My Kadabra has had some vision problems since his evolution. After taking him to the Pokemon Center, he’s been diagnosed with astigmatism resulting in near-sighted vision. Should I invest in prescription glasses/goggles, or do items like Choice Specs or Wide Lens do the trick?

Always invest in prescription glasses or goggles if you can. While choice specs sound like a good alternative on paper (as they do focus a pokémon’s eyesight enough to allow them to hone in on a target and thus hit them harder with long-distance techniques), the fact of the matter is that they’re not medical tools. Moreover, a set you find or buy at a local pokémart may not be attuned to your kadabra’s specific needs, as a set of prescription lenses might be.

(And wide lenses are not eyeglasses at all but rather more or less akin to a periscope.)

That having been said, most pokémon centers will help you choose lenses that would be right for your kadabra, if not connect you to a pokémon optometrist who might be able to assist you. I would recommend going back to your local Nurse Joy and asking for recommendations or a prescription.

Best of luck!

My kirlia has this habit of walking around with closed eyes most of the time, my friend told me it’s because its eyes have next to zero pigment in them like all ralts line and it might hurt to see bright things. What can I do to help my kirlia see better, or just for his eyes to rest without him having to walk around blind?

First, it would also be wise to have your local pokémon center perform an eye exam on your kirlia first. If your friend is correct in their assumption that the problem has to do with light, then it’s possible that your local Nurse Joy can suggest options for long-term solutions, including surgery. However, there’s also the possibility that your kirlia is keeping its eyes closed due to an infection or other health issue. I don’t mean to scare you with the words “surgery,” “infection,” or “health issue,” but it’s always important to check with Nurse Joy first if your pokémon displays any sort of unusual behavior.

Otherwise, consider giving your kirlia black glasses. This may seem odd, considering the fact that they’re normally for boosting the power of dark-type moves (before anyone asks, it’s because the wearer experiences a boost in confidence that allows them to boost their moves in turn), but they actually have a very practical purpose otherwise. Black glasses are simply highly polarized sunglasses, capable of filtering out more light than standard sunglasses meant for humans. In other words, black glasses are simply a better form of protection against glaring light than sunglasses meant for people, and they often have the added bonus of being customizable for a wider range of species (meaning it’s easy to obtain a pair that can fit your kirlia).

Best of luck, anonymous, but yes, please take your kirlia to a Nurse Joy first.

I recently adopted a blitzle baby and he’s very clingy. For the last week I’ve been under the weather and he refuses to leave my side, going as far as to order my munna to get me another water bottle when I run out while resting. He seems really stressed about my condition, how do I reassure him that I’ll be okay?

Your situation may be somewhat related to this one, anonymous: http://bills-pokedex.tumblr.com/post/152882003486/i-adopted-my-chansey-after-she-trained-to-be-a

Or this one, even: http://bills-pokedex.tumblr.com/post/151956748386/i-tripped-down-the-stairs-yesterday-and-now-my

The difference here is that whereas one of the other pokémon was a former medical chansey and the other situation involved a minor injury, yours involves a newly adopted pokémon and a cold, which may be a bit trickier to handle and a bit more confusing to the pokémon, respectively. Still, a lot of the methods involved in both answers is the same.

The most important thing you can do for your blitzle right now is reassure him that what you’re feeling is completely normal (relatively speaking). Or, rather, that it’s easily curable. Tell him that you appreciate his help and concern but that all you need is rest and fluids and that he shouldn’t worry. Try to have your munna or any other pokémon (if you have any) comfort him and keep you occupied as you rest.

Whenever you can, though, try to maintain parts of your routine. If feeding your pokémon isn’t taxing on you, do so. If you can take them out for a walk or for training, do that as well. Getting back onto your normal routine will show your blitzle that all is essentially well and that he has nothing to worry about. Be sure to include as many of your other pokémon as possible in these routines so your blitzle can see how calm they are about the situation and gain a level of reassurance through his team.

But most importantly, take it easy and try to appear as relaxed as possible yourself. The more you worry—even about your blitzle, rather than yourself—the more he’ll pick up on that and interpret it as a reason to worry about you.

Best of luck, anonymous, and get well soon!

… so I got my Ditto as a 5 year old and named it accordingly, Jello. Well Jello is insanely Uncomfortable when I eat The gelatinous treat, Jell-O. When I do, Jello slithers around me and gives me side eyes and glares. I’ve tried explaining that Jell-O isn’t refrigerated Dittos but my sweet Jello still doesn’t like it. What do I do… besides not eat jell-o anymore

I’ll give you two answers here, anonymous: the one my editor would want me to give and the one my editor would actually want me to give.

The one my editor would want me to give: Look Jello dead in the eye as you consume a cup of gelatin. Establish dominance.

The one my editor would actually want me to give: Allow Jello to inspect a cup for itself. You can do this by simply showing it a cup or by allowing it to taste a little. (Gelatin isn’t poisonous to ditto, for the record.) You may even wish to purchase a box of Jell-O mix and make a batch yourself, so Jello can better understand what it is you’re actually eating.

If all else fails, may I suggest switching to fruit snacks instead?

What are the different religions in each region?

Well … this is a bit complicated, anonymous, because every region hosts a varied population, which means you’ll often see a wide variety of beliefs upheld among its people. While it’s true that many regions also have a regional religion tied to local legendaries, these are often only one of many possible, and in some cases, they’re not even the predominant religion of the region.

Take Kanto, for example. Contrary to popular belief, while it’s true that Kantonians generally believe that the legendary birds are actual embodiments of their respective elements, they don’t actually worship them. Rather, the legends tied to the birds are more or less folklore on the same level as local yokai. Instead, the predominant religion of Kanto is actually Shinto, with sizable percentages of the remaining population dedicated to Buddhism and Christianity. Only a small subset of people worship the legendaries themselves, and many of them place Mew at the center of their beliefs—hence the traditional name, Myuu-no-michi (Way of Mew). The beliefs upheld by the followers of Myuu-no-michi are often animistic in nature; that is, they essentially believe that peace can be found if a person becomes one with nature.

Johto, on the other hand, exists on the other end of the spectrum. While there are many followers of Shinto and Buddhism in Johto, it’s more common to find followers of Ho-oh, Lugia, or Celebi (or all three) there. This religion is commonly called Ubame-no-michi (Way of Ilex), although it’s also called Johtoism in Common. I could go into the finer details of what this religion means (I myself am a follower of the sect that worships all three legendaries and would be more than happy to elaborate on its teachings and traditions), but to simplify it as much as possible for the sake of this post, it borrows quite a bit from Shinto, including and especially the respect for kami (which are not necessarily just the legendaries but also the essences of nature in general). Johtonian belief states that all beings have their own essences, and thus, all beings have power and purpose, which in turn means that all living creatures should be respected. Of course, there are exceptions, but generally speaking, yes, Johtoism centers around respecting nature and doing as many good works as one can within their lifetime … or, essentially, it’s Shinto, except we also worship rainbow phoenixes, ocean birds, and/or woodland pixies. (We also believe that there are three beasts who will roam the world until humans are collectively ready as a species to receive Ho-oh again, and seeing as they’re still roaming, I feel completely at ease with referring to the major kami as “rainbow phoenixes, ocean birds, and/or woodland pixies.”)

Most other regional religions fall somewhere in between. Hoennians worship Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza primarily, but their religion (Hoennism) follows the same basic tenets as Johtoism, just with the legends swapped out. (Contrary to popular belief, they do not worship the golems, the lati twins, or Jirachi; these are merely elements of their regional folklore.) By contrast, Unovans and Kaloseans, like Kantonians, don’t follow a regional religion. Rather, Christianity is the primary religion of Kalos (Catholicism, specifically), although I’ve been told more and more Kaloseans describe themselves as non-religious or Muslim. Judaism is also on the rise there as well. (And yes, a few also worship Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde, but these people form a very small sliver of the population. Christians happened to be very charismatic people right around the Middle Ages, and in any case, the Kalosean religion somewhat lost favor thanks to the bit about a weapon devastating a large part of the pokémon population.) As for Unova, it’s more of a melting pot, so while a large number of Unovans describe themselves as Christian (Protestant, especially), practically every religion in the world is represented in some form or another there. However, there is no religion centering around its regional legendaries; this is merely folklore to the Unovans, not an actual faith.

Then, of course, you have the Alolans and the Sinnohans.

While Alola is just as much of a melting pot as Unova (although, as a place where many Johtonian and Kantonian immigrants have settled, it’s more common to see representations of Japanese religions there than western ones), there’s a hardy population of native islanders who worship the local Tapu. Like Johtoism, Alola is heavily focused on respecting nature, but for the Alolans, it has little to do with essences. Rather, nature itself is everything to them. It’s a powerful force in itself, yes, but it’s also a living entity that we humans are merely privileged to be a part of. As such, the local Alolan religion (it has no real name, as it’s tied heavily to Alolan culture) is steeped heavily in traditions, celebrations, and rituals that center around the respect and worship of nature, including its guardians, the Tapu.

Sinnohans, by contrast, follow a unique belief system that centers heavily on the worship of their entire pantheon. Every one of their legendaries is considered a deity to them, but this is especially true for Arceus (their main deity) as well as Palkia and Dialga (the gods of space and time, respectively). In a way, it can be thought of as a very western tradition in that the worship of the gods supersedes the worship of nature (whereas in religions like Johtoism, it’s the other way around), although that’s not to say that the Sinnohans disregard nature at all. It just means that a lot of their beliefs and traditions focus on acknowledging their gods as the creators of all existence and thus not merely a part of it but rather masters of it. (There are also followers of Shinto, Buddhism, and Christianity in the Sinnoh region, but honestly, they’re far fewer in number to the Sinnohans.)

Of course, this just describes the National Dex regions. There are many other regions out there with their own pantheons of legendaries (which themselves have varying degrees of importance to their people). Likewise, there are many other human-based religions out there, including Hinduism (one of the most worshipped religions in existence), Confucianism, Neopaganism, and so on and so forth. It all really goes to show how complex human existence really is. We each have our own ways of thinking and of living our lives, even within each individual region, and even if we share our world with such beings as Arceus, Palkia, and Giratina, we humans still have a lot of questions about who we are, where we came from, or what our purpose in this universe is—questions that we seek to answer through our vastly different faiths and belief systems. Or, well, through our inquisitive natures, of course.

What are the main advantages of living in each region?

Well, that’s an unusual question, anonymous. There are quite a lot of regions out there, and each one has its own unique benefits and drawbacks, depending on what you need and what your preferences are. Even Orre, which is a desert nearly completely devoid of wild pokémon, has fascinating spots of greenery, urban oases, and its own unique analog to the Pokémon League. Conversely, regions such as Kalos, which are highly regarded as popular tourist destinations, has an incredibly high cost of living, never mind how crowded many of its urban areas are. So, really, this is a bit complicated because it really depends on what you’re looking for, and in certain cases, a region that may be seen as paradise to some might be … well, less than ideal for others.

I suppose, though, you’re referring to each of the major regions included in the National Dex, as these tend to be where the highest concentration of trainers tend to go. If that’s the case, then:

Kanto: Kanto is a highly diverse region with plenty to see and do. It has peaceful rural landscapes, plus the modern, urban meccas that are Celadon and Saffron Cities. It’s also proud of its reputation as one of the most technologically advanced and ecologically aware regions in the world, largely thanks to a combination of the efforts of major Saffron-based tech giants such as Silph and the green programs put in place by the Japanese government to protect the nation’s environment. As a result, it’s often seen as the best place for trainers to begin their journeys, as they’re often equipped with the latest pokémon tech, and they have massive expanses of peaceful, pokémon-filled rural areas to explore. It helps, of course, that Professor Oak is the regional pokémon expert, so you quite literally can’t start anywhere better. If, however, you don’t have children who might consider leaving on journeys of their own, then the main advantage of living here would most definitely be its peace. It’s not that difficult to find completely safe neighborhoods full of friendly people who watch out for each other (if you prefer populated areas) or quiet, secluded areas far from civilization (if you’re like me and … don’t prefer populated areas). Additionally, although it’s true that Kanto is technically one of the main centers of Rocket activity, at the very least, our criminal organization hasn’t yet tried to destroy the world using legendary pokémon.

Johto: At the risk of sounding quite biased, Johto is home to a rich cultural history, and it’s quite proud of it too. Every city in Johto possesses its own unique identity, founded on hundreds if not thousands of years of tradition. This isn’t to say that the region is backwards or stuck in the past, either. In fact, it’s just as advanced as Kanto, and Goldenrod City, one of the region’s crowned jewels (okay, perhaps I’m a little biased), rivals the likes of Castelia, Lumiose, and its sister city Saffron in terms of cutting-edge technology. We simply make our history a part of our everyday lives, as Johtonian tradition emphasizes learning from the past in order to better our present. And to top it all off, Johtonians are extremely friendly, largely because they’re very eager to share their culture with outsiders. It’s very easy to feel welcome when moving to Johto, even if you’re by no means a native Johtonian yourself.

Hoenn: Next to Alola, Hoenn is quite possibly the most ecologically beautiful regions one can journey through. While it’s not necessarily as remote as Alola (it is a part of the Japanese archipelago, after all), it’s home to over 100 unique species of pokémon, all of which live in abundance within Hoenn’s equally unique habitats. If you’re hoping for a bit of a tropical vacation in addition to your journey, Hoenn is an excellent choice, as it hosts miles of pristine beaches, a lush rainforest, challenging mountains to climb (including one volcano to traverse), and even its very own desert. Moreover, Hoennians are just as friendly as Johtonians, and they’re often more than happy to share their love of the rural peacefulness of their region. It is, in other words, a place where one can go to get a breath of fresh air and feel one with nature (or with other people living in it).

Sinnoh: If you’re interested in the legendary pokémon, it’s practically imperative that you make at least one journey to (and through) Sinnoh. Sinnoh is a mysterious region, home to vast expanses of rough terrain to travel through, which makes it difficult for many trainers to traverse. However, it’s more than worth it for legendary enthusiasts, as Sinnoh’s cultural identity is thousands of years older than even Johto’s and sports strong ties to the legendaries said to have woven the fabric of the universe itself. As such, there are countless ancient sites dedicated to the legends or to ancient Sinnohans, which means there is a wealth of information for the budding archaeologist or pokémonologist to explore. Otherwise, it’s also a highly mysterious region in itself, home to a number of smaller villages and secluded mountain spots, so if you’re longing for peace and quiet, Sinnoh’s an excellent choice.

Unova: On the other hand, if modern conveniences are of more interest to you, Unova is a constantly growing, constantly developing metropolis. Think of it like every city in Johto and Kanto combined; whereas both Johto and Kanto have smaller, quieter spots, most cities in Unova are exciting and full of people. It’s also a melting pot of culture, with people from all over the world coming together to add their identities to each neighborhood. For example, Unova is one of the few places where you can get Kantonian sushi, take in a Kalosean movie (in the original Kalosean language), and buy authentic Alolan statuettes essentially in the same city block. In short, you will likely never be bored in Unova. (Just … keep an eye on your wallet if you travel through Castelia.)

Kalos: Kalos calls itself the home of high fashion and art, and quite frankly, it’s difficult to argue. The region itself is home to some of the most beautiful rural landscapes outside of Alola and Hoenn, coupled with cities hosting some of the most fascinating architecture one can find. Not only that, but also, the cultural attractions located in Lumiose and Camphrier are second to none when it comes to western art, and most fashion and food trends tend to start in Kalos, thanks to the high concentration of fashion designers based in Laverre and chefs based in the very heart of Lumiose. In short, if you want a dose of western culture on weekends (or if you’re looking for awe-inspiring landscapes), look no further than Kalos. Just … be aware that rent is by no means cheap here.

Alola: Although Alola is remote yet also home to a diverse population of pokémon (meaning the species there aren’t necessarily unique to the region), it’s also one of the most fascinating to travel through. At the moment, it boasts not a gym circuit but instead an island challenge, which is a journey stocked with not only traditional battles but also challenging trials. Additionally, each island hosts its own unique habitat, ranging from tropical paradises to lofty, snow-capped mountains, and each island hosts its own unique ecosystem with separate populations of pokémon. Finally and most importantly, the people of Alola are among the most laid-back one can find among the seven regions of the National Dex. They’re extremely friendly (far friendlier than even Johtonians and Hoennians), and they’re often eager to share their unique culture with others. It’s a fantastic choice for anyone wishing for something different. Just … be aware that rent is even worse here than in Kalos.

I’m shocked that you made it through an entire post about various regions without badmouthing Unova once. —LH

I’ve sworn not to do it anymore. Apparently, it makes Amanita feel bad. —Bill

Oh. Well, in that case, allow me to give you a belated you monster. —LH

I deserve every syllable of that. —Bill

So my sylveon got out in the middle of the night, and well, got my neighbors umbreon pregnant. My neighbor couldn’t take care of the eggs nor the Pokémon so she gave them to me, which is fine but one of the eevees is Melanistic. Now he’s absolutely gorgeous but im wondering if there are any differences in the way I would take care of the other eevees compared to him?

Actually, no, anonymous! In fact, unlike albinism, melanism isn’t tied to any negative health conditions. Rather, it’s actually a favored trait among many pokémon, as in some cases, particularly among species with naturally brown pelts (such as eevee), the added pigmentation allows them to blend in better with their natural habitat, enabling them to become better hunters, foragers, or, well, hiders from predators. Additionally, melanin protects the skin from ultraviolet light, and some studies suggest ties between higher concentrations of melanin in pokémon skin and disease resistance. (Take Alolan rattata, for example. While it’s true that the rattata population adapted to urban life, some studies suggest that part of the reason why rattata in the Alola region are able to coexist with Alolan grimer is because they adapted higher levels of melanin in their pelts shortly before Alolan grimer finally adapted lower levels of bacterial growth themselves. In other words, the rattata that survived long enough to adapt to urban life in Alola were the ones that grew black pelts, rather than the ones that grew purple ones.)

Getting back to your eevee, though, there’s very little difference in the care you’ll need to give your melanistic eevee compared to the rest of its litter. If anything, you may need to keep an eye out for any aggression from the other eevee or other pokémon in general towards your melanistic eevee (as occasionally, members of the same litter that display different coloration—especially shininess—may experience bullying), but this is really only a distant possibility in terms of what might occur while raising your pokémon.

In other words, chances are you should be fine. Best of luck, anonymous!

I have an albino pichu that was rescued from drowning, possibly by a very horrid previous owner. He’s very shy and now that I’ve had him for while (3 months) and he’s comfortable with me I want to introduce him to my team more. I have a sylveon, a pikachu, a gardivor, and a flygon. How should I go about introducing them?

It may be easier than you think, anonymous. Unless your team would have any reason to lash out at your pichu or unless they show any hostility towards him, it’s likely they’ll accept him with open arms, especially if you establish the fact that he’s their latest teammate. Also, don’t forget to inform them that your pichu is shy and came from an abusive trainer, and tell them that as such, they should treat your pichu gently until he becomes more comfortable with them.

That said, the tricky part is figuring out how to keep your pichu calm. It may be best to introduce your team members one at a time to him so he doesn’t become overwhelmed. It would be best to introduce your pikachu to him first, as it is a member of the same evolutionary family and is thus the most familiar pokémon to him that you have. Wait until your pichu seems comfortable interacting with your pikachu, then follow with your sylveon (an affectionate mammalian pokémon and thus most likely to be gentle with him) and your gardevoir (an empath and thus a pokémon ready to adapt to his moods), in that order. Hold off on introducing your flygon until your pichu has grown accustomed to your other pokémon—and you, for that matter. Then introduce them to one another in a very comfortable environment stocked with food and toys that may put your pokémon at ease. It may be a good idea to let the pokémon your pichu trusts the most (out of pikachu, gardevoir, and sylveon) to help keep him calm and to assist in facilitating his interactions with your flygon.

In short, it’s likely that your team will accept your pichu; it’s just that you should introduce your pichu slowly and with plenty of patience to make sure he’s comfortable at all times.

Best of luck, anonymous!

How can I kindly tell my blaziken that while I appreciate the sentiment, he cannot (want to) punch my ex in the face everytime we see him on the street?? I don’t need the police being called on my pokemon…

If it makes you feel any better, no court in any region would press charges on a pokémon.

Edit: As expected, Lanette has decided this was a terrible answer.

Contrary to popular belief regarding bird-like pokémon, blaziken (and all bird-like pokémon, for that matter, but that’s neither here nor there) are actually highly intelligent. This is why yours has taken it upon himself to protect you from your ex. Or, well, to seek revenge on your ex for hurting you. In any case, what I mean to say is that it’s important to communicate your wants and needs with your blaziken. Tell him in a firm but gentle manner that you appreciate how much he cares about you, but he can’t be as aggressive as he’s being towards your former significant other. Explain to him that doing so will get you in trouble (as you’re his trainer and thus responsible for all his actions) and in any case, it’s far better to move on and find your happiness without your ex than to dwell on it and strike back days, months, or even years after the two of you went your separate ways.

If your blaziken fails to understand this, then you may wish to avoid letting him get anywhere near your ex. Keep your poké ball on hand and return him if your ex ever crosses your path (or, better yet, whenever your blaziken seems a little more aggressive than normal).

Alternatively, consider teaching your blaziken to heel. (I’ve written a guide on how to do so here: http://bills-pokedex.tumblr.com/post/163998759883/help-my-cubchoo-has-an-insatiable-appetite-for . Although this guide is geared towards mammalian pokémon, it can be adapted to practically any pokémon at all.) Teaching him to heel will give you the ability to keep his anger in check in situations where returning him may not be entirely feasible.

In short, try starting off by having a conversation with your blaziken first, then move on to teaching him how to heel and keeping him on a metaphorical short list. It may be awkward at first, but I quite agree it’s a far more desirable course of action than, well, being arrested for allowing your pokémon to assault someone.

Best of luck, anonymous!

Can ground and fire and other Pokémon weak to water be in water without it being an attack? Like can I give my sandshrew a bath without hurting it? Can I take my cyndiquil to the beach?

It depends on the pokémon, anonymous. Sandshrew and cyndaquil normally have no problems with water, although sandshrew shouldn’t be bathed regularly to maintain its dry skin. Cyndaquil, meanwhile, absolutely can go to the beach, although be sure to remind it that it can’t ignite its flames in the water. It doesn’t exactly hurt cyndaquil to do so, but if it exposes its flame sacs to water, it may struggle to light them later.

On the other hand, you should never submerge pokémon that are primarily made of sand, rock, fire, or lava, and never wet a pokémon with external flames. For example, while a charmander may be able to tolerate a sprinkling of water, it should never be submerged or bathed, as that will extinguish its tail flame. Likewise, if a slugma’s body temperature cools (say, if it’s exposed to an excess amount of water), its skin will harden into rock and crush its internal organs. Meanwhile, exposing sandygast to water may destabilize its body (even though, yes, it lives right by the ocean—it simply retreats to higher ground during storms and high tide), and the geodude and onix lines should never be soaked, as water can get into the crevices of their bodies and erode their joints.

In short, the rule of thumb is that if a pokémon possesses no external flames and is not made of fire, lava, rock, or sand, they can likely tolerate exposure to water and can be bathed or allowed to swim. They simply might not always like that, and in many cases, be warned that if a fire-type swallows water or exposes its flame sacs to liquids, then it may have difficulty using its fire abilities later on. If, however, the pokémon in question is essentially made of their element, then give them a sand bath and have them avoid water as much as possible.