Category: Pokemon

The world of Pokémon recently took a moment to honor the late voice actor James Carter Cathcart, who was known for bringing to life beloved characters such as Gary Oak, Professor Oak, James, and Meowth. A tribute shared by the official Pokémon Twitter account reflects on his significant contributions to the franchise and showcases memorable moments from his impressive voice work. Cathcart passed away on July 8, 2025, at the age of 71 after a courageous battle with throat cancer. Beyond his iconic roles in Pokémon, Cathcart’s voice was featured in numerous other popular anime and gaming projects, including Sonic X, Yu-Gi-Oh, and One Piece.

The tribute expresses the sorrow felt by the Pokémon community following his passing and acknowledges that Cathcart not only lent his voice to many characters but also contributed over 700 episodes’ worth of scripts for the Pokémon anime. His legacy will continue to resonate with fans, reaching the hearts of Trainers around the world. Cathcart’s loss is particularly poignant within the context of the changes in the English dub cast throughout the years. He debuted in the very first episode as Ash’s rival, Gary Oak, and his departure follows another significant loss within the original cast, that of Rachael Lillis.

She passed away in 2024 after her own battle with cancer and was cherished for voicing Misty, Ash’s companion, as well as Jessie from Team Rocket. While they may not have portrayed Jessie and James concurrently, the impact of their collective talent has left a lasting impression on Pokémon fans. The tribute to Cathcart serves as a fitting acknowledgment of a figure who made many Pokémon characters unforgettable. Although he is no longer with us, fans will always remember his distinctive voice and the characters he animated, ensuring his spirit lives on in the hearts of Pokémon enthusiasts.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) Pocket has recently implemented a change that enhances the likelihood of players obtaining ex cards in Rare Picks. With over 200 ex cards available for collection, this adjustment will particularly benefit dedicated collectors eager to amass rare cards. Wonder Picks in the Pokémon TCG Pocket allow players to draw additional cards without needing to open booster packs.

Each Wonder Pick offers a selection of cards that varies in rarity, influenced by cards that other players, including friends and random users, have drawn. The cost for redeeming these Picks is based on the card rarities, with common cards costing 1 Stamina, basic rares costing 2 Stamina, and Rare Picks featuring full arts or ex Pokémon requiring a minimum of 3 Stamina. As noted by Reddit user INDIGO, the developers at DeNA have updated the Wonder Picks for the July Pokémon TCG Pocket Mass Outbreak to ensure that each Rare Pick now contains two ex cards.

Prior to this update, players typically received only one ex card per Rare Pick, making it challenging to gather powerful Pokémon. Although some instances of multiple ex cards appearing in Rare Picks occurred during earlier events, this July Mass Outbreak marks the first time this has been guaranteed. Despite these improved pull rates, players should remain cautious, as there is still a chance of drawing duplicate ex cards.

Currently, the game lacks a pity system that could mitigate this issue. Given that Rare Picks cost three Stamina to redeem, free-to-play collectors may still face difficulties in completing their decks. Looking ahead, an anticipated update concerning pull rates may be revealed during the Pokémon Presents on July 22.

With rumors suggesting a new set for the mobile game, players are encouraged to conserve their Stamina to redeem as many Rare Picks as possible. Additionally, Pokémon TCG Pocket, designed for iOS and Android by Creatures Inc. and DeNA, will allow players to open two free booster packs daily, offering both nostalgic and new exclusive digital cards. Keep an eye out for unique “immersive cards” that will enhance the collecting experience.

Pokemon GO is set to introduce Gigantamax Butterfree as the highlight of the upcoming Max Battle Day. This special event is scheduled for August 3, where players can catch this powerful new Pokemon and benefit from several limited-time bonuses to enhance their gaming experience. Max Battles were first launched in Pokemon GO during the autumn of 2024, enabling players to incorporate Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokemon into their collections.

Currently, nearly 70 Pokemon have the ability to undergo Dynamax transformations, enlarging their size. However, only about a dozen can perform Gigantamax transformations, which substantially change their appearance alongside boosting their power. Interestingly, two unexpected Pokemon have been appearing more frequently in the wild, leaving players curious about this phenomenon.

As announced by the game’s developers, the upcoming event will be the first time players can capture Gigantamax Butterfree in the mobile augmented reality game. Throughout the event, all Power Spots will host Max Battles with faster refresh rates, increasing the chances of encountering Gigantamax Butterfree. Players should prepare for a challenge, as this Pokemon will appear in six-star Max Battles.

Powerful allies, especially Rock, Flying, Fire, Electric, or Ice-type Pokemon, will be essential to counter Butterfree’s Bug/Flying-type attacks. The Max Battle Day will run on August 3, 2025, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. local time. As is routine during these events, players will enjoy several bonuses.

Max Particle limits will be relaxed, allowing players to carry up to 1,600 at a time, and Power Spots will dispense eight times their usual Max Particles. Beginning 14 hours before the event, players will earn double Max Particles from exploration, with the required adventuring distance reduced to just 25 percent of the normal amount. Additionally, daily Remote Raid Pass limits will be expanded to 20 starting at 5 p.m. on August 2.

Before the event, players can also catch a Dynamax Darumaka by completing timed research tasks beginning July 28. Both Butterfree and Darumaka have a chance to be shiny, appealing to shiny hunters. Those who purchase an event ticket for $4.99 will gain even higher Max Particle limits and double experience from Max Battles, alongside receiving a Max Mushroom and 25,000 XP.

As you prepare for this exciting event, don’t forget that you can compete against other Pokemon GO trainers online through the GO Battle League. This global sensation, downloaded over 1 billion times, invites you to explore, catch Pokémon, and take part in epic battles. Get ready for your real-life adventures—it’s time to go!

A talented Pokémon fan artist has shared remarkable redesigns of the evolutionary lines of Treecko, Torchic, and Mudkip, capturing the attention of the Pokémon community. These reimagined versions of the Generation 3 starters, which were first introduced in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, have become favorites among fans, who often engage in redesigning their beloved characters.

Redesigning Pokémon has become a popular hobby for many enthusiasts, especially when it comes to starter Pokémon. With nine generations of starters released, Generation 3 is widely regarded as having one of the best starter trios.

Artists frequently share their interpretations of these Pokémon, showcasing their creative talents. Recently, a Reddit user known as dukepinball posted stylized artwork that presented an alternative take on these iconic Pokémon, impressing fans with a meticulous and thoughtful approach that retained each character’s essence while introducing fresh concepts.

In this artist’s redesign, the Treecko line drew inspiration from the tracktail lizards featured in Monster Hunter, showcasing Treecko balancing on one tail, Grovyle on two, and Sceptile on three tails. Sceptile’s typing was re-envisioned as Grass/Psychic, incorporating a pose reminiscent of Mega Alakazam while utilizing hovering seed bombs instead of spoons.

The redesign of the Fire-type starter evolutionary line took a unique turn, transforming Torchic and Combusken’s plumes into candle flames, while Blaziken’s arms became elaborately styled candelabras. This Blaziken also became associated with the Egyptian sun god Ra, complete with a Cofagrigus emblem.

Its typing shifted to Fire/Ghost, and it gained two modes altering its abilities. Finally, the Mudkip line underwent a futuristic change, with Marshtomp and Swampert adorned with water-filled helmets and metallic accessories to emphasize an astronaut theme.

Swampert’s typing was redefined as Water/Steel. Observant fans noted connections to the Mega Man universe, which was later confirmed by dukepinball, as each Pokémon’s design drew from iconic Robot Masters like Plant Man, Pharaoh Man, and Bubble Man.

A recent heartwarming story from a Pokémon fan highlights a unique birthday gift given to a girlfriend: a custom figurine of Latios and Latias. While many fans might opt to purchase Pokémon-themed presents from stores, this particular fan chose to craft a personal gift, creating a delightful surprise for their loved one. Latios and Latias, known as the Eon duo, are Dragon/Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in the third generation of Pokémon games. Although they don’t have official evolutions, they can temporarily become Mega Latios or Mega Latias when using specific items.

Both Pokémon boast impressive moves, with Latios able to learn Power Split and Memento, while Latias has access to Guard Split and Healing Wish. They also share some common moves like Psychic and Heal Pulse. The fan, who goes by the username Schindi11, shared their creative endeavor on Reddit, showcasing the enchanting figurine where Latios and Latias appear with their heads together, forming a heart shape against a cloud backdrop. This design was inspired by the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s Latias & Latios-GX Tag Team card.

Utilizing a 3D printer, Schindi11 meticulously painted the miniature with an airbrush, resulting in a stunning piece. The post garnered immense attention, receiving over 5,400 upvotes within just a day. This charming gift is part of a broader trend among Pokémon fans who frequently share their creative surprises. Earlier this year, a fan presented an astonishing Charizard sculpture resembling a classic fantasy dragon to their brother for his birthday.

Another gamer showcased a hand-painted Pokémon-themed keyboard made by their wife, featuring keys adorned with beloved Pokémon. Additionally, fans have shared delightful creations, including Snorlax cupcakes, often featuring various poses of the beloved character. As the Pokémon community continues to thrive, fans look forward to sharing more of their imaginative gifts and expressions of affection. In more exciting news, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set for release in 2025, promising a new adventure in Lumiose City, where urban redevelopment will create a harmonious environment for both people and Pokémon.

A dedicated Pokemon GO player recently ventured to an isolated area to determine the presence of fellow trainers or to see if it was merely a hotspot for spoofing. Launched in 2016, Pokemon GO is an augmented reality mobile game that encourages players to use their GPS to discover, catch, train, and battle Pokémon. Over its nine-year lifespan, the game has expanded its roster from an initial 150 species to include hundreds more.

Currently, players are celebrating the Water Festival, which offers various incentives such as extra candy, an event-themed trainer pose, and a limited-time Lapras wearing a scarf. Additionally, this event introduces one half of an iconic Generation 9 duo to the game, with anticipation building for the partner’s arrival. Trainers can take advantage of these festivities until July 20, maximizing their chances of capturing numerous water-type Pokémon.

Looking ahead, Pokemon GO has lined up an exciting Monday with more events, particularly featuring Latios and Latias. A 50-minute YouTube video by Trainer Tips ultimately highlighted the challenges of spoofing in the game, documenting a trip to Kiritimati, the world’s least visited county. This Pacific island, home to fewer than 8,000 residents, has become notorious for spoofing since it operates on the UTC+14 time zone, allowing players early access to global events.

Despite Niantic’s (now Scopely) stance against spoofing, the video showcased a significant problem, revealing a lack of real players during raids. For trainers, there remains plenty to anticipate in the mobile game, from upcoming events to limited-time raids. Notably, players should mark July 19 on their calendars to catch a special Gigantamax Pokémon, alongside enjoying the ongoing Delightful Days season until September 2, which promises new Max Pokémon debuts and community days.

Pokemon fans are relishing a sweet victory as the Pokemon Center takes steps to combat scalpers. This situation provides a much-needed sense of justice for fans who have faced issues with scalpers in the past. Scalping has become prevalent in various fandoms, including Pokemon, where scalpers aggressively purchase sought-after products only to resell them at significant mark-ups, frustrating genuine fans who wish to buy items at retail prices.

Recently, NintendoSoup reported that the Pokemon Center in Japan implemented measures to deter scalpers from hoarding popular products. On July 5, the stores released the Pikachu Diner series, featuring adorable Pikachu designs on various merchandise such as plates, cups, and pillows. These items sold out rapidly, leading to countless scalper listings online at exorbitant prices.

In an effort to curb this behavior, the Pokemon Center had initially held a lottery system for fans to secure their purchases, but it became apparent that scalping remained a significant issue. In response to fan complaints, the Pokemon Company announced a new change to the Pikachu Diner collection. They will now accept make-to-order requests for sold-out items like plushes and mascots, allowing fans to order directly from the company instead of paying inflated prices through scalpers.

Additional products from the collection will also be restocked in the future. This shift is likely causing frustration among scalpers, who now find themselves stuck with merchandise that they anticipated selling quickly for profit. While not every Pokemon product can be made-to-order, this initiative enhances the company’s rapport with fans while boosting sales.

Overall, these actions signify a victory for Pokemon enthusiasts tired of facing the dilemma of inflated prices or missing out entirely, and it may deter scalpers from hoarding in the future.

Fans of Pokemon TCG Pocket have expressed their frustration regarding the game’s exclusive Pack Points system. Unlike many gacha games, DeNA’s trading card game lacks a pity system, either soft or hard, meaning there are no guaranteed drops from booster packs regardless of how many a player opens. Instead, the game awards players Pack Points every time they open a booster pack, which can then be utilized to craft specific cards, although the cost varies based on the rarity of the card. While this system is intended to provide players with more options, it has significant shortcomings that leave many feeling disgruntled.

A primary concern is the current structure of Pack Points across different sets. Each expansion has its own pool of points, preventing players from using points accumulated in older sets to craft cards from newer expansions. Additionally, rare cards require a substantial amount of Pack Points, making it especially challenging for free-to-play users to acquire them. Many players have voiced their concerns about accumulating points for outdated sets, which become virtually useless as they cannot be redeemed for new and relevant cards.

In contrast, other games like Marvel SNAP have successfully implemented improved pity systems, such as guaranteeing that players only receive cards they do not already own, thus enhancing the chance of completing collections. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Pokemon TCG Pocket. Even players who have invested significant amounts of money on booster packs find themselves short of the Pack Points needed for rare cards. Fans have urged the developers to consider unifying Pack Points across multiple expansions.

They argue that while it is logical for new sets to maintain separate pools, older sets’ points should be integrated. This approach could enhance player experience by ensuring that points do not go to waste. However, it appears unlikely that the developers will adjust the Pack Points system, as their monetization strategy relies on maintaining the exclusivity of rare variants, which makes them less inclined to enhance accessibility.

Recently, a talented Pokémon fan artist shared delightful pixel art cake illustrations inspired by Eeveelutions on Reddit, sparking enthusiasm among fellow fans. The Pokémon franchise has evolved into a vast media powerhouse, encompassing anime, games, and various merchandise. As such, fans globally enjoy sharing their creations, such as artwork and cosplay, celebrating their favorite Pokémon. This trend has only become more prominent over the years.

Eeveelutions hold a cherished position within the Pokémon community. The beloved fluffy brown Pokémon, Eevee, was unique among the original 151, as it could evolve into multiple forms. This characteristic allows fans to feel a personal connection, leading to the widespread popularity of Eevee and its evolutions. Even though later generations introduced more branched evolutions, the original Eeveelutions continue to resonate strongly due to their early introduction in the franchise.

In this creative endeavor, Reddit user snoozetimer showcased nine charming cake illustrations, each representing one of Eevee’s evolutions alongside Eevee itself. This inspired a lively discussion about which cake users would choose if given the opportunity. The standout favorite was Umbreon’s rich dark chocolate cake, while Flareon’s visually striking red velvet cake also attracted admirers. Fans were intrigued by snoozetimer’s artistic choices, with many inquiring about the flavors and colors chosen for each cake.

Each design reflected the distinct characteristics of the respective Eeveelutions: Eevee’s gingerbread, Jolteon’s lemon cake, Vaporeon’s coral-topped sea cake, Espeon’s vibrant pink and green cake, and Glaceon’s icy blue creation, along with other delicious treats representing Sylveon and Leafeon. The meticulous attention to design and flavor was particularly impressive, showcasing the unique traits of each evolution. The overlap of food and Pokémon art is a common theme in the fandom, as many enthusiasts enjoy blending their interests. With events showcasing imaginative Pokémon culinary reimaginings, it’s evident that the franchise’s appeal remains strong, ensuring its continued popularity for years to come.

Looking ahead, fans can anticipate the launch of Pokémon Legends: Z-A in 2025, featuring an exciting new adventure set in Lumiose City and focusing on the development of a harmonious space for both people and Pokémon.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet enthusiasts have an exciting opportunity in early July with a limited-time Mass Outbreak event. Scheduled from July 3 to July 6, this event will prominently feature Electric-type Pokemon, including the charming Pikachu clones such as Morpeko, Pawmi, and Dedenne. During this period, the odds of encountering Shiny variants of these creatures will be significantly increased.

These Pikachu clones share distinguishing traits with the franchise’s beloved mascot, such as their Electric typing and adorable rodent-like features, making the event particularly appealing. Historically, every Pokemon generation has introduced at least one variant of a Pikachu clone, with notable recent additions being Morpeko from Pokemon Sword and Shield and the Pawmi line in Scarlet and Violet. While Pawmi can evolve, many of the other clones remain unevolved.

The Mass Outbreak event is set to commence on July 3 at 8:00 PM Eastern and will conclude on July 6 at 7:59 PM Eastern. This event is exclusive, meaning players have just three days to catch as many Electric-type Pokemon as possible. Specific regions will see varied spawns: Paldea will have an increase in Pawmi and Dedenne, Kitakami will feature more Morpeko and Pachirisu, and the Terarium will showcase Plusle and Minun.

For those eager to enhance their chances of finding Shiny variants, it’s recommended to use a Shiny Sandwich made with Yellow Bell Peppers prior to the event. Additionally, trainers using the Nintendo Switch 2 will notice a boost in their Shiny odds due to the capability of displaying over 30 Pokemon on the screen simultaneously. Lastly, another exciting event will take place on July 22, with a Pokemon Presents episode airing at 9:00 AM Eastern.

The month certainly promises to be full of surprises for Pokemon fans!