Generation AN-II

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 Pokémon
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**Generation AN-II** is the second installment of the Generation AN series of Pokémon games, consisting of the Zantaru-based games, Topaz and Amethyst.

## In-game continuity

Topaz and Amethyst occur at an indeterminate time compared to the main series. It takes place in the year 1524 according to the in-universe Amikan calendar, and is a prequel to Azure and Rose, taking place three years before them.

## Advances in gameplay

The advancements introduced in Generation VI include:

* The addition of 72 new Pokémon, bringing the total to 721. Only one evolution from a Pokémon featured in a previous generation is found: Sylveon, a new Eevee evolution.
* The introduction of the Fairy type (the first such introduction since Generation II) to balance out the Dragon, Poison, and Steel types.
* The addition of 62 new moves, bringing the total to 621.
* The addition of 27 new Abilities, bringing the total to 191.
* The games now feature a completely three dimensional environment, as well as a new 3D battle system with 3D models for Pokémon as opposed to 2D sprites.
* A new battle mechanic, Mega Evolution, which can only happen during a battle and will wear off once the battle ends. This is only available for certain Pokémon.
* Another region to explore, the Kalos region, far away from the previous five and based on France.
* A new villainous team, Team Flare, whose goal is to make money and create a beautiful world for themselves and eliminate all who don't meet their standards.
* The ability for the player to walk in an eight directional grid as opposed to the four directional grid that has been common in all the preceding games.
* Three new battle modes:
	+ A new battle mode called Sky Battles, where only certain Flying-type Pokémon, or those whose Ability is Levitate can participate.
	+ Another battle mode called Horde Encounters, where multiple wild Pokémon will engage in a battle against one of the player's Pokémon.
	+ The third format is known as an Inverse Battle, which completely reverses type matchups.
* The introduction of ambush encounters, occurrences where wild Pokémon chase the player or jumping at them from a hiding place to initiate a Pokémon battle, somewhat similar to the phenomena mechanic.
* The addition of Super Training, a way to increase a Pokémon's EVs.
* The addition of customization for the player, with the ability to choose a variety of outfits to wear at any time.
* The new Pokémon Bank, an online Nintendo 3DS application that will allow the storage of up to 3,000 Pokémon through the payment of an annual fee.
* TMs have been expanded from 95 to 100.
* A new Fairy-type form for Arceus.

### Alterations from Generation V

* Badges are once again needed in order to use HM field moves.
* Dark grass is no longer found.
* The abandonment of:
	+ The Pokémon Musical and the Pokémon World Tournament.
	+ Seasons.
	+ Mass outbreaks and phenomena.
	+ Mail and <player name>'s PC.
	+ The footprints in the Pokédex.
* A change in the types of three moves (Charm, Moonlight and Sweet Kiss). All formerly Normal-type, they are now Fairy-type.
* The addition of Fairy as a pure type for Clefairy, Clefable, Cleffa, Togepi, Snubbull and Granbull, primary type for Togetic and Togekiss and secondary type for Jigglypuff, Wigglytuff, Mr. Mime, Igglybuff, Marill, Azumarill, Ralts, Kirlia, Gardevoir, Azurill, Mawile, Mime Jr., Cottonee and Whimsicott.
* Twenty-eight Pokémon from earlier generations receive a 10-point increase in one of their base stats. They are Butterfree, Beedrill, Pidgeot, Raichu, Nidoqueen, Nidoking, Clefable, Wigglytuff, Vileplume, Poliwrath, Alakazam, Victreebel, Golem, Ampharos, Bellossom, Azumarill, Jumpluff, Beautifly, Exploud, Staraptor, Roserade, Stoutland, Unfezant, Gigalith, Seismitoad, Leavanny, Scolipede, and Krookodile.
	+ Pikachu receives a 10-point increase each in two of its base stats.
* Pokémon can now evolve after a battle even if they are knocked out or if the player lost.
* Pokémon obtained in Generation VI have a blue pentagon on their summary screen.
* The player can no longer register screens, such as Pokédex entries.
* Various changes were made to the experience system:
	+ When multiple Pokémon participate in battle, each now gets full experience instead of a fraction of the experience.
	+ The experience formula no longer takes in account difference between Pokémon's levels.
	+ The Exp. Share is now a Key Item and gives experience to all Pokémon in the party that did not participate in battle.
	+ Experience is now gained after catching a wild Pokémon.
* Some Pokémon's classification via body styles is changed, such as Wurmple's.
* Azurill can no longer transition from female to male upon evolving.
* When a named character speaks, the message box no longer starts with their name and a colon, except Double Battle trainers and in the Battle Chateau.
* Significant Trainers no longer speak in the middle of a battle.
* The battle music no longer changes at low HP or when a Gym Leader sends out their last Pokémon.
* The type chart has slightly changed from Generation V:

 Dark | Steel | Not very effective

### Further additions in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

* New Mega Evolutions and the addition of Primal Reversion, a related mechanic.
* Trainer horde battles are introduced.
* The addition of Mirage spots.
* The implementation of Soaring, a new mode of transportation.
* Four new moves are introduced: Precipice Blades, Origin Pulse, Dragon Ascent, and Hyperspace Fury, belonging to Groudon, Kyogre, Rayquaza, and Hoopa Unbound, respectively, bringing the total to 621.
* Three new Abilities are introduced: Desolate Land, Primordial Sea, and Delta Stream for Primal Groudon, Primal Kyogre, and Mega Rayquaza respectively, bringing the total to 191.
* The reintroduction of Pokémon Contests, under the name of Pokémon Contest Spectacular.
* The reintroduction of Secret Bases, now referred as Super-Secret Bases.

## Region

### Zantaru

 File:Zantaru TA.png
Main article: Zantaru
The Zantaru region was introduced in Pokémon Topaz and Amethyst. This region is geographically isolated and has no close ties with any other region introduced prior to Generation VI.

#### Starter Pokémon

The starters of the sixth Generation follow the traditional Grass/Fire/Water trio setup. At the beginning of the game, the player must choose between the Grass-type Salseed, the Fire-type Skufra and the Water-type Aquinek.

#### Trial Masters

Unlike the previous regions, and somewhat similarly to Alola, Zantaru has nine Trials instead of eight Gyms. Still, completing them all will give access to the Template:Zan.

### Hoenn

 File:Hoenn ORAS.png
Main article: Hoenn
Hoenn was featured in Generation VI in Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, a pair of remakes of the Generation III games Ruby and Sapphire.

#### Starter Pokémon

As in other remakes, the starters of Hoenn remain the same as they did in Generation III. Professor Birch gives Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip to the player as thanks for using it to save him from a wild Poochyena.

#### Gym Leaders

Hoenn's Gym Leaders are the same as they were in Ruby and Sapphire, but with some giving out different TMs than they gave out in Generation III.

## Kalos thematic motif

The sixth generation focuses on the concept of beauty and different aspects related to it, such as balance and harmony. Fashion and different forms of art are featured considerably in the newly introduced region, whose name comes from the Greek word for beauty. The mascots of the primary versions, Xerneas and Yveltal, reflect the concepts of harmony and balance, being the "Life" and "Destruction" Pokémon, respectively. The villainous team's actions and motives also reflect the beauty theme, as they strive to create "a beautiful world" by any means necessary.

## Reception

Generation VI advanced competitive play by introducing Mega Evolution, making already powerful Pokémon such as Rayquaza and Mewtwo stronger, and giving unviable Pokémon such as Charizard and Mawile a use in the metagame. The addition of the Fairy-type nerfed several previously prominent Pokémon like Hydreigon and Scrafty, and allowed others such as Clefable and Azumarill to rise in prominence.

Generation VI was largely well-received for hearkening back to Generation I, and making older Pokémon popular again. However, as time went on, Generation VI became more controversial in certain parts of the fandom, with the lower difficulty and the lack of a third version to the X and Y games being prominent criticisms.

## Trivia

* Generation VI introduced the fewest new:
	+ Pokémon, with 72.
		- Legendary Pokémon, with three.
		- Genderless Pokémon, with seven.
	+ Moves, with 62.
	+ Abilities, with 27.
* Generation VI is the only generation in which:
	+ Gym Leaders in games that are not remakes hand out TMs containing moves from older generations.
	+ It is possible to import Pokémon from previous generations, but is not required in order to complete the National Pokédex (excluding Mythical Pokémon).
	+ No region is featured in more than two games.
* Generation VI is the only generation to not introduce:
	+ A pure Ground-type or pure Electric-type Pokémon.
	+ A pseudo-legendary Pokémon with two types.
	+ A new Gym Leader or Elite Four member specializing in Ghost-type Pokémon.
	+ A numbered water route.
	+ A new move for every type that existed during that generation, as no Dragon-type moves were introduced.
	+ A Pokémon that evolves by Friendship after its introduction.

Template:Bulbanews

* Generation VI is the first generation to introduce:
	+ New moves between games. Of the 62 moves introduced, four of them were introduced in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire and are not programmed into Pokémon X and Y. As a result, Pokémon in the former that know these moves cannot be traded to the latter.
	+ A Pokémon with Normal as its secondary type.
	+ A dual-type evolution line with Flying as primary type.
	+ A Fire/Water Pokémon, with all types now having been paired with Water.
	+ A Fighting/Flying Pokémon, with all types now having been paired with Flying.
* Generation VI relieved restrictions on formatting that were evident in previous generations:
	+ The nickname character limit has been increased from 5 to 6 in Japanese and Korean, and from 10 to 12 in Western languages.
	+ The player name character limit has been increased from 5 to 6 in Japanese and Korean, and from 7 to 12 in Western languages.
	+ The names of all moves, items and Template:Abilities introduced before Generation VI are no longer limited to 12 characters, including any spaces. Some of these names were re-formatted; for example, Selfdestruct was renamed Self-Destruct. The character limit has been increased to 16.
* Generation VI was the first generation not to introduce:
	+ A new type of Poké Ball.
	+ A Mythical Pokémon whose base stats are all 100.
* Generation VI leaves the most extra room in the PC if one captures exactly one of each species of Pokémon, with there being 930 spaces and 721 Pokémon.
* Generation VI is the only completed generation not to revisit its new region after the original paired games.
* Generation VI contains the core series games with the shortest English titles: X and Y have one letter each.
* Generation VI is the first generation in which:
	+ Each pair of games were released on the same date worldwide.
	+ Red, Blue, the Kanto Gym Leaders, and Lance do not appear.

## References

1. ↑ [1]

Template:Generation AN series