( battlers-of-galar ) Louisa@Devina: "Sorry if this might seem a bit sudden of a question, but are familiar with Gigantamax? My husband is very skilled with it, yet he doesn't talk about it too much. Do you have any experience when it comes to Gigantamax yourself?"
Dynamax is a phenomenon as a result of a strange power found in Galar. With this power, it’s possible for pokemon to grow to enormous size and use their newfound strength to turn the tide of battle. Dynamax is a bit different from most other energies such as Mega Evolution or Z-Crystals in that the area itself is the catalyst for the power. These areas where pokemon can undergo Dynamax are called “Power Spots”, which contain strong sources of the energy needed to properly Dynamax. Many Gyms found in Galar are built with these Power Spots in mind to incorporate them into gym battles. As these battles are viewed in front of a live audience, it helps to bring in a show that everyone will be eager to see.
When a Pokemon undergoes Dynamax, their moves are replaced with “Max Moves” which are powerful enough to change the field around them. The Max Moves available for a pokemon often depend on their current learned moves, allowing some pokemon to have access to move types that aren’t normally available for that pokemon. All status moves also become Max Moves, but they will mostly only turn into Max Guard which will ignore all attacks even from other Dynamax pokemon. It is not normally possible to use regular moves while Dynamaxed as all the power goes into max moves, but it is possible if the pokemon were to Dynamax naturally.
Most of those studying Dynamax often speculate that its power distorts the space around certain objects or creatures. This explains why anything with Dynamax energy may grow large in size and affect the world around them, often noted by the storm clouds surrounding above a Dynamax pokemon. Other objects are also affected if they can absorb the Dynamax energy, though not many objects have been tested with this power. While a few have theorized if Dynamax was an illusion similar to Zoroark’s, it was later debunked when seeing pokemon with too much Dynamax energy go berserk. As Dynamax distorts the space around a creature, it likely distorts their mind as seen by pokemon rampaging uncontrollably when they have too much Dynamax energy.
Gigantamax Factor
There have been studies of pokemon who undergo a unique form of Dynamax under the right conditions, often as a result of being around Dynamax energy longer than necessary. This form of Dynamax has been dubbed “Gigantamax” as the pokemon often grows to enormous size, far larger than a regular Dynamax pokemon. A pokemon who has the potential to Gigantamax are known to have “Gigantamax Factor” which can only be found in select individuals of a species. However, it is possible for a pokemon to earn their Gigantamax Factor naturally through any method that can allow their body to accept large amounts of Dynamax. The proper method to achieve this is still unknown, but many seem to believe the Pokemon Dens have something to do with it alongside Dynamax Candies.
Gigantamax Pokemon also have access to specialized max moves unique to them called “G-Max Moves”. These moves are directly similar to the Max Moves of the move’s type, but their properties and how they affect the world around are vastly different. Every Gigantamax pokemon will only have one of their move types turn into this G-Max Move so it’s important to have a move type that correlates with the Max Move. Max Starfall will cause Misty Terrain to surround the field which can prevent status conditions, but G-Max Finale from Alcremie will heal the user and allies. Due to this change in how the moves work, you may see pokemon plan their teams around G-Max moves for singles or double battles. Some G-Max Moves may not be as strong as their regular Max Move counterparts, but other allies can often help fill in the missing Max Move when needed.
Wishing Stars and the Dynamax Band
In order to gather enough energy to undergo Dynamax, specialized bands are often fitted with stones called “Wishing Stars”. These stones slowly gather Dynamax energy while inside spots where the power is present and can be used to transfer Dynamax energy into objects or pokemon. While it is possible for a pokemon to force themselves to Dynamax with merely the band alone, this can be very difficult to pull off. It’s also extremely dangerous as the pokemon’s body would be growing in size naturally, causing items and clothes to likely break before the pokemon reaches their temporary size. While this final concern is extremely rare, a pokemon with too much Dynamax energy may lose control of themselves and go berserk, particularly why pokeballs are used alongside Dynamax Bands.
By transferring Dynamax energy into a Pokeball while a pokemon is inside, the pokemon will be released from the Pokeball while in their Dynamax state. Doing this method doesn’t offer as much Dynamax energy as through natural means, but does allow the items and clothes a pokemon is carrying to grow large alongside the pokemon. Though just in case a pokemon does attempt to Dynamax without a Pokeball, most of the outfits worn by gym challengers are laced with small amounts of Wishing Stars. Due to some pokemon undergoing Gigantamax at times, it helps to prepare clothing that can properly adapt to the pokemon’s body.
As the amount of Dynamax Bands are often very small in number for every team to use one, those partaking in the gym challenge can be lent a Dynamax Band for the duration of that particular gym. While it may be possible to turn these bands down for the first 2 gyms, every gym afterward will require the team to have a Dynamax Band present or be lent one. This band will have to be returned once the gym battle is over, but can be purchased for a hefty fee or if the pokemon brings in their own wishing star. Wishing Stars do sometimes fall out of the sky, so it may be one’s lucky day if one falls nearby.
The Dark Beginnings of Dynamax
20,000 years ago, in the early days of the Galar region, a meteor crashed down from outer space containing a creature never before seen. This creature would be later known as Eternatus, the pokemon responsible for the Dynamax phenomenon we know today. Eternatus lived most of its life on the planet regularly and caused very little trouble. It wouldn’t be another 17,000 years before Eternatus attempted to absorb the energy found inside the Galar region in order to stay alive. This resulted in the pokemon being overloaded with Dynamax energy and ultimately caused it to go berserk before transforming into its Eternamax form. Black clouds stormed across the land, causing pokemon to grow to enormous size and lose control of themselves while in their overloaded state. There was little anyone could do to stop the towering pokemon, often being heavily injured as a result of their attempts to fight back. This day in history would be forever known as the “Darkest Day” as it seemed all hope was lost to the storms. However, everything changed when 2 pokemon decided to fight back against the rampaging Dynamax pokemon.
The two legendary pokemon, Zacian and Zamazenta, used their weapons and strength to defeat the rampaging pokemon and help revert them to their regular size. With the duo’s combined efforts, they were able to vanquish Eternatus in its overloaded state and stop the destruction of Galar. As a final precaution to ensure the pokemon would be put to rest, its body was later sealed deep within the Galar region by the duo. The region cheered for the pokemon, but Zacian and Zamazenta were fatally wounded from their battle which forced a retreat to the slumbering weald. There the two turned themselves into statues and entered a deep sleep, waiting for the day Galar might be at risk of calamity from Eternatus. Most pokemon have almost forgotten of their existence, being most of the history having been hidden by the recent descendants of Galar.
As Eternatus was wounded from its battle 3,000 years ago, its power leaked over the Galar region while it was sealed which results in the power spots we know today. This led to some pokemon undergoing Dynamax by accident, but not in the same way as from the darkest day. As these pokemon had full control of themselves, this turned Dynamax and Gigantamax into a useful tool in situations such as helping pokemon during a harsh cold wave or stopping a flood. However, the limitations of Dynamax being to certain areas that contained this power didn’t allow for many opportunities for pokemon to use it. Through the years, scientists began to find and study parts of Eternatus that fell off during the great battle many years ago. This resulted in the discovery of Wishing Stars found today which can absorb Dynamax energy, allowing for Dynamax to work as a source of energy. Alongside this, Wishing Stars allow Dynamax to be utilized in actual pokemon battles similar to Mega Evolution or Z-Crystals.
Competitive Dynamax
While Dynamaxing is used competitively, a lot of pokemon are sometimes ill-informed on the best ways of using it effectively. Generally when deciding a strategy around Dynamax, move choice is extremely important. The moves a Dynamax pokemon knows may affect properties of the Max Move, such as damage or whether it may be physical or special. Each Max Move also has qualities that affect the surrounding area which can have an impact on how pokemon plan their moves. This point is important in team battles as trapping teammates in a storm they have no way to combat often can ruin certain strategies. Though in other situations, Max Moves can boost the stats of pokemon and allies such as Speed or Attack which makes every move while Dynamaxed important.
The biggest change when a pokemon Dynamaxes is the immunity to certain moves that are normally meant to affect a pokemon. Any move that causes flinching, involves either pokemon’s weight to be factored, forces the target to swap, forces certain moves to be used, or are known to instantly knock out a pokemon will fail. It’s still possible for pokemon to remove a pokemon’s held item while Dynamaxed, but only through Knock off or Trick. A pokemon’s HP will also double once they’ve Dynamaxed which can allow a pokemon that is normally defeated in one hit to survive almost 2, which can help when fighting against a really strong opponent. Barriers such as protect will only reduce the damage a pokemon takes from a Max Move, which makes Dynamax pokemon sometimes difficult to avoid.
Dynamax still has many weaknesses that can be exploited to a very strong degree. A pokemon won’t heal from simply undergoing Dynamax which can put the team in a bad spot if they happen to Dynamax a pokemon who is in little condition to fight. If the pokemon who undergoes Dynamax faints, all the energy will leave their body and that team without Dynamax energy for the remainder of the battle. Pokemon who are able to hide underground or fly can wait out the Dynamax until it runs out, but are likely to risk either being hurt while doing so or have that team member considered out of bounds. The biggest weakness most often forget with Dynamax is the factor of type matchups, which can really ruin a team’s plan of using Dynamax when the pokemon is hit with one super-effective attack.
Gym Battles Using Dynamax
In normal gym battle fashion, most of the challenges that a trainer may partake in result in battling gym trainers and testing their skills before the big battle with the gym leader. However, in the Galar region, there is a very strong reason for doing these gym challenges before battling the gym leader. If a team intends to use Dynamax during the battle, the challenges will allow enough time for the band to gather enough energy before the battle starts. It does take a while for Dynamax energy to gather around a Dynamax Band, which is often why most battles only make use of one Dynamax use per battle. This single-use is often why gym leaders will save their Dynamax pokemon for last to ensure they have a final defense before the battle ends.
If a team doesn’t have a Dynamax Band present, the Gym leader will not use Dynamax themselves to make things fair. However, as Dynamax Band ands are required after the 2nd gym, this won’t exactly be the case for every Gym. Most who try to avoid going through the gym challenge without a Dynamax Band are likely to be given a temporary one during the gym’s duration. Should a team try and avoid using Dynamax, they’ll likely be at a heavy disadvantage unless they have a plan to avoid being hit. Though some teams are looking to make their mark without using Dynamax at all which is mostly for bragging rights.
Pokemon Dens and Max Den Battles
In the Galar region, there exists a large open area containing dens that hold power spots deep inside them. This area is often referred to as the Wild Area as it’s one of the best spots for pokemon to train and battle without many restrictions. However, these dens are particularly special for sparring purposes as they allow the use of Dynamax without potentially destroying the surrounding area. This is thanks to the area inside a den being extremely large, allowing a Dynamax pokemon to almost live in it. Even if a number of dens are occupied, there is a large overabundance of these dens across the wild area which allows for almost every pokemon to easily find an empty one for their own use. You can often tell if a den contains a Dynamax pokemon by the pillar of light that shoots out of the den, growing stronger depending on the Dynamax pokemon’s strength.
Due to the Dynamax energy being much stronger than other power spots, pokemon who Dynamax through natural means while inside a den are able to use tactics that aren’t normally available. These Dynamax pokemon can use both regular and max moves quite easily, Max Guard creates a lasting barrier that protects from certain moves until it breaks and hurts the pokemon, and the Dynamax pokemon can release a shockwave of Dynamax energy that disables abilities and stat changes. All of these advantages, alongside the seemingly endless time limit of the Dynamaxed pokemon, have caused battles such as these to be named “Max Den Battles” for being so tough. 4 pokemon are needed in order to take down one of these Max Den Pokemon for this reason as there is little one pokemon alone can do against a towering one.
Even if a pokemon were to attempt to Dynamax to even the playing field, the fastest method of Dynamaxing will not yield the same results as that of the Max Den Pokemon. In order to actually Dynamax naturally while inside a den, a pokemon would have to stay inside for roughly an hour depending on the pokemon’s Dynamax Level. Dynamax Level controls the power a pokemon has while in its Dynamax state, often increasing strength against attacks. Though while Dynamaxing naturally can be easy, reverting is difficult without some way of having Dynamax energy leave the pokemon’s body such as through a Pokeball. This can take up to a few hours at most as attempting to exit a den won’t be easy while in this large state thanks to the small opening of the den.
Food and Dynamax together?
One of the popular uses of Dynamax outside of pokemon battles has been found in food, particularly Curry. Those who collect Dynamax Candies often grind them down to be used in a spice called “Gigantamix” which can be added to food. While the food is being cooked, sprinkling the Gigantamix will cause energy to surround the food and make it grow in size. Because of the new size the food takes, it can be used to feed pokemon who have quite the appetite or would like to share with others. Even if a pokemon doesn’t wish to eat the food while in its Gigantamax state, it will revert after some time and can be enjoyed normally or saved as leftovers for another day.
Curry is a very popular dish in Galar and often leads to many pokemon competing on who can make and log the most curry dishes. Having the ability to make a dish that tastes good and is large enough to feed many pokemon is hard to pass on. It’s also not too hard to make Gigantamix as the main ingredient can be found in almost every pokemon den around the wild area. Dynamax Candies are packed with energy that will increase a pokemon’s Dynamax level when eaten, making them exceptionally stronger when they Dynamax. When these candies are ground into a powder, they can instead be combined with spices in order to make food Gigantamax. This was discovered when a pokemon wanted to find an alternative method to eating Dynamax Candies, but instead created Gigantamix.
The amount of Gigantamix used in the dish is what ultimately decides how long it will stay giant. Using the whole bottle will often cause the food to stay Gigantamaxed for half an hour, long enough for it to feed the intended pokemon(s). If a pokemon were to use very little of the Gigantamix, the food may revert before the pokemon has a chance to enjoy it. If too much Gigantamix is used, the taste is at risk of being ruined due to the overabundance of spice. This is why some restaurants have started experimenting with Gigantamix as a potential menu item for challenges as the pokemon would be encouraged to eat it before it reverts to its regular size. Considering the food doesn’t require any extra ingredients to make it Gigantamax, it’s very cheap to make many dishes giant for an extra fee.
In the world of Pokémon, Pokéballs are one of the most iconic devices with many mysterious qualities. Their beginnings becoming of fruit being fitted with devices, their ability to capture pokémon of almost enormous sizes, and their presence helping the world of pokémon in many ways. Despite their importance to the world of pokémon, not every world with pokémon uses them. Usually, a world of only pokémon may rely heavily on magic or pokémon moves rather than the advances of technology. Other times a world may see Pokéballs as a hindrance of freedom and actively shun them or may make them merely decorations. Though what if I told you of a world of pokémon that relied on Pokéballs similar to humans. A world of anthropomorphic pokémon who use Pokéballs to better help their way of life.
The History of Pokéballs
In the beginning, Pokéballs began in many different forms that were often lost to time and history. Though one iteration that changed the way pokémon lived forever were the early Pokéballs made from Apricorns, tough fruits with skin too hard to eat normally. The Johto region grew these fruits which soon became the shell for a special device that would be used to catch pokémon. It might seem odd a carved out fruit would be the earliest version of Pokéballs many recognize, but this version of the iconic device still seeks use today. As these early devices captured pokémon in a safe manner, they were heavily used and regulated by authorities in order to handle dangerous and aggressive pokémon such as Primeape. As pokémon come in many different shapes and sizes, the process of restraining one was rather difficult without risking the harm of others around or the officers themselves.
As Pokéballs have been around for hundreds of years, their use in Johto was the main spark of interest that led to pokémon starting to take notice to them. A lot of pokémon were very skeptical of Pokéballs at first as it was still early in its lifespan and had merely been used by officers. It also didn’t help the number of flaws that plagued early Pokéballs, such as the seal meant to keep pokémon from escaping often failing or pokémon having no proper means of escape unless released by an outside force. Though as the years went by interest grew more and more until it was noted Pokéballs would begin being mass-produced. It took quite a few years before Pokéballs officially made it to store shelves due to the many problems Apricorn Pokéballs had, but these newer models sought to fix these problems.
One of the main reasons many pokémon found interest in Pokéballs was thanks to the portability the devices allowed. Seeing pokémon of larger sizes and strength being put in a handheld ball made for a lot of use for pokémon who weren’t exactly the best to carry around. It also allowed methods of transportation that aren’t always possible, such as pokémon being transported through the sky or underwater without a problem. Of course not every pokémon was on board with Pokéballs as it had been long enough to where a group who disliked them began. However, as the years went on, the technology showed just how strong Pokéballs could be and led to them being a staple in the way pokémon lived. Had it not been for the many experiments made using Pokéballs, things such as Pokémon Centers or certain evolutions would’ve never been found out.
The Many Functions of Pokéballs
Explaining the technology behind a Pokéball can be very difficult at times due to the many changes that were made to accommodate the ever-growing nuances of the world. Though the mechanics for how the Pokéball works have been quite consistent throughout the years. When an unregistered Pokéball hits a pokémon with enough force, they’re converted into a form of energy and pulled inside before being captured. As it takes a moment before the Pokéball registers and marks a pokémon, it often takes 3 shakes before the Pokéball has completed the process. Now the pokémon can freely leave and return to their Pokéball as they please with the ability to still listen in on what’s happening outside of the Pokéball.
Those who experience the inside of a Pokéball often know the environment inside is tailor-made to the pokémon for the most comfort. This feature had been constructed to help discourage escape from earlier Pokéballs as restraining a pokémon who doesn’t want to be there is a big concern. Though this feature inadvertently ended up causing public interest to grow rapidly as a makeshift calm space is quite powerful for pokémon who aren’t exactly the easiest to control. It further helps pokémon who need time to recover or heal as being in an environment that encourages the pokémon to recover and relax is important after a long battle.
While this feature is not found on basic level Pokéballs, pressing the button found on a Pokéball will shrink it into a much smaller size. Due to the major risks, this could have if the Pokéball ends up in the body, only Pokéballs given to those responsible have this function. This feature is mostly meant to carry a group in Pokéballs without the concern of the party size being too large for travel. Often this has lead to one pokémon, often considering themselves the group’s leader, carrying their team around while they relax in their own Pokéballs. It isn’t strange to see one pokémon walking alone to the next destination while still having their friends in tow who are resting safely in their Pokéball.
A feature that is often forgotten from time to time is the marking feature, generally meant to prevent a pokémon from using a Pokéball for capture purposes. Once a pokémon has been registered in a Pokéball, they cannot be caught in another unless the mark has been removed. The difficulty of the process depends on if the pokémon still has their Pokéball as there is a function built in to deregister a pokémon from a Pokéball. This system was implemented early on due to the growing concern of criminals using Pokéballs with the intent to capture pokémon. While that fear hasn’t been quelled due to incidents such as Team Rocket, many measures have been made since to reduce the chances.
Pokéball Variation & Catch Chance
While capturing a pokémon is simple, ensuring the capture is different depending on the status of the pokémon. Many early uses of the Pokéball led to stronger pokémon breaking free before the capture can be done, mostly as a result of not being weakened. A pokémon was only guaranteed captured in a Pokéball once the ball had shaken three times and a blue flash from the center showed the capture succeeded. This has led to the popularity of the “3 count” for when a pokémon is being captured as it’s a short enough window where the pokémon could try and escape. Though there is often a rare case where some pokémon may only require one shake before they’re captured. Even to this day, it’s unsure what leads to this change from 1 to 3 shakes but many have dubbed this a “Critical Capture” when it occurs.
Back when Pokéballs were being made with Apricorns, a total of 7 Pokéballs were made corresponding with each color Apricorn. These early models had the benefit of a better catch chance depending on the pokémon or situation in question with the most common being Green, Black, and Red Apricorns which are recognized as Friend, Heavy, and Level balls to this day. Once the technology of Pokéballs began to change, and the mass production of these devices was shortly underway, newer Pokéballs were made to work better for officer use and potentially public use. Ultra Balls were stronger at catching pokémon all around which made them recognizable as police Pokéballs, Master Balls were made as a last resort Pokéball if a pokémon was too dangerous to catch or battle such as destructive legendaries, and common ones such as Great Balls and the now-iconic red & white Poke Ball started the spark of the public picking them up.
To this day the total number of Pokéballs has climbed from a small 7 to nearly 27, with more being custom made by events, wealthy pokémon, or artistic pokémon passionate in giving Pokéballs a new look. One Pokéball had also been developed to help against a new potential threat found in alola. Pokéball collecting has even become a thing for some as they take it upon themselves to try and receive every Pokéball, though due to the Ultra and Master balls being exclusive to authorities they often have to settle for replicas. These replicas were made to ensure if public interest grew too large, there would not be complaints if someone wanted a Pokéball that looked like an ultra ball or master ball. As the main selling point of multiple Pokéballs is often the colors and styles they come in, it helps to cover the worry of pokémon wanting the real deal.
Poke Ball - The most iconic and prominent Pokéball. Massed produced and found almost everywhere, but can be broken with ease if a catch fails.
Great Ball - A Pokéball that has better durability and unique features, but is only given to those who are responsible. Only slightly more expensive than regular poke balls.
Ultra Ball - One of the strongest Pokéballs used to capture an uncooperative pokémon. Are only handled by authorities, but replicas do exist that use the great ball’s mechanics.
Master Ball - Can capture a pokémon regardless of circumstance, but is almost never seen unless a situation is dire. Replicas for this are quite popular, but still use the great ball’s mechanics.
Safari Ball - Fun little Pokéballs often used for games and throwing practice. They have no mark feature and little capture power, but make for fun tag matches.
Fast Ball - Originally Created from White Apricorns, this Pokéball’s unique weight made it a useful pokémon to be launched at high speeds. Often used against pokémon who are overall fast or quick to run away.
Level Ball - Originally created with Red Apricorns, these Pokéballs have mostly been built for pokémon who are new to being captured. A great introduction to understanding how a Pokéball works both inside and out.
Lure Ball - Originally created with Blue Apricorns, these Pokéballs focused heavily on catching pokémon caught from a fishing pole for sport or competition. These used to be placed at the end of the pole until pokémon began breaking the line early.
Heavy Ball - Originally created from Black Apricorns, these devices focused on catching heavier pokémon. The unique design makes it difficult to break without a lot of force, but also makes it heavier than other Pokéballs.
Love Ball - Originally created from Pink Apricorns, these Pokéballs were often used more as engagement items thanks to the unique shape and often being recognized for “catching the hearts” of others.
Friend Ball - Originally created from Green Apricorns, these Pokéballs were used as a sign of friendship having made pokémon pretty friendly. Used the most against aggressive pokémon that were difficult to control.
Moon Ball - Originally created from Yellow Apricorns, these Pokéballs work better on pokémon who evolve with a moon stone. It’s not as popular nowadays for capture purposes as the number of potential pokémon don’t work, but they still make for great designs.
Sport Ball - Pokéballs used in sporting events should a pokémon not have a Pokéball. The mark is there to help recognize it from other Pokéballs should someone try and take them.
Net Ball - A Pokéball that helps in catching bug or water type pokémon. Predates the creation of the dive ball as most pokémon caused trouble on land more than water.
Nest Ball - A Pokéball used for weaker pokémon similar to the level ball. They’re sometimes used as a first-time Pokéball for children due to the name and colors.
Repeat Ball - A Pokéball that works better on pokémon who have been caught multiple times in a short duration. Has only found uses in cases such as battles that focus around pokeballs.
Timer Ball - A Pokéball that is often fitted with a timer function to automatically release the pokémon after a set amount of time has passed. Is often paired with a device’s alarm function.
Luxury Ball - A very popular, yet expensive, Pokéball that is very cozy and extremely nice to almost live in. Just one can cost almost 3,000 poke, but is fortunately built similar to a great ball.
Premier Ball - A version of the standard Pokéball with a unique color style and release effect. Often given as a reward for buying Pokéballs in bulk and is quite the collector’s item.
Dive Ball - A Pokéball that works very well if the pokémon lives underwater. It requires some skill to properly throw underwater, but has since been paired with a device that shoots the Pokéball underwater. Has become quite popular when it comes to replicas.
Dusk Ball - A Pokéball that works well in darker areas such as at night or in caves. Often glows in the dark while captured, allowing an easy method of finding it.
Heal Ball - A Pokéball common in medical use for how quickly it can heal a pokémon upon it entering it. Lacks the marking system similar to most public Pokéballs in order to ensure a pokémon can be healed.
Quick Ball - The faster the Pokéball is thrown, the higher chance it has to catch a pokémon. You may see this thrown out at the start an opportunity presents itself.
Cherish Ball - A Pokéball that is gifted to pokémon on special occasions similar to the premier ball, but is built similar to a great ball
Park Ball - Another version of the Safari Ball, though lacks the mark feature. Often used more for Daycares for handling certain kids.
Dream Ball - A Pokéball that mysteriously found itself inside the realm of dream, allowing pokémon to be transported back to the real world using them.
Beast Ball - A strange Pokéball designed to capture only Ultra Beasts, being very terrible otherwise. Has been made when Ultra Beasts began invading Alola.
Pokéballs in Authority Use
After Team Rocket had shown just how Pokéballs could be exploited to use pokémon for their own stunts, many measures were taken to ensure Pokéballs couldn’t be used in such a wrongful manner during the early years of Pokéballs being standardized. The biggest of these measures being specialized signals that can be sent to any unregistered Pokéball in an area. While it is still unsure why it only works on Pokéballs that are considered unregistered, part of this may have to do with the concern that comes with attempting to move or carry a pokémon that isn’t exactly safe to do so. While this signal does affect police officer’s Pokéballs, as this signal is used by them it’s easy to turn it off. One pokémon had even used this device when preventing authorities from stopping a rampaging legendary. However, Master Balls ignore these signals and are handled by the best pokémon out there.
As a Pokéball requires a steady aim and use, officers who aren’t exactly the strongest at throwing can use specialized devices that can launch a Pokéball hard enough to land the mark. It will certainly hurt, but ensures the pokémon will struggle to run from it or attempt to hit it while in motion. The most common of these are used against pokémon in the air or who are running away as the speed the ball travels in can often ensure a nice hit. It also helps if the pokémon is not the easiest to approach due to every pokémon having different moves and abilities that can make them very dangerous. This device also has a variation meant for underwater use as a Pokéball being thrown underwater is quite slow, requiring a bit of force to collide with the pokémon in time before it is hit back.
In order to help users of the Pokéballs, both customers and officers alike, a system was implemented called the “PokéBall Management System” which would allow officers to send pokémon directly to a station using certain devices. This was mainly implemented to ensure fast and safe transportation with little risk of the pokémon trying anything during the departure. The most recent device made for this system would allow officers to immediately send a pokémon to the station from their car or bike. If multiple pokémon had to be captured, this system could help clear a group of criminals in no time. While all of these features of the system sound cool for the officer side, for the public it simply allowed for constant updates of the environments that a pokémon may enjoy. As the constant discovery and study of pokémon changed how pokémon live, it helps to be prepared to welcome newly discovered pokémon with open arms.
Pokéballs in the Home Setting
Pokéballs have found a lot of popularity in home environments during the early years of becoming standardized. The idea of a small personal space that could be carried from one area to another seemed useful, but realizing the inside could be customized to the pokémon’s needs made the public interest grow. To this day many pokémon rely on Pokéballs as “personal space getaways” with the benefit that another pokémon could carry them around if they so wish. While inside a Pokéball, the pokémon is still conscious of the outside world and can sometimes use this to speak to pokémon through telepathy. It is hard to enjoy Pokéballs as a quiet space since there is little way of blocking out sounds, but at least it’s an option.
As it was important to show the power of Pokéballs, one of the popular methods taken has been pokémon centers. As Pokémon come in many different forms and sizes, properly healing one can be a rather difficult and lengthy matter. Not every method of healing works for every pokémon, especially those who are made of dangerous materials such as lava or poison. To use Pokéballs to ensure a fast and surefire method of healing a pokémon, regardless of their size or shape, sparked a change in how pokémon lived. Pokémon centers soon became rest points for traveling or battling pokémon, often as if a pokémon had fainted they could restore them. Pokémon Centers also popularized the importance of Heal Balls, unique Pokéballs that heal the pokémon upon entering. This Pokéball is used normally whether there is an emergency or not as it often ensures the pokémon will be healed upon leaving it.
There have been other attempts to allow Pokéballs to have such a strong impact, the biggest of which being a transportation system. While this system doesn’t have an official name yet, many call the process “Link Space” and have used it for testing purposes. It helped show just how effective turning a pokémon into a form of energy allowed for safe travel from one area to the next, but there was more to this than immediately expected. Some pokémon who tested the device would come out the other end having evolved, oftentimes in a way no one expected, Pokémon Research was amazed naturally and while the system didn’t turn out as they had hoped, this discovery saw lots of pokémon interested in evolving through this method.
While Pokéballs have helped changed the world throughout the years, not everyone is so accepting of the devices. The original use being for police officers has often made some pokémon skeptical and others to immediately despise them, thinking they’ve been made to take advantage of them. Officers did not create Pokéballs, but was instead created by a pokémon who looked to try and help the world with his devices. As hard as some pokémon try to defend Pokéballs and try and cure the fears surrounding them, history has shown just how dangerous they can sometimes be.
Pokéballs in the Competitive Scene
In order to “catch” a pokémon, three factors are important to consider before throwing. The health of the Pokémon, the type of PokéBall, and any status the pokémon may have. As 2 of the 3 are common in battles, there are often versions of pokémon battles where capturing is an incentive to defeat the opposing side. It’s thanks to many Pokéballs allowing pokémon inside to freely escape after capture that has allowed it to be used in these cases. One such rule set that includes Pokéballs encourages each team to capture three pokémon from the opposing team. When a pokémon is caught they’re out of play for the remainder of the match. If a team captures 3 of the 6 opposing pokémon that side would win.
Outside of battles, Pokéballs have made an impact in pokémon contests thanks to the many potential entrances that can be done with one. When a pokémon is released from a Pokéball, each Pokéball will have their own unique effect to accompany it. As Pokémon Contests rely heavily on pokémon entrances as part of judging, unique modifications became available for Pokéballs. These modifications came in the form of Ball Capsules and Seals which would change the effects that were created when a pokémon left the Pokéball. This allowed for many unique degrees of flair to be added so long as the Pokéball was compatible. As the popularity was short-lived, the only Pokéball it works for are standard Pokéballs and Premier Balls
The most recent use of Pokéballs in a competitive aspect has been the advent of Dynamax in Galar. With the Dynamax energy, pokémon can force a Pokéball to grow in size and use it to capture Dynamax pokémon or release a pokémon as a Dynamax one. While this method does prevent the pokémon from Dynamaxing for too long, this method is helpful in preventing items from breaking or clothes from tearing. Many wardrobe malfunctions are prone to happen when done without the use of a Pokéball, and could even lead to the Dynamax band breaking. As a result, you may see pokémon appoint one of their own as the leader who will help Dynamax the other when the time comes.
Crewel: Seriously, lady, who let you be this tall? You’re makin’ me look bad down here.
(( @ziggyzackaryzigzagoon I just really really wanted to draw this cool gal next to grumpy little potato sack man since I missed out earlier. I hope I did her justice!!! ))
((For ref, Crewel is only about 2 feet, and Valerie is like... 5 1/2 feet?))
( battlers-of-galar ) Valerie@Crewel: I've heard before that Banette are one of a few pokemon who are able to undergo a special form of evolution through a stone. While I myself am unfamiliar with most of this, do you happen to know anything about it?
Crewel: You sure you ain’t some kinda special evolution yourself? You’re real tall for a Farfetch’d…
ziggyzackaryzigzagoon a réagi à votre billet “I've slowly been gaining interest in what the blog has in store for...”
As a writer who focuses on world building stuff regarding anthropomorphic pokemon, such as pokeballs and trainer related items, I can see there is a lot of effort being put into it. Also it was no problem to take a bit to mention it. I was writing a wooloo at the time.
