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”

  1. Am I the only one who likes the terrain based evo? Adds variation rather than just ‘slap a stone at it’, which tbh would just get meh over time

    Tbh if they just moved Icy Rock earlier and then got another Pokémon for the Moss Rock it’d be much better

    Reply

    • I just think it leaves a plot-hole, like if I set an Eevee on fire or drown it or taser it it doesn’t evolve, but if it’s in “extreme weather conditions” like “near a mossy rock in a forest” it does.

      Reply

    • I wish there were more of these.

      Some fire types could evolve in volcanic areas. Ground or Rock Types could evolve in sandy areas.

      I also liked Goodra Rain evolution. We need more of these. We also need Sun to be prominent in the overworld like Rain and Sandstorm are

      Reply

      • Tbh I wish fan games would consider methods like these when adapting trade Evolutions, stuff like Magmar evolving at volcanic areas would be so cool!

        But speaking of weather, what I really want is a Flying-Type breeze Pokémon with Cloud Nine that evolves into a heat wave in sun (Flying/Fire), a hurricane or cyclone in rain (Flying/Water), a blizzard in Hail (Flying/Ice) or a sandstorm in… Well, you guessed it (Flying/Rock)

        Reply

        • While that would be a cool idea, my imagination doesn’t allow me to picture those things as physical beings :p

          I’ve always been a fan of weather and I only wish it was utilised more in-game

          Reply

  3. I’m sorry guys I’ve decided I’m leaving till the reveal or a little after it comes out.

    Bye Guys I’ll miss you Goodbye.?

    Reply

  5. Fakemon Idea! (literally wrote it beneath but it’s more accessible as it’s own post

    Babreeze (Baby + Breeze)
    The Blustery Pokémon
    Flying-Type
    Cloud Nine/Wind Waker

    It’s just a cute little wind monster, with a cute little cloud in the middle being blown by wind

    It’d learn moves such as Rapid Spin, Defog, Air Cutter/Slash Weather Ball, all four weather moves, and a new weather attack which activates a weaker version of Delta Stream (just called strong winds as a field effect) called Gale Force. It also has a hidden ability that sets this weather up.

    Depending on the weather, it evolves into one of the many forms of

    Estormous
    The Stormy Pokémon
    Flying/Fire, Flying/Water, Flying/Ice, or Flying/Rock
    Abilities*: Drought/Drizzle/Snow Warning/Sand Stream* or Spin Out*/Wind Waker

    Sunny Form and Sandy Form are white clouds surrounded by a heat wave (so red wind) or a sandstorm. They look more similar to even other due to being ‘dry’ weathers. When they evolve, Sunny Form learns Heat Wave and Sandy Form learn a new attack, Desert Fury (Rock-Type Fire Blast).

    Rainy Form and Snowy Form blank clouds, surrounded by a hurricane or a blizzard. They look more similar due to being ‘wet’ weathers. As all of them learn Hurricane, Rainy Form gets ‘Tropical Storm’ (a Water-Type Blizzard clone unique to it and Castform), and Snowy Form gets Blizzard.

    I might make a companion Fakemon, a Ground-Type that evolves depending on terrain status.

    Reply

      • I just can’t keep up with all the video games I’d like to play like I did in high school but dammit if I’m not excited by the idea of consolidated Nintendo game development.

        Reply

      • Honestly have no clue what it could be. My guess is a Stadium style game where they can prepare for transitioning Pokémon onto the Switch by making a game that needs little more than the Pokémon and attack animations. No overworld.

        Reply

  9. Dazzling inspired time to share my One of my Fakemon!
    This is a water starter line I came up with a long time ago

    Plataby (Platypus + baby)
    Water
    Torrent (HA: Toxicity)

    Platysaur
    Water
    Torrent/Toxicity

    Poseidypus
    Water/Poison
    Torrent/Toxicity

    Its ability Toxicity give all its damaging moves a 20% chance to Toxic poison.
    It learns the basic water moves water types learn as well as poison type moves. Also gets access to Thunderbolt/Thunder and Hurricane. Also learns a new move called Toxic Spout, a 90bp water type move that also deals poison type damage.

    I made this cause i so desperately want GF to make a platypus Pokémon

    Reply

    • Y’know just because Platypuses have venomous barbs on their elbows doesn’t make them lords of water and storms with venom

      Reply

    • I’ve always wanted a Fire bear starter that turns Fire/Dark… and a Grass leemur that turns Grass/Psychic…. Then the water type would be Water/Ghost and most likely a dolphin based on my friend and my story

      Reply

  10. Here’s the corresponding Terrain based line!

    Earthant (Earth + Infant)
    The Steady Pokémon
    Ground-Type
    Surge Scourge/Geo Surge

    I don’t know how to describe what I see, it’s like a little mound of compacted earth which has veins of energy going through it. It’s basically earthy mound powered by elemental energy, because we needed another golem based pokemon. Its eyes, veins and moth colour glow with orange.

    It learns Rapid Spin, Terra Smash (physical, Normal Weather Ball effected by terrains) and Level Smash (user performs a strong (70~ Base Power) Ground attack) that gets all entry hazards on the field to affect it before destroying them, as well as the usual subjects like Earthquake. It also learns all the terrains.

    It also gets a new terrain, Geo Terrain, which prevents the forced switching of Pokémon (as well as Baton Pass, U-Turn and Volt Switch) as well as doubling the power of seismic techniques (like Earthquake)

    Depending on the terrain, it evolves unit the four forms of

    Terrorain (will be improved name wise)
    The Stubborn Pokémon.
    Ground, Ground/Grass, Ground/Fairy, Ground/Electric or Ground/Psychic
    Grassy /Misty/Electric/Psychic Surge or Earth Crush/Geo Surge

    Geo Terrain Terrorain is the same colour as Earthant, same aura flows through its body, and will always have Earth Crush (Spin Out clone, but the Pokémon forces the hazards to affect all Pokémon on the field to make up for the fact that it is effected by all hazards rather than just SR)
    It’s a goliath of earth that will smash, and despite being slow a jack of all trades attack wise, it’s a behemoth at everything else.

    Electric and Grassy Terrain are lighter coloured, and have shrubs on their back and forehead. Grassy has healthy shrubs, and Electric has dead, burnt shrubs. This gets them Spiky Shield and Spore. All forms get High Horsepower as Grassy Terrain would make Earthquake counter productive. They have yellow and green glowing veins respectively. They have great Attack stats, but pathetic Sp. Attack stats. Sp Def is 10 points higher.

    Psychic and Misty Terrain are darker, and have mushrooms on their back. Misty’s are toadstools in a Fairy circle, and Psychic’s are hallucinogenic highly mushrooms floating around its back due to its psychic power. Thus both forms get Spore and Rage Powder. They’re monsters at special attacking and bad at physical attacking, and Sp. Def has a loose edge over Def. They have purple and pink veins respectively.

    All forms have different recovering moves. Geo has Slack Off, Electric and Misty get Synthesis, and Psychic and Electric have ‘Geo Draw’ , where the Pokémon borrows the the energy of the Earth around it to gain health, which strengthens in Geo Terrain.

    Do you approve Earthen senpai?

    Reply

    • Forgot to mention

      Sourge Scourge removes all terrains.

      And I’m revamping my weather mons so they have a pure form as well.

      Reply

      • Also forgot, Earth Crush is its Ability if it’s evolved into its Geo Form or if it doesn’t have the corresponding Terrain move to the Terrain it evolved in.

        Reply

  13. For people who make Fakémon, what’s your favourite type to make Pokémon for? Mines is Rock, they have such potential for expansion.

    Reply

  14. I just remembered that my Brother lost his original Y cart behind the car seats… I wonder if I can find it? It has a ton of my old Pokémon from my first soul silver and black playthroughs

    Reply

  15. finished paying off my pre-order, and they told me they were only getting 250 copies to my local store. I asked if i should get in early to make sure i got one before they ran out, and they told me that they weren’t likely to run out, but them saying ‘only’ 250 makes me wonder…oh well

    Reply

  18. Still struggling with my last 2 Teammates for Sun. I have these so far https://richi3f.github.io/pokemon-team-planner/#decidueye+lycanroc+salazzle+kommo-o

    I want to use either Golisopod or Ribombee, both have to be bred to gain moves that make them useable to me. I do NOT like having type overlaps. Other ‘mon I like of other types: Comfey, Mudsdale. Togedemaru, Komala, Oricorio (Fire, would need to remove Salazzle). Even though I’d rather avoid them I’d also consider these Alolan forms: Ninetales, Raichu, Muk (would need to remove Salazzle, don’t want to be Fire-less though).
    Any helpful thoughts are appreciated.

    Reply

  24. Friends and losers!
    For the time has nearly come!
    I have spent the last 2 hours dragging up a big honking armchair from the basement to the living room and perfected the ultimate Sun and Moon playing station
    -comfortable armchair (w/ footstool)
    -3 table like surfaces each to hold a precious beverage or snack
    – extension chord with chargers comfortably positioned to avoid clip
    -desk fan to alleviate stagnant chair funk and my tenitis
    And finally a bag of Cheetos puffs, gallon of water, fruit salad and gum

    Everything I need to have the most relaxing hyper extended immobility gaming session

    Reply

  25. Wait…….I just thought of something……..So Sun and Moon are apparently 20 years after the original games more or less…..does that mean that Red and Blue are 30/31? Am I the only one who just realized this? for whatever reason I had them closer to 20-25……I may have just blown my own mind…..am I wrong about this or what? lol

    Reply

      • Well yes, but everything around Wally is incredibly odd already. We already know there’s a time skip of some kind between ORAS and SuMo, but unlike all the other characters that seem to have aged in some way Wally is still young looking. there’s going to be a problem with him no matter what. Unless for whatever reason they decided he’s like an anime character and always looks young despite being like 30 something lol

        Reply

        • I mean…. apparently fire red and leaf green took place at the same time as ORAS… personally I think Red and Blue were never exactly “ten” in the games and maybe were almost already adults and just aged a bit

          Reply

          • I belie they were stated to be around 11. I wanna say that info came from another source (that was official), but not directly from the game. Idk where tho.

          • Hmmm
            (If they’re eleven, I’m two…)
            Seriously.. thats the age of the SUMO protags… its clear that from when they were playable, there was a HUGE difference

      • I really hate the fact that GF brought up multiple universes. It unnecessarily complicates things. lol Yes there is always the possibility that SuMo is in a different universe, but More or less I’d say it’s in the same general one as XY/ORAS. As we’ve already seen that Sina and Dexio are older in SuMo and XY are already after ORAS it stands to reason that SuMo is after both by some stretch of time.

        Reply

        • I’d estimate that it’s only a 2-3 year timeskip, ORAS takes place the same time as the kanto games in this new universe so id assume that these new gamea take place a little after gen 4 timeline wise factoring in red and blues ages in S/M

          Reply

          • I really do wish they’d come out with an official timeline lol They’ve thrown in a bunch of stuff and given us a general timeline for events, but it’s so hard to say when exactly stuff happened. I’d be willing to bet that ORAS and FRLG didn’t happen fully concurrently. Maybe within the same year(s), bu I can’t see Brandon/May leaving home exactly at the same time as Red/Blue only for both to have saved the day/world at the same exact time. If that’s true then that’s quite the coincidence lol

          • Could be. again I really wish they’d outline this stuff more. I hate the mutli universe thing and the timeline they’re building could easily be straightened out if they just came forward and explained it lol I get they introduced the multi universe idea to help people deal with the idea of megas being in some games and not in others, but it only made things confusing hahaha

          • That’d be great. Nintendo released a Zelda history book and that was even more convoluted than Pokemon It shouldn’t be too hard to put something together lol

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