Could you recommend me a strong water type Pokémon which is able to function well on land? I’ve been trying to find a 6th member to my team.

Vaporeon.

Edit: Yes, Lanette. I’ll add an actual answer.

This entirely depends on what your team’s needs are, actually. Although there are a number of pokémon that function well on land, each one has entirely different capabilities. For example, if you’re looking for a pokémon that has fantastic offensive capabilities when it comes to distance attacks, slowbro is an unconventional choice but a solid one nonetheless, given its considerable power over the elements, the bulk of its species, and its ability to mega evolve. As a mega slowbro, its battle style makes it difficult to hit as well, which in combination with its natural defenses and offensive power means it can easily tear through a battle without sustaining much more than a scratch.

In terms of more conventional choices (particularly if you don’t have access to mega stones), starmie is also highly popular, made so by offensively geared trainers such as Misty. There’s a good reason for this too: starmie is an extremely fast pokémon capable of landing devastating beam-based hits, so it’s notorious for downing opponents before a trainer can utter a single order. The drawback is that starmie isn’t known at all for its defensive capabilities; in fact, its major weak point is quite literally in full display on its face. A trainer thinking about using starmie must be extremely alert at all times on the battlefield.

On the other hand, it’s difficult to take down a pokémon when it’s out of reach, which is why my final recommendation, as unconventional as it is, would be pelipper. People underestimate pelipper, I think, due to its extreme weakness to an element commonly used against water-type pokémon. However, pelipper possesses excellent defensive (aside from the obvious weakness), as well as the maneuverability to make battles rather interesting, shall we say—so long as it attacks from a distance.

If you prefer hand-to-hand combat, though, a common choice would be one of the starters (barring blastoise, of course), but perhaps the best choice would be swampert. Once mega evolved, its bulk increases, which means moves such as Waterfall or Ice Punch turn from powerful to positively devastating. Moreover, it lacks a weakness to electric-types, which adds to its tank-like capabilities. Additionally, if you already have a pelipper on your team (particularly one with the Drizzle ability), mega swampert’s powerful Waterfall makes the two of them a perfect pair.

If you’d prefer something a little less conventional, though, look towards crawdaunt. Much like pelipper, many people don’t entirely think twice about crawdaunt, but the thing is, not many of them realize crawdaunt can learn Swords Dance, a move capable of increasing the offensive power of physical moves. This is a fantastic advantage, as it provides a much needed boost to crawdaunt’s already formidable Crabhammer (among other physical techniques).

Finally, azumarill is shockingly an excellent battler in this department as well, for very similar reasons to crawdaunt: it learns Belly Drum, which drastically increases its offensive powers (albeit while hurting itself in the process). Moreover, azumarill possesses an interesting type combination that can frustrate an opponent, and its defensive capabilities and overall stamina allow it to endure a surprising amount of abuse on the field.

If you’d prefer something a bit more defensive or mixed, you really can’t get much better than toxapex for quite obvious reasons. Although it may not be the most maneuverable pokémon one could train, it is a verifiable fortress, capable of withstanding intense fire while at the same time whittling away at an opponent using its toxic moves.

Alternatively, if you’d like something that will move about a field, try either quagsire or gastrodon, both of whom are water/ground-types (that is, water-types immune to electricity) with surprisingly fantastic defensive capabilities. It’s just that gastrodon is better adapted to taking distance moves, whereas quagsire is better suited to taking physical strikes. (That and gastrodon can hold its own using distance moves itself, whereas quagsire is more geared towards trainers whose main strategy will be to frustrate their opponents with moves such as Toxic and Curse.) Alternatively, wash rotom is a pokémon few trainers would expect, but its unique typing, the durability of the washer it uses as a body, and its tendency to strike back and strike back hard make it an excellent if underrated choice.

If, meanwhile, you would prefer something with a bit more speed, greninja is infamous for it—that is, its ability to strike hard and fast and to take down an opponent before they even blink. However, that isn’t your only choice, especially if you don’t want speed for attacking. If you’re an excellent strategist, araquanid is a popular choice as well, but it’s popular for its ability to lay down traps. With the right amount of planning and perfect timing, sending an araquanid out at the beginning of the first match can potentially decide the outcome of an entire battle.

Finally, if you’re simply looking for companionship … vaporeon. It may not be the strongest pokémon on this list, but it’s certainly the friendliest.

I call bias. —LH

#META: what, if anything, is actually going on with bill, lanette, and steven stone?

{Well, between Steven Stone and Lanette, things are actually innocuous. It’s true that Lanette does have a crush on Steven, but then again, it’s also true that half of Hoenn does. Her feelings for him are more like those childhood crushes one gets on celebrities, if anything.

It’s just a tad less serious for her because she actually has a professional relationship with him. As Hoenn’s storage system administrator, Lanette serves as a liaison between the admin network and the Hoenn League, which Steven, being the (former/current/it’s complicated) champion, is a prominent member of. Steven has mild decision-making powers, and Lanette has full control over the system’s relationship with the League, which long story short means the two of them sit in on meetings regarding important decisions to be made. Think of the Pokémon Association meetings in the GSC arc of PokéSpec, and you’ll have what I mean. (It’s just that Lanette doesn’t take as active a stance in those as Bill does.)

Additionally, as a prominent member of the tech industry, Lanette sometimes gets sent to conferences that Devon is a part of, both to serve as a liaison for the network (and what’s technically their actual employer, the Pokémon Cutting-Edge Technology Research Center) and the rest of the industry and to see what other prominent actors in it are doing. Sometimes, she’s even sent to more formal galas too, if someone/the Symposium sends an invite. (Bill is sent to similar events in Kanto/Johto; these are the “formal dos” he can’t really stand.) Meanwhile, as the heir to Devon Co, sometimes, Steven is dragged to these events on behalf of his father.

Which is to say they spend a lot of time crossing paths. Eventually, after a few times crossing paths and talking about how utterly delightful conferences, galas, and League meetings are, they decided that crossing paths in more relaxed settings was in order. Now and then, whenever Steven has a moment and Lanette isn’t getting sent to other regions on behalf of the network, they sit down to coffee. It’s perfectly platonic, and it mostly involves catching up and talking crap about half the League. Steven is apparently more into gossip than one would believe, for someone who spends much of his time shirking duties in favor of cave-diving.

As for Bill and Steven, that’s a little more complicated. They respect each other as experts in their respective fields (technology and general pokémon for Bill; steel-type pokémon, battling, and rocks for Steven), and actually, because they’re both avid collectors of one thing or another, they get along well. That whole thing about how they trade leads for rare pokémon and stones? Completely true. It’s just that they have less of a reason to meet up than Lanette does with Steven.

But Bill is a little jealous too. On the one hand, he has the same mild crush on Steven as Lanette has. He sees Steven as a fascinating person, a good-looking one at that, and, hey, the heir to a prominent tech company, so worth a conversation or few. So yes, he’s a little jealous that Lanette spends so much time with Steven. On the other hand, he’s also a little jealous of Steven for spending so much time with Lanette for a number of reasons, mostly having to do with how much attention Steven gets from Lanette.

Bill’s relationship with Lanette is a mite more complicated than just professional partners. They met essentially as kids, so they do see each other as childhood friends, even if by “as kids,” I mean “in college.” But not to give a character a needlessly angsty backstory, Lanette is quite literally the first human being Bill ever considered a close friend. Sure, he’s had friends before, but … let’s just say not a lot of his childhood friendships lasted, especially after his older sister took off for a pokémon journey when he was eight. Lanette, meanwhile, always had Brigette, and in any case, she’s generally better at socializing than Bill is. She was basically the one who took the first step and reached out to befriend him, and he never really forgot that.

So from Lanette, their relationship actually is platonic, even though she jokes frequently about The Phase. There is some truth to it, though. Literally everyone goes through a weird period where they think they have a crush on Bill, and that does indeed include Lanette. It’s just that the crush for her was still a mild one. And also still in the past tense. Otherwise, she considers herself a close friend and partner to Bill. She’s protective of him and will do what she can to make him happy, but it’s not in her mind romantic in nature. (An anon put it best, actually. She considers their relationship queerplatonic if anything.)

Bill, on the other hand, has this fierce need to preserve that relationship because he’s constantly astonished that it’s actually lasted this long. In some respects, he’s a little confused by it too. He sees Lanette as this beautiful, intelligent, absolutely amazing woman, and he does feel a sort of happiness whenever she walks into the room. It’s just that he’s not sure whether or not these feelings are actually romantic. Yes, he’s dated other people before, so he knows what romantic feelings look like. The problem lies in the fact that occasionally, he has feelings similar to those with Lanette, but he can’t tell if he’s actually feeling that or just a deep, unwavering loyalty to a friend and partner.

Either way, Bill ultimately tries to agree with Lanette on the subject of where they stand with each other, but he’s lying about the idea that it’s because he wants to discourage the other system admins from hooking up and making a dramatic mess of the network. It’s actually because he’s afraid that changing the status of his relationship with Lanette or otherwise making a move that is definitely romantic (when Lanette clearly wants a partnership out of this and when he’s not sure if he doesn’t want anything else) would be a terrible, relationship-destroying move.

Or in other words, Bill’s pretty sure “queerplatonic” fits them, but human interaction is just … really weird for him.

(Also, yes, Lanette is fully aware of all of this confusion.)}

Hey Bill, Diabetic Gardevoir Anon again. My and my Girl are going to be taking a day trip to Goldenrod City. There anything you can tell me about dining and Leisure activities we can both enjoy? I figure it’d be a nice treat for her good behaviour regarding the new routine for her diabetes. Also, thanks for the reccomendation. Erika was very helpful to the both of us.

Stay away from southwestern Goldenrod.

This isn’t a recommendation because it’s not particularly diabetic-friendly there. Or, well, the street food isn’t because it’s usually fried, coated in sugar, or both, but the restaurants often serve lighter, low-carb fare, and there are plenty of things to do and see on foot around the city. No, I’m mostly telling you to avoid southwestern Goldenrod because it’s generally not a pleasant place for tourists.

Bill … didn’t you grow up in southwestern Goldenrod? —LH

Yes and exactly. —Bill

In all seriousness, anonymous, Goldenrod prides itself in being not only the commercial capital of Johto but also possibly the capital for tourism and culture. (Ecruteak is the capital of historical culture, but if you want a taste of modern-day Johto, go to Goldenrod.) As such, there’s quite a list of places that one can visit, but it really depends on your preferences. Below the read more, you’ll find a quick guide to some of the top destinations in the city, separated into four categories: Training (for the usual stops a trainer typically makes), Tourism (top tourism destinations), Shopping, and Food.

Yes. Quick. Goldenrod is that large of a city.

Training

If you’re a trainer, chances are, you’re here for Goldenrod Gym. You’ll find it in the northwest corner of the city, and even if you’re not in Goldenrod for a badge, visitors are welcome to watch gym matches or spar against gym trainers. Be warned, though. Whitney can be quite a character, especially if she loses to you.
If you’re a coordinator, Goldenrod is also the home of Johto’s Grand Festival. You can find the Goldenrod Contest Hall in the northwest corner, right against Goldenrod Bay. Even if you don’t participate in contests yourself or watch them from the stands (the latter of which is free if you have a trainer’s ID), you can at least enjoy the stunning views of Goldenrod Bay and most of Goldenrod City’s skyline.
The Global Terminal, a place where you can access the GTS and trade with pokémon trainers and collectors around the world (or simply meet other enthusiasts such as yourself) is also located in that corner of the city, incidentally.
Although technically just outside of the city limits, the Pokéathlon Dome is a place where pokémon can compete in athletic events.
Also technically outside of the city limits, to the south, you’ll find the world-renowned Johto Day Care Center, a place where you can visit pokémon or, if you’re interested, add new ones to your team.
Finally (and admittedly a bit further away than the above two destinations), there’s the Johto National Park, which holds frequent bug-catching tournaments when it’s not used as a place where trainers meet and battle. Alternatively, Ilex Forest is to the south, although this isn’t considered part of the Goldenrod metro area.

Tourism

While you can’t enter the recording studios (unless you’re a special guest, anyway), the Goldenrod Radio Tower is a popular tourist destination nonetheless. There, you can listen to radio programs in the lobby or catch a glimpse of a celebrity or two, such as DJ Mary or Professor Oak.
Long ago, Goldenrod City was once almost the imperial capital of Japan, and you can still find remnants of that era by telling off a local in a Saffron accent. For an experience that won’t start a fight, however, consider Castle Park, a beautiful spot of green in north central Goldenrod that’s home to (a reconstruction of) the castle of Hideyoshi, a prominent warrior-politician and one of the generals who eventually aligned himself with Nobunaga. It’s also not that far from Ubame Temple, one of the oldest temples in Johto and one of the few specifically Buddhist temples left in the region. If you’d still like more of our old culture, there’s also Tsubasa Taisha, which is a shrine dedicated to all three of our major legendaries. All three locations are quite beautiful, but it’s often better to visit the latter two with a local (to avoid disrespecting Johtonian customs).
If you’re more interested in something a bit more modern, there’s also the Goldenrod Aquarium, the largest aquarium in Japan. Inside, you’ll find not only a collection of aquatic pokémon but also marine animals in reconstructed marine habitats ranging from tropical coral reefs to the ice-filled Antarctic waters. (It’s also one of my favorite places to visit, just in case anyone’s curious.)
As I’ve said, Goldenrod tries to be Johto’s capital of modern-day culture, and as such, it has a whole host of museums, including but not limited to: the Regional Art Museum (dedicated to modern and post-war art), the Goldenrod Museum of Fine Art (for older works), the Museum of Science, and the Museum of History (which, contrary to the name, is actually more focused on the history of Johto, rather than general matters). For a more off-beat museum, you can also try the Museum of Ramen, which also doubles as a great place for lunch.
If you’re looking for something a bit more mainstream, Goldenrod is also home to Pokéstar Studios Japan, which is the closest thing to an actual theme park still in the city. Not too long ago, there was also Wonderland, which folded due to its inability to keep up with Pokéstar Studios and Celadon Disneyland. You can still go there if you’re enthusiastic about urban exploration, though, and truth be told, Wonderland is even more impressive now that it’s abandoned. However, keep in mind that some parts of it are dangerous, and trespassing is absolutely a fineable offense in Johto. ~~(Not that I ever paid attention to either of these things when I was young.)~~
Of course, there is also the beaches, which locals don’t really name exactly, but they’re a nice place to go on a sunny day for a bit of relaxation or a pokémon battle. You’ll also find the Skylight Ferris Wheel there, which offers fantastic views of the city. If you’d prefer a more panoramic view of the city, though, go to the Plum Building in central Goldenrod, one of the tallest buildings (or, well, two, as it’s a pair of office buildings connected by a sky bridge) in the city and home to its own observatory.
Also, it’s difficult to put together a tourism guide to Goldenrod without mentioning either Central Street or Elenova, both of which are neon-lit shopping districts that are thought to be the crown jewels of Goldenrod according to tourism guides (apparently). They’re … fine, I suppose, if you’re interested in seeing neon advertisements lighting up both sides of the street. Go to Central Street at night, though; it’s far more impressive. Elenova, meanwhile, offers a Johtonian take on Unovan culture, so it’s just as entertaining during the day as it is at night. Which is to say, it’s hilarious.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer a bit more culture, Elizabethtown and Little Europe had been one of the few entry points into Japan for European immigrants during the 60s (when mass immigration due to the war occurred). As such, they’ve clung to a lot of European traditions, particularly those of the UK and France. Elizabethtown is also home to Queen’s Crossing, which is a hub for not only British culture (and shopping and dining) but also a minor countercultural movement. You’ll find a lot of street art and performances there, as well as art galleries and cultural centers. (Also, Elizabethtown is where those with that distinctive but stereotypical South Goldenrod accent are from, the famous Haircut Brothers included ~~as well as myself, of course~~.)
If you’d like to see a show, while our theaters aren’t quite as modern or varied as those in other regions (that is to say, we have no Broadway), we do have plenty of traditional Japanese theaters, including the Yamikarasu Theatre, which is renowned for its traditional kabuki performances.
If nothing else, though, there are plenty of themed tours, ranging from bus tours of the city and ferry tours of the shoreline to themed tours if you’re interested in Johtonian culture, food, or “haunted” places. (Note on that last one: Nothing in Goldenrod is famously haunted, yet these tours are still highly popular. I’m honestly not sure why.)

Shopping

There is, of course, the Goldenrod Galleria (otherwise known as the Goldenrod Department Store), the foremost shopping destination in Johto and one of the hallmarks of our skyline at that. It’s floor upon floor of practically everything you could ever need, from groceries to fine clothing and goods. (As a note, no, locals don’t trek all the way there for day-to-day shopping, but it’s a nice way to treat oneself and get high-end goods.) It’s also a go-to destination for trainers, as it features multiple floors dedicated to journey supplies, TMs, and more.
Alternatively, there’s also the Goldenrod Tunnel (not to be confused with the Goldenrod Underground, our subway and light rail transportation system), a literal underground shopping district that winds its way underneath the western half of the city. Prices here are quite cheaper than in the Galleria, but be warned that some areas are a bit more rundown and flooded with trainers (or pick-pockets). On the positive side, it’s also where you can find the Haircut Brothers’ salon, which in turn is famous for its pokémon haircuts (as well as some of the trendiest haircuts for humans in Japan).
As mentioned above, Elenova is one of Goldenrod’s premium shopping districts. So is Central Street, for that matter, but it’s really a question of whether you’re looking for electronics or Japanese goods or if you’re more in the mood for something more American (or stereotypically Unovan). Go to Central Street for the former and Elenova for the latter … and entertainment, honestly.
Alternatively, go to Elizabethtown if you’re looking for something a little more unusual.

Food

Perhaps the trickiest category if you have food restrictions, I’m afraid. If there’s one thing Goldenrod is famous for when it comes to food, it’s literally deep-frying and/or applying sugar to everything. Maple leaves, for example. (Actually, I would say those are better than they sound, but I’m also from Goldenrod and therefore biased.) Just note that a good portion of our street food is fried, so eat it in moderation if you must have the full Goldenrod experience. If this is the case, you’ll want to visit Central Street for the best of it.
Incidentally, Central Street is home to some of our finest restaurants as well, including Hakuryu, which serves the best steak in the city. Of course, be warned that some of the Central Street restaurants can be a bit on the expensive side, and you may need to book ahead (as you do with Hakuryu).
Alternatively, for a fresher experience, go to Nuoh Market, Goldenrod’s foremost food market, where many of the chefs around the city come to buy their ingredients. More importantly, though, you’ll find more than one food stall there, including some of the best places for sushi (which is fine in moderation) or barbecue skewers in the region.
However, if you’d like something a little less tourist-heavy, go off the main streets and wander a bit. Some of the best establishments for traditional Johtonian cuisine (including, yes, ramen) are found in places you can only really get to by accidentally stumbling upon them while wandering through the city. For example, Aoi, whose soba is famous among locals? Mere blocks from Miracle Cycle, in the labyrinthine southeastern part of the city. Bring a map or a local with you if you plan on wandering the city for food, however.
Also, our convenience stores often carry fresh food or quality prepared food, which can be a lifesaver for university students and lost tourists.

In short, there are plenty of things to see and do for both humans and pokémon throughout the city. Just about the only famous location I’d recommend avoiding at all costs is actually the Game Corner, and that’s for two reasons. First, yes, the yakuza actually does own that. (They own quite a bit of southwest Goldenrod, actually, except for Elizabethtown and Little Europe for one reason or another.) Second, it’s especially dangerous if you have a pokémon with you, as there’s a washed up pokémon professor there who will con you out of thousands of pokédollars in exchange for teaching your pokémon moves, when it would be far cheaper and less enabling to just buy TMs for the same moves at the Galleria.

Bill … isn’t that washed up pokémon professor your father? —LH

Yes and exactly. —Bill

how do you care for a flock of mareep/mareeps evolutions? is it safe to have a singular mareep? can they be indoor pets? any extra advice?

I’ll answer the simplest question first: unlike the animal sort of sheep, yes, mareep can live with just a trainer (although it’s better off in a team—which, incidentally, doesn’t necessarily have to include another member of the mareep line).

What they can’t entirely do is live indoors. Or, more accurately, they can’t really live in human living quarters. Human spaces are often too small or too crowded to suit a mareep’s needs. Instead, they often need a yard at minimum (a field preferably) with fresh grass or plants for them to eat. Furthermore, they’ll also need a barn (a small one with just enough room for a single mareep to move about without bumping into walls will do) lined with hay for resting at night and when the weather is too cold/wet for a mareep to be outside. It’s a good idea to include some sort of heating system for this barn, but in that case, space is of the utmost importance. For a single mareep, you may need to build a barn roughly the size of an average living room or larger. (The actual, specific recommendation is about sixteen to twenty feet. That would be per pen, if you plan on keeping multiple mareep. Every mareep needs its own pen within the barn you construct, and don’t forget a walkway for mareep to safely travel down as well.) Keep hay away from the heater, and keep the barn itself well stocked with water and food. And of course, try to avoid letting your mareep evolve inside the barn, as the initial shock of changing forms may cause it to bump into walls (or the heater).

Beyond that, mareep are strictly vegetarians, but they can essentially self-feed so long as they have access to fresh grass. Hay will do during the winter months, and if you’d really like to pamper your mareep, salad greens will work as well. Alternatively, there’s always mareep kibble if you’re a trainer traveling through areas where there isn’t much greenery to eat. If you feed your mareep kibble, it’s important to offer plenty of water, as kibble really isn’t as hydrating as greens are.

In terms of grooming, while you can safely bathe an ampharos and while you can use a showerhead and a washcloth with warm soap to handle a flaaffy, it’s not recommended that you groom mareep in the same manner. A washcloth to the face, ears, and legs to clean off dirt is fine, but the wool stores quite a bit of electricity and shouldn’t be soaked for this reason. (If your mareep is caught in the rain, herd it into its barn and turn on the heater to let it dry off naturally. Don’t worry about dirt or mold; these tend to be burned off via electric current eventually.) However, mareep absolutely need to be sheared every so often, as the wool will continuously grow until it interferes with a mareep’s wellbeing. Thus, mareep should be sheared twice a year. Most mareep trainers tend to do it either just before winter (as that will be right when mareep are herded into barns on a long-term basis, so the shearing gives them a little more space to move) or early spring (just before mating season) or both.

There are two ways to shear a mareep, though. The first way is to do it the way it’s done in the wild, and that’s through engaging in regular pokémon battles to burn off extra wool via mareep’s electric moves. If you’d prefer to keep the wool or if you’d simply prefer a quicker shearing, there’s the second way: shave it off. Many less confident trainers hire breeders to do it for them, but if you have a steady hand, a calming voice, and a pair of heavy-duty rubber gloves, it’s not that bad of a task. It’s just that the rubber is important. Wear not only rubber gloves but also rubber overalls—essentially rubber on anything you think might come in contact with your mareep’s wool.

Additionally, use mareep shears, not a regular set of shears. This is a device that collects electricity directly from your mareep’s wool and channels it through a set of combs and blades in order to essentially shave your sheep. (It’s also cased in a protective rubber coating to prevent that electricity from going anywhere other than the motor.) This device should help discharge your mareep wool and make it safer for handling.

To prepare, be sure to keep your mareep dry for ten hours prior to shearing, and don’t feed or water it either, not only to ensure that they’re comfortable during the shearing but also to avoid any nervous … mishaps. Thus, it’s a good idea to shear it first thing in the morning, then give it a proper breakfast as a reward for good behavior. Beyond that, shearing is a rather easy process for mareep because they’re actually more obedient and a bit more sentient than their animal “cousins,” and thus, you can simply tell yours how to sit and what you’re doing. Communicate frequently throughout the process, but hold your mareep steady. Firmly, not harshly. Yes, you will need to pull its skin to shear the wool off as closely and cleanly as possible, but couple everything you do with soothing words of encouragement. Shear as closely to the skin as your mareep can tolerate but don’t dig. Let the shearer do the work, then give your mareep a few oran berries and keep it inside for the next two days to heal.

Leave the wool out on the ground for a few hours after shearing if you plan on using it for electronics. Alternatively, leave it out for a day if you plan on spinning it into a sort of yarn that can glow in the dark for a few months. (The yarn also has a slight metallic effect, even after it loses its glow.) Whatever you do, do not wash clothing you’ve made with mareep wool in a washer until a couple months after it’s lost its glow. Hand-wash it, as you could risk frying the inside of your washing machine.

The shearing process can be done in about thirty minutes per mareep. Some trainers like to keep their flocks close (mareep somehow find entertainment in watching the process), but if you choose to do it with the flock out to field, it’s a good idea to keep a growlithe or other dog-like pokémon nearby to make sure they don’t wander. Sheep growlithe aren’t exactly mandatory for mareep care, but they’re very handy.

And of course, the shearing process becomes completely unnecessary as a mareep advances in stages. The wool stops growing in the flaaffy stage, and it falls out altogether when the pokémon becomes an ampharos. However, once they reach their ampharos stage, you’ll instead want to maintain their skin health. Bathe them regularly and apply moisturizers afterwards. Avoid their jewels, as these are actually electrified. (Don’t worry. They’ll shine just the same, even without needing to be polished. Ampharos will generally care for these jewels themselves.)

Beyond that, as always, be sure to train for at least an hour a day if you plan on competing in battles, tournaments, and so forth, but it (and playtime in general) isn’t entirely necessary if you plan on letting your mareep out into a field. They’ll generally amuse themselves (although it’s still recommended that you give them daily affection and care). If your mareep lives in a yard, though, yes, it’s a good idea to walk it. It won’t need a leash (mareep will generally follow you wherever you go), but they seem happier with a growlithe or other dog-like pokémon for companionship.

Best of luck!

Bill, I understand your mother used to be a Kimono Girl. Would you know any pokémon good in traditional, slower dance that aren’t part of the Eevee line?

One thing to keep in mind about this question is that there are several types of Johtonian traditional dances that encompass a pretty large spectrum of purposes, traditions, and tones. While one might assume that “slower” would narrow down the field a bit, in truth, what’s more important to traditional dance is the intent, rather than the reputation of the pokémon involved; it’s possible, for example, to teach a scizor, a pokémon known for its speed, a slower dance if that’s necessary.

Just about the only true, consistent rule among all Johtonian dances is that the pokémon involved must have been obtainable among the entertainment and religious classes during our feudal era. That of course doesn’t restrict dancers to just pokémon listed in the Johto Regional Dex; rather, it restricts them to what was actually either native or easily imported at the time. (Eevee had been a common domestic pokémon since recorded history. The going theory is that they arrived here with merchants back when we traded with China, before our isolationist period.) Well, that and the pokémon must fit and dance on a stage in the first place, which means gyarados and members of the onix line are right out, as are some of the less nimble pokémon, such as forretress and meganium. Chikorita and bayleef are still fine, however.

With that lengthy preamble in mind, I’ll just quickly say that practically every pokémon has been used within the entertainment classes—that is, within the Jouto kabuki and Noh theaters. Of the two, Jouto Noh tended (and still tends) to employ more humanoid pokémon such as jynx, as the dance style of Noh theater requires participants to move in very precise, often synchronized fashions. Jouto kabuki, by contrast, is a little less rigid in nature (not saying that Noh is unenjoyable to watch, of course), and as such, there’s more creative freedom when it comes to choreography.

There is, of course, a third general type of dance for entertainment purposes—the Jouto buyo—which differs from the above in that whereas Noh and kabuki use dance to tell a story, the point of Jouto buyo is entertainment derived from the dance itself. (To give you a better idea of what this is, it’s often the form of dance foreigners associate with our form of geisha. Kimono girls, when not participating in ritualistic dance, often perform this as well.) Nonetheless, there is often a point or underlying meaning to each dance, usually associated with nature, and a dancer will often choose a pokémon that closely relates to such a meaning. For example, one of the most famous of these dances, the Sakura Dance, is often performed with bellossom, vileplume, or sunflora, due to their abilities to use Petal Dance and Petal Blizzard to enhance the performance while still keeping up with the dancer herself.

Outside the theater, though, dance takes on an entirely different and perhaps far more intimate meaning to Johtonian culture. You see, a lot of our art is derived from our belief system, and by extent, dance and music is often considered our means of communication with our gods, the spirits, the natural world, or some combination thereof. In other words, most Johtonian dances have meanings to them, and what message you wish to convey to the natural or spiritual worlds will often dictate which pokémon you can incorporate into your routine.

For example, the reason why the kimono girls of Ecruteak City, my mother included, relied on eevee and its evolutions is because those pokémon are closely tied with Ho-oh. It’s said that eevee can evolve into “a different color of the rainbow” (that is, a form that matches Ho-oh’s seven colors), so dances meant to communicate directly to Ho-oh are either done by eevee trainers or performed alongside eevee and its evolutions to evoke Ho-oh’s rainbow—and only by either of these. (There are other rules, of course. For example, men can’t perform the dance because it’s said men angered the gods enough to drive them to destroy Lugia’s roost and chase both birds from Ecruteak City, so if you’re male and you don’t have an eevee … you’ll have to be content with prayers at a shrine.)

The other gods, of course, are less strict about what you can and can’t use. For example, dances meant to honor or pray to Celebi can be performed with any pokémon that can normally be caught in Ilex Forest, although butterfree, beedrill, and golduck tend to be the most popular for their grace. Additionally, Celebi is said to be fond of “baby” pokémon, so some dancers employ pichu, smoochum, or togepi instead. As another example, dances dedicated to the legendary trio are often done with pokémon of matching elements to the specific legendary being honored (water-types such as starmie for Suicune, fire-types such as magmar for Entei, and electric-types such as ampharos for Raikou—with those three being particularly popular), and Lugia is often honored with dances that incorporate flying-type pokémon’s wind-based techniques (with many dancers choosing noctowl or xatu as partners).

Our festivals, too, often involve pokémon dancers that are closely linked to the dance’s purpose. Take our agricultural festivals, for example. (That is, take any one of them. Many Johtonian cities have more than one, with the exception being the coastal cities of Goldenrod, Cianwood, and Olivine, all of which were originally merchant or fishing settlements closely tied to seafaring festivals.) The agricultural festivals were often designed to either pray for rain and fertile grounds or give thanks for bountiful harvest thanks to these two things, so dances often called for either water- or ground-type pokémon—often both. As such, members of the wooper line are often vital to the more agricultural cities of Johto. Some towns also use grass-types, such as and especially bellossom and bellsprout, to encourage healthy crops. Poison-types are absolutely never used (with the exception of bellsprout, of course)—even if they’re partially grass-types—nor are fire-types, as using either is said to curse the crop to either never grow or to grow withered and inedible.

On the other hand, fishing and seafaring dances (as you would see in Cianwood, for example) may employ flying-type pokémon (such as noctowl again) to pray for good winds, water-type pokémon (usually golduck or starmie) for smooth sailing and bountiful seas, or simply normal-types (such as meowth) for luck. It’s taboo in those cases to use ground-, grass-, or rock-type pokémon, as these are thought to instill bad luck on a village’s fleet (because using these pokémon is asking for a ship to be “sent to the earth”—or, in other words, to sink).

With both types of dances, fighting- and psychic-types are often also employed to represent either humans (the fighting-types) or Lugia and Celebi (the psychics). Fairy-types are rarely if ever used because it’s said their fairy magic is volatile and unpredictable and thus could interfere with the meaning of the dance. They are used, however, in winter festivals, festivals to honor children, or festivals that are, in general, meant to celebrate life or bless a village with good luck. (Thus, they’re especially popular during new year festivals. Togepi and clefairy especially so, due to their supposed abilities to grant happiness upon those who see or care for them.)

Otherwise, many of the other festivals employ a vast array of different pokémon. Ice-types such as jynx and sneasel for winter dances (although dark-types are never used during the new year festivals to avoid inviting bad luck or evil spirits to a settlement), electric-types for summer dances, and so on and so forth. Just about the only type that’s universally considered to be taboo to use is the ghost-type, as these are only to be used for funerals and in festivals dedicated to the dead (because dancing with ghost-types traditionally represents dancing with actual spirits). It should be noted, of course, that for us, this isn’t exactly a somber event; rather, honoring our ancestors or the spirits of the dead in general is considered to be a celebration due to our culture’s emphasis on celebrating the good things done in life and the meaning of life itself. Thus, these dances can be a bit more colorful than Westerners may imagine, and the pokémon themselves tend to feel honored to participate.

So in short, it really depends on which dance you’re referring to or what you need to convey through dance. For the most part, pretty much anything that’s small enough to fit on stage and nimble enough to keep up with a dancer is fair game.

The Ralts Line

bills-pokedex:

As an apology for our delay in both the response to the last question and our entries as a whole, please accept this special, extra entry for the day. Thank you for your patience. —LH

Ralts
The Feeling Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Official Registration #: 280
Entry: A childlike pokémon native to the quieter forests of Hoenn. Because of its ability to sense the emotions of others, it typically avoids contact with anything that is not of the ralts line and is, therefore, extremely rare and difficult to find. However, because of its timidity, its soft but cute cry, and its eagerness to please others (in order to neutralize any negativity that surrounds it), it is also a popular pokémon among children and young adults … which very likely does absolutely nothing to alleviate ralts’s aversion to drama and high doses of extreme emotion.

Kirlia
The Emotion Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Official Registration #: 281
Entry: The evolved form of ralts, by battle experience. Although kirlia possesses more mastery over its psychic abilities than its predecessor, it is still prone to being highly affected by the emotions of its trainer. For example, trainers who experience incredible emotions of joy or pride may cause their kirlia to dance with happiness. Trainers suffering through negative emotions will find that their kirlia has become lethargic and depressed. And trainers in the vicinity of other humans they find incredibly attractive will cause their kirlia to ███████

Really, Bill? Really? —LH

Gardevoir
The Embrace Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Official Registration #: 282
Entry: The evolved form of kirlia, by battle experience. Only the strongest trainers who form the closest, most loving bonds with their kirlia may see their pokémon evolve to their final, natural forms. Thus, a gardevoir is born out of strong feelings of loyalty, so it stands to reason that gardevoir in general are inherently extremely protective of their trainers. This is true; all observable tamed gardevoir have been known to go to extreme lengths to protect their trainers from any potential threat. Unfortunately for most people, “extreme lengths” may include creating a miniature black hole, and “potential threat” may include literally anyone within five feet of their trainers.

Gallade
The Blade Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fighting
Official Registration #: 475
Entry: The evolved form of male kirlia, by exposure to dawn stone. Although its sibling evolution results from the incredible bonds formed between a kirlia and another being, this does not mean gallade do not experience similarly intense urges to protect their trainers and loved ones. If anything, their ability to sense the emotions of potential foes, combined with the drive to battle inherent in all fighting-types and extreme fondness for using the swords hidden in their forearms, make them even more gung-ho about protecting the people and pokémon they value the most. Therefore, trainers should be extremely wary about teaching their gallade to attack only on command, rather than any time they sense danger. Well-meaning researchers who intend to give gallade to sisters with questionable tastes in men, however, are free to teach their pokémon whatever they wish.

They aren’t, but good try. —LH

Mega Gardevoir
The Embrace Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fairy
Official Registration #: 282+
Entry: The advanced form of gardevoir, with gardevoirite. Due to this pokémon’s bridal appearance and strong associations with emotion, it’s said that those who manage to mega-evolve their gardevoir in tandem with a partner’s gallade are destined for one another. Unfortunately, the author has yet to verify these claims, as the only person he knows with a member of the ralts line has been a less-than-willing subject.

I’m not evolving my kirlia until he’s ready, just because you want to test the validity of old wives’ tales! Also, you don’t even have a gallade! —LH

Mega Gallade
The Blade Pokémon
Type: Psychic/Fighting
Official Registration #: 475+
Entry: The advanced form of gallade, with galladite. Due to this pokémon’s noble, swordsman-like appearance and strong associations with protection, it’s said that those who manage to mega-evolve their gallade in tandem with a partner’s gardevoir are their partner’s destined protector. Unfortunately, the author has yet to verify these claims, as the only person he knows who could secure a galladite for testing has been forbidden (by the editor of this blog) from selling evolution stones of any sort to him without the reassurance that it’s not for science.

Stop telling Steven you’ve gotten my permission too! —LH

How does one become a gym leader or elite four member and what sort of duties do these positions involve aside from battling?

When it comes to gym leaders, the process usually begins with a recommendation from either a current gym leader/Elite Four member or a high-ranking member of the Pokémon Association (the international governing body that oversees the leagues—and yes, the champion is typically one of these members by default). Why a candidate might receive a recommendation tends to vary pretty wildly. Some gym leaders elect their own kin (such as in the cases of Lavaridge, Violet, and Fuchsia), while others choose trainers who impress them (as in the case of Petalburg or Lumiose). In rare cases, the Association recommends winners of local tournaments (Viridian, Veilstone) or unofficial gym leaders who defeat local gym leaders (Saffron).

Regardless of the reason, once elected, the candidate is then subjected to a test administrated by Association officials in the form of a battle. Should the candidate pass (i.e., win), they’re given official gym status and placement in their regional league. (Side note: There are many, many unofficial gyms out there. Anyone can open a place, call it a gym, and make a badge to go with it, but non-sanctioned gyms don’t count towards league requirements and often don’t follow league rules. It’s therefore not a good idea to challenge these gyms.)

Once sanctioned, a gym leader may serve a number of functions in their community, depending on that community’s needs and the gym leader’s abilities. Many gym leaders serve as teachers and offer classes on pokémon care, battling, or related local customs to local trainers and trainers-to-be. Others support their town or city’s law enforcement and/or public safety offices, and most gym leaders serve key roles in their area’s tournaments and festivals. Ultimately, all gym leaders are public figures and role models, and as such, they are, in general, expected to act on their best behaviors to serve as examples to their communities.

Of course, this is in addition to other, personal duties. Many gym leaders hold second jobs, not so much because the Association doesn’t pay them enough—believe me, the majority of them get paid more than I do as an Association member—but more because it’s something to do when they’re not maintaining a gym. The Unovan gym leaders, for example, consist of a fine artist, a museum curator, three restaurateurs, a teacher, a pilot, a model, and the owner of Unova’s largest construction company. For another example, one Kantonian gym leader runs a perfume company, two others are researchers, one is in medical school, one is still technically active in the American military, and the Cerulean Sisters apparently fancy themselves as “water ballet performers” … not that I have anything to say about that last one. The point here is that although a gym leader’s primary duties consist of maintaining a gym, battling, and serving in their community, this isn’t as hefty a list of tasks as one would think, and gym leaders are free to do whatever they wish in their spare time (within reason, given the aforementioned note about being a public figure).

The Elite Four is very similar to the above, but the requirements, both in becoming one and in performing as one, are more. For starters, it’s not possible to be recommended by a gym leader for a position in the Elite Four; candidates can only be chosen and recommended by high-ranking members of the Pokémon Association or Symposium. (To give you an idea of how high we’re talking about, I can’t recommend someone for membership into the Elite Four, but Steven Stone or Professor Kukui can.) The exam that follows is often harder than the one administered to gym leaders, and it often consists of battling four of the region’s topmost trainers (that is, the current Elite Four in most cases). And finally, while gym leaders are expected to serve their specific communities, the Elite Four is expected to serve their entire region. This means that if, for example, a threat to the entire region surfaces (to the scale of the Hoenn Incident a few years back), usually, the Elite Four is called into action to help the regional government with defense. Usually, anyway. As in, we don’t normally send single preteens out to battle the forces of nature, but for whatever reason, that’s been a trend as of late, which means the Elite Four has been called upon fewer and fewer times.

Besides that, Elite Four members are often asked to engage in regional events (such as the exhibition matches that typically take place before championship tournaments such as the Silver or Lumiose Conferences), teach new trainers whenever possible, and generally maintain their reputations as upstanding members of society. It’s just that as highly public figures, maintaining a certain public image is even more important to the Elite Four than it is to gym leaders, and oftentimes, it’s actually easier to be kicked out of the Elite Four due to violating the Association’s standards of conduct than it is to be kicked off the badge circuit. (I realize that sounds rather ghastly, but it’s important to keep in mind that the Elite Four are also the faces of their respective league. Any misconduct from them is a direct reflection on their region as a whole. It’s politics, in other words, only the leagues tend to take things a bit more seriously than actual politicians.)

Of course, as with gym leaders, the Elite Four (and champion, for that matter) can also opt to take second jobs, especially since they’re often called into action fewer times than gym leaders are. For example, it’s completely possible for Siebold of Kalos to run more than one high-ranked restaurant in Lumiose or Diantha to star in at least one feature film a year because, well, aside from the occasional challenger to the Elite Four gauntlet, the Kalos League rarely requires the services of its Elite Four.

In short, if you’re considering joining either group, anonymous, best of luck, but consider beginning with the gym circuit first. Impressing a gym leader enough to get a recommendation is far easier than impressing an Association member.

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!

My Umbreon and Charizard will not stop arguing with each other. My Umbreon has always been a more serious girl, but my Charizard is very cocky and he likes to show off. Any advice to make them get along?

I’d like to answer all of these asks at once for the sake of saving time. Many of these asks have very similar responses: I don’t have enough context to know for certain why your pokémon are arguing or lashing out at teammates (or guests, in the case of the above mentioned sylveon).

You see, a pokémon is never aggressive for no reason, but that reason is entirely circumstantial and dependent on a wide variety of factors. So the first step is to observe your pokémon to determine a trigger. Sometimes, it’s jealousy—a pokémon becomes jealous of another or of a human you’ve chosen to spend more time on. Other times, it’s simple personality conflicts, a personal dislike of each other, competition for resources that are actually less abundant than you realize, or anxiety over a new person or pokémon.

In each case, it’s important to find out what the specific cause is by observing your pokémon carefully. Read its body language, see what it and its target are doing just before violence breaks out, and see if there’s anything in particular that seems to provoke your pokémon. Consider also simply communicating with your pokémon and asking them if they can tell you what the problem may be. Although pokémon can’t often literally speak to us, they’re highly intelligent and may be able to indicate what’s upsetting them with gestures, barks, or simply by showing you.

Once you determine the cause of the issue, it will be far easier to resolve it. If two pokémon are arguing, serve as an objective mediator by suggesting compromises. Couple this with increased double training off the battlefield (that is, train your pokémon together outside of battles and have them perform tasks as a team) to strengthen teamwork.

If a pokémon is aggressive towards another who isn’t reciprocating, be sure to introduce them slowly, rather than at once. Set up a comfortable environment and allow your pokémon (both the aggressive one and the target) to enter this space, first for a short period of time and then over increasingly long periods until your aggressive pokémon can tolerate being in the same room as the other. (You may wish to teach your pokémon to heel before this.) Yes, even if your pokémon has never displayed aggressive behavior towards other members of your team, it may be worth it to go through this process with it and its target anyway. Think of it like meeting a new person. You may not like everyone you meet, or you may have gotten a bad first impression. However, if you’re in a comfortable atmosphere and you’re asked to interact with that person, the more you do this, the easier it will be to tolerate them.

If a pokémon is aggressive towards a human, it’s important to pay attention to why, especially if your pokémon is psychic or an absol. (The one in the above asks is not, but even so, this doesn’t rule out the possibility that your pokémon is sending you a warning.) If your pokémon is acting out of fear for either you or your safety, promise them that you’ll take their warning into consideration but reassure them that they don’t have anything to fear, especially if you know your human company well enough to determine right away whether or not such fears would be unfounded. If, however, your pokémon seems to be jealous or seems to dislike a person on a personal level, teach your human guests the best ways to interact with your pokémon partners and have them do so (cautiously at first). Let your guests feed your pokémon treats and play with them as you would. Allow them to connect with your pokémon as friends. All the while, reassure your pokémon that you’re not replacing them with human contact.

In each case, the point is that aggression in pokémon sometimes happens, but it never happens for no reason. It’s up to you as a trainer to determine what that reason is and to take steps to alleviate it, depending on what the specific problem may be.

Best of luck to all of you!

An Interview with Brendan

After the editor’s interview with @trainersofhoenn’s Brendan, she sat down with him again to ask him a few questions.

So, The Pokédex According to Bill presents for your viewing pleasure a rarity for our blog: actual advice from a trainer on interacting with a starter.

LANETTE: To start things off, why don’t you tell us a little bit about your starter and your relationship with it? Which starter did you choose?

BRENDAN: I chose Mudkip, and he’s been an incredible partner! It’s been very easy to raise him. I was surprised that he picked up all my commands very quickly in our first few battles. When I started calling him Axle, it didn’t take long for him to get used to it, too!

LANETTE: Nicknames are great ways of bonding with pokémon, and that’s certainly a cute one for yours! Speaking of bonding, though, all new trainers go through challenges when first bonding with theirs. What challenges did you face while bonding with Axle?

BRENDAN: If anything, I had to get used to camping out near a body of water at night, since mudkip like to sleep at that meeting point of land and water. It wasn’t that necessary anymore once he evolved because the species are more amphibious, but I still made it a point to do so since marshtomp and swampert appreciate getting their bodies damp.

I also had to get used to how he loves battling. I mean, he really, really loves battling. I’m glad that my project allows me to meet so many trainers and in turn lets me battle them, because Axle won’t be able to sleep at night if he hasn’t battled at least a couple of pokémon. It only got worse ever since I was able to mega evolve him! I didn’t plan on being a battling-heavy trainer, but Axle single-handedly steered me to that direction.

LANETTE: It sounds like he was quite a handful at the end! On that note, what are a few things you wish someone would have told you beforehand about raising your starter?

BRENDAN: That he likes getting your attention by blasting water to your face! When he was a mudkip, I saw it as a playful thing and took it as a sign of friendliness, but when he evolved and his attacks got stronger, I had to tell him that there’s only so much water I can take. Axle still does this to me sometimes, but it’s more out of humor than anything. One time he did that to Melody, my exploud, and both of us had to deal with the constant ringing in our ears for the entire day because of her Hyper Voice attack. Axle stuck to picking on me after that.

LANETTE: [laughs] He sounds like he keeps you on your toes. But on the other hand, they say pokémon with forward personalities are more likely to create strong bonds with their trainers. So tell me, what’s the most rewarding part about being with your partner? And for that matter, what general advice can you give to a trainer who chooses your starter?

BRENDAN: I think my answer to your first question would be similar to what most other trainers would say about their partner, regardless of species. I’m very thankful to have a pokémon who I can trust and who jives so well with me. I can say the same thing for my other pokémon, but there really is something special when you’re talking about your starter. I’m not exaggerating when I say that he’s a big reason why I’m still journeying.

As for general advice to trainers who are starting or want to start with mudkip: Don’t sweat it! It’s very easy for them to form a bond with their trainers—there’s a reason why Professor Birch gives them away as starters. Just make sure to be wary about their affinity for damp, muddy places. I’m sure the species’ name should’ve given it away!

Also, belly rubs go a long way in making mudkip more affectionate to you. And that grows exponentially after every evolution!

LANETTE: [laughs again] Yes, that’s very true for nearly every pokémon! Well, thank you, Brendan, for all your advice. I’m sure that this will be helpful for anyone who’s considering adopting mudkip as their partner in Hoenn this year! One last question, though, just to help send them off—what sort of advice do you have for anyone journeying through Hoenn?

BRENDAN: Great question, and one that I love asking to my interviewees as well! I’d say to keep your eyes, ears, and mind open. Your eyes will let you to discover many new pokémon and places to make your journey more expansive. Your ears will let you find out more about other people and let you learn from them to make your journey more colorful. And your mind will let you be ready and willing to take all of that in to make your journey more meaningful.

{Thanks again to @trainersofhoenn, who wrote Brendan’s parts this time around, for the awesome collab! It was a lot of fun, and it’s an honor to work with a really sweet writer!

Not to repeat myself (although it’s 100% worth it in this case), if you haven’t followed Trainers of Hoenn, you really should. His blog is not just a Humans of New York/Pokémon spiritual crossover. It’s also a humanizing, creative, and often heartwarming look into the NPCs of the Hoenn region. If you love reading character studies or pieces about people being people, give it a look!}