Strong Sphere

The subject of this article has no official English name.
The name currently in use is a fan translation of the Japanese name.

(Japanese: ストロングスフィア Strong Sphere), also known as Laquium Sphere (Japanese: ラクリウムスフィア Laqurium Sphere), is a device featured in Pokémon Horizons: The Series. It was initially created by Spinel at Exceed as a prototype and was later made available to the public to be used in battles. It uses Laquium to increase the power of Pokémon, but at the cost of causing them pain in the process.

History

In The Truth Revealed!, Amethio uncovered documents for the prototype of the Laquium Sphere while looking through Spinel's computer at Exceed, but he was stopped before he had time to learn more. In Where the Adventure Leads, after witnessing Gibeon's death, Spinel expressed disappointment with his late leader and used the Laquium Sphere to make the Six Heroes (except for Rayquaza) go berserk, forcing the Rising Volt Tacklers and Amethio to escape Laqua.

In HZ094, two Trainers in Uirō City's Pokémon Center mentioned a sphere that would be useful in battle and would be available soon, as Liko and Roy eavesdropped on them. In the next episode, the two infiltrated Exceed's Test Center to investigate their connection to Laquium. Dash appeared as the first participant in a demonstration of the Strong Sphere, alongside her Swanna. She used the sphere to battle another Trainer and his Electivire, coming out victorious, but causing Swanna to become extremely weakened afterwards. Liko also noticed the resemblance of the Strong Sphere with Spinel's Laquium Sphere. Liko and Roy were offered to use Strong Spheres, but they refused. Sidian and Coral used Strong Spheres on their Garganacl and Glalie, respectively, during a battle against Liko and Roy, which led to their victory before the two could get the chance to Terastallize their Pokémon. Uruto was also given one, but he later rejected the idea of using it after realizing that it used Laquium, smashing it to the ground.

A Strong Sphere in pieces after being thrown to the ground

In HZ097, it was revealed that some Trainers were selected by Exceed as product testers for the Strong Sphere, giving them access to the device ahead of the general public. One of these testers, a young streamer named Magyorō, began using it on his Stunfisk in order to pull pranks and get Iono's attention. When he ran into Dot, he decided to battle her with it after realizing she had battled Iono in the past. In the ensuing battle, Stunfisk displayed discomfort and was frowning, leaving Magyorō regretting he had pushed his Pokémon too far. With Iono's encouragement not to cheat, Magyorō decided to not use the Strong Sphere anymore and threw it to the ground, smashing it into pieces.

In HZ099, it was revealed that Karna's Poké Ball factory was comissioned to manufacture the exterior components of the Strong Spheres. After being told the truth about the harm it causes to Pokémon, Karna immediately withdrew from the job, refusing to give them the completed product. Two Explorers members, Rubella and Indy, intervened. They engaged with the Rising Volt Tacklers in a battle with their two Paldean Tauros, using Strong Spheres on them.

In the following episode, after Liko, Roy, Dot, and Uruto defeated Indy and Rubella and forced them to retreat, Karna took the responsibility of disposing of the Strong Sphere shells she had created. She hypothesized that Exceed must also have placed order for the shells at various other factories, and as such disposing of Karna's batch was not going to have any effects on the worldwide launch.

In HZ102, after finding Karatō's Scovillain, Liko was told that once Strong Spheres are emptied out of Laquium, they can be sent back to Exceed for recharging.

In HZ106, Rayu became discouraged after failing to sell off one of his Grafaiai's paintings. While walking past some Trainers, he overheard them talking about the Strong Sphere and their ability to power up a Pokémon. Hoping to improve his Grafaiai's drawing ability, Rayu stole Uruto's Dusk Ball and tried exchanging it at a store with Strong Spheres intended for product testers. Rubella and Indy heard the commotion and agreed to the trade, but before Rayu could receive the Strong Sphere, Uruto arrived and battled the two Explorers members. Horrified at the effect the Strong Sphere had on Rubella and Indy's Darmanitan, Rayu apologized to his Grafaiai for what he almost put it through and to Uruto for stealing his treasured Dusk Ball.

Effects and characteristics

Effect of the Strong Sphere on Dash's Swanna

When thrown towards a Pokémon, the Laquium Sphere and Strong Sphere will open up and release a pink gas that initially surges through it, sharpening its agility and amplifying the physical and special power of its attacks. However, this potent boost comes at a cost: the Pokémon will progressively weaken, becoming more susceptible to damage and risking self-inflicted injuries, eventually leading to complete exhaustion. As noted by Dot in HZ100, the Strong Sphere also causes the Pokémon's fighting instinct to be increased, at the cost of being unable to follow complex orders by their Trainers.

As demonstrated by Dash's Swanna, even a brief exposure to this gas can dramatically enhance speed and reflexes, allowing the Pokémon to evade a focused special attack and unleash a single, decisive blow capable of defeating a highly trained Electivire. This suggests the Strong Sphere also temporarily inflates a Pokémon's stamina and resilience, enabling it to push far beyond its normal limits in a short burst.

Long exposure to the Strong Sphere's effects were shown to differ between Pokémon. For instance, while Coral's Glalie started to freeze itself, Sidian's Garganacl's body started to crack and fall apart.