Beyond the Ball

We're cutting through all the deception this episode as we talk about the Tricky Fox Pokemon, Zorua! We'll investigate why it loves to prank so much and just how ethical/necessary such pranks may or may not be. Plus, Braden complains about yet another Pokemon movie! Follow along with the entries below:

Black: It changes into the forms of others to surprise them. Apparently, it often transforms into a silent child.

White: To protect themselves from danger, they hide their true identities by transforming into people and Pokémon.

Black & White 2: It changes so it looks just like its foe, tricks it, and then uses that opportunity to flee.

Ultra Sun: This Pokémon has a cowardly disposition, so when it’s not around friends, it basically always stays transformed as something else.

Ultra Moon: If a normally talkative child suddenly stops talking, it may have been replaced by Zorua.

Sword: Zorua is a timid Pokémon. This disposition seems to be what led to the development of Zorua’s ability to take on the forms of other creatures.

Shield: Zorua sometimes transforms into a person and goes into cities to search for food. When Zorua does this, it usually takes on the form of a child.

BTB: A cunning little shapeshifter that uses its abilities for fun, safety, and profit. Child kidnapping allegations remain unproven.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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In episode 195 of Beyond the Ball we go after the "enthsusiasts as we talk about Sawsbuck, dog shows, Columbo, and more! Follow along with the entries below:

Black: They migrate according to the seasons. People can tell the season by looking at Sawsbuck’s horns.

White: The plants growing on its horns change according to the season. The leaders of the herd possess magnificent horns.

Black & White 2: They migrate according to the seasons, so some people call Sawsbuck the harbingers of spring.

Autumn Form

Scarlet: There are many Sawsbuck enthusiasts. The darker the red of the foliage that hangs from its antlers, the more stylish the Sawsbuck is thought to be.

Violet: Sawsbuck in their Autumn Form are known for having very short tempers. The males fight each other incessantly.

Spring Form

Scarlet: It seems that a Sawsbuck with many flowers on its antlers will grow at a slightly slower pace because the flowers absorb the Pokémon’s nutrients.

Violet: There are many Sawsbuck enthusiasts. The paler the pink flowers that bloom on its antlers, the more beautiful the Sawsbuck is considered to be.

Summer Form

Scarlet: There are many Sawsbuck enthusiasts. The thicker and larger the branches and leaves on its antlers, the more majestic the Sawsbuck is thought to be.

Violet: This Pokémon’s leaves can be made into a black tea, the taste of which varies depending on the region of origin. Paldea’s is especially aromatic.

Winter Form

Scarlet: It’s said that Sawsbuck are calm and easy to tame during the season when they take on this form, so it’s the perfect time to make one your partner.

Violet: Though there are many enthusiasts for Sawsbuck as a species, this seasonal form in particular is not very popular.

Photodex: This Pokémon’s appearance changes with the passing of the seasons. Normally, you could never see all four forms of Sawsbuck at the same time, but Elsewhere Forest seems to be the exception!

BTB: There are many Sawsbuck enthusiasts, but they all have bad opinions. Winter form Sawsbuck is super cool. They all have vibes that are incongruous with the season.

Moose shedding both antlers

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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It's time to talk about a a little deer! That's right, Deerling is here and we're gonna talk about just how distinct it is from a regular old deer, its seasonal scents, and more! Follow along with the entries below:

Black: The color and scent of their fur changes to match the mountain grass. When they sense hostility, they hide in the grass.

White: The turning of the seasons changes the color and scent of this Pokémon’s fur. People use it to mark the seasons.

Black & White 2: Their coloring changes according to the seasons and can be slightly affected by the temperature and humidity as well.

Autumn Form

Scarlet: These Pokémon are not shy—they will behave as they please, even in front of people. If you feed one of them, it will quickly take a liking to you.

Violet: Deerling have different scents depending on the season. In this form, Deerling have a softly sweet scent that lingers in the nose.

Spring Form

Scarlet: Deerling have different scents depending on the season. In early spring, these Pokémon give off a delicate, sweet, and calming scent.

Violet: Despite Deerling’s adorable appearance, farmers consider it a nuisance since it loves plant shoots and will eat them all up.

Summer Form

Scarlet: To prevent Deerling from entering their fields, many farmers will have several Lycanroc stand guard, as they are the natural enemy of Deerling.

Violet: Deerling have different scents depending on the season. When a distinct grassy smell starts to waft from one, you know that summer has begun.

Winter Form

Scarlet: Deerling’s scent changes with the seasons, but when the Pokémon is in its Winter Form, it has hardly any scent at all.

Violet: This Pokémon will playfully headbutt those it gets along well with. It has antlers hidden under its flower, so the headbutts are a little painful.

Photodex: Deerling have different appearances depending on the season. They usually stick close to Sawsbuck, but because they’re so curious, they sometimes wander off on their own and get lost.

BTB: It's a cute, little anime poncho-deer with seasonal smells and hidden antlers. Farmers hate this one small deer.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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We're talking about the mythical Marshadow this episode! Join us as we found out just what kind of shady shenanigans this gloomdweller gets up to! Plus, Will's journey through Pokemon Violet continues and we continue to have thoughts about it throughout the episode. Follow along with the entires below:

Sun: Able to conceal itself in shadows, it never appears before humans, so its very

Moon: It lurks in the shadows of others, copying their movements and powers. This Pokémon is craven and cowering.

Ultra Sun: It slips into the shadows of others and mimics their powers and movements. As it

Ultra Moon: It sinks into the shadows of people and Pokémon, where it can understand their

Sword: By slipping into the shadow of a martial arts master and copying their movements,

Shield: This Pokémon can conceal itself in any shadow, so it went undiscovered for a long time.

BTB: It can do anything you can do better. It also understands all your feelings without you

Soul Stealing Seven Star Strike: https://youtu.be/wfFOVvxrDy4

Partyfish Swim Meet: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/partyfish-swim-meet-seattle-podcasts-live-tickets-601752898117

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Alright folks, now we got a real hippo on our hands. Well, a comparatively small hippo full of holes named Hippowdon! Join us as we learn what exactly it can crush with its mighty maw, become increasingly unsettled by the concept of porous Pokemon, and come up with some cool RPG ideas! Follow along with the entries below:

Diamond: It blasts internally stored sand from ports on its body to create a towering twister for attack.

Pearl: Its huge mouth is almost seven feet across. It has enough power to completely crush a car.

Platinum: It is surprisingly quick to anger. It holds its mouth agape as a display of its strength.

HeartGold & SoulSilver: It brandishes its gaping mouth in a display of fearsome strength. It raises vast quantities of sand while attacking.

Sword: Stones can get stuck in the ports on their bodies. Dwebble help dislodge such stones, so Hippowdon look after these Pokémon.

Shield: When roused to violence by its rage, it spews out the quantities of sand it has swallowed and whips up a sandstorm.

Legends: Arceus: Short-tempered and easily moved to violence. It whips up whirlwinds of sand to crush its foes’ spirits, then goes in for the attack.

BTB: Do not gaze into the depths of Hippowdown. No one must know what lurks inside this angry, sandy hippo.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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We're headed back to the desert this episode as we discuss Hippopotas! It loves sand! We think. Some challenging entries this round as we think about sweat, germs, sand ambulation and more! Follow along with the entries below:

Diamond: It lives in arid places. Instead of perspiration, it expels grainy sand from its body.

Pearl: It enshrouds itself with sand to protect itself from germs. It does not enjoy getting wet.

Platinum: It shuts its nostrils tight then travels through sand as if walking. They form colonies of around ten.

HeartGold & SoulSilver: It shrouds itself in sand to ward off germs. It travels easily through the sands of the desert.

Sword: It moves through the sands with its mouth open, swallowing sand along with its prey. It gets rid of the sand by spouting it from its nose.

Shield: This Pokémon is active during the day and passes the cold desert nights burrowed snugly into the sand.

Legends: Arceus: Though large and languid, Hippopotas is difficult to detect due to its tendency to burrow into and lurk beneath the soil. When agitated or excited, it expels sand from its nostrils.

BTB: It loves sand because it gets everywhere and keeps it safe from germs (the bad ones). The hole on its back is a third nostril.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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Dewpider's size has grown exponentially through evolution just as Araquanid's Pokedex entries have grown exponentially more unsettling! Heads up arachnophobes and thalassophobes, this episode may not be the one for you! Follow along with the entries below:

Sun: It delivers headbutts with the water bubble on its head. Small Pokémon get sucked into the bubble, where they drown.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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It's time to talk about our new and bubbly spider-friend, Dewpider! We also take an extended dive into the Anime Corner as we cover Dewpider's debut episode, Dewpider Ascending which we highly recommend checking out. Follow along with the entries below:

Sun: It crawls onto the land in search of food. Its water bubble allows it to breathe and protects its soft head.

Moon: When it comes across enemies or potential prey, this Pokémon smashes its water-bubble-covered head into them.

Ultra Sun: When two Dewpider meet, they display their water bubbles to each other. Then the one with the smaller bubble gets out of the other’s way.

Ultra Moon: It can only breathe oxygen that has dissolved in water, so it wears a water bubble on its head when it walks around on land.

Sword: It forms a water bubble at the rear of its body and then covers its head with it. Meeting another Dewpider means comparing water-bubble sizes.

Shield: Dewpider normally lives underwater. When it comes onto land in search of food, it takes water with it in the form of a bubble on its head.

BTB: It's little spider-baby with a squishy head. It prefers to eat food on land even though it can't breathe up there without a water helmet.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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We're at the end of an evolution line once again as we discuss the big electric ape-man Electivire! Get ready for shocking Pokedex entries and hastily-Googled electricity facts. Follow along with the entries below:

Diamond & Pearl: It pushes the tips of its two tails against the foe, then lets loose with over 20,000 volts of power.

Platinum: Heedless of enemy attacks, it closes in, shoves its tails onto the foe, then looses high voltage.

HeartGold & SoulSilver: As its electric charge amplifies, blue sparks begin to crackle between its horns.

Black & White 2: The instant it presses the tips of its tails onto an opponent, it sends over 20,000 volts of electricity into the foe.

Sun: It pushes the tips of its tails against its foes and then lets loose a high-voltage current. Its foes are burned to a crisp in an instant.

Moon: When it gets excited, it thumps its chest. With every thud, thunder roars and electric sparks shower all around.

Ultra Sun: It grips its tail, which spews electricity, and then beats down opponents with the power of its electrified fist.

Ultra Moon: A single Electivire can provide enough electricity for all the buildings in a big city for a year.

Sword: The amount of electrical energy this Pokémon produces is proportional to the rate of its pulse. The voltage jumps while Electivire is battling.

Shield: In terms of electrical-energy output, Electivire is one of the best among all Electric Pokémon. It discharges high-voltage currents from its tails.

Legends Arceus: Its evolution was induced by an unusual item, and its electrical output rises along with its heart rate. From its tails, it can unleash an electric current measuring 20,000 volts.

BTB: This big electric ape-man will jam so much electricity into you that you'll die incredibly quickly. It's capacity for electricity is seemingly limitless.

Professor Neroli: https://poketouch.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/pokemon_sleep_professor_neroli.jpeg

Terapagos: https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/thumb/e/ef/Terapagos.png/600px-Terapagos.png

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

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Electabuzz is one of the original electric Pokemon so we've got a lot of entries to get through. But what is the truth about Electabuzz and who is trying to hide it from us? Join us this episode as Beyond the Ball seeks perhaps the most rare Pokemon treasure of all: vindication. Follow along with the entries below:

Red & Blue: Normally found near power plants, they can wander away and cause major blackouts in cities.

Yellow: If a major power outage occurs, it is certain that this POKéMON has eaten electricity at a power plant.

Gold: Electricity runs across the surface of its body. In darkness, its entire body glows a whitish-blue.

Silver: Its body constantly discharges electricity. Getting close to it will make your hair stand on end.

Crystal: When two ELECTABUZZ touch, they control the electric currents to communicate their feelings.

Ruby & Sapphire: When a storm arrives, gangs of this POKéMON compete with each other to scale heights that are likely to be stricken by lightning bolts. Some towns use ELECTABUZZ in place of lightning rods.

FireRed: It loves to feed on strong electricity. It occasionally appears around large power plants and so on.

Diamond & Pearl: Half of all blackouts occur when this Pokémon appears at power plants and eats electricity.

Platinum: It windmills its arms to slightly boost its punches. Foes have been known to escape in the meantime.

Black & White 2: Research is progressing on storing lightning in Electabuzz so this energy can be used at any time.

Sun: Half of all sudden blackouts are caused by Electabuzz gathering at electric power plants and gobbling up electricity.

Moon: Electricity leaks from it in amounts far greater than the amount of electricity it eats.

Ultra Sun: Electricity permeates its body. It swings its arms round and round to charge up electricity before unleashing a punch.

Ultra Moon: While it’s often blamed for power outages, the truth is the cause of outages is more often an error on the part of the electric company.

Sword: Many power plants keep Ground-type Pokémon around as a defense against Electabuzz that come seeking electricity.

Shield: With the coming of a storm, many of these Pokémon will gather under tall trees and sit there waiting for lightning to strike.

Legends Arceus: Feeds on electrical energy. During sudden showers beneath looming thunderclouds, one can observe Electabuzz scaling tall trees, where the Pokémon will then wait for lightning to strike.

BTB: This oft-maligned Pokemon is actually the cause of less than half of all blackouts. It spends most its time being rodwy and climbing trees.

Cover design by Kwesi Phillips

Music by Junichi Masuda and Go Ichinose

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