Pokémon training has been a simple rind for the last decade or two. Get our pocket monster, give it a cute name, fight dozens of other Pokémon and you’ll wind up with one lean and mean fighting machine. But that’s all about to change in Pokémon X and Y, as the pocket monsters are about to go OVER 9000!
The first of these big new changes, is called Mega Evolution. Only certain Pokémon are capable of learning this new technique, which can only be activated in battle. Pokemon such as Lucario and Mewtwo can evolve into more powerful forms, provided that they’re holding a Mega Stone that is unique to them. For Lucario, that stone happens to be Lucarrionite.
There’ll also be several unique Mega Pokémon, such as a Mega Blaziken, who will only be around for very short distribution events held when the game launches. During that event, players can grab a Torchic which comes with a Blazikenite Mega Stone. Level up that Torchic the old fashioned way into Combusken and then Blaziken, and you’ll be able to use that special Mega Evolution.
A few hours ago saw more Pokemon confirmed for the super-boost. Ampharos, Absol and Mawile will also be able to mega-evolve. They’ll be able to rev it up when they evolve into their new forms, with Ampharos in particular transforming into an Electric/Dragon hybrid.
You’ll be able to learn more about Mega Evolutions from the Shalour City gym leader, Korrina. She’ll be the gym leader who happens to know the secret behind this new battle technique.
Along with Mega Evolutions, players also get a chance to hone their Pokémon with Super-Training. Here’s how it works, according to PokemonXY.com:
Super Training or S.T. is being introduced in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, allowing players to help their Pokémon grow stronger when they’re not in battle. On the Touch Screen of the Nintendo 3DS system, players can have their Pokémon participate in Super Training, activities that will increase a Pokémon’s base stats, the underlying values that define its HP, Attack, Defense, Sp. Atk, Sp. Def, and Speed stats.
One Super Training activity involves having Pokémon train by facing huge Pokémon-shaped Balloon Bots in a virtual space, with both sides trying to shoot balls into the opponent’s goal. Using the Circle Pad and Touch Screen to avoid shots from the Balloon Bots while landing their own in the goal, players will enjoy this action-packed feature while increasing their Pokémon’s base stats to help them become stronger for battle.
For a more casual way to help Pokémon strengthen their base stats, Core Training lets players set up training bags, earned by completing Super-Training Regimens, for Pokémon in their party to use. Pokémon will work on Core Training by themselves, raising their stats on their own. By tapping on the Touch Screen during a Core Training session, players can help their Pokémon increase their base stats, too. Players will be able to see how their Pokémon are doing at their Core Training at any time from the main Super Training screen.
And to top things off, here’s a few new Pokémon that have been announced for the Coldplay generation of monster battling. They’re called Dedenne, Skiddo and Bunnelby.
Pokemon X and Y is out on October. If you’re still slobbering for more content, then enjoy the following two videos below showing off these transformations.
Last Updated: August 12, 2013
TiMsTeR1033
August 12, 2013 at 11:36
Must say it does look pretty cool. Wish I had a 3ds sometimes.
Unavengedavo
August 12, 2013 at 12:30
Is it just me or is Pokemon becoming like COD… Same gameplay just better graphics and slightly different content?
Paul Fouche
August 12, 2013 at 12:34
hahaha feed the trolls!! it causes mass entertainment outbursts
Jimmy
August 12, 2013 at 12:37
It’s just you. The gameplay is similar because in it’s most standard form, it’s still a turn based RPG. Not a lot you can do with that, no reason to change it around. And it’s not like they don’t give you an assload of new content each game.
Unavengedavo
August 12, 2013 at 12:41
To be honest, I have played one version of Pokemon and I actually enjoyed it. Just didn’t really get into it afterwards. I just felt like trolling to lighten up my Monday 😛
Alex [SS] PsyChoPanthis
August 12, 2013 at 14:18
you have a point in your troll post, however Jimmy countered it pretty well.
in saying that, i bought a 3DS a little while ago for SoulSilver and to wait for X/Y. a lot of the new content sounds interesting to me… EXCEPT this part:
“Mega Blaziken, who will only be around for very short distribution events held when the game launches”
this annoys me because there is nowhere in SA where they have this sort of event. (not to my knowledge at least so please excluse me if im just being ignorant :D)
There are plenty of sites that hack pokemon for breeding etc, i mean a buddy of mine got a level 1 Mew, Mewtwo and charmander off a trading site that hacks pokemon into the game as well as numerous stones to force evolutions, it makes me sad panda that we have to resort to methods like that just to have access to exclusive content. Especially when its a pokemon that is actually pretty badass already (Blaziken).
Craig Boonzaier
August 12, 2013 at 12:50
Will we be able to get the Torchic from the launch event, or does staying in South Africa kinda deny us.
Major Commodore 64 Darryn B
August 12, 2013 at 14:53
It’ll most likely be an online event, so provided that you can hook your 3DS up to a Wi-Fi connection, you should be sorted.
Craig Boonzaier
August 12, 2013 at 15:35
I was more worrying about region locking, as outside of Japan, the event has only been confirmed for EU and NA.
Gerhard Davids
August 12, 2013 at 14:24
Looks like it might get easier to EV train without the mindless grind.
Can’t wait th see what exactly the system involves.
Emmla
August 13, 2013 at 18:43
This reminds me of another series ending in mon……