Double Chain set 1 (Mezastar)

The Double Chain series of Pokémon Mezastar began with the release of its premier set on July 7, 2022. It consisted of 70 tags and was the tenth set overall.

Information

The first set in the Double Chain series introduced two new mechanics: Double Move (Japanese: ダブルワザ) and Chain Attack (Japanese: チェインアタック). Pokémon with the Double Move icon had the opportunity to use two moves consecutively. If a player used one of these tags during gameplay, Double Move Chance! (Japanese: ダブルワザチャンス！) would trigger when the Pokémon attacked for the first time and present the player with a roulette consisting of fail spaces and Double Move spaces. Successfully selecting a Double Move space would move onto the next phase, during which players were encouraged to press the "1" and "2" buttons in effort to increase the power of each move. After this phase, the Pokémon would attack twice in succession. As with regular attacks, players could quickly press the "1" and "2" buttons during the animations that played in attempt boost attack power further. If the player managed to launch a Double Move, the game forewent the Attack Roulette and Support Roulette for that turn. Five Pokémon supported this mechanic, all of which were Grade 6: Zacian, Zamazenta, Solgaleo, Lunala, and Obstagoon.

Pokémon with the Chain Attack icon could launch successive attacks using up to three of the player's Pokémon. Selecting one of these Pokémon to attack would trigger Chain Attack Chance! (Japanese: チェインアタックチャンス！) and display icons of the player's other usable Pokémon on the screen. For each icon, two hexagonal graphics would approach its center from opposing sides; pressing the "1" or "2" button when the symbols merged would add that Pokémon to the attack chain. After this phase, players could build a power bonus with the Chain Attack Roulette! (Japanese: チェインアタックルーレット！), which consisted of consecutive Attack Roulettes for each Pokémon in the chain. The total power bonus attained from these roulettes was applied to each Pokémon, which would then attack one by one. Again, as with regular attacks, players could quickly press the "1" and "2" buttons during the move animations in attempt boost attack power further. All Pokémon that took part in the Chain Attack would suffer from Tiredness on the player's next turn. Four Grade 5 tags supported the Chain Attack mechanic: Electivire, Magmortar, Amped Form Toxtricity, and Low Key Form Toxtricity. The two new mechanics in this set were reminiscent of those introduced in the first Grand Rush set from Pokémon Ga-Olé.

In addition to the new mechanics, the set continued to feature Pokémon that supported other powered-up gimmicks. Grade 6 Superstar Pokémon Rillaboom, Cinderace, Inteleon, and Pikachu could all Gigantamax, as could Grade 5 Star Pokémon Gengar; Grade 5 Sirfetch'd could similarly Dynamax. Star Pokémon Eelektross and Turtonator could use Z-Moves; Charizard and Gardevoir could Mega Evolve; Arctozolt, Arctovish, and Haxorus also supported the Super Tag mechanic. The remaining Grade 6 Pokémon in the set was Hisuian Zoroark, which marked one of the first appearances of a Hisuian regional form in Pokémon Mezastar. Five previously featured Superstar Pokémon could also be encountered and obtained as Legacy tags from August 10, 2022: Lugia, Ho-Oh, Galarian Articuno, Galarian Zapdos, and Galarian Moltres.

As with the previous debut set of a new series, all Pokémon Mezastar machines upgraded to run Double Chain featured updated UI graphics. The settlement depicted on the main menu was changed to resemble a more modern train station; the park entrance to Get Now! mode was similarly changed to an area accessed by elevator. More environments were also added to Get in Battle! mode. Tags from the Double Chain series feature different background artwork and began a new numbering system prefixed with "3".

Players with Memory tags could take advantage of a number of gameplay features. During the period between the set's launch and September 14, 2022, players who scanned a Memory tag at least once a week would earn a stamp. Accumulating two of these would unlock summer top Fashion Items for players to customize their avatar; four stamps would unlock a Superstar Sensor; five stamps would unlock a Hisuian Zoroark Emblem; all six stamps would unlock another Superstar Sensor. Players with the Hisuian Zoroark Emblem would then have a chance to add Hisuian Zoroark to their Support Pokémon roster during Get in Battle! mode. Players with Memory tags could also unlock up to three new Partner Pokémon from this set: Abra, Sandile, and Fletchling, which could be evolved through to their final stages by amassing Star Points. Double Star Points could be earned in two stints over the course of the set: between August 11 and 24, 2022 and between September 1 and 14, 2022. Players using the Mezastar Club at any time during the duration of this set could also receive a digital Support Pokémon Ticket for a Lucario and a Present Ticket to unlock two-tone pants and shoes Fashion Items. A limited Present Ticket for Fashion Items that comprised swimming wear could be redeemed through the club between July 15 and 28, 2022.

The Trainer and Battle lineup for this set included two returning Trainer classes in Mountaineer and Tour Guide, two new Trainer classes in Hot-Blooded Teacher and Bug Catcher Girl, and a new Star Trainer named Hasasu. Mezastar Club members could redeem Battle Tickets for each opponent and challenge them to unlock new customization options for their avatar. As part of a tie-in with the anime, Pokémon Trainers taking part in the Masters Eight Tournament could also randomly challenge the player as a Trainer and Battle opponent. Ash, Alain, Diantha, and Iris appeared in this set, while the remaining four appeared in the following set. These opponents did not offer trophies or Fashion Items but players were given the option to dispense a tag featuring one of their Pokémon after a battle. These Pokémon could not be encountered while playing Get in Battle! mode. A special Battle Ticket was later made available as part of a giveaway campaign at participating Namco arcades and could be used on machines between July 28 and November 21, 2022.^[1] This ticket allowed players to challenge Star Trainer Hitomi, an opponent that debuted in the fourth set of the original series, albeit with a different team. Participants who defeated Hitomi in battle would unlock an Eternatus T-shirt Fashion Item for their avatar. Ash and Galar Champion Leon could also be challenged as Trainer Tag Battle opponents for a limited time as part of the ranked Challenge from Ash & Leon! campaign. Pairs that defeated Ash and Leon in battle would unlock Charizard T-shirt Fashion Items for their avatars. Players with the top 100 scores following the end of the campaign also won a certificate. The campaign ran from July 30 until August 24, 2022.^[2]

Partner Pokémon

Abra Hidden Power → Kadabra Psybeam → Alakazam Psychic

Sandile Sand Tomb → Krokorok Bulldoze → Krookodile Earthquake

Fletchling Peck → Fletchinder Acrobatics → Talonflame Flare Blitz

Support Pokémon Tickets

Available through the Mezastar Club from July 7, 2022 Valid until November 21, 2022 Lucario Aura Sphere	Available through the Double Chain Start Campaign at locations from July 9, 2022 Valid until June 30, 2023 Rayquaza Draco Meteor
Available as part of a Molly Fantasy and PALO campaign from July 28, 2022 Valid until November 21, 2022 Jirachi Psychic	Available in the September 2022 issue of Televi-Kun, released on July 29, 2022 Valid until November 21, 2022 Darkrai Dark Pulse

Trainer and Battle opponents

Hot-Blooded Teacher Ryoma ねっけつきょうし リョウマ Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ Kirlia Psybeam Magmortar Fire Punch Fennekin Ember Rhydon Rock Tomb

Mountaineer Toshiyuki とざんか トシユキ Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆ Vespiquen Bug Bite Gigalith Rock Slide Quagsire Mud Shot Milotic Waterfall

Tour Guide Natsuki ツアーガイド ナツキ Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ Eldegoss Leaf Tornado Hatterene Dazzling Gleam Drifblim Hex Clefable Dazzling Gleam

Bug Catcher Girl Yoshika むしとりガール ヨシカ Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Samurott Hydro Pump Shaymin Energy Ball Vikavolt X-Scissor Pinsir Superpower

Star Trainer Hasasu スタートレーナー ハサス Difficulty: ★★★★★ Empoleon Flash Cannon Inteleon Snipe Shot Tyranitar Stone Edge Palkia Spacial Rend

Pallet Town's Ash マサラタウンの サトシ Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Lucario Aura Sphere Pikachu Thunderbolt Sirfetch'd Meteor Assault Gengar Shadow Ball

Lumiose Conference Champion Alain ミアレたいかいゆうしょう アラン Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Chesnaught Hammer Arm Charizard Flamethrower Weavile Throat Chop Tyranitar Stone Edge

Kalos Champion Diantha カロスチャンピオン カルネ Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Hawlucha High Jump Kick Gardevoir Psychic Gourgeist Razor Leaf Goodra Dragon Pulse

Unova Champion Iris イッシュチャンピオン アイリス Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Excadrill Drill Run Haxorus Outrage Dragonite Dragon Rush Hydreigon Crunch

Star Trainer Hitomi スタートレーナー ヒトミ Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Turtwig Absorb Eternatus Sludge Wave Shinx Thunder Shock Dialga Roar of Time

Trainer Tag Battle opponents

Pallet Town's Ash マサラタウンの サトシ and Gengar Shadow Ball Pikachu Thunderbolt Lucario Aura Sphere Unbeatable Champion Leon むてきのチャンピオン ダンデ Difficulty: ★★★★☆ Rillaboom Drum Beating Charizard Flamethrower Mr. Rime Ice Beam

Set list

Tag No.	Name	Type	Grade
3-1-001	Rillaboom
3-1-002	Cinderace
3-1-003	Inteleon
3-1-004	Pikachu
3-1-005	Zacian
3-1-006	Zamazenta
3-1-007	Solgaleo
3-1-008	Lunala
3-1-009	Obstagoon
3-1-010	Hisuian Zoroark
3-1-011	Shaymin
3-1-012	Shaymin
3-1-013	Electivire
3-1-014	Magmortar
3-1-015	Toxtricity
3-1-016	Toxtricity
3-1-017	Arctozolt
3-1-018	Arctovish
3-1-019	Sirfetch'd
3-1-020	Eelektross
3-1-021	Turtonator
3-1-022	Gengar
3-1-023	Charizard
3-1-024	Haxorus
3-1-025	Gardevoir
3-1-026	Grookey
3-1-027	Thwackey
3-1-028	Rillaboom
3-1-029	Scorbunny
3-1-030	Raboot
3-1-031	Cinderace
3-1-032	Sobble
3-1-033	Drizzile
3-1-034	Inteleon
3-1-035	Galarian Zigzagoon
3-1-036	Galarian Linoone
3-1-037	Obstagoon
3-1-038	Hisuian Zorua
3-1-039	Hisuian Zoroark
3-1-040	Elekid
3-1-041	Electabuzz
3-1-042	Electivire
3-1-043	Magby
3-1-044	Magmar
3-1-045	Magmortar
3-1-046	Toxel
3-1-047	Toxtricity
3-1-048	Toxtricity
3-1-049	Galarian Farfetch'd
3-1-050	Sirfetch'd
3-1-051	Tynamo
3-1-052	Eelektrik
3-1-053	Eelektross
3-1-054	Larvitar
3-1-055	Pupitar
3-1-056	Tyranitar
3-1-057	Ralts
3-1-058	Kirlia
3-1-059	Gardevoir
3-1-060	Gallade
3-1-061	Spheal
3-1-062	Sealeo
3-1-063	Walrein
3-1-064	Roggenrola
3-1-065	Boldore
3-1-066	Gigalith
3-1-067	Drilbur
3-1-068	Excadrill
3-1-069	Pumpkaboo
3-1-070	Gourgeist

References

This article is part of Project Arcade, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon arcade games.