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How do you play Pokemon in-game?

For HGSS, here's an idea: ditch everything but your starter after beating the Elite 4. Like Ash does in the anime when he goes to a new region. Then catch five new Pokemon in Kanto for use there. They'll take a bit of levelling, but it could be fun.

I think I'm gonna couple this with my random team idea before. 5 random Johto Pokemon, then 5 random Kanto Pokemon.

That's exactly what I was planning. And I try to get as many region-specific Pokemon as possible while still maintaining a good team. Another thing I try to do is use gift/novelty Pokemon.
 
Interesting idea cantab, though I don't think it's quite for me :P (as you'll see from my post below, I don't like leaving things to chance much).

I've spent a lot of time planning my team and here's what I've come up with. I won't go into details about how I planned it out, as I could write pages on that and I doubt many are interested anyway. I still need to breed it though.


Charizard (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Nature: Adamant
- Flare Blitz
- Fly
- Swords Dance
- Roost

I plan to RNG for a Shiny Charmander ^_^

Tyranitar (M) @ Life Orb
Ability: Sand Stream
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Nature: Jolly
- Stone Edge
- Crunch
- Earthquake
- Dragon Dance

Honchkrow (F) @ Life Orb
Ability: Insomnia
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Nature: Adamant
- Sucker Punch
- Brave Bird
- Superpower
- Roost

Kingdra (F) @ Leftovers
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs: 180 HP / 252 Atk / 76 Spd
Nature: Adamant
- Waterfall
- Outrage
- Rain Dance
- Dragon Dance

Again, gonna go for a shiny here!

Manaphy @ Leftovers
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Nature: Timid
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Energy Ball
- Tail Glow

Moral dilemma: is it legit if I hack the wondercard, but then SR/ RNG the actual Manaphy?

Jirachi @ Leftovers
Ability: Serene Grace
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spd
Nature: Jolly
- Iron Head
- Fire Punch
- ThunderPunch
- Wish

Gonna get this guy from Gamestop next week all going well!


As you can see I tried to find a balance between what's convenient for ingame (eg. Fly on Charizard, Wish on Jirachi) and what's required for competitive Pokemon (pretty much every other aspect of my team). Apart from Jirachi, who'll be traded over at level 10, I plan to hatch all my Pokemon in New Bark Town as soon as trading is enabled.
 
Some things I ALWAYS do for runs, regardless of if I'm playing the game for the first time or if it's the up-teenth time:

-Combat is on SET. I feel it's unfair not only to know what Pokemon the opponent is going to send out next, but also to be able to switch in whatever Pokemon I want before they send in the next Pokemon.
-Battle Animations Off. Having played battle simulators for years, the in-game battles seem to move at a crawl, which bugs the heck out of me.
-No Items During Battle. I realize this might put me at a disadvantage, but if I lose to an AI opponent and I happened to use items in battle, how should I expect to beat a real person in a situation where I can't use items? (hold items are the exception to this rule)

From there, it really depends on my mood and what the overall goal is that I'm trying to accomplish. If it's my first time playing a game, then I limit myself to things available in that game only, so no trades or cheat devices. I may plan a team out beforehand (like I'm doing for my future copy of HG), but it's all within the confines of the cartridge. In the past, my teams have consisted mainly of 4-5 main team members + 1-2 HM slaves (I hated putting HMs on my team members, except when it came to Surf, the occasional Waterfall, and the occasional Fly). However, my latest team for HG is going to be 6 main team members, which I will occasionally switch out for an HM slave (I'll just spread a couple of HMs on my team members who are desperate for a fourth move).

After my first playthrough, it's a total free-for-all. Speedruns, 6-Pokemon teams, 3-Pokemon teams, themed teams, single-NFE Pokemon runs (I've done a ratatta-only run of Red, a Hoothoot-only run of Crystal, and a Pidgey-only run of LG), whatever. I still retain my three first rules, though.
 
I already beat the Japanese HGSS, so when I get the English version I'm not too bothered about running through it properly.

Having a dinky, mish-mash team always annoys me; I just don't feel like the amazing trainer the game tells me I am if I'm just using a bunch of random Pokemon. So basically I'm just going to Pokesav myself a team I want (unless they're available to catch in-game at an early enough point not to slow me down). I think I'm going to go through HGSS with Pikachu/Charizard/Feraligatr/Nidoking/Scyther (later Scizor)/Staraptor.

On my first time playing a game, though, I always just roll through it with my starter and a couple of other Pokemon.
 
I like this plan, it's what I do, but you seem to pick incredibly powerful Pokemon for it.

I merely choose to play through the game using my favorite Pokémon, as I believe there is no point in the game otherwise. Also, the Pokémon that I usually play through the game with are almost never incredibly powerful until they evolve into their final stage, which does not happen until very late in the game.

Also, I forgot to mention in my previous post that I always leave the battle animations on as it makes the battles more "epic" that way, while I do not ever use items during battle.
 
I usually go with a Water-type starter, a Bug-type, a HM slave and the rest or caught on the fly. I don't plan natures, IVs or EVs and I really just like feeling like I am on an actual adventure.

On the second playthrough, however, I just like doing mono- or fun teams. The AI is stupid, so you can usually pull it off.

Legendaries are also overrated and I like keeping my starter at the highest level by 2 levels, followed by the Bug who is higher than the next by 2 levels up until the 5 th poke (8 level diff between starter and last) and a completely underlevelled HM slave.
 
I merely choose to play through the game using my favorite Pokémon, as I believe there is no point in the game otherwise. Also, the Pokémon that I usually play through the game with are almost never incredibly powerful until they evolve into their final stage, which does not happen until very late in the game.

Also, I forgot to mention in my previous post that I always leave the battle animations on as it makes the battles more "epic" that way, while I do not ever use items during battle.
I was thinking on that, and my team was pretty uber for the early game and leveled really fast. Eh, I agree with the mons you like theory though.
 
I just pick whatever starter tickles my fancy and then catch whatever springs up. Second play through I usually just start doing monos and working my way through each type.

The games are meant to be fun so I don't take them overly seriously.
 
I usually play through without using any healing items or Repels and fighting every wild Pokémon I encounter. That way, it doesn't feel too forced, but is still a challenge, especially in longer dungeons (I very nearly whited out in Mt. Coronet). The only problem is that I eventually get overleveled, although the lack of items counteracts this somewhat :P
Usually, I plan my team beforehand, but sometimes I just go with the flow. Also, I've gotten into the habit of nicknaming everything I catch. It makes it more interesting and individual :)

EDIT: I tend to use three or four Pokémon; in my Platinum, I currently have a Prinplup, Machoke and a Togepi egg, and am planning to get myself an Electric-type eventually. Also, I'm probably going to trade Machoke to my other game for a Haunter (when I get it).
I don't worry about competitive things, such as natures or IVs; sometimes, I use a TM or two to get a good moveset, but I usually make do with level-up moves. Both Prinplup and Machoke have neutral natures, and Machoke currently only knows Fighting-type attacks. I hope it doesn't end up against a Ghost-type (I'm approaching the 3rd gym, so this isn't very likely XD).
 
Manaphy @ Leftovers
Ability: Hydration
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spd
Nature: Timid
- Surf
- Ice Beam
- Energy Ball
- Tail Glow

Moral dilemma: is it legit if I hack the wondercard, but then SR/ RNG the actual Manaphy?
Depends who you ask.
Also, if you're RNGing you could take a shot at a shiny Manaphy. In case you don't know, you do this by RNGing in game A, but using a spread that will be Shiny in game B. Then trade the egg to game B and hatch it there, and if you hit the right spread then there's your shiny Manaphy. (I think that works anyway).
 
Depends who you ask.
Also, if you're RNGing you could take a shot at a shiny Manaphy. In case you don't know, you do this by RNGing in game A, but using a spread that will be Shiny in game B. Then trade the egg to game B and hatch it there, and if you hit the right spread then there's your shiny Manaphy. (I think that works anyway).

Interesting, I'll have to explore that further. I've only recently started abusing the RNG so I don't know all the ins and outs yet.
 
When i start out with a new game, i think "what would be the best___ team i could make from scratch?" and then go about the game focusing on a trickroom, sandstrom team, or using a monotype team- with preference on a monotype team, because it makes you think more about the pokemon you will include in your team

Of course, i soft reset for a decent starter pokemon and trade over my ev training items (and pokerus slave) and use good nature pokemon. but i try not to trade over any pokemon (i'll just trade over egg parents to get my own eggs) till after i beat the elite 4, that way i don't end up with a quick growing pokemon that saves my team from defeat.
then i use 6 pokemon in rotation (8 total, 2 hm slaves)to keep a decent team, but i'll rotate a HM slave or 2 in if nessicary. then i go through the game at a moderate pace, taking satisfaction in beting people with a monotype team.
 
For first run I went through and made the team up of Pokemon I saw/knew and liked.

afterwards I rush with the starter unless it was Gold which I played the same as always.
 
emerald is the only game so far that i planned a pre-E4 team and post-E4 team before starting the game and stuck to it
however i usually pick my starter well in advance, and others are also planned on the fly during game play
i.e. on my japanese Soul Silver, i pre planned by trading over a treeko egg and charmander egg to go with my totodile, but after getting a decent magnemite off the pokewalker, i decided to add it to my team as it would be useful
 
I rarely do speedruns, I often take my time to enjoy the game, even if they're re-runs. For in-game I don't really care about EVs/IVs, only natures (just doesn't have to be a 'bad' one), as for choosing my team, sometimes I plan in advance, sometimes I just go and wonder and catch what comes to mind; I usually have a team of starter/2 Pokemon to complete the (fire/water/grass triangle)/flyer/something/HM slave.
 
I am very boring compared to just about everyone else. I usually play through the game with a team of Pokemon you catch around Sandgem Town, and haven't ever done anything like a mono-team. Reading this thread has inspired me to do a Ghost team on Platinum soon, so that'll be interesting. I also have never cared about EVs or IVs in-game, as besides Battle Frontier its pointless.
 
I have set rules that I subconciously enforce upon myself.

Set battle style: It prepares me for the Battle Frontier and online play
Battle animations on: It doesn't bother me if they are off, as long as there is a log like on Shoddy. But if the arent on, and there is no log, it makes me feel like I missed something crucial.

Text Speed: Fast. Like most people over the age of 7, I can read faster than I speak, therefore text that scrolls along slowly drives me MAD

Pokemon: Anything but the fire starter. I love all the fire starters. Especially Blaziken (Ruby was my first pokemon game, and Torchic was my starter) and Infernape. But I have a natural dislike of the norm. EVERYONE picks the fire starter, so I dont. I usually go with the water starter because they tend to be bulky. The Grass starter has to be a steaming cup of badass for me to pick it. Like Sceptile, even though his level up move-pool sucked.

I then catch the 'Bird' pokemon because there is always a forest to go through, so there are always bug and grass pokemon, and I didn't pick the fire guy, so it would be hell without a flying move.

I then use Serebii to decide which early pokemon learns all the useless HMs (Bidoof = yes).

I then go randomly, usually aiming for a wide range of types. Electric, Fire, Fighting, Poison, and all that jazz. I catch most of my guys early, as I your pokemon should always be stronger than the wildies, and I dispize having to train one pokemon only, just so it can 'catch up'. But at least 1 Steel type or future steel type (like Prinplup, Scyther, and Pineco) is required.

I don't care about natures/EVs/IVs because I don't have the resources that early in the game to manipulate them easily. I don't care about that until the after-game. I refrain from trading, because, like previously stated, I feel like they are cheating with their boosted exp.

Items: I guard my berries vehemently. If its one-use only, Im never going to use it unless I can buy more. I use Healing items in Gyms only, and I will get halfway to the next city, and turn around to dash back to the Pokemon Center because Im too cheap to use my potions.

I never use the Itemfinder/radar and Usually my pokemon have the items that boost their STAB, like Charcoal on Houndour.

And ya. I have literally flinched away from the screen when a Platinum Walkthrough popped up, because I was halfway through it. NO SPOILERS! And when a new gen comes out, I try to keep up to date until they announce the release date, and then when I find out that, I mark it on my calendar and close myself off from the rest of the pokemon world, as not to spoil the story line.
 
On my last serious play through I started with chimchar and caught a few pokemon along the way without training all of them. I caught a Roselia at around level 17 and made sure it had natural cure. I eventually got an eevee and evolved it into a jolteon and then later got a gibile when it was available.

I just leveled up those four and picked up a bibarel and a tropius along the way because those two pokemon can learn all of the HM's between them :)


I have also done a run through with All bird pokemon back in ruby for fun. I have also done multiple of the same pokemon with different sets. Got to keep the stuff fresh :)

The first time I played through the original red and blue games I just got blastoise and raped everything. With yellow I think I kepy pikachu with pidgeot and then got all the starters they give you.

With silver/gold I remember having an espeon and a snorlax I was really proud of because I kept giving it the speed vitamin and thought I had the fastest snorlax ever! Oh how little I knew.

For HG/SS I haven't quite decided what to do. On the jap version og HG I have feraligator/dragonair/arcanine. It was the dratini you can get gambling.

Looking forward to it though!!
 
I usually never speed run, as the in game portion is the most fun. I play with a team of 6 pokemon and don't capture any legends along the way. I also never use full restores or any healing during gym battles or during the elite 4. I don't really know why, just something I've been doing since ruby.
 
Answer is simple-- I really can't find any fun training/playing with pokemon I know have crap EVs/IVs/Natures/etc. If I can't use the pokemon forever, it's a waste of time, energy and space to me. I mean, the goal of the game is to become the ultimate trainer! How can I believe I'm really going to that goal when I've got a team that, in my head, I know is crap with no potential to ever become part of a competitive team?


That's exactly how I play too. I try and get good natures, but I don't care about IVs. Basically, I just choose big, dinosaur like Pokemon when I'm ingame, like Aggron, Charizard, Feraligatr, etc. i also sometimes like imagining my journey the way it is ina the anime lol. Also I hate speed runs, I find the only real way to have fun playing Pokemon ingame is to make it last, using fun Pokemon.
 
Generally, I play the game as is the first time. For example, I played this way with my Sapphire, FireRed, and Pearl Versions. Once a new release of the game come out (Emerald/Platinum) I spend the months prior to having the game to plan out which Pokemon I want to use.

In my Emerald Version (which arguably was the game where I had the best Pokemon in), I had a team of Swellow, Ludicolo, Aggron, Blaziken, and Swampert. I usually left a slot open for anything else I wanted to have. In Platinum Version (which I have yet to complete), I decided to use Pokemon I didn't use previously in a heavy manner; I used a Crobat as my flying Pokemon because the level 2 birds are overused as fliers.
 
I, :

-Pick a starter
-Avoid ALOT of Trainers
-Get Team
-Catch Legenderies
-Beat game
-Get the HELL INTO THE METAGAME.

I honestly don't care about in-game. Becoming metagame master pwns.
 
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