'Pokémon Sun & Moon': How to Cleverly Use Z-Crystals in Rating Battle Season 3
Rating Battle Season 3 is already underway for "Pokémon Sun" and "Pokémon Moon," and it poses a new challenge to trainers. Unlike the previous seasons, this restricts players to using only one type of held item — the Z-Crystals.
Over at Pokémon Global Link's official website, the third season has been officially announced, with players being permitted to use any Pokémon aside from mythicals, some legendaries and Ash-Greninja. Trainers may continue to hold items but may only use Z-Crystals for the entire duration of the rating battles.
The use of Z-Crystals is a new mechanic introduced in the latest installment of the Pokémon video game franchise. What it does is it amplifies the power of a corresponding move it is compatible with. For example, Primarina's Sparkling Aria with a base power of 90 becomes Oceanic Operetta when holding a Primarium Z, doubling the base power to a whopping 195. Moreover, Z-moves negate accuracy checks and pass through Protect, making for a ruthless power boost.
Aside from being a great item in bolstering the strength of a Pokémon's offensive move, it can also add effects that could turn the tide of battle. Moves that do not cause damage turn into unexpected trump cards in a match, giving a huge surprise to other players.
One good example is Parting Shot. In addition to lowering an opponent's attack and special attack by one stage each, the Pokémon it switches to will have its HP fully restored.
Another example is any stat-increasing move, and perhaps one of the most popular is Shell Smash. When used with its corresponding Z-Crystal, all of the pokémon's lowered stats are reset, which means it will remove the lowered defense and special defense effect and all other negative stat reductions throughout the battle.
Perhaps the most interesting is the initially believed useless move, Splash. When powered by a Z-Crystal it gives a whopping three-stage attack increase, making an even more formidable physical sweeper out of Gyarados and Tsareena just to name a few.
The combinations are endless, and it will be interesting to see what else trainers discover. The Rating Battle Season 3 for "Pokémon Sun" and "Moon" runs from March 20 through May 15, 2017.
