Beyond the Ball

As we prepare for episode 250 (vote here!) we first must ponder the Weather Pokemon, Castform! It's like four Pokemon in one! Wow! Follow along with the entries below:

Ruby: CASTFORM’s appearance changes with the weather. This POKéMON gained the ability to use the vast power of nature to protect its tiny body.

Sapphire: CASTFORM borrows the power of nature to transform itself into the guises of the sun, rain clouds, and snow clouds. This POKéMON’s feelings change with the weather.

FireRed & LeafGreen: It has the ability to change its form into the sun, the rain, or a snow cloud, depending on the weather.

Emerald: It alters its form depending on the weather. Changes in the climate such as the temperature and humidity appear to affect its cellular structure.

Diamond, Pearl & Platinum: Its appearance changes with the weather. Recently, its molecules were found to be just like water.

HeartGold & SoulSilver: This Pokémon can change its cells, taking different forms based on the temperature and humidity.

Black & White 2: Temperature and weather affect its cellular structure, so this Pokémon changes form according to the weather.

Sun: It changes its form depending on the weather. Changes in the temperature or humidity appear to affect its cellular structure.

Moon: Its form changes on its own, due to its cells’ sensitive reactions to temperature and humidity.

Ultra Sun: Although its form changes with the weather, that is apparently the result of a chemical reaction and not the result of its own free will.

Ultra Moon: Its form changes depending on the weather. The rougher conditions get, the rougher Castform’s disposition!

Sunny Form

Sun: This is the form Castform takes on the brightest of days. Its skin is unexpectedly hot to the touch, so approach with care.

Moon: This is Castform’s form when basking in fair weather. Its body is warm and toasty.

Ultra Sun: This is the form Castform takes on bright days. In an experiment where Castform was placed in front of a heater, it didn’t change to this form.

Ultra Moon: Castform changes to this form when it basks in bright sunlight. When you touch its glowing skin, it feels all dried out!

Rainy Form

Sun: This is the form Castform takes when soaked with rain. When its body is compressed, water will seep out as if from a sponge.

Moon: This is Castform’s form during a downpour of rain. Its body retains moisture and gets slippery.

Ultra Sun: Castform changes to this form when rain hits it. Its body is soft and slightly swollen with water.

Ultra Moon: This is Castform’s form when pelted by rain. In an experiment where it was placed in a shower, this Pokémon didn’t change to this form.

Snowy Form

Sun: This is the form Castform takes when covered in snow. Its body becomes an ice-like material, with a temperature near 23 degrees Fahrenheit.

Moon: This is Castform’s form when caught in a hailstorm. Its cold skin is as smooth as ice.

Ultra Sun: This is the form Castform takes when hit by hail. In an experiment where it was placed in a freezer, it didn’t change to this form.

Ultra Moon: This is Castform’s form when caught in a hailstorm. Its whole body is chilled, and its skin is partially frozen!

BTB: Castform's mood matches the weather in the following ways: Sunny = ecstatic, rainy = wistful, and snowy = demure, mindful.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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We're finally done with the Pikachu family as we cover Alolan Raichu and wow does anyone else suddenly crave pancakes? Vote for who we should cover for episode 250 here! Follow along with the entries below:

Sun: It only evolves to this form in the Alola region. According to researchers, its diet is one of the causes of this change.

Moon: It uses psychokinesis to control electricity. It hops aboard its own tail, using psychic power to lift the tail and move about while riding it.

Ultra Sun: It focuses psychic energy into its tail and rides it like it’s surfing. Another name for this Pokémon is “hodad.”

Ultra Moon: When you rub its cheeks, a sweet fragrance comes wafting out. However, you’ll also get a light shock!

Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee: It loves pancakes prepared with a secret Alolan recipe. Some wonder whether that recipe holds the key to this Pokémon’s evolution.

Sword: It’s believed that the weather, climate, and food of the Alola region all play a part in causing Pikachu to evolve into this form of Raichu.

Shield: This Pokémon rides on its tail while it uses its psychic powers to levitate. It attacks with star-shaped thunderbolts.

Photodex: This Pokémon is a talented surfer, using its psychic power to ride the waves. It’s always practicing on the beach, waiting for that perfect wave to roll in.

BTB: Raichu's pancake form. An artistic electric user that definitely seems more chill than normal Raichu. Surfing ability may vary.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Foul affliction has fallen upon Beyond the Ball and we were unfortunately unable to record this week! We should hopefully be back by next Monday the 21st. Stay tuned and remember to denounce colonialism today!

Move over Pikachu, it's time to get rude and rowdy with your evolved form, Raichu! Join us as we're once again baffled by the phenomenon of electricity and reference even more obscure media! Follow along with the entries below:

Red & Blue: Its long tail serves as a ground to protect itself from its own high voltage power.

Yellow: When electricity builds up inside its body, it becomes feisty. It also glows in the dark.

Gold: When its electricity builds, its muscles are stimulated, and it becomes more aggressive than usual.

Silver: If the electric pouches in its cheeks become fully charged, both ears will stand straight up.

Crystal: If its electric pouches run empty, it raises its tail to gather electricity from the atmosphere.

Ruby: If the electrical sacks become excessively charged, RAICHU plants its tail in the ground and discharges. Scorched patches of ground will be found near this POKéMON’s nest.

Sapphire: This POKéMON exudes a weak electrical charge from all over its body that makes it take on a slight glow in darkness. RAICHU searches for electricity by planting its tail in the ground.

FireRed: Its electric charges can reach even 100,000 volts. Careless contact can cause even an Indian elephant to faint.

Emerald: If it stores too much electricity, its behavior turns aggressive. To avoid this, it occasionally discharges excess energy and calms itself down.

Diamond: It turns aggressive if it has too much electricity in its body. It discharges power through its tail.

Pearl: It can loose 100,000-volt bursts of electricity, instantly downing foes several times its size.

Platinum: Its tail discharges electricity into the ground, protecting it from getting shocked.

Sun: It unleashes electric shocks that can reach 100,000 volts. When agitated, it can knock out even an Indian elephant.

Moon: It becomes aggressive when it has electricity stored up. At such times, even its Trainer has to take care to avoid being attacked.

Ultra Sun: As electricity builds up inside its body, it becomes more aggressive. One theory is that the electricity buildup is actually causing stress.

Ultra Moon: Because so many Trainers like the way Pikachu looks, you don’t see this Pokémon very often.

Legends Arceus: It can discharge bursts of electricity exceeding 100,000 volts— a single strike with that amount of power would incapacitate one of the Copperajah of my homeland.

BTB: Raichu is constantly moderating a delicate emotional state and can be quite dangerous if ungrounded and so inclined.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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It's finally time to talk about THE Pokemon, Pikachu! Or as we like to call it, the Shawshank Redemption of Pokemon! Follow along with the entries below:

Red & Blue: When several of these POKéMON gather, their electricity could build and cause lightning storms.

Yellow: It keeps its tail raised to monitor its surroundings. If you yank its tail, it will try to bite you.

Gold: This intelligent POKéMON roasts hard BERRIES with electricity to make them tender enough to eat.

Silver: It raises its tail to check its surroundings. The tail is sometimes struck by lightning in this pose.

Crystal: When it is angered, it immediately discharges the energy stored in the pouches in its cheeks.

Ruby: Whenever PIKACHU comes across something new, it blasts it with a jolt of electricity. If you come across a blackened berry, it’s evidence that this POKéMON mistook the intensity of its charge.

Sapphire: This POKéMON has electricity-storing pouches on its cheeks. These appear to become electrically charged during the night while PIKACHU sleeps. It occasionally discharges electricity when it is dozy after waking up.

FireRed: It has small electric sacs on both its cheeks. If threatened, it looses electric charges from the sacs.

Emerald: It stores electricity in the electric sacs on its cheeks. When it releases pent-up energy in a burst, the electric power is equal to a lightning bolt.

Diamond: It lives in forests with others. It stores electricity in the pouches on its cheeks.

Pearl: If it looses crackling power from the electric pouches on its cheeks, it is being wary.

Platinum: It occasionally uses an electric shock to recharge a fellow PIKACHU that is in a weakened state.

Sun: A plan was recently announced to gather many Pikachu and make an electric power plant.

Moon: It’s in its nature to store electricity. It feels stressed now and then if it’s unable to fully discharge the electricity.

Ultra Sun: Its nature is to store up electricity. Forests where nests of Pikachu live are dangerous, since the trees are so often struck by lightning.

Ultra Moon: While sleeping, it generates electricity in the sacs in its cheeks. If it’s not getting enough sleep, it will be able to use only weak electricity.

Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee: This forest-dwelling Pokémon stores electricity in its cheeks, so you’ll feel a tingly shock if you touch it.

Sword: Pikachu that can generate powerful electricity have cheek sacs that are extra soft and super stretchy.

Shield: When Pikachu meet, they’ll touch their tails together and exchange electricity through them as a form of greeting.

Legends Arceus: Possesses cheek sacs in which it stores electricity. This clever forest-dweller roasts tough berries with an electric shock before consuming them.

BTB: The power of the sun in the pouch of their cheeks, Pikachu can summmon dangerous storms despite their very cute appearance.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Just wanted to get an update in the feed for folks who wisely avoid the social media hellscape. We ended up not being able to record last week so our epic Pikachu episode won't be up until next Monday the 23rd. Should be on track for Raichu the 30th after that followed by our normal break, a two-parter, one more break, and then the big 250! Hoping to squeeze a bonus episode in there at some point as well.

Thanks for your patience and stay safe out there!

It's time to talk about THE iconic Pokemon, Pikachu starting, of course, with Pichu! One of the original babies! Even as a baby, this tiny mouse still has a zillion entries so get ready! Follow along with the entries below:

Gold: It is not yet skilled at storing electricity. It may send out a jolt if amused or startled.

Silver: Despite its small size, it can zap even adult humans. However, if it does so, it also surprises itself.

Crystal: It is unskilled at storing electric power. Any kind of shock causes it to discharge energy spontaneously.

Ruby: PICHU charges itself with electricity more easily on days with thunderclouds or when the air is very dry. You can hear the crackling of static electricity coming off this POKéMON.

Sapphire: When PICHU plays with others, it may short out electricity with another PICHU, creating a shower of sparks. In that event, this POKéMON will begin crying, startled by the flash of sparks.

Emerald: It is still inept at retaining electricity. When it is startled, it discharges power accidentally. It gets better at holding power as it grows older.

Diamond: The electric pouches on its cheeks are still small. They cannot store much electricity yet.

Pearl: It plays with others by touching tails and setting off sparks. This appears to be a test of courage.

Platinum: The electric sacs in its cheeks are small. If even a little electricity leaks, it becomes shocked.

Sun: It is not yet skilled at controlling electricity. If you take your eyes off it, it may shock itself.

Moon: Despite this Pokémon’s cute appearance, those who want to live with one should prepare to be on the receiving end of its electric jolts.

Ultra Sun: It still can’t use electricity well. When it’s surprised or excited, it discharges electricity unintentionally.

Ultra Moon: It has electric sacs in its cheeks. When they’re fully charged, Pichu plays very energetically.

Legends Arceus: Pichu stores electricity in the sacs on its cheeks but discharges it inadvertently when agitated or excited. Being yet immature, the Pokémon’s handling of electricity is rather inept.

BTB: This baby can't do electricty very good just yet. It may be cute, but it's basically a livewire and you WILL get zapped.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Get ready metal heads, it's time to talk about Skarmory! How metal is it? How fast it go? What is flight? Bird meat? Follow along with the entries below:

Gold: Its sturdy wings look heavy, but they are actually hollow and light, allowing it to fly freely in the sky.

Silver: After nesting in bramble bushes, the wings of its chicks grow hard from scratches by thorns.

Crystal: The feathers that it sheds are very sharp. It is said that people once used the feathers as swords.

Ruby: SKARMORY is entirely encased in hard, protective armor. This POKéMON flies at close to 190 mph. It slashes foes with its wings that possess swordlike cutting edges.

Sapphire: SKARMORY’s steel wings become tattered and bashed in from repeated battles. Once a year, the battered wings grow back completely, restoring the cutting edges to their pristine state.

Emerald: A POKéMON that has a body and wings of steel. People in the past used feathers fallen from SKARMORY to make swords and knives.

Diamond, Pearl, Platinum: Despite being clad entirely in iron-hard armor, it flies at speeds over 180 mph.

Black & White 2: Its heavy-looking iron body is actually thin and light, so it can fly at speeds over 180 mph.

Sun: Its feathers, which fall off as it grows, are thin and sharp. In times long past, warriors used them as swords.

Moon: Its metal body is sturdy, but it does rust rather easily. So on rainy days, this Pokémon prefers to stay put in its nest.

Ultra Sun: The wing feathers it sheds can be processed and made into knives whose sharpness is recognized by the finest chefs.

Ultra Moon: Its body is draped in steel armor. It looks heavy, but it can fly at speeds of up to 185 miles an hour!

Sword: The pointed feathers of these Pokémon are sharper than swords. Skarmory and Corviknight fight viciously over territory.

Shield: People fashion swords from Skarmory’s shed feathers, so this Pokémon is a popular element in heraldic designs.

BDSP: Skarmory is clad entirely in ironhard armor. It flies at speeds over 180 mph.

Photodex: Skarmory flew with such acrobatic skill over the snowfields. Its steel body is hard and sturdy, but because of its hollow bones, it’s actually very lightweight.

BTB: The sword of the skies, constantly hurling blades down to earth. There's definitely bird meat in there somewhere.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Our little Smoliv is all grown up and turned into a tree. Join us as we talk about its final form, Arboliva! And the LAAT Gunship from Star Wars Episode II Attack of the Clones! Follow along with the entries below:

Scarlet: This calm Pokémon is very compassionate. It will share its delicious, nutrient-rich oil with weakened Pokémon.

Violet: This Pokémon drives back enemies by launching its rich, aromatic oil at them with enough force to smash a boulder.

Professor Friede: It may be scary if it gets angry, but normally, it's a very kind and gentle Pokemon. It's devoted to caring for its friends. Those arms nurture both its fruits and its friends.

BTB: It blasts olive oil just like an LAAT gunship from Star Wars Episode 2 Attack of the Clones starring Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Samuel Jackson, and Temuera Morrison. A bit of a diva.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Middle-stage teen Pokemon, let's gooo! That's right, we've gone from Smoliv to Dolliv and oh my gosh its cry actually sounds bearable. Follow along with the entries below:

Scarlet: Dolliv shares its tasty, fresh-scented oil with others. This species has coexisted with humans since times long gone.

Violet: It basks in the sun to its heart’s content until the fruits on its head ripen. After that, Dolliv departs from human settlements and goes on a journey.

Anime: It produces oil with a fresh scent. When it gets enough sunlight and the fruit on its head ripens, it leaves human settlements and goes on a journey.

Professor Friede: Dolliv's oil is fresh and tasty. Sharing that oil has long made it a valued companion to people and other Pokemon alike.

BTB: Dolliv has chilled with humans for thousands of years, but you gotta let them go on their mysterious pilgrimages and you can't ask any questions.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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