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Hey everyone! I'm Slife, moderator of Pokémon Video Games and Current Event: Pokémon Sun and Moon, and this week I want to share with you all my favorite Pokémon!
In the World of Pokémon, there lives a vast number and variety of amazing creatures to befriend and collect. Every week, we will be focusing on a single one of these Pokémon or evolutionary line and talking about what makes it special. This week's Pokémon of choice is Espeon!
Introduced in Generation II as one of two new additions to the beloved Eevee family, the Psychic-type Sun Pokémon exudes extraordinary extrasensory abilities through its sensitive fur, perceptive forked tail, and the red orb on its forehead. Espeon displays its fierce loyalty to its trainer by using its psychic powers to protect them from harm. According to the pokédex, it can use its body to anticipate its foes’ thoughts and actions, and even predict the weather! They are more likely to be found in populated areas than out in the wild.
Espeon, like the other Eeveelutions, appears to be based on a mix of various feline creatures; in particular the nekomata of Japanese folklore, with the orb on its head possibly taking inspiration from the mythological carbuncle. Espeon has a special evolution method, requiring a trainer to level up an Eevee with high friendship during the daytime (which took advantage of the new day and time features introduced in the Generation II games), or use a Sun Shard to evolve the starter Eevee in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.
In the Pokémon anime, as with other Pokémon media, Espeon often appears alongside the other Eeveelutions or is related to them in some way. Sakura of the Kimono Sisters evolved her Eevee into Espeon and Virgil used one as part of his Eeveelution team during the Unova League. Espeon was also used by Annie in Pokémon Heroes and Salon Maiden Anabel in the Battle Tower. The anime frequently highlights Espeon’s nimble movements and strong psychic connection during battle. In Pokémon Colosseum, Espeon plays a unique role as one of the starter Pokémon alongside Umbreon. Additionally, Pokémon Trainer Red uses an Espeon on his team in GSC, and in the Pokémon Adventures manga he has an Espeon named Vee.
Boasting strong stats in Special Attack and Speed, with a decent Special Defense stat and a diverse overall movepool, Espeon has been able to fulfill both an offensive and support-oriented role in the competitive metagame. Before Generation V, Espeon struggled to distance itself from the overbearing shadow of Alakazam, having to rely on support moves like Morning Sun and Wish to give it its niche. However, thanks to the introduction of Hidden Abilities, Espeon was blessed with an amazing new ability in Magic Bounce, giving it the ability to reflect hazards and status conditions back at the opponent. More importantly, it provides Espeon greater freedom to set up and sweep, as well as utilize Baton Pass to either obtain or transfer boosts in stats. Unfortunately, with the introduction of Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie, Espeon has been largely outclassed as a Magic Bouncer; furthermore, in terms of its Eeveelution family, it faces competition from the speedy Jolteon and powerful Sylveon. Nonetheless, this Psychic feline still has the potential to pounce on unprepared foes with its agility, power, and bag full of tricks.
Here are some questions to consider to get conversation rolling. You don't have to answer all of them or any of them in your post as long as you're staying on topic and within global forum rules.
In the World of Pokémon, there lives a vast number and variety of amazing creatures to befriend and collect. Every week, we will be focusing on a single one of these Pokémon or evolutionary line and talking about what makes it special. This week's Pokémon of choice is Espeon!
Introduced in Generation II as one of two new additions to the beloved Eevee family, the Psychic-type Sun Pokémon exudes extraordinary extrasensory abilities through its sensitive fur, perceptive forked tail, and the red orb on its forehead. Espeon displays its fierce loyalty to its trainer by using its psychic powers to protect them from harm. According to the pokédex, it can use its body to anticipate its foes’ thoughts and actions, and even predict the weather! They are more likely to be found in populated areas than out in the wild.
Espeon, like the other Eeveelutions, appears to be based on a mix of various feline creatures; in particular the nekomata of Japanese folklore, with the orb on its head possibly taking inspiration from the mythological carbuncle. Espeon has a special evolution method, requiring a trainer to level up an Eevee with high friendship during the daytime (which took advantage of the new day and time features introduced in the Generation II games), or use a Sun Shard to evolve the starter Eevee in Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness.
In the Pokémon anime, as with other Pokémon media, Espeon often appears alongside the other Eeveelutions or is related to them in some way. Sakura of the Kimono Sisters evolved her Eevee into Espeon and Virgil used one as part of his Eeveelution team during the Unova League. Espeon was also used by Annie in Pokémon Heroes and Salon Maiden Anabel in the Battle Tower. The anime frequently highlights Espeon’s nimble movements and strong psychic connection during battle. In Pokémon Colosseum, Espeon plays a unique role as one of the starter Pokémon alongside Umbreon. Additionally, Pokémon Trainer Red uses an Espeon on his team in GSC, and in the Pokémon Adventures manga he has an Espeon named Vee.
Boasting strong stats in Special Attack and Speed, with a decent Special Defense stat and a diverse overall movepool, Espeon has been able to fulfill both an offensive and support-oriented role in the competitive metagame. Before Generation V, Espeon struggled to distance itself from the overbearing shadow of Alakazam, having to rely on support moves like Morning Sun and Wish to give it its niche. However, thanks to the introduction of Hidden Abilities, Espeon was blessed with an amazing new ability in Magic Bounce, giving it the ability to reflect hazards and status conditions back at the opponent. More importantly, it provides Espeon greater freedom to set up and sweep, as well as utilize Baton Pass to either obtain or transfer boosts in stats. Unfortunately, with the introduction of Mega Sableye and Mega Diancie, Espeon has been largely outclassed as a Magic Bouncer; furthermore, in terms of its Eeveelution family, it faces competition from the speedy Jolteon and powerful Sylveon. Nonetheless, this Psychic feline still has the potential to pounce on unprepared foes with its agility, power, and bag full of tricks.
Here are some questions to consider to get conversation rolling. You don't have to answer all of them or any of them in your post as long as you're staying on topic and within global forum rules.
- Do you like or dislike this Pokémon? Why?
- How is this Pokémon in-game?
- How is this Pokémon in competitive play? Are there any interesting strategies you like to use for it?
- Do you like this Pokémon's representation in the anime? Are there any moments or qualities in particular you enjoy/dislike?
- How do you think this Pokémon would interact with our world?
- If given the power to, would you change anything about this Pokémon, and if so, what would you change?
- How do you think Espeon fares in comparison to the other Eeveelutions? Who is your favorite member of the Eevee family?
- What do you think about the role of Espeon and the rest of the Eeveelutions in the Orre Games? What other Pokémon would you want to see as “starter” Pokémon in games besides the usual starters?