A Pokémon Zoologist?

And more ghosts than you can shake Silph Scope at

Author

Cooltrainer Ace
October 26, 2023 • Estimated Read Time: 8 minutes

Ah, the week of ghosties and (Gimmi)ghouls. They say you never forget your first experience in Lavender Town and the Pokémon Tower. Or maybe it never lets you forget. That’s why I prefer the deep dark of Victory Road. There may be rampaging Rhydons but at least I don’t have to worry ‘bout no ghosts

Here’s this week’s rundown (estimated read time, 5 minutes):

  • A Gen 1 Pokémon Zoologist

  • Get your spooky on with Pokémon GO

  • Halloween-themed raids and mass outbreaks in Scarlet & Violet

Image Copyright Josh Dunlop

A Pokémon Zoology Kickstarter

*Victory Road and Cooltrainer Ace are not being paid or compensated in any manner to feature this Kickstarter Project. It’s just cool.

Ever wondered what realistic Pokémon might look like? Well feast your eyes on that there ‘Zard and wonder no more! For years, UK Freelance Concept Artist Josh Dunlop has designed realistic digital concept art of the original Pokémon from Gen 1.

Image Copyright Josh Dunlop

It all started back in 2016 when I was teaching myself how to use a 3D sculpting program called Zbrush and I wanted a 'small' project to test my new skills on. Pokémon Go was at its height and I thought it would be fun to create the three Kanto starters in a realistic way. A friend of mine saw them and suggested I put them online and was blown away when it went viral! Due to all the love and support I decided to keep going and challenged myself to recreate all original 151 Pokémon.

This art book is a labour of love that I've poured my heart and soul into over the past seven years. Each piece aims to capture the essence of these beloved characters, from the fierce Charizard to the adorable Pikachu. I strove to depict them as if they truly existed in our world, bringing out intricate details, vivid colours, and dynamic poses.

For Pokémon devotees, it offers a new perspective on familiar creatures by depicting them in a realistic style. Whether you're a lifelong fan or just discovering Pokémon, this book allows you to appreciate the iconic original 151 Pokémon in a whole new light.

Josh Dunlop

The project currently has 794 backers and has raised over $55,000. There are just 4 days left so if this floats your Magikarp, don’t wait to check it out! You can find more of Josh’s Pokémon concepts on Instagram @JoshDunlopConceptArtist.

Celebrate all things Halloween with Pokémon GO

Grab your costume and candy bags, it’s Halloween Prime Time in Pokémon GO! Beginning today through November 2, three events are coming your way, Cooltrainers. Let’s check ‘em out.

Pokémon GO Halloween 2023 Part II

Thursday, October 26, at 10 a.m. to Tuesday, October 31, at 8 p.m. local time (runs concurrent with the Team GO Rocket Takeover).

Wild Encounters (all shiny unlocked) - Shiny Zorua available for the first time!

Pikachu wearing a Tricks & Treats costume, Vulpix wearing a Spooky Festival costume, Piplup wearing a Halloween Mischief costume, Pumpkaboo wearing a Spooky Festival costume, Murkrow, Misdreavus, Sableye, Drifloon, Yamask, Zorua, Fennekin, Phantump, Noibat. Rare Encounter: Gengar wearing a Tricks & Treats costume

Field Research Encounters: Mismagius (shiny locked), Galarian Yamask, Phantump, Greavard (rare encounter, shiny locked).

Timed Research: Greavard and Spiritomb (shiny unlocked).

Event Bonuses:

  • Additional Candy for successful Nice Throws, Great Throws, and Excellent Throws.

  • Additional Candy XL for successful Nice Throws, Great Throws, and Excellent Throws.

  • Costumed Pokémon have a chance to give additional Candy when caught.

  • On October 31, costumed Pokémon have a chance to give Rare Candy or Rare Candy XL when caught.

Raids

  • One-Star: Gastly, Misdreavus, Phantump (shiny unlocked)

  • Three-Star: Gengar wearing a Tricks & Treats costume (shiny unlocked)

  • Five-Star: Darkrai (shiny unlocked)

  • Mega Raids: Mega Banette (shiny unlocked)

Team GO Rocket Takeover

Thursday, October 26, at 10 a.m. to Tuesday, October 31, at 8 p.m. local time (runs concurrent with Pokémon GO Halloween Part II).

Special Research: Save Shadow Regigigas (available until December 1, 10 a.m. local time).

Event Bonuses:

  • Team GO Rocket will appear more frequently at PokéStops and in balloons.

  • You can use a Charged TM to help a Shadow Pokémon forget the Charged Attack Frustration.

Shadow Pokémon Encounters: Gastly, Rhyhorn, Barboach, Cranidos, Shieldon, Drilbur, Litwick

Shadow Raids:

  • One-Star: Gastly, Grimer (shiny unlocked), Misdreavus, Litwick

  • Three-Star: Nidorina, Nidorino, Golbat

  • Five-Star: Shadow Lugia (GO debut - shiny unlocked)

Día de Muertos 2023

Wednesday, November 1, at 10 a.m. to Thursday, November 2, at 8 p.m. local time.

Wild Encounters - Cubone and Marowak wearing cempasúchil crowns available for the first time! (All Shiny Unlocked) Sunkern, Sableye, Roselia, Duskull wearing a cempasúchil crown, Drifloon, Litwick. Rare Encounters: Cubone wearing a cempasúchil crown, Yamask, Phantump

Incense and Lure Encounters: (Shiny Unlocked) Sunker, Houndour, Sableye, Roselia, Duskull wearing a cempasúchil crown, Drifloon. Sunflora (shiny locked). Rare Encounters: Cubone wearing a cempasúchil crown, Flabébé (Orange)

Field Research Encounters: (all shiny unlocked) - Sunkern, Drifloon, Litwick. Rare Encounters: Cubone wearing a cempasúchil crown, Alolan Marowak.

Event Bonuses:

  • Lure Modules activated during the event will last for 90 minutes.

  • Incense (excluding Daily Adventure Incense) activated during the event will last for 90 minutes.

  • 2x Catch Candy.

Raids

  • One-Star: Cubone wearing a cempasúchil crown (shiny unlocked)

  • Three-Star: Azumarill, Umbreon, Hariyama, Bombirdier (shiny unlocked)

  • Five-Star: Darkrai (shiny unlocked)

  • Mega Raids: Mega Banette (shiny unlocked)

Scarlet & Violet Halloween Events

It’s the most wonderful time of year for ghost Pokémon fans in Scarlet & Violet. We’ve got our next Raid Event and the second Mass Outbreak event, featuring not one, not two, not three but FOUR different Pokémon.

Tera Raid Battle Event: Mismagius

Ghost Tera Type Mismagius arrives in 5-Star Tera Raids, October 27-31. That’s it. That’s the message.

Mass Outbreak Event

The next Scarlet & Violet Mass Outbreak event features Drifloon, Phantump, Mimikyu, and Greavard from October 27-31. These outbreaks occur in both Kitakami and Paldea and all of the Pokemon included may have the Crafty Mark.

Card of the Week

Just in time for Halloween, we’re winding back to this Greavard full art card from the Scarlet & Violet Base Set. Happy Spooky Time!

Random encounters around the internet

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

Until next time,
Cooltrainer “Silph Scope slinger” Ace