Bethany Plays: Pokemon Sun Postgame 1: Man of Many Languages

Bethany and Noah's post-game plots will largely take place with these motels, and are fairly blatantly an excuse to give them rare things. There are some bosses, though... admittedly, only one that isn't a Type Expert.

This is the first time that most players will see Gen VII Anabel. Since we've already bumped into her in USUM, the surprise factor goes down a little, but we still haven't seen the explanation for who this lady is.

It turns out they take their sweet time explaining this one.

I'm not sure I like you knowing my name. Although I am a public figure now, I suppose...

Oh, they haven't even told us either of their names. Way to make this confusing.

This is an interesting way of phrasing it. In Platinum, Looker was explicit that this is not his name, but a code name. Since this is his fourth game now where he's using the same code name, it might as well be his name, but it is kind of weird to introduce himself as if his name was Looker.

The foot-first camera pan they love giving to new characters feels really weird timed at this exact moment. I'd comment on the boss/employee issues with this implication, but this story confuses that enough as it is.

Anabel: "I know you set me up for an introduction, but I wanted to say some more things first."

You could've waited until after you gave us your name, anyway.

Ah, that makes sense- Anabel isn't a major force in the police, she's a head of a specialised branch that is relevant to Alola's interests. So the odds are that she doesn't even blanket-outrank Looker.

...I know what you're talking about, but this does seem to be the first time that terminology has showed up all game. Which is weird, because you'd think the codenames would come before the real ones.

Considering the way this is phrased, and the way the International Police go about their business, I wonder if the codenames are supposed to be portrayed as... well, I suppose "dehumanising" isn't the correct word, but definitely portraying the UBs as less equal than conventional Pokemon.

You got an explanation for that one? Or am I supposed to just accept that at face value?

(Incidentally, if you instead express confusion at the term "UB", they will explain it by referring to the Ultra Beasts. I... feel like we knew they existed already?)

...I'm not sure "I beat it" is the correct terminology. Well, OK, I suppose I beat the one that showed up after Akala, but when I followed Lusamine to the Ultra Deep Sea, I didn't do anything that could be described as "beating Nihilego". Although perhaps Lusamine was the better foe mechanically...

This reads as a completely different reaction based on what response I gave.

Fortunately, either way, it seems we have some use for the International Police.

Well, absolutely no vetting whether or not I can do that. You lot are fantastic at your jobs.

...Granted, I haven't said anything to anyone. I didn't even tell Hau Lusamine was fishy.

So yeah, remember how UB-02 appeared for Hala during that cutscene? We're finally cleaning that up.

Also, USUM expanding that cutscene to show more than just UBs Burst and Assembly was a mistake. Like, yeah, presumably the kahunas defeated the UBs they saw, but Looker's statement here implies that USUM should be dealing with UBs 02, 05, and 03, and we haven't done anything about it. And these two's USUM counterparts are on vacation.

Our objective? Find- and catch (and specifically catch)- all ten Ultra Beasts that Lusamine dumped on Alola.

And probably cause a measurable dent in whatever ecosystems they've landed in.

Fortunately, resolving this bit isn't our job.

Specifically, these two. We have a collaborator who'll handle task 1, and Anabel herself will be responsible for task 2.

This one is our job.

...Yeah, I can see why an organisation that puts out an extermination order on Pokemon-like creatures might like to officially designated them as lesser compared to the real deal.

Anabel and Looker, fortunately for the branding, have decided that they have a personal mission to not require it. The mechanics actually force us to catch them- if you try to do the extermination order, the UBs just come back.

Catching the UBs isn't that hard, although it has the standard "do well but not perfect" issues of trying to do non-100% damage.

You don't, Looker, but Anabel sure does. Do we just need a second hand to cover multiple angles?

I mean, isn't this supposed to be our job, not that of a bunch of foreigners? It's not the only time in the series the International Police have dealt with the remains of a villain's plot instead of the locals, but this is the most extensive and also couched in the "Hawai'i's history of being colonised" context.

Someone Alolan has gotta make sure this isn't an excuse for a takeover.

Anabel winds up being surprisingly cute with the smile. There's something slightly awkward about this fact, but I'll appreciate it while I can.

Hey, I'll never turn down a battle. Particular one with an opponent like you.

Anabel will actually force us out of the conversation to give us a chance to save. This is the sort of team that demands that sort of preparation.

I'd expect nothing less, given where she comes from.

Woodstock is an important lead and yes, it's because she leads with a Psychic type.

Jigsaw has one of those awesome opportunities to do a Shell Trap, so that's what I have in mind.

Brave Bernie, of course, can handle an opponent easily with Disguise, so she gets Amulet Coin duties.

Keokeo has a really easy job, assuming she outspeeds. The perfect use case for the Choice Scarf! You can really tell why I went out of my way to nab that.

Lord Huggington has a really familiar job to him. Part of me feels like they could've done a better job not stacking it.

Jaws is, of course, going to Aqua Jet if I'm not successful with my main plan.

That is exactly what I would expect from an opponent like you, Anabel.

Anabel's team should sound familiar statistically- three 31 IVs in everything, one in HP and the other two in her 252 EVed stats (her ace is an exception, since it's a tank), and Serious Natures. What should be more unusual is its variety. Anabel uses a grab bag of Pokemon and types, and unlike other nostalgia trainers, the player only has so much room for guessing what her team might be- she has only been depicted using two of the Pokemon she will be using today before.

Anabel, like many nostalgia Trainers we've encountered, has her nostalgia theme only when encountered in the Battle Tree, and not during her standard battle. I wouldn't be surprised if you've never heard this one before: I hadn't until I was doing research for the blog. It's a good one, I'll give it that.

The Alakazam is one of her standbys. Invested in Sp. Atk/Spd, Alakazam packs Psychic, Psyshock, Focus Blast, and Disable. Focus Blast makes this one not as easily run over by Darks as Blue's was, but it's still 70% accurate. And the decision to pack two Psychic moves is unfortunate- clearly she's too used to her old games, where Alakazam's elemental punches were Special.

(It's worth observing that a Bug type might help to resist Fighting here.)

When Anabel orders an attack, she does a finger snap. Someone knows what her job is.

Pity Woodstock knows his own job better.

Maybe a screen would've done you better.

...Odd choice to switch into Woodstock. Mismagius is another Sp. Atk/Spd sweeper, carrying Shadow Ball, Dazzling Gleam, Energy Ball, and Thunderbolt. That is certainly not a set I've ever seen on a Mismagius before, but it's not like anything but the Shadow Ball was ever that relevant.

Well... she outspeeds. Good thing Disguise is here!

...Ah.

Fortunately, Shadow Sneak's got me covered. Anabel probably wouldn't heal, she wouldn't be used to it.

Ah, her ace, Snorlax. 31 IVs in HP/Atk/Sp. Def, invested in HP/Sp. Def, and the moves Body Slam, Crunch, Heavy Slam, and Yawn. A Snorlax on Kukui, Anabel, and Red feels a bit overkill, but Bethany's the only kid worried about that exact combination. And, well... Red and Anabel got there first, Kukui.

Lord Huggington's only got better at dealing with these.

Which is good, because this one's on a timer.

All these Snorlaxes I've had to deal with just makes the Physical opening all the more apparent.

Salamence. Something I'm honestly surprised Anabel didn't have in her home game. Salamence is Atk/Spd, with Dragon Claw, Zen Headbutt, Fire Fang, and Thunder Fang. A strange kit, but Salamence's high power is not to be underestimated.

I had enough knowledge of how these teams are designed to be fairly confident that Salamence would be kitted for Speed, and while its moves can be a bit weak, it could certainly pull off a streak if it were allowed. I knew I had to not let that happen. Hence the Choice Scarf.

Last but not least, Weavile. Atk/Spd focused, as to be expected, with Night Slash, Brick Break, X-Scissor, and Quick Attack. No Ice move? Not even Ice Shard? Whatever. I see something we've seen before, and which I'm certainly taking advantage of:

No choice but to trigger the Shell Trap!

Poor Weavile never stood a chance.

Anabel's Pokemon Trainer class gives x220, higher than E4, but lower than Kukui. Fitting, given what she is in her game of origin: A Frontier Brain, a postgame class in Pokemon Emerald's battle facility. She is an example of an original character that Red and Blue filling in for the post in the Battle Tree is replacing.

For those less familiar with Anabel, this is what she looks like in her home environment. There's a reason she didn't have what she usually does.

The competent one goes to find the UBs, the slightly-less-competent one serves as the line of defence.

Looker... doesn't count.

He says that.

Before we can actually start doing the job, we've gotta have a conversation at Aether Paradise.

Technically speaking, the conversation with Wicke we had earlier was supposed to be part of this quest. But if they really wanted it to be such, they wouldn't have had it already unlocked.

Looker and Anabel have a lot of dialogue, and to be honest, a lot of it does start to feel like more of a formality around here. There's a reason this feels like an excuse to give us UBs more than anything.

Anyway, let's see the secret labs hold something worth being in a secret lab.

Now that we have started the mission, Wicke is around to give us a few goodies. Material stuff now, and mostly some fluff later.

No guarantees. Look what that got Lusamine.

Wicke's job is to introduce us to the Beast Balls, something that Bethany has only seen a cameo of- Lusamine caught Nihilego in one.

With the Ultra Recons using them, and Ray and Ailey being able to buy these, we're a little late here, but...

The way they're set up in SM makes the USUM implementation hilarious, incidentally.

Here, they're set up to be a limited resource, and one that the Aether Foundation produces at a loss. We get batches of 10 every time we advance the Ultra Beast storyline, and if we run out, Looker gives us one more at a time. After we're done, we're done.

Wicke, as what is possibly the most senior position in the Aether Foundation currently being filled, decides to take the responsibility Lusamine avoided as best she could.

And that's the end of that conversation. Fortunately, given how long a walk it is from here to the Glide point and back, we only have to come here one more time.

But her lore nuggets compelled me...

Anyway, Anabel had information?

So then... let's get started on the mission.

Looker's broken English disappeared in XY, implying that the man is French- reasonable, given that the headquarters of the real Interpol is located in France. They didn't bring it back for SM, but they compromised and made it so Looker will occasionally panic in multiple languages other than Alolan- what else are the International Police paying Looker for, if not for his skill in battle?

...Now that I mention it, what language are we speaking? Bethany comes from a Japanese-speaking country and understands the local language just fine.

Anabel does tell him to give his reports in "English" (which, given Hawai'i is a colony of the USA, is probably the local language), which I imagine is less because she doesn't understand "disastro" is Italian for "disaster" and more to make sure he does give the actual substantive report in a language both Anabel and Bethany can speak.

Never say multilingualism is a "terrible habit", Looker.

One wonders where the Ultra Beasts are when they're not on the map. How can you tell where they are?

The UB sequence is split into five "chapters". They try to split up they plot they have into each one, but it's obvious there isn't enough story for five.

It's time for us to begin!

They like to renumerate this one every time.

Including, often, a part where Looker objects to the idea of him being in any position other than backup. As a reminder, Looker does not have a Pokemon of his own, and deploying him in any other position would be expecting him to fight off UBs barehanded.

They're going somewhere not-sexist with this, but they take their sweet time explaining it.

Fortunately, he does tend to accept his circumstances quickly.

So many textboxes to say so little, and nothing that actually extends to gameplay. You can really feel the criticisms of the story coming to the forefront.

He does have some relatively important information to note- particularly since Nihilego's location has been narrowed down to "Akala Island".

Tell me about the UB: UB-01. Code name: Symbiont. Yes, I can tell you about Nihilego! Nihilego is a terrifying, parasitic beast that can use humans or Pokémon as hosts. The sightings report a single specimen. Sightings were made in two locations. The Wela Volcano Park... and Diglett's Tunnel! It seems highly likely that the creature is on the move around Akala Island.

The locations specified in Looker's report are both valid locations to encounter the UB.

Tell me about the Beast Balls: Beast Balls are incredibly valuable Poké Balls! I asked Madam Wicke, who works in the secret labs, and she said a single ball costs millions! It appears you still have some on you, as well. Be very careful about using them!

So yeah, we can buy them for, like, 1K in Aether Paradise in USUM? So much for that lore, huh?

What?! You mean you ran out of Beast Balls?! Well...then I suppose I must give you one of the extras that I have been holding in reserve!

If you are out of Beast Balls and the mission is not yet complete, Looker will give you one additional one. He will do this as often as you ask, but after a point, you've got to be trying to run out.

We haven't finished our mission yet, though, so information is all he offers.

You must not lie to the International Police! I will overlook it this once, but be warned!

Yeah, I'd worry if you actually did anything about it.

Much like with Blacephalon and Stakataka in Poni Grove, entering an area with a currently active UB plays There's Trouble.

I have no idea why, but the odds of finding a UB in SM is much lower than the odds of finding the UBs in USUM.

Frankly, the odds had no business being anything but 100%.

We are, of course, going to find those UBs that are found in their homeworlds in USUM. It says a lot about the two different games that SM's postgame is condensed into a minigame in USUM.

The actual gameplay of this is going to be Nuzzling UBs...

Occasionally attacking them...

Before catching them ridiculously handily because x5 catch rate.

Still, new entries in the Pokedex are always a valued thing.

Annoyingly, you have to scroll down to "I've finished the mission" to actually finish. Feels like the option should've been the default.

We play the animation of receiving something, but the conversation shows we're giving something. We do get paid, but not on a per-mission basis.

...You guys won't be wanting a specimen for yourselves, would you?

Well, we know what Looker's interested in.

...So, uh, what are you doing when you are supposed to be our backup? If that Nihilego had actually been a problem, would I have found you napping?

You are not making a good case for yourself. And also, "ask if they don't do delivery" is a confusingly worded way of phrasing an otherwise obvious thought.

I'm told he has a good head on his shoulders.

I'll believe it when I see it.

Knew it. I wouldn't trust a UB in a kid's hands either-

Never mind. We did need the ability to use it in competitive and such after all.

I don't know whether or not this is a thing I want to admit to, but I feel like there's too much fuss made about "things could be made into research subjects". Like, yeah, there are a lot of examples of it being done badly, but the idea itself is fairly sound- figure out what it can or can't do with people who either understand what's causing that, or will be equipped to figure it out.

Beats winging it.

French this time, translating to the same "It's a disaster!". Huh, catastrophe is a French loan word?

Eventually they're going to run out of languages to do this joke in.

After the first one, there's a UB on each individual Island, in sequence.

There's a motel on every island except Poni. If you remember where they are, you know where to go.

They'll also remind me where it is anyway, just to be sure.

Wicke doesn't have the data from her report yet, annoyingly, but she does have two new dialogue options.

Ultra Beasts are life-forms from another world. If you try to throw a regular Poké Ball at one, the ball will have a difficult time recognizing the creature as a Pokémon, and so the capturing function will be significantly impaired. But these special balls should allow you to capture beasts quite normally. They could be considered the foundation's negative assets, but I hope they will help you.

Her discussion on Beast Balls. "Negative assets" turns out to be a surprisingly hard thing to look up, but in context, it seems like it's a rather simple case of "making these things is a net loss for the Foundation". I wonder if there's examples to point at.

The UBs surround themselves with an aura called the Beast Boost. The truth of this aura is that it is the energy that flows within the Ultra Wormhole. When the UBs pass through the Ultra Wormhole, they are bathed in a great deal of this energy and likely store it within their bodies. There are also Pokémon on our planet that possess this same kind of energy. I think you know what I mean. The so-called Totem Pokémon that you faced in your trials. This is because the energy pours down upon our planet when the holes open.

The whole "Totem Auras are Ultra Wormhole castoff" thing was in SM too. Her calling it Beast Boost is fitting, given it boosts the same stats as Beast Boost, but also it's not the Ability Beast Boost she's talking about, it's the freebie +2 stats they get for showing up.

I'll give it my best shot.

Let's just get down to business.

Well, once Looker narrows down its location, anyway.

The story of the UB sequence will require a few more characters- and even then, they only use one, and it will be this fellow. The fact Anabel doesn't know who it is is worth commenting on.

Well, it's not like we can do anything until we know where "anything" is.

Hey, it makes up for how he's doing nothing to help against the beasts themselves.

I don't think anyone understands just what kind of asset Looker really is for the International Police.

Particularly seeing as he's got more experience, too. Anabel has nothing tangible to point at to prove her worth as Looker's superior- she does strike me as the better leader than Looker by personality, but you can't exactly describe that in ways that make sense to bigwigs.

Oh, hey, Nanu. Nanu's got a relationship to this entire sequence, which seems to be a bit of an explanation for his interest, or lack thereof, in his job as kahuna. I alluded to this role when USUM touched on it, but this is otherwise confined to SM.

Unlike Looker, who nominally respects Anabel's authority on account of actually literally respecting it, Nanu does nothing of the sort. While he does have an explanation for why, it's hardly an endearing trait.

Anabel is, at least, aware of Nanu's (former) position with the International Police.

Today, he's just here in his role as informant.

These two have opinions about the other's interpretation of the UBs, clearly.

Yeah, uh, you're not fooling anyone, Nanu.

He's talking to us, although given what we just got done talking about, you would be forgiven for thinking he was still talking to Anabel.

"I gave her a Grand Trial. And nothing more. Why would you think otherwise?"

So yes, the topic you were brought here to discuss. Please discuss it.

I can tell why you were fired.

(I think he quit, but...)

When it comes to UB Beauty, Nanu says there are four of them in Verdant Cavern instead. He also doesn't call Beauty "suckers", merely "things".

Kinda feels like Sun is the default there, since two is a natural upgrade over one, while four is somewhat ludicrous.

...Two what? It suddenly occurs to me I don't get this title.

Absorption, I'll give you. Calling Pheromosa "Beauty" seems like a natural choice.

Look, just because you're not in the International Police anymore doesn't mean you can flout protocol. Like, even if you want to act like you're still in your old position, I'd still expect actual respect given after a callout like that.

A real superior would treat you better than that.

Fortunately, multiple UBs are encountered the same as singles.

Spanish, this time. Seems he's already been to Paldea.

Apparently, on vacation, given what's running around there when Juliana shows up.

...So why is this source any more or less credible than Nanu's?

He really does go over the same information, in the same detail.

Looker's information in Moon, to describe the much different UB Beauty.

And proof that Looker isn't using Nanu's information. And also that Nanu's information is just... because he feels like being difficult.

No, seriously, we're going over this again.

And Looker's going to keep up with the whole "I demand to have a more active job."

Only now is the fact that Looker has yet to replace his old Croagunk brought up. At least it was just the second time.

And again, he will sit down if ordered.

...With that said, given Hau'oli is one big city and the UBs are on the opposite side of the island, I feel like a second set of hands could help. Which way is Absorption going to approach? Beauty will probably pass this motel to get to Hau'oli, though.

Fortunately, we don't have to visit Wicke to get our 10 Beast Balls for Absorption/Beauty. The extra ten come in handy, but really, it's more than possible to never need a refill.

...Phrasing.

Oh. There is still a reason to go back to Wicke: She's got a spiel to give about Nihilego now. Fortunately, you can wait and get it at a more convenient time, but I did wind up doing things the tedious way for Bethany.

UB-02. Code name: Absorption. Yes, I can tell you about it! It appears to be quite a dangerous UB that can boast of some fantastic musculature! Sightings were made in Melemele Meadow. And the sightings report two specimens. So the goal of this mission will be to find and protect two individuals, if you can!
UB-02. Code name: Beauty. Yes, I can tell you about it! It appears to be a very dangerous and beautiful UB that can move with great speed! Sightings were made in Verdant Cavern. And the sightings report four specimens. So the goal of this mission will be to find and protect four individuals, if you can!

It is somewhat important to check for the version-exclusive UBs, since those are different locations, but the consistent ones are in the same places.

As for the Wicke data, we get lore in this:

UB-01. Code name: Symbiont. Properly known as Nihilego. There have been sightings reported of this beast in Alola's past. Its most distinctive feature is its parasitic capability. When Nihilego latches on to a host, it does not manipulate its actions directly. Rather it awakens the host's own capabilities and boosts them to an extreme extent in order to protect itself. It injects the host with a sort of neurotoxin to achieve this effect. This neurotoxin of Nihilego's is incredibly stimulating and inspires feelings of extreme excitement and a lack of inhibition in its host. In other words, anything or anyone that a Nihilego latches on to will have its native skills forcibly activated to their fullest extent and will then act as it naturally desires to.

This is a mixture of the information available in the Pokedex and a few fleshed out details, but it also serves as a worrying indicator that Lusamine's actions were her own. "Act as it naturally desires to" implies that her control freak nature was something she always had, and when Aether Foundation seems to exist as an extension of that, well, it's hard to read her charitably.

Wow, the levels have shot up there. Buzzwole's Bug typing also means Zapple is pretty easy prey.

Zapple is fast enough to land a Nuzzle, though. I love that it flexes when it takes damage.

But it is going to make it harder to take the next hit.

...Dang, Jigsaw. I'm not sure whether to be impressed with you or disappointed with him.

We will need to dent this one a little before we catch it.

And yes, we will need the second one, too. Named this time, but not a different fight.

The second time, I did a second Flash Cannon for safety. I also outspeed Buzzwole after the Hammer Arm, incidentally.

And fortunately, I'm right next to the exit! I'm going to Glide away anyway, but...

Anyway, when it comes to Noah's experience, well...

Despite how things look with that Aura boost, Pheromosa is actually significantly easier to catch. While all the level 65 UBs we will find have a catch rate lower than the one they had in USUM (25 for Buzzwole, compared to the 45 in USUM), the level 60 UBs have one that is much higher- 255.

It is impossible for Pheromosa to break out of a Beast Ball in this game. The odds of a Buzzwole being caught in a Turn 1 Beast Ball are 25%, for comparison.

Anyway, time to finish up.

Despite this, we can't read up the Buzzwole/Pheromosa data until we start the Xurkitree mission.

At last, we start to tackle some of the plot that accompanies this errand!

...And by "start", I mean "start". Anabel is in no hurry to share, and while it is true this isn't Anabel's story to tell, Looker is not any more forthcoming.

But Looker has noticed.

I'd say I wouldn't make any promises until we've caught all the Ultra Beasts, but it's not like they know how many there are.

The player can guess, by counting the missing spaces in the Pokedex, but there are obfuscations. And I refuse to believe that this is something that would actually work in-universe.

I don't think we'll be getting much rest at that one.

Don't worry, Anabel, I'm doubting him too.

...Looker, the Battle Buffet doesn't take reservations.

I wouldn't say hopeless, but corralling him is a full-time job, and when you're dealing with UBs, you don't have that sort of luxury.

He was probably better back then. Unless he always had that distaste for authority. Then he'd probably have been effective, but brutal.

The story of how this came about will be told after, like, UB04. I told you they drag it out.

German this time. I think that's all the standard languages this game is translated into on European carts.

Here we go again.

And to think, she goes over this one point with several text boxes, and yet doesn't answer the question of how the motel gives us a room so quickly.

Entering the motel gets us to bump into... of all people, Mina.

Now we get to skip this spiel.

"100kr" sounds like an electrical term, but it's not. Once the explanation comes up for it, though, it gets... real weird.

First, we've got to talk to Mina, who is taking this situation with the usual amount of seriousness: none whatsoever.

Why is it Mina, and not one of the local captains? Apparently, it's because of her lack of Trial.

I don't think this question is ever satisfyingly answered. They barely bother to answer the questions they do want to answer, why should this one get a satisfying payoff?

...Odd thing to be asked to do on someone's behalf. What are they getting out of it? I don't trust Mina to write the correct notes.

We've done battle with Mina before. Mina's team is exactly identical to the one we've seen in Poni Gauntlet... except that she doesn't have the Fairium Z here.

Flambebe swept the first time, it remains to see if it works this time.

Woodstock, of course, will be tough to chew on.

What did Mina do to deserve that? There'll be nothing left if Nebby gets sent out!

Keokeo, for her part, is prepped to deliver a really heavy blow to Shiinotic in particular. It would be nice if she had something for Ribombee, too.

Ribombee will be something Dottie can handle.

K9 is scripted to be cleanup, but the fact he's holding the Amulet Coin suggests he'll probably show up sooner.

If you decide not to battle her immediately, Looker has dialogue prepared. "Precocious?" Looking at Mina shows a woman with the opposite appearance- this is someone who is youthful for her age. Mina actually shows up in Let's Go with a more childish redesign, and I'm not sure they were trying to make her look young and failed or this is just because the Kanto games are set years before the Alola ones.

Brave of you to say that when you're not carrying a Z-Crystal.

There's always something strange about gearing up to a fight you've already done.

She sets up Screens, I set up two Nasty Plots.

Because her Flash Cannon sure isn't doing anything.

...That may actually have been a good idea. More or less depends on what's on the field when Flambebe runs out of steam.

...Possibly "if" might've been the better turn of phrase.

Tempting, but doesn't strike me as useful. Particularly not in this fight.

And here come the Sludge Waves.

...In retrospect, why did she try Shiinotic on Salazzle?

Ribombee's the one that stands a chance of checking Flambebe.

And would you look at that, Reflect is up when K9 hits the field.

...Energy Ball ultimately rendered the question moot anyway.

Oh well. Woodstock proved to be much better at handling this business.

Wow, that leftover HP.

Woodstock could easily take a Hyper Voice!

...Unfortunately, Reflect seems to have saved Wigglytuff, too.

...

Never mind. Wow. Go Woodstock.

Now kindly do not learn the move that knocks yourself out for a paltry -2 Atk/Sp. Atk on the opponent.

One gets the impression that Mina's Poni Gauntlet battle was supposed to be second, although this dialogue is doing a lot to be less "supposed to" and more "treating it as canon."

Strong enough to... handle UBs? Yeah, uh, that's why I was hired to begin with.

OK, I was raising an eyebrow at "precocious", but where are you getting "my" from?

Bye, Mina. That's probably going to be the last we see of you. Of all notes to conclude on.

No word yet on whether that's out of personal preference or lack of interest in her surroundings.

Yes, while we've been rehashing an old battle, there are UBs about!

And the rehashing of these complaints, too, can't forget those.

Just give me the Poke Balls and let's make up for lost time.

Buzzwole: UB-02. Code name: Absorption. Properly known as Buzzwole. This UB was sighted for the first time following the incidents at Aether Foundation. Its most distinctive feature is its skill to strengthen itself. Buzzwole is able to absorb energy and then achieve a chemical reaction between the energy it has absorbed and its own body fluids. As a result, Buzzwole's body swells to an almost explosive extent. Its muscles bulge and are so thick and dense that they are stronger even than steel. Both its Attack and Defense experience a clear leap in power. It also displays a habit of striking a pose each time that it takes any sort of action... It is thought this might serve as a method of communication, but it is not well understood.

Presumably, flexing its muscles serves the same purpose real bodybuilders gain out of flexing their muscles. Although I'm sure bodybuilders wish that the food they ate turned directly into muscle.

Pheromosa: UB-02. Code name: Beauty. Properly known as Pheromosa. This UB was sighted for the first time following the incidents at Aether Foundation. This UB can reach speeds exceeding 120 mph in just an instant. This speed is greater than any other living creature that has been discovered to date. But its most distinctive features may in fact be its beauty and its powerful pheromones. Most any creature that squares off against a Pheromosa becomes confused, as if struck by the beast's beauty, and loses the will to fight. It is still a subject of research, but it's thought that Pheromosa may possess some sort of organ able to produce a pheromonal substance previously unknown to science.

Universal attraction pheromone. You could probably build an entire evil team out of manipulating that. And here Lusamine was obsessed with Nihilego.

Looker: UB-03. Code name: "Lighting." Yes, I can tell you about it! It appears to be an Ultra Beast that can wield tremendous electric power- as its name implies! Sightings were made in two locations. Lush Jungle and Memorial Hill! It seems highly likely that the creatures are on the move around Akala Island. The sightings indicate two specimens. So the goal of this mission will be to find and protect two individuals, if you can!

When it comes to UBs that can be found in two locations when there are multiple specimens, you can catch as many UBs as you like from any location that you like. As long as you can still hear There's Trouble, there is a chance of a UB encounter.

Although when it came time to look in Lush Jungle, I got pretty unlucky. I tend to prefer Memorial Hill.

...Right. You can't be Paralysed... and you have double Special Attack.

While I went with Bernie-Bear, it's worth mentioning that its only Special move in its base kit is Discharge, so a Ground type will keep the worst of it at bay. It also carries Power Whip, which is a Grass move, but it's better than nothing.