New Game

Sorry we’re late on this news, we’ve been having a bit of technical difficulties in posting the news. The good news is that there has really only been one piece of news that’s been released during our problems, the downside (for us) is that it was a big piece of news

The big N kept this quiet but in a couple of weeks on July 28th, Japan will have a brand new Pokémon game released on the 3DS. Dont worry, its not a 3D version of Black and white, and the chances we’ll get it over into the West is fairly high as well.

Super Pokémon Scramble is a successor to the Wiiware game which was renamed Pokémon Rumble over in English Speaking Countries. The game saw you controling a toy version of a Pokémon, battling other Pokémon and, of course, collecting other toy Pokémon to use as well. Being a full game rather than a download title, the 3DS version will have new additional modes, along with more Pokémon to obtain. To start off with, Many of the new Pokémon from Black and White will be in the game along with Pokémon from the older generations.

Along with the standard mode and the battle royal mode from the original game (although they are both enhanced and improved upon), the game features a Collection Battle mode, where you’ll constantly battle all of the pokemon you’ve collected so far and a Charge mode, where you obtain an entire army of pokemon and charge them into battle against an opposing army. There will most likely be other modes unknown to us until the game launches

Super Pokémon Scramble also comes with Street pass capabilities, allowing you to Exchange team info with anybody you pass by as you walk around with your 3DS in sleep mode. Once you’ve got a street pass from someone, you’ll be able to fight thier chosen pokemon as a boss battle.

Super Pokémon Scramble is released for 3DS in Japan on July 28th. A Western Release is unknown at this time.

That’s all we have for you now, we’ll bring you more when we learn it (as long as our technology will allow it)

New News… and sort of new old news…

Wow, I am really behind on the news front – sorry. I’ve been very busy, and ill and very busy again… not neccessarily in that order.

Ok, first up, if you didnt know already, the Dream World Eeveelutions are available now. If you played the special game on pokemon.com that was available for a limited time and managed to link a befriended Eeveelution to your Trainer ID account, you can now claim this Eeveelution to download to your black or white game. Head on over to the Global Link and log in, then head to the promotions section. Click on the Eeveelution promotion and then the Submit button – if you’ve done everything right with the mini-game, you’ll head to a special section of the Island of dreams where clicking on the shaking section will reveal your special Eeveelution – the next time you sync up your Game cart to allow things from the Dream World back to your game, this Eeveelution will head there too. For more details on the dream world and how to recive your pokemon from the dream world in your Black/White game, head to our guide on the Global Link, which can be found hotlinked on the left. Be quick though, the Eeveelution promotion will only last until July 19th, if you dont claim your Pokemon by then, you wont be getting your hands on it ever

Thankfully not a lot of news has been released while i’ve been on hiatus – but the Japanese Movie Giveaway has been given more details. While Pre-ordering your tickets will get you a Victini, the pokemon you get for actually seeing the movie itself actually depends on your game. Black players can get Zekrom while White players will be able to get Reshiram. Since this is the other legendary beast that you capture normally during your game, this will allow all those japanese players to complete the set.

And now for the latest, and in my opinion greatest news from the Pokemon camp. On Monday evening the 6th of June for the US and Tuesday Morning the 7th June for the UK/Europe, an update for the Nintendo 3DS will be made available, allowing the Internet Explorer to be used along with giving us access to the new eShop. One of the first programs being made available will be a Pokedex ‘app’ that will not only allow you to view stats, move lists, breeding groups and other usefull information on all Unova Dex Pokemon, but allow you to see all these pokemon in Full 3D, Take pictures in both Pre-rendered backgrounds and in real life (with the use of Augmented Reality). And best of all, this Pokedex will be completly free!

But of course, it would be too easy just to give you details on all 156 pokemon straight away from the get go, so like any pokemon trainer your going to have to work for your completed pokedex. You start of with 16 profiles unlocked. Each day you can use the Spotpass (by connecting to Wi-Fi) to download 3 random profiles. You can also trade profiles with friends (although street pass would be awesome for this, I’ve been reading reports that this doesnt have Street pass capability and you can only trade with people via wireless). QR codes (you know, those square barcode things) can be scanned into the game to give you access to stickers that get placed in a sticker album. Having these stickers greatly increasses your chances of getting that pokemon randomly via Spotpass. Considering this little program is free, it is a must for all 3DS owning Pokemon Fans

Thankfully that’s all the news I’ve missed, and I promise to be more on top of things from now on – we’ll bring you more news when we learn it

Featured Card(s): Reshiram/Zekrom (B&W)

Yeah, I realize my last Featured Card was done back in August, so this time I’m actually going to have two Featured Cards! What better cards to review than Reshiram and Zekrom from the recently released Black & White set? Both cards are very similar, yet they’re different enough to where I can make an interesting article. Both cards are projected to be in major decks in the HG/SS-on format, but how do they stack up?

Sorry, I currently don’t have access to a scanner, so no scans this time. When I do, I will edit this post to include them.

Reshiram
Type: Fire
HP: 130
Basic Pokemon

[C][C] Outrage 20+
Does 10 more damage for each damage counter on this Pokemon.
[R][R][C] Blue Flame 120
Discard 2 Fire Energy attached to this Pokemon.

Weakness: Water (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

Zekrom
Type: Lightning
HP: 130
Basic Pokemon

[C][C] Outrage 20+
Does 10 more damage for each damage counter on this Pokemon.
[L][L][C] Bolt Strike 120
This Pokemon does 40 damage to itself.

Weakness: Fighting (x2)
Resistance: none
Retreat: 2

Analysis

HP
Both Reshiram and Zekrom have 130 HP, which is huge for Basic Pokemon! They can definitely withstand several attacks before they get KO’d. They can also withstand each other’s big attack (without PlusPower).

Weakness
Reshiram: Water Weakness isn’t terrible, so you should not have to worry about it too much.
Zekrom: Fighting Weakness isn’t bad, but watch out for Donphan Prime!

Resistance
Both dragons have no Resistance, so let’s move on.

Retreat
Both Reshiram and Zekrom have to discard two Energy to retreat. I’d advise using Switch, or Dodrio from Undaunted.

Attacks

Outrage: Both dragons have this attack, which can do some serious damage if their HP’s are low enough. Since they each have 130 HP, this attack can do up to 140 damage for a Double Colorless Energy.

Blue Flare (Reshiram), Bolt Strike (Zekrom): Both attacks can do 120 damage for three Energy, which is great for Basics, but unfortunately have drawbacks. Reshiram has you discarding two Fire Energy, while Zekrom does 40 damage to itself. Depending on the deck you’re facing and how you’ve built your deck, these drawbacks may be a non-factor. Ways to overcome these drawbacks will be listed in the Combos section.

Combos

Reshiram

Emboar (Ability): With Emboar’s Inferno Fandango Ability, you can use Blue Flare just about every turn. Just attach two more Fire Energy with Emboar, and you’re good to go. Also, it can help if you happen to lose a Reshiram by being able to set up a new one almost instantly.

Energy Retrieval: Going along with Emboar, Energy Retrieval gives you two basic Energy from your discard pile and puts them back into your hand, which you can immediately attach with Emboar.

Typhlosion Prime: Typhlosion can attach a Fire Energy from your discard pile to one of your Pokemon, at the cost of one damage counter on the Pokemon you attach the Energy to. You can actually fuel both of Reshiram’s attacks using Typhlosion’s Poke-Power, damage for Outrage, or Energy for Blue Flare.

Zekrom

Pachirisu (Call of Legends)/Shaymin (Undaunted): This combo can give you access to Bolt Strike as early as Turn 1! First, put Pachirisu on your Bench, then use it’s Poke-Power to attach two Lightning Energy to Pachirisu, then put down Shaymin and use it’s Celebration Wind to move the Lightning Energy to Zekrom, attach another Energy, and then Bolt Strike! Quite a combo!

Reuniclus/Seeker/Super Scoop Up: If Zekrom survives your opponent’s attack after you use Bolt Strike, you can use Reuniclus’s Damage Swap Ability to move damage counters off of Zekrom and onto something like Pachirisu, Shaymin, or even another Zekrom, and then use Seeker or Super Scoop Up to return that Pokemon to your hand and remove that damage. Reuniclus may not be the best thing to add to a Zekrom deck, but it’s at least worth looking at.

Ratings

Modified (HG/SS-on): Reshiram has things slightly better than Zekrom in regards to not dealing damage to itself, but it sets up slower than Zekrom. I can see both of them doing very well in tournaments, however, which one will be more popular has yet to be seen. 8/10 for both.
Modified (MD-on): With the current Modified format, Zekrom is much better than Reshiram since it doesn’t need Evolved Pokemon for support. I can see Zekrom taking a few Battle Roads this spring, however, Reshiram just can’t compete in this speed based format. 8/10 Zekrom, 5/10 Reshiram.

Conclusion

All three versions of these two cards are exactly the same except for artwork. Both Reshiram and Zekrom are easily accessible since they both come in tins, as well as being relatively easy to pull from the Black and White set.

Feel free to leave comments on this article. You can also request a card to be reviewed in this thread.

Lots of TCG News!

Firstly, sorry for the lack of TCG updates recently. I just haven’t had the time to update you all on what’s happening in the TCG. As for Featured Card, I have no idea when I will start updating that again. Anyways, here’s the updates:

*The newest expansion for the Pokemon TCG, Black & White, is officially out now, at least in the U.S. The set features 114 cards (115 if you count the Secret Rare Pikachu), and contains only Unova Pokemon (except the aforementioned Pikachu). Following the release of the set, new rules will be implemented, which are covered here.

*Also, inside select packs, there will be a card that has a code which will unlock a beta version of the upcoming Pokemon TCG Online. With this program, you can play the TCG online with anyone in the world, as well as customize your own decks. Further details about this program are unknown as of this writing. The bad news is that you can only get these codes in packs from booster boxes, and not all boxes will have these codes. Blister packs and other promotional packaging will not have these codes either.

*There is a possibility that this year’s Modified rotation may happen on July 1st rather than the usual September 1st, which is right before Nationals and Worlds. What is known is that the new modified format will be HeartGold/SoulSilver-on, regardless of when the rotation actually happens. Remember, the Modified format is used for many Leagues as well as all Championship series events, including City Championships and Battle Roads.

Adoption Agency v1.4 Update

The Pika Club Adoption Agency has recently been updating to v1.4, 5 days ahead of schedule! This new update includes:

  • Boxes – You can now create multiple customisable boxes in order to help organise your Pokémon. You’re also able to share and show off these boxes so your friends can see your collection!
  • Generational Pokémon – You’re now able to catch Pokémon from different generations, complete with the correct sprites! Currently only Generation I and Generation V Pokémon are supported but more will come in future updates!
  • Tabulated Profiles – Your profile now includes tabs so visitors can not only view your party but also your boxes and unlocked achievements!
  • More Pokémon and achievements – What it says on the tin!

Enjoy this latest update, the next one should be in summer sometime around June/July!

Global link now live… and other stuff (updated)

Good news – the global link is now active and available for use by everybody around the world. By syncing your game with the site using the c-gear, you can access the dream world letting you catch pokemon not available in Black/White normally, along with getting pokemon with abilities they would normally have. There are other things you can do on the global link, which our forthcoming guide will explain.

In order to access the Global Link, you’ll need a Pokemon Trainer Club account, which you can get from pokemon.com – you can also access the global link from here, so its really the only url you need to rememeber. Check out our guide found in the black and white section of the site for more info (also can be found from the link to the left)

In other news, that i’ve not been able to update for the last couple of days (sorry about that)

The US website for Black and White has announced that Toy’s R Us is holding an event April 27th and May 31st that will allow you to get a secret egg. The egg is the same one that was given away in Japan several months ago, which was done to coincide with Ash getting an egg in the Anime Series. The pokemon you get inside has nothing to do with the pokemon that’s in Ash’s Egg (that was given away seperatly in Japan) but it does link in with the Anime Series anyway. Inside the egg is one of 3 pokemon, you’ll get one of them randomly and you have no idea which you’ll get when you download the egg. The 3 possibilities you could get are Ash’s Pidove, Cilian’s Pansage or Iris’s Axew. Each will come with 4 preset moves, a preset nature and one of thier IV’s at its maximum level. Over in the UK, we havent missed many of the events that have ended up in America in the past few years, but whether this event will come out over here is currently unknown.

The Liberty Pass event that allows you to get Victini has been extended in Europe. It was due to end on April 22nd but has been extended till April 27th. America’s event was due to end on the 10th of Arpil, but while it hasnt officially been annoucned as being extended, it still seems to be ongoing. It may be available until April 27th as well, but if you havent got it you may just want to try and download it right now.

Speaking of Victini, the Victini being given away as a Pre-order bonus for the latest Pokemon Movie in Japan has had its details announced, available from April 16th until August 31st, Anybody who pre-orders thier movie tickets will be able to get a level 50 Victini, holding a Fire Gem in a Cherish Ball and has a Wish Ribbon (meaning it cant be traded on the GTS) – it will know V-Create and Searing Shot, along with Fusion Flare and Fusion Bolt, the signiture moves for Reshiram and Zekrom. No word yet on what, if anything, will be handed out to the people who go to Movie itself.

And that’s all we have for you right now – we’ll bring you more info when we know it

Global Link Promotion and TCG Training Aid

Ok, So here’s something you need to know. Remeber The Global Link Site, which links up your Black and White game with some stuff on your computer (including battle stats and the Dream World), it was due to be released internationally tomorow but has been delayed due to the ongoing problems in Japan. Anyway, before it was released in Japan last year, they ran a promotion where you played a game, and at the end got to pick an Eeveelution. When the Site when live, you would get this pokemon when you synced up your game to the site…

Well its now available to all use International users too…

The Eeveelution that you get comes with a different ability than they can usually get. Most Pokémon now can have a 3rd ability which can only be got through other means beyond getting them randomly in game. Mostly this will be from the dream world, although there are 2 pokemon you can encounter and get their Hidden/Dream World ability in game, Daramanitan and Mushrana… these are special encounters though and wont be found randomly

The Eeveelutions you can get, and the abilities they have are:
Vaporeon – Hydration
Jolteon – Quick Feet
Flareon – Guts
Espeon – Magic Bounce
Umbreon – Inner Focus
Leafeon – Chlorophyll
Glaceon – Ice Body

Vist Pokemon.com for more info on this offer and how to access the game you need to play

While your there, you might like to try the TCG training aid. This program lets you play the TCG game against a computer opponet. At the moment you can only chose from 3 theme decks, based on Meganium, Typhlosion and Feraligatr… When the Black and White TCG theme decks are made available next month, they’ll have a code inside them allowing you to use those decks in the program as well. By this september/october, the program will have all cards within the modified format available for you to build your decks with, and allow player vs player matches as well – allowing all those of us who dont have many physical players to play against to try out TCG decks against proper thinking opponents.

The program currently uses Rule updates that will be introduced once the Black and White TCG set is released next month

You’ll need a Trainer Club ID to access both the TCG training aid and the Global Link Site when it launches… Head to Pokemon.com to get yours now

The Most & Least Recognisable Pokémon

There has been little official Pokémon news as you might expect following the recent release of Pokémon Black/White so in the meanwhile we have some more lighthearted news straight from the fans.

Now that our Pokédexs our over halfway to cataloguing 1,000 of the creatures, some Pokémon are bound to stick out more than others. Pikachu is probably the most recognisable Pokémon of all, but what about the least recognisable? Quiz website Sporcle recently ran a series of quizzes asking how many people recognised the Pokémon from different generations and with over 1 million participants it’s certainly a good estimation of some of the most and least popular Pokémon. Here, then, are the most and least recognisable Pokémon from each generation with the percentage of people who recognised them. Do you know them all?

Most Recognisable

Gen I: Pikachu 93.5% / Charmander 92.7% / Squirtle 91% / Bulbasaur 90.7% / Charizard 89.6%

Gen II: Chikorita 84.4% / Cyndaquil 83.9% / Totodile 82.8% / Bayleef 81.4% / Lugia 81.3%

Gen III: Mudkip 93.7% / Torchic 91% / Blaziken 86.2% / Treecko 85.7% / Swampert 83.5%

Gen IV: Piplup 90.1% / Chimchar 88.9% / Turtwig 87.6% / Infernape 85.5% / Empoleon 84.2%

Gen V: Snivy 88.3% / Tepig 87.7% / Victini 81.1% / Oshawott 81.1% / Emboar 73.4%

Least Recognisable

Gen I: Marowak 36.7% / Kingler 35.4% / Lickitung 33.7% / Exeggcute 31.4% / Exeggutor 31.1%

Gen II: Slugma 37.1% / Shuckle 35.9% / Magcargo 34.3% / Qwilfish 34% / Corsola 33.9%

Gen III: Chimecho 41.3% / Crawdaunt 41.1% / Corphish 41.1% / Whiscash 39.2% / Barboach 38.8%

Gen IV: Finneon 38.1% / Lumineon 37.9% / Chingling 37.4% / Chatot 37.1% / Mantyke 36%

Gen V: Accelgor 20.6% / Stunfisk 20.5% / Elgyem 17.7% / Amoonguss 16.6% / Beheeyem 15.6%

 

So what do you think of the results? It’s probably no surprise the most recognisable Pokémon are nearly all  starters but how about the least recognisable? Can you picture them all by name alone? With the exception of Gen V because it is so new I can recognise them all, how about you?

More Pokémon Black/White Guides

We’ve been busy updating our Pokémon Black/White section today and we plan to have more guides up in the next coming days to help you along while you play Black/White. We’ve also added a menu section devoted to them on the left of each page to make them more easily accessible.

Some of the new pages include:

Look out for more to come in the near future!

Pokémon Creator Satoshi Tajiri alive and well after Japanese quakes

Following the recent earthquakes and tsunami in Japan rumours began circulating about the death of Pokémon creator and Gamefreak CEO Satoshi Tajiri. These fears were assuaged when Tajiri himself posted a message on his own Facebook page stating:

Dear Hummingbirds, what’s this nonsense about me being dead?

While Japan recovers from the devastating natural disasters with the help of international aid we can all wish Japan a speedy recovery safe in the knowledge that rumours of the Pokémon creator’s death were false.

Source: http://hken.ibtimes.com/articles/122160/20110314/pokemon-creator-satoshi-tajiri-is-still-alive-belies-earlier-reports-he-died-in-japan-quake-on-his-f.htm