Alright, after a bit of rest (well if you can call delving deep into RNG and struggling for two days to master it “rest”) I’m ready to continue my journey! Let’s see, last time we had just beaten Winona right? So that means that next up is the rest of route 120, along with the routes that connect to it, Mt. Pyre, Lilycove... yup I got my plate full!
Alright, so on the other side of the bridge where Steven gave me that Devon Scope is... more trainers! What a shocker. Oh and it’s constantly raining. Lovely. At least Big Banks gets a nice boost to Surf I suppose...
OH OH Relic is below half health! Maybe against the next trainer I can get a self-destruct kill! Let’s see... a Castform? BLOW IT UP RELIC WAHAHAHAHAAHA!!!!!!
*Accidentally uses mud-slap, Relic gets KO’d by weather ball*
WHY THE HELL DO I KEEP USING THE WRONG DAMN MOVE FUUUUUUUU-
*next battle after reviving Relic so he’s just below half-health*
Alright, maybe this next one will go better?
Nincada eh? Well after a Psybeam to weaken it, I should be guaranteed a KO...
*Pysbeam OHKOs*
....
OK, ninjask should be an OHKO with Selfdestruct. Here we go!
*it uses double team, but Selfdestruct FINALLY nets its first KO*
YESSS!!! Just 9 more times now... I was seriously expecting it to miss as soon as that damn Ninjask used Double Team, because that’s the way my luck rolls.
*Relic manages to blow up on a Milotic, scoring another KO. Thank you decent special defense, survived its double-STAB super effective Water Pulse with 6HP*
Alright, that’s two!
*Relic gets another one on a Nuzleaf (yes I’m making lots of Pokecenter trips)*
Alright, now I’m in this little grass maze here. Bound to be some good it-
*bumps into something unseeable*
ANOTHER ONE?!?!??! Ok, it’s dead.
*around 20 minutes later, covered with dirt and smudges of something red, I walk out of the tall grass into the rain*
Ah what a beautiful day it is now... a beautiful day for having Relic blow more shit up.
*Relic levels up just before exploding all over another Nuzleaf. I have to prevent him from evolving after the battle*
Soon my friend, soon. Just 6 more big booms and you will have your chance...
Ah made it to the other end of the route where it’s not raining again. I wonder why a stationary rain cloud hangs out over the top of route 120 24/7. I’m pretty sure stuff like that doesn’t happen naturally.
Oh the ninja kids have a new disguise! This time they’re pretending to be cliff walls! Rather unusually square, bulging sections of cliff walls. Really well done guys, I’m impressed, considering how many times you must’ve been dropped on your head when you were a baby.
Aaaaaand here we have another ruin maniac, this time mere steps from ancient ruins, asking me if I’ve heard about any ancient ruins around these parts. I guess it must be a cultural tradition to drop kids on their heads here in Hoenn, and that it goes back at least a couple generations.
Alright, route 121 now, finally out of the rain. The Safari Zone is here, but honestly I don’t give a damn about it. Sure TM 22 Solar Beam is there, but I’m not going to be using solar beam with this team anyway.
This Beauty... she has... a KECLEON!!!! DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
*another shallow grave later*
AHEM alright, let’s continue.
Hmmm a bunch of aqua grunts just headed off to Mt. Pyre. I think I know where I’m going next...
I wonder why they don’t have, I dunno, a bride or something leading to this really important place of tribute to departed Pokemon. Apparently if you want to pay your respects to the departed, you first have to prove yourself by swimming over there either yourself or via Pokemon. Or maybe dry people freak the spirits out or something. Well, if that’s the case they won’t have to worry... I’m not staying very dry surfing on the Pokemon world equivalent of a giant badger.
And a freaky old lady gives me the Cleanse Tag, which might well come in handy. Here, take it for the time being Tough. I need to level you but you aren’t going to be much use against the ghost types here, what with not having anything that can hit them and all.
Let’s see, do I go outside or inside first... Outside I think.
Oh, I found TM48, Skill Swap. Well, that’s a whole lot of use. Not.
Oh dear it’s getting all foggy. Spoooooky! Not. At least it doesn’t have any effect on Pokemon battles in this version... Fog is the worst weather condition ever.
Aha! Here are those Aqua grunts I saw earlier. Wait... what’s that smell... *looks at a nearby grave* is that... piss? OH NO YOU DIDN’T. Now it’s really on!
*against first grunt*
LOL Tough is still paralyzed from earlier. Apparently right now his Fake Out is an OHKO against lv 30 Zubat when it’s boosted by Guts. Man, Guts is an awesome ability.
OH HEY! It’s that Archie guy! You’re not getting away this time, especially not with stolen goods! Prepare too-
*blink*
GODDAMIT HOW DO THEY ALWAYS DO THAT?
Well the old lady who Archie stole the Red Orb from gave me its companion, the Blue Orb and told me to go after him. I’m thinking I’m going to have to fight him sooner or later anyway, so I’ll take it. Her husband wants to tell me an old legend but I’m all like “nope.avi”
ANYWAY now for the trainers on the inside of Mt. Pyre. I’m pretty sure this area is optional, but I can use the experience and there’s probably good stuff in there, so I’m going in anyway.
I find it disturbing how there are trainers all over looking for battles while right next to them are people mourning their dead Pokemon. Insensitive much?
*encounters a costumed Pokemaniac inside*
... yeah, let’s kick that insensitivity up a notch, why don’t we.
*Young Couple in there on a dare, with they trying to use it to impress his girl*
................. If a ghost decided to posses you and tried to make you kill your girlfriend right now, I would do nothing to stop it. I’d just see it as justice served.
Technician wants to learn Sky Uppercut? I wish I could, but 85BP is far too much. *passes it up*
*Wotter wants to evolve*
Sorry, but you have to wait until next chapter my friend. Soon though, soon.
Hex: “I want to see dreadful things... I can’t leave... Stay... Won’t you stay with me?”
..... uh uh uh uh uhhhhhhhhh *turns tails and runs from the creepy lady who seems to have a crush on me*
And now I have reached the top of the tower, and those holes in the floor I’ve been noticing all the way up are about to come into play. Yup, it’s time to break every bone in my legs and feet again!
But first, what’s this? TM30, Shadow Ball! Now this is a valuable find, and I will certainly be giving it one of my Pokemon eventually. Probably Big Banks, but not until the Elite Four, when I can safely delete Cut.
Lax Incense eh? I just happen to have one Pokemon left that could use a useful item...
*Gives Lax Incense to Relic*
Sea Incense... well the only team member that could benefit from that would be Big Banks, and I’d rather keep his inventory open for Pickup. It’ll be shoved into the PC to free up bag space ASAP methinks.
Well, that’s it for now. Time to hobble my way along the eastern half of Route 123 and see what I can find here. I’m wishing that heal pulse was around right now, because it’d be useful for fixing up my shattered legs...
Hmm some berries here... and what’s this girl doing staring at the forest bordering the route? Hello are you ok? Uh, yeah grass type Pokemon are fine... Technician here is pretty cool. Woah you’re giving me TM19 Giga Drain? For no reason? Well... thanks I guess...
(seriously, why are people so generous here? It’s starting to wig me out*
Anyway, Giga Drain is getting used straight away on Technician, as it’s the strongest Grass Type move she can use, and the healing is nice too. I just need to find some more PP Ups for her, as 5PP isn’t exactly stellar.
Oh great this is one of those one way routes with multiple paths... If I want everything here, I’ll have to make multiple trips. *sigh* I don’t know if I’ll bother...
Ohhh Relic wants to learn Cosmic Power? Man, I wish I had the moveslot for it, but if I want Ground Type STAB I’ll need to keep what I have. Ah well.
*Relic explodes on a Pelipper to vent his frustration, but just barely misses out on the KO*
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-
*Revives him and then he blows up on a Swellow*
Ok, NOW I’m at 5/10. Half way there!
*Revives him again, does the same with a Wailmer*
6/10
*again, now a Trapinch*
7/10. God revives make this so much easier.
*Heads to Mauville Pokemon center, pulls out that Wingull I caught in the first chapter, teaches it Fly, uses it to get back to Fortree*
Alright, now to take the second path on that route, fly back to Fortree again, then head to Lilycove. I fucking hate routes like this...
*turns out all I missed was a single trainer*
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-
*flies back to Fortree*
Alright, now I’ll finally head to Lilycove. Just got the rest of Route 121 to get through, and then I’ll be there.
Alright, what’s left here on route 121? Some trainers, an inexplicable fence maze (seriously, why are these so prominent in the Pokemon world?) and not too much else.
Well that didn’t take long. Here we are, Lilycove city! Let’s take a look around, shall we?
Uhg, Aqua grunts all over. Filthy bastards. The populous appears to be concerned about them, but don’t know their history. One guy in the Pokemon Center even has heard about their exploits, but hasn’t connected the dots between that group and the group occupying his town (dumbass). I’m betting I’ll have to do something about this. Especially as they’ve blocked my route to Mossdeep with a bunch of Wailmer of all things. I’ll say it again. Filthy bastards.
Oh, the Pokemon Trainer fanclub. I wonder if anyone is mentioning me yet, or if I have to beat the elite four first.
Pokemon trainer fan: “I’ve been hearing things about a tough new trainer. This trainer’s supposed to be beating gym leaders, even. Do you know anything about this new trainer?”
Oh, I think I might :P
Hmmm let’s see, the Lilycove contest hall. I’ll have to take a look and see if there’s anything in here I can actually use...
*much, much talking with NPCs later*
Nothing. I spent 10 minutes talking to NPCs in there for NOTHING! Goddamit... they put one damn TM in one of them, and now I look through all of them for NOTHING. God damn you Gamefreak... god damn you.
Neaby there’s a house with a lady who proclaims herself to be a “master of Pokeblocks” wants to teach me about them. Yeah, no thanks, I plan on never mixing a single Pokeblock on this file.
Alright, now for the upper part of town... Hey it’s May! Look like it’s time for the final battle with her... this shouldn’t be too hard, especially since this time I don’t have any restrictions on the fight.
Swellow hmm? Well Tough clearly isn’t ideal for this, but I’ll use Fake Out since he’s out anyway.
*Fake Out crits and does well over half health*
Alright! Ok, so who to switch to now... Hypothesis should do well, with intimidate and all.
*Is hit by Endeavor*
AHK! Well that was unexpected, though perhaps it shouldn’t have been. Well in any case I’m going to use Secret Power and hope it doesn’t KO me first...
*Hypothesis survives with 11 HP, KOs Swellow*
Next up is Groyvle... Tough is in a good way to go here I think. Fake out!
*does around 1/3 health*
Yeah, I think Vital Throw will finish it.
*yup*
Numel next eh? I think a 4x super effective attack will do the trick... Big Banks, Surf!
*OHKO, Wailmer is up next*
Big Banks can handle this too! Thunderbolt!
*2/3 health, paralyzes, Wailmer is unable to move*
Lol, needless hax. Well, down you go now!
*VICTORY!*
There, off she goes. No gift this time. Ah well, that doesn’t bother me. One more milestone achieved in any case!
Well, now that that’s done I guess I’ll check out the department store next.. I wonder if there’s anything useful to be found...?
Hmmm I can buy some medicine and drinks of course, always useful.
Ah, some TMs! Let’s see, anything I can use? Hrm... the typical high power, low reliability moves are here (Fire Blast, Thunder, Hyper Beam, Blizzard)... I don’t really like using those in game. There’s also screens and protect here though... which no one on my team can really use except Relic, who doesn’t have room for them. Ah well... At least I got some medicine.
Alright, I’ll check out the museum next, not that there’s likely to be anything of interest in there.
And the curator shows me his special gallery which is meant for contest winner portraits... nothing of worry.
Aqua grunt outside: “Hey, you! Don’t go near the cave in the cove! Why? You don’t need a reason why! I’m an adult, so you just listen to me!”
*snerk* beware my disarmingly small body, for inside beats the heart of a 20 year old with too much time on his hands! All your base are belong to us!
Oh, the move delete is here. That could come in handy at a later date.
Oh, a random sleepy guy gave me TM44 for no reason at all! Random generosity win?
Oooo found a PP Up on the beach. Technician’s Giga Drain gets the boost. Just 3 more and I can max out that move as well as Relic’s Ancient Power.
Alright, that’s everything here. That damn aqua grunt is still blocking the way out of here with his Wailmer, so I guess I’m going to have to deal with Team Aqua if I want to move on. Into their base I go!
Hmmm Aqua grunts are blocking the entrance...
Aqua Grunt one: “What? What? What do you want with Team Aqua? Our boss isn’t here! He’s gone off to jack a submarine! ... ... where did he go? Wahaha! Do you really think I’d tell you something that crucial?”
Aqua Grunt two: “What? What? What do you want with Team Aqua? Our boss isn’t here! He’s on his way to Slateport City! ... ... Why did he go? Wahaha! Do you really think I’d tell you something that crucial?”
...
Words fail me. They’re standing shoulder to shoulder too.
Alright, I guess I’m flying off to Slateport to investigate this grand theft submersible that’s in progress. Onwards!
Oh, something is going on at the port... an interview on the new submarine. I wonder what’s going to happen next? *sarcasm*
So yeah, Team Aqua announces it’s swiping the sub (fail criminals) but still get away with it (fail police). I guess I’ll try and head them off at their base then...
Yup, the fail guards are gone, now I just got to fight my way through here.
GAH teleporters! Oh this is going to be sooooo much fun...
*after going through a room so densely packed with teleporters it’s frightening*
OH a room with 4 items... 2 of which are electrodes, but one of which is a MASTER BALL!
Of course I won’t be using it :P it’s going to be going be transferred to my gen IV games when I’m done.
One of the electrodes blew up on relic... annoying, but now I can use a Revive on him and get those last few KOs to evolve him!
*Relic explodes on a Carvanha*
8/10
*Relic explodes on another Carvanha*
9/10
*Relic explodes on a Zubat*
10/10! OH YEAAAAAAH! Relic will be evolving soon!
Oh ho, an Aqua admin eh? Let’s see how well he holds up eh?
*Not very well*
Ah but he was just stalling for time like the rest of the damn grunts in here! Archie gets away and now I’ll have to pursue him yet again... later though I think. First I got a gym to take care of!
But before that I need to get there. Onwards to Mossdeep I go!
Lots of water and trainers on this route... good training I suppose. After I get to Mossdeep, I’ll have to explore around some before I take on Tate and Lisa. Their Pokemon are like lv 42...
Oh I wonder what all these dark spots in the water are? It couldn’t POSSIBLY be something I need another HM to interact with now could it? Naw, they’d never do that!
Oh what’s this? Relic is evolving, and this time I don’t have to stop him from doing so! You’ve earned it buddy, I promise I won’t make you explode again... unless you get really beat up, then I have to.
Unfortunately, Wotter does not get to join the fully evolved club yet... patience, it won’t be long now.
Well here we are, Mossdeep City! I don’t dare challenge Tate and Liza yet, but I can at least take a look around.
Oh, a nice kid gave me a King’s Rock (which Steven gave to him). Two cases of random generosity, one item. Nice.
Oh, and here’s Steven himself! He just gave me HM08 Dive, which I can’t use until I take down Tate and Liza of course. It’s inferior to any of the moves any of my other Pokemon know, and as such completely useless to me right now. Neeeeeeext!
Wait what? There’s this locked door in this old guy’s house! I don’t remember that... I guess it must be for events or something, because my guide book doesn’t even mention it. Well I could look it up but I’m too damn lazy.
Hey, it’s that winggull from Fortree! It’s relaying male between these kids... hmmm I wonder what’ll happen if I make a quick trip to Fortree now? Worth checking out...
Yup, here it is! Apparently it magically acquired a Mental Herb and since the guy isn’t a trainer he gives it me. Random acts of kindness for the win!
Alright, back to Mossdeep to finish off this area. Just a couple more buildings left to check out, including a space center apparently!
Oh, there’s a fisherman here who gave me the Super Rod, after using the word “Super” more times than I thought possible in two sentences. Well thanks, I’ll be using this exactly never.
Let’s see, in the Space Center someone gives me a Sun Stone (Another item I’ll never use!), and really that’s about it. Well that was a disappointment.
Alright, that’s everything here. I think I’ll be going north first, since I know that more or less dead ends. Here we go!
Alright, some trainers outside, but inside is where it gets interesting... kind of. There aren’t any trainers in there, but there are some items, and also the components for a Shell bell. Of course, since the battery in my game is dead the tide never changes and I’ll never be able to get a shell bell. Well shit. At least Wotter can easily get his Ice type Solos here on all the Spheal.
Alright, now let’s go South and see what’s down there eh? I’ll tell you what I’ll actually be able to find down there currently: lots and lots of trainers, and nothing else. Really, I can’t do anything around here now except fight trainers by the dozen.
Ah, the Island of Sootopolis is here... not that I can do anything about it right now. Lots of trainers around here for me though.
.... On route 127 I fought a Fisherman with a lv 45 Magikarp. There are no words.
Fisherman: “Through fishing, I have achieved a state of calm serenity... Please allow me to demonstrate”
*proceeds to battle*
Wait what? So wanton violence in the new serenity? Holy shit, I must be the goddamn Dali Lama by now!
*Many trainers later*
Well now, I’ve finished all the 120 routes... I guess I might as well take the route through Pacifidlog to Slateport. I still need more levels and trainers are the best way to get those.
Female Swimmer: “Why do men love bathing suits so much? They all ogle me!”
*staring at the swimmer’s chest* Oh, sorry, did you say something?
*right next to Pacifildlog Town*
Oh so Tough wants to learn Belly Drum eh? Unfortunately, that just isn’t an option for him thanks to his restrictions. Ah well.
Well here we are, Pacifidlog town! I guess I got a small amount of exploring to do here before I continue on to Slateport.
The town itself is a pretty cool design, a town floating in the middle of the ocean. Not very practical, but hey, it’s cool at least.
Hmm some people are talking about a “Sky Pokemon” here... i wonder what that could be? *cough *Rayquaza cough*
Random guy: “Where did you come from?”
*only options for responses are Yes and No*
... wtf Gamefreak?
*Chooses yes*
Random guy: “Yes? Yes Town? I’ve never heard of a place like that.”
............. *facepalm*
Oh, the brother of the Pokemon Fanclub’s President gave my TM27 Return because Technician loves me. This is great because Return is an awesome move. Let’s see... who would benefit from it the most? Technician and Wotter can’t use it due to restrictions and Relic is waiting for Earthquake in his only available spot. Big Banks already has it... Hypothesis could benefit a lot from it, and so could Tough. Ultimately though, I think that Hypothesis needs the power most, so I’m going to teach it to him.
And in the final hut there are people talking about Mirage Island, which, thanks to my game’s battery being gone, will never appear for me. Not that I really care mind you.
Well three more routes to explore now... 3 extremely annoying routes. The currents here make navigating it a massive pain. I’ll have to fly back to Pacifidlog several times to complete it all...
*a little bit later*
Well that’s one time through. I probably need to go through like 4 more times to get all the trainers... oh well, once I’m done this I think I’ll be ready for Tate and Liza!
*Against a Fisherman with 6 motherfucking Gyarados*
Hot damn, this is a experience bananza! The first one was lv 34 and so was quite tough, but all the others are much lower level so Big Banks can OHKO with Thunderbolt. Oh, and Big Banks wants to learn Slash, but I’m thinking that Return is outclasses it by just a little bit :P
*several trips from Pacifidlog to Slateport later*
Alright, that’s everything on the route I can access without Dive. I guess that’s it for now, so it’s time to take on the Mossdeep Gym! This is looking to be the nastiest battle I’ll have to do yet. I have to solo Tate and Liza with Relic, who can only really hit them with Ancient Power. Additionally, their Solrock has the SunnyBeam combo, which is obviously a great threat to him. Their Lunatone also has Calm Mind and Light Screen... but thankfully only Psychic as an attacking move. So, the bottom line is that most of Relic’s moves are useless... but I have a couple plans that should allow me to beat them.
Before that though I need to take on their lackeys. This shouldn’t take too long...
*after several uneventful battles*
Hmmm so Hypothesis wants to learn Taunt? I can use non-attacking moves to aid Relic in his solo right? I think I got a plan forming...
*shortly later*
Alright, I beat all the trainers and have the arrow tile puzzle in the gym figured out, so now it’s time for Tate and Liza! I got a certain TM that I think will be of great use to me in this battle, so I’m going to use it on Relic Before I start... and by now you already know I plan on using Taunt to shut down all the boosting techniques their Pokemon use. What was looking like a real challenge is suddenly looking a lot easier. Here I come you two! Be ready, because Relic is about to rock your world!
*talking to them, as they repeat each other’s lines and end each other’s sentences*
Ok these two are ungodly creepy. THEY MUST BE DESTROYED!
*Relic and Hypothesis face off against Solrock and Lunatone*
Alright, So Hypothesis is going to taunt Solrock before it can use Sunny Day and Relic is going to use the special move I gave him to hit Solrock before it can nail me with Solar Beam. That’s the move I fear the most by far, so I had better damn well make sure he doesn’t get it off.
*Relic uses Shadow Ball, doing a little less than half damage to Solrock, while Taunt prevents Solrock from using Sunny Day. Lunatone uses Calm Mind*
Well that went pretty well, though my secret move did less than I had hoped. It’ll be enough though, as it’s a physical attack. They don’t have anything to defend against it. Now to Taunt Lunatone before it boosts anymore or uses Hypnosis. Relic is just going to keep pounding away with Shadow Ball in the meantime.
*Shadow Ball crits on Solrock, KOing it. Taunt prevents Lunatone from using Hypnosis*
Oh man, and I thought this was going to be hard! I’m so glad I remembered Shadow Ball. Shame there’s only one TM30 though, since I was planning on giving Big Banks it during the Elite Four. Oh well, Hypothesis should deal with the Psychic and Ghost types there well enough. Anyway, at this point all Lunatone can do is attack uselessly with Psychic, so I pretty much have it in the bag.
*Relic falls just short of a 2HKO with Shadow Ball, while Hypothesis stands around Howling until his Taunt is needed again. Lunatone flails around uselessly*
Alright, a full restore or something is bound to be incoming, but I have no worries at this point. Nothing they can do will help them now!
*FOUR futile Hyper Potions and a couple failed Psychics later*
Geeze, there wasn’t much purpose to those Hyper Potions except to annoy the shit out of me. Still, that was about 10 times easier than I expected! Taunt made this battle trivial. I’d have to say this is probably the first time Taunt has been useful to me in-game, and now that I understand its potential it could very well be useful to me in the future...
Oh, I also got TM04 Calm Mind for my trouble. I’d use it, but not a single one of my Pokemon can learn it... not even Relic. Welp, I get to use Dive anyway, and I’ve finally finished this chapter! Next chapter should be a lot shorter, and happen a lot sooner. But until then, audios!
Location: Fortree City
Badges: 7
Pokemon: 6
Blackouts: 0 (Who is this Wattson you speak of?)
Wotter the Marshtomp
Level 41 – Item: Soft Sand – Ability: Torrent – Nature: Adamant
Moves:
Rock Smash
Ice Beam
Strength
Mud Shot
Solos: 5/5 Grass, 5/5 Electric, 5/5 Ice
Wotter is probably the weakest link on my team right now, not hitting very hard and unable to use his coverage at all thanks to his restrictions. He at least had some bulk in previous chapters, but even that is falling behind the curb now thanks to the lack of eviolite in this generation. Thankfully, he’ll FINALLY evolve next chapter, and you can bet he’ll finally become more useful then. That being said, he wasn’t totally weak this chapter; he does hit pretty hard neutrally. He’s just not really necessary for my team; everything he can do someone on my team can do better. LVP for now, but evolution should change that.
Hypothesis the Mightyena
Level 42 – Item: Blackglasses – Ability: Intimidate – Nature: Sassy
Moves:
Return
Bite
Taunt
Howl
Hypothesis is starting to do a lot better now that it has access to TMs. First Secret Power then Return meant he finally has some oomph, and that Howl can actually allow him to sweep teams. He’s still stuck with Bite for now but Crunch isn’t too far off, and then I expect his usefulness to really spike. Really though, his biggest use continues to be support in major battles. Whether it’s using Intimidate to nerf a dangerous attacker or now Taunt to demolish any attempts to set up, he’s vital in gym battles for his unique capabilities. He was the singular reason why Tate and Liza were so easy this chapter, and I can see him being very useful in the future in similar capcities.
Big Banks the Linoone
Level 41 – Item: None – Ability: Pickup – Nature: Timid
Moves:
Return
Cut
Thunderbolt
Surf
Big Banks continues to use his niche well, though he still lacks a lot of power. His coverage moves are really only most useful against opponents that have great physical defense or resist Return, as even Super Effective hits tend to do around the same amount of damage as Return. Still, his speed is always nice and he always manages to find ways to be useful with his access to types of moves I otherwise can’t use for super effective coverage. He’ll never climb to the top of the ranks of my team, but I doubt he’ll ever be useless thanks to his utility.
Technician the Breloom:
Level: 41 – Item: Miracle Seed – Ability: Effect Spore – Nature: Impish
Moves:
Mach Punch
Tackle
Mega Drain
Leech Seed
Technician is really starting to fall behind the curve as an attacker, almost never getting OHKOs anymore. I need something better to use for coverage than Tackle, but there aren’t really a lot of options. Still, she isn’t useless thanks to her decent defense and fair number of resistances. She still wrecks dark types too. I’m beginning to think I will have to go the sub-seed route though; Tackle isn’t serving much purpose so Substitute might be a more useful move for me to learn.
Tough the Hariyama
Level: 41 – Item: Quick Claw – Ability: Guts – Nature: Lax
Moves:
Secret Power
Arm Thrust
Vital Throw
Fake Out
Tough continues to do very well, though he isn’t nailing as many OHKOs as he used to. His bulk makes up for that though, and if he secures a Guts boost... well, look out. Next chapter he’ll gain access to Brick Break as I know its obtainable in Sootopolis City, and then he’ll have the final moveset I want for him. He doesn’t really get anything for coverage aside from Earthquake (which is rather redundant and still doesn’t hit most ghosts) that’d be more useful than Secret Power or Fake Out and he needs to keep two Fighting Type moves, so I’m fine with what he’ll have after that. So yes everyone, that means next chapter he’s going to be entering some contests... it’ll be interesting to say the least.
Relic the Claydol
Level: 41 – Item: Lax Incense – Ability: Levitate – Nature: Serious
Moves:
Shadow Ball
Ancient Power
Psybeam
Selfdestruct (10/10, evolution complete)
Relic really shined this chapter. He has good bulk, decent attack power and nice coverage. He handled Tate and Liza very well (though Hypothesis had a lot to do with that) and has overall just stunned me with his awesomeness. He didn’t have too much trouble evolving after I realized that Revive actually gives you a little bit less than half health, and once he did evolve... well he’s now among the most useful members of my team for sure. Now the only question is whether to keep Shadow Ball all the way through or replace it with Earthquake down the road. Well, we’ll figure that out later... I can’t even get to Earthquake just yet!