Beyond the Ball

SPOILER WARNING: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will be discussed in their entirety, including the ending to the story! The spoilercast is finally here! It's time to get our full thoughts and opinions on Pokemon Scarlet and Violet! Or at least as much of those as we can fit into 90 minutes. Turns out these were pretty good games with some fascinating implications that we were very excited to dig i...

Episode 200 is finally here and we're of course going to discuss the winner of our listener poll, Mankey! Perhaps Braden's favorite Pokemon, this little furball is really heckin' steamed and we're gonna try our best to find out why! Follow along with the entries below: Red & Blue: Extremely quick to anger. It could be docile one moment then thrashing away the next instant. Yell...

We're here at the precipice of 200 and are gazing into some visages that we were wholly unprepared for as we discuss the Baleful Pokemon, Hisuian Zoroark! Zorua's journey comes to an end and boy what an end it is! Follow along with the entries below: Legends Arceus: With its disheveled white fur, it looks like an embodiment of death. Heedless of its own safety, Zoroark attacks its nemeses...

We're taking a trip back to the Hisui region/era as we continue our investigation of Zorua by discussing its Hisuian form this episode! Turns out folks had way more beef with Zorua than we thought! Follow along with the Pokemon website here and the entries below: Legends Arceus: A once-departed soul, returned to life in Hisui. Derives power from resentment, which rises as energy atop its head...

The master of illusions has arrived! Get ready for thrills and chills of the edgy variety as we cover Zorua's evolved form, Zoroark! Follow along with the entries below: Black: Bonds between these Pokémon are very strong. It protects the safety of its pack by tricking its opponents. White: Each has the ability to fool a large group of people simultaneously. They protect their lair with illusor...

We're cutting through all the deception this episode as we talk about the Tricky Fox Pokemon, Zorua! We'll investigate why it loves to prank so much and just how ethical/necessary such pranks may or may not be. Plus, Braden complains about yet another Pokemon movie! Follow along with the entries below: Black: It changes into the forms of others to surprise them. Apparently, it often transf...

In episode 195 of Beyond the Ball we go after the "enthsusiasts as we talk about Sawsbuck, dog shows, Columbo, and more! Follow along with the entries below: Black : They migrate according to the seasons. People can tell the season by looking at Sawsbuck’s horns. White : The plants growing on its horns change according to the season. The leaders of the herd possess magnificent horns. Black &a...

It's time to talk about a a little deer! That's right, Deerling is here and we're gonna talk about just how distinct it is from a regular old deer, its seasonal scents, and more! Follow along with the entries below: Black : The color and scent of their fur changes to match the mountain grass. When they sense hostility, they hide in the grass. White : The turning of the seasons changes...

We're talking about the mythical Marshadow this episode! Join us as we found out just what kind of shady shenanigans this gloomdweller gets up to! Plus, Will's journey through Pokemon Violet continues and we continue to have thoughts about it throughout the episode. Follow along with the entires below: Sun : Able to conceal itself in shadows, it never appears before humans, so its very exi...

Alright folks, now we got a real hippo on our hands. Well, a comparatively small hippo full of holes named Hippowdon! Join us as we learn what exactly it can crush with its mighty maw, become increasingly unsettled by the concept of porous Pokemon, and come up with some cool RPG ideas! Follow along with the entries below: Diamond: It blasts internally stored sand from ports on its body to create a...

We're headed back to the desert this episode as we discuss Hippopotas! It loves sand! We think. Some challenging entries this round as we think about sweat, germs, sand ambulation and more! Follow along with the entries below: Diamond : It lives in arid places. Instead of perspiration, it expels grainy sand from its body. Pearl : It enshrouds itself with sand to protect itself from germs. It d...

Dewpider's size has grown exponentially through evolution just as Araquanid's Pokedex entries have grown exponentially more unsettling! Heads up arachnophobes and thalassophobes, this episode may not be the one for you! Follow along with the entries below: Sun : It delivers headbutts with the water bubble on its head. Small Pokémon get sucked into the bubble, where they drown. Moon : Despi...

It's time to talk about our new and bubbly spider-friend, Dewpider! We also take an extended dive into the Anime Corner as we cover Dewpider's debut episode, Dewpider Ascending which we highly recommend checking out. Follow along with the entries below: Sun: It crawls onto the land in search of food. Its water bubble allows it to breathe and protects its soft head. Moon: When it comes across enemi...

We're at the end of an evolution line once again as we discuss the big electric ape-man Electivire! Get ready for shocking Pokedex entries and hastily-Googled electricity facts. Follow along with the entries below: Diamond & Pearl: It pushes the tips of its two tails against the foe, then lets loose with over 20,000 volts of power. Platinum: Heedless of enemy attacks, it closes in, shoves its...

Electabuzz is one of the original electric Pokemon so we've got a lot of entries to get through. But what is the truth about Electabuzz and who is trying to hide it from us? Join us this episode as Beyond the Ball seeks perhaps the most rare Pokemon treasure of all: vindication. Follow along with the entries below: Red & Blue: Normally found near power plants, they can wander away and cause ma...

 The only thing more exciting than a big thunderstorm is a Beyond the Ball arc covering the Electabuzz line starting with Elekid! How rowdy is this monster baby? What serves as its baby bottles? Can it even store electricity? Answers to these questions and more await! Topics of distraction include: Mission Impossible, King of the Hill, Vince McMahon, etc. Follow along with the entries below:...

Sprigatito's evolution line comes to an end with its prestige stage, Meowscarada! Watch out, this theater adult's got bombs! Follow along with the entries below: Scarlet: This Pokémon uses the reflective fur lining its cape to camouflage the stem of its flower, creating the illusion that the flower is floating. Violet: With skillful misdirection, it rigs foes with pollen-packed flower bombs. Meows...

You know we love a middle evolution and Floragato is a perfect example of why! Plus, Braden puts the pressure on Will to get Pokemon Violet, Cat Facts, Yo-Yos, and more! Oh and we do the scales for Sprigatito that we somehow totally forgot to do last time. Follow along with the entries below: Scarlet: Floragato deftly wields the vine hidden beneath its long fur, slamming the hard flower bud agains...

Not only has Braden just finished Pokemon Scarlet, but we're also talking about the first Pokemon in the Paldean Pokedex, Sprigatito (completely by coincidence I swear)! We're a couple months late but get ready for video game takes and cat facts this episode! Follow along with the entries below: Website: Capricious and attention seeking, it may sulk if it sees its Trainer giving attention to a Pok...

We're talking about Clauncher's evolved form, Clawitzer, this episode! But first, Braden watched the Mummy (1999) for their birthday so we can FINALLY talk about it! Oh and they got Pokemon Scarlet too and it's very good but also bad. But don't worry we'll get to the Howitzer of the Sea eventually (00:19:10)! Follow along with the entries below: X: Their enormous claws launch cannonballs of water...

Arm yourself with knowledge of the Pokemon that's just a pistol shrimp, Clauncher! How does it shoot? How does it taste? How does it feel about aquariums? Join us as we dig into such questions and more! Follow along with the entries below: Website Blurb: It has an oversized claw on one of its arms. This useful claw can seize prey and shoot water at others as a projectile. X: They knock down flying...

We're kicking off the new year (again?) with Fennekin's final form, Delphox! Plus, we actually reveal our 2022 Pokemon of the Year which I guess is a tradition now! Don't forget a troubling visit to the Anime Corner as well! Follow along with Delphox's entries below: X: It gazes into the flame at the tip of its branch to achieve a focused state, which allows it to see into the future. Y: Using psy...

Fennekin has evolved into Braixen and we're ready to learn exactly what is stuck in its tail and how friction works. Follow along with the entries below: Website Blurb: Braixen no longer eats branches but it still keeps a tree branch in its tail, which seems to calm the Pokémon. It will occasionally wield the branch in battle and use friction to light it on fire. X: It has a twig stuck in its tail...

We took a holiday break from recording this week so enjoy another prerecorded dive into AI-generated Pokedex entries as we press an additional AI into service! Tremble in confusion as we unveil new and unsettling facts about Eevee and its many evolutions! Follow along with the entries below: Eevee: It has three different forms: a Normal-type, an Ice-type, and a Human-type. No one is sure how it ch...

For the best listening experience, we recommend listening to this episode in the Firefox browser. That's right, we're talking about Fennekin! It's cute but only has a couple of entries so get ready for us to really dig into like the two things we know it does. Follow along with the entries below: Website: Fennekin can be temperamental, but it tries to do its best for its Trainer. Searing heat blow...