I just got to the age where you can get a Pokémon, but don’t know what to get. I like water, ice, and ghost types, and am afraid of bug types.

My apologies, @ronnoc32122. I hadn’t seen this ask when I responded to another ask concerning ghost-type starters. If I had, I would have responded sooner. In any case, when it comes to ghost-type options, you may wish to revisit that post here: http://bills-pokedex.tumblr.com/post/167247146514/bill-my-daughter-has-always-loved-ghost-type

From there, allow me to address your options for ice-types, as that’s a considerably shorter list. Considering your interest in water- and ghost-types, you may wish to look into options that overlap. For example, spheal is a very basic, easy-to-train pokémon that shares both the water and ice type, and because it’s both highly mobile and a native of tropical regions, it can adapt to inland battling in practically any climate. Lapras is a pokémon that meets similar criteria (water/ice, native to tropical regions, easy to train, extremely friendly), but despite being a formidable battler and an excellent partner, its inability to travel over land may make it less of an ideal partner in most regions besides ones where you’ll encounter plenty of water. (If you live in the Hoenn or Alola regions, however, I would highly recommend giving lapras a try!)

Alternatively, a few pokémon also evolve into ice-types or are ice-types that evolve into partial water- or ghost-types, namely seel, female snorunt, and shellder. Of these, snorunt tend to be the most popular, as they’re highly mobile and friendly, and they’re particularly powerful once they evolve into froslass. (Of course, even if you can’t find a dawn stone on your travels, keep in mind that snorunt’s other evolution, glalie, is still a fantastic partner.)

If, however, you don’t mind working with pokémon that aren’t partly water- or ghost-types, then this opens up your options a bit more. For example, you might also be able to consider cubchoo or vanillite, both of which are fantastically popular among ice trainers. (Cubchoo is cute but evolves into the powerful beartic, and vanillite is the first stage of a powerful three-stage evolution line that’s often underestimated by trainers.) Additionally, if you live in Alola, you may be able to get your hands on Alolan vulpix (a pure ice-type that evolves into the ethereal ice/fairy ninetales) or Alolan sandshrew (a sturdy ice/steel). Vulpix especially is highly intelligent and easy to train, but sandshrew is often seen as a stalwart partner capable of taking hits.

Meanwhile, those who live in Johto and Sinnoh have easier access to sneasel (mischievous and fickle but highly intelligent and loyal once you earn its trust) or smoochum (extremely intelligent but a bit difficult to train due to her lacking defensive capabilities). Swinub is also an excellent choice for those looking for a sturdy and easy-to-train pokémon (although it will eat you out of house and home, as a fair warning).

Really, just about the only ice-type pokémon I wouldn’t recommend is cryogonal, partly because it doesn’t thrive well outside of extremely cold environments and partly because it also often generates extremely cold environments in its surrounding area … which often doesn’t make one well-liked among trainers, wild pokémon, or neighbors.

As for water-types, that is a considerably longer list, which I may not be able to cover completely, I’m afraid. I can, however, say that all regions offer a traditional water-type starter. (Kanto has squirtle, Johto totodile, Hoenn mudkip, and so forth.) These are specially bred to be starters for new trainers, and thus, they often are perfectly balanced in terms of battling abilities, extremely intelligent and easy to train, and lacking in any sort of drawback that would make them excessively dangerous to handle. Above all other pokémon, I would recommend one of these as a starter.

Beyond that, though, the water type is a highly diverse classification of pokémon, and oftentimes, it comes down to what you look for in a partner and what’s most readily available to your region. (At least with ice-types, you will likely need to seek a breeder either way, as ice-types often live in areas too remote for a non-trainer to access.) For example, if you’re looking for an easy-to-train starter, pokémon such as marill, poliwag, buizel, panpour, and wingull are all wonderful choices. For strong pokémon, consider staryu, chinchou, frillish (also a partial-ghost), mareanie, or (if you have the patient for it) magikarp. And if you’re looking for unusual but reliable choices, consider bidoof (which evolves into the water-type bibarel) or lotad.

(As a note, I could also recommend a number of other pokémon, such as alolmomola, but oftentimes, the strongest water-types are strictly aquatic in nature and may be difficult to train on land. I only suggest magikarp because its Splash ability is far more versatile than one would initially assume, and using it for mobility may help it to evolve faster. Just be sure to treat it with an incredible amount of affection if you try this because otherwise, you may be on the receiving end of Twister shortly after your magikarp’s evolution.)

If all else fails, eevee evolves into the ice-type glaceon and the water-type vaporeon. I’m just saying.

Best of luck, good reader!

Hello, Bill! I’ve been having trouble for some time with connecting to any particular Pokémon. It seems that everyone has a Pokémon that they adore (or would even become.) I can’t connect to any one species, or even enough to build a team. I think I’m overthinking it pretty badly. Is there a quiz or book to help me know which Pokémon I’d fit with best? I’m worried I’ll always feel distant to any Pokémon I train…

Well, to be perfectly frank, anonymous, there are tests designed to help match a trainer with a partner, but not many of them are all that accurate. Besides, pokémon are living beings with individual personalities, so it could very well be that even if you found a species you resonated with, you may not get along well with the individual paired up with you as your starter. Conversely, on the other hand, you may find that a pokémon you never would have dreamed of training ends up being your closest companion. It’s all-around a bit of a gamble.

My best advice is actually do continue doing your own research. Get to know as many species of pokémon as you can by simply reading about them in standard textbooks or on the internet. Ask trainers questions about specific pokémon or interact with them at your nearest shelter, pokémon center, or professor’s laboratory. Consider even taking an apprenticeship or internship at one of these locations so you have plenty of opportunity to get to know individuals.

But above all else, be patient. Finding the right partner is rarely as easy as television and movies will have you believe. You’ll find one you resonate with, I assure you, but it will take a lot of research, meditation, and interaction to do so. Then, when you’re on the road with a partner, don’t worry too much about which pokémon will be perfect additions to your team. Part of training is getting to know each pokémon you acquire and figure out from there how to bring out their individual strengths and weaknesses. The act of training in itself will help strengthen your bond with a pokémon, regardless of what it is.

If, however, you mean you don’t have a particular favorite, I wouldn’t worry about this either. Some people have specific favorites, yes, but others may like a wide variety of pokémon. It’s actually a great thing to be open-minded about pokémon, as every one of them has their merits.

In any case, best of luck with finding your partner, anonymous!

What does a completely black pikachu mean? I just hatched one and his eye color is blue; it’s so pretty. I hope this means good luck, I really want to keep him on my team.

It either means your pikachu is melanistic or due for a very strange, somewhat violent life. Not that the latter is a bad thing, of course. Or it isn’t a bad thing if you’re an aspiring pokémon master who also happens to be an anarchist with supernatural abilities.

That … sounds oddly specific. —LH

Yeah, I’m not quite sure where that came from either. —Bill

Please help! I recently moved to Alola with my Glaceon and she seems incredibly sick all of the sudden. Could it be the sudden change in temperature? She’s been staying close to the air vents and rushes into the refrigerator whenever she’s able, and spends all her energy freezing the house, it was 40 degrees this morning! She’s refusing her food, and I don’t want to spend a ticket going all the way back to Icirrus City, Unova, but I will if I need to.

This would be heat sickness, yes.

If you can, try to install an air conditioner in your home. If you can’t, improvise with a fan, a tub of water (which your glaceon will need to freeze), and perhaps a bag of ice. Give her plenty of cold water to keep her hydrated, and try to give her cooling foods (lettuce in addition to cold meats) to help keep her temperature down.

Whenever possible, you may wish to take her to the Pokémon League now and then. The facility is located at the top of Alola’s highest mountain, and as such, it’s perpetually covered in snow. The break will be good for your glaceon, and you might run into a potential ice-type partner that will work with her to keep her temperature down at home.

Best of luck!

My Primarina and I have a great relationship, on and off the battlefield. Recently, my parents hired what they thought was a good vocal coach for her. However, as the days passed on, my starter’s voice became hoarser and hoarser. We’ve decided to take a break from battling until further notice. My mom went back to check the coach’s credentials and turns out, he wasn’t certified at all! My parents are taking legal action against him. What should we do to prevent this from happening again?

Always check a professional’s credentials before leaving your pokémon with them. Anyone can create a seemingly legitimate business these days, even if they actually lack the credentials or training to perform the skills they’re offering. It’s especially a problem in regions where criminal organizations (namely Team Rocket) are active, as many will use these businesses as fronts for money laundering, if they aren’t simply attempting to scam customers out of money or their pokémon partners.

So yes, verify a business’s credentials first. Read reviews from other customers. Do a lot of research on the business and, if possible, the person running it. Never assume that a business is legitimate, just because it looks that way at first glance.

(Also, don’t feel bad about falling for this “singing coach.” There have been reports in Kanto and Johto of a pair of Rocket underlings scamming the same trainers out of their pokémon using entirely different scams every week for years. Some con artists are simply good at what they do.)

Hello Bill! I’ve got an eevee drama. Recently, my neighbour has gifted an eevee egg to me (my friends says he has a crush for me, but he’s a kid, it’s impossible right?), and it’s the most adorable little thing you’ve seen. The problem it’s that there is no eevee formula in the pokemart because Customs problems and giving her raw miltank milk can cause intolerance. The recommended me to give her formula from another pokemon within the same egg group. Would she be allright with it? I’m from Alola

Strange. As eevee are actually native to Alola (and abundant on one of the islands, at that), you shouldn’t have any trouble finding eevee-specific formula. Moreover, formula is not typically an item seized by customs, as if processed correctly (that is, not laced with lead-based pigments, as some countries with less scrupulous quality control tend to do), formula contains nothing that would be considered harmful to the Alolan ecosystem or population. You may wish to ask again or look in larger supermarkets. If all else fails, try shopping on Akala Island, where eevee tend to thrive in the wild.

That having been said, using different formulas for baby pokémon tends to be trickier than using generic kibble for adults. Babies require a very precise balance of nutrition that varies greatly by species. However, if you absolutely must, you can give your eevee formula from a different species of pokémon, but (and this is a very important but), it can’t simply be formula for a member from the same egg group. Try to match up the other species with eevee as much as possible. Your target species should be a carnivore, preferably a canine, as these will have the same nutritional requirements (or as close to the same as possible) that your baby eevee will have. Rockruff or vulpix may be your best choices.

Good luck, and congratulations on the new addition to your family!

Grimer/Muk make wonderful companions once you get over the smell, my little Alolan Muk named Diesel is just the sweetest thing!

This is absolutely true, anonymous. Many trainers are perfectly happy with their grimer and muk. It’s just important to wash one’s hands after handling them, even if you’ve acclimated to their smell.

(Although, of course, it should also be noted that Alolan grimer and muk lack the standard form’s signature odor, so actually, members of that particular breed are even better choices for those who can’t imagine ever getting used to a grimer’s stench … as unfortunate as that may be.)

hey bill! recently I got an eevee that I plan on evolving into jolteon. however when I try to introduce him to thunderstone I have for him, mai, my alolan raichu, snatches the stone and hides it. it takes me hours to find it each time >:( I don’t know why shes doing this can u help

Pay close attention to the body language of your eevee, anonymous. Mai, as an Alolan raichu, is half-psychic and highly empathic as a result. Thus, it’s likely she’s picking up on your eevee’s anxiety about evolving (at all or into jolteon specifically) and trying to stop you from forcing your eevee to evolve against his will. Communicate with your eevee and make it absolutely clear to him that evolution is his choice, including and especially when it comes to the topic of what he wishes to evolve into. If he seems hesitant at the idea of becoming a jolteon, ask him if he would prefer a different form or if he would wish to stay an eevee. Be sure to go over all of his options carefully so he can make the decision on his own. If you absolutely must have a jolteon, you can try convincing him, but do so in a way that makes it clear you have his interests at heart.

If he actually does want to evolve into a jolteon, then the other possible issue at play here is Mai’s worry that you’re getting another electric-type to replace her on the field. If this is the case, then be sure to reassure her that she will always be valuable to your team and that you by no means intend on retiring her.

Of course, there is also the possibility that neither of these are Mai’s concerns, at which point you’ll need to communicate with Mai as much as possible to figure out what it is that’s troubling her. Take her aside, sit her down, and ask her about her concerns. Keep reassuring her that you only want what’s best for your entire team, but you’re willing to be perfectly flexible to meet their needs.

Best of luck, anonymous!

My Charjabug, Philly, has been refusing to eat for the past few days and I can’t work out why. Nurse Joy checked him over and there doesn’t seem to be any obvious health issues. She suggested changing his diet, but that hasn’t helped either. He’s still drinking water, thank goodness, but I’m worried about how long this might continue for. I’m taking him back to the Pokecenter if he still isn’t eating by tomorrow, but in the meantime, do you have any advice or suggestions?

Have Nurse Joy perform a scan on your charjabug’s digestive tract to ensure that there are no obstructions. If your local nurse doesn’t detect anything, then the only other obvious solution would be to take your charjabug to Poni Island (or any other location with high levels of magnetite) as quickly as possible, as it’s likely she’s attempting to evolve.

Good luck, anonymous, and may Philly get well soon!

my lycanroc isnt very comfortable with her new size and pointy bits on her neck. she cannot fit into her old spaces she could as a rockruff, and gets so frustrated that she sulks on the floor and even sighs (shes dramatic). how can i help her become more accustomed to being big?

It will take time, anonymous, but have patience. Evolution is always jarring to a pokémon, even if it was both planned and wanted from the outset. Give her plenty of space (no pun intended) to adjust, but be very supportive and sympathetic throughout this period of her life. Reassure her that although she outgrew her old spaces, you’re still a solid, familiar presence she can count on.

That having been said, stick to schedule and routine as much as possible to establish a sense of normality for her. If you always feed, walk, train, or so forth with her at a specific time, continue to do so. At the same time, construct new spaces that she can find comfortable: something large enough to accommodate her form, lined with something soft that will withstand the sharpness of her rocks. During training, focus mostly on physical tasks to help her understand her limits better and thus adapt a bit easier to her lycanroc self.

In short, through a combination of your support, grounding from routine, and training, post-evolution adaptation should be a little less traumatic for her than it has been. However, I can’t emphasize enough that it will take a lot of time and patience, so don’t be surprised if it takes a bit of time before she seems comfortable.

Best of luck, anonymous!