Pokémon Sun & Moon Essentials Guide – Part 2

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SPOILERS AHEAD

Over the past few weeks, several anonymous sources have been leaking details about the upcoming Nintendo 3DS games, Pokémon Sun & Moon. As usual, we won’t be sharing any images, but we have been keeping track on any and all details about the game. Below is a compilation of information we’ve previously reported on and some new ones as well – all in one place for your convenience! Part 1 can be found here. Anything related to the plot of the game will be “highlight to view” – Read at your own risk.

Moves

New Moves

  • First Impression | Bug/Phys/90/100 – Although this move has great power, it only works the first turn the user is in battle 
  • Baneful Bunker – In addition to protecting the user from attacks, this move also poisons any attacker that makes direct contact
  • Spirit Shackle | Ghost/Phys/80/100 – The user attacks while simultaneously stitching the target’s shadow to the ground to prevent the target from escaping
  • Darkest Lariat | Dark/Phys/85/100 – The user swings both arms and hits the target. The target’s stat changes don’t affect this attack’s damage
  • Sparkling Aria | Water/Spec/90/100 – The user bursts into song, emitting many bubbles. Any Pokémon suffering from a burn will be healed by the touch of these bubbles
  • Ice Hammer | Ice/Phys/100/90 – The user swings and hits with its strong, heavy fist. It lowers the user’s Speed, however
  • High Horsepower | Ground/Phys/95/95 – The user fiercely attacks the target using its entire body
  • Solar Blade | Grass/Phys/125/100 – In this two-turn attack, the user gathers light and fills a blade with the light’s energy, attacking the target on the next turn
  • Throat Chop | Dark/Phys/80/100 – The user attacks the target’s throat, and the resultant suffering prevents the target from using moves that emit sound for two turns
  • Pollen Puff | Bug/Spec/90/100 – The user attacks the enemy with a pollen puff that explodes. If the target is an ally, it gives the ally a pollen puff that restores its HP instead
  • Anchor Shot | Steel/Phys/80/100 – The user entangles the target with its anchor chain while attacking. The target becomes unable to flee
  • Lunge | Bug/Phys/80/100 – The user makes a lunge at the target, attacking with full force. This also lowers the target’s Attack stat
  • Smart Strike | Steel/Phys/80/* – The user stabs the target with a sharp horn. This attack never misses
  • Revelation Dance | Normal/Spec/90/100 – The user attacks the target by dancing very hard. The user’s type determines the type of this move
  • Trop Kick | Grass/Phys/70/100 – The user lands an intense kick of tropical origins on the target. This also lowers the target’s Attack stat
  • Beak Blast | Flying/Phys/100/100 – The user first heats up its beak, and then it attacks the target. Making direct contact with the Pokémon while it’s heating up its beak results in a burn
  • Clanging Scales | Dragon/Spec/110/100 – The user rubs the scales on its entire body and makes a huge noise to attack the opposing Pokémon. The user’s Defense stat goes down after the attack
  • Dragon Hammer | Dragon/Phys/90/100 – The user uses its body like a hammer to attack the target and inflict damage
  • Brutal Swing | Dark/Phys/60/100 – The user swings its body around violently to inflict damage on everything in its vicinity
  • Shell Trap | Fire/Spec/150/100 – The user sets a shell trap. If the user is hit by a physical move, the trap will explode and inflict damage on the opposing Pokémon
  • Fleur Cannon | Fairy/Spec/130/90 – The user unleashes a strong beam. The attack’s recoil harshly lowers the user’s Sp. Atk stat
  • Psychic Fangs | Psychic/Phys/85/100 – The user bites the target with its psychic capabilities. This can also destroy Light Screen and Reflect
  • Stomping Tantrum | Ground/Phys/75/100 – Driven by frustration, the user attacks the target. If the user’s previous move has failed, the power of this move doubles
  • Shadow Bone | Ghost/Phys/85/100 – The user attacks by beating the target with a bone that contains a spirit. This may also lower the target’s Defense stat
  • Accelerock | Rock/Phys/40/100 – The user smashes into the target at high speed. This move always goes first
  • Liquidation  Water/Phys/85/100 – The user slams into the target using a full-force blast of water. This may also lower the target’s Defense stat
  • Prismatic Laser | Psychic/Spec/160/100 – The user shoots powerful lasers using the power of a prism. The user can’t move on the next turn
  • Spectral Thief | Ghost/Phys/90/100 – The user hides in the target’s shadow, steals the target’s stat boosts, and then attacks
  • Sunsteel Strike | Steel/Phys/100/100 – The user slams into the target with the force of a meteor. This move can be used on the target regardless of its Abilities
  • Moongeist Beam | Ghost/Spec/100/100 – The user emits a sinister ray to attack the target. This move can be used on the target regardless of its Abilities
  • Zing Zap | Electric/Phys/80/100 – A strong electric blast crashes down on the target, giving it an electric shock. This may also make the target flinch
  • Multi-Attack | Normal/Phys/90/100 – Cloaking itself in high energy, the user slams into the target. The memory held determines the move’s type
  • Leafage – The user attacks by pelting the target with leaves
  • Nature’s Madness – The user hits the target with the force of nature. It halves the target’s HP 
  • Shore Up – The user regains up to half of its max HP. It restores more HP in a sandstorm. 
  • Floral Healing – The user restores the target’s HP by up to half of its max HP. It restores more HP when the terrain is grass
  • Strength Sap – The user restores its HP by the same amount as the target’s Attack stat. It also lowers the target’s Attack stat
  • Laser Focus – The user concentrates intensely. The attack on the next turn always results in a crticial hit
  • Spotlight – The user shines a spotlight on the target so that only the target will be attacked during the turn
  • Gear Up – The user engages its gears to raise the Attack and Sp. Atk stats of ally Pokémon with the Plus or Minus Ability
  • Psychic Terrain – This protects Pokémon on the ground from priority moves and powers up Psychic-type moves for five turns
  • Fire Lash – The user strikes the target with a burning lash. This also lowers the target’s Defense stat
  • Power Trip – The user boasts its strength and attacks the target. The more the user’s stats are raised, the greater the move’s power
  • Burn Up – To inflict massive damage, the user burns itself out. After using this move, the user will no longer be Fire type
  • Speed Swap – The user exchanges Speed stats with the target
  • Purify – The user heals the target’s status condition. If the move succeeds, it also restores the user’s own HP
  • Core Enforcer – If the Pokémon the user has inflicted damage on have already used their moves, this move eliminates the effect of the target’s Ability
  • Instruct – The user instructs the target to use the target’s last move again
  • Aurora Veil – This move reduces damage from physical and special moves for five turns. This can be used only in a hailstorm
  • Tearful Look – The user gets teary eyed to make the target lose its combative spirit. This lowers the target’s Attack and Sp. Atk stats
  • Toxic Thread – The user shoots poisonous threads to poison the target and lower the target’s Speed stat

Z-Moves

  • Breakneck Blitz (Normal)
  • Bloom Doom (Grass)
  • Inferno Overdrive (Fire)
  • Hydro Vortex (Water)
  • Gigavolt Havoc (Electric)
  • Supersonic Skystrike (Flying)
  • Savage Spin Out (Bug)
  • Continental Crush (Rock)
  • Tectonic Rage (Ground)
  • All Out Pummeling (Fighting)
  • Shattered Psyche (Psychic)
  • Black Hole Eclipse (Dark)
  • Acid Downpour (Poison)
  • Never Ending Nightmare (Ghost)
  • Twinkle Tackle (Fairy)
  • Subzero Slammer (Ice)
  • Devastating Drake (Dragon)
  • Corkscrew Crash (Steel)
  • Catastropika (Exclusive to Pikachu)
  • 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt (Exclusive to Ash’s Pikachu)
  • Stoked Sparksurfer (Exclusive to Alolan Raichu)
  • Extreme Evoboost (Exclusive to Eevee)
  • Pulverizing Pancake (Exclusive to Snorlax)
  • Genisis Supernova (Exclusive to Mew)
  • Sinister Arrow Raid (Exclusive to Decidueye)
  • Oceanic Operetta (Exclusive to Primarina)
  • Malicious Moonsault (Exclusive to Inceneroar)
  • Guardian of Alola (Excluisve to all four Tapus)
  • Soul-Stealing 7-Star Strike (Exclusive to Marshadow)

Abilities

New Abilities

  • Stamina – Boosts the Defense stat when hit by an attack
  • Wimp Out – The Pokémon cowardly switches out when its HP becomes half or less
  • Emergency Exit – The Pokémon, sensing danger, switches out when its HP becomes half or less
  • Water Compaction – Boosts the Pokémon’s Defense stat sharply when hit by a Water-type move
  • Merciless – The Pokémon’s attacks become critical hits if the target is poisoned
  • Shields Down – When its HP becomes half or less, the Pokémon’s shell breaks and it becomes aggressive
  • Stakeout – Doubles the damage dealt to the target’s replacement if the target switches out
  • Water Bubble – Lowers the power of Fire-type moves done to the Pokémon and prevents the Pokémon from getting a burn
  • Steelworker – Powers up Steel-type moves
  • Berserk – Boosts the Pokémon’s Sp. Atk stat when it takes a hit that causes its HP to become half or less
  • Slush Rush – Boosts the Pokémon’s Speed stat in a hailstorm
  • Long Reach – The Pokémon uses its moves without making contact with the target
  • Liquid Voice – All sound-based moves become Water-type moves
  • Triage – Gives priority to a healing move
  • Galvanize – Normal-type moves become Electric-type moves. The power of those moves is boosted a little
  • Surge Surfer – Doubles the Pokémon’s Speed stat on Electric Terrain
  • Schooling – When it has a lot of HP, the Pokémon forms a powerful school. It stops schooling when its HP is low
  • Disguise – Once per battle, the shroud that covers the Pokémon can protect it from an attack
  • Battle Bond – Defeating an opposing Pokémon strengthens the Pokémon’s bond with its Trainer, and it becomes Ash-Greninja. Water Shuriken gets more powerful
  • Power Construct – Other Cells gather to aid when its HP becomes half or less. Then the Pokémon changes its form to Complete Forme
  • Corrosion – The Pokémon can poison the target even if it’s a Steel or Poison type
  • Comatose – It’s always drowsing and will never wake up. It can attack without waking up
  • Queenly Majesty – Its majesty pressures the opposing Pokémon, making it unable to attack using priority moves
  • Innards Out – Damages the attacker landing the finishing hit by the amount equal to its last HP
  • Dancer – When another Pokémon uses a dance move, it can use a dance move following it regardless of its Speed
  • Battery – Powers up ally Pokémon’s special moves
  • Fluffy – Halves the damage taken from moves that make direct contact, but doubles that of Fire-type moves
  • Dazzling – Surprises the opposing Pokémon, making it unable to attack using priority moves
  • Soul-Heart – Boosts its Sp. Atk stat every time a Pokémon faints
  • Tangling Hair – Contact with the Pokémon lowers the attacker’s Speed stat
  • Receiver – The Pokémon copies the Ability of a defeated ally
  • Power of Alchemy – The Pokémon copies the Ability of a defeated ally
  • Beast Boost – The Pokémon boosts its most proficient stat each time it knocks out a Pokémon
  • RKS System – Changes the Pokémon’s type to match the memory disc it holds
  • Electric Surge – Turns the ground into Electric Terrain when the Pokémon enters a battle
  • Psychic Surge – Turns the ground into Psychic Terrain when the Pokémon enters a battle 
  • Misty Surge – Turns the ground into Misty Terrain when the Pokémon enters a battle
  • Grassy Surge – Turns the ground into Grassy Terrain when the Pokémon enters a battle
  • Full Metal Body – Prevents other Pokémon’s moves or Abilities from lowering the Pokémon’s stats
  • Shadow Shield – Reduces the amount of damage the Pokémon takes while its HP is full
  • Prism Armor – Reduces the power of supereffective attacks taken

Part 3 of our Essentials Guide will be posted tomorrow and features info about new items, Pokémon nerfs, buffs, and more!

T MINUS TWO DAYS UNTIL POKÉMON SUN & MOON!

t minus 7 days for europe lol sorry

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1,204 thoughts on “Pokémon Sun & Moon Essentials Guide – Part 2”

        • Let’s be honest though. Games with various strategies that involve out thinking your opponent rather than simply being faster or stronger are seldom mainstream.

          Reply

          • Totally I’ve trained myself to mentally list nearly EVERY stat build and possible movesets of every Pokemon merely by a single glance

        • At least if you battle competitively. With all the “help” the new interface gives you by telling you which Pokemon has a stat boost, supereffective moves, etc. I’m confident I can use my “hit it till it dies/faints” strategy, perfectly embodied in my favorite Pokemon, Marowak.

          Reply

          • Yeah… the few times I’ve battled competitively, I used a Meganium and a Milotic who healed themselves while the other guys slowly died of poison. But my Marowak Bonemeranged its way through the entirety of HeartGold, LeafGreen, and X with no problem.

            EDIT: I taught my competitive Marowak Thunder Punch and there are several very angry Gyarados trainers out there now.

          • New interface is fantastic. Children nor competitive players should be expected to take notes on stat changes that are currently effecting a battle. It SHOULD just be listed there. And seeing what moves are SE or resisted is good for the game. The game is about out thinking and strategizing your opponent not a test of who has the best memory.

        • Fleur Cannon, Nature’s Madness and Floral Healing

          (belongs to Magearna, the Tapu and Comfey respectively)

          I at least wanted a new status move that raised stats or acted as a healing move to buff weaker Fairies like Wigglytuff and maybe other Pokémon such as Mismagius and Jynx, and then a weak Fairy move for early game and then a Play Rough alternative

          Reply

      • Oh be quiet Earthen

        Who was the one moaning over only ‘two’ new Ground-Types? You. Fae can express his feelings over freaking Pokémon moves if he wants to.

        Reply

          • Because you don’t get Play Rough when you’re like Level 1 all the way to Level 30+ for most Pokémon, and that’s a decent portion of the game without fitting Fairy STAB

          • Oh contrair (if that Twitter was right)
            Did you hear that Move Relarner actually lets you learn moves despite your level

          • Cute, but no

            Move relearner is after the sixth Gym in Kalos, and at the League in Alola

            Not exactly early game, is it bud?

          • There’s going to be more physical Fairies as time goes on

            And other Pokémon would appreciate physical Fairy coverage

            The majority of ground types are physically offensive and we have Mud Slap, Mud Bomb, Mud Shot, etc all as early game options.

          • Lol The majority of your argument is little more than [with a pouty face and arms crossed] “I don’t like them!”

          • we see things very differently you and I. There are many reasons I want weaker fairy moves and I wouldn’t necessarily replace them with play rough

          • Lol no

            1) It’s not well distributed because it doesn’t fit much Pokémon, not just Fairy-Types. There’s things like physical Ghost and Psychic-types nd the Tapu which would appreciate a fitting, physical fairy stab.

            2) Because it’s 90 BP, you’re not going to see it early game, and people actually care about that too because your physical Fairies (especially when more happen, which they will) are stuck with special STAB.

            3) It doesn’t have 100 accuracy, every move should have a strong (80+ base power), reliable attack

          • Not really…most other types have moves that are at least over 100 in both physical and special. While I think they’ve done a good job of filling in more fairy pokemon, they should’ve expanded their movepool.

          • I’m all about them expanding move options and balancing types. Like there need to be more physical psychic and water moves, fairy and bug moves in general, and more special dark, rock, steel, ground, and fighting.

          • Tbh Bug is on the right track this Gen, they got Lunge and usable Leech Life, hope they keep it up.

            And tbh I pretty much agree with all these

          • Tbh seeing as Regional Variants, Mega Evolution and Z-Moves may start to get distributed in later games in a generation, full moves and abilities in the middle of generations wouldn’t be surprising in the future

  8. THESE ARE AWESOME

    – Ice Hammer? YES!! More physical ice moves thank god!
    – Gear Up? Neat! Probably some Magearna/Klinklang combos is what they are going for
    – Pollen Powder is great. For Ribombee I assume?
    – Woo Bug is viable
    – Slush Rush Yuss
    -power of ALCHEMY OH MY GOD

    Reply

  10. Okay, if you guys could make a Pokémon exclusive Z-Move, what would it be?

    Rules and Requirements

    1) Must run off of a move the Pokémon can learn.
    2) It must match the type, category and general theme of that move, and the move must be the same type as the Pokémon.

    Optional

    3) Mostly for fun, the Z-Crystal name (Pokémon-ium Z, example being Decidium Z or Snorlium Z)
    4) Brief description of the Z-Move animation’s animation
    5) The exact power of the Z-Move (caps at around 200)

    Reply

    • Hmmmm
      I want to say
      Hyper Horn Devastator (Sadly it’s a Normal Move)
      Rhydolium Z
      Horn Drill

      It draws forth the great power long forgotten in Rhydon’s horn and extends over twenty feet and strikes the opponent fainting them and causing 1/4th of remaining HP to be dealt equal amongst party Pokemon

      Reply

    • Mamoswine:
      Glacial Grave – Phsyical – 160 BP – Base Move: Icicle Crash – Flash freezes target in a glacier. Mamoswine sprints at and demolishes it open, damaging the target.

      Reply

    • Lopunny running off High Jump Kick.
      Ultra Sky Kick

      Jumps in the air does a bunch of flips? Lands on the enemy and then bounces back to the ground and flips its hair ear thing in style

      Reply

    • Name: Wight Noise
      Type: Normal
      Base Move: Perish Song

      Effect: Breaking through all defenses, Mismagius permanently (the rest of the battle) gives all Pokémon around it the ability ‘Zombie’, which halves the opponent’s speed stat.

      Reply

    • Volcarona w/ Volcaronium Z & it runs off of Fiery Dance

      Coronal Aura
      -Volcarona blocks out the sun and a halo of light appears around it (that’s the corona). Then it fires hot plasma onto the opponent and all stats raise on stage.
      -180 power

      Reply

    • I’m going to make a new Pokemon for this, then one for Diancie.

      Pokemon 1: Patrimelon
      Type: Grass/Water
      Z-Move: Mighty Melon Massacre
      Name of the Z-Crystal; Patricium Z
      Description: Takes out large melon from body. Does triple somersault, then slams the melon onto the top of the opponent. After, he burps vigorously.
      Power: 160

      Real Pokemon: Diancie
      Z-Move: Deadly Diamond Disaster
      Name of the Z-Crystal: Diancium Z
      Description: Diancie begins to spin. Diamonds launch off her body and her diamond hair begin to glow and enlarge. Diancie then does a diamond shape with her arms, and then lowers her head, and points, launching out diamonds from her head and from the surrounding. They spin and spin around like a hurricane until the final diamonds lands in the middle, exploding diamonds all over the opponent.
      Power: 175

      Reply

    • arceus judgement
      judgement day
      arcium z

      arceus will summon big meteors

      that will all randomly on the earth but one of them hits the opposing pokemon which leaves a big explosion afterwards
      power 225 additional effect: arceus stat boost equal to what was the opposings pokemon most proficient stat by 1.

      Reply

    • Bewearium Z changes bewear’s Crush Grip (not even sure it can learn it, but play along lol) to Clingy Affection, Bewear rushes the enemy (like breakneck blitz) with hearts for eyes, and delivers a painfully powerful hug that cuts the opposing pokemon’s hp down to 25% of its maximum, and leaves them paralyzed. Normal type.

      Reply

    • Mamoswine: Twin Tusk Terminator
      Mamoswine tosses the pokemon in the air with its tusks and summons icy boulders to bring it back down. Target is confused. 200 power
      Mamoswinium Z

      Reply

    • If I were to make a Pokemon exclusive Z-Move,it would be for Lucario.

      I haven’t come up with a name yet,but it focuses around Bone Rush

      The animations would Lucario basically beating their opponent a bunch of time with the bone,then it focuses a bunch of power through the bone for one last powerful strike.

      I’d say the power would be around 160-170

      Reply

  11. so Pokemon Go was nominated for best Mobile/Handheld game (alongside FE:FATES) and best Family game for the Game Awards 2016

    Reply

        • See fell behind on Fire Emblem by not buying Awakening till the Fates hype was real. I beat it so fast and got so obsessed that once Fates came out I had my FE itch satisfied. I’m sure the iPhone game will push me to purchase Fates.

          Reply

          • The main thing that disappointed me with Awakening was the lack of unique mission objectives. But I hear one of the two halves of Fates solves that problem.

          • i mean fates gives u 3 different paths to choose from (one being dlc) that means 3 unique stories within one universe its just your choice where you wanna move. the mission objectives are really different sometimes

    • As it should.

      The game gets more hate around here than it deserves. Yeah, Niantic didn’t always handle the game well. TONS of early server problems, several promised features that still aren’t in the game, no legendary events, tracker issues, overly simplistic gameplay. It definitely holds no candle to main Pokémon games.

      HOWEVER, the game did several things I never thought would happen. It got me to exercise way more than I thought I would that summer, it brought about a wave of Pokémon popularity that the world hadn’t seen in years (even if many of them were genwunners) – and, my favorite part, it got my fiancé into Pokémon. At least for a little bit. I’ve never been in a relationship with anybody who wanted to play Pokémon with me, so Pokémon GO was a big deal to me for that reason.

      Maybe I can convince her to try out a main-series game ;D Leaf Green would be a good start.

      Reply

        • That would be great. Can’t wait to see Gen II in the game. I already have enough candy for Espeon, Umbreon, Crobat, Slowking and Steelix!

          Reply

      • My dislike for that game has 5000% nothing to do with Niantic. It’s a fun little game. It got me back into Pokémon during a time that I was essentially “done” with video games in my mind. I’m forever grateful for it for getting me back in. But once I started playing real Pokémon again I was quickly disenchanted with GO because the truth is… it’s just an basket toss game attached to a GPS and a top tier IP.

        Reply

    • are they counting 3DS games in this category too or just like mobile games on phones and stuff because if they are why tf is pokemon go on there with so many amazing 3DS games this year

      Reply

  16. Crabominable with Ice Hammer and Hammer Arm in Trick Room should be good. Probably Protect and either a boost or coverage move in the last slot for doubles.

    Reply

  17. Lycanroc not learning Earthquake is quite frustrating. Ekans, Slowpoke, and even Chansey are just some examples of things that make less sense learning it than Lycanroc.

    Reply

  19. Guys I need help, after my Dark Mono do I go for

    Psychic or Steel (its basically an excuse to use Metagross either way but still)

    Reply

  20. Does anyone know how late in the game you can evolve Crabrawler? I know it’s on Ula Ula but I heard you can’t reach the summits until way late and I don’t want to carry around an unevolved Crabrawler Til the end of the game lol

    Reply

  21. I feel like I’m being hella annoying with the constant questions, but do we get another rival who uses the starter stronger to ours? Yes or No? 🙂 (sorry again if I’m being annoying lol)

    Reply

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