#bst-spread

[midwest-dex]

Middread, the Faultline Pokemon Middread slumbers somewhere beneath Manaka, occasionally causing the entire region to shake as it moves in its sleep. When it wakes up, the region will be split in two.

Types: Ground/Dark Ability: Aftershock — This Pokemon uses moves with variable power a second time, doing random damage with the aftershock. Signature Move — Faultline Fall | Ground | Physical | The target gets trapped in a fissure, dealing damage and trapping the Pokemon as long as Middread remains in the battle.

Middread is the "mythical" of Manaka, representing the New Madrid Seismic Zone, an area of the Midwest known for having very rare but very disastrous earthquakes due to the strange shape of the "faultline", which is more like a break in the middle of a tectonic plate rather than a normal faultline. It's been over 200 years since the last monster earthquake from the area, but the potential for another is a quiet threat lingering under the area at all times.

Middread would be treated more like the Delta Episode than a typical mythical, a sidestory doable after the main story rather than a Mystery Gift exclusive mon. Manaka is suddenly beset with many small earthquakes, and the player goes to find Middread and stop it from waking up and bringing its apocalyptic earthquake on the region.

[midwest-dex]

Whalwaxia, the Spiny Slug Pokemon Its armor has split into overlapping plates, allowing much more flexibility. Whalwaxia can now tuck into a ball and move more quickly while still being protected on all sides. Despite its threatening appearance, it eats only plankton and algae. It is believed to be an ancient ancestor of Gastrodon.

Types: Bug/Rock Abilities: Rough Skin/Shell Armor Hidden Ability: Whistling Peaks — After using a wind move for the first time in a battle, this Pokemon raises its Special Attack one stage.

Potential stat spread for Whalwaxia, making it something akin to a special attacking Ferrothorn. May deserve to get tuned down given the better ability spread, though it does also have a worse typing. It'll be awhile before we have enough of the dex filled in to set up a custom Showdown server to see :3c

[midwest-dex]

Derelich, the Cruising Pokemon Derelich lurk among misty waters, collecting crews of Flotssum to ride on their back, the two offering protection to each other. Derelich are able to submerge below water for hours at a time. Their Flotssum crewmates are only able to manage a few minutes and need to abandon ship when it does this though.

Types: Water/Ghost Ability: Torrent Hidden Ability: Baby On Board — When this Pokemon enters, it drops the Speed stat of the fastest foe by one stage. Signature Move: Crewmate Call | Ghost | Special | Derelich and its crew gives a bone-rattling battle cry, dealing damage and dropping each of the target's modified stats by one stage.

Derelich is the final form of Manaka's water starter, with the possum playing dead so well it has become a ghost ship. Derelich is slow, with bulk in its HP and slightly leaning Defense over Junking's large Special Defense. Derelich chews up setup mons and amplifies stat drops brought on by its allies or moves like Close Combat.

[midwest-dex]

More Kreeptid Details

We've been having fun with Kreeptid/Canikreepem and I wanna document the new shenanigans.

Base Stats: Kreeptid, Canikreepem

Canikreepem is a bit of a glass canon, aiming to either switch into a setup move and steal the boosts to countersweep, or team up with a Prankster-Swagger partner in doubles to start going to town from the jump. With Fluffy instead, it can be alright on the defensive side, just watch for those fire moves.

Kreeptid halves the defensive stats of Canikreepem, but actually keeps the same HP stat as well as weight, as a nod to the evolution being more like a form change flavor wise.

Level-up Learnsets: Kreeptid, Canikreepem

The two have the same levelup moves, though with Canikreepem moving some to reminder/evolution learns. Kreeptid learns a new move every two levels, the excitable little puppy trying to hold your attention by showing off its new tricks it keeps learning, which start off fun and playful and start getting more concerning as it levels up more and more. Canikreepem slows this down to every 3 levels with a few moves switched around, making the early Trainer's Canikreepem less frightening using Lick and Disarming Voice, and offering the tradeoff of the huge Attack boost of evolution vs the earlier access to moves like Play Rough. Might play around with the levels here if we get a proper region game going, but good proof of concept.

NPCs: (concept by LeetWizard) A few towns after you can encounter Kreeptid, long enough for you to be exposed to Kreeptid's party and PC box shenanigans and maybe want to get rid of it, you can find an in-game trade looking for a Kreeptid, providing an easy single-player avenue to evolve it.

I hear there's a really cute doggy Pokémon out here, but I haven't been able to find it for some reason... If you trade me a Kreeptid, I'll give you my Swinner! Alright, you really found it! Lookit how cute he is. So, you want to trade for my Swinner?

If you let Kreeptid evolve, the trade will be cancelled, and the NPC will be unsettled.

Oh, oh no! Is it... okay? Um... I don't think I want a Kreeptid anymore, sorry.

(concept by Alexander) In the first few towns you can hear from NPCs about trading mechanics that the player can access later in the game

Some Pokemon can only evolve if you trade them, which is a huge hassle if you don't have friends.... that aren't jerks, I mean. I traded one of my friends a Gachapix and I still haven't heard back from him, can you believe that? Anyway, there's this game store up in Cantilever where the regulars are great at tradebacks, no questions asked. It's just such a hassle to get out there.

Have you heard of Wonder Trade? It's this new fad in the big cities where you trade a Pokemon to a complete stranger. I tried it myself, and I got a Peacower for my Calicozy, what a rip off!

In the carnival area outside of Cantilever, the player can then find a carnie by the name of Huck Sterling, who will run various scams on the player under the guise of these mechanics.

You there, you've heard of Wonder Trade right? Don't you want to trade one of your boring old Pokemon for an exotic Pokemon from far-away lands, I can tell you do! Need a quick and easy, no questions asked trade evolution? Get your Machamps and your Porgyon2s here! Wanna see a bit of magic? I can transform a Pokemon, any Pokemon at all, into a Magikarp, right before your eyes! Just set them in the box, and watch the magic!

In each case, the ruse will be revealed as a direct trade... for one of Huck Sterling's many, many Magikarp. This can be used as an infinite source of Kreeptid evolution procs, but also as a way to get a Magikarp that is traded, thus gaining boosted XP and maybe not being that bad a prize for some. But if you feel cheated...

Aw shucks, they really sent you a Magikarp? Better luck next time. Thank you for the donation my friend, this lovely Machamp will be given to a poor Trainer in need, I do hope you enjoy the complementary Magikarp. Gee kid. I can't turn 'em back. I told you that. Sure I did. But it was pretty cool, right? Want to see it again?

You can challenge Huck Sterling to a battle for your Pokemon back! Depending on the number of badges you have, Huck will use Cattywampus, a Murkrow/Honchkrow with Thief, a Wobbltoddl/Teetrtoddl, a Moistquito, a Magikarp/Gyarados, and of course your stolen Pokemon in the battle. Winning the battle will return your stolen Pokemon/items, and set Huck on his next scheme somewhere else in the carnival area before you can try to give the Magikarp back.

Later towns will have the legitimate Tradeback Guy and Wonder Trade Station (likely randomized rather than actually online), and they'll have some choice words to say about Huck depending on how you've interacted with him.