First order of business: Noah, remember to buy your damn Potions. Can't have you failing where Bethany almost did, you have to play by Set rules. Anyway, team.
Now this is a Primarina. Mio is showing off the best of the Water and Fairy typings and proving why she is the starter of my personal choice. Still not using Scald, but at this point, I think I just prefer Mio's personal flavour.
This team is going to be a little risky- I decided to go all in on theming rather than practicality and bring the Pokemon I had named after the members of Ouroboros. Eunie has fallen a bit behind, although she does still have some fine attacking types, and her main competition is Melia.
...Huh, I forgot to capture it, but Arsena replaced Sunny Day with Psychic. Arsena might actually be the least imminently useful member of the team- that supposedly good movepool doesn't appear to have helped her much. It's chiefly Thunderbolt she really likes.
Taion is a killer sweeper, but he'll have a lot of troubles actually tagging in. I basically never want to actively switch for him, which will limit his deployment chances.
I think I knew there was something promising about Lanz from the moment I settled on him being Sandslash. Beats the original plan of him being Pinsir. Lanz now has an Ice move, and I expect him to be second to Mio.
And then there's Squishy, who's here to fill out the numbers and who felt like the most fitting choice in sixth ranger (since Noah is the player character). He hits really hard with a Ground typing, but that's about all he's got. Well, that and Extreme Speed.
If you don't tell Kukui he looks cold, he just comments on remembering you choose your starter. Moving right in.
- Squishy: Amulet Coin
- Eunie: Focus Band
- Arsena: Metronome
- Taion: Shell Bell
- Lanz: Leftovers
- Mio: Expert Belt
Really wishing I had Nimue right about now. Even if I wasn't going into the theming thing, though, I'm not sure I could justify her. Maybe Earthwerk, but they're not really fast enough to avoid Yawn.
I sure wish Squishy could handle it. His Atk's only at 100.
Second hit got it, but not without Yawn taking Squishy out of commission.
Not to worry, Mio is more than capable of fighting off Rock types. Especially Carbink- I don't think Carbink really has a plan for a Special wall.
That Reflect is pretty, Carbink, but Mio's blowing bubbles.
...That's Carbink's natural bulk, there. Remember, she went 252 EVs into HP/Sp. Def.
Leaving nothing for the actually "doing damage" bit.
There goes the Carbink.
This seems like a good opportunity to bring Squishy back in.
There's the Thunder Punch, bouncing right off Squishy's Ground typing.
And even with a crit, I've got time to wait out some Steamrollers.
...OK, yeah, that is what one might call an optimistic strategy. Should've gone for a Chesto Berry and given someone else the Amulet Coin.
Arsena's plan is burning.
If she can actually hit with Will-O-Wisp.
Or, you know, Flame Body.
This girl is running Rock Blast as her anti-Fire type tactic. You understand why she went Thunder Punch?
Finally.
And... this run is taking a lot of crits. Starting to rethink this team.
The main thing the Burn accomplishes is breaking Sturdy and making Mio's job that much safer.
Hilariously, had Golem stood a chance of surviving that Sparkling Aria, she would have proceeded to have been cured of her Burn. I don't think Sparkling Aria has bonus damage when it would cure a status ailment- this is unusual for moves of this type.
Ah, Lycanroc's turn. Not somebody I wanted to see, but...
Huh. No Continental Crash. This strikes me as the perfect situation for one.
Oh well, who am I to judge?
Didn't even get stopped from the oneshot by Sturdy, but like I have said before, Sturdy just means you have more slack to be an optimal KO.
Although after Stone Edge, even Mio's amazing Special bulk wasn't enough to take one of Probopass's hits
Lanz is... a choice. Given who I've already lost, though, I can't say the alternatives were promising.
OK, that was probably the worst part.
Lanz doesn't really have an awesome strategy for Probopass. I don't think I have many of those.
Going for T-Wave, hm? Either way, I can see this is going to be a slow fight until Probopass remembers Earth Power is an option.
I have a sneaking suspicion that time would be now, so switched to the Pokemon immune to Ground.
Nope. Sandstorm. That is a surprisingly good call, since it means Eunie won't hit as hard.
But still, Mystical Fire comes with a Sp. Atk drop, and if you can drop the power of your opponent's final Pokemon, well, they don't exactly have options to fix that. Switch it out? With what?
That 50% Sp. Def boost is pulling weight. Should probably have stuck with more Mystical Fires until that wears off.
This situation is overall unpleasant.
Oh come on, you didn't need a second one!
Even without Sandstorm, that Shadow Ball is depressing. At this point, I'm fishing for Sp. Def drops.
And waiting for an opportunity to switch someone else in.
Like Taion. Taion can try for some Def drops with Crunch.
Not sure what your plan is, Probopass.
All I can say is, remember that Taion gets the +50% buff to Sp. Def from Sandstorm too.
Now I get the Sp. Def buff.
Had to switch Lanz in, but it turns out he handles Earth Powers just fine. Must be the benefits of those Mystical Fires.
Cutting things mighty fine. And that was supposed to be the easy one.
Still, what's done is done. Let us see if someone else would be as simple.
I went for Kahili as my next opponent. Lanz, Mio, and Taion seemed a good match for a Flying type expert.
- Arsena: Amulet Coin
- Eunie: Focus Band
- Squishy: Silk Scarf
- Taion: Shell Bell
- Lanz: Expert Belt
- Mio: Leftovers
Skarmory lead? Perfect opportunity for someone who isn't that good at fighting Flying types to get the Amulet Coin in.
Now if only I could get the Burn chance to bypass Sturdy.
Spikes and Full Restores. One of them is annoying, the other is honestly better used here than it is on something else.
As it is, I am setting this on fire no matter what, all Full Restores do is waste time, Flamethrower PP and second chances elsewhere.
I do wish I wasn't Spiked, though.
Mandibuzz second. Could anything be more predictable?
Dealing with a tank with residual damage and weakening its meager damage output. If I'm switching in Spikes, I want as little extra damage as I can.
Fantastic.
Right, Mio, you seem like the way to go.
Mostly because of Flatter.
Spikes outdamages Leftovers, but soon, it will be the actual damage I have to watch for.
Not that Mandibuzz is doing a ton of this.
Dark type? Excuse to save an Ice Beam and do a Moonblast instead.
Crobat. Something that carries a SE STAB attack on Mio. I'll be honest, I often forget which of Fairy's weaknesses the Water/Fairy type possesses- I know Water resists one of them, but for some reason, I think it's Poison. I know Water resists Steel, but for Water/Fairy specifically...
Yup. Super-effective. And adding a Toxic, for insult to injury. Could've been worse, though- could've been a stronger Poison move. Inflicting regular poison wouldn't have mattered if Mio was probably finished off.
These Flatter rampages write themselves.
Leftovers and the first tick of Poison cancel one another out, leaving Mio where she started. That's Bad Poison, that won't hold.
Toucannon. Also carries a super-effective move, but I find it harder to believe she outspeeds.
I think we both are, Mio. Once was funny. Twice? You have a super-effective option!
Dos the AI just not realise Skill Link Bullet Seed is good?
For attempting to use a -3 priority move on something that has +1 SE coming his way, he is promptly OHKOed. If anything, I would underuse Beak Blast on Sam if I got her off the ground.
OK, so Mio versus Oricorio, this one's a little closer. Mio wins handily... except I think Oricorio goes first.
95% accurate move, Air Slash.
I did not deserve that win, but let's be honest. I still had Taion.
Are you not captivated enough already?
Two down, two to go. Hopefully the next one puts up a fight.
Hala comes next. Mostly so nobody gets fought in the same position between Bethany and Noah.
- Eunie: Colbur Berry
- Arsena: Expert Belt
- Squishy: Amulet Coin
- Taion: Passho Berry
- Lanz: Focus Band
- Mio: Leftovers
Starting off with blocking Fake Out with a Ghost type. Ain't nobody got time for that.
I am mostly certain this is a Thick Fat Hariyama and not a Guts one.
Colbur Berry, to "reduce the damage" of Knock Off. It's worth noting, however, that the 50% damage boost to Knock Off still applies even if, through a literal interpretation of mechanics, the Colbur Berry was eaten before the attack landed.
Went for a switch-in. I... actually don't entirely know why. Probably spooked by Eunie's damage, and wanted to let her soak EXP for Acerola.
Squishy didn't need that anyway.
...Was this seriously the best chance to time that?
Dragon Dance. Bold strategy on something like this.
I think I was expecting Burn to have more of an impact than that. Am I sure this isn't a Guts Hariyama?
OK, let's take things a little more seriously. Mio, you can go in and start Moonblasting, right?
...So anyway, she started Moonblasting.
...
Both of your moves are resisted by Mio.
Thinks things through a little more.
...By the power of Tapu Koko, your entire teams' moves are resisted by Mio, aren't they...
So anyway, she started Moonblasting.
Bewear did successfully manage to outspeed, but the move he chose lowers his own Speed.
...Hold on, that was a misclick.
There we go, much better.
Poliwrath gave things the best possible shot.
In the interests of this not being another Mio sweep again, I decided to let Taion take a crack.
Hala let me switch in, by using a healing item.
Even while holding an item, Taion's Acrobatics still does half its health. Hala, no wonder you got benched in USUM- you suck.
All of a sudden I am wondering what kind of kid Hau is for losing to you.
Poliwrath, of course, reads that Taion is holding a Passho Berry and goes in for Submission.
This just damages it by recoil.
And with the heal, I am now in Defeatist range.
...OK, this was a bit of a weird call. I really should just be using Mio again.
Fortunately, this happened instead. Still not surviving a Waterfall, but I presumably outspeed.
And that Submission did plenty.
Oh yeah. Full Heal for the Burn.
How's that helping you?
Three down. Just Acerola left, and hopefully she doesn't throw out the welcome mat for Mio.
- Mio: Amulet Coin
- Arsena: Persim Berry
- Squishy: Focus Band
- Taion: Figy Berry
- Lanz: Leftovers
- Eunie: Expert Belt
...OK, this isn't the most promising opening on that front, but Mio's just here to Moonblast the Sableye and get the Amulet Coin effect going.
Her own natural bulk is more than enough to take Sableye's damage output before she can fire back.
But fire back she does.
Dhelmise could probably do some serious damage in return, though...
I decided to see what that damage would be. And kinda wanted to give a free switch in to Eunie or Lanz. Mio's had plenty of EXP.
With all the dents Sableye left, Mio could not take the Energy Ball. If she could, I'd be highly impressed, and worried she was about to sweep again.
I go for Lanz first. I'd rather Eunie not get wiped by Froslass immediately.
Power of Icicle Crash. Lanz is truly online now.
Palossand is the one Lanz is scared of. It's weak to Ground.
But by the same token, it is weak in turn to Ice...
Not sufficiently enough. High Def, that's what happened there.
Oh. Er... I mean, that is an effect of Icicle Crash, but Lanz is pretty slow and that doesn't normally...
Well, I'm certainly not going to complain!
Froslass. Ice type, weak to Steel.
Outsped, but had to use the lower BP Shadow Ball.
Lanz took it with plenty left to go, and oneshot with Iron Head in return.
...Looking at this Driflblim, I notice that, despite neither Ice nor Steel being SE on Ghost inherently, Acerola's team is surprisingly uniquely vulnerable to Sandslash.
Yeah, not sure what Amnesia was doing for her.
Ominous Wind did a pretty chilling amount of damage, but I think, even without Leftovers, Sandslash could probably still have taken it. It would've been really close, though.
Icicle Crash is not contact, despite being Physical, and does not trigger Aftermath. Sandslash was fine.
Noah's Elite Four completed, and surprisingly handily, too. All that is left...
Is hoping the Champion goes down just as easily.
Kukui on Set, with a team slightly less specialised than Bethany's- and no Stealth Rocks. Here's hoping this goes better.
- Squishy: Amulet Coin
- Mio: Leftovers
- Eunie: Bright Powder
- Taion: Figy Berry
- Lanz: Icium Z
- Arsena: Expert Belt
This time, there's nothing for it- we need to take Lycanroc down fast, so we don't have to get hit with Stealth Rock ourselves.
...Oh. Here I was hoping Squishy was fast enough for that. You're staring down 186 Speed there- you basically need a Jolly or a Timid to really stand a chance of making that up.
Oh, come on, Squishy.
At least we burned a Full Heal. Squishy takes the time to make sure next time won't go the same way.
And even outspeeds! A +1 Spd can work wonders.
Ninetales. To be expected- fast, and with a x4 weakness of Squishy's. Still, it's nice and squishy itself...
Huh. Surprising. I almost wonder how far I could've gone if I had used Squishy's Rock resistance to get another Dragon Dance going.
Still, we saw that one coming.
Battle of the version-exclusives! Sandslash has the upper hand in this exact matchup.
Although Ninetales does outspeed. Still, Sandslash resists Fairy.
How's that for a x4 weakness?
Plenty of HP left. That's a relief.
Ah, yes, Snorlax. This is actually the opponent I wanted Lanz to fight, although the fact Kukui thinks this is a counterpick raises questions.
Much like Lord Huggington, Lanz intends to break Snorlax's titanic defensive capabilities with a Z-Move. Since All-Out Pummeling wasn't an option, I decided on Subzero Slammer.
There's just one problem- Snorlax has Thick Fat. Why didn't I go for Corkscrew Crash instead? Honestly, I just wanted to see more of Subzero Slammer. I never really get to use it much, what with how late it is, and Corkscrew Crash is much more relevant.
...You go, Lanz.
It says a lot about Thick Fat that Iron Head is doing comparable damage to Subzero Slammer.
And with that flinch, Lanz is proving that Iron Head was probably the better call in the first place.
This is only the second time I've ever used Sandslash and it's already becoming one of my favourites.
Magnezone. Well, this is the perfect time for it.
Lanz outspeeds, so he can break Sturdy, but he had no hope of beating Magnezone without a few dozen flinches. I don't think he has enough Iron Heads for the job.
This is clearly a job for Arsena, but she sure does hate being Stealth Rocked.
Oh come on!
...Oh. Never mind, then. At least, I think that's Burn range...
Ha ha, very funny.
Phew. Yes it was.
Braviary. This strikes me as a good situation in which to keep Arsena out.
Really wish I could've Burned it with Will-o-Wisp or Flame Body on the way down. Alas.
I would also have liked more recoil damage.
Particularly seeing as I've got Mio's Ice Beam as my SE attack of choice right now. It's not STAB, so I'm not crazy about my chances that it'll finish the job.
...Tailwind. That is certainly a choice
Called it.
And he uses one of his Tailwind turns healing up. Something's telling me that Tailwind is about to go to waste.
Although that certainly explains his decision- he couldn't oneshot with Brave Bird, so he chose a strategy with longer-term gains.
He just forgot that he didn't really have the time to enjoy them.
Neat. The last Pokemon Kukui is using is his ace this time.
Also, I'm a little surprised that there is no version of the Champion fight, between all four kids, that has a Primarina. Like, yes, in hindsight, I deliberately chose Rowlet and Litten for Bethany and Ailey to make the Champion have a fitting non-Primarina choice, but still.
Last Pokemon, so now is the perfect time to deploy the -Atks. Also Mio is going down to Leaf Blade.
Scratch that, Mio is going down to Bloom Doom. I am positive that was a waste of Z-Power. Then again, it's hardly like I used mine better.
HA HA!
Eunie, you clean us up.
I was a little uncertain if Eunie could pull it off, so this is insurance. Taion's going to want everything he can get if he is necessary.
It feels weird, to be on the other end of that.
Huh. The Burn really was important.
And I was right- Eunie couldn't oneshot Decidueye with her own Shadow Ball. You'd think I'd throw Shadow Ball turn 1, but that would've been met by a oneshot in kind.
Regardless, Eunie's going down now.
It's all up to you now, birdbrain.
Oh, how rude.
Fortunately, it seems that Taion is perfectly happy using Crunch and not being made to rely on Acrobatics while holding a Berry.
And outspeeding Decidueye.
When Taion is the one to rely on, he does his job fantastically.
I think that was definitely a battle worth remembering for Kukui. Beats his narrow win and his clean sweeping loss in Bethany's file.
Anyway, Noah's Hall of Fame.
Squishy- Zygarde
Dragon/Ground
Met at: Route 16
Zygarde 10% is a bit of weird call to me. I've been treating it like a legendary, and it has that Slow EXP group that makes it feel like one, but its 486 BST puts it exactly between Lycanroc and Raichu for power, and it wasn't exactly using its BST for all it's worth. It actually feels, performance-wise, that it had a similar power level to K9 and Zapple (fittingly), but its typing never had a great niche.
Mio- Primarina
Water/Fairy
Met at: Iki Town
Mio is an amazing Pokemon- high defences, strong offences, an excellent Water/Fairy type, and access to awesome moves that are just fun to click. As much as I complain about sweeping the E4 with her, she earned it. And she remains my favourite Alola starter.
Eunie- Mismagius
Ghost
Met at: Hau'oli Cemetary
I love Mismagius. I think it's really cool. But sometimes, when using it, I realise that a lot of the power I see in it comes from being a kid and losing to Fantina's Mismagius a lot. Her stats are certainly serviceable, but she lacks a degree of oomph you kind of want in a Ghost type. In retrospect, I wish I saved the Eunie name for something else.
Taion- Archeops
Rock/Flying
Met at- Route 8
Taion established his role on the team early- remember it fighting bosses when it was five levels underlevelled? Playing on Set mode limits his power, since I basically can't switch it in, but Taion is always killer if it gets the drop on something. If only I didn't need Pokemon to be holding the Amulet Coin for cash...
Lanz- Sandslash
Ice/Steel
Met at: Tapu Village
I have no idea how the typing did it, but Alolan Sandslash kicks untold quantities of ass despite the regular variety being virtually useless. Well, OK, perhaps Ice being one of the best offensive types and Steel being one of the best defensive ones helps, but they don't exactly go together well.
Arsena- Magmortar
Fire
Met at: Wela Volcano Park
I don't have any regrets about this being my Sena. Sena was destined to be the name given to my Fire type. But Magmortar is very cool because of its access to the move Thunderbolt, and Thunderbolt being postgame locked to Noah denies it this cool niche, and the fact her final moveset nearly only had one serious attacking move was quite the cause for concern. But really, Sena's main argument was her overlap with Mismagius.
Not sure what I'd name Eunie in hindsight. Pinsir, maybe?
Anyway, there is one more fight for Noah: Tapu Koko.
I can catch Tapu Koko later. I'm dealing with this fight the best way I know how:
With prejudice.
(No, Aura Break doesn't apply to Terrains, as funny as that would be. This is just a reminder that Aura Break displays every time Squishy is deployed.)
Tapu Koko knows only one move that can reduce Squishy's HP: Nature's Madness.
This is a fight Squishy was made for.
Tee heel. So much for Agility-boosted Electro Ball.
See you later, Tapu Koko.
Tapu Koko actually gives a little call before disappearing.
If you defeat a one-time-only Pokemon without catching it, it is set to reappear when you win the Pokemon League. Fortunately, the flag that resets such encounters runs after this, so we can rechallenge Tapu Koko freely without having to rematch the League.
Only so Noah can add it to his Pokedex.
That's Noah done. Hope he enjoyed his vacation from the Endless Now.
Now for Ray. He's brought his own Solgaleo and starter to this cutscene to show a few things off- first, that the line for Kukui acknowledging Nebby is still here in USUM.
And secondly, that this cutscene still plays if your starter is not in its final stage.
Yes, showing this was part of the reason that Ray benched Sirehound.
This cutscene is amusing enough that that was worth it.
Ray's team feels a little more encouraging to me than Ailey's, since he's had better progress, but at the same time, I had a lot of conflicting thoughts about which Pokemon would give me the victory I wanted. He's also the only one that still doesn't have a legendary, but it's not exactly like Nebby, Zossie and Squishy were keystones of the other kids' runs.
Theodore has been amazing, despite his static moveset, and it makes sense to bring him. He can keep that Thick Club, he'll need the boost it offers its Atk.
Here's Deep Blue, with an absolutely massive Attack stat. And a priority move. I think Deep Blue has proved the power of the 600 club far more effectively than Isabella has.
Terri is fantastic when the aim of the game is to clean up shop. Three members of the Elite Four are weak to one of her STABs, so I have confidence that this can be accomplished.
As an aside, Terri is the only Pokemon whom I considered replacing a move mid-run: She needed Brick Break from the TM in order to deal with Molayne effectively. Because both Brick Break and Low Sweep are TMs, I can freely edit this even in the League. Moves learned by tutor or by level up cannot be changed this way.
Volty came almost entirely for someone to use the Choice Specs. Have you noticed Ray only has three Special attackers?
It felt right, bringing a Mimikyu with me to the League. Brave Bernie doesn't have quite as effective a role to play in the USUM League as she would against Hala, but Disguise never goes amiss.
So hey, have you ever thought it was a good idea to actually use a Pokemon you found in the very last area? Ivy is properly EV-trained, and her lack of coverage owes more to Weavile's shallow pool than it does her relative absence from the party. Plus, I just want an excuse to click on Beat Up.
...It's got an "IQ" of like 5000, doesn't it?
Olivia first, once again. I mean, I've got Deep Blue and Terri, don't I? Acerola is probably the only easier foe, owing to the fact Ray has two Ghost types and two Dark types.
- Deep Blue: Expert Belt
- Theodore: Thick Club
- Terri: Amulet Coin
- Volty: Choice Specs
- Brave Bernie: Scope Lens
- Ivy: Bright Powder
This time, we're taking the Steel type route to dealing with Armaldo.
Neutral damage. I'm not sure if that's more or less than I expected, though. That was STAB.
Twinkle twinkle little star...
Thunder Wave and Earth Power. Was definitely a more promising switch-in than Cradily.
Bold strategy, trying to keep Deep Blue in. The counterplay for Probopass might be Volty...
Well, were it not for this.
Fishing for those Atk ups.
And not getting them...
Fortunately, Deep Blue took that Earth Power on the chin. Remember that, without the Rock type, Deep Blue does not get the Sp. Def buff.
I was hoping I'd get one of those sooner than that. Oh well.
Here's hoping the slow Metagross can get an outspeed while paralysed.
Saw that one coming.
Right. Terri, it's your turn.
Oh, come on...
Fortunately, Lycanroc chose to retaliate with the move Rock Climb. 90 BP, 85% accuracy, I'm mostly impressed it hit. Still, it was her only attack that wasn't NVE, although I'd probably have clicked Counter.
Your loss.
Cradily. Slightly alarming, but it is more of a tank...
Let's try for keeping Terri in.
...SE on us, hitting weaker defences, and Cradily is capable of offense. Yeah, should've seen that one coming.
Ivy, strut your stuff.
...Oh yeah, Ivy also has a "look at my useless Ability!" popup. Pressure does, at least, do something, which is more than Aura Break can say.
Ivy's fists are much more useful.
...Not staying in on that, though.
This looks like a job for Bonemerang!
...Oh, right. Well, time for the second choice.
Brave Bernie's not going to go down as embarassingly as that.
And now we won't have to worry about that again.
OK, I lose my Disguise and you don't keep your Burn? That doesn't seem fair!
Brave Bernie isn't exactly doing much here.
This time will you stay Burned?
Because clearly I'm taking plenty of damage as it is.
I had so much hope. At least the sandstorm is gone now.
Which means this is the perfect time for Volty to swoop in and hit him on the weaker defence.
Energy Ball works wonders when the winds are in your favour.
Once again, one down.
- Ivy: Expert Belt
- Theodore: Thick Club
- Terri: Amulet Coin
- Volty: Choice Specs
- Brave Bernie: Scope Lens
- Deep Blue: Steelium Z
This fight is actually pretty amusing, on my part. Let's talk about the move Beat Up, then.
Beat Up will perform one strike for every Pokemon in your party. This strike will be rated at [Atk stat]/10 + 5 BP, and is a Dark type move that can enjoy the benefits of STAB and SE. It also uses Ivy's Atk stat, including any buffs like that Expert Belt.
That was Weavile's strike. 17 BP. Weavile has a high Atk base, but still. Because of the way the formula works, the lowest BP strike of Beat Up is Volty's- at 12 BP.
(The highest is Deep Blue's, with 18.)
I haven't sorted this so my strongest hits are first, and it turns out Theodore (who's in the second spot) is the second-weakest strike (13 BP). Anything that goes down in four strikes or less should be ashamed (Volty's is the fourth strike).
Dhelmise can probably take a few more hits. Although it doesn't have Anchor Shot, why is it coming in?
It took all six hits this time.
Yeah, not sure what that's going to do.
Palossand took Beat Up a little better than Dhelmise- it didn't even go down after all six hits. That's that Def for you.
Surprisingly, Palossand doesn't oneshot in return. Ivy has decent Special Defence, and Palossand isn't too fantastic offensively. But still. That's surprising.
Huh. No heal. What a decision process.
Froslass came next, and with her bulk, a low Beat Up row was expected. What was less expected was the outspeed. Weavile is good at that...
Drifblim, then... something a little bulkier.
Just went to the Dhelmise school of bulk.
Again, forsook the Amulet Coin bonus, but it was worth it to see Beat Up sweeping.
Now for round three.
- Volty: Choice Specs
- Theodore: Thick Club
- Terri: Amulet Coin
- Ivy: Expert Belt
- Brave Bernie: Firium Z
- Deep Blue: Leftovers
...This Braviary isn't exactly much better.
Mimikyu's going to be showing off a party trick with Z-Power. And also taking the first Brave Bird.
Atk up and dropping theirs? Z-Will-O-Wisp isn't a horrible deal.
Especially if you're not too fussed by the attack you're taking on the turn you're not attacking.
I did wind up taking a Hone Claws- both to make sure I didn't miss my Play Roughs and because Brave Bernie isn't doing an SE sweep.
I think that may have been a mistake.
Yeah. Now Braviary outspeeds.
Brave Bernie finished, thankfully, but this is not a promising position to be in on the next opponent.
Hopefully Mandibuzz is slow.
...One cannot be too lucky.
All right. This is a weird suggestion to make of a Bug-type, but you reckon you can clean up, Volty?
Mandibuzz seems to think so.
For the fourth time in a row, Mandibuzz uses Flatter on my Special-attacking anti-Flying type. Like yes, the fact that I'm using Special-attacking anti-Flying types all four times is a bit weird, but still.
It's dreadfully convenient, though.
All right. Toucannon, you can't mess this up. Don't Beak Blast and let Volty run rampant over your team again.
That's more like it! You show us who's boss!
Supersonic Skystrike with Toucannon is a bit of a fan favourite animation- there's just something about Toucannon not using its wings to dive-bomb us, instead remaining airborne through sheer force of will. Its all in the expression.
That was also a KO on Volty. I suppose hoping for a survival was a bit ambitious, but it wasn't out of nowhere.
Terri seems like the next-best pick.
Rock-weak, and Moxie can make up the shortfall on STAB. Even if Toucannon is not promising fantastic results.
OK, that helps.
While yes, Bullet Seed would be SE, there is a valid reason for Toucannon to click on Beak Blast here- spite. If I use a contact move, like Crunch, Terri is Burned and all hope of a Terri sweep dies.
Of course, Rock Slide isn't contact, so this is an academic notion.
...I may have forgotten that was an issue. Hawlucha isn't taking any of Terri's shenanigans (resists Crunch and is neutral to Rock Slide) and can hit Terri SE in return with Fighting.
It was a valiant hope.
Deep Blue'll handle this. And I'll start worrying about Oricorio.
Throat Chop. Deep Blue is scared of SE on that.
Fortunately, Zen Headbutt finished, and Deep Blue took that Throat Chop on the chin.
Anyway, I believe I promised an Oricorio. Rock, Water, Electric weaknesses, and I believe I am no longer packing those.
...Teeter Dance, really? Playing with fire, that.
...Well, OK, no it isn't, that's the problem.
Deep Blue doing half HP with a Zen Headbutt. That is a good supercomputer.
...Oricorio? I'm confused now. Was that the idea?
It was a pretty poor one if it was.
Still, Kahili is now down. One left... Molayne.
- Terri: Expert Belt
- Theodore: Thick Club
- Brave Bernie: Firium Z
- Ivy: Amulet Coin
- Volty: Choice Specs
- Deep Blue: Leftovers
This Klefki was a pain in the rear across several of my attempts to show it what's what, which is why I resorted to "this is a plan specifically to spite it."
Prankster Reflect prevents Terri from establishing a foothold.
And, of course, the Spikes. Can't forget the Spikes.
You, stop that.
That's even more irritating.
Fortunately, it seemed to have abandoned the Reflect plan, allowing me to get a nice solid hit with Earthquake in. And all without T-Wave!
Let's hope this carries.
I am liking where this is going.
...What? I wanted to shake things up!
Hey, that's not right. I'm supposed to be the one throwing out Earthquakes left and right!
That's more like it.
In retrospect, I'm not 100% certain why Molayne didn't use Magnezone sooner. It has Sturdy, so it can do things about Terri while it's out.
I was about to say it couldn't do great things, but it finished off the HP Terri had left over after Dugtrio's Earthquake.
Ivy? That's an ambitious choice, past me.
I probably thought that was going to work.
This is what Beat Up looks like when it's not buffed by Expert Belt and SE. Night Slash also offers versatility- Beat Up requires being on a lead or in some other early-in-a-fight position.
Ivy was not lasting long here.
Theodore time? Theodore time.
You're the last one out here, I'm not sure what you're planning with that.
There is nothing more fun than clicking on a recoil move with the Rock Head Ability. Using a powerful move without the side effects.
Elite Four done. Last up, the Champion.
- Volty: Choice Specs
- Ivy: Amulet Coin
- Deep Blue: Leftovers
- Brave Bernie: Expert Belt
- Theodore: Thick Club
- Terri: Groundium Z
Leading with the Choice Specs user. Comparing and contrasting my options, I think I liked the idea of Vikavolt dealing with Raichu best, but this is certainly an option.
I do love a good mental volley, though. No side lays a finger on the other!
Although those are certainly some painful numbers.
Incineroar. Ready to respond to my Bug type with Fire.
...I think I sorta knew Inferno Overdrive was coming. It's a bit of a poor option, honestly, but I'm not going to complain if he's going to click it.
Wasting a Z-Move on something that was probably never attacking anyway.
Terri's probably going to outspeed, although I am a bit concerned about whether she oneshots.
This seems a little overkill, though. I'd probably have saved the Z-Move for Tauros, but Incineroar isn't the worst option.
If nothing else, I love the fact that we responded to Incineroar defeating Vikavolt with a giant fireball by shoving him into the biggest fireball on the planet.
I don't have high hopes, but there are hopes.
And this is probably the scariest thing Hau can throw at me.
OK, Brick Break or Earthquake probably could've got that oneshot.
...Are you seriously telling me that both Ray and Ailey were given a key advantage in the Hau fight because Crabominable missed Ice Hammer? Like, yeah, Crabominable isn't fantastic, but it's not like it's got Hustle, accuracy isn't its chokepoint.
+2 Atk. And whoever I had prepared to deal with Crabominable is now free to clean up someone else's mess.
Leafeon did not lie down for Terri. I think Leafeon is the only one of the three Eeveelutions Hau can use that could check Terri at +2, though- Vaporeon was probably outsped and oneshot by Earthquake.
Leafeon doesn't have anything for Theodore. Just like Lurantis!
...OK, he had that. That stinks.
Then again, consider the fact that Baby-Doll Eyes wouldn't have accomplished that.
Yeah, yeah, saw that coming.
Might as well Burn, if we're going to be worrying about incoming damage.
This'll keep Theodore healthy if I need to switch him out.
Flare Blitz KOed that time. I suspect that's a damage roll.
Oh hey, this is a good time to be Intimidated! My Atk is already so low that I've written off the idea of Theodore doing anything without clearing it.
Staying in with Theodore, though. I have a better idea.
...The game disagreed, though. No Will-o-Wisp for Theo.
Deep Blue as the best counter? I might actually say this is where I should've deployed Brave Bernie.
Deep Blue is taking Tauros hard. And losing the Speed toss, too.
And did not do much on offense. This is probably where I lose my Pokemon advantage.
I was hoping that was going to work. I didn't expect it to.
Now we're doing what we should've done from the start.
Full Restore...
That worked, though.
Lost the Disguise. Part of what I was saving Brave Bernie for was Noivern, and that's not on the table anymore.
Thankfully, that's not Full Healed away.
Which is good, because Brave Bernie needs to take her time.
...Ew. Lost half my HP even with the Burn. That is not a number you want to see.
The Atk drop Play Rough did gave Brave Bernie an out to making sure to take out Tauros. But still... that's costly.
Last Pokemon. Noivern. And I've got one Pokemon left after Brave Bernie.
And she wasn't doing anything without her Disguise.
All of this comes down to the idea of Ivy taking a hit from Noivern. Ivy, the famously frail Pokemon. This... this is probably going to end poorly.
...
Phew.
That Sp. Def isn't as bad as the reputation suggests, but still.
Ice Punch was always going to oneshot. x4 SE, STAB, the works.
Ivy really proving the reason to use Weavile when she comes at the eleventh hour.
I did like that battle for Ray, too. It really came down to the wire there.
I think that came pretty close. Really wish I switched Brave Bernie and Deep Blue, but I do like that ending.
Right, then, let's talk about our team. And I have just noticed what a lot of Pokemon on this team have in common.
Volty- Vikavolt
Bug/Electric
Met at- Heahea Beach
Volty tagged in for Veeka partway through, but this team slot had some issues each step of the way. Whenever her attacks got off, she was awesome, but her speed did limit that power far too often.
Theodore- Marowak
Ghost/Fire
Met at- Heahea Beach
Theodore: Arrived just before Lurantis, utterly destroyed that Totem fight, and then continued on his merry way through the rest of the game. Yeah, he dropped off a bit, but there's nothing he couldn't do without a big stick.
Deep Blue- Metagross
Steel/Psychic
Met at- Mount Hokulani
Deep Blue lagged a lot before finally gaining its final stage, but Metagross utterly tore the game to shreds when it was on the table. In competitive, its lost a lot of value, but it retains an absolutely amazing capacity in the main game as a powerful Steel type.
Terri- Krookodile
Ground/Dark
Met at- Haina Desert
Krookodile is a Pokemon I kinda underestimated, especially with the Moxie decision. No, she really did do amazingly each and every opportunity she had. She really does hold up.
Brave Bernie- Mimikyu
Ghost/Fairy
Met at- Heahea Beach
Brave Bernie: No Shadow Sneak? No problem! Just use one of your STABs, or use the free turn for disruption. I think, if anything, this run taught me more ways to make Mimikyu be absolutely disgusting for your opponent.
And yeah, did you notice I brought all three Totems Ray was using?
Ivy- Weavile
Dark/Ice
Met at- Mount Lanakila
What is there to be said about how Ivy performed over the game? She contributed a little to Mount Lanakila itself, but the lion's share of her contributions are in this very update. And what contributions they were!
Ray has now claimed the title of Champion. That's all four kids, ready for the next adventure.
Next time: We've got postgame to do, and there's plenty of it.
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