Metatypes?

[Nidorino]

Sorry if this has already been discussed; I come here less frequently than before.

This idea came to me after seeing one of those multiple threads in message boards across the world regarding the topic of new types and the return of the Shadow "type".

Should Shadow "type" reappear in some way? Let's think of this:

Shadow is like a "metatype". Even a naturally double-typed Pokémon like Noctowl or Spheal can also be Shadow from what we've seen. The damage multipliers from a Shadow move are calculated in this sequence inside the game:

• Isn't the target Pokémon a Shadow Pokémon? Then the move will be super-effective (2x multiplier).
• Otherwise, then it will be not-very-effective (0.5x multiplier).

and the program doesn't care about the 17 regular types when calculating it.

If they introduce more "metatypes" (maybe Light, Organic, Inorganic, or other "general" names), then they could behave that way if we think of "metatypes" as some kind of status the Pokémon can have. And Shadow could be one of them.

Metatype moves could have some restrictions, like being tied to very few PPs and being learnable only by Pokémon of the same meta-type.

In PXD, Shadow moves were given a treatment similar to the one the regular types received. The game got a total of 18 Shadow moves (that's more than existing Ghost, Dragon, Electric, Poison, Bug, Fire, Flying, Ground, Rock, Ice moves), each one with its own Power, Accuracy and secondary effects definition. One of them, Shadow Sky, even created a whole new environment status (like Rain Dance, Sunny Day, Sandstorm and Hail). It even turned Castform's Weather Ball into a Shadow move! Now that's a fact that makes me hard to see the game getting rid of this "metatype" at all.

"Metatypes" already exist in the form of the Contest Types (Beauty, Toughness, Cuteness, Coolness and Smartness), but they don't have effect in traditional battles.

Any thoughts? Pokémon Diamond & Pearl might have new stuff for the battle system. The question is "what".
This has been stated:

There will be no new Pokémon types but new type combinations such as Steel/Fighting

But would that count possible "metatypes" such as Shadow?

 

[Blazichu]

It sound good but I don't like the idea of metatypes. Thats like every shadow pokemon is a metal type which most of them are not. Should this be in the Colosseum/XD section or not?

 

[Nidorino]

Although it sounds good, Shadow type was just there for Pokemon XD. I don't think it'll mold into the actual series. After all, GameFreak didn't develop the game.

Yeah, the Shadow thing was perfect for a game with not much exploration nor vs. stuff. But would the fact that Genius Sonority developed the game instead of GameFreak really matter?

Coming to think about it, Shadow type was like a Normal type with a match up priority higher than a regular type. Maybe the metatypes idea is too undeveloped, but they should at least translate some of those 18 Shadow moves to moves of other types, maybe with very few PPs (around 5 PPs?).

 

[Char1016]

Pokemon Colossum and XD have some other kind of storyline than other Pokemon games, the Shadow Pokemon and their types we're created by a man, and these aren't natural moves/types. If Diamond and Pearl gets moves like those you mentioned, then the game will be similar to Colosseum and XD. And when you want to trade a Pokemon to other games, like Emerald or Fire Red, you can't because in these games these types do not exits. Purifying them is also something not good because you said there light types, so light types aren't that evil maybe and don't need purification.
And I think that these types will never be in any Pokemon game, unless any other one comes out like Colosseum and XD.

 

[JONNO.FRESH]

No way, unless another game comes out which has snagging and purifying and that. They will not add it to D/P

 

[danburite]

As you said, various metatypes have already been implemented in the 3rd gen in one form or another- Shadow, Smart, Beauty etc.
BUT! They've been around since the 2nd generation- Curse's ???-type, anyone?

It's unlikely that Shadow will make a return (it could, but maybe only as moves used by the bad guys) but I can see other metatypes making an entrance in generation 4.
I find that the TCG is a good source of inspiration for things like this- concepts and attacks appear in the card game long before the video games. "Dark" Pokemon from the Rocket sets, for example. It's possible we could see Delta Species Pokemon and moves.

It's unlikely, but not impossible.

 

[Char1016]

Curse is a stat-boosting move, and not attacking move which can be Super-Effgective or Not-very-Effective against others.

TCG =/= Games.

 

[Nidorino]

Pokemon Colossum and XD have some other kind of storyline than other Pokemon games, the Shadow Pokemon and their types we're created by a man, and these aren't natural moves/types.

Hey, that's a very good point.

If Diamond and Pearl gets moves like those you mentioned, then the game will be similar to Colosseum and XD. And when you want to trade a Pokemon to other games, like Emerald or Fire Red, you can't because in these games these types do not exits.

That would be more like trading from G/S/C/S2 to R/B/Y.

Purifying them is also something not good because you said there light types, so light types aren't that evil maybe and don't need purification.
And I think that these types will never be in any Pokemon game, unless any other one comes out like Colosseum and XD.

Light was just a example, but you got a point again. They could either have a way to be "purified", or would not need to be "purified" at all assuming it's a permanent Pokémon attribute (kind of another concept like type, ability, nature, held item, tameness, etc.).

I find that the TCG is a good source of inspiration for things like this- concepts and attacks appear in the card game long before the video games. "Dark" Pokemon from the Rocket sets, for example. It's possible we could see Delta Species Pokemon and moves.

I agree on that .

 

[Ralts Master]

Curse is a stat-boosting move, and not attacking move which can be Super-Effgective or Not-very-Effective against others.

But all the other stat-affecting moves did have types...

 

[Evanji Axu]

Nah, too confusing.

 

[Char1016]

But all the other stat-affecting moves did have types...

Others had because they worked same for every pokemon.

Curse didn't got half of Slowbro's heal, but it got Gastly's half heal in the other hand. Which seems to be working differently in different type of pokemon.

That would be more like trading from G/S/C/S2 to R/B/Y.

I hope Nintendo doesn't make weird things like that again

Light was just a example, but you got a point again. They could either have a way to be "purified", or would not need to be "purified" at all assuming it's a permanent Pokémon attribute (kind of another concept like type, ability, nature, held item, tameness, etc.).

Sorry, didn't thought it is an example, but anyway you mentioned it and I gave my idea away.

 

[danburite]

Curse is a stat-boosting move, and not attacking move which can be Super-Effgective or Not-very-Effective against others.

TCG =/= Games.

Yes, but as I said, concepts and attacks (Destiny Bond, for example) make it into the TCG before implemented in the games.
And there's plenty of attacks that work differently for different Pokemon- rain dance, sunny day, hail, sandstorm all can damage or heal various types of Pokemon. Gligar can even up its evasion in a Sandstorm!

Then there's Hidden Power, and Secret Power. These moves are constantly different, but they're given a Normal typing.

 

[Char1016]

Yes, but as I said, concepts and attacks (Destiny Bond, for example) make it into the TCG before implemented in the games.
And there's plenty of attacks that work differently for different Pokemon- rain dance, sunny day, hail, sandstorm all can damage or heal various types of Pokemon. Gligar can even up its evasion in a Sandstorm!

Then there's Hidden Power, and Secret Power. These moves are constantly different, but they're given a Normal typing.

Hidden Power and Secret Power, do you understand their names?

Hidden, something mysterious, unknown which can be anything, IMO.
Secret, something that isn't known, so, still like above.

And that's why they're Normal types, if they were fire types, then when using HiddenPowerWater on Grass pokemon, it would be super-effective or not-very-effective?
Normal type fits with them, because they're Normal and can't be super or not-very effective to any other Pokemon.

 

[icemew]

I must say this is very interesting. I think it would be cool to have "metatypes" like that, but no purifying like in XD or Colosseum.