Earlier today, the official Pokemon Twitter account announced that Pokemon: Hisuian Snow would arrive on the company’s YouTube channel next month on May 18. That’s the first episode of the anime series, to be precise, with two more to come afterwards.

A new adventure through stunning Hisui begins in Pokémon: Hisuian Snow! 🏔️Join Alec as he explores the region and has an encounter that may change the way he views Pokémon! Tune in for Episode 1 starting 5/18 on YouTube!❄️➡️ https://t.co/o7SgtZ3YRg pic.twitter.com/3YAemUUkkIApril 26, 2022

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Right now, we don’t know a massive amount about the new Arceus anime spin-off series. We know that it stars a newcomer called Alec, and that he’ll be journeying through the ancient land of Hisui, encountering Pokemon as he goes. While we’ll probably see some of the same creatures as in Pokemon Legends Arceus, we don’t know if any of the game’s human characters will be crossing over into the series.

The new Arceus spin-off show is being developed by Japanese animation company WIT Studio. If you’re unfamiliar with the animation studio now, you probably won’t be after this list of bangers, as the studio has developed/co-developed the likes of Spy x Family, The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Ranking of Kings, and Pokemon the Movie: The Power of Us with various other studios.

That’s quite the portfolio for the developer. Last time we saw a Pokemon series tie in with a mainline game, it was for Pokemon Sun and Moon, as the original Pokemon anime saw Ash and co. head to the Alola region for some new adventures. The series departed Alola back in late 2019, so all things considered, it’s been a fair while since an anime spin-off of a Pokemon game.

If you’re looking to get started in anime generally then check out the best anime for beginners.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus Starters | Pokemon Legends: Arceus Pokedex | Who is Arceus in Pokemon?

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By taking us back to a time before it was commonplace to see Pokemon and people working together and living side-by-side, Pokemon Legends: Arceus offers a new perspective. It breaks away from tradition – there are no gyms, badges, or tournaments – and drops us into a world where Pokemon are feared, rather than admired. It provides fresh and fascinating insight into the world of Pokemon, quite unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.

This feature will be exploring some of the early story elements and requests in Pokemon Legends: Arceus – if you want to avoid spoilers, turn back now.  

Unfamiliar land  

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Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the game for the Pokemon Go generation

Right from the start, Pokemon Legends: Arceus establishes that you’re in a world that is different from the one we’ve come to know in previous Pokemon games. This is first apparent when you meet Professor Laventon, but it becomes all the clearer when you arrive at Jubilife village – which acts as your home base. The residents aren’t accustomed to living or working closely with Pokemon, and, for the most part, Pokemon are viewed as terrifying creatures because not much is known about them. As Laventon tells you, “since we know so little of the local Pokemon, people hesitate to set foot outside the village.” While there’s always been a bit of a dark side when it comes to the world of Pokemon and there are certainly some critters that are more intimidating than others, it still feels alien to me to be in a world that’s afraid of every Pokemon. 

Instead of the classic young trainer leaves home scenario that so often starts off the adventure, Arceus begins with you mysteriously falling out of the sky into another time for reasons you don’t fully understand to start with.  While the opening is fresh and new, it also manages to feel familiar. Pokemon Legends: Arceus still stays true to some of the classic opening moments of Pokemon games past – like choosing your starter and being greeted by a professor. But during your first meeting with professor Laventon, you quickly start to understand that the people of this time view things differently. 

Pokeballs, for example, are a new invention, and people aren’t used to the idea of catching Pokemon. It’s so novel to see what Pokeballs first looked like before they developed into the designs we’re so well acquainted with, but it’s also the first instance that I start to realize that Pokemon trainers, a role I’ve come to know so well, are unheard of in Hisui.  When my adventure first begins, I can’t help but think that this new perspective is going to take some getting used to. As I go on to discover, though, the villagers’ initial view of Pokemon as a whole adds more depth and meaning to the work I do in the Survey Corps.

Helping hand  

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Since little is known about Pokemon and you have a knack for catching them, you take on the role of helping the Survey Corps gain a better understanding of those that inhabit the land. Along with filling up your Pokedex entries by completing set objectives, you also take on requests from the villagers themselves. These highlight the different perceptions that people have about Pokemon – more often than not, they show fear or apprehension about them or the idea of getting close to them. One of the first Requests I complete, for example, has me catching a Starly for a resident called Marli, who wants to see the adorable bird Pokemon up close. Despite thinking that Starly is the “cutest thing in the world”, Marli is too scared to touch it. 

When I venture out into the wild areas to catch and battle Pokemon, I see where some of this fear stems from. Not unlike the wild area in Pokemon Sword and Shield, you can physically see the Pokemon as they roam the land in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.  Lots of  them will attack you on sight, and you can even blackout if you’re not careful. The world is also inhabited by giant Alpha variants that make you feel very small in comparison. When spotted, these Alphas will come barrelling towards you in a rather terrifying fashion – encountering a massive Tangrowth, for example, really is the stuff of nightmares. The Hisui Region is dangerous for the everyday person who doesn’t have Pokemon to protect them, but it’s still interesting to see people are fearful of even the cutest and smallest critters of the land. 

Little by little, as I perform more requests, I start to see first-hand how my actions are having an effect. Resident’s perspectives begin to shift when I show them that Pokemon can be helpful and friendly companions. Some troublesome Bidoofs, for example, end up helping out with the construction efforts of the village, and Ground and Water Pokemon make life easier for the local farmers. With every person I help, more and more Pokemon begin to be introduced to Jubilife, and the village begins to develop and grow into a place that is becoming more accustomed to having them around. For the first time, I feel like my adventures are shaping the world around me and not just my own quest to be the best trainer. 

As much as I wished for it as a kid, Pokemon never did become a reality for my childhood self. Happily, though, Pokemon Legends: Arcues makes me feel like I’m closer to the real thing than ever before. It’s fascinating to gain insight into a different time in the history of Pokemon and see first-hand how it shaped into the world I’ve come to know so well. And while I’ve always dreamed of being a trainer, the new role in the Survey Corps is so much more rewarding than I ever expected it to be. I feel like I’m really a part of something bigger than my own ambitions to be the very best, and I can hardly wait to find out where my adventures will take me next. 

Pokemon Legends: Arceus Starters | Pokemon Legends: Arceus Pokedex | Who is Arceus in Pokemon? 

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For some context, Pokemon Legends: Arceus’ sales have outpaced Pokemon: Sword and Shield’s launch performance (opens in new tab) by about half a million. 

“Thank you to the more than 6.5 million explorers worldwide who have already embarked on an exciting new adventure in Pokemon Legends: Arceus!” reads a tweet from Nintendo shared yesterday. “We hope you’re loading up on more potato mochi before your next research mission.” (In case you’re curious, that last bit is a reference to the meal you eat with your buddies all the time in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.)

Thank you to the more than 6.5 million explorers worldwide who have already embarked on an exciting new adventure in #PokemonLegendsArceus! We hope you’re loading up on more potato mochi before your next research mission! pic.twitter.com/u1MKRHkhhDFebruary 4, 2022

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The bold new direction Pokemon Legends: Arceus charts, not to mention an array of glowing reviews, are likely key to the title’s success. GamesRadar’s review heaps praise on the vast open world, experimental gameplay payoffs, and better-than-expected storytelling, while noting performance issues and less than stellar visuals.

“Problems with the performance are the one thing holding Pokemon Legends: Arceus back from perfection,” writes GR’s Sam Loveridge. “But when you’re having such a great time with the actual gameplay, it’s not enough to hold back this otherwise impressive swing into a new Pokemon generation, building on the foundations of the past with exciting new mechanics, a more open structure, and efforts made to address each of the elements that were becoming stale. Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a must-play game for any would-be trainers who prefer to spend their time appreciating Pokemon rather than putting them to battle.”

Pokemon Legends: Arceus Starters | Pokemon Legends: Arceus Pokedex | Who is Arceus in Pokemon?

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Earlier today, Japanese publication Famitsu (opens in new tab) reported that Pokemon Legends Arceus, which launched last week, had surpassed 1.425 million copies sold in Japan in just three days. This makes it the second fastest-selling Nintendo Switch game ever in Japan, placing just behind Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Additionally, Pokemon Sword and Shield are now positioned as the second best-selling Pokemon games ever. According to Nintendo’s new sales data (thanks, ResetEra (opens in new tab)), the two games now sit at a combined 23.90 million units sold worldwide, overtaking Pokemon Gold and Silver to become the second best-selling games in the historic franchise.

However, the two games are still a fair bit behind the number one position. Sitting at the top of the list are Pokemon Red, Green, and Blue, which to date have sold a staggering 31.38 million units worldwide. That figure probably isn’t rising anytime soon, given how old the three games are, but it’s highly unlikely that Sword and Shield would ever overtake the trio to take the crown.

Pokemon Legends Arceus might’ve just launched last week, but it seems it’s already a hit with the massive fanbase around the world. To find out why we rewarded Game Freak’s latest effort with a prestigious 4.5/5 stars, and called it a “refreshing take on the Pokemon formula,” you can head over to our full Pokemon Legends Arceus review for more.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus Starters | Pokemon Legends: Arceus Pokedex | Who is Arceus in Pokemon? 

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1. Use your Pokemon in the world but remember who’s in the top slot

Having all of your party available to launch into the world at a moment’s notice is really useful. You can aim them at trees, rocks, crystals, and other elements to have them gather resources for you, with the option of doing so with multiple Pokemon consecutively. But you might want to be careful with which Pokemon you’ve got in your lead slot, as that will always be the one that gets released first if you initiate a battle. That’s usually okay, but if you’re raising up a lower level Pokemon to finish that ‘dex, just make sure you’re not just throwing away your first crucial move. 

2. Evolving and learning new moves works differently to other games

If you’re a Pokemon pro, you will no doubt notice some big changes when it comes to evolution and how your Pokemon learn new moves in this title. Firstly, your Pokemon will no longer automatically try to evolve once it hits a certain level or fulfils a specific criteria. Instead, your crew will let you know when they’re ready to evolve and then it’s up to you when you decide when it happens. You do that by selecting the Pokemon you want to evolve in your party menu and then hitting X. 

It’s the same deal when it comes to your Pokemon learning new moves. They’ll still unlock new moves at certain levels, but rather than having to choose then and there which moves to retain and which to forget, new moves are just added to a move library of sorts. Go to your Pokemon, hit A to open the menu, and then tab down to ‘Change Moves’. In here you’ll find all the moves your Pokemon has learned so far and can switch them out at will, any time you like. Super handy for finessing your team’s moveset. 

3. Buy new recipes from the Craftworks

While you’ll unlock new recipes by moving up the Survey Corps ranks, don’t forget that others can be obtained from the Craftworks shop in Jubilife Village. It’s a shop I forgot even existed after the opening few hours because you can craft everything yourself on the go, but it’s got some seriously useful recipes like Max Revive and even Star Pieces for sale. 

4. You can’t fast travel between areas

While you can fast travel to various points you’ve visited within an area, like base camps and other points of interest, you sadly can’t fast travel from one area to another. So if you wanted to move between say, the Crimson Mirelands and the Obsidian Fieldlands, you’re going to have to go via Jubilife Village. You can take a look at the different areas on the map whenever you like by zooming in and out, but fast travel isn’t fast at all. 

5. Don’t forget to use Grits to boost your Pokemon

Although feeding your Pokemon something that’s described as “mysterious gravel” might feel a bit like abuse, but Grits are actually super helpful. Available in various forms, you can use these to boost the “effort” of your Pokemon in different stats: HP, Attack, Defense, Sp.Atk, Sp. Def, and Speed. Levels go from zero all the way up to 10, and the effects can be seen in each Pokemon’s summary. It’ll help make your Pokemon the best they can be in battle, so don’t forget to boost their stats using Grits when you can. Here’s how the work: 

• Grit Dust – Boosts effort levels to 1, 2, and 3
• Grit Gravel – Boosts effort levels to 4, 5, and 6
• Grit Pebble – Boosts effort levels to 7, 8, and 9
• Grit Rock – Boosts effort to level 10

6. Keep hoarding medicinal leeks when you find them as they’re not always plentiful

The initial zone, Obsidian Fieldlands is absolutely teeming with medicinal leeks, and they’re possibly the most useful resource in the game when it comes to revives and other craftable healing items. But, as you move through to other areas, you’ll find they appear a lot less. So whenever and wherever you can, stock up on the green goodness, because there’s nothing worse than being caught without a stock of revives when an angry Alpha attacks. 

7. Look out for shaking trees and rocks for hidden Pokemon

Some trees and rocks will be seen doing something rather strange in Hisui – wiggling. Well if you spot one, throw a Pokemon at it because some Pokemon can only be found hiding in trees and other objects. So if you do want to catch ’em all, make sure to keep looking out for those wobbly trees. 

8. Alpha Pokemon can be caught without battles… if you’re quick

When you first go up against an Alpha Pokemon in Hisui it’s a daunting experience, but as your Pokemon get stronger and you obtain better quality Pokeballs, it is actually possible to catch an Alpha without battling it. Just make sure you sneak around them, either just desperately avoid their eyeline or using the tall grass, and don’t do anything to alert them to your presence, like interacting with the world or catching another Pokemon nearby. When you’re close enough just let that Pokeball fly and cross your fingers. 

9. Strong/Agile Style moves don’t always change the turn order

The general rule of thumb when using Agile or Strong Style for your attacks is that Agile moves are less powerful but let you chain two moves together, while Strong Style moves are more powerful but will make you forgo your next turn. However, that’s not always the case. It might be that your Agile move now will earn you an extra move later on, or not at all, and the same with Strong moves too. So keep an eye on the Action Order screen on the right hand side of the screen (make it appear/disappear by pressing Y in battle) to make sure you know what affect your Style switching will have on the turn order. 

10. XP works in different ways

Pokemon Legends: Arceus lets your Pokemon earn XP in a number of ways, with it working a little differently to previous titles. Firstly, your entire party (unless any of them have fainted) will earn XP from catching and defeating other Pokemon. In a trainer battle, you’ll have to defeat the entire opposing party before you can bank the XP though, which isn’t great if you’re left with one Pokemon standing if you want the entire party to benefit. 

Pokemon you use to interact with the world, though, will earn individual XP, for example if you use a Pokemon to break a rock or shake a tree. You will also find Exp. Candy items by exploring the world, catching and defeating Pokemon. These come in S, M, or L sizes and can be fed to individual Pokemon in your party for an additional XP boost. 

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In this trailer, expectant players are introduced to the Diamond and Pearl clans of the Hisui Region. The Diamond clan is led by Adaman whose Pokemon partner is a Leafeon, and the Pearl clan is led by Irida whose Pokemon partner is a Glaceon. 

The Diamond and Pearl connections don’t end there either, as trainers who have save files from Pokemon Brilliant Diamond or Pokemon Shining Pearl will be able to take on an exclusive research request in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. This task will also lead to an encounter with Mythical Pokemon Darkrai as well as get the opportunity to claim the Modern Team Galactic set. 

Meet the Hisui region’s Diamond and Pearl Clans, as well as the merchants from the Ginkgo Guild. 🤝There’s so much more to discover in #PokemonLegendsArceus!https://t.co/WI1CBeipt4 pic.twitter.com/uuz4dHd6opDecember 15, 2021

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Elsewhere in the short update we are also introduced to a group of merchants known as the Ginkgo Guild who operate in the Hisui region selling goods to passing trainers. This collection of characters is led by Ginter who is assisted by merchant Volo, both of whom will be able to supply players with the likes of Oran Berries, Vivichoke, Bugwort, and a range of other edible items. 

Prior to this update, The Pokemon Company also debuted Hisuian Voltorb with both a new game trailer and an adorable stop-motion animated short which sees the electric type Pokemon causing trouble with the likes of Pikachu, Spheal, and Buneary.

It’s almost time for us to get our hands on Pokemon Legends: Arceus which is due to release on January 28, 2022. It appears the game may be pretty much finished though as revealed by a surprise celebrity endorsement. Popstar Christina Aguilera said that Legends Arceus is “so gorgeous” after her daughter was able to give the game a try whilst filming a Nintendo Switch advert recently. 

Just can’t wait to explore the Hisui Region yourself? Familiarise yourself with the types of pocket monsters you’ll find along the way with our Pokemon Legends: Arceus Pokedex guide. 

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Earlier today on December 9, the official Pokemon Twitter account put out the tweet below, asking for followers to help the Ball Guy mascot pick up all the PokeBalls that he’s misplaced. Clicking the link in the tweet itself will take you to the official Pokemon Legends Arceus website, but with a twist: Ball Guy’s lost PokeBalls are ceaselessly descending from the top of the screen.

Friends, there is…something I may have forgotten to mention.Do you remember that surprise I told you about?Well…if you touch it, it will self-destruct.So, please be careful while picking up my Poké Ball collection! https://t.co/FvZVXIejCp- Ball Guy pic.twitter.com/5SwAxm3LZODecember 9, 2021

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It’s your task to help Ball Guy pick up his PokeBalls by clicking on them with your mouse. However, no matter which PokeBalls you click on, you’ll eventually hit one which explodes in a flash of lightning, causing the entire game to reset, and the PokeBalls to begin descending down from the top of the screen all over again.

One theory is that this could be Pokemon’s way of unveiling a new Electric-type creature for the game’s roster. The flash of bright electric light when you click on a PokeBall certainly seems to give credence to this theory, as perhaps the Pokemon itself is bursting forth from the PokeBall.

On the other hand, this could be a way of revealing that Voltorb is making the jump to Pokemon Legends Arceus. The PokeBall-shaped creature would seamlessly blend in with the PokeBalls on the screen, and this is certainly the theory that many commenters underneath the original tweet from the Pokemon Twitter account are running with.

Could this all be heralding an announcement at The Game Awards later today? The showcase hosted by Geoff Keighley is taking place later today on December 9 at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET, and it’s certainly a big enough stage for The Pokemon Company to make an appearance and reveal a new detail about the forthcoming game set in the Sinnoh region. Either way, there’s not too long to wait until we can get our hands on Pokemon Legends Arceus for ourselves, when the new action-RPG hybrid launches early next year on January 28, 2022.

Check out our full upcoming Switch games guide for a complete look over all the other titles on the horizon for Nintendo’s console.

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You can check out the gameplay trailer above, which shows off the new Pokemon’s attacks, but it’s in the official written lore that you learn the dark history behind these deceptively cute critters.

For example, Hisuian Zorua is a Normal/Ghost-type categorized as a Spiteful Fox Pokemon, and lord it’s easy to see why. According to PokeLore (opens in new tab), these Zorua were forced into the Hisui region by humans fearful of their ability to project illusions outward. Then, the Zorua died, presumably due to the unforgiving climate, and their lingering souls were reborn through their sheer hatred of humans.

Hisuian Zorua’s evolved form, Zoroark, is a Baneful Fox Pokemon. It’s described as “ferociously hostile and aggressive toward people and other Pokemon,” and it’s able to channel its fury into a frankly horrifying attack.

“The spiteful power emitted from Hisuian Zoroark’s long, writhing fur projects terrifying illusions – and can also inflict physical harm upon foes, damaging their bodies from both inside and out. And the illusions that Zoroark projects have expressions of such utter malice toward every last thing upon this world that those who see them are said to be driven mad by the terror.”

So, long story short, as tempting as it might be to go for a cheeky little pet, it’s best to respect these Pokemon from a safe distance. Or, when you’re ready, beat ’em in battle and catch ’em so they’re on your side.

Here’s how we ranked the best Pokemon games.

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The rating (opens in new tab) rules out all language, drug use, nudity, and sex as you’d expect (we’re not going to dwell on the implications of performance-enhancing potions). At its most extreme, Pokemon Legends: Arceus reaches the dizzying heights of PG for themes and violence of mild impact. I mean, we at least had to acknowledge smacking wild Pokemon until they’re so woozy that we can pack them into a tiny ball. 

Interestingly, the four Pokemon games immediately preceding Arceus – the newly rated remakes of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, as well as the Sword and Shield duo – were also rated PG but with themes of very mild impact. The Australian classification board is pretty stringent so this is probably just splitting hairs, but if the land down under reckons Arceus is somehow more intense than other modern Pokemon games, who am I to argue? You can bet it’ll wind up with an E for everyone rating worldwide, though. 

Unfortunately, this rating doesn’t tell us much else about Arceus, and at this point we’re ready to just play the darn thing. Earlier this month, we got our first proper look at its updated battle system and some delightful new Pokemon evolutions, so we’re more eager than ever to explore ye olde Sinnoh. 

Perhaps the slight rating bump has something to do with the frankly terrifying boss Pokemon that will apparently chase you to the ends of the earth.

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Earlier today during a Pokemon Presents livestream from The Pokemon Company, it was revealed that Pokemon Legends Arceus is an open-world game. While the game was previously teased to be taking on an open-world approach, this was never strictly confirmed by either The Pokemon Company or Nintendo, but now we know it’s going open-world for sure.

New Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remake footage

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl gets improved customisation (opens in new tab)

In the gameplay trailer just above, we got a brand new slice of action for Pokemon Legends Arceus. We could see the player character travelling over the vast new lands of the Sinnoh region, taking on various colorful creatures which we know and love in combat, as well as traversing the landscape with said creatures, like riding waves with Gyrados.

There was also brand new story-related information revealed about Pokemon Legends Arceus. The Pokemon Presents presentation revealed that you’ll be embarking on a quest to complete the first ever PokeDex for a scouting regiment in Arceus, since this game is set in the past for the franchise, going in a brand new storytelling direction with a new emphasis on exploring.

We even got to see some brand new creatures that’ll be debuting in Arceus. For example there’s Wyrdeer, a deer-like creature whose fur is prized by human settlers for its warm qualities. There’s also going to be new variations of creatures that we’ve previously seen, such as Growlithe and others.

There’s a lot to love about Pokemon Legends Arceus, and it’s not long until we’ll be playing the new adventure for ourselves. Pokemon Legends Arceus will launch for the Nintendo Switch next year on January 28, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus Starters | Pokemon Legends: Arceus Pokedex | Who is Arceus in Pokemon? 

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