The Snag Machine (Japanese: スナッチマシン Snatch Machine) is a machine designed by Cipher for Snagging a Trainer's Pokémon. It is used by the main characters in Pokémon Colosseum and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness for snagging Shadow Pokémon in order to be purified. The Snag Machine was originally developed by Cipher and then given to Team Snagem in exchange for the snagging of high grade Pokémon to be turned into Shadow Pokémon.
The first incarnations of the machines look like orange vending machines with arms protruding from their sides, in addition to wheels. They store their own Poké Balls and convert them into Snag Balls internally. It is believed that they act autonomously since neither showed any signs of a control box or control panel. At the beginning of Pokémon Colosseum, both were destroyed, along with the Snagem Hideout, by Wes.
The second version is much smaller, being able to be equipped by a person. It consists of a shoulder pad like unit with a spiraling wire that is attached to a concave cover about the size and shape of a rugby or gridiron ball. The shoulder pad is worn over the left shoulder, the wire coiled around the wearer's arm, and the concave cover worn over the wearer's hand. This version does not store or carry its own Poké Balls. For a regular Poké Ball to be converted into a Snag Ball, the wearer must hold an empty Poké Ball in their left hand while wearing the Snag Machine. When the Ball is thrown, the Snag Machine turns it into a Snag Ball.
This variant, in addition to being less bulky and more futuristic looking than that used by Wes, is equipped with an Aura Reader to identify Shadow Pokémon and an alarm system which sounds when the wearer attempts to use the machine improperly.
During a Pokémon battle, a Snag Machine can only be used once per turn because it needs time to recharge.
The Snag Machine also seems to assist in aiming a Poké Ball, as it can target Pokémon in a Double Battle, while a Trainer cannot attempt to capture a Pokémon in a wild Double Battle when two opponent Pokémon are present.
The first incarnations of the machines look like orange vending machines with arms protruding from their sides, in addition to wheels. They store their own Poké Balls and convert them into Snag Balls internally. It is believed that they act autonomously since neither showed any signs of a control box or control panel. At the beginning of Pokémon Colosseum, both were destroyed, along with the Snagem Hideout, by Wes.
The second version is much smaller, being able to be equipped by a person. It consists of a shoulder pad like unit with a spiraling wire that is attached to a concave cover about the size and shape of a rugby or gridiron ball. The shoulder pad is worn over the left shoulder, the wire coiled around the wearer's arm, and the concave cover worn over the wearer's hand. This version does not store or carry its own Poké Balls. For a regular Poké Ball to be converted into a Snag Ball, the wearer must hold an empty Poké Ball in their left hand while wearing the Snag Machine. When the Ball is thrown, the Snag Machine turns it into a Snag Ball.
This variant, in addition to being less bulky and more futuristic looking than that used by Wes, is equipped with an Aura Reader to identify Shadow Pokémon and an alarm system which sounds when the wearer attempts to use the machine improperly.
During a Pokémon battle, a Snag Machine can only be used once per turn because it needs time to recharge.
The Snag Machine also seems to assist in aiming a Poké Ball, as it can target Pokémon in a Double Battle, while a Trainer cannot attempt to capture a Pokémon in a wild Double Battle when two opponent Pokémon are present.
Shadow Pokémon (Japanese: ダークポケモン Dark Pokémon) are Pokémon that are being used for wrongful acts because they had the doors to their hearts shut artificially, a process originally created and carried out by Cipher in the Orre region.
Shadow Pokémon are created through an undisclosed process that removes the Pokémon's emotions, turning it into a soulless fighting machine. Ein, creator of the process and Cipher's head scientist at the time of Colosseum, refers to this process as "shutting the door to their hearts". In XD, Cipher's science division refines and upgrades the process, allowing many Shadow Pokémon to be produced simultaneously. The head of the science division, Cipher Admin Lovrina, also works on stabilizing the process to increase resistance to purification; her ultimate goal is to create a Shadow Pokémon that is completely impossible to purify.
While normal Pokémon are generally friendly and trusting creatures, Shadow Pokémon are not hesitant to attack with full force, using Shadow moves such as Shadow Rush. Likewise, they do not attack only other Pokémon, and will actually attack Trainers. Shadow Pokémon can sometimes be overwhelmed by their emotions, indicating the relative instability of their Shadow state, and will sometimes enter a state known as Hyper Mode in Colosseum and Reverse Mode in XD. This state will be triggered more often the closer the Pokémon is to purification, making them generally more difficult to battle with until they are ultimately purified. A Pokémon in this state can be cured of it by calling to it in battle or use of a scent, as well as several other methods, or can recover on its own.
An interesting quirk about Shadow Pokémon is their inability to be differentiated from normal Pokémon by all but those with certain abilities or tools. Shadow Pokémon emit a normally invisible dark aura that normal Pokémon do not, which so far has only been able to be detected by Rui through an innate ability, and Michael with his Aura Reader. The only exception is Shadow Lugia, which takes on noticeable alterations, namely having jagged silver eyefins and possessing an overall darker complexion.
Shadow Pokémon cannot level up, and any experience and effort values they gain in battle will be held until they are purified, at which point they will be awarded en masse.
Shadow Pokémon are created through an undisclosed process that removes the Pokémon's emotions, turning it into a soulless fighting machine. Ein, creator of the process and Cipher's head scientist at the time of Colosseum, refers to this process as "shutting the door to their hearts". In XD, Cipher's science division refines and upgrades the process, allowing many Shadow Pokémon to be produced simultaneously. The head of the science division, Cipher Admin Lovrina, also works on stabilizing the process to increase resistance to purification; her ultimate goal is to create a Shadow Pokémon that is completely impossible to purify.
While normal Pokémon are generally friendly and trusting creatures, Shadow Pokémon are not hesitant to attack with full force, using Shadow moves such as Shadow Rush. Likewise, they do not attack only other Pokémon, and will actually attack Trainers. Shadow Pokémon can sometimes be overwhelmed by their emotions, indicating the relative instability of their Shadow state, and will sometimes enter a state known as Hyper Mode in Colosseum and Reverse Mode in XD. This state will be triggered more often the closer the Pokémon is to purification, making them generally more difficult to battle with until they are ultimately purified. A Pokémon in this state can be cured of it by calling to it in battle or use of a scent, as well as several other methods, or can recover on its own.
An interesting quirk about Shadow Pokémon is their inability to be differentiated from normal Pokémon by all but those with certain abilities or tools. Shadow Pokémon emit a normally invisible dark aura that normal Pokémon do not, which so far has only been able to be detected by Rui through an innate ability, and Michael with his Aura Reader. The only exception is Shadow Lugia, which takes on noticeable alterations, namely having jagged silver eyefins and possessing an overall darker complexion.
Shadow Pokémon cannot level up, and any experience and effort values they gain in battle will be held until they are purified, at which point they will be awarded en masse.
Purification (Japanese: リライブ Relive), or "opening the heart's door", is the only known method of changing a Shadow Pokémon back into a normal Pokémon.
In most cases, a Shadow Pokémon's heart can only be fully opened once its Heart Gauge has been completely depleted. This is denoted by the message, "The door to its heart is about to open. Undo the final lock!"
The following actions will open the door to a Pokémon's heart by varying amounts:
- Sending a Shadow Pokémon into battle
- Calling a Shadow Pokémon out of Hyper Mode or Reverse Mode in battle
- Walking with a Shadow Pokémon in the party
- Using Scents on a Shadow Pokémon
Once a Pokémon's Heart Gauge is completely depleted, it is time to "undo the final lock," the final step in opening the door to a Shadow Pokémon's heart.
Once a Pokémon is purified, any Shadow moves are replaced with other moves. It immediately gains any experience and friendship (no effort values are tracked from battles while it is a Shadow Pokémon) that it has earned in battles prior to the purification, meaning that it may gain one or more levels.
In most cases, a Shadow Pokémon's heart can only be fully opened once its Heart Gauge has been completely depleted. This is denoted by the message, "The door to its heart is about to open. Undo the final lock!"
The following actions will open the door to a Pokémon's heart by varying amounts:
- Sending a Shadow Pokémon into battle
- Calling a Shadow Pokémon out of Hyper Mode or Reverse Mode in battle
- Walking with a Shadow Pokémon in the party
- Using Scents on a Shadow Pokémon
Once a Pokémon's Heart Gauge is completely depleted, it is time to "undo the final lock," the final step in opening the door to a Shadow Pokémon's heart.
Once a Pokémon is purified, any Shadow moves are replaced with other moves. It immediately gains any experience and friendship (no effort values are tracked from battles while it is a Shadow Pokémon) that it has earned in battles prior to the purification, meaning that it may gain one or more levels.
SNAG MACHINE HOLDERS
1. OPEN
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4. CURRENTLY CLOSED
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9. CURRENTLY CLOSED
2. OPEN
3. OPEN
4. CURRENTLY CLOSED
5. CURRENTLY CLOSED
6. CURRENTLY CLOSED
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9. CURRENTLY CLOSED
