Z-Moves:
Gen VI amazed many when they introduce Mega Evolution, essentially super forms which massively boosts a Pokemon's power at the cost of its item slot. Mega Evolution was a big game changer, if you wanted to be competitive you NEEDED to have a Mega Evolution and prepare for whatever Mega Evolution your opponent brings out. With such a major change people probably weren't expecting something else on this scale, mainly because they were waiting for more Mega Evolutions. Little did we know that another "super" thing was on its way until we saw hints of it, and today it fully revealed: Z-Moves, super moves which you can only use once per battle.
Equipment: In order to use Z-Moves you need two Key Items: a Z-Ring and a Z-Crystal. There is a Z-Crystal for each type and you need two to do a Z-Move: one to put in the Z-Ring and another for your Pokemon to hold.
So yeah, similar idea to Mega Evolution though this time instead of having a single Key Stone in the trainer's device you need to have matching crystals. Not sure why they did that, you can only use a super move once so it's not like it's to prevent multiple Pokemon using a Z-Move. The only reason I can think of is to ensure that you have a set Pokemon to use a super move, like you can't give multiple Pokemon Z-Crystals thinking in a pinch you can have any of them use a super move (which is itself odd as Mega Evolution has no problem letting you give multiple Pokemon their Mega Stone and letting you Mega Evolve any one of them).
Also since the Z-Crystals are Key Items I don't think you need to worry about the Pokemon consuming them like they did with Gems thus needing to go out to find more. Once you have the Z-Crystals your set.
Activation: In order to actually perform the Z-Move you have to do two things: (1.) Have your Pokemon hold the Z-Crystal of the same type active in your Z-Ring and (2.) have your Pokemon know the type of that move. And according to the site that's it, I'm guessing a prompt appears similar to Mega Evolution on the battle screen that lets you use a Z-Move at any time (though only once per battle).
So from what I'm getting from this, a Pokemon can perform a Z-Move of a type that it isn't. That just seems strange to me, like when I think of a super move I only imagine a Pokemon of that type using it, hence why its a super move. But no, from what we have on the site as long as the Pokemon can learn a move of that type it can use that type of Z-Move. Do Pokemon of the same type receive a bonus for using a Z-Move of their type (other than STAB)? Because if not, honestly, I imagine Pokemon would use a Z-Move of another type for coverage since most often then not an offensive Pokemon can get enough power from normal moves of their type thanks to STAB.
Also what stat do these Z-Moves work off of? Do they choose the highest offense stat? Is it based on the Category of the move it's temporarily replacing? If so what if that move was a Status Move? Also what about Pokemon who are more defensive or support thus have a low attack stats? I guess it could just choose that Pokemon's highest stat even if its not Attack or Special Attack. Also what defensive stat would it hit the opponent in? Their lowest (surely they can't go for lowest stat period, it has to be a defensive stat)?
Speaking of Status Moves, do they count? It seems odd just because a Pokemon have a supporting move that just so happens to be another type they can use that type's Z-Move. Yes the site doesn't say "attacking moves", just "moves".
It's so odd that, if we do take what it written on the site as face value then they're being very loose with how and which Z-Move a Pokemon can perform despite having been unusually strict with choosing which Pokemon gets to use it. I think maybe we need more clarification here, if there even is.
Known Z-Moves: So far we know the Electric, Grass, Fire, and Water-type Z-Moves.
Electric is Gigavolt Havoc. The trainer creates a lightning bolt shape with their arms, the Z-Ring sending energy to the Pokemon who launches a giant thunderbolt at the target which creates a dome of electricity around them. I guess you could say your target *puts on sunglasses* won't be getting past thunder dome. YEEEEEAAAAAH!
Grass is Bloom Doom. The trainerpraises the sun makes a blooming motion, the Z-Ring sending energy to the Pokemon who creates a field of flowers which then erupts with energy under the target as a giant flower blooms around them. I think the name of the Z-Move does the joke for me.
Fire is Inferno Overdrive. The trainer... I'm not quite sure how to describe what they do. They sort of make the arm motion a someone does when they want an audience to cheer louder before striking a pose with their hand sticking out. Anyway the Z-Ring sends energy to the Pokemon who launches a fire ball that grows as it travels until hitting the target creating a massive explosion. No kill like overkill.
Water is Hydro Vortex. The trainer does a Hawaiian dance (which just so happens to look like the motion of waving water), the Z-Ring sending energy to the Pokemon who dive both it and the target underwater before rapidly swimming around them and creating a whirlpool tornado around them. Well clearly this is the overpowered one as the Pokemon either completey floods the field or teleports it and the target to the middle of the ocean or a water dimension.
Eitherway the moves sound and look over the top which I approve. I want my super moves to look like I didn't just beat my opponent, I utterly destroyed them. Here's waiting to see what the others look like. :)
Implications: So what do the Z-Moves mean for team building? I'm genuinely curious of their viability since you are giving up a lot for just a one time super move (giving up the item slot and maybe even a move slot just to have a type of the Z-Move you want). Mega Evolution had it being okay to give up the item slot (Mega Rayquaza not withstanding) as in return the Mega Pokemon got a +100 base stat increase and maybe even a Type and Ability change to further empower it. But for a one time super move done only by one Pokemon, is it even worth it? I guess maybe for some Pokemon who would really like to get any threat to it out of the way so it can do its job like a early or late game sweeper, but I'm seeing these moves just another version of the Gems except they're their own moves instead of powering up an existing one.
Also, do Z-Moves ignore the likes of Protect and moves that make the user semi-invulnerable? If they don't that's another downside to them as now you need to plan carefully when to use your Z-Move or you waste it. Also what if the opponent decides on that turn to switch to a Pokemon who is immune to that type of move? Do Z-Moves take top priority?
With that all said, I'd imagine Little Cup will have fun with Z-Moves. :P
What Is The Z: Hmm, and what does that Z stand for? Zygarde? As I said, Z-Moves are like Mega Evolution and its been implied in places Zygarde sort of has something to do with Mega Evolution. Could there be a link between the two? It also has been noted that the Z-Ring look to have a place on the bottom that a Key Stone could fit.
Merchandise: Finally, to get in on that sweet Yokai Watch money, Pokemon has partnered with Tomy to make a toy Z-Ring which makes sound effects while playing the game and performing a Z-Move (though unless the toy will have some interaction with the games they kind of missed the point why the Yokai Watch became popular). The only reason I'm noting this is because a promotional image of the toy revealed ALL the symbols of the types and also that the Z-Ring can hold at least 4 other Z-Crystals. Maybe I'm wrong about it only have one Z-Crystal active in the Z-Ring and you can somehow switch between them? Though if that's the case can you obtain more than a pair of Z-Crystals? What if you have two Pokemon you want to potentially use the same type of Z-Move and your willing to give up both of their items to give one of them a chance to use it? Well, either way here's what the Z-Crystals look like:
Electric - Yellow - Lightning Bolt
Fire - Red - Flame
Grass - Green - Leaf
Water - Light Blue - Water Drop
Fighting - Orange - Fist
Normal - White - Circles (vaguely looks like a Poke Ball?)
Steel - Dark Gray - Cube
Rock - Dark Brown - Piece of Stone (maybe an amber?)
Poison - Dark Purple - Skull and Crossbones
Ghost - Purple - Ghostly Wisp
Dark - Black - Crescent Moon
Bug - Light Green - Beetle
Flying - Dark Blue - Pair of Wings
Dragon - Blue - Rune/Claw?
Ice - Gray - Snowflake
Fairy - Pink? - Pixie?
Psychic - Magenta - Eye
Ground - Brown - Layered Lines
NEXT TIME: Poke Rides (Sorry, This Post Took Longer Than I Thought)
Gen VI amazed many when they introduce Mega Evolution, essentially super forms which massively boosts a Pokemon's power at the cost of its item slot. Mega Evolution was a big game changer, if you wanted to be competitive you NEEDED to have a Mega Evolution and prepare for whatever Mega Evolution your opponent brings out. With such a major change people probably weren't expecting something else on this scale, mainly because they were waiting for more Mega Evolutions. Little did we know that another "super" thing was on its way until we saw hints of it, and today it fully revealed: Z-Moves, super moves which you can only use once per battle.
Equipment: In order to use Z-Moves you need two Key Items: a Z-Ring and a Z-Crystal. There is a Z-Crystal for each type and you need two to do a Z-Move: one to put in the Z-Ring and another for your Pokemon to hold.
So yeah, similar idea to Mega Evolution though this time instead of having a single Key Stone in the trainer's device you need to have matching crystals. Not sure why they did that, you can only use a super move once so it's not like it's to prevent multiple Pokemon using a Z-Move. The only reason I can think of is to ensure that you have a set Pokemon to use a super move, like you can't give multiple Pokemon Z-Crystals thinking in a pinch you can have any of them use a super move (which is itself odd as Mega Evolution has no problem letting you give multiple Pokemon their Mega Stone and letting you Mega Evolve any one of them).
Also since the Z-Crystals are Key Items I don't think you need to worry about the Pokemon consuming them like they did with Gems thus needing to go out to find more. Once you have the Z-Crystals your set.
Activation: In order to actually perform the Z-Move you have to do two things: (1.) Have your Pokemon hold the Z-Crystal of the same type active in your Z-Ring and (2.) have your Pokemon know the type of that move. And according to the site that's it, I'm guessing a prompt appears similar to Mega Evolution on the battle screen that lets you use a Z-Move at any time (though only once per battle).
So from what I'm getting from this, a Pokemon can perform a Z-Move of a type that it isn't. That just seems strange to me, like when I think of a super move I only imagine a Pokemon of that type using it, hence why its a super move. But no, from what we have on the site as long as the Pokemon can learn a move of that type it can use that type of Z-Move. Do Pokemon of the same type receive a bonus for using a Z-Move of their type (other than STAB)? Because if not, honestly, I imagine Pokemon would use a Z-Move of another type for coverage since most often then not an offensive Pokemon can get enough power from normal moves of their type thanks to STAB.
Also what stat do these Z-Moves work off of? Do they choose the highest offense stat? Is it based on the Category of the move it's temporarily replacing? If so what if that move was a Status Move? Also what about Pokemon who are more defensive or support thus have a low attack stats? I guess it could just choose that Pokemon's highest stat even if its not Attack or Special Attack. Also what defensive stat would it hit the opponent in? Their lowest (surely they can't go for lowest stat period, it has to be a defensive stat)?
Speaking of Status Moves, do they count? It seems odd just because a Pokemon have a supporting move that just so happens to be another type they can use that type's Z-Move. Yes the site doesn't say "attacking moves", just "moves".
It's so odd that, if we do take what it written on the site as face value then they're being very loose with how and which Z-Move a Pokemon can perform despite having been unusually strict with choosing which Pokemon gets to use it. I think maybe we need more clarification here, if there even is.
Known Z-Moves: So far we know the Electric, Grass, Fire, and Water-type Z-Moves.
Electric is Gigavolt Havoc. The trainer creates a lightning bolt shape with their arms, the Z-Ring sending energy to the Pokemon who launches a giant thunderbolt at the target which creates a dome of electricity around them. I guess you could say your target *puts on sunglasses* won't be getting past thunder dome. YEEEEEAAAAAH!
Grass is Bloom Doom. The trainer
Fire is Inferno Overdrive. The trainer... I'm not quite sure how to describe what they do. They sort of make the arm motion a someone does when they want an audience to cheer louder before striking a pose with their hand sticking out. Anyway the Z-Ring sends energy to the Pokemon who launches a fire ball that grows as it travels until hitting the target creating a massive explosion. No kill like overkill.
Water is Hydro Vortex. The trainer does a Hawaiian dance (which just so happens to look like the motion of waving water), the Z-Ring sending energy to the Pokemon who dive both it and the target underwater before rapidly swimming around them and creating a whirlpool tornado around them. Well clearly this is the overpowered one as the Pokemon either completey floods the field or teleports it and the target to the middle of the ocean or a water dimension.
Eitherway the moves sound and look over the top which I approve. I want my super moves to look like I didn't just beat my opponent, I utterly destroyed them. Here's waiting to see what the others look like. :)
Implications: So what do the Z-Moves mean for team building? I'm genuinely curious of their viability since you are giving up a lot for just a one time super move (giving up the item slot and maybe even a move slot just to have a type of the Z-Move you want). Mega Evolution had it being okay to give up the item slot (Mega Rayquaza not withstanding) as in return the Mega Pokemon got a +100 base stat increase and maybe even a Type and Ability change to further empower it. But for a one time super move done only by one Pokemon, is it even worth it? I guess maybe for some Pokemon who would really like to get any threat to it out of the way so it can do its job like a early or late game sweeper, but I'm seeing these moves just another version of the Gems except they're their own moves instead of powering up an existing one.
Also, do Z-Moves ignore the likes of Protect and moves that make the user semi-invulnerable? If they don't that's another downside to them as now you need to plan carefully when to use your Z-Move or you waste it. Also what if the opponent decides on that turn to switch to a Pokemon who is immune to that type of move? Do Z-Moves take top priority?
With that all said, I'd imagine Little Cup will have fun with Z-Moves. :P
What Is The Z: Hmm, and what does that Z stand for? Zygarde? As I said, Z-Moves are like Mega Evolution and its been implied in places Zygarde sort of has something to do with Mega Evolution. Could there be a link between the two? It also has been noted that the Z-Ring look to have a place on the bottom that a Key Stone could fit.
Merchandise: Finally, to get in on that sweet Yokai Watch money, Pokemon has partnered with Tomy to make a toy Z-Ring which makes sound effects while playing the game and performing a Z-Move (though unless the toy will have some interaction with the games they kind of missed the point why the Yokai Watch became popular). The only reason I'm noting this is because a promotional image of the toy revealed ALL the symbols of the types and also that the Z-Ring can hold at least 4 other Z-Crystals. Maybe I'm wrong about it only have one Z-Crystal active in the Z-Ring and you can somehow switch between them? Though if that's the case can you obtain more than a pair of Z-Crystals? What if you have two Pokemon you want to potentially use the same type of Z-Move and your willing to give up both of their items to give one of them a chance to use it? Well, either way here's what the Z-Crystals look like:
Electric - Yellow - Lightning Bolt
Fire - Red - Flame
Grass - Green - Leaf
Water - Light Blue - Water Drop
Fighting - Orange - Fist
Normal - White - Circles (vaguely looks like a Poke Ball?)
Steel - Dark Gray - Cube
Rock - Dark Brown - Piece of Stone (maybe an amber?)
Poison - Dark Purple - Skull and Crossbones
Ghost - Purple - Ghostly Wisp
Dark - Black - Crescent Moon
Bug - Light Green - Beetle
Flying - Dark Blue - Pair of Wings
Dragon - Blue - Rune/Claw?
Ice - Gray - Snowflake
Fairy - Pink? - Pixie?
Psychic - Magenta - Eye
Ground - Brown - Layered Lines
NEXT TIME: Poke Rides (Sorry, This Post Took Longer Than I Thought)
