Another possibility: The Z-Crystal was created before Alolan Raichu. As in, it was originally meant for regular Raichu but then Alolan Raichu was finally designed so they moved the Z-Move to advertise it a little further.NEW CONSPIRACY: I think normal Raichu was either going to get a Z-Move or share one with Alolan Raichu.
Proof? Aloraichium Z's symbol:
The symbol is either Raichu's ear or Raichu's tail. Now let's take a look at normal Raichu and Alolan Raichu:
See the problem? Either ear or tail, Aloraichium Z's symbol matches normal Raichu's ear/tail than Alolan Raichu's.
Now they probably made it Alolan Raichu exclusive so they could give it a cooler looking Z-Move, though looks like they didn't change the logo on the Z-Crystals itself to reflect that. Though I will grant it could just also be art flub, the artist not realizing its Alolan Raichu only or maybe was made before Alolan Raichu's art was officially done so just based it off normal Raichu thinking there wouldn't be that major of a difference.
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SPOILERS! Mysteries and Conspiracies of Pokemon
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I don't know... it still fits the style of Alolan Raichu's tail, as it's not as sharp at its points as normal Raichu's tail. Maybe it was meant for both, thus sharing a mix of their designs?Welcome class, to Professor Pikachu315111's Metaphysics 101. Today's lesson: Additional spacial dimensions and how to measure them.
Maybe we're cutting through a fourth (or maybe even further) spacial dimension? A spacial dimensional we're unable to comprehend or interact with fully, but Ultra Space is sort of like a gravity well which bends all the spacial dimensions together. This sometimes results in tears, the Ultra Wormholes, allowing for something from one dimension to travel through Ultra Space and potentially then through another dimension tear. The measurements is done in "lightyears" because its still measurable by our normal means of measuring length, but due to the massive bending of the spacial dimensions it doesn't feel like we've traveled that far and we also might be measuring along the fourth or further spacial dimension which explains why it's even being used despite use being in another dimension.
For the non-Ultra Beast Pokemon, it could just be the dimension we're encountering them in is a dimension parallel to our own thus not resulting in any drastic changes to them like different Abilities or typings (though that would have been neat, at the very least have them have their Hidden Abilities though I guess we get Shiny Pokemon). Yes, we've traveled hundreds of lightyears, but it's along an alien dimension to us. Could be traveling along the fourth/additional dimension of any given spot actually retains that spot's environmental traits, the difference being is the amount of something that can occupy that space is now almost infinite from a three dimensional point of view (which would go along with Merritt's theory, the spot in Ultra Space we're in probably correlates with just a normal wild spot in our dimension thus no Hidden Ability BUT a greater chance of finding a Shiny).
As for the Ultra Beasts, it is confusing why they still have Beast Boost even in their home dimension. The only thing I can maybe guess is that the Ultra Energy we're swamped in is having an adverse affect on the Pokemon classified as Ultra Beasts being in close proximity to us.
"What? But we're in THEIR home dimension. Shouldn't it be our Pokemon with Beast Boost instead?"
It could just be the dimension the normal Pokemon World has an energy which is able to resist the altering effects of the energy from Ultra Space (be it a type of radiation, a stronger frequency, or whatever). The dimensions the Ultra Beast are from not so much, they're susceptible to Ultra Energy. It could also maybe have to do with why seemingly the only creatures in the Ultra Beasts world are the Ultra Beasts. The Pokemon world is filled with many different species, all adding their energy to the dimension and maybe making it resilient to change from outer-dimension influences. Meanwhile the Ultra Beasts worlds mostly have only their Ultra Beast meaning it's only their energy floating around thus creating an energy which in a way has stagnated thus outer dimensional influence can rapidly change it. The Ultra Beasts all probably have normal Abilities, especially if their types and moves match-up with the normal Pokemon World's, and would be neat if there's a way in the future to acclimate the Ultra Beasts to the Pokemon World and give them back their normal Abilities.
NEW CONSPIRACY: I think normal Raichu was either going to get a Z-Move or share one with Alolan Raichu.
Proof? Aloraichium Z's symbol:
The symbol is either Raichu's ear or Raichu's tail. Now let's take a look at normal Raichu and Alolan Raichu:
See the problem? Either ear or tail, Aloraichium Z's symbol matches normal Raichu's ear/tail than Alolan Raichu's.
Now they probably made it Alolan Raichu exclusive so they could give it a cooler looking Z-Move, though looks like they didn't change the logo on the Z-Crystals itself to reflect that. Though I will grant it could just also be art flub, the artist not realizing its Alolan Raichu only or maybe was made before Alolan Raichu's art was officially done so just based it off normal Raichu thinking there wouldn't be that major of a difference.
I kid with that last part, but sometimes you wonder...
Psychics can predict your moves before you act and thus have a foiling action already prepared.
I've been thinking of this, but my issue is that it only affects priority moves.
I think it comes down to the fact that no mundane means can outspeed a priority move. You'd have to be psychic to see it coming.
Let's look at some other psychic moves as the type is a bit more like "magic"-type than true psychic. For example, other psychic abilities are Trick Room which flat out reverses the speed system, Gravity which alters gravity, Magic Room which prevents items from working, Wonder Room, and many more bizarre-o world changing moves.
What I'm saying is that perhaps we are overthinking this and Psychic Terrain works exactly as advertised: psychic power is used to alter reality to create a zone where priority moves don't work on pokemon on the ground.
There's also the question of priority itself, as it allows normally slow pokemon to temporarily gain intense speed, so perhaps Psychic Terrain just prevents pokemon from tapping into the speedforce like the Flash.
Another idea is since it prevents the moves from working at all, the psychic pokemon could be hacking the other pokemon's mind to make them unable to physically use their priority moves, almost like a targeted short-term amnesia.
What I'm saying is that perhaps we are overthinking this and Psychic Terrain works exactly as advertised: psychic power is used to alter reality to create a zone where priority moves don't work on pokemon on the ground.
There's also the question of priority itself, as it allows normally slow pokemon to temporarily gain intense speed, so perhaps Psychic Terrain just prevents pokemon from tapping into the speedforce like the Flash.
Another idea is since it prevents the moves from working at all, the psychic pokemon could be hacking the other pokemon's mind to make them unable to physically use their priority moves, almost like a targeted short-term amnesia.
I like this description. The power flows through the ground and they forget how to use their priority moves while they're touching the terrain.
Except that doesn't quite work since a grounded Pokémon can target an airborne Pokémon just fine, while the opposite isn't possible. In particular, it says the target Pokémon "shrouds itself in Psychic Terrain" upon attempts at using a priority move.
Here's my guess on how each Terrain works:
Grassy Terrain:
This one is probably the easiest: Bulu just extracts/amplifies the land's life force to give all grounded Pokémon an Ingrain-like effect as long as they touch the grass. Roosting Pokémon are on the ground for a brief period of time, which is why they benefit from this as well, but as soon as they take flight, the connection is gone. On the other hand, the grass reinforces the ground with roots or the like, weakening seismic attacks.
Electric Terrain:
I have two possible explanations for this one: either the electricity adopts visual patterns that can unconsciously affect the brain or the thin layer of electricity (I'd say only a few millimeters) consists of only one signal that permeates in a grounded Pokémon's body through the skin and can be relayed by the nerves directly to the brain. In both cases, it affects a specific portion of the nervous system: the pineal gland. This gland secretes melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone, and is activated in absence of light (see possible explanation #1). I theorize Koko's electricity layer inhibits this gland, thus rendering the Pokémon effectively immune to sleep. Prolonged exposition may result in sleep disorders. Airborne Pokémon are separated from the ground, therefore electricity cannot reach them, which is why they are not immune.
Misty Terrain:
Now this is a bit trickier since it shields from a various range of ailments, but Fairy is a "mystical" typing of sorts and Fini is known for the highly curative properties of its water. It is then possible it expels a special kind of water from its own body, creating mist on the battefield. Any grounded Pokémon is bound to inhale some of this mist, right? My guess is that the water particles this mist is made of can immediately react to any kind of status condition to cure it immediately once they are integrated to an organism. You'll note that when using a status move in Misty Terrain, the attack isn't noted as missing, but the Pokémon "shrouds itself in mist". I'd say any Toxic or Thunder Wave effectively lands, but the water's curative properties immediately come into action to negate the ailment. Airborne Pokémon are either too high (maybe the mist is relatively dense, thus close to the ground) or their wing flaps actually repels the mist, preventing them from inhaling it. As for why it weakens Dragon-type moves though...
Psychic Terrain:
Finally, Psychic Terrain. The main question is: why can't airborne Pokémon target grounded Pokémon with priority moves while the opposite is possible? I think the Terrain has some light and very short-term hallucinogen properties. I know that sounds weird, but bear with me here. Most priority moves work because the user moves so fast, the target can't react (see: Fake Out, Extreme Speed, Sucker Punch, etc.). If the Terrain had an effect on any Pokémon's brain so as to alter their senses (kind of if they were drunk, but more generalized and less intense), then an explanation emerges.
It wouldn't be so severe as to seriously affect a regular move, but it could seriously disorient a Pokémon using a priority move (i.e. a move that requires going fast). The fact the target "shrouds itself" in Psychic Terrain indicates the target Pokémon, as an act of self-defense, gathers more Terrain around it to amplify its effect. It is then very likely for the user to miss its target under this kind of effect. Maybe it's not noted as missing either because the priority move user thinks it hit its target, while it reality it missed completely. This also explains why airborne Pokémon can't use priority moves (they are forced to go into the Terrain to hit) and why grounded Pokémon can hit airborne Pokémon (they exit the Terrain and its properties before striking, which is why I believe its effect dissipates almost immediately), although Water Shuriken still stands as an enigma since the Pokémon doesn't actually move...
Very good analysis TMan87, I just want to point out a few things:
Though that does bring up the question, if type immunity are in affect, why are Ground-types affected by Electric Terrain? Considering how bulky Ground-types are they'd probably trade not falling asleep to being able to use Rest...
If I were to put a theory forth, Psychic Terrain slightly twists the spacial dimensions of the battlefield (something which I can see psychic powers doing, as shown with the Room moves liked Trick Room). It sort of works like TMan87 suggested, but there's no hallucinogenic properties. It's the Pokemon's sight/senses which helps target that's being affected as now it needs to take into account that the space where the Pokemon is located is shifting. While using a normal move that's fine, the Pokemon recalculates its aim to account for the shifting space. However an increased priority move can't do that, it has to happen immediately thus the Pokemon isn't able to correct its aim. It doesn't say miss probably because the Pokemon isn't sure if it missed or not, from its perspective it "aimed" for where it thought the target was but with the twisting space it actually aimed a bit to the left or right.
This will also explain why Pokemon touching the ground can hit flying targets (their dimensions aren't being twisted) while flying Pokemon will miss grounded targets.
Also, after going through all this, it made me realize something: realistically the Island Guardians shouldn't be benefiting from the Terrains as they're FLOATING. Same with Mega Charizard X or non-Levitate Bronzor & Bronzong. And opposite problem with those Flying-types they show standing on the ground.
A+ for trying to apply real world science to Pokemon, but I think the reasoning on GameFreak's part didn't go as far as "Electricity energizes the Pokemon making them too hyper to fall asleep". Why do I bring this up, because if we're applying logical reason we arrive to a logistical problem: what happens to flying Pokemon after they all asleep. Sure, while in the air they'll fall asleep, but unless the Pokemon learns to fly while asleep (which admittedly the game shows they somehow have, but we're using real world science here and that just ain't possible for the Pokemon who have to fly their wings to fly), I imagine after falling asleep they'd fall from the sky/stay awake enough to land and fall asleep. But, once they do that, wouldn't they wake up due to Electric Terrain?
Begins and ends there. There's just something about the Fairy-type's mystical property that weakens Dragon-types, which is why they're immune to them. Why Misty Terrain doesn't completely block Dragon-type moves is because it's mixed with water and air particles which dragon essence isn't blocked by thus, while the fairy particles are absorbing the dragon essence, since a Dragon-type attack is a concentrated amount of dragon essence enough gets through to at least do some damage.
Though that does bring up the question, if type immunity are in affect, why are Ground-types affected by Electric Terrain? Considering how bulky Ground-types are they'd probably trade not falling asleep to being able to use Rest...
While I like this idea, it not only doesn't work with Greninja but if a flying Pokemon were to have a theoretical Special oriented priority move that would still get blocked.
If I were to put a theory forth, Psychic Terrain slightly twists the spacial dimensions of the battlefield (something which I can see psychic powers doing, as shown with the Room moves liked Trick Room). It sort of works like TMan87 suggested, but there's no hallucinogenic properties. It's the Pokemon's sight/senses which helps target that's being affected as now it needs to take into account that the space where the Pokemon is located is shifting. While using a normal move that's fine, the Pokemon recalculates its aim to account for the shifting space. However an increased priority move can't do that, it has to happen immediately thus the Pokemon isn't able to correct its aim. It doesn't say miss probably because the Pokemon isn't sure if it missed or not, from its perspective it "aimed" for where it thought the target was but with the twisting space it actually aimed a bit to the left or right.
This will also explain why Pokemon touching the ground can hit flying targets (their dimensions aren't being twisted) while flying Pokemon will miss grounded targets.
Also, after going through all this, it made me realize something: realistically the Island Guardians shouldn't be benefiting from the Terrains as they're FLOATING. Same with Mega Charizard X or non-Levitate Bronzor & Bronzong. And opposite problem with those Flying-types they show standing on the ground.
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This has been an enigma since the days of Magnemite being hit by Earthquake but somehow Gengar isn't (though that's no longer true since it doesn't have Levitate anymore).
Here's a little mystery for us, but Ultrasun/Ultramoon postgame spoilers ahead because it's about Team Rainbow Rocket.
We good? Cool. So when you face Lysandre he first makes you do the Xerosic gambit from X/Y where you press one of two buttons, one that activates the Ultimate Weapon and the other that activates the warp pad needed to proceed through the Rainbow Rocket castle.
No matter which button you choose, it's revealed to activate the Ultimate Weapon and now you've got to quickly beat Lysandre to push the other button to deactivate the weapon and power up the warp pad.
The mystery is, do you think Lysandre is lying?
Other than his word on the matter, there's nothing to indicate that the world is in any trouble (well, at least more trouble than Team Rainbow Rocket taking over the Aether Foundation and unleashing a lot of holes to ultra space). So are we really to believe this guy was going to blow the world up, again?
I personally have my doubts for a couple of reasons.
1. With one exception in Ghetsis, Giovanni seems to have all the former evil team leaders under his leash, and destroying the world doesn't seem like something in his best interest. And although all the leaders seems to be keen on following their agendas to do their plots all over again, I get the feeling that Giovanni is just humoring them for his own ends.
2. Is the Ultimate Weapon even an option? If this game's timeline follows one from X/Y, that would mean the weapon got wrecked after the conclusion of the Team Flare plot. And even if it didn't, from the reaction of the Alola reporters Team RR just popped up, which suggests they haven't made a pitstop in Kalos to pick up the Ultimate Weapon. That is, unless the pokemon-world is just that clueless and out of touch on international politics.
While it's possible that Lysandre took the weapon from his world with him, I'll remind you that the thing is gigantic! About the size of all small town or at least most of the Aether Foundation.
So where in the world are they hiding that thing? Another option is it's in the "void between worlds" of Ultraspace, which could work I guess. But from Lysandre's comments, it sounds like Giovanni plucked him from his world shortly after the Ultimate Weapon fired in an instant. This makes it seem unlikely that Lysandre took more than what he had on him at the time.
3. With save scumming you can tell that both buttons do the same thing regardless of order, which makes me think they're both just duds for a mind-game Lysandre is putting you through.
I mean, unless this is some Schrodinger's Cat scenario from Virtue's Last Reward. If so, Gamefreak is really going down the rabbit hole on this alternate reality bender they've been on for 4 years.
A plausible explanation is it's not the buttons but the amount: press 1 and you release the weapon, pressing 2 buttons stops the weapon and powers the warp pad.
4. Can we just say that the whole 2-button scenario is pretty stupid to begin with? The only way it makes sense as a firing mechanism is if you expect someone to stop you just to pull this gambit on them. Why else would you complicate your control panel like that?
And even if you did want a mind game, if the result doesn't matter then why not just use one button and lie that it's the warp pad power?
And other than the fact this happened before (although that was Xerosic, not Lysandre), why does Lysandre expect company? Both Maxie, Archie and even Ghetsis are surprised by your presence, so even if the other grunts gave an intruder alert that gives you, what, 15 minutes to prep this shell-game gambit? Nobody could have known you were coming to storm the castle.
It all adds up that the simple solution is Lysandre's full of it and the Ultimate Weapon was never there. He just really likes head games I guess.
Counter point:
-1. Lysandre's attitude. Ambitions aside Lysandre seems decently sane, and his reactions to your button choice suggest that he truly believes all of this. So either he's just an actor with a good poker face...
You know, because Lysandre was known for being subtle.
...or he meant every word. So the only way the Ultimate Weapon could have been a trick is if Giovanni lied to Lysandre.
We good? Cool. So when you face Lysandre he first makes you do the Xerosic gambit from X/Y where you press one of two buttons, one that activates the Ultimate Weapon and the other that activates the warp pad needed to proceed through the Rainbow Rocket castle.
No matter which button you choose, it's revealed to activate the Ultimate Weapon and now you've got to quickly beat Lysandre to push the other button to deactivate the weapon and power up the warp pad.
The mystery is, do you think Lysandre is lying?
Other than his word on the matter, there's nothing to indicate that the world is in any trouble (well, at least more trouble than Team Rainbow Rocket taking over the Aether Foundation and unleashing a lot of holes to ultra space). So are we really to believe this guy was going to blow the world up, again?
I personally have my doubts for a couple of reasons.
1. With one exception in Ghetsis, Giovanni seems to have all the former evil team leaders under his leash, and destroying the world doesn't seem like something in his best interest. And although all the leaders seems to be keen on following their agendas to do their plots all over again, I get the feeling that Giovanni is just humoring them for his own ends.
2. Is the Ultimate Weapon even an option? If this game's timeline follows one from X/Y, that would mean the weapon got wrecked after the conclusion of the Team Flare plot. And even if it didn't, from the reaction of the Alola reporters Team RR just popped up, which suggests they haven't made a pitstop in Kalos to pick up the Ultimate Weapon. That is, unless the pokemon-world is just that clueless and out of touch on international politics.
While it's possible that Lysandre took the weapon from his world with him, I'll remind you that the thing is gigantic! About the size of all small town or at least most of the Aether Foundation.
So where in the world are they hiding that thing? Another option is it's in the "void between worlds" of Ultraspace, which could work I guess. But from Lysandre's comments, it sounds like Giovanni plucked him from his world shortly after the Ultimate Weapon fired in an instant. This makes it seem unlikely that Lysandre took more than what he had on him at the time.
3. With save scumming you can tell that both buttons do the same thing regardless of order, which makes me think they're both just duds for a mind-game Lysandre is putting you through.
I mean, unless this is some Schrodinger's Cat scenario from Virtue's Last Reward. If so, Gamefreak is really going down the rabbit hole on this alternate reality bender they've been on for 4 years.
A plausible explanation is it's not the buttons but the amount: press 1 and you release the weapon, pressing 2 buttons stops the weapon and powers the warp pad.
4. Can we just say that the whole 2-button scenario is pretty stupid to begin with? The only way it makes sense as a firing mechanism is if you expect someone to stop you just to pull this gambit on them. Why else would you complicate your control panel like that?
And even if you did want a mind game, if the result doesn't matter then why not just use one button and lie that it's the warp pad power?
And other than the fact this happened before (although that was Xerosic, not Lysandre), why does Lysandre expect company? Both Maxie, Archie and even Ghetsis are surprised by your presence, so even if the other grunts gave an intruder alert that gives you, what, 15 minutes to prep this shell-game gambit? Nobody could have known you were coming to storm the castle.
It all adds up that the simple solution is Lysandre's full of it and the Ultimate Weapon was never there. He just really likes head games I guess.
Counter point:
-1. Lysandre's attitude. Ambitions aside Lysandre seems decently sane, and his reactions to your button choice suggest that he truly believes all of this. So either he's just an actor with a good poker face...
You know, because Lysandre was known for being subtle.
...or he meant every word. So the only way the Ultimate Weapon could have been a trick is if Giovanni lied to Lysandre.
Lysandre is cuckoo for cocoa puffs, he might believe one of the buttons activates the Ultimate Weapon but that doesn't mean that either button was ever connected to it's activation; in fact the fact that pushing both buttons activates the warp pad is probably coincidental
Lysandre's speech was made from thin air, sure Lysandre thinks is true but that doesn't mean much
New conspiracy: this is how Giovanni planned to use Lysandre
Lysandre's speech was made from thin air, sure Lysandre thinks is true but that doesn't mean much
New conspiracy: this is how Giovanni planned to use Lysandre
stage7_4 :
It's a mind game. A thing we must remember about this Lysandre is that there was no player to stop him, he was just about to accomplish his plan before being plucked away by RR Giovanni. He would never have had a thought what he was doing was wrong so why would he even have a giant button that would stop his plan? So, why does he do that? Probably just as a social experiment. Let's break down what Lysandre says:
... Except this is not what the test is truly about. Let's remember what Lysandre's believes: people are selfish. People only do what is best for themselves not caring how this negatively effects others.
Reread your options. A chance of you continuing with your goals, or a chance of ending the world. In Lysandre eyes, in order for you to even think about pressing on of the buttons its from a selfish decision: continuing forward with your personal goals. Despite him telling you the other button will end the world, you still chose following your own desire over the rest of the world.
"Well he was going to activate the Ultimate Weapon anyway". Was he? That's not what he said. He gave us the option. And pay close attention to his wording. When he mentions its up to us to choose whether the Ultimate Weapon activates or stays underground is dependent on your choice. He does not mention the buttons, just what you choose to do.
Let's continue with what he says after you press a button:
So, why does he continue the charade by saying pressing the other button would stop the Ultimate Weapon? Let's finish the rest of what he says:
He was just messing with you, he knows he has to stop any intruder so he was going to battle you no matter what, so why not set up this experiment that either will have you turning away to protect the world or making those who play feel like a horrible person. He'll have to battle the latter, but he as the Legendary Pokemon and thinks he's nigh unstoppable so that's not a problem. Why keep up the charade by saying you'll stop the Ultimate Weapon by pressing the other button? Both to probably make you battle as hard as you can (so you feel more defeated when he crushes you) and if you do succeed, since you think you stopped his Ultimate Weapon, you won't bother him about it afterward.
It's when he's defeated does he change his tune, even possibly thinking if he met a trainer like you in his world things may be different before returning back to his agenda.
It's a mind game. A thing we must remember about this Lysandre is that there was no player to stop him, he was just about to accomplish his plan before being plucked away by RR Giovanni. He would never have had a thought what he was doing was wrong so why would he even have a giant button that would stop his plan? So, why does he do that? Probably just as a social experiment. Let's break down what Lysandre says:
So, one button you need to press to continue your way through while the other will destroy the world. You have a 50% rate of success.RR Lysandre said:
... Except this is not what the test is truly about. Let's remember what Lysandre's believes: people are selfish. People only do what is best for themselves not caring how this negatively effects others.
Reread your options. A chance of you continuing with your goals, or a chance of ending the world. In Lysandre eyes, in order for you to even think about pressing on of the buttons its from a selfish decision: continuing forward with your personal goals. Despite him telling you the other button will end the world, you still chose following your own desire over the rest of the world.
"Well he was going to activate the Ultimate Weapon anyway". Was he? That's not what he said. He gave us the option. And pay close attention to his wording. When he mentions its up to us to choose whether the Ultimate Weapon activates or stays underground is dependent on your choice. He does not mention the buttons, just what you choose to do.
Let's continue with what he says after you press a button:
No matter what button your press you're wrong. That's because, in Lysandre's eyes, as soon as you pressed a button you lost. You selfishly chose your own goal over the rest of the world. To him, the correct answer was not pressing any button. The only way to win is not to play. If you just walked away you kept the world safe but at the cost of what you were seeking. He believes the chosen one is someone who would put others before their own, if it's up to them to continue their own goals or doom the world they'll give up their own goals (or find another way around, either way they chose not to play a 50% game to end the world). But by choosing to press a button you might as well have guaranteed the world's destruction because even if it was a 50% chance you had no idea what button was which, you left it to pure luck!
So, why does he continue the charade by saying pressing the other button would stop the Ultimate Weapon? Let's finish the rest of what he says:
Notice he automatically assumes you're going to press the other button. Because the original options he gave you weren't contradictory to one another. Had you pressed both buttons it would have just meant the Ultimate Weapon would activate and your path forward would open up, never was any of the options to stop the Ultimate Weapon (hence you destroying the world with your own hands).
He was just messing with you, he knows he has to stop any intruder so he was going to battle you no matter what, so why not set up this experiment that either will have you turning away to protect the world or making those who play feel like a horrible person. He'll have to battle the latter, but he as the Legendary Pokemon and thinks he's nigh unstoppable so that's not a problem. Why keep up the charade by saying you'll stop the Ultimate Weapon by pressing the other button? Both to probably make you battle as hard as you can (so you feel more defeated when he crushes you) and if you do succeed, since you think you stopped his Ultimate Weapon, you won't bother him about it afterward.
It's when he's defeated does he change his tune, even possibly thinking if he met a trainer like you in his world things may be different before returning back to his agenda.
New Mystery: Can the Gen VII Protagonist hear Pokemon like N can?
A mystery I've been wanting to bring up but can't pushing back because I wanted to get more examples by playing through the game again, but I keep procrastinating so I'm just going to bring it up now.
Throughout our Alolan adventure be it Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon, there's many Pokemon on the overworld you can speak to. Nothing new, all series had this with the Pokemon making animals sounds (or apparently speaking their name like in the anime for some countries I've heard). But Gen VII did something strange where some of these Pokemon would actually say something you can understand. The main examples would be a Mimikyu that says "Me.. me curse... you", a Oranguru that says "Gu do it", and Ultra Necrozma that screams "LIGHT!" at you. However there are many other examples (I think Tapu Koko says something when it gives you the Z-Ring).
So... what's that about? Are the Pokemon actually speaking a human language? Can your character hear Pokemon voices like N? Is Rotom Dex translating what the Pokemon is saying?
A mystery I've been wanting to bring up but can't pushing back because I wanted to get more examples by playing through the game again, but I keep procrastinating so I'm just going to bring it up now.
Throughout our Alolan adventure be it Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, or Ultra Moon, there's many Pokemon on the overworld you can speak to. Nothing new, all series had this with the Pokemon making animals sounds (or apparently speaking their name like in the anime for some countries I've heard). But Gen VII did something strange where some of these Pokemon would actually say something you can understand. The main examples would be a Mimikyu that says "Me.. me curse... you", a Oranguru that says "Gu do it", and Ultra Necrozma that screams "LIGHT!" at you. However there are many other examples (I think Tapu Koko says something when it gives you the Z-Ring).
So... what's that about? Are the Pokemon actually speaking a human language? Can your character hear Pokemon voices like N? Is Rotom Dex translating what the Pokemon is saying?
I doubt it. Though Tapu Koko does (presumably telepathically) say "IT IS TIME." or something like that just before the battle with it Lillie makes you do in S/M. Given its home being the Ruins of Conflict, it's no surprise that it's been eagerly waiting for the player to be ready for a worthy challenge, its fires (or spark of battle if you prefer, given its Electric typing) not even remotely sated from the earlier battle with Buzzwole/Pheromosa.
The others may be merely what the player thinks they hear. Oranguru may be intelligent enough to approximate human language within the limits of its own throat, but would probably speak telepathically if it really wanted to communicate.
I don't think they have the ability to the same degree as N (if at all), as remember that N was so good at talking to pokemon he could call them from the surrounding wildlife to temporarily fight for him. We don't have that, we've got a catch them all just like everyone else.
And while I can't remember exactly, in Ultrasun/Ultramoon they were more snarky with your context responses in both the story and the sidequests, letting you choose a "right" option or a humorous but off-the-wall "wrong" option (that wouldn't change the plot whatsoever of course). Some of these context responses involved pokemon if I recall right.
If we look beyond just being a funny game mechanic, it implies that the character is reading the situation, looking for context clues, and trying to figure out whats going on just like any regular human interacting with an animal would. Begging means they're hungry or gluttonous, tail wagging means they're excited, that sort of thing.
I do remember that when you approach the pokemon league for the first time your starter (if you kept them) pops out of their ball for a bonding moment. And while the text suggests you understand that the pokemon is fired up and ready to take on the league, it seems more like non-verbal communication clues like I mentioned on the last paragraph.
Wish I had some directly examples though, as it's been a while and I really didn't like US/UM so I'm not going to replay it right now to go find them.
And while I can't remember exactly, in Ultrasun/Ultramoon they were more snarky with your context responses in both the story and the sidequests, letting you choose a "right" option or a humorous but off-the-wall "wrong" option (that wouldn't change the plot whatsoever of course). Some of these context responses involved pokemon if I recall right.
If we look beyond just being a funny game mechanic, it implies that the character is reading the situation, looking for context clues, and trying to figure out whats going on just like any regular human interacting with an animal would. Begging means they're hungry or gluttonous, tail wagging means they're excited, that sort of thing.
I do remember that when you approach the pokemon league for the first time your starter (if you kept them) pops out of their ball for a bonding moment. And while the text suggests you understand that the pokemon is fired up and ready to take on the league, it seems more like non-verbal communication clues like I mentioned on the last paragraph.
Wish I had some directly examples though, as it's been a while and I really didn't like US/UM so I'm not going to replay it right now to go find them.
Is the Pokemon world going through hyperinflation? Or at least Unova?
The reason I'm asking this is because I'm doing a solo Panpour/Simipour run of Pokemon White, and I've noticed some strange things in the dialogue. One of the TVs in Accumula Town advertises a chef-brewed Potion for 3 million Pokedollars. Even assuming that the currency is based on yen, it would still cost about $30,000 in U.S. dollars. This should be out of the price range of the middle class people that the shopping channel is advertising to. . .
It reminds me a bit of the scene in Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga where Prince Peasley bets you 99,999,999,999,999 Mushroom Kingdom coins, which turns out to be 99 Beanbean coins. Peach must be an awful ruler!
The reason I'm asking this is because I'm doing a solo Panpour/Simipour run of Pokemon White, and I've noticed some strange things in the dialogue. One of the TVs in Accumula Town advertises a chef-brewed Potion for 3 million Pokedollars. Even assuming that the currency is based on yen, it would still cost about $30,000 in U.S. dollars. This should be out of the price range of the middle class people that the shopping channel is advertising to. . .
It reminds me a bit of the scene in Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga where Prince Peasley bets you 99,999,999,999,999 Mushroom Kingdom coins, which turns out to be 99 Beanbean coins. Peach must be an awful ruler!
It's a stretch to assume it's based on yen though, but there's one currency we can use as a standard:
So a bike in the US costs about $200 for a middle quality one (although you can go as low as $50 and as high as $500). Given the pokemon world it seems the supply and demand for bikes is roughly the same (and with vouchers and specials to give them away, bikes can't be that expensive) so this specialty chef-brewed potion is about $600.
Still a bit expensive, but about what I'd expect luxury medical care with no insurance to be.
But this brings up another mystery, what happened to the Beast Balls?
In Sun/Moon the balls were Aether's negative assests, super expensive to make with rather useless applications. But in Ultrasun/Ultramoon you can buy them for 1000 poke a piece.
So a bike in the US costs about $200 for a middle quality one (although you can go as low as $50 and as high as $500). Given the pokemon world it seems the supply and demand for bikes is roughly the same (and with vouchers and specials to give them away, bikes can't be that expensive) so this specialty chef-brewed potion is about $600.
Still a bit expensive, but about what I'd expect luxury medical care with no insurance to be.
But this brings up another mystery, what happened to the Beast Balls?
In Sun/Moon the balls were Aether's negative assests, super expensive to make with rather useless applications. But in Ultrasun/Ultramoon you can buy them for 1000 poke a piece.
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It's possibile that USUM are an alternate reality to SuMo and thus could be a world in which the creation process for Beast Balls was streamlined for efficiency before mass production began.
What's interesting is that we know other people that can talk to pokemon
Momo and (possibly) Memory Girl, both from ORAS
Not just possible, the creators stated USUM is a parallel alternate wibbly wobbly timey-wimey reality to SuMo.
I guess since there are people and even a city in ultra space that use ultra beasts (the Recon squad and their Poipoles, with others implied) it means that not only do they have a market to sell them to but probably they can gather materials from Ultra Space now.
I mean, it's implied that the Recon squad taught Aether how to make them in USUM, while in SuMo they came up with them by themselves.
There's also the matter of when they first appear. In SM, you see them for the first time when you have to end Lusamine's fetish. In USUM, you see them as soon as you have to search for Nebby in Melemele Meadows.
I don't follow, what "them" are you talking about?