So, I'm bored, and with all this speculation about the rumored Armor Mechanic in SWiSH (fuck you I like that abbreviation!) I thought about my own idea for a big mechanic and I wanted opinions.
So, I like to think and speculate about "what if Game Freak made a region based on so-and-so", and my recent idea is Hong Kong. Basically a mix between east and west, with temples alongside modern skyscrapers.
So, I thought of a big mechanic known as "PokeSouls". They're these magical disc-like objects that come about by resonating with Pokemon, inspired by the ancient Chinese "bi" discs. In lore, I thought that this could be why TMs and HMs resemble discs, they're basically a man-made version of those. The Trainer could use them along with a Soul Driver wrist-device to empower their own Pokemon with PokeSouls.
So, almost every Pokemon has a PokeSoul---exceptions would be Legendaries, Baby Pokemon, Ultra Beasts, and some misc. ones for lore reasons like Porygon and Ditto. A PokeSoul corresponds to one of the Pokemon's Type, but it's always standardized---Charizard PokeSouls are always Fire, never Flying, and such. In the case for Pokemon with multiple formes, it'd vary but typically there'd only be one PokeSoul---so Oricorio would have a single Flying PokeSoul representing the "default" yellow one, there'd be no Alolan Variant PokeSouls, they'd just give you the original, but in the case of say the two original Lycanroc each would have their own since they're radically different designs. Event Pokemon like Dusk Lycanroc would not, however.
PokeSouls are then divided by star ranks, from 1 to 3. Typically this corresponds to the strength of the represented Pokemon, so Charizard is 3 while Charmander is 1, but in some cases it'd vary like a single-stage Pokemon such as Farfetch'd might surprisingly be a 3 Star. You can equip a total of 3 PokeSouls among your team, taking the place of Hold Items, but you're limited to 3 Stars total---so you can give three of them a 1 Star, one a 1 Star and one a 2 Star, or one a 3 Star. Any Pokemon (a few exceptions, obviously, like those requiring Hold Items to even exist!) can equip any PokeSoul, however.
Each PokeSoul grants a passive effect to the holder, some mimic Hold Items or Berries while others are quite unique. These are usually based on the abilities of the Pokemon the PokeSoul represents. Marill, for example, is known to have an oily body that water runs off of easily so its PokeSoul would reduce Water damage done to the user. Heatmor is all about taking down Durant, so its PokeSoul would power up Special-type attacks of the user when used against Steel-type Pokemon. Some PokeSouls would have field effects too, or gimmicky effects for fun---I'm thinking Farfetch'd's would grant a power up and priority to the move Cut, and Dunsparce would simply allow the user to escape Wild Battles. There's obviously a lot of balance issues that could happen, but I'm kind of like...so? I sort of think of it being a single-player focused mechanic allowing the player to mess around, with it merely an optional competitive mode (like enabling Spirits in Smash) that can offer up some chaotic fun.
PokeSouls also take the place of Z-Moves, somewhat. Once per battle, a PokeSoul can be "Soul Burst'd" which basically summons the spirit of that PokeSoul (just the model of the Pokemon with a glowy filter) to unleash an attack, after which the passive bonus of the PokeSoul is lost for the rest of the match. Each Type of PokeSoul has a set attack like basic Z-Crystals (but new moves now), so Fire-based PokeSouls always use the same attack. Some PokeSouls of popular Pokemon would technically unleash unique attacks with their own animation and name, but these would be only aesthetically different and still function as just a move of their Type.
The difference here is that a Pokemon can use a PokeSoul Soul Burst WITHOUT needing a move corresponding to the Type---that's right, you basically get a fifth move slot for coverage. However, for balance, they work differently from Z-Moves. The base power of the Soul Burst corresponds to the Star Rank---1 Star have 40BP, 2 Star 60BP, and 3 Star 80BP. They're either Physical or Special based on the highest stat of the user (or chosen randomly if a tie), and they take into account the stats of the user and target prior to any stat changes. So, it's a flat attack that can't be powered up with Swords Dance and such. Unlike Z-Moves they can go through Protect and the like and while they don't take accuracy into account, they can miss if the target is in the air/underground etc. So it can be a surprise coverage move, but avoided.
It also incorporates Mega Evolution, with 3 Star Mega PokeSouls based on Mega Pokemon. You can equip them only to the non-Mega version of that Pokemon, and then it works akin to Mega Evolution. They can't perform a Soul Burst or anything, and Mega PokeSouls don't provide additional benefits, it's just a way to incorporate Mega Evolution as it was without needing to bring back Mega Stones.
Finally, PokeSouls are influenced by the candy in Let's Go. The Types of each PokeSoul correspond to a stat:
* Normal, Water, and Fairy are HP.
* Fighting, Ground, and Dark are Attack.
* Rock, Ice, and Steel are Defense.
* Fire, Electric, and Dragon are Special Attack.
* Grass, Poison, and Psychic are Special Defense.
* Flying, Bug, and Ghost are Speed.
By using excess PokeSouls, you can channel their energy into each Pokemon as EVs. Each Type of PokeSoul grants an EV of that stat, with the Star Rank determining 1-3 EVs. EVs aren't earned any other way now, but PokeSouls are plentiful by the post-game and it allows the player to quickly raise stats. Unlike Let's Go there's still the usual cap, and though you can fill up a Pokemon with PokeSouls they don't earn the stat boosts right away still requiring leveling up so you can't abuse them like candy. There'd also be an exorcist who could take away PokeSouls to refocus EVs.
PokeSouls would be found in a variety of ways---key events in the plot, hidden items, and even purchased at various places. Every time you defeat a Wild Pokemon it may also drop its PokeSoul, with low level PokeSouls dropping more often. Also by increasing your bond to the max with a fully evolved Pokemon you'd obtain its PokeSoul as well.
Finally, there are Over Souls, which take the place of HMs/Ride Pokemon. My idea was like Let's Go, you couldn't box your Starter Pokemon---they'd always follow you, though you could evolve them. Basically a seventh slot you can switch out between battles. Anyway, Over Souls channel the energy of certain Pokemon directly into the Starter Pokemon, changing them into a "spirit form" of that Pokemon that's colored green, red, or blue to match the Starter's Type. You obtain these through story progression, and they act as HMs except you always can use them since you always have your Starter to channel them. Two ideas I had was a Scyther Over Soul which can chop down certain obstacles, and an Arcanine Over Soul which is your basic mount.
So, would that be an interesting mechanic or too messy?
