Bulbapedia:Featured content/Archive/May 2012

Your move: SolarBeam

• SolarBeam (Japanese: ソーラービーム SolarBeam) is a damage-dealing Grass-type move introduced in Generation I. It is TM22 in every generation so far.
• SolarBeam does not do anything on the first turn other than state that the user is gathering sunlight. On the second turn it does damage. Once SolarBeam is selected, the Pokémon using it cannot be switched until the move has been fully executed or has been disrupted.
• In sunlight, SolarBeam does not need to be charged and will attack on the turn it is selected. In hail, SolarBeam does half the damasge it would normally do.
• In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Ivysaur uses SolarBeam as part of Pokémon Trainer's Final Smash, Triple Finish.
• SolarBeam was first used in the anime by Ash's Bulbasaur in Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden.
• SolarBeam has appeared in the Pokémon Trading Card Game 13 times; first on Venusaur from Base Set, and most recently on the Meganium from HeartGold & SoulSilver set.

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Know Your Ability: Swift Swim

• Swift Swim (Japanese: すいすい Smoothly) is an Ability introduced in Generation III. Thirty-three Pokémon can have this Ability. Swift Swim doubles the user's Speed stat in rain.
• Swift Swim is one of the three variations of the ability Chlorophyll.
• The three non-Water-type Pokémon to have Swift Swim as their ability have it as a hidden ability.
• Swift Swim was first activated in the anime by Juan's Luvdisc in Eight Ain't Enough. Ash's Buizel also has this ability and first activated it in A Triple Fighting Chance!.
• In the manga, Swift Swim was first activated in the Pokémon Battle Frontier manga by Enta's Feebas in Introducing the Frontier Brains!.
• Swift Swim has appeared once in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It was a Poké-Body that allowed Lotad to Retreat for free if it had any Water-type Energy attached to it.

Tourist Spot: Goldenrod City

• Goldenrod City (Japanese: コガネシティ Kogane City) is a sprawling metropolis located in western Johto. It is the largest city in the region, rivaling Celadon City, the largest city in Kanto. Goldenrod City is the third largest city in the Pokémon world, behind Unova's Castelia City and Nimbasa City.
• Major attractions for Trainers include the Goldenrod Radio Tower, the city's Department Store, Game Corner, Name Rater, Magnet Train, Global Terminal (HeartGold and SoulSilver only) and Gym.
• The city is home to Whitney the Goldenrod City Gym Leader. She uses Normal-type Pokémon and gives out the Plain Badge to trainers who defeat her.
• The player can receive a Bicycle at the Miracle Cycle for free. At first the owner loans the bike to the player to advertise it as the business doesn't look good for the shop thanks to its obscure location. After a while, the owner will call the player to tell him/her to keep it as sales and customers have greatly improved.
• Goldenrod City first appears in A Goldenrod Opportunity, when Ash and his friends arrive in the city so Ash may win his third Johto League Gym Badge. However, the Gym is closed, so the gang decides to explore the city, specifically the Goldenrod Galleria.
• Goldenrod is the hometown of Bill, the inventor of both Kanto's and Johto's Pokémon Storage System, as well as the rest of his family, who lives in a small house near the southern entrance to Goldenrod Tunnel. However, some of his family also lives in Fuchsia City and his grandfather lives in Sea Cottage on Route 25.
• Although not featured directly, Goldenrod City has appeared in the background of a few cards starting in the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. For example, Clefairy is featured in front of the Goldenrod Radio Tower and the Magnet Train and Chansey is featured in the Goldenrod Department Store.

Professor Rowan's Pick: Old Gateau

Hi! I'm Professor Rowan, and I have such a treat for you today! It's the Old Gateau.

• The Old Gateau (Japanese: もりのヨウカン Forest Yōkan) is a delicacy originating from the Sinnoh region. It is the hidden specialty of the Old Chateau.
• It was introduced in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl where it is obtainable in the Old Chateau. In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, it is obtainable by the Pokéwalker courses Scary Cave and Sightseeing. Cedric Juniper gives it out in Pokémon Black and White.
• Old Gateau's name in both English and Japanese is a pun based on the location it is found. In English, the French word gateau ("cake") plays on Chateau. In Japanese, the Chateau's name is "Forest Manor" (Japanese: もりのようかん) while the Gateau's name is "Forest Yōkan" (Japanese: もりのヨウカン); the two terms are homophones and are pronounced as mori no yōkan.
• It is used to heal poison, paralysis, sleep, burn, confusion, and freeze.
• Old Gateau made an appearance in Get Your Rotom Running!. In this episode, Ash Ketchum and his friends go to the Old Chateau to try some of the famous treat upon the recommendation of Professor Oak.
• It has never appeared in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

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Tourist Spot: Ribbon Syndicate

• The Ribbon Syndicate (Japanese: リボンシンジケート Ribbon Syndicate) is a building located in the Resort Area of the Battle Zone.
• A Coordinator must have at least 10 different kinds of Ribbons spread among their current Pokémon party to gain access to the building
• The Ribbon Syndicate offer incredibly expensive ribbons; the Gorgeous Ribbon, Royal Ribbon, and Gorgeous Royal Ribbon.
• The Syndicate's Royal Gorgeous Ribbon is the most expensive purchasable item that has appeared in the series, selling for $999,999.
• The syndicate also features a spa on the top floor. A visit to this spa makes a Pokémon more friendly. They can only accept five Syndicate members a day and a Trainer who receives a massage may not receive another until the next day.
• Gym Leader Fantina is a member of the Ribbon Syndicate.

Meet the cast and crew: Masakazu Fukuda

• Masakazu Fukuda (福田正和) is the sixth most active illustrator for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. He has illustrated 472 cards for the game.
• Fukuda-san started illustrating cards during the EX Series of cards in 2003, which was the beginning of Generation III.
• He is a fan of mecha and admires the work of designer Hajime Katoki.
• Masakazu Fukuda is a keen biker, engages in wide-angle photography, and enjoys electronic music and music from the late 60's, particularly that of James Brown.
• In addition to Pokémon, his credits include Ultra Galaxy Mega Monster Battle: NEO Card Game illustrations, Kamen Rider Battle: Ganbaride card illustrations, and FM Sound Maniacs (MelodyClip♪) CD cover design.
• He has provided illustrations for all the Pokémon ☆ in the TCG (including Jolteon ☆, the Pokémon shown), which are perhaps his most prominent as he purposefully exaggerates the angles and colors used to make them stand out. He has also provided artwork for deck kits and special packs in Japan, as well as booster packs and theme decks for English and European releases.

Spotlight on: Next Quest

• Next Quest is the first set of the Pokémon Trading Figure Game. It is the only set to be fully released.
• The four packaging designs (seen to the right) feature Pikachu, Charizard, Groudon, and Feraligatr.
• There are six Crystal figures in the set: each is based on the SuperRare figures in the set. These figures are Charizard, Feraligatr, Groudon, Ho-Oh, Kyogre, and Lugia.
• There are eight Trainer cards included.
• Next Quest has at least two one-player starter sets, Flamethrower and Riptide. There is also a two-player stater set called Battle Starter, which is a combination of the Flamethrower and Riptide sets with an additional Judge figure.
• There are 42 figures in the expansion.

Gotta Catch 'Em All!: Pinsir

• Pinsir (Japanese: カイロス Kailios) is a Bug-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I. It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon. It is classified as the Stag Beetle Pokémon.
• Its National dex number is 127. It is #113 in the Johto dex* and #167 in the Hoenn dex.
• Pinsir can have the abilities Hyper Cutter or Mold Breaker. Its hidden ability is Moxie.
• Pinsir made its anime debut in Challenge of the Samurai under the ownership of Samurai. It was used in a battle against Ash's Metapod.
• Pinsir first appeared in Pokémon Adventures as the Pokémon Pika fought and lost against due to the uselessness of the fake items Red bought from Green.
• Pinsir has been featured on 21 different cards since it debuted in the Jungle expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Pinsir cards are normally Grass-type Basic Pokémon.
• In Pokémon Stadium 2, Pinsir stars in a mini-game alongside Scyther called "Clear Cut Challenge". Each player chops a falling log for each round of the game. The score for each player is determined by how close the player is to the white line on the log. Cut anywhere above the log will cause the player to lose points.

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In the news: Dark Explorers

• Dark Explorers is the 52nd English Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion, and is released today.
• The set includes 111 cards, and continues to bring older Pokémon from before Generation V to the Black & White TCG scene.
• Dark Explorers features two Theme Decks , Raiders and Shadows, which are centered around Cofagrigus and Zoroark, respectively.
• This expansion contains all the remaining cards from the Japanese Dark Rush expansion, as well as a few from the Reshiram-EX and Zekrom-EX Battle Strength Decks, Battle Gift Set: Thundurus vs Tornadus, Psycho Drive and Hail Blizzard expansions, and the BW-P Promotional cards.
• The set features Darkness-type Pokémon as many of the Trainer cards benefit Darkness-type Pokémon.
• The set includes six Pokémon-EX cards: Entei-EX, Kyogre-EX, Raikou-EX, Groudon-EX, Darkrai-EX, Tornadus-EX.

Character of the Day: Candice

• Candice (Japanese: スズナ Suzuna) is the Gym Leader of Snowpoint City's Gym, known officially as the Snowpoint Gym. She hands out the Icicle Badge and TM72 (Avalanche) to Trainers who defeat her. She specializes in Ice-type Pokémon.
• She sometimes muses that she acts the opposite of the way people would expect an Ice-type Gym Leader to behave - warm and friendly instead of cold and distant. She also seems to enjoy talking in third person.
• Candice made her debut appearance in Classroom Training! where she was revealed to be a teacher in Snowpoint City's Trainers' School. She is also a childhood friend of Zoey and calls her by the nickname "Zo-Zo" (Japanese: ノゾチ Nozotchi).
• Ash battled her in a 4 on 4 battle in Sliding Into Seventh! where he was able to defeat her and earn himself his seventh Badge.
• She first appeared in a Pokémon Adventures manga when she saved Platinum after she was skiing on Route 217 and angered a pack of Graveler. Platinum then challenged her to a Gym battle and won.
• Candice has appeared on two TCG cards in the Rising Rivals set. She has yet to have her own card.
• Candice is the only Gym Leader from Sinnoh that Ash did not have a 3-on-3 battle with. Instead, it was a 4-on-4.

Remember That Episode?: Sparks Fly for Magnemite

• Sparks Fly for Magnemite (Japanese: コイルはでんきネズミのユメをみるか！？ Do Coil Dream of Electric Mice!?) is the 30th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on October 21, 1997 and in the United States on October 16, 1998.
• In this episode, Ash, Misty, and Brock arrive in Gringey City a polluted city. Ash notices then that his Pikachu is acting weird as its face is red. They then go to Pokémon Center to treat it when the local Nurse Joy dismisses it as as a cold. She then suggests that they leave Pikachu there for the night. As she is treating Pikachu the power to goes out.
• This episode marks the debut of the following Pokémon: Muk, Magnemite, Magneton, Fearow, Growlithe and Nidoran♀.
• The Japanese title is a reference to a book by Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. The next time the franchise would refer to the book is the creation of Mareep and its evolution family.
• This is the first episode to reveal the problem that an Electric-type Pokémon that has too much stored electricity has. It would later be expanded upon in Hoenn Alone! and subsequent episodes.
• Near the end of the episode, when the group is talking to Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny, there is a bunch of Pokémon beside them. Of them, there are two Pokémon, Raticate and Fearow, that appear very small for their size.

It's Puck Time: Palkia

• Palkia (Japanese: パルキア Palkia) is a Pokémon Battrio puck. It is part of the Dialga and Palkia Clash expansion.
• Its attack is Spacial Rend. It has a 1/36 critical hit probability.
• Palkia is a part of two combos that power it up: Sinnoh Creation and Sinnoh Myths.
• This puck was reprinted in the Best Selection expansion, using the updated puck layout.
• It has 105 HP, and attack and defense types of Dragon.

Happy Mother's Day!

• The player's mom (Japanese: おかあさん mother) is a character in every main series Pokémon game. Although different each time, she will always be the one to see her child off on their journey with their starter Pokémon.
• In the games, when the player speaks to their mother, she will heal their party, as there is no Pokémon Center in the town. The exception is in Johto, in which Professor Elm's lab has a healing machine and the player's mother will not heal the party. She also gives the player Running Shoes when they set off on their journey in later games.
• In Generation II and HeartGold and SoulSilver, the mother would save the players money after they win a battle and will often buy items that can be useful for the player. In the other Generation IV games, the mother, named Johanna, will sometimes compete in Super Contests.
• In the anime, each of the main characters which have a player character counterpart have had their mother introduced except for Jimmy and Marina. Unlike the moms in the games, however, all of them lead a moderately more active lifestyle.
• Ash's mother, Delia, has been in the anime since the first episode and has always being on her son's side and having high hopes for him.
• Mom has had one card in the Trading Card Game series. Mom's Kindness is a supporter card from the Majestic Dawn expansion. It depicts Johanna the mother of Dawn in the games and the anime and Diamond from the Pokémon Adventures manga.

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Pick a card. Any card: Brock's Kabutops

• Brock's Kabutops (Japanese: タケシのカブトプス Takeshi's Kabutops) is a Fighting-type Basic Pokémon card that is part of the Pokémon VS expansion. It was never released in English.
• Brock's Kabutops sports 60 Hit Points, a Weakness to and a Retreat Cost of .
• Numbered 069/141, it is illustrated by Katsura Tabata, who is a Character Motion Designer for Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
• This card is a Common card. This is because the Pokémon VS only featured and types as Rare, due to their recent introduction into the card game in Neo Genesis.
• Its attack, Vacuum-Cut, is a move that would later appear in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games that Kabutops would be able to learn. For , Vacuum-Cut does 20 damage without applying Weakness or Resistance unless the Defending Pokémon has a Fighting Resistance. If it does, the attack does 40 damage without applying Weakness or Resistance.

Trainer's Guide: Triple Battle

• Triple Battle is a type of Pokémon battle that features six Pokémon with three of them battling on either side. It was introduced in Generation V and was shown more prominently in White Version.
• When a triple battle begins, Pokémon will be sent out in order. The first Pokémon able to battle in the party becomes the leftmost Pokémon on the field, the second becomes the center Pokémon, and the third becomes the Pokémon on the far right.
• The placement of the Pokémon is a major attribute of triple battles, as a Pokémon's positioning affects how certain moves and abilities work. Generally, Pokémon on the left-side of the field cannot attack any one on the right-side (including allies), and vice versa. This also means a Pokémon in the center is free to hit any Pokémon on the field, but at a cost of being vulnerable to every other Pokémon.
• Most moves have the same effect in triple battles as with single and double battles, the only restriction is that they can only affect adjacent Pokémon. Moves that hit both opponents or all Pokémon in double battles only affect adjacent Pokémon in triple battles.
• The Pokémon on the left and right have the option to 'move'. This option allows the user to switch with the Pokémon currently in the middle. Moving has no priority and none of the effects of switching apply to moving.
• The first official triple battle was seen in the anime in episode A Maractus Musical!, where Ash battled against Toby's three Maractus with his Pikachu, Tepig and Snivy.

Your move: Punishment

• Punishment (Japanese: おしおき Punishment) is a damage-dealing Dark-type move introduced in Generation IV.
• This attack's power increases the more the target has powered up with stat changes.
• Its PP is 5, with a max of 8, and is accurate to 100%.
• It affects everyone adjacent to the user.
• Punishment has appeared once in the manga. Sableye points one of its fingers straight up in the air and a beam of energy shoots out from its front and its back and hits the opponent. The attack does much more damage if Sableye was hit with an attack before using it.
• The move has appeared twice in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, both during the Black & White Series. Mandibuzz and Zoroark both had the attack, which does more damage if the Defending Pokémon is a Stage 2 Pokémon.
• It has never appeared in the anime.

Gotta Catch 'Em All!: Absol

• Absol (Japanese: アブソル Absol) is a Dark-type Pokémon. It is not known to evolve into or from any other Pokémon.
• It is #359 in the National dex, #152 in the Hoenn dex and #209 in the Sinnoh dex. It can have the Abilities Pressure or Super Luck and it has Justified as its Hidden Ability.
• Using its horn, Absol is able to predict when a natural disaster will occur and tries to warn people when one is approaching. This often has the unfortunate effect of Absol itself being blamed for the disaster.
• Absol made its debut in the movie Jirachi: Wish Maker where it helped Jirachi get back to Forina. It made its TV debut Absol-ute Disaster where the people of a town blamed Absol for all the bad things that had happened during the past month.
• Absol has been featured on 25 different cards since it debuted in the EX Dragon expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Absol cards are normally Darkness-type Basic Pokémon.
• Absol has had one figure in the Trading Figure Game series as part of the Next Quest expansion set.
• Although several of Absol's Pokédex entries claim that it can sense disaster, it cannot have the abilites Anticipation or Forewarn.

Donna Summer - December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012

Let's all sing along with the late Donna Summer...

You must always remember:

Life can be a challenge
Life can seem impossible
It's never easy when so much
Is on the line

But you can make a difference
With courage you can set things right
The gift to dream and make dreams real
Is yours and mine

The power of one
Begins with believing
It starts in the heart,
Then flows through the soul
And changes the world
Imagine how life will be
When we stand in unity
Each of us holds the key
To the power of one

Sing more...

Tourist Spot: Slateport City

• Slateport City (Japanese: カイナシティ Kaina City) is a port town on the southern coast of Hoenn. It is the ninth largest city in the Pokémon world. Slateport was created because the clean water made the food abundant in the area, so a local market started to grow. The city then soon became a harbor where ships and boats come and go.
• The city has three major entrances, one from the north of Slateport City is Route 110, which has a bicycle route as well as a path to Mauville City, one that is directly south of the city is the beach of Route 109, and one that is east of the city is the ocean path of Route 134, but the water's current is too strong to Surf east.
• The Oceanic Museum is a large two-floored museum located in the eastern district of Slateport. The museum was built by Captain Stern to teach others of the ocean and the ocean floor. There is a $50 entrance fee which must be paid as soon as entrance.
• Slateport is also home to the headquarters for the Hoenn branch of the Pokémon Fan Club, a Pokémon contest^RS, a Pokémon Battle Tent^E, the Name Rater and the Slateport Market.
• In anime, Slateport City is a large city on a cliff overlooking a beautiful beach. Ash and company stop there during Now That's Flower Power! to The Spheal of Approval, May enters her first Pokémon Contest and meets up with her first Pokémon Contest rival, Drew.

Character of the Day: Wattson

• Wattson (Japanese: テッセン Tessen) is the Gym Leader of Mauville City's Gym, known officially as the Mauville Gym. Trainers who defeat him receive the Dynamo Badge. He is a jolly old man who specializes in Electric-type Pokémon.
• Wattson's title is "The cheerfully electrifying man!" The citizens of Mauville think of him as "eccentric," and one of his students affectionately referred to him as a "tough coot". In addition to the Dynamo Badge, Wattson gives out TM34 (Shock Wave), in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald
• Wattson first appeared in Watt's with Wattson?. He filled his Gym in Mauville City with many traps, pit-falls, roller coasters, and other tricks and pranks, much like Lt. Surge in Vermilion City. Wattson believed his gadgetry was not only hilarious, but kept Trainers on their toes. One of Wattson's tricks was a robotic Raikou that ended up super-charging the electricity in Pikachu. As a result, Ash's Pikachu was able to completely wipe out Wattson's team on its own, using a series of super-powerful Thunderbolts.
• Wattson again appeared in Manectric Charge. He saved most of the group's Pokémon from another Team Rocket kidnapping attempt. The battle caused his Electrike to evolve into Manectric. They were on their way back to Petalburg City, but Ash and his friends took time out for a battle.
• In the Pokémon Adventures, he no care on when or where the battles take place, every challenge to him qualifies as a gym battle. He doesn't even care about the result, and would often give out badges as long as his challengers do their best. Because of this attitude, Sapphire was very annoyed with him.

Who's That Pokémon?

• My body is supposedly light-blue.
• I have wings, but I don't know how many.
• I don't seem to have legs.
• I dislike being outside when it rains.
• I look much more intimidating than I really am.

Know Your Game: Pokémon Platinum Version

• Pokémon Platinum Version (Japanese: ポケットモンスター プラチナ Pocket Monsters Platinum) is the third game to Diamond and Pearl, and is the third Generation IV main series game.
• The game was released in Japan on September 13, 2008, in North America on March 22, 2009, in Australia on May 14, 2009, in Europe on May 22, 2009 and in Korea on July 2, 2009.
• Some changes were made in the game such as: Lucas, Dawn and Barry gaining new designs to fit with the cooler climate in Sinnoh and the redesigning of the Pokétch and having the ability to move up and down between apps.
• The Distortion World is added in this game as Giratina's home and the final place where the player battles Cyrus. This is also the only area where the player can catch Giratina in its Origin Forme.
• More Pokémon where added to the Sinnoh Pokédex, namely the Pokémon that evolved from the older generations of Pokémon such as Electivire and Dusknoir. In total, 59 Pokémon were added bringing the total Pokémon in the Sinnoh dex to 210.
• Upon its release, Pokémon Platinum received very good review scores from critics. IGN gave the game a "Great" score with an 8.8 out of 10 stating that, "Yes, it's still good. Even two years later".

Remember That Episode?: Pallet Party Panic

• Pallet Party Panic (Japanese: マサラタウン！あらたなるたびだち！ Masara Town! Setting off on a New Journey!) is the 81st episode of the Pokémon anime and the final episode of the Indigo League arc. It was first broadcast in Japan on January 28, 1999 and in the United States on December 4, 1999.
• In this episode, Ash returns to Pallet Town after finishing in the Top 16 in the Indigo Plateau Conference. Professor Oak has put up a party at his lab to celebrate Ash's achievements. While everyone is digging in for the food, Team Rocket have plans of their own as they attempt to steal Pikachu again.
• This episode marks the debut of Ash's Pidgeot.
• This is the last episode to air in the 1990s.
• The fact that the Spearow from Pokémon - I Choose You! evolved into a Fearow might be a reference to the anime's manga counterpart, where it actually was caught by Ash.
• Despite belonging to the Indigo League arc, this episode has only appeared on the Orange Islands DVDs.

Tenth Anniversary: Legendary Collection

• Legendary Collection is the twelfth Pokémon Trading Card Game set to be released for English players, and was in fact, an English only release.
• It featured a total of 110 reprints of some of the most popular cards from the Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, Team Rocket and even a card from the Black Star Promo series.
• The two theme decks released with the set were Turmoil, which focused on and types, and Lava, which focused on and type cards.
• The Expedition Base Set was originally supposed to be released in May 2002, but it was delayed because Nintendo wanted its release to coincide with that of the e-Reader.
• This set introduced reverse-holographic cards for every card in the set, borrowing the concept from Magic: The Gathering.
• Another new concept introduced was box toppers, unlike in today's sets though, the featured cards were jumbo sized copies.
• These were the last cards to use the original card style featured from the Base Set to the Team Rocket set.

Your Move: Flash Cannon

• Flash Cannon (Japanese: ラスターカノン Luster Cannon) is a damage-dealing Steel-type move introduced in Generation IV. It has been TM91 since Generation IV.
• Flash Cannon has a base power of 80 and an accuracy rate of 100%. It has a 10% chance of lowering the opponent's Special Defense, it can have a maximum of 16 PP and a minimum of 10 PP.
• Flash Cannon was first used in the anime by Lucian's Bronzong in An Elite Meet and Greet!. Ash's Boldore regularly uses this move.
• Flash Cannon has appeared once in the TCG. It appeared on Dialga (Diamond & Pearl 1) where the player may return all Energy cards to Dialga to their hand. If they do, they must remove the highest Stage Evolution card from their Defending Pokémon and shuffle that card into their opponent's deck.
• No Generation II Pokémon can learn this move by level up.

Flash Cannon

Cinnabar Mansion journal log: TPCi Dub

• In 2005, Pokémon anime dub was taken over by The Pokémon Company International after legal disputes with 4Kids Entertainment.
• Returning actors included names like Carter Cathcart, and Kayzie Rogers. Newly hired actors were Sarah Natochenny, Bill Rogers, and Michele Knotz, among many others.
• At first the job was handed off to TAJ Productions, which took control of the dubbing until 2008 when TAJ made an official statement that they would not continue dubbing the Pokémon anime.
• DuArt was then given the responsibility of dubbing the cartoon show, transferring all of the actors from TAJ.
• BW063 marks the 300th episode that has been dubbed under TPCi's actors, which airs in the United States today, May 26, 2012.

Know Your Ability: Sturdy

• Sturdy (Japanese: がんじょう Sturdy) is an Ability introduced in Generation III. Thirty-two Pokémon have this Ability.
• Sturdy works exactly like a Focus Sash, meaning, that the Pokémon will survive a move that that would have defeated it in one turn leaving it with 1 HP.
• Sturdy was first used in the anime by Cilan's Dwebble in A Connoisseur's Revenge!. Ash's Boldore also has Sturdy as its ability which it first used as a Roggenrola in Gotta Catch A Roggenrola!.
• In Generation V, if Sturdy were obtained on Shedinja through using a move like Worry Seed on Shedinja to allow Sturdy to be Skill Swapped, it would be able to activate for every attack.
• Sawk is the only Pokémon to have Sturdy as its ability and not being Rock, Ground or Steel-type or being related to one by evolution.
• Relicanth and Regirock are the only Pokémon to have Sturdy as its Hidden Ability.

According to Legends...: Tao trio

• The Tao trio, sometimes called the energy trio, is the collective term used to refer to the three powerful legendary Pokémon of the Unova Region: Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem. According to Unova myths, the legendary trio was created during the war plaguing the region.
• Much like members of other legendary trios, the three Pokémon have similar appearances. Each has Dragon as their primary type. Both Reshiram and Zekrom have a base stat total of 680 while Kyurem's is 660. Reshiram represents the concept of yang and controls Fire, Zekrom represents the concept of yin and controls Thunder, and Kyurem represents the concept of wuji (the absence of yin and yang) and controls Ice.
• The mythologies of the trio are implied to be connected, despite having no true relation. The origins of Zekrom and Reshiram are told in legends, as they were once a single powerful Dragon Pokémon used by twin heroes in order to create the Unova region. But the brothers each sought something different in life — truth for the older brother and ideals for the younger — and they began to argue, then fight, over whose side was right. The single dragon, in response, split into two Pokémon: Reshiram, who sided with the older twin, and Zekrom, who sided with the younger twin.
• Kyurem's origins are much different than those of the other two. The third dragon came down to the Pokémon world from an icy meteor and crashed into a place called Giant Chasm.
• Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem are occasionally known as the "Blazing White Yang", "Electrifying Black Yin", and "Frozen Boundary", respectively. This is a reference to the concept of Yin and Yang of Taoism.

The First Decision: The Starter Pokémon

• The starter Pokémon (Japanese: はじめてのポケモン Beginning Pokémon or さいしょのポケモン first Pokémon) is the first Pokémon a new Trainer receives at the beginning of his or her journey.
• Starter Pokémon are typically provided by the region professors, such as Professor Oak and Professor Birch.
• Trainers can typically select from three Pokémon. As of Generation V, the main starters have all consisted of Fire, Water and Grass-type Pokémon.
• Pokémon Yellow has players start off with a Pikachu, designed to emulate Ash getting Pikachu as his starter.
• In the anime, Starter Pokémon are hatched and cared for in secret breeding grounds prior to being given to Trainers.
• Junichi Masuda mentioned in an interview in 2009 that when formulating new Pokémon for a region, the starter Pokémon get the most work put into.

Gotta Catch 'em All!: Mightyena

• Mightyena (Japanese: グラエナ Guraena) is a Dark-type Pokémon. It evolves from Poochyena starting at level 18. It is classified as the Bite Pokémon.
• Mightyena is #262 in the National Pokédex and #011 in the Hoenn Pokédex. It can have the abilities Intimidate or Quick Feet and has Moxie as its Hidden Ability.
• Mightyena made its debut appearance in A Bite to Remember. Mightyena has also been used by Team Magma Grunts, first appearing in A Tree Team Scheme!
• In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Ruby's Poochyena, Nana, evolved into Mightyena in Dewford Town. With its increased strength and power, it proved to become a force to be reckoned with, able to defend the boy against his powerful father Norman, and outdo Sapphire's Rono when it was attacked by surprise.
• Mightyena has been featured on 22 different cards since it debuted in the EX Ruby & Sapphire expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Mightyena cards are normally Darkness-type Stage 1 Pokémon.

Pick a Card, Any Card: Brock's Golem

• Brock's Golem (Japanese: タケシのゴローニャ Takeshi's Golonya) is a Fighting-type Stage 2 Pokémon card. It is part of the Gym Heroes expansion.
• Brock's Golem has 90 HP, a weakness and a Retreat Cost of 4.
• It has the attack Rock Slide which does 10 damage to 3 of the opponents Benched Pokémon (if they have any). Rock Slide is also a move Golem can learn in the Pokémon games.
• It also has Fissure as an attack which does 50 damage. Fissure itself was a move that Golem could learn in the Pokémon games in Generation I through TM27. However, the attack's Japanese name (ランドクラッシュ Land Crash) is different, making these two moves unrelated.
• In Japan, this card was also included in the Nivi City Gym theme deck.
• This card features art by Ken Sugimori.