Saturday, May 30, 2026

The State of Nominations, Part 40

After having been subjective in the past few installments (this is two months ago) of updating the progress on the process of nominating PokéStops for Pokémon Go (as well as Wayspots in general for Niantic Games), for this, the 40th installment, it seems that I need to go back to a more objective manner for doing it. For that, I have a few updates lined up regarding that specific process and a little bit on my progress for that undertaking.

First up, the Wayfarer web client has been updated quite a bit, and it is now possible to submit nominations through the web client. It means that I can submit the nominations without having Pokémon Go open, which can be kind of clunky and arduous at times - and now, even taking a toll on battery power. I've already used it to make a couple of recent nominations (to be explained shortly), and this is definitely a welcome change.

Wayfarer statuses have also been revamped to factor in all past and present nominations as well as reviewing and editing activities, calculated with a points system. They also come with new titles on a five-point scale, for which as of the update, I'm a Wayfarer Expert - one tier below Champion but still a long way to go for that. It's fairly reflective of my progress over time, even if I'm still subject to the system's whims for my progress.

Now for my own progresses aside from the system's. I've been still somewhat very cautious since Part 38 in January, and for that, I've only put in a couple of nominations just within a few days to "test the waters" and see if it's reliable for me to submit once again. Even if the results are positive, I may still want to keep things as conservative as possible and not submit any nominations that are out of the ordinary or stretch their limits.

The monthly impact numbers also still continue. For March, there were 27439 visits by 1611 players, and for April, there were 27720 visits by 1482 players. The averages of both continue to increase, even if they tend to fluctuate between the months like they did two months ago. Aside from my tracking progress, which I'm not updating now, this may be the most objective metric of my progress to this day, and I'll always try to report on it.

Even with all the objectivity above, some things remain subjective, like my cautiousness and the conclusions I derive from the "official" metrics as above. What remains objective is that the nomination process remains necessary for many places, including my local one, which always could use some more. Perhaps "some more" is also needed in the affirmation department for all that I've ever done and will keep trying to do for the process.

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Friday, May 29, 2026

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 5/29/2026

A Pokémon Go season that is dubbed as "moving alongside memories" is coming to an end, and before that happens, it's got to be finished with one more event rollup for the last month of the season, being this one. With that being the case, it has to be said that the events in it are evocative of a "last dash", and as usual, that has to be made evident in what the events are (or were) and the content they offer, which is also the usual essence of the rollup.

Going back to last month, there was the Steeled Resolve event, which I had mentioned also held a dark secret... or not so secret, actually, since that would be a "Taken Over" portion by Team Go Rocket as its latter half, from April 31 to May 4. Much of the latter half of the original event and its Go Pass are dedicated to this portion, which also replaces the previously standard Special Research with the inclusion of a Super Rocket Radar. Meanwhile, this edition brings about Shadow Landorus (Incarnate) as Giovanni's target and Shiny Varoom in 12 km Eggs, as well as new Shadow Pokémon from the sixth and seventh generations. Then, there's the usual bonuses of more Grunts, changing out Frustration, leader rotations, and varied Shadow Pokémon IVs, plus Field Research tasks. Last month's "strong movement" thus also has a strong "last dash" to it.

In the middle of the month, Trainers had to really "dash", for the Spring Marathon event was at hand from May 12 to 18. The event featured the debut of the Flittle species family, as well as a Pikachu in a marathon costume... for those who can complete a task of exploring 42 km in a Timed Research set, the same as a real marathon. Flittle, meanwhile, is caught from Go Pass encounters and hatched from 5 km Eggs - alongside other Pokémon with flower crowns, also found in Field Research encounters. Speaking of, the Go Pass has 60 ranks and bonuses of more XP for spinning PokéStops and halved Egg hatch distance, along with premium items for all and ultra-premium items for those who pay for Deluxe.

Now, this month actually has one more event, but like for last month, I'm going to shove it into next month's rollup due to its thematic connotations and in a way to make writing the rollup much easier for it and other events. So, this is a "last dash" that isn't, in some way.

Of course, there are the Community Saturdays of this month, as with the previous two months, other than for the two Community Day editions on May 9 (regular) and May 16 (Classic). Those were for a Raid Day for Shadow Entei on May 2 in line with the "Taken Over" event as above, and then a Super Mega Raid Day for Mega Falinks on May 23. These had their usual bonuses (more free passes, extra paid ticket for premium bonuses, and so on) as well as an opportunity to use Link Charges in the latter - and hopefully to meet good people.

The "last dash" evident through the above events might seem like a mixed bag of "dashing" for things, but it also makes it evident that some things need to move, and Trainers also need to move for them. That is perfectly in line with "Memories in Motion" as it wraps up so that Trainers can stride into the next season.

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Thursday, May 28, 2026

Pokémon Go Fest 2026: All Ace Bosses Awaken

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, so its happenings in that time have to be extra-special. That also goes for Pokémon Go, which would correspond to something special (aside from the one about to be covered in this post) to be covered later on. This time, though, it's about the usual summer happening of Pokémon Go Fest, which also as usual I'm "rounding up" early - or it may be better described as a preview. So it is that I'm making the writeup for that at the same time of the year as last year (see below) for convenience and in some sense also by necessity, for what the happening has to offer this time around.

Par for the course is its scheduling and regional allocation. The settings this time are Tokyo (Asia, May 29-31 - yet again this weekend), Chicago (Americas, June 5-7), and Copenhagen (Europe, June 11-13). Each of these is hosted by a team leader - Blanche, Spark, and Candela respectively - and they come with the Pokémon that are often ascribed or associated with them. They also bring forth the usual gameplay and niceties, for they are truly the "aces" of their respective teams and followers... not to mention Professor Willow as well.

Meanwhile, the Global edition will be somewhat farther off this time, being scheduled for July 11 and 12 - that is, the month after next. It will also feature nine hours of gameplay each day, which means that it'll be intense, a test for the true "aces" of this game. Of course, everyone can and should deal with things however they can, not necessarily as the "aces" would demand them how to do it, but as best as possible following their best advice (hopefully) and the best practices of others so they can be "aces" in their own ways with the caught Pokémon.

Now, as for why I subtitled the post as above - besides inserting it as a theme - it concerns the content of this year's festivities. Among the "aces" this year are a supreme Legendary Pokémon of the Psychic type, a novel Mythical Pokémon of the Electric type, and other raid bosses of similar stature where you'd find them. Then there are the "lesser aces" of wild Pokémon and more, but that's for Trainers to discover in all the "ace" editions of the event as outlined.

With that, all the "aces" are arising or "awakening" in various ways for this year's edition of Pokémon Go Fest. That will then lead to dealing with them in all the usual ways and perhaps a few unusual ones as well depending on the circumstances. In doing so, Trainers will surely be preparing their own "aces" for those purposes and more, and they themselves might measure up to become "Ace Trainers" who will be proven (right) by the ace bosses soon to awaken. 

Two years ago: "Pokémon in Concert"?
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Wednesday, May 27, 2026

License Art in Pokémon Unite

In the interface updates to Pokémon Unite that I covered around half a year ago, I mentioned License art as one of the updates in the form of an added customization. As noted, the new customization lets players change the appearance of the Unite License they use in battle, particularly in its display as a battle starts. Yet that only scratches the surface, and now it seems that the topic is worthy of a fuller discussion, which this post serves to do.

Earlier, I addressed the usage of this customization with Holowear, and that still remains true: if players choose to equip a Pokémon with a License art, that art will take precedence over the "art" that applies for the Holowear of choice. So, the choice to use a License art can become a stylistic one, especially when a Holowear is also equipped for the Pokémon. Regardless, it's still a choice that most often will come by way of payment, to be discussed shortly.

Quite a few Pokémon by now actually have a License art of some sort (in fact, some already also have a couple), but others are still without one. That means, like Holowear, many of them will eventually have some sort of selection for License art. Many of the ones that currently have License art are predictably the most popular ones, the likes of Pikachu, Charizard, Lucario, and more - but certainly there will be more to go around for less popular Pokémon.

Obtaining License art is most likely done through the in-game shop through one of the customization sub-sections, which also necessitates exchanging Aeos Gems, which I don't have to say means payment by real cash in proxy. Some special occasions (tournaments and so on) may award License art by participation, but those are far and few between. Then, it's also likely that current and future in-game events may afford the chance for License art.

Now, I'd also like to give my impressions of the License art that are currently present in the game. From what I've seen, the art styles are (or at the least can considered to be) quite different from the art used for Holowear display, yet they still complement the Pokémon nicely - and in the case of special-occasion art, can show off achievements. License art then may be considered a "budget" option to characterize players in lieu of Holowear.

License art in that respect is still a pretty neat addition to the game as another approach or option to customization that can complement existing ones or stand on its own. While its availability is still applicable to only a good number of Pokémon, the ones that are already as such have proven at least some of their effectiveness, and others can benefit later on... and so too can the players for having an artful way of showing off their Pokémon.

Three years ago: Introducing Shadow Raids
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Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Meditating on Warm Sands

The course of time may have its effects on some people, whether in the real world or in the Pokémon world. For them, one of the best courses they may take is to meditate, which could bring to mind the Meditite species family by its association. Yet it seems a different approach could be taken for those who are versed with the Unova region and the fifth generation by extension. That different approach could involve a little trip to a recognized sandy area of that region and dealing with a Pokémon that may just be apt for the situation.

Said region features the aptly named Desert Region, a sandy and arid area that has remnants of the past and a few - OK, perhaps more than a few - resilient Pokémon species lurking around. That may make it a little less conducive for meditation, but the sandy parts that are present closer to populated areas may just be warm enough for that purpose and they may also be less affected by the lurking Pokémon species. Of course, the more adventurous might just venture into the inner parts, especially given the Pokémon I mentioned.

Here, the Pokémon that is apt for the situation is Darmanitan, specifically in its Zen form. Compared to the regular or "standard" form that is feisty and indeed very wild, this form is much less so - in fact, it seems almost non-motile as well. In that form, a spiritual sense may be felt from its almost non-motility, and its presence may be welcomed in times of meditation. While it may or may not turn back to its regular or "standard" form - maybe something to be watched over - the meditation scenario may very well work out somehow.

Perhaps it may not be such a stretch that people - and many of them - in the real world also come to what could be considered a part of a desert area (even though it is closer to some populated areas) and do a kind of meditation there, even if it technically can't be called as such. The same might also occur in Unova's Desert Region and with the particular presence of Darmanitan in its Zen form, which may just provide a relevant venue and situation for a meditation to chase off some of the effects that time may have on things.

Four years ago: The Advancement of TMs
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Monday, May 25, 2026

Difficult Buddy Pokémon to Play With in Pokémon Go

In Pokémon Go, Trainers will certainly (or hopefully so, with respect to some cases that I've discovered) deal with their Buddy Pokémon, day in and day out. One of the tasks they ought to do in doing that is to play with their Buddy Pokémon - more specifically, "pet" or "rub" them as they are present on the Buddy Pokémon. Yet I've also discovered - perhaps others have too - that some Buddy Pokémon make it a little (or a lot more) difficult for this to happen, so I thought I'd bring it up and discuss how that may be so.

Some Pokémon species are rather small by themselves (like Tynamo or Cutiefly), so when they become (are selected as) Buddy Pokémon, they also occupy a small spot on the screen that some Trainers may have trouble swiping to perform the play action. This could be even more so if the game is played on a tiny screen or something to that effect, like multi-windowing with other apps. In either case, the smallness becomes (a part of) the apparent difficulty.

Then, some Pokémon species have rather wildly shaped bodies, like the serpentine Rayquaza or multi-pronged Kyurem, which sometimes can make it hard to find the spot where one is to "pet" or "rub" these Pokémon by their bodily ambiguity. Though older players will likely become familiar with them over time, newer players might not be immediately familiar with them, and thus the difficulty might present itself in this way.

Mega Evolution can also make things a little difficult for the play action. When the Pokémon that can do so are made to evolve, the spot to invoke the play action may be differently located when compared to the regular form of the Pokémon species, which becomes another thing for a Trainer to become familiar with much like the Pokémon with wild shapes as above. It's apparent that body shape can and does factor into the difficulty of the play action.

Any task that involves a Buddy Pokémon in Pokémon Go might present its own difficulty in different ways and situations, Evidently, this can also apply for the "play with buddy" task by the above circumstances, particularly when different species are involved. It's a difficulty that Trainers will recognize and come to address when they deal with the task.

Four years ago: Pokémon in 1995?
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Sunday, May 24, 2026

Cosplay: Isshoni Tanoshimimashou 20

Ash: Hey, wait! Didn't you say this festival was "barred"?

Me: I did in fact say that a couple of years ago, but I also said that it could take some time to really get it going again... and it looks like "some time" has passed.

Goh: Technically our friend is right, if two years counts.

Me: One of the things I heard is that the 19th edition, which would be last year, wasn't a festival, but a job fair (odd as it is with the title). You could say it was "on probation".

Goh: Oh, that's why it skipped a number as a festival. 

Ash: I guess it makes sense.

Pikachu: Pika pika? ["You think?"]

Goh: But now it's back as a festival... so I hoped they changed from last time.

Me: For starters, it's back where it belongs. 

Ash: At your place of study! But it was still ticketed...

Me: Yeah. I don't think they'd be able to get away from that, especially in this day and age.

Goh: Was it still two days?

Me: Good question - yes! But I'm aware that yesterday was student competitions only, and the actual festival is confined to today. I actually passed by the area then and there was nothing (yet), so that supports that.

Ash: Oh, and it was in a different part of the school.

Me: But it's still where I studied, so it still works.

Ash: I think the people who can't (or don't want to) get in could still enjoy it from the benches of the building across. 

Goh: Maybe that was the consideration. 

Ash: Maybe so!

Pikachu: Pika chu! ["Maybe!"]

Goh: All right, so I guess as usual we have competitions for us - you - today.

Me: We have two: singing and character parade. Unfortunately...

Ash: You entered me in the singing competition, but I didn't get past the qualifier, even with "Mezase Pokémon Master".

Goh: Oh, this is new... or was it like this last time?

Me: It was like this last time, but our straw hat friend got through with a different song, so... ask him.

Goh: Huh. So what did you have to do?

Ash: Our friend recorded a video of me singing, and that was the qualifier a few weeks ago.

Goh: Oh, OK. So if they selected people, then the ones on stage have to be really good. 

Ash: Most were! But one wasn't too good. I wish I made it instead of that person.

Pikachu: Pi pika... ["I think so..."]

Me: So do I.

Ash: But because I didn't make it, I got free entry since our friend paid for the competition.

Goh: Then, what about the other, the character parade?

Ash: I paid a little more and I got in that one. I was the very last one.

Me: I have to say that I had the idea - and we were very fortunate.

Goh: Looks very much like it. So how'd that go?

Ash: I didn't make it. Only two winners - and I guessed which ones right. And I think the judges know me.

Me: Oh. Tough call (or not).

Ash: The festival was still great. The stands were OK, and a good number of people came.

Pikachu: Pi pika pika chu! ["And did things with us!"]

Me: I heard the promotion on this was sudden and not too extensive, so if it was lengthier and more extensive, a lot more would have come.

Goh: Sure. How about the entertainment? A festival has to have that.

Ash: Dance groups and a DJ at the end.

Goh: OK. The current ones and all.

Me: So, you have to give some credit for the students in getting this thing going again, even if it's only a little like the past ones.

Ash: They did great! They can do even better next time.

Goh: I'm with Ash on this one. I'm sure they can make it better - but this is a start.

Me: It's definitely a start to "having fun together"... to make great times again.

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