Type Preview: Poison

By the power of Democracy - and it was about as effective as the Twitch version, winning by a whole vote - Poison has emerged as the winner and my next type. Long the punching bag of the type chart, Poison got a necessary buff by becoming strong against Fairy and has a laundry list of types that it can pair with.

The key is, the Poison type is still a bit of a punching bag with a LOT of junk to wade through.

Type Effectiveness:
Attacking: Super effects Grass and Fairy, not very effective against Poison, Ground, Rock, and Ghost. No effect on Steel.
Defending: Super effected by Ground and Psychic. Resists Grass, Fighting, Poison, Bug and Fairy.

Dual types:
Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Flying, Bug, Ghost, Dragon and Dark are all available in the Kalos Dex... and I can use them all, except for Dragon because that involves Skrelp who isn't available in X.

Probable final team:
Bulbasaur/Ivysaur/Venusaur: Hi, built in Mega and it's given to you, have fun. I'm torn on which way to go with it, probably going to go mixed since the SA is quite high and the movepool leans heavy on the physical.

Croagunk/Toxicroak: I've always been intrigued by having a Pokemon THAT ridiculously weak to Psychic, and since I'll have built in defenses, why not? At the very least, I'll have stray-Ground move warning with Anticipation.

Zubat/Golbat/Crobat: Another happy-evolve, but I don't have a time threat to run around with. Provides Fly support, is LIGHTNING fast and surprisingly powerful.

Nidorino/Nidoking: I might drive myself crazy trying to find a good natured one with something that ISN'T Rivalry, let alone going for the possibility of Sheer Force off the hordes. Also, it's nice to have something for that bloody Electric gym.

Tentacool/Tentacruel: Like I said, I don't have access to Skrelp/Dragalgae. So I need something that can Surf. As it turns out, Tentacruel can also use, of all things, Dazzling Gleam. Who knew?

Skorupi/Drapion: At the very least, I appreciate the opportunity to learn how to spell Drapion. Largely here for its Psychic immunity, and either will be immune to crits or gets triple damage off them, plus its Fire Fang is probably more powerful than the comparable Skuntank's Flamethrower.

Why not use...?
Beedrill - Did not get enough of a stat boost to hang around.
Roserade, Vileplume, Victreebel, Amoongus - All outclassed by MegaVenusaur.
Swalot - Creates a considerably sized vacuum.
Scolipede - Better than Beedrill, will probably be here for a while before I get access to Drapion.
Seviper - Simply put, getting one in X will take for-bloody-ever.
Qwilfish - Inferior Tentacruel.
Nidoqueen - Defense is good for competitive, but I prefer offensive efficency for ingame runs.
Gengar - If I feel the need to grab a second Mega I'll bring it in, but I'm not sure where it'll fit and this run is going to be self-sufficient for once so I'm trying to avoid trade evos.
Arbok, Garbodor - Stat issues and come after the team's locked in.
Ariados - Way too late, way too weak.

Major Battle Expectations:
Viola: I should have a Beedrill here, and he'll resist Bug, so I should win by attrition.
Grant: Ivysaur lunchtime, if it can get past Amaura. Croagunk has STAB Rock Smashes for backup.
Korrina: Everybody resists Fighting, but I'm going to have some trouble getting past Hawlucha...?
Ramos: All Grass. Next. Hopefully I have a Crobat here for Fly.
Clemont: Nidoking's reason for membership.
Valerie: The other easy Gym, once I can get past Mawile.
Olympia: Drapion is going to eat the place alive. Crobat's also going to get to tee off with X-Scissor.
Wulfric: Toxicroak should be good here, but I'm sensing some Avalugg problems.

Rival: The main one will get stuck with Chesnaught for an easy win, the other is going to have Delphox at the end but I should be able to get past it with Tentacruel.
Team Flare: They all use Poisons and things weak to Ground. sup Nidoking
Elite 4: Steel's definitely last again (christ, three in a row), probably going Fire first this time.
Champion: oh god the champ has a Psychic going Mega I'm so boned

Trainer:
In the name of stereotype busting, I'll go female this time. For the name, my NFR co-host Austen decided on Pamela, though if she ends up looking like [massive Danganronpa spoiler redacted], I'm not going to complain.