Alola Pokémon League Discussion

[Soki]

Today it has been revealed that there's a Pokémon League being build in Alola!

According to the official website:

In the Alola region, the setting of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, there is no Pokémon League yet—but it seems that there are plans to construct one on the peak of a certain mountain.

After the growth you achieve through completing the island challenge, will the day come when you also take on the Pokémon League to become the strongest Pokémon Trainer?

So what do you think? Is this another easter egg, like the Battle Frontier being built in ORAS? Or will we actually be able to participate in this League postgame? Who will be the Elite Four and the Champion? Some of the Trial Captains/Kahunas or new characters? Or maybe characters from previous regions?

Discuss!

 

[Necrozma]

Thank you for the thread!

I am definitely intrigued by the presence of a Pokemon League. I wonder if we will get brand new E4 characters or if the four Island Kahunas will each become a member of the Elite 4?

It kinda sounds like the League is what comes AFTER the Island Challenge, so the same Kahunas also being the E4 would be kinda weird..

 

[TouyaShiro]

A far-off theory, but what if Global Missions from the PGL come into effect into deciding what teams are placed into this league... lol. Dark types everywhere.

In any case, this is one crazy piece of news (amongst the many in that trailer). I'll put my chips on there maybe being a deconstruction of what it means to be "Champion" with this Pokemon League construction.

 

[Esserise]

They wouldn't advertise a BF-esque Easter egg in a trailer like this.

Spoiler: Datamine information

Maybe it has to do with some of those battle intros that they found in the data. Which to me, look like they could be Fighting-type, Steel-type, Flying-type, Ghost-type, and Water-type(?). There is also the rainbow intro just before those ones, but that may be for the island challenge champion, I'm guessing.

 

[godiego]

They wouldn't advertise a BF-esque Easter egg in a trailer like this.

Spoiler: Datamine information

Maybe it has to do with some of those battle intros that they found in the data. Which to me, look like they could be Fighting-type, Steel-type, Flying-type, Ghost-type, and Water-type(?). There is also the rainbow intro just before those ones, but that may be for the island challenge champion, I'm guessing.

Spoiler: datamine

what's interesting about that is that those types seem to match up with both Kahunas (Fighting (Hala) and Steel (Ulaula?)) and Captains (Ghost and presumed Flying-type Captain-guy (?)). so perhaps the Elite Four is made up of both Captains and Kahunas? but what i think is kinda striking is that that last intro in that series has both a generic one and a dynamic one (which appears in multiple variations at the very end of the video). though it does seem a bit strange that they would take characters with already dynamic intros and just turn them into generic ones, so perhaps it's not Kahunas that join the League? either that or they made them generic so they didn't have to make more dynamic ones. i definitely think the rainbow one has to do with the Island Champion, though i wonder why they'd also get a generic one...

 

[Mitchman]

I am going to go back to my original theory, that the story is a 2 parter. Explore the region, learn of the UB's and Aether, but only small hints to the larger plot, complete the trials and take down the "evil" team. Credits roll, and when back home, Kukui informs you the league is finally built, with the island trials being revealed that they act as a sort of rite of passage for trainers to challenge one of the toughest leagues yet. You get to challenge the league in whatever you want akin to HGSS Kanto, but you will hit story beats along the way until the story climaxes with you taking down Aether.
Of course all this could also be an entire sequel to SM, as this is basically BW/B2W2 rolled up into one game, but if they're willing to go for two tiers of evil teams for the story, they could be crazy enough to go for 2 tiers of a league.
I also seriously doubt this is going to end up with you owning a gym, or as the champion the game features them as a secret base style thing. The gym puzzles would be basic as hell, and it would get tiring fast if its a multiplayer feature. The screenshots and footage makes it sound a lot like its in the final stages of building.

I forgot to mention, this finally makes sense of the level curve, its definitely going to be the post game. If the game ends around the mid 40s for the final trial and story climax like I assume, the gyms being between level 50-70 and the E4 being in the high 70s low 80s would be the perfect comfort zone for a challenge.

 

[Kevzo8]

Well, I'd love to speculate that every type must be represented in some form to give the crystals too..

Since the league hasn't been created yet, anyone can participate, and there could be tournament to form the 8 gym, elite 4 and one champion.. Though the 8 gym doesn't seem to be mentioned, so it could be dropped somehow..

7 captains (normal, fire, grass, water, electric, ghost?, flying?)
4 kahunas (fighting, rock, ground, steel?)
That's 11.. There are 7 more. What if each has that type specialist and they become the gym leaders, and one with various, ala blue?
Bug
Poison
Psychic
Fairy
Dark
Ice
Dragon
Various or could be hau

They could have their gyms in some of the buildings like the hotel, lighthouse, etc..

And the elite four comes from the captain and kahuna? I really don't know what I'm saying

 

[TheMonster6893]

I found the traditional Pokemon league boring in the normal games as it never seemed to offer anything story wise. This however could be cool. I don't think they'll have gyms for the league tho so that's kind of a bummer, but it'll be interesting nonetheless.

 

[Uhane]

I think they are laying the ground for sequels. Similar to how Kingdom Hearts let you face one of Organisation 13 in KH1 Remix, there could be a post game story involving someone, potentially being appointed the First Gym Leader who you can face.

 

[Alola]

It looks like one big tease to me, unfortunately. In a similar vein to ORAS and the Battle Frontier. It does do for a good hook though.

The only solid post-game content seems to be the Battle Tree, otherwise known as Alola's Battle Tower with nostalgia cameos.

 

[Necrozma]

So if completing the Island Challenges makes one the Island challenge Champion, will beating the League make you a Pokemon League Champion?

Seems kinda redundant to have two titles in the Alola region...I kinda hoped the Island Challenge Champion would be the only title because Kukui says that the Island Challenge Champion is the title of the most powerful trainer in Alola.

 

[Uhane]

So if completing the Island Challenges makes one the Island challenge Champion, will beating the League make you a Pokemon League Champion?

Seems kinda redundant to have two titles in the Alola region...I kinda hoped the Island Challenge Champion would be the only title because Kukui says that the Island Challenge Champion is the title of the most powerful trainer in Alola.

It is confusing since it seems Island Challenge Champion is just the title you get after beating all 4 Kahunas. But the Island Challenges are something that apparently every 11 year old goes through as a rite of passage. So are there multiple island champions, or do you not hold the title for very long? What if you fail your Island Challenge, like people drop out of training in the anime?

 

[Esserise]

I kinda hoped the Island Challenge Champion would be the only title because Kukui says that the Island Challenge Champion is the title of the most powerful trainer in Alola.

Well, the League is a new thing in Alola. Until the recent establishment of a League (which isn't even finished by the time we start off on the Island Challenge), the Island Challenge Champion was the title of the strongest in the region.

 

[conqueror]

Yes, I believe that this time Pokemon League will be a part of the post-game storyline which will be amazing! It would explain why the mention that it isn't built yet when the adventure starts off.

I remember some "leaks" and speculation about a massive post game content with 8 gyms and elite 4. This is the best scenario for me but I don't thing is possible to get two main games in one. It would be massive and will happen for only a second time in pokemon games (after Gold-Silver-Crystal-HGSS). But everything is possible.

 

[Necrozma]

Well, the League is a new thing in Alola. Until the recent establishment of a League (which isn't even finished by the time we start off on the Island Challenge), the Island Challenge Champion was the title of the strongest in the region.

Yes, but if the new League is a new thing, then who decides the League Champion?

Perhaps the Island Challenge Champion becomes the League Champion? The most powerful trainer in Alola sounds like a good candidate for the Champion of the Alola League...

 

[Arceus the Dragon]

I am just glad that the league is not being built by us. The very idea is absurd in the first place. We probably won't be able to battle it until the next games of gen 7.

 

[Silktree]

They wouldn't be teasing sequels even prior to Sun and Moon's release date.

 

[Uhane]

They wouldn't be teasing sequels even prior to Sun and Moon's release date.

Yeah I realised my mistake when I realised by League they meant "building with E4 in" rather than Gym Leaders all over the region, and Elite 4 and champion etc.

 

[Alola]

Do people really want a League though? What happened to "boring repetition" and demand for change?

 

[Silktree]

Do people really want a League though? What happened to "boring repetition" and demand for change?

I don't really want it, but there is no indication that we're dealing with gyms. Battling an Elite Four and a Champion in a row is better than just battling the Kahunas and eventually a Champion.

I still find it awkward, though. Hopefully instead of an "Elite Four" there is a league tournament involving the trial captains.