I’ve seen arguments about whether or not Phione is a mythical pokemon or not, what are your thoughts on this?

This is a tricky topic, as it’s just as much of a debate within the research community as it is among trainers and the like. Nonetheless, I personally believe that because the only way a phione can come to be is through the mating of a mythical pokémon, this makes it mythical in a sense as well—just not, perhaps, by the strictest definitions. It’s essentially the equivalent of a demigod but a pokémon: admittedly not quite a legendary but certainly separate from a common pokémon.

What’s your opinion on Professor Kukui? I’m not sure if you’d consider someone who gets research grants to play with his dog to be shameful or a genius.

Professor Kukui is absolutely a genius. Why can’t I get research grants to play with a dog?

In case you’ve forgotten, you got one to summon a mythical pokémon with strobe lights. —LH

And another one to “study the behaviors of extinct pokémon through the application of full-scale tactile immersion techniques.” —LH

Then the Pokémon Cutting-Edge Technology Research Center gave you one to “study the calming effects of slowpoke,” which is to say they literally gave you a grant to sleep on the job, and they’re a tech company. —LH

I am thoroughly convinced that if you walked up to anyone and asked for a grant, there is a very good chance that you’d get it. Not that I’m encouraging you to do what Kukui does, as he is also known for encouraging his dog to use him as a punching bag for reasons that I’ve once asked Burnet about but still didn’t fully understand. I mean, yes, Kukui’s methods may be questionable at best, but they actually do produce valuable results concerning the power of pokémon attacks. Sure, your research is valuable too; don’t get me wrong. But the point is, given Kukui’s methods, I don’t think you need the encouragement to use yourself as a test subject (again) as Kukui often does. —LH

Actually, the first one was paid for entirely with my own funds. —Bill

That’s what you object to? —LH

Hey man mind dumpin a whole BUNCH of decidueye facts and stuff? I love decidueye and would love like more info on em bleaze

Certainly!

True Facts about Decidueye

  • Decidueye can rotate its head a full 180 degrees. It cannot, however, turn its hood that far. This is often bothersome to a decidueye but heavily alarming to its trainer.
  • Decidueye are indeed considered to be an endangered species, and they can only be found deep within Lush Jungle or in the rugged wilds of Poni Island. The decision to add its preevolution to the starter program was made with the hope that trainers would breed rowlet and train decidueye strong enough to survive, even if released. Encouraging trainers to raise and breed rowlet is also a failsafe to preserve at least the domesticated version of the species in case their wild and feral counterparts go extinct.
  • Part of the reason why decidueye are so rare is because they aren’t the most intelligent pokémon. They are known to dive at or attempt to hunt down any moving object they see within their territories … including and especially headlights. (Decidueye are primarily nocturnal, so light pollution of any kind greatly confuse them.)
  • Another reason why decidueye is endangered: The foremost predator of its preevolutions is the gumshoos, one of the most common pokémon in Alola. This is ironic because gumshoos and its preevolution yungoos were originally introduced to Alola to combat the overpopulation of rattata and raticate … which are the second foremost predators of rowlet.
  • Granted, yes, decidueye do indeed eat rattata as well, although they otherwise primarily subsist on berries, insects, lizards, and bug-type pokémon. Poni Island decidueye will also eat exeggcute, magikarp, and crabrawler.
  • Although decidueye don’t lose their ability to fly (contrary to popular belief), they do spend most of their time on the ground. In fact, they like to nest beneath berry trees … which may or may not explain why toucannon (whose preevolutions often gather berries for the entire flock) sometimes find themselves raising rowlet chicks.
  • While decidueye (and its preevolutions, for that matter) are immune to common diseases that affect the avian pokémon of Alola—including and especially avian pokémon malaria—the ones that live on Akala Island are not immune to a mysterious condition called Sudden Decidueye Death Syndrome (or SDDS). The exact root of this disease is not well-known, although it may have something to do with the recent increase of salazzle harems in Lush Jungle.
  • Decidueye holds a place of honor in native Alolan folklore, as it’s said that they’re the manifestations of a family’s ancestors. Many contemporary Alolans point to the fact that decidueye eventually gains an affinity to the ghost element as the reason behind this folklore, but some experts in Alolan culture have also pointed out the fact that Alolan funerals usually involve heavy use of light and fire. For further explanation for why the latter is relevant, see the third bullet point of this list.
  • Decidueye do not molt. This is less because they’re incapable of doing so and more because they pull off old feathers to incorporate into their attacks anyway and have simply adapted to the point where they no longer molt to save on ammunition.
  • All decidueye mate for life and will typically engage in mating rituals at the start of the dry season (when prey is most abundant). Decidueye mating rituals begin with the male chasing the female around a territory to get her attention, followed by a display (usually spreading the wings to show the female the feathers most often used in attacks), followed by a show (shooting of said feathers into a chosen target). If the female’s attention is caught by that point, the male will present a gift in the form of prey, and if the female is impressed with the catch, then she will emit a call of approval, which will then lead to the building of a nest and subsequent mating. A decidueye couple will typically lay up to two broods (of one to three eggs) per year.

Do you enjoy going to contests? Whats one of the most creative uses of a move youve seen?

While I admire the concept of contests as well as the artistry and general pokémon handling skills that are involved with them, I admit that don’t exactly follow them as avidly as, say, my partner. Still, occasionally, Lanette sends me clips that she thinks might interest me. Of these, you would think that a clip starring an eevee or one of its evolutions would pique my interest the most, and to be fair, yes, quite a few coordinators have wielded eevee in contests quite creatively. (More than one incorporate evolutions into their routines, for example.)

However, the most creative use of a move I’ve seen might have come out of a Sinnoh contest, wherein a young lady has her meowth use Fury Swipes to make ramen. Who would have thought of using food as a prop for a performance? Or at least food that the pokémon themselves don’t eat!

Hey bill, double Twins Anon. Yeah, my Lucario twins had each taken a ralts line twin. my budy suggested i take them on a triple date with me and my girlfriend. I decked him in the schnoz for the remark. I’ll be sure my male lucario knows to be gentle with my gardevoir. Would you recommend Ditto Surrogates if they decide they want eggs?

I must admit that Lanette is more of the expert in romance than I am, which I bring up only because I would suspect I’d be decked in the face as well. Honestly, that seems like a rather interesting way to spend a romantic evening to me.

And here, I inhale deeply and pinch the bridge of my nose. Just answer the question, Bill. —LH

Right! So! Yes, absolutely, this would be the best if they wish to raise hatchlings. Otherwise … well. As you know, it would be ill-advised to allow them to try for a hatchling by themselves. (Even if both parties were instructed to be careful.)

Hey Bill I just wanted to ask what a champion in any region has power over? Can they make rules or change things? I ask because I ran into Alder on a trip to Unova and he said being the champion entitled him to the Casteliacone I bought since he dropped his.

Few people outside of Unova have kind words to say about Alder, and frankly

On a serious note, the actual powers a champion has are more limited than you’d think. While, like gym leaders, they’re heavily encouraged to help protect their domains whenever possible (it’s just that a champion’s domain is an entire region, rather than simply a town or city) as well as make certain public appearances, they’re more or less high-ranking sports stars. The most decision-making power they have is within their respective Leagues, and even then, every proposal they have needs to be put before their branch of the Pokémon Association before it can be passed. (After all, we have ten-year-old champions; we don’t want to give them the power to make massive, permanent decisions.) Likewise, while they could assist in sting operations against the major crime organizations that seem to be cropping up lately, they don’t actually have the power to arrest anyone. Law enforcement only call on them for firepower, and that’s about it.

Or in other words, Alder owes you a casteliacone, and although I know he’s stepped down from his role as champion years ago anyway, I’m going to be sending word to my counterparts in the Unovan Association.

Bill you were talking about people using legendaries in league battles…A while back there was a guy in the Sinnoh league who used TWO of them! Everyone was talking about him! But there was someone else with a Heatran competing too and nobody gave him any press. Does Sinnoh not consider Heatran to be legendary?

They consider it a minor legendary, much in the same way Hoennians see the titans (or golems) or Johtonians see the legendary birds.

Of course, either way, it’s somewhat less impressive than having two legendaries, one of whom is considered to be the god of nightmares…

Bill, which Pokemon Professor other than Oak is your favorite to work with? Not asking for anyone.

Strangely enough, I haven’t had the opportunity to work with many of them, if you’ll believe that! The truth is that many of the regional professors (if we limit it to just that) specialize in entirely different fields than my own, and thus, we don’t really have any reason to work together on a project. Professor Oak just happened to be my mentor in college, so I was lucky in that regard.

Out of the ones I have worked with, I must say Dr. Fennel was a delight to work with on the storage system before we mutually agreed that Amanita would be a better fit for an administrative role. Professor Sycamore was also a fascinating man, and his thoughts on mega evolution and pokémon physiology in general have helped me considerably in my work towards studying pokémon behavior. (Incidentally, no, I can’t respond to any of the rumors concerning Professor Sycamore. He’s actually more professional than said rumors would have you believe, not that I had any inclination to believe otherwise, of course.)

Still, I would love to work with Professor Birch someday. He practically wrote the book on pokémon communication, and I feel like working with him would be a fantastic opportunity to learn more about how pokémon live(d), both now and in ancient times. Likewise, although I’ve met and had conversations with Professor Juniper, it would be thrilling to work with her on uncovering where pokémon came from and how new species come to be.

And then! Then of course there’s Professor Burnet. Who can resist the opportunity to discover worlds beyond our own?

Someday, perhaps.