Pokémon Sun and Moon: new trailers showcase starters’ Z-Moves, more Ultra Beasts
Tomorrow, the latest issue of CoroCoro magazine will be released in Japan, which means that today is the day of the latest (and last) batch of details for Pokémon Sun and Moon (even though it wasn’t announced beforehand). This time around, we get a look at the Z-Moves of the three starters, but also more Ultra Beasts, via two new trailers!
Here’s the two trailers (English and Japanese):
Pokémon Sun and Moon – Alolan Forms
Today, two more Alolan Forms were revealed (though we have already seen them thanks to the Pokémon Sun and Moon demo):
- Alolan Diglett
Diglett in the Alola region live near volcanic areas, so they have few places to hide themselves away. Their tunneling activity plows the land, creating cultivated soil that’s great for agriculture. Because of this, many people in the Alola region are grateful for the presence of Diglett.
The hairlike growths sprouting from Diglett’s head are metallic whiskers. It’s said they developed these stiff yet flexible whiskers in order to survive in the hostile volcanic environment. The whiskers provide a sensory function, enabling Alolan Diglett to scan the surrounding area without exposing their faces aboveground.
Their current emotional state is revealed by their whiskers. When their whiskers stand straight up, they’re angry. Whiskers that wave are a sign that the Pokémon is on alert. When they swing their whiskers around, they’re in a good mood, and when their whiskers droop, they’re feeling lonely or downhearted.
Alolan Diglett can have the Tangling Hair Ability, which is a new Ability that no other Pokémon has previously had. With the Tangling Hair Ability, opponents that hit Alolan Diglett with a move that makes direct contact will have their Speed lowered by 1.
- Alolan Dugtrio (evolution of Alolan Diglet)
In the Alola region, Dugtrio is revered as an incarnation of the god of the land, and it’s treated with great importance. This is why the people of Alola fall to their knees and bow deeply whenever they come across an Alolan Dugtrio that has poked its faces out of its burrow.
Alolan Dugtrio’s whiskers shine with a brilliance akin to golden hair. The whiskers are flexible, just like Diglett’s, but hard and strong. They continue to grow throughout an Alolan Dugtrio’s life, although at a very slow rate. Removing Alolan Dugtrio whiskers from the Alola region is prohibited. It’s said that those who take them receive divine punishment. Every year, many tourists come back, apparently to return whiskers they had taken.
There is a superstitious belief that many Alolan Dugtrio come out of their holes on a day when a volcano will erupt. Older residents of Alola will flee immediately at the sight. It’s thought that Alolan Dugtrio, which live beneath the ground’s surface, detect movements in the ground that indicate an impending eruption and are so alarmed that they come aboveground.
Pokémon Sun and Moon – New Pokémon
Today, only one new Pokémon was revealed: the third Legendary Pokémon. Unfortunately, its name remains a mystery… just like everything else about it!
Pokémon Sun and Moon – Exclusive Pokémon
Just like in all other mainline games, some Pokémon can only be found in a specific version of Pokémon Sun and Moon. Here’s a look at some of the exclusive Pokémon:
- Pokémon Sun: Turtonator, Alolan Vulpix, Passimian
- Pokémon Moon: Drampa, Alolan Sandshrew, Oranguru
As for Rockruff, its evolution has two separate formes, and the one you get depends on the version you’re playing. That being said, both Lycanroc formes can be found in the wild!
Pokémon Sun and Moon: Ultra Beasts
Today, two more Ultra Beasts were revealed:
- UB-03: Lightning (no details given)
- UB-05: Gluttony
This beast has an astounding appetite, and it will completely devour anything in front of its eyes. It’s said that it devours not only objects, but the ground, rivers, and even the seas!
Despite the abnormal amounts that this beast consumes, it’s said that it doesn’t produce any waste products. It’s possible that it’s completely converting everything it eats into energy to sustain itself, but the true details remain unknown.
What about UB-04? Unfortunately, The Pokémon Company hasn’t revealed anything about that one, which makes us wonder whether there’s something special about it…
Pokémon Sun and Moon – Distributions
So far, three Pokémon distributions have been announced:
- Ash Greninja: you have to befriend it in the Pokémon Sun and Moon demo first, and then receive it via Mystery Gift. After that, you have to talk to Professor Kukui in one of the Pokémon Centers.
Level: 36
Ability: Battle Bond
Type: Water/Dark
Moves: Water Shuriken
Aerial Ace
Double Team
Night Slash
Ribbon: Souvenir Ribbon
- Magearna: you can get it by scanning a QR Code using the QR Scanner. After that, you will have to visit the antique shop in Hau’oli City shopping mall. In Europe, it will be distributed via the Pokémon TV app, from December 6th.
Level: 50
Ability: Soul-Heart
Type: Steel/Fairy
Moves: Fleur Cannon
Flash Cannon
Lucky Chant
Helping Hand
Held Item: Bottle Cap
Ball: Cherish Ball
Ribbon: Wishing Ribbon
- Munchlax: if you buy the game at launch, you will be able to get a special Munchlax that evolves into a Pulverizing Snorlax. It holds a Snorlium Z, which is required to use its exclusive Z-Move.
Level: 5
Ability: Thick Fat
Type: Normal
Moves:
Tackle
Metronome
Hold Back
Happy Hour
Ball: Cherish Ball
Ribbon: Classic Ribbon
Pokémon Sun and Moon – Z-Moves
Z-Moves are extremely powerful moves that a Pokémon can use if it’s holding the Z Crystal that corresponds to its move’s type. It turns out they’re actually based on attack and status moves:
- attack moves: Z-Moves based on those are extremely powerful, but their power depends on the power of the base move. Naturally, the more powerful that base move is, the more powerful the Z-Move will end up. Those Z-Moves cannot be blocked using moves such as Protect: they will still deal some damage;
- status moves: Z-moves based on those will be powered up with additional effects. The effects are varied: some may raise the stats of your Pokémon, other may heal the next Pokémon to switch in, and more. For example, Z-Thunder Wave inflicts paralysis AND raises the user’s SP, Z-Memento also heals the next Pokémon to switch in, and even Splash (completely useless… usually) can raise the user’s attack by 3.
And here’s the exclusive Z-Move for the three starters:
- Decidueye: Sinister Arrow Raid
Decidueye slices through the air together with a hail of arrow quills, crashing into the target before dealing the final blow with its arrows.
- Incineroar: Malicious Moonsault
Spouting flames from its flame belt, Incineroar leaps high into the sky and dives down upon its target!
- Primarina: Oceanic Operetta
Primarina manipulates a huge balloon with its voice, causing it to explode over its target’s head to deal great damage.
Pokémon Sun and Moon – Multiplayer
Players interested in multiplayer will be able to chose among four formats of Link Battles:
- Quick Link (Local Wireless): two players can connect to each other if they both keep pressing the touchscreen of their console at the same time;
- Link Battles in Festival Plaza (Local Wireless / Internet)
- Battle Spot—Free Battle (Internet)
- Battle Spot—Rating Battle (Internet)
Also, all battle methods are not available in all formats:
- Single and Double Battles: All
- Multi Battles: only in Link Battles in Festival Plaza
- Link Battles: in Festival Plaza and in Battle Spot-Free Battle
A quick note about the Free Battle format: you can now chose whether Special Pokémon (Legendary, Mythical) are banned or not.
Finally, The Pokémon Company mentions “Regulation Data”:
There are plans to distribute regulation data as needed so that players can experience different regulations together with their friends or other players in Festival Plaza, even outside of competitions. Notifications regarding which regulations are currently available will be provided at the Pokémon Global Link.
