The theme that plays when you are in the domain of the Tapus is this very disquieting theme. Highly appropriate, although perhaps not entirely so for why we're here.
Murphy gets to lead, and we can see the power of Speed Control it has been given at this stage of the game. Sure, it's not using Bulldoze, but if it's here for coverage, it can work to make sure it is faster than its opponent when the time comes to land the final hit.
I brought Oatchi because of course we bring our starter to a Grand Trial if they have the type advantage, but to be frank, Oatchi does not stand out as a good counter. Its Grass move is at a weak 55 BP, Oatchi's Atk stat is on the lower end of the team's, and Oatchi is weak to Rock itself. Still, it feels wrong not to give him a chance.
Lord Huggington: Resists Rock, has a further Defence buff, can nerf Atk if he's really scared, and also has a stronger STAB SE attack than Oatchi. Yeah, Lord Huggington has much better reason to be here than Oatchi, and is my answer to Olivia's ace.
Kasplashle is here to clean up a mess, if anyone makes one. I kinda wish this screen would let us browse Kasplashle's Schooling stats, these ones are pretty useless.
K9 is here because it's planning to evolve. This is basically the perfect time to do so from the perspective of me presenting information about its evolution, and if I could claim it was intentional, I would.
Woodstock is here because it is the best Pokemon that has not yet won a spot on the team at dealing with Rock types. It doesn't really have a plan of its own for dealing with them, but its plan doesn't exclude Rock types. Although Rock does resist Poison.
Walk far enough into the ruins, and you trigger a cutscene. This does not force us to commit to the Olivia battle yet, thankfully.
One weird thing I just noticed, that I'm going to have to look into, is that my assumption on what Olivia was doing in the Ruins of Life had to do with Lillie.
No, they haven't met yet.
...Uh, Burnet? Really?
Also, seriously, really? Lillie made it to Tide Song as soon as we got to Akala on her own, and her issue with Team Skull was that they also entered Tide Song and caused Lillie to miss her intended meeting. So is Lillie lying to you about this interaction, or has something else happened that doesn't seem to fit in with the timeline as I am interpreting it? And also could you have possibly picked a less judgemental phrasing?
On that note, Burnet is happy to leave Lillie's next business to us, and goes off to the Battle Royal Dome for, uh...
Date night, it looks.
That is the expression of a woman who knows exactly who's under the mask, and probably a woman who enjoys pretending otherwise. And that is more about Kukui and Burnet's sex life than I needed to know.
Fortunately this time, Lillie isn't visiting the Ruins the way she met us outside Koko's.
Something about the way this sentence is drawn really bothers me. I think it's how much white space there is on line three. Regardless, big self-esteem issue there that kinda reflects really weirdly when included in this game. Lillie's character arc is to become more self-sufficient and the fact she was guided here by Burnet rankles her, but compare that to the "friendship is awesome, Rotom will guide you!" approach taken for our trip here. Kinda rings a bit hollow there, game.
Mudbray did have some trouble running from a Gastly on the way here, but I Sitrused that. She just heals you regardless of whether you have actually taken damage this time.
And unlike Tapu Koko's ruin, we can actually enter it this time. The bridge to Koko's is, I believe, still out.
Nebby: "Look, Lillie! Ruins!"
Lillie has noticed a pattern here, but has failed to notice a cause.
I'm not 100% sure what the explanation is (slash if there is one), but if there is, Nebby is happy to have absolutely no idea.
Still say I was largely incidental to that going better for Nebby. I at least staved off some of the clawing, I guess...
That's one massive ! box, Nebby.
Thankfully, it's just Olivia.
Who doesn't recognise one of us. And considering she wrote a note for us...
Olivia hasn't met Lillie yet. Kukui saying "nah, you can show her Nebby" is entirely on the back of her being Kahuna, not her already being in the loop.
Mallow: "What am I, chopped Mago?"
Lillie also introduces us, not realising we've already bumped into each other enough to...
Nope, checked, Olivia does know our name. Which means this definitely refers to Lillie.
Ah, that explains that question.
...That may also qualify as the weirdest reason one might be called away. What, does Tapu Lele get to call Olivia if she wants its hair brushed?
You're welcome, Olivia. I'm glad to know them.
At this point, Lillie steps to one side, and the music catches on.
We qualify for the Akala Island Grand Trial.
And Olivia will gladly let it happen here and now. While Iki Town had a stage for Hala's Grand Trials, I don't think Akala and Ula'Ula do. Maybe Olivia uses Lighthouse Point for it, but...
I'm already ready, so I'm happy to start now. If you're not, Olivia will gladly let you escape the conversation and organise your inventory. Lillie already healed you, but maybe you want to reorganise your party order or items.
Good ol' Rock. Nothing beats that.
Olivia's Grand Trial probably has one of the better model intros, set perfectly to the intro theme.
She does a few steps away and then shoots a lightning glare over her shoulder. Nailed it.
Olivia's team is going all in on bulk today. Her lead, Nosepass, has an IV spread of 31/15/31/15/31/15, 252 EVs in HP and Sp. Def, a Careful (+Sp. Def, -Sp. Atk) Nature, the Sturdy Ability, and the moves Rock Slide, Spark and Thunder Wave. Rock Slide is 75 BP and STAB, Spark is 65 BP and good coverage for any Water types thinking now is the time to Scald. And of course, T-Wave is annoying no matter what you're fighting. The problem being, Nosepass has a base Atk of 45. Nosepass's Atk score is lower than Kasplashle's Solo Sp. Atk.
Note that, despite the clear Sp. Def bias, the final stats give Nosepass an equal defensive bulk against both Physical and Special attacks.
She counters Water and its Scald users pretty hard, but poor Nosepass was not prepared to see a Ground type today. Murphy is immune to both T-Wave and Spark, and resistant to Rock Slide.
We gotta break Sturdy, so might as well lead with Low Sweep. It's a bit of a risk/reward thing based on how much you're worried about losing on the return, but best practice is to break Sturdy with a weak hit and then land your killer blow. Then again, most of the reason to do so matters most against Trainers who use Bag Items.
Nosepass is rated 24 Speed. Murphy outsped anyway.
Yeah, I don't think Murphy cares much about that endgame-quality attack of yours, Nosepass.
There's just something satisfying about landing High Horsepower. It's a 95% accurate move, but misses do happen enough that I know it's not a guarantee, but I dunno, that horseshoe inspires a sense of satisfaction.
That's K9's job here done.
Oatchi got matched up against Boldore, who just happened to get shown off already over with Ray and Candy. This Boldore has a set matching Nosepass's, with the same 31/15/31/15/31/15 IV spread, 252 EVs of HP and Def, and the Impish Nature (+Def/-Sp. Atk). While Nosepass has similar Defence values, Boldore's are massively mismatched, and Olivia has decided to abandon Sp. Def entirely. Her Ability is Sturdy, and her set is Rock Blast, Mud Slap and Headbutt. Weaker moves, and no gotcha coverage of Rock's weaknesses, but Boldore's Atk score is high enough that it will actually hurt when you get hit by them. (Boldore's Atk is equal to K9's, or at least it was before K9 levelled up).
Rock Blast is a 25 BP Rock move that hits 2-5 times in a row, Headbutt is a 70 BP Normal move that flinches if Boldore wasn't slower than Nosepass, and Mud Slap is a 20 BP Special Ground move that lowers accuracy one stage on hit. Most Pokemon that have Mud Slap were planning on using the accuracy debuff more than the damage, I don't even really count it as an attack.
I'm not sure who I'm more surprised by here: Oatchi's failure, or Boldore's success. Maybe I should've packed Bloom Doom.
Oatchi suddenly realising it is lucky to have not been oneshot, and decides to leave. We gave it its chance, and sadly, it did not pay out.
This is exactly the situation I brought Kasplashle for.
(Murphy with Leftovers probably could've swept this, especially if Boldore was stupid enough to attempt Rock Blast.)
Ooh, spicy. Fortunately, unlike Taion, you need to bring Kasplashle to 1/4 HP to break Schooling.
You did not come close. Taion wouldn't even be in Defeatist.
...Wishiwashi really is the slow and bulky take on Archen's gimmick, huh.
Boldore remembering why Nosepass was supposed to be dealing with the Water types.
OK, I... guess that was worth it? This is probably something that matters more when Kasplashle isn't overkill.
Midnight Lycanroc (Moon): It goads its enemies into attacking, withstands the hits, and in return, delivers a headbutt, crushing their bones with its rocky mane.
I'm sorry, I had to show that sendout still frame. Olivia's ace is the evolved form of Rockruff, Lycanroc- specifically the one that appears to players of Moon and Ultra Moon. Lycanroc has an IV spread of 31/31/15/15/15/31, 252 EVs in Atk and Spd, and an Adamant Nature (+Atk/-Sp. Atk). Its Ability is Vital Spirit, and its only moves are Bite and Rock Throw- although it is holding a Rockium Z. Midnight Lycanroc is the stuff nightmares are made of in narrative and design, but in battle, its massive hit to its Speed score in comparison to the other form costs it a lot of reputation that the bulk upgrade from "moderate" to "decent" didn't solve. However, its Atk is still plenty sky high, giving it an Atk score of 101, and a still-decent Speed score of 74. Don't underestimate it just because it's the "wrong" one.
Right, first thing's first, I know you're planning on firing your Z Move at me, so I'd like you to not hit quite so hard.
As a Fighting type, Lord Huggington resists both of Lycanroc's offensive moves, but Rock Throw is not contact, so this isn't accounting for Fluffy. Still, considering how Lycanroc has more Atk than anything in my party (and possibly more than Schooling Kasplashle's Sp. Atk, it's hard to keep tabs on that), seeing the STAB move do 14% is... not great.
There's the Z-Move. They usually like using their Z-Move not as the first thing they do, but still early. Just not predictably early.
If at first you don't succeed, throw a bigger rock.
Lycanroc jumps into the air, and then summons more and more pieces of rock to form...
One giant rock.
It's always amazing when you see a Z-Move hit for Not Very Effective. It's the culmination of "NVE is not an indicator of actual effectiveness".
Still, the fact that Lord Huggington is still standing is proof enough of the move's efficacy, or lack thereof.
The fact Lord Huggington is still in the green is just it making a fool out of its opponent.
And that is why you break Sturdy with the weak hit. Granted, Super Potions are not full heals- they only heal 60, while Nosepass has 76, Boldore has 96, and Lycanroc has 91. Still, though, it always sucks to repeat a health bar.
This was supposed to be a finishing blow, but instead it was a waste of time. Literally, if Brick Break could've cleaned up even with the Super Potion (which I believe it could).
Well, there goes that green HP...
Meh. I don't care.
Don't you just love when unique characters get dialogue that doesn't quite fit with their animations?
You may have noticed Murphy packed the Amulet Coin. Olivia has a generous payout of x160, and a chance to double that can't go amiss. And we're only really losing out on one held item in exchange for it.
Midday Lycanroc (Ultra Moon): The rocks in its mane are sharper than a knife. Fragments that break off are treasured as good luck charms.
K9 watched that Lycanroc go down like a chump and decided he wants no part in that. Midday Lycanroc is every bit as powerful as Midnight, but operating at a Speed stat way too high for that sort of power. K9 will be a problem solver of absolutely staggering proportions. And as if this wasn't good enough...
Lycanroc learns a special move on evolution, with the move differing based on form. Midnight Lycanroc learns the move Counter, which is a Physical Fighting move that does twice as much damage as the user suffered from physical attacks over the course of that turn, right back to sender. Midday Lycanroc instead gets Accelerock, a 40 BP Rock move with +1 priority. One gets the faintest impression Midday got some favouritism in the toolkit department...
Dusk Lycanroc (Ultra Sun): Bathed in the setting sun of evening, Lycanroc has undergone a special kind of evolution. An intense fighting spirit underlies its calmness.
...So how the hell do you factor into all this? Ray's own Rockruff Dawn comes from a special event distribution for USUM, available to early adopters of the game. This Rockruff has the Ability Own Tempo, which is not any of the three Abilities Rockruff is supposed to have. Own Tempo Rockruff is considered a wholly distinct form, and when this form of Rockruff levels up between the hours of 5 and 6 PM, it evolves into Dusk Lycanroc, a brand new and unique form to the USUM games. It is the first (and I believe the last) time the early adopter bonus they started with XY included something actually unique to it.
Dusk Lycanroc is supposed to combine the qualities of Midday and Midnight to be a special form, and it would be the one Ash's Rockruff evolved into because of course, but in practice, its powers aren't so great. Its BST is identical to Midday's, but with 2 less points in Speed to be assigned to Attack. It turns out that competitively, Lycanroc actually kinda misses those two points of Speed. Were this not bad enough, but Dusk Lycanroc being able to learn both Accelerock and Counter is subject to the plight of the lategame move reminder- it gets Thrash as its evo move, and Accelerock is an endgame option that it at least has at all, but still. Its sole Ability is Tough Claws, boosting the power of its contact moves by 30%- handy, but as we saw in Olivia's battle, the good Rock moves aren't contact.
Something it took me some time to come around on here: while Olivia is not the first female Rock expert (that would've been Roxanne from Hoenn), the Rock type's common association with physical power let the "types matching Gym theme" to include a miner and a mountain climber. Olivia's job reminds of a different kind of rock- she is a jeweler.
The little bit of disappointment she hits on after losing clears up pretty quick, and we've won ourselves the Rock Z-Crystal, so we can use Continental Crush ourselves.
The difference between Rock and Ground can be awfully fuzzy at times- and of the types, it's often the pair suggested for merging. Mechanically, the types occupy too different of niches to justify it, but you see symbols like this and ask yourself if there's anything they could've done differently here...
Two down! This Island Challenge is going to be easier than I thought.
Right, can't forget the Z-Pose. This one's an iconic one.
That is certainly a hip movement, Olivia. Firm and sturdy, as the Rock type is meant to be. I'd think something faster is also in order, but I'm not sure how to make that clearly Rock.
...Looks like we weren't the only one paying attention to that hip movement. There's something kinda gay about the fact Lillie got this moment and not the player...
What, Continental Crush, or hips powerful enough to make Lillie swoon?
Just because over half of all Sturdy carriers are part Rock doesn't necessarily make Rock sturdy. Look at K9.
I can't deny that Rock types and you still have a personality clash, though. Rock types are violent, aggressive and reckless while you are stable, methodical and prepare for the needs of others. If anything, you match the definition of Rock types you ascribe to them.
Nebby: "I think this scene has not been about me for long enough."
It's like a cat, except not nearly as useful.
Don't worry, it's a perfectly valid question!
In fact, Lillie would like to know the answer to that too.
Staryu. Clefairy. Elgyem. It's not that weird, minus the part where it acts more like a cat than Meowth.
Olivia's observation is that Nebby going towards the ruins is un-Pokemon-like behaviour. This doesn't get us any closer to providing an answer, but it's at least another new fact.
I haven't decided if Nebby knows what the punchline to this joke is. Probably not, of course.
Olivia starts rethinking her stance, although I'm not sure which point is the one she's challenging.
I can guarantee no less dealing with Nebby. The problem is figuring out whether those will be the good or the bad kinds.
Konikoni or Heahea? I'm thinking Konikoni, but she's probably going to want to head on to the next island with us sooner-ish rather than later-ish.
Now then, with our Grand Trial over, we can start thinking about the next step: Where we go from here. Aside from, obviously, our next island.
Oh, you been doing your Trials too, Hau? Obviously, we know he would be, but the game hasn't been stopping to mention this, so when he's had the time in between us doing hasn't been too clear. Considering the speed I'm going, can't be too surprised, though.
Hello to you too, Hau.
...Uh... huh... So, uh, did you help them out of a jam too, or did they just decide to invite my friend at the same time they invited me for no obvious reason? I can totally buy you not thinking to mention if you have, but the way you've phrased that has certainly made one... suspicious.
Olivia certainly hasn't noticed anything strange about this arrangement, which doesn't particularly strike me as a good sign. Still, though, maybe they are genuine. Maybe.
And hopefully the kid with the Stoutland has decided to stop blocking the road. And ideally, been fined.
Another one of those moments that sounds a lot different if the characters had voice acting. Lillie's little anxious squeaks tell us all we need to know: no, we are not imagining those bad vibes.
Lillie trying desperately to reconcile the fact she doesn't really like Pokemon battling with her desire to put as much distance between herself and the Aether Foundation as possible.
In the files where Hau uses a Torracat, he doesn't even have a Rock type counter. Then again, Hala has an entire team of them.
Olivia fires back with telling him to fight as himself, not as a kahuna's grandson. Someone had to tell him that eventually.
Although exactly what he's going to do with that is his own business.
Shrug. I've never been big on hotels.
For now, Hau, Olivia and Lillie are going to stay here, much like they did back on Melemele after we beat Hala. No new dialogue from them, though.
Right, so what are the Ruins of Life like now we can enter them?
Yeah, not getting into the Tapu's chamber.
Can I just say how hilarious it is when, upon leaving the Ruins of Life, all three of the NPCs standing right outside immediately turn to face you? I think you're just entering their field of view, but it looks and feels so judgy in action.
At last, we can Fly to the Ruins of Life. ...Not that we'd really want to now, but it is more convenient to get to Akala Outskirts than the Route 9 Fly Point.
Next time: Olivia remembers to sample the merchandise.
No comments:
Post a Comment