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feyariel · 2 years

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Pokémon: The Remakinating

What's Come Before: Google Maps

For their annual April Fool's Day...thing..., Google teamed up with The Pokémon Company to run a "Pokémon Challenge" on Google Maps. Players would be tasked with finding 150 Pokémon on Google Maps, with 25 from each of the then-current six regions, followed by a chance to find Mew. Since this is a redux of the Kanto dex, it's worth looking at first when thinking about how to make a new region at all and how to redesign the games from scratch.

The Pokémon in this list fall into a few obvious patterns, but without intimate knowledge of each game, it can be difficult to parse the rest. Patterns I have found: Starters (regional, Pikachu, and Eeveelution), Pikaclones, Ghosts, Fully-Evolved Pseudo-Legendary, Gift Pokémon, Pokémon obtained through unusual means (in-game events, sidequests, etc.), setting/title/plot-relevant Pokémon, regional common birds, Anime stars, gimmick, relevant to metagame, early-bird cameos, and replacements for specific Gen I Pokémon. This hasn't covered all of the Pokémon listed, so I'm probably missing some.

There are plenty of Pokémon that are missing from this list that would fit these categories well, perhaps better than those included. Much of this has to do with not overloading the Pokédex with any given category. For instance, there are no Gift Pokémon that come as a paired choice, including Fossil Pokémon. Aerodactyl doesn't come as part of a pair, but because no other fossils are included (and Gen I is already full), it didn't make the cut. However, there are others that probably should have made the cut and didn't for some reason. I'll speculate on those in my notes.

Kanto

Bulbasaur: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Ivysaur: Starter

Venusaur: Starter

Charmander: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Charmeleon: Starter, ~anime star (Ash's; doesn't spend long in this form)

Charizard: Starter, anime star (Ash's), extremely popular

Squirtle: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Wartotle: Starter

Blastoise: Starter

Pidgey: Regional common bird

Pikachu: Starter (Yellow), Pikaclones, anime star (Ash's), extremely popular

Raichu: Starter, Pikaclones

Jigglypuff: Anime star (cameo)

Meowth: Anime star (Team Rocket's)

Psyduck: Anime star (Misty's)

Gengar: Ghost, requires Silph Scope and trading, metagame relevant

Gyarados: Gift Pokémon (Magikarp [usually via salesman]), In-Game Event (Red Gyarados, Lake of Rage)

Lapras: Gift Pokémon, ~anime star (central character of Orange Islands arc), metagame relevant

Eevee: Eeveelution, Gift Pokémon/Starter (Yellow, Orre, Conquest)

Vaporeon: Eeveelution

Jolteon: Eeveelution

Flareon: Eeveelution

Porygon: Gift Pokémon (only available via Rocket Game Corner), gimmick (Normal-type with odd moves and upgrades)

Snorlax: In-Game Event (awaken via Poké Flute), Anime star (Ash's), metagame relevant

Dragonite: Fully-evolved pseudo-legendary, metagame relevant

Kanto is very straight-forward: there's no question as to why anything is included. Take Jigglypuff. Why would you include Jigglypuff? Because of her cameos in the anime, which gave her enough of a personality to distinguish her from Clefairy and to garner her enough popularity to get included in Smash, the sole reason why she's remained relevant. If it weren't for her being sassy and getting angry over Sing working, then the entire species would have faded into obscurity.

Johto

Chikorita: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Bayleef: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Meganium: Starter

Cyndaquil: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Quilava: Starter, anime star (Ash's), extremely popular

Typhlosion: Starter, extremely popular

Totodile: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Croconaw: Starter

Feraligatr: Starter

Hoothoot: Regional common bird, setting motif (time), ~anime star (possibly related to Ash's Noctowl)

Pichu: Pikaclone, anime star (Pikachu & Pichu onward)

Togepi: Setting motif (breeding/eggs), anime star/early bird cameo (Misty's), Gift Pokémon (start of game)

Ampharos: Plot-relevant (Jasmine's Amphy in the lighthouse), fairly popular

Marill: Pikaclone (the first used as such), ~anime star (Tracey's), early bird cameo (Pikachu's Vacation)

Sudowoodo: In-Game Event (requires Squirt Bottle), anime star (Brock's)

Espeon: Eeveelution, Starter (Colosseum)

Umbreon: Eeveelution, Starter (Colosseum), anime star (Gary's), extremely popular, metagame relevant (defines Stall teams)

Unown: In-Game Event (requires solving sliding puzzles at Ruins of Alph), gimmick (has multiple forms, only learns Hidden Power), Ghost (seems to serve as this region's instead of Misdreavus; works just as well, IMHO), anime star (third movie)

Wobbuffet: Anime star (Team Rocket's), metagame relevant (Uber)

Steelix: Anime star/replacement for Gen I Pokémon (Brock's signature Onix, which evolved in the Advanced series)

Scizor: Replacement for Gen I Pokémon (Scyther; both were popular, but Scyther's typing kept it behind), pretty popular

Heracross: In-Game Event Pokémon (headbutting trees), anime star (Ash's), metagame relevant

Donphan: Early-bird cameo (fought at the beginning of Mewtwo Strikes Back)

Miltank: Plot-relevant (Whitney's demon cow)

Tyranitar: Final-form pseudo-legendary, anime star (4th movie, early use of semi-finalized Shadow Pokémon concept [bridging Dark type, TCG, and the Orre games]), metagame relevant (because of Sandstorm)

Gen II is only slightly harder than Gen I. For instance, it was pretty clear from the other generations that Ghost was an intended category, but there wasn't one here; Unown would make sense as a Ghost-type, given that it is a mysterious and often invisible creature that haunts ruins and that in Gen II Ghost still overlapped too much with Psychic (no Ghost-type was a physical attacker and all had access to a plethora of Psychic-type and telepathic-themed moves). There are also plenty of Gen II Pokémon that didn't make the cut which are much more popular than some that did, such as Furret and Houndoom; indeed, there are about 20 more Johto Pokémon which I think are either sufficiently iconic of Johto, popular enough, or just ones I'd prefer which could have made this list instead of some that did. However, by and large I think this is an adequate reduction of this generation.

Hoenn

Treecko: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Grovyle: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Sceptile: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Torchic: Starter, anime star (May's)

Combusken: Starter, anime star (May's)

Blaziken: Starter, anime star (May's, Harrison's)

Mudkip: Starter, anime star (Brock's); "do you liek Mudkipz?" (No, I don't.)

Marshtomp: Starter, anime star (Brock's)

Swampert: Starter, metagame relevant (typing)

Beautifly: Anime star (May's), replaces Butterfree from Gen I

Lotad: Anime star (Brock's)

Taillow: Regional common bird, anime star (Ash's)

Kirlia: No idea whatsoever; should be Gardevoir

Sableye: Setting-relevant (version exclusive paired with Mawile), Ghost

Mawile: Setting-relevant (version exclusive paired with Sableye)

Aggron: Dunno. Kinda replaces Rhydon from Gen I, I guess.

Plusle: Pikaclone

Minun: Pikaclone

Wailord: Unknown; might have to do with Wailmer having been one of the first three Gen III Pokémon revealed.

Milotic: Complicated method of acquisition, metagame relevant (excellent bulky Water)

Kecleon: Complicated method of acquisition (requires a Devon Scope to be seen on two of the several routes it appears on), early-bird cameo (with Azurill and Wailmer, first Gen III Pokémon revealed); seems to have replaced Castform, which is only available as a Gift, and Lickitung, a Gen I Pokémon that also has a long tongue.

Banette: Ghost, Possibly In-Game Event (Gen VI trash cans)

Absol: Dunno.

Salamence: Final-form pseudo-legendary

Metagross: Final-form pseudo-legendary, setting relevant (Steven Stone's)

I stopped watching the Pokémon anime sometime in Gen II, so the Gen III series is mostly lost on me. I doesn't help that Gen III was a continuity reboot, which in turn kinda made it a shark jump for older fans. You'll note that this section isn't quite as detailed as others; that's why. There are a few Pokémon I'd rather be on this list and I can't say that this is a great representation of Gen III (I mean, we're missing Flygon), but by and large I think it's pretty solid.

Sinnoh

Turtwig: Starter, anime star (Ash's, Paul's)

Grotle: Starter, anime star (Ash's, Paul's)

Tortrerra: Starter, anime star (Ash's, Paul's)

Chimchar: Starter, anime star (Paul's/Ash's, Flint's)

Monferno: Starter, anime star (Ash's, Flint's), replaces Mankey

Infernape: Starter, anime star (Ash's, Flint's), replaces Primeape

Piplup: Starter, anime star (Dawn's)

Prinplup: Starter, anime star (Kenny's)

Empoleon: Starter, anime star (Barry's, Kenny's)

Staraptor: Regional common bird, anime star (Ash's)

Luxray: Setting-relevant (Volkner's), anime star (Clemont's), very popular

Combee: Dunno; it's very cute, though. It could replace Beedrill, kinda.

Pachirisu: Pikaclone, anime star (Dawn's)

Buizel: Anime star (Dawn's/Ash's)

Buneary: Anime star (Dawn's)

Chatot: Gimmick/game relevant (ties into the DS's microphone)

Spiritomb: Ghost, In-Game Event (Odd Keystone sidequest), metagame relevant (shares a typing with Sableye that lacked weaknesses until Fairy came about, but unlike Sableye has the stats to make use of it)

Garchomp: Final-form pseudolegendary, anime star/plot-relevant (Cynthia's)

Munchlax: Anime star (May's), early-bird cameo

Lucario: Gift Pokémon (as Riolu), anime star (movie), absurdly popular

Croagunk: Anime star (Brock's)

Leafeon: Eeveelution

Glaceon: Eeveelution

Mamoswine: Anime star (Dawn's)

Rotom: In-Game Event, gimmick (forms), kinda-sorta replaces Voltorb (no explosions, though)

Because there are a dearth of really good Pokémon in Gen IV (IMHO), most of the ones I would have considered instead of the above are either included by proxy due to evolutionary stages (Shinx, Mega Lopunny, Porygon-Z, Gallade) or are kept out so as not to conflict with the formula (Roserade, Cranidos and Rampardos). It's a shame that Kricketune isn't present, given how viral its cry has become in memes. In the end, I'm only left with three lines I'd like to have seen: Shellos/Gastrodon, Drifloon/Drifblim, and Froslass. (Get rid of Munchlax: only starters get to evolve, yo.)

Unova

Snivy: Starter, anime star (Trip's, Ash's)

Servine: Starter, anime star (Trip's)

Serperior: Starter, anime star (Trip's)

Tepig: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Pignite: Starter, anime star (Ash's, Bianca's)

Emboar: Starter, anime star (Bianca's)

Oshawott: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Dewott: Starter

Samurott: Starter

Munna: Setting relevant/anime star (Dr. Fennel's), replaces Drowzee/Hypno

Pidove: Regional common bird, In-Game Event/plot-relevant (N's)

Audino: Anime star/Kanto replacement (Nurse Joy's, replacing Chansey)

Scraggy: Anime star (Ash's), In-Game Event/Plot Relevant (N's)

Cofagrigus: Ghost

Zoroark: Gift Pokémon/plot-relevant (N's), anime star (movie)

Minccino: Anime star (Bianca's), replaces Clefairy

Deerling: Gimmick (seasonal forms), Gift Pokémon (with Hidden Ability)

Emolga: Pikaclone, anime star (Iris's)

Joltik: Plot-relevant/In-Game Event (N's),

Ferrothorn: Plot-relevant/In-Game Event (N's), replaces Forretress (Gen II)

Chandelure: Ghost, extremely popular

Haxorus: Anime star (Iris's)

Cubchoo: No idea. Similar to Teddiursa (Gen II)

Stunfisk: Anime star (Cilain's)

Hydreigon: Fully-evolved pseudo-legendary

Unova, as another semi-reboot of the continuity, has a lot of Pokémon that look like replacements for Gen I Pokémon; fortunately, the vast majority of those did not make the cut. Unfortunately, several iconic Pokémon -- Victini, Whimsicott, the Darumaka line, Escavalier, Volcarona -- and some of my personal favorites didn't make the cut, either. I could quibble about this for a while, though. Moving on.

Kalos

Chespin: Starter, anime star (Clemont's)

Quilladin: Starter

Chesnaught: Starter

Fennekin: Starter, anime star (Serena's, Aria's)

Braixen: Starter, anime star (Serena's, Aria's), fetishized

Delphox: Starter, anime star (Serena's, Aria's)

Froakie: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Frogadier: Starter, anime star (Ash's)

Greninja: Starter, anime star (Ash's), metagame relevant (Protean, Ash- [may as well have Mega-Evolved])

Bunnelby: Anime star (Clemont's)

Talonflame: Regional common bird, anime star (Ash's)

Gogoat: Setting relevant (rideable)

Pancham: Unsure, but cute. Serena didn't capture hers until well after this event had passed.

Meowstic M/F: Probably as game-relevant filler-bunny (replacing the Nidos as two species in the 'dex split solely by gender/sex). The female's fur makes her look like she is dressed in stereotypical French clothing.

Aegislash: Ghost

Spritzee: Game-relevant (represents the then-new Fairy type, version exclusive paired with Swirlix)

Swirlix: Game-relevant (represents the then-new Fairy type, version exclusive paired with Swirlix)

Inkay: Unusual evolution method (flip upside-down), replacement for Gen I (Tentacool, specifically how in the anime it hypnotizes/possesses people), anime star (James')

Helioptile: My best guess is that this is a reference to Clemont's Heliolisk, but why they didn't just include that is a mystery.

Sylveon: Eeveelution, anime star (Serena's)

Dedenne: Pikaclone, anime star (Clemont's)

Goodra: Final-form pseudo-legendary, anime star (Ash's)

Pumpkaboo: Ghost, anime star (Jessie's), gimmick (different sizes)

Noivern: Anime star (Ash's)

I think this 'dex is the way it is because Kalos was so new that it wasn't assessed properly. Obviously Swirlix and Spritzee are here to represent the different versions and the Fairy type, but Flabébé et al do the latter much better (though they really should be Fairy/Grass) and there's only one other instance of representing different versions, so it's not like their inclusion was necessary. Similarly, Meowstic's main contributions are...taking up extra space in the 'dex, adding a Psychic-type, and having a beret and scarf. We missed Vivillon (and having a separate Vivillon dex), Furfrou (and its forms), Skrelp/Dragalge (replacing the Horsea line), Clauncher and Clawitzer (pistol shrimp, replacing Krabby/Kingler), the much-beloved fossils, the only Fighting/Flying-type (also a star of the anime), Klefki, and Trevevant (which pairs with Pumpkaboo). And Mega Evolutions. Really, Kalos has so much more to offer than this.

Mew/Mythicals

Up to this point, there were 17 mythicals: Missingno (unintentionally), Mew, Celebi, Jirachi, Deoxys, Phione/Manaphy, Darkrai, Shaymin, Arceus, Victini, Keldeo, Meloetta, Genesect, Diancie, Hoopa, and Volcanion. Mew is the trope maker and codifier, so it makes sense that it would be chosen over the rest. Since the overwhelming majority of Mythicals look like unevolved Pokémon anyway, this is not a bad decision, either; Hell, Mew looks like Mewtwo's pre-evolution, but because Mewtwo is in that gray realm of whether or not it should be a Pokémon or an NPC (I mean, it's clearly a Mew furry spliced with human DNA) it can be a non-issue. If we were to remove such Mythicals from the list, we'd be left with Missingno (unofficial, unintentional, a glitch), Deoxys (Mewtwo redux), Darkrai (should be a Haunter evo), Arceus (why do we need a demiurge in this game?), Genesect (another Mewtwo redux and quite possibly the most Gen I Pokémon that isn't from Gen I), and Volcanion (blech). So yeah, leave it as Mew.

Further Thoughts: Competitive Metagame

All of that said, I don't think this was an adequate take on creating a new region. The focus on including every starter was too much: it forced out a lot of good Pokémon, it would generate a meta that would only make the "best starter" arguments worse (contrary to the intentions behind including them all), and it cheapens everything else by removing evolution.

Speaking of, let's look at how things break down in terms of metagame.

Fully Evolved Pokémon: Venusaur, Charizard, Blastoise, Raichu, Gengar, Gyarados, Lapras, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Snorlax, Dragonite, Meganium, Typhlosion, Feraligatr, Ampharos, Sudowoodo, Espeon, Umbreon, Unown (technically, but useless), Wobbuffet, Steelix, Scizor, Heracross, Donphan, Miltank, Tyranitar, Sceptile, Blaziken, Swampert, Beautifly (may as well be NFE), Sableye, Mawile, Aggron, Plusle/Minun (too weak to count), Wailord, Milotic, Kecleon, Banette, Absol, Salamence, Metagross, Torterra, Infernape, Empoleon, Staraptor, Luxray, Pachirisu, Chatot, Spiritomb, Garchomp, Lucario, Leafeon, Glaceon, Mamoswine, Rotom, Serperior, Emboar, Samurott, Audino, Cofagrigus, Zoroark, Emolga, Ferrothorn, Chandelure, Haxorus, Stunfisk, Hydreigon, Chesnaught, Delphox, Greninja, Talonflame, Gogoat, Meowstic, Aegislash, Sylveon, Dedenne, Goodra, Noivern, and Mew.

Capable of Mega Evolution (X/Y only): Venusaur, Charizard (X, Y), Blastoise, Gengar, Gyarados, Ampharos, Scizor, Heracross, Tyranitar, Blaziken, Mawile, Aggron, Banette, Absol, Garchomp, and Lucario. (Several non-legendary megas available in X/Y are unavailable here: Alakazam, Kangaskhan, Pinsir, Aerodactyl, Houndoom, Medicham, Manectric, and Abomasnow.)

In Gen VI, Mega Gengar, regular and Mega Blaziken, Mega Mawile, Protean Greninja, and Aegislash were all banned to Uber. Mew probably wouldn't be banned to Uber because we're in a metagame where its base 100 stats wouldn't be seen as terribly powerful, nigh-infinite move pool or no. Wobbuffet is listed as "Untiered" on Smogon, with notes for both Uber and PU, suggesting that, once again, it's banned (it's been too long for me to remember).

Now, obviously, the presence of all of those starters, Dragons, and Ghosts is going to skew this metagame fiercely.

Downplayed Electrics: We have several Electric-types in this region: Raichu (has access to Surf), Jolteon (extremely fast), (Mega) Ampharos, Luxray, Rotom (in its various forms), and Stunfisk, plus possibly Emolga or Dedenne. Ordinarily, Electric-types are regular inclusions on teams. However, in this case they're largely unneeded. The large number of Grass-type starters means that the majority of Water-types will have direct counters from that end: the only Water-types that resist Grass in this generation are regular Gyarados, Lotad, and Empoleon. Fully-evolved Flying-types that aren't neutral to Electricity are also fairly rare; these are Charizard (regular and Mega Y), Gyarados (regular), Beautifly, Staraptor, Chatot, and Talonflame. However, if we eliminate the Pokémon that are obviously not OU (Lotad, Beautifly, and Chatot) and those with other obvious counters (Charizard, Talonflame), we're left with Gyarados, Empoleon, and Staraptor.

Given the increased presence of Dragons in this metagame, it's a certainty that Water-types will be carrying Ice Beam and such. Thus, we don't need an Electric-type specifically for Staraptor.

If Steel were weak to Electricity (as kinda would make sense), then countering Empoleon with an Electric-type would be standard. However, as things stand, it's probably going to fall prey to Torterra, Lucario, or Chesnaught (which surprisingly could find itself with a niche).

Despite gaining neutrality against the now-everywhere Grass-types, Gyarados does not actually benefit from its Flying-typing: it still has the crippling 4x weakness to Electricity and the only Flying-type moves it learns in X/Y is Hidden Power: Flying (which in this gen would go off of its lackluster Special Attack); remember, this is well before ORAS came out and we got Move Tutoring, though even then it would only get Bounce, which isn't viable. Regular Gyarados tiered at UU, whle Mega tiered at UU-BL, so in terms of the existing meta, it's roughly the same either way. However, in this meta, there is no reason why Gyarados would not Mega Evolve: not only does it empower its stats to be threatening to nearly everything, but it gains Dark typing, which would allow it to handle the plenitude of Ghosts quite well. Given how its Offensive Dragon Dance set works, it's hard to say whether an Electric-type would be better or worse in this situation than a Grass-type. Mega Gyarados would be the only reason to carry an Electric-type.

Sylveon will be the go-to Dragon counter. Because this is Gen VI and Fairies are novel, there are lots of Fairy-types in this Pokédex; and, like always, there aren't very many Ice-types. However, there are only six fully-evolved Pokémon of either type: Lapras, Mawile, Glaceon, Mamoswine, Sylveon, and Dedenne. Most of these aren't all that great in this generation or region: Lapras is especially susceptible to Grass-type attacks and will struggle against a standard Offensive Mega Venusaur; Mawile without Mega Evolution is tiered at PU; Glaceon is untiered because it's too susceptible to entry hazards, has too many weaknesses, and is entirely too slow to counter its drawbacks; Mamoswine is quite powerful and has Ice Shard, but is crippled by the number of Fire-types in this meta; and Dedenne is a gimmick Pokémon at best and certainly not OU. That leaves Sylveon, which is indeed functional in this environment.

Which will mean a few things:

Steel won't be a major countering type. There are several Steel-types in this metagame. However, the presence of Fire-types will downplay their usefulness immensely right off the bat. Further, Steel is only strong against Fairy, Ice, and Rock. There are only two Fairy-types that are weak to Steel and only one (Sylveon) that needs to be countered; it has other counters, though (see next). The only Ice-type that is both weak to Steel and doesn't have a STAB Super Effective attack against it is Glaceon, which will tier poorly. Finally, the two Rock-types that are weak to Steel are Sudowoodo and Tyranitar; Steel will be great at defending against Sudowoodo's Self-Destruct and Tyranitar's Sand Stream, but Water- and Grass-types are plentiful enough to counter both.

This is not to say that Steel won't see usage: we have Steelix, (Mega) Scizor, Aggron, Metagross, Empoleon, Lucario, and Ferrothorn, for fuck's sake. They just won't be using Steel-type moves in all likelihood, at least not primarily.

Gengar and (Mega) Venusaur will dominate as Poison-types. There are only two fully-evolved Poison-types in this region: (Mega) Venusaur and Gengar. Fairy is weak only to Poison and Steel; Steel doesn't really have anything to hit in this region, but Poison does, given how many mono-Grass starters there are. Gengar will also work as a viable counter to all other Ghost-types except Scarf Chandelure, as it's the fastest Ghost-type in the tier, but the sheer presence of Ghost-types will draw out the also-plentiful Dark-types; alternatively, it could work as a pseudo-Psychic against the several Fighting-type starters, but Espeon and Delphox would work just as well in that regard. In short, its greatest niche will be as one of two viable Sylveon counters, then adjusted for other use.

In short, I suspect OU will come to be dominated primarily by certain Mega Evolvers and a handful of others, none of which will be so centering that they'll get restricted to Ubers. I suspect starters from Gens I and IV will take center-stage, given the banning of Blaziken and the irrelevant typing of Swampert.

Final Thoughts: General Playability

This...really isn't a good setting. It works as far as collecting Pokémon to complete a Pokédex, but half of doing so is picking and choosing members for a battling team; since only starters and Munchlax evolve, there's little point to looking at the majority of what you capture at all before putting it into a box and forgetting about it unless you're really into NFE (starters + Pikachu, debatably Marill, and Kirlia; Beautifly might be allowed because of its stats) or Little Cup.

The main problem is having all 54 starters. Sure, having nine Pikaclones is a bit much, but we still have most of the better Electric-types (in terms of both design and competitive use). Having 1/3 of the 'dex devoted to three types and having to pick and choose between them is not good. Will all of these be gift Pokémon or will some be wild? Would you wait to get the starter you wanted or will you, like most, default to Gen I and be happy doing so? Including all 54 in this 'dex isn't pointless, it just doesn't work outside of the narrow context of this market research for Pokémon GO. Were we to stick to one generation's worth of starters (for the sake of Megas, it'd probably be best to stick to Gen I), we might be able to return most of the remaining Pokémon into evolutionary lines, which would make for a much more interesting game. However, there are still several problems with this (like the reliance on Fighting-type starters to fill up the Fighting-type roster).

Overall, it's an interesting idea, but it obviously needs some more thought put into it were it used as a model for redoing Gen I/making a new region.

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