Current location: In Laverre, just cleared the Poke Ball Factory.
Current team:
Vyse - Surf, Round, Smack Down, Grass Knot
Hook (now a Blastoise, @ Blastoisinte) - Water Pulse, Bite, Tackle, Bubble
Picard - Aqua Tail, Strength, Dig, Rock Smash
Tenneal - Surf, Psybeam, Ice Beam, Signal Beam
Leela - Surf, Thunderbolt, Dazzling Gleam, Signal Beam
and Starbuck the Poliwrath (Adamant, Water Absorb, Atk/Spd) - Bubblebeam, Low Sweep, Poison Jab, Dig
Picked up in Courmarine and started by Flying around to grab some Water types I missed - a couple of prospects were in the crowd as well. After that it was back to TRTSNBN to pick up some levels, including getting the now-departed Vaan to evolve. The first Team Flare grunt in the Power Plant actually helped us pull a double, as Vyse AND Hook both evolved as well.
Once we returned to Lumiose, it was Electric gym time... and the only Pokemon in there who managed to KO anyone was, as expected, Heliolisk. Even the Ampharos who squeezed in a KO during Fighting didn't fare well - though I threw Leela at it, so that probably did the trick. In the badge fight, Leela wore out Emolga with Surf, Picard's Rock Smash set up a Tenneal Aurora Bea win, and Leela came back to beat Magneton.
The third Rival fight was a Tenneal fest, then we swam through the rain of Route 14 and bid farewell to Vaan so we could go tadpole hunting. And in a situation where I wanted the opposite of my old Poli- we got it (Adamant AND Water Absorb), so a quick round of ST, a Water Stone and some TMs later it was ready to take on Valerie. Although it didn't fare well against Aromatisse's Moonblast, it handled the rest up to Sylveon - who fell to, of all things, Mega Water Pulse. Meh, I'll take it.
After the Poke Ball Factory diversion, I randomly did a PC check (as we're nearly into box 2 and I had a couple of crit catches), and... remember what I said in the preview about getting a good draw on Clawitzer and giving it the Hook spot? Well, the Clauncher I caught is Modest. Who would get the boot? I've got a weekend to post a E3 podcast and figure that out.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Water Day 3: Taking Care of Business and Working Overtime
Current location: Courmarine Pokemon Center after beating Ramos.
Current team (all L34 but the last one):
Vyse - Surf, Round, Quick Attack, Lick
Hook - Water Pulse, Bite, Tackle, Bubble
Vaan - Surf, Air Slash, Fly, Roost
Picard - Aqua Tail, Strength, Dig, Rock Smash
Tenneal the Octillery (Hasty, SA/Speed, Sniper) - Surf, Psybeam, Aurora Beam, Signal Beam
Leela the Lanturn (Bashful, SA/Speed, Volt Absorb) - Surf, Electro Ball, Thunder Wave, Confuse Ray *L33*
Not a lot got accomplished today, honestly - and thanks to a timely illness at work and a screwing from the Random Number God, I had to play after getting home to get where we did.
To begin, I put Picard through the training from hell, in which he admitted there were four lights and got his Attack rating to the proper, insane proportions. Our first Chateau run actually got it to evolve, as well.
Next was the mad dash to get the Good Rod, and I found you can bypass the trainers going one way to Courmarine with a Skiddo - you just can't do it with the return trip. With the Good Rod, it turned out that both Remoraid and Chinchou are in the same area (Shalour), so much fishing ensued. Remoraid - 3rd shot was fine. Chinchou... not so much. I believe I was fishing for over an hour, soft resetting all the while, and largely getting Adamant and Jolly for some reason. Finally, I said "screw it" (maybe not in those words) and grabbed the first non-SA reducing nature that had Volt Absorb on it.
From there, we went through two rounds of ST, which took about an hour and a half. With the team ready, we set off for Route 12 and the Azure Bay, but that only got the group out of the range that Repels stopped working on the encounters. We entered Courmarine for the 2nd time with a third of the team needing five levels fast, so enter The Route That Shall Not Be Named.
By the time we got to L31, it was time to take a break, go home, and eat. We picked back up there, finished off the leveling and steamrolled the Rival (the as-of-yet-unnamed Tenneal 2-shot Quilladin with Aurora Beam, hoo-rah). The gym caused me to run out twice to heal due to lack of supplies, but the gym battle went quite well: A Thunder Wave/Electro Ball combo felled Jumpluff, Weepinbell got OHKOed by Aurora Beam, and after Air Slash didn't finish off Gogoat, a second Aurora Beam did the trick.
Tomorrow: Gonna Fly around for a bit grabbing some things I missed real quick as Clemont prep, with an end goal of beating Valerie and having Poliwrath on board.
Current team (all L34 but the last one):
Vyse - Surf, Round, Quick Attack, Lick
Hook - Water Pulse, Bite, Tackle, Bubble
Vaan - Surf, Air Slash, Fly, Roost
Picard - Aqua Tail, Strength, Dig, Rock Smash
Tenneal the Octillery (Hasty, SA/Speed, Sniper) - Surf, Psybeam, Aurora Beam, Signal Beam
Leela the Lanturn (Bashful, SA/Speed, Volt Absorb) - Surf, Electro Ball, Thunder Wave, Confuse Ray *L33*
Not a lot got accomplished today, honestly - and thanks to a timely illness at work and a screwing from the Random Number God, I had to play after getting home to get where we did.
To begin, I put Picard through the training from hell, in which he admitted there were four lights and got his Attack rating to the proper, insane proportions. Our first Chateau run actually got it to evolve, as well.
Next was the mad dash to get the Good Rod, and I found you can bypass the trainers going one way to Courmarine with a Skiddo - you just can't do it with the return trip. With the Good Rod, it turned out that both Remoraid and Chinchou are in the same area (Shalour), so much fishing ensued. Remoraid - 3rd shot was fine. Chinchou... not so much. I believe I was fishing for over an hour, soft resetting all the while, and largely getting Adamant and Jolly for some reason. Finally, I said "screw it" (maybe not in those words) and grabbed the first non-SA reducing nature that had Volt Absorb on it.
From there, we went through two rounds of ST, which took about an hour and a half. With the team ready, we set off for Route 12 and the Azure Bay, but that only got the group out of the range that Repels stopped working on the encounters. We entered Courmarine for the 2nd time with a third of the team needing five levels fast, so enter The Route That Shall Not Be Named.
By the time we got to L31, it was time to take a break, go home, and eat. We picked back up there, finished off the leveling and steamrolled the Rival (the as-of-yet-unnamed Tenneal 2-shot Quilladin with Aurora Beam, hoo-rah). The gym caused me to run out twice to heal due to lack of supplies, but the gym battle went quite well: A Thunder Wave/Electro Ball combo felled Jumpluff, Weepinbell got OHKOed by Aurora Beam, and after Air Slash didn't finish off Gogoat, a second Aurora Beam did the trick.
Tomorrow: Gonna Fly around for a bit grabbing some things I missed real quick as Clemont prep, with an end goal of beating Valerie and having Poliwrath on board.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Water Day 2: Seven Seas of Rye
Current location: Santalune City with a new friend to train
Current team:
Vyse L32 - Surf, Round, Quick Attack, Lick
Hook L31 - Water Pulse, Bite, Tackle, Bubble
Vaan L32 - Surf, Air Slash, Water Pulse, Roost
freshly caught Marill "Picard" L25 - Lonely, Huge Power, Atk/Speed - Aqua Tail, Double-Edge, Bubblebeam, Helping Hand
Picking up in Camphier, the first trick was to catch Vaan up. Route 6 took care of that quite handily, as I actually managed to do the route without a map for once and still get everything on it. Water Pulses for all was the order of the double Furfrou fight. Route 7 went quickly, though I have bypassed the Chateau so far so the financials would look a little weird down the road.
On 8, I was distressed to discover that although Swanna can enter Sky Battles, Vaan as he is constructed cannot due to a lack of height. We pressed on, managing to get rid of the Axew, and rolling through Glittering Cave due to the Electrike's unwillingness to use actual Electrical attacks.
As we entered Cyllage, I elected to forego the usual session on Route 10 in favour of just storming the gym - and it worked well, we finished at the usual L25 and Vyse Water Pulsed us to the badge. I haven't really used any of the traditional TMs thus far - Rock Tomb, Bulldoze, et al - but that was due to lack of competent physical attackers which Picard will remedy tomorrow.
There were no trouble spots on Route 10, though the AP boosted-Dunsparce did scare me slightly, and Vaan proved more useful than his namesake by actually *gasp* sweeping the Lucario fight. The two Metal Sound misses helped immensely here, as did a confusion effect on one Lucario who hit itself with a +3 stage Attack.
The Reflection Cave had the traditional trouble spots, but we were able to slow down Hawlucha and Sawk long enough for them to be Air Slashed away. Moving into Shalour, the three on three match with the Rival saw Bite actually be useful against Meowstic, and another round of aerial slashery brought us the 3rd badge, got us the Mega, and... Surf. Booya.
That led us all the way back to Route 3, where a Lonely (should work fine, it's not staying in against Steel anyway) Marill was snagged as the day ended.
Tomorrow: After Picard gets his groove back.. tomorrow is about STing, as we're adding two OTHER members to the team and hopefully having enough time to level them past Ramos.
Current team:
Vyse L32 - Surf, Round, Quick Attack, Lick
Hook L31 - Water Pulse, Bite, Tackle, Bubble
Vaan L32 - Surf, Air Slash, Water Pulse, Roost
freshly caught Marill "Picard" L25 - Lonely, Huge Power, Atk/Speed - Aqua Tail, Double-Edge, Bubblebeam, Helping Hand
Picking up in Camphier, the first trick was to catch Vaan up. Route 6 took care of that quite handily, as I actually managed to do the route without a map for once and still get everything on it. Water Pulses for all was the order of the double Furfrou fight. Route 7 went quickly, though I have bypassed the Chateau so far so the financials would look a little weird down the road.
On 8, I was distressed to discover that although Swanna can enter Sky Battles, Vaan as he is constructed cannot due to a lack of height. We pressed on, managing to get rid of the Axew, and rolling through Glittering Cave due to the Electrike's unwillingness to use actual Electrical attacks.
As we entered Cyllage, I elected to forego the usual session on Route 10 in favour of just storming the gym - and it worked well, we finished at the usual L25 and Vyse Water Pulsed us to the badge. I haven't really used any of the traditional TMs thus far - Rock Tomb, Bulldoze, et al - but that was due to lack of competent physical attackers which Picard will remedy tomorrow.
There were no trouble spots on Route 10, though the AP boosted-Dunsparce did scare me slightly, and Vaan proved more useful than his namesake by actually *gasp* sweeping the Lucario fight. The two Metal Sound misses helped immensely here, as did a confusion effect on one Lucario who hit itself with a +3 stage Attack.
The Reflection Cave had the traditional trouble spots, but we were able to slow down Hawlucha and Sawk long enough for them to be Air Slashed away. Moving into Shalour, the three on three match with the Rival saw Bite actually be useful against Meowstic, and another round of aerial slashery brought us the 3rd badge, got us the Mega, and... Surf. Booya.
That led us all the way back to Route 3, where a Lonely (should work fine, it's not staying in against Steel anyway) Marill was snagged as the day ended.
Tomorrow: After Picard gets his groove back.. tomorrow is about STing, as we're adding two OTHER members to the team and hopefully having enough time to level them past Ramos.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Water Day 1: Don't Believe Lysandre's Lies
Current location: Camphier Pokemon Center, need to ST someone.
Current team:
Vyse the Frogadier - Quiet, SA/Speed - Water Pulse, Lick, Pound, Quick Attack (male, L18)
Hook the Wartortle - Rash, SA/Speed - Water Gun, Tackle, Bubble, Bite (male, L17)
Vaan the Ducklett - Timid, no ST yet (planning same as other two) - Water Sport, Defog, Wing Attack, Water Pulse (male, L14)
Ishmael's adventure opened with attempting to find a quality Froakie - and at some point, I need to get a female so I can call her "Leela". Anyway, it took about six tries before I got a nature I could deal with, so after the requisite ST we marched off to Santalune, picking up a Panpour, rat, Bidoof and Azurill (who I might've kept if I managed to catch one with Adamant/Huge Power or similar, it ended up with Careful so nope, gonna wait for Marill still.)
The Santalune gym proper was a tad tricky as I didn't bring the usual complement of Potions, leading to Froakie ending up at 6 HP at one point against Vivillon. Luckily, we were able to overcome that to grab badge 1.
After a sneaky dash through Route 4, it was Squirtle time - and we had a few scares in which Leech Seed managed to cause a lot of problems. Eventually, we won out and I got a usable Squirtle in Hook on about the sixth successful match.
I doubled back to clear out 22 and 4 to get Hook leveled up, and both Pokemon ended up evolving on the double battle of Route 5. They were at the current level by the end of Route 5, so we cleared Parfum Palace, grabbed Snorlax, and managed to find a good enough Ducklett for our purposes on about the third ball before the end of the day and the obtaining of Mario Kart.
Tomorrow: The next time I go for a Pokemon on the team, it'll be once we obtain Surf... so we're probably going to push to at least get past Grant.
Current team:
Vyse the Frogadier - Quiet, SA/Speed - Water Pulse, Lick, Pound, Quick Attack (male, L18)
Hook the Wartortle - Rash, SA/Speed - Water Gun, Tackle, Bubble, Bite (male, L17)
Vaan the Ducklett - Timid, no ST yet (planning same as other two) - Water Sport, Defog, Wing Attack, Water Pulse (male, L14)
Ishmael's adventure opened with attempting to find a quality Froakie - and at some point, I need to get a female so I can call her "Leela". Anyway, it took about six tries before I got a nature I could deal with, so after the requisite ST we marched off to Santalune, picking up a Panpour, rat, Bidoof and Azurill (who I might've kept if I managed to catch one with Adamant/Huge Power or similar, it ended up with Careful so nope, gonna wait for Marill still.)
The Santalune gym proper was a tad tricky as I didn't bring the usual complement of Potions, leading to Froakie ending up at 6 HP at one point against Vivillon. Luckily, we were able to overcome that to grab badge 1.
After a sneaky dash through Route 4, it was Squirtle time - and we had a few scares in which Leech Seed managed to cause a lot of problems. Eventually, we won out and I got a usable Squirtle in Hook on about the sixth successful match.
I doubled back to clear out 22 and 4 to get Hook leveled up, and both Pokemon ended up evolving on the double battle of Route 5. They were at the current level by the end of Route 5, so we cleared Parfum Palace, grabbed Snorlax, and managed to find a good enough Ducklett for our purposes on about the third ball before the end of the day and the obtaining of Mario Kart.
Tomorrow: The next time I go for a Pokemon on the team, it'll be once we obtain Surf... so we're probably going to push to at least get past Grant.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Type Preview: Water
It's the most populous type in the game, with a full 120+ Pokemon represented, and it's one unreleased event legend away from being paired with everything. It's a solid type on offense and defense, except for the one part of the midgame. I can probably run two teams with all the Pokemon here.
These puns are starting to not hold Water.
Type Effectiveness:
Attacking: Super effective on Fire, Ground and Rock. Resisted by itself, Grass, and Dragon. No immunities.
Defending: SEd by Electric and Grass. Resists Fire, itself, Ice and Steel. No immunities on type alone.
Dual-types: Normal, Grass, Electric, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Ground, Flying, Psychic, Bug (temporarily), Rock, Dragon, Dark, and Fairy ingame. Postgame adds Ghost, Steel and (once they get around to releasing #721) Fire.
Probable Final Team:
Froakie/Frogadier/Greninja: Well, let's see, it's a starter, it's /Dark which is a useful STAB, and it's a ninja frog. Last time I used this thing it made Smash Brothers. Probable Final Moveset: Surf, Dark Pulse, Extrasensory, Grass Knot/Ice Beam depending on the situation
Marill/Azumarill: Note what's missing there; I'm not starting the run with it this time, so I can pass it up until Surf comes in and I can double back to Route 3 to pick it up in the pond. Anti-Dragon and designed to Aqua Tail Valerie into next week. PFM: Waterfall, Play Rough, Dig, Brick Break
Squirtle/Wartortle/Blastoise: Run-Mega, for one thing. Sadly, his extra Pulse moves don't come into play unless I breed it with a Clawitzer, so I'll have to make do with a somewhat oddball moveset. PFM: Water Pulse, Dark Pulse, Flash Cannon, Ice Beam
Lanturn: Main switchin for Electric-types - screw being immune, I get HP *back*. Also provides much tanking and suprisingly good versatility. PFM: Surf, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, Dazzling Gleam
Remoraid/Octillery: It's been my favorite Pokemon for years and FINALLY I get to use it in a run. Fills in some key coverage holes. PFM: Surf, Flamethrower, Sludge Bomb, Psychic
Poliwhirl/Poliwrath: Solid phyiscal cleaner, don't need to be heavy on the Special end this time. PFM: Waterfall, Brick Break, Earthquake, Rock Slide
Other team members: If I get a good draw on Clawitzer I might swap Blastoise for a full Mega Launcher-abuser. I'm also considering options for a Water/Flying at least until we get past Ramos and The Route That Shall Not Be Named, and I'm truthfully leaning toward Swanna.
Why not use...?
Let's start with the previous teammates that don't make it: Starmie, Lapras, Barbaracle, Ludicolo and Gyarados. /pours a .40 In all seriousness, they didn't really provide the team balance I needed for the run.
As for the rest: (deleted due to absurd length)
A few prominent ones:
Vaporeon: Yes, even Vaporeon got the sting of Eeveelution movepool shrinkage. Maybe when Move Tutors return.
Relicanth: Not enough physical variety again.
Bibarel: Is still related to Bidoof.
Major Battle Expectations:
Viola: Sheer power of Froakie should get me past Vivillon.
Grant: Type advantage does it, just have to be careful to avoid the Thunder Wave.
Korrina: By the time I get here, I should have access to high-powered Water Pulses *and* an Air Slash.
Ramos: The first of two problems... There's going to be a lot of Aurora Beaming and Air Slashing involved.
Clemont: Lanturn can actually sweep this gym provided I can get something in to deal with Heliolisk's Grass Knot.
Valerie: Going for the straight sweep with Azumarill based on Fairy resistances.
Olympia: Greninja goes off here.
Wulfric: It helps to be Ice-resistant, but there's a little Flamethrower and Brick Break action.
Rival: Getting past Chesnaught might be tricky until the late game when we start getting Fairy moves.
Team Flare: Aside from Manectric, we should be able to overpower it.
Elite 4: Finally, an E4 where I'm picking the first type based on what I'll have more fun beating.
Champion: MegaBlastoise v MegaGardevoir: WHO YA GOT?
Trainer:
Despite not using a Wailord, I have always looked at using some of these Pokemon as a white whale if you weeeeel. So call me Ishmael. As for the Pokemon, I'm thinking of a Captain theme... and not just a bunch of sea captains.
These puns are starting to not hold Water.
Type Effectiveness:
Attacking: Super effective on Fire, Ground and Rock. Resisted by itself, Grass, and Dragon. No immunities.
Defending: SEd by Electric and Grass. Resists Fire, itself, Ice and Steel. No immunities on type alone.
Dual-types: Normal, Grass, Electric, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Ground, Flying, Psychic, Bug (temporarily), Rock, Dragon, Dark, and Fairy ingame. Postgame adds Ghost, Steel and (once they get around to releasing #721) Fire.
Probable Final Team:
Froakie/Frogadier/Greninja: Well, let's see, it's a starter, it's /Dark which is a useful STAB, and it's a ninja frog. Last time I used this thing it made Smash Brothers. Probable Final Moveset: Surf, Dark Pulse, Extrasensory, Grass Knot/Ice Beam depending on the situation
Marill/Azumarill: Note what's missing there; I'm not starting the run with it this time, so I can pass it up until Surf comes in and I can double back to Route 3 to pick it up in the pond. Anti-Dragon and designed to Aqua Tail Valerie into next week. PFM: Waterfall, Play Rough, Dig, Brick Break
Squirtle/Wartortle/Blastoise: Run-Mega, for one thing. Sadly, his extra Pulse moves don't come into play unless I breed it with a Clawitzer, so I'll have to make do with a somewhat oddball moveset. PFM: Water Pulse, Dark Pulse, Flash Cannon, Ice Beam
Lanturn: Main switchin for Electric-types - screw being immune, I get HP *back*. Also provides much tanking and suprisingly good versatility. PFM: Surf, Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, Dazzling Gleam
Remoraid/Octillery: It's been my favorite Pokemon for years and FINALLY I get to use it in a run. Fills in some key coverage holes. PFM: Surf, Flamethrower, Sludge Bomb, Psychic
Poliwhirl/Poliwrath: Solid phyiscal cleaner, don't need to be heavy on the Special end this time. PFM: Waterfall, Brick Break, Earthquake, Rock Slide
Other team members: If I get a good draw on Clawitzer I might swap Blastoise for a full Mega Launcher-abuser. I'm also considering options for a Water/Flying at least until we get past Ramos and The Route That Shall Not Be Named, and I'm truthfully leaning toward Swanna.
Why not use...?
Let's start with the previous teammates that don't make it: Starmie, Lapras, Barbaracle, Ludicolo and Gyarados. /pours a .40 In all seriousness, they didn't really provide the team balance I needed for the run.
As for the rest: (deleted due to absurd length)
A few prominent ones:
Vaporeon: Yes, even Vaporeon got the sting of Eeveelution movepool shrinkage. Maybe when Move Tutors return.
Relicanth: Not enough physical variety again.
Bibarel: Is still related to Bidoof.
Major Battle Expectations:
Viola: Sheer power of Froakie should get me past Vivillon.
Grant: Type advantage does it, just have to be careful to avoid the Thunder Wave.
Korrina: By the time I get here, I should have access to high-powered Water Pulses *and* an Air Slash.
Ramos: The first of two problems... There's going to be a lot of Aurora Beaming and Air Slashing involved.
Clemont: Lanturn can actually sweep this gym provided I can get something in to deal with Heliolisk's Grass Knot.
Valerie: Going for the straight sweep with Azumarill based on Fairy resistances.
Olympia: Greninja goes off here.
Wulfric: It helps to be Ice-resistant, but there's a little Flamethrower and Brick Break action.
Rival: Getting past Chesnaught might be tricky until the late game when we start getting Fairy moves.
Team Flare: Aside from Manectric, we should be able to overpower it.
Elite 4: Finally, an E4 where I'm picking the first type based on what I'll have more fun beating.
Champion: MegaBlastoise v MegaGardevoir: WHO YA GOT?
Trainer:
Despite not using a Wailord, I have always looked at using some of these Pokemon as a white whale if you weeeeel. So call me Ishmael. As for the Pokemon, I'm thinking of a Captain theme... and not just a bunch of sea captains.
Fighting run complete!
You'd think after the last post I'd go after the thing I can SE first.
You'd be wrong.
Malva
Fewest problem Pokemon off the hop...
Dangerously v Pyroar
Hyper Voices does 58 (137/195) and Surf OHKOs back.
Eaton v Talonflame
Eaton's faster and has Rock Slide, which connects for a OHKO.
Dangerously v Torkoal
Surf OHKOs, as usual.
Zbyszko v Chandelure
Crunch OHKOs after a gratuitous Flame Body burn.
Siebold
Relax, we'll get to Steel soon.
Rude v Clawitzer
Seed Bomb OHKOs.
Eaton v Starmie
X-Scissor... does 90%. I didn't want to chance Zbyszko coming in and getting Dazzling Gleamed to death, but he'll have to come in as Psychic OHKOs back.
Zbyszko v Starmie
On the Full Restore, Crunch OHKOs.
Rude v Barbaracle
Seed Bomb does what you would expect.
Austin v Gyarados
Even with Intimidate, Austin manages to hit the Stun Gu... er, Thunder Punch and OHKO.
Drasna
I've got a theory about this one but I doubt I'll be able to attempt it...
Zbyszko v Dragalgae
Dragon Claw crits and OHKOs. I'm hoping for a certain type of skin to show next...
Dangerously v Altaria
...and I don't get it, so I bring in Dangerously to OHKO with Ice Beam.
Dangerously v Noivern
He's got good SpDef, so as long as Air Slash doesn't start flinching I'll be OK... first hit brings it to 81/192 and of course, flinches. Second AS finishes.
Eaton v Noivern
On the ground of "two can play at that game", I try Rock Slide for 60%, but no flinch. Air Slash 3 is also a OHKO.
Anderson v Noivern
The Enforcer goes Mega, takes about 120 (62/186) from Flamethrower, and Psychic gets the faint.
Austin v Druddigon
I wanted to see if a +1 Dragon Claw could OHKO... but I didn't need to, as a standard High Jump Kick did the job. (146/169 due to Rough Skin.)
Wikstrom
There's one Pokemon I'm frightened of, and it's his main.
Zbyszko v Klefki
High Jump Kick does 85%, clearly missing the Moxie boost, and Dazzling Gleam OHKOs
Rude v Klefki
I Brick Break (saving the Earthquake PP) for half, and Klefki drops Spikes. A second Brick Break finishes.
Rude v Aegislash
Here we go... The one thing I would have normally brought is gone. I use Earthquake 4 times - 1 and 3 hit King's Shields, but the 2nd and 4th are enough to bring it down. On the one offensive turn for Aegislash, Iron Head did 131/204.
Austin v Scizor
After Austin takes 21 from Spikes (148/169), Fire Punch OHKOs.
Austin v Probopass
Can't get around Sturdy with anyone, but a Fire Punch does a quarter... and burns. Doesn't affect Flash Cannon's damage any (84 HP left), but High Jump Kick ends it.
Diantha
Starting with the Mirror Match again, clearly.
Eaton v Hawlucha
Eaton Flies away from a Poison Jab... but the Vainville Jam MISSES and Poison Jab hits for 142/188.. and poisons. A second Fly connects for the duke.
Dangerously v Aurorus
Focus Miss... hits like a Flair top rope move and OHKOs.
Austin v Gourgeist
Fire Punch... DOESN'T OHKO. (What.) On Phanton Force, I swap to the Cruncher.
Zbyszko v Gourgeist
The incoming Phantom Force does 28 damage. Crunch does 90% and lowers Defense on the Full Restore allowing a 2nd Crunch on Full Restore to OHKO.
Zbyszko v Goodra
I take the Moxie boost and OHKO with High Jump Kick. Zbyszko levels.
Austin v Tyrantrum
High Jump Kick OHKOs again to set up the Mega match.
Anderson v Gardevoir
Moonblast goes first and takes Anderson to 45... but Mega Metal Claw OHKOs! New heroine!
Pictured: I'm not sure Rude should be going after this one.
After a run to the Bank, it's... well, time to jump into the pool as we're getting a little Water-logged.
Time of the fall 26:48
You'd be wrong.
Malva
Fewest problem Pokemon off the hop...
Dangerously v Pyroar
Hyper Voices does 58 (137/195) and Surf OHKOs back.
Eaton v Talonflame
Eaton's faster and has Rock Slide, which connects for a OHKO.
Dangerously v Torkoal
Surf OHKOs, as usual.
Zbyszko v Chandelure
Crunch OHKOs after a gratuitous Flame Body burn.
Siebold
Relax, we'll get to Steel soon.
Rude v Clawitzer
Seed Bomb OHKOs.
Eaton v Starmie
X-Scissor... does 90%. I didn't want to chance Zbyszko coming in and getting Dazzling Gleamed to death, but he'll have to come in as Psychic OHKOs back.
Zbyszko v Starmie
On the Full Restore, Crunch OHKOs.
Rude v Barbaracle
Seed Bomb does what you would expect.
Austin v Gyarados
Even with Intimidate, Austin manages to hit the Stun Gu... er, Thunder Punch and OHKO.
Drasna
I've got a theory about this one but I doubt I'll be able to attempt it...
Zbyszko v Dragalgae
Dragon Claw crits and OHKOs. I'm hoping for a certain type of skin to show next...
Dangerously v Altaria
...and I don't get it, so I bring in Dangerously to OHKO with Ice Beam.
Dangerously v Noivern
He's got good SpDef, so as long as Air Slash doesn't start flinching I'll be OK... first hit brings it to 81/192 and of course, flinches. Second AS finishes.
Eaton v Noivern
On the ground of "two can play at that game", I try Rock Slide for 60%, but no flinch. Air Slash 3 is also a OHKO.
Anderson v Noivern
The Enforcer goes Mega, takes about 120 (62/186) from Flamethrower, and Psychic gets the faint.
Austin v Druddigon
I wanted to see if a +1 Dragon Claw could OHKO... but I didn't need to, as a standard High Jump Kick did the job. (146/169 due to Rough Skin.)
Wikstrom
There's one Pokemon I'm frightened of, and it's his main.
Zbyszko v Klefki
High Jump Kick does 85%, clearly missing the Moxie boost, and Dazzling Gleam OHKOs
Rude v Klefki
I Brick Break (saving the Earthquake PP) for half, and Klefki drops Spikes. A second Brick Break finishes.
Rude v Aegislash
Here we go... The one thing I would have normally brought is gone. I use Earthquake 4 times - 1 and 3 hit King's Shields, but the 2nd and 4th are enough to bring it down. On the one offensive turn for Aegislash, Iron Head did 131/204.
Austin v Scizor
After Austin takes 21 from Spikes (148/169), Fire Punch OHKOs.
Austin v Probopass
Can't get around Sturdy with anyone, but a Fire Punch does a quarter... and burns. Doesn't affect Flash Cannon's damage any (84 HP left), but High Jump Kick ends it.
Diantha
Starting with the Mirror Match again, clearly.
Eaton v Hawlucha
Eaton Flies away from a Poison Jab... but the Vainville Jam MISSES and Poison Jab hits for 142/188.. and poisons. A second Fly connects for the duke.
Dangerously v Aurorus
Focus Miss... hits like a Flair top rope move and OHKOs.
Austin v Gourgeist
Fire Punch... DOESN'T OHKO. (What.) On Phanton Force, I swap to the Cruncher.
Zbyszko v Gourgeist
The incoming Phantom Force does 28 damage. Crunch does 90% and lowers Defense on the Full Restore allowing a 2nd Crunch on Full Restore to OHKO.
Zbyszko v Goodra
I take the Moxie boost and OHKO with High Jump Kick. Zbyszko levels.
Austin v Tyrantrum
High Jump Kick OHKOs again to set up the Mega match.
Anderson v Gardevoir
Moonblast goes first and takes Anderson to 45... but Mega Metal Claw OHKOs! New heroine!
Pictured: I'm not sure Rude should be going after this one.
After a run to the Bank, it's... well, time to jump into the pool as we're getting a little Water-logged.
Time of the fall 26:48
Fighting Day 5: Guts and Glory
Current location: Saved at the Pokemon League, ready for the main event.
Current team at L65:
Rude - Brick Break, Seed Bomb, Earthquake, Rock Slide (211 Atk, 148 Speed)
Anderson - Aura Sphere, Metal Claw, Psychic, Shadow Claw (194 Atk, 196 SA, 127 Speed, Mega puts them in the 240s)
Zbyszko - High Jump Kick, Crunch, Poison Jab, Dragon Claw (188 Atk, 140 Speed)
Austin - High Jump Kick, Zen Headbutt, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch (149x2 Atk, 155 Speed)
Eaton - High Jump Kick, Fly, X-Scissor, Rock Slide (200 Atk, 203 Speed)
Dangerously - Focus Blast, Surf, Psychic, Ice Beam (163 SA, 145 Speed)
The Frost Cavern opener was a tad tricky, largely because of a certain spectral sword who hit through Dig of all things (thanks, No Guard) and of course, Sawk shooting on everyone because I didn't bring it on this team. That was the only trouble spot, except for the troubling trend of High Jump Kick missing 1 out of every 5 or so that lasted the whole day.
The trickiest part of any Fighting run in XY is of course, the Psychic gym. Zbyszko had to take the lead here to keep us from losing 2-3 guys per round to the Psychic moves, before Anderson came out for the gym fight and started Mega Shadow Clawing everything in sight. Olympia wasn't actually that hard, though - a Thunder Punch got Sigilyph, a Crunch OHKOed Slowking and Meowstic got the aforementioned MegaClaw.
The Team Flare quest finished before lunch, including a Mega fight that Anderson managed to win by about 20 HP (though it helped that Gyarados goes Fighting-weak when he goes Mega). The next big fight was the Scoobie gauntlet, which had one scary moment at the end with Aerodactyl - however, unlike his real-life counterpart, Dangerously hung on after the big aerial offense and managed to drop it in one Surf.
The last badge came in Snowbelle, and it went as I thought it would - Kick KO x 2, Mega Aura Sphere. By this point, I was 1-2 levels ahead of normal pace and stayed there until I flipped the Exp Share off after the rival fight in Victory Road. Even then, we ended up at 65... so I'm not as scared of Wikstrom as I was (even though I *know* I'll only be able to one-shot Scizor there).
That match... is next.
Current team at L65:
Rude - Brick Break, Seed Bomb, Earthquake, Rock Slide (211 Atk, 148 Speed)
Anderson - Aura Sphere, Metal Claw, Psychic, Shadow Claw (194 Atk, 196 SA, 127 Speed, Mega puts them in the 240s)
Zbyszko - High Jump Kick, Crunch, Poison Jab, Dragon Claw (188 Atk, 140 Speed)
Austin - High Jump Kick, Zen Headbutt, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch (149x2 Atk, 155 Speed)
Eaton - High Jump Kick, Fly, X-Scissor, Rock Slide (200 Atk, 203 Speed)
Dangerously - Focus Blast, Surf, Psychic, Ice Beam (163 SA, 145 Speed)
The Frost Cavern opener was a tad tricky, largely because of a certain spectral sword who hit through Dig of all things (thanks, No Guard) and of course, Sawk shooting on everyone because I didn't bring it on this team. That was the only trouble spot, except for the troubling trend of High Jump Kick missing 1 out of every 5 or so that lasted the whole day.
The trickiest part of any Fighting run in XY is of course, the Psychic gym. Zbyszko had to take the lead here to keep us from losing 2-3 guys per round to the Psychic moves, before Anderson came out for the gym fight and started Mega Shadow Clawing everything in sight. Olympia wasn't actually that hard, though - a Thunder Punch got Sigilyph, a Crunch OHKOed Slowking and Meowstic got the aforementioned MegaClaw.
The Team Flare quest finished before lunch, including a Mega fight that Anderson managed to win by about 20 HP (though it helped that Gyarados goes Fighting-weak when he goes Mega). The next big fight was the Scoobie gauntlet, which had one scary moment at the end with Aerodactyl - however, unlike his real-life counterpart, Dangerously hung on after the big aerial offense and managed to drop it in one Surf.
The last badge came in Snowbelle, and it went as I thought it would - Kick KO x 2, Mega Aura Sphere. By this point, I was 1-2 levels ahead of normal pace and stayed there until I flipped the Exp Share off after the rival fight in Victory Road. Even then, we ended up at 65... so I'm not as scared of Wikstrom as I was (even though I *know* I'll only be able to one-shot Scizor there).
That match... is next.
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Fighting Day 4: Devestation in Laverre City
Current location: Dendemille Town, visited the Returner.
Current team (L44):
Rude - Low Sweep, Seed Bomb, Dig, Rock Tomb
Anderson - Aura Sphere, Metal Claw, Shadow Claw, Dragon Pulse
Zbyszko - High Jump Kick, Crunch, Poison Jab, Rock Tomb
Austin - High Jump Kick, Zen Headbutt, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch
Eaton - High Jump Kick, Fly, X-Scissor, Rock Tomb
and newcomer Dangerously the Poliwrath (Modest, Damp, SA/Speed) - Low Sweep, Surf, Mud Shot, Poison Jab
We picked up in Lumiose, grabbed a few extra items for the road and had our third rival fight to open. The Cruncher (Zbyszko) took out the two Psychics on the team to earn a much needed evolution, and then it was up Route 14 to find Poli Dangerously.
Thankfully, we found a quality Poliwhirl fishing on about the 4th try - only complaint is no Water Absorb, but I can deal. Also, it helped that Dangerously came at L35, so it only took a few rounds in the Laverre Gym to get him caught up.
As for Valerie herself... turns out Adamant and Poison Jab does mean you can sweep Valerie with a Pokemon 4x weak to Fairy. The Speed+ O-Power saved him from using an X-Speed, allowing High Jump Kick to OHKO Mawile for a Moxie +1, then two Poison Jabs put down Mr Mime for the duke.
After the Poke Ball factory, we went to Route 15 and I decided to clear the 15 and 16 areas before going into Dendemille. There were no problems there, and the team got to L44 right as 16 ended. Back in Dendemille, it took all of the Heart Scale supply to get Anderson and Austin outfitted, but we're ready to go for tomorrow.
Tomorrow's goal: At least get past the Flare event.
Current team (L44):
Rude - Low Sweep, Seed Bomb, Dig, Rock Tomb
Anderson - Aura Sphere, Metal Claw, Shadow Claw, Dragon Pulse
Zbyszko - High Jump Kick, Crunch, Poison Jab, Rock Tomb
Austin - High Jump Kick, Zen Headbutt, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch
Eaton - High Jump Kick, Fly, X-Scissor, Rock Tomb
and newcomer Dangerously the Poliwrath (Modest, Damp, SA/Speed) - Low Sweep, Surf, Mud Shot, Poison Jab
We picked up in Lumiose, grabbed a few extra items for the road and had our third rival fight to open. The Cruncher (Zbyszko) took out the two Psychics on the team to earn a much needed evolution, and then it was up Route 14 to find Poli Dangerously.
Thankfully, we found a quality Poliwhirl fishing on about the 4th try - only complaint is no Water Absorb, but I can deal. Also, it helped that Dangerously came at L35, so it only took a few rounds in the Laverre Gym to get him caught up.
As for Valerie herself... turns out Adamant and Poison Jab does mean you can sweep Valerie with a Pokemon 4x weak to Fairy. The Speed+ O-Power saved him from using an X-Speed, allowing High Jump Kick to OHKO Mawile for a Moxie +1, then two Poison Jabs put down Mr Mime for the duke.
After the Poke Ball factory, we went to Route 15 and I decided to clear the 15 and 16 areas before going into Dendemille. There were no problems there, and the team got to L44 right as 16 ended. Back in Dendemille, it took all of the Heart Scale supply to get Anderson and Austin outfitted, but we're ready to go for tomorrow.
Tomorrow's goal: At least get past the Flare event.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Fighting Day 3: You're Fired
After an extremely negative experience with a certain game that has me wanting to do this to the city of Edmonton...
...I got a lot further in this than I anticipated.
Current location: Central Lumoise Pokemon Center, just beat Clemont.
Current team at L38:
Rude (now a Chesnaught): Rock Smash, Seed Bomb, Bulldoze, Aerial Ace
Anderson (now @ Lucarionite): Force Palm, Bone Rush, Shadow Claw, Rock Tomb
Zbyszko: High Jump Kick, Crunch (finally he becomes the Cruncher), Rock Tomb, Poison Jab
Hayes (now a Toxicroak): Low Sweep, Poison Jab, Dig, Rock Tomb
Austin (now a Medicham): High Jump Kick, Poison Jab, Return, Rock Tomb
Eaton: Low Sweep, Fly, X-Scissor, Strength
It began on Route 8, as I went back to the Sky Battle forgetting that Eaton doesn't qualify (speciesists). The water trainers down below were quickly mowed down, allowing us to enter the gym at L24... and we pretty much rolled it. Amaura was down in one, and Tyrunt went down to a Bulldoze/Force Palm combo from Anderson before the entire team got Rock Tomb to provide Flying checks.
Nothing much of note happened on Route 10, and the Geosenge fight ended up being a mirror match that Anderson busted spines all over. Reflection Cave saw Sawk overwhelm Zbyszko before Eaton made a key save, and we managed to emerge with no casualties otherwise.
In Shalour, the first Rival round was tricky because of the opening Psychic type, but we got around it with Anderson laughing at Fake Out and Shadow Clawing it into next week. In the Gym, I threw Eaton out against the Hawlucha and elected to super-effect with Aerial Ace rather than get into a Press match, which won us the badge.
Going into Route 12, I elected to temporarily box Hayes and grab Madusa, faint it, then crank the Exp Share against the Breeder pair and bug boy - between them and Azure Bay, the group was L33 going into Courmarine. Hayes came out and promptly rolled over the Grass gym with Poison Jab, leading to an easy 4th badge.
The Route That Shall Not Be Named had its wind going full blast, but we did eventually clear it - and Rude reached the final stage on the second trainer of the Power Plant. Once that was done, it was onto the Electric gym, where Hayes AND Austin evolved before we took out Emolga with a crit Poison Jab, a Bone Rush and a HELLOJUMPKICK.
Tomorrow: Paul E finally hops in.
Current location: Central Lumoise Pokemon Center, just beat Clemont.
Current team at L38:
Rude (now a Chesnaught): Rock Smash, Seed Bomb, Bulldoze, Aerial Ace
Anderson (now @ Lucarionite): Force Palm, Bone Rush, Shadow Claw, Rock Tomb
Zbyszko: High Jump Kick, Crunch (finally he becomes the Cruncher), Rock Tomb, Poison Jab
Hayes (now a Toxicroak): Low Sweep, Poison Jab, Dig, Rock Tomb
Austin (now a Medicham): High Jump Kick, Poison Jab, Return, Rock Tomb
Eaton: Low Sweep, Fly, X-Scissor, Strength
It began on Route 8, as I went back to the Sky Battle forgetting that Eaton doesn't qualify (speciesists). The water trainers down below were quickly mowed down, allowing us to enter the gym at L24... and we pretty much rolled it. Amaura was down in one, and Tyrunt went down to a Bulldoze/Force Palm combo from Anderson before the entire team got Rock Tomb to provide Flying checks.
Nothing much of note happened on Route 10, and the Geosenge fight ended up being a mirror match that Anderson busted spines all over. Reflection Cave saw Sawk overwhelm Zbyszko before Eaton made a key save, and we managed to emerge with no casualties otherwise.
In Shalour, the first Rival round was tricky because of the opening Psychic type, but we got around it with Anderson laughing at Fake Out and Shadow Clawing it into next week. In the Gym, I threw Eaton out against the Hawlucha and elected to super-effect with Aerial Ace rather than get into a Press match, which won us the badge.
Going into Route 12, I elected to temporarily box Hayes and grab Madusa, faint it, then crank the Exp Share against the Breeder pair and bug boy - between them and Azure Bay, the group was L33 going into Courmarine. Hayes came out and promptly rolled over the Grass gym with Poison Jab, leading to an easy 4th badge.
The Route That Shall Not Be Named had its wind going full blast, but we did eventually clear it - and Rude reached the final stage on the second trainer of the Power Plant. Once that was done, it was onto the Electric gym, where Hayes AND Austin evolved before we took out Emolga with a crit Poison Jab, a Bone Rush and a HELLOJUMPKICK.
Tomorrow: Paul E finally hops in.
Friday, May 30, 2014
Fighting Day 2: Of Course You Know This Means Wargames
Current location: Ambrette Town, going to actually fight the trainers on the bottom part of Route 8
Current team:
Rude L22 - Rock Smash, Vine Whip, Rollout, Shadow Claw
Anderson L22 (now a Lucario) - Force Palm, Bulldoze, Shadow Claw, Quick Attack
Zbyszko L21 - Brick Break, Feint Attack, Headbutt, Low Kick
Hayes the Croagunk (Brave, Atk/Speed, Anticipation) - Rock Smash, Poison Sting, Thief, Bulldoze
Austin the Medicham (Lonely, Atk/Speed, Pure Power) - Rock Smash, Return, Confusion, Hidden Power
Eaton the Hawlucha (Adamant, Atk/Speed, Unburden) - Rock Smash, Aerial Ace, Roost, Encore
Ah yes, the glorious time when everyone gets their primary type of attack.
When we last left our intrepid heroes, they were about to make way to Route 7 and up to Parfum Palace, in order to get a large lug out of the way. The Amulet Coin was once again the big prize, and we cleared the maze in about six minutes which has to be a record.
After moving the half ton behemoth out of the way, we added filler member PS Hayes on the third shot and slid over to pick up the future Stone Cold killer of the group. The ensuing ST-athon led to the two newbies beasting the Chateau before they doubled back to Route 6 to clear that portion.
By the time we entered Mountain Kalos, the group was in the 20-21 range, and we finally picked up Rock Smash so Austin (among others) could hit for massive damage. In the Glittering Cave, a catch of Machop (which turned out to be perfect for our purposes as Adamant/Guts, except the team was all but full) did cause one other nice side effect - Anderson evolved and officially became the Enforcer.
Finally, we went down to add Eaton to the stable - and it came out Adamant/Unburden, which is almost as good as it gets. The night ended with a final round of ST.
If I can squeeze in a little time tomorrow, we're getting past Grant. And I'm burning the boutique in Cyllage to the ground for suggesting a twelve-year old girl wear a damn halter top.
Current team:
Rude L22 - Rock Smash, Vine Whip, Rollout, Shadow Claw
Anderson L22 (now a Lucario) - Force Palm, Bulldoze, Shadow Claw, Quick Attack
Zbyszko L21 - Brick Break, Feint Attack, Headbutt, Low Kick
Hayes the Croagunk (Brave, Atk/Speed, Anticipation) - Rock Smash, Poison Sting, Thief, Bulldoze
Austin the Medicham (Lonely, Atk/Speed, Pure Power) - Rock Smash, Return, Confusion, Hidden Power
Eaton the Hawlucha (Adamant, Atk/Speed, Unburden) - Rock Smash, Aerial Ace, Roost, Encore
Ah yes, the glorious time when everyone gets their primary type of attack.
When we last left our intrepid heroes, they were about to make way to Route 7 and up to Parfum Palace, in order to get a large lug out of the way. The Amulet Coin was once again the big prize, and we cleared the maze in about six minutes which has to be a record.
After moving the half ton behemoth out of the way, we added filler member PS Hayes on the third shot and slid over to pick up the future Stone Cold killer of the group. The ensuing ST-athon led to the two newbies beasting the Chateau before they doubled back to Route 6 to clear that portion.
By the time we entered Mountain Kalos, the group was in the 20-21 range, and we finally picked up Rock Smash so Austin (among others) could hit for massive damage. In the Glittering Cave, a catch of Machop (which turned out to be perfect for our purposes as Adamant/Guts, except the team was all but full) did cause one other nice side effect - Anderson evolved and officially became the Enforcer.
Finally, we went down to add Eaton to the stable - and it came out Adamant/Unburden, which is almost as good as it gets. The night ended with a final round of ST.
If I can squeeze in a little time tomorrow, we're getting past Grant. And I'm burning the boutique in Cyllage to the ground for suggesting a twelve-year old girl wear a damn halter top.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Fighting Day 1: We're Coming To Destroy WCW... I Mean, Kalos
Current location: Camphier Town, just arrived.
Current team:
Zbyszko the Scraggy (Adamant, Moxie, Atk/Speed) - Low Kick, Feint Attack, Headbutt, Leer L14
Rude the Quilladin (Adamant, Atk/Speed) - Bulldoze, Vine Whip, Rollout, Bite L16
Anderson the Riolu (Relaxed, Atk/SA, Inner Focus) - Force Palm, Bulldoze, Return, Quick Attack L17
Madusa the Panpour (doesn't matter, HM Mule, will end up fired and turning on the team)
Although I went with Paige as the character name, I quickly ended up on the Dangerous Alliance once I picked Rude as the Chespin's nickname. ("I'd like for each one of you fat, out-of-shape, Lumiose losers to shut your mouths while I leave this Poke Ball and show you what a REAL Pokemon looks like.")
I got Adamant on the third reset, picked up Fletchling to serve as the Super Training mule until it was time for ST, then blitzed Santalune Forest picking up the future Madusa on the way. (Yes, I actually nicknamed her too.) Upon hitting the city, it took about twenty minutes before I found the first Riolu... I can live with Relaxed since I just need the Attack stats cranked.
The annoying part is, Riolu's a happy evolver who's already fainted twice so I can't really control when it evolves. Bonus trouble comes when it evolves in the daytime (thankfully, most of the run is in the daytime). We leveled Anderson to 11, then went into the gym and Rude promptly squashed the Bugs with a little Rude Awakening of his own.
Route 4 meant it was time to grab Honey so we could attract Pokemon in great numbers. And after dodging the trainers, picking up a redundant Squirtle and grabbing Bulldoze, it was Cruncher-hunting time. Amazingly, the second one was perfect - Adamant + Moxie. Valerie, we are officially comin' for you.
The rest of the time after an ST session was taking out Route 5, and remember that the Cruncher learns stuff really quickly - he picked up Feint Attack and Headbutt in the same route. He's also a hard check to the Kadabra dude on the route provided it's learned FA.
We put up for the night in Camphier Town. Tomorrow's goals are to get a Croagunk, Meditite and maybe a Hawlucha?
Current team:
Zbyszko the Scraggy (Adamant, Moxie, Atk/Speed) - Low Kick, Feint Attack, Headbutt, Leer L14
Rude the Quilladin (Adamant, Atk/Speed) - Bulldoze, Vine Whip, Rollout, Bite L16
Anderson the Riolu (Relaxed, Atk/SA, Inner Focus) - Force Palm, Bulldoze, Return, Quick Attack L17
Madusa the Panpour (doesn't matter, HM Mule, will end up fired and turning on the team)
Although I went with Paige as the character name, I quickly ended up on the Dangerous Alliance once I picked Rude as the Chespin's nickname. ("I'd like for each one of you fat, out-of-shape, Lumiose losers to shut your mouths while I leave this Poke Ball and show you what a REAL Pokemon looks like.")
I got Adamant on the third reset, picked up Fletchling to serve as the Super Training mule until it was time for ST, then blitzed Santalune Forest picking up the future Madusa on the way. (Yes, I actually nicknamed her too.) Upon hitting the city, it took about twenty minutes before I found the first Riolu... I can live with Relaxed since I just need the Attack stats cranked.
The annoying part is, Riolu's a happy evolver who's already fainted twice so I can't really control when it evolves. Bonus trouble comes when it evolves in the daytime (thankfully, most of the run is in the daytime). We leveled Anderson to 11, then went into the gym and Rude promptly squashed the Bugs with a little Rude Awakening of his own.
Route 4 meant it was time to grab Honey so we could attract Pokemon in great numbers. And after dodging the trainers, picking up a redundant Squirtle and grabbing Bulldoze, it was Cruncher-hunting time. Amazingly, the second one was perfect - Adamant + Moxie. Valerie, we are officially comin' for you.
The rest of the time after an ST session was taking out Route 5, and remember that the Cruncher learns stuff really quickly - he picked up Feint Attack and Headbutt in the same route. He's also a hard check to the Kadabra dude on the route provided it's learned FA.
We put up for the night in Camphier Town. Tomorrow's goals are to get a Croagunk, Meditite and maybe a Hawlucha?
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Type Preview: Fighting
After so many rounds of being the object of my torture, I finally get to turn it on Kalos. It's one of the most physically biased types in the game, so much so that I ended up going out of my way to have special move users at the endgame. It had one of the hardest tossups of type in the game, where I went against a previous run.
I'm Fighting through the darkness to complete this project.
Type effectiveness:
Attacking: Super-effects Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark and Steel. Half damage to Poison, Flying, Psychic, Bug, and Fairy. Ghosts are immune.
Defending: Super-effected by Flying, Psychic and Fairy. Resist Bug, Rock and Dark.
Dual-types: Ingame has Water, Grass, Poison, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Dark, and Steel. Postgame adds Normal (partially), Fire, and Rock.
Probable Final Team:
Chespin/Quilladin/Chesnaught: Yep, he's back. Key anti-Water, and his presence is what made a decision about this team for me. Probable Final Moveset: Brick Break, Seed Bomb, Earthquake, Rock Slide
Riolu/Lucario: Run's official Mega. I might actually just use the one Korrina gives you if I can't get a good nature draw (Hasty's fine as long as I don't randomly misclick and get OHKOed by something). Adaptability'd Metal Claw is probably my best bet at the end of the game for MegaGarde. PFM: Aura Sphere, Metal Claw, Psychic, Shadow Claw
Scraggy/Scrafty: Mr. Fancypants returns from Dark to provide Psychic immunity, Moxie-based sweeping and generally be a boss. Fully prepared to attempt the Valerie sweep again. PFM: High Jump Kick, Crunch, Poison Jab, Dragon Claw
Meditite/Medicham: Provides elemental offense that Gallade just can't provide without move tutors. Attack rating is equivalent... sadly, Lucario has to switch into Flying moves aimed at it quite a bit. PFM: High Jump Kick, three of Psycho Cut, Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch (leaning toward Psycho, Fire and Thunder)
Hawlucha: Aerial offense, will be the anti-Fighter until Medicham can pay a visit to the Returner. PFM: High Jump Kick, Fly, X-Scissor, Poison Jab or Rock Slide
Poliwag/Poliwhirl/Poliwrath: Never thought I'd use this one, but its SA is just good enough that I can use it with either special (ideal, for Ice Beam destruction) or physical (for actual Fighting STAB. On the special side, that's Focus Miss. Ick.) PFM: Focus Blast, Surf, Ice Beam, Psychic
Other team members: Toxicroak will come along for the ride until Poliwrath comes on - of course, that's literally RIGHT BEFORE THE FAIRY GYM where he'd be useful. Oh well, that's Scrafty's job anyway.
Why not use...?
Gallade: Already mentioned, but a lot of his move variety is covered elsewhere and I'm trying to diversify.
Pangoro: Still not a fan compared to Scrafty.
Mienshao: Stuck in the awkward Mienfoo stage for too long, not enough move variety.
Machamp: Trade evo
Hariyama, Sawk: On the same route, pure-Fighting, I would like to use one but need the party slot for variety.
Throh, Heracross: As we know now, neither is available in X.
Gurdurr/Conkledurr: A Machamp that comes on Route 18? nope.gif
Major Battle Expectations:
Viola: Nothing a Rollout can't fix
Grant: Operation "Throw Rock Smash On Everything" now has STAB? How can I lose?
Korrina: Pretty sure I can win the Hawlucha fight.
Ramos: At worst, we have a couple of Poison Jabbers and Hawlucha's Fly.
Clemont: wow such bulldoze many low sweeps
Valerie: Scrafty's gonna do it this time, I swear.
Olympia: Scrafty, Lucario and pray for rain. Medicham will also have been to the Move Returner since.
Wulfric: Ice crashing? Easy.
Rival: He's on Delphox, which would be a problem if it wasn't for Scrafty.
Team Flare: Half their best Pokemon are Fighting weak, just have to watch for the bats.
Elite 4: Wikstrom up first? This is madness! Also, Poliwrath's sole purpose in life is to get rid of Drasna.
Champion: Can Adaptability Metal Claw off base 140 take out MegaGarde?
Trainer:
As befitting a Fighting team, the trainer will be named Paige and the Pokemon nicknamed appropriately - after famous champion wrestlers.
I'm Fighting through the darkness to complete this project.
Type effectiveness:
Attacking: Super-effects Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark and Steel. Half damage to Poison, Flying, Psychic, Bug, and Fairy. Ghosts are immune.
Defending: Super-effected by Flying, Psychic and Fairy. Resist Bug, Rock and Dark.
Dual-types: Ingame has Water, Grass, Poison, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Dark, and Steel. Postgame adds Normal (partially), Fire, and Rock.
Probable Final Team:
Chespin/Quilladin/Chesnaught: Yep, he's back. Key anti-Water, and his presence is what made a decision about this team for me. Probable Final Moveset: Brick Break, Seed Bomb, Earthquake, Rock Slide
Riolu/Lucario: Run's official Mega. I might actually just use the one Korrina gives you if I can't get a good nature draw (Hasty's fine as long as I don't randomly misclick and get OHKOed by something). Adaptability'd Metal Claw is probably my best bet at the end of the game for MegaGarde. PFM: Aura Sphere, Metal Claw, Psychic, Shadow Claw
Scraggy/Scrafty: Mr. Fancypants returns from Dark to provide Psychic immunity, Moxie-based sweeping and generally be a boss. Fully prepared to attempt the Valerie sweep again. PFM: High Jump Kick, Crunch, Poison Jab, Dragon Claw
Meditite/Medicham: Provides elemental offense that Gallade just can't provide without move tutors. Attack rating is equivalent... sadly, Lucario has to switch into Flying moves aimed at it quite a bit. PFM: High Jump Kick, three of Psycho Cut, Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch (leaning toward Psycho, Fire and Thunder)
Hawlucha: Aerial offense, will be the anti-Fighter until Medicham can pay a visit to the Returner. PFM: High Jump Kick, Fly, X-Scissor, Poison Jab or Rock Slide
Poliwag/Poliwhirl/Poliwrath: Never thought I'd use this one, but its SA is just good enough that I can use it with either special (ideal, for Ice Beam destruction) or physical (for actual Fighting STAB. On the special side, that's Focus Miss. Ick.) PFM: Focus Blast, Surf, Ice Beam, Psychic
Other team members: Toxicroak will come along for the ride until Poliwrath comes on - of course, that's literally RIGHT BEFORE THE FAIRY GYM where he'd be useful. Oh well, that's Scrafty's job anyway.
Why not use...?
Gallade: Already mentioned, but a lot of his move variety is covered elsewhere and I'm trying to diversify.
Pangoro: Still not a fan compared to Scrafty.
Mienshao: Stuck in the awkward Mienfoo stage for too long, not enough move variety.
Machamp: Trade evo
Hariyama, Sawk: On the same route, pure-Fighting, I would like to use one but need the party slot for variety.
Throh, Heracross: As we know now, neither is available in X.
Gurdurr/Conkledurr: A Machamp that comes on Route 18? nope.gif
Major Battle Expectations:
Viola: Nothing a Rollout can't fix
Grant: Operation "Throw Rock Smash On Everything" now has STAB? How can I lose?
Korrina: Pretty sure I can win the Hawlucha fight.
Ramos: At worst, we have a couple of Poison Jabbers and Hawlucha's Fly.
Clemont: wow such bulldoze many low sweeps
Valerie: Scrafty's gonna do it this time, I swear.
Olympia: Scrafty, Lucario and pray for rain. Medicham will also have been to the Move Returner since.
Wulfric: Ice crashing? Easy.
Rival: He's on Delphox, which would be a problem if it wasn't for Scrafty.
Team Flare: Half their best Pokemon are Fighting weak, just have to watch for the bats.
Elite 4: Wikstrom up first? This is madness! Also, Poliwrath's sole purpose in life is to get rid of Drasna.
Champion: Can Adaptability Metal Claw off base 140 take out MegaGarde?
Trainer:
As befitting a Fighting team, the trainer will be named Paige and the Pokemon nicknamed appropriately - after famous champion wrestlers.
Electric run complete!
Siebold
Yeah, this was the obvious opener.
Ixion v Clawitzer
Thunderbolt OHKOs.
Tritoch v Gyarados
Make it two.
Ixion v Barbaracle
For a change of pace, Grass Knot OHKOs.
Ixion v Starmie
And back to Thunderbolt for the win.
Malva
I've got more Waters and Surfs than normal...
Ixion v Pyroar
Surf OHKOs.
Tritoch v Torkoal
And again.
Tritoch v Chandelure
Surf goes 3/3.
Tiamat v Talonflame
I misclicked Dragon Pulse... and after Flare Blitz takes to 167/206, it finishes anyway. Huh. Thanks to Exp Share, Ixion leveled here.
Drasna
If I can get past the first one, this should be easy...
Tiamat v Dragalgae
When in doubt, go Mega. Dragon Pulse means we're 9/9.
Tritoch v Altaria
Ice Beam OHKOs for 10.
Tritoch v Noivern
Dragon Pulse takes 100 off (151/251) but Ice Beam means we're 11/11. Tritoch levels.
Tiamat v Druddigon
And Dragon Pulse makes us perfect through 3 Elite and levels Tiamat.
Wikstrom
Only one left, what can I do?
Remora v Klefki
Dazzling Gleam goes first and takes Remora to 177 (/226), and Mud Bomb... doesn't finish, ending the streak like a metallic Lesnar. Thunderbolt hits the Full Restore, and Klefki drops Spikes before falling to a second Thunderbolt.
Remora v Probopass
Surf takes Probopass down about 40%, and Earth Power brings Remora to 101. Mud Bomb finishes and Remora levels.
Remora v Aegislash
I Hyper Potion to waste King's Shield, and Mud Bomb does just under half. Shadow Claw takes Remora to 126... and Static kicks in. Mud Bomb 2 hits a switch to Shield Form, but Aegislash is paralyzed. Full Restore 2 is met with Thunderbolt for about a quarter, Mud Bomb hits the Shield, a seond one hits but Aegislash Claws Remora to 27. Yet another Mud Bomb finishes.
Raiden v Scizor
Overheat does it job, OHKOing. That's better.
Diantha
There's two trouble spots down the stretch...
Alexander v Hawlucha
Flying Press hits for 23 (146/169), and Thunderbolt OHKOs back.
Alexander v Tyrantrum
Flash Cannon OHKOs. Alexander levels.
Tritoch v Goodra
Here's the first trouble. Ice Beam does 40%, and Dragon Pulse brings Tritoch to 161/254. Thunderbolt criticals to put Goodra into Ice Beam KO range, while a second Dragon Pulse leaves Tritoch on 79. Ice Beam finishes.
Raiden v Gourgeist
Not taking any chances, Overheat OHKOs. Raiden levels, and we're all hands on deck!
Alexander v Aurorus
Flash Cannon OHKOs.
Alexander v Gardevoir
Shadow Ball takes Alexander to 76, and Flash Cannon... leaves 5%. Full Restore is met by Thunderbolt for 40%. Alex survives Shadow Ball with 11 HP, and there's no kicking out of a second Flash Cannon!
Pictured: Getting out in front of our deep-sea friend.
Off they go to the Bank, and then we start Fighting through the final four runs...
Time of the fall: 29:04
Yeah, this was the obvious opener.
Ixion v Clawitzer
Thunderbolt OHKOs.
Tritoch v Gyarados
Make it two.
Ixion v Barbaracle
For a change of pace, Grass Knot OHKOs.
Ixion v Starmie
And back to Thunderbolt for the win.
Malva
I've got more Waters and Surfs than normal...
Ixion v Pyroar
Surf OHKOs.
Tritoch v Torkoal
And again.
Tritoch v Chandelure
Surf goes 3/3.
Tiamat v Talonflame
I misclicked Dragon Pulse... and after Flare Blitz takes to 167/206, it finishes anyway. Huh. Thanks to Exp Share, Ixion leveled here.
Drasna
If I can get past the first one, this should be easy...
Tiamat v Dragalgae
When in doubt, go Mega. Dragon Pulse means we're 9/9.
Tritoch v Altaria
Ice Beam OHKOs for 10.
Tritoch v Noivern
Dragon Pulse takes 100 off (151/251) but Ice Beam means we're 11/11. Tritoch levels.
Tiamat v Druddigon
And Dragon Pulse makes us perfect through 3 Elite and levels Tiamat.
Wikstrom
Only one left, what can I do?
Remora v Klefki
Dazzling Gleam goes first and takes Remora to 177 (/226), and Mud Bomb... doesn't finish, ending the streak like a metallic Lesnar. Thunderbolt hits the Full Restore, and Klefki drops Spikes before falling to a second Thunderbolt.
Remora v Probopass
Surf takes Probopass down about 40%, and Earth Power brings Remora to 101. Mud Bomb finishes and Remora levels.
Remora v Aegislash
I Hyper Potion to waste King's Shield, and Mud Bomb does just under half. Shadow Claw takes Remora to 126... and Static kicks in. Mud Bomb 2 hits a switch to Shield Form, but Aegislash is paralyzed. Full Restore 2 is met with Thunderbolt for about a quarter, Mud Bomb hits the Shield, a seond one hits but Aegislash Claws Remora to 27. Yet another Mud Bomb finishes.
Raiden v Scizor
Overheat does it job, OHKOing. That's better.
Diantha
There's two trouble spots down the stretch...
Alexander v Hawlucha
Flying Press hits for 23 (146/169), and Thunderbolt OHKOs back.
Alexander v Tyrantrum
Flash Cannon OHKOs. Alexander levels.
Tritoch v Goodra
Here's the first trouble. Ice Beam does 40%, and Dragon Pulse brings Tritoch to 161/254. Thunderbolt criticals to put Goodra into Ice Beam KO range, while a second Dragon Pulse leaves Tritoch on 79. Ice Beam finishes.
Raiden v Gourgeist
Not taking any chances, Overheat OHKOs. Raiden levels, and we're all hands on deck!
Alexander v Aurorus
Flash Cannon OHKOs.
Alexander v Gardevoir
Shadow Ball takes Alexander to 76, and Flash Cannon... leaves 5%. Full Restore is met by Thunderbolt for 40%. Alex survives Shadow Ball with 11 HP, and there's no kicking out of a second Flash Cannon!
Pictured: Getting out in front of our deep-sea friend.
Off they go to the Bank, and then we start Fighting through the final four runs...
Time of the fall: 29:04
Electric Day 7: Rolling Home
Current location: Saved at the Pokemon League.
Current team, L65:
Ixion: Thunderbolt, Surf, Grass Knot, Dark Pulse
Tiamat: Thunderbolt, Dragon Pulse, Power Gem, Signal Beam
Tritoch: Thunderbolt, Surf, Ice Beam, Dazzling Gleam
Remora: Thunderbolt, Mud Bomb, Surf, Sludge Bomb
Raiden: Thunderbolt, Overheat, Shadow Ball, Hidden Power (Rock)
Alexander: Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Tri Attack, Hidden Power (Ice)
Picked up with Route 18, and Terminus Cave had no real casualties... though Hasty began to catch up with Tritoch especially on some of the stray Earthquakes and Bulldozes. Raiden definitely appreciated Shadow Ball, though.
After taking Sycamore out (Dragon Pulse, two Thunderbolts) Route 19 brough Remora's Sludge Bomb and the Rival gauntlet. The main problem Pokemon showed itself at the end, though... Goodra, master of the base 150 Special Defense, managed to tank long enough to take out two Remora and Tritoch. Hopefully Diantha's Goodra will be stupid enough to fire Electric moves at Tritoch and trigger Volt Absorb, but a triple-Dragon Pulse is more likely.
The Snowbelle gym went down in three shots: Raiden, who switched back to Overheat, torched Abomasnow, then two Flash Cannons from Alexander finished Avalugg and somehow, Cryogonal. It was funnier when the Quiet-natured Alexander went first against Cryo and OHKOed.
I only bothered grabbing one of the big TMs (Dark Pulse), because no physical attackers, so that got us into Victory Road quickly... and Mud Bomb missed twice against Rival's Flareon. Really would prefer having access to Earth Power for him.
This one goes down tonight, and we should be down to 4.
Current team, L65:
Ixion: Thunderbolt, Surf, Grass Knot, Dark Pulse
Tiamat: Thunderbolt, Dragon Pulse, Power Gem, Signal Beam
Tritoch: Thunderbolt, Surf, Ice Beam, Dazzling Gleam
Remora: Thunderbolt, Mud Bomb, Surf, Sludge Bomb
Raiden: Thunderbolt, Overheat, Shadow Ball, Hidden Power (Rock)
Alexander: Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Tri Attack, Hidden Power (Ice)
Picked up with Route 18, and Terminus Cave had no real casualties... though Hasty began to catch up with Tritoch especially on some of the stray Earthquakes and Bulldozes. Raiden definitely appreciated Shadow Ball, though.
After taking Sycamore out (Dragon Pulse, two Thunderbolts) Route 19 brough Remora's Sludge Bomb and the Rival gauntlet. The main problem Pokemon showed itself at the end, though... Goodra, master of the base 150 Special Defense, managed to tank long enough to take out two Remora and Tritoch. Hopefully Diantha's Goodra will be stupid enough to fire Electric moves at Tritoch and trigger Volt Absorb, but a triple-Dragon Pulse is more likely.
The Snowbelle gym went down in three shots: Raiden, who switched back to Overheat, torched Abomasnow, then two Flash Cannons from Alexander finished Avalugg and somehow, Cryogonal. It was funnier when the Quiet-natured Alexander went first against Cryo and OHKOed.
I only bothered grabbing one of the big TMs (Dark Pulse), because no physical attackers, so that got us into Victory Road quickly... and Mud Bomb missed twice against Rival's Flareon. Really would prefer having access to Earth Power for him.
This one goes down tonight, and we should be down to 4.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Electric Day 6: Almost, But Not Quite, A Hard Counter
Current location: Anistar City, post-Flare. Current team at L52 all 'round:
Ixion: Thunderbolt, Surf, Grass Knot, Cut
Tiamat: Thunderbolt, Dragon Pulse, Strength, Rock Smash
Tritoch; Thunderbolt, Surf, Signal Beam, Dazzling Gleam
Remora: Thunderbolt, Mud Bomb, Surf, Discharge
Raiden: Thunderbolt, Air Slash, Hex, Hidden Power (Rock)
Alexander: Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Tri Attack, Hidden Power (Ice)
(Good thing Blissey's postgame or I would be, to put it generously, screwed.)
Last time, we were waiting for Rotom - and it arrived, Timid on the first shot. Oooh, yeah. It was quickly powered up and we resumed pounding everything in the 15->Hotel->16 region. Only problem: The team's not all that adept with the HMs, so much so that Tiamat won't have anything off-STAB until the endgame return to Dendemille. Raiden started out Flying, switched to Fire, then back to Flying so far. Probably won't leave him at Fire again until Snowbelle.
The team bent in Frost Cavern but didn't break, and came out at L45. The Anistar Gym fight saw Tritoch stall out Light Screen from Sigilyph with some well-timed Signal Beaming, Slowking take a predictable OHKO and Alexander three-shoot a Calm Minding Meowstic.
For the Flare quest, I thought Tritoch would be the perfect check to Lysandre - he\s got a Fighting type weak to Dazzling Gleam, a Surfable Fire type and a couple of Flying things. It worked pretty well the first two fights, with only a futile Swords Dance and a couple of Hyper Voice strikes getting in the way, but a Mega Gyarados Earthquake prevented a sweep (and a level, the SOB). Tiamat finished that fight in a Mega showdown. Also, Tritoch also pulled his weight against Xerosic, OHKOing the Malamar with Signal Beam.
Tomorrow: Endgame's in sight.
Ixion: Thunderbolt, Surf, Grass Knot, Cut
Tiamat: Thunderbolt, Dragon Pulse, Strength, Rock Smash
Tritoch; Thunderbolt, Surf, Signal Beam, Dazzling Gleam
Remora: Thunderbolt, Mud Bomb, Surf, Discharge
Raiden: Thunderbolt, Air Slash, Hex, Hidden Power (Rock)
Alexander: Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Tri Attack, Hidden Power (Ice)
(Good thing Blissey's postgame or I would be, to put it generously, screwed.)
Last time, we were waiting for Rotom - and it arrived, Timid on the first shot. Oooh, yeah. It was quickly powered up and we resumed pounding everything in the 15->Hotel->16 region. Only problem: The team's not all that adept with the HMs, so much so that Tiamat won't have anything off-STAB until the endgame return to Dendemille. Raiden started out Flying, switched to Fire, then back to Flying so far. Probably won't leave him at Fire again until Snowbelle.
The team bent in Frost Cavern but didn't break, and came out at L45. The Anistar Gym fight saw Tritoch stall out Light Screen from Sigilyph with some well-timed Signal Beaming, Slowking take a predictable OHKO and Alexander three-shoot a Calm Minding Meowstic.
For the Flare quest, I thought Tritoch would be the perfect check to Lysandre - he\s got a Fighting type weak to Dazzling Gleam, a Surfable Fire type and a couple of Flying things. It worked pretty well the first two fights, with only a futile Swords Dance and a couple of Hyper Voice strikes getting in the way, but a Mega Gyarados Earthquake prevented a sweep (and a level, the SOB). Tiamat finished that fight in a Mega showdown. Also, Tritoch also pulled his weight against Xerosic, OHKOing the Malamar with Signal Beam.
Tomorrow: Endgame's in sight.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Electric Day 5: Ready For Rotom
Current location: Saved at the top of the stairs on Route 15 that lead down to the Lost Hotel.
Current team:
Alexander the Magnezone L39 (Quiet, SA/Speed, Sturdy) - Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Tri Attack, Metal Sound
Ixion L41 - Thunderbolt, Grass Knot, Surf, Bulldoze
Tiamat L41 - Thunderbolt, Dragon Pulse, Power Gem, Thunder Wave
Tritoch L41 - Thunderbolt, Surf, Signal Beam, Dazzling Gleam
Remora the Stunfisk L40 (Hasty, SA/Speed, Static) - Thunderbolt, Mud Bomb, Surf, Discharge
(space reserved for Raiden the Rotom)
It was back to The Route That Shall Not Be Named to open today, and not surprisingly, nobody could really make use of Charge Beam. Shame. There's something about letting Tritoch soak up all the experience that just made the Power Plant fun, though I did end up running out of Full Heals before I could get past the Swalot who Toxiced the departed Quetzalcoatl.
Into the Electric gym, and we spread the experience around a bit. Surprisingly, Clemont's Emolga decided to Volt Switch out of the way of a mega Power Gem... sadly, his Heliolisk is an inferior model and got two-shot. I let Ramuh handle his fellow rat, and Tritoch wiped out Magneton for the badge (and more importantly, Thunderbolt).
Next, we needed a Stunfisk. The third one on Route 14 was suitable - as we know now, Static is WAY better for Stunfisk - and it got to L36 from L31 by the time we hit Laverre. Remora took the gym mostly on her own, bar the incident with the Energy Ball Slurpuff - and even got Mawile with Mud Bomb, but then Ramuh went off all big-time Strengthee on the last two to pick up badge 6 and Tritoch's Dragon defense pre-Ice Beam.
From there, we unlocked Route 15, evaded every trainer, and caught a suitable Magneton in two shots after a trip to the Returner for some people (mostly Tiamat). A spare Rare Candy made it Magnezone, then we pumped it full of drugs and set it off for an ST session... just one more to go.
Tomorrow: Catch Rotom, clear out to Anistar.
Current team:
Alexander the Magnezone L39 (Quiet, SA/Speed, Sturdy) - Thunderbolt, Flash Cannon, Tri Attack, Metal Sound
Ixion L41 - Thunderbolt, Grass Knot, Surf, Bulldoze
Tiamat L41 - Thunderbolt, Dragon Pulse, Power Gem, Thunder Wave
Tritoch L41 - Thunderbolt, Surf, Signal Beam, Dazzling Gleam
Remora the Stunfisk L40 (Hasty, SA/Speed, Static) - Thunderbolt, Mud Bomb, Surf, Discharge
(space reserved for Raiden the Rotom)
It was back to The Route That Shall Not Be Named to open today, and not surprisingly, nobody could really make use of Charge Beam. Shame. There's something about letting Tritoch soak up all the experience that just made the Power Plant fun, though I did end up running out of Full Heals before I could get past the Swalot who Toxiced the departed Quetzalcoatl.
Into the Electric gym, and we spread the experience around a bit. Surprisingly, Clemont's Emolga decided to Volt Switch out of the way of a mega Power Gem... sadly, his Heliolisk is an inferior model and got two-shot. I let Ramuh handle his fellow rat, and Tritoch wiped out Magneton for the badge (and more importantly, Thunderbolt).
Next, we needed a Stunfisk. The third one on Route 14 was suitable - as we know now, Static is WAY better for Stunfisk - and it got to L36 from L31 by the time we hit Laverre. Remora took the gym mostly on her own, bar the incident with the Energy Ball Slurpuff - and even got Mawile with Mud Bomb, but then Ramuh went off all big-time Strengthee on the last two to pick up badge 6 and Tritoch's Dragon defense pre-Ice Beam.
From there, we unlocked Route 15, evaded every trainer, and caught a suitable Magneton in two shots after a trip to the Returner for some people (mostly Tiamat). A spare Rare Candy made it Magnezone, then we pumped it full of drugs and set it off for an ST session... just one more to go.
Tomorrow: Catch Rotom, clear out to Anistar.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Electric Day 4: It Was Useful For Once?
Current location: Courmarine Pokemon Center. Some guys need a good Knotting, so we'll do that in the morning.
Current team at L35 w/one exception:
Ramuh - unchanged
Ixion - unchanged
Quetzalcoatl - unchanged
Tiamat - Electro Ball, Thunder Wave, Power Gem, Bulldoze @ Ampharosite
Tritoch - Surf, Thunder Wave, Electro Ball, Spark (L34)
And there's the rub with Tritoch - it's a Slow grower. Thankfully, it's the only one on the team that has that problem, and it's got enough versatility with Surf/Thunderbolt soon/Dazzling Gleam right after that I can afford to have it out front and run the Experience Share.
Back to Route 12 to start, and the problem with having to get past two guys to get the Good Rod is they take a lot of experience off the route - so much so that we didn't ding 27 until Azure Bay. By the time we left, it was 29 (and thanks to Sky Battles, Quetzal was nearly 35). This... was an issue.
The Rival couldn't get it over the 30 hump... then I remembered that we could just beat around the various Ground types on The Route That Shall Not Be Named. The Lucky Egg came on board at the same time, so a few minutes of Surfing out Dugtrio (700-800 exp a shot) while listening to a podcast made it quite easy to pick up the necessary experience to even things up.
Finally, we entered the gym. And although Electric on Grass wasn't that good of a matchup normally, the guys packing Electro Ball had a merry old time Thunder Waving the Grassers and suddenly having an attack that approaches 120 power, resisted or no. Tiamat managed to OHKO an EXEGGUTOR with that combo (though to be fair, saying Eggy's special defense sucks balls would be insulting to balls). Ramos went down to a T-Wave/Ball rom Tiamat (Jumpluff, hilarity ensuing when it tried to Acrobatics and got paralyzed), three AAs around a Hyper Potion (Gogoat) and a T-Wave/Ball combo (Weepinbell... from Tritoch.)
Tomorrow: Thanks to Memorial Day, I will probably finish my work about an hour into my shift. This would normally mean I could potentially run all the way to the end of Team Flare, but for ghost-related reasons I'm pulling a hard stop in the Lost Hotel.
Current team at L35 w/one exception:
Ramuh - unchanged
Ixion - unchanged
Quetzalcoatl - unchanged
Tiamat - Electro Ball, Thunder Wave, Power Gem, Bulldoze @ Ampharosite
Tritoch - Surf, Thunder Wave, Electro Ball, Spark (L34)
And there's the rub with Tritoch - it's a Slow grower. Thankfully, it's the only one on the team that has that problem, and it's got enough versatility with Surf/Thunderbolt soon/Dazzling Gleam right after that I can afford to have it out front and run the Experience Share.
Back to Route 12 to start, and the problem with having to get past two guys to get the Good Rod is they take a lot of experience off the route - so much so that we didn't ding 27 until Azure Bay. By the time we left, it was 29 (and thanks to Sky Battles, Quetzal was nearly 35). This... was an issue.
The Rival couldn't get it over the 30 hump... then I remembered that we could just beat around the various Ground types on The Route That Shall Not Be Named. The Lucky Egg came on board at the same time, so a few minutes of Surfing out Dugtrio (700-800 exp a shot) while listening to a podcast made it quite easy to pick up the necessary experience to even things up.
Finally, we entered the gym. And although Electric on Grass wasn't that good of a matchup normally, the guys packing Electro Ball had a merry old time Thunder Waving the Grassers and suddenly having an attack that approaches 120 power, resisted or no. Tiamat managed to OHKO an EXEGGUTOR with that combo (though to be fair, saying Eggy's special defense sucks balls would be insulting to balls). Ramos went down to a T-Wave/Ball rom Tiamat (Jumpluff, hilarity ensuing when it tried to Acrobatics and got paralyzed), three AAs around a Hyper Potion (Gogoat) and a T-Wave/Ball combo (Weepinbell... from Tritoch.)
Tomorrow: Thanks to Memorial Day, I will probably finish my work about an hour into my shift. This would normally mean I could potentially run all the way to the end of Team Flare, but for ghost-related reasons I'm pulling a hard stop in the Lost Hotel.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Electric Day 3: Deep-Sea Fangly Fish
Current location: Shalour City, just got a new team member.
Current team:
unnamed Chinchou (leaning toward Tritoch) - Hasty, Volt Absorb, STed SA/Speed - Spark, Surf, Bubble, Confuse Ray
Tiamat - Electro Ball, Thunderpunch, Thunder Wave, Confuse Ray
Ramuh - Thunderbolt, Rock Smash, Dig, Strength @ Light Ball
Ixion - Parabolic Charge, Surf, Bulldoze, Thunder Wave
Quetzalcoatl - Spark, Aerial Ace, Pursuit, Thunder Wave
It was a short day today - As expected, we began the day in Shalour with an untrained Tiamat - it took about 45 minutes to get it up to speed, with a round of the Chateau, about a half hour in Reflection Cave until we got Electro Ball, then the Rival and Shalour Gym.
The Rival went down though Tiamat had to sub out for Frogadier as a sheer level issue. The Thunder Wave/Electro Ball combo served its purposes, allowing Tiamat to one-shot things she had no business one-shotting. She even ended up sweeping Korrina in the first (Gym) fight, though Machoke got her to 7HP before falling and causing the evolution.
Post Luario get, it was time to grab the Good Rod. Once again, it's not possible to get past two of the Route 12 trainers, but we eventually got back to Chalour to finish fishing up Chinchou. The easy test for a checkable one is to use STAB - if it hits, run. The 2nd Volt Absorber (3rd overall) was caught in a Dive Ball of all things, and it's STed up and ready to go.
I'm expecting something similar tomorrow - probably just the one badge.
Current team:
unnamed Chinchou (leaning toward Tritoch) - Hasty, Volt Absorb, STed SA/Speed - Spark, Surf, Bubble, Confuse Ray
Tiamat - Electro Ball, Thunderpunch, Thunder Wave, Confuse Ray
Ramuh - Thunderbolt, Rock Smash, Dig, Strength @ Light Ball
Ixion - Parabolic Charge, Surf, Bulldoze, Thunder Wave
Quetzalcoatl - Spark, Aerial Ace, Pursuit, Thunder Wave
It was a short day today - As expected, we began the day in Shalour with an untrained Tiamat - it took about 45 minutes to get it up to speed, with a round of the Chateau, about a half hour in Reflection Cave until we got Electro Ball, then the Rival and Shalour Gym.
The Rival went down though Tiamat had to sub out for Frogadier as a sheer level issue. The Thunder Wave/Electro Ball combo served its purposes, allowing Tiamat to one-shot things she had no business one-shotting. She even ended up sweeping Korrina in the first (Gym) fight, though Machoke got her to 7HP before falling and causing the evolution.
Post Luario get, it was time to grab the Good Rod. Once again, it's not possible to get past two of the Route 12 trainers, but we eventually got back to Chalour to finish fishing up Chinchou. The easy test for a checkable one is to use STAB - if it hits, run. The 2nd Volt Absorber (3rd overall) was caught in a Dive Ball of all things, and it's STed up and ready to go.
I'm expecting something similar tomorrow - probably just the one badge.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Electric Day 2: Current Of Power
Location: Shalour City Pokecenter, just finished STing someone.
Team:
Pikachu "Ramuh" L30 - Thunderbolt, Strength, Rock Smash, Thunder Wave@ Light Ball
Heliolisk "Ixion" L30 - Parabolic Charge, Bulldoze, Razor Wind, Quick Attack
Emolga "Quetzalcoatl" L30 - Spark, Aerial Ace, Pursuit, Thunder Wave (Lonely nature, STed Atk/Speed, Static)
Mareep "Tiamat" L13 - Growl, Thunder Wave, Thunder Shock, Cotton Spore (Rash, STed SA/Speed, Static)
Dedenne - Stuck Cut on it, no use otherwise
Picking back up on Route 7, I elected to go with "Final Fantasy Summons" as my theme of choice. Turns out, there's a lot (even if most of them end up as Revenant Wings references). The first task was trying to get Ixion evolved, so I went through Routes 7/8 leveling it, then tried my luck at getting Sun Stones by catching Solrock. No dice there... so I remembered the next easy method: Super Training. I fought through the first ten challenges to finally get to the Hydreigon one, and got the Sun Stone on the first shot. Hoorah.
By the time that was done, so was Glittering Cave, so the next task was getting Quetzalcoatl - thanks to Static he was quickly found and Lonely was deemed acceptable. A round of ST later, it was ready to go and took the lead as we wrapped up the Sky Battles as well as the rest of Route 8. I decided to enter the gym at L24. The Lunatone/Solrock double got Ixion to 25, so he was promptly Sun Stone'd, and Grant was felled by a Rock Smash (Amaura) / two Ixion Bulldozes and a Ramuh Rock Smash (Tyrunt).
We then made our way to Geosenge, where the Lucario double went down to a heavy dose of Spark from Quetzalcoatl in a nice bit of Gym foreshadowing. (I hope.) On Route 11, I grabbed Dedenne and figured out it could learn Cut, which officially made Simipour redundant so it was tossed. Quetzal then went off on the Fighting trainers in Reflection Cave, and Ixion continued to be the Pokemon most likely to faint (largely because Ramuh's 2-hitting everything in sight, and the defense hasn't been a concern YET.)
At the end of the Reflection Cave, it was sheep-hunting time... and the first swarm had two Pokemon who were doing 4 HP to Ramuh instead of the 3 of their colleagues, so I elected to grab the female one off a coin flip. (Wish I could see the stats of the male I fainted, though...) ST got it ready before the day ended.
Tomorrow: If I can (Mario Kart 7/8 permitting) I'm going to get Tiamat leveled up through the Chateau (which I haven't had to use yet) and hopefully beat Korrina.
Team:
Pikachu "Ramuh" L30 - Thunderbolt, Strength, Rock Smash, Thunder Wave@ Light Ball
Heliolisk "Ixion" L30 - Parabolic Charge, Bulldoze, Razor Wind, Quick Attack
Emolga "Quetzalcoatl" L30 - Spark, Aerial Ace, Pursuit, Thunder Wave (Lonely nature, STed Atk/Speed, Static)
Mareep "Tiamat" L13 - Growl, Thunder Wave, Thunder Shock, Cotton Spore (Rash, STed SA/Speed, Static)
Dedenne - Stuck Cut on it, no use otherwise
Picking back up on Route 7, I elected to go with "Final Fantasy Summons" as my theme of choice. Turns out, there's a lot (even if most of them end up as Revenant Wings references). The first task was trying to get Ixion evolved, so I went through Routes 7/8 leveling it, then tried my luck at getting Sun Stones by catching Solrock. No dice there... so I remembered the next easy method: Super Training. I fought through the first ten challenges to finally get to the Hydreigon one, and got the Sun Stone on the first shot. Hoorah.
By the time that was done, so was Glittering Cave, so the next task was getting Quetzalcoatl - thanks to Static he was quickly found and Lonely was deemed acceptable. A round of ST later, it was ready to go and took the lead as we wrapped up the Sky Battles as well as the rest of Route 8. I decided to enter the gym at L24. The Lunatone/Solrock double got Ixion to 25, so he was promptly Sun Stone'd, and Grant was felled by a Rock Smash (Amaura) / two Ixion Bulldozes and a Ramuh Rock Smash (Tyrunt).
We then made our way to Geosenge, where the Lucario double went down to a heavy dose of Spark from Quetzalcoatl in a nice bit of Gym foreshadowing. (I hope.) On Route 11, I grabbed Dedenne and figured out it could learn Cut, which officially made Simipour redundant so it was tossed. Quetzal then went off on the Fighting trainers in Reflection Cave, and Ixion continued to be the Pokemon most likely to faint (largely because Ramuh's 2-hitting everything in sight, and the defense hasn't been a concern YET.)
At the end of the Reflection Cave, it was sheep-hunting time... and the first swarm had two Pokemon who were doing 4 HP to Ramuh instead of the 3 of their colleagues, so I elected to grab the female one off a coin flip. (Wish I could see the stats of the male I fainted, though...) ST got it ready before the day ended.
Tomorrow: If I can (Mario Kart 7/8 permitting) I'm going to get Tiamat leveled up through the Chateau (which I haven't had to use yet) and hopefully beat Korrina.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Electric Day 1: Lost - One Theme, When Found Please Return
Current location: Camphier Town, standing in front of the Name Rater looking for inspiration.
Current team:
Pikachu L20 - Quiet, STed for max Attack, rest split between SA and Speed - Electro Ball, Rock Smash, Quick Attack, Thunder Wave @ Light Ball
Helioptile L20 - Mild, STed SA/Speed, Sand Veil - Thunder Shock, Bulldoze, Quick Attack, Charge @ Amulet Coin
Grabbed Fennekin off the hop and made a beeline for the Santalune Forest to start - the first rat out of the hopper had a nature I could live with, and the 4th had a Light Ball. After a round of training, the usual HM mules were obtained (Fletchling, Panpour) and we beelined for the gym, where Pikachu managed to speed tie Vivillon but still beat it in two Thundershocks.
After that event, the next big task was getting past Sycamore (easily accomplished) and getting out to Route 5, where I picked up a Plusle for the one double battle and went on my way. I bypassed a lot of the trainers on route, and simply did Parfum Palace to get the Amulet Coin and (more importantly) get Snorlax out of the way so I could go get Helioptile.
It's entirely possible to get to Route 9 without fighting anything, since I'm saving that experience for later, and so we got Rock Smash for Pikachu on the way to the route. Having a Static Pokemon makes it really easy to get Electric types, and Helioptile was kept on the second encounter (Mild's ok on this thing because it's going to be doing more KOing), though I do have to work out a plan to get a Sun Stone off a Solrock as neither Pokemon learns Thief.
After another round of ST, it was back to Route 5, picking up the stuff Cut opens up, and clearing out Route 6. Considering Pikachu basically 2-shot the double Furfrou fight with Electro Ball, that Light Ball is already coming in real handy. As for the theme-ing of the team... I'm still tossing that up, though I'm leaning toward thunder gods, electric summons, or the enemies of the 1992 Turbo CD classic and old-school Radio Free Nintendo running gag "Lords of Thunder" if any of them were named.
Idle observation 1: The male trainer has a Deluxe WiiU, while the female has a Basic WiiU AND a Pikachu 3DSXL. Which one's the more hardcore gamer?
Idle observation 2: In this game, you're given two starters, a fossil, a Lucario w/Mega Stone, and a Lapras. Is it just me, or could you theoretically do a run in this game by only catching one Pokemon provided it learns Fly? (Delphox starter, grab Venusaur, Talonflame, Aurorus, Lucario and Lapras... that's a team not to mess with.)
Current team:
Pikachu L20 - Quiet, STed for max Attack, rest split between SA and Speed - Electro Ball, Rock Smash, Quick Attack, Thunder Wave @ Light Ball
Helioptile L20 - Mild, STed SA/Speed, Sand Veil - Thunder Shock, Bulldoze, Quick Attack, Charge @ Amulet Coin
Grabbed Fennekin off the hop and made a beeline for the Santalune Forest to start - the first rat out of the hopper had a nature I could live with, and the 4th had a Light Ball. After a round of training, the usual HM mules were obtained (Fletchling, Panpour) and we beelined for the gym, where Pikachu managed to speed tie Vivillon but still beat it in two Thundershocks.
After that event, the next big task was getting past Sycamore (easily accomplished) and getting out to Route 5, where I picked up a Plusle for the one double battle and went on my way. I bypassed a lot of the trainers on route, and simply did Parfum Palace to get the Amulet Coin and (more importantly) get Snorlax out of the way so I could go get Helioptile.
It's entirely possible to get to Route 9 without fighting anything, since I'm saving that experience for later, and so we got Rock Smash for Pikachu on the way to the route. Having a Static Pokemon makes it really easy to get Electric types, and Helioptile was kept on the second encounter (Mild's ok on this thing because it's going to be doing more KOing), though I do have to work out a plan to get a Sun Stone off a Solrock as neither Pokemon learns Thief.
After another round of ST, it was back to Route 5, picking up the stuff Cut opens up, and clearing out Route 6. Considering Pikachu basically 2-shot the double Furfrou fight with Electro Ball, that Light Ball is already coming in real handy. As for the theme-ing of the team... I'm still tossing that up, though I'm leaning toward thunder gods, electric summons, or the enemies of the 1992 Turbo CD classic and old-school Radio Free Nintendo running gag "Lords of Thunder" if any of them were named.
Idle observation 1: The male trainer has a Deluxe WiiU, while the female has a Basic WiiU AND a Pikachu 3DSXL. Which one's the more hardcore gamer?
Idle observation 2: In this game, you're given two starters, a fossil, a Lucario w/Mega Stone, and a Lapras. Is it just me, or could you theoretically do a run in this game by only catching one Pokemon provided it learns Fly? (Delphox starter, grab Venusaur, Talonflame, Aurorus, Lucario and Lapras... that's a team not to mess with.)
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