Pokémon General Discussion

[Legodac]

You know, that's the one game that has eluded me,  I have never played pokemon,   well,   at least I have something I don't,   yet...

[The Host]

Micah: It's for everything, it's just rare we don't talk about the games. =P

I don't truly play the TCG, as the only card I have is a Mew one from the Lucario Movie. However, the new online game is pretty cool, even if a little annoying at times because you can only get cards from buying cards IRL... =/

I've seen lone codes being sold on Ebay if that's all you want =)

Not completely sure if this is just general discussion for the Videogames or not, but, anyway, does anyone here play the TCG? If so are you competing in Battle Roads? =)

I collect TCG cards, but I don't really play competitively... I do have a Pokemon League near me though, so I might join and play...

You should try it out sometime, leagues are awesome. Lots of people trade cards at league too, if you just wanted to bolster up your collection.


Ah well, if anyone is playing the TCG on here I'd like to know XP
Even if it's the online version, as I have my deck near-built there

@Blade or anyone else interested in TCGO: I have a few codes in my posession that I'd be willing to donate, as I won't play too much online. I'm not giving them all away, but if people would like a code or 2 just ask and I can PM you some.

@Micah: I might go to a league to trade or collect... the league also hosts tournaments where you pay to enter, but the money is given to store credit, so its almost free.

[Flipz]

http://bulbanews.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Masuda_replies_to_tweet_regarding_remakes_of_Generation_III_games

Screw it, I'm going to play Emerald anyway.  Speaking of which...

Remember my problem before about catching Ralts for that in-game trade?  Well...problem solved.  Last time I played, I caught two more in rapid succession, and one is a male with Trace.  I haven't checked its Nature, but seriously, I don't know if I should bother; it's totally useless to me.  (And anyway, once I reach the Day Care, I can breed my female and my Modest male to get more Ralts, and since by then I should have a way to do Trainer Rematches for quick level-ups...)

So, new dillemma: should I settle for a Relaxed Male Seedot via the in-game trade, or should I go on trying to catch a Seedot?  I have to move forward next time I play anyway, since I'm low on both cash and Pokeballs, but am I permanently moving forward or am I scouting ahead for cash?

[Magical Girl Mimi]

I believe you're scouting ahead for cash, and then going to own the Gym Leader, since part of the path ahead is blocked.

[Flipz]

Ah, OK, so Route 102 won't be out of my way later.  I remember when I played Platinum on a friend's DS (this was before I played it for myself), I missed getting a Machop and a Ponyta after the first gym, and I was really hurting for them later, and it was a PAIN getting back.

[Magical Girl Mimi]

Nothing's blocked I believe, but it gets easier to backtrack immediately after the third gym when you get access to Rock Smash. And obviously it will take a while to get back to places until you get Fly, but the loop-like layout of the region helps to backtrack a lot.

However, explore the island that the second gym's on, you might not be going back there for a while, as I believe you need surf to revisit it.

[Flipz]

Is it bad that I've already formulated two separate Triple Battle fantasy teams, while I only have one Double Battle team and my Single Battle team is only half-complete?

[Magical Girl Mimi]

No, not really. =P I've got ideas floating around for what to add to my team, but I haven't actually planned out the final team. xD

[The Host]

I have way too many ideas for teams myself, and most of them include pokemon that I don't have access to, or that take a long time to get. I've always wanted to try a Kingdra Rain Dance team, with a defensive core of Tangrowth and Slowbro, but I need to trade to get Kingdra, and Slowbro and Tangrowth are not nearly as good without their Dream World Abilities (regenerator), so it isn't working out too well. Ideally, the team would be for doubles, and would be:
Kingdra (Swift Swim)
Rain Dance, Surf, Dragon Pulse, Draco Meteor

Thundurus (Prankster)
Rain Dance, Thunder, Thunderwave, Focus Miss

Slowbro (Regenerator)
Surf, Psychic/Zen Headbut, Slack Off, Curse/Amnesia (Slack Off could be switched for something else (RD) as Regenerator covers this)

Tangrowth (Regenerator)
Toxic, Earthquake, Power Whip, Filler

and if there were 2 more pokemon allowed in doubles, I'd probably add a Multiscale Dragonite (which I don't have access to), and another Rain Dance Sweeper.
The only pokemon I have access to on this list (currently) is Thundurus, but I'm working towards a Kingdra.

The only reason I don't use Drizzletoed is b/c usually Swift Swim and Drizzle together is banned.

[Flipz]

Wait, seriously?  They banned Swift Swim and Drizzle together?!  That's like, the POINT of a Drizzle team.  And you're only allowed four Pokemon in Doubles?!  WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?!

My team simultaneously utilizes a rain strategy while countering it.  I've got really good type coverage, too, though I'm considering switching my Psychic type for something a little better suited to my strategy.  I considered Blaziken, but then I'd have two Fighting-types on my team, so...

No, not really. =P I've got ideas floating around for what to add to my team, but I haven't actually planned out the final team. xD

Actually, I was asking whether it's bad that I have more work on triples and dooubles than single battles, even though 1-on-1 is like 90% of what you face in the games (Colosseum and XD nonwithstanding).

[Magical Girl Mimi]

Drizzle/Swift Swim ban is only for stuff on like Smogon and such. On Wi-Fi itself, it's still allowed, like Random Match.

And as for Doubles, that would be general Wi-Fi(Though not Friend Code matches)... As for why? Who knows; it's been like that since double battles in the Battle Tower in Ruby and Sapphire. Same reason that you're only allowed 3 Pokemon at a time in Single Battles in those things. =P

As for the teams, well that depends: Are you going to use those over Wi-Fi, or in-game? If in-game, yeah, that's bad(Depending on the game, you might over face one triple battle in-game... Wi-Fi's pretty much the only way to have Triple Battles otherwise. =/). Otherwise, just keep up what you're doing. =P

[Flipz]

Well, since I'll be playing White eventually (if Gray doesn't come out by the time I finish Emerald and HeartGold), Triples will be important in-game.  But yeah, any wi-fi battles I do will be off of friend codes, and that's what these are mostly for.

Darn, my doubles team was awesome; want me to post the team I've come up with so far for that (since it's a 6-pokemon team and wouldn't work in most cases anyway)?

[Magical Girl Mimi]

1. Ah, that's true. But even still, there's only like 4 battles in that, compared to the 99% single battles you find otherwise. =/ And alright then. =)

2. Sure. Again, the Doubles 4-Pokemon restriction is only for the Battle facilities, and Random Wi-Fi. Normal's unrestricted, for the most part. =P

However, Triple Battles allow 6 Pokemon, along with Shooter and Rotation battles.

[Flipz]

...shooter battles?  (Googles)

Here's my Doubles fantasy team with 6 members.  It'd actually work OK with just the first 4 Pokemon, but I'd probably have to change some stuff since it would have a real issue with Steels and Sunny Day teams.
Team 1: Tri-Weather
*Politoed (Drizzle [Dream World])
*Toxicroak (Dry Skin [normal])
*Tyranitaur (Sandstorm [normal])
*Skarmory (Sturdy [normal])
*Ninetales (Drought [Dream World])
*Victini OR Sunny Ferrothorn
Alts: (Mienshao, Blaziken, Darmanitan)

My Sunny Ferrothorn would have the following moveset:
Sunny Ferrothorn:
*Hidden Power (Water) [Water]
*SolarBeam [Grass]
*Flash Cannon [Steel]
*

would be replaced with Sunny Day for teams without a Drought partner; I have no idea what the last move should be for it in my surrent setup (since Ninetales comes with Drought).

[Magical Girl Mimi]

Overall looks good; and is an interesting weather team. I'd suggest Ferrothorn, though; that way you could switch in from Tyran directly, without getting hit by the sand.

[Flipz]

That's true.  I just need something for that fourth slot, something with good coverage and decent power...something that, ideally, could cover the rest of my team's weaknesses.  (I'd also prefer it to be a Sp. Attack-based move, since it's a Special Tank).  HP water serves as a good anti-Fire measure (especially if I can breed Ferrothorn right so I get max power with Water-type), SolarBeam hits Ninetales' weaknesses and gets STAB, Flash Cannon gets STAB and hits hard, and is mostly neutral.  I wish Ferrothorn got a Special Ground-type move, that would take out Electric, which is the only substantial threat to my team.  (Then again, that's what Tyranitaur can hit with Earthquake, and I can pull in Skarmory when I need to use it so the other partners don't get massacred.)  Maybe Bulldoze, even though it's Physical, since it's a Ground-type attack?  (I also kinda wish Ferrothorn got Rapid Spin, that would be good for anti-hazard use.)

EDIT: here's a variation of that Doubles team for Triples use:
Team 2: Dual-Weather (Triples)
*Politoed (Drizzle [Dream World])
*Toxicroak (Dry Skin [normal])
*Vaporeon (Hydration [Dream World]) OR Scisor (Technician [normal)
*Tyranitaur (Sandstorm [normal])
*Skarmory (Sturdy [normal])
*Beheeyem (Telepathy [normal])

[Magical Girl Mimi]

That might work, but just remember; in Triple battles you need team synergy especially, since you have three Pokemon out on the field at once.

[Flipz]

DrizzToed supports Dry Skin Toxicroak naturally, and Hydration Vaporeon could run Wish/Protect/Scald/Ice Beam, or Scizor with Bug Bite/Bullet Punch/Pursuit/Superpower or Brick Break offers good support as long as rain is set up, and also works with Tyranitaur.  Tyran + Skarmory is a natural combo, and Beheeyem's Telepathy prevents damage from Earthquake/etc.

[The Host]

...shooter battles?  (Googles)

Here's my Doubles fantasy team with 6 members.  It'd actually work OK with just the first 4 Pokemon, but I'd probably have to change some stuff since it would have a real issue with Steels and Sunny Day teams.
Team 1: Tri-Weather
*Politoed (Drizzle [Dream World])
*Toxicroak (Dry Skin [normal])
*Tyranitaur (Sandstorm [normal])
*Skarmory (Sturdy [normal])
*Ninetales (Drought [Dream World])
*Victini OR Sunny Ferrothorn
Alts: (Mienshao, Blaziken, Darmanitan)

Since Ferrothorn already has a 4x fire weakness, boosting fire's overall power with drought wouldn't be recommended. A triple weather team is somewhat overkill, IMO, however it could have benefits by messing with other team's weather. Especially if you can catch an opposing solarbeamer off guard, leaving them useless for a turn.
However, with Team Preview in effect in B/W (I think) it won't have as much shock value as in previous generations.
Also, Skarmory isn't really a sandstorm abuser, as it doesn't gain anything from SS- it only has immunity from damage. Sandstorm abusers can be:
Excadrill, Landorus, Terrakion (gains SpDef boost), Stoutland (immunity and speed boost from Sand Rush ability). Pairing one of the first three with Tyranitar would be more effective, unless you are trying to stall out the foe and win by racking up hazard damage.
The rain section of your team is solid, and Ferrothorn actually pairs well with Politoed, as its 4x fire weakness is lowered to 2x.

I would honestly suggest a dual weather team of Sandstorm and Rain, as, IMO, they are the best weathers. Possibly a team of:
T-tar
Excadrill
Ferrothorn
Politoed
Toxicroak
Skarmory/Kingdra/Scizor/Dragonite
The last slot is based on your playstyle. Skarmory would be good for stall, while Kindra is a powerhouse with Swift Swim and Surf/Draco Meteor. Scizor benefits from rain similarily to Ferro, and is also immune to Sandstorm as well. Dragonite has a solid base stat distribution, and with Multiscale it pretty much can't be OHKOd. It can also use Hurrican and Thunder, as well as Outrage, the former two moves getting perfect accuracy in rain. The dowside is that if T-tar switches in, you lose two moves effectively.

Just my thoughts. I've never run dual (or triple) weather...

[Flipz]

OK, Hoenn is officially my favorite Pokemon region ever.  (Keeping in mind I've never experienced Johto, Orre, or Unova.)
Two words: Premiere Ball.  It's like a free Pokeball with every visit, just like in Sinnoh!

Also, I just beat the Rustboro Gym.  I need a pair of HM slaves for Hoenn that I can catch now.  I plan to use Psyduck and Tropius when I can get them, but I can't get Tropius until Route 119 and Psyduck until Route 121, so...