I’m Luke Summerhayes and I love Minior.
We all live on a big ball of rock that flies around a star, which itself is part of a swirling galaxy of other stars, among a universe of other galaxies. Floating in space there are planets many times larger than our own, there are infinitesimal motes of dust, and everything in between.
Rocks over a meter across are called asteroids. Mostly, the asteroids in our solar system are found in an asteroid belt, between Mars and the inner planets, and Jupiter and the other large gas giants. One of those slamming into Earth killed the dinosaurs. Smaller than a meter across, a space rock is called a meteoroid. When it enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns brightly as a shooting star, it is a meteor. And if any of the rock makes it down to Earth to be collected, this is called a meteorite.
Minior is a rock and flying type Pokemon which, by virtue of the fact it is floating around rather than resting on the surface, counts as a meteor.
Sun
Originally making its home in the ozone layer, it hurtles to the ground when the shell enclosing its body grows too heavy.

Ultra Sun
Places where Minior fall from the night sky are few and far between, with Alola being one of the precious few.

It is pocked with craters, as most objects in space which don’t have an atmosphere protecting them are, and emerging from these craters are an inner light.
Ultra Moon
Although its outer shell is uncommonly durable, the shock of falling to the ground smashes the shell to smithereens.

Minior has the ability Shields down. The rocky form, its Meteor form, has high defensive stats and is immune to most status type moves. If the Pokemon’s health falls below 50%, this rocky exterior will fall away and the glowing, starlike being inside will be revealed. This core form, which can be found in various colors, has boosted speed and attack stats is exchange for diminished defences.
Sun
It eats dust in the atmosphere. The composition of the dust determines the color of its core.
Moon
If its core stays exposed, it will soon die off. It's possible that it may survive if it's put into a Poké Ball quickly enough.

With such different play options between these two forms, Minior is a tricky monster to play with. It sometimes works in special leagues or gimmick teams, but it has never flown as high as the ozone in the competitive scene.
Scarlet
Minior that fall to the ground try to return to space, but their wish will not come true—all they can do is fade away.
The name Minior is a mini meteor, and the Japanese name meteno is similarly a meteor at nano size. When in its colorful core form, Minior resembles the Japanese candy Konpeito, which also inspired the gratitude crystals in Zelda: Skyward Sword and, perhaps more relevantly the star bits in Super Mario Galaxy. Maybe the Pokemon universe and the mario one were built by the same Lumas across different dimensions?
Music for Luke Loves Pokemon was composed by Jonathan Cromie. Artwork for the show is by Katie Groves. Funding is by supporters at patreon.com/podcastiopodcastius.
I love hearing from listeners! Get in touch on youtube, social media or email and let me know about your favorite Pokemon. Coming up next are Komala and Turtonator, so let me know your thoughts about those or any other monsters.
Even if you don’t feel like doing any of that, thank you so much for listening.
I love Minior. And remember, I love you too.