This afternoon around 4:00 EST I went to the gym for my usual Monday afternoon – two mile run and then an hour workout with my personal trainer.

I do not watch a lot of television on my own and when I do it is typically cartoons or Japanese cultural programs. I avoid the news because I cannot handle the unending parade of hardships, discontent, and malice it presents – I see enough troubling things with my own eyes every day.

While I was running, though, CNN was on and I was absolutely captivated. A huge, terrifyingly dark and swirling cloud was making its way through Oklahoma City. I literally felt terror watching it and couldn’t comprehend something so massive and overpowering bearing down on me. Can you visualize it – a huge funnel cloud in your own town or city? You have no way to escape and all you can do is your best to protect yourself. I hope that everyone in Oklahoma can come to peace in the face of this horror.

A lot of Pokémon are based on an animist tradition, trying to understand the world by applying spiritual causes to the forces of nature we encounter from day to day. Tornadus, even though he is a relatively new Pokémon, is a representation of the uncontrollable fury of the winds.

As part of the Kami Trio, Tornadus has two formes – Incarnate (where he looks somewhat humanoid) and Therian (where he looks bird-like) – and the two formes have different stat combinations and abilities. I am going to focus on the Incarnate forme today.

One thing very special to note about Tornadus is that he is the only pure Flying-type Pokémon – the strange thing about this is, unlike all of the Normal/Flying-type Pokémon out there, Tornadus can be hit by Ghost-type moves. He still has immunity to Ground-type moves, though.

His highest base stat is Special Attack at 125 and then Attack at 115 (don’t use Tornadus as a defender). Speed is decent at 111. His final three stats even out – Special Defense is 80, HP is 79, and Defense is 70. A Modest nature will boost his Special Attack while hindering his Attack. Aim for IVs in Special Attack and Speed, if possible, and distribute those EVs across Special Attack and Speed. You do want Tornadus to have the highest speed he possibly can to take advantage of his Prankster ability.

Prankster is an ability that increases the priority of status moves by one level. Typically you do not need to worry about competing to get those status moves out first except in a few cases – like when you are up against another Pokémon with the Prankster ability. If that is the case, Speed comes back into consideration to see who goes first.

Let’s focus our Tornadus on special moves. For STAB try Hurricane. I know the accuracy is terrible (70%) but that power is just irresistible. I also recommend Heat Wave to deal with any troublesome Ice-types you may come across. Since our Tornadus has Prankster, I am going to recommend two status moves – first Tailwind which doubles the speed of every Pokémon in your party and second Torment which prevents your opponent from using the same move twice in a row.

Have Tornadus hold a Fire Gem to boost that Heat Wave power and you’ll be melting Ice-types even inside their Pokéballs!

There are a number of Tornadus cards in the current TCG formats. The Tornadus EX from Dark Explorers is the one used in the deck known as Big Basics. For two colorless energy you can do 60 damage if there is a stadium in play (and there is always a stadium in play these days). For three colorless energy you can do 100 damage – a pretty decent energy to power ratio.

Written by William  - @washinthesink

Proofed by Jared – @jaredtheunseen

Seriously guiez, guess what!

NEW Pokémon!

Yup, you read that right!

NEW POKEMON

“ポケモンXY

pui“

Let’s introduce you all to these Pokémon!

First up starting from Left to Right!

Helioptile “Elikiteru” an Electric/Normal type, Possibly the Pikachu replacement for this generation. It is known as the Generating Pokémon due to being able to generate electricity using solar rays.

Next up, Gogoat “Gogoat” a Grass type Pokémon. In some screen shots the trainer can be found riding this Pokémon throughout a city, making it known as the Ride Pokémon.

Then you have Fletchling “Yayakoma” a Normal/Flying Pokémon also known as the Japanese Robin Pokémon. This is possible because… you guessed it; it is based off an actual Japanese Robin.

And finally one of the crowd favorites!

Pancham “Yamchan” the Naughty Pokémon. A Fighting type Panda, Sounds familiar…

Other then this reference, it seems quite cool!

What do you think about these new Pokémon?

What will their evolutions bring?

Written by Kay

@KayCStreet

Proofed by Jared

@JaredTheUnseen

Well, folks, time travel is possible. I have succeeded in going back in time.

For the past few weeks, I have been playing Pokémon Diamond version. Why? Why jump back six years to 2007 to play the first Pokémon game tailored to the Nintendo Double Screen?

Well . . . some may know I have been working to complete the New Unova Pokédex (that’s a flat 300 right there). I am down to four left – Archen, Archeops, Castform, and Carnivine. Well, I’ll get Archen eventually, that’s easy. Carnivine is hanging out on Route 18. I thought to myself, though, I HAVE a Castform. It’s there, on my Emerald cartridge. Why should I drive myself crazy trying to find the rare one in the rustling grass on Route 6 in Unova when I’ve already got one?

The problem, though, is, how to get that Castform transported from Hoenn to Unova? It’s actually not that hard, given the right set of circumstances. You need a DS that has both the GameBoy Advance slot and the normal DS slot. You need a copy of a Gen IV game. Well, I have those. I just . . . need to finish one of them. I could choose between Diamond version and SoulSilver version. Well, I just felt I’d be doing myself more of a favor by playing through Diamond.

The Diamond/Pearl/Platinum series really forms the core of Pokémon mythology. This is where you learn of Arceus. Sinnoh was the first region created in the world of Pokémon. This isn’t about things that occurred in history, this is the start of history.

So, I am trying “new” things. I never made it past Oreburgh Cty previously. I have decided, with this version, to grow a Gyarados from a Magikarp. Yes, it is frustrating. It requires patience. Even more patience than hatching an egg, because, if you don’t have the EXP. Share yet you have to keep exposing that Magikarp to opponents so it can get experience points. You don’t get that EXP. Share anytime early in Diamond.

I have a Gyarados now (named Carpleton) and I love it. That dude never goes down. Here is where he currently stands:

Level: 31
Type: Water/Flying
Nature: Docile (No stat is enhanced or inhibited)
Characteristic: Somewhat Stubborn (highest IV is Special Defense)
Hold item: Shell Bell
Ability: Intimidate

Current stats:
HP: 110
Attack: 85
Defense: 64
Special Attack: 47
Special Defense: 74
Speed: 68

Carpleton’s current move set is based on what he learns from leveling up and an HM: Twister, Surf, Bite, and Dragon Rage.

Twister is a Dragon-type move that Gyarados learns at level 29. It is really weak, it gets no STAB, but it has a potential to cause a flinch. I will be replacing it with Ice Fang as soon as I get to level 32. Surf is always powerful and he gets STAB for the Water-type move. Bite helps out against the Ghosties and Psychics, it also can cause a flinch. Dragon Rage, another move learned through level up, is much maligned but actually, in the early game when you are battling lower level (under level 20) Pokémon a flat 40 damage can really drive towards wins.

Eventually I will swap in Ice Fang and Aqua Tail to take advantage of Gyarados’s high Attack stat. When I transfer him up to White 2 I may use a move tutor to teach him Dark Pulse. I have been kind of upset, though, that I cannot teach him Fly (even though he is a Flying-type). I mean, how cool would it be to travel around Sinnoh on the back of a Gyarados!?

There is currently a Gyarados card that is part of the Dragon’s Exalted set and, therefore, legal to play. It is a stinker, though, so do not play it.

Please let me know if you have any cool Gyarados stories in the comments below!

Written by William @washinthesink

Proofed by Jared
@jaredtheunseen

The new Mewtwo Form of course.

Let’s just take this here tail, and move it on up here to the back of its head, and then put a carrying handle on above its ears.

Sounds good right?

All right, print and ship!

Anyways, a few weeks ago this Pokémon was revealed for X/Y.

No official name has been given yet however it descends from Mewtwo.

It is actually a new form of Mewtwo as shown from the clip posted on Pokemon.com

“Awakened Form/ Mewthree /NewTwo is rumored names of this Mewtwo”

Mew Trio

by ~Dark-Scar

Mew, Mewtwo and NewTwo/Mewthree/Awakened Mewtwo.

Next to Mew it is most defiantly the cutest in its line. “In the sketch at least”

I wonder what its powers will be; will it have an even greater strength then Mewtwo alone?

Personally I like this new Mewtwo or whatever it is you want to call it.

What do you guys think about it? Do you like it? Is it a cheap attempt at a new Legendary? Will it tie into the story of X/Y?

Written by Kay

@KayCStreet

Proofed by Jared
@jaredtheunseen

Yup it’s Saturday Sketch!

Returning from its two-week hiatus.

In the past few weeks, a new Pokémon has been revealed.

This new Pokémon is a form of Number 150, Mewtwo.

However disappointing, that is not this week’s sketch.

Perhaps next week I will have a Mewtwo form for you all.

Posted by: “alternativepokemonart” on Tumblr with a given Artist link – “Artist”

Unfortunately, the artist link only takes you to a login page.

I really enjoy this artist’s works.

The reason?

Well just take a look at all the detail.

All the Pokémon carved into stone, on the wall slabs, the Pokéball’s on each ledge, it’s just so amazing!

This artist has other works that have plenty of detail in each!

If you want to see more click on the Tumblr link above.

Hope you enjoyed the Sketch for this week.

Catch you all next week for another sketch!

Written by Kay

@KayCStreet

Proofed by William

@MrGrumpyGills73

Are you familiar with the song Biomusicology by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists? I’m certain that you are, I must have mentioned it before. It is the one that starts out:

Had we never come across the vastness of pavement
The barrenness of waves and the grayness of the sea
Never lost or ne’er been misguided
We’d have ne’er reached seas so shining

In the simplest of terms, nothing ventured, nothing gained. If you aren’t willing to venture out into the unknown, you will never realize hopes or ambitions. Honestly, if you aren’t willing to take the risk, you really don’t have hopes and ambitions in the first place.

Note, though, the mention of being lost and misguided. There is no straight path to success. There is no success without failure, failure upon failure. How did Yoda put it? “Do or do not. There is no try.” You can’t think about taking action. You can’t half-ass it. If you want to attain anything of real value, you must full-ass it. In the end, you may just make an ass of yourself. This is when you sit back, mend your wounds, pick a scab or two, and start making plans for your next endeavor. Without going on another diatribe about the many errors in modern day parenting, there is no learning without making errors.

I would like us to redefine failure. Failure, in itself, is just a clear sign that you put forth the effort. You lost the game, you lost the battle? Is that really the worst thing? Yes, all of your preparation, your strategy and planning did not bring you the success you dreamed of. I can tell you what is worse, though.

From Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde: Öd und leer das Meer!

Or, from T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland:

Your arms full, and your hair wet, I could not
Speak, and my eyes failed, I was neither
Living nor dead, and I knew nothing
Looking into the heart of light, the silence
Oed’ und leer das Meer.

Such a simple phrase, yet so rich with meaning. A life without attempt, a life without failure, it is the empty and desolate sea. As these poets turned the phrase, the glorious arrival of the anticipated ship was nowhere within sight. I would rather fight an infinite number of Pokémon battles and never win a single one than never have known the pleasure of raising, breeding, and just plain trying.

Ted Leo, though, offers us a different way of looking at the empty and desolate sea:

Chasing sea-foam dreams
Around another dirty old town
Parallel run streams
Toward the gray ocean from the green ground
‘Oed und leer, das meer
But look beneath the glassy surface
All the songs you hear
Down there they have a purpose

If you cannot find what you are looking for above the waves, look underneath. “All the songs you hear, down there they have a purpose.” I do not know why this line has always held so much weight for me. Our fellow mammals, the aquatic ones, communicate through song. What, for us, is trivial for them is critical. In the end, you may need to re-examine what you see as failure and find the true value and meaning in your experience.

Wailord is the Float Whale Pokémon, although it doesn’t spend a lot of time above the water. Wailord is the tallest Pokémon, but not the heaviest. So, you know, don’t Grass Knot it.

It is probably well known that Wailord’s highest base stat is HP at 170, it isn’t all defender, though – Attack and Special Attack are tied at 90 while Defense and Special Defense are both 45. Speed comes in at 60. Let’s be honest, folks, Wailord is not a power player. Yes, you have to get past one to defeat Black 2 or White 2, but you could actually accomplish this with an Eelektrik (I did). Stay focused, EV train Wailord for HP and Special Attack and you’ll do ok.

Since Wailord is a pure Water-type, you can have it carry two powerful Water-type moves. Water Spout, which is based on a multiple of the user’s HP, can only benefit from Wailord’s high HP. Hydro Pump is plain vanilla damage (with a nice power base of 120) but only 80% accuracy. Bounce is essential on a Wailord – you need that 30% chance of paralysis. Finally, breed a Wailord with Tickle as a status move. Nothing better than preserving yourself by knocking down the opponent’s Attack and Defense.

Leftovers is the best hold item for Wailord – it helps to keep Water Spout powered up throughout your battle.

Yes, there is a currently playable Wailord in the TCG. Yes, it has the highest HP of any card, which you can even boost to 220 using either Glaceon or a Giant Cape. Don’t play this card, though. Just don’t (Blastoise/Wailord/Victini anyone?).

Finally, in any battle, be it VGC, TCG, or life, remember the final verse of Biomusicology:

All in all we cannot stop singing
we cannot start sinking
We swim until it ends
They may kill and we may be parted
But we will ne’er be broken-hearted

Written by William
@washinthesink

Proofed by Jared
@jaredtheunseen

Plasma Freeze is right around the corner. Let’s talk about where the format is going to end up after the release of this set. I predict that the format slows down ever so slightly. Which means we could see a strong tier 1 deck, besides Blastoise/Keldeo, that is going to run an evolution chain. The format will however continue to be about two components, big basics and Hypnotoxic Laser.

All of the new EX’s work well together and our Team Plasma pokemon have even more tech at their disposal. When you’re brewing your new deck lists think about how to cheat in energy and what you can use to keep an edge over your opponent. Keeping up your tempo is going to be a big factor in the next format. You need to be able to maintain a constant board presence. You will not be able to miss an energy drop. Even trickier, if your opponent is cheating in energy, you need to keep pace. Colress Machine, Dark Patch, and Energy Switch will all be cards seeing play next format.

Previously we’ve been able to splash disruptive cards. If you had an extra slot putting in an Enhanced Hammer wasn’t a bad choice. Because Plasma Freeze will have a lot of tech I think it’s important to dedicate yourself to disruption if you’re going to play it. Either bet the house on being able to play hammers or those slots are probably better spent on cards that will help you accelerate your energy or damage.

Good luck brewing and good look at your prerelease. Let us know how it goes and if you open any awesome EXs!

Written by Vinnie
@Spincenzo

Proofed by Jared
@JaredTheUnseen

image courtesy of: http://www.pidgi.net/

Justin (@jstinftw) was kind enough to loan me his Trick Room team for Spring VGC Regionals and the International Challenge. While I wasn’t the best, I certainly did better that I usually do with team Tickles and received a lot of compliments.

Yes, the main star of the team was Reuniclus – not only does he invoke the Trick Room but he had the bulky staying power to knock out quite a few members of the opposing team. I’ll be honest, though, Alaric the Reuniclus wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without his partner in crime, Babytooth the Togekiss.

Babytooth had one primary job – take the first round hits for the team so that Alaric could fire off that Trick Room. Not the perfect strategy – one opponent OHKOed both of them with an Explosion, several others were able to knock out Togekiss with one hit and flinch Reuniclus so that the Trick Room could never be fired – but a strong strategy that did win quite a few battles. It was surprising to see how frequently Babytooth could take two hits and still come back the next turn to deal wicked damage.

Babytooth was hatched on Village Bridge on September 11, 2012. She is only level 58 today, but she was lovingly raised by Justin to have the following stats (Togekiss base stats in parentheses): Attack at 78 (50), Defense 130 (95), Special Attack 217 (120), Special Defense 147 (115), and Speed 90 (80). She has a Quiet nature which increases Special Attack while decreasing Speed. Her characteristic is Mishievous showing that her strongest IV is Special Attack. As you can see, Justin sacrificed her Speed (it is a Trick Room team where the slower Pokémon get to move first) in favor of boosting Special Attack. A perfect example of a well designed Pokémon.

Babytooth holds the Power Belt. Why hold an item that boosts stats on level up? Because, if you recall, the boost comes at a cost – speed is lowered by 50%. The Defense stat boost only occurs when you level up, but the Speed decrease is a constant. This is essential for the Trick Room team and several other members held power items.

Babytooth’s ability is Serene Grace which became a battle essential. You’ll see from her move set that everything was chosen to have a secondary effect. It may not seem like much but the increased possibility of a flinch turned the tide of a few battles. While Hustle and Super Luck are also keen abilities, in this battle format hitting first and causing a secondary effect are of much higher value.

Her number one and most critical move is Follow Me (Japanese name: Stay With This Finger). When Follow Me fires off, it forces all single target attacks to be targeted at the user (double and multi-target attacks still hit everyone). This prevents, as much as possible, Reuniclus from getting hit before it can Trick Room. Follow Me is a “priority move” which means that – regardless of the Speed stat of all Pokémon in battle, it should go off first. Except . . . if multiple priority moves are invoked in the same turn, the Speed stat is still considered. A speedy Prankster Sableye bedeviled Justin’s Trick Room team because it could Flinch Reuniclus before Togekiss could draw the attention. Honestly, though, Follow Me fired off first more often than not. Air Slash is her next most valuable move – Strong against all the Fighting, Bug, and Grass-types and, with STAB, strong against pretty much anything PLUS a Serene Grace boosted possibility to cause flinching. Fire Blast to heat up Bugs, Grass, and Steel-types (see ya Metagross) and leave a burn. Finally, Aura Sphere, which doesn’t have a secondary effect but is a powerful Fighting-type move that cannot be avoided. Many Dark-types bit the dust on some Aura Sphere action.

Having used Justin’s Trick Room team in about fifty battles, I can say his methodology is strong and, most likely, any weaknesses were my own misunderstandings of strategy. I honestly don’t think I saw any other Togekiss out there and she was quite the powerhouse.

The current Togekiss card in the TCG is one of those “came so close” cards. It is almost playable. In a basic sense, it cannot be poisoned or put to sleep by a Hypnotoxic Laser. Huge in the current format of Hypnotoxic Lasers and Virbank City Gym combos. Unfortunately, it only has one attack, which would be fine/disappointing at 30 power for one Colorless energy but, and this is a big but, you are forced to draw cards until you have six in your hand (kind of like playing a Bianca). Fine in the wary game but those cards can easily be N’ed away or, if Togekiss really is your only attacker, rapidly force you to deck out. I haven’t seen Togekiss in competitive play at all.

A strong team is made up of complimentary members – Togekiss and Reuniclus working together to get that Trick Room going. While Togekiss may be a sacrificial lamb you cannot underestimate his value to the overall team strategy.

Written by William
@washinthesink

Proofed by

@JaredTheUnseen

How about bug type Pokémon?

Me personally, I love bug Pokémon but have a very strong dislike for bugs in general.

However the piece I came across for todays Satuday Sketch was quite amazing.

Most of you may know how Caterpie’s Evolution line is based on a Caterpillars Metamorphosis process.

Caterpie —> Metapod —> Butterfree

Caterpillar —> Cocoon —> Butterfly

The Caterpillar as a bug doesn’t really creep me out as much, however others….

Anyways the sketch.

Caterpietobutterfree2

by ~JaredSalmond

Caterpie’s life cycle through metamorphosis.

Out of the three evolutions, Metapod has to be the creepiest.

What do you think?

Written by Kay

@KayCStreet

Proofed by

@JaredTheUnseen

Inner Focus
This Ability was introduced in generation three, where twelve pokémon had access. These days, twenty-two make use of the Ability between the Dream World and naturally having it. A pokémon with Inner Focus is immune to being forced into flinching. This makes them good leading pokémon, because they have a built-in counter to the popular Fake Out. Crobat, Dragonite, Lucario, and several powerful others are amongst the Inner Focus ilk. Also, Farfetch’d. But, you know, Farfetch’d.

Soundproof
As the name suggests, Soundproof provides immunity against sound-based moves. I won’t spend too much time on this one, as Soundproof is basically the useable version of Cacophony, the subject of my April Fool’s article last year. The likes of Exploud, Mime Jr, and Electrode have access to Soundproof, along with nine others.

Sturdy
Perhaps the most useful immunity is the immunity against the dreaded one-hit knockout, and Sturdy grants exactly that to all thirty-two of its users. The vast majority of Sturdy pokémon are Rock-type, with a few other types sprinkled in. Sturdy is only in play if the user has full HP, but while that requisite is held, the Sturdy pokémon will not be knocked out. That makes them ideal wielders of items like Leftovers or Sitrus Berries. You’ll find Sturdy in place on Magnezone, Golem, Steelix, Gigalith, Aggron, and many others.

And that wraps up another installment of AOTW! Until next time, trainers! See you!

-Wil
www.wheretheresawil.com
@wheretheresawil