Okay, so today I got this itch, right? Like, yeah catching ’em all is cool, but why not make ’em look fabulous while they do it? Glitz and glam, baby! That’s what my Pokemon deserve. Started messing around with outfits and effects like crazy.
Where I Started
Honestly? Felt kinda basic. My Charizard always just kinda… stood there. Fine, I guess. But not amazing, y’know? So I opened up the app, clicked on my buddy Pokemon – who happened to be that Charizard.
From the buddy screen, I tapped the little camera icon. Boom! AR mode activated. Let the makeover begin.
The Glitz Part
First up, making it shiny. Not that kind of shiny (still hunting that one!), I mean like… sparkly. Niantic gives us tools, we gotta use ’em!
- Threw on a Golden Razz Berry effect: Figured, if it makes catching easier, maybe it makes looking easier? Actually, it wraps your ‘mon in this cool golden shimmer. Instant upgrade! Made Charizard look like he just rolled out of a treasure hoard.
- Tried different Pokeballs: Picked my dude out of a regular Poke Ball? Nah. Went into my item bag, scrolled down to the balls. Threw on an Ultra Ball effect instead. That blue/black burst when he pops out looks way more premium than the basic red flash. Almost forgot he wasn’t actually caught in one!
- Played with the AR spotlight: This is huge! Moved my phone around, changed the light angle. Putting the “sun” behind him gave him this awesome fiery silhouette. Straight up dragon vibes.
The Glam Part
Okay, glitz handled. Time for the glam! Needed some accessories.
- Buddy Hat: Scrolled down to the apparel section. Put a silly little party hat on him. Looked hilarious. Took it off. Found a crown. Yes! A crown on a Charizard? Unexpected royalty. Loved it.
- Background: AR mode let me reposition him. Instead of my messy living room floor, I pointed the camera at my decent-looking patio plants. Instant jungle king vibe! Big difference just moving him.
Putting It Together & The Oops Moment
Got all excited. Golden shimmer? Check. Ultra Ball effect? Check. Crown? Check. Jungle throne? Check.
Went to take the AR snapshot. “This will be EPIC,” I thought. Framed the shot perfectly. Smashed the button.
…And my finger covered half the screen. Facepalm. Ended up with a blurry mess mostly featuring my thumb. Classic rookie error. Good thing Niantic lets you retry!
Took a breath, held the phone properly, tapped the button gently. Bingo! Got the shot. Charizard looking majestic, crowned, shiny, against the fake foliage. Definitely more “glam” than before.
What Worked
- Less is sometimes more: That golden shimmer plus the crown was plenty glitz AND glam.
- Lighting matters BIG TIME: Messing with the AR light source made the biggest difference in making him look awesome.
- Don’t neglect the background: Even a basic plant shelf beats a cluttered floor any day.
My Takeaway
Took maybe 10 minutes total, including the thumb-in-picture debacle. Wasn’t hard at all. Just playing with features already in the game that I kinda ignored before. Now my Pokemon buddies get the red carpet treatment! Seriously, give it a shot today – turn that functional fighter into a runway superstar. It’s way more fun than I expected.
