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A weekly Pokédex Podcast from Bald Man in Japan Luke Summerhayes. A different Pokémon family every week.
I’m Luke Summerhayes and I love Yamask.
The kingdoms of Ancient Egypt are famous for the incredible archaeological wonders they left behind. On the larger end of the spectrum, there are the legendary pyramids or the sphinx. On the smaller end, people have long been fascinated by Egyptian Death Rites; mummies in sarcophagi, and the world-famous golden mask of Tutankhamen.
While there is a lot of Egyptology in the British Museum, it was all stolen during the centuries of the British Empire. On the other hand, there’s a wealth of material from Viking death rites which was left in the British Isles during their invasions. Among these are the incredible rune stones, often depicting dragons and gods, or telling tales of the great deeds of the dead.
Yamask is a ghost-type Pokémon resembling an eye of horus with two arms and a tail which holds a small golden mask.
Black
Each of them carries a mask that used to be its face when it was human. Sometimes they look at it and cry.
White
These Pokémon arose from the spirits of people interred in graves in past ages. Each retains memories of its former life.
These Pokédex entries are infamous, shared in memes and youtube videos for years. It is a very on-the-nose example of a ghost type Pokémon being a literal ghost of a dead person.
In Galar, there is a regional variant with a secondary ground typing.
Galarian Yamask
Sword
A clay slab with cursed engravings took possession of a Yamask. The slab is said to be absorbing the Yamask's dark power.
Shield
It's said that this Pokémon was formed when an ancient clay tablet was drawn to a vengeful spirit.
The name seems to come from the Japanese for Dark, Yami, with the English word Mask. Ironically, the Japanese name comes from the English word death, being Desumask. Maybe Deathmask was a little too much for the English version?
At level 34, Yamask evolves into Cofagrigus.
Sword
This Pokémon has a body of sparkling gold. People say it no longer remembers that it was once human.
Shield
There are many depictions of Cofagrigus decorating ancient tombs. They're symbols of the wealth that kings of bygone eras had.
A big gold Egyptian Sarcophagus with ghostly hands emanating from it, this is a cool Pokémon.
Black
It has been said that they swallow those who get too close and turn them into mummies. They like to eat gold nuggets.
This is reflected somewhat in the ability mummify, which when opponents make contact replaces their ability with the otherwise useless mummify, hindering Pokémon who are overreliant on an ability.
White
They pretend to be elaborate coffins to teach lessons to grave robbers. Their bodies are covered in pure gold
The tombs of ancient Egypt are often said to have featured booby traps or curses.
Galarian Yamask, when taken under a special stone arch, evolves into Runerigus. A fully formed rune stone with a red dragon drawn onto it, it can break apart, revealing the ghostly entity within.
Sword
A powerful curse was woven into an ancient painting. After absorbing the spirit of a Yamask, the painting began to move.
Shield
Never touch its shadowlike body, or you'll be shown the horrific memories behind the picture carved into it.
The Cofagregious combines Coffin and Sarcophagus, perhaps with egregious, as it punishes those who raid tombs. Then you add rune to get runerigous.
Ancient Tombs spreading curses via monstrous ghosts is classic fantasy stuff, and here are two amazing Pokémon who embody that tradition.
Music for Luke Loves Pokémon is composed by Jonathan Cromie. Artwork for the show is by Katie Groves. Writing, Producing and Editing is by me, Luke Summerhayes. Funding is provided by my lovely listeners. If you’d like to join them, to help keep the show online and find other podcasts by me and my pals, head over to Patreon.com/PodcastioPodcastius.
Coming up are Tirtouga and Archen, so if you have thoughts about those or any other monsters, hit me up with a DM @LukeLovesPKMN or an email to LukeLovesPKMN@Gmail.com. And of course, I’d love if you could leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much just for listening.
I love Yamask. And remember. I love you too.