Psychic run complete!

And we have live PBP, so live it was in the Blogger window!

Malva
Figure I've got the easiest path to a sweep this way.

Heisenberg v Pyroar
Surf OHKOs.

Hypatia v Pyroar
Night Slash does 95%, and Chandelure fires a Confuse Ray. I go for Psycho Cut on the Full Restore but hit myself to 171/200. Next round, the confusion is shaken off and I Psycho Cut for 40%... and Flamethrower drops Hypatia to 11. Night Slash finishes... but Hypatia gets burned by Flame Body and faints.

Heisenberg v Torkoal
Surf OHKOs...

Heisenberg v Talonflame
...and Power Gem OHKOs.

Siebold
This is one I've been looking forward to for a while.

Turing v Clawitzer
Thunderbolt does 95%, and Water Pulse drops Turing to 102/177. On the Full Restore, I Psychic for 70% and Energy Ball finishes.

Turing v Gyarados
Thunderbolt OHKO, obviously.

Halley v Barbaracle
Grass Knot OHKOs, and I chuckle at the notion of a Fire type one-shotting a Water/Rock.

Oppenheimer v Starmie
X-Scissor gets the jump and does 75%, while a SE Dazzling Gleam... takes Oppenheimer to 88/164. This triggers Full Restore 2, so two X-Scissors finish.

Drasna
Wikstrom resists the STAB, so leaving him for last.

Hypatia v Dragalgae
Psycho Cut does 95%... that's happening a lot  Sludge Bomb does 70 and poisons, so I Superpower the Full Restore for a +1/+1 and Psycho Cut finishes.

Fujita v Altaria
Ice Beam OHKOs.

Fujita v Noivern
Fujita outruns Noivern again and OHKOs with Ice Beam.

Fujita v Druddigon
Ice Beam doesn't go 3/3, as it does 60%. Dragon Tail does a third (117/184)... and forces in the worst possible matchup for him.

Turing v Druddigon
Moonblast ends it.

Wikstrom
I want Klefki to attack, so I have to pick the lead carefully.

Oppenheimer v Klefki
Earthquake does 90%, and Dazzling Gleam takes Oppenheimer to 68/164. Full Restore 1 meets Brick Break for half, and Earthquake finishes. Just as planned.

Hypatia v Aegislash
King's Shield causes a +2 Att, and Night Slash... does 95%. Iron Head takes Hypatia to half and out of Full Restores/in Blade Form, Night Slash effectively OHKOs.

Halley v Scisor
Flamethrower OHKOs.

Oppenheimer v Probopass
Brick Break triggers Sturdy, and the countering Flash Cannon leaves Oppenheimer at 22HP. A second Brick Break gets the duke.

Diantha
For once, I'm only slightly concerned about the end of this one...

Fujita v Hawlucha
In the Flying duel, Psychic OHKOs. Cheap, but I'll take it.

Turing v Tyrantrum
Moonblast OHKOs.

Halley v Gourgeist
Flamethrower OHKOs.

Hypatia v Goodra
Superpower does just under half (+1/+1) and Dragon Pulse drops Hypatia to 119. A second Superpower ends it, and Hypatia levels.

Oppenheimer v Aurorus
Wanna guess how this one ended? (Spoilers: Brick Break.)

Oppenheimer v Gardveoir
Poison Jab... OHKO!! New champ!

Pictured: I am the one who knocks.

Flying's next. We might have to take a break soon, though... if only because I need to reach a certain point on a Tuesday and I'm not that fast.

Time of the fall: 31:26

Psychic Day 6: I See Endgame

Current location: Saved at E4. Team is:

Halley - Flamethrower, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Grass Knot
Turing - Psychic, Moonblast, Thunderbolt, Energy Ball
Oppenheimer - Brick Break, Earthquake, X-Scissor, Poison Jab
Hypatia - Psycho Cut, Night Slash, Superpower, Rock Slide
Heisenberg - Surf, Power Gem, Thunderbolt, Dazzling Gleam
Fujita - Psychic, Air Slash, Ice Beam, Shadow Ball

The day started with Route 16/Lost Hotel clearout, which got the group to 45. It was on to Frost Cavern from there, and Fujita managed to win the Cryogonal fight on the first shot. Hurrah. Inside, I took great pleasure in pounding the Fighting trainers around, except for Sturdy Sawk.

After a quick stop on Route 17, the Anistar Mirror Match went down with Turing stalling out the Light Screen, Meowstic being wiped by a Night Slash from Hypatia and Heisenberg planted the Slowking with Thunderbolt. Team Flare ensued and although there were a couple of near misses, we actually had no casualties. Yeah, even against the final Lysandre Gyarados (Turing OHKOed it with Moonblast after the Mega.)

Route 18 and Terminus (the key to Shadow Ball and Brick Break, among others) were also taken with no casualties, so much so that I was running on supplies I bought for the Flare raid until Victory Road. After the rest of the Scoobies fell at Heisnberg's, uh, feet, Snowbelle was handled by Oppenheimer's Low Sweep and Heisenberg's Power Gem.

Finally, the TM raid happened and Victory Road was easily dealt with after a restock. So now we're saved outside Victory Road... See you in 20.

Psychic Day 4: Holy Crap, We Got Power Gem

Current location: Saved in Dendemille, having just made use of the Move Returner.

Current team:
Halley - Flamethrower, Psyshock, Grass Knot, Shadow Ball
Turing - Psychic, Moonblast, Thunderbolt, Grass Knot
Oppenheimer - Low Sweep, Psycho Cut, Poison Jab, Strength
Hypatia - Night Slash, Superpower, Aerial Ace, Cut
Fujita - Air Slash, Dazzling Gleam, Psybeam, Fly
Heisenberg - Surf, Thunderbolt, Power Gem, Dazzling Gleam

We pick back up on Route 7 and a brief run through the Chateau. After that, it was back to Route 12 to resume the show... nothing really big on Slowpoke and Exeggutor, so it was just a matter of leveling Heisenberg to get it up to the team, which is kind of hard when all you have is Surf and Bubblebeam. Swift was surprisingly helpful here and in Azure Bay.

Back in Coumarine for good this time, Fujita got stuck with Fly and surprisingly hasn't used it much. The gym finished getting Heisenberg up, and Oppenheimer tanked Acrobatics like a man before rocking Jumpluff and Gogoat with Poison Jab.

After the route that shall not be named, Team Flare got rolled as the only problem was that Halley managed to faint after hitting L36 - it still evolved, but it didn't get any HP back. Clemont went out to a Low Sweep festival from Oppenheimer and Hypatia backup.

The Fairy gym was simple as well - Halley got Mawile with Mystical Fire (couldn't find the Fire Pledge tutor, but it learned Flamethrower shortly after so we're all good), then Sylveon got 3HKOed after a Hyper Potion and Mr Mime got beaten down in one Poison Jab.

I elected to run 15 in full after the Poke Ball Factory rather than sprint for the Returner, and it worked out perfectly as Heisenberg reached 43 at the last Fairy trainer. POWER GEM IN DA HOUSE~! A quick Water Stoning ensued, and here we are.

Tomorrow: I think I can finish this since I'm not under as much other game pressure.

Psychic Day 3: We're Wearing Sunglasses

Current location: Saved at the Battle Chateau, going to take up a newcomer. Currently, we have:

Halley - Ember, Psybeam, Fire Spin, Thief (L32)
Turing - Confusion, Magical Leaf, Thief, Teleport (L32)
Oppenheimer - Low Sweep, Bulldoze, Thief, Strength (L32)
Hypatia - Thief, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Hypnosis (L32)
Fujita - Psybeam, Air Cutter, Tailwind, Whirlwind (L31)

And subbing in for Schrodinger is...
Heisenberg the Staryu - Modest, Natural Cure, STed in SA/Speed -  Camoflague, Swift, Bubble Beam, Minimize (haven't TMed it yet or even given it Surf)

TEH URN began today on Route 10, with a clean sweep of the various Flare implements. The Double Lucario proved that although Turing as a Kirlia can take out one, two is too many.

Route 11 saw the Psychics get swept away and Fujita pull a clutch confusion off a Psybeam to win the Sky Battle against the Emolga, while Reflection Cave added a bunch of box fodder (prominently involved: Mr. Mime, Chingling). Turing evolved here, as did Hypatia though it required sweet help and  better timing.

In Shalour, although it was tempting to throw Schrodinger out against the rival's Meowstic, it didn't have Shadow Ball yet so it would have gone as expected. It did lead to the first and last time I'll be able to pull off Steadfast in the run, though - just be ready for Fake Outs.

As for the gym, I actually had more trouble with the minor trainers than Korrina. I had Halley out for the Heracross, for instance, and it ended up being a draw because the Fire move just didn't do enough damage. Heracross randomly using Take Down caused the draw itself. In a final act of defiance, Schrodinger walked all over Korrina and learned Shadow Ball before it was sent back to the box when we picked up Lucario.

The final take for the day was to get a Staryu. Preferably one with a good nature and Natural Cure. It took about 15 Pokemon before I got something usable, which ended up being Modest/NC. *kaching* It's all STed up now, so we just have to get it some experience. It took fighting two trainers on Route 12 which is about two more than I wanted, but that's the risk I have to take.

I've reached a decision, though - normally I go straight to Starmie with this species. Not this time, because I want Power Gem which is Staryu only. Other than that, it's smooth sailing the rest of the way.

Tomorrow's plan: At least two gyms will go down.

Psychic Day 2: The Scientific Method

Current location: Saved in Cyllage after a quick Battle Chateau training session and beating Grant.

Current team:
Halley - Ember, Fire Spin, Psybeam, Thief
Turing (now a Kirlia) - Confusion, Magical Leaf, Thief, Teleport
Oppenheimer (now a Gallade) - Confusion, Rock Smash, Bulldoze, Strength
Schrodinger (still an Espurr) - Psybeam, Disarming Voice, Covet, Light Screen

And the newcomers:
Hypatia the Inkay (Female) - Jolly, Contrary, STed Atk/Speed - Thief, Aerial Ace, Swagger, Hypnosis
Fujita the Sigilyph (Male) - Docile, Magic Guard, STed SA/Speed - Psybeam, Air Cutter, Tailwind, Whirlwind

The advantages of having three Pokemon with Thief is that if you're going after a Pokemon like say, Snorlax, you can swipe its Sitrus Berry before attempting to deal with it. For the record, it was caught. From there, Route 8 brought an Inkay - and Oppenheimer was still a Ralts and packing Synchronize, so it only took a single reset to get a good natured one. The first round of Super Training ensued.

Glittering Cave was designed strictly for leveling up, as we caught Hypatia up and tried to get the rest of the team up to L20 to trigger three evolutions. Didn't quite work, but once we got out it was time to run to 10 and grab Fujita (named after the scale of tornadoes, Hypatia's a female Greek astronomer). The first one had Magic Guard as I learned when Halley burned it, so I decided to run with it - Docile's not ideal, but it's good enough for now.

After picking up some more levels, it was time for the gym - and we got Turing into Magical Leaf, which made the rest of the Gym quite simple. Oppenheimer took the lead and got Amaura in one, and Tyrunt in two, to pick up the 2nd badge.

Tomorrow: Korrina, we comin' for YOU. And the same goes for you, Sawk-dude.

Psychic Day 1: Never Attempt To Call Your Lore

Current location: Saved in Camphier Town, just finished Route 6 and about to take a run at Snorlax.

It took about 15 soft resets before I got a stat spread and nature I could live with on Fennekin, but I got a good Bold one so it might survive with an extra few HP on a stray Rock move or something. A round of ST later, it was time to blaze Santalune Forest. No Light Balls, but we got a fresh Panpour for HM muling purposes (I'll be damned if I'm giving anyone Cut without access to TMs and the Move Deleter).

I had a L14 Fennekin going into the fight with Viola, and as expected, we had trouble getting rid of Surskit (three Embers after a Water Sport). Thankfully, Vivillon went down in three as well as the Water Sport wore off after the second one. "Nothing... nothing... ah, there we go."

From there, it was out to Route 4 and a lesson I should've tried to learn from Twitch Plays Pokemon: Be prepared if your best-laid "lore" plans go awry, because they probably would. In my case, the second Ralts I caught had good stats for an L8, Trace and a Modest nature which is perfect for a Gardevoir... and is also, in the words of noted mad scientist Okabe Rintaro, "a dude". So much for the Curie reference. However, that doesn't mean we can't still use it. Especially when a second male Ralts on the route was Jolly (read: perfect for turning into a Gallade), so we'll just roll with it.

Going up through Route 5 - come to think, I didn't even stop to grab Abra, though nothing of value is lost there since I'm not using it - I quickly slapped Return on the Ralts so one of them could do damage (the one STed for Attack, future Gallade) and went up to Route 6 for a temporary cat addition... AND GOT A SHINY VENIPEDE. Are you kidding me? This is the fifth shiny of the experiement! (Bunnelby, Floatzel, Gulpin, Basculin and now Venipede) Next, I'll get one when it's actually relevant for the type.

Anyway, we picked up Espurr (F) on Route 6, took care of Parfum Palace, and ended up sweeping past that ****ing Volbeat quickly before the night ended. My sole complaint: English XY did not have an option for nicknaming with umlauts. Yes, this is relevant.

Current team, all L18:
Halley (Male Fennekin, Bold nature, SA/Speed Super Training, Ember/Psybeam/Scratch/Thief)
Turing (Male Ralts, Modest, Trace, SA/Speed, Confusion/Thief/Teleport/Double Team)
Oppenheimer (Male Ralts, Jolly, Synchronize, Atk/Speed, Thief/Return/Confusion/Teleport)
Schrodinger (Female Espurr, Hasty, Infiltrator, SA/Speed, Psybeam/Confusion/Covet/Light Screen)

Tomorrow's goal: Beat Grant, and ideally have Inkay, Gallade, Sigilyph and Meowstic.

Type Preview: Psychic

It's a type with a small elemental damage base on its own, but well-placed pairings mean it can slaughter just about everything. If it was as broken as in past games, I could retire. For once, I get to laugh heartily at every trainer in Frost Cavern and Terminus Cave.

Figured it out? Wow, you must be Psychic.

Type Effectiveness:
Attacking: Super effects Poison and Fighting. Resisted by itself and Steel. Can't touch Dark.
Defending: Hit SE by Bug, Ghost, and Dark, resists Fighting and itself, no immunities.

Dual-types: Fire, Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, Flying, Rock, Dark, and Fairy ingame. Postgame adds Normal, Ground, Dragon and Steel.

Probable Final Team:
Fennekin/Braixen/Delphox: It's the starter, the best possible check to Bugs, and all around bad mother you don't want to mess with. Oh yeah, it learns Shadow Ball by returner because..  reasons?

Ralts/Kirlia/Gardevoir AND Ralts/Kirlia/Gallade: Although Medicham with Pure Power is tempting, the lore possibilities of having both members of the Ralts family on board are too awesome to pass up. Gardevoir plays the role of potent SAer, while Gallade's natural attack rating makes it a fine complement as I attempt to balance this team somehow. Already have the names picked: Marie and Pierre.

Inkay/Malamar: You know this guy from the Dark run. As mentioned there, Malamar is my favourite XY Pokemon, and is the other physical attacker on the team.

Sigilyph: I don't get to use this guy very often, I'd like to have a Flyer to go with the Surfer (below) and it helps to have immunity to added effects provided I can get a good one with Magic Guard.

Staryu/Starmie: The advantage of an X run is that I get to use one of the three original 151 I'd keep away from the revolution. A speedy, type-bonused Surf and extremely varied movepool for the XY era (Power Gem? Dazzling Gleam?) earn it a spot.

Other Team Members: Espurr/Meowstic (F) will fill the last slot until Staryu joins. Other than that... not much. What you see is what you get.

Why not use...?
Abra/Kadabra/Alakazam: Trade evolution and just not really a slot for him, frankly.

Meditite/Medicham: Too much of a one-trick pony, even if that one trick is incredibly huge offense.

Spoink/Grumpig: Just doesn't have the *umph* to hang with the rest of the team.

Lunatone/Solrock: One has already proven to be a bad idea, the other one got rejected from the Rock run for sucking and it's not going to fit in here.

Woobat/Swoobat: Only  has Speed in an era where damage is actually relevant.

Espeon: One of the few Eevees I would have considered, but there's just no room for him especially when I don't know when I'd get it.

Chingling/Chimecho: Already have something immune to Ground.

Solosis/Duosion/Reuniclus: Too slow, team's pretty much full once it shows up.

Wynaut/Wobbuffet: I don't do punching bags.

Slowpoke/Slowbro or Slowking: By the time I'd have either final evo, I'll probably have evolved Staryu.

Exeggcute/Exeggutor: Nearly made it, but I can't find a slot for him until Grass.

Smoochum/Jynx: Too late + low Defense = no way Jose.

Gothita/Gothorita/Gothitelle: No Route 20s on this run.

Major Battle Expectations:
Viola: Ironically, the hard part is getting rid of Surskit.
Grant: I'll have Gallade by this point for STAB Rock Smash or SE Bulldoze. Plus, Magical Leaf on Kirlia.
Korrina: Wow, the WHOLE TEAM is Psychic or at least has Aerial Ace and you have to ask here?
Ramos: The whole team except Starmie can have fun here.
Clemont: Although SpDef is high, a Gallade/Delphox combo should win the day here.
Valerie: Gallade Poison Jabs for some, miniature flames for others.
Olympia: Anything that can fling a ball or use a claw goes to town here.
Wulfric: Gallade + Delphox again.

Rival: The key is going to be getting Gallade out for Absol, and having all hands on deck for Greninja.
Team Flare: Should be able to wipe out the lot with power before they start Crunching.
Elite 4: Steel goes last and gets promptly burninated.
Diantha: Parting is such sweet sorrow when Gallade fires Shadow Claw against its compatriot.

Trainer:
This whole blog has been for science, but never more than now. The trainer is Darwin, and all the Pokemon will be named after other scientists (for instance, Pierre and Marie is a reference to the Curies).