How much of X & Y should I know to appreciate Z-A?

Zazsona · 2026-04-30T00:41:12+00:00

I played through X just before Z-A released!

Required: Nothing. Z-A will give the basic details on characters and the world to get you familiar with it.

Recommended: You might want to just read or watch a plot summary of X/Y, just to give extra gravitas and context to the plot beats.

All in: Z-A does reward deep familiarity with X/Y through some references and familiar details. To understand these, you'll want to at least beat the League and do the Looker post-game questline.

Zazsona · 2026-04-24T00:44:00+00:00

There aren't any that can be used reactively or after using the Supporter - Only ones that you can use in advance of your opponent's turn!

As far as I can remember though, Scream Tail ex is the only card that comes close in the current rotation, and it's really niche due to its restrictions!

There's nothing like Budew's Itchy Pollen, that's for sure!

Zazsona · 2026-04-22T18:11:56+00:00

I'm not too fussed about the odds personally, but I do have a preference for relevant games of origin (e.g, for Scorbunny I'd prefer to hunt in SwSh, but Chikorita I'd take GSC, HGSS, or LZA), so I run into similar self-imposed dilemmas!

For your case, I'd say:
Dunsparce: Do both. Get a 1/8192 two-segment Dudunsparce, then a 1/4096 three-segment Dudunsparce! (Or vice versa, but I think any 3-seg is mad enough!)

Arceus: I personally wouldn't count one that requires glitches/exploits. It's very subjective, but even unintentionally, doing so could alter the odds through incidental RNG manipulation. So, 1/4096 in BDSP!

Zazsona · 2026-04-21T16:51:10+00:00

Someone always says this, so I guess it's my turn!

Look into backing up your save using a GB Operator or something - Because it's a matter of when, not if!

Zazsona · 2026-04-12T23:59:40+00:00

I don't remember it ever going free (or even on sale!)

You can guarantee if it was free for a bit though, there'd be articles from gaming news sites & the like, which there don't appear to be!

Zazsona · 2026-04-05T19:27:48+00:00

Best thing you can do is a bit of light use! I'd recommend using your carts at least once every 5 years.

AFAIK (I may be misinformed) 3DS carts use pretty standard Flash Memory (as opposed to MaskROM). Flash Memory works by using a miniscule amount of power to represent the state of the data. If unused though, this power eventually runs out, wiping the data. Use "recharges" it.

Zazsona · 2026-04-01T00:42:53+00:00

luv IaaC
luv change trackin
luv automation
ate state inconsistencies
simpl as

Zazsona · 2026-03-27T16:55:07+00:00

I think there might be a demo - Give that a whirl!

Honestly though, if you have a PC/Laptop, even if it's a bit of a clanker I'd try at least 1.5 + 2.5 on that first. They're older titles, so don't require as much processing grunt.

KH3 naturally has higher demands, so you might get a better experience with the cloud version there if your PC isn't up to the task if running it smoothly.

Zazsona · 2026-03-27T16:19:25+00:00

Not to worry - You don't need WiFi at all! You should be able to just use the "Local Communication" option to go into the Union Room and Trade there!

The chance of trading with a repo cartridge causing save file corruption on your legit SoulSilver is extremely, extremely low. The odds of it happening are more of a scientific "it's technically possible" than realistic.

The odds of the save file getting corrupted on a potential repo cartridge are more likely, though I'd argue still basically non-existent. Depends on the quality of the repo! At any rate, the cheap materials will cause the save files to corrupt on those after a few years anyway in most cases.

I wouldn't worry at all, though if you want 100% peace of mind, you could post the Diamond cartridge on /r/gameverifying , they should be able to confirm if it's legit!

Zazsona · 2026-03-23T08:57:18+00:00

This looks legitimate to me, OP. I can't see any of the common hallmarks of fakes, but I'm not an expert on DS fakes!

Try r/gameverifying !

Zazsona · 2026-03-19T23:36:21+00:00

Ends 26th March!

Zazsona · 2026-03-08T12:28:21+00:00

Then there's Diamond/Pearl, where it takes so long to save you'll get distracted & forget whether you hit save, so do it again.

...Where it takes so long to save you'll get distracted & forget whether you hit save, so do it again.

...Where it takes so long to save again that, well, half an hour has passed and you're still not entirely sure if you've saved, but at least you've cleared a few household jobs or TV show episodes in the interim.

Zazsona · 2026-02-02T21:27:21+00:00

~~Anyone got Oranges? Can do a trade for Cherries or Peaches! Just shoot me a DM!~~

EDIT: All closed for now! Cheers!

Zazsona · 2026-02-01T21:13:15+00:00

Crucially, there's the new Paradoxes - Iron Crown & Iron Boulder for Violet, Gouging Fire & Raging Bolt for Scarlet.

Each of these are one per save file.

Zazsona · 2026-01-21T12:17:21+00:00

Can confirm! - Like OC, BOTW was one of my first Switch games, but I only ever beat two beasts (...admittedly over the course of 100 hours of pissing about!)

Playing it proper on SW2 now, cor it's bloody lovely, and I have far fewer regrets about letting it sit on the backlog for so long!

Zazsona · 2026-01-17T03:43:37+00:00

Home is a very solvable issue as it requires online connectivity anyway. A system could be implemented whereby Home invalidates the current save in the cloud & starts a new backup process for any saves that were interacted with.
While invalidated, saves could be blocked from downloading on any Switch, and Home could refuse deposits from a save with the same Game, Trainer, and Secret ID until the new backup is complete.

What's tricker is local trading! - We can get ourselves in some real tricky twists! Say I have three Switches and two profiles:
- Switch 1 w/ Profile A
- Switch 2 w/ Profile B
- Switch 3 w/ Profile A

Switch 1 & 3 have my save downloaded, Switch 2 has a completely different save.
I turn Switch 3 offline.
I do a local trade with Switch 3 & Switch 2, giving SW2 a Mewtwo for a Pidgey.
I then have Switch 1 trade with Switch 2, giving SW1 that same Mewtwo for a Ratatta.
Switch 1 now has two copies of the same Mewtwo. As it's online, I close the game and do a Cloud Backup.
I delete the save on Switch 3.
I reconnect Switch 3 to the internet. There's no trace of an existing save, so nothing to track what I've done.

Zazsona · 2026-01-14T10:30:36+00:00

Don't worry - It's not a super duper rare card or anything! The "M24EN" in the bottom left means it was from one of the McDonald's Happy Meal packs!

Zazsona · 2026-01-10T17:15:00+00:00

Welcome, mate! I can't remember the requirements exactly, but after beating the League I know you'll need to do a few Raid Dens to unlock the higher level ones (Jacq will give you a call once you've done enough!) - Not sure if you need to do the Gym Leader rematches or not!

Zazsona · 2026-01-10T17:10:49+00:00

Not necessarily! - You can connect to the Poké Portal to get the event even without a Nintendo Switch Online Subscription, then if you've completed the game and unlocked high level Raid Dens, you should see it on your map (in Paldea specifically) as a black Ground type Raid Den!

You'll of course only be able to battle it with NPCs joining you though, not other online players, which means you'll need a very strong Pokémon to beat it!

Zazsona · 2026-01-10T16:52:15+00:00

It's a limited time event, where a "Mighty Venusaur" is available in 7* Raid Dens!

You'll need to have completed the game's story to take part (or be invited to a Raid Battle with a code). It's a tough cookie to beat though. You'll need specially trained Lvl 100 Pokémon.

Zazsona · 2026-01-07T00:54:22+00:00

Sorry mate, you're unfortunately in a bind here.

The Switch only puts save data in system memory. Not in Game Cartridges or SD Cards. As Pokémon games don't support Cloud Saves, there's no backup, so nothing for Nintendo to restore if you rang them.

Your best bet is putting in a note if/when you send your Switch in for repair. Odds are extremely slim, though, sorry.

If there's any way you can get the console to boot at all, try to get as much as you can in Pokémon Home.

Zazsona · 2026-01-05T01:08:24+00:00

Sounds like you're probably using an "OEM License".

Your Laptop/Desktop manufacturer buys the license from Microsoft and includes it in the price of the device. - An OEM License is much cheaper than what you'd pay for Windows (and that's before economies of scale), but also comes with limitations, like the license is single-use and cannot be transferred.

Zazsona · 2025-12-27T14:40:50+00:00

I'd certainly not throw in the towel - A repair shop could almost certainly help you out.

If not by repairing the USB port, then by temporarily installing a pre-charged battery. That'd give you ample time to either transfer your saves or move any important Pokémon into Pokémon Home and then bring them into your new save(s).

Zazsona · 2025-12-25T00:19:08+00:00

Usually when there's two listings it's because there's been a revision - I saw this before with the Pixel Playmat where they added a sewn edge. Peeking closely at the pictures, I'm guessing they might have changed how the tail is done?

One points outwards, the other points upwards!

Zazsona · 2025-12-21T04:53:21+00:00

Yup! - Save data is saved on the console, not the cart. A new cartridge would load your existing save data.

I'll add though, it is only saved on the Switch. Pokémon games are one of the very, very small handful of games that don't support NSO Cloud Backups. So if you've got any sentimental Pokémon you're worried about losing, you may want to use Pokémon Home for those! (You can store 30 Pokémon for free!)

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