[DISCUSSION] Pokemon Sun & Moon News Thread (Will Contain Pre-Launch Spoilers)

[Black117]

October 4th News

Starter Evos, Festival Plaza, Poke Peligo, Global Link features, Return of Megas, and news of an upcoming demo this 18th of October. This news post might be dry and shorter than usual, but lets dive right in.
 

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1st Stage Starter Evos

 

The Blade Quill Pokemon: Dartrix
Type: Grass/Flying
Height: 2'04"
Weight: 35.3 lbs.
Ability: Overgrown

 

The Fire Cat Pokemon: Torracat
Type: Fire
Height: 2'04"
Weight: 55.1 lbs.
Ability: Blaze

 

The Pop Star Pokemon: Brionne
Type: Water
Height: 2'00"
Weight: 38.6 lbs
Ability: Torrent

 

We finally got the 1st stage evos of then Alolan starters after about 4 and a half months since the original unveiling. To start off traditionally, Rowlet evolves into the new Grass/Flying-Pokemon, Dartrix, which is a more "sharper" looking version that cares for its own looks and snobby. Litten's evolution is the new Fire-type, Torra Cat, a "bulkier" version of the kitten, but with a bell-like organ at its neck to control Fire-type moves. Finally Popplio's evolution, Brionne is a pure Water-type who is shown to be a hard worker, expressive, and loves t dance. All three starter Pokemon will retain their respective abilities: Overgrown, Blaze, and Torrent. 

 

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New Connection Feature: Festival Plaza

 

 
 

There's a new connection-based feature called the "Festival Plaza" where players gather to battle, trade, shop, and interact with each others in multiple mini-games. Looks PSS is "replaced" by the Festival Plaza, which is also kinda an enhanced version of Join Avenue from Black and White 2. Based on first impressions, "trades & battles" occur in the Festival Plaza, do not sure if this is a specific in-game spot to do so, or we can trade "outside" as is. While not a specific feature, various NPCs will roam around Festival Plaza asking for "shopping" locations players can refer them to. Once the player recommends a spot, the NPC gives them "Festival Coins". Festival Coins are a new monetary, or money to spend for shops whether they are for training facilities (Level Ups / EV Training) for Pokemon, or clothes/dye shops to customize their characters. The more the player ranks up their Festival Plaza, the more Festival Coins they'll receive as well as more prizes. Finally Festival Plaza hosts new mini-games, or missions to complete either in-game, or online.

 

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Poke Peligo

In Pokemon Su/Mo, there's a new feature called Poke Peligo which looks as if "boxed" Pokemon might finally get "use" after all via interacting in various mini-games. As the player sends more Pokemon in Poke Peligo, new features will come up as well as new "islets" to explore and develop. As of right now, here are the following islets based on Serebii: 

•  Isle Abeens: An isle which features the use of Poke Beams to lure "wild pokemon", and possibly capture them if more Pokemon are around the area.
  
• Isle Alphun: An isle where players can use their Pokemon to find items like the Evolutionary Stones.
  
• Isle Evelup: An isle where players can level up or EV train their Pokemon with special "drinks".
  
• Isle [Unknown]: Though we don't know the exact name, this isle is essentially where players can grow their berries and have their boxed Pokemon monitor them.
  

 

 

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Other Miscellaneous News

Some of this stuff is rather interesting, but not as important / "engaging" compared to the rest of the news showcased. Most of the other news mentioned today is purely "confirmation" of features we were probably hinted at throughout most news sites, and this thread. For now lets look at some of these options:  

• Major Pokemon Global Link News: Rated Battle now has four specific features: Singles, Doubles, "Special" (themed battles), and the new "Champion" Battles. First two are kinda self explanitory, Special Battle is usually "theme" based competitions TCPi ogranizes every "season", and the last one is essentially an official "ladder" for the VGC Circuit, which is extremely welcomed news. Players may now "rent" battle teams using the QR codes system and can be used for Rated Battles. Players are now also able to "publicly" share teams using QR codes from the Global Link, and register these Pokemon in their Battle Box. This new features goes as far as to allow the player to user these rental teams even on link battles, a huge step TCPi is making quite honestly. Finally the Global Link will host a number of online-based "Global Missions", time-focused events where if accomplished, players may earn prizes. 
  
• VGC 17 Ruleset: We've known for about awhile now the new ruleset will base itself on the new Pokemon Su/Mo games, however never got official confirmation (aside hints), until now. I'll explain these rules in a separate thread in-depth with some other users, but for now, here's the following to know: 1) Double Battle format limited to Alolan Dex, 2) Most Legend / Mythicals / Event-based Pokemon are banned. 3) Mega Stones are not allowed (No Megas),  3) Pokemon from Su/Mo "born" only, and not other previous gens, and finally 4) New "Timer-Based" system for Rated Battle, and for VGC called "Your Time". (Will Explain Later On)
  
• Megas Return: Seems like Mega Evolution will return in the game to settle the debate once and for all. While some were displeased of Mega Evolutions in battling formats, it seems like TCPi and Game Freak have considered them centralizing or powerful to the point they've banned them in the new VGC format. Whether or not this was the exact reason remains to be known. Not sure what other battling formats like Smogon will do like maybe make a separate non-Mega tier? That remains to be seen. 
  
• Pokemon Su/Mo Demo: We are indeed going to get the Pokemon Su/Mo Demo released at the Nintendo eShop on the 18th of October. Not much else information is shown, but we do get to use a new form of a certain Pokemon
  
• Ash-Greninja: The new Ash-Greninja form will be available on  the Pokemon Su/Mo Demo with the new ability Batte Bond which activates every time Greninja scores a KO. We don't know any further information regarding Ash-Greninja, but hits it has more effects. After the launch date, players can transfer their "Ash-Greninja" into the main games and have for personal use outside competitions. 
  

 

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We'll be getting more Sun and Moon news around the 14th of October so cya all then!