Spilling The Sinistea

In today’s episode, Ezra and Chelsea talk about their experience at the Pokémon Play Lab at PAX West 2024. They break down the beginner-friendly mechanics of how Play Lab is set up, discuss the demo decks they had the chance to run, and talk about which Pokémon is really the superior electric mouse.  See below for the card lists and remember, supporting the scalpers harms TCG players in the l...

Do you have a game that you love and want to play but it is a bit of a toxic relationship? For us, that is Pokémon GO! Today, Ezra and Chelsea have what can only be called a bit of a rant about the Pokémon gimmicks in PoGo that are causing us to stress for no reason or spend real-life money in a game we so desperately want to love but feels like it does not equally love and support its fanbase.&nb...

The latest news from Pokémon GO has us very excited! Chelsea and Ezra talk this week about the announcement regarding the introduction of Dynamax and Gigantamax into PoGO. As diehard fans of the Sword and Shield (as we’ve talked about many times before) and lovers of the Dynamax mechanics, we are stoked to see it coming to the mobile app. We break down how we think it may work, talk about why it i...

The 2024 Pokémon World Championships happened last weekend in Hawaii, bringing some interesting decks and strategies from the TCG competition, but lackluster announcements from The Pokémon Company for the rest of the year. Ezra and Chelsea break down their thoughts on the TCG competition decks, the new TCG Pocket game coming to mobile on October 30, 2024, and give some predictions for the next few...

Today, Ezra and Chelsea talk about the latest TCG set - Shrouded Fable. For those looking for just the base set, the cards are super playable and, with a tiny set list of only 99, super easy to get. The struggles with this set come with the rare and special cards at the end - while most of them are gorgeous, they are hard to pull and are not worth buying the tins, ETBs, and other special sets due...

In a bit of a continuation from their last episode regarding previous games they want to play, Ezra and Chelsea talk about Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team, its latest availability on Nintendo Switch Online, and other games that we might (or want) to see come to the Switch. This is super exciting news for players who miss the nostalgia of the games on the Game Boy Advanced, Game Boy Color,...

In this week’s episode, Ezra and Chelsea discuss their desire to fall back in love with the world of Pokémon video games by revising old favorites before the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A in 2025. They delve into favorite characters, favorite mechanics, and what they’re hoping to see out of the new game. As always, there are side conversations about why they fell out of love with many of the vid...

Ez and Chelsea tackle the massive responsibilities of being Pokémon professors to the next generation of trainers. How do you get your offspring/nibling/random kid at the grocery store asking you questions in the toy aisle into Pokémon? Here are a few tips about embracing creativity, nurturing curiosity, and building memories together to strengthen the new batch of future Pokémon Masters.   E...

In this week’s episode, Ezra and Chelsea dive into the realm of Pokémon TCG deck building - specifically themed decks! Whether you have a favorite Disney character you want to honor, a superhero that’s calling for their own tough-to-beat deck, your favorite meal, or any other theme you can dream up, they’ve got tips for building your perfect deck! Listen in to hear about how we built some of our f...

In today’s episode, Ezra and Chelsea dive deep into their love of all things squishable and Pokémon. They discuss the pros and cons of different Poké Plushes from Build-A-Bear to key chains to articulated Pokémon friends and everything in between. Whether you’re looking for an immensely huggable friend, something cuddly for you or your tot, or a buddy to keep you company as you go about life’s day...

In today’s episode, Ez and Chelsea discuss (rant) about the biggest missing element of Pokémon Go - Gen 8. They ask Niantic where Galar Starters are, theorize why Gen 8 is still mostly missing from the mobile app, and discuss how key mechanics could be implemented in the future. Mostly, they are both deeply confused as to why Sobble and Scorbunny are still missing from their storage boxes.  ...

In today’s episode, Ezra and Chelsea dive into the imaginings of what could be for the next generation of Pokémon. They discuss some of the things that worked and were beloved by players from previous generations, things that The Pokémon Company could embrace and bring in, and state their desire (and the desire of many Pokémon fans) to build a game that makes players want to explore, want to creat...

This week, Ezra and Chelsea chat about how they got started in the TCG, the origination and modifications of their primary decks (Galarian Obstagoon/Piers and a Leon’s Charizard), and how playing Expanded in group settings can sometimes cause unexpected challenges. They also go into how playing Expanded socially compares to the current (and former) competitive scene and invite anyone who listens a...

Fans of Pokémon come in all ages - if you’re a new fan just getting started or an OG looking to get back into the trading card game, we have a slew of tips for picking out a deck, expanding on strategy, and having fun. We also talk about younger player safety, what kids need to know, and how parents can guide their young trainers as they get their footing.   Episode References: Pokémon Scarle...

In today’s episode, Ezra and Chelsea gush about all things kitty related. They discuss their collective 5! cats, tell the stories of how they were acquired, and then treat them like the Pokémon companions that they are - we typed them, gave them movesets, and, when applicable, assigned them to Pokémon game characters. Hit us up on Twitter or email and share your pet stories with us!   Episode...

Pokémon Sword and Shield and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are two of the biggest Pokémon games in the last few years. However, the gimmicks provided in each give two very different experiences to the player. Today, Chelsea and Ezra discuss why the Sword and Shield mechanics of Dynamaxing are superior to the Tera Raids of Scarlet and Violet.      Connect with Ezra & Chelsea: Websit...

In this week’s episode, Ezra and Chelsea discuss why we all need to be more conscious consumers of games, particularly those with microtransactions. They specifically talk to Niantic to encourage a subscription model and for more ethical monetary transactions with their players.    Episode References: No, Trans Inclusion Doesn’t Make Me Want To Start Playing Pokémon GO Again - https://ww...

As long-time Swifties, and in honor of the newest Taylor Swift album, The Tortured Poets Department, we decided to revisit each of her Eras and play The Match Game with the Pokémon we think would fit best in each Era. Spoilers: It Gets Deep.    Connect with Ezra & Chelsea: Website: https://bonus-action.com/   Ezra’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraGrayHolt1   Chelsea’s Tw...

This week on Spilling the Sinistea, we talk about the most difficult Shiny Pokémon to catch. We discuss some of the different shiny hunting methods, talk about some of the hardest (and most insane) hoops trainers need to jump through to get particular shinies, and discuss our own shiny white-whale Pokémon.    Episode References: Calculating the Best Odds for EVERY Shiny Pokémon (Again) b...

In today’s episode, Ezra and Chelsea talk about all the cute, springtime Pokémon. Whether you’re celebrating Easter, Ramadan, Ostara, something else, or nothing at all, with the return of warmer temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere, now is the time to refresh your Pokémon teams with adorable goodness. We also talk about the Pokémon breeding mechanics in the games, why egg hatching is not curren...

The newest Pokémon TCG set released for Generation 9 - Scarlet and Violet - is Temporal Forces and we are excited for the ACE SPEC cards (if you like the Radiant Pokemon, we think you’ll like these too)! With a 200+ card list, there are some great finds…but beware of the difficult pull rates. Take a listen for our thoughts on playability, cards to look out for, and all things Temporal Forces. Disc...

Are you interested in starting your Pokémon adventure? Do you have children who are asking for their first Pokémon game and you don’t know where to begin? Take a listen to this episode as Chelsea and Ezra share their opinions on where to begin no matter your age.    Episode References: Is Pokémon GO a Good Starting Point? - https://open.spotify.com/episode/23SSw5CSKLnF5enFTwPhuu?si=tNTSQ...

In today’s episode, Ezra and Chelsea discuss why the relatively spartan Pokémon Presents from Pokémon Day 2024 is actually a good thing. They also discuss theories and hopes for the Legends: ZA game, dropping in 2025 and issue a call to Game Freak to include a Poké Puff Simulator in the new legends game.  Articles Referenced: Pokémon Day Presents Shocks Fans With Legends: ZA Reveal - https://...

Pokémon Sword and Shield was the shiny rainbow of the pandemic. Chelsea and Ezra talk about how Dynamax Raids, Shiny Hunting, and Wonder Trading helped us get through the crazy, isolating, and difficult days of shutdown and beyond.      Connect with Ezra & Chelsea: Ezra’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraGrayHolt1   Chelsea’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/CSTaylor24 Ezra’s...

Have you considered downloading Pokémon Go to play with your friends or kids? Are you interested in the mobile game as a way to jump-start your Pokémon Trainer journey? Listen in to hear our thoughts on why this might not be the best option for you…or maybe it is…   Episode References: Every Pokémon Type Weaknesses Explained: Which Is Best Against Which: https://screenrant.com/pokemon-type-we...