What’s the only thing better than watching a couple of Pokémon throw down at the gym? Watching a couple of GIGANTAMAXED Pokémon throw down at the gym. That word doesn’t really need to be capitalized or italicized, but watch the teaser clip below of Pokémon being Gigantamaxed in the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield Nintendo Switch game and you’ll see why it seemed necessary.

If you haven’t heard of Pokémon Sword and Shield, first of all, is the rent reasonable underneath your rock (asking for Millennials)? Second of all, it’s one of the most highly anticipated games coming to the Nintendo Switch, and stands as the first main series game in the eighth generation of the Pokémon franchise. The game will also mark the first time introduction of new features, including Dynamaxing and Gigantamaxing.

According to the Bulbapedia, Dynamaxing is “a temporary transformation affecting Pokémon…” that increases a Pokémon’s size drastically, changes its moves, and increases its stats in battle. It’s important to know what Dynamaxing is; because Gigantamaxing is a kind of Dynamax, which also increases a Pokémon’s size and stats in battle. The difference between Gigantamaxing and Dynamaxing is that Gigantamaxing changes the appearance of a given Pokémon, while Dynamaxing doesn’t. Also, only certain, rare, individual Pokémon are capable of Gigantamaxing.

There are a few different ways you can obtain Gigantamax Pokémon, Trainers. This special Meowth that can Gigantamax will be gifted as an early purchase special bonus for #PokemonSwordShield players.https://t.co/KStUB9HRZD pic.twitter.com/pUoPqNcCn1

— Ghost-type Pokémon (@Pokemon) October 16, 2019

Speaking of which, the Bulbapedia mentions that Pokémon who can Gigantamax are usually caught in Max Raid Battles, or are distributed via events. Players can also obtain Pikachu and Eevee, who are both capable of Gigantamaxing, if they has saved data from Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! or Let’s Go, Eevee! (Saved data from the respective games net you the respective Pokémon.)

As far as the actual Gigantamax moves are concerned, these seem absolutely devastating. And also kind of hilarious. Pikachu’s Gigantamax move, for example, is “G-Max Volt Crash”; Eevee’s is “G-Max Cuddle”; and Meowth’s is “G-Max Gold Rush.” Gigantamaxable Meowth is also apparently an “Exclusive Early Purchase Bonus,” which is something to keep in mind if you want access to a gargantuan cat-hot-dog creature.

Pokémon Sword and Shield is set to be released on November 15 of this year and will take place in the Great Britain-inspired Galar region, which is a large, narrow expanse of land in the Pokémon world.

What do you think of this teaser clip of Pokémon getting all GIGANTAMAXED? Is this pumping you up for the Nintendo Switch game? Or do you think the game’s creators should’ve stopped at Dynamaxing? Let us know your opinions in the comments!

Images: The Pokémon Company

The post NINTENDO Teases ‘Gigantamaxing’ for POKÉMON appeared first on Nerdist.

Season: 4 / Episode: 1

There’s something to be said for how My Hero Academia handles it’s welcome back / season premiere episodes. I always thought that Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood does it the best, but MHA handles the re-introduction in a way that is satisfying, when you have no expectation of the story moving forward.

Admittedly, there’s a lot to digest from the end of season 3. First and foremost is the retirement of All Might and everyone with a TV witnessing that the symbol of peace is abruptly cut short. His withering body on that night is similar to the general sentiment of the public. If the greatest hero ever has had the fight go out of them, then what comes next?

Someone looking to answer that very specifically is investigative reporter Tokuda, who gains access to the school hoping to discover who, if any, All Might has determined as a successor. This provides a good opportunity to recap what we know so far, but mostly to re-acquaint us with the young heroes of Class 1A, quirks and all. Bakugo still pissed off for no good reason. Minoru still a proto-pervert. Deku back doing drills in the yard, with the off-season workout trapezoids muscles poppin’ off. Everything is where it should be.

There isn’t a lot of drama in the investigation as Tokuda suspects Midori from the beginning and confirms as much in their first conversation. What is at the heart of this show and is on display even in basically a recap episode, is how endearing the characters are with one another. Tonado will do most things for a scoop, but his personal connection to All Might (watching his father be saved) has led him to find the successor for his own source of hope and not necessarily for a good story.

This is another re-inforcement that Deku is the future and that secret likely won’t stay a secret for long. But this season may signal that Deku is ready to embrace and actually surpass All Might at some point. With a new threat looming, only time will tell.

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The post My Hero Academia Recap: “The Scoop on U.A. Class 1-A” appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

BGN Politics is running for senate with Qasim Rashid this week!

We’re excited to bring to you this brand new podcast focused on the issues that impact our lives and the well-being of our families.

In this episode, Jamie Broadnax chats with author, human rights activist and attorney Qasim Rashid who is running as a Democratic Party candidate for the Virginia Senate District 28. Qasim is vying to become the first Muslim state senator — by challenging incumbent Republican state Sen. Richard Stuart, who has run unopposed since 2007. The last time a Democrat was elected in Virginia’s 28th state Senate district was 1975, over 40 years ago so Qasim definitely has some challenges here, but he’s up for it.

The Virginia Senate District 28 represents parts of Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Westmoreland Counties. In Virginia, all 140 seats are up for grabs on the Nov. 5 ballot. Republicans hold a slim majority in both the House of Delegates and Senate, so voters will determine who controls both chambers.

We discuss issues important to both Virginians and Americans like healthcare, gun control, and voter suppression.

For more info on Qasim Rashid, you can visit his website: rashidforva.com/

Music by: FilmStro filmstro.com/music
Support our podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/blackgirlnerds
For 10% off Better Help go to betterhelp.com/bgn

The post PODCAST: Running For Senate with Qasim Rashid appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Long before #MeToo went viral in 2017, there was the ‘me too.’ Movement. In fact, Tarana Burke, veteran organizer, activist, and movement builder, began this work in 2006 in order to help survivors of sexual violence—particularly Black women and girls—find ways to heal.

When #MeToo took off on Twitter, many survivors used it as a means to help tell their stories, thus breaking the stigma of silence most survivors of sexual violence are forced to carry. It has been two years since Burke and her epic movement were thrust into the spotlight—a place Burke tells ESSENCE she never wanted to be in.

“I recognize the need for me to stay visible in a particular type of way in order for people to talk about the movement. So I’ve embraced the visibility a little bit more now. I still don’t think there’s a need for a celebrity in this work, but I think that a person who is visible and vocal and consistent is definitely necessary,” Burke told ESSENCE.

And Burke has embraced her role in her own movement, realizing that it’s up to her to keep the momentum going. “Two years later, we have this amazing, global platform now to talk about sexual violence, to deal with sexual violence and to galvanize survivors. I’m excited about where we are. I wish we were a little further, culturally. I wish that the conversation around what the ‘me too.’ movement is, was different,” Tarana Burke shared.

Hearing the hashtag, and the movement, transformed into a verb in pop culture, i.e., “Me Too-ed,” is upsetting for Burke. She says that it makes the movement about taking men down, which is not what’s happening, nor is it her intention. She said, “It’s so diminishing to the people who have labored to come forward to even say, ‘me too.'”

Check out the video above to see what Tarana Burke hopes for the movement going forward and what advice she’d like to offer Black men.

The post Two-Year Anniversary Of #MeToo: What’s Next For The ‘me too.’ Movement? appeared first on Essence.