TRAINER'S EYE #88 - "The Lapras Ferry into the Ice Palace" ft. FinalBossAJ

In this Pokemon interview, we are joined by FinalBossAJ, a Pokemon Trainer from Nova Scotia with a passion for both Pokemon GO PvP Battles and Ice-type Pokemon.

FinalBossAJ's Pokemon journey started with Pokemon Blue where she would play alongside her brother beating the Elite Four, Battling, and catching Mewtwo. She played Pokemon throughout its history with a fondness for Pokemon Black and White because of it's unique story and characters.

Afterwards, FinalBossAJ transitioned to Pokemon GO where she would battle the gyms and sweep the areas for Team Instinct. Her interest eventually went to Pokemon GO PvP where she would battle in GBL and compete for cosmetic clothes available for Legend rank.

FinalBossAJ speaks with her time on Twitch and how she built both a persona and an audience that identified with her deep passion for Pokeon battles ranging from major triumphs to painful defeats.

Finally, FinalBossAJ participates in a returning segment called "What's That Pokemon?" You don't want to miss this segment as FinalBossAJ tests her Pokemon knowledge! 

Sources
Opening Song: "Forget You" by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay

Connect with FinalBossAJ: Twitch | Twitter

Transcript

David Hernandez: 0:00

My name is David Hernandez, and you're listening to As the Pokeball Turns. Welcome to As the Pokéball Turns. Our journey takes us to Novia Scotia where we meet a Pokémon trainer whose heated passion for competition is only rivaled by her love for ice Pokémon. With a background in sports journalism, she has transferred her abilities to Pokémon GO PvP, where she hoses her battles on Twitch and even shoutcasts across different communities in Pokémon GO. And that is just the tip of the iceberg, because we put her on thin ice in a game of What's That Pokemon? Will she best us when it comes to icy Pokemon, or will she be left frozen solid? Are you ready? Here is her origin story into the world of Pokemon. This is Final Boss AJ. today I'm joined by the Queen of Ice Final Boss AJ. Welcome to the show.

FinalBossAJ: 1:31

Thank you for having me and thank you for the lovely intro worthy of someone of my stature.

David Hernandez: 1:36

Articuno is my favorite Pokemon, so I feel like it's kind of we're distant cousins almost with the Queen of Ice. Oh my gosh I might have to bring my Articuno plushie out. That is so cute

FinalBossAJ: 1:46

one of many.

David Hernandez: 1:47

For those who are listening, she has an Articuno plus she just hanging on her wrist. Where'd you get that from?

FinalBossAJ: 1:51

you know, just had to add to my collection of, Ice Pokémon. I I know you can't see, but they are, like, all through my desk and, like my TV stand. Articuno is a very prominent place, though. but yeah, just, you know, various regionals I go to. I try to get at least one from every regional I go to. I came home from Vancouver with an Eevee that is like the size of my pillow. Uh, I won that one though. I didn't buy that one. I won that.

David Hernandez: 2:18

Oh, through like playing PVP or how'd

FinalBossAJ: 2:19

yeah. I came second in one of the events. So they're like, here's the prizes. And, my dear friend Wild Susan Bull is like, you should get the giant Eevee. I'm like, that will not fit in my, carry on whatsoever. He's like, yeah, it will. And technically he was right, but it took up 75 percent of my carry on. So I had to get really creative getting my entire wardrobe back from Vancouver. So

David Hernandez: 2:42

Well, let me ask you this. So what is it about the ice type Pokemon that kind of draws you to them?

FinalBossAJ: 2:46

well, ICE has always been like one of my favorite types. I mean, I know this is, this is a podcast where we get like deep into the Pokemon lore, right? I'm gonna out myself as old, but I am an og. I started with red and blue. and you know, you go through that and like your first taste of the Elite four. is Lorelai and she's just so freaking cool just there like you know welcome this is a whole new world for you you beat the bad rocket boss now this is where the real shit gets done and like from that second it's just like oh my god that's who I want to be growing up You know, Lapras was like, one of my favorite Pokemon forever. and it took a lot, it took a lot to usurp that position, but Gen 4, when you release a female Pokemon that is the embodiment of ice and spite. That's, that's gonna get me. So Lapras is still top three, but like it started early. You know, I'm Canadian. we're known for winter. We embrace the cold. We have power over it. So it was natural to just take that in and marry that to basically what I've, what I've crafted here. And, and, you know, one day, one day, They're going to do my ice Pokemon right. They started doing that. They've given us like snow, it boosts the defense in the VGC side. So they're starting to do it right, but one day it'll hit Pokemon Go and you know, I'll be able to use my ice Pokemon properly.

David Hernandez: 4:15

I will say I feel like Lorelei is a very underrated Elite 4 from Gen 1 Because she has this kind of swagger and it's both within the anime But also within the games to where I think her wasn't she like an ice floor kind of thing

FinalBossAJ: 4:28

Mm hmm.

David Hernandez: 4:28

on the outside And then yeah, and she used ice Pokemon, which is really cool Like no pun intended but it's just really neat to see her and she just had this very Different aura compared to like maybe a Bruno and even to add Abigail which just wasn't the same you

FinalBossAJ: 4:41

well, I mean, she clearly didn't need it because she wasn't there in Johto. They replaced her with Will, who's just like, Oh, it's glass now. Like, no, Will. We all know whose room this is, Will. You freaking pretender. Get your psychic Pokemon out of here, Will. No. Zatu. Oh my god, Will. Freaking waste of space. but yeah, I wonder if it's because of the anime. Because Lorelei never really got her shine in the anime. Cause they said her name was Prima. So, like, oh is this a different character? No, it's still Lorelei. You just need to know that.

David Hernandez: 5:14

Now, you said you started with red and blue, so, like, did you start, like, back when we were all, like, in the 90s boomers, or, like

FinalBossAJ: 5:20

I was a kid. like I said, I can remember my first time catching Mewtwo. So. I think I was seven. Um, I was playing at family friend's house. Cause my brother and I, both got Game Boy Colors. he got red, I got blue. So it was starting with, Blastoise. And, we played through, and we were at this family friend's, down the road, and, like, they were in the living room, like, talking to me and my brother, we were in the kitchen, at the dining room table. I finally got through Cerulean Cave, and found Mewtwo, and, you know, little tiny AJ battling away at Mewtwo and like, I just had Alakazam just sitting in there cause it was psychic on psychic and psychic was the best type. So it's just, two titans of psychic, damage going on and like, Alakazam would throw Psychic, and Mewtwo would recover, and Mewtwo would throw Psychic, and Alexandra would recover. And that went on for like a half an hour at that kitchen table, before I finally threw a Pokeball and caught it. And only looking back on it now, did I realize that I threw the Master Ball at it. I didn't have to spend a half an hour of my life sitting at that table. I could just chuck that ball and caught it so easily. But because I had that back and forth with my brother watching. That made that memory stick out so much in my mind. And I still have the table because it's in my, uh, in my kitchen right now because we got

David Hernandez: 6:35

on.

FinalBossAJ: 6:36

Yeah. We got it.

David Hernandez: 6:37

So is your brother, like fully invested? Just watching you wait and see if you're going to catch it kind of thing. Like it

FinalBossAJ: 6:42

He, he was, he was back in, back in the day, like when we were in school growing up, like every, every game, like he would get one, I would get the other. And we'd like battle and play through, basically up until I graduated high school. Yeah. Yeah. and you know, he doesn't have nearly as much time for Pokemon now because he's a dad and has a kid who I am slowly bringing into the fold. She had a Pikachu birthday cake this year. I was very proud of that. I'm slowly bringing her in. the next generation of, Ice Queens.

David Hernandez: 7:11

Did y'all still stick with Pokemon even after Gen one?

FinalBossAJ: 7:14

Oh yeah, no, I've played every single game. Like, every, every, every single main series game, I'm sorry. I, did not play Pokemon Trozei or Pokemon Rumble, whatever the heck that was for DS. I didn't play those, but every single main series game, I have played. and most of the other ones, I'm just saying, my Pokemon Bonafides cannot be denied

David Hernandez: 7:35

what's your favorite generation to play?

FinalBossAJ: 7:37

To play. this is going to be the one that, gets some comments. I think I really liked gen five, like gen five was like,

David Hernandez: 7:47

black and white? Yeah.

FinalBossAJ: 7:48

yeah, Yeah, and not, not even that, like, Black 2, White 2, which, like, like, if I'm taking that generation as a whole, I think that was the best one. And then that was also, the first one where I really, like, came up with a strategy that worked because, like, one of my favorite non ICE types, is Liligant. I even think I started with Serperior and I benched it for Liligant. Cause Liligant, all you had to do was put the first Pokemon to sleep, Two Quiver Dances, and then Petal Dance until everything dies. And that was just fun. Like, I think I literally beat the Elite Four with just Lilligant. And I was like so proud of myself and so proud of that little grass Pokemon just dancing on fools. and like, and like, I know they completely redid it. So you had all these new Pokemon and stuff. So finding new stuff like that was like really exciting at the time. I'm like, I think the stories are really good in that as well. So I'm really high on Gen 5. I know you'll get a lot of people like Gen 3. Great. I'm in that middle pack. I like Gen 5 a lot.

David Hernandez: 8:48

No, I'm the same way. Gen 3 is one of my favorite regions, but I love Gen 5 story because of Team Plasma and, debating in regards to, I just did a Reddit comment just a minute ago, asking about the whole, he's questioning his ideology based on Gen 5 and that's what it made. It made you think as a Pokemon fan, which is not too common, at least within the main series games, you know, just to

FinalBossAJ: 9:08

Yeah. It's funny that it was black and white and the story made you think of what shade of gray are you? Cause it, it just wasn't that easy. I mean, like, spoiler alert, it did turn out that way in the end, but Anne is one of the best characters they made because of that.

David Hernandez: 9:23

Now, you said black and white too were the ones, specifically those two games, so what was it different about those two games compared to like black and white

FinalBossAJ: 9:29

I like the fact that they went, they not only went back, like, you know, as, as someone who grew up, like, here's yellow version, crystal, like, basically treading the same path. It was completely different. Like, here's this whole new region, here are these new gym leaders. It seemed like such an advancement for what they were willing to do, like with the sequels. It was like a brand new game and I really like that. I really like having that familiar frame, but now here we go. We're going, we're going back. Like, you can admittedly say it set the tone for like later DLC stuff and that, but at the time getting that whole new game, getting that whole new experience, It changed what I thought could be done with Pokemon. It was really nice. And then they blew it all with Gen 6, so What do I know? What did I know? But, But yeah, that was my peak Gen 5. Like Gen 7, I think like I played it a few times and then I tried to go back to Ultra Moon, but I've been stuck on like the second island. I haven't, I haven't gone back and, and finished it. Like it was something to play on the airplane, right? But yeah, like the later ones, honestly, I haven't gone back and played through because the whole thing in itself, like you do that one playthrough and you're done, right? Five, I can go back and just like do, do an over. Yeah.

David Hernandez: 10:39

So eventually, AJ, Pokemon Go does come out in 2016. I'm guessing since you're a Pokemon fan, I'm gonna go on a hunch that you played day one.

FinalBossAJ: 10:47

Close. because it came out a little later in Canada. I think it by, like, a week.

David Hernandez: 10:52

Really? That far behind for y'all?,

FinalBossAJ: 10:54

well, like, it wasn't on the, on the Play Store. So, like, a bunch of people were downloading it. from APKs, so I waited. I'm a hundred percent above board. so I, I waited for like a week, but yeah. July 13th, 2016 is when Final boss, AJ officially entered the picture.

David Hernandez: 11:12

how was you playing those first couple of weeks you?

FinalBossAJ: 11:16

God. so, I don't know how many listeners remember those old days, but think back to the long, long ago of the days when there were ten Pokemon in gyms. And, you know, every one of them would be a Dragonite or a Vaporeon. And you'd have to have the Pokemon to, like, try and battle. Like, Admittedly as an ice trainer, you know, kind of suited to take on Dragonites. And I actually checked this on stream recently, the second oldest Pokémon I have right now, after my starter, because I kept my starter, second oldest Pokémon I have is the first ice Pokémon I caught. I caught it the same day, it's a Jynx. And I was raising up the Jinx to battle Dragonites. And, you know, that was before IVs, like, Yeah, this is a really high level Jinx. It's gonna be great. And it's gonna take down all the Dragonites. Uh, it is a 7/15/5 Jynx. And I powered it up past level 30. Cause, uh, it was not bright. So, I keep her here as a reminder. You know, A, as my first ice type. And B, as a cautionary tale. Uh. But, yeah, those, those first few days, especially when you're instinct, because everyone was like Valor or Mystic. And, I literally had one person in my class that was instinct beside me and he quit after a week. So it was just me. just,

David Hernandez: 12:33

the world,

FinalBossAJ: 12:33

yeah, yeah, typical instinct, right?

David Hernandez: 12:36

right?

FinalBossAJ: 12:38

But, that's what we did. and, you know, I was primarily a gym battler for the first little bit. Like, that would be what I, what I would do, even when I moved back. And, it would be the same thing. Like, there would be a few of us instincts kicking around, and we'd just try and fight as many gyms as possible. And that, that was what I got out of the game, was just trying to, you know, keep taking out those gyms. I didn't even get into PvP, until a little later.

David Hernandez: 12:59

Really? What was it about the gyms that kind of kept you engaged with the game?

FinalBossAJ: 13:03

it was something to do. I've never been a big, like, collector. I've always been more of a fighter. I come, I come from a sports background. So I'm always about, competition and trying to prove yourself against others. So the gym system was basically the only way you could do that. And like, we've all done gyms, right? Again, growing up on the franchise, what's the goal? Beat the gyms, go to Elite Four, do all that. So what was my goal in this game? Beat all the gyms, turn them yellow, get the coins, do whatever. So I would focus on that and then when I moved to Halifax, I was working like a night job. So I'd just get off work and I just drive around because no one's defending those gyms at night.

David Hernandez: 13:40

aren't.

FinalBossAJ: 13:42

bulldozing them. so yeah, that kept me going for a bit, but you can only do so much with those. by the time 2020 rolled around, I was just like, what am I doing? I just got, so like, down on the gyms. I just like, didn't want to, didn't want, like, I still do them obviously. I'm instinct. It's, it's in our blood, but definitely not to the point where I'm going to be like, okay, I've got three hours and a car. Let's see if I can get 20 gyms. We're not doing that.

David Hernandez: 14:10

So is that kind of your goal? You would go out and just try to get 20 gyms or you try to take dirt areas, gold gyms. how

FinalBossAJ: 14:15

Yeah. Yeah. I, I go like, you know, certain areas and like bulldoze a bunch of gyms. I did not have any chill. it was just like, I don't care whose gym this is. I'm beating it up. which, you know, little toxic, but I'm not spoofing to take the gyms out. But that was it and and you know what if they didn't introduce PvP, I don't think I'd be playing the game anymore,

David Hernandez: 14:36

Really? Wow.

FinalBossAJ: 14:38

So. You know, when PvP started becoming a thing, like, that was the next natural evolution. But, like, I didn't take it nearly as seriously at first. Like, the first few seasons, I'm just like, oh, this is another way to get Stardust. Yay. When they have, like, that walking requirement on, where it's like, yeah, go walk five kilometers so you can lose five times. Like, I don't want to do that. Like, no one wants to walk just to be a loser. So,

David Hernandez: 15:04

what kept you out of PvP initially?

FinalBossAJ: 15:05

Yeah, like, I work from home. I'm not, I'm not out grinding or anything. I'm not walking five kilometers in a day just to get one set of battles. Like, so I just didn't pay it any attention. And then they're like, when the pandemic hit, they're like, oh, we're dropping a walk. All right, cool. Now I can actually try and do this. but I didn't actually start getting into it seriously until like season seven. Which ties back to our early, conversation because the thing that got me into season seven was the fact that Elisa was the reward. I wanted that outfit so badly. And like, like I said, I, had nowhere near the amount of experience as anyone else coming in. Like, I was a rookie. I had a few battles under my belt, but I'm like, Alright, I got no idea what's going on. I got a catch cup, Whiscash. Let's see what I can do. Um, and you know, I was, I was just powering up like whatever I have. I have a Kyogre powered up. It's like a 93. It's terrible. But I just needed something for Master League. So I powered up all these things and I got Expert my first season and didn't get Legend. And that was the season you had to be Legend to get Elisa. So I don't have those headphones. And I don't have that outfit, and I don't have that pose, and I got mad. And that's when I started actually taking it seriously. And, you know, like, watching FP Stix and Rise videos, and like, going on Twitch, and like, you know, seeing, seeing people. And, and, that's the creation story. That's the origin myth of Final Boss AJ and what she's done to Twitch.

David Hernandez: 16:40

Wow, so that's when streaming yourself at that point? Or did that come a little bit later on?

FinalBossAJ: 16:45

Pretty, pretty quickly. Like, it wasn't to the extent of now. Where, I'm looking at check marks and everything. But, you know, it was just for fun, at first. You know, Alphindiel was great in bringing me in and I was asking questions. Like, I had, I had a stream set up a little bit because I was going to do baseball stuff because, long, long ago, before I was a Pokémon content creator. I was a sports podcaster. I covered the Blue Jays for four years for a national podcast network. And, uh, so I had, I had a setup, but I didn't really have the time, you know, I was busy working. I was in a relationship with someone who did not care about Pokemon nearly as much as I did. That is to say at all. so I didn't, She, she liked Mantine. Mantine was her favorite Pokemon. I, I have like 20 Mantines. Cause she, if she saw me catch one, she wouldn't let me transfer it. Um, but yeah, I wasn't actually focusing on it. It wasn't until I moved into my new place where I'm like, Why don't I make a go of this every day and see what I can do and see if people gel and vibe. And, it was a little slow to get off the ground, but I made enough appearances on other channels that like people knew me and like I was at least, a name they could see and like a girl that PVP is putting herself out there. Like I said, it all, it all starts with Elisa and it all starts with the support I got from, Alfindial and NHoff. bringing me into that community. And then, and then, like I said, as I got more comfortable doing it, as I matured more, I got, I got more people who, were big helps. I mean, Battle Bill was instrumental in helping me really develop what I wanted to put on screen. And then, you know, he brought me into Team Asylum and that's been a lot of support. And then, people like MysticSparkle who've been, like, consistent, like, duos and friends and, like, you know, trading me a bunch of Pokémon. you know, just, just keeping it fruiting now. the guys at Pallet Town PVP, MyPVPEcademia, were great in putting me on broadcasts and letting me use my sports talents and getting that side of my personality out there. to, guys like Axin and Doonbug, giving me their stamp of approval, like, go watch this girl. it's been a long grind, but, you know, I'm up there. So, I can, I can actually say, maybe I'm a B list streamer instead of like that, that F list baseball personality,

David Hernandez: 19:04

I was wondering, like, cause you come from a sports background, primarily baseball, how much has that helped you kind of be able to bring that into Pokemon Go and in what ways have you been able to?

FinalBossAJ: 19:12

well, uh, first of all, I am trained as a sports journalist. I, I was in Toronto at sports journalism school. and so I trained in play by play as well. That was part of the curriculum. So that was one of the first things I brought, like when I started seeing, broadcasts on Team Rocket PVP and my PVP academia, I'm like, I could totally do this. Let me get in there and let me show you what I can do because I'm, I'm trained on it. Get me in. so that was one of the big ways I was able to present myself was just using that background and like applying You know, calling a basketball game is similar to calling a PVP match, especially in Pokemon Go. Like if it, if it's a, if it's a VGC game or TCG game, it's a little more like a chess commentary or something. But because GO is active, it requires that, you know, ability to articulate those actions so quickly. And because I was trained on basketball, because I was trained on hockey. I was able to do that pretty naturally. So that just translated and I was able to get that out there. And like, you know, I'm, a smart girl. I do my research. I want to be able to say things about specific battlers that like, Oh, this guy just won Utrecht or this guy has been captain of his team for like forever. So, you know, just, just those kinds of things that, you know, as a sports journalist, you do in the course of the game to bring that info to your audience. admittedly, it hasn't helped as much with my play because I don't get as focused, as I do like when I'm like, I'm a softball player. I play softball. So, not as focused when I'm doing a battle and obviously not when I'm like streaming and doing a battle. Cause you know, your first thought is I want to entertain. Second thought is I should probably try and win this. uh, priorities are a little different, but, you know, that's, who I've always been. I, I will focus on, on the story first and the actual results second. I think I get that from my dad

David Hernandez: 21:04

You've been listening to As the Pokeball Turns. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back. So eventually you talked about how, you know, NHoff and Alfindeol were like big influences. You talked about brown baller and everybody else who really instrumental in your PVP journey. Why did you want to start going to Twitch?

FinalBossAJ: 22:31

well, like I said, when I started getting into PVP, I'd just given up the podcast. So I like podcasting. I just didn't want to do it about the Blue Jays anymore. They've been bad for so long. I couldn't take it. Just kidding. Any Blue Jays fans listening to this.

David Hernandez: 22:47

I say this conversation proves a Rangers fan and a Blue Jays fan can coexist in a podcast right now.

FinalBossAJ: 22:54

I'll get my Jose Bautista baseball out.

David Hernandez: 22:57

my, ha ha. ha ha.

FinalBossAJ: 22:59

uh, yeah, you've won a World Series more recently. You're fine. Um,

David Hernandez: 23:04

a, we made, we redeemed ourselves from the two, 10

FinalBossAJ: 23:09

so yeah, I just given up the podcast, but I was still like, I like being able to, you know, at least have that interaction with people that share what I'm passionate about. And I wasn't passionate about as much about baseball anymore. So, watching Alfindeol and watching NHoff, get their stuff set up. I'm like, I could do that. And it did not go well. First of all, because the apartment I was on the, I was in the internet sucked. So the streams would keep cutting out. So I didn't have much of an audience for like the first, year I streamed. But, like I said, as I started, trying to work on it, it's probably for the best I didn't get seen a lot those early days because it wasn't great. Like I said, I didn't really have anything to offer besides just here's me sitting in front of my webcam playing this game and trying to play it All right. I'm like I wasn't as good back then but yeah, so I didn't really Develop like this this personality I got going until I started watching Battle Bill You know, got the attention for being, the, what am I watching? That, that guy, right? Um, but, yeah. So me and him had conversations and stuff. And then when he started doing variety content, I'd hop on and be in the voice call and his fan base was into me. they liked what I was putting down so when I started streaming later, like, they joined me in addition to the people I had who knew me from the Althendial cycles. cycles, circles, I'm talking too much. but,

David Hernandez: 24:32

Welcome to as a pokeball turns.

FinalBossAJ: 24:34

fitting right in. so yeah, but I was able to, bring that group in and like I said, start. developing this persona that I put on there and start developing some of the things that I could do. And when I moved into my own space, I know I'm not going to be, one of those streamers that is just like cool all the time. Like I'm, I'm not going to be composed a hundred percent of the time. I'm not like that. I'm too competitive, man. I can not be like that. But. Bill showed me the way to harness that emotion and be able to put that on display in a way that, resonates with people. They feel the joy, they feel the sadness, they feel the anger, they feel what I put on the screen. And that's such a big part. Like when I was on the podcast, I was more passionate than a lot of other people. I, I took that from, the podcast I listened to. I want the people who I'm hearing talking about stuff, I want them to be as invested in this as I am, as emotionally a part of this as I am. I don't want someone just like, droning on about whatever. I want, to feel it. And once I started putting that on there and, and you know, I've had some moments on stream where maybe it's a little too emotional. Maybe I break down just a little bit too much, but again, it's It's, on there and in this world where everyone's off doing their own thing sometimes, it, it just makes you feel a little more connected to know that someone else out there feels that emotion that you feel, feels that pain, feels that joy when you hit the ranks. It's like that connection with the audience is. That's what really drove me to keep going. And once I had the tools to do that, thanks to the people who I was able to work with and I trusted to give me those tools, that's, you know, when I started hitting the levels of success I had. heh

David Hernandez: 26:27

like you wanted off the

FinalBossAJ: 26:29

heh.

David Hernandez: 26:30

wanted to be yourself and people to kind feel what you feel and feel that moment, which is what you should strive for as a content creator. Cause believe it or not, I always imagined myself having your kind of energy. But I'm not that guy. You're like my inner energy kind of spirit. more calm. I'm more laid back. much as I want to try to have that energy you have, I just don't got it. And I'm okay with that now. I've come to accept But

FinalBossAJ: 26:52

call your inner demon, it's fine.

David Hernandez: 26:54

There you go. You're my energy.

FinalBossAJ: 26:57

It's fine.

David Hernandez: 26:58

Well, AJ, before we close this interview off, we have one last segment I'd like to do. returning to this podcast, it's what's that Pokemon? Where there are 1, 000 Pokemon, but the only one that matters is the one that I'm thinking about. You have to guess the Pokemon I'm thinking about. You have 10 questions you can ask me in a yes or no format to kind of narrow down your choices. After you ask your 10 questions, you have to guess which Pokemon that I'm thinking of based on the information you're able to gather.

FinalBossAJ: 27:29

how, how successful are people doing this?

David Hernandez: 27:33

uh, three for four.

FinalBossAJ: 27:34

Really? Shoot. I know you told me I could swear on this and I'm doing my best not to. But, uh, we'll see. We'll, we'll see. We'll see how far along I get on these questions and then maybe I'll start swearing.

David Hernandez: 27:47

AJ, what's going to be your first question?

FinalBossAJ: 27:51

Uh, was it introduced after Gen 5?

David Hernandez: 27:56

Was the Pokemon I'm thinking about introduced after Gen 5? It was not introduced after Gen 5.

FinalBossAJ: 28:03

Okay.

David Hernandez: 28:06

Let me keep track

FinalBossAJ: 28:07

Is it

David Hernandez: 28:10

stuff on the internet. You don't have to if you need to look at the Pokedex and stuff like that.

FinalBossAJ: 28:14

Oh, well I was gonna try and I guess, who am I trying to impress here? I'm just trying to be like, No, I'm not Googling, cause like, for the listener at home, you can see my screen in my glasses right now, So,

David Hernandez: 28:27

Oh, is this is also audio only, so they won't even see the video.

FinalBossAJ: 28:30

I know, I know, I'm outing myself. But hey, I'm 100%, that's what I do. Ha ha ha ha. Um. Is this a Pokemon that a gym leader has used in the game?

David Hernandez: 28:45

Has this Pokemon been used by a Gym Leader? Yes, it has been used by a gym leader.

FinalBossAJ: 28:51

all right, it's not one of those. God, there's so many general leaguers. That's a terrible question. What am I doing here? Um, Is this a Pokémon you would find in the mountains?

David Hernandez: 29:05

Is this a Pokemon that you'd be able to find in the mountains? It is not a Pokemon you'd find in the mountains.

FinalBossAJ: 29:12

All right, so there go all my ice types. well actually no, there are a couple, but we'll see. Okay. Uh.

David Hernandez: 29:23

number four.

FinalBossAJ: 29:25

Is this a Pokémon that has a specific gender, be it male, female, or non binary?

David Hernandez: 29:33

Is this a Pokemon that is gender exclusive? It is not gender exclusive.. Question number five.

FinalBossAJ: 29:41

Pokémon than Gym Leaders used.

David Hernandez: 29:44

So just to go over the questions quick, so before gen 5, it has been used by a gym leader, it is not a Pokemon you'd find in the mountains, and it's not gender exclusive.

FinalBossAJ: 29:53

Thank you for knocking out Gen 5, because I wasn't sure which way you went on that.

David Hernandez: 29:58

Well that's how you answer the question you asked gen 5.

FinalBossAJ: 30:01

Yeah. Um, Okay. Is this a Pokemon that someone could conceivably ride upon?

David Hernandez: 30:11

Is the Pokemon thinking of one you can ride upon? Yes.

FinalBossAJ: 30:19

Yeah,

David Hernandez: 30:22

We're on question number six. Halfway.

FinalBossAJ: 30:26

yeah, I'm starting to get some ideas. I don't know if you tailor this to your guests or not. is this a Pokemon that would be comfortable if you dropped it off the side of a boat?

David Hernandez: 30:39

This is a very interesting question. Is this a Pokemon that So will we count Torkoal drowning in the ocean as comfortable?

FinalBossAJ: 30:48

is comfortable at all. That is the opposite of comfortable. That is, that is Pokemon cruelty, sir.

David Hernandez: 30:54

I know. Is this a Pokemon that would be comfortable if you drop it off a boat? That's your question?

FinalBossAJ: 30:59

the side of a boat, like, you know, one of those fishing boats that's like low to the water. So we're talking like a three foot drop into the water.

David Hernandez: 31:10

It would be comfortable being dropped off the boat.

FinalBossAJ: 31:13

Okay.

David Hernandez: 31:14

That's question number six. We're on question number seven.

FinalBossAJ: 31:17

Okay. Now I'm just trying to think of more interesting questions that. Uh. Can this Pokemon learn Ice Beam?

David Hernandez: 31:29

Can the Pokemon thinking of learn Ice Beam? It can learn Ice Beam.

FinalBossAJ: 31:39

Alright, see, like I said, I've got some ideas, and I don't know. I don't know if you're, thinking on my wavelength. But, I've got three more of these.

David Hernandez: 31:47

Yep, you're on question number eight. Then you have to make your guess.

FinalBossAJ: 31:51

Ha ha ha. Hmm. Let me, let me think, cause I've got a couple, couple answers here.

David Hernandez: 32:05

What Pokemon do you, are you thinking about? Let's share with

FinalBossAJ: 32:08

I mean, you know my title.

David Hernandez: 32:11

Oh, okay.

FinalBossAJ: 32:13

So I, I, I thought you were playing into your guests here for a second, but of course your, your, your tone of voice is telling me otherwise. And there are a lot of Pokemon that can learn Ice Beam. I should have picked that one. uh, sheer cold or something like that. Uh,

David Hernandez: 32:34

about. Some of my guests figure out this afterwards. It's like, Oh, I could have asked this a different way. So

FinalBossAJ: 32:39

is this Pokemon smaller than two feet?

David Hernandez: 32:45

Is this Pokemon smaller than two feet? It is not smaller than two

FinalBossAJ: 32:54

I was gonna say three feet. I thought, made too small. So big Pokemon can learn Ice Beam. Gym leaders used it.

David Hernandez: 33:02

So just to go over just for the audience sake, it was not introduced after gen five. It has been used by gym leader. It is not a Pokemon you find in the mountains. It is not gender exclusive. is a Pokemon you can ride upon. It's a Pokemon that's comfortable being dropped off a boat. It can learn Ice Beam and it is not smaller than two feet. We're on question number nine.

FinalBossAJ: 33:24

Yeah, like I said, I have my ideas. And you said technically, I'm the gym leader. So I, I, I think she, I think she might have, I think she might have used it after. But, that's me just trying to remember every freaking team. Uh,

David Hernandez: 33:41

There's only been how many gym leaders in the Pokemon's history? Almost a

FinalBossAJ: 33:45

making me do math? What the hell? God damn it. Um, see I know what I think it is, but I really don't want to burn a question just, just doing that. is this Pokemon blue?

David Hernandez: 34:03

Is the Pokemon thinking of the color blue? It is blue.

FinalBossAJ: 34:09

Does it have a shell on its back?

David Hernandez: 34:13

Oh, you're going back to the number 10. Hold on. So we're going to be final question. If it has a shell on its back,

FinalBossAJ: 34:18

Yes, and I will burn myself if I, if I don't get the right one. But I have two Pokemon in my head and one of them has a shell on its back and the other doesn't.

David Hernandez: 34:30

this Pokemon does have a shell on its

FinalBossAJ: 34:32

Is it Lapras?

David Hernandez: 34:34

It is.

FinalBossAJ: 34:38

Yeah, baby.

David Hernandez: 34:40

There you go. I had to check it. It was used by Misty from, uh, Johto.

FinalBossAJ: 34:44

yeah, baby. Yeah,

David Hernandez: 34:49

Aw, I

FinalBossAJ: 34:51

my girl. I'm for PvP Lapras.

David Hernandez: 34:56

in PvP.

FinalBossAJ: 34:57

Still is in the right circumstances.

David Hernandez: 35:00

But AJ That is a show. Thank you for coming on to the podcast. If people want to check out your content, if they want to connect with you, where can they go by all means, please plug away.

FinalBossAJ: 35:08

yeah. you can find me on Twitch at FinalBossAJ. I stream basically every night at stupid hours in the morning because I am a masochist. if you want to see me on another channel, you can see me on Pallet Town PvP, where I will be casting the Gym Breakers Final between Italy and the Netherlands alongside, FishOnHeater, SeaLeonardo, and Inadequince. So, if you missed that stream, that's your fault. So go watch the VOD instead and not be able to talk to me directly. That's a you problem. And I suppose, uh, you can also find me on Twitter at, A underscore J underscore Andrews. The underscores are there because Twitter is dumb. It always has been dumb. It always will be done. And Elon Musk will not get me to call it that stupid name. He wants me to. So if I say anything on social media, it's probably there. I'm on threads at Final Boss AJ, but who uses threads? but yeah, that's about where I'm at these days.

David Hernandez: 36:07

I'll make sure to include links to her stream on the VOD as well as PowerUpTownPvP and all the links she mentioned in the description of this episode. Thank you for listening to As the Pokeball Turns. If you want to support the show, consider becoming a Patreon by either clicking the link in the description or going to patreon. com slash as the pokeball turns. Now, if you aren't able to support the show financially, you can always support the show by sharing it with your Pokemon community, because this show wouldn't exist without listeners like you. Now, here's a sneak peek for the next episode of As the Pokeball Turns.