Beyond the Ball

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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This episode we're digging into why Smoliv is so anxious and exactly where all that olive oil is coming from. Also that one thing happened while we were recording lol. Follow along with the entries below:

Scarlet: It protects itself from enemies by emitting oil from the fruit on its head. This oil is bitter and astringent enough to make someone flinch.

Violet: This Pokémon converts nutrients into oil, which it stores in the fruit on its head. It can easily go a whole week without eating or drinking.

Anime: Smoliv, the Olive Pokémon. A Grass and Normal type. Smoliv converts nutrients to oil and stores it in the fruit on its head. It can easily go a week without eating or drinking anything.

BTB: Has anyone asked Smoliv if it's okay? The oil tastes bad, but dang it's still real cute and probably needs help.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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The big dino, Aurorus is here now that Amaura has evolved! How cold is it? Hard to say, but we're definitely gonna try Googling it! Follow along with the entries below:

X: The diamond-shaped crystals on its body expel air as cold as -240 degrees Fahrenheit, surrounding its enemies and encasing them in ice.

Y: Using its diamond-shaped crystals, it can instantly create a wall of ice to block an opponent’s attack.

Ultra Sun: An Aurorus was found frozen solid within a glacier, just as it appeared long ago, which became quite a big event in the news.

Ultra Moon: This usually quiet and kindly Pokémon has a surface temperature of around –240 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sword: Aurorus was restored from a fossil. It’s said that when this Pokémon howls, auroras appear in the night sky.

Shield: When gripped by rage, Aurorus will emanate freezing air, covering everything around it in ice.

BTB: It's life is probably no longer in danger now that it has evolved to easily temperature control its environment. Your life may be in danger though if you're not careful.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Looking to beat the summer heat? Cool off with this iced dino that maybe shouldn't exist! That's right, we Jurassic Park'd Amaura so we could read all of its Pokedex entries. Non-Amaura topics include: Ice Age, The Land Before Time, product placement, and more! Follow along with the entries below:

X: This ancient Pokémon was restored from part of its body that had been frozen in ice for over 100 million years.

Y: This calm Pokémon lived in a cold land where there were no violent predators like Tyrantrum.

Ultra Sun: It lived in cold areas in ancient times. It’s said that when Amaura whinnies, auroras appear in the night sky.

Ultra Moon: Amaura was restored successfully, but it’s not expected to live long because of the heat of the current environment.

Sword: This Pokémon was successfully restored from a fossil. In the past, it lived with others of its kind in cold lands where there were fewer predators.

Shield: Amaura is an ancient Pokémon that has gone extinct. Specimens of this species can sometimes be found frozen in ice.

BTB: It's magical aurora-summoning whinnie is very cool, but maybe not worth condemnig this extinct pokemon to die again soon, alone.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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It only felt right to talk about Ho-Oh after covering Lugia but do these two big, ol' bird have anything in common? Does the Rainbow Pokemon really sport enough colors to hold that title? Is Will going to Hell for eating a cool fish?? When will Braden watch another good Pokemon movie??? Follow along with the entries below:

Gold: Legends claim this POKéMON flies the world’s skies continuously on its magnificent seven-colored wings.

Silver: A legend says that its body glows in seven colors. A rainbow is said to form behind it when it flies.

Crystal: It will reveal itself before a pure-hearted trainer by shining its bright rainbow-colored wings.

Ruby & Sapphire: HO-OH’s feathers glow in seven colors depending on the angle at which they are struck by light. These feathers are said to bring happiness to the bearers. This POKéMON is said to live at the foot of a rainbow.

Diamond, Pearl & Platinum: Its feathers are in seven colors. It is said that anyone seeing it is promised eternal happiness.

Photodex: People say that if you find a feather from one of Ho-Oh’s seven-colored wings, you’ll be promised eternal happiness. Ho-Oh looked so beautiful, sparkling and shining with each flap of its wings.

BTB: This big, gay bird is your ticket to heaven! Just give people the feathers, Ho-OH!

⁠Watch us play Lethal Company with Morgan⁠

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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