Pokémon Thread XXVIII: Get. In. The. BAG.

[Spore]

No idea here, but "LimpFishkit" is an amazing name. I hope that one lives.

Gonna rename him LimpFishStik. Just cause. Update, I need someone to trade-evolve my Graveller now.

[Rynjin]

You use Zubat as a speedy, decently hard-hitting, kinda tank.

Well, you use Crobat that way, anyway. Crobat is a good all-rounder Pokemon and it can learn some good moves.

[Spore]

Crobat it is then. Along with Alolan Golem (and I would love for someone to trade this with me).

[Rynjin]

Alolan Golem's design is probably favorite of the Alolan forms.

[Spore]

Spoiler

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The great massacre of the Ghost trial. RIP Hawkeye, BATMAN, Limpfishskit and a special honor to HULK after not switching out on 2 HP to give the remaining team a fighting chance.

[Alanzeign]

Kudos on the win man. My nuzlocke runs full wiped on both Kiawe and the Ghost trial. The pic in the spoiler sums it up!

[noparlpf]

An update on Mega Stones, courtesy Serebii:

"The Pokémon Company has put out a new note clarifying how the currently missing Mega Stones are going to be distributed. In the note, it explains that the Mega Stones will come through two means
First, given as a present to players of Online Competitions, such as with the Mawilite and Beedrillite in the upcoming 2017 International Challenge February competition. Here, a limited amount of players will get the code ahead of a wait period of 1 to 2 months before all players get the code.
Second is just through a code that will be given to all players through various events/online postings with no wait period
The method will vary depending on the Mega Stone and they intend to go through these methods until Summer. As always, we'll bring full details on the Mega Stone distributions as they come."

I'm still not clear - does that mean all mega stones will be distributed through codes eventually, or that some mega stones will only be distributed as participation rewards for online competitions and the rest will be distributed through codes?

[Spore]

Kudos on the win man. My nuzlocke runs full wiped on both Kiawe and the Ghost trial. The pic in the spoiler sums it up!

I keep going on but this might be a Pyrrhic Victory. Currently in front of Guzma #2 with 4.... no 3 Pokes and nothing to counter Golisopod. I have to try and tank it out with Pelipper's Stockpile.

e: Lost Crabrawler to a Rattata's Double-Edge.

[Rynjin]

Probably should have trained up a few 'Mons before going to Po Town.

[Spore]

Aaaaand I've wiped to Nanu. Persian hitting Donkey at half health with Z dark move was the final stand. Curious whether I should salvage the 18h game time and finish the game with my strongest mons or retry.

[Rynjin]

I can tell you the now (assuming you're going blind?), the game does not get any easier from there, and you are not as close to done as you think you are.

[Spore]

I figured my approach was too lax. I allowed myself 2 pokemon per region, EXP share and skipping of trainers. I feel this resulted in me not knowing my team in and out (more often than not I switched someone into their certain doom) as well as promoting Pokemon with levels that are not compatible with my team approach (or are too fragile for Nuzlockes, like Persian).

New idea: Never EXP share, 1 pokemon per route, release the starter pokemon for one additional catch.

Honestly I had fun with my Wonderlock in X/Y (mainly due to ORAS) and I might want to incorporate wonder trading again. How are your results atm with that feature?

[enderlord99]

I figured my approach was too lax. I allowed myself 2 pokemon per region, EXP share and skipping of trainers. I feel this resulted in me not knowing my team in and out (more often than not I switched someone into their certain doom) as well as promoting Pokemon with levels that are not compatible with my team approach (or are too fragile for Nuzlockes, like Persian).

New idea: Never EXP share, 1 pokemon per route, release the starter pokemon for one additional catch.

Honestly I had fun with my Wonderlock in X/Y (mainly due to ORAS) and I might want to incorporate wonder trading again. How are your results atm with that feature?

...You think you'll be more likely to win with the EXP Share off? Really?

[Rynjin]

The EXP Share complaints I don't get. The EXP Share doesn't make you any more overleveled than you would be normally. It just makes grinding unnecessary.

If You go through the routes, fighting every trainer and not specifically trying to fight every wild Pokemon on the way or grind, you'll be at the perfect level for every challenge.

Without the EXP Share your playthrough just ends up more monotonous and grindy as you grind every individual Pokemon up to your target level.

As for Nuzlocke rules, I like TFS' set-up:

-One Pokemon from grass, one event, fishing, or headbutt on each route.
-A "Route" is considered any uniquely named area.
-Species clause only SORT OF applies. If you have a Ratatta but not a Raticate and encounter the Raticate first...too bad.
-One Wonder Trade allowed per island. Only nicknamed Pokemon are allowed to be used, so this is a crapshoot.
-All other basic rules apply.

[Hiro Protagonest]

Without the EXP Share your playthrough just ends up more monotonous and grindy as you grind every individual Pokemon up to your target level.

On the other hand, so many people posted that their teams were in the 60s by the Elite 4, while mine were about ten levels lower and I found that a good challenge. I did use the Exp. Share just to make sure I didn't fall behind the curve, and just ended up having to grind up a few levels at the end to get to where I wanted (level 52 minimum). I also had to spam healing items a couple times in the League, but it's not like I was playing competitively anyway.

[Spore]

On the other hand, so many people posted that their teams were in the 60s by the Elite 4, while mine were about ten levels lower and I found that a good challenge. I did use the Exp. Share just to make sure I didn't fall behind the curve, and just ended up having to grind up a few levels at the end to get to where I wanted (level 52 minimum). I also had to spam healing items a couple times in the League, but it's not like I was playing competitively anyway.

Problem with EXP Share is that my tanks mostly survive just about ANYTHING. They are generally 3-5 levels above the standard and get even switched into matchups where the smaller candidates would really shine e.g. I just tanked everything on Mudsdale though I had a better set of attacks on a lower - and more squishy - pokemon.

EXP share starts to become weird after near-wipes where you need to bring a few box pokemon up to par while only really being able to play with your lead. It tremendously eases up that grinding process and enables a continuation but it worsens the difference in levels between tanks (like Mudsdale and Hariyama) and the rest of the team, even if some pokes are very capable heavy hitters that just suffer from being hard to switch in.

Rynjin's rule idea sounds feasible and I will pick my team members on the tanky side this time and make type charts the second priority. I can't have another 'Chari'bird member where the base pokemon is too frail to be even switched in with set playstyle.

[Rynjin]

I have to imagine those people were grinding quite a bit, because they felt like they had to.

All of mine were in the 56-60 range by the time of the Elite Four, and that was with rotating in new 'Mons that needed to be brought up to snuff.

[Flickerdart]

Pokemon GO. Gen 2. This week. Get hype.

Also some more stuff like more avatar customization, more Berries, and more interactive wild Pokemon, but mostly Gen 2.

[Aotrs Commander]

The EXP Share complaints I don't get. The EXP Share doesn't make you any more overleveled than you would be normally. It just makes grinding unnecessary.

If You go through the routes, fighting every trainer and not specifically trying to fight every wild Pokemon on the way or grind, you'll be at the perfect level for every challenge.

Without the EXP Share your playthrough just ends up more monotonous and grindy as you grind every individual Pokemon up to your target level.

I turn the XP share off and I never¹ find I have to do any grinding (even with it off, I find I sometimes am overlevelled). but I pick my team long before the game even starts, and once acquired/bred/etc stick with them the entire game.

I find that (even with a team entirely from in-game (as my X team is, for example), that I barely skirted not being overlevelled. I, in fact, was not a fan of getting XP for captures for precisely this reason.




¹The times when I find I do need to are in earlier gens whre the modern XP share does not exist.

[Icewraith]

I figured my approach was too lax. I allowed myself 2 pokemon per region, EXP share and skipping of trainers. I feel this resulted in me not knowing my team in and out (more often than not I switched someone into their certain doom) as well as promoting Pokemon with levels that are not compatible with my team approach (or are too fragile for Nuzlockes, like Persian).

New idea: Never EXP share, 1 pokemon per route, release the starter pokemon for one additional catch.

Honestly I had fun with my Wonderlock in X/Y (mainly due to ORAS) and I might want to incorporate wonder trading again. How are your results atm with that feature?

Skipping trainers is actually a bad idea. At least a couple of the route bosses or other trainers give vital TMs, and they won't fight you unless you've cleared out all the other trainers on that route. Also, if you skip trainers it's easier to find yourself both surprised and underleveled, which is very bad in a Nuzlocke.

Starter pokemon-wise... the fire starter seemed pretty sturdy when I fought it (I picked grass). The starters usually give you some valuable type coverage early game, I don't know why you'd not use one, especially for an extra route 1 catch.

[Spore]

Pokemon GO. Gen 2. This week. Get hype.

If there isn't proper training/evolving or fights involved, consider me not impressed. And no, grinding Pokes into drugs is not proper training.

@Nuzlocke MK II
Juan the Litten is now accompanied by Pikipek Hiyoko, Makuhita Theredras and Grimer Rosaria. I am happy how early Pikipek evolves and kind of scared for Rosaria since she evolves very late and has no special defense until then. May the HP amounts by on my side.

Shiny Abra used Teleport.

Spoiler

Show

@Nuzlocke cont.

First island completed. Juan evolved, as did Hiyoko but she is benched for now.

Current team:
Torracat Juan
Zubat Nightwing
Makuhita Theradras
Grimer Rosaria
Cottonee Oberon
(Cutiefly Mog)

Bench: Trumbeak Hiyoko, Spearow Aidan.
Graveyard: Drifloon Kaonashi - died to Gumshoos' Pursuit before switching out. It was a trap.

I just need a solution for the Fire Trial, a bit of luck on the Water trial (for Wishiwashi not to crit) and not to be faked out again on the Grass trial.

[Icewraith]

If there isn't proper training/evolving or fights involved, consider me not impressed. And no, grinding Pokes into drugs is not proper training.

@Nuzlocke MK II
Juan the Litten is now accompanied by Pikipek Hiyoko, Makuhita Theredras and Grimer Rosaria. I am happy how early Pikipek evolves and kind of scared for Rosaria since she evolves very late and has no special defense until then. May the HP amounts by on my side.

Shiny Abra used Teleport.

Spoiler

Show

@Nuzlocke cont.

First island completed. Juan evolved, as did Hiyoko but she is benched for now.

Current team:
Torracat Juan
Zubat Nightwing
Makuhita Theradras
Grimer Rosaria
Cottonee Oberon
(Cutiefly Mog)

Bench: Trumbeak Hiyoko, Spearow Aidan.
Graveyard: Drifloon Kaonashi - died to Gumshoos' Pursuit before switching out. It was a trap.

I just need a solution for the Fire Trial, a bit of luck on the Water trial (for Wishiwashi not to crit) and not to be faked out again on the Grass trial.

Keep an eye out for the Eviolite then. Very helpful for those later evolving pokes.

[Spore]

Keep an eye out for the Eviolite then. Very helpful for those later evolving pokes.

Huh. And it is conveniently on the way. Thank you so much in advance.

[Hunter Noventa]

I'm still not clear - does that mean all mega stones will be distributed through codes eventually, or that some mega stones will only be distributed as participation rewards for online competitions and the rest will be distributed through codes?

I think it means that the Megastones not available through the battle tower will be competition rewards first, then later handed out via codes.

[Spore]

The following is a demonstration on how NOT to catch a Tentacool.

1) Under any circumstances are you forbidden to use status ailments. This hinders the Tentacool to summon its friends. You want a new jellyfish friend and not his or her friends? You are a monster!

2) Please do use Leech Seed on the Liquid Ooze friend. You want to find out the target's ability and you can make the Liquid Ooze Tentacool feel better about its inferior ability.

3) Welcome your poisonous doom with open arms. Switch in your best Grass/Fairy types. After all they can tank Water Pulse so well. Acid Spray is used sparingly.

4) Switch everyone in onto Toxic Spikes. The more the merrier.

Honestly I expected Tentacool to be a bit difficult to catch but never did I have to abort a catch because of a near wipe to a wild Pokemon.

[Rynjin]

How to catch a Tentacool:

Step 1: Throw a Quick Ball

[Icewraith]

The following is a demonstration on how NOT to catch a Tentacool.

1) Under any circumstances are you forbidden to use status ailments. This hinders the Tentacool to summon its friends. You want a new jellyfish friend and not his or her friends? You are a monster!

2) Please do use Leech Seed on the Liquid Ooze friend. You want to find out the target's ability and you can make the Liquid Ooze Tentacool feel better about its inferior ability.

3) Welcome your poisonous doom with open arms. Switch in your best Grass/Fairy types. After all they can tank Water Pulse so well. Acid Spray is used sparingly.

4) Switch everyone in onto Toxic Spikes. The more the merrier.

Honestly I expected Tentacool to be a bit difficult to catch but never did I have to abort a catch because of a near wipe to a wild Pokemon.

Liquid Ooze is actually part of why I ended up making a "faint it once then suspend rules" clause for future Nuzlockes. Yveltal killed itself a number of times due to Liquid Ooze, and after about the 9th time I tried a different strategy and it immediately ate 2 pokemon. Faint it once, prove you can beat it, then suspend deaths until you figure out how to catch it.

[Mercenary Pen]

Pokémon Go has finally reached generation 2 guys.

Nicknames for evolving eevees seem to be:

Sakura (Espeon)
Tamao (Umbreon)

[Spore]

Liquid Ooze is actually part of why I ended up making a "faint it once then suspend rules" clause for future Nuzlockes. Yveltal killed itself a number of times due to Liquid Ooze, and after about the 9th time I tried a different strategy and it immediately ate 2 pokemon. Faint it once, prove you can beat it, then suspend deaths until you figure out how to catch it.

I will retry but on another patch of water and with better tactics hopefully.

[Flickerdart]

Pokémon Go has finally reached generation 2 guys.

Nicknames for evolving eevees seem to be:

Sakura (Espeon)
Tamao (Umbreon)

Umbreon's CP is total garbage though. Use Sakura on your good Eevees.

So far there don't seem to be new regional exclusives.