Pokémon Masters EX updates to Version 2.43.0 - Dev update previews new Story Event dropping this week featuring the debuts of Volo and Jacq

A new version of Pokémon Masters EX, version 2.43.0, is now available to download. Together with this update, the monthly message from the producers of Pokémon Masters EX has teased several upcoming events that will run in game over the next few weeks, including a brand new Story Event featuring the debuts of Volo and Jacq. The next letter from the producers is slated to be released in late-April.

Volo and Jacq debut alongside a brand new Story Event
A brand new Story Event, Researcher and Seeker, will debut later this week on March 28th, at 11:00pm (PDT). This event, which will serve as a prelude to the next part of the Mysterious Stones Chapter releasing on March 31st, will feature the debuts of two Sync Pairs in their own individual Poké Fair Scouts.

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Volo & Togepi are a Fairy-type Field Sync Pair with a Tech EX Role. Their Poké Fair Scout will begin on March 28th, at 11:00pm (PDT), running through to April 17th, at 10:59pm (PDT). Pairing up with Volo & Togepi will also give players a Togepi photo frame that can be used in the Photo Creator.

Volo & Togepi's Sinnoh Solidarity Trainer Move applies the Sinnoh Circle (Defensive) Field Effect. This effect features a different balance of bonuses from typical Circle Field Effects to date, powering up the special attack and sync moves of the player's team by 5%, while reducing all attack move and Sync Move damage received by allies (from both physical and special moves) by 10%. These values are boosted when the team includes additional Sync Pairs with the Sinnoh Theme skill, up to a maximum of 20% power-up and 25% damage reduction. In addition, one of their Passive Skills will bost all allies' Sync Moves when any circle effect is in effect in the allied field of play.

Jacq & Farigiraf are a Psychic-type Tech Sync Pair with a Support EX Role. Their Poké Fair Scout will begin on March 30th, at 11:00pm (PDT), running through to April 17th, at 10:59pm (PDT).

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Jacq & Faragiraf make use of combo involving their double-hitting Twin Beam move, together with several Passive Skills, that can result in them getting a full 8 stat ranks worth of boosts in a single attack. These stat boosts can then be further improved by their There You Have It! Trainer move, which doubles all stat increases they've received. These stat boosts then fuel their Experimental Stored Power Buddy Move, which can only be activated when their stats have been raised by at least 10 total stat ranks, and which has higher power the more that Jacq & Farigiraf's stats have been raised.

App Update Summary
The full changelog from the Version 2.43.0 update can be read here. Below, we've summarized the more notable changes with this update.

Trainer Lodge Update
Volo, the merchant from the Hisui region in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, will be available to be invited to the Trainer Lodge from March 28th, at 11:00pm (PDT), at the same time as their Sync Pair debut. To invite Volo, players will need to have teamed up with Volo & Togepi from his featured Poké Fair Scout.

A few days after this update, on March 31st at 11:00pm (PDT), the new Egg Hunt Style will also be added as a selectable option for redecorating the trainer lodge.

Bug-Fix for recent Villain Event issues
An issue was discovered where, when Hop & Zamazenta's Legendary Spirit was exchanged for Event Vouchers S in the re-run of the Lamenting a Millennium Villain Event, these expired and were converted into coins. As compensation, all players will be receiving a gift of ×300 Non-paid Gems. These gems must be claimed prior to April 26th, at 9:59pm (PDT).

24-Hour Limited Gem Special
All players will now be able to purchase Gems at a reduced price for 24 hours after first completing Main Story 1: The More the Merrier, on Normal difficulty in single-player. Players who completed this level prior to the Version 2.43.0 update will have access to this gem special for up to 24 hours after they update the app to 2.43.0.

Minor changes and Quality of Life updates
The following changes have been made, alongside other updates:

• The entry for Mysterious Stone in Trista's Guide has been updated.
• Contents of the tutorials for Chapter 1: Public Nuisance and Challenge Rosa: Part 1 in the PML Arc of the Main Story have been adjusted.
• Players can now check the original titles of songs that have been added to the Jukebox.
• Players can now see the details of expired limited-time items that were auto-exchanged by going to the Pokémon Center.
• The contents of the tips that are displayed when updating the app have been updated.
• Players can now quickly check ongoing Sync Pair Scouts as a list. This list only acts as a quick selection, rather than a replacement to the normal scout interface.
• Sync Pairs' remaining HP can now be displayed as a percentage on their HP bar during battle. This setting can be adjusted by going to HUD under Settings in the Poryphone Menu.
• New songs will be added to the Jukebox on March 27th, at 11:00pm (PDT).
• An issue has been fixed in which an acquisition requirement for Titles was different than intended.

Welcome Volo Sweepstakes
Pokémon Masters EX is currently holding a special sweepstakes, offering players the chance to receive a variety of prizes themed around Volo and the Hisui region.

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A total of 75 of Volo Acrylic Stands are up for grabs, with 25 being awarded to residents of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec), and a further 50 on offer for residents of Japan. In addition, the English side of the contest is offering 5 Hisuian Poké Ball Replica figures, and as a grand prize, a set of Hisuian Pokémon Poké Plush. To enter, players must follow the appropriate Pokémon Masters EX account for their region on X (@PokemonMasters or @pokemas_game), and then reposting the official contest post (English / Japanese) prior to March 31st, at 7:59pm (PDT) / March 28th at 11:59am (JST). For the English side of the contest, players will also need to repostthe daily posts made on the @PokemonMasters account to enter.

Other upcoming Updates and Events
New Legendary Gauntlet
The 14th Legendary Gauntlet will begin something in the 1st half of April. The specific Pokémon that players will battle against for this Gauntlet have not yet been announced.

Returning Villain Event
Continuing the recent run of returning Villain Events, the Unova Chapter Villain events will be making another return starting in the first half of April. These events were previously re-run in October, 2023.

New Ultimate Battle
During the first half of April, players can expect another new battle to be added to Challenge the Strong. As of writing, no information has been given about the opponent for this challenge.

Pasio Special Stadium
A new Champion Stadium event against opponents weak to Fire type attacks will be launching on April 8th. No other details have been given on the specific opponents that players will face in this challenge.