Pokémon Masters EX updates to Version 2.30.0 - Adds Trainer Lodge Redecoration, updates hatchable Pokémon - Official fan art contest now underway

A new updated for Pokémon Masters EX, Version 2.30.0, is now available to download. This update makes several changes to the Trainer Lodge, including the new redecoration feature originally announced in last month's message from the game's producers, as well as enabling players to invite Gloria to the lodge. In addition to this update, Pokémon Masters is also running a fanart campaign, looking for artwork recreating scenes from the game.

Update Summary
The full changelog from the Version 2.30.0 update can be read here. Below, we've summarised some of the more important elements from this update.

New Eggs available to be hatched
As of this update, the list of Pokémon that can be hatched from Eggs received from Professor Bellis for completing battles in the Main Story and Training Area has been expanded, with the addition of a number of Pokémon from past events. These eggs are technically in-game now, however these will only be available to players once the current Meow Meow Meow! event concludes on March 14th.

In alphabetical order, the full list of Pokémon now available is as follows:

• Abra
• Aerodactyl
• Bellsprout
• Bulbasaur *
• Charmander *
• Cubone
• Dratini *
• Elekid
• Exeggcute
• Farfetch’d *
• Gastly
• Geodude
• Goldeen
• Grimer
• Growlithe
• Igglybuff
• Kabuto
• Kangaskhan
• Lapras
• Lickitung
• Machop
• Magnemite
• Mankey *
• Meowth
• Nidoran♀
• Onix *
• Pichu *
• Pinsir
• Rattata
• Scyther
• Seel
• Squirtle *
• Tauros
• Venonat
• Voltorb
• Vulpix *
• Weedle
• Zubat

Pokémon listed with a * above may also hatch as Shiny Pokémon.

Redecorating the Trainer Lodge
Players can now redecorate their Trainer Lodge, personalizing the lodge's interior style, as well as placing decorations on the shelves and artwork boards at the front of the lodge.

Decorations available in the game currently include a selection of different plushies, replica items, and artwork, with more planned for future updates. Planned artworks will include in-game posters with images taken from Pokémon Masters EX artwork that was previously posted to the game's official social media channels, as well as past Pokémon Masters and Pokémon Masters EX title screens. In addition to displaying them in the lodge, artwork collected by players can also be viewed in the scrapbook, and both artwork and scrapbook photos can also be used to decorate the loading screen.

Gloria arrives at the Trainer's Lodge
From February 28th at 10:00pm (PST), a new trainer will be making a dynamax entry to the Trainer's Lodge: Gloria. Players can invite her as a guest to the lodge if they've been able to team up with Gloria & Zacian.

Legendary Arena Tornadus Missions
Additional event missions have been added for Legendary Arena Tornadus until March 9th at 9:59pm (PST), offering trainers an opportunity to earn an 1,000 gems by completing specific challenges.

In the Legendary Arena, trainers must complete a set of challenges using up to 30 sync pairs. Originally only available as time-limited events, the Arena was opened permanently following the September 2022 update, allowing players to challenge these battles whenever they like.

Tornadus was the ninth Pokémon to be added to the Legendary Arena. It is weak to Electric-type moves. Normally, Tornadus is resistant to physical damage while on its first HP bar, to special damage while on its second, and all damage while on its third, and it is also protected from critical hits while on the third HP bar. These protections can be negated by inflicting Tornadus with a status condition, although it is immune to all except Paralysis. If paralyzed, Tornadus will use Toxic one time early in the fight; otherwise, it will use Rain Dance instead. It has a chance of curing its paralysis after using a move with Self-Cleanse passive skill. Tornadus resists status changes, such as flinching, confusion, or trapped, with its resistance increasing each time it recovers from one, until it becomes immune. On the very hard difficulty and while on the third HP bar, Tornadus will have the Piercing Gaze passive skill which allows its moves to always hit.

To challenge the Legendary Arena, players must have completed Main Story Chapter 2: Defeat Team Break! (Normal) in single-player.

Memories of Masters Fan Art Contest
Announced earlier this week, Pokémon Masters EX is currently running a fan art contest, inviting fans from around the world to share their own original takes on scenes from the game. One grand prize winner will take away a whopping 45,000 in-game gems, with an additional four runners-up receiving 30,000 gems each, and another twenty-five honorable mentions receiving 6,000 gems each. Additional prizes of up to 20,000 gems may also be awarded for entries "deemed highly creative or otherwise deserving of mention".

To enter, artists must submit their original creation through the official entry form found here before March 15th, at 11:59pm (PDT). Winners will be announced around March 29th. All entries in the contest will need to recreate an existing scene, story, event, or potential team composition available in Pokémon Masters EX, with consideration being given to originality and the artist’s skill in adhering to this theme with their unique, original style. Artists will also have an opportunity to describe how their submission relates to the Theme in the contest entry form.

The contest also imposes specific restrictions on the use of certain characters, with depictions of Ash, Jessie, or James requiring these Trainers appear as a complete sync pair with their partner Pokémon, as seen in Pokémon Masters EX, rather than being based on the characters as they have appeared elsewhere in the Pokémon franchise. For further information and examples, please see the contest's official rules.

All eligible entries will be judged by a qualified panel of judges, who will score each submission according to the four judging criteria:

1. “Originality” (20%)
2. “Creativity” (20%)
3. “Relevance to Contest theme” (30%)
4. “Public Appeal” (30%)