I always considered Hoenn one of my favourite regions other than Johto. Migrating from GameBoy to GameBoy Advanced, it felt like pokemon itself was advancing. The new pokemon series was called Pokemon Advance. Pokemon and advance seemed to be really connected at the time. The only thing that I didn't like was the lack of backwards compatibility. There's no way to transfer pokemon from GameBoy to GameBoy advance, so it was a fresh start.
Grass - Sceptile
The Hoenn starters work well together. I think their final forms are fantastic, and they look robust and reliable. I love how Sceptile's tail is a tree, and the thing on his arms look like leaves. He's just great. And I love how he gets the dragon type when he mega-evolves. At least it makes more sense than Alolan Executor.
Fire - Blaziken
I think Blaziken is the most popular pokemon on this list and I can see why. When I first saw Torchic, I thought its final form would be fire/bird, so I was surprised to see Blaziken was fire/fighting. Now I think it's perfect for him cause he's fast and can hit hard. Smogon actually banned it in OU.
Water - Milotic
Milotic is a beautiful pokemon that's strong and bulky. One of the few that can survive grass and electric attacks in one hit. I had such a hard time catching Feebas and making it evolve, so once I got a Feebas, I bred it so I could transfer it to other games. In later generations, it's a lot easier to evolve it now, and in Sword and Shield, you can catch Milotic in the wild.
Normal - Whismur
Whismur looks it's always having a bad day. Reminds me of a used rag doll who's been through a lot. I really like him, I think he's precious and shy.
Electric - Manectric
If Lt. Surge had a pet dog, it would look a lot like Mantric. I don't think I've used him much, but it's got high speed and special attacks making it suitable as a sweeper. I want to use him on my next Hoenn playthrough.
Psychic - Latias
Latias is one of my favourite legendaries because of her role in one of the movies. I had her on my team in Ruby, and she did a great job. She was terrific in the battle tower challenge in Colosseum. She's bulky, and she hits hard.
Fighting - Breloom
Breloom's attack stat is to die for (no pun intended). The rest of his stats are average, but he makes up for it in his attack. I love its design. His name in other languages is a corruption of hat and mushroom in their own words.
Rock - Aggron
Aggressive by name and aggressive by nature. A lot of pokemon that I tend to pick on my team have a tendency to have low physical defences. Aggron's physical defence is enormous, and MegaAggron looks like it wants to slaughter everything in its path. I love how it's Japanese name is Bossgodora.
Ground - Swampert
I always picked Mudkip, so I ended up with Swampert on my in-game team. When Mega-Blaziken first came out, I wanted a MAega-Swampert as well, only to find that I liked Swampert just the way it was already.
Flying - Altaria
I've got a few friends that love this pokemon, so it makes me think of them. I love how it looks cute and is also powerful. She's more reliable than she seems.
Bug - Beautifly
I love the mash-up of butterfly and beautiful. I had one on my first ruby playthrough, and it serves as Hoenn's answer to Butterfree.
Poison - Roselia
I love how her arms are real roses and how her head represents thorns. I think she's a cute pokemon and has got a high special attack. The rest of her stats aren't as good, but we can forgive that because she evolves into Roserade in the next generation.
Dark - Absol
Absol really fits the dark type even though it's mainly white. One of its entries in the Pokedex says if you see one, there's a big disaster coming.
Ghost - Sableye
At the time, Sableye had no weaknesses. I remember people would hack wonder guard on it to make it invincible. I like how it's got gems as eyes.
Ice - Spheal
Spheal reminds me of Seel, and it also rhymes with Seal, one of my favourite vocalists. I think he's so cute and adorable with his round face, beady black eyes and two little teeth.
Steel - Mawile
Ever since Mega-Mawile was unleashed, I've loved Mawile ever since. Steel and fairy on their own are great types, but together it works so well. Poison and dragons can't touch him, and he's only weak to ground and fire.
Dragon - Flygon
I know many people were gutted that Flygon didn't get a mega evolution, but Salamence and Altaria did. I heard that Gamefreak struggled to come up with a good design for it, so they left it. I think Flygon is fine the way it is. I think it has an exciting type combo other than the common dragon/flying combination. His Levitate ability gives him the same privilege of gound immunity as Salamence, Dragonite and Altaria without the weakness to Stealth Rock.
Fairy - Gardevoir
Gardevoir is one of those pokemon that have been made famous on the internet due to lewd memes and hentai. She's a psychic fairy from Outerspace, and I think her design is beautiful. Her special stats are fantastic and she's a real star in this generation.
About the Creator
Chloe Gilholy
I live in Oxfordshire, England. I used to write a lot of fan fiction and mainly just write poetry now. I've been to over 20 countries and written many books. I'm currently working on a horror story called Heavenly Seas.
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Book Review: "Human Monsters: A Horror Anthology" by Various Authors
Yes, it's horror again. I'm feeling kind of down and whenever I'm down I read horror because it makes me feel better. Have you heard about that study that states people who are in depression should watch and read horror in order to make themselves feel better? Yeah, I checked it out some time ago - you should too. Human Monsters is exactly what you think it is, it is about monsters who are human - those who lurk in the normal world, not in the shadows, not in the darkness - they stand right in front of us. They are us. Let's go through my favourite stories in the anthology...
By Annie Kapur23 days ago in Geeks
Federal Reinforcements and Rising Tension in Minneapolis
Tension in Minneapolis has risen sharply in recent days as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to deploy hundreds more immigration officers to Minnesota following the fatal shooting of a local woman by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. The move comes amid nationwide protests and deepening polarization over federal immigration enforcement efforts. The decision to send additional officers was publicly confirmed by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who said the reinforcements are meant to “ensure the safety” of ICE and Border Patrol personnel already in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. Officials noted that more than 2,000 federal officers have already been stationed in the region as part of what the administration describes as its largest immigration enforcement operation ever. What Sparked the Deployment? The deployment follows the Jan. 7 fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer during an enforcement action in south Minneapolis. Good, a mother of three, was struck and killed by gunfire as she sat in her vehicle. Federal authorities have characterized the incident as a defensive action, saying the driver’s conduct endangered officers. However, local political leaders and community members strongly dispute that narrative. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other officials have criticized federal accounts of what happened, pointing to bystander videos that they say contradict the claim that Good posed an active threat when she was shot. They have also condemned the broader federal immigration operation in the city, saying it has fostered fear and mistrust in local communities. The legal and investigative aftermath remains complicated. Minnesota authorities sought to investigate the shooting, but federal officials asserted exclusive jurisdiction, citing constitutional protections for federal officers. This has deepened frustration among state leaders who want greater transparency and local involvement in the inquiry. Protests and Public Reaction The shooting ignited protests in Minneapolis almost immediately and spurred demonstrations across the country. Over the weekend following the incident, more than 1,000 rallies were organized in cities nationwide, drawing tens of thousands of participants. Protesters have framed their actions as a call for accountability and change in how immigration policy is enforced. In Minneapolis, large crowds gathered near the site where Good was killed to march and call for an end to what they see as an aggressive federal presence. Many protesters have chanted slogans critical of ICE and the broader administration’s immigration agenda. Scenes from protests have been varied. In some locations, demonstrators have remained peaceful, holding signs and vigils in memory of Good. In others, confrontations between some protesters and law enforcement have occurred, with reports of officers deploying crowd control tactics. Supporters of the federal response argue that a strong enforcement posture is necessary to uphold U.S. immigration laws and to address alleged crime tied to illegal immigration. DHS officials also stressed that the officers being sent to Minnesota are there to protect their federal personnel and keep operations running despite protests. The Broader Context of Immigration Enforcement This episode is part of a much larger national debate over immigration policy and enforcement tactics. The Trump administration’s recent focus on interior enforcement — including deportations and raids — has been a defining pillar of its second term. Minneapolis, a city with a diverse population and sizable immigrant communities, has become a focal point for that strategy. Critics say that such heavy federal deployment in city neighborhoods undermines community trust and disproportionately affects non-violent immigrants and long-standing residents. Advocates for immigrant rights argue that punitive tactics fuel fear, discourage cooperation with local authorities, and erode civil liberties. Supporters counter that rigorous enforcement is essential for national security and upholding the rule of law. They argue that federal agents must be backed by sufficient resources, especially when facing hostile demonstrations or resistance. Voices from Minneapolis Local sentiment in Minneapolis remains deeply divided. Many residents expressed grief and shock over the death of Renee Good, while also expressing concern about the scale and nature of the federal response. A number of community members have organized vigils, public gatherings, and faith-based services to provide mutual support and to call for justice. Conversely, Minneapolis leaders have urged calm while also criticizing federal policies they claim escalate tensions. Mayor Frey has been vocal in his rejection of the federal narrative, insisting that the city deserves transparency and a fair process to understand what led to Good’s death. Looking Ahead As hundreds more immigration officers make their way to Minneapolis, the city and the nation find themselves at a critical juncture in the ongoing debate about immigration enforcement. The coming days will likely see continued protests, political clashes, and legal challenges as both sides defend their interpretations of events and advocate for their visions of public safety and justice. For now, Minneapolis stands on edge — a city caught between federal authority and local calls for accountability, grieving a woman’s death, and questioning how far immigration enforcement can go before it deepens divisions even further.
By Saboor Brohi 4 days ago in Geeks
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