Beyond the Ball

Shelmet has evolved into Accelgor and is ready to shell out... punishment? Poison? Hard to say, but we can say that listening to this episode is a surefire way to find out more. We also belatedly reveal our Pokemon of the Year for 2023! Follow along with the entries below: Black : When its body dries out, it weakens. So, to prevent dehydration, it wraps itself in many layers of thin membrane. Whit...

Pucker up, 2024! Beyond the Ball is back and we're ready to be perplexed yet again as we talk about Karrablast's natural enemy Shelmet! Follow along with the entries below: Black : When attacked, it defends itself by closing the lid of its shell. It can spit a sticky, poisonous liquid. White : It evolves when bathed in an electric-like energy along with Karrablast. The reason is still unkn...

With its dark deed completed, Karrablast has evolved into its final stage, Escavalier! This one's got lances for arms and we, uh, don't love it? Follow along with the entries below: Black : They fly around at high speed, striking with their pointed spears. Even when in trouble, they face opponents bravely. White : These Pokémon evolve by wearing the shell covering of a Shelmet. The steel a...

It's blasting! It's clamping! That's right, it's Karrablast! Hold on. I'm hearing that it perhaps does not blast OR clamp? Let's get to the bottom of this. Follow along with the entries below: Black : These mysterious Pokémon evolve when they receive electrical stimulation while they are in the same place as Shelmet. White : When they feel threatened, they spit an acidic li...

We're on to the biggest gator of the Totodile line and perhaps the most underwhelming. Feraligatr is big, mean and pretty fast I guess? Follow along with the entries below: Gold : When it bites with its massive and powerful jaws, it shakes its head and savagely tears its victim up. Silver : It is hard for it to support its own weight out of water, so it gets down on all fours. But it moves fas...

Totodile had the jaw strength and now Croconaw is here to provide the tooth power! Apologies for Braden's bad audio on this one! Follow along with the entries below: Gold: If it loses a fang, a new one grows back in its place. There are always 48 fangs lining its mouth. Silver: It opens its huge jaws wide when attacking. If it loses any fangs while biting, they grow back in. Crystal: The tips...

We're back to talk about a little croc who is near and dear to both our hearts, Totodile! Surely this little cutie will be a ton of fun and perfectly safe for novice Pokemon trainers. Follow along with the entries below: Gold: Its well-developed jaws are powerful and capable of crushing anything. Even its trainer must be careful. Silver: It is small but rough and tough. It won’t hesitate to ta...

Here we are at the end of an incredible journey and Machamp's entries do not disappoint! Also there's a ton of them so buckle up for a long one! Follow along with the entries below: Red & Blue: Using its heavy muscles, it throws powerful punches that can send the victim clear over the horizon. Yellow: One arm alone can move mountains. Using all four arms, this POKéMON fires off awesome...

Well, Machop was already pretty incredible. One can only imagine how much more fantastic it's next form, Machoke, might be! Perhaps it will even come with a convenient device to ensure it's mighty feats remain strictly limited to our imagination! Follow along with the entries below: Red & Blue : Its muscular body is so powerful, it must wear a power save belt to be able to regulate its...

It's muscles time! Machop is here for those good, good gains and we're to tell you all about it's impossible regimen. Sorry, Graveler! Follow along with the entries below: Red & Blue : Loves to build its muscles. It trains in all styles of martial arts to become even stronger. Yellow : Very powerful in spite of its small size. Its mastery of many types of martial arts makes it very...

Tandemaus has evolved into Maushold! Or at least we're pretty sure it did. And by "it" we mean four separate beings operating as one whole Pokemon. Perfectly natural. That's right, it's Family Night at Beyond the Ball and we won't let no stinkin' Pokedex entries tell us how to define love! Follow along with the entries below: Family of Four Scarlet : The two little on...

It was Will's birthday this week so we were not able to record this week! We should be back on schedule for a new episode on the 9th. Your continued patience and support is super duper appreciated!

We got a fresh Pokemon in this rodent-sized episode as we talk about confirmed, wedded gay rats, Tandemaus! Are they just mice or is their something deeper to their connection? Follow along with the entries below: Scarlet : Exhibiting great teamwork, they use their incisors to cut pieces out of any material that might be useful for a nest, then make off with them. Violet : The pair sticks together...

Oddish's journey comes to an end as we discuss Bellossom this episode! Put away the gas mask and start ringing the sunshine bells! Follow along with the entries below: Gold : BELLOSSOM gather at times and appear to dance. They say that the dance is a ritual to summon the sun. Silver : Plentiful in the tropics. When it dances, its petals rub together and make a pleasant ringing sound. Crystal :...

We're on to Vileplume and it's bigger, floppier and perhaps no longer stinky. It's also definitely some combination of toxic, poisonous, and/or allergenic. Also Will says "rapscallion" twice in this episode! Follow along with the entries below: Red & Blue : The larger its petals, the more toxic pollen it contains. Its big head is heavy and hard to hold up. Yellow : Flaps...

We're back on schedule this week to finally talk about Oddish's evolved form, Gloom! It's time to quantify some stinky! Follow along with the entries below: Red & Blue : The fluid that oozes from its mouth isn’t drool. It is a nectar that is used to attract prey. Yellow : Smells incredibly foul! However, around 1 out of 1,000 people enjoy sniffing its nose-bending stink. Gold : Wha...

What if a plant could walk? What if a plant could scream? The answer, of course, is Oddish! Get ready to learn a lot about a little guy. Also Braden's been Pokemon Sleeping and having a surprisingly decent time. Follow along with the entries below: Red & Blue: During the day, it keeps its face buried in the ground. At night, it wanders around sowing its seeds. Yellow: It may be mistaken fo...

We got an extra-long whopper of an episode this week as we discuss Sharpedo. Get ready for absurd destructive capabilities, gross mischaracterizations, unsettling revelations, and more! Also baseball? And more Zelda obviously. Follow along with the entries below: Ruby: Nicknamed “the bully of the sea,” SHARPEDO is widely feared. Its cruel fangs grow back immediately if they snap off. Just one of t...

Ya'll hear about piranha? This one's like a piranha but if they ate boats. Also Braden finally started playing Breath of the Wild so get ready for some 6-years-late takes! Follow along with the entries below: Ruby : CARVANHA’s strongly developed jaws and its sharply pointed fangs pack the destructive power to rip out boat hulls. Many boats have been attacked and sunk by this POKéMON. Sapph...

Alright, we're on to the final Lycanroc and it's kind of a dud to be honest. This rare and special doggo definitely deserved some better entries but don't worry, we make up for it by talking about locusts, Clifford, and Curious George. Follow along with the entries below: Ultra Sun : Bathed in the setting sun of evening, Lycanroc has undergone a special kind of evolution. An intense fi...

We're back after a couple weeks off and the dog journey continues as we discuss Lycanroc's midnight form! Plus, Will spoils the epic conclusion to the Twilight movies (12:55-18:25)! Follow along with the entries below: Sun : The more intimidating the opponent it faces, the more this Pokémon’s blood boils. It will attack with no regard for its own safety. Moon : It goads its enemies into at...

A dog becomes a wolf this episode as we discuss one of three of Rockruff's evolved forms, Lycanroc (Midday)! In case you couldn't tell by the cover art this week, Braden is feeling some last-minute, reactionary Pride Month Spirit as we try to make our values and politics even more obvious this episode. Also Will has made the natural progression from watching True Blood to watching Twilight...

We're talking about a very cute dog Pokemon whose name is Rockruff! But could its adolescent aggression make it too rough to handle for some trainers? Join us as we find out and also discuss Pokemon's inherent ethical fallacies while doing our best to not devolve into a podcast where Will just explains all of True Blood to Braden! Follow along with the entries below: Sun : It’s considered...

Primeape is dead! Long live Annihilape! We thought Primeape's rage knew no bounds but Annihilape has transcended such mortal limitations. Just like Goku! Follow along with the entries below: Scarlet: When its anger rose beyond a critical point, this Pokémon gained power that is unfettered by the limits of its physical body. Violet: It imbues its fists with the power of the rage that it kept hi...

Welcome to the Primeape episode! In which we explore the differences between monkeys and apes, Pokemon and boxers, rage and serenity, and more. Follow along with the entries below: Red & Blue: Always furious and tenacious to boot. It will not abandon chasing its quarry until it is caught. Yellow: It stops being angry only when nobody else is around. To view this moment is very difficult. Gold:...