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Fridge Brilliance
- Why does Magikarp require a whopping 400 candies to evolve? Well, given what it evolves into compared to what it is now, is it really surprising? Of course it's going to take a lot of effort to evolve it!
- And so does Wailmer as of the Gen 3 update, considering Wailord's sheer, um... size.
- Since Swablu, a Normal/Flying-type bird whose typing is one some Com Mons typically have, evolves into Altaria, whose Dragon/Flying typing is one of the rarest typings so far, the need of 400 candies to evolve could be a reference to this page and to prevent evolution abuse to make easy Dragon Tamer medals. Furthermore, Altaria has a Mega Evolution whose typing (Dragon/Fairy) is even rarer and even more powerful.
- Meltan is mythical, so it makes sense that it needs 400 candies. This also forces you to use Let's Go! to mass produce Meltan, as only one can be encountered in-game. In addition, Meltan is said to evolve into Melmetal by fusing with the rest of the Meltan in its group.
- The game only tracks movements of less than 15 mph in order to prevent players from driving and playing at the same time. What, then, is the fastest way to travel that isn't a car, a train, or an airplane? Why, your Bicycle, of course — just like in the main games themselves.
- When a Pokémon spawns, it normally faces a random direction, and when tapped on, turns to face your trainer's position, and stays facing that way if you run away. Nosepass, however, always faces the same direction, and goes back to facing that direction after running away, because it's a compass that's always pointing north.
- Why was the game only available in some territories at launch? Well, think about the frequent server overload the game faced on launch day. If the entire world got in on the game at once, the game would be completely unplayable for days.
- This also explains why no Pokémon beyond the original 151 are included in the game — the game already has to spawn 140+ Pokémon (the Legendaries and Ditto are absent so far) at random intervals, imagine how much it'd be crashing if all the Pokémon from ALL generations were in there too (not to mention the fact that the series' generations aren't complete yet).
- Eventually, not only the full Kanto Dex was released with the additions of new ways to acquire species such as Raids, but we also got Pokémon from many other generations as well. Turns out, thanks to seasonal events, it's possible for Niantic to control which species have an increased spawn, and which ones take a break from spawning or become rarer. In addition, 10km. egg hatches won't nest, thus making those mons even rarer to see and catch outside of events.
- Pikachu can be acquired as your starter Pokémon by delaying your starter choice until Pikachu shows up. This was also something only discovered after many players at initial launch had already chosen their starters. This means that, just like Ash in the anime, you get Pikachu for showing up late.
- Getting a Pokémon to its final stage of evolution usually takes 50 candies, regardless of how many total evolutions it went through previous to that. Eevee, however, only needs a mere 25. Makes sense that the Pokémon whose genetic code is ridiculously susceptible to mutating would end up twice as easy to evolve as every other creature.
- In the same vein, the early bugs such as Caterpie, Weedle or Wurmple take 12 candies to reach their second evolution stage, and 25 to get into the third and final stage, mirroring how these bugs evolve at levels 7 and 10 in the main games. For reference, most Pokémon reach their secondary evolution stage roughly around level 15.
- After the January 10, 2020 overhaul of the evolution system, evolution via trade became a possibility as well. Traded Pokémon of certain species can evolve without costing candy, which is the closest the game can get to how the mechanic worked in the main games. In order to incentivate this, those same species now need 200 candies in order to evolve without trading.
- The Legendary Birds aren't the only Legendary Pokémon to be represented in the three teams; there's also Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf. What do they represent? Wisdom (Mystic prefers logic and calm), Emotion (Valor prefers emotion and high energy), and Willpower (Instinct tries the hardest as they are the smallest team, albeit through relying on instinct). The three even have the same color line (Red, Blue, Yellow), even if the colors don't line up with the teams' motives.
- Oddly enough, though, Lake Valor's guardian is Azelf, which is the blue guardian, while the red guardian, Mesprit, is at Lake Verity.
- Speaking of team colors, there's definitely something significant about choosing between Red, Blue, or Yellow versions of the same Pokémon game. It would also make sense that most players are apparently choosing between Valor and Mystic, while Instinct has a comparably smaller fanbase; most Gen I fans played Red or Blue instead of Yellow.
- A similar case can be made with the berries: the rare Golden Razz and Silver Pinap berries aren't available in any of the main games, so there's only one possible reason they are there.
- During the initial wave of mons, Tauros, Mr. Mime, Farfetch'd, and Kangaskhan were the only Pokémon that were endemic to one region. With most of them, the reason seems obvious (Tauros is a bison and thus only lives in North America, Mr. Mime is a mime and thus only lives in Europe, and Kangaskhan is a kangaroo and Kangaroos Represent Australia), but why is Farfetch'd endemic to Asia? Two likely reasons: 1. It's based on a Japanese proverb ("a duck comes bearing a green onion", meaning either "a strange but convenient occurrence" or "someone allowing themselves to be fooled") and 2. Because according to the games, Farfetch'd is an endangered species. Also qualifies as Fridge Horror, below.
- Kangaskhan is an interesting case in a meta-level: In Pokémon X and Y, Kangaskhan is already overpowered in her Mega Evolution form and many competitive players use her in tournaments allowing Mega Evolutions. Niantic nerfed this overusage by making her a region-exclusive for Australian continents in this adaptation, fearing that everyone would use Kangaskhan to sweep Gyms.
- The reason why Zangoose and Seviper were made rotating region-exclusives in Generation III update relates to their lethal feud in the main-series games, in which both are portrayed like how mongooses (and cats to a lesser extent) and snakes fight each other. A similar case could be made for Heatmor (an ant-eater) and Durant (an ant) as well as Throh and Sawk (mirroring their rivalry and the real life Judo vs. Karate debate) and both formes of Basculin (which can't stand each other).
- While the idea of keeping some Pokémon region-locked may have been done to encourage players to travel to complete the Pokédex (and possibly trade with friends after returning home,) it also echoes the idea of regional Pokédexes in the main games, where no one region has contained every known Pokémon; the regional Pokédexes in the real world simply contain the majority of Pokémon as opposed to a smaller percentage of it.
- It always annoyed some fans that NPC Trainers would always have two or more of the same Pokémon in their inventory, and wonder why there isn't much more variety in their lineup. Seeing as that most players catch the Pokémon that are more readily available to them and knowing how hard it is to find rare Pokémon, it's easy to see why those NPCs have what they have. There's also the fact that the Player Trainer could go all around the region while those same NPCs generally stayed in one area — same as Pokémon GO players. In short, the real life trainers are being put in those NPCs' shoes!
- In the same vein as 'being put in an NPC's shoes', it explained several things about the main game. Ever wondered why those NPCs still stayed out at night searching for Pokémon? Now you know. Another example is the NPC's dialogue in the main game telling that he lost Poké Balls when trying to capture a Pokémon. It must be those Zubat.
- Why Swablu are Com Mons in Pokémon GO when they aren't in core-series games and other spinoffs? Because according to some Pokédex entries, Swablu lines are not afraid of humans, and love to land on their heads of people and sit like a hat. Considering they appear in densely-populated areas, this is more than just appropriate.
- In July 2019, Team GO Rocket Grunts were introduced, invading Pokéstops and ambushing anyone trying to get items from them. Often, they'll hint as to the type of their strongest Pokémon just before you pick your team. One such quote seems highly specific to a few possible Pokémon, such as Arbok.Team GO Rocket Grunt: Coiled and ready to strike!
- This is actually a sneaky reference to Coil, a Poison move.
- Two for one on this one: not only do Ekans and Arbok learn Coil, so does Seviper. Is there a recurring anime character who has used all three of these at some point? Jessie. Yes, that Jessie.note It's possible that the Grunts idolise and/or take cues from her and James due to their popularity. Becomes Hilarious in Hindsight with the additions of Jessie and James themselves into the game.
- Also related to the Rockets, Dragon-type Grunts will also have sometimes a Gyarados (Water/Flying type) with them. There was at least one Dragon-type champion who had a Gyarados in his otherwise Dragon-type team.
- Normal-type Grunts can spawn with a Zubat, even though it isn't a Normal-type Pokémon. It's a stealth reference to how Rockets in the games always carry Rattata or Zubats with them.
- Giovanni and the GO Rocket leaders were introduced in November 2019, while around the same time, the first of the Swords of Justice, Cobalion, started to appear in raids. In the games, the Swords of Justice are a quartet of Legendary (and one Mythical) Pokémon who protect other Pokémon from human activity. Terrakion and Virizion are also known to be valuable assets against GO Rocket admins courtesy of having the correct movesets to counter them. Team GO Rocket is known to kidnap Pokémon and corrupt them into Shadow Pokémon.
- How the game handles Frustration and Return are brilliant. When a player first catches a Shadow Pokémon, their charge move is Frustration, which is a one-bar move that's so weak, even some fast moves are more powerful, and can't be removed unless a special event takes place. Purifying it replaces Frustration with Return, which is one of the most powerful moves in this game. Given that their power is based on happiness (or lack thereof, for Frustration), it shows that the Shadow Pokémon are grateful to be with you and away from Team GO Rocket, so their frustration is at a nadir. Complete the process of purification, though, and their happiness is through the roof. When Professor Willow says that Pokémon are happy to be purified, he means it.
- Shadow Pokemon are glass cannons, with high attack power but lower defense and HP. That was pretty much how Dark Pokemon worked in the trading card game when they first came out.
- Meltan's appearance was originally teased following the Chikorita Community Day on September 2018. While this may seem like an unusual time to have done so, Pokémon Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! revealed that Meltan's Kanto Pokédex number is #152, the same as Chikorita's National Pokédex number.
- Niantic was foreshadowing the existence of the Megas way before the actual announcement happened:
- One of Charizard's charged moves from nearly the beginning is the half-Dragon type Dragon Claw, which also goes in hand with Mega Charizard X's half-Dragon type. With the addition of Dragon Breath as an Elite charged move in 2020, X can now take full advantage of this typing.
- Gyarados can learn Bite and Crunch normally despite not being able to take advantage of them via STAB regularly. Mega Gyarados is half-Dark type.
- Subverted for the half-Fighting type Mega Mewtwo X, as only Armored Mewtwo (which has a completely different moveset, with some overlapping) has a Fighting type attack, the charged Dynamic Punch, and it's unknown if this version can Mega Evolve.
- One of the earliest Community Days in 2018 featured Mareep, whose evolution into Ampharos allowed it to gain the Dragon type fast attack Dragon Claw. Mega Ampharos is half-Dragon type.
- Sceptile can also learn Dragon Claw, much like Charizard. Mega Sceptile is half-Dragon.
- Altaria can learn the Fairy type charged attack Dazzling Gleam and gained Moonblast at the May 2021's Community Day. Mega Altaria is half-Fairy.
- Lopunny can learn the Fighting type moves Low Kick and Focus Blast. Mega Lopunny is half-Fighting.
- If Primal Reversions are included in the bunch, then Groudon also counts: it has Fire Blast in its regular moveset, and gained Fire Punch as an Elite move in May 2020. Primal Groudon is half-Fire.
- Why is it that trainers are allowed to use a full Pokémon party during Raids and Gym Challenges, yet during Trainer Battles they can only use half of the party? Every Pokémon trainer in Real Life has the National Dex from the get-go, unlike in the main games, where you can only get the NatDex after beating the Elite Four and the Champion in the main games. Another thing that's unlocked after beating the E4 and the Champion? The Battle Tower/Frontier equivalents, whose challenges feature a 3-on-3 format.
- The regular stardust bonus for catching a Pokémon (barring bonuses such as weather and events) is 100 for initial stages, 300 for first evolution, and 500 for second/final evolution. However, some mons give extra stardust upon being caught:
- Paras (500)/Parasect (700): Paras's RSE/ORAS dex says that their mushrooms are highly valued as a medicine for extending life. The Moon Dex also extends it by saying how its medicine is made, while Parasect's entries in Stadium and FireRed mention it being very valuable in China.
- Meowth (500)/Persian (700): Kantonian Meowth are said to like round, shiny things and by giving them a coin, you can earn their friendship... for a moment. In addition, the Dexes for several games mention its fur as beautiful, sophisticated and the gem in its forehead shining, adding to its price. Outside of the Dexes, Meowth's Signature Move in the main games grants money to its user, while Persian is also the Signature Mon of the Pokémon world's Big Bad: Giovanni.
- The Alolan line rewards 750/950. The Ultra Moon and Sword Dexes mention the line being related to Alolan royalty.
- The Galarian Meowth line doesn't get any bonuses because they're considered more barbaric compared to the other two lines.
- Shellder (1000)/Cloyster (1200): The Silver (and, by proxy, SoulSilver) and Ultra Sun Dexes for Shellder mention it being able to create Pearls with its body fluids and sand trapped in its shells. The Sun Dex for Shellder also mentions its shell being used in the past by weaponsmiths to create shields, while the Moon Dex for Cloyster mention ancient hunting tribes creating spears with fragments that fell from its shell.
- Staryu (750)/Starmie (950): Even discounting its central gem, the Dex from the Anime mentions that it's valued by some as a type of jewelry. The Omega Ruby and Ultra Sun Dexes for Starmie even mention that the Pokémon's nickname is "the gem of the sea".
- Delibird (500): In some localizations, it's called the Gift Pokémon (the fact that in Go even appears only during Christmas-themed events doesn't help). Most of its Dex entries mention it carrying food and being willing to share it with people.
- Shroomish (500)/Breloom (700): Shroomish's Dex entries in many games mention its toxic spores, which are a valued commodity in certain markets. Ditto for Breloom's seeds.
- Sableye (750): Sableye's eyes are two gems, and its Mega Evolution has it carrying a giant, heavy jewel (the Ultra Sun dex even mentions it expanding, ripping through its skin and falling out of its body). As for Dex entries, it mentions raw gemstone crystals as its favorite food; Carbink being one of its favorite victims.
- Chimecho (1000): It has a VERY low spawn rate in the main games, and they grant a lot of XP upon catching.
- Combee (750)/Vespiquen (950): They're VERY hard to catch mons, with a very low spawn rate not helping matters. Vespiquen is also mentioned in some Dexes as being "only one" in each colony (also referenced in the game by the low rate of spawn for female Combees).
- Audino (2100): It's a VERY rare mon that nets the highest amount of experience in the main games outside of Legendaries.
- Trubbish (750)/Garbodor (950): "One man's trash is another man's treasure". In addition, Trubbishes are VERY hard to catch.
- Foongus (500)/Amoonguss (700): Foongus resembles a PokéBall, which in the main games contain (usually) items, so they're looked upon by players.
- You can play with your Mega Pokémon in this game, but they use the same limited set of animations that they do in battle, making them look very aggressive. It may seem like Narm at first, until you remember their dex entries from Pokémon Sun and Moon, which often describe the Megas as being violent or in pain due to the process of Mega Evolution. Suddenly, it makes perfect sense that trying to play with them doesn't go over very well.
Fridge Horror
- So how, exactly, does transferring Pokémon give you an extra candy? Playful or not, there are already theories on what Professor Willow does...
- Some have suggested less creepy alternatives, like sending them to good new homes or releasing them back into the wild.
- Considering that wild Pokémon come holding these candies, and that hatched Pokémon provide a whole bunch of them, it seems unlikely that the production of the Pokémon candies is nearly as nefarious as some of these guess make them out to be.
- According to the games, Farfetch'd is an Endangered Species. In this game, it's endemic to a single region. Could this mean it's gone extinct everywhere else in the world?
- Not quite. If we recall the anime, manga, and previous games, Farfetch'd (the wild ones, anyway) was mostly in one area, so, it's not so much that they're extirpated than it is that they just don't exist in any other areas. It's much like how some RL species are endangered/threatened because they only exist/thrive in one area but not others.
- For the 2018 Halloween event, one mission involves catching 108 Pokémon. When you complete the mission, you get rewarded with a Spiritomb, which is made up of 108 spirits. Assuming you transfer all the Pokémon you catch for the event (or an equal amount in that timeframe), some rather disturbing implications are painted as to how Professor Willow is able to get the Spiritomb...
- With the arrival of Trainer Battles, you can also do AI battles against one of the three team leaders (Blanche, Candela and Spark). Before the GO Battle League was launched, which put all PvP activities in a separate Battle menu, the leaders could be challenged from the Nearby menu.
- Shadow Pokémon gain a bonus upon being captured, but not purified. This bonus turns them into glass cannons, overpowering their attack in exchange for a weaker defense/health. Shadow Pokémon can be given new attacks not only via a second attack but also the removal of the usually non-removable Frustration during certain Team Go Rocket-themed events by way of TMs. Many of these mons have found their Meta Game way into GO Battle Leagues, gym defense, raids... Sounds cool, right? Well, remember that the Team Go Rocket gave these Shadow Pokémon this status, and considering they use Frustration, which in the original games increases its attack when the Pokémon hated its user, this means these mons have been subjected to a lot of mistreatment. And considering that purification grants no real bonuses outside of being able to be traded and megaevolved and the overall stardust/candy discount (as Return has been nerfed in one of the early balance updates), this means Video Game Cruelty Potential is being encouraged.
- You can feed berries to wild Pokémon to help capturing them, and you can feed the same berries to your Buddy Pokémon to make it appear next to you and follow you on the map. Things get murky when you remember what a Nanab berry does to the wild Pokémon: it makes them move less, making aiming the Pokéball easier, and when the berry is fed to a wild Pokémon, spiral symbols momentarily appear over it. It looks like that Nanab berries make the Pokémon dizzy. So does that mean that when you give a Nanab berry to your Buddy Pokémon, you are drugging it?
- Just Team GO Rocket being able to make Shadow Pokemon surely raises a lot of questions such as what kind of deal Giovanni struck with Cipher in order to get their tech. And if we're going to see Cipher at some point in the game.
- While Radars and Superradars keep working 24/7, your team leader will mention that the GO Rocket Leader's activity (as well as Giovanni's) have finished after a certain hour, in order to prevent players to look for them during nighttime. This includes the decoys. However, the GO Rocket Grunt activity will continue past this time. Looks like the lower levels may still have to pay some dues...
- As useful as the feature is, the fact that the GO Rocket balloons lock on to your position for a certain time is quite stalker-ish.
Fridge Logic
