Wednesday, April 29, 2026

"Longer Than You Think": Some Long(?) Pokémon Waits

Earlier in January, I had discussed ways that Pokémon could be stated, expressed, or conveyed within a short time - 60 seconds. It seems like a short amount of time, but it can be quite long, which is why I also included the blurb about how it can actually feel as such according to a particular someone. For convenience, I've included the actual quote in the title of this post, and that's for a good reason: I've decided to bring up the quote again for a discussion of its essence in relation to some Pokémon "waits" that can in fact exemplify that essence.

One of those long waits is the PvP switch timer in Pokémon Go, which has a history of being somewhat long (60 seconds, like the time above) before it was shortened to the most recent 45 seconds. Still, these are somewhat greater than even a time of 30 seconds, which is incidentally the time referenced for the quote above, and it can seem like forever to wait for that switch timer to reset and thus be able to switch Pokémon - even with Fast and Charged moves still being thrown. The short time yet seemingly long wait is evocative of the quote.

Then, there is the One-Minute Cooking countdown clock in Café Remix, which starts out at 60 seconds but can and does regenerate by sidekick Pokémon effects and going into Fever Frenzy. Yet just like the Pokémon Go PvP situation above, it can be like an eternity in trying to do as much as possible within that time, even going into and out of Fever Frenzy. While it is true that players may not actually want to let the time just pass by, doing all the actions in the play can seem extended and makes things seem longer than they should be, like the time.

Meanwhile, Pokémon Unite has the move timers for playable Pokémon, and even though they are far shorter than most of the above durations, they too can seem like a long time. It is also possible to show milliseconds when they get down to the final second, but the wait to get there is still significant... which also makes the final second also significant even with the display. Likewise, there are also a lot of things going on in battle, and all of those things have a way of making time perceptions seem longer (mostly) or shorter than they seem to be.

Now, it's a given that some things, even Pokémon things, require a sense of waiting in their progressions. Yet given the above, what appears to be short timeframe can and still do take time that may be perceived as long, and that is pretty much an affirmation of the mentioned quote by that particular someone. Getting on with that wait and the processes involved in the wait will surely make the time pass by - in particular to be able to do other things - but it is necessary to keep in mind that some stretches of time are just that long, no two ways about it.

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Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Pokémon Go Event Rollup, 4/28/2026

The second month of a Pokémon Go season entitled "Memories in Motion" goes (or perhaps more appropriately, had gone) into motion, so now it's time to roll up the events and evaluate what has transpired in that time. Based on their content, I would say that the events this month are of the "strong movement" kind, and that may be saying something for the things that go into motion, as the season's moniker suggests. In turn, that presents strong memories as well with the way that the season is.

The first event, A Shockingly Good Time, actually began on March 31, but I consider it an April event for soon-to-be evident reasons. The main event was all about Electric-type Pokémon, with Pikachu, Chinchou, and Dedenne having Shiny boosts, and others joining them in the wild and Field Research encounters. It also saw the temporary return of Spotlight Hour... or Hours, one for each day of the event (up to April 6) with different species on each day. Now, along with Pikachu as the Spotlight Hour feature on April 1, a hooded species also accompanied it from that point onwards - and that would be Mimikyu, making its debut in the game as the "shade of difference" for April Fool's. This event also came with a Go Pass of 60 ranks with encounters, catch and Incense bonuses, and lots of items (including some for Mimikyu) plus two avatar items, one inside (by the paid Deluxe track) and one outside the Go Pass. There was both a time of shock and tomfoolery for this particular event.

April 14 saw the return of Sustainability Week, which proceeded until April 20. This edition saw the debuts of the Silicobra family, a costumed Galarian Corsola, and Shiny Toedscool - the first of which had a bit of a "habitat kerfuffle". Meanwhile, the second could be encountered on Routes along with a few other species in two-day periods, all with Shiny boosts; it too might appear in 7 km Eggs and Field Research along with yet other species. The third along with natural Pokémon species and the dynamic-by-weather Castform (with a Shiny boost) appeared in the wild wherever they are found. This event's 60-rank Go Pass had bonuses of PokéStop XP and hatch distance, along with the usual encounters and unusually luxe items, including a paid pose in the Deluxe track - all for a strongly sustainable time.

Finishing off this month is the return of the Steeled Resolve event, from April 28 (today) until May 4. New this time is the species Orthworm (and its Shiny form), which appears in raids along with other species of the Steel type, not to mention in the wild and Field Research. Meltan is also a given for this one, with a Shiny chance and more opportunities to open the Mystery Box. Then there's the event's Go Pass with its 60 ranks containing encounters and other items... but this one holds a dark secret for the event's tail end that is best discussed separately - as in next month's rollup with a different "finish".

As with last month, there were the "Community Saturdays" that took place in the month, aside from this month's Community Day on April 11. On April 4, there was a Fashion Raid Day that featured many species with costumes as found in past Fashion Week events. Then, April 18 saw a Hatch Day event featuring Lucario, a "replay" of the first one some three years ago. Finally, there was also a Max Battle Day on April 25 featuring the first four Pokémon (the three Kanto first partners plus Gengar) in the game that received the Gigantamax treatment as part of the "Go Bigger" event a couple of years ago. These are not just strong but also big in some respects - in particular the last one of these for its significance.

Facets of strength and nostalgia really seemed to make themselves apparent this month with all the events, and there were some motions too from the related Pokémon, if not also for the Trainers pursuing them. It may be the most representative month for the season, although its finale next month is not far away. 

Two years ago: Pokémon on a Budget
Three years ago: Attraction to Poké Balls
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Monday, April 27, 2026

Regional Festival Maps in Pokémon Unite

This year's Pokémon anniversary has to bring out the best of and from Pokémon, including as they are identified by the regions they hail from. Pokémon Unite has embraced this idea, and with that, the game created special maps for celebrating the anniversary by bringing out the Pokémon from specific regions. Accordingly, the special maps are called "festival" maps with regard to their celebratory nature of Pokémon in general and the species that are already featured in the game specifically - something that should now be discussed.

Earlier, around the time of the first introduction of the "Legendary Flight" as full-fledged Unite Licenses, the game had the "Kanto Festival" map, which allowed Unite Licenses for Pokémon that hail from that region. Similarly, with the current approaching introduction of the first partner trio from Johto as Unite Licenses, the game now has the "Johto Festival" map, which by implication thus allows Unite Licenses for Pokémon of that very region. Both also come with respective events. The idea is simple, but there's quite a bit more to it than the above.

For these maps, they are played as Casual matches using the latest iteration of Theia Sky Ruins as their base. The wild Pokémon that are present in that map are the same as for the regular version of that map, so they remain as generational "outliers", in a way only "supporting" the actual celebration by what players play. As well, they allow multiple players to choose the same Pokémon, which is evidently currently needed as there are very few Pokémon to use for the Johto Festival map, at least until the first partners fully show up.

Since not all Pokémon from these featured regions have shown up in the game, these maps can definitely stand a chance to be repeated at some point in time, when more of them do show up as Unite Licenses. Furthermore, the two maps as introduced above also provide a base framework for future regional "festival" maps - a Hoenn map comes to mind and may be scintillating to think about, especially since a few Pokémon from the region has shown up. Yet that's only for the future to consider.

It's only natural to consider the regions of particular Pokémon species in featuring them, as that is a non-removable part of their identity. Considering that, Pokémon Unite has a good thing going with the regional "festival" maps to celebrate and play with the Pokémon of select regions, even if the celebration only exists in this specific form. Still, that should be a good thing for this Pokémon anniversary and beyond, as great Pokémon hail from great regions, and both deserve a rightful celebration in their play.

One year ago: Cosplay: Nakama Fest
Four years ago: TCG, My Past and Future
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Sunday, April 26, 2026

Let's Talk About Our Favorite Snacks

Goh: Oh, just a plain talk today?

Ash: Well, we did talk on Sundays all this month for conventions...

Me: That's one way of looking at it. Another is me just wanting to get my (and our) ideas out there.

Goh: Yeah, I guess that's not too bad. 

Ash: So, I heard we're going to talk about food today!

Pikachu: Pika pika! ["Good stuff!"]

Me: Yes - we're talking about food, specifically snacks, the stuff we eat between meals and the like.

Goh: I'm sure you have your own for that.

Me: Certainly. Potato chips are a big thing for me. I can hardly resist a bag of them.

Ash: You must like chip-type snacks a lot too.

Me: Depends on the chip, but yeah. I'm big on chips. How about you two?

Ash: I guess sometimes we see it and have it, but other than that...

Goh: ...we don't see it all that often. Isn't that right?

Ash: When we're out on the wild and stuff, we just snack on what's there.

Goh: Right - it's when we get to cities and towns that we get "people food".

Ash: Oh, like the snacks from the different regions. Lava Cookies, Castelia Cones, Malasadas...

Pikachu: Pi pika pika... ["Hey, hold on there..."]

Goh: All the stuff from the regions! Now those are snacks we could really get our hands on when we're there.

Ash: Yeah!

Goh: But then again, we like Berries and Apples from the wild...

Ash: Sure. We all need to eat fruits every so often.

Goh: Don't you (our friend) eat fruits too?

Ash: Well, I heard he ate Pinap Berries in juice form (or drank it, it seems)...

Me: Good ear. I like Pinap Berries - not just to give to Pokémon to get more Candy for them. And then there are others too.

Goh: I guess you're selective about them.

Me: I guess I am. Even for things like the previous ones above, I'm a bit selective of those too - but I'll give some things a try on the first go.

Ash: But we can all say that there's so many different kinds of snacks.

Pikachu: Pika chu. ["So many."]

Goh: The question is having the patience to try them.

Me: I'll say. Like this one chip snack that's sort of like a waffle, which is good but also a little "oily".

Ash: Wow.

Me: And recently, that's been pushing Pokémon stuff too.

Goh: Interesting. Aren't you going to get some?

Me: Actually, I have gotten some - but I'll need to deal with them later. And today...

Goh: Oh, I see it now. I think?

Ash: Hmm.

Me: Maybe we don't have to bring it up too much.

Goh: OK... 

Pikachu: Pi... ka? [in a curious sound]

Me: As Ash said, we make our point - lots of snacks out there, even Pokémon ones.

Ash: Something we could try every now and then.

Goh: And sometimes makes us happy.

Me: What would life be like without food - even little bites - to keep our spirits up?

Three years ago: Slow Living with Pokémon
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Saturday, April 25, 2026

The Intricate Art (?) of Excited Buddy Pokémon

A real long time has apparently passed since I made any significant discussion about Buddy Pokémon in Pokémon Go, and for that, I thought I'd make a post on that very topic. Now, at this point, many Trainers should be familiar with the Excited mood of Buddy Pokémon, even if that has only happened occasionally and/or through a familiar "shortcut". Perhaps it may very well be considered an "art" - and perhaps it may also be an "intricate" one - which then becomes the prompt for this discussion. 

The "art" may just lie in knowing when to try to get a Buddy Pokémon to be Excited. Those who truly intend as such will surely have to swap out their Buddy Pokémon, periodically feed and play with it, and battle whenever possible - and doing all of this can indeed get one there. Yet there's also a tell-tale sign that one is close: if the Buddy Pokémon has "line" eyes and an open mouth, then one can keep playing and battling as well as feeding and walking, and the Buddy Pokémon will be in the Excited mood eventually. Even though there are discovered specifics for how to get that to happen, it seems that one can also do as much as possible ("crank things up to 11") with not too much regard, and that's where the "art" lies.

In fact, that's what I've done at times, getting my Buddy Pokémon in the Excited mood just by doing every possible action as much as possible yet regularly while my Buddy Pokémon is active (plus an initial swap, if I remember or happen to do it). What does seem to help out is having a Buddy Pokémon that complements the activities of the day, like raids or Max Battles, and perhaps a good deal of Gyms with many Pokémon that can be battled down. That way, a lot of battles could be gotten in for the Buddy Pokémon, and without thinking too much, the mood can be attained. That seems to be "artistic" in some respects.

Of course, the "shortcut" remains feeding the Buddy Pokémon a Poffin, the no-nonsense and hands-off approach - but some effort is still needed for earning hearts even in that state. As a result, there too is an "art" of saving Poffins whenever possible to go along with the actual "art" for attaining the Excited mood as above. The decision of Poffin usage or non-usage can also get "intricate" depending on the kind of Buddy Pokémon in question.

Whether it's considered an "art" or "intricate" (or not), getting a Buddy Pokémon to be Excited in Pokémon Go is both a utility and necessity in gameplay for making the most out of that Buddy Pokémon for various reasons. Given what happens above, the imagery is complex yet needs to be appreciated, like for any great piece of art.

One year ago: Reserved Loudness
Three years ago: Prefixes in Pokémon Unite?
Five years ago: Pokémon Airplanes
Seven years ago: The World Is All Here
Eight years ago: I'll Be... The One
Nine years ago: Shuffling in Alola
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Friday, April 24, 2026

The Treatment of HM Slaves

It was a very long time ago that I mentioned the concept of "HM slaves" in relation to the eventual deprecation of the skill machines that gave rise to the concept, as well as one example of a Pokémon species that could become an example for this concept. This time, I want to bring up the concept again for discussion, but now the focus is on the treatment of Pokémon that become manifestations of the concept. For that, the matter might be obvious, but some other intricacies could also apply for the Pokémon.

Most obviously, these Pokémon are likely to have secondary treatment, since their HM moves are not likely to be used in battle, or alternatively not as effective as other moves of their own or the opponent. The Pokémon themselves are also for the most part not quite capable of high-level battle - or more precisely, not able to hold their own against more capable opponents. Thus, they're likely either stored until they're needed for an adventure, or they sit on the sidelines when a battle is taking place with other Pokémon. 

Even so, if a certain Pokémon animation - featuring a very well-known "god" that can become the above - is of any indication, HM slaves can have a niche role: that of a "pinch hitter". If they happen to be part of a team and they happen to be the very last available Pokémon - again, as that animation would suggest, miracles can happen much like that one Pachirisu that saved a certain battle (though it's not one and the same). This is in part rather theoretical and imaginative, but not completely impossible in real battles.

By now, HM slaves are perhaps almost never unheard of again, except in the case of someone who is replaying games from older generations where they are relevant in the adventure. That relevance then leads into the consideration of their treatment, particularly when a battle is involved. Even if they may never have a primary treatment regardless of the situation, they may still be vital somehow in the situations, just as vital as the concept of HMs are to the early Pokémon games and their adventures.

Four years ago: The Flame of Cyndaquil
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Thursday, April 23, 2026

Presents (and Items) Piling Up in Café Remix

Close to a year ago, I had discussed the Presents feature in Café Remix, what the feature serves to do, and possibly some helpful aspects and tips that pertain to it. Since then, I've personally made use of the feature... and perhaps a little too extensively at that, because now I have many such Presents piling up in the feature, which is also an effect of items in general also piling up, given that they have collection limits in the game. It's a situation that merits a discussion for its present applicability to me and generally to other (longtime) players.

As expected, most of the Presents that pile up for me are composed of Tarts XL for each type as they are earned from Daily Training, becoming as such due to having maxed out the counts for them. Yet I also have Stamina Crystals from Monthly Goals that I chose not to use (yet) due to already having a ready supply and being not ready to use them. Skip Tickets are now also becoming an occasional problem due to them easily "regenerating" by way of the daily login and missions, even when I use them to the fullest each and every day.

Though I'm nowhere near the limit of 200 Presents (currently, I have about 30 or so at any one time), continued play will surely see some of the items above continuing to accumulate as Presents, meaning that I'd eventually have to use them somehow... if I can. The problem is that most of my Pokémon are already maxed out to either Level 20 or Level 25, and my "working section" (the ones between those levels) has already become small. And then there's the problem as mentioned above for the Stamina Crystals. 

Other longtime players, if they log in and play as frequently as I do - which would be every day - will likely experience the same situation and problems, which suggests that there could be a "universal" quality to them. Equally "universal" solutions could be conceived (by the game itself), but the application could be the dicey part when fairness for players is considered in all kinds of ways. It seems that all players will have to wrestle for some time with what might be an overload of Presents (and items) in their collection. 

Now, after several years of the game's presence (and a few of me playing it), the problem of having too many items in one's possession - and a lack of opportunities for using them - seem to be apparent, at least for me personally. Still, I'm likely not to be alone in this regard if the ways of playing the game are "universal" for others, or at the least similar. With such a pileup of Presents and items, there may be a pileup of things to do as well to attack the "pile" and use them as best as possible.

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