Friday, May 6, 2022

Brave with the Firefly

Every Pokémon battle, including ones in Pokémon Go, is a venue of struggle for showing who is truly the best. It's like a war, but it's far more peaceful even with what it involves. It's also especially pronounced for gaining ground in specific efforts, as with the community-based Silph Arena competition. This month, the competition attempts to do just that with a themed cup that takes to the sky in a glowing manner: Firefly.

For this themed cup, the mode of inclusions and restrictions returns to a simpler manner. The focus of inclusion is on five types - Normal, Electric, Bug, Poison, and Ice - of which a Pokémon must have at least one of those types. For the restrictions, the Ground type is banned, as are five individual species: Walrein, Pachirisu, Escavalier, Dragalge, and Salazzle. Naturally, Mega Evolution is still de facto banned for various reasons, but other than that, what's in and what's out is as simple as can be.

Determining which Pokémon to use, however, may not be as simple. Of the five focus types, the one that might be downplayed the most is Poison, and a number of Rock and Fighting-type species (coupled with a focus type, for example as Alolan Graveler and Heracross) will also determine the dynamics of battle. A few Pokémon of other minor types might also make appearances, but good choices like Magnezone, Obstagoon, and Alolan Ninetales may just be able to fend off potential selections.

If this themed cup smacks of the Jungle themed cup from three years ago, that is completely valid, as the development notes specifically cite this, effectively rendering it as "Jungle 2.0". As with most recent themed cups, there is a focus on breaking triadic relationships and allowing entry of other underutilized species. The ban on Ground types allow three of the five focus types to have a break, while the individual species are banned for their takeover potential or accessibility. In any case, the "Jungle" spirit remains free.

Much still depends on the struggle that a Trainer brings out with the team of Pokémon that satisfies the constraints of this theme. The battles will remain at least a little warlike as ever, though whatever the results, there is peace at hand to be gained, and hopefully never a tragedy. And for this themed cup, in the shade of the prior jungle, there is hope for much glow among the species involved that can really fly high.

Two years ago: Play Pokémon on a Plane
Three years ago: A Tropius Keychain
Five years ago: Shuffling Stages

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