Topic: Pokémon Sun & Moon - Discussion & Speculation

I want a new Lapras so much. I was astounded how they went to all the trouble of giving you one in XY, only to not give it a mega. I guess it's for the best now that megas are gone, though. But it needs a new form / evolution / subspecies stat.

Nobody said that "megas are gone". I think Game Freak are merely trying to showcase content that differentiates Sun/Moon from previous games in the series (and it isn't in anybody's interest to spoil everything prior to release). If nothing else, spin-off games like Pokémon Shuffle could benefit from some additional megas.

You kind of have to spoil megas or no will know what can mega evolve...

It could be that megas were just a gen 6 thing, like how Alolan forms are a gen 7 thing. They can easily introduce these new forms and remove them in subsequent games to prevent everything from getting too complicated.

@Tsurii Well, it seems every gen has its own gimmick and introduces special forms and/or moves from now on. I only wonder how long they'll keep this going then. Can Alolan forms mega evolve? Are those forms going to be different? Will Alolan forms carry over to the next gen; and mega Pokemon too, along with the gimmick that will be introduced in gen 8? It will get complicated at some point.

The thing that differs Pokemon from other franchises is that most of the game carries on to the next one; got a certain Pokemon? You can trade it over to the newer games; so any new additions also need to be implemented in future games. I think that by using different forms (mega or Alolan); it's easier for them to introduce something in one game, that they can easily ignore in the next one. Maybe that's what they're doing here?

I'm 100% sure that Vulpix is exclusive to Moon and Sandshrew to Sun, or vice versa.

Anyway, they still have the Arcerus plates and Deoxys stones in every game, so I'm sure they'll still have to mega stones as well. (At some point, just throw all of these legacy items in a garbage can in your house or something. Don't keep scattering them all over the world for newbies to puzzle over.)

I want to go back to this because I just realized how horrifying it would be to have exeggutor's heads falling and raining on you from space...

I'm quite sure that even if they don't add new megas, they won't get rid of it. It changed the gameplay too much and it would be really weird to pretend nothing happened, besides they have never done that with a mechanic that changed the actual gameplay , only with stuff like the pokemon following you. It really isn't as complicated as many people think, since giving a pokemon a "different form" is just like adding another one to the pokemon list, but even easier from a creative point of view since they just have to modify the original design a little bit.

It will get more complex every time they add more variety but just from the competitive aspect, wich is something required to keep it fresh as it has been until now.

I could see gen 2 alolas and VC transfer compatibility for the sun and moon successors rather than for sun and moon right now.

Gen 1 wasn't that long ago and it would seem very short for them to move onto putting gen 2 this soon when they're just putting in the transfer mechanics for their next game.

If gen 2 came out, they'd have to rework pokemon for gen 1 transfer, gen 6 transfer, gen 7 maintience, AND gen 2 transfer. Its a lot at once.

Technically they could just reuse all the did did for gen 1.

They'd also have to readjust all the filters to calculate for things gen 1 didn't, IVs, PIDs, and shinies.

Speaking of which... I wonder how trainer ID and gen 1 would work if it would generate the pokemon shiny when transfered..

As far as I know, the first two gens were basically identical in those regards.

Even shinies, they appeared based on the IVs of the Pokemon. Which means there's shiny pokemon in the gen 1 games, but you can't tell.

They just need to make sure any and all pokemon with shiny IVs get a secret ID that would make them shiny in the new gens.

Speaking of Trainer IDs, they're now 6 digits in Sun/Moon rather than 5.

@IceClimbers Jeez. You'd better get an ACTUAL Master Ball and a gold ingot for winning the lottery in that case. And a marriage proposal from Junichi Masuda himself.

Species-exclusive Z Moves! As well as a free Munchlax as a early release gift.

From pokemon.com :

"Those who purchase Pokémon Sun or Pokémon Moon by Wednesday, January 11, 2017, are eligible to receive an early purchase bonus via their Internet connection—a Munchlax that evolves into Pulverizing Snorlax!

This Munchlax is holding a special item called Snorlium Z. By evolving Munchlax into Snorlax and having it hold the Snorlium Z, Snorlax becomes able to use a special Z-Move—Pulverizing Pancake.

There are Z-Moves that can power up each type, and these Z-Moves can be used by any Pokémon. However, some Pokémon can use exceptional Z-Moves that are not available to all Pokémon. The Snorlium Z gifted along with this bonus Munchlax is itself a special item—one that allows Snorlax to use a Z-Move that no other Pokémon can!

The Munchlax you can receive as an early purchase bonus will know the move Hold Back, which it could not normally learn. Hold Back is an attack move that leaves its opponent with just 1 HP. It can reliably weaken an opposing Pokémon, so it comes in handy when you're trying to catch wild Pokémon. Battle with Munchlax a lot and catch lots of Pokémon!

The Munchlax being gifted will also know the move Happy Hour, another move it normally couldn't learn. When you use Happy Hour during a Trainer battle, you'll receive twice as much prize money after the battle. Collect lots of prize money to give yourself an advantage on your adventure!"

Sorry for the double post, but Alolan Rattata (technically as well as Alolan Raticate, but there is no picture yet) also confirmed!

"In Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, you'll discover Rattata that are different from the Rattata you've met before. Unlike ordinary Rattata, urban areas are Alolan Rattata's main habitat. They are nocturnal and live in nests of several dozen. Alolan Raticate serve as their bosses.

As a countermeasure to the exploding Rattata population in the Alola region, Yungoos were imported and released. To better avoid Yungoos, Rattata changed their preferred environments and circadian rhythms. These adaptations to their new environment led to their changed form.

Alolan Rattata have an excellent aptitude for sniffing out delicious fresh foods in Alola. They pay no attention to foods that aren't fresh.

Category: Mouse Pokémon
Type: Dark/Normal
Height: 1′0″
Weight: 8.4 lbs.
Ability: Gluttony/Hustle"

I can't remember which leak predicted a Dark type Alolan Rattata, but it looks like that was indeed true, or pure coincidence.

I name it...

Señor Ratata.

Video here for those who wish to see:

Better hope your new Rattata doesn't meet any Fighting types...

Of course! How did we not see this coming? It started off lazy but as each Generation passed; Snorlax got more "active" in its idle animations.

...And now; Snorlax is finally ready. Brace yourselves for the worse!

@FriedSquid It's from the Chinese leak that also predicted the sea cucumber, the Poison/Fire Pokemon, new mushroom, no gyms and the leaked starter images (the archer, wrestler and siren); that also contained that green-haired girl that specialises in Grass Pokemon.