Underneath the Mask: The Mystery of Silvally

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Type: Null and its evolution Silvally are odd Pokémon, and I don’t just mean their chimera-like designs. Ever since Type: Null was first released, folks speculated that it might receive an alternate Form without its mask, but I don’t think anyone expected that it would evolve. I doubt anyone was imagining such a weird way of evolving either — most Pokémon transform into a bigger, stronger and tougher-looking version of themselves when they evolve, or they just turn into more than one of themselves (no offense to Magneton, Dugtrio or Vanilluxe). When Type: Null evolves into Silvally, its head and tail turn from gray to white and it loses the helmet, and that’s about it. But there could be a different reason why this evolution happens the way it does: character development.

Even when Type: Null was first revealed, we knew it had been created by humans, joining a short list of manmade Pokémon that includes the Porygon line, Mewtwo, Genesect and Magearna. According to the Pokémon Sun and Moon Official Website, it “was constructed to synthesize the strengths of various Pokémon, enabling it to adapt to any situation.” The website also says that Type: Null was created to be “powerful enough to rival those Pokémon often spoken of in mythology” in order “to complete a certain mission.” Since Type: Null is a Normal-type that combines aspects of multiple types in its design, and because part of its mask somewhat resembles the ring around Arceus’ middle, plenty of Pokémon fans figured that this Pokémon spoken of in mythology was Arceus.

Upon evolution, Silvally gains even more similarities to Arceus. Its RKS System ability has the same effect as Arceus’ Multitype, the Memory hold items work the same way as Arceus’ plates, and the move Multi-Attack changes type in the same way Judgement does (or Techno Blast, for that matter).

But why would someone create a miniature Arceus?

According to Silvally’s page on the Official Website, it “is said to have been created in order to oppose a threat.” What in Alola is seen as a threat to humans and Pokémon? Ultra Beasts. It’s not officially revealed who made Silvally, but my money’s on the Aether Foundation. For one thing, they seem to be the only organization in Alola with the necessary knowledge and resources to create a mini-Arceus, and for another, they’re researching the Ultra Beasts. If this really is the case, somebody in the Aether Foundation must have decided that only a Pokémon with the adaptability of Arceus could prove strong enough to defeat the Ultra Beasts, but it proved impossible to find and capture an Arceus, so they decided to make their own.

However, Silvally’s wild nature made it impossible to command, so they fitted it with a mask in order to control it, and it became Type: Null. In terms of game mechanics, I suppose this would count as a devolution, similar to how some of Slowking’s Pokédex entries say that Slowking will revert back to Slowpoke if the Shellder is removed from its head. In terms of story speculation, it seems as if the ends are being used to justify the means — the Ultra Beasts must be defeated, so controlling a Pokémon with technology and treating it as a nameless, faceless weapon to use against the Ultra Beasts seems like a viable strategy.

I imagine that Gladion probably stole his Type: Null from the Aether Foundation, and it seems likely that he himself might have defected from the Aether Foundation at that time. I expect that at some point during the story of Pokémon Sun and Moon, the player will receive his or her own Type: Null from someone at the Aether Foundation. The Official Website says that Type: Null evolves into Silvally when it “gains a partner it can trust.” I’m not sure whether that means it evolves through Happiness or through the Pokémon Refresh feature like Sylveon and Pokémon Amie, but it establishes something new within the Pokémon video games: a Pokémon with a character arc. Many Pokémon in the anime have character arcs as they learn and grow with their Trainers, but in the games, that was mainly left up to the player’s imagination.

Type: Null was created to be a weapon with one purpose: to destroy the Ultra Beasts. However, a Trainer who sees beyond that and values Type: Null for itself rather than its power will be able to earn its trust. When that happens, it will tear off its mask and regain its true strength. It’s almost as if Mewtwo in the anime evolved when he turned on Team Rocket and destroyed their base, or when he realized that the gift of life has value for natural Pokémon, cloned Pokémon and humans alike. From the look of things, Sun and Moon just might have the best-written story in the series (although in my opinion, they would have to surpass Black and White in order to accomplish that), but we won’t know for certain until next month.

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432 thoughts on “Underneath the Mask: The Mystery of Silvally”

  2. Third :p

    Also, Silvally is probably the first Pokémon to interest me lore wise with the exception of legendaries, really hyped for what they’ll do with it!

    Reply

  4. I feel like maybe upon evolution we’ll see a small loss of defence but a huge increase in speed. It a,so makes sense that it gets RKS when the mask isn’t taken of, as it reveals the organ in silvallys head which allows it to change type.

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  5. I’m still not sold on the whole Arceus thing
    Yeah yeah the amount of similarities are there but something tells me they are just referring to Legendary Pokemon in general not specifically Arceus
    Until we see some more lore im just not sold

    Reply

  6. Guys I just thought of the most awesomely inappropriate thing ever!!!
    We are all aware that Snorlax has the fear inspiring Pulverizing Pancake Z-Move where it takes advantage of its mind boggling… “Asset”
    Now imagine the result if a Snorlax used Pulverizing Pancake ON A ALOLAN EXEGGUTOR!!!!

    Reply

  8. Why do I get the feeling this was a subtle reference to the “stop having fun guys” of the fandom.
    Although I’m probably just projecting a little after going on YouTube.

    Reply

          • Actually, they’re based on Hawaiin Gods known as Aumakua, they come on the forms of Animals, and Plants, 1 is even a Rock, so it fits you know.
            Also each of the guardians fits an Classic Element, even if they’re not that type.
            Koko Is Air
            the Dolphin seems to fit water.
            Bull one fits Fire,
            Leaving Earth for the Pink one, Sweet Potatoes grow in the earth.

          • It’s still weird to just have three Tapus be animals and then have the fourth be a sweet potato, especially when they have the option to go for a fourth animal :s

          • Yep, I think it looks more like some sea mollusc thing myself, but Sweet Potato fits the idea that they represent the 4 classical elements, speciall in a gen that seems to be inspired by Alchemy.
            Based on that I think we can come up with names for them.
            Tapu Au or Tapu Whenua The Psychic one (They both Mean Water in Moari)
            Tapu Ahi or Tapu Kanaku The Fire one (Both mean Fire in Moari)
            Tapu Katao (Earth in Moari, though it mught be Ground 1 of the 2)
            Koko meaning Air in Moari.
            OR I could be totally wrong.

          • I don’t think the Tapu second names are in Maori, seeing as that’s from New Zealand when there’s a perfectly good Hawaiian word (kokō, or chicken cackling) that makes a lot immediate sense. And I feel that if they were to represent the four elements, they’d actually be those types (Flying, Ground, Water and Fire) rather than the relatively unrelated (besides one) Electric, Psychic, Ghost and Fire. And I also feel they’d make Tapu Koko a bird more associated with the ability of flight that the primarily ground based Rooster.

          • Yeah, but you have to admit if so it does fit into the Alchemy theme that seems to exist, and even though it is Hawaii, they could take inspiration from other islands in the pacific, I mean, they do have a Koala

          • No, not really tbh. Chickens are terrible at flying, even wild ones, as they’re ground based birds that fly to either escape or get a little vertical distance. That, combined with Tapu Koko’s typing being Electric/Fairy rather than Flying/Fairy, just makes me think it’s all a big coincidence, especially if Tapu Tater turns out to be a mollusc or some other animal in its ‘totem’ form.

            The thing is though, the first part of its name is literally the Hawaiian word for ‘Sacred’, and that combined with the fact that it’s name is identical to the Hawaiian word for chicken cackling as well as the fact that it’s Japanese name, Kapu Kokeko (likely a shortening of ‘kokekokko’, or ‘Cockle-doodle-doo’), so it’s most logical that its name is pretty much ‘Sacred Chicken Noises’ in either language rather than ‘Sacred Air’.

          • Yes, however, it also means Sacred in Moari, so you can see where I made the connection.
            If anything, I think the names I made sound cool,
            If they’re not those, it makes me wonder what names they would have, would the all be based on the noises?
            Tapu Moo? Mabye Momo?
            I dunno.
            Maybe I should nickname them the names I said.

          • Yeah but the region’s literally Hawaii and with a much heavier emphasis on its IRL counterpart than past regions, it’s name is literally a corruption of a Hawaiian word and the four islands are literally Hawaiian colour names. Ergo, it’s plain obvious that Tapu Koko’s name is Hawaiian, especially when its Hawaiian name literally sums up its existence whereas the Maori name is a loose connection

            As for names (keep in mind I’m using Google translate because I’m in a hurry, so it could be hilariously wrong)

            Electric: Tapu Koko

            Psychic: Tapu Paki or Tapu Apaki

            (From the Hawaiian words for splash and splashed, presuming its a squid. Can’t see either happening tbh because it sounds awfully like a British slur for people of Pakistani origins.

            Fire:
            Tapu Makani or Tapu Upa (from the apparent Hawaiian term for bellowing, upa makani)

            Tapu Ala or Tapu Alaka (From the apparent Hawaiian terms for ‘bellowed’ (Ala ka) and ‘bellowing’ (Ala)

            And no idea for purple because it’d probably also use splash or something similar. They don’t all have to even be animal or animal related noises though.

            And I’d avoid referring to the Tapus by your nicknames, I’m not saying their bad or anything but not everyone’s seen your theories and thus may get confused.

          • I mean Nickname them in Game, but yes those are actually cool names.
            But yes I doubt the Psychic one too, perhaps they could be the exception and have it in a different language, not saying my idea, but a different close language

        • Or the very least Ground/Fighting….
          It’s freaking unfair that out of all the Fighting types not one of them paired with Ground
          That was my absolute only wish for this gen but like always it screws me over

          Reply

          • I once came up with a concept of a Pokemon which was ground fighting, it was like a humanoid creature made of sand. It slept underground and if you trod on it it would awake and punch its fist through the sand and attack at you. They say the sand it sprays in your eyes will make you enraged.

            It evolved into a Pokemon based of this guy, the sandman, ground/ fairy special attacker which would attack with huge dreams made of luminous sand and would float around….. It’s sand is used to keep its pre evo asleep so they are less ragey. It was like this awesome at peace monk dude. Thinking about it, you’d hate it if this happened wouldn’t you?…

            https://uk.pinterest.com/kailiebutler/sandy-the-sandman/

            Hoping for fire fairy bull!

  13. I hate type null but love sivally ( though it’s name is shit). GUYS IF AZs FLOETTE CAN BOND PHENOMENON THEN PIKA SHOULD BE ABLE TO. I don’t buy Ash is closer to Greninja than pika, or even Pokemon like Bayleef, totodile, charizard, infernape.

    Reply

    • AZ’s floette doesn’t use the Bond Phenomenon that’s dumb
      The deal is it was a special Floette that originally belonged to AZ’s Mother who had some connection to the Eternal Flower which it holds
      It was forced to fight in the Kalos war brought forth from AZ’s younger brother
      Then the whole Ultimate Weapon jargon which used infinity energy to end the war but also granted him and Floette eternal life but it left him because of the closedness of his heart

      Reply

      • Check ash greninja stat increase and compare it to AZ floette. Plus it looks like him with the red black patterns. And they keep talking about the bond phenomenon happening several hindered years ago, who I think is with the immortal man AZ. The kalos war happened three hundred years ago. I think that’s because AZ floette is the first bond phenomenon Pokemon it hasn’t been distributed yet.

        Reply

    • I hope the Bond Phenomenon/Synchro Evolution/Z-forms thing works on other pokemon like the Gen 7 starters, Lycanroc, Gen 6 starters, Marshadow, and Gen 2 starters (since we are not getting new megas)

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    • I didn’t like its name either until someone pointed out that it might be inspired by Silicon Valley, the region where many technological companies are based.

      Reply

  14. I wrote this a reply to someone but it felt interesting so I wanted to make it my own comment:
    Based on what we know, we can assign the 3 Known UB to planets. Spoilers for leaked UB,
    UB-01 could be seen as a messenger, and so Mercury, however, it’s also known to transform, so, despite not been classed as a planet anymore, it also fits Pluto, Pluto is the “Planet” of Transformation.
    UB-02 is easier.
    Venus represents Love, Beauty attracts all forms of life.
    Mars represents Energy and War, which very much fits Absorbtion.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7e4a9789107973542d8d1efed616541cda49acf49c736dc377d0b85146298b95.png
    We could probably assign the other Planets, minus Earth, if we knew more about the others, though based on looks I have a couple of ideas, but no evidence for them

    Now it’s also worth noting that, well they seem to go in order if you think of 01 as Mercury.
    Mercury, Venus (Skip Earth), Mars, so going by this, this is my idea going on their order in the leaked pokedex https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/de14e3a6fbb41fb1b3c2a9bf497d99129c96e188e4e4be713879f8f5d9563af7.png
    http://imgur.com/gallery/5C8ry

    Ok so this may be overthinking and probably far off, but it’s something to think about…

    Reply

        • If I can ace my midterms then I’m good. My lowest grade right now is in mathematics with a 96%, but considering I’m taking the class 2 years in advance I’m okay, thanks! Good luck with your essay!

          Reply

          • Oh goodness, if that’s your lowest then you’re doing quite well (unless I’m missing something with the different schooling systems of different places and all :s)

            Good luck with your mid-terms!

            And thanks!

          • The grading is 50% tests, quizzes, exams, etc… and the other 50% is homework, in-class work/participation, and what ever the teacher wants to add. If you do great in-class, but are failing or getting B’s to C’s in your tests, your final grade is already a given unless you somehow pass midterms and finals.

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  22. Kokomo is barely 5 ft whereas type null is 6 and silvally 7 almost 8!! I don’t understand… they’re all different sizes to what I miahkmged. I thought silvally was the size of ninetales.

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  23. i tried to figure out the number of new pokemon for each type. I didn’t count UBs and I made a bit of speculations on unrevealed pokemon:

    NORMAL: Komala, Pikipeck (possibly + 2), Yangoos, Gumshoos, Drampa, Stuffle, Beware, Oranguru, Type: Null, Silvally (possibly Marshadow). Total: 10 (13 at best).

    GRASS: Rowlet, Dartrix, Robinroot, Bounsweet, Steenee, Tsareena, Fomantis, Lurantis, Morelull, Moremorelull, (possibly the sea urchin +2). Total: 10 (12 at best).

    FIRE: Litten, Torracat, Beltigre, Salandit, Slutandit, Oricorio, Tortunator, Tapu Bull (possibly Marshadow). Total: 8 (9 at best).

    WATER: Popplio, Brionne, Poppmaid, Bruxish, Wimpod, Wimpod2, Wishiwashi, Pyukumuku (possibly sea urchins, spiders and anchor). Total: 8 (13 at best).

    ELECTRIC: Charjabug, Vikavolt, Togedemaru, Oricorio, Tapu Koko, (possibly the spider line +2). Total: 5 (7 at best).

    BUG: Grubbin, Charjabug, Vikavolt, Cutiefly, Ribombee, Wimpod, Wimpod2, (possibly the spider line + 2). Total: 7 (9 at best).

    GROUND: Mudbray, Mudsdale, Sandygast, Palossand. Total: 4.

    FLYING: Rowlet, Dartrix, Robinroot, Pikipeck + 2 evos, Oricorio, Minior. Total: 8.

    ICE: (possibly Crabrawler evo). Total: 0 (1 at best).

    FIGHTING: Stuffle, Beware, Crabrawler, Crabrawler2, Passimian, Hakkamo-0, Kommo-o (possibly Betigre). Total: 7 (8 at best).

    PSYCHIC: Bruxish, Oricorio, Oranguru, Tapu Squid, Solgaleo, Lunala, (possibly legends pre evos and Marshadow). Total: 6 (9 at best).

    GHOST: Mimimkyu, Sandygast, Palossand, Lunala, Oricorio, Tapu Dolphin (possibly the anchor and Marshadow). Total: 6 (8 at best).

    DARK: (possibly Beltigre, Pikipeck2-3, Sea Urchins, Spiders, Marshadow). Total: 0 (8 at best).

    STEEL: Togedemaru, Solgaleo, Magearna (possibly sea urchins and anchor). Total: 3 (6 at best).

    ROCK: Rockruff, Licanrock, Minior, (possibly the anchor). Total: 3 (4 at best).

    POISON: Salandit, Slutandit, (possibly Sea urchins, spiders and Marshadow). Total: 2 (7 at best).

    DRAGON: Drampa, Tortunator, Jagmo-o, Hakkamo-0, Kommo-0. Total: 5.

    FAIRY: Cutiefly, Ribombee, Mimikyu, Confey, Morelull, Moremorelull, Tapu x4, Magearna (possibly Poppmaid and Marshadow). Total: 11 (13 at best).

    Synthesis:

    FAIRY: 11-13
    NORMAL: 10-13
    GRASS: 10-12
    WATER: 8-13
    FIRE: 8-9
    FLYING: 8
    BUG: 7-9
    FIGHTING: 7-8
    PSYCHIC: 6-9
    GHOST: 6-8
    ELECTRIC: 5-7
    DRAGON: 5.
    GROUND: 4
    STEEL: 3-6
    ROCK: 3-4
    POISON: 2-7
    DARK: 0-8
    ICE: 0-1

    Ice is the new ground, while fairies rule again.

    Reply

    • Dark type for pikipek’s evos seems a bit out of the left field…
      Greay list otherwise, thanks!
      Disgusted by fairy favouritism, I understand the amount of legendaries like Tapus is distorting the total in such a small generation, but it’s ridiculous the elusive, mystical type might be the most common. Sort your sh*t out GF, ffs.

      Reply

      • I agree. They need to introduce that level of mysticism into the designs. Fairies are supposed to be dragon counterpart.

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      • I like Fairy type. The problem is that 6 and 7 gens together introduced only 7 steel pokemon and 4 poison pokemon (for what we know for sure). What’s the point to create a new type to balance the power of dragons and them make that type overpowered like Dragon was?

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  25. So if we assume if there are 7 trials that means 7 trail Captains; we may possibly know all of them. We have the 5 officially revealed, Iilma Mallow, Lana, Sophocles, Kiawe.
    We then have the girl in the demo trailer who has the captain badge thing in her hair, the ghostly looking girl. Then we possibly have Kahili, the character the NPC mentions in the demo, who is said to be great at golf and off concurring the world. I mean I maybe wrong about the last one but gamexplain seems to think she could be one to so, what are everyone’s thoughts?

    Reply

    • I don’t know about Kahili yet, but don’t cite gamexplain as your reasoning. If you’ll recall, they were sure there would be 14 Trial Captains and 4 Kahunas. 😉

      Reply

      • I wasn’t really citing them, more they had a similar idea to what idea to what I did. I don’t think I ever believed we were going to get 14 Trail Captains. Clearly as evidence suggests about its most probably dragon. Maybe Kahili is the champion?

        Reply

      • Presumably Wishiwashi is a Totem. They just made it’s School form the Totem and didn’t give it a bigger version since it’s already so big. lol

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          • Well technically the blank spaces in the dex we got aren’t “classified” as anything. People are just putting two and two together I believe. The reasoning is still there tho lol

          • I’m interested to see if Zygardes are Totem forms, because it’s likely they’re Cell and Core, but those were found as items in the datamine. It would be an interesting Boss Battle

          • It’s definitely a head scratcher. Maybe the other spots are for blue core Zygarde’s forms or something. I don’t think it’ll be anything like the Totems. So it’s either really well hidden forms or they really are just the Core and Cell for whatever reason lol

          • Maybe it doesn’t call anything but changes form part way through, but it would be pretty bad ass if it called a Garchomp in.

          • From what we’ve seen theres not one after 100%, but there is possibly one for 50% and 10%. Probably getting ahead of ourselves and it is Core and Cell tbh

          • most probably. Just whilst we’re on the topic of the whole trail thing. Where do you think all the trails are based. I’m thinking just Ilima on the first island. Then Mallow, Lana and Kiawe on the second. Maybe Sophocles and Ghost girl third island and Dragon on the last.
            I some how don’t see the second island having 4 and the rest just one

          • I’m a bit disappointed that out of the big island we’re only getting a maximum of 2 trails on there, I would’ve thought there would’ve been more but ow well.

          • Probably means theres something else big there, a big plot element, though an 8th trial wouldn’t have hurt, specially as it seems Dark is screwed over again

          • I feel she’s the champion character. And I’m certain if she’s Royalty she will be dark, as hinted at by our friend Meowth, but that’s not the same as a Trial Captain/Gym Leader.
            Though Raticate being Part Dark means in Moon Illima can be the dark one, but it’s normal too so.

          • quiet possibly, shes definitely something but it seems strange that if shes a Kahuna and specialists in golf why is she not located on the second island where the golf course is? As we already know Olivia is the Kahuna there

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