On September 1st, 2016, Nintendo broadcasted a new Nintendo Direct that featured new information on Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon.

Press Release - Nintendo Direct Unleashes a Surge of Nintendo 3DS News

Nintendo Unveils Portable Pikmin, Super Mario Maker and a Poochy amiibo REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 1, 2016 – Nintendo unlocked a treasure trove of information for its portable Nintendo 3DS system today. In a Nintendo Direct video, Nintendo discussed more than a dozen games for the system, including a StreetPass Mii Plaza update and some Nintendo eShop exclusives that launch today. Among the highlights were a portable Super Mario Maker game launching this year, Pikmin and Yoshi’s Woolly World games launching in 2017, and a newly announced Mario Sports Superstars game for 2017. Nintendo also revealed awesome new amiibo figures for Yoshi’s Woolly World on Nintendo 3DS and The Legend of Zelda, as well as a new set of amiibo cards for Animal Crossing fans.

“After emerging as the best-selling video game system in the United States in July, Nintendo 3DS has clear momentum going into the fall, the holiday season and 2017,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “With so much news about the system hitting at once, everyone should find something to love. If you haven’t already, it’s a great time to jump into the fun of Nintendo 3DS.”

Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon: Some of the Pokémon found in the Alola Region have unique looks adapted to the region’s native environment, such as Alolan Rattata. A new element called a Z-Move is an extremely powerful skill initiated when Pokémon and Trainer unleash their full powers together. The type of Z-Move a Pokémon can use depends on the type of Z-Crystal the player gives that Pokémon. As a bonus, anyone who buys one of the games when they launch on Nov. 18 and connects a Nintendo 3DS family system to the internet before Jan. 11, 2017, will receive Munchlax in the game, along with a “Snorlium Z” crystal to unlock the special Z-Move known as Pulverizing Pancake.

Press Release - EARLY PURCHASERS OF POKÉMON SUN AND POKÉMON MOON TO RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE MUNCHLAX

Munchlax evolves into Snorlax that features a special Z-Move! The Pokémon Company International and Nintendo unveiled details about a unique Munchlax that evolves into Pulverizing Snorlax for those who purchase Pokémon Sun or Pokémon Moon by Wednesday, January 11, 2017. A new regional variant Pokémon, Alolan Rattata, was also unveiled for the video games launching on November 23, 2016, exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS family systems.

Munchlax and Snorlax

The early purchase bonus Munchlax, which must be received via players’ Internet connection by January 11, 2017, is holding a special item called Snorlium Z. By evolving Munchlax into Snorlax and having it hold the Snorlium Z, Snorlax becomes able to use a special Z-Move that cannot be used by any other Pokémon—Pulverizing Pancake.

The bonus Munchlax will also know the move Hold Back, which it could not normally learn. Hold Back is an attack move that leaves its opponent with just 1 HP. It can reliably weaken an opposing Pokémon, so it comes in handy when trying to catch wild Pokémon.

The Munchlax being gifted will also know the move Happy Hour, another move it normally couldn’t learn. When players use Happy Hour during a Trainer battle, they’ll receive twice as much prize money after the battle for use on their adventure.

More about Munchlax:
Type: Normal
Munchlax is a big eater that wolfs down its own weight in food once a day, gulping it down practically without chewing! It also hides food under the hair on its body. But then it forgets about it...

More about Snorlax:
Type: Normal
Snorlax is a Pokémon that has blocked the path of many a Trainer. It’s not satisfied unless it eats in excess of 880 pounds of food every day. When it’s done eating, it promptly goes to sleep. Snorlax’s typical day consists of nothing more than eating and sleeping. It gets fatter and fatter, and it moves less and less. Its stomach is extremely strong, and its digestive juices can dissolve any kind of poison, so eating rotten food doesn’t affect it.

Additional new regional variant Pokémon:

Name: Alolan Rattata
Type: Dark/Normal
Unlike ordinary Rattata, urban areas are Alolan Rattata’s main habitat. They are nocturnal and live in nests of several dozen. Alolan Rattata have an excellent aptitude for sniffing out delicious fresh foods in Alola. They pay no attention to foods that aren’t fresh. Alolan Raticate serve as their boss.

Trailer - Get a Special Munchlax for Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon!

Nintendo Direct 9.1.2016