Pokemon Sun/Moon PLUS ULTRA (Alola Region Games)

[DarkRula]

Well XY have been said to be the easiest of all the games. I'm hoping SunMoon don't take that route.

[Sonictrainer]

Not much, but here's an image of the Pokemon Center

We may also get more news at Gamescom.

[Marcello]

We're getting news August 1, so we won't be waiting that long.

[Sonictrainer]

New August Trailers

English

Japanese

 

Old Pokémon, New Alola Forms

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Pokémon Adapted to the Alola Region
Some Pokémon have adapted to the distinctive microclimates of the Alola region, taking on different forms than they have in other regions. These Pokémon are called regional variants. Taking root in the Alola region, they live like native Pokémon. Regional variant Pokémon can have different appearances and types, and their ways of living can also differ from that of the forms previously known.

• Alolan Sandshrew
• Category: Mouse Pokémon
• TYPE: Ice/Steel
• HEIGHT: 2’04”
• WEIGHT: 88.2 lbs.
• ABILITY: Snow Cloak

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Sandshrew have historically lived in desert areas. But the frequent eruptions of nearby volcanoes drove the Sandshrew to abandon the desert and migrate to snowy mountains, where they took on this form.

Sandshrew’s body changed to adapt to the harsh environment of the snowy mountains. The Alolan Sandshrew has a shell of ice covering its skin, which is like hard steel. It excels defensively, but it lacks flexibility and can’t curl its body into a ball like a Ground-type Sandshrew can.

Its heavy weight makes the Alolan Sandshrew slower than a normal Sandshrew, but the claws on its hands and feet allow it to move across ice without slipping. When it wants to move quickly, it uses its stomach to slide across the ice like a curling rock.

• Alolan Sandslash
• Category: Mouse Pokémon
• Type: Ice/Steel
• Height: 3’11”
• Weight: 121.3 lbs.
• Ability: Snow Cloak

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The Alolan Sandshrew of the snowy mountains evolve into Alolan Sandslash with spiny backs that are covered in ice. Thanks to their icy coating, these spines are large and sharp. Alolan Sandslash hide themselves in the snow when strong enemies appear, leaving only their needles exposed and ready for business.

The weight of the ice that covers its body makes these Alolan Sandslash heavier than normal Sandslash, and this causes them to be slower. Yet in snow fields and on ice, they move by creating a path with their claws, and so they’re able to move with swiftness.

The sprays of snow kicked up by Alolan Sandslash’s movements are so beautiful that many photographers head for the snowy peaks to capture the moment. However, Sandslash live deep in the mountains, and there is great danger of becoming stranded, so it’s forbidden to climb the mountains without permission.

• Alolan Vulpix
• Category: Fox Pokémon
• Type: Ice
• Height: 2’00”
• Weight: 21.8 lbs.
• Ability: Snow Cloak

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It is said that Vulpix came to the Alola region together with humans, but the Fox Pokémon moved to the snowy mountain peaks to avoid the normal habitats of other Pokémon, and thus it ended up taking on this form.

These Alolan Vulpix live on high mountains that remain covered in snow year-round. They live in small packs of two to five individuals, helping one another survive.

Alolan Vulpix can freeze anything solid by expelling breath at a temperature of −58 degrees Fahrenheit (−50° C) from its mouth. It doesn’t fare well in the heat, but when the temperature gets too high, it produces ice from its tail to lower the surrounding temperature.

• Alolan Ninetales
• Category: Fox Pokémon
• Type: Ice/Fairy
• Height: 3’07”
• Weight: 43.9 lbs.
• Ability: Snow Cloak

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Alolan Ninetales live on a snowy peak that is revered in the Alola region as a holy mountain. They are treated as sacred emissaries, and people meet them with awe and fear. This Pokémon’s personality is extremely gentle, and at times it has helped humans who seem to be in distress. However, it shows no mercy at all to anyone or anything that dares to damage its territory!

The Alolan Ninetales is able to produce ice crystals from the fur that covers its body. It can use these ice crystals to block attacks, or it can form balls of ice with them, which it fires like bullets at opponents. The power of these ice missiles is great enough to pulverize rock!

• Alolan Exeggutor
• Category: Coconut Pokémon
• Type: Grass/Dragon
• Height: 35’09”
• Weight: 916.2 lbs.
• Ability: Frisk

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The environment of the Alola region, where strong sunlight pours down all year round, brought about this change in Exeggutor’s form. The people of Alola boast that the Alolan Exeggutor is the true form of Exeggutor.

Unlike other Exeggutor, the Alolan Exeggutor has a fourth head—on its tail! This fourth head controls the tail independently and can take on opponents to the rear that can’t be reached by the main heads’ attacks.

This Pokémon excels at whipping its long neck like a lash to attack with its hard heads. But that neck can sometimes become a weakness...

 

New Pokémon

• Fomantis
• Category: Sickle Grass Pokémon
• Type: Grass
• Height: 1’00”
• Weight: 3.3 lbs.
• Ability: Leaf Guard

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Fomantis is nocturnal, and it performs photosynthesis while it sleeps during the day by spreading out its leaves in all directions. Because of the danger of staying in the same location two days in a row, Fomantis begins its search for the next day’s spot as soon as the sun sets.

For Fomantis, photosynthesis is not just a source of energy—it is a necessity to achieve the strength and brilliant coloration of its evolved form. Photosynthesis is precious to Fomantis, and it will fiercely attack those who get in the way of that process.

Fomantis excel at long-range attacks like Razor Leaf and Solar Beam. Solar Beam is indeed a powerful move, but since it uses up the energy that the Pokémon has stored through photosynthesis, Fomantis rarely uses it.

• Lurantis
• Category: Bloom Sickle Pokémon
• Type: Grass
• Height: 2’11”
• Weight: 40.8 lbs.
• Ability: Leaf Guard
• Fomantis evolves into Lurantis 

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Lurantis draws opponents near to itself with its flowerlike appearance and aroma—and then it takes them down. It’s said to be the most gorgeous of all Grass-type Pokémon, due to its brilliant coloration and elegant moves. Lurantis’s appearance is maintained through detailed grooming. It will trust a Trainer who does a good job of caring for it, but it will apparently have a difficult time growing closer to a lazy Trainer.

Lurantis can learn Solar Blade, a move that releases a blade-shaped beam to mince up its foes. The blade is so sharp it is said it can slice a rock in half! Solar Blade is a move that no Pokémon has been able to learn before. With Solar Blade, Lurantis absorbs energy from the sun on the first move and then unleashes a powerful attack on the second turn. Lurantis is the Totem Pokémon of Lush Jungle, the site of an Akala Island trial. It will overwhelm trial-goers with the powerful combos it unleashes with the Pokémon allies it calls.

• Gumshoos
• Category: Stakeout Pokémon
• Type: Normal
• Height: 2’04”
• Weight: 31.3 lbs.
• Ability: Stakeout / Strong Jaw
• Yungoos evolves into Gumshoos

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Gumshoos’s method of targeting prey is the exact opposite of Yungoos’s strategy. While Yungoos prowls around, Gumshoos stakes out its prey’s usual routes and waits patiently for it to come by.

Gumshoos has a tenacious personality, which is why it targets one prey for so long without wavering. But when the sun goes down, it runs low on stamina, falling asleep right on the spot. Gumshoos can withstand a great deal of hunger. It’s able to stay perfectly still while waiting for its prey, keeping watch without eating a thing.

• Minior
• Category: Meteor Pokémon
• Type: Rock/Flying
• Height: 1’00”
• Weight: 88.2 lbs.
• Ability: Shields Down

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Minior are formed in the stratosphere and live by absorbing the detritus around them. When they’ve consumed a large quantity of particles, their bodies become heavy, and they fall toward the planet’s surface. Minior has a hard and heavy outer shell with a core inside it. The Meteor Pokémon seems to be made in such a way that if its shell breaks, it becomes lighter and can deal out quick attacks.

When its shell breaks, the core in its center is revealed. You won’t know what color will appear until this happens!

Minior has the new Shields Down Ability, which no other Pokémon has had before. With the Shields Down Ability, it will have excellent defensive capabilities as long as its shell is intact. It will also be protected from status conditions. But when its HP drops below half, its shell will break, and it will change to a form better suited to attacking.

Minior’s core will change color depending on the particular color of the debris it has absorbed. Its pastel coloration has a cute look, so this Pokémon is often used as a design motif for clothing and accessories.

• Mudbray
• Category: Donkey Pokémon
• Type : Ground
• Height: 3’03”
• Weight: 242.5 lbs.
• Ability: Own Tempo / Stamina
• Mudbray evolves into Mudsdale 

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Mudbray could once be found all over the world, but it was overhunted and ended up on the verge of extinction. It’s said that the Alola region is the only place in the world where Mudbray can still be found in the wild.

Mudbray boasts superhuman strength—a surprise, considering its small body. Mudbray can carry loads up to 50 times its own weight on its back or dragging behind it.

Mudbray loves playing in the mud. It’s easy to live in harmony with this Pokémon, as long as you provide an environment where it can play in the mud. If it can’t frolic in the mire, however, Mudbray will become stressed and may stop listening to orders.

• Oricorio (Baile Style)
• Category: Dancing Pokémon
• Type: Fire/Flying
• Height: 2’00”
• Weight: 7.5 lbs.
• Ability: Dancer

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Oricorio changes its form by sipping the nectar of certain flowers. Since it has four different forms—the same as the number of islands in Alola—it would seem that different Oricorio live on each of the islands.

The Baile Style Oricorio is very passionate, and power fills its body when it dances. It sends downy fluff flying during its intense dances. By igniting this fluff, it can unleash a fiery dance attack.

Oricorio has the new Dancer Ability that no other Pokémon has had before. If another Pokémon in the field uses a dancing move, then Oricorio will be able to use the same move immediately afterward, thanks to its Dancer Ability.

Revelation Dance is a move that only Oricorio can learn, and its type changes based on Oricorio’s current style.

• Oricorio (Pom-Pom Style)
• Category: Dancing Pokémon
• Type: Electric/Flying
• Height: 2’00”
• Weight: 7.5 lbs.
• Ability: Dancer

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The Pom-Pom Style Oricorio is very friendly toward people, and it uses dancing to encourage Trainers who are feeling glum. When it dances, its feathers are charged with static electricity. It can attack with these charged feathers, and sometimes it unleashes a powerful electric shock.

• Oricorio (Pa'u Style)
• Category: Dancing Pokémon
• Type: Psychic/Flying
• Height: 2’00”
• Weight: 7.5 lbs.
• Ability: Dancer

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The Pa’u Style Oricorio acts at its own pace, which sometimes makes it difficult to deal with. It sharpens its spirited moves through dance, which increases its psychic power. It’s said that this dance expresses its gratitude to the guardian deity Pokémon.

• Oricorio (Sensu Style)
• Category: Dancing Pokémon
• Type: Ghost/Flying
• Height: 2’00”
• Weight: 7.5 lbs.
• Ability: Dancer

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The Sensu Style Oricorio is quiet and collected. By means of its dance, it gathers the spirits drifting about in an area and borrows their power to fight. People who migrated from Kanto feel a great liking for this Pokémon because its dance reminds them of their homeland.

 

Alola Region

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Alola is surrounded by the sea. It has a diverse ecology made up of Pokémon that have lived as natives of the Alola region for generations, along with Pokémon that have more recently arrived in Alola from other regions.

In Alola, humans and Pokémon coexist in a very close relationship, and a culture has developed that is different from other regions.

 

THE RITE OF THE ISLAND CHALLENGE

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The Island Challenge
One aspect of the unique culture that has developed in the Alola region is the island challenge, an adventurous rite that involves traveling through each of the four islands. This event helps young people grow into fine Pokémon Trainers. As the main character of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, you yourself are destined to attempt this island challenge.

Image Coming Soon

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Island Challenge Trials
To complete the island challenge, young trial-goers must overcome the trials in store on each of the four islands. These trials are not limited to battling with Pokémon. They take a variety of forms, such as finding items or completing tests of knowledge. You will not be able to accomplish them with ordinary methods!

Image Coming Soon

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Totem Pokémon
At the end of each trial, a mighty Pokémon known as a Totem Pokémon will be waiting. A Totem Pokémon is much larger than others of its species, and its body is enveloped in a special aura.

Image Coming Soon

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Sophisticated Combos in SOS Battles
When Totem Pokémon battle, they summon ally Pokémon to join them. With the support of these allies, the Totem Pokémon become even more powerful. And it seems that Pokémon other than Totem Pokémon sometimes call on allies to aid them.

Image Coming Soon

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Grand Trials
The final trial on each island is called the grand trial. It is a Pokémon battle against the kahuna who leads that island. If a trial-goer succeeds in clearing this grand trial, he or she will be publicly recognized as having cleared all of the island’s trials and can move on to the next island.

 

The Trial Captains

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Trial Captains
Each trial has a captain, whose role is to provide guidance to trial-goers. All of the captains are Trainers who undertook trials in their own island challenge a few years earlier.

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Lana is a captain who is an expert with Water-type Pokémon. She is dedicated to her family and is a reliable older sister who watches over her younger sisters.

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Captain Mallow is an expert with Grass-type Pokémon. She loves cooking, but it seems that sometimes her taste is a bit particular...

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Specializing in Electric-type Pokémon, Captain Sophocles is good with mechanics and has invented various machines.

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Kiawe is a captain whose expertise is in Fire-type Pokémon. Together with his Marowak, he studies the traditional dances that have been passed down in the Alola region.

 

The Kahunas

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Kahunas Lead Each Island
Each of Alola’s four islands has a leader, called the island kahuna, who governs the island. Kahunas are chosen by the Pokémon known as guardian deities, which are also found on each island.

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Hala is the kahuna of Melemele Island, where you have just moved to, and is also your rival Hau’s grandfather. His skill is renowned in the Alola region. He gives you your first partner Pokémon and expects great things from you.

 

Z Moves

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Introducing Z-Moves
A new element has been introduced into the Pokémon battles in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon: Z-Moves. Z-Moves are moves of great power that can only be used once per battle. When the Trainer and Pokémon’s wishes resonate with each other, and both release their full power together—the result is the explosive force of a Z-Move! All Pokémon can use Z-Moves to perform mightily in battle!

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Key Items for Z-Moves
The Z-Ring fits on a Trainer’s arm, and Z-Crystals are set into it. If a Pokémon holds the same variety of Z-Crystal, the two will be able to resonate with one another. Crystals that correspond to each Pokémon type have been found in the Alola region.

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Intense Battles with Z-Moves
There are two conditions for performing Z-Moves: a Pokémon must learn a move of the same type as a Z-Crystal, and it must be holding the corresponding Z-Crystal. 

When you see these moves in action in the game, each overwhelmingly powerful move will be on full display, filling the entire screen!

We know 4 of the English ones, for Electric, Grass, Fire, and Water:

 

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Experience the Z-Ring for Real on Your Own Arm!
Tomy International will be releasing a Z-Ring item for sale, timed to match up with the launch of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. 

When a player uses a Z-Move in Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon, his or her real-life Z-Ring will light up, vibrate, and play sounds to go along with the video and sounds in the game. With this new experience, players will feel the force of these overwhelming Z-Moves with even more realism! Please look forward to more details about the Z-Ring to come from Tomy International.

The Japanese Site shows off the Z Crystals for Ice, Rock, Ghost (reminds me of Code Lyoko), Poison, either Dragon or Dark, and Bug.

 

Poké Ride

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Move Forward with Poké Ride
One aspect of the culture in the Alola region is something known as Poké Ride, in which certain Pokémon help people get to places they wouldn’t be able to reach by using human strength alone. These Pokémon don’t join your team, but you can call on them anytime to receive their help. This practice is typical of the way of life in Alola, where humans and Pokémon are so closely bound together.

The land, the sea, the sky—with the power of Pokémon, you can go anywhere!

[Marcello]

New Trailer:

 

[TCB]

My friends...

 

WE HAVE FINALLY ASCENDED

MEGA CROBAT? GET OUTTA HERE. MEGA FLYGON? THAT GOT NOTHIN ON THIS SH*T

[Marcello]

7 minutes ago, TCB said:

My friends...

 

WE HAVE FINALLY ASCENDED

MEGA CROBAT? GET OUTTA HERE. MEGA FLYGON? THAT GOT NOTHIN ON THIS SH*T

Not a Mega. It's just a different form.

Strangely this trailer confirms the lack of gym leaders, but also shows us that Synchro was kind of bullshit?

On the other hand this leak seems to be definitely confirmed: https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemon/comments/4tokxf/rumor_more_on_that_chinese_rumor_from_some_time/

On the other  other hand, Ash Greninja still screams bullshit to me.

... If that starter evolution leak is true, I'm gonna be mad :U

[Salamander]

What I got from this trailer: Every Pokemon is like two other Pokemon now.  Well, makes a change from just remaking the same Pokemon concept like BW did with lots of its new Pokemon.  Also, Minior has got to be the pre-evolution to Solrock and Lunatone, right?  And Gumshoos is even more Donald Trump than Yungoos was...  Oh, and Pokemon can be gym leaders now.  And I guess the "fifth move slot" was for Z-moves, which are basically the Mega Evolutions of moves...

Sun/Moon is a weird game!

Edit: Imagine if trainer customisation came back from Gen VI, but Mega Evolution didn't.

[-Robin-]

Gym Leaders are technically there, just set up differently.

 

You fight the Island Leaders first, then the Trials, and then the Kahunas, with one of each for each of the 4 Islands. So, discounting the Trials, there are 8 Leaders.

 

YO GIMME THAT ICE NINETAILS THO. I WANT A PLUSHIE NOW.

[Echidna Adventurer CC14]

I need IglooSandshrew and IcicleSandslash in my life. Also, Exeggutor's new form replaces his Psychic type with Dragon type. DRAGON. 0_0

[ThePrinceOfSaiyans]

That trailer was fuckin' weird. Ice type Ninetails, an Ice/Steel type Sandslash, and a Grass Dragon Exeggutor? What!? Also, what's the deal with Z-moves? I hope they aren't replacing Mega Evolutions. You can't just drop Mega Evolutions.

[Spin Attaxx]

OK, what is this madness? Pokémon themselves as bosses? Z-Moves? Icy Ninetales? Gym leaders being replaced with something similar yet different (and thus it seems like these games will be slghtly shorter unless these games pull a Gen II and let us visit a more conventional region later on)? Bizarre-ass Exeggutor?

Did we just get these games from a parallel universe or something coz this is so strange. But Bloom Doom is the best name for a move.

[TCB]

11 minutes ago, Marcello said:

Not a Mega. It's just a different form.

Strangely this trailer confirms the lack of gym leaders, but also shows us that Synchro was kind of bullshit?

I never implied it was one; since it isn't but ok...?

Anyway, lots of juicy new content here. So Aloha Forms are some kinda offshoot of Mega Evolution....that Ninetales is amazing not gonna lie. Ice/Steel Sandshrew line...that Exeggutor my god hahahaha. This certainly opens up a whole new field of possible Aloha-variant Mons. I do appreciate that this time around they're 'attempting' to switch it up somehow. 

[PC the Hedgehog]

Palm tree Exeggutor! Snow Vulpix! Donkey Pokemon! Cheerleader bird! No gym leaders! Gah, everything's so weird yet so cool and I love it and I wanna play the new games now AHHHHH

[QuantumEdge]

New Pokémon didn't blow me away (although Minior looks cool), but the Alolan forms are one of the weirdest ideas I've seen for the games.  Definitely works as a better idea than the gimmicky Mega evolution.  What I wonder is how this game will be structured, what with the gyms being thrown out.

[DarkRula]

Obligatory comment about this looking like 7th Gen Orange Islands from the anime.

 

Okay, all of this looks very interesting. New forms of Pokemon that change appearance and types are interesting. Also, new Pokemon with different forms dependant on island caught. Yeah, that new bird is basically an avian Ludicolo in the way it moves. Where's Miror B when you need him?

[ThePrinceOfSaiyans]

Also, Gumshoos still looks like Donald Trump .

[-Robin-]

I honestly prefer this Leader structure. It gives a better opportunity to fully flesh out the islands and the region itself now that they have just four spots to work with.

 

It reminds me a lot of how Skyward Sword was designed. 6 temples, but three main hubs to work with, allowing for more condensed areas and better opportunities to make the most of whatever the region has, and then connect them altogether within those hubs. I'm enthusiastic.

[TCB]

Yeah the way The Island Challenge is set up is definitely calling back to how the Orange Island arc was set up in some ways. I like how this is being done, as it's giving the actual region more world building to flesh out. Compared to how it was in the past this is definitely a change from the norm for me.

[Pawn]

Wow, was this trailer packed with interesting stuff! I have to have the new Ninetales. I love the Ice-type but there so few designs in that category that I actually like. Speaking of which:

Although the typing sucks, they still look awesome as all hell. I'm super excited to see what other Aloha forms of old Pokémon we'll see. As for new Pokes:

 

Lurantis has to be my favourite. I love Mantis-inspired 'Mons and this one is doubly great since it is very different from any we've had before. With all the changes they're making to the game too, with trials rather than gyms (this is SO Orange Islands) and special moves, I'm so on board this gen. 

[Salamander]

...Unless they've completely changed how it works, it looks like they have chucked Mega Evolutions, you know.  Check out the page on the official site for Z-Moves - they require you to put a particular stone in your bracelet, and for your Pokemon to hold the same kind of stone; they're called Z-Crystals and the Z-Ring.  In other words, it's exactly like Mega Evolution - but at the same time, it's replacing Key Stones, Mega Bracelets and Mega Stones.  Unless Z-Crystals and Z-Rings also have exactly the same Mega properties, then Mega Evolutions are gone!

Edit: HMs are gone too, by the sound of things.  Check out the page on Poké Ride: "One aspect of the culture in the Alola region is something known as Poké Ride, in which certain Pokémon help people get to places they wouldn’t be able to reach by using human strength alone. These Pokémon don’t join your team, but you can call on them anytime to receive their help."  In other words, you summon a Pokemon at will to do stuff that a human can't do.  HMs are redundant under this arrangement!

[-Robin-]

Pokemon have to hold the Z-Crystals in order to unleash their Limit Break attack Genkai-o Pikachu, so this could offer pros and cons to a Mega alternative.

Do you use Mega Evolution to bring out a super Pokemon at the cost of changed abilities and only using one of it per team, which can be predicted and worked around via Team Preview, or do you go with a Z-move to guarantee you leaving a dent on a particular Pokemon at the cost of no Pokemon using a Z-move being able to increase their BST, abilities, or types?

[QuantumEdge]

Apparently one of the new characters has a suspiciously similar appearance to a girl seen in that "Leaked" concept art of the final starter evos, the one with wrestler Litten and mermaid Popplio.  If that was real after all, then I am so sorry to all the Litten lovers.

[TCB]

All I know is this, the metagame as we know has been turned on its head.

[Dejimon11]

Hey guys remember that supposed leak for the final evolutions for the starters? Well it looks like it might be real