Bethany Plays: Pokemon Alola Bonus: Red and Blue

We're going to have a series of tough fights ahead of us, starting off with a brand new one.

Once again, Ailey is bringing her starter. Like Bethany and Oatchi, Moss is here for strong tactical reasons. I wish it had Intimidate, though.

Consilia is, somehow, the only Pokemon I brought to this fight that wasn't in my Hall of Fame Team. Unfortunately, I think Tailwind is a bit too ambitious. In hindsight, maybe Consilia should've been Timid.

How ironic, that Shade is going to be contributing to the fight that allows her to be busted. Steel/Fairy is still amazing.

Zossie has plans of a Beast Boost sweep, but no promises can be made. Honestly kind of a shame that Timid denies Zossie Special Moxie privileges.

Ridley continues to be a strangely bulky Special powerhouse.

Genevieve... ambitions of tanking, mostly. And paralysis.

This conversation actually has camera work in USUM. The animations are all the same, it's just shot from a more interesting angle.

And also does things like zoom in and around.

The dialogue, or lack thereof, is all the same.

Blue is a lot more pleased if he's the one you select to be your opponent, though.

This is a USUM specific thing. Blue will actually be the one to heal you regardless of which one you fight.

Blue, in contrast to Red, has all his Pokemon set to the same level- the same level as Red's Snorlax and Lapras, in both games. He doesn't have a freebie with Pikachu and he's got a few nastier tricks up his sleeve, though. Blue's team, by species, is identical to his team in his appearance in B2W2's nostalgia battle roundup, the PWT. This team lacks Pidgeot and Rhydon, otherwise iconic members of his team, but in what may or may not be an astounding coincidence, every Pokemon Blue does have in this appearance is in the Alola Pokedex, while Pidgeot and Rhydon are not.

Like Red, he uses the generic Trainer theme rather than one of his own. Despite being the Rival in RBY, he doesn't have his own theme for most of the game, but since he is the final boss of RBY, he does have a final boss theme prepared.

...Now that I say it aloud, Red and Blue were the first two final bosses in the series. No wonder they get cool kid credit.

Something about that model feels off to me. But ah well. Alakazam is invested in Sp. Atk/Spd, with a Modest Nature in USUM, knowing the moves Psychic, Future Sight, Shadow Ball, and Reflect. The lack of Focus Blast makes it a welcome sight for Dark types, but Alakazam is certainly a key member of Blue's team- because of the way enemy Trainers are designed in RBY as well as Alakazam's raw power as a Psychic type, this was the opponent to be scared of in Blue's original final boss team.

RBY didn't have Dark types, see. Much like with Red, where you're very much in the position of "lead with a Ground type or get swept", Blue's Alakazam does strongly suggest leading with a Dark type. Blue's Alakazam doesn't have the controlling factor of recoil, though.

It does, however, have a Screen, like Pikachu. Since its Screen matches the most common attacking type for its weakness, it will also prefer to use it over using a relatively weak damaging move. Blue really does have strengths over Red.

Reflect is enough to stop Moss from one-shotting with Darkest Lariat. This is supposed to ignore penalties, but it's in a very limited capacity that Reflect is not one of.

...And wow, I got that close to the oneshot even with Reflect? Alakazam really is frail.

...Well, OK, Red did do some switching himself. But Blue's not going to be facing Stealth Rocks, so it's even better for him.

Machamp is one of the newer members of his team, being added in HGSS in place of Rhydon once that thing got an evolution. Here, it's equipped with 252 EVs in Atk/Spd (...Speed is weird, Machamp is not fast), an Adamant Nature, and the moves Cross Chop, Poison Jab, Knock Off, and Bulk Up. Nicely prepared for Psychic and Fairy types, I must say, although it is missing the Rock move you'd typically expect from a Fighting type's coverage.

I was planning on breaking Alakazam's screen anyway, so it didn't switch in to a resist, but it sure took that damage.

I think I was hopeful for an outspeed (considering the Speed investment, unlikely), but mostly I just wanted a free switch for my next team member.

Ultimately, Consilia outsped anyway, and with a quad resist to Cross Chop, she probably could've taken a switch in.

There were also good odds I just didn't finish the job. If it was invested in HP like I'd expect, that'd be a realistic fear, but I was hitting Specially either way.

...I could also have gone for a Tailwind, but it turns out that Consilia can't really Tailwind and Supersonic Skystrike, with its stats.

Alakazam's back, but I have the perfect response to that even without Moss.

Sucker Punch.

Arcanine represents one of the three Pokemon Blue will carry in RBY, depending on starter choice. If you choose Bulbasaur, so Blue chooses Charmander, Arcanine won't appear, since Charizard is filling the role of Fire type. To not canonise a starter choice, any battle with Blue outside an RBY context has him use all three of the Pokemon that play this part.

As for Arcanine itself, it's Atk/Spd with an Adamant Nature, carrying the moves Extreme Speed, Flare Blitz, Thunder Fang, and Bulldoze. Kinda showing the weakness of Arcanine there, but that Extreme Speed can really sting with the right opportunity. Does it need to oneshot if it has such a powerful priority move?

The answer, of course, is yes, since Ridley oneshot with her Scald. Can't Extreme Speed if you're dropped.

This is more or less the only Pokemon on Blue's team that isn't in the Alola Dex as is. He, of course, uses the Kantonian Exeggutor rather than the local variety, given he's been using it for two years. 252 EVs in Sp. Atk/Spd, a Modest Nature, and the moves Leaf Storm, Psychic, Sludge Bomb, and Hypnosis. Really, Blue, Hypnosis? Sleep Powder has an additional 15 percentage points of accuracy! Guess I shouldn't expect much from someone investing in Speed with the slowpokes.

Freebie starter with Beast Boost.

Now here's an opponent with chest hair. Gyarados is, of course, Atk/Spd invested with an Adamant Nature, and the moves Aqua Tail, Crunch, Ice Fang, and Dragon Dance. It could be an absolute nightmare if it set up a Dragon Dance, but I find it often does just well without it.

Yes, yes, tell it to a Physical attacker.

...I probably needed a Nasty Plot to make that KO...

It would also have been nice if Zossie took the Ice Fang. Just saying.

Right, Genevieve, your turn.

I am taken aback by that HP loss. Perhaps not surprised, but I was hoping for more favourable numbers. Slash expecting to be oneshot anyway.

Bzzt!

Now then... Aerodactyl. Blue only picked this up for B2W2, but he's kept it for a surprisingly long time given that fact. 252 EVs in Atk/Spd, but with a Jolly Nature this time- Aerodactyl was already way too fast for that to matter, so honestly, it kinda lost out with that one. Rock Slide, Sky Drop, Iron Head, and Crunch, giving it an insanely good coverage set it's going to go first with, with two flinch moves and a move that will take away one of your turns.

Shade made a surprisingly good counter to its shenanigans, thanks to its defensive profile.

Although it does lead to the hilarious outcome that is the battle of the Iron Heads.

I managed to come out on top, but this outcome was by no means guaranteed- Aerodactyl turned out to be suspiciously good at flinching this go around.

...You know, despite ostensibly mellowing out by the time of GSC, I think this qualifies as the best sportsmanship Blue has ever shown in defeat.

The convergence between fighting Red or Blue comes here, after this one line of reaction to their defeat. Or victory, as the case may be.

This line hits different if he just lost, though.

Now, before the boys fight these two, Noah does have a fight with Mina to do.

Gonzales drew the "deal with Klefki" card. He'll be a lot better about swallowing the damage Klefki tries to deal.

PRNDL is just an awesome Fairy counter all around, or perhaps it would be if it wasn't a Special Attacker. Ah well, not all Fairies are Specially blessed.

Lanz is going to hit harder. Slower and more Specially vulnerable, but harder.

Everyone say hi, Glimmer! Amusingly, this isn't the first time we've seen Glimmer, but it is the first time she's going to be doing something meaningful. And yeah, look at that kit. You watching this, Gladion?

Arsena's just here because of all the dual-types weak to Fire, and her Fairy resist. And the possibility of blowing something up with Inferno Overdrive.

And hey, why not add the Poison type to the bargain? Odd that it's at the back, but with that speed, it'll be good cleanup.

Mina's "wait for me" dialogue. She really is a fairy.

Right, the battle.

Sometimes, Gonzales's presence really shines forward.

Well, that's moderately irritating, but it's not like I was in a rush to beat Klefki.

...OK, this could be a while. Not that Lanz is complaining.

With all the damage I had to do, Gonzales is down to 62 HP. That chip from Klefki added up, but clearly not fast enough.

And I don't think Gonzales had much hope of taking Granbull's attack.

Wasn't sure what I was switching into, so I let Gonzales go down. In hindsight, odd choice for the holder of the Lucky Egg.

Right, PRNDL can take one hit thanks to Sturdy-

Oh. Doesn't outspeed.

Fortunately, that was a oneshot.

Huh. It does outspeed that one, though. Wigglytuff should be embarrassed. Also for being oneshot by PRNDL.

Unfortunately for PRNDL's ambitions, Shiinotic was a bit more prepared.

It may be a resist, but anything could take the last point of damage.

It's time for Glimmer to take a turn. I mostly pack Glimmer for one reason- and a bit of a sacrificial one at that.

Glimmer finishes, leading us into the final Pokemon, Ribombee.

And because of her typing, baits out the Twinkle Tackle. I'll feel loads better with this not being aimed at something else.

Sorry, Glimmer, your time will be somewhen else, presumably.

Right, Lanz, let's see a nice solid hit.

Ribombee had no choice but to attack into a resist. Only Steel types can pull this off, and half the type combinations have one neutral Ribombee can hit into. Ice, despite its weaknesses, happens not to be one of them.

Iron Head smash.

Noah knows what's up! Now for his Blue fight.

Alexandria's objective is to get rid of Alakazam. That seems well within her capabilities.

Melia, meanwhile, will delete Machamp handily. This is what she was born for.

Lanz is going to take his typing and, hopefully, deal with Aerodactyl. And not get flinched a million times.

Ethel's job is to handle Exeggutor, one I trust she will handle with aplomb.

Mio's got Arcanine. I have hopes she'll do well at it.

And PRNDL is for Gyarados.

I love it when a team comes together. I hope the plan works just as well.

Blue's reaction if you try to pass yourselves off as somebody else.

Right, time for Noah's fight. There were some irritating matchups that killed a few attempts in here.

The team Noah fights is more or less identical to the one Ailey did, with the exception of the four missing levels and the Serious Natures. Those were the least of his worries anyway.

I'm not so fussed about that. I have a plan:

Swords Dance.

Shadow Ball, it turns out, is just poor enough a choice on Alexandria that she can set up something truly astounding.

Another stack of Swords Dance.

With room enough to spare another hit! If that Sp. Def drop had happened the first time, though, it would not be an option.

Yes, I set up to +6. Yes, I'm going somewhere with this.

And that somewhere is a nice Sucker Punch to Alakazam's jaw. But +6 was overkill for that.

Next up, Machamp. A fitting counterpick, Machamp will mulch Alexandria given half a chance to use Cross Chop.

Alexandria is faster than Machamp, thankfully, and that Psycho Cut, in addition to being +6, was guaranteed to be a crit.

...I mean, Absol typically have that ability pre-built? Not worth it- it's Special and only one Future Sight attack can be created at a time.

This is probably the switch I am most confused by. Exeggutor doesn't know any moves that are SE on Alexandria, and is in fact weak to Sucker Punch.

A fact I exploit. This was the last turn of Reflect, and sending out literally anyone other than Exeggutor probably would've allowed Blue to finally knock off those last few hit points of Alexandria's.

Arcanine is the Pokemon that Blue should've been sending sooner than this. The thing about Extreme Speed is that it has a higher priority bracket than Sucker Punch- even if I click it, Extreme Speed will finish me off anyway. Mio might struggle with Thunder Fang, but as long as she doesn't flinch, she'll be fine, and Alex had a good run-

...Blue, what did you click?

An entire Swords Dance down the drain thanks to Intimidate.

Fortunately, +4 with a crit proved to be enough to finish the job.

To add insult to injury on the fact that Blue has been unable to stop Alexandria's sweep, Pressure would have done its job in this situation- Sucker Punch only has 5 PP, and had Alexandria lost one to Pressure, one of his other Pokemon could've outsped by dint of not facing Sucker Punch.

And that is the story of the most implausible Alexandria sweep ever.

Pity the Amulet Coin didn't kick in, but also, seriously, what the hell, Blue?

So far, Noah hasn't seen anything promising. What about Ray?

Terri going to do his thing with Pikachu. If he can continue the rampage, all the better.

Candy will be setting up Sand Stream and hoping that extra Sp. Def carries her some extra points.

Isabella's job is to get rid of that Snorlax. Anything else is secondary.

Deep Blue, surprisingly, makes a great counter to Venusaur.

Guardia's job is to hopefully take Charizard on the chin and blast it back to high heaven. If you can't outspeed it, weather it.

Alena... well, I have hopes to knock down a Blastoise or two, but...

USUM's lines for a Red battle. Unlike Blue, you can expect to see more than the usual suspects lined up for Natures.

...Although this Pikachu is Jolly. Those Natures are good, there's a reason they turn up so often.

Right, Ray, you're still quite a few levels short, but you've picked up some solid EXP on your way here.

That Quick Attack really does numbers on Ground types. And Alola isn't exactly filled with Rock or Steel types to block it. Justy and Earthwerk would've been funny, though.

Right. Who's next?

Venusaur. Quiet Nature on this one, buffing the Sp. Atk without nerfing the Atk- which is important, because it turns out that Venusaur, and Venusaur alone between both Red and Blue, did see a moveset change- Bulldoze is now Earthquake. Just dropping speed control entirely from his plan...

Grass resist covered for the Poison weakness, and Terri doesn't have one of Venusaur's weaknesses.

Leaf Storm was overkill, but was also probably Venusaur's only move that would've actually KOed Terri.

Right, Deep Blue, you get rid of this one.

Leech Seed?

...Venusaur outsped?

Anyway, Zen Headbutt right to the delete button.

...Deep Blue's doing nothing here. Charizard is Timid, deciding that the Sp. Atk it had was sufficient and it wanted more Speed control.

Let's see if Guardia can take two Charizard strikes, then.

The answer, it seems, is "that doesn't matter."

But yes, he totally could if he wanted.

A surprisingly healthy Guardia remains, not that I think he'll be much use on Lapras and Blastoise. Although he could heal from the Water moves...

Hm. Snorlax. Adamant Nature for hitting harder, the question is what I plan to do about getting Guardia out and Isabella in.

My answer was "click Scald and hope for a Burn".

Was not taking an attack. I had hopes, but they were long ones.

Right, Isabella's turn.

Huh. Lapras switch in. Odd choice. Lapras is still assigned a Serious Nature- apparently, with Ice Shard in its kit, the devs did not want to give Lapras any penalties.

So, were you just so excited about hitting Isabella with an Ice move that you forgot Lapras was weak to Fighting?

Isabella also outspeeds.

Blastoise is Calm (+Sp. Def/-Atk), maintaining the sleek defensive profile. I also want Isabella to stay around for Snorlax.

So I switch in a Rock type to a Water type. The tutorial NPCs are aghast.

I know what I'm doing.

...OK. I'll be honest, I was not expecting the Sp. Def buff from Sandstorm to be that effective. Candy really showing the worth of Sand Stream.

Maybe I should've clicked Bulldoze instead, though.

No miss, sadly. It would've been really funny.

Alena, let's see if you can clean up.

...Not as well as I hoped. Maybe I did need that Bulldoze.

More than I thought.

Dang, Sandstorm chip didn't finish.

Fortunately, Deep Blue is still fresh and ready to weather the sandstorm for that last bit of chip.

And with an incoming Ice move, Deep Blue is free to take that on the chin. The Sp. Def bonus is only for Rock types, so it's just Metagross's power coming in here.