Type Preview: Ground

It's the most potent offensive type in the game, including being the only Pokemon capable of super-effecting Electric types. It's going to remain far from one Elite 4 member as long as I can avoid it. It almost had enough Pokemon to make two teams out of it.

Now let's see how long it goes before I run these type puns into the Ground.

Type Effectiveness:
Attacking: Super-effects Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock and Steel. Resisted by Grass and Bug. Can't touch Flying.
Defending: SE'd by Water, Grass and Ice. Half from Poison and Rock, immune to Electric.

Dual Types: Normal, Water, Electric, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug, Rock, Ghost, Dragon, Dark and Steel ingame. Postgame brings Fire, Grass, and Psychic.

Probable Final Team:
Hippopotas/Hippowdon: Purely designed to teach me how to spell the final form's last name. Provides a Sandstorm that doesn't dick over the rest of the type, so yay. Also can play a version of the Aerodactyl role given its access to Crunch (though that would be redundant) and the Fangs. Probable Final Moveset: Earthquake, Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Thunder Fang

Sandile/Krokorok/Krookodile: Guess who's back, back again. Yes, we have the return of the E4 MVP from Dark, complete with the same "Earthquake, Outrage, ???, profit" strategy that rocked Drasna's world on that run... provided I end up with Moxie. (I'll end up with Moxie.) PFM: Earthquake, Crunch, Outrage, Rock Slide

Golett/Golurk: Given how much of a PITA this thing was, I'm holding out for a really good nature and hoping the Super Training makes up for Golett's lack of offense. Ghost STAB is just that useful when you're staring down a Mega Gardevoir at the endgame. Will suddenly get a 50 pwr/+1 Attack move when he solos Korrina. PFM: Earthquake, Shadow Punch, Fly, Heavy Slam

Gible/Gabite/Garchomp: Dude, it's Garchomp. Do I have to draw you a diagram? PFM: Earthquake, Dragon Claw, Brick Break, one of Poison Jab, Shadow Claw or Fire Fang.

Stunfisk: At which point you're all like "hu-WHAAAAAT?" To which I point out that I happen to find STAB Thunderbolts useful, and he also learns Surf for some reason so I don't have to waste a slot down below. PFM: Mud Bomb, Thunderbolt, Surf, Sludge Bomb

Barboach/Whiscash: His stats are just good enough for offense that I can take a risk running this thing. Also learns Zen Headbutt by Returner for anti-Fighting power. PFM: Earthquake, Waterfall, Zen Headbutt, Rock Slide.

Other Team Members: I'm stuck with Diggersby for a full Pokedex. Thumper the Steelix can return, and if I get a Thick Club out of Cubone it's in and treated as the run Mega. (Note in that instance, I *will* use Bonemerang as an anti-Probopass move.) Lastly, Nidoking will probably come along for anti-Fairy shenanigans if I don't end up using Thumper.

Why not use...?
Rhyhorn/Rhydon/Rhyperior (also Geodude/Greveler/Golem): I'm not worried about needing Rock STAB, and it's a trade evo when I can avoid that.

Nidoqueen: Prefer the offensive to the defensive, as I mentioned back in Poison.

Dugtrio: Because RBY critical mechanics aren't walking through that door.

Flygon: Ground/Dragon role filled by a freaking LAND SHARK.

Quagsire: I can get Barboach/Whiscash on the same route and it's capable of having a full learnset.

Mamoswine: Saw use in Ice because I needed the Earthquake STAB, and half the team was in Frost Cavern anyway. Now, EVERYTHING has Earthquake STAB.

Sandslash: Hippowdon does it better for pure-Ground, and it's an 18 Pokemon.

Gligar: Can't evo until postgame.

Major Battle Expectations:
Viola: Sheer power of... Bunnelby... overwhelms her.
Grant; The entire team has access to Bulldoze at minimum and most candidates learn Rock Smash.
Korrina: Send out Golett and laugh the night away.
Ramos: Gabite overwhelms with power and a timely Grass neutrality. Nidoking has fun here too, Thumper not so much considering everything has Grass Knot and he weighs in at a total combined weight of "TILT"
Clemont: :D
Valerie: Nidoking or Thumper's last hurrah before box duty.
Olympia: A Krookodile sweep backed up by Hippowdon's Crunches.
Wulfric: Basically counting on out-speeding everything and Moxie-wasting.

Rival: Sorry dude, you're stuck with Braixen/Delphox again. And everything dies to Earthquake.
Team Flare: Their predominant Pokemon (Houndour/Electrike) are Ground weak, thankfully. Getting past Gyarados will probably be tricky, though.
Elite 4: Oh, the fun that will be had with Malva... we just have to avoid Siebold for a long time.
Champion: I'm going to make damn sure Aurorus doesn't survive this time. Oh, and I get to try a new strategy on Gardevoir: Heavy Slam the crap out of it.

Trainer:
Really, there's only one way to go with this type... row row, fight the powa. Since I'm playing female on the physical types, the trainer name is Yoko. And the best part is, I even have a mecha on the team!