Four Islands Four Tiki Gods

[Xander Olivieri]

Something interesting to point out, but notice how Tapu Koko hasn't been classified as either a Legendary nor a Mythical. So is it and the other island guardians just ordinary Pokemon?

I'm actually in the same boat as this. I don't think that they are all that special outside of story fluffing.

Signature Skill and Signature Moves aren't that rare in the Pokemon world, whether individually or together. Gen 4 Shellder and Cloyster claimed Skill Link and Icicle Spear as Signature skill and Move up until Gen 4. Skill Link itself appearing in Gen 4 and Icicle Spear dating back to Gen 3. Debut Skitty had Normalize, still it's signature ability, and Assist. Assist losing it's Signature status upon Gen 4. Castform having Forcast and Weatherball when it debuted as well, a similar albeit quickly destroyed debate on whether it was Legendary had a very, very short run. It was pretty much one of those playground rumors in terms of impact.

Regigigas, Darkrai, and Arceus were our first two Legendaries to showcase a Signature Ability and Move. This continued into Gen 5 with Victini, Reshiram, and Zekrom (If you don't want to count Victini having Event access to Reshiram and Zekrom's Fusion Moves and Kyurem having Reshiram and Zekrom's abilities and moves due to fusing with them.) Zorua and Zoroark both also debuted with a Signature Ability and Move, that are still exclusive to them. Chesnaught has a Signature Ability and Move before ORAS with Chesnaught's Hidden Ability. Aegislash has a signature ability and Move as part of it's form change gimmick. Aromatisse has both a Signature Ability and Move as well. Zygarde, Xerneas, and Yveltal are the last three to get both Signature Abilities and Moves, which rounds out fairly evenly.

So up until Gen 5, Signature Move and Abilities were more commonly found in normal Pokemon. At the end of Gen 6, not counting Event distributed Pokemon, Fused Pokemon, and Pokemon who lost either an ability or move, 8 Legends have Signature Moves and Abilities (Adding in Primals and Mega Rayquaza), still, and 4 Normal Pokemon have Signature Moves and Abilities. (Only one of which isn't a gimmicked Pokemon oddly enough).

Historically, more normal Pokemon at one time had both Signature Abilities and Moves (16) than Legends (12). Overall there are 48 normal Pokemon with Signature Abilities and 10 (Not counting Zekrom and Reshiram since they share abilities with fused Kyurem, even if you did, that is still just 12) legendary Pokemon have signature abilities. 59 Normal Pokemon have Signature Moves and 29 Legendary Pokemon have Signature Moves.

The point of that jumbled mess is to show that Tapu Koko having both a Signature Move and Ability doesn't mean it's a Legendary Pokemon. It is so far the only one that is questionable but not clarified as Magearna is already stated in it's intro to be a Mythic (Same as Mew, Celebi, Victini, etc.) Pokemon and Zygarde who is already known to be a Legendary Pokemon. Right now, Tapu Koko feels very much like Zoroark from Gen 5 or Rotom from Gen 4, which was a very heavily debated Pokemon as to whether or not it was a legendary Pokemon due to it's placement as a side event and being one of a kind at that time. The only thing that killed it being legendary was that it could Breed with Ditto, which is only something Manaphi can do to get Phione.

With the info we have at the moment, its impossible to say with 100% certainty that either side is correct. We cannot prove that it is or isn't a legendary just with the story fluff. Either GF/TPCi would have to actually announce Tapu Koko or one of the other guardians as Legends in some way, or the game would have their nationaldex placement reveal them near the end of the Alola line up as traditional placement for Legendary Pokemon. (excluding Victini)

**Sidenote that I just noticed, Rotom's National Dex number was 479 which was right before Uxie and the mass of Legends which possibly led many to believe it was a Legendary. Ironically, only Pokedex line up where the Pseudo Legendary line was no where near the Legendary Pokemon as they are usually between Legendary Pokemon or right before. (Which was an argument as to why Volcarona should have been a Pseudo, before the fans redefined what a Pseudo Pokemon's requirements were.) ((That was an amazing debate though.))

 

[OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire]

I'm actually in the same boat as this. I don't think that they are all that special outside of story fluffing.

Signature Skill and Signature Moves aren't that rare in the Pokemon world, whether individually or together. Gen 4 Shellder and Cloyster claimed Skill Link and Icicle Spear as Signature skill and Move up until Gen 4. Skill Link itself appearing in Gen 4 and Icicle Spear dating back to Gen 3. Debut Skitty had Normalize, still it's signature ability, and Assist. Assist losing it's Signature status upon Gen 4. Castform having Forcast and Weatherball when it debuted as well, a similar albeit quickly destroyed debate on whether it was Legendary had a very, very short run. It was pretty much one of those playground rumors in terms of impact.

Regigigas, Darkrai, and Arceus were our first two Legendaries to showcase a Signature Ability and Move. This continued into Gen 5 with Victini, Reshiram, and Zekrom (If you don't want to count Victini having Event access to Reshiram and Zekrom's Fusion Moves and Kyurem having Reshiram and Zekrom's abilities and moves due to fusing with them.) Zorua and Zoroark both also debuted with a Signature Ability and Move, that are still exclusive to them. Chesnaught has a Signature Ability and Move before ORAS with Chesnaught's Hidden Ability. Aegislash has a signature ability and Move as part of it's form change gimmick. Aromatisse has both a Signature Ability and Move as well. Zygarde, Xerneas, and Yveltal are the last three to get both Signature Abilities and Moves, which rounds out fairly evenly.

So up until Gen 5, Signature Move and Abilities were more commonly found in normal Pokemon. At the end of Gen 6, not counting Event distributed Pokemon, Fused Pokemon, and Pokemon who lost either an ability or move, 8 Legends have Signature Moves and Abilities (Adding in Primals and Mega Rayquaza), still, and 4 Normal Pokemon have Signature Moves and Abilities. (Only one of which isn't a gimmicked Pokemon oddly enough).

Historically, more normal Pokemon at one time had both Signature Abilities and Moves (16) than Legends (12). Overall there are 48 normal Pokemon with Signature Abilities and 10 (Not counting Zekrom and Reshiram since they share abilities with fused Kyurem, even if you did, that is still just 12) legendary Pokemon have signature abilities. 59 Normal Pokemon have Signature Moves and 29 Legendary Pokemon have Signature Moves.

The point of that jumbled mess is to show that Tapu Koko having both a Signature Move and Ability doesn't mean it's a Legendary Pokemon. It is so far the only one that is questionable but not clarified as Magearna is already stated in it's intro to be a Mythic (Same as Mew, Celebi, Victini, etc.) Pokemon and Zygarde who is already known to be a Legendary Pokemon. Right now, Tapu Koko feels very much like Zoroark from Gen 5 or Rotom from Gen 4, which was a very heavily debated Pokemon as to whether or not it was a legendary Pokemon due to it's placement as a side event and being one of a kind at that time. The only thing that killed it being legendary was that it could Breed with Ditto, which is only something Manaphi can do to get Phione.

With the info we have at the moment, its impossible to say with 100% certainty that either side is correct. We cannot prove that it is or isn't a legendary just with the story fluff. Either GF/TPCi would have to actually announce Tapu Koko or one of the other guardians as Legends in some way, or the game would have their nationaldex placement reveal them near the end of the Alola line up as traditional placement for Legendary Pokemon. (excluding Victini)

**Sidenote that I just noticed, Rotom's National Dex number was 479 which was right before Uxie and the mass of Legends which possibly led many to believe it was a Legendary. Ironically, only Pokedex line up where the Pseudo Legendary line was no where near the Legendary Pokemon as they are usually between Legendary Pokemon or right before. (Which was an argument as to why Volcarona should have been a Pseudo, before the fans redefined what a Pseudo Pokemon's requirements were.) ((That was an amazing debate though.))

Rotom is a very interesting case. In DPP it had the legendary music play when encountering it according to Bulbapedia. Not to mention that Rotom got new formes in Platinum like the legendary Giratina and the mythical Shaymin while no other Pokemon did. Actually Rotom is the only normal Pokemon to have gotten formes in a game that wasn't it's debut (not counting Megas), and when SM comes out it'll be the first Pokemon to have formes outside of it's debut Generation. Rotom is one special normal Pokemon. I don't think they'll ever make another case like it.

 

[WingsofBliss]

Heh. Now that Tapu Koko is actually revealed, this puts even more holes in my theory that Zygarde would probably be a guardian. Oh well, I was hoping for it to play some sort of significant role, but it seems unlikely that this would be the case if it's going to be 4 new Tiki-esque Pokemon, not that there's anything wrong with that!

I think it will still play a role in the post-game at least. In the descriptions of all the Formes on the Sun and Moon website, they seem to be implying that it has a role in protecting the Pokemon ecosystem. Interestingly, even though it's considered a Legendary Pokemon, the only Pokemon listed in the Legendary tab on that website are Solgaleo and Lunala. Perhaps in SM it looses its Legendary status like how Deoxys lost its Mythical status in the Delta Episode of ORAS?

Back to the tikis, I'm wondering if we'll have the rest of them revealed in the coming months. Right now we have 3 months left of coverage before the release(August, September, October), and 3 island guardians left. I wonder if we'll get one each month up until the release?

 

[OmegaRuby and AlphaSapphire]

I think it will still play a role in the post-game at least. In the descriptions of all the Formes on the Sun and Moon website, they seem to be implying that it has a role in protecting the Pokemon ecosystem. Interestingly, even though it's considered a Legendary Pokemon, the only Pokemon listed in the Legendary tab on that website are Solgaleo and Lunala. Perhaps in SM it looses its Legendary status like how Deoxys lost its Mythical status in the Delta Episode of ORAS?

Back to the tikis, I'm wondering if we'll have the rest of them revealed in the coming months. Right now we have 3 months left of coverage before the release(August, September, October), and 3 island guardians left. I wonder if we'll get one each month up until the release?

Actually 4. We have a Corocoro prior to the release of S/M. It was a similar case with BW, which had the middle stage starters revealed in that final issue (October issue, September release) before those games came out in Japan in September 18, 2010.

I think that the four guardians will have the ability to combine to form a totem pole-rocket. Looking at Tapu Koko with it's shell closed again recently, I was reminded of the top of multistage rockets. Perhaps the guardians will help fly the MC into space like Rayquaza did in DE.

 

[Solar Snivy]

So on the orchid mantis pokemon it days that it's the guardian of the Akala Island. I looked up Akala, and it's some sort of raspberry bush. Red in color, but not the word for red.

 

[WingsofBliss]

So on the orchid mantis pokemon it days that it's the guardian of the Akala Island. I looked up Akala, and it's some sort of raspberry bush. Red in color, but not the word for red.

It says it's a Totem Pokemon that you challenge for the trial of Akala Island, but it does not say that it's the Island Guardian in the same vein of Tapu Koko. I think the Totems and the Guardians are separate things; the Totems are larger and powerful versions of a normal Pokemon, while the Guardians like Tapu Koko will most likely have Legendary status.

 

[Solar Snivy]

It says it's a Totem Pokemon that you challenge for the trial of Akala Island, but it does not say that it's the Island Guardian in the same vein of Tapu Koko. I think the Totems and the Guardians are separate things; the Totems are larger and powerful versions of a normal Pokemon, while the Guardians like Tapu Koko will most likely have Legendary status.

Oh, I meant Totem. I was pointing out the Akala part.

 

[Hikamaru]

Bumping this up because there was a leaked Pokedex list from a few days ago that has now been proven fake as of the new CoroCoro reveals, but it does make me think something - Oricorio's different typings are Fire, Electric, Psychic and Ghost, which are the types of each of its forms, and there was a Japanese trailer that showed the protagonist carries a charm with four different sections - red, yellow, pink and purple, which are the same colors as the Oricorio forms.

That leads me to believe those will also be the colors of the Island Guardians, and like the fake Pokedex leak said I could see the other Island Guardians alongside Tapu Koko being Fire, Psychic and Ghost alongside Tapu Koko's Electric-type.

Just my two cents here, but definitely a good theory I have in mind.

 

[Magnus805]

Bumping this up because there was a leaked Pokedex list from a few days ago that has now been proven fake as of the new CoroCoro reveals, but it does make me think something - Oricorio's different typings are Fire, Electric, Psychic and Ghost, which are the types of each of its forms, and there was a Japanese trailer that showed the protagonist carries a charm with four different sections - red, yellow, pink and purple, which are the same colors as the Oricorio forms.

That leads me to believe those will also be the colors of the Island Guardians, and like the fake Pokedex leak said I could see the other Island Guardians alongside Tapu Koko being Fire, Psychic and Ghost alongside Tapu Koko's Electric-type.

Just my two cents here, but definitely a good theory I have in mind.

They might throw a curveball in there. With vulpix and sandshrew being ice we know there will be an icy mountain or some type of ice area on one of the islands. They might decide to make that guardian part ice.

 

[Hikamaru]

They might throw a curveball in there. With vulpix and sandshrew being ice we know there will be an icy mountain or some type of ice area on one of the islands. They might decide to make that guardian part ice.

Just because there's one island with an ice-covered mountain, it doesn't mean there will be an Ice-type guardian for that island.

Anyways, here's the islands and which type they could be themed around, based on Oricorio's forms:

Spoiler:

Bulbapedia has two of the islands' names confirmed - Melemele (which is the one second from left) and Akala (the one next to Melemele) which are themed around Electric and Fire. The one on the far left I assume might be Psychic while the far right will probably be Ghost.

Just my speculation there.

 

[Iceshadow3317]

Akala - a Hawaiian shrub or climber, Rubus macraei, bearing a large, red, edible raspberry.

It is odd that they would name it like that, but it does still mean red. Akala Guardian is almost definitely going to be fire I think.

I am still hoping they don't follow the bird. Not a fan of it being part Psychic and Ghost unless they take the place of Fairy which is possible. We hardly have any Ice Legends, so it would be nice to have one.

 

[Magnus805]

Just because there's one island with an ice-covered mountain, it doesn't mean there will be an Ice-type guardian for that island.

Anyways, here's the islands and which type they could be themed around, based on Oricorio's forms:

Spoiler:

Bulbapedia has two of the islands' names confirmed - Melemele (which is the one second from left) and Akala (the one next to Melemele) which are themed around Electric and Fire. The one on the far left I assume might be Psychic while the far right will probably be Ghost.

Just my speculation there.

Key word in my post MIGHT ;)