our money instead of using a middleman.
 
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*Sees Shiny Koraidon & Miraidon announced*
:blobwizard:
*Sees it's via in-game store and said store is GameStop*
:blobglare::facepalm::puff::fukyu::blobsad:

WHY?!

Please don't let it be a card, PLEASE don't let it be a card, PLEASE DON'T LET IT BE A CARD!

EDIT: F***! According to Serebii it is a serial code! Like, do they just because its been years since the last serial code that happened with the Shiny Raquaza isn't going to happen again? Pokemon card frenzy is still on insane levels. Oh, right, it seems like Japan's solution is that, over there, you have to show the clark your Pokemon home screen for them to give you a card. And I'm sure in Japan that system is going to work great... BUT IT WON'T IN THE US! Hey, The Pokemon Company USA, WTF? You know that ain't going to work here! You know GameStop store clerks aren't going to bother with that and just let the first few scalpers who come in take all the stack (if the employee themselves don't scalp it).

Just make it a limited time online distribution! Or at the very least for those of us who ordered it off the Pokemon website just slip it in as a thank you for directly giving you our money instead of using a middleman.

Yeah, the nearest store is 30 miles away for me and I am not going that distance to find out scalpers or employees themselves poaching up the cards and leave empty handed. At this point, I just assume any GameStop distribution is mostly them making a good deal so they can host these distributions since it does attract a lot of potential customers.
 
Yeah, the nearest store is 30 miles away for me and I am not going that distance to find out scalpers or employees themselves poaching up the cards and leave empty handed. At this point, I just assume any GameStop distribution is mostly them making a good deal so they can host these distributions since it does attract a lot of potential customers.

Just looked through the Pokemon Reddit and this just gets dumber and dumber.

GameStops are closing all over the country, especially rural areas where it may be the only GameStop in miles (and who knows if the next nearest GameStop also isn't closing).

BUT WAIT, as odd as it sounds, there might be hope yet. I also learned that they're swapping the Mascot Legends. Violet is Koraidon and Scarlet is getting Miraidon. This makes me wonder if maybe that means down the road we are going to get a wider online distribution but it'll be for the matching 'Raidon. This in-store one is just intended to be a bonus to get the other version's Shiny, the Shiny which you'd actually want will be given closer to the actual end of this gen, probably when or a bit after Gen 10 is announced. Sadly it won't be a Raid, or if it is a Raid it'll be like the Shiny Treasure of Ruin's where we have to battle a 5* version like a collective million times for them to distribute them.
 
Just looked through the Pokemon Reddit and this just gets dumber and dumber.

GameStops are closing all over the country, especially rural areas where it may be the only GameStop in miles (and who knows if the next nearest GameStop also isn't closing).

BUT WAIT, as odd as it sounds, there might be hope yet. I also learned that they're swapping the Mascot Legends. Violet is Koraidon and Scarlet is getting Miraidon. This makes me wonder if maybe that means down the road we are going to get a wider online distribution but it'll be for the matching 'Raidon. This in-store one is just intended to be a bonus to get the other version's Shiny, the Shiny which you'd actually want will be given closer to the actual end of this gen, probably when or a bit after Gen 10 is announced. Sadly it won't be a Raid, or if it is a Raid it'll be like the Shiny Treasure of Ruin's where we have to battle a 5* version like a collective million times for them to distribute them.
Considering it's exactly what they did for the dogs (Sword would get shiny Zama, Shield would get shiny Zacian) back in gen 8, I wouldn't raise my hopes up.
 
Just looked through the Pokemon Reddit and this just gets dumber and dumber.

GameStops are closing all over the country, especially rural areas where it may be the only GameStop in miles (and who knows if the next nearest GameStop also isn't closing).

BUT WAIT, as odd as it sounds, there might be hope yet. I also learned that they're swapping the Mascot Legends. Violet is Koraidon and Scarlet is getting Miraidon. This makes me wonder if maybe that means down the road we are going to get a wider online distribution but it'll be for the matching 'Raidon. This in-store one is just intended to be a bonus to get the other version's Shiny, the Shiny which you'd actually want will be given closer to the actual end of this gen, probably when or a bit after Gen 10 is announced. Sadly it won't be a Raid, or if it is a Raid it'll be like the Shiny Treasure of Ruin's where we have to battle a 5* version like a collective million times for them to distribute them.
Better pop down early and get one for each game…
 
I knew when I picked Scarlet that I would eventually be getting the less cool shiny. Assuming GameStop even has the cards; when Eternatus was distributed the ones near me ran out first day.

Hopefully it won't be too long of a wait until Scopely gets itchy fingers for the "print money" button and releases shiny Koraidon and Miraidon in raids. Had to wait way too long to get shiny Zamazenta this way!
 
Ngl pretty frustrating they're still doing this distribution method when it locks most countries away from getting the mons. If you're not from Japan, USA, Canada or Australia you're just out of luck (where am I supposed to find a GameStop on Brazil)

Since its for "Celebrating Z-A's release" anyways I kinda wish it was a save file bonus instead
 
Considering it's exactly what they did for the dogs (Sword would get shiny Zama, Shield would get shiny Zacian) back in gen 8, I wouldn't raise my hopes up.

Right, last time was the Shiny Twin Heroes. Eitherway...

Better pop down early and get one for each game…

I did. At least I went first day before the afternoon. Still the last few times I did all the cards were gone. :blobsad:

That would require updating SV.

I think they mean a Save File bonus in Legends: Z-A.
 
Right, last time was the Shiny Twin Heroes. Eitherway...



I did. At least I went first day before the afternoon. Still the last few times I did all the cards were gone. :blobsad:



I think they mean a Save File bonus in Legends: Z-A.
Putting Koraidon & Miraidon in Z-A would have been an interesting choice, especially since Home can't send them back to SV.
 
Right, last time was the Shiny Twin Heroes. Eitherway...



I did. At least I went first day before the afternoon. Still the last few times I did all the cards were gone. :blobsad:



I think they mean a Save File bonus in Legends: Z-A.

Fortunately, its on a day off for me (as is ZA’s release) so I’ll be able to get right in there when it opens.
 
So, my GameStop opens at 10.

I get down there around 11. I ask the guy at the counter about the Pokemon event.

GS Employee: "Huh, Pokemon event? Oh, you mean the cards. Yeah, they're all gone"
Me: "You've only been open for an hour!"
GSE: "Yeah, they go fast"

So, I'm lead to believe that:

1. Within an hour there was so many people & so little cards that they were all out of them. :blobthinking:
2. That despite having spent the first hours/minutes of your day giving out these cards, and BTW the store was pretty empty when I got there, the guy had to think for a second to know what I was talking about. :blobglare:

Yeah, I bet if I was there right when they opened I'd be told they haven't received them yet. That or they're giving the first few scalpers handful of cards (BTW, you remember that "need to show you have the game" requirement? Well, while Japan and other Asian and even European countries are following that rule, of course the US (along with Canada and Australia) aren't). :fukyu:

I went to eBay out of curiosity to see if people had already put up the cards. And the answer is... Yes? Like, you can find people saying they're selling the cards, but a lot of them are questionable. Like a few were sharing the same "image" of the cards where the front in I think Korean was in & the back in Spanish. Also some said you'll be traded the Pokemon directly instead of given a code (yeah, totally hacked). At the very least, if you desperately want one, it's less than $10. :blobshrug:

And it's not just me having problems, in just a few hours these new stories have popped up:
* Polygon
* Screen Rant
* Vice
* GoNintendo
* Reddit

From what I gleamed from these articles, many stores are just given 50 codes if that many, some started giving them out early, and many employees simply don't care they'll give a person multiple cards (or, as I'm suggesting, the employees are keeping the cards to sell themselves; nothing it stopping them and it's not like you can challenge their claim (not at least without having security called on you to take you out of the store)).

And of course this is on top of previous mentioned issues that not everyone is lucky enough to live close enough to a participating game store; and going to the nearest one only to find out it has no more cards means you wasted time, money, and/or gas going to and from the store.
 
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commencing my online odyssey in an attempt to get my hands on at least one korai / mirai code

this is gonna be productive and very fun :3

07

EDIT: Decided to send in a ticket to Pokemon.com:

Hello. If you've been paying attention to the news in the United States surrounding the latest event involving Shiny Koraidon & Miraidon via going to GameStop, you can already guess what I'm about to say & request. Eitherway, I will still explain things from my perspective (but will provide some news reporting articles at the end).

In these past events where I needed to go to GameStop to get a code card, in recent times I have never been successful. Pre-Covid I never had a problem. But during Covid a Pokemon TCG craze begun and hasn't only continued but spiraled out of control; with people who saw only profit (henceforth called scalpers) trying to scoop up everything to sell back to fans at higher prices. However the scalpers haven't only stayed in the TCG space, they've spread to any promotional/limited merch (which I'm sure you've also gotten many complaints and bad press about; some notable ones being McDonalds and the Van Gogh Museum). The scalpers have also spread to the code cards.

I, like many, was excited when I first heard they were giving away the Shiny 'Raidons. But then it sank when I heard it was a GameStop code card; much like many other people. Post-Covid the code cards have been impossible to get. I remember trying to get the Shiny Rayquaza or Shiny Twin Hero Wolves, but I was always told I was too late. So today I went early and got to the store 1 hour after opening. But still, the employee told me that, between the hour of opening and me getting there, they had gone through their entire code card stock. ONE HOUR. Either there was just that many people who lined up before the store opened, they were given a small amount of code cards, they gave some people multiple code cards (don't want to call them scalpers but...), or the employee lied to me because they plan on selling the cards online themselves (I don't like to call people out like that, but in circumstances like this it just makes me wonder).

And I'm not alone. When I got home I checked what other people's experiences were and found numerous news reporting articles about how botched this event is:

* Polygon: https://www.polygon.com/gamestop-shiny-pokemon-scarlet-violet-rough-start/
* Screen Rant: https://screenrant.com/pokemon-scarlet-violet-shiny-koraidon-miraidon-distribution-codes/
* Vice: https://www.vice.com/en/article/pok...truggle-to-get-shiny-koraidon-miraidon-codes/
* GoNintendo: https://www.gonintendo.com/contents...-koraidon-and-shiny-miraidon-distribution-isn
* Reddit:
Turns out some stores only got 50 code cards, if that many. Some GameStops began giving away cards early unbeknownst to most so when the actual event date came they didn't have any when they opened. Many people easily gotten multiple cards just by asking (because the US didn't require the restrictions other countries are now doing that you have to have a copy of the game with you; though I have a feeling there will be stores that wouldn't bother). And finally there are suspicions besides my own that some stores had the employees taking the cards for themselves. Oh, and all over eBay there are people who have somehow accumulated dozens if not hundreds of code cards

So, onto my request: Can you generate a code for me. I know what you're going to say, and allow me to rebuttal:
1. "These codes are pre-generated so we can't make more". I call foul on this. These are DIGITAL CODES. You use a 12 digit code of numbers and letters and allow for numbers and letters to be repeated, you can generate billions of codes and not run out (and yes this is taking into account the letters you exclude so people won't confuse them with similar shaped numbers). And even if you didn't allow for repetition you'd still be able to generate several hundred millions (and you've only sold 27 million copies of Scarlet & Violet). And, since the code cards are pre-generated, that means you also know what codes you've already generated so can easily make new codes that don't overlap with any code cards (and if there's a mess up and someone reports their code is saying it has already been used, you can just generate a new code for them). You can generate new codes, there's plenty of combinations you haven't used, and you know what combinations you've already used. Don't lie to us.
2. "If we do it for you then we'd have to do it for everyone". YOU SHOULD! Let's ignore code cards are an archaic system when we can just download an event from the internet (with or without a code). With all the problems I pointed out above, namely the scalpers, MILLIONS of Pokemon fans who just want a Shiny of the recent box Legendaries they should be able to get for free either can't get it despite being able to go to participating stores or have to now pay for it. Outside of that, GameStop has been struggling for years with them having (and continuing) closing stores all over the country. I'm "lucky" to have a GameStop within walking distance (not that it helped), but there are ten of thousands (possibly hundred of thousands) who don't have a GameStop within miles of them (and if they do it may not be participating). For them going out to a GameStop costs time, money, and/or gas; and if they don't have the code cards its a waste (sure they can call ahead, but if my experience is anything to go by if you can do that then it's probably already too late; you need to be at the store as soon as it opens). And its worst for fans who are kids who need someone older to take them (and, unless they are also a Pokemon fan, likely aren't going to go before the store opens thus will be too late). In Japan they don't only have physical Pokemon Center stores but I believe partnered with 7-Eleven, much more convenient for people (Pokemon Company USA should consider partnering with 7-Eleven if that's an option). Anyway, not everyone has a nearby GameStop, but most people have internet (which you need to have to redeem the code card anyway); how about skipping the middleman (cause this event isn't going to help GameStop any, infact all this bad publicity is further hurting them... and Pokemon).

Whoever is reading this, thank you for sticking with me so far. It would be great if you can grant my request and get me a code. But if I can ask for one more thing, if it's within your power, can you see about getting the suggestion up the ladder of leadership about just doing an internet distribution of the Shiny 'Raidons before the next generation is released. Also in the future stop with the physical code cards (or at least have an internet distribution later on), or at least partnering with GameStop, or at least include some other more widely available chains like 7-Eleven.

I eagerly wait for your response. Once again, thank you and have a nice day.

Will it do anything? Probably not. But hey, if I don't say anything than I may as well be okay with if not endorsing this archaic practice.

EDIT 2: ... AND my first response from Pokemon Company looked to be a bot who categorized everything I said down to me complaining about purchasing the code. :facepalm: Gud jerb, Pokemon Company, -100/10, you aimed for the moon and ended up in the Mariana Trench.

Their response:
Hello Robert Press,

Thank you for contacting Pokémon Support.

We are sorry to hear about your experience. Please note that the distribution of the code for Scarlet & Violet does not require a purchase. There are additional promotions running that do, so we apologize if there was any confusion!

For clarification, kindly refer to the details of the promotion here, which indicates that purchase is not required. Thank you for playing Scarlet & Violet!

Please note that you may not receive any additional responses regarding this inquiry from the Customer Support team.

Thank you for being a fan and supporting Pokémon.
Sincerely,
Agent_Sage
The Pokémon Company International Support Team

In which they also Closed the ticket. I reopened it with a simple: "That doesn't address my issue at all."

EDIT 3: Oh wow, how cowardly can they get. If you didn't read my previous update, they had a bot give me a response that didn't address my concerns at all so I reopened the ticket. Well, sometime between then and now, they silently changed the status of my Ticket back from "Open" to "Solved".

So according to the Pokemon Company, my complaint about the problems with this distribution, not being able to get a code card, and requesting if they could give me a code is somehow answered by telling me I don't need to make a purchase to get the code card.

Like, it would have been less insulting if they just sent me a generic "thank you for your feedback, we cannot generate new codes at this time, we'll forward your suggestion to the department it best matches".
 
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To be fair to the HR intern or bot who was responsible for writing that, they likely have a canned response to these sorts of things that took in the keywords of "can't get code" and followed procedure from there. It's still not... good, and this is a major fumble at best on both TPC and Gamestop's end that deserves to be dealt with quickly if only for the PR fallout. Hopefully they make an announcement on this and try to fix it in some way.

I know there's gonna be some people who are upset at this, but this sort of thing justifies no longer having these Gamestop distributions and should just be online distributions instead. Internet access is just so prevalent now, especially for gaming, that it makes these things unnecessary, especially if it's just gonna be an opportunity for scalpers to take them.
 
iirc a bunch of old in-person distributions were done via kiosks or whatnot where you downloaded the gift on site and it didn't have a restriction as to how many people could interact with it. It was still a limited time thing but you just had to show up within the timeframe (which was usually more than a day) to guarantee the gift. It's crazy how it's somehow gotten worse for accessibility despite Nintendo making their handhelds able to connect online because GameStop is desperately clinging onto relevance.
 
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iirc a bunch of old in-person distributions were done via kiosks or whatnot where you downloaded the gift on site and it didn't have a restriction as to how many people could interact with it. It was still a limited time thing but you just had to show up within the timeframe (which was usually more than a day) to guarantee the gift. It's crazy how it's somehow gotten worse for accessibility despite Nintendo making their handhelds able to connect online because GameStop is desperately clinging onto relevance.
If I had to guess, I think the shift to code cards (approximately around gen 6) was probably done so people wouldn't have to keep dragging their systems in to download it + not wanting to let employees pilfer the download carts. I do recall one store back during this hey day who didn't like people loitering around too, lmao.

Honestly the few countries that require you to lug in your whole ass switch for this event sound more insane. Buuuut at the same time it also meant you got guaranteed one per customer instead of Gamestop where they'll vary between "yeah fuck it sure have a whole stack who cares" and "the rules say we cant force you to buy something, but we're going to do that anyway : )".


Personally I hope Europe does the thing again where after they did the code cards you could just go through an online "do you want a code -> give email -> get code within a few eeks" again and also dont check that you're actually in the UK.
 
Gamestop's fall is somewhat sad because it wasn't something set in stone. Even with the rise of online shopping and digital downloads, it still could have managed to find a way to keep relevance. The part that makes it less sad is that a lot of its fall is its own fault. Gamers hate Gamestop, and frankly for very good reason. This whole incident, which does have plenty to blame on Gamestop itself and not just TPC, isn't the only thing. Really the only good publicity they've had is the whole Gamestop stock nonsense, and even then, people eventually remembered it's Gamestop. This sort of thing should be another black mark on that store.
 
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