Bug run complete!

Today was the day - and the first time I ever had trouble with Wulfric's Avalugg. When your only special attackers a) don't have moves that can super-effect Ice aside from Ancientpower, and b) are weak to Ice, you have some trouble. Thankfully, Storm Throw ignores Curse's defense boost, so Chihiro ended up winning the match for us.

After a round of TMs and a trip through Victory Road, it was E4 time. To make sure I could survive, I went up one more level to 65 - though that was also caused by not having a full team due to HM requirements.

Here's how the team went in:
Ponyo - Bug Buzz, Energy Ball, Ice Beam, Scald (167 SA, 140 Speed)
Sasuke - Megahorn, Poison Jab, Rock Slide, Earthquake (207 Atk, 195 Speed)
Kiki - Shell Smash, X-Scissor, Earthquake, Rock Slide (171 Atk/123 Speed)
Howl - Bug Buzz, Air Slash, Psychic, Shadow Ball (203 SA/174 Speed)
Chihiro - X-Scissor, Storm Throw, Earthquake, Rock Slide ((226 Atk/166 Speed)
Lupin - Iron Head, X-Scissor, Crunch, Dig (220 Atk/196 Speed)

And so it began...

Siebold
The fewest things that could cause the team problems, and I wanted some revenge from Dragon.

Ponyo v Clawitzer
Energy Ball opens by taking 70% off Clawitzer, and Ponyo tanks Water Pulse to 76/170. A second Energy Ball finishes.

Ponyo v Barbaracle
Rock-type? No problem. Energy Ball OHKOs.

Kiki v Gyarados
Kiki hits Shell Smash to open, while Gyarados Dragon Dances... but +1/+2 beats +1/+1 as Rock Slide OHKOs.

Chihiro v Starmie
X-Scissor OHKOs. We're not repeating Dragon.

Drasna
...however, we are beating Dragon next.

Chihiro v Dragalgae
Highest-powered Earthquake in the run means Dragalgae's done in one.

Chihiro v Noivern
I think Chihiro can at least survive 1 hit... and the opening Air Slash MISSES. Rock Slide does 70%, and a second Air Slash... ALSO MISSES! (400:1 against) Rock Slide ends it.

Ponyo v Altaria
Ice Beam OHKOs, justifying its existence.

Lupin v Druddigon
Iron Head takes about 60% off, and Rough Skin drops 20HP to counter (145/165). Revenge takes off 70 and a second Iron Head finishes (55/165 at the end).

Wikstrom
Again, given a choice between a type that resists my type and one that can SE me with everything, I'll take the resistance.

Sasuke v Klefki
Klefki Torments, but Earthquake hits true for the OHKO.

Chihiro v Probopass
Suddenly, the advantage of having a Mold Breaker Pokemon becomes clear. Storm Throw ignores Sturdy and OHKOs.

Chihiro v Scizor
Lack of Fire moves means I have to throw my best at it... and after Earthquake does 40%, Iron Head drops Chihiro to 72/163. This only works if I can get a crit on the second EQ... and it doesn't happen. Iron Head finishes.

Kiki v Scisor
OK, let's try this again. On the Full Restore Kiki Shell Smashes, then Earthquake does 70%. (Rock Slide would probably have been more powerful, but it would've just been a Full Restore and I didn't want to chance the miss.) Iron Head leaves Kiki on 4HP, and a second EQ ends it.

Kiki v Aegislash
I use a Hyper Potion to reset Sturdy, and Iron Head abuses it as Kiki goes to 1HP. Earthquake on the Blade Form ends it.

Malva
And here we go...

Sasuke v Pyroar
Combination of speed and power means Earthquake OHKOs.

Kiki v Talonflame
Flare Blitz takes Kiki down to 107/174 and after the recoil, Rock Slide ends it. Kiki levels here.

Ponyo v Torkoal
Ponyo uses Scald... and Torkoal survives with 5%. Stone Edge OHKOs.

Kiki v Torkoal
Shell Smash on the Full Restore, Earthquake OHKOs. Seen that before.

Kiki v Chandelure
And another Earthquake OHKO. Not as painful as I expected, no sir.

Diantha
Time for the under-appreciated teammates to shine here.

Howl v Hawlucha
For instance, Howl's making his debut against the champion. Poison Jab does light damage (170/204), and Air Slash OHKOs.

Lupin v Tyrantrum
Iron Head hits an insane Defense and takes about 80% off. For the second time, Tyrantrum stupidly Head Smashes a Steel type (51/165) and faints because of the 50% recoil.

Chihiro v Goodra
A critical X-Scissor... does 95%. Maybe I used up all my luck on the double Air Slash miss? As it turns out, I was right, as Fire Blast drops Chihiro to 3HP... and burns. Down goes Chihiro.

Sasuke v Goodra
On the first Full Restore we hit the most powerful move, Megahorn... and it does 80%. The second Full Restore is met with 55% from Poison Jab, and we don't get another FR as a second Poison Jab finishes.

Lupin v Aurorus
Iron Head, OHKO. Next.

Howl v Gourgeist
Before any stray Flamethrowers can be fired, Air Slash OHKOs.

Lupin v Gardevoir
And Iron Head OHKOs for a new hero(ine)!

Pictured: An elegant champion and her two Finals MVPs

Next up, we go Psychic. But not in the way you expect.

Time of the fall: 35:40