Everything revealed in today's Indigo Disk trailer

A big howdy and welcome to all the new Cooltrainers reading The Victory Road for the first time this week. Much like your first shiny, you’ll never forget the feeling of cracking open your first email from Cooltrainer Ace. Savor the experience. Cherish it.

Okay, now you’re making it weird.

Buckle up, Butterfree, because we’ve got a BIG day of news ahead!

Here’s this week’s rundown (estimated read time, 6 minutes):

• All about Indigo Disk and the latest Scarlet/Violet events.

• A roundup of every Pokémon event coming in the next week.

Indigo Disk is coming to town

Boy howdy, do we have some things to discuss. ICYMI, the final trailer for the Indigo Disk dropped this morning, just one week before the release. If you haven’t seen it yet, feast your eyes below.

⚠️ BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT a couple of time-sensitive news items ⚠️

Tis the season for mystery gifts. Don’t miss these two free Pokémon just announced for Scarlet & Violet:

• Get Darkrai with code NEWM00N1SC0M1NG​

• Get Shiny Lucario with code SH1NYBUDDY

The latest Tera Raid event comes tomorrow, featuring Dialga in Scarlet & Palkia in Violet. These 5-star raids run from Thursday, December 7, at 4:00 p.m. PST to Thursday, December 21, at 3:59 p.m. PST. Remember, you can catch the other version exclusive by joining a raid online or with a buddy.

Also keep an eye out for the Mass Outbreak event, which we’ll cover the day it begins (Dec. 14) in next week’s issue.

Time for Indigo Disk!

Okay, like Scyther in a salami factory, let’s chop up everything we just saw:

Going in chronological order, the first thing that captures my eye is the giant crystal tree that appears after you delve deeper into Area Zero than we’ve previously been able to explore. I wonder if there’s a connection between the tree and the Crystal Pool on Oni Mountain in Kitakami?

Following this, we get a brief video montage of our exploits in Kitakami (including Anakin Skywalker, I mean Kieran) before we’re introduced to Cyrano and whisked away Blueberry Academy.

There are some amazing locations shown in the video (one that caught my eye is the electroweb cave with Galvantula) and cool new mechanics we haven’t heard anything about until now (more on that later).

The trailer ends with a return to Area Zero and the grand appearance of Terapagos (first seen ALL the way back in April).

Synchro Machine

If you’re an OG Pokémon romhack player, you’ll recognize this feature from Pokémon Prism: the ability to control and explore with your Pokémon.

After progressing to a certain point in the storyline, you’ll meet Synclaire, the inventor of the Synchro Machine, which allows you to see the world through the eyes of your Pokémon.

While synchronized with one of your Pokémon, you’ll be able to move them around and have them battle wild Pokémon. You can also use it via the Union Circle with friends!

Something tells me this is a feature we’ll see more of in future games.

You can fly, you can fly, you can fly!

We’ve known for a while that your mount Pokémon will be able to fly in a minigame during Indigo Disk. Now, its confirmed via the pictures above and info from the official Pokémon website that this eventually becomes a permanent ability.

“…allowing Koraidon and Miraidon to fly at any time—but only once you’ve made it far enough in your adventure.

Fly wherever you please with your Legendary Pokémon and enjoy the sense of freedom that only an open world can provide.”

I take this to mean flying will eventually be available in any of the three areas (Blueberry Academy, Kitakami, and Paldea). I would sure love a more convenient way into Area Zero!

Who wants some BBQ?

Before your mouth starts watering for a rack of smoked Grumpig ribs, we’re actually talking about Blueberry Quests. These are assigned to students and completing them earns your Blueberry Points, which work like League Points to buy things.

These quests have all different requirements and can be completed with friends in the Union Circle. After you’ve completed the main story, a character named Snacksworth will offer BBQs that award special snacks. These snacks can be used to encounter legendary Pokémon in the Terarium.

Everything else

The trailer revealed more details on previously teased features like NPC trading and throwing styles as well. And don’t forget, EVERY past starter Pokémon is obtainable in the wilds of the Terarium.

Returning characters (so far I think we’ve only seen Paldean Gym Leaders) will offer to trade Pokémon that come with a brand new ribbon called the Partner Ribbon. While wearing this Ribbon, a Pokémon's title features the name of its original Trainer (Iono’s Magnemite, for example).

Throwing styles are back, baby! Donating to Blueberry’s Baseball Club (I don’t get it either) allows you to change your throwing styles.

Fun fact: Cooltrainer Ace is left-handed and favors a “dainty” throwing style. Hey, I might live in a cave but I can still be a fancy boy!

Pokémon GO corner

Along the Routes ends tomorrow

There’s one more day left in the “Along the Routes” event (closes December 8 at 8 p.m. local time). The biggest news is shiny Hisuian Sneasel debuting. Check out all the details here.

Ice Type Catch Mastery comes this Saturday

Running 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. Saturday, December 9, Snorunt and Bergmite will both appear more frequently (both shiny unlocked).

Event bonuses include an increased chance for Shiny Snorunt, Shiny Cryogonal, and Shiny Bergmite and 2x XP for catching Pokémon with Nice, Great, and Excellent Throws.

Field Research task encounters feature Cryogonal (shiny unlocked).

Adamant Time and a Kanto comeback

Not sure why we’re getting Kanto spawns for what sounds like a Gen 4 event, but there you have it. To cap off a weekend of back-to-back events, Adamant Time runs Monday, December 11, at 10:00 a.m. to Friday, December 15, at 8:00 p.m. local time.

Featured Pokémon (all shiny unlocked) include Vulpix, Ponyta, Krabby, and Voltorb along with the Kanto starters and a handful of others like Koffing, Rhyorn, Oddish, and Goldeen (also the four Pokemon you may encounter Ditto transformed into). Rare encounter is Dratini.

The event bonus of 3x Catch XP makes things a little sweeter.

Card of the Week

This Espathra card from Paradox Rift blew my mind for two reasons:

1. I had no idea, after a year of playing Scarlet, that Flittle existed. Hence I had no idea Espathra evolved from anything. #mindblown

2. They took a Pokémon I despise and made it an absolute stunner.

^{Partner Corner}

Hey Cooltrainers, if you’re looking for a one-stop shop to get all news Nintendo Switch, I’ve got the place for you: Switch Weekly is a free newsletter that’s A round-up of the best Nintendo reads of the week and a look at what games are hitting the eShop in the week ahead.

Each week you'll receive an email digest bringing together the best Nintendo Switch articles, reviews, videos and news stories that you need to see. Every issue also contains a handy listing of all games coming out in the week ahead - letting you scope out your next obsession.

Obscure Pokémon Fact of the Day (from u/Mx_Toniy_4869)

Until next time,
Cooltrainer “Fancy Boy” Ace