Postcards in Pokémon Go

Some time ago, Pokémon Go introduced the postcard feature, which is actually an expansion and extension of the Gift feature. It also initially appeared to be a feature that is purely a novelty, something not to be utilized often; recently, however, the feature has evidently become important for its role in connection to two Pokémon species, both inside and outside of the game. As such, I feel the need to make a write-up about its intricacies and what happens when it is involved, particularly because of recent developments.

Every Gift, whether obtained by oneself or received from another Trainer, has a postcard that identifies where it was obtained. This postcard can be pinned when viewing Gifts that one possesses or received from friends. The destination of the pin in either case is the same: the Postcard Book, which serves to collect all the pinned postcards. Each Trainer can pin and collect postcards to a certain number, but this can be increased in the same way as for bag and storage space, by buying upgrades from the Shop.

Now, the first Pokémon for which the feature becomes important is Vivillon. By pinning Gifts from different places around the world, it increments sub-badges for patterns of the Vivillon Collector badge, which when filled will lead to an encounter with a Scatterbug that can evolve to Vivillon with that pattern. As well, as mentioned in the Pokémon Presents roundup, by sending those same postcards to the Scarlet and Violet games, they will lead to encounters of Vivillon with the same specific patterns in those games.

Of course, the present main objective of sending postcards is for attaining a way to capture Gimmighoul (at least, its chestless Roaming Form) in Pokémon Go by way of activating the Coin Bag in the same way one activates the Mystery Box for Meltan. Sending postcards for five days will allow the Golden Lure Module to be earned, which when installed on a PokéStop, allows for earning Gimmighoul Coins while it is active; Gimmighoul itself may appear, but very rarely - the Coin Bag is the surefire way to encounter the Pokémon.

Linking Pokémon Go to the Scarlet and Violet games is just like linking with the earlier Let's Go games to obtain the Mystery Box for Meltan, except this time one is sending postcards and not Pokémon. In either case, those precious Gimmighoul Coins are needed to evolve one of them into Gholdengo - as mentioned, 999 of them. In the case of Pokémon Go, the Coins do not take up bag space once earned properly, so it's in the best interest of one to make best use of resources and earn the coins from PokéStops.

The postcard feature in Pokémon Go represents a remarkable transformation, from a humble and unassuming feature to one that is absolutely necessary for two Pokémon and their related species families. In this case, the keepsake postcards can then become the impetus for the keepsake of Vivillon with different patterns and the coin-loving Gimmighoul, whose evolutionary transformations may also be considered to be in the same way. That seems valuable enough to be treasured by those who play the respective games.

One year ago: On the "Grass Divas"

Two years ago: Quickies: Surf's Up, Surf's Down

Three years ago: The Wonders of the PokéRap and Beyond

Four years ago: Quantity and Quality

Five years ago: Cosplay: Daisuki! Japan Fest 2018

Six years ago: Have You Seen My Childhood?

Zacian, the Sword-Wielding "Menace"

Every now and then, certain Pokémon species take the spotlight for certain reasons, not the least of which are for their capabilities. That might happen in a good way, or it might also happen in a notorious way. The latest Pokémon that has come into the spotlight in such a way is one of the Legendary Pokémon from Galar, Zacian. The Pokémon isn't too new but isn't too old either, which makes it surprising. What's more, the Pokémon has taken on a certain role of notoriety, particularly in more recent games. For that, it seems to be a "menace" of sorts.

The background for this is its presence in past VGC formats, when they still used the Sword and Shield games. During that time, in some of the formats where it was allowed for usage, the Pokémon species tended to "take over" the format; in other words, every team seemed to require its presence. As such, in this way, the Pokémon became a bit of a "menace" as Trainers had to figure out how to counter it and/or include the "menace" outright in their teams. The way that the Pokémon is, it seemed "broken", making it an ideal target for everyone to use... and then to counter.

More recently, the Pokémon has made waves in Unite, becoming not only the last boss in another edition of its Boss Rush map, but also as a truly playable Legendary Pokémon, a novel approach. Unfortunately, here it seems also as "broken" and "menacing" as its main series counterpart with an excess of power; as a result, a recent update had to adjust the Pokémon ("nerf" it) to make it less "broken" and "menacing", especially as players start to obtain the Unite License for it outright. Eventually, the challenge remains the same: how it can be included in a team while excluding its struggle.

Somewhere in the midst of the two experiences above, there is its role in Pokémon Go as a Pokémon that can be played in its Master League, since its CP in typical cases positions it for that purpose. Here too it is a veritable fighter and may become a first pick in parties for the Master League; it has a few good Fast and Charged moves of different types, and its Fairy type makes it a bit difficult to counter as with most Fairy-type Pokémon in general. It may not seem apparently "broken" or a "menace", but for those playing in Master League, it represents a potential threat nonetheless.

After its first appearance in the main series games and the subsequent appearances in the other games above, a conclusion can be made: Zacian is intended to be strong, and it is very much that in actual fact, making it a "menace" wherever it comes into play. It becomes a bit notorious in that regard, but in the end, it just comes down to its capabilities manifesting themselves in the game systems in question. And that becomes its thrust into the spotlight with a certain renown attached to it.

One year ago: "Plus Moves" in Pokémon Games

Two years ago: Thundering into the Vortex

Three years ago: A Taste of the Poison Paradise

Four years ago: Everybody, Polkamon

Five years ago: Action or Strategy?

Six years ago: Thank Heaven for Little Boys

Pokémon Asia McDonald's Happy Meal Toys - "Camping Series", Selections

It's been a couple of years since the last promotional toys offering related to Pokémon by the fast food place I mention in the title, so in effect, everyone is (or was, by now) due for another one. And the latest one could be considered to be a continuation of the previous "Expedition Series", which now takes on the "Camping" theme. And as with the previous one, I can only manage to obtain a small selection of the toys due to certain restrictions, both imposed and not imposed by me.

True to the theme, the toys represent trinkets or tools that support those who go on a camping trip. That implies different things for different people, but at least some of them may find commonality in the necessary things. Those things may be for bringing or carrying objects, or to assist in certain processes that are part of a camping trip. That as usual was distilled into eight toys distributed over a span of a couple of weeks earlier this year, and from that, I got two of them.

One of those is the Pokémon Collector Kit on the left. It consists of a green pair of tongs to pick up objects and put them into the red Poké Ball container on the left... just like what the creator of Pokémon, Satoshi Tajiri, did in the old days. Evidently, the container has air holes to allow whatever is in there to breathe. The tongs attach to the ring of the container by a hook, enabling them to be kept together. This toy becomes the modern interpretation of the tools involved in the activity that is the inspiration for Pokémon itself.

As for the other one, that would be the Pikachu Fork and Spoon on the right, attached by hooks to the ring that Pikachu conveniently provides. The crystalline spoon and amber fork, at least by my view, are somewhat smallish and cartoony for convenient usage as tools for eating - something that regularly occurs on camping trips - but they may be workable in specific circumstances and by little hands, which is the point of most of these toys anyway. Likewise, as with the toys of the previous edition, I'd rather keep them pristine for my collection.

Many more activities are involved in camping besides the two above that are represented by the toys that I selected to obtain, but those activities ought to be representative of what camping involves for some people. And if they're fans of Pokémon, they ought to appreciate the Pokémon touch that is involved as with the toys above. Camping should be able to incorporate some fun whenever possible, and if anything, the toys above do just that with the help of "monsters" that appeal to just about everyone.

One year ago: The Support of Fans

Two years ago: Tags and Tagged Search in Pokémon Go

Three years ago: Toxic People and Fans

Four years ago: Interpretative Soundtracks

Five years ago: Father Figure?

Six years ago: Tonight, We Honor the Hero

Pokémon Tidbits from Different Places

As a Pokémon fan, I'm apt to gather or collect things related to it from different sources and even places. That happens all the time, whether I'm actively doing so or not. And that is exactly what had happened over some of the past weeks, even closer to today. I obtained a few little things related to Pokémon, which is why I opted to call them "tidbits" as in the title. They also come from different places, reflecting my varied Pokémon experiences.

I start by addressing the largest of these "tidbits". It's a Pokémon (here as Pocket Monsters) cap with a net. Furthermore, it was apparently made for the Korean market, judging from the Korean script; the tag also indicates that it is an officially licensed piece of merchandise from or for the Sun and Moon series. There are even some remaining handwritten bits of Korean script, which does make me question where it came from. Regardless, I picked this up from a friend of a friend who offered it for cheap, and I willingly took the offer. I've found it's slightly small for my head - which leads me to believe that it is in fact a child's cap - but it could work well as a Pokémon prop. It's still a fine bit of Pokémon merchandise.

Continuing the Korean thread, I also received a card for the TCG, but in Korean. It is obviously for the Pokémon species of Omanyte, which as far as I'm concerned has its own renown. In this case, it's clear that for this card to be played, a fossil card has to be played first; meanwhile, a little bit of research reveals that the attack possessed by this Omanyte also demands the Trainer to flip a coin, which leads to a Paralyzed status for the opponent if it comes out as heads. Likewise, I had gotten this from a friend, and its actual origins are unknown to me. But with the above, it becomes perfectly clear that Pokémon has its following in those lands as well, and some of the pieces are now in my possession.

The last item is the one in the black box. It's a custom merchandise I obtained from one of the booths in the latest convention I attended, and it's Pikachu in clay art form. It looks cutesy and detailed even in clay art form, which should also speak for the creator's attention to detail. The booth happens to be run by an acquaintance of one of my friends, and seeing that it has custom Pokémon stuff (among others), I just had to purchase something to show my support for the enterprise. It's also clear why it's in the box, because it's rather fragile; I'm surprised it has managed to remain intact. If the booth returns to a convention someday and I have some funds to spare, I will definitely support its Pokémon side further.

Much always goes on for Pokémon in all of its different forms, but little things can also be gotten that may just represent those happenings. If anything, the "little" things that I obtained above may be considered to be such, representing parts of the grand schemes of creativity, competition, and collectibles wherever they might be considered to persist. And now they continue to persist where I am today.

One year ago: On the Planning of Posts

Two years ago: At (and Beyond) the Beginning

Three years ago: Pokémon Conferences?

Four years ago: Add Hope and Tears...

Five years ago: Cultivate or Gather Berries?

Six years ago: Pokémon and Music Games

Factions Battlefields, Season 2 Cycle 4

Since by now it is obvious that I'm participating in Factions with a team I command, I have to get a leg up on the Battlefields for the next Cycle, which is due out soon. Therefore, this post becomes all the more important, and what's more, they're already published (in an official bulletin, no less) - so I have to get right on it. This Cycle's Battlefields, including those for the three common leagues, are also different in some ways and require a bit of understanding.

A points system is back in vogue for the Great League, with a cap of 17 points and species grouped into tiers of 7, 5, 2, and 1 points. They respectively contain 6, 9, 20, and all other species; the top two tiers are notable for containing exceptionally powerful species and are designed to break them up from being chosen together - in fact, one can only have one of the 7-point species with or without a 5-point one, or two of the latter without the former, the rest of a team being filled by lower tier species (and as usual, no Mega Evolution). Master League retains its point system and cap of 8 points from last time, but all the tiers are updated according to recent developments, including banning both existing Primal forms. Likewise, this is done to keep things in check. For these and all others below, Hawlucha - recently introduced as a Mexico regional - is also banned for that reason.

Meanwhile, Ultra League has gone back to a themed format, this time called "Justicar". In this format, the focus types are Fire, Electric, Bug, Poison, Fighting, Ice, and Fairy, while the Ground type is banned, as is Mega Evolution and six selected species (Alolan Golem, Lanturn, Toxicroak, Aurorus, Dragalge, and Tapu Fini), although Shadow Pokémon are allowed. If the title of this theme sounds strange, it's because it refers to a fantasy law enforcer - thus the icon for the theme contains a knight's helmet and a crescent. Those battling in this common league Battlefield will have their hands full in delivering justice, as is implied by the title.

For the two Battlefields, one of them is new and has a lively spiritual quality, and it's called Arcana. It allows the types of Grass, Rock, Ghost, and Psychic, plus five other selected species (two of them being Pelipper and Scyther); conversely, it disallows the types of Normal, Electric, Ice, and Fairy, plus seven species (two of them being the ever-popular Bastiodon and Trevenant). As with "Ember" from the iteration of the previous Cycle, it's relatively simple -compared to the other themed Battlefield - but still allows for great dynamics to take place within that relative simplicity.

The other Battlefield is a returning theme with a more somber spiritual quality. Catacomb from July 2020 returns with more or less the same restrictions, but updated with and considering modern developments. The theme now includes four selected species, all of them of the Water type (two of them being Samurott and the Qwilfish from Johto); there are also a whole lot more bans, including three species families in entirety, one of them Hisuian Qwilfish - in all 18 specific species plus the original restrictions, which also now includes Grass-Poison dual-type bans. The original format had to have a bevy of restrictions to make it viable, and that is still the case today with all the bases covered by all the currently available species in Pokémon Go.

Cycle 4 of the current Season also marks the end of the current Season itself for Factions, before being followed by the postseason, which will come in due time. As such, it seems appropriate for it to go out with a bang, for which all of the above Battlefields for the current Cycle serve to do just that. Of course, for some Trainers like me, this Cycle is a beginning of the things to come in Factions as we (re)start our path in dealing with everything that the competition offers, including a diversity of battles that involve the above formats.

One year ago: Working for Pokémon?

Two years ago: Outsourcing Pokémon Development

Three years ago: Cosplay: Robotto no Sekai + SUCOFEST 2020

Four years ago: The Marketing of Expectations

Five years ago: How Many to a Raid?

Six years ago: To Be Continued... maimai ORANGE (PLUS)

Ionic Bondings in the Silph Arena

In chemistry, ionic bonding occurs among elements of differently charged atoms, one completing the outer shell of another by giving a free electron. Much of the nature of compounds with this kind of bonding is determined by the movements of their electrons. Silph Arena seems to have been inspired by this chemical phenomenon, taking the spirit of that and putting it into a themed cup, the one for this month. That themed cup is appropriately called "Ionic" in that respect.

This themed cup, like the chemical compounds whose bonding nature inspire it, has some order. A team requires an Electron, one of six Electric-type Pokémon (Ampharos, Dedenne, Electivire, Luxray, Minun, or Raikou). A team may also have one Proton and one Neutron, each of these from a select group of six Pokémon with attractive characteristics. The rest of the team is filled out by a "wild card" list of Pokémon that total only 30 species. The full lists for the other variable picks can be seen on the official page of the themed cup.

Because of the strictly limited number of included Pokémon species and the segregation of them into slots, some things are readily apparent. The Electron slot is obviously required and is a free choice. The Proton and Neutron slots may seem to be optional, but it serves as the only way to access the Fighting type pick of Poliwrath or Hisuian Sneasel, or even Beedrill or Ariados as Bug types; it's also a way to access some Dark type species and should be chosen. The rest of the team ought to be composed of a Bug-type, Water-type, and Normal-type Pokémon, after which the choice is up to the Trainer to make.

Certainly, insights can be gleaned from the development notes for the themed cup. The intent of the system is to allow free choices without restricting one's teams. To that end, the theme was built up in stages to have some Pokémon in certain offensive and defensive roles, ending up with the "curated" lists. In effect, this worked out to resemble (or take inspiration from) the Architect theme, which is similarly limited in the scope of Pokémon species. It should allow for variative picks for Trainers with the limited selection.

Evidently, Trainers will have to get "atomic" with this theme, picking out not only the Pokémon species that they can muster but also a few that is allowed by the theme to have a stable formation that can then serve to react and neutralize those of others when they become reactive. Such is the nature of ions in chemistry, and that seems to have been translated well in this themed cup through its restrictions; experimentation is certainly on order with this theme as it is for the branch of science that inspires its title.

One year ago: Need Some Help, Game Freak?

Two years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 3/6/2021

Three years ago: Tell Me Why, My Brother

Four years ago: (Make Way for a) Local EX Raid, 3/6/2019

Five years ago: Bipeds and Quadrupeds

Six years ago: Ride the Pokémon

Cosplay: Daisuki! Japan Fest x ICGP Regionals 2023

Ash: It's back!!

Pikachu: Pika chu! ["All right!"]

Me: Yes! After "missing the boat" three years ago, this convention is finally able to "set sail" once again, and as we talked yesterday, you're going to it with your special journey outfit.

Goh: This must be extremely fascinating! Tell me more.

Me: OK, so this convention is the biggest thing in my local area. It has everything that, say, Utsuru has and more.

Ash: Yeah! You wouldn't believe it. I've been sent here for many years, and there's always something to see.

Me: Not only that, you're here to connect with character friends and my friends as usual. And like four years ago, the convention partnered up with ICGP to find great character performances so they can then show their stuff in other places, even overseas.

Goh: Wow! That must make this convention popular.

Me: Well, it's already popular for a lot of different things, but that makes it more so. But all right, enough talk. How were things over there?

Ash: It was just like I remembered it four years ago! The booths, stands, goodies, food, and entertainment - everything!

Me: It remains in the same place, so I'm sure you remember a lot of things.

Goh: Tell me how things are usually like.

Ash: The goodies and food are outside, but the booths and entertainment are inside this big dome - it's like a battle stadium!

Goh: That is such a great place for a convention! You should be able to see everything.

Me: Actually, you might be able to do that more in the upper reaches, since the booths cover up the lower parts. Anyway, I've actually also put you on special assignment for this one, although some of them might turn out in different ways.

Pikachu: Pika? ["Hmm?"]

Me: The first special assignment is that I need your help in preserving the moment.

Ash: Oh, I know, for a video like that one time!

Me: Yeah, you got it. I've detailed the cues that you need to record and I trust that you can do that.

Ash: I did! But, yeah, like you said, there were a few things I changed because I couldn't make them exactly as you wanted.

Me: That's fine. We can work our magic later on when I make it presentable. 

Goh: They always do need some work.

Me: That is very true. Now, the second special assignment involves some special people.

Ash: Hey, it's Otaku Band! And... I'M SINGING WITH THEM AGAIN!

Goh: Wow!!

Ash: But... I guess I slipped a little...?

Me: Oh, um, hmm. There's a time and place for everything, it seems.

Ash: One of your friends had it recorded.

Me: Thanks. I'll deal with the gory details later. And the third special assignment is that I want you to capture as many members of the Tyrogue family as possible. It's a tall order with other things going on today, but just do what you can.

Ash: That happened! I got a lot of Hitmontop too, but only 30 or so. None were Shiny.

Me: That's OK. It's better than nothing. Well, aside from those three special assignments, your usual assignment is to participate in the competitions, for which this one only has the character parade competition, which was the intent of the preview yesterday.

Goh: That should have gone great at the least.

Ash: It did! But there were only four winners from 150 characters, and...

Goh: ...you weren't one of them.

Pikachu: Pika. ["Yes."]

Me: 150 characters are a lot for this kind of thing and four winners are too few for that. The judges must have had trouble deciding.

Ash: I did see one who looked like that was happening.

Me: So, what else is new? (both rhetorically and realistically)

Ash: The other entertainment was the usual. I've seen them in places you send me to here and there. And the big character competition wasn't as big this time.

Goh: How many participated?

Ash: Only three teams. But they all won something. One won best outfit, another won best character, and the last was the big champion.

Me: That seems to be more fair and equitable. Too bad we have little chance.

Ash: Um, but I heard this is the last time they'll have the character competition and... this is the last time for it... ever?

Pikachu: Chu... [dejected]

Me: I've heard of this too. I wish I could make further heads and tails of it before I say something more, but I haven't been able.

Goh: I understand how uncertain you feel. But I guess maybe, just maybe, someday we'll all look back at this not for what went wrong, but for what we enjoyed.

Ash: Goh could be right.

Pikachu: Pi pika. ["Could be."]

Me: That sounds like something I've read about before. Anyway, we'll take it in stride, and tomorrow's another day.

One year ago: Made (Deep) in Obsidian

Two years ago: Pokémon First-Generation Drink Bottle

Three years ago: Hope For Problematic Pokémon Fans

Four years ago: A Gold and Silver Postcard

Five years ago: Being a Pokétaku

Six years ago: I'm Swept Away