New Pokémon Alcremie looks like a cake, attacks by squirting whipped cream
Dairy me.
A fresh trailer for Pokémon Sword and Shield has revealed several new Pokémon, including the eye-catching Alcremie.
Known as the Cream Pokémon, Alcremie fires whipped cream as an attack. According to a description from The Pokémon Company, this cream "becomes richer the happier Alcremie is feeling".
This cream is edible, its description reveals - and is "invariably delicious, so many pastry chefs strive to have an Alcremie as their partner".
But Alcremie's cream is intended first and foremost as a defense mechanism. "When attacked by an opponent," The Pokémon Company continues, "Alcremie will throw sweet-scented cream to distract them or temporarily blind them, giving itself time to escape."
Why the big focus on Alcremie? Well, it is an example of another new mechanic for the games - Gigantamax. We've already seen how stadium-sized gym battles are possible by Dynamaxing Pokémon into enormous versions of themselves. Gigantamax takes this a step further, and allows specific Pokémon to change appearance when they do so. It all sounds a lot like Mega Evolution - although that mechanic has now been officially retired, and won't return in Sword and Shield.
To add further complication - Gigantamax is not only limited to certain species of Pokémon, but certain individuals of that species. So, presumably, you'll need to go hunting for specimens which this applies to.
Anyway, back to Alcremie. In a Dynamax battle, it can become... Gigantamax Alcremie. Here's our first look:
And here's its description, which I'm just going to go ahead and present in full:
"The cream pouring out of its body hardens when subjected to impacts-the stronger the impact, the harder it becomes-giving Alcremie an impressive resistance to physical attacks. Additionally, the giant 'Berry' decorations on Alcremie's body are as hard as diamonds, and it's said that most attacks won't even be able to leave a scratch. Alcremie will launch high-calorie cream missiles around itself to attack its opponents.
"Any Pokémon that touches this cream will be filled with energy and euphoria but at the same time will fall into a state of complete confusion. Fairy-type moves used by Gigantamax Alcremie will change to G-Max Finale, which will heal all Pokémon on Alcremie's side while dealing damage to an opponent."
Other new Pokémon showcased in today's trailer new, below, include Rolycoly, a lump of coal Pokémon, and Duraludon, a Steel/Dragon type which looks like it this new generation's Tyranitar.
As highlighted in the trailer, Sword and Shield will also feature version-specific gym leaders - an extension of the usual version-specific Pokémon idea. Shield owners will fight karate master Bea, while Sword contains the mask-wearing ghost lover Allister.
And in other Pokémon news, I just got back from Go Fest in Dortmund, Germany - where Team Rocket made a teasing appearance.