By now you’ve most likely heard of Sandygast/Palossand. For some reason this one has everyone’s poké balls all in a twist. “What??? A sand castle??? that’s so bizarre and unheard of!!!” Do we not remember that there is a pokémon that is literally garbage? Even all the way back in Gen I there was a magnet and a rock and whatever diglet is supposed to be.

Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon, slated for release this November, bring with them at least 60 new Pokemon. They are set in “Alola” which is based on Hawaii, hence the sandcastle. There are plenty of other tropical pokémon, as well as some reminiscent of animals that you’d only find on other islands like Australia and Madagascar including a lemur (Passiman), a mongoose (Yungoos/Gumshoos) and a koala (Komala). There are plenty of awesome and powerful pokémon coming with this release, but here are some of the most fascinating.


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1. Popplio:

This sea lion pokémon has generated almost as much hate as Sandygast. It’s especially cartoonish design looks like it’s straight out of Dr Seuss’s “If I Ran the Circus.”


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2. Rowlet:

Whoever came up with this batch of pokémon clearly took notes from trending internet videos. Who can resist an owlet in a bow tie?


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3. Litten:

This kitten is lit! Literally. Good ol’ second rate puns as names. This fireball spitting cat is another internet crowd pleaser.


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4. Togedemaru:

Just in case pikachu isn’t adorable enough for you, just combine him with Totoro, and you’ve got what is sure to be the next favorite in cute Japanese things.


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5. Comfey:

I can just imagine the brainstorming meeting: “Hmm… what things do they have in Hawaii? Sand… Fish… Palm Trees… I know, a Lei!”


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6. Oranguru:

This one has the most interesting lore behind it. Large white apes that are so smart they were thought to be a tribe of people for a while. They are basically medicine men healing sick pokémon in the forest and can make and use human objects, including poké balls.


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7. Drampa:

A Chinese style dragon that is surprisingly gentle, but very powerful. It loves children and it’s true fiery nature comes out when a child it loves is hurt.


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8. Oricorio:

A dancing bird that takes one of four different forms based on what kind of nectar it drinks: Pa’u (Hula), Pom Pom (Cheerleading), Baile (Paso Doble) or Sensu (Fan Dance).


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9. Stufful/Bewear:

This plush red panda (complete with a tag) may look cuddly, but it hates being touched and its bear hug will snap anything in two.


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10. Pyukumuku:

A nasty little slimy fish that will punch you with its own guts and would rather starve than move from its favorite spot.


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11. Mimikyu:

I can’t decide if this pokémon is more endearing or disturbing, in the same way kids in horror movies are so much creepier than monsters or serial killers. All this little ghosty wants is to be your friend, and to be loved as much as the real pikachu.


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12. Zygarde:

There is definitely an interesting concept behind these “cores” and “cells” that can be combined in different ways to get almost entirely different pokémon, but if its real life counterpart is a zygote, I can only assume these latest games will have you going out trying to catch… sperm and eggs? Alrighty then. Who was it that had the problem with the sandcastles?