Download Raid for free iOS/Android/PC t2m.io/ZenMode_Jun24 and get 2 strong Epics + 1 Legendary (promo code MONKEYKING) Stopped playing Raid??? Don't miss a ton of new content and our welcome back gifts t2m.io/WelcomeBackLink Take part in the Summer Tavern event and get your gift at summertavern.plarium.com Prizes include GAMING CONSOLES, SMARTPHONES and Amazon gift cards with a total value of $5,000! Additional bonus - after downloading Raid with my link redeem the code SUMMERTAVERN to receive more rewards! Hurry, this offer is available exclusively from June 10 to July 15 for both new and existing players Link for IOS users to enter Raid Shadow Legends codes plarium.com/en/redeem/raid-shadow-legends/
Very proud of you for this. Your content has always been very fresh and unique! Simple formula repeated but very creative runs for the mons involved. Sunflora included
@@ZenModeYTIf you want a Pokémon from another region, Seaking is available. Did you think Golduck was less used than other Water Type Pokémon? Seaking is the true king of that position.
Seaking is available in nearly every mainline game and I swear I've never seen anyone use it. related note, would you be open to tackling Corsola eventually? her middling stats, unimpressive movepool, and weirdly late availability has always made her pretty bad, unfortunately
Naming Totodile "Dial" to make us think it's because it sound like "Dile" just for him to call up Lance to tell him he's f**ked was absolutely perfect XD Truly Chekov's Name at its finest
This applies to the original Gold and Silver and not HGSS, but one of my favorite Sunflora fun facts is that in Gen 2, the only Grass Moves it has access to until Level 31 are Absorb, Mega Drain and Razor Leaf, which would be bad enough on its own. But then it also only learns Razor Leaf at Level 10 as a Sunflora, while Sunkern can only be caught at a minimum of Level 11, thus requiring you to either breed a new one or settle on a 40 BP move as your strongest option if you want to actually use Sunflora. I commend it for always managing to put on a smile throughout all these generations.
whats funny is that this learnset sounds bad but its actually one of the best learnsets for a grass type in early gens. take a look at oddish’s learnset in early gens
@@olefredrikskjegstad5972people gotta get paid, would much rather see a sponsor knowing the RUclipsrs I like are making something than getting random algorithm ads
That Hyper Beam came out of nowhere and made me laugh so hard 😂! Amazing video once again. I wonder if we'll ever see "How I'd fix Zen Mode Darmanitan" in the future
What I love about these videos is that these buffs all seem so realistic. Like 1000% I can see somebody picking up a game that buffed Sunflora like this and still complaining that it wasn’t buffed to be stronger than charizard y and I think that’s the perfect balance. This makes the pokemon usable in a game, and in competitive (which isn’t the target I know) it definitely gives it more unique niches. Phenomenal video once again
Yeah, I think that's the point of what Zen is doing. Making some Pokémon more useable for casual runs but also can be viable for the more hardcore runs or even competitive (to some extent). i.e., it's an option that shouldn't just be discarded upon catching/seeing it like it normally is. While he does help us think about these Pokémon in a different light, we can't play with that Pokémon the way he does because he has a rom hack or something with the changes he's made to said Pokémon.
That’s why I like these videos, a lot of Pokémon don’t need mega massive, overpowering buffs, but a lot of mons just need something with some kick to it.
These kinds of comments are why I hatewatch these videos. If you want a game where Sunflora is "usable" it's called Pokemon Soul Silver. Any Pokemon is usable in a casual run. At worst there are a few gimmick tier Pokemon, but Sunflora isn't that bad.
@@tehy123 why do you take time out of your own day to hate watch something someone had fun making. And then write a comment to bash on the video and also other commenters, like as a person what do you gain
I am a fellow sunkern and sunflora lover and actually teared up at that ending - unironically amazing storytelling as usual. I was sceptical about the normal type at first but what really sold me on it was how perfect a ghost immunity is for such a happy-looking pokemon themed to the sun
I'm always impressed by your content. The fact that you not only theory-craft your changes within the parameters of the existing statline, but also mod in and then test your theory is fantastic. Of course there's also the unique narratives you create during each of your playthroughs to test your changes. It's just very quality content, and I respect and appreciate it every time you upload.
i love how you keep the theme of the pkmn intact, and focus more on making them useful but not OP or radically different. i hope some romhacks take inspiration from this!!!!
Congrats on your first sponsor! Also, I really cannot understate just how much better your own "fix a Pokemon" videos are with how you build an entire plotline and team around said changes.
Out of curiosity, I looked at how many pokemon resist Grass type moves in a minimum required battles run of GS up to becoming champion. Using Jrose11's guide, it looks like about 63% (119/189) of all pokemon that you are required to fight resist Grass type moves. There are a LOT of dual resists in there was well, mostly bugs and zubats. Most of the neutrals are Rattatas and Raticates.
A really nice coincidence since I've been binging your videos this week right when you returned! I honestly never thought of giving the normal typing to sunflora, much less for it to work so well in a playthrough, you really managed to turn one of the weakest mon in the region to one that can handle a lot of the game with a few small changes! Also, i think it's something that goes unsaid on the comments sometimes but i really love when you build a narrative for your team, i really love the real life counterpart of this little bundle of joy trying to bring the sun back to a seemingly doomed world (sounds like a indie game idea tbh) Overall, Zen Mode really came back swinging after the break with one of his best videos, you really can't rush quality (Ps. Congrats on the first sponsor too!)
Great to see you back Zen, especially in HGSS again. If you're open to suggestions, have you considered Arbok? It has middling base stats, a good selection of abilities, one of the worst learned move pools in the series. Being a two-stage evolution it's meant to peak fairly early in a playthrough, but it almost entirely relies on mid to late-game tms to have any decent offensive potential or coverage. It's an interesting problem, especially as the poison type move pool doesn't actually have much to offer that could help.
Yessss, new video, came on! I never expected it'd be possible to turn Sunflora into such a beast! And in Johto too, the most unkind region to grass types. I mean, her sp. Attack is serviceable; it has as much spa as Feraligatr has attack, which is kinda bonkers, but all its other stats are bad. But the buffs you gave it were incredible! Sunny day+ weather ball combo really came in clutch, and Nature power later on, too. Sunflora really sweeped from the mid to late game, which was incredible to see. Also, I adored the little story you created for this run. It made everything even more enjoyable. We're glad to see you're back, but don't worry about not uploading as often. You have more important stuff going on in your life, and that's perfectly understandable. So, just focus on the important stuff, and we'll be here waiting for you to come back with the next video. Thanks for all the hard work! Also, I have no idea which pokemon you were talking bout at the end 😅. Wonder which one it could be? As for a bad pokemon, I'd like to see buffed? I know it's a weird pick, but maybe Mightyena? It's mid at best in Hoenn. You can get Poochyena pretty early on, and once it evolves, it gets intimidate, which is a pretty great ability. But that's all it has going for it, as it stops being useful in the mid to late game, and I'd really like it if it was better. Mightyena is just really cool, in my opinion. It's such a shame that it's as bad as it is.
I really appreciate how the subtle changes on certain Pokemon is just enough to carry them across the finish line in a playthrough. Giving Sunflora Normal STAB on top of great use cases for under appreciated moves in Weather Ball & Nature Power was just enough to salvage it in an environment that absolutely despises grass types. Also seeing Whitney’s Miltank get absolutely obliterated by Hyper Beam is utterly hilarious. I may gander a guess and say Dewgong or Hypno may be up soon for evaluation, or perhaps Lickitung, since that mon is absolutely underwhelming until it got an evolution, and even then…
I wouldn't make Sunflora a fire type, but I WOULD give it to Bellossom. I think it could be a sun dancing grass type. With access to the move Fiery Dance, and possibly even a unique move. Likely something like "Burning Blossoms" which is a fire type move that has around 70BP but always burns
Yay! Im so excited, ive always wanted Sunflora to be a grass/fire type, maybe with drought to help her solarbeams Lol right as i finished typing that you got into why it wouldnt be such a good ability. Maybe if it just had better speed 🤔 Maybe a regional variant could do better with a fire typing? I love the nuclear war framing device, it reminds me a lot of dr FlygonHG's storytelling for his nuzlockes. I think a collab between y'all wpuld be hilarious
I’m glad to see such an underrated RUclipsr getting a sponsor! Sunflora’s buffs are awesome! I never imagined it getting a Normal-typing. I predict that Seaking will be your next point of interest, getting moves like Water Pulse, Drill Peck, and Megahorn
Umm, spring? Surely you meant summer? :D You know, Sunflora is worthless. But Sunkern? Oh, boy. Has anyone ever seen what it can do in Pokéathlon? It's a beast! Hm! Not bad! I love the idea of giving Sunflora a normal type. As you mentioned, giving it fire and/or drought is what people are commonly trying to do. Which, while grass/fire is cool, is... honestly kinda boring. Great changes!
The backstory is great. Aroma wash for Lugia and sunflower to combat nuclear fallout are great parts. The rewrite of Ampharos being sick and getting medicine into it actually dying was very unexpected.
As a certified Normal type lover and Sunflora stan, this video made me so happy. I always thought Grass/Fire and Drought was lazy. Perhaps we could see a Slaking run in the future? Or one on a team perhaps? I love these videos of yours, keep it up!
Grass is my favorite type, so it's always great to see one get some attention. I really like the unique buffs you gave Sunflora, especially making it Normal type. I also just enjoy the stories you create for these videos, they're very creative and cute.
Love your writing. Needed a few sessions to sit down and watch the whole thing. The team composition and character writing for the rest of the team was fantastic. You've improved as a writer, and a content creator. That ending was hilarious and just a total tone shift from the poetic story of Sundance. Always been a big fan of your content. 😁 Very proud of you landing your first sponsor too.
In relation to its Normal typing, feel like Smoliv could have been brought up to further justify the change, as he two lines are rather similar. The deadpan delivery here (21:02) is great.
Thanks :) I wish I got to play with other weather effects more! Like a special based rock or ice move would have been fun in sand or hail. Maybe some other time!
You always surprise me with how little you buff the Pokémon and how much it actually helps! It’s also a nice touch how you also try to give each Pokémon a story line and keep the buffs true to their nature
I think it's based how PMD2 made her one of the best guildmates. She's not on wigglytuffs level or anything, but she's so good that she can go solo sometimes if she wanted to
I honestly never expected Sunflora to actually be… actually kinda good? With such minimal buffs! In a game so unfriendly to grass types! Impressively done, and always a joy to watch your content ❤ congrats on the pass!
I had a feeling sunflora was waiting in the wings!! Zen was sounding so much like a proud father in this one, that Sunflora was loved. Man that weatherball combo was so cool!
I was JUST thinking yesterday about how much I missed these Zen Mode videos, now today he returns and gives us another banger. Glad to have you back! :D Edit: I disagree with giving the normal type, but everything else was a great idea. Here's hoping Wigglytuff is next!
you're doing great zen mode!!!! been following your channel since your first video, they're always a treat!! please cover Flareon next! it's definitely the weakest of all the Eeveelutions and covering it in something Platinum would be great to provide a decent fire type option in a game renowned for having few!
Yeah, Flareon would be interesting to examine post physical/special split. I used a Flareon in my last FRLG playthrough and it was kinda nice as a mixed attacker, but what it was actually mostly used for was to spam Shadow Ball, since Shadow Ball is a physical attacking move in gen 3 and Flareon is unironically the best user of that attack in that game so it has a niche there at least.
I used a Sunflora once in Violet and now it’s one of my favorite Pokémon. Quick Claw, Leaf Storm mixed with switch mode is a deadly combo. (I always use switch mode) I’m exicted to see how you treat this Pokémon.
While I agree that Grass/Fire is too much for Sunflora, I DO think a couple of Fire-type moves would be appropriate. I mean, come on! It's a SUNflower!
The roleplaying and story you inject into these runs is so wonderful, inspired me to be more thoughtful with rpg playthroughs instead of just crunching numbers and going through the motions
I like your videos because you're just the most creative channel making pokemon content, a series thats been around for decades. You take your time, you balance things in a careful and intelligent way, and you're so diligent about not ruining the natural balance the devs put in the game. It's not often after a "how I would fix X pokemon" I find myself thinking "oh yeah that should just be base game" but with the exception of your delibird tweaks, you've managed to rebuild pokemon that feel like they were included by obligation
While I understand your choice of grass/normal, I don't like the reasoning. Pokemon are supposed to be magical and wonderful. Sure, sunflora would need a redesign to make sense with fire typing, but having a sun flower that partially embodies the sun (power, but slow) is much more fun that "just a sunflower, but it hits hard"
The funny thing is, thanks to having Solar Power, as well as coverage moves in Earth Power and Weather Ball, Sunflora would probably be decent in a Trick Room team, especially with Torkoal already being a legit Sun setter. If only we could get a Pokemon that could activate Trick Room upon entering the battle... But, that's just a theory, of course.
Another great video! Been following you since Shinx and it's been a joy to see these get better and better every time. The stories you craft for your teams are super fun and I love how this channel provides a stage for some really abstract and under-utilized strategies and mechanics (Nature Power and Weather Ball carrying a run is so cool). Great job on another awesome video, looking forward to whatever you have planned next!
I found your channel today, love the concept of fixing the mons and I'm flabberghasted by your sub count. You have incredible potential and your script and editing is fenomenal! ❤
My man getting that sponsor! Now we just need to see a fix for Luvdisc and the channel will skyrocket! So proud to be an early member of one of the coolest channels out there!
58:30 I would say something about hindsight but then again I doubt Sunflora was expecting to dragged into the distortion world against its Will back in 2005.
Jack, I rewatch your videos all the time and I truly believe this was your best video, I applaud your upgrade for sunflora, giving her a surprisingly viable and unexpected niche. So glad to see you consistently making videos because I'm hyped for every one. ✌️
From your music choice and storytelling, I'm detecting you're taking some inspiration from a certain Flygon-themed Nuzlocker, and I am HERE FOR IT! You've definitely made the choices your own here, really looking forward to your next video!
Regular Darmanatan plays gatcha games designed to make money first and be good second. What a loser. Now Zen Mode Darmanatan? Absolutely based. Likes good games.
I can't believe this thing requires a stone man just make it like a level 20 Evo and that by itself would make it alright by gen 2 standards (and still suck but I digress)
My request will be for a Pokémon I sleep on but actually quite love: Cherrim in Platinum. It’s got a really cool ability that focuses on improving the Attack and Special Defense of itself and its allies, yet in something like Platinum, the only physical attacks it gets through level up are Tackle and Take Down. Improving its ability to support not only its allies in Double Battles, something that’s surprisingly common in Platinum, but also itself in Single Battles would be nice.
The intro (of the gameplay) is amazing, totally unexpected, very funny and educational. I had smile as big as a sunflora’s when I saw you released a new video. In general the narration was so nice! Great job!
10:35 im sorry the space nerd in me has to make this correction grass/fire makes even less sense because the sun is _not_ a ball of fire, its made of incredibly hot, melted down elements (mostly hydrogen). its why solgaleo is steel type-hydrogen is usually classified as a metal. kinda. it’s complicated. think lava, but so unbelievably hot it becomes gas and plasma. heavily simplified, but you get my point. so, if anything, making sunflora grass/_steel_ makes more sense. but…yeah. no.
thankyou SO much for this!! Sunkern and Sunflora are my favorite evolution line since forever... but they are not the brightest star in the pokemon world.... It makes me so happy to see so much love and care beeing dedicated towards them! love your Content and congratulation on passing your license
Gonna have to repeat myself like I do in every video you upload (for the algorithm!): It's amazing how well you can fix bad Pokemon while keeping the vanilla feeling of the original games and also taking the characteristics of each Pokemon into account. You are very creative and these videos keep getting better! Keep it up! :) Also: still waiting for Surskit and Masquerain to get their time in the spotlight!
Masquerain would actually be quite interesting to see. Surskits water typing changing to flying later seems like an oddly cool concept because water moves counter the rock types and fire types that ordinarily would love to fight Masquerain, right!? Unfortunately Pokemon Co decided to do this thing where Masquerain actually DOESN'T like water, so the only water move it learns via level up is bubble (though Surskit can learn bubblebeam if you delay the evolution, thats the strongest water move it learns via level up - hydro pump is an egg move and NOT a TM in early gens). I think if instead it was a flying bug that actually LIKED the rain as a concept and it got access to hydro pump via level up that might go some way to fixing its issues.
I am always hyped to see videos from you, it's such a different, interesting concept to revitalize mid to low teir mons (in a playthrough setting) breathing new life into them through un obtrusive means (likr slight type changes or move pool edits) and doing a playthough as a proof of concept with a fun story to round it out
A lot has already been said about the way you rework these Pokémon and the incredible little stories you're able to tell with them either through just regular incidental gameplay moments or through the absolutely nuts storylines you've been coming up with in the more recent ones, but I'm just going to tip my hat to you once again anyway. I continue to be so glad I stumbled across you and all of my friends and I continue to cheer you on wherever you go \o/
Download Raid for free iOS/Android/PC t2m.io/ZenMode_Jun24 and get 2 strong Epics + 1 Legendary (promo code MONKEYKING)
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Take part in the Summer Tavern event and get your gift at summertavern.plarium.com
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Link for IOS users to enter Raid Shadow Legends codes plarium.com/en/redeem/raid-shadow-legends/
YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!!
I appreciate subjecting the obnoxious sponsor to an obnoxious alter ego 🤣
Our boy has gotten himself sponsored! Congrats!
Should've waited on the sponsor until you fixed a stall-heavy Pokémon-for obvious reasons. :P
Downloading with your link is enough to support you? I actually really enjoyed the game
Congrats on being a nominee for rising Poketuber in Truegreen7’s 2024 pokemon awards!
Wow thank you so much :) I had to go check for myself, I honestly had no idea but that’s such an honour to be nominated by one of the GOATS!
Very proud of you for this. Your content has always been very fresh and unique! Simple formula repeated but very creative runs for the mons involved. Sunflora included
your dad said right. You will be tied in your own room until you fix all mons, including things like Soodowoodo or Luvdisc
Soodowoodo is my goat don't lump him with such shitters man
i don't think you canm fix luvdisc tbh
@@kimotokirby1601 Even I can
Sudowudoo definitly could use a small nudge in the right direction ❤
Luvdisc already has a use. Heart scale farming. Doesn’t exist for more than that.
Ariados deserves one of these. Such a cool design and missed opportunity. Although ironically it has a niche in gen 4 Ubers of things.
Honestly one of my biggest challenges is trying to space all the Johto mons out, there are just so many! But I would LOVE to do ariados too!
Honestly ariados is fine he just needs to actually learn real stab moves before level 41 and we're good imo
@@ZenModeYTIf you want a Pokémon from another region, Seaking is available. Did you think Golduck was less used than other Water Type Pokémon? Seaking is the true king of that position.
Seaking is available in nearly every mainline game and I swear I've never seen anyone use it.
related note, would you be open to tackling Corsola eventually? her middling stats, unimpressive movepool, and weirdly late availability has always made her pretty bad, unfortunately
@@driftingbreath I love Seaking. I think I have one in a Brillant Diamond save.
ngl out of all things to happen, i didn't account HYPER-BEAMING THE MILKTANK TO THE FACE
It was at that exact moment I realized Sunflora had been fixed
sunflora nuclear fall-out was truly not on my list of expectations
Naming Totodile "Dial" to make us think it's because it sound like "Dile" just for him to call up Lance to tell him he's f**ked was absolutely perfect XD
Truly Chekov's Name at its finest
WE ARE SO BACK GAMERS🌻
This applies to the original Gold and Silver and not HGSS, but one of my favorite Sunflora fun facts is that in Gen 2, the only Grass Moves it has access to until Level 31 are Absorb, Mega Drain and Razor Leaf, which would be bad enough on its own.
But then it also only learns Razor Leaf at Level 10 as a Sunflora, while Sunkern can only be caught at a minimum of Level 11, thus requiring you to either breed a new one or settle on a 40 BP move as your strongest option if you want to actually use Sunflora.
I commend it for always managing to put on a smile throughout all these generations.
whats funny is that this learnset sounds bad but its actually one of the best learnsets for a grass type in early gens. take a look at oddish’s learnset in early gens
@@potatoman2580 Vileplume is a sad, sad, Pokémon
The GOAT remembered his password!
🌻🌻who knew sundance could rise from a basic blossom to the✨icon✨ of nuclear disarmament 🌻🌻
ZEN MODE POSTED?!?!?! LETS GOOOOOO
Not a Water type brother/sister but still LET'S GOOOOOOOOOO
MY BOY GOT HIS FIRST SPONSOR!! I'm so proud of you, man!
Thanks friend :)
I'm not. Raid: Shadow Legends is trash and I hate seeing it.
@@olefredrikskjegstad5972people gotta get paid, would much rather see a sponsor knowing the RUclipsrs I like are making something than getting random algorithm ads
@@olefredrikskjegstad5972 booooo
@@olefredrikskjegstad5972quit being a hater, everyone wants/needs money bro
That Hyper Beam came out of nowhere and made me laugh so hard 😂!
Amazing video once again. I wonder if we'll ever see "How I'd fix Zen Mode Darmanitan" in the future
You will! I just need to figure out how haha 😅
@@ZenModeYTFair play; Whitney's Miltank is a war machine.
What I love about these videos is that these buffs all seem so realistic. Like 1000% I can see somebody picking up a game that buffed Sunflora like this and still complaining that it wasn’t buffed to be stronger than charizard y and I think that’s the perfect balance. This makes the pokemon usable in a game, and in competitive (which isn’t the target I know) it definitely gives it more unique niches. Phenomenal video once again
Yeah, I think that's the point of what Zen is doing. Making some Pokémon more useable for casual runs but also can be viable for the more hardcore runs or even competitive (to some extent). i.e., it's an option that shouldn't just be discarded upon catching/seeing it like it normally is. While he does help us think about these Pokémon in a different light, we can't play with that Pokémon the way he does because he has a rom hack or something with the changes he's made to said Pokémon.
That’s why I like these videos, a lot of Pokémon don’t need mega massive, overpowering buffs, but a lot of mons just need something with some kick to it.
These kinds of comments are why I hatewatch these videos. If you want a game where Sunflora is "usable" it's called Pokemon Soul Silver. Any Pokemon is usable in a casual run. At worst there are a few gimmick tier Pokemon, but Sunflora isn't that bad.
@@tehy123 why do you take time out of your own day to hate watch something someone had fun making. And then write a comment to bash on the video and also other commenters, like as a person what do you gain
What do you gain from responding to me?
33:04 Bro why are you making me feel for a dang sheep in a Pokemon challenge run lmao.
Zen Mode out here casually fixing Fallout 3's script in an unrelated video
I am a fellow sunkern and sunflora lover and actually teared up at that ending - unironically amazing storytelling as usual. I was sceptical about the normal type at first but what really sold me on it was how perfect a ghost immunity is for such a happy-looking pokemon themed to the sun
The focus blast missing at the end is so hilarious
Pretty sure Fissure is more accurate
I'm always impressed by your content. The fact that you not only theory-craft your changes within the parameters of the existing statline, but also mod in and then test your theory is fantastic. Of course there's also the unique narratives you create during each of your playthroughs to test your changes.
It's just very quality content, and I respect and appreciate it every time you upload.
i love how you keep the theme of the pkmn intact, and focus more on making them useful but not OP or radically different. i hope some romhacks take inspiration from this!!!!
Congrats on your first sponsor!
Also, I really cannot understate just how much better your own "fix a Pokemon" videos are with how you build an entire plotline and team around said changes.
Came straight to the comments when I saw the sponsor and thought “YESSSSS HE DID IT!” Glad you’re getting recognised
10:53 Normal - Grass be like:
*I HAVE TWO SIDES*
-Grassy animal
- Punching bag, but made from plant fibers
Zen Mode used RETURN!
It was super effective 😁
@@AngelofHell1311😂😀😐🤔 but how?
@@Israel_Augustine reverse battle rules 😁
@@AngelofHell1311Inverse battles?
@@Israel_Augustine ah yes thats what i meant 😅
That hyper beam was WILD - awesome vid man, welcome back!
Out of curiosity, I looked at how many pokemon resist Grass type moves in a minimum required battles run of GS up to becoming champion. Using Jrose11's guide, it looks like about 63% (119/189) of all pokemon that you are required to fight resist Grass type moves. There are a LOT of dual resists in there was well, mostly bugs and zubats. Most of the neutrals are Rattatas and Raticates.
Wow that’s a good stat! Grass types in shambles :/
A really nice coincidence since I've been binging your videos this week right when you returned! I honestly never thought of giving the normal typing to sunflora, much less for it to work so well in a playthrough, you really managed to turn one of the weakest mon in the region to one that can handle a lot of the game with a few small changes!
Also, i think it's something that goes unsaid on the comments sometimes but i really love when you build a narrative for your team, i really love the real life counterpart of this little bundle of joy trying to bring the sun back to a seemingly doomed world (sounds like a indie game idea tbh)
Overall, Zen Mode really came back swinging after the break with one of his best videos, you really can't rush quality
(Ps. Congrats on the first sponsor too!)
i love the way you dont just go over the objective stuff, but craft a whole story around a pokemon too. great to see the goat return
Great to see you back Zen, especially in HGSS again. If you're open to suggestions, have you considered Arbok? It has middling base stats, a good selection of abilities, one of the worst learned move pools in the series. Being a two-stage evolution it's meant to peak fairly early in a playthrough, but it almost entirely relies on mid to late-game tms to have any decent offensive potential or coverage. It's an interesting problem, especially as the poison type move pool doesn't actually have much to offer that could help.
That was possibly the best anti-ad I've ever seen, pop off king
I love the bit at the end in Artazon. Excellent comedic timing
Yessss, new video, came on! I never expected it'd be possible to turn Sunflora into such a beast! And in Johto too, the most unkind region to grass types. I mean, her sp. Attack is serviceable; it has as much spa as Feraligatr has attack, which is kinda bonkers, but all its other stats are bad. But the buffs you gave it were incredible! Sunny day+ weather ball combo really came in clutch, and Nature power later on, too. Sunflora really sweeped from the mid to late game, which was incredible to see. Also, I adored the little story you created for this run. It made everything even more enjoyable.
We're glad to see you're back, but don't worry about not uploading as often. You have more important stuff going on in your life, and that's perfectly understandable. So, just focus on the important stuff, and we'll be here waiting for you to come back with the next video. Thanks for all the hard work!
Also, I have no idea which pokemon you were talking bout at the end 😅. Wonder which one it could be? As for a bad pokemon, I'd like to see buffed? I know it's a weird pick, but maybe Mightyena? It's mid at best in Hoenn. You can get Poochyena pretty early on, and once it evolves, it gets intimidate, which is a pretty great ability. But that's all it has going for it, as it stops being useful in the mid to late game, and I'd really like it if it was better. Mightyena is just really cool, in my opinion. It's such a shame that it's as bad as it is.
And when the world needed him most... HE RETURNED
I really appreciate how the subtle changes on certain Pokemon is just enough to carry them across the finish line in a playthrough. Giving Sunflora Normal STAB on top of great use cases for under appreciated moves in Weather Ball & Nature Power was just enough to salvage it in an environment that absolutely despises grass types. Also seeing Whitney’s Miltank get absolutely obliterated by Hyper Beam is utterly hilarious.
I may gander a guess and say Dewgong or Hypno may be up soon for evaluation, or perhaps Lickitung, since that mon is absolutely underwhelming until it got an evolution, and even then…
I wouldn't make Sunflora a fire type, but I WOULD give it to Bellossom. I think it could be a sun dancing grass type.
With access to the move Fiery Dance, and possibly even a unique move. Likely something like "Burning Blossoms" which is a fire type move that has around 70BP but always burns
We can hope for a regional variant in future maybe!
Me: “And what qualifications do you have to be on my team?”
Sunflora: “I deleted Whitney’s Miltank.”
Me: “Congratulations! You have the job!”
Yay! Im so excited, ive always wanted Sunflora to be a grass/fire type, maybe with drought to help her solarbeams
Lol right as i finished typing that you got into why it wouldnt be such a good ability. Maybe if it just had better speed 🤔
Maybe a regional variant could do better with a fire typing?
I love the nuclear war framing device, it reminds me a lot of dr FlygonHG's storytelling for his nuzlockes. I think a collab between y'all wpuld be hilarious
I’m glad to see such an underrated RUclipsr getting a sponsor! Sunflora’s buffs are awesome! I never imagined it getting a Normal-typing. I predict that Seaking will be your next point of interest, getting moves like Water Pulse, Drill Peck, and Megahorn
also Lightning Rod in Gen5 :))
Umm, spring? Surely you meant summer? :D
You know, Sunflora is worthless. But Sunkern? Oh, boy. Has anyone ever seen what it can do in Pokéathlon? It's a beast!
Hm! Not bad! I love the idea of giving Sunflora a normal type. As you mentioned, giving it fire and/or drought is what people are commonly trying to do. Which, while grass/fire is cool, is... honestly kinda boring.
Great changes!
it's not summer until the solstice
The editing, humor and storytelling in this is truly unmatched. Thank you for this 😂👏
These remain my favorite Pokémon videos. Love your writing, the image of Sunflora sadly kicking a pebble when the sun isn’t out will stick with me 😭😭
You knew exactly what you were doing with that miltank fight. Props, I actually busted out laughing.
The backstory is great. Aroma wash for Lugia and sunflower to combat nuclear fallout are great parts. The rewrite of Ampharos being sick and getting medicine into it actually dying was very unexpected.
As a certified Normal type lover and Sunflora stan, this video made me so happy. I always thought Grass/Fire and Drought was lazy. Perhaps we could see a Slaking run in the future? Or one on a team perhaps? I love these videos of yours, keep it up!
That first Hyper Beam was so sudden I started laughing so hard.
Grass is my favorite type, so it's always great to see one get some attention. I really like the unique buffs you gave Sunflora, especially making it Normal type. I also just enjoy the stories you create for these videos, they're very creative and cute.
Glad you think so :) grass is my favourite type too
Love your writing. Needed a few sessions to sit down and watch the whole thing. The team composition and character writing for the rest of the team was fantastic. You've improved as a writer, and a content creator. That ending was hilarious and just a total tone shift from the poetic story of Sundance. Always been a big fan of your content. 😁
Very proud of you landing your first sponsor too.
Thanks so much!
Always beautiful to see a youtuber get their first "look i need to pay rent alright" sponsorship
In relation to its Normal typing, feel like Smoliv could have been brought up to further justify the change, as he two lines are rather similar.
The deadpan delivery here (21:02) is great.
Weather ball is an inspired choice, I love the utility it provides. I wish more mons got it, especially ones that rely on a weather effect
Thanks :) I wish I got to play with other weather effects more! Like a special based rock or ice move would have been fun in sand or hail. Maybe some other time!
You always surprise me with how little you buff the Pokémon and how much it actually helps! It’s also a nice touch how you also try to give each Pokémon a story line and keep the buffs true to their nature
I think it's based how PMD2 made her one of the best guildmates. She's not on wigglytuffs level or anything, but she's so good that she can go solo sometimes if she wanted to
I honestly never expected Sunflora to actually be… actually kinda good? With such minimal buffs! In a game so unfriendly to grass types! Impressively done, and always a joy to watch your content ❤ congrats on the pass!
I had a feeling sunflora was waiting in the wings!! Zen was sounding so much like a proud father in this one, that Sunflora was loved. Man that weatherball combo was so cool!
honestly i would use vanilla sunflora if it was actually tall (like yknow... sunflowers) and had a cute brown face like sunkern
Sunflora needs the Alolan Exeggcutor treatment
Hey, you leave my single digit FPS, teleporting Sunflora army alone
Sunflora woudve been so much better as an single stage
...as it was supposed to be (alongside it has Psychic type aswell)
Zen mode post?? LFG!! Heck yeah this is a great way to start off the day
I was JUST thinking yesterday about how much I missed these Zen Mode videos, now today he returns and gives us another banger. Glad to have you back!
:D
Edit: I disagree with giving the normal type, but everything else was a great idea. Here's hoping Wigglytuff is next!
you're doing great zen mode!!!! been following your channel since your first video, they're always a treat!!
please cover Flareon next! it's definitely the weakest of all the Eeveelutions and covering it in something Platinum would be great to provide a decent fire type option in a game renowned for having few!
Yeah, Flareon would be interesting to examine post physical/special split. I used a Flareon in my last FRLG playthrough and it was kinda nice as a mixed attacker, but what it was actually mostly used for was to spam Shadow Ball, since Shadow Ball is a physical attacking move in gen 3 and Flareon is unironically the best user of that attack in that game so it has a niche there at least.
I used a Sunflora once in Violet and now it’s one of my favorite Pokémon. Quick Claw, Leaf Storm mixed with switch mode is a deadly combo. (I always use switch mode) I’m exicted to see how you treat this Pokémon.
Been waiting for your comeback, absolutely love your vids
While I agree that Grass/Fire is too much for Sunflora, I DO think a couple of Fire-type moves would be appropriate.
I mean, come on! It's a SUNflower!
The roleplaying and story you inject into these runs is so wonderful, inspired me to be more thoughtful with rpg playthroughs instead of just crunching numbers and going through the motions
The partywide experience share is not my issue... only they made it in later games unable to turn it off
I wasnt expecting adding the normal type, but it really does make sense and seems to be a benefitial addition to Sunflora.
I like your videos because you're just the most creative channel making pokemon content, a series thats been around for decades. You take your time, you balance things in a careful and intelligent way, and you're so diligent about not ruining the natural balance the devs put in the game. It's not often after a "how I would fix X pokemon" I find myself thinking "oh yeah that should just be base game" but with the exception of your delibird tweaks, you've managed to rebuild pokemon that feel like they were included by obligation
I love that you had to invent a whole new persona to do the ad read because your current persona has too much of a soul for RAID sponsorships
I LOVE the roleplay parts of these vids, def keep doing them if you’re enjoying it
Thanks :) I sure will!
It took me way too long to get the naming convention of the team. Not sure whether I love you or hate you for making a "SUN" of The Mask reference.
While I understand your choice of grass/normal, I don't like the reasoning. Pokemon are supposed to be magical and wonderful. Sure, sunflora would need a redesign to make sense with fire typing, but having a sun flower that partially embodies the sun (power, but slow) is much more fun that "just a sunflower, but it hits hard"
The funny thing is, thanks to having Solar Power, as well as coverage moves in Earth Power and Weather Ball, Sunflora would probably be decent in a Trick Room team, especially with Torkoal already being a legit Sun setter.
If only we could get a Pokemon that could activate Trick Room upon entering the battle...
But, that's just a theory, of course.
Granted, I was talking about Gen 9 Sunflora, not HGSS Sunflora. But the point is that the sunflower does indeed have some potential.
Yeah unfortunately Trick Room is super late in HGSS and no one learns it naturally :(
Hell yeah, you hit Raid Shadow Legends tier! Next stop, Raycon!
Another great video! Been following you since Shinx and it's been a joy to see these get better and better every time. The stories you craft for your teams are super fun and I love how this channel provides a stage for some really abstract and under-utilized strategies and mechanics (Nature Power and Weather Ball carrying a run is so cool). Great job on another awesome video, looking forward to whatever you have planned next!
I found your channel today, love the concept of fixing the mons and I'm flabberghasted by your sub count. You have incredible potential and your script and editing is fenomenal! ❤
Thanks so much! Glad you found me :)
My man getting that sponsor! Now we just need to see a fix for Luvdisc and the channel will skyrocket! So proud to be an early member of one of the coolest channels out there!
41:21 I can't tell if I despise or love that joke lmao.
58:30 I would say something about hindsight but then again I doubt Sunflora was expecting to dragged into the distortion world against its Will back in 2005.
Jack, I rewatch your videos all the time and I truly believe this was your best video, I applaud your upgrade for sunflora, giving her a surprisingly viable and unexpected niche. So glad to see you consistently making videos because I'm hyped for every one. ✌️
Hey thank you so much for the kind words and support ❤️❤️❤️
@@ZenModeYT you’re my goat bruh
I loved how well you made Sunflora stand out with these changes 🎉
From your music choice and storytelling, I'm detecting you're taking some inspiration from a certain Flygon-themed Nuzlocker, and I am HERE FOR IT! You've definitely made the choices your own here, really looking forward to your next video!
Regular Darmanatan plays gatcha games designed to make money first and be good second. What a loser. Now Zen Mode Darmanatan? Absolutely based. Likes good games.
I can't believe this thing requires a stone man just make it like a level 20 Evo and that by itself would make it alright by gen 2 standards (and still suck but I digress)
My request will be for a Pokémon I sleep on but actually quite love: Cherrim in Platinum. It’s got a really cool ability that focuses on improving the Attack and Special Defense of itself and its allies, yet in something like Platinum, the only physical attacks it gets through level up are Tackle and Take Down. Improving its ability to support not only its allies in Double Battles, something that’s surprisingly common in Platinum, but also itself in Single Battles would be nice.
Sunflora actually would work decently well in a trick room team. With that ABYSMAL speed, it'll basically always move first.
True! Unfortunately no Pokémon in Johto learns trick room naturally and it’s one of the last TMs you get :(
The intro (of the gameplay) is amazing, totally unexpected, very funny and educational. I had smile as big as a sunflora’s when I saw you released a new video. In general the narration was so nice! Great job!
10:35 im sorry the space nerd in me has to make this correction
grass/fire makes even less sense because the sun is _not_ a ball of fire, its made of incredibly hot, melted down elements (mostly hydrogen). its why solgaleo is steel type-hydrogen is usually classified as a metal. kinda. it’s complicated. think lava, but so unbelievably hot it becomes gas and plasma. heavily simplified, but you get my point.
so, if anything, making sunflora grass/_steel_ makes more sense. but…yeah. no.
I was missing these videos, and checking day by day for a new upload the past few weeks, super excited when this came out today.
thankyou SO much for this!! Sunkern and Sunflora are my favorite evolution line since forever... but they are not the brightest star in the pokemon world.... It makes me so happy to see so much love and care beeing dedicated towards them! love your Content and congratulation on passing your license
Aw thanks so much! Glad to hear you enjoyed it :)
I don’t know who’s coming up next, but I know I wanna see Furret in the future.
I am always so pumped when a new video comes out. This one was amazing. HYPER BEAM THE COW
Gonna have to repeat myself like I do in every video you upload (for the algorithm!):
It's amazing how well you can fix bad Pokemon while keeping the vanilla feeling of the original games and also taking the characteristics of each Pokemon into account. You are very creative and these videos keep getting better! Keep it up! :)
Also: still waiting for Surskit and Masquerain to get their time in the spotlight!
Masquerain would actually be quite interesting to see. Surskits water typing changing to flying later seems like an oddly cool concept because water moves counter the rock types and fire types that ordinarily would love to fight Masquerain, right!?
Unfortunately Pokemon Co decided to do this thing where Masquerain actually DOESN'T like water, so the only water move it learns via level up is bubble (though Surskit can learn bubblebeam if you delay the evolution, thats the strongest water move it learns via level up - hydro pump is an egg move and NOT a TM in early gens). I think if instead it was a flying bug that actually LIKED the rain as a concept and it got access to hydro pump via level up that might go some way to fixing its issues.
I am still waiting for roms with these changes implemented. Ever since the Ledian video I have been dying to finally play these changes for myself.
i love the idea of blending a story into your improvements! its nice to see you innovating!
43:21 "Sundance calms the restless spirit with a healing aroma"
the healing aroma in question: "SUNDANCE USED HYDRO PUMP!"
I am always hyped to see videos from you, it's such a different, interesting concept to revitalize mid to low teir mons (in a playthrough setting) breathing new life into them through un obtrusive means (likr slight type changes or move pool edits) and doing a playthough as a proof of concept with a fun story to round it out
A lot has already been said about the way you rework these Pokémon and the incredible little stories you're able to tell with them either through just regular incidental gameplay moments or through the absolutely nuts storylines you've been coming up with in the more recent ones, but I'm just going to tip my hat to you once again anyway. I continue to be so glad I stumbled across you and all of my friends and I continue to cheer you on wherever you go \o/
Aw thanks so much for the kind words :)
Looks like that sponsorship finally payed for a better mic lmao
buffing sunflora by giving it a fighting weakness is a bold strategy
Luckily we were able to play around it and the ghost immunity outweighed the negatives I think!
Dude I just gotta say, I love these videos so much. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks so much!