How do we know what the shiny variations of legendary pokemon look like if there is supposed to only be one of each species? And how do we know their typings if it’s so hard to get close to one? Is the “one of each” thing simply a myth telling us how rare these pokemon are?

Legendary pokémon are rather unique in that there are actually an abundance of depictions of them via ancient art. Remember, legendaries are essentially gods or powerful spirits to many cultures, and as such, many humans have created paintings, idols, statues, and so forth depicting what legendaries are normally like. We can gather that the images we see are of “normal” variations if that legendary is of a particular color in many of its depictions. For example, we assume that Ho-oh’s normal coloring includes blue, green, and violet because most of the paintings in Johto depict it as such. Thus, if we ever see Ho-oh without those colors, we can safely assume that this is a variant color, not its normal coloration. (Either that, or our ancestors were wrong.)

As for typings, we don’t always know for certain, although we can collect data from exceptionally strong trainers who have managed to encounter or capture one themselves. For those legendaries we still have yet to catch (Arceus and Ho-oh, for example), the officially listed typing is more or less a hypothesis based on what we know from their respective legendaries. Ho-oh, for one, is listed as a fire- and flying-type because it’s a bird known for its sacred flames. Lugia, by contrast, is a flying- and psychic-type (as opposed to water or dragon) because the legends about it describe abilities that are more in line with psychic-types than water- or dragon-types … and also because we have data from trainers who have managed to get close enough to Lugia to observe it.

Finally, as for your question concerning uniqueness … that’s a difficult one to answer. For some legendaries, it’s very true that there are more than one, and the uniqueness the pokédex emphasizes is really just a label, as you say. This is the case with Latios, Latias, and Lugia (although the lugia Johtonians worship is a very specific one, not just any lugia—and lugia are extremely rare either way). Meanwhile, for other, more powerful legendaries (such as Arceus, Dialga, Palkia, and so forth), it’s very likely there’s only one. Then there are legendaries who are somewhere in between—that is, we don’t have enough data to determine whether or not they’re unique. This is the case with legendaries such as Mew or even Ho-oh.

In short, much of what we know about legendaries is tied to conjecture based on legends and folklore. In reality, we don’t have a lot of data to know for certain if many of our assumptions—of populations, of powers, and even of color—are completely true.

I suppose a follow up question would then be why not just make Dusk/Dive/etc. balls perform better under all circumstances? Is it to preserve their battery life or something? (also what happens when a poke ball runs out of power?)

Actually, it’s because those balls were specifically designed for certain types of trainers. As uncomfortable as it is to admit this, it’s largely due to business. Putting it another way, ultra balls are the best type of universal poké ball (meaning its capture rate is consistent in all situations, and it’s the best type of ball available to the public wherein that’s true), but it still has a reasonable chance of failing. Meanwhile, you have balls that work better than the ultra in certain situations, but in other situations, they’re comparable to poké balls. Additionally, these other balls can be marketed towards certain demographics. Dusk, for example, can be marketed towards those who specialize in cave or nocturnal pokémon, dive can be marketed towards fishermen and swimmers, timer can be marketed as a last-resort poké ball for trainers after specific pokémon, nest can be marketed towards those with exceptionally strong teams, and so forth.

By contrast, there is a poké ball that works better than ultra balls (the master ball, specifically), but this is not available to the public. The reason why is because if everyone has access to a ball that has a 100% capture rate all of the time, they’ll be less likely to buy balls because they’ll need far, far fewer of them.

In short, it’s not so much because of a technological restriction as it is because of capitalism, anonymous.

As for what would happen if a poké ball’s battery runs out, that’s extremely unlikely because of how long the lifespan of a ball’s power source actually is (and because various transfer systems also recharge said power source every time a ball is converted to electricity and data), but should it happen, there’s a failsafe within the ball that will automatically release your pokémon just before the battery dies. It’s the same failsafe that’s triggered whenever your poké ball becomes too damaged to safely contain a pokémon.

on my journey i came upon a home i thought was owned by a normal elderly couple; my goodra had no problems with them, so we decided to spend the night. The moment i walked the threshold my happinny burst from her pokeball and started crying and screaming, trying to push goodra and i back out. the elderly couple turned out to be haunters, luring us in. my houndoom took care of them but how do i make sure to never fall for the ruses of ghost pokemon? what would they have done to us if we stayed?

Ghost pokémon are unfortunately notorious for being tricksters, anonymous, and many of them have the ability to either turn invisible or mimic the appearance of something else. Even those that have tangible bodies or are tied to tangible objects (such as sableye and spiritomb, respectively) have some techniques in their arsenals that allow them to trick a passing human.

The best strategy to avoid such encounters is to be heavily aware of your surroundings. Never enter buildings in the middle of nowhere unless you know who lives there, and never enter abandoned structures, either. Be very careful when you enter graveyards and memorial towers, and do so in a group if at all possible. Most importantly, always keep a pokémon on hand that can sense danger if you happen across any of these structures. Your happiny, for example, is a baby pokémon, which means it has a heightened sensitivity towards all things supernatural—a quality that allows her to notice by instinct if something is wrong. However, a better choice for future reference would be any pokémon with Foresight, a psychic, or even a fellow ghost-type.

As for what the haunter might have done, oh, any of a number of things, anonymous. Some haunter merely like to play with humans by tricking them and scaring them. Others lure humans in to feed on their life forces. Either way, it’s safe to assume it wouldn’t have been pleasant for you.

i recently came into the possession of three baby pokemon: an igglybuff, togepi, and hapinny. will they make good playmates with each other or should i separate them? what kind of toys should i be giving them? all they do right now is sleep and eat.

Actually, certain baby pokémon do better when placed in groups, rather than separated, even if that group consists of various species. This is especially true with pokémon either known for bringing happiness (happiny) or that evolve via levels of happiness (igglybuff and togepi). This is because socialization helps them develop a healthy mental state and allows them to form the bonds that eventually lead to the development of their abilities or to their evolution, respectively. Likewise, none of those pokémon are particularly discerning when it comes to their companionship (or at least, not generally speaking), so quarrels between any of them are unlikely.

So to answer your first question, absolutely, those three will make excellent playmates.

To answer your second question, believe it or not, the same sorts of toys you would give a human baby often work well for these pokémon. Soft toys, durable plastic toys, and anything that lights up and makes music are all excellent choices—especially the latter if you’d like something that will ensure they’ll stay in one place when you take your eyes off them for a moment. Never give them anything that can fit in their mouths and be swallowed, especially igglybuff (as it will attempt to chew anything). It’s also a good idea to give your happiny a round, smooth stone the shape of a chansey egg (but slightly smaller, so she can carry it), as happiny take comfort from carrying one of these around. Yes, it’s a good idea even if you don’t wish to evolve your happiny right away. Don’t worry—the round stone isn’t happiny’s only evolutionary requirement. Also, keep a stock of these stones on hand, and make sure they’re as close to identical as you can get them. Your happiny may lose her stone often, and it’s worth it to have a replacement ready.

Best of luck, anonymous, and congratulations on the new litter!

Teddiursa and Ursaring

Teddiursa
The Little Bear Pokémon
Type: Normal
Official Registration #: 216
Entry: This small, teddy bear-like pokémon is known for hoarding its favored food, honey, for the winter months. It is also known for soaking its paws in its stores in the process, then licking its palms every so often to keep itself sustained as it works. Due to the fact that the properties of both teddiursa fur and saliva are as unique to each individual as fingerprints are to each human being, the exact taste of each sample of teddiursa honey varies from subject to subject. Incidentally, yes, this statement does in fact imply that there is a field of pokémon research dedicated to licking teddiursa paws (or at least collecting and sampling their honey), to which the author responds, “Well, somebody has to do it.”

Ursaring
The Hibernator Pokémon
Type: Normal
Official Registration #: 217
Entry: The evolved form of teddiursa, by battle experience. The species identifier for this pokémon refers to the fact that it hibernates for about half the year—or roughly 152 to 213 days, depending on the individual and whether or not that particular winter is mild or cold. For the rest of the year, ursaring are highly active, breeding, foraging, hunting, and mauling intruders to their territory with an incredible amount of energy.

how do i become a pokemon researcher like you or oak or any of the other professors?

Well, regarding the specific details of it, generally speaking, becoming a researcher requires years of academic work, sometimes in conjunction with an internship or an abundance of lab work under a professor. From there, it really depends on the specific type of pokémon researcher you wish to be. For example, Professor Oak is strictly an academic researcher, meaning he’s associated with Celadon University and thus the world of academia, not with the industry. By contrast, my partner and the editor of this blog, Lanette Hamilton, works strictly as an industry researcher, meaning she’s employed by commercial laboratories (the Pokémon Cutting-Edge Technology Research Center and Devon Co., specifically) to come up with new ideas that can be marketed and sold to trainers. I work as a bit of both: my behavior research is done in a more academic realm (through Celadon University, specifically), but my technological research is supported through the PCETRC. (No, there is not an easier acronym … much to our dismay.)

And as one can expect, each of these paths were vastly different, as the specific way academic research works is different compared to working in the industry. Think of it as the difference between becoming a novelist and a journalist. Both are essentially jobs that require many of the same skills and the same academic foundations, but where those paths end are entirely different. As such, whereas journalists tend to have steady work and structure to their daily lives (and thus security to pursue their work), novelists may have the freedom to write what they want, when they wish to write it. In a similar fashion, being an industry researcher means you’re employed by a lab, and thus, you may use your skills on very specific projects. On the other hand, you also get all the funding and equipment you need (generally speaking) to pursue that work. By contrast, academic pokémon researchers have their own personal labs where they may carry out whatever research they wish when they wish to do so; they simply need to report to the university every so often (or, well, teach) in order to maintain their sources of funding.

Then, of course, it depends on the specific field you wish to research. Pokémon researchers who focus on pokémon medicine may find themselves doing quite a bit of lab work. Those who focus on paleontology or ethology, meanwhile, may find themselves doing quite a bit of supervised fieldwork.

At its root, though, the path to becoming a pokémon researcher starts with self-reflection and finding the right mentor. Once you’ve decided that you wish to become a researcher, pay attention to what about pokémon catches your interest the most. Follow your heart, not your skills. I know that seems a bit unusual considering the fact that pokémon research requires more intellect than any other pokémon-centered field, but a good researcher is nothing without passion.

Also, forge a relationship with your professors, especially those who specialize in the fields you wish to pursue. Find a mentor and let them help you decide what path to take. (Never be afraid to ask for guidance! A good mentor will be eager to help you on your path.)

Most importantly, be prepared to work hard. Every step of the way, especially if you work in academia, you will always be asked to show your work, as it were. In the world of academia, if you don’t have tenure (as Professor Oak has with Celadon University), it may be tricky to secure funding and equipment for your work. Industry researchers, meanwhile, are required to provide results according to a schedule. Either way, it’s not easy to be a researcher, but of course, if it was easy, it wouldn’t nearly be fun, would it?

how can you tell if a pokemon like swirlix or kadabra or pumpkaboo want to evolve considering they only do so via trading? what about ones who evolve via stones?

Even though trade-based evolutions take an exceptionally long time to evolve naturally, they’re still aware of the process. Likewise, they’re often aware of their evolutionary requirements’ relationship to the trading system, especially if you explain, very simply, that they can evolve by trading. (That is to say, they may not know the exact details, but they understand that you’d be telling the truth if you explain that they can evolve through the process.)

With that having been said, they and pokémon with stone-based evolutions have a slight advantage over most other pokémon: they have complete control over when they evolve. As such, they will let you know if they want to evolve through body language. Watch your pokémon for any of the following signs:

Excitement when you bring up the topic of evolution

Interest in evolutionary stones (if they evolve by stone) or trading machines or devices (if they evolve by trading)

Eagerness to train (as to them, training and growing more powerful is still a part of their evolutionary requirements, even if they don’t evolve by battle experience)

If your pokémon shows one or more of these signs, consider sitting down with them and discussing evolution. Then, at your earliest convenience, present them with either your trading device or an evolutionary stone and watch for their reaction. If they seem excited and ready, then it’s time to help them evolve. If not, leave them alone and consider discussing evolution with them at a later time.

In other words, you’ll be able to tell whether or not your pokémon is ready to evolve simply because they’ll tell you so; it will just be a nonverbal confirmation.

Hey Bill, why do some Pokémon evolve when traded? How do technological advancements influence a pokemons evolution?

To answer this, allow me to go into a very brief description of what happens during evolution.

Now, most of you have probably noticed that a pokémon glows when it evolves. This is because there’s a sudden buildup of energy within a pokémon’s body. While most of that energy is consumed, the glow comes from the output of the specific processes that trigger evolution. It’s just that the buildup itself is the evolutionary trigger. This is also why pokémon either need to reach a specific level of strength or inner power or they need to be exposed to items that have high amounts of natural radiation of a compatible type in order to fulfill their “evolutionary requirements” (or, in other words, the specific levels of specific types of energy they need to trigger evolution). Endorphins can also present enough energy to trigger evolution, which is why some pokémon can evolve simply by being happy enough.

In other words, consider evolutionary requirements to be akin to a light switch. Most pokémon have switches that can be flipped “on” (for “evolve now”) or “off” (for “don’t evolve”). Evolutionary requirements are the specific factors a pokémon needs to have enough energy to flip that switch from on to off.

With so-called trade evolutions, the requirements are a bit different. For those species, the energy they need to evolve is typically a significant amount—far too much for many to store during their careers as battle-ready pokémon. Because of this, if you see a “trade-based evolution” in the wild, they’re typically extremely old. In other words, unless an extreme surge of energy is involved, these pokémon have evolutionary switches that are extremely difficult to nearly impossible to flip on their own, so they spend their entire lives building up that energy.

However, these pokémon may also change that switch through trading—and even then, only through specific kinds of trading. You see, just handing someone else a pokémon and reregistering it at a pokemon center (as many trainers tend to do) isn’t enough to flip that switch, but editing trainer data automatically via the digital trading system (incorporated in the GTS, the PSS, Wonder Trade, and the older trading machines available at any pokémon center) may also override a pokémon’s evolutionary requirement data with conventional data. The reason why is because for these specific pokémon—and not for any other pokémon, hence why evolutions don’t happen after trade for every species in existence—evolutionary data tends to occupy the same space as the data for their current trainer’s identity. Reregistering at a pokémon center desk allows a human to input the trainer’s identity manually, avoiding editing any unnecessary information, but doing it automatically overrides the entire block, including the part that dictates that the subject needs extra energy to evolve. (To preemptively answer a question, the reason why this trainer data needs to be edited is so that each pokémon may be officially recognized as having changed hands. Without those edits, official league equipment will register that pokémon as belonging to another trainer, which may inadvertently trigger anti-theft measures.)

Consequently, the process of editing each pokémon’s information makes it easier for them to flip their evolutionary switch from don’t evolve to evolve. Meanwhile, the extra boost of energy given to them (through the process of being converted into electricity and data for the transfer and then being converted back into matter) stands in for the energy any other pokémon needs to evolve, which results in, very long story short, evolution.

In other words, the simple answer is that trading involves directly editing a pokémon in data form and giving them an extra boost as they come out of this state, which is why they can evolve. This can’t happen with any other pokémon simply because their data isn’t formatted the same way.

I recently adopted a squirtle, and in preparation for his arrival got a lot of toys and I have a big pool for him to be comfortable in, but when I brought him home I found out he’s scared of water! He’s a water type that hates water and I’m not sure how to help him?

Well, that’s certainly unusual, but it sometimes happens when a water-type faces trauma or neglect in relation to water. For example, if an amphibious pokémon such as squirtle had been kept in a tank with no dry area for them to climb on top of or if the tank itself was never cleaned, then a young squirtle may adopt a strong aversion to water because it associates water with that past trauma.

For this reason, it’s important to treat the trauma in addition to acclimating your squirtle to his natural environment. Always start slow and employ an ample amount of positive reinforcement and affection. Begin by socializing with your squirtle. Spend as much time as possible with him, and give him as much gentleness as he can tolerate. Offer physical affection and soft tones of voice, as well as the toys and treats he can take without being exposed to water. As always, be very aware of his body language and if he shows any sign of stress (stiffening, withdrawing partway into his shell, looking at you with a glazed expression), disengage and try a different method of affection. Trauma and stress in pokémon rarely come with just one symptom—as in, water may not be the only thing that will trigger your squirtle’s anxiety. Your squirtle might also have an aversion to certain types of human contact, so it’s important to be observant as you interact with your pokémon.

When it comes to water, meanwhile, you will still need to give him a water bottle either way, as allowing him to avoid all forms of it may induce dehydration. At first, you may be able to work with him. Hold him in one arm and give him the bottle with the other, just as you would if you were feeding a baby. Offer verbal encouragement whenever he accepts the bottle, and reinforce the act with a treat when he’s done. Continue doing this until he seems comfortable enough to drink from the bottle or from a dish without your assistance.

Bathing your squirtle may be trickier, but this is also vital, not only because it will help him adjust to water again but also because it will keep his skin from drying and cracking. (Dry, cracked squirtle skin can become infected rather easily, so it’s not an ideal state of being for your pokémon.) You can help your squirtle by filling a shallow tub or your bathroom sink with water while he’s outside the room. Then, bring him in and continue to hold him as you let him see the sink or tub. Dampen a cloth or sponge in the sink with your free hand and wring it out as best as you can, then use it to moisten part of your squirtle’s skin. After this, slowly and carefully lower your squirtle into the bath and begin bathing him. All the while, continue offering verbal encouragement to soothe your squirtle and help him accept being exposed to water. After a few weeks of this, you can move him to a larger tub (or your own bathtub). Once he becomes acclimated to this, you can move on to filling the tub while he’s present to help him get used to running water. Once he gets used to this, you may allow him to bathe himself (either in your presence or quite literally by himself, depending on his comfort level), and once you pass this stage, you may move him to the pool.

As one would expect, though, always let your squirtle lead: let him decide when he’s ready for each new step. Likewise, be as supportive and loving as possible, and keep in mind that even if you help him with his fear of water, he may still need plenty of emotional care from you. However, although this may be an unexpected challenge for you, raising a pokémon that requires a deeper level of emotional care than others is ultimately rewarding, as it enables you and your pokémon to cultivate a unique bond that you might not develop with any other training experience.

Best of luck, anonymous.

Gligar and Gliscor

Gligar
The Fly Scorpion Pokémon
Type: Ground/Flying
Official Registration #: 207
Entry: Those traveling through mountainous East Johto should beware. In this half of the region, where gligar are native and abundant, gligar are known to hunt by leaping at prey, latching onto their faces, and stabbing them with their highly venomous stingers—a method that kills either through poisoning or suffocation, depending on how hard the gligar is clinging to its prey. However, in addition to this, visitors to East Johto should also be aware that this part of the region is the home of Gligarman, a franchise which also suffocates and jams itself into readers’ lives through the power of sheer merchandising.

Gliscor
The Fang Scorpion Pokémon
Type: Ground/Flying
Official Registration #: 472
Entry: The evolved form of gligar, by battle experience if holding a razor fang at night. Gliscor is an infamous sanguivore—it thrives by feeding on the blood over others. When it spots potential prey, it swoops down, snatches up its victim, and carries it off to its castle-like cavern homes, where it will bite down on its prey using its elongated fangs to draw out its blood. The whole act is considered to be one of the most elegant hunting methods in the pokémon world, with gliscor’s hypnotic, fluid-like movements. These movements are so elegant and hypnotic to some people that there are novels and folklore based on human-like gliscor, some of which add certain, bizzare abilities to the pokémon’s arsenal—such as the ability to sparkle in the sunlight.