Pokémon appear in a variety of shapes, sizes, and forms; one important determinant of these characteristics is what is known as a “Type”, giving Pokémon unique attributes based on the Type’s element, power, and so on. With 18 types in total, there are many to review; in the eighth installment of this miniseries known as “Pokémon Rants”, The Lab’s founder returns to tackle “Flying Types”, the Pokémon that constitute this typing, an analysis that includes technical information, design analyses, and other thoughts on what it means to be a Flying Type Pokémon.

Timestamps:

00:31 - Type Overview + Background

05:58 - Technical Information

17:27 - Appearances + Moves

> 18:09 - Pure Flying Types

> 22:23 - Primary Flying Types

> 28:07 - Secondary Flying Types

> 44:52 - Flying Type Moves

50:48 - Atypical Case Studies + Concluding Thoughts

Links/Resources:

- Flying (Type)

- Type

- Move

- Ability 

The Lore Research Lab Reference Episodes

“Pokédex: All 482+8 Pokémon & Post-Story Guide – Pokémon Diamond Version and Pokémon Pearl Version.” Edited by Lawrence Neves. Prima Games, 2006.

“Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version – The Official Pokémon Johto Guide and Pokédex.” Edited by Michael G. Ryan and Lawrence Neves. Bellevue: The Pokémon Company International, 2009.

(Creator's Note: I recommend that you listen to the rants in order for continuity purposes (so things make sense), but this is optional. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from the content discussed in this episode; images have been taken from my copy of Pokémon Scarlet and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

With the number of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon in existence, the fanbase has for years theorized about how Legendary Pokémon function within a broader scheme of lore, creation, and determining how the timelines and storylines of core series games are connected. Including themes of folklore, religion, and history, this episode focuses on constructing a timeline detailing the origins of Legendary Pokémon, their impact on the world, and the many dynamics and connections between Legendary and Mythical Pokémon within a mythological scheme. 

Timestamps:

01:03 - Defining Relations between Legendary Pokémon

> 02:13 - Precedents on Legendary Pokémon Timelines

> 05:10 - Key Themes for the Timeline

10:37 - Recapping Creator Pokémon

25:03 - Chapter 1: Origins

35:30 - Chapter 2: Formation

48:10 - Chapter 3: Cultivation

1:06:30 - Chapter 4: Intervention

1:22:52 - Conclusion + What happens next?

Links/Resources:

- Legendary Pokémon 

> Arceus

> Dialga

> Palkia

> Giratina

> The Lake Guardians

- Mythical Pokémon 

- Kami

The Lore Research Lab Reference Episodes

(Creator's Note: All theories expressed in this episode are subject to change. Some content in this episode deals with religions and myths in the real world; all research discussing such information is explained and described solely from a scholarly perspective. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own copy of Pokémon Legends: Arceus and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

The concept of Legendary Pokémon has been a constant in the franchise; whether they are benevolent, life-giving beings or behemoths with the power to destroy, Legendary Pokémon offer a variety of powerful creatures that stand above the rest in more ways than one. However, while having a prominent presence in nearly all Pokémon games, the interpretation of this concept, the concept that all-powerful Pokémon of legends and myth exist, has undergone its own evolution through the years. This episode looks at defining what are Legendary Pokémon, an opinion piece that discusses the first signs of this evolution taking place, and how this explains Koraidon and Miraidon, the Legendary Pokémon belonging to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet respectively. 

Timestamps:

02:27 - Breakdown of the Episode

03:27 - What are Legendary Pokémon?

09:35 - The Shift

31:25 - The Role Koraidon/Miraidon in Pokémon Scarlet/Violet

> 32:29 - Koraidon & Miraidon's Beginnings

> 38:20 - Additional Details: Victory Road

> 39:50 - Additional Details: Operation Starfall

> 47:29 - Path of Legends and its relevance

59:10 - Koraidon & Miraidon's Story

1:21:44 - Why Koraidon & Miraidon work

1:34:29 - What Koraidon & Miraidon represent

Links/Resources:

- Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet Information

- Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet Official Website

- Legendary Pokémon

- Terastal Phenomenon

The Lore Research Lab Reference Episodes

(I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own copy of Pokémon Scarlet and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Since 1996, the Pokémon franchise has welcomed new and older players alike with various additions to their battle mechanics since the series' origin, including a variety of integrations that smoothened gameplay and made battling a more accessible concept. This episode looks at a specific category of Pokémon battling known as "Battle Gimmicks," indicating their lack of permanence and individuality as an added mechanic in the games such gimmicks were introduced in. Tune in to hear, in-depth, about the four prominent battle gimmicks introduced thus far (c. 2022)!

Timestamps:

00:38 - What are Battle Gimmicks?

11:32 - The Evolution of Added Battle Mechanics (Optional Listen)

> 13:18 - "Special"

> 16:23 - Double Battle Format, Natures, and Held Items

> 24:56 - "STAB" and Abilities

> 30:59 - The Physical/Special Split

> 32:32 - Triple & Rotation Battles

35:41 - A Big Bang: Mega Evolution

> 41:04 - Pokémon Examples

1:01:16 - Dance Off: Z-Moves

1:06:58 - Go Big or Go Home: Dynamaxing

> 1:09:54 - What are Max Raid Battles?

1:29:25 - Crystalline Power: Terastalizing

> 1:36:24 - What are Tera Raid Battles?

1:58:50 - Conclusion

> 1:58:58 - Ranking the Battle Gimmicks (Optional Listen)

> 2:14:13 - What's next?

Links/Resources:

- Pokémon Battle Gimmicks: "Walk Down Memory Lane"

- Pokémon Natures

- Pokémon Abilities

- Pokémon Held Items

- Battle Gimmicks

> Mega Evolution

> Z-Moves

> Dynamax Phenomenon

> Terastal Phenomenon

- Pokémon Examples

> Charizard

> Mawile

The Lore Research Lab Reference Episodes

(I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own copy of Pokémon Scarlet and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

The long wait for Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet is finally over! Being a new installment in the Pokémon franchise, there are many reactions to the games as they have been freshly released. This episode reviews spoiler-free details on these games and whether they are good as both games and as new Pokémon iterations. 

Timestamps:

00:34 - Notes for Season 4 (Optional Listen)

03:50 - Reviewing Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet

> 04:41 - What works (The Good Stuff)

> 35:49 - What doesn't work (Room for Improvement)

42:20 - Conclusion

Links/Resources:

- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Official Website

- Seek Your Treasure! | Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet Trailer

- Jump into a Paldean Journey

- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Competitive Play Trailer

The Lore Research Lab Episodes

(I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from my own copy of Pokémon Scarlet and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Pokémon X & Y were released in 2013 and were the first to have elements of 3D modelling in their gameplay, a big step graphically for the Pokémon franchise. Whatever reception this game received will not be discussed in this episode, as The Lore Research Lab's founder embarks on a journey to poorly explain the storyline of these games in this installment of The Parody Series.

Timestamps:

00:30 - Housekeeping + Concluding Season 3

05:14 - "Explaining" Pokémon X & Y's storyline

> 05:55 - Chapter 1: Beginning the Parisian Adventure

> 14:46 - Chapter 2: The Long Journey Ahead

> 28:49 - Chapter 3: Strange Things are Afoot (Kind Of)

> 34:38 - Chapter 4: Saving the World???

> 46:19 - Chapter 5: It'll be over soon

Links/Resources:

- Pokémon X&Y 

> The Kalos Region

> The Kalos Pokédex 

Stratton, Steve. Pokémon X & Pokémon Y: The Official Kalos Region Guidebook. Bellevue: The Pokémon Company International, 2013.

(I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from the Pokémon X & Pokémon Y Guidebook and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Pokémon games tend to be formulaic in nature, one notable format of gameplay appearing in numerous titles; an institution known as The Pokémon League, an in-game institution that challenges the player to face a certain number of trainers in order to claim the title of champion – in other words, the title of the strongest trainer in the region. But who are the individuals that constitute this body of elite trainers, all specializing in different types and possessing different advantages/weaknesses? How has the Pokémon League evolved over time, and what does this mean for upcoming games in the series? This third and final part concludes with descriptions on the last two generations prior to Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (c. November 2022) and general thoughts on the future of the Pokémon League.

Timestamps:

00:04 - A Time to Experiment [Generation VII-VIII: 2016-2019]

> 01:01 - Alola's Pokémon League (Sun & Moon, Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon)

> 23:45 - Galar's Pokémon League (Sword & Shield)

44:50 - Concluding Thoughts

> 44:53 - Discussion on Battle Themes

> 1:00:42 - Thoughts for Upcoming Games

Links:

- Pokémon League

> Gym Leaders

> The Elite Four

> The Champion 

> Trial Captains

> Island Kahunas

> Examples: The Hoenn League (Adheres to Formula), The Galar League (Departs from Formula)

- Gym Leader Themes

- Elite Four Themes

- Champion Themes

The Lore Research Lab Reference Episodes

(I apologize for any random background noises. I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this series; images have been taken from the “Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version – The Official Pokémon Johto Guide and Pokédex" Guidebook and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Pokémon games tend to be formulaic in nature, one notable format of gameplay appearing in numerous titles; an institution known as The Pokémon League, an in-game institution that challenges the player to face a certain number of trainers in order to claim the title of champion – in other words, the title of the strongest trainer in the region. But who are the individuals that constitute this body of elite trainers, all specializing in different types and possessing different advantages/weaknesses? How has the Pokémon League evolved over time, and what does this mean for upcoming games in the series? This second part describes the middle three Generations and how the League is imagined in these additions to the franchise.

Timestamps:

00:04 - A New Era [Generation IV-VI: 2006-2013]

> 03:14 - Sinnoh's Pokémon League (Diamond/Pearl/Platinum)

> 15:53 - Unova's Pokémon League (Black & White, Black 2 & White 2)

> 32:17 - Kalos' Pokémon League (X & Y)

Links:

- Pokémon League

> Gym Leaders

> The Elite Four

> The Champion 

> Examples: The Hoenn League (Adheres to Formula), The Galar League (Departs from Formula)

- Gym Leader Themes

- Elite Four Themes

- Champion Themes

The Lore Research Lab Reference Episodes

(I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this series; images have been taken from the “Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version – The Official Pokémon Johto Guide and Pokédex" Guidebook and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

Pokémon games tend to be formulaic in nature, one notable format of gameplay appearing in numerous titles; an institution known as The Pokémon League, an in-game institution that challenges the player to face a certain number of trainers in order to claim the title of champion – in other words, the title of the strongest trainer in the region. But who are the individuals that constitute this body of elite trainers, all specializing in different types and possessing different advantages/weaknesses? How has the Pokémon League evolved over time, and what does this mean for upcoming games in the series? This first explains what the Pokémon League is and the League as seen in the first three Generations.

Timestamps:

03:51 - What is the Pokémon League?

09:36 - The Golden Age [Gen I-III: 1996-2004]

> 11:21 - Kanto's Pokémon League (Red/Blue/Green/Yellow) 

> 25:50 - Johto's Pokémon League (Gold/Silver/Crystal)

> 41:19 - Hoenn's Pokémon League (Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald)

Links:

- Pokémon League 

> Gym Leaders 

> The Elite Four 

> The Champion 

> Examples: The Hoenn League (Adheres to Formula), The Galar League (Departs from Formula)

- Gym Leader Themes

- Elite Four Themes

- Champion Themes

The Lore Research Lab Reference Episodes

(I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this series; images have been taken from the “Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version – The Official Pokémon Johto Guide and Pokédex" Guidebook and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)

This brief episode looks at some more updates regarding Pokémon Scarlet and Violet as the release date nears! Refer to the videos listed in the description for any further background on these upcoming games.

Timestamps:

01:00 - About the New Gym Leader and their Ace

10:15 - Gameplay Demo Review

Links/Resources:

- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Gameplay Demo 

- The New Gym Leader and their Signature Pokémon 

- A Ghost Type appeared in Paldea!

> Meet Greavard

- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Official Website

- Jump into a Paldean Journey Trailer

- Seek Your Treasure! | Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet Trailer

- Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Competitive Play Trailer

(Creator's Note: I do not claim ownership over the products, sources, and images that come from this game; images have been taken from the “Meet Greavard, the Ghost Dog Pokémon!” trailer and are solely being used for entertainment purposes.)