Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire details Contests, new Mega Evolutions, and trainer hordes
Battle against a group of up to five Pokemon Trainers.
Following leaks from this month’s CoroCoro Comic, the Pokemon Company has gone live with the latest info blast on Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire.
Details covered in today’s update include a Shiny Beldum for users who purchase the game at launch, details on the in-game Pokemon Contest Spectacular, the latest set of Mega Evolutions, and finally, the return of hordes introduced in Pokemon X and Y, but this time with trainers, as well.
Get all the information, including a new trailer and set of screenshots, below.
Shiny Beldum
Players can get a special Shiny Beldum holding a Metagrossite Mega Stone during a limited-time character distribution for the Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire video games when they launch on November 21, 2014, in the United States and Canada. This Shiny Beldum will evolve into Shiny Metang and then into Shiny Metagross. Players can then harness the power of the Mega Stone and Mega Evolve Shiny Metagross into Shiny Mega Metagross.
Be center stage at the Pokemon Contest Spectacular
Once players arrive at the Hoenn region’s Pokemon Contest Spectacular, they can enter their Pokemon in five different contest categories—Coolness, Beauty, Cuteness, Cleverness, and Toughness—in which the Pokemon is judged on one of these five conditions. For example, in a Toughness Contest, a Pokemon will display moves to show off its Toughness appeal. Demonstrating a move like Flying Press will get the audience excited, but using the move Play Nice probably won’t elicit the same excitement. The more excited the audience gets, the more the Pokémon will maximize its appeal.
After entering the Pokemon Contest Spectacular for the first time, Trainers will receive their very own Cosplay Pikachu, which is unique in that it knows moves that a normal Pikachu cannot learn and can use them in battle. For instance, Pikachu Rock Star knows the Steel-type move Meteor Mash, and Pikachu Pop Star can use Draining Kiss in battle, a Fairy-type move that is effective against Dragon-type Pokemon. Pikachu, Ph.D., can learn the Electric-type move Electric Terrain, while Pikachu Belle learns the beautiful Ice-type move Icicle Crash. Last but not least, Pikachu Libre can battle with Flying Press, a powerful Fighting-type move.
Players can enter Pokemon in multiplayer contests against friends, take photos of each show, and build a following of fans that will appear at each Contest Hall entrance and help a player’s Pokemon win future contests.
New Mega-Evolved Pokemon
Three new Mega-Evolved Pokemon have been announced today: Mega Altaria, Mega Salamence, and Mega Lopunny.
- Mega Altaria becomes a Dragon- and Fairy-type and receives the Pixilate Ability, which changes Normal-type moves into Fairy-type moves. Mega Altaria also receives big boosts in its Attack and Special Attack stats and an increase in its Defense.
- Mega Salamence’s Defense stat soars, and it receives the Aerilate Ability, which turns Normal-type moves into Flying-type moves.
- Mega Lopunny receives the Scrappy Ability, making Ghost-type Pokemon vulnerable to Mega Lopunny’s Normal-type and Fighting-type moves. Mega Lopunny also gets a huge boost to its Attack stat and a Speed increase, making it even more formidable in battle.
Horde Encounters return to the Hoenn region
The popular Horde Encounter feature from Pokemon X and Pokemon Y returns in Pokemon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire. This time, Horde Encounters will not be limited to wild Pokemon encounters, as hordes of enemy Trainers can now appear in groups of up to five, providing even more Experience Points to victorious Trainers.
Watch the trailer below. View the screenshots at the gallery.
