Character Sheet: All Gen VIII Standalones

CRAMORANT/FALINKS/PINCURCHIN/STONJOURNER/EISCUE/INDEEDEE/MORPEKO/DURALUDON

And now, let’s go back and cover all the standalone Pokemon from this generation. We start with Cramorant, which is mostly just a cartoonified version of a cormorant.

Standard B: Spit Up

Side B: Drill Peck

Up B: Dive

Down B: Swallow

Final Smash: Dynamax (would be fun if Pikachu performed Volt Tackle at the same time)

After that, we have Falinks, a fun little concept for a Fighting Pokemon, based mostly on a Roman Legion or a Greek Phalanx, except if it was little Kirby-looking dudes wearing the helmets and all marching single file in a line.

Standard B: Megahorn

Side B: Close Combat

Up B: First Impression

Down B: No Retreat

Final Smash: Mega Falinks

After that, we have Pincurchin, an Electric-type sea urchin that pulls a little from the little red pin cushions that people who sew often have near them.

Standard B: Spark

Side B: Poison Jab

Up B: Zing Zap

Down B: Electric Terrain

Final Smash: Dynamax

We are in Britain, so naturally we must have Britain’s most famous landmark. Stonjourner is a big walking Stonehenge section and that’s pretty much all there is to it.

Standard B: Rock Tomb

Side B: Rock Slide

Up B: Heavy Slam

Down B: Mega Kick

Final Smash: Dynamax

Next, we have Eiscue, a little Ice-type penguin with an ice cube for a face. Or sometimes not. When not, it’s called the Noice form, which just sounds funny.

Standard B: Headbutt

Side B: Surf

Up B: Blizzard

Down B: Snowscape

Final Smash: Dynamax

Then, we have Indeedee, a Pokemon that looks a bit like a standard cat design, but with a male variant that looks like the typical British butler, and a female variant that looks like a maid.

Standard B: Psybeam

Side B: Helping Hand

Up B: After You/Follow Me

Down B: Healing Wish

Final Smash: Dynamax

Next, we come to our Pikachu clone for the generation, Morpeko, this one based on a Guinea pig and taking inspiration from the tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with a Full-Belly Mode where it is happy and Electric-type, and a Hangry mode where it is angry and Dark-type.

Standard B: Spark

Side B: Crunch

Up B: Agility

Down B: Aura Wheel

Final Smash: Dynamax

And finally, we have Duraludon, a Steel/Dragon Pokemon based on the Shard, a famous skyscraper in London. I also personally think it looks like a lighter but that’s mostly for jokes and such.

Standard B: Hyper Beam

Side B: Metal Claw

Up B: Breaking Swipe

Down B: Dragon Tail

Final Smash: Gigantamax Duraludon

All entrances would be from Poke Balls. Taunts would be based on their general features and theming. Kirby Hats would be Cramorant’s beak, Falinks’s helmet, Pincurchin’s spines, a block-like body for Stonjourner, an ice block body for Eiscue, Indeedee’s horn things, Morpeko’s ears, and made of Duraludon’s metal. Karts would mostly be the Poke Ball car (though, it would be funny if Falinks was just one of them riding the other four), with their most iconic move being the special move. Cramorant would be on Mer Stadium, Falinks and Eiscue would be on Jubilife Village, Pincurchin and Indeedee would be on Pokemon Café, Stonjourner would be on Slumbering Weald, Morpeko would be on Lental Island Tour, and Duraludon would be on Dynamax Stadium. Victory screens would be tied to their theming, while their losing screens would be them fainting. And their color swaps would mostly be their main and shiny colors with a few general others.

Thanks for reading! Now, we have some regional variants to cover. First, Meowth joins the Viking horde!

Character Sheet: The Dreepy Line

DREEPY/DRAKLOAK/DRAGAPULT

Now, skipping over Duraludon, we come to our Pseudo-Legendaries of the generation, Dreepy, Drakloak, and Dragapult, a Ghost/Dragon combo, based mostly on standard dragons, but with stealth bombers for heads that can launch their babies as missiles.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Bite > Dragon Pulse (II) > Dragon Darts (III)

 

Side B: Quick Attack > Phantom Force (II)

 

Up B: Astonish > Dragon Dance (II) > Dragon Rush (III)

 

Down B: Infestation > Hex (II)

 

Final Smash: Dynamax

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Flying around silently like a stealth bomber, the babies getting fussy in its missile launchers, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their heads stuck to Kirby’s head like they’re taped on.

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Dragon Darts

 

Spirit Battle: On Dynamax Stadium

 

Victory Screen: Racing around before disappearing into the sky.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Now, let’s go back and cover our standalones. First up, Cramorant swallows its fear!

Character Sheet: The Galar Fossils

DRACOZOLT/ARCTOZOLT/DRACOVISH/ARCTOVISH

Next up, we have our Fossil mons for the generation, and the primary reason I started out doing all the Fossils together, as I was looking ahead to them and figured it was the best way to approach it when I came to them. Looking back, I was probably overthinking it. These four specifically, Dracozolt, Arctozolt, Dracovish, and Arctovish, are all based on a few real world instances from the early days of paleontology, where paleontologists, seeking the notoriety that came with discovering a new dinosaur species, would put together the bones of different dinosaurs and present them as a new species. In this game, the resurrecting scientist Cara Liss (careless, ha!) puts together two fossils you give her and resurrects them together, creating the unholy abominations that you see before you. The “draco” part seems to be based on a stegosaurus, the “zolt” part is a velociraptor, the “vish” part is a Dunkleosteus, and the “arcto” part is probably something like a plesiosaur.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Thunder Shock (DZ/AZ) | Water Gun (DV/AV)

 

Side B: Dragon Rush (DZ/DV) | Avalanche (AZ/AV)

 

Up B: Bolt Beak (DZ/AZ) | Fishious Rend (DV/AV)

 

Down B: Dragon Tail (DZ/DV) | Icicle Crash (AZ/AV)

 

Final Smash: Dynamax (All 4)

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Various things to highlight the negative effects of their misplacement, like Arctozolt sniffling, Dracovish feeling at the base of its tail, Arctovish’s mouth snapping on the back of its head. Things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: A little piece of both parts, like a Draco spike, a Zolt bolt, an Arcto fin, and a Vish fin.

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Bolt Beak or Fishious Rend

 

Spirit Battle: On Mer Stadium

 

Victory Screen: Pulling at its mismatched body parts before noticing the camera and trying to pose.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next, Dreepy flies under the radar!

Character Sheet: The Cufant Line

CUFANT/COPPERAJAH

Now, we skip over a bunch of standalones to come to Cufant and Copperajah, a pair of Indian Elephants made entirely of copper, based heavily on all of Britain’s history with India and their colonial rule over the country for decades.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Bulldoze > Iron Head

 

Side B: Rollout

 

Up B: Dig > Heavy Slam

 

Down B: Iron Defense

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Copperajah

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Trumpeting loudly, stomping around, digging up some copper, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their trunk

 

Kart: Just marching

Special Move: Dig

 

Spirit Battle: On Motostoke City

 

Victory Screen: Standing tall and trumpeting loudly.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Dracozolt joi—OH DEAR GOD! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO THE POOR THING?!

Character Sheet: The Snom Line

SNOM/FROSMOTH

Skipping over Falinks and Pincurchin for now, we come to Snom and Frosmoth, our first and currently only Bug/Ice types, based on white moths such as the White Satin moth and such. Snom is another that has only historically learned two moves naturally, those being Powder Snow and Struggle Bug. As a Poke Ball Pokemon, it might use Powder Snow. It might also just kinda hang out on stage as a friend.

Here’s the moveset I came up with for Frosmoth:

 

Standard B: Powder Snow

 

Side B: Bug Buzz

 

Up B: Icy Wind

 

Down B: Aurora Veil

 

Final Smash: Dynamax

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Fluttering around, making snow fall from its wings, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Its wings

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Powder Snow

 

Spirit Battle: On Jubilife Village

 

Victory Screen: Fluttering merrily as snow falls from its wings.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Cufant aims for the copper!

Character Sheet: The Milcery Line

MILCERY/ALCREMIE

Skipping over our list of new Regional evos, we now come to Milcery and Alcremie, a pair of Pokemon based on cream and the sweet whipped cream desserts that can be made from it. They are also based on alchemy, which I suppose makes sense, as baking is probably the closest we come to the concept of alchemy in our daily lives. Also, sugary treats are just all Fairy types, I guess.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Sweet Kiss

 

Side B: Charm > Decorate

 

Up B: Aromatic Mist > Dazzling Gleam

 

Down B: Acid Armor > Recover

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Alcremie

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Tasting a little bit of itself, swirling around for a second, decorating itself, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: A dollop of their cream on his head

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Sweet Kiss

 

Spirit Battle: On Pokemon Café, also for obvious reasons

 

Victory Screen: Plopping down onto a platter and covering itself with a glass dome.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: All the different colors of Alcremie, applied to Milcery as well.

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Snom noms the competition!

Character Sheet: The Impidimp Line

IMPIDIMP/MORGREM/GRIMMSNARL

Now, we have the other half of the Grimm Fairy Tale duo. Impidimp, Morgrem, and Grimmsnarl are based on imps, goblins, and trolls, and all the other fairy tale monsters that regularly show up in stories like that. They also do the whole hair-clothes thing.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Sucker Punch > Hammer Arm (III)

 

Side B: Bite > Dark Pulse (II)

 

Up B: Assurance > Spirit Break (III)

 

Down B: Fake Out > False Surrender (II)

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Grimmsnarl (III)

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Snickering and rubbing its hands together, putting on fake tears, roaring like a monster, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their hair and noses

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: False Surrender

 

Spirit Battle: On Slumbering Weald

 

Victory Screen: Looking back one last time before disappearing into a patch of trees

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Milcery doles out just desserts!

Character Sheet: The Hatenna Line

HATENNA/HATTREM/HATTERENE

Next up, we come to a pair of lines I like to consider the Grimm Fairy Tale duo. First, we have Hatenna, Hattrem, and Hatterene, based on the concept of ethereal witches who lurk in dark forests and such. They also have the whole hair-clothing thing like Bayonetta does, so I think that’s just something witches do or whatever.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Psybeam > Psycho Cut (III)

 

Side B: Confusion > Brutal Swing (II)

 

Up B: Aromatic Mist > Dazzling Gleam (II)

 

Down B: Heal Pulse > Healing Wish (III)

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Hatterene (III)

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Singing to itself elegantly, sensing negative emotions around it and getting angry, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their hats

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Psycho Cut

 

Spirit Battle: On Slumbering Weald

 

Victory Screen: Looming over its opponent, beaten senseless, and turning away now that the negative emotions are gone.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Impidimp causes some mischief!

Character Sheet: The Sinistea Line

SINISTEA/POLTEAGEIST

Well, we know how much the British love their tea, so naturally, we had to have Sinistea and Polteageist, a line of Ghost Pokemon haunting tea sets. They also have a fun little detail of having a little signature on the underside of the pot. That said, as someone who grew up in a house with a grandma who collected hundreds of teapots, I must say, they could have included a lot more distinct designs if they really wanted to.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Mega Drain > Giga Drain

 

Side B: Sucker Punch > Shadow Ball

 

Up B: Aromatic Mist

 

Down B: Withdraw > Teatime

 

Final Smash: Dynamax

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Pouring a cup, holding itself up with its pinky out, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their cup or teapot upside down on Kirby’s head like a hat.

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Teatime

 

Spirit Battle: On Pokemon Café, because obviously.

 

Victory Screen: Pouring out some tea and sitting down at a little table to have some.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Hatenna throws its hat into the ring!

Character Sheet: The Clobbopus Line

CLOBBOPUS/GRAPPLOCT

Next up, we have Clobbopus and Grapploct, a pair of octopi mixed with masked boxers and wrestlers. Also, they seem to be a second entry in a trend of Pokemon that look like they’re Water types but are simply Pure Fighting, just like Crabrawler in the last generation.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Power-Up Punch

 

Side B: Mach Punch > Octolock

 

Up B: Circle Throw > Topsy-Turvy

 

Down B: Rock Smash > Taunt

 

Final Smash: Dynamax

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Bouncing back and forth like its ready to fight, doing a couple of fighting taunts, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their masks

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Octolock

 

Spirit Battle: On Mer Stadium

 

Victory Screen: Standing in the ring and holding up a championship belt

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Sinistea pours itself a cup of victory!

Character Sheet: The Sizzlipede Line

SIZZLIPEDE/CENTISKORCH

From there, we have Sizzlipede and Centiskorch, a Bug/Fire combo line based on centipedes as well as heat radiators and stove coils, and other spiral-shaped heating things that you see in old-timey houses and such. I’ve always felt like the Gigantamax form was also pulling from tapeworms, but no one else ever seems to mention that as an inspiration, so maybe it’s just me.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Bug Bite > Fire Lash

 

Side B: Flame Wheel > Fire Spin

 

Up B: Smokescreen

 

Down B: Wrap

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Centiskorch

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Scampering around, making the little heater formation thing it does, laying out and letting its burners sizzle, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Turned red, with a heating coil on his side

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Fire Lash

 

Spirit Battle: On Motostoke City

 

Victory Screen: Roaring as their coils burn bright before scuttling away

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, it's Clobbopus time!

Character Sheet: The Toxel Line

TOXEL/TOXTRICITY

Next we come to probably one of the most iconic Pokemon of this generation, Toxel and Toxtricity, our first and only Poison/Electric combo at the current time, based on lizards as well as punk rockers with electric guitars.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Acid > Thunder Wave

 

Side B: Nuzzle > Poison Jab

 

Up B: Flail > Boomburst

 

Down B: Belch > Acid Spray

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Toxtricity

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Playing a few different riffs on its guitar.

 

Kirby Hat: Their lightning spikes

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Shockwave

 

Spirit Battle: On Dynamax Stadium

 

Victory Screen: Rocking out on stage in front of a crowd

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Amped, low-key, both shinies, other general colors.

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Sizzlipede heats things up!

Character Sheet: The Arrokuda Line

ARROKUDA/BARRASKEWDA

Skipping over Cramorant for now, we come to Cramorant’s food, Arrokuda and Barraskewda, mainly based on barracudas (and maybe pikes too), mixed a bit with arrows or spears.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Bite > Crunch

 

Side B: Aqua Jet

 

Up B: Agility > Throat Chop

 

Down B: Dive

 

Final Smash: Dynamax

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Darting around quickly, leaping out of a puddle of water, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their fins and tails

 

Kart: Just swimming in the air

Special Move: Aqua Jet

 

Spirit Battle: On Mer Stadium

 

Victory Screen: Darting away through the water

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

Thanks for reading! Next up, Toxel lights up the stage!

Character Sheet: The Silicobra Line

SILICOBRA/SANDACONDA

Next up, we come to Silicobra and Sandaconda, a pair of snake Pokemon who live in sandy deserts. Sandaconda also has a twisting coily body that makes it resemble a tornado or a dust devil laying on its side.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Sand Attack > Sand Tomb

 

Side B: Bulldoze > Coil

 

Up B: Sandstorm

 

Down B: Dig

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Sandaconda

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Hissing and snapping, rolling around for fun, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their heads as hats.

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Sandstorm

 

Spirit Battle: On Lental Island Tour

 

Victory Screen: Hissing and burrowing into the sand

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Arrokuda fires straight and narrow toward the battlefield!

Character Sheet: The Applin Line

APPLIN/FLAPPLE/APPLETUN

And now, we arrive at possibly one of my favorite overall concepts for a Pokemon ever. Applin and its split evolutions Flapple and Appletun are based on the general concept of a worm in an apple, but instead of a worm, it’s a Wyrm, a type of mythical dragon common to British folklore. It’s a pun and I love it so much. Sadly, Applin knows only Withdraw and Astonish naturally, so as a Poke Ball Pokemon, I’ll probably have it Withdraw to begin with, appearing to simply be an apple like those that appear as food, until someone tries to eat it, at which point it will attack.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Dragon Breath | Headbutt

 

Side B: Acid Spray | Apple Acid

 

Up B: Wing Attack | Body Slam

 

Down B: Grav Apple | Stomp

 

Final Smash: Gigantamax Flapple | Gigantamax Appletun

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Trying some of its own apple, tucking into its apple, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their respective apple pieces

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Grav Apple, Apple Acid

 

Spirit Battle: On Pokemon Café

 

Victory Screen: Kids surrounding it and eating off of it.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors (Possibly different apple colorations)

Thanks for reading! Next up, Silicobra sands its regards!

Character Sheet: The Rolycoly Line

ROLYCOLY/CARKOL/COALOSSAL

Next up, we have Rolycoly, Carkol, and Coalossal, a line of Rock/Fire Pokemon based on coal and coal-related items such as minecarts and coal-burning furnaces. It’s a neat concept.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Smack Down > Rock Blast (III)

 

Side B: Rock Polish > Flame Charge (II)

 

Up B: Rapid Spin > Ancient Power (II)

 

Down B: Smokescreen > Stealth Rock (III)

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Coalossal (III)

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Scooping itself into its furnace, rolling around like a minecart, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: A load of coal on his back

 

Kart: A minecart

Special Move: Smokescreen

 

Spirit Battle: On Motostoke City

 

Victory Screen: Burning hot and spewing smoke into the air

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, an Applin a day keeps the challenger away!

Character Sheet: The Yamper Line

YAMPER/BOLTUND

Now, we come to Yamper and Boltund, Electric-type dogs based on corgis and greyhounds, probably the two most iconic breeds of British dogs out there. And that’s basically just what they’re supposed to be.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Spark

 

Side B: Nuzzle > Wild Charge

 

Up B: Charm

 

Down B: Tail Whip > Electric Terrain

 

Final Smash: Dynamax

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Yapping and hopping around playfully, rolling over for belly rubs, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their ears and muzzles

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Nuzzle

 

Spirit Battle: On Motostoke City

 

Victory Screen: Posing proudly as a very “royal family” sounding theme plays.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Rolycoly presses the competition into a diamond!

Character Sheet: The Chewtle Line

CHEWTLE/DREDNAW

Next up, we have Chewtle and Drednaw, which are primarily based on snapping turtle, with maybe a little bit of vice grip or bear trap thrown in, as is the case with most fantastical depictions of snapping turtles. The Gigantamax form of Drednaw also seems to pull from a battleship.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Bite > Crunch

 

Side B: Water Gun > Rock Tomb

 

Up B: Headbutt > Head Smash

 

Down B: Withdraw

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Drednaw

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Snapping around, withdrawing into its shell, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Its shell

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Crunch

 

Spirit Battle: On Mer Stadium

 

Victory Screen: Chomping fiercely at the screen.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

Thanks for reading! Next up, Yamper launches a "corgi"-nated attack!

Character Sheet: The Wooloo Line

WOOLOO/DUBWOOL

After that, we have Wooloo and Dubwool, which are sheep. Pretty much just literally sheep. Dubwool does seem to have some soccer ball markings on it, but that’s about it from there.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Headbutt

 

Side B: Double Kick > Double Edge

 

Up B: Take Down

 

Down B: Defense Curl > Cotton Guard

 

Final Smash: Dynamax

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Baaing and frolicking, rolling around like a ball, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their wool

 

Kart: Just rolling

Special Move: Headbutt

 

Spirit Battle: On Slumbering Weald

 

Victory Screen: Baaing triumphantly, then going back to grazing.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Chewtle snaps the competition in half!

Character Sheet: The Gossifleur Line

GOSSIFLEUR/ELDEGOSS

Next up, we have Gossifleur and Eldegoss, a pair of Grass Pokemon based on the Gossypium plant AKA the cotton plant. There may also be some fleur-de-lis inspiration in there somewhere.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Razor Leaf

 

Side B: Rapid Spin > Cotton Spore

 

Up B: Sing > Leaf Tornado

 

Down B: Leafage > Aromatherapy

 

Final Smash: Dynamax

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Twirling and dancing around, spreading cotton everywhere, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their flower/cotton bloom

 

Kart: The Poke Ball

Special Move: Cotton Spore

 

Spirit Battle: On Lental Island Tour

 

Victory Screen: Dancing around and spreading spores.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Wooloo fleeces the competition!

Character Sheet: The Nickit Line

NICKIT/THIEVUL

And now we come to Nickit and Thievul, a line based on red foxes, but this time mixed with gentleman thieves and bandits, more in line with Western notions about foxes instead of the mythological kitsune-type inspirations that most fox Pokemon have been based on so far.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Knock Off > Dark Pulse

 

Side B: Quick Attack > Night Slash

 

Up B: Roar > Nasty Plot

 

Down B: Tail Whip

 

Final Smash: Dynamax

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Wiping away its tracks with its tail, twirling its mustache, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their ears and mustache

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Tail Whip

 

Spirit Battle: On Motostoke City

 

Victory Screen: Making a clean getaway with its loot.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors.

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Gossifleur does a little dance!

Character Sheet: The Blipbug Line

BLIPBUG/DOTTLER/ORBEETLE

Then we come to our regional bugs, Blipbug, Dottler, and Orbeetle, which combine ladybugs with concepts like radar, mad scientists, and alien UFOS. They’re fun. Sadly, Blipbug can only learn Struggle Bug, so that will be relegated to a Poke Ball Pokemon.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Struggle Bug > Psybeam

 

Side B: Confusion

 

Up B: Light Screen > Bug Buzz

 

Down B: Reflect > Mirror Coat

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Orbeetle

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Making radar noises, buzzing around for a second, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their shells

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Confusion

 

Spirit Battle: On Lental Island Tour

 

Victory Screen: Rubbing its hands together and acting like a mad scientist whose experiment was successful.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Nickit breaks and enters the competition!

Character Sheet: The Rookidee Line

ROOKIDEE/CORVISQUIRE/CORVIKNIGHT

Next up, we have Rookidee, Corvisquire, and Corviknight, our regional birds and our first ever Pure Flying types since Tornadus (not including Corviknight, of course). They are based on various types of corvids, including crows, ravens, magpies, and rooks, as well as the rank progressions of medieval knights.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Peck > Drill Peck (II)

 

Side B: Fury Attack > Steel Wing (III)

 

Up B: Power Trip > Brave Bird (III)

 

Down B: Pluck > Iron Defense (III)

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Corviknight (III)

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Pecking around on the ground, cawing, posing like a knight standing at attention, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their beaks and armor

 

Kart: Just flying

Special Move: Drill Peck

 

Spirit Battle: On Motostoke City

 

Victory Screen: Swooping in and landing before bowing nobly.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny other general colors

Thanks for reading! Next up, Blipbug detects an enemy approaching!

Character Sheet: The Skwovet Line

SKWOVET/GREEDENT

After that, we have Skwovet and Greedent, this generation’s regional critters, this time based on squirrels, gray and red, tying in a bit of gluttony to go along with squirrels’ tendency to store lots of food in their cheeks.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Bite > Super Fang

 

Side B: Tail Whip > Bullet Seed

 

Up B: Body Slam

 

Down B: Stuff Cheeks

 

Final Smash: Dynamax

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Wiggling its tail at the camera, stuffing a bunch of food in its mouth, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their tails

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Stuff Cheeks

 

Spirit Battle: On Pokemon Café

 

Victory Screen: Stuffing its cheeks then racing up a tree

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, Chef Dente, other general colors.

Thanks for reading! Next up, Rookidee pledges its fealty.

Character Sheet: The Sobble Line

SOBBLE/DRIZZILE/INTELEON

Now, we come to the generation’s Water Starters, Sobble, Drizzile, and Inteleon. These are based primarily on chameleons, starting out as sad little crybabies but growing up into a secret agent sniper based partially on James Bond.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Water Gun > Snipe Shot (III)

 

Side B: Bind > Sucker Punch (II)

 

Up B: Pound > Acrobatics (III)

 

Down B: Water Pulse > Tearful Look (II)

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Inteleon (III)

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Wiping its eyes, looking moody and serious, doing the James Bond gunshot-at-the-camera thing, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their head fin

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Sniper Shot

 

Spirit Battle: On Mer Stadium

 

Victory Screen: The James Bond gunshot thing.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors

 

Thanks for reading! Next up, Skwovet steals the victory!

Character Sheet: The Scorbunny Line

SCORBUNNY/RABOOT/CINDERACE

Next up, let’s cover the Fire Starters for Gen VIII: Scorbunny, Raboot, and Cinderace. These are based primarily on rabbits, mixed with soccer/football players, as football is a rather big deal in England, where Galar is based.

Here’s the moveset I came up with:

 

Standard B: Ember > Pyro Ball (III)

 

Side B: Flame Charge

 

Up B: Quick Attack > Double Kick (II)

 

Down B: Double Kick > Counter (II)

 

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Cinderace (III)

 

Entrance: Poke Ball

 

Taunts: Kicking the ball like a hacky-sack, bouncing on its feet like getting ready to play, things like that.

 

Kirby Hat: Their ears

 

Kart: The Poke Ball car, or just a giant fiery ball.

Special Move: Pyro Ball

 

Spirit Battle: On Dynamax Stadium

 

Victory Screen: Doing a soccer victory dance.

Losing Screen: Fainted

 

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, colors reminiscent of notable British soccer teams.

Thanks for reading! Next up, Sobble takes aim!

Character Sheet: The Grookey Line

GROOKEY/THWACKEY/RILLABOOM

And now, let us begin our Gen VIII Pokedex. First up, we have the Grass starters of the generation, Grookey, Thwackey, and Rillaboom, based on gorillas and given sticks that they use to beat on things with, building up to them being full-on drummers.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Branch Poke > Double Hit (II) > Drum Beating (III)

Side B: Razor Leaf > Wood Hammer (III)

Up B: Screech > Uproar (II)

Down B: Scratch > Slam (II)

Final Smash: Dynamax > Gigantamax Rillaboom (III)

Entrance: Poke Ball

Taunts: Mostly a lot of drumming around on things. Also, if you've ever seen that video of the gorilla doing that really smooth slide and turn around, that could be fun too.

Kirby Hat: Their leaf hair and drumsticks

Kart: The Poke Ball car

Special Move: Drum Beating

Spirit Battle: On Lental Islands Tour

Victory Screen: Rocking out with an awesome drum solo.

Losing Screen: Fainted

Color Swaps: Main, shiny, other general colors.

Thanks for reading! Next up, Scorbunny aims for the goal!

Character Sheet: Leah

LEAH

And now we come to our new playable characters debuting in Generation VIII. We have three that are not part of the PokeDex this time. They are:

1. Akari/Rei

2. Jamie/River

3. Leah

Next, we have Leah, the barista and only real named character in Pokemon Café Remix besides the Pokemon patrons. She will basically be the catch-all character for all the unique mechanics the game provides, and she should be fairly similar in style to Lucy Fleetfoot from Trozei.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Coffee Swirl

Leah will swish with a spoon and a swirl of Pokemon head icons will be created in front of her, bashing anyone it comes in contact with.

Side B: Helping Paw

The helping paw item will appear in front of Leah, smacking another player.

Up B: Megaphone

Leah will blast her megaphone at the ground, throwing herself upward.

Down B: Sugar Cube

Leah will place down a sugar cube as a block in front of her that will shield her from one hit. On occasion, a different obstacle may pop up, requiring a couple more hits.

Final Smash: Order Up

Pokemon icons will fill the screen, damaging all players they touch. Leah’s player will be able to swirl them around, taking players with it.

Entrance: Ringing a leader bell.

Taunts: Up, using her megaphone to shout, “Order up!” Side, ringing the leader bell around. Down, sitting and enjoying a nice cup of coffee.

Kirby Hat: Leah’s hat, ponytail, and glasses.

Kart: A mobile coffee cart.

Special Move: Coffee Swirl.

Spirit Battle: On Pokemon Café.

Victory Screen: The level cleared screen from the game.

Losing Screen: Pouring out a cup of coffee and looking disgusted.

Color Swaps: Her main colors, a very noticeably “legally distinct” Starbucks uniform, and different coffee colors.

Thanks for reading! Next up, let’s start the PokeDex again. First up, Grookey sounds the drums of war!

Character Sheet: Jamie/River

JAMIE/RIVER

And now we come to our new playable characters debuting in Generation VIII. We have three that are not part of the PokeDex this time. They are:

1. Akari/Rei

2. Jamie/River

3. Leah

Next up, we have our protagonists of New Pokemon Snap, taking over from Todd Snap in the original game. They will be echo fighters of Todd, with most of the exact same moves, except with some adjustments like the Illumina Orb.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Camera Flash

Side B: Pester Ball

Up B: NEO-ONE Lift

Down B: NEO-ONE

Final Smash: Illumina Orb

Entrance: Descending in the NEO-ONE

Taunts: Up, using a pair of binoculars. Side, snapping some pictures of the other players. Down, developing the film.

Kirby Hat: Jamie's hat

Kart: NEO-ONE

Special Move: Illumina Orb

Spirit Battle: On Lental Island Tour, with plenty of Poke Balls appearing throughout.

Victory Screen: Holding up pictures from the battle.

Losing Screen: All of their pictures not coming out.

Color Swaps: Jamie, River, and costumes based on the professor, Todd, rival, and assistant. Maybe a couple more based on someone like Red or Blue.

Thanks for reading! Next up, Leah brews up a strategy.

Character Sheet: Akari/Rei

AKARI/REI

And now we come to our new playable characters debuting in Generation VIII. We have three that are not part of the PokeDex this time. They are:

1. Akari/Rei

2. Jamie/River

3. Leah

Akari and Rei are the protagonists of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, with heavy design inspiration pulled from Lucas and Dawn of Generation IV. One is a modern day kid, isekai'd by Arceus and sent back to the past. The other is a kid living in the past as part of the Galaxy Expedition Team who befriends the other upon their arrival. They may be Lucas and Dawn, they may be the ancestors of Lucas and Dawn. It's complicated. Either way, Legends Arceus had just enough of a distinct playstyle from the core games that I felt giving them their own moveset was warranted.

Here's the moveset I came up with:

Standard B: Old PokeBall

The player will toss an old wooden PokeBall, like those used in the game, to trap an opponent inside. The ball will not hold as well as a modern PokeBall would.

Side B: Wyrdeer

One of the player's mounts will appear and charge forward, attacking with its antlers. Sneasler and Ursaluna might also be part of this attack.

Up B: Hisuian Braviary

Hisuian Braviary will appear, catching the player and carrying them upward over the battlefield.

Down B: Sneak Attack

Works best on enemies facing away. The player will crouch and hide in long grass for a second. Any other attack performed in this state will work slightly better than before.

Final Smash: Alpha Assault

A group of alpha Pokemon will appear and chase after the nearby opponents, attacking them relentlessly until defeated.

Entrance: Dropping out of a hole in the sky.

Taunts: Up, tossing a Pokeball in the air, then jumping when it steams. Side, adjusting their obi and then posing. Down, crouching and rolling.

Kirby Hat: Akari's bandana

Kart: Wyrdeer, or based on it

Special Move: Hisuian Braviary

Spirit Battle: On Jubilife Village, possibly with Trainer System characters like Professor Laventon, Kamado, Cyllene, Adaman, or Irida helping.

Victory Screen: Their pose after they win a battle.

Losing Screen: Their defeated pose.

Color Swaps: Their main blue colors, then the colors of the different corps in the Galaxy team, plus Diamond Clan and Pearl Clan colors, and maybe Ginkgo Guild colors as well.

Thanks for reading! Next up, Jamie and River get the perfect shot!

Gen VIII Miscellaneous Games

GEN VIII MISCELLANEOUS GAMES

And now, let's cover all of the smaller games that came out during this generation that I skipped over. First up, we have Pokemon Medallion Battle, a Facebook game where you can compete against another player with teams of Pokemon collected using digital cards. Then we have Pokemon Tower Battle, another Facebook game that's sort of a Jenga type game where you stack cards with Pokemon on them and you lose when you knock your tower over. After that is Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX, a remake of the first two Mystery Dungeon games, with enhanced graphics and some quality of life changes, but that's about it. Pokemon Mezastar is another arcade game made by the same people who made Battrio, Tretta, and Ga-Ole, and so the gameplay is fairly similar. And finally, we have Pokemon Trading Card Game Live, the newest entry for that series, though it would quickly be replaced by Pocket two and a half years later. We'll get to that later.

And that's about it! Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

All new Pokemon

Leah

Jamie/River: clone/semi-clone of Todd, with Illumina Orb in their moveset

Akari/Rei: gimmick rep for Legends: Arceus

Trainer System:

Victor

Gloria

Akari

Rei

Hop

Bede

Marnie

Professor Magnolia

Professor Laventon

Sonia

Ball Guy

Milo

Nessa

Kabu

Bea

Allister

Opal

Melony

Gordie

Piers

Raihan

Leon

Chairman Rose

Oleana

Swordward

Shieldbert

Mustard

Klara

Avery

Peony

Peonia

Kamado

Cyllene

Zisu

Beni

Adaman

Irida

Mai

Arezu

Iscan

Melli

Sabi

Lian

Calaba

Palina

Ingo

Gaeric

Volo

Ginter

Cogita

Charm

Clover

Coin

Stages:

Postwick

Wedgehurst

Motostoke

Turffield

Hulbury

Hammerlocke

Stow-on-Side

Ballonlea

Circhester

Spikemuth

Wyndon

Freezington

Isle of Armor

Slumbering Weald

Wild Zone

Galar Mine

Glimwood Tangle

Rose Tower

Dynamax Stadium

Smile-based stage? I don't know how that would even work really.

Pokemon Cafe

Florio Island

Belusylva Island

Maricopia Islands

Voluca Island

Durice Island

Aurus Island

Remoat Stadium

Auroma Stadium

Shivre City

Mer Stadium

Theia Sky Ruins

Jubilife Village

Diamond Settlement

Pearl Settlement

Ancient Retreat

Obsidian Fieldlands

Crimson Mirelands

Cobalt Coastlands

Coronet Highlands

Alabaster Icelands

Temple of Sinnoh

And that's about it! And now, the characters begin. First up, Akari and Rei return from the past!

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

POKEMON LEGENDS: ARCEUS

Next up, we have the start of a new era of Pokemon games, fully taking Pokemon into the realm of open world games that allow you to run around and explore and catch Pokemon, something the series had been sorely lacking for way too long. The game takes place in Hisui, the ancient name of the Sinnoh region, and is set in the Pokemon equivalent of the Meiji Restoration period of Japan's history, involving the colonization and conquest of the Hokkaido region.

You star as Rei or Akari, a child from the modern day (Possibly Lucas or Dawn but they're not totally clear on that. There's definitely design influence anyway) who was pulled back into the past by Arceus to help avert a disaster. You are found by the opposite gender protagonist (this one probably the actual ancestor of their D&P counterpart) and Professor Laventon, a Galarian researcher and ancestor of Leon and Hop of Sword & Shield. Basically, a good majority of the characters here are the ancestors of characters from the present day games, and take heavy design inspirations from them.

You are taken in by Laventon and Akari/Rei and taken to the Galaxy Expedition Team, a military corps surveying the area of Hisui in order to establish settlements there. The leader of the team is Kamado (ancestor of Professor Rowan), with six teams under him led by Cyllene (Cyrus), Zisu (Flint and Buck), Pesselle (Mira/Nurses), Tao Hua, Colza (Gardenia), and Sanqua (Karen). Another notable member is the cook/assassin Beni (Wally).

The native residents of Hisui are the Diamond and Pearl clans, two rival clans who war over the nature of their god Sinnoh (later revealed to be both Dialga and Palkia). The two clans leaders are Adaman and Irida, neither with any clear modern descendants at the time of release, though the Gen IX character Perrin bears certain design similarities from both. Do with that implication what you will. Across the five major regions of Hisui, both clans have a warden over it, one who will give you access to one of five riding Pokemon in the game, while the other will tell you about an alpha Pokemon gone rogue that acts as the region's boss. The Diamond wardens are Mai (Marley), Arezu (Mars), Iscan, Melli, and Sabi (Cheryl). The Pearl wardens are Lian (Clay), Calaba (possibly Mina, it's a little iffy), Palina, Ingo (the acual guy. He got Isekai'd too), and Gaeric (Wulfric).

Other major characters in the story are the Ginkgo Guild, a group of traveling merchants whose number include Volo and Ginter. Ginter is an ancestor of Volkner, and Volo's ancestry was intentionally obscured most of the game, with Volkner and Barry both being possibly candidates, but in the end, he turns out to be the true villain of the game, obsessed with Arceus and becoming its master, and is the ancestor of Cynthia, complete with a full matching team and theme song. He also introduces you to Cogita, also an ancestor of Cynthia, a mysterious wise woman who helps guide you in your journey. Last but not least, you regularly encounter a band of thieves, the Miss Fortune sisters: Charm (Bertha/maybe Agatha), Clover (Candice), and Coin (Saturn).

Major locations in the game include Jubilife Village, the Diamond Settlement, the Pearl Settlement, the Ancient Retreat, and the five warded areas being Obsidian Fieldlands, Crimson Mirelands, Cobalt Coastlands, Coronet Highlands, and Alabaster Icelands, with the Temple of Sinnoh at the very top of Mount Coronet.

I think that's about everything we need. Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

All new Pokemon

Leah

Jamie/River: clone/semi-clone of Todd, with Illumina Orb in their moveset

Akari/Rei: gimmick rep for Legends: Arceus

Trainer System:

Victor

Gloria

Akari

Rei

Hop

Bede

Marnie

Professor Magnolia

Professor Laventon

Sonia

Ball Guy

Milo

Nessa

Kabu

Bea

Allister

Opal

Melony

Gordie

Piers

Raihan

Leon

Chairman Rose

Oleana

Swordward

Shieldbert

Mustard

Klara

Avery

Peony

Peonia

Kamado

Cyllene

Zisu

Beni

Adaman

Irida

Mai

Arezu

Iscan

Melli

Sabi

Lian

Calaba

Palina

Ingo

Gaeric

Volo

Ginter

Cogita

Charm

Clover

Coin

Stages:

Postwick

Wedgehurst

Motostoke

Turffield

Hulbury

Hammerlocke

Stow-on-Side

Ballonlea

Circhester

Spikemuth

Wyndon

Freezington

Isle of Armor

Slumbering Weald

Wild Zone

Galar Mine

Glimwood Tangle

Rose Tower

Dynamax Stadium

Smile-based stage? I don't know how that would even work really.

Pokemon Cafe

Florio Island

Belusylva Island

Maricopia Islands

Voluca Island

Durice Island

Aurus Island

Remoat Stadium

Auroma Stadium

Shivre City

Mer Stadium

Theia Sky Ruins

Jubilife Village

Diamond Settlement

Pearl Settlement

Ancient Retreat

Obsidian Fieldlands

Crimson Mirelands

Cobalt Coastlands

Coronet Highlands

Alabaster Icelands

Temple of Sinnoh

And that's about it! Now, let us go and cover all of the smaller games from this generation that I skipped over.