Beyond the Ball

 The only thing more exciting than a big thunderstorm is a Beyond the Ball arc covering the Electabuzz line starting with Elekid! How rowdy is this monster baby? What serves as its baby bottles? Can it even store electricity? Answers to these questions and more await! Topics of distraction include: Mission Impossible, King of the Hill, Vince McMahon, etc. Follow along with the entries below:

Gold: It rotates its arms to generate electricity, but it tires easily, so it charges up only a little bit.

Silver: Even in the most vicious storm, this POKéMON plays happily if thunder rumbles in the sky.

Crystal: It loves violent thunder. The space between its horns flickers bluish-white when it is charging energy.

Ruby & Sapphire: ELEKID stores electricity in its body. If it touches metal and accidentally discharges all its built-up electricity, this POKéMON begins swinging its arms in circles to recharge itself.

Emerald: If it touches metal and discharges the electricity it has stored in its body, an ELEKID begins swinging its arms in circles to recharge itself.

Diamond & Pearl: It generates electricity by whirling its arms. However, it can’t store the energy it makes.

Platinum: A weak electric current flows between its horns. Sticking a hand there shocks the unwary.

Black & White 2: Spinning its arms around to generate electricity makes the area between its horns shine light blue.

Sun: When it’s in a house, electrical outlets serve as its baby bottles. It sucks down electricity.

Moon: This Pokémon is constantly fighting with Togedemaru that try to steal its electricity. It’s a pretty even match.

Ultra Sun: When it hears the crash of thunder, Elekid’s mood improves. It can be useful to record that sound and play it when Elekid’s feeling down.

Ultra Moon: When its horns shine a bluish white, that’s the sign it’s fully charged. You’ll get a shocking jolt if you touch it!

Sword: When a storm approaches, this Pokémon gets restless. Once Elekid hears the sound of thunder, it gets full-on rowdy.

Shield: It’s not good at storing electricity yet. This Pokémon sneaks into people’s homes, looking for electrical outlets to eat electricity from.

Legends: Arceus: They generate electricity by spinning their arms. During a thunderstorm, if one hears the lively voices of children out in the wilderness, what one is actually hearing are the voices of Elekid.

BTB: This little electric shock monster baby has an insatiable hunger for electricity and will guzzle it straight from the outlet. Don't touch the horns!

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Sprigatito's evolution line comes to an end with its prestige stage, Meowscarada! Watch out, this theater adult's got bombs! Follow along with the entries below:

Scarlet: This Pokémon uses the reflective fur lining its cape to camouflage the stem of its flower, creating the illusion that the flower is floating.

Violet: With skillful misdirection, it rigs foes with pollen-packed flower bombs. Meowscarada sets off the bombs before its foes realize what’s going on.

BTB: In this Theater Adult Cat's quest for adoration and attention, it hides flower bombs like everywhere. It can detonate them remotely somehow.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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You know we love a middle evolution and Floragato is a perfect example of why! Plus, Braden puts the pressure on Will to get Pokemon Violet, Cat Facts, Yo-Yos, and more! Oh and we do the scales for Sprigatito that we somehow totally forgot to do last time. Follow along with the entries below:

Scarlet: Floragato deftly wields the vine hidden beneath its long fur, slamming the hard flower bud against its opponents.

Violet: The hardness of Floragato’s fur depends on the Pokémon’s mood. When Floragato is prepared to battle, its fur becomes pointed and needle sharp.

BTB: A stylish and confident, but mischevious showman. Keep it entertained or face its pranks. It does yo-yo tricks now.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Not only has Braden just finished Pokemon Scarlet, but we're also talking about the first Pokemon in the Paldean Pokedex, Sprigatito (completely by coincidence I swear)! We're a couple months late but get ready for video game takes and cat facts this episode! Follow along with the entries below:

Scarlet: Its fluffy fur is similar in composition to plants. This Pokémon frequently washes its face to keep it from drying out.

Violet: The sweet scent its body gives off mesmerizes those around it. The scent grows stronger when this Pokémon is in the sun.

BTB: It's a sweet-smelling little cat that's made of plants (probably?). It's green and has toe beans.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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We're talking about Clauncher's evolved form, Clawitzer, this episode! But first, Braden watched the Mummy (1999) for their birthday so we can FINALLY talk about it! Oh and they got Pokemon Scarlet too and it's very good but also bad. But don't worry we'll get to the Howitzer of the Sea eventually (00:19:10)! Follow along with the entries below:

X: Their enormous claws launch cannonballs of water powerful enough to pierce tanker hulls.

Y: By expelling water from the nozzle in the back of its claw, it can move at a speed of 60 knots.

Ultra Sun: It compresses the water it has sucked up and then projects it with enough power to punch a hole right through a thick sheet of iron.

Ultra Moon: Its right arm is packed with meat. When its pincer falls off, it’s exported to be used as a cooking ingredient.

Sword: After using the feelers on its oversized claw to detect the location of prey, Clawitzer launches a cannonball of water at its target.

Shield: Clawitzer’s right arm is a cannon that launches projectiles made of seawater. Shots from a Clawitzer’s cannon arm can sink a tanker.

Scarlet: Clawitzer can move through the water at a speed of 60 knots by using gas inside its body to expel water from the back of its claw.

Violet: The cannonballs of seawater that Clawitzer launches from its claw are powerful enough to punch through tanker hulls.

BTB: An enormous cannon/jetpack attached to a redundant shrimp. It farts around at 69 MPH.

Photodex: Clawitzer are very territorial, and they are known to fight fiercely among each other. The cannonballs of water that they launch from their claws can break through walls and shatter big boulders.

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U Trophy info (NA): Clawitzer's right claw is so massive, we wouldn't be surprised if you thought it was this Pokémon's actual body. The name Howitzer Pokémon is no accident - it can pierce the hull of a ship with the watery cannonballs it fires. Unless you've got a water gun that can match that, we'd suggest skipping the water fight with this one.

https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-compressibility

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Arm yourself with knowledge of the Pokemon that's just a pistol shrimp, Clauncher! How does it shoot? How does it taste? How does it feel about aquariums? Join us as we dig into such questions and more! Follow along with the entries below:

Website Blurb: It has an oversized claw on one of its arms. This useful claw can seize prey and shoot water at others as a projectile.

X: They knock down flying prey by firing compressed water from their massive claws like shooting a pistol.

Y: Through controlled explosions of internal gas, it can expel water like a pistol shot. At close distances, it can shatter rock.

Ultra Sun: Its claws occasionally fall off, and it keeps a low profile until they grow back. The meat of its claws is so delicious!

Ultra Moon: It moves around by jetting water from its right pincer. It has a poor sense of balance, so it’s terrible at swimming straight.

Sword: Clauncher’s claws can fall off during battle, but they’ll regenerate. The meat inside the claws is popular as a delicacy in Galar.

Shield: By detonating gas that accumulates in its right claw, this Pokémon launches water like a bullet. This is how Clauncher defeats its enemies.

Scarlet: This Pokémon launches water by detonating gas inside its right claw. It snipes flying Pokémon.

Violet: Clauncher’s claws will regrow if they fall off. The meat inside the claws is edible, but it has a distinct flavor that doesn’t appeal to all tastes.

BTB: It shoots water from its delicious, gas-powered gun claw to kill birds and break rocks.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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We're kicking off the new year (again?) with Fennekin's final form, Delphox! Plus, we actually reveal our 2022 Pokemon of the Year which I guess is a tradition now! Don't forget a troubling visit to the Anime Corner as well! Follow along with Delphox's entries below:

X: It gazes into the flame at the tip of its branch to achieve a focused state, which allows it to see into the future.

Y: Using psychic power, it generates a fiery vortex of 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit, incinerating foes swept into this whirl of flame.

BTB: This prognosticating pyromancer can see the future and will remove you from it easily if it so chooses.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Fennekin has evolved into Braixen and we're ready to learn exactly what is stuck in its tail and how friction works. Follow along with the entries below:

Website Blurb: Braixen no longer eats branches but it still keeps a tree branch in its tail, which seems to calm the Pokémon. It will occasionally wield the branch in battle and use friction to light it on fire.

X: It has a twig stuck in its tail. With friction from its tail fur, it sets the twig on fire and launches into battle.

Y: When the twig is plucked from its tail, friction sets the twig alight. The flame is used to send signals to its allies.

Ash's Pokedex: To defeat its opponent, Braixen combines the flame from the twig in its tail with its fiery breath, creating a massive Fire Spin.

BTB: Uses a twig as a special torch for fun, showmanship, communication and relaxation. It doesn't eat twigs anymore.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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We took a holiday break from recording this week so enjoy another prerecorded dive into AI-generated Pokedex entries as we press an additional AI into service! Tremble in confusion as we unveil new and unsettling facts about Eevee and its many evolutions! Follow along with the entries below:

Eevee: It has three different forms: a Normal-type, an Ice-type, and a Human-type. No one is sure how it changes form, but it is certain that it can change.

This Pokemon can adapt to any environment. Because it is common in every environment, it must be the guardian of every home. However, in battle, it gets easily frightened.

Gigantamax Eevee: This Pokemon's body is entirely integrated with seven separate Eevee cells. As a result, it gains an Eevee's eight different abilities.

Vaporeon: This Water-type Pokemon is agressive and can spray a powerful jet of water. It can even consume nearly 1,000 gallons of water in one gulp.

Vaporeon likes to fight on the ground. In fact, this Water - type likes to roll in the mud and play in it, too. It also adores water of any kind, and will suck up water from rivers and fountains.

Jolteon: This Pokemon can charge its batteries up to produce a powerful thunderous reaction. It can also slow down the passage of time for its enemies.

The Jolteon is a dual-type Pokémon that uses electric-type moves. It is covered with electric-looking spikes. Jolteon evolves into Flareon at level 22. The Pokedex entry for Jolteon is 51955. A

Flareon: This Pokemon can set anything on fire from a distance with its fiery breath. It is highly courageous, but also very arrogant.

Feisty, passionate, independent and fierce. Flareon's greatest asset is its ability to guide and inspire others through compassion and friendship.

Espeon: It has a playful and cheerful personality, but can experience a devastating sorrow. It draws strength from the emotions of others.

With its crisp aura and light - blue fur, Espeon is a strangely beautiful Pokemon. Its long, elegant neck is smoothed where it rests against its Trainer's shoulder.

Umbreon: Umbreon are dark predators that feed on the negative emotions of others. They can easily detect the mood of people by sniffing the air.

Umbreon, the Fossil Pokemon. Umbreon evolved from Eevee about a week ago. As a result of its evolution Umbreon now has a much stronger hatred for any type of stone.

Leafeon: This Pokemon is affiliated with the chlorophyll-producing plants. It has the ability to take any form based on the chlorophyll-producing plants that are most abundant in the area.

Leafeon comes from the word "leaf". It loves plants and can tell by the color of the leaves at any given moment. This Pokemon receives so much sunlight that its body can fluoresce.

Glaceon: This Pokemon has incredible flexibility. It can freely control the degree to which it is composed of solid ice.

An Ice - type Pokémon that can produce spikes of ice in its body. Because of this, it is very fragile. It will freeze if something hot is placed on its body for too long.

Sylveon: This Pokemon generates its own light, making it a living shadow. It uses its shadow-generating ability to immobilize and defeat its prey, mainly Pokemon, which it lures with its song.

The Sylveon that appears in this Pokedex would appear friendly until you try to approach it, at which point it becomes aggressive. You must walk away and shut your lights off.

AI Websites used: https://app.inferkit.com/demo and https://aidungeon.io/

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

For the best listening experience, we recommend listening to this episode in the Firefox browser. That's right, we're talking about Fennekin! It's cute but only has a couple of entries so get ready for us to really dig into like the two things we know it does. Follow along with the entries below:

Website: Fennekin can be temperamental, but it tries to do its best for its Trainer. Searing heat blows from its ears. This Pokémon loves to snack on twigs.

X: Eating a twig fills it with energy, and its roomy ears give vent to air hotter than 390 degrees Fahrenheit.

Y: As it walks, it munches on a twig in place of a snack. It intimidates opponents by puffing hot air out of its ears.

BTB: Fennekin's head is a twig-fueled furnace. It feels very big emotions but give it a chance. C'mon, we all struggle sometimes.

Our next episode will be another pre-recorded dive into AI-generated Pokedex entries since we'll be taking the week off for the holidays but we should be back on track for Braixen the following week.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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