Thursday, May 7, 2026

TCGP: The Pulsing Aura of Greatness

For this month's pack or expansion addition for TCGP - although technically most are released just before and as always, it takes time for me to deal with them after that fact - the new pack may be considered one that is great in some ways, in both content and size. Its theme also comes courtesy of a unique aspect for some Pokémon in drawing out their inner power, and the throbbing of that aspect is representative of the pack or expansion as a whole.

Without further ado, this pack or expansion is titled "Pulsing Aura". Many will recognize the Riolu family for being able to make use of the "aura" aspect as a part of their power, and that is what this pack or expansion has, all the way up to Mega Lucario as one of the Pokémon that is representative of it by the pack image. The other one is Mega Sceptile, who also appears therein. Many of the other cards revolve around these two Pokémon, but there's also a good bit of other power if you know where to look among them.

In the numbered section, which comprises 155 cards, most of them are Pokémon cards, with the total coming out to 146 Pokémon cards. The other cards in the pack or expansion are made up of 1 Item card, 1 Pokémon Tool card, 4 Supporter cards, and 3 Stadium cards. The composition is rather similar to the earlier Fantastical Parade pack or expansion (also having the same number of numbered cards) but with two more Item cards and one more Pokémon Tool card in lieu of Pokémon, so this one can play out in the same way.

As a matter of fact, there are also 79 cards in the overnumbered section, bringing the total for the pack or expansion to 234 - the same as Fantastical Parade. That means similar efforts for getting the needed ("base") cards from the numbered section and the desired ones from the overnumbered section to stand in for the "base" versions. It may still require a good bit of effort for pack opening as usual - and perhaps a bit more luck if and when Wonder Picks are involved - but the power might just be evident somehow.

Like aura itself, the power that certain packs or expansions have might just be concentrated in the selection of cards that make up a deck. Therefore, in a way, this month's new pack or expansion for TCGP puts a certain emphasis on that, particularly with the feature of a Pokémon that embodies the involvement of the aura aspect for its inner power. Out of this and related efforts, greatness can and definitely should result, even with a possible pulsating start.

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Wednesday, May 6, 2026

New Experimental Strides in Pokémon Go

I had written about experiments and strides in the past about aspects related to Pokémon Go, and this time I would like to write about both of them together to describe other aspects. Specifically, those aspects are ones that are currently ongoing to try to add to or improve the experience of Trainers. There are always some things that could be done in this regard, but for the current discussion, there are a few pertinent and arguably important aspects to dynamics and progressions of Trainers within the game.

As part of an ongoing reform to PvP, the game has put in a Preview Cup as part of Go Battle League, which has been selectable for over a week. Its format is based on the Great League, though there are a few changes in how Pokémon appear and use their moves in battle - something that might even challenge those that already experts in PvP. It is understood that reforms to PvP cannot and will likely not happen all at once, as with the minute changes in the past, but if anything, this Preview Cup will be a step in reform directions.

Then, between current events as they are formatted have created intervening weeks, which can be seen in the past two event rollups that I made, there is to be a special branched Timed Research set that demands selection of a focus area (catching, battling, exploring) with certain bonuses for them. The first one is for this week, which means the next one will be in two weeks. It seems to be nice to keep players going within those weeks - maybe as long as the effort doesn't turn into an event of its own, in particular for the next point below.

Perhaps, those intervening weeks could be seen as "experiments" in and of themselves, which the development team has dubbed as "evergreen" weeks. It is known that some Trainers have complained about the frequency of events as they were before week in and week out, especially one who has incidentally been very vocal on this blog in two posts. Having these "evergreen" weeks would definitely be an answer to those who complain, and keeping their spirits may be necessary to keep Trainers going, even with something as light as the above.

For what it's worth, Pokémon Go is an evolving game much like many of the eponymous species that it features, and these experimental strides would then represent the latest ways things are "evolving" based on the ways things have "evolved" before - and likely into the future, if any or all of the above would suggest. Taking these experimental strides into account, there is still much of the experience to be improved upon, which also means "evolving" a few things as well - perfectly aligning with Pokémon spirits.

Three years ago: Pokémon Keeps Me...
Four years ago: Brave with the Firefly
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Tuesday, May 5, 2026

A Battle (and Commemoration) of the Ages

Meanwhile, after that one day of a certain "forceful" commemoration, there is yet another commemorative day that follows it, which would be today. The circles that commemorate this one, however, are vastly more different and quite unrelated to the previous one - and perhaps even more different from Pokémon. Likewise, this time I'm also attempting to address it with Pokémon and all that may just pertain to the occasion, or at least the very spirit of it.

According to what is known about the commemoration, a battle took place on this very day about one and a half centuries ago, with spectacular outcomes for a particular party. It also sounds like something that could come out of Pokémon Conquest, except perhaps on a somewhat larger scale. Those outcomes helped to shape the will of a group of people and in a way also defined a course for the history of the world - and for those reasons and more, the occasion of the battle is thus commemorated.

Now, as for tying the commemoration to Pokémon, aside from the possible relation I already mentioned, few battles in the Pokémon world are on the scale of that battle as described, but at least many regular Pokémon battles have the same scale of "epic-ness" as that battle. What's more, they may be just as memorable - at least, some more than others. That also means that they don't really need a particular day to commemorate them... but the particular occasion of today might serve as a powerful background in a way.

It is also said that plenty of festivities occur on this particular day, a lot of which occur in the area of those circles, but now some even beyond that area in other parts of the world. Thus, in a way, the commemoration has become recognized globally from something that was local(ly relevant) only for those areas. I don't have to explain that the way things play out in this manner is also like Pokémon being recognized globally from something that was just local to Japan, and that becomes its point of relevance.

Come the month of May, it seems that a few commemorative days make themselves apparent to some people and Pokémon fans - but I'm getting ahead of myself for some others of these. What seems important now seems to be the one of today, which has some characteristics that might just reflect those that are related to Pokémon. Considering those that were explained above, it seems the commemoration (and likewise Pokémon) may just last through the ages.

Three years ago: Special Research Guides
Four years ago: Brave with the Firefly
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Monday, May 4, 2026

The Pokémon "Force"

In some circles, today is a day known for its "force", but they're circles that don't apply to me. As such, that's why I've really bothered to address it as such on this blog. This time, however, I feel that I want to address it, but certainly with relation to Pokémon as the persistent theme of this blog. For that, I've gathered a few ideas about what "force" may be for Pokémon, based on some of my own experiences as well as what has transpired with Pokémon in general.

"Force" makes me think of Pokémon Rumble, a game that I enjoyed playing in the past but now not so much, particularly due to its effects on certain controllers. It's very much a game about "force" in some ways, that of a Pokémon itself and other Pokémon that tag along for their ride. When played the right way, it's certainly a "tour de force" (ahem), and I still do recommend it for those who are interested and want to experience it. Yet they still do need to be aware of the certain "force" (or "forces") that the game has to offer.

Then, six years ago exactly (see below), I wrote a little "treatise" on Pokémon strength, which is still considered applicable within the realm of "force" as it may apply to Pokémon, particularly given what I had discussed earlier. The strength is imbued in all that they do in and out of battle, including the use of particular attacks for particular purposes, and the "force" becomes evident therein. That may or may not align with the concept of "force" as it is brought up for the occasion of today, but it's still something to consider for that.

Perhaps the greatest "force" for Pokémon is the fans of the franchise, like yours truly and many others. That can result in movements with and around certain "forces", like for a certain call to justice just about a month ago. Of course, the "forces" can still manifest in things like fan creations, like even this blog and the various forms of art that are hopefully still within the "corridors" of creation and enjoyment. Fans have demonstrated that with a certain "force", anything could be possible - and in fact, they are in all the above cases.

At any rate, it takes a "force" to keep many things going, and Pokémon has had quite a bit of that over its three decades, and now certainly going beyond. Today's "forceful" occasion may be only reserved for people in particular circles in its actual sense, but in an interpretative sense, Pokémon may just still be able to fit into the picture somehow. And that may just be a prompt to continue to struggle in life for the best of things, in those circles and Pokémon.

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Sunday, May 3, 2026

For Mermaids and Pokémon

Some topics of the real world are quite infrequently discussed together with Pokémon, even though they can be (attempted to be) discussed. I've decided to take one of those topics and bring it up for a discussion here. As can be discerned by the title, that topic is mermaids, the supposed lifeforms composed of half a human and half a fish. It inspires fancy in the real world despite being only imaginative, and some of that fancy could also be related to some things in the Pokémon world in different ways.

Fervent fans will certainly recognize Primarina as the fully evolved form of Popplio, a first partner from the Alola region. It resembles a mermaid in the truest sense, with its humanoid upper body and fishlike lower body. It's also pretty capable in the water and as a Water-type Pokémon in general, at least for one half of itself; its other half of being a Fairy-type Pokémon is also capable in some respects, and it also exemplifies the wondrous relation of the species to the fantasy that is a mermaid.

Meanwhile, as for actual mermaids - or rather, people relating to them in an actual sense - there was that one time where Misty returned to Cerulean City to fill in as a mermaid (in a costume) for a water show at the city's Gym (where else). It suggests that even in the world of Pokémon, even the concept of a mermaid is recognized and can make for great fantasies - in this particular case being even older than the aforementioned Primarina. Of course, it means that the fantasy can be further fleshed out.

Now, as for a truly real reason why the above topic is brought, that would be because of an instrumental piece titled "The Mermaid"... which would be related to "Paths on Water" and is thus the "remix base" of the Yanni piece I mentioned earlier. The former is a much gentler piece that is evocative of the way a mermaid would move in the water, and it can very much complement either of the entities above in their situations. That may be something that the fan legions of the above could really consider.

The concept of mermaids, again, is not commonly thought of in relation to Pokémon, but it is not out of the realm of possibilities, given that the above situations are apparent with their involvement of the concept. With an apparent mermaid like Primarina and someone who can exemplify one in a sense like Misty, there is just enough to fill the fantasy of fans (and people in the world) with regard to the concept - and certainly the seas would welcome them too for all that they can offer. 

Six years ago: The Call of the Forest
Seven years ago: Localizing the TCG
Nine years ago: Gender Mismatch Detected
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Saturday, May 2, 2026

The Tasks of Go Passes

In order to increase the rank of a Go Pass (for monthly editions, regular events, and special happenings), Trainers earn points by completing certain actions, as I noted in my Go Pass tips about a month ago. Those actions are not the only way to increase the rank, however, as many editions of a Go Pass also have tasks that essentially do the same thing. Having mentioned the actions previously, now it seems important to go over the tasks to see how they are helpful as well as to consider how to deal with them in the best way.

The tasks are periodic and appear at certain frequencies. The most common ones with the current editions are Daily and Weekly Tasks, which appear on each day and in the current week of an active Go Pass respectively. Then there are Hourly Tasks that appear mostly during the special happenings like Go Fest and Go Tour while within the specified event hours, as well as Bonus Tasks that once appear are attached to an active Go Pass until either or both the tasks are completed and the Go Pass ends its run.

Essentially, these tasks are Timed Research tasks that solely reward points for the Go Pass they are attached to, as the points themselves are in fact items (which can also be evident when completing raids and seeing the points awarded like them). Hourly Tasks award only meager amounts of points since they are designed to be completed successively in multitude to earn many points that way, while other tasks award hundreds of points for immediate rank boosts - as in fact, it takes 100 points to go up each rank for any Go Pass.

Given the various circumstances of Go Passes, the tasks can also be quite varied yet remain thematic to that particular Go Pass. For example, the Go Pass for the Steeled Resolve event that started a few days ago demands catching Steel-type Pokémon as Daily Tasks, while the monthly Go Pass has "common" Weekly Tasks that any Trainer should be familiar with when dealing with Pokémon Go from day to day. The Bonus Tasks, reflecting their nature, can also be demanding yet rewarding for their purposes.

While the pass tasks are only a small element of Go Passes, their importance in awarding points for the Go Passes in question is not to be overlooked, and they can be the key to attaining the best possible rewards for each Go Pass by increasing the rank. They also can keep Trainers engaged within the time of an active event and/or the associated Go Pass and get all that they can get out of both. With all of these objectives, the pass tasks can indeed become a moving element for Pokémon Go in more ways than one.

Four years ago: Impulsive Conscience
Six years ago: Pervasive Pokémon
Seven years ago: Hit in the KOR
Eight years ago: Keeping the Demo Versions
Nine years ago: Cosplay Laundry
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Friday, May 1, 2026

Plans for Remixing the Remix

Dedicated players know that Pokémon Café Remix is a rehash of the game's earlier incarnation as Pokémon Café Mix, and it's a "remix" in a very true sense. Yet after the fact, it seems that more rehashing or remixing of the game is in order, and in fact, plans for that to happen have been set into motion. I'm actually somewhat late to becoming aware on this, but after gaining that awareness, I've decided to make a discussion out of it - here on this blog, of course.

According to the in-game news bulletin, which was published on April 9, the "remix-remix plan" is intended to make the game more easily grasped by more people playing the game within a more extensive time. For that, the plan has three points: merging disparate game modes into something more cohesive, making it simpler to hire Pokémon as part of the staff ("befriend", in game terms), and keeping Pokémon that are already as such by players - not to mention raised and refined ones - relevant in puzzle play wherever they're appropriate.

In order to do that, as of April 20, the events in the game are "reruns" or "replays" of older events, which also implies that no new Pokémon are to be added. Players can, of course, use the opportunity to hire or "befriend" Pokémon that they haven't done so, or raise and refine them if they already have. This then gives the development team time to work on the "remix-remix plan" and to release it as a major update... which will be sometime in the latter part of the year. As such, it may be something that players will have to look forward to very soon.

Considering the current state of the game, the "remix-remix plan" is something that is perhaps desperately needed. I had earlier discussed the game's apparent "irrelevance" a few years ago, and I also pointed out that some remaking would have to be carried out in order to resolve what is apparent in that regard. Undertaking this "remix-remix plan" then provides a perfect opportunity to do just that, and the things I mentioned in that post (as well as others that I didn't) can stand to be improved to make things relevant again, which will have to be seen.

Even in cooking, things are not perfect the first time around that something is made, and a rehash or "remix" is in order. The same has been true of this Pokémon puzzle game some years ago with its first transition from "Mix" to "Remix", and that seems to be a testament to the "cooking" theme that the game so prominently features. The next plan for a rehash or "remix" of the game will have to show that the game still has what it takes to mix things up.

Two years ago: Labors of Love
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