Irregular Crossword

Occasionally, I make crosswords. Originally this was supposed to be a monthly thing, but I can't keep up anything very regularly, so it ended up just being a once-in-a-blue-moon thing. The results are published, giving you a chance to write yourself into the annals of history (totally) and get an image with your name on it that you can brag about if you're one of the first to solve a crossword.

Be warned, however: the crossword is very hard. When I say very hard, I mean it ranges from merely difficult to fiendishly unfair. Very few people can finish it; heck, few even manage more than two or three correct answers. I highly recommend doing the crossword in groups.

The Rules

If you get any of the answers wrong, even just a spelling mistake, you will have to notice it yourself - I won't tell you any errors you have until I announce the results, whenever that might be.

Placings will be primarily in accordance with the number of correct answers and secondarily according to the time submitted, to avoid ties - basically, if Alice gets 22 answers right and Bob gets 21, Alice will win even if Bob's solution was submitted long before Alice's, but if Bob had one more right so they were even, Bob wins because he got it first.

Feel free to submit again if you figure out another word after submitting for the first time, but please try not to submit every time you find out one. If you don't know a word, you should leave that part of the submission form blank - the form will only be sent if all the answers are of the correct length or blank.

The words in the crossword can be any of the following:

• Pokémon names
• Pokémon types
• Pokémon attacks
• Pokémon abilities
• Pokémon game items
• Pokémon world locations
• Pokémon status conditions
• Other named objects from the Pokémon games (as a general rule, to be in the crossword, it needs to be capitalized when it is referred to in the Pokémon games)
• Named characters or organizations from the Pokémon games and/or anime

All the names will be in English, and all will be official - no made-up Pokémon, characters, types, etc. will be used. Any hyphens, spaces or other non-alphabetical characters will be ignored, so if one of the answers was for example Take Down, it would be "TAKEDOWN" in the crossword.

Note that most of the crosswords here are quite old; since they are labeled with the date of their release, you should keep in mind that, for instance, the earliest crosswords were created in the third-generation era, before Diamond and Pearl came out, so their clues or answers may now be outdated.

The clues can be about practically anything. The crossword is designed to be as versatile as I can make it - one clue might give information related to fanfiction while another relies on knowledge of competitive battling and another one requires you to have been keeping an eye on the news during the release coverage of some game. This is why I strongly encourage working in versatile groups; then the group should only submit one solution with everybody who participated at all credited. The odds that you'll know everything you need alone are pretty slim. Some past winners have managed it alone, but that's because they are exceptionally good at this.

Oh, and a tip: It's a very good idea to check out the solutions to the old crosswords, including the clue explanations, just to familiarize yourself with the general way I think when I make these up.

The Current Crossword

opaltiger (past serial crossword winner, as you can confirm if you look at the past crosswords) was bored and decided to make a crossword for me, with some of my input. So blame him for the clues this time.

There may be fifth-generation stuff, though all the words in the crosswords are of course still official English names. Unlike the other crosswords, this one may require some non-Pokémon knowledge, but usually that only requires a bit of Googling.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

Clues

Across:

• 1: Pseudoscience in my pokemans?! (12)
• 5: Better off contesting. (5)
• 8: A bit of an unfortunate ability, it must be said. (6)
• 9: Doesn't evolve into Lapras. (7)
• 11: Eyes I dare not meet in dreams. (8)
• 12: Prevents rest. (8)
• 15: Proof that the grumpy Saffron City guards are English. (3)
• 17: Descending prime factors of 642 in the order 27 across, 7 down, and... well, I'll let you figure out the last one. (8)
• 19: The Earth is sort of like a bar. (6)
• 20: But it's so enigmatic! (11)
• 23: Undershrink. (8)
• 24: I blame this for the loss of Mantine's Remoraid! REPRODUCTION WILL DOOM US ALL. (11)
• 26: Klank klonk~ (5)
• 27: See 33 down. Think ethnic cleansing. No, I don't get it either. (11)
• 30: Critical hits: drumming on one's belly, apparently. (10)
• 31: Warning: do not wear on feet. (7)
• 32: A good example of prejudice being based on ignorance. (5)
• 34: Home by any definition, dammit. (13)
• 36: The most useless item ever. (9)
• 37: Made somewhat redundant - in gen V, tele is all the rage. (7)

Down:

• 1: Wouldn't want to be thrown out of one. (7)
• 2: Not so morally superior. (8)
• 3: Apparently observes SI standards. (5)
• 4: A living fossil, both here and there. (6)
• 6: Clearly not named by Saffron City guards. (10)
• 7: Unusually, requires a disambiguation page. In this case it's quite typical. (7)
• 9: I suppose the localisers thought the star bit was self-evident? (5)
• 10: I am going to make an educated guess about the meaning of the Italian and Spanish word 'tiro'. (10)
• 13: Probably bought in the same shop as 20 across. (10)
• 14: Not actually as good in real life. Unless you really like purple. (12)
• 16: They cost P1200, if only you could buy them. (5)
• 18: Tiny, tiny babies! (9)
• 21: Counter-intuitively, more than twice as cheap as 16 down. (8)
• 22: Used alongside a case for item storage. (10)
• 25: Eh, 's probably just Derren Brown. (6)
• 26: Ash: not good with computers. (6)
• 27: I can't decide whether this or 15 across is more mundane. (6)
• 28: 21 down's signature attack. (6)
• 29: e.e (5)
• 33: Of variable lustre. (4)
• 35: Frost: not very imaginative about the end of the world, apparently. (3)

Submit Solution

Remember not to include spaces, hyphens or any other non-alphabetical characters in your solutions! Of course, you can include any characters you like in the Sender box. If you have only some answers and are going to submit them, leave the ones you don't know blank. You may submit multiple times as you figure out more.

Sender(s):

Across

1:
5:
8:
9:
11:
12:
15:
17:
19:
20:
23:
24:
26:
27:
30:
31:
32:
34:
36:
37:

Down

1:
2:
3:
4:
6:
7:
9:
10:
13:
14:
16:
18:
21:
22:
25:
26:
27:
28:
29:
33:
35:

Submit

Remember, you can always submit again if you make a mistake!

Past Crosswords

If you want to try to solve any of the past crosswords, feel free to try, but obviously you can't get any awards for it now! The winners for each crossword are also listed here.

November 2009-December 2010

The crossword is back! This one has no theme, but a fair bit of it relies on knowledge of HeartGold and SoulSilver, so if you've been avoiding all release coverage, you could be in trouble. This one is also quite difficult, so don't be surprised when it's hard.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Clue explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 2: Originally not so original. (8)
• 6: Can't Run? Something isn't right here... (7)
• 7: Doggedly pursuing? (7)
• 8: Colory? (7)
• 9: Resembles two opposites of herself? (6)
• 11: Now rises at last. (9)
• 12: Surprisingly, not found living in 18 down. (10)
• 14: According to some, the predecessor of Plusle/Minun and Pachirisu. (5)
• 17: A Japanese robot dog? (7)
• 19: Now sick again. (5)
• 22: The one Pokémon that cannot possibly appear in this crossword. (7)
• 24: Perfectionist? (5)
• 25: What you need to obtain 26 across. (10)
• 26: Apparently, 2 across wants to eat it. (7)
• 28: A peculiar ray. (7)
• 29: Will now be available in HeartGold too, even without the help of an NPC. (9)
• 30: What you get when you combine a skullless 7 across with a rock and five HG/SS fours. (9)

Down:

• 1: It's magical! (9)
• 3: Does not have the ability of its counterpart even though the name is closer. (8)
• 4: The perfect EV yield for a mixed sweeper... along with a legendary. (9)
• 5: The second best prize for getting to 2 across's location. (8)
• 9: A direct counterpart to D. and L. P. (9)
• 10: Demoted? (7)
• 11: A grassier version of 1 down? (11)
• 13: Making Lucky luckier. (10)
• 15: The only itemless way to escape Ingrain. (5)
• 16: Removed due to disuse. (9)
• 18: Rattata below, Rattata above, Gastly above. (11)
• 20: Less powerful in HG/SS than ever before. (11)
• 21: Fetch your first Gym leader here. (12)
• 23: Darkrai gets it now! (9)
• 27: I wonder if she died of old age. (6)

Winners

1. opaltiger (32 correct)
2. Spikefish (31 correct)
3. RiverShock (23 correct)

Honorable Mentions (non-winners with more than half of the answers correct)

• fnph (21 correct)
• elementalpenguin (20 correct)
• VASkorupi1997 (19 correct)
• link3710 (18 correct)
• Emerald Espeon (18 correct)
• Crystylla (17 correct)
• PikaPika and AZ (17 correct)
• Darksong and Cryptica (17 correct)

June 2008-October 2009

This crossword, like the previous one, has a theme, which is a Pokémon. You do not know which Pokémon it is; you will have to figure that out from solving other parts of the crossword. All the other words in the crossword relate somehow to the theme or the clue connects them to the theme. Be warned that this time some of the connections are a little obscure.

"1 across", the red squares, is where you put the theme in, hence the lack of a clue.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 3: Neverending pain! (8)
• 4: Learned by both 18 down and 3 across. (4)
• 5: Owns the theme, but not in Yellow. (6)
• 8: Learned by the theme at an average level of 33.4. (8)
• 10: Something to have before battling 5 across. (8)
• 12: Doesn't the anime directly contradict Yellow regarding its internal organs? (7)
• 14: It's really not such a far-fetched move, is it? (8)
• 17: We didn't get to know what it was called until the second generation... (5)
• 19: The theme used to be accompanied only by pigs on the list. (6)
• 21: A treat the theme would like. (10)
• 23: It can jump over Uluru but not use this move? (10)
• 24: This sure isn't helping the theme's type. (11)
• 26: Learns it (and more) at level 12? (10)
• 27: Recent partners in crime? (9)
• 28: How does the theme hold berries to use this, anyway? (11)

Down:

• 2: ...were they saints or wizards? (9)
• 3: The master of 23 across. (9)
• 4: Kind of like 26 across with a 3 in front. (9)
• 5: The theme is lucky to have what this learns at level 54... or maybe not that much. (7)
• 6: No need for smoke and mirrors. (7)
• 7: Add 10% for the theme. (10)
• 9: The only natural STAB move the theme can use to take advantage of its better attacking stat. (10)
• 11: Stunky's only natural STAB move. (10)
• 13: An elemental typing with the wrong attacking stat... sounds familiar. (8)
• 15: Same base HP as the theme, same first letter and same third letter. (6)
• 16: Evolves from the theme. (8)
• 18: A legendary Pokémon... but only in China. (8)
• 20: How the heck does the White Herb survive the first use? (8)
• 22: In Soviet Russia, theme relates to YOU! (8)
• 25: The one region devoid of the theme's dazzling presence. (5)

Winners

1. Crystylla (31 correct)
2. Spikefish (30 correct)
3. elyvorg (30 correct)

Honorable Mentions (non-winners with more than half of the answers correct)

• aqualta (30 correct)
• Pelipy (29 correct)
• FNPH (28 correct)
• DanLite (28 correct)
• WindClan (27 correct)
• Ekibyogami & STEELIXMANIAC (24 correct)
• Swiftblade (24 correct)
• Gameboo (22 correct)
• Treeckouser (22 correct)
• oraclelink (22 correct)
• Seb (21 correct)
• Silver Wing (21 correct)
• WithSquirtles (21 correct)
• Blaze (20 correct)
• Sageowl3106 (19 correct)
• Emerald Espeon (18 correct)
• Blitz (18 correct)
• Alex Roth (17 correct)
• PikaNinja7 (16 correct)

January-May 2008

This crossword has a theme, which is a Pokémon. You do not know which Pokémon it is; you will have to figure that out from solving other parts of the crossword. All the other words in the crossword either relate very strongly and factually to this Pokémon, for example being moves it learns, etc., or have clues that directly refer to the theme. Thus, it should be fairly easy this time around. Enjoy.

Oh, and "1 across", the red squares, is where you put the theme in, hence the lack of a clue.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 5: A playing card that transmits electromagnetic waves. (9)
• 6: Use 27 across before while making sure not to confuse it with 7 down. (10)
• 8: From nonexistence to 34 to tutoring to 87. (7)
• 11: The theme's Reign. (6)
• 14: Quite possibly the most needed new TM of Diamond and Pearl. (10)
• 15: But that's my favorite hobby! (5)
• 17: Hand over that wand! (9)
• 18: It wouldn't have done the theme much good if it hadn't been for the physical/special change in D/P. (10)
• 21: The theme is one of the better users of this move in the game, but only sometimes. (3)
• 23: A guy on Seven Island gives free dance lessons. (11)
• 24: You'll need to rush it to the Pokémon Center for this. (9)
• 26: A Psychic move learned by a whole bunch of Pokémon but only one pure Psychic-type and two other part-Psychic evolution lines. (7)
• 27: Possibly the most bugged Pokémon move in R/B/Y. (11)
• 28: Until recently, the theme's evolution was one of only two Pokémon to be able to use this move and get STAB for it. (9)

Down:

• 1: Kind of like the starters, except not. (5)
• 2: It has a job? (10)
• 3: Trivial? (7)
• 4: The tables have turned? (8)
• 7: An HM much improved. (9)
• 9: The TM you get from a Gym leader who, appropriately, has the theme. (10)
• 10: Learned by the theme ever since Yellow. (10)
• 12: The more intimidating version of two functionally identical moves that a few Pokémon learn both of. (4)
• 13: Would have been appropriate for the theme if not for the physical/special change. (8)
• 16: Wrong typing, poor base damage, two turns, no first-turn benefits, useless TM... what more can they do to humiliate this poor move? (9)
• 19: An earlier move given a different name to replace it. (10)
• 20: The only way the theme will want this is if it comes from XD. (8)
• 22: The primary owner of the theme in the anime. (6)
• 24: What the theme appears to have been made for. (5)
• 25: The latest common healing move. (5)

Winners

1. Spikefish (30 correct)
2. Phoenixsong (30 correct)
3. Neon Flygon (30 correct)

Honorable Mentions (others with a perfect score of 30 correct)

• Polursine
• Pika Hikari KT
• The AU
• Surfman
• Crystylla and opaltiger
• Keshiaa Neko
• T Meister
• Aqua059 & Shadow053
• Astropika and Epona
• Magmabuzz
• Aqualta

October/November/December 2007

A little late, and it unfortunately has a lot of words, but many of the clues are relatively easy. There is no theme at all this time. Enjoy.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 5: Poison-type Thunder? (8)
• 7: Dragon's Den? (8)
• 9: Why would you want to have all three at the same time? (5)
• 10: Sdrawkcab? (5)
• 11: The most damage-efficient 30% flinching move in the game. (8)
• 12: This may be even worse than Blastoise... (8)
• 13: Has two black spots and a spike on its back. (4)
• 15: A myth is a female moth. (6)
• 16: Backwards, it would make a nice musketeer. (9)
• 18: White Fang? (7)
• 21: Soft or none at all at birth? (8)
• 23: Apparently it takes a forest of Exeggutor to get one. (10)
• 26: It makes me think of Severus Snape... (7)
• 27: The curtain instrument! (7)
• 29: The successor of a bad pixel virtue riling. (12)
• 30: Retained its Japanese name on an English piece of merchandise. (6)
• 31: The light purple turns blue, but the dark purple is left alone. (8)
• 34: The second most common natural move of them all. (5)
• 35: Colosseum didn't let it call upon the fainted. (6)
• 36: Better unless it is raining. (11)

Down:

• 1: Like Synchronize, except better. (11)
• 2: Polkamon? (6)
• 3: So the Nidos are all fighters? (10)
• 4: Kinda useless when the opponent can just switch afterwards... (7)
• 6: In America, Bug Pokémon, apparently, are cars. (5)
• 8: Unown in Johto? (6)
• 14: Not bad at all, for such an early move. (9)
• 17: Only four towns? (5)
• 19: Girl power! (7)
• 20: Royal family? (6)
• 21: Am I to understand that girls are colder? (6)
• 22: The Lord will apparently take the form of even his lowliest creations. (11)
• 24: What are you running for? (7)
• 25: One, one, two, two in one! (7)
• 28: Medicham hair? (7)
• 32: Shouldn't he look better after his files? (3)
• 33: How come she gets to battle you more often than the others? (4)

Winners

1. Spikefish (31 correct)
2. elyvorg and Lunar Espeon (29 correct)
3. fnph (17 correct)

Honorable Mentions (non-winners with more than half of the answers correct)

None

September 2007

Okay, this crossword is very late, so it will have an extra-easy theme: Pokédex. Every word in the crossword is a Pokémon name, and every clue refers to one of that Pokémon's Pokédex entries. This is not to say that most of the clues are easy, but this considerably narrows down the possibilities, doesn't it?

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 4: All that experience has made you hot! (9)
• 6: 'I see dead people.' (8)
• 8: Inflate to drift. (6)
• 9: Tail link! (7)
• 11: Training on schedule. (7)
• 12: Kind of like a St. Bernard. (8)
• 15: Antennae replace eyes? (7)
• 17: Eww. Better keep away from it, then. (10)
• 20: Do kids cry out in pain too? (7)
• 22: Recipe for killing: bring a Pokémon with Insomnia. (10)
• 24: So uh... how can it battle, then? (8)
• 26: Slice apart ice? (8)
• 30: Doesn't look stuck on a wall to me. (5)
• 31: What does it do outside, then? (8)
• 33: Desert spirit? (6)
• 34: So that's how the Pokémon world is so peaceful. (7)
• 35: ...those are tail fins? (8)

Down:

• 1: Hey, we've only seen two variations out of six. (5)
• 2: What, only the male can move its ears? (7)
• 3: Oily tail? (6)
• 5: It digs with its tongue? (8)
• 6: Magnetic nervous system? (6)
• 7: Well, in the game it only has one cry... (8)
• 10: Radar fin? (6)
• 13: One has to hope all the spinning doesn't make it dizzy. (6)
• 14: Apparently preys on Exeggcute 60 miles away from its nest. (9)
• 16: Apparently, it stinks. (8)
• 18: The female? Isn't it always female? (10)
• 19: So it's semitransparent up close? (7)
• 21: Cars and TVs, courtesy of this. (4)
• 22: Asexual reproduction: it's official. (8)
• 23: If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound? (8)
• 25: So wait, that makes it alien life form but not, say, Voltorb? (7)
• 27: ...eww. So it rots inside the fur? (8)
• 28: In a real-world context, I suppose being discovered forty years ago would be recent, but you never know with the Pokémon world... (8)
• 29: Soft, supple wings? (7)
• 32: Aha! So Pokémon do have scientific names! (6)

Winners

1. opaltiger and Crystylla (36 correct)
2. Electric Ho-oh (36 correct)
3. Umbee (36 correct)

Honorable Mentions (non-winners with more than half of the answers correct)

• Mr. Chess (36 correct)
• EP (36 correct)
• Pelipy (36 correct)
• Legolas (36 correct)
• oraclelink, redninja3 and bovagard (36 correct)
• DanLite (36 correct)
• Mindy B (36 correct)
• t3hjolteon (36 correct)
• Pinguino (35 correct)
• Spikefish (35 correct)
• T Meister (34 correct)
• Yanmega (33 correct)
• Scyke (31 correct)

August 2007

There is no theme to this crossword, but nearly all the words either relate to Diamond and Pearl themselves or have clues relating to Diamond and Pearl. It's relatively easy on the whole, which is only polite since you've got half a month to do it.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 7: ...Are we playing Pokémon or Bridge? (9)
• 8: ...brainwashing? o.o (4)
• 11: The number would be more appropriate for its pre-evolution. (10)
• 12: ...why can Numel learn it, of all things? (4)
• 13: A blond who's friends with a redhead. (7)
• 14: I guess they realized they'd overdone that creamy yellow color. (11)
• 15: And what do you know, it did get new evolutions. (5)
• 16: Does he have a lot of lucid dreams? (6)
• 17: You can get it for free now! (6)
• 20: He just loves advertising, doesn't he? (5)
• 24: Apparently Cyrus's successor. (6)
• 25: Yay for mining. (12)
• 27: It's orange and you EV train with it. (9)
• 28: Stand aside. Happiny is now eggier than you. (6)
• 29: And we were just celebrating about being rid of Flash... (5)
• 30: Oh, come on. This capitalization doesn't even make sense. (12)

Down:

• 1: 130 base Attack and 120 Defense? Did it really need this? (9)
• 2: Do Pokémon get sent to prison? (8)
• 3: This move is so last month. (9)
• 4: The greatest television in the world, according to Google. (5)
• 5: Still pretty much the most practical healing item for most situations. (8)
• 6: This name so calls for religious humour. (5)
• 9: Couldn't you have made this place a little bit easier to get to? (13)
• 10: Oh, dear. Tentacles and vore. (9)
• 13: Apparently it's not a queen. (9)
• 14: Finally they get to levitate like they're supposed to. (10)
• 18: It doesn't sound like its type, or in fact like the only Pokémon that learns it naturally would learn it... and to boot, that Pokémon doesn't have much to do with this move anyway. (10)
• 19: Although we got used to it that way, I suppose it sounded more like a Bug-type move before. (11)
• 21: I guess the 'damaging non-legendary-signature-move Psychic attacks which the Abra family can't learn' list just gained a second member. (11)
• 22: 13 across's predecessor, so to speak. (7)
• 23: You can finally see it in action! (9)
• 26: Well, it was about time its type got a decently powerful move that more than a couple of Pokémon could learn and get STAB for. (7)
• 27: Found in Eterna Forest when Emerald is in the GBA slot. (6)

Winners

1. elyvorg (33 correct)
2. Chrom (29 correct)
3. opaltiger, Furret and Larissa (26 correct)

Honorable mentions (non-winners with more than half of the answers correct)

• Spikefish (25 correct)
• Crystylla (23 correct)
• WouW (23 correct)
• Dan Lite (22 correct)
• Legolas (21 correct)
• Neo-008xtreme (21 correct)

June/July 2007

As Diamond and Pearl were now out in English, this was the first crossword to include fourth-generation words in the actual crossword and very numerous fourth-generation references in the clues. There was no theme this time, but I was pretty biased towards the fourth generation when making it, so keep that in mind.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 2: Oh, hey, look. Dynamicpunch has become useful! (7)
• 6: Doesn't look that cute to me... (9)
• 8: First it doesn't even exist, next it's a mysterious new thing, and then it requires Safari Zone and breeding, but now it can be found in the wild. (5)
• 10: Mirror of which there is no lack, why do you have a plant on your back? (7)
• 12: Always fun to have a signature move that starts with another move's name and would be abbreviated as a not-so-pleasant word. (6)
• 13: I thought it was a Pokémon, not a sound. o.o (9)
• 15: Funny that church in Hearthome City made no mention of it to my knowledge. (6)
• 19: ...why did they add an n at the end? (7)
• 23: Wouldn't one think it would be Ice rather than Steel? (8)
• 24: Dear God, that thing is EVERYWHERE. @_@ (6)
• 26: Funny how it's one of the first fourth-generation Pokémon to be revealed, but also one of the most difficult to actually obtain. (10)
• 28: Why Azelf is so nasty to catch, combined with its evil plots, of course. (6)
• 30: I guess those who picked the wrong starter have no other choice. (6)
• 31: ;_; Please not Veilstone! (13)
• 32: I suppose there isn't really any particular need for it, considering how surprisingly easy it is to achieve its function in other ways now. (9)

Down:

• 1: Apparently becomes scared and jumps into ponds at the sight of a Ranger. (7)
• 3: Now the most efficient user of Waterfall in the game. (8)
• 4: A third-gen equivalent of D/P's Town Map. (10)
• 5: Aged nerd thinly worn? Threading drew nylon? Or a lending nerdy throw? (7)
• 7: So Game Freak is still innocent of the crime of symmetry in the fourth generation after all. (7)
• 9: I have to go through that mountain TWICE? v.v (7)
• 11: Well, at least the code for this one is legal. (7)
• 14: Nope, sorry, not legendary. (7)
• 16: You need it for 26 across. (10)
• 17: Somehow it was originally reported to have an extra T. (8)
• 18: Why not insert FireRed? (9)
• 20: The third of four, if you don't count the spin-offs. (5)
• 21: If it existed in Stadium and you named it with its Japanese name, I suppose it would be a different color. (7)
• 22: Whee, Battleship on crack! (11)
• 25: Apparently Serebii hasn't noticed the Karate guy who gives it to you without having to find one 'lying about in Sinnoh' or in the Underground. (11)
• 27: The evolutionary opposite of Koffing? (7)
• 29: I like to obtain Pokémon in their first evolutionary stage, but I walked around for so long on Route 230 that just catching the evolved form that kept showing up was getting awfully tempting. (6)

Winners

1. Raposa and Romberguy (30 correct)
2. T Meister (30 correct)
3. opaltiger, Furret and Crystylla (29 correct)

Honorable mentions (non-winners with more than half of the answers correct)

• Mudkip and Meganstaek (29 correct)
• Spikefish (29 correct)
• Sparkytroggle (28 correct)
• The AU (28 correct)
• SGDV (27 correct)
• Pelipy (26 correct)
• Kiwi (26 correct)
• Drew108 (23 correct)
• Mageslayer99 (23 correct)
• Kricket Itis (23 correct)
• Gameboo19444 (22 correct)
• Koneko-Chan (22 correct)
• Pika Hikari KT (21 correct)
• Crazy Weavile (21 correct)
• Magmabuzz and W.T. (20 correct)
• Polursine (20 correct)
• tMoMN (20 correct)
• scharfy (19 correct)
• krazymudkipkid (19 correct)
• JunJun (18 correct)
• Walker (18 correct)
• Zr22 (17 correct)
• Dragon Master (17 correct)

October 2006 - May 2007

NOTE: As this crossword is both particularly late, particularly long and particularly difficult at the same time - an uncomfortable combination, to say the least - this crossword has been extended into November as well as October. [The crossword is being further extended through December as well thanks to participants' apparent difficulties with solving it. This time I've added additional hints to some of the clues that should point you towards what the clue is getting at. All additions for December are written like this, in bold and surrounded by brackets.] (As it ended up, the crossword was so difficult that I didn't get an answer with more than half of the words correct until May, when I finally felt right about judging it.)

Now, this crossword is a little different from the previous ones. It has a theme, like the September and June crosswords; however, you don't get to know what the theme is. The theme is a word in the crossword, but you don't get a clue: you must figure out the theme from the other words in the crossword. Consider yourself warned: the connections to the theme might not be obvious at all. The theme goes into the red squares at the top of the crossword. (Also note that all the words have some connection with the theme, but not necessarily the clues.)

Note that this crossword, and all before it, were created before the English release of Diamond and Pearl and thus do not contain any fourth-generation Pokémon, attacks, locations, etc.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 4: It's not purple, but I guess the rest fits. (9)
• 8: The only correctly identified member of the family by name... or is it? (9)
• 9: Love at first snuggle... (10)
• 10: Would it be a close relative of Donphan? [Think real-life...] (7)
• 11: Bubble? How ironic. [The answer to this is actually a Pokémon, and this has to do with numbers.] (6)
• 13: Kadabra, Psyduck, Slowpoke, Lickitung... [No, this is not a Pokérap reference.] (7)
• 15: So close to being an anagram of the theme... (6)
• 17: The females' neck has apparently become fuzzier. (5)
• 20: Related to the theme. (3)
• 23: Yay! (8)
• 26: Would be nice with Team Galaxy. (8)
• 27: Has a possessed new evolutionary stage. (7)
• 28: I'm siiiiiinging in the rain... [Okay, forget about the singing.] (6)
• 30: TM73 (11)
• 32: Alas, its counterpart still outdoes it. (6)
• 33: I guess it decreases in usefulness now that we have #377. (7)
• 34: Opposites attract, don't they? [This is based on a very similar premise to 11 across.] (6)
• 35: Mickey? [Yes, this is referring to the first Mickey you thought of.] (6)

Down:

• 1: Masculine version of upcoming song? [It's not the song that is upcoming, it's just a confusing sentence.] (7)
• 2: Ewww... (9)
• 3: @_@ [Okay, forget about the smiley! Well, it does slightly relate to it, but the main point of this clue is the character @, not the smilie. Also, this is a rather far-fetched clue, as in that it relates to something which then relates to something else, which is the answer] (9)
• 5: Spicy... (11)
• 6: Dynamite, ROTFLMAO [Yes, dynamite... not explosions, dynamite.] (5)
• 7: Signal Beam, Silver Wind and Sludge Bomb are special now, yay. (8)
• 12: So many people took pleasure in its torture... [They didn't take pleasure in it BECAUSE it was being tortured, but because of the method...] (6)
• 14: Ignorance... (7)
• 16: Game Freak is finally getting things halfway right again. [Yes, it's that simple. They used to get it right, then got it wrong, now got it right again. So what is it, and what is one of the most important things about it?] (6)
• 18: Heh, they've got to have a lot of money to afford it... (12)
• 19: ...or perhaps they're earning it all in semi-honest ways by making people obsessed with these? [Okay, they're not obsessed with THESE, but they're obsessed with what they put in them.] (8)
• 21: No nickname, eh? (9)
• 22: a.k.a Dodge Unknown Nun. [Anagram...] (12)
• 24: Bear, join, undo and increase. (5)
• 25: Persian fan? (8)
• 29: The theme prefers to fly. [...instead of doing this.] (8)
• 31: Funny it wouldn't be bigger. (7)

Winners

1. Crystylla and opaltiger (26 correct)
2. Spikefish (21 correct)
3. Drew108 and David (8 correct)

Honorable mentions (non-winners with more than half of the answers correct)

None

September 2006

NOTE: There is a theme again like in the June crossword. This time, the theme is Water but this does not mean that all the words are necessarily Water Pokémon/Attacks/etc.; it means that either the clues or the answers (or both) have some relation to the Water-type. This relation could be very obvious, or it could be a little far-fetched. Good luck.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 3: DNA fossil? (7)
• 5: Stop running away from me, you're really exclusive in this game. (8)
• 7: -'lo? (10)
• 11: One of the most favoured creations. (9)
• 15: Slowpoke's worst enemies. (10)
• 16: It's better than drugs! (9)
• 17: I guess some young Tentacool was told it was dangerous to play with sharp things, so this was the best alternative. (9)
• 18: The odd spelling denounces any relation to Fire-types. (8)
• 19: Bird, platypus, Japanese monster...? (7)
• 21: Doesn't its tongue ever just freeze? (4)
• 23: Run, Dad, run! (8)
• 25: Can be found attached to 20 down. (8)
• 27: The first non-Water-type that learns 13 down naturally. (7)
• 28: 23 across, 22 down and 17 across are just the thing for disco dancing, baby! (6)
• 29: There's an H in there, but it's thankfully not a 'Hi'. (9)
• 30: One would almost think it should automatically become shiny on Stadium. (6)

Down:

• 1: The king of 11 across? (8)
• 2: Stand aside - the tortoise has a new signature move. (9)
• 4: If you're a Water lover, this is the last you'll see of your kindly rival in battle. (7)
• 6: In the place of the dead is the key to new life... (10)
• 8: Easter bunny? (9)
• 9: I've had enough Magikarp; I'm heading off to Silence Bridge. (6)
• 10: Yay for high tide. (10)
• 12: The product of a watery fruit. (8)
• 13: R/B/Y had many moves rather undeserving of TM status, and this is one of them. (8)
• 14: Eww, it's dirty. Just go with tradition, m'kay? (10)
• 19: Nintendo of America apparently thinks it has a sex change when it evolves... (7)
• 20: Funny it should only appear by day, since the animal it's based on is rooted to the spot. (7)
• 22: Red-clawed dancers in the rain. (6)
• 24: I think we're lucky it's not made of paper. (7)
• 26: Does it have a big ego or something? (7)

Winners

1. Pelipy (30 correct)
2. Crystylla and opaltiger (30 correct)
3. The AU (29 correct)

Honorable mentions (non-winners with more than half of the answers correct)

• Malachite Treecko (28 correct)
• elyvorg (25 correct)
• Meta Ridley (22 correct)
• Pachirisu (19 correct)

July/August 2006

NOTE: As I went to Australia on the eighteenth of July and returned on the twelfth of August, this crossword was both for July and August. (Thus I also made it a bit harder than usual.)

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 3: Needle? Two times? Ballerina? (8)
• 4: Tri Attack, please! (8)
• 5: Its Japanese name makes me think of household objects. (9)
• 6: At first glance, one would expect it to calm the other one. (7)
• 12: It appears to have entered Hariyama's field of profession. (10)
• 14: Oddly powerful for an attack learned so early by a Pokémon obtained so early. (9)
• 15: The name is rather misleading, considering what it really guards you against. (9)
• 17: Oh, boy, are Bug Catchers and Bug Maniacs going to love this one. (7)
• 20: Aww, it was so much more depressing before. (12)
• 21: Strangely neglected by Pokémarts, considering how useful it is. (6)
• 22: Funny how despite being of a very common type, its pathetic attack power still managed to make it one of the second most powerful attacks of its type that any non-legendaries could learn naturally back in the day. (4)
• 23: Apparently this attack can be performed whether you have one, two, not-quite-even-any or very strangely shaped versions of its namesake. (10)
• 25: Most of the Pokémon that learn it really don't make sense considering the name. Mareep? Cacnea? (11)

Down:

• 1: All but three lose their purity through evolution, but the other two would perhaps be better liked impure. (6)
• 2: And you thought only our sworn enemies could steal... (9)
• 3: Bittersweet is the fruit of its oh so very hard effort... (5)
• 7: I don't think it's laughing. (5)
• 8: If it worked on humans and were permanent, it would give the childhood horror stories of getting stuck making a face a whole new meaning. (10)
• 9: There may be debate on 16 across in January, but this one definitely does see red. (6)
• 10: Is it wearing primitive human clothing or does it just have very odd patterns? (8)
• 11: Replaces an item from R/B/Y that, annoyingly enough for in-game players, was missing altogether in G/S/C. (9)
• 13: Ooh, I can walk behind lampposts. (12)
• 16: The only way to save the future of the battle - unless all the Pokémon you have left can fly, of course. (9)
• 18: Come on, who would pick the root of all evil? (10)
• 19: Get rid of those annoying things blocking your way to victory. (10)
• 24: Ash's most recent catch. (5)

Winners

1. Music Dragon, opaltiger, Crystylla, Altmer and surskitty (20 correct)
2. Meta Ridley, ..., Orphik and magnetflygon (17 correct)
3. Legolas (15 correct)

Honorable mentions (non-winners with more than half of the answers correct)

None

June 2006

NOTE: This crossword has a theme - Johto. All the words in the crossword are the names of Pokémon/characters/places/items/etc. first introduced in Johto.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 4: Funnily enough, its height and stats are the exact same as those of its Kanto counterpart. (10)
• 5: Another Pokémon that must be constantly on the move to survive - but curiously, it's not particularly good at moving either. (6)
• 7: It is likely that many players of the game got their first taste of the move Endure through battling this Pokémon in the wild. (6)
• 9: One of those Pokémon whose typing is a little bit awkward considering where it lives - although admittedly its Ability in the Advance games explains a lot. (7)
• 10: Such proud, unique status it had in Johto, never had before and never would again until it made somewhat of a return in Emerald, although without its number, thirty-one. (7)
• 14: I guess one of the characters in Power of One can owe his existence, or at least his appearance, to this. (9)
• 15: An unfortunate guy here owned a Shuckle and a Sneasel, but lost them both... (12)
• 16: A sort of upgrade of a rather less useful item from Kanto, which admittedly could be made to essentially function like this one with some sacrifices. (8)
• 18: An attack on a card could be mistaken for a misspelling of this one. (11)
• 19: The heaviest of all its counterparts, but curiously one of the shorter ones in height despite that. (8)
• 20: A service exclusive to Johto is found here, to be replaced with some mass-produced junk in the Advanced generation. (10)

Down:

• 1: Oh, just stop whining and give it to me already. (7)
• 2: Specializes in a move that was bizarrely glitched. (8)
• 3: Holds the dubious honour of being the weakest Pokémon stat-wise in Johto, only to be beaten by one very special case in Hoenn. (7)
• 6: Was in Johto the only Pokémon that could learn the strongest move of its Type 1, but later the secret spread out. (9)
• 8: A mountain town of legendary creatures. (14)
• 10: Six enslaved Electrode were buried deep under this place... (12)
• 11: I got both a game AND a movie cameo, nyah nyah. (7)
• 12: It sounds like something Unown would learn, but guess not. (12)
• 13: This one is from Monica. (9)
• 17: A very good place to practice for the nearby Gym, considering the types of Pokémon found there. (10)

Winners

1. Romberguy and Raposa (21 correct)
2. Iveechan (20 correct)
3. Watergod (20 correct)

Honorable mentions (non-winners with more than half of the answers correct)

• ank1494 (19 correct)
• Legolas (18 correct)
• VW Xikaze, Ricky and Feralyn (18 correct)
• Music Dragon and Kairyuu (16 correct)
• PikaMew and American Puppy (15 correct)

May 2006

[No crossword this month]

April 2006

Notes: There were problems with submitting solutions to this crossword because of server issues - however, we managed to make it actually send all the solutions that had been submitted and not sent, so I ended up getting like twenty. (And I thought nobody was entering... hehehe. Thanks, guys.)

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 4: May have been Ash's first kiss. (6)
• 6: It's not a bird, so get the plural right. (8)
• 8: The only item that a specific wild Pokémon is guaranteed to hold. (9)
• 9: Its signature move has the highest average damage per turn of its type unless you use a combo. (8)
• 11: One could say that it appeared in the anime once, but it had a sort of reverse effect there. (8)
• 13: Funnily enough, the English name kind of sounds more Japanese than the Japanese name, which is simply an English word written in Japanese. (6)
• 15: It looks more powerful in Japanese, but doesn't really sound it. (8)
• 18: The other move known by the Pokémon of two guns. (9)
• 19: The second Pokémon Ash Ketchum caught. (9)
• 20: It failed all the hopes from the instruction booklet type chart in R/B/Y... (4)
• 23: Appears to not only exist on its own, but also as a parasite on another Pokémon. (8)
• 24: Is that Waldo's arm I see? (7)
• 25: The third way to revive a fainted Pokémon, other than a Pokémon Center or a Revive/Max Revive/Revival Herb. (9)
• 26: Popular for a glitch that is also used on 25 across. (10)
• 28: The one he replaced has returned and replaced him again in revenge. (6)
• 29: One of those moves that scream out to have two types, especially considering the only Pokémon that learns it. (9)
• 30: Your last confrontal with Suicune in Crystal takes place here. (8)

Down:

• 1: I thought it was a Grass-type the first time I saw it, and I still have a hard time thinking of it as the type it is. (6)
• 2: Steals eggs from Pidgey, which might be when its less apparent type comes in handy. (7)
• 3: They said it would be a new type combination, but alas, it wasn't. (7)
• 5: Stalker... (9)
• 7: Found in Emerald at Mt. Pyre, both inside and outside, and on two routes near it. (7)
• 10: The only Pokémon whose baby was discovered at the same time as it. (7)
• 12: This would make Zap Cannon a little more useful if the latter were a bit more powerful. (6)
• 14: The first of five. (8)
• 16: If 8 across were a Pokémon, it would probably be related to this one. (8)
• 17: Funny how more than half of the Pokémon that learn it naturally have no use for it whatsoever. (8)
• 21: The only live Pokémon she appears to have quotes a fairy tale. (7)
• 22: Functionally exactly identical to a move introduced in the generation before, but with eight times the PP. (10)
• 27: A move that the good guys should perhaps not be using, but what the heck, they do so anyway. (5)

Winners

1. Music Dragon (24 correct)
2. Phenix, Keika and Suppi (23 correct)
3. Andrew M. (21 correct)

Honorable mentions (non-winners with more than half of the answers correct)

• Dannichu (21 correct)
• Crystylla and opaltiger (20 correct)
• Polursine (18 correct)

March 2006

Notes: After getting only two correct solutions of this crossword, I decided to change the rules slightly. Now it's just hoping that the next is a bit more popular.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 2: Poor Gastly can't use it on Normal-types anymore... (10)
• 6: Without it, the ghost is forgotten and underused. (9)
• 10: To be obtainable or not to be obtainable, that is the question. (3)
• 12: Whoever said it was straight? (7)
• 13: Its nose looked too human for my taste in Green... (5)
• 14: One of those third-generation Pokémon that bear an uncanny resemblance to a first-generation one. (6)
• 16: Owned by your former boss, 18 across and a helpful champion. (8)
• 18: Owns 16 across. (6)
• 20: Despite being in the same pose as the vastly superior FR/LG sprite, its Green sprite seems to indicate that only one of its arms can really perform the feats that the Pokédex says it can do. (6)
• 22: I can't help being reminded of something nasty when I see the first four letters of it. (11)
• 24: Evolves from 29 across. (9)
• 25: Its shiny version looks more like the colors it originally had back in the day. (6)
• 27: Found in Rock Tunnel in Yellow, but only on one floor. (4)
• 29: Evolves into 24 across. (9)
• 31: Misspellings make it sound like something from Sonic. (9)
• 32: No Pokémon sensation? (5)

Down:

• 1: The first attack that properly utilizes Trapinch's stats and type is, unfortunately, too weak to be of much use. (8)
• 2: The first half of its Japanese name is spelled like 'no' in Icelandic. (4)
• 3: Its attack animation in Ruby and Sapphire involves a finger. (5)
• 4: Their case is multicolored. (9)
• 5: Hatches from an egg, not only in the game but in the anime too, despite being based on an animal that gives live birth. (6)
• 7: A Heracross imitator as of FireRed and LeafGreen. (8)
• 8: Three legendaries are said to be what this Pokémon takes its name from. (5)
• 9: One of the most useful, though risky, moves for a Charizard. (9)
• 11: Star of an episode that was recently banned. (8)
• 15: In Colosseum and XD, it faints with a grin. (7)
• 16: Paralysis should kill it, shouldn't it? (6)
• 17: Has fewer limbs than its name would imply. (9)
• 19: A non-Flying type learns both Razor Wind and Aerial Ace - one naturally. (5)
• 20: One of the very hardest-to-obtain Pokémon in Ruby and Sapphire that can be obtained at all. (7)
• 21: Imagine people's surprise in Gold and Silver upon finding its gender. (10)
• 23: The first real cave you need to go through in Johto. (9)
• 25: Only the fastest could wield it with success back in the old days, but oh, how the semi-mighty have fallen. (4)
• 26: The first ever Johto legendary that Advance generation players got ahold of. (5)
• 28: The anime seems to imply its name starts with 'Ch'. (5)
• 30: Liek, so 1337 in Y2K. (4)

Winners

1. opaltiger
2. Larissa, Eevee, Nate and Crystylla
3. [No other correct submitted solution]

February 2006

Notes: Somehow the link on the menu to the crossword page disappeared, which may be the reason I got only two sensible entries in it (as in ones that did not just say "a" in everything). Therefore, I'll give an honourable mention to Archangel, who almost got it right.

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 4: Learned by 28 of the 41 Pokémon of its type. (9)
• 10: Extra treat for those who look around in their new rooms before embarking on a long and dangerous Pokémon journey. (6)
• 11: 360 and 361. (6)
• 12: Item in R/B/Y with a Colosseum spin-off. (9)
• 14: Level 7. (3)
• 15: Your Pokémon apparently like the spotlight. (6)
• 18: His first Pokémon is the pre-evolution of his last, but the others are different. (5)
• 20: Theorized to be called Wreckage. (8)
• 21: The only guaranteed way to do what it does. (11)
• 25: Too bad Pokémon names can only be ten letters long. (10)
• 26: Yellow looks more shiny than brown to me. (5)
• 27: Strange sleeping habits with strange but annoying sleeping reflexes. (4)
• 28: Forms a kind of combo with Curse. (12)
• 30: I wonder if it's really dancing or just that confused. (11)

Down:

• 1: Furry #317. (6)
• 2: Appears to float but does not levitate. (7)
• 3: Two without arms in January. Am I being particularly evil by writing the number out? (7)
• 5: What a waste, considering the Pokémon that learn it learn no special attacks... (8)
• 6: Fifty-two and nine. (6)
• 7: Despite its 80 power, some prefer a 60 power attack with a side-effect. (10)
• 8: Learned at level 19 both by a Fire-type in FR/LG and a Water-type in R/B/Y. (11)
• 9: Funny name, it just has a few pale yellowish parts and that's about it. (7)
• 12: Remember, Pokémon are not humans... (9)
• 13: Was often more beneficial for the opponent than the user in R/B/Y. (4)
• 14: Despite theories about it being gray, it turned out to be powerful. (9)
• 15: Too many fanfiction characters start with one, in many people's opinion. (5)
• 16: 2'0", 21.8lbs Emerald sprite looks distinctly like the Silver one. (6)
• 17: Confused with its pre-evolution during name-guessing. (8)
• 19: Pure Normal-type that evolves into pure elemental type... how odd. (7)
• 22: Some say it holds garbage. (9)
• 23: Only one attack will ever cause your Pokémon to be this. (6)
• 24: Pronunciation reveals that it is not named that for young age. (6)
• 29: Hoenn finally brought purity to it. (3)

Winners

1. opaltiger, Larissa and Crystylla
2. [No other correctly submitted solution]
3. [No other correctly submitted solution]

January 2006

(Special New Year's Crossword)

Notes: This crossword was specially made for the Cave of Dragonflies forums and contains inside references and non-official names - only frequent forumgoers can hope to complete this one! Others can, of course, try to figure out the more general clues. The inside references are 18 across, 21 across, 23 across, 5 down and 20 down (although the last one is not so much a forum inside reference as simply a Cave of Dragonflies one).

[Image] - [Printable Version]

[Solution] - [Clue Explanation]

Clues

Across:

• 3: Was "Who's that Pokémon?" in the only anime episode where the Pokémon talked with subtitles. (7)
• 4: The one Pokémon most related to a ghost. (6)
• 5: Sounds like a singer or something very close to one. (7)
• 6: Has been compared to a ballerina. (6)
• 7: The spikes aren't what makes this one so powerful. (6)
• 9: Doesn't actually toss anything. (12)
• 11: In a banned episode. (9)
• 14: Mouse? (9)
• 15: Zubat perhaps isn't the best Pokémon for this. (9)
• 16: Wouldn't its pre-evolved form see red? (6)
• 17: Don't let it put you under its spell... (5)
• 18: Has a custom sprite in the sprite system. (7)
• 21: Xikaze will like this one. (10)
• 22: Skarmory's doom. (10)
• 23: Fwee! (7)
• 24: Evolves from Banebuu in the Japanese version. (7)
• 25: This is like made for last letter games. (5)

Down:

• 1: Extremely annoying in many people's opinion. (9)
• 2: A dangerous lookalike. (7)
• 3: -273.15°C, according to the Japanese version. (9)
• 4: Can melt boulders. (9)
• 5: Fake, but with forum-wide fame. (7)
• 8: Loved by many, but hated by just as many. (7)
• 10: Ghosts play with fire. (9)
• 12: Has at some point been possessed by two Gym leaders in the games, even though one of them does not actually claim to train either of its types. (4)
• 13: One would think it was Psychic-type... (11)
• 19: Babies love it. (5)
• 20: A perfect representative for The Cave of Dragonflies. (6)

Winners

1. Lord Nidokingu, Xikaze and Tiger Dragon
2. opaltiger and Ricky
3. Teen Spirit, Zhorken and Ricky

Page last modified August 13 2016 at 02:34 UTC