My "Missing Pieces" in Pokémon Go in 2025

As for the game that predominates my Pokémon affairs at the moment, which would be Pokémon Go, things are progressing for me as they are expected to proceed. However, it has to be admitted that there are (still) "missing pieces" in those progressions, some of which affect portions of those progressions. As such, it seems pertinent to mention those "missing pieces" and how I'm apt to deal with them presently.

One of those things is my total XP, which at the moment is only a few million away from the hallowed peak of Level 50. Granted, if I'm really serious about it, I could wrap it up within a few days... but that would mean forgoing pretty much everything else, which I don't want to do and can't anyway for reasons of practicality and impossibility. As it is, to go slow and steady about it is still a good approach, and one that allows this missing piece to fill itself.

Then, there is still the intricacy of PvP to worry about. As previously stated, I've recovered some footing in it, though not completely. I can still battle in the GBL sometimes on some days, but not as much as I could devote to it as in the past. I'm also observing "community" PvP and its formats, but I'm finding myself unable to devote time to delve into or battle in them for much of the same reasons why XP progression above is the way it is.

Speaking of "community", it's been the case that things haven't always progressed well for me alongside my local community, and recently, I've been made aware of that fact yet again. And now that "community" is at the forefront more than ever, it's an even harder matter to solve. After speaking with certain people about the matter, I believe that it may be time to take the matter into my own hands - though as with the others above, it's not always on my side.

Pokémon Go will still be on my agenda throughout this year, but it's only the start of the year and some "missing pieces" are already - if not having done so for some time - making themselves evident in the general picture of the affairs for this game, at least some that are personally related to me. It would seem that I'd have to continue seeing the bigger picture while minding some of the current "gaps" in it.

One year ago: Let's Talk About Endings and Beginnings

Two years ago: I'm a Legend!

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 1/16/2022

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 1/16/2021

Five years ago: Only Women Like You

Six years ago: Pokémon Conversations

Seven years ago: Be the Best... or Be Different?

Eight years ago: My Pokémon Anime Epoch

My Team Status in Café Remix

Meanwhile, on the front of Pokémon puzzle spinoff games, on my personal end there is the presently popular Café Remix. Specifically for my personal discussion, I'd like to bring up the matter of teams, which are so important for many happenings in the game. Regarding this, I've had to go through a process that I didn't think I'd have to go through, and that is reflected in the current status of my team and what it was before today.

I'd been happy with the team I initially selected, but lately, many of the members had been underperforming (in fact, not at all). The team had been continuously going through inactive member turnovers - ones who hadn't logged in for 30 days being removed from it - and this even involved one of the players who had been tops in the past along with a "friend" of that player. Clearly, it was time for drastic measures.

For that, I elected to leave the team voluntarily and seek a new one. This, however, had the caveat that I wouldn't be able to join one within a span of 24 hours, which meant not being able to contribute to a team-based event if there was one - and in fact, there was. The game gave a warning and confirmation regarding this matter after viewing the team info and tapping "Leave". Luckily, that gave time for me to find a prospective new team.

After the 24 hours had passed, I joined a new team, which I chose according to the progression of most of its members as seen in the team search preview. The progression of the current team event was also evidently much further along than my previous team. While it remains to be seen how I will fare with this new team in general, at the least I am in good company with the team's current state.

So it is that my current team status is one that is formerly of one team and now another through leaving and rejoining. It's a last resort, but it just might be necessary for things to improve in the game, especially if the situation above happens. Given its caveats, it's also necessary to recognize when one should undertake the process if needed. Regardless, it also means that teams are just as necessary for the good of progression here.

One year ago: The Ultimate Journey: A Journey's End

Two years ago: Tournament: Trainers' Sparring Battleground Ember Cup

Three years ago: Let's Talk About A Fourth Party

Four years ago: I Need Good Energy

Five years ago: After Tournament, Because of Tournament

Six years ago: Keeping Up with VGC

Seven years ago: Here Comes an Ex-Raid

Eight years ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition, Day 2

My Pursuit of Unite Licenses Thus Far

Next on the personal discussion agenda is something related to the battle royale that is Pokémon Unite. To battle with and against others in the game, one needs Unite Licenses to be able to use certain Pokémon. Any deserving player Trainer will certainly try to obtain them whenever possible, and that's also what I've done. For that, it can be said that I've made good progress on this front based on what has happened.

The best progress of all on this front is that I have obtained all the Unite Licenses for all Speedsters and Defenders that are in the game up to this point. While I may not use all of them right away, this can make for adaptability in certain situations, with one example being me joining a team and having either of these as dedicated roles. Of course, I'll also need to be on the watch for new Pokémon with these roles in order to continue completing them.

As for other roles, I have a good collection of the Pokémon in each despite not having all. I'm only missing a few for Supporter and Attacker, and a few more for All-Rounder. Likewise, using them all will take time and effort, but the adaptability is nice to have. Furthermore, in the process of doing so, I might just develop new occasional usage favorites - a recent one being Azumarill for All-Rounder. Eventually, I may or may not have all Pokémon for these as well.

How did I come to obtain the Unite Licenses for these Pokémon? I actually obtained some of them through a set of gift boxes that were distributed back in the game's usual holiday event, one for each role; for example, I used the Attacker box to obtain Dragapult because it was the most expensive of the ones I don't already have. For the others, I paid for them with Aeos Coins, practically the only other "free" way of obtaining them. 

Continuing the pursuit of Unite Licenses thus means looking out for the events that allow me to obtain them freely (like the above, or certain Legendary Pokémon events) while also considering which ones I can afford and are pertinent to my battle needs. The former might not come often and the latter might not always be easy to determine, but both will certainly have some kind of results when I go through them.

It's not always an easy matter to battle with the Pokémon that are now and will be present in Pokémon Unite, so obtaining different Unite Licenses might be one way to make the matter easier. That is regardless a key point of the game, even if one has settled and become familiar with specific roles by necessity or preference. With that, my pursuit of Unite Licenses for Pokémon of concern keeps on going for what might come next.

One year ago: Laughing with Pokémon (Species)

Two years ago: More Insights (and Strides) for the Daily Adventure Incense

Three years ago: Pokémon Asia Pikachu Mug + 2 Promo Cards

Four years ago: "Post-Shuffle" Activity

Five years ago: Fusion without Confusion

Six years ago: Pokémon Theme Park Ideas

Seven years ago: Playing the Meta Game

Eight years ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition, Day 1

My Next Pokémon Figure Targets

Well, it seems that I might have to get rather personal with my posts on Pokémon things over the next few days, but I think that might be appropriate for a certain reason, to be detailed. So here I go. First up, I'd like to deal with something that I haven't touched in a long while, which would be the specific kind of merchandise that is Pokémon figures, something that fervent fans like me do collect and have (quite) a few of. Regarding this topic, I'd like to pose a few of my next targets for this should I be able to procure some of them.

Something that might be rather certain for this is that I'm not really interested to get full-size (or larger) figures at the moment. Predictably, this is due to a few constraints, mainly those of space and funds; the latter is especially crucial for any figure, but even more so with full-size ones, while the former is also tied to the interest of being able to show them off in the best way possible, something that I'd need to figure out for all figures regardless. Of course, I'll still accept those that are given to me, and perhaps I can work with them.

My interest (and thus, targets) would currently lie in figures of a smaller scale, like those of the Moncolle line, for which I only have one exemplar at present. I could foresee expanding my collection to more figures in this line, although the primary constraints as above would still apply. Therefore, I'd either have to pick and choose which figures I actually want... or else accept any giveaways that are directed to me, which is incidentally how that one Moncolle figure came about. Some considerations are still needed in this regard.

For other Pokémon figures that I'm open toward, I'm also interested in unique ones like the Pikachu character ones that I obtained some time ago. More figures along this concept would be something fascinating to obtain, especially if I can make them work according to the constraints as given above. Still, other figures that are cleverly crafted or originate from unique sources are also fair game, for which my sources tell me that there is actually such that are about to come soon - or in fact may have actually come for able fans.

Though I don't plan on expanding my Pokémon figure collection in the near future or even at any time adjacent to that, it's still great to be able to set a semblance of targets - personal ones, at least - for what I'd like to obtain next. That way, when the time or chance to obtain another Pokémon figure comes along, I'll know exactly what to get, although the "how" is still unknown at present. Personally, even anything beyond my targets would be appropriate, yet it's just as appropriate to develop a vision even at this moment.

One year ago: Cosplay: MCP Creative Festival

Two years ago: Transfer Soon, or Forever Hold Your 3DS

Three years ago: Goh's Workstation Setup

Four years ago: The Rain and Pokémon

Five years ago: Premier Ball Hanging Ornament

Six years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day + Local EX Raid, 1/13/2019

Seven years ago: My Pokémon Show

Eight years ago: Pokémon and Cosplay

Cosplay: Atarashii Sekai

Me: Welcome back, for real this time.

Ash: Somewhere for me to go!

Pikachu: Pi! ["Yup!"]

Me: Sure! Though... it'll be slightly different today - we'll get to that soon.

Goh: What's different? It looks like your run of the mill, um...

Me: Festival, I'm told this is.

Goh: Oh, OK.

Me: But I'm sure Ash will recognize the place. 

Ash: Oh, it's the mall rooftop! But... the people running it are different... and there was another festival too?

Goh: Would our friend care to explain?

Me: OK, so it seems that this is a business festival by one of the colleges in my area, but they've chosen to have a second half with a Japanese theme. And well, you know, people will come to that.

Goh: Well, of course. But outdoors? This time of year where you are? Won't it rain?

Ash: I had the same thought... and it did in the afternoon, right after the character parade.

Pikachu: Pi pika chu. ["You were spot on."]

Goh: There you go. Since you brought it up, how was the parade? 

Ash: All the characters were great! But I wasn't in it. 

Goh: Oh? Something else to explain by our friend?

Me: OK, so I decided not to put Ash in on this one because it's paid, and I wanted to save for a better time. That's what's different.

Ash: Sure. We understand. Right? 

Goh: Right.

Ash: Also, I think my blue shoes need a bit of a fix, but my special journey outfit is fine. 

Me: Noted. Another good thing we skipped out.

Goh: So, what else was at the festival? What did the booths have?

Ash: A lot of food and drinks! And some communities too. 

Goh: It's a business festival, so it makes sense. And the entertainment must have been standard.

Ash: Yup! I think I've seen all of them in other places. Dance groups, singers, bands, and the karaoke group.

Pikachu: Pika pika pika! ["All of them there!"]

Me: I'm pretty sure you have.

Ash: Oh, and I got to see the parade winners. And... I know some of them and their characters.

Me: So we may or may not have had a chance.

Goh: You'll want to try for next time.

Me: That's something to consider.

Goh: Well, if Ash didn't take part in the character parade, he must have spent the day with our friend's friends.

Ash: Yeah! One took me there, another was for character things, another one was for Pokémon things, and a few more were for other group things. 

Goh: Sounds to me like our friend is involved in a lot of things. 

Pikachu: Pi pika pika? ["Maybe too many?"]

Me: Hopefully not too many, but just enough to keep me and Ash going.

Ash: Hey, and maybe they can keep this festival going next time!

Goh: That's a thought.

Me: And after this festival and "break day", (Pokémon) life goes on.

One year ago: #25 Makes a +62 Journey

Two years ago: A Solitary Pokémon Fantasy

Three years ago: (Dis)Engagement in Silph Arena Action

Four years ago: To Spotlight or Not to Spotlight?

Five years ago: Cosplay: Nihon Matsuri 2020

Six years ago: These Sides of Paradise

Seven years ago: Another Big Shuffle Update

Eight years ago: In-Game Trainer Name Inspirations

Searching for New Pokémon Meetups

I've experienced - that is, been able to participate - in various meetups (also, gatherings) for different Pokémon things, and they've mostly turned out great, incrementing all the experience that I've had with them. All the same, I'm also interested to take part in new kinds of Pokémon meetups and gatherings, particularly for Pokémon things that I don't deal (or haven't dealt) with. These would constitute new kinds of Pokémon meetups and gatherings, and they could be rather incremental in that regard.

The meetups or gatherings could be for games that I play now but I don't often touch, like for Pokémon Unite; for this particular case, I've recently heard of certain local meetups that involve the game though not necessarily playing it, but even with that, I'd love to take part if only for the experience. Even something as remote as Café Remix could conceivably have a meetup or gathering for it if the players have their will and way, and given my current interest, I'm going to have to participate if it does happen.

Meanwhile, there could be other remote areas of Pokémon for which meetups could be made and I could participate in them. As an example, a gathering of artists that have a passion for Pokémon wouldn't be too out of the ordinary, and even with my meager artistic skills, it's totally something that I could participate in. Further, I'm aware that Pokémon cosplay is somewhat of a disorganized thing in my local area, and if it could be organized somehow, then a meetup for it can happen - and I will definitely have to participate.

Anything about Pokémon could seemingly and conceivably have meetups attached to them, especially if the people involved with those things have the will and way to make them happen. They would likely become meetups that have a certain novelty for me, and I would want to search for them and participate in them if at all possible. With all the meetings I've taken part in thus far and how they've turned out, the ones that are new to me would be ones that I would want to seek out to get into, and then add to my experiences.

One year ago: Adapting More of Ash's Outfits?

Two years ago: The Present Trouble with Indonesian VGC

Three years ago: My Superstar Type Teams in Pokémon Shuffle

Four years ago: Getting Measured for Costumes

Five years ago: Faults in Some Stars

Six years ago: Pokédex Texts and Information

Seven years ago: A Song for the Lonely, et Cetera

Eight years ago: My Path Through the Main Series

The (Personal) Importance of In-Game Trainer Appearance

It is recognized that two current and popular Pokémon games (Go and Unite) have a way of representing the player Trainer in those games along with an array of customizations for that representation. They do so with "avatar items" for the former and "fashion items" for the latter, though they refer to much of the same (or similar) things and some players (like me) may have the tendency to interchange the terms with or without intent. Of course, as a player representation, it has a certain quantity of importance for every player, though this quantity will surely differ from one player to another. I thought I'd take a post to discuss this aspect, especially how it could pertain to me personally.

Undoubtedly, for some players, this would be important. One of my fellow Pokémon Go players (Trainers) immediately took to customizing the Trainer appearance to put on some weight to it - a feature recently introduced in that game - to make it more representative of the player's actual appearance. Others, meanwhile, had jumped on the latest "punk" hairstyles that were introduced along with the Wild Area event that featured Toxtricity, even though they themselves do not possess such a hairstyle. So, the importance could be for either true or idealized representation, or something within the gamut in between both. That seems to ring familiar with the current season of the game.

Meanwhile, the options in Pokémon Unite are more idealistic and may be considered more reflective of what players see in themselves as a Trainer. Still, there is a degree of players being able to customize as they see fit, perhaps to align slightly more with their real selves rather than their imagined ones. Evidently, hair and contact lens color options - also recently introduced much in the same way as appearance options in Pokémon Go - somewhat play into this. Many of the outfits (notably the "animal" ones) in the game, however, could still be considered to be out of the ordinary and less realistic.

As for me personally, I might be able to say that Trainer appearance in the games mentioned above is important, but not to the point that, say, I'd expend actual in-game currency to make my appearance fit what I want to show in the world. In any case, I've established (in a way) its importance by basing the outfit I use in the videos on the YouTube channel for this blog according to selections I made in Pokémon Go, being ones I've made freely for that purpose... which is something that I still need to get back to, as an aside. Yet I might want to keep the appearance updated as I see fit with the situation.

The great thing about customizing Trainer appearances in both of the games mentioned above is the ability to put oneself (or a representation of such) within the game, and that is important if nothing else. For those who jump on the latest customizations, it might very well be very important for them, while those who are more conservative - like me - might see a lesser degree of importance. Any appearance of the self is still important in certain ways, and an envisioned Pokémon Trainer can be shown as such.

One year ago: In Pursuit of Unite Licenses

Two years ago: The Present Trouble with Silph Arena

Three years ago: More Evolution Stages for Pokémon Species?

Four years ago: Pokémon SM KFC Family Meal Toy: Mimikyu & Ultra Ball

Five years ago: Renewed Oaths: Pokémon Direct, 1/9/2020

Six years ago: Custom Pokémon Merchandise

Seven years ago: A Pokémon-Pikachu Balloon

Eight years ago: Where It All Started

Club Campfire Rewards in Pokémon Go

As evidenced in the Community Day edition from two months ago, checking in for a Campfire meetup linked to the event no longer rewarded the Special Research set, but a "community" Timed Research set instead. In fact, this also started to apply for anything that could have a Campfire meetup created for it, as Spotlight Hour, Raid Day, and so on and so forth. This actually represents a "bringing together" of these initiatives under one umbrella, that which is called Club Campfire, and it has the benefit of rewards in Pokémon Go attached to it. That also makes it a point to be discussed in order to take advantage of it in the best manner. 

First and foremost, however, these meetups have to be ones hosted by a Community Ambassador, which will be indicated clearly in Campfire as the meetup will have the "Rewards" tag on it. This might imply that more areas with communities should have their leading members apply to become Community Ambassadors, a task that has its own separate details. Regardless, by checking in as usual (close to the meetup location and starting 15 minutes prior to the start time), returning to Pokémon Go will make Rhi appear in the Research section. Rhi will then prompt a selection of one of four choices (Catching, Raids, Battles, or Connecting), and this results in particular Timed Research sets and tasks for the option, and they need to be completed within eight hours.

The contents of the tasks are suited to the choice that was made; further, at least one task will require close interaction somehow (Raids and Connecting both will demand that one creates or joins a Party, while Catching has a trading task and Battles has a PvP task). Therefore, if one doesn't expect to interact very much, Catching and Battles - the latter in particular - are safe options regardless of whatever event is tied to the meetup along with its demands. Yet if one needs to pursue certain rewards, like the additional free passes for the Raids option, the caveat has been outlined and the required interaction is a given. As well, no matter the choice, some Field Research tasks adapt to the checked-in meetup and Party Play will have additional bonuses.

Even if one doesn't care about the rewards and the tasks, there is one small incentive for going to meetups and checking in. Each time this is done, it increments the counter of a new medal called the Community Member medal. This becomes useful, if only for those who haven't obtained a certain number of specific medals for specific tasks as in Special Research or the leveling tasks for going beyond Level 40. The ultimate goal of the medal is to attend 100 meetups on different days to obtain its platinum level... but it hasn't even been 100 days since the medal was introduced nor have there been meetups on every day since then. So, this will still take a bit of time - particularly for those who don't attend meetups often - but it may just work out nonetheless.

Reaping the rewards of Club Campfire meetups in Pokémon Go takes a bit of consideration and perhaps a little bit of effort, but there's at least something for everyone and every time - specifically, the times when the distinct meetups that tie into the rewards are held. The choice to (try to) attend these meetups and obtain the rewards, whichever ones are appropriate for the given times, will still be up to a Trainer to make, but done right, the benefits will be evident and universal for them and others. It seems that there is a sense of unification that the system attempts to bring, just like how Pokémon Go has done so for everyone over many years.

One year ago: The Outdoor Tea Party in Café Remix

Two years ago: The Post URLs on This Blog

Three years ago: Streaming Pokémon Anime Episodes

Four years ago: Introducing Collection Challenges

Five years ago: (Finally, Another) Local EX Raid, 1/9/2020

Six years ago: Pokémon Ceramics

Seven years ago: Hitching a Raid Ride

Eight years ago: A Tale of Two Shirts

The Year of Eevee

While I've declared my "yearly theme" for this year, it seems Pokémon also went ahead and made a declaration of a specific theme for that same year. The theme involves a well-known species of Pokémon, primarily for its rather diverse evolutionary capability, although it itself is sufficiently well-known as a "secondary mascot" of sorts. The species in question is of course Eevee, and as such this year is dubbed as the "Year of Eevee".

One way that this has been officiated is through a Pokémon Center e-mail newsletter, which shows the promotional emblem for the year's theme. It also highlights plush dolls (for the eponymous Pokémon) as well as figures (for its evolved forms or "Eeveelutions"). The ones for the latter are vivid and graphical with unique styles, while the ones for the former are stylistic and expressive in different ways. These highlighted sets of merchandise suggest that the year will be filled with a variety of exploratory takes on the species (family).

This featuring of Eevee in the (rough) timeframe is not the first time, with the earlier feature being the line of mini-figures featuring Eevee and its evolved forms from a few years back. Of course, the current featuring of Eevee can and should go beyond merchandise - though as this year has only barely started, it means that it remains to be explored within the rest of the many days of this year. It's definitely something to look forward to.

I also want to explore the numerological aspect of this year's theme, as an aside. Eevee is #133 in the National Pokédex, which has a digital sum of 7; meanwhile, this year (2025) has a digital sum of 9. The latter actually has a close correspondence with the nine species of the family, the eight evolved species forms and Eevee itself, while the former might assert a certain "lucky" aspect... whether that's for fans discovering the theme as presented or possessing a certain representative example. It's not much to consider, but it's an useful aside.

Eevee is a rather special Pokémon for those who appreciate it, and this year, it seems Pokémon wants to give everyone more chances to make that appreciation. So it is that this year is declared as the "Year of Eevee" to fulfill that purpose. Given its diversity of possibilities for evolution, there is a diversity of possibilities for its appreciation as well, and the "secondary mascot" and its species family should serve that role well.

One year ago: Quickies: Getting Over Fatigue

Two years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Ember Cup

Three years ago: Quickies: Clapping with Pokémon

Four years ago: The Syntax of Pokémon Names

Five years ago: Locks on Shiny Forms

Six years ago: A Pokémon Case Analytic Scenario

Seven years ago: The Three-Count

Eight years ago: On the Subject of Go

Give Me Five

Meanwhile, while it's still early on in the year, I thought I'd discuss "yearly themes", for which I've had one for the longest time. After considering the Pokémon happenings (and those that are adjacent), as well as possible ones to come throughout this year, I've finally settled on a theme - though for what it is, it seems to give some people pause, including me. Appropriately enough, the theme is as stated in the title of this post: "Give Me Five".

That "pause" aspect is quite appropriate to be dealt first. As it stands, the expression that is this year's theme alludes to "taking a break" or "taking a rest", which from the initial experience from this year might have to be applied to Pokémon things and other things I deal with. Then again, perhaps that may be for the best, as it's great to keep things going, but it is fine and may be necessary to take a respite every now and then - or, this year.

In Pokémon matters, the number five is most recently recognized for being the number of players a side on a standard Unite team match, and this seemingly suggests that I might want to try to deal more with the game this year. The number is also linked to a generation that could be construed to be a current focus in Pokémon Go, and it'll have to be taken up as such, particularly when the end of the current season comes up in two months.

Certainly, the theme is still a continuation of the "numbers game" I had started ever since the world fell into a certain chaos many years ago, though most traces of that chaos are absent by now. Still, the region associated with the Pokémon generation above may be considered to have had its own brand of chaos, and that may be something to be kept in mind as the rest of this year unfolds - as it may take much to prevent that from happening in the world.

Even the creation of this post has been influenced with an element of "five" - albeit internally and only known to me. But then, my "yearly themes" are also internally myself, even though I'm projecting them out into the open with posts like this one. And then there are the Pokémon aspects to be considered, which still become the primary determinants for me, my life, and everything else it might offer. Now, I think I'll "take five" before writing the next post.

One year ago: Cosplay: Isshoni Tanoshimimashou 18 - Shinka

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 1/7/2023

Three years ago: A Movie-Watching Dream

Four years ago: Previous Plus One

Five years ago: The Substitute Being (or Doll)

Six years ago: Family Affairs

Seven years ago: Rethinking Salt

Eight years ago: Tournament: Local Friendly, 1/7/2017

There Is a Place...

Besides paralleling each other, something that the real world and Pokémon world have in common is that they both have lots of places. Some of these places could conceivably be where people - and likely (their) Pokémon as the parallel of animals - go to in order to take refuge, to get away from it all, or to relieve feelings of unhappiness. Since I'm still in a somber mood after a certain happening, I thought I'd consider three kinds of these places, which might be inspired after certain things, and make sense of them with Pokémon.

In one of these places, I could be me and people could be themselves - in other words, it's where "you are you". There, they can battle with the Pokémon they like and/or are capable of nurturing all their qualities, which might depend on their wants and needs. They spot us there and we exchange Pokémon interactions without being restrained by who we are. It sounds like an idealized place in both worlds, but it can be realized anywhere if the people (and Pokémon) can and want to make it happen.

There can and should also be places where people can "believe in love" along with Pokémon and any other related beings. This is slightly related to the above, but it can also concern having certain fondness for other people and/or Pokémon without any negative feelings intervening. This too seems idealistic, but with love being a basic emotion for all, it can and should be able to be realized. As a certain song earlier discussed on this blog further suggests, a belief in love may be all that is needed for the world.

Lastly, there has to be places where people and Pokémon can feel protected, with no harm and/or threats of such. That would mean the people and Pokémon ought to be able to find ways to protect each other, and if the story adaptations (anime, manga, and everything in between) have anything to suggest, they all can do just that in various ways and in different places. Regardless, specific places might just enhance the sense and protection, along with the best people and Pokémon that can and will be present in all those places.

After the happenings of the other day, a person - for example, me - would want to go to one of these places and forget about them, at least momentarily. Of course, if they're fans of Pokémon, then they wouldn't want to forget about it, and they would want to have it along in those places, as close as it is to paralleling the real world and all. In the same way, both can offer the places that just might be needed for the purpose, and to know that they can and do exist would be a thing of comfort for people and Pokémon alike.

One year ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 1/6/2024

Two years ago: The Embers of a New Season

Three years ago: Pokémon Asia Bulbasaur Mug

Four years ago: No Scans for You

Five years ago: Pokémon Statues

Six years ago: ...With Gatherings and Safari Zones for All

Seven years ago: More Odd Poké-Pika Things

Eight years ago: A 3DS Story

Pokémon Go Community Day, 1/5/2025

In recent years, Pokémon Go seems to love (or want/need) to hold January's edition of Community Day very early on in the year... and it seems this one is no different, being held just five days after the year started. But then, that might mean it's going to be a big thing, and in fact, Community Day is trying out a few things that may mean big things for it now and later on. And that all starts with this rather early edition.

The big thing about it - specifically, the Pokémon that it features - is that it's of Sprigatito, the ninth-generation Grass starter. Thus, it follows the order of its addition and not regional or generational order, considering the featured starter (first partner) Pokémon over the years. It also means the rest of its ninth-generation buddies will be due out this year also, though that's a bit speculative. What isn't speculative is that as a starter Pokémon, its evolved form Meowscarada gets the Charged move of Frenzy Plant, as with other Grass-type starters. It can now also learn its signature move of Flower Trick, but that's a lesser concern in many ways. This is supplemented by the always-lucrative main bonus of triple Stardust.

For this edition, the paid Special Research is newly restructured, now comprised of two pages of six tasks each, with mostly the same rewards but somewhat different tasks - and being more pricey as well. The encountered Sprigatito in the tasks also have special backgrounds of the current season, an enhancement of a novelty actually introduced in the Community Day edition of the previous month. This is also the case for a Timed Research set with tasks completed day by day over the next week, as well as some Field Research tasks not of the regular "catch 3" variety (which are still present) over the course of the event, suggesting that adding novelty to the event is now a concern.

Still, there are the continued regular bonuses: double Candy and Candy XL chance, extended Lure Modules and Incense, extra Special Trade and discounted trades, photo bombs, showcases, in-game shop and Web Store item bundles, and special stickers, all of which by now can be regarded as being rather essential. Notably, though, bonus raids - which would have been the intermediary form of Floragato in this case - are now absent, suggesting that they are no longer regarded as essential compared to the other regular bonuses and the latest implemented novelties. 

Meanwhile, my personal experiences of the day are best summed up in conversation form with a special person I sent, something that I didn't actually need to do for this one but I chose to do it anyway:

Goh: Was there a festival or convention somewhere?

Me: There was one out of town, and I actually wanted to send Ash - but Community Day is just as important and saves money.

Ash: Let's wait for next time that happens.

Me: Sure. You caught a lot of the Pokémon, right?

Ash: Of course - ones with the background too. But I didn't find a really good one...

Me: Luckily I have a Buddy Pokémon with the best stats I could get, even if it's still not that good. I'll see about trading for one later on.

Goh: And the place of the meetup was...

Ash: The park close to where our friend lives.

Goh: Oh. Convenient.

Ash: But... I got told by someone that some people dislike our friend.

Goh: Wait... how?

Me: If anything I did made people have negative feelings, then that is not my intent and I apologize for that.

Goh: This must have been a downer.

Ash: I think the Sprigatito might have sensed it too.

Me: Well, you don't have to say anything more. And we can even disregard other "Community" aspects for now.

Ash: I still met our friend's other friends - good ones.

Goh: OK, that's great.

Me: This isn't one of the better editions for us, but it's better than nothing. [sigh] 

According to the lore, the species family has a penchant for magic (as evidenced by the Special Research title, "Meowgical Occasion"). While Community Day may or may not have lost its magic, it seems to be trying to pack in magic of a different kind. Hopefully that could be sufficient for the editions throughout this year... and myself.

One year ago: Tell Me, It'll Be All Right

Two years ago: Kids in Cosplay?

Three years ago: Indomaret Promotional TCG Cards

Four years ago: (Re)Structuring Competitions

Five years ago: Jelly-Filled Doughnuts

Six years ago: Cosplay: Bunkasai XXI

Seven years ago: The Music of Go

Eight years ago: Alt+0233 and Its Kin

Card Rarity in TCG Pocket

For those who deal with the cards of the TCG - physical or electronic - they'll recognize that many cards can be commonly found. However, other cards, particularly special and/or "full art" versions as well as those with foil borders, are much harder to find, and this plays into the concept of "rarity". The physical cards (that also belong to the TCGL) actually have their own system for this concept, which might seem a little less evident, and I'll save that to deal with another time. Meanwhile, TCGP implements its own system, and that is what I would like to discuss presently.

The system for the TCGP has what I'll describe as "tiers" and "levels". At the bottom is the Diamond tier, which can be construed as being "common". It also has four levels, from one Diamond to four Diamonds. Those of one or two Diamonds are on the whole representative of common Pokémon with the usual windowed art and regular borders, while those of three Diamonds are of uncommon Pokémon with foil borders. Meanwhile, the level of four Diamonds contains Pokémon ex cards with vivid windowed art, and is thus the most basic level for them (though in a different sense they're not "basic"). Regardless, all cards in this tier do comprise the foundation of not only decks but also the body of cards as a whole.

Next on the tier structure is the Star tier, which would be "rare"; it has three levels, from one Star to three Stars. In the one-Star section, there are "full art" cards of different Pokémon species (some common and others less so), while in the two-Star level, there are "full art" cards of select Supporter cards and Pokémon ex cards. Meanwhile, the three-Star level is where the "immersive cards" reside, indicating that while they are not on the highest rarity level, they're still pretty rare to merit their own rarity level. All of the cards here have their characteristic art and unique borders, and while they may or may not be used frequently, they are functional just as they're interesting to look at.

At the top of the heap is the Crown tier... which is also its own (and thus only) level and can be considered "ultra rare". The only four cards currently residing in this tier all have golden backgrounds and represent the highlight Pokémon of the four current (sub-)expansions: Charizard, Pikachu, and Mewtwo for Genetic Apex and Celebi for Mythical Island, all of them Pokémon ex cards - which also happens to be the case for the three-Star level as above with the "immersive cards". It may be possible to consider these two levels as being related in content, and future expansions will feature their highlight Pokémon in them.

Cards of the Pokémon TCG are mostly gotten through random draw (gacha), and thus it would be expected that some cards would be rarer than others. The Pocket iteration of the Pokémon TCG shows this rather nicely with its structure of tiers and levels, having all its possible cards neatly organized into these sub-divisions, almost to the point of becoming predictable. While one cannot predict what cards one will get from the next booster pack, at least in TCGP, the rarity might be more easily predicted as per the above.

One year ago: Let's Talk About Being In and Out of Place

Two years ago: Three to Get Ready, Go

Three years ago: TCG 25th Anniversary (Plus Localized Content)

Four years ago: New GBL Novelties

Five years ago: On Third Parties

Six years ago: The Loading Screen of Go

Seven years ago: Team Assistance and Secrecy

Eight years ago: "They can imitate you, but they can't duplicate you..."

A Pokémon Unite Dream

Most of my Pokémon dreams have a situational setting in the Pokémon world or a blending of that with the real world, and rarely are they about the games. So, when a Pokémon dream comes about that involves a game, it becomes a rarity to behold. Such was the case for a dream that I had a couple of weeks ago that involved a Pokémon game, although at the time I couldn't make a write-up on it due to the run of posts at the end (and beginning) of the year. However, I did jot down all the significant details so I could make the write-up later on, and today's a good day for that.

The game in question is of course Pokémon Unite, and while it proceeded along the lines of the game, there was a bit of strangeness as well. In the dream, I was part of an in-person team and was playing against another team in a match as such. However, the map seemed somewhat different, as in addition to battling other Pokémon, we were also being demanded to figure out a puzzle in order to access another part of the map. Specifically, we were to use certain keys to open a certain door, and we were thinking about the solution for accomplishing that goal and proceeding further.

Ultimately, that was to lead to a final battle or "showdown", much like what would happen in the "Legendary pit" with Rayquaza as is the norm in Theia Sky Ruins. Alas, the progression of the dream was not meant to be, and it ended before that resulting climax could be shown. What did happen after that was certainly me waking up and recording the details of the dream... and then actually playing the game to set my mind straight. Still, I only wish I could have seen that moment.

As for what this dream may signify, it may be that fans of the game, who play but not very intensely, and teams of players who do play intensely, can and should interface with one another and make discourse for improvement of the game, which can result in something as unique as the above. Fortunately, the game already offers a way for this in the form of a regular Feedback questionnaire that sometimes appears. It may also be a prompt for all of us to make use of this feature if and when it appears.

Dreams may have a way of indicating certain things and making them evident, and this particular dream that features a Pokémon game (here, Pokémon Unite) may have just done that. For that seems that there is more involvement to be had in the game by myself and others, possibly including the developers themselves. That might just lead up to more content and challenges in the game.

One year ago: Four on the Floor

Two years ago: Cosplay: Pokémon Festival Jakarta

Three years ago: Two and Two Together

Four years ago: A Dream with Partners

Five years ago: A Clear Vision

Six years ago: Home and Heart... and Hope

Seven years ago: Now Accepting Donations

Eight years ago: Confessions and Concessions

New Directions, Same Directions

The start of the new year also means taking a post to make a discussion of things I might want and/or need to do with regard to making this Pokémon blog work for the posts as well as discussions to be made throughout this year, just like in many of the past years (see below). While the content remains as solid as ever - even if it seems a little shaky - ensuring that the blog works for that purpose is also important, although the blog does this mostly on its own. The remaining part, meanwhile, is up to me, and that's the part that presents many possibilities as well as problems.

In regard to this situation, the appropriate description is as per the title of this post: taking new directions while at the same time keeping certain directions the same. The latter involves keeping series of posts - ones on the same topic and possibly even at the same time of year - that are by now standard, like the monthly event rollups for Pokémon Go, or even more simply, today's and yesterday's post. The former would then involve coming up with new content in other posts, and if possible even to fill those established series of posts in order to give them at least some variety.

Meanwhile, the reorganization of posts is always in order. It can be seen that I finally made the "Puzzle Spinoff Games" category to group all related discussions, while before that I had created the "Game - Fundamentals" category to serve as a "meta" for topics that could cross over to more than one game (different from posts that discuss multiple games at once but each in relative separation, like for Pokémon Presents). Even these may still need some work if readers notice the categorization is off.

All of this is (and has) obviously been done by mostly me and me alone, with not much input from other people and/or readers. It's admittedly impressive but at the same time lacking outside perspective, which is something I wish I could have every now and then; these could comprise the "new directions" that I need while keeping the "same directions" as established by already existing posts. And if something should stray along the way, that would become the prompt to go in the right direction.

Pokémon is a broad thing by now, needless to say, and while I can't capture all that breadth in the posts of this blog, I can at least capture some of that along with my personal relations and interactions to Pokémon. For this purpose, both same (old) and different (new) directions are equally important and can be made evident through the posts of this blog. In this ninth year of blogging, that's still something I'd like to present.

One year ago: Blog Changes: Made and Not Made

Two years ago: More Blog Overhauls?

Three years ago: Thoughts on More Categories

Four years ago: Pokémon Blogging Wellness

Five years ago: New Post Categories

Six years ago: Taking the Plunge

Seven years ago: What's Next?

Eight years ago: ...And a Hoppip New Year

Hoppip New Year 2025

Hoppip New Year! For those still keeping up with me, this is now the entry point to my ninth year of Pokémon blogging. That's a pretty long stretch of time for anything I've ever started and continued, aside from being drawn to Pokémon in the first place. It also represents a rather intensive commitment that I've made over these years... and that seems to become a pertinent issue for this blog as I'm starting yet another year. Pokémon affairs are a given and natural for anything I choose to write about, but then there are other aspects that go into that.

Last year was actually a bit of an eventful year when it comes to Pokémon, and I got a good bit of that in all my posts throughout the year, including all the usual bunch of happenings to which I put in my Pokémon twists. My commitment is thus justified for Pokémon affairs, wherever and whenever I can fit them along with whatever else I need to do, which also means exploring and discussing them through all the posts on this blog. It's a fine commitment to be sure, especially if both those affairs and the goings-on in life can play nicely.

For that last bit, it has to be admitted that they haven't always played nicely, even up to the point of this post being written. It becomes a challenge when that happens, including toward my commitments, Pokémon or otherwise. Finding ways for them to be able to do so is also a pertinent challenge, but it can and should be handled for this blog - and my life in general - to move forward. That in itself should be a commitment, while other things, including Pokémon itself, move forward and not necessarily in the direction other people and I want it to.

As with every year (and an aside to the above), I also deliver my "Hoppip Report"... for which over the course of the past year, the Hoppip have been wandering in and out of happenings - and the "winds" - in Pokémon Go. The ones I've encountered have not been fairly beneficial or unique, and so they went to Professor Willow instead. Even so, over the years, I've managed to find Shiny forms of both genders as well as the newly found XXL and XXS size forms, so I've chosen to display them for this year's "report" just like I did in some past years.

It is also inevitable that the list of previous posts at the bottom of each new one is to grow longer, this time with ones from eight years ago. It grows as this blog grows... and perhaps that can also be said for my commitments, again for Pokémon affairs and other things. The management of both of these seems to become warranted in this ninth year of blogging and many more years of continued involvement with Pokémon and all things related to it. So, as the Hoppip keep moving with the winds, my Pokémon life and this blog have to do the same.

One year ago: Hoppip New Year 2024

Two years ago: Hoppip New Year 2023

Three years ago: Hoppip New Year 2022

Four years ago: Hoppip New Year 2021

Five years ago: Hoppip New Year 2020

Six years ago: Hoppip New Year 2019

Seven years ago: Hoppip New Year 2018

Eight years ago: First Post Time!