#meowscarada for sure did that typing better

[front-facing-pokemon]

[tricerotopicpt2]

Fable SMP Pokemon AU

Ok, so I've had alot of thoughts about a fable smp pokemon au. I definitely have full team ideas for some characters, but I have at least a partner pokemon and reasoning as for why for every character and thought that I'd share them! Some reasonings are definitely alot stronger than others 😅, but there is at least one!

Icarus: • Decidueye It's a bird-shaped (not flying type), ghost type, archer pokemon. It feel pretty fitting

Rae: • Espeon It evolves with high friendship, psychic type, incredibly loyal. These are all traits that feels fitting for rae (also a callback to heyhay's cosplay)

Athena: • Litten I mean it's a fire cat. I feel like that's reason enough.

Caspian: • Lycanrock (mid-day form) Guys its atlas For caspian, I have an idea for a full team, it's just hard to pick a partner pokemon for him, but i decided that since I have lycanrock on his team because of a pet, it felt the most fitting to be the partner pokemon

Fenrir: • Houndoom It felt like the most fitting wolf themed pokemon The rest of his pokemon are definitely more space themed (minior, aurorus, lunatone, ect.)

Ulysses: • Feebas Its known for being incredibly tenacious in tough situations, despite its appearance and being usually ignored. Its moon dex entry also says that its vitality makes it a subject or research. I also like the idea of Ulysses trying to get it to evolve, but just not figuring out how (Its totally because I think they look alike)

Aax: • Sharpedo An extremely powerful water type pokemon, also its dark typing makes it super effective against ghost types.

Jamie: • Dachsbun Its connor the dog. Also Jamie sure is baker and I think bread dog is a fun way to represent that

Momboo: • Meganium Can revive dead plants and grass. Also I just think it fits the vibe

Easton: • Bronzong It's a steel type bell pokemon, which feels fitting. it's also known for bringing rain

Haley: • Corsola I like the idea that something happens that causes it to somehow become a galarian corsola (which is a dead little ghost corsola) Idk how, but yeah.

Seven: • Klinklang It feels a bit obvious, but its fitting so-

Centross: • Ceruledge It's a very powerful pokemon that's exclusive to pokemon violet. "Ceruledge dons an old set of armor steeped in grudges and wields blades made of fire and ghost energy. In battle, these blades transform into great swords to increase Ceruledge’s power. Cuts from these great swords leave wounds from which life energy will flow." Also just look at it.

Ocie: • Basculegion Not only is it a hisui exclusive pokemon (which means its old as hell) and a water type, its dex entry says "Clads itself in the souls of comrades that perished before fulfilling their goals of journeying upstream." Which feels fitting for Ocie.

Ven: • Alolan Vulpix Guys it's a little white fox. It's just like him.

Chaos: • Yanmega It's a dragonfly. And also extremely violent and powerful according to its dex entries

Galahad • Armarouge It's a warrior that's extremely loyal. Also fire type.

Original Arisanna • Togekiss I like the idea of the allays being togepi

Vexed Arisanna • Tinkaton I think it's a reasonable pokemon for arisanna to have already had, but pivoted more towards once she was vexed. Its and extremely intelligent pokemon, but its known for being mercilessly violent and stealing what it pleases.

Addie: • Spinarak It felt like the most fitting spider pokemon

Will: • Meowscarada I mean its got a mask. (Guys please I was so stuck on will if you have better ideas PLEASE give them)

I was too much of a coward to give the world sisters mythical/legendary pokemon, but if I did I think they might have their respective island guardians (tapu bulu and tapu fini) alternatively, ocie having suicune and momboo having virizion. Or Ocie having manaphy/phione and Momboo having shaymin

Anyways! Those are my thoughts on the characters partner pokemon! If you have suggestions PLEASE give them! I definitely want to come up with some pokemon for the npcs and gods aswell!

[delphiniumarchangelmoon]

My pokemon hot takes (and an essay on ninjask getting done dirty)

Lopunny is for the girls and the gays and I’m tired of pretending its not

Me having a little crush on Mewtwo as a kid isn’t weird, what’s weird is that you DIDNT have a little crush on Mewtwo as a kid ok?

Swsh isn’t badly written you guys just completely ignore every non-required area and text box. You wouldn’t know environmental storytelling if it whacked you upside the head.

Paul was the best anime rival, no one stands up to him. His character arc was the best written, his battles had the highest stakes, and best of all he wasn’t fucking annoying!

Iris was the worst anime companion, by far. She did nothing but bully Ash the entire season despite being awful at her own chosen trainer path and it ruined it for me. Girl don’t sit around talking shit when you suck ass at everything!

Fairy should have been weak to bug. Fairy was introduced to be a balancing type by being weak to lesser used types and immune to the strongest type and then made bug WORSE? Fuck off. That makes no sense and it doesn’t even work that well in lore. It could go either way and make just as much sense.

Vanilluxe isn’t even ugly you guys are just haters for no reason AND I think it should get a really cool mega in Z-A based on a sundae and become extremely powerful and viable because FUCK YOU

The Machop line however IS ugly. You do not get to be mad about Incineroar or Meowscarada being too humanoid when that is literally just a man in his undies, and he’s not even cute. Machamp gets a half pass cause the extra arms make it less uncanny but the weird ring around the mouth needs to go, the shorts need to be better integrated into the design (I think gigantimax machamp does a good job of this by blending them down into the color of the legs) and the shinies of the entire line need to be literally any other color but puke green. Either make them all bright green like machamp or skip the green entirely and go dark red. Or a dark gray. Or blue!

Speaking of shinies, green shinies get too much hate. Espeon and teddiursa are cool. Meanwhile yellow shinies usually don’t look yellow at all they look chartreuse and sickly. Like Groudon! Groudon should have a goldenrod color not that abysmal eyesore.

Haxorous did NOT make the jump to 3D well. It just looks a little off and I can’t get over it.

And anyway here’s my regularly scheduled rant about some bullshit because I’m replaying Sword rn and tried to use more mobs I haven’t used before and came across some. Weird bullshit.

Did you know that in swsh ninjask doesn’t learn a single flying type move by level up once it evolves? What the fuck kind of decision was that???? give me SOMETHING I’m DYING OVER HERE.

It technically DOES get Aerial ace by level up but it’s one if those “level 1” moves that you have to get at the move reminder which I forgot was accessible from the start in this game. So I did a bunch of watt grinding yesterday to get a play rough TR for my Tsareena for my Bea fight for no reason and STILL nearly got swept?

And anyway why is that the only one it gets? Why is talking to an npc a requirement to get the ONLY flying move in this Pokémon’s level up moves. Why doesn’t it learn a flying type move upon evolving or in the levels directly after like any normal mon would upon gaining the flying type? It feels really weird and unnecessary. Just swap out the agility level up move for aerial ace, this mon has speed boost it doesn’t need agility.

And then in TM moves it only gets aerial ace (which it already has anyway) air slash (special aka useless on this mom) and acrobatics, Those are its only flying moves which is its better offensive typing! It learns DIG but not fly, peck, wing attack, or pluck?

And in BDSP it’s tm moves get kneecapped! It LOOSES acrobatics and air slash! WHY???? FOR WHAT REASON??? Like sure, it has ROOST and DEFOG now but those DONT DO DAMAGE????

It would have been better for the tms to be roost and acrobatics in the first place. Those are actually useful. But it doesn’t ever get both in gen 8. I could build a seriously annoying ninjask with a focus sash/a berry, roost, acrobatics, leech life, and aerial ace. Pop the sash or berry so acrobatics is increased, aerial ace never misses, leech life and roost heal me. Leech life alone makes it much less of a glass cannon, could you imagine if it got ALL of these moves at once? We were robbed. You can’t give us improved leech life and then not let us build the most annoying asshole bug ever!

And most of its sound based moves are relegated to tm only which is weird considering it’s a CICADA, the bug primarily known for being LOUD. Like they aren’t useful cause they’ve special moves but it should get bug buzz by level up at least. Having screech be its only sound based level up move is just a weird choice, lore wise.

Also its other level up moves are trash. Mind reader is made completely redundant by aerial ace, and doesn’t even make much sense lore wise, it gets like maybe 6 moves between evolving and its last move which ends up being one move every 10 levels or so which is mid at best, and its best bug stab is learned at level 64… or tm which you’ll almost always be doing instead.

Mind reader should be replaced by bug buzz, and there should be another move at around 38-40 that should probably be a coverage move like shadow claw or night slash. It has precedent for learning grass moves too so leaf blade is an option as well though it’s a little bit more powerful so I’d swap its placement with Slash at lv. 50

Anyway quit kneecapping otherwise usable pokemon with nonsensical movesets.

Anyway rant over. Justice for ninjask. Justice for bug types in general.

[crystalelemental]

@patchun did it, so now I'm doing it. Apparently it's just a big grid of your favorites, if anyone else wants to play along. I tried to be more honest with myself about pre-evolutions, but we all know how that can go.

GEN 1 There were no Dark types, and only one Steel type, so that's a little lame. Otherwise, Gen 1 has a lot of "my favorite is a pre-evo." Eevee, yes Vulpix over Ninetales in this moment, and most critically, Kadabra over Alakazam. Kadabra is, at least at present, my favorite Gen 1 mon again. Just like when I was a lad. I loved Kadabra. One that I think might stand out is Nidoran-Male. There are plenty of Poison types, but truth be told? I always just thought Nidoran-Male was super cute. I love its big ears. It's not the same when it starts evolving.

GEN 2 I feel like none of this should be surprising, and I'm sleepy, so moving on.

GEN 3 Gen 3 has excellent Pokemon, I love them. Illumise is a bit of an odd pick, but I had a really fun AlphaSapphire run one time that ran Illumise and it did pretty well, endearing it to me. Otherwise...yeah, actually, Mega Mawile is preferred over Gardevoir at this time. I miss it so bad...

GEN 4 Despite my love of Gen 4, I feel like a large draw is its legends. A lot of these feel like filling in a box. That said, Mesprit. There are so many good legends, but I'm tired of pretending Mesprit isn't my favorite.

GEN 5 Lilligant Sweep. Honestly, looking back at how much I love so many Gen 5 designs, it's nuts to think that people hated on it. Also we're back to having pre-evos as favorites. Frillish is better than Jellicent, with the pink one being my favorite, while I also just like Dewott better than Samurott, and think it's the best starter form of the generation.

GEN 6 Okay, so at this point, I should mention: I decided to put something different in each box, to avoid just spamming certain favorites. That was ill advised when you get to gens 6-8, given how few new additions there really were. So much of this feels like picking something. That said, special shoutouts to Gourgeist, who is legitimately one of my favorites ever, but cannot compete with Lilligant.

GEN 7 UB Sweep. Also, I love Pikipek. I love Trumbeak. I don't really love Toucannon. I loved woodpeckers, and was really excited by having one, but then it evolves and it's like sure, this makes sense. Morelull was the worse outcome, but the short is Gen 7 really did not endear itself to me with the evolution decisions. It did, however, endear itself via Moon Bat and the Ultra Beasts. Nihilego being the easy favorite. Like, come on.

GEN 8 Man, thank god for Legends Arceus, am I right? If it's from legends, safe to assume it's actually my favorite. If it's from Galar, it's like a 50/50 I was just filling a spot. That said, I am here to pick fights right now. Thievul is cute, y'all are just mean, and I fucking love Indeedee. Great shit.

GEN 9 I happen to like Paldea quite a lot. That said, wow do Ice and Bug not have much going on. Ice is especially painful, but I actually do like Frigibax. I saw it first in the evolution line and was like oh hey, that's a pretty cool dragon thing, and it's Ice type that's crazy! And then I saw its pre-evo form and was like oh, that's not so good. And then I saw its final form and was like "well that's not too bad" until I saw it move. It's not great. But the rest I legitimately love. Arboliva, Ceruledge, Espathra, Glimmora, Bellibolt, and yes all of the Meowscarada line. They're really good.

MISCELLANEOUS Not a ton to mention in the special section, but I'll comment on a bit. Spearow line is great, they're just vilified because of the anime. But if you think about it, Pidgey spams Sand Attack and is a little punk-ass bitch with Whirlwind when it evolves, while Spearow is an honorable warrior. Chingling is probably my favorite baby? I briefly debated Smoochum solely for being not-Jynx, before decided I didn't really like that one either. Flareon is my favorite Eeveelution but couldn't win over Vulpix, so it just...never got to appear. I'm sorry, I just love the Vulpix line so much.

OVERALL I assume none of these final decisions are surprising, so instead, here's the official ranking of each within the favorites (just the 18 types):

Lilligant - Absolute favorite, I adore Lilligant.

Nihilego - Very, very close second, I love this space jellyfish that deletes your personality.

Gardevoir - I can't help myself, I just love Gardevoir. It's such a good design.

Mawile - While Mega Mawile won out over Gardevoir overall, I think that's as much sadness over losing it as actually preferring it. They're pretty evenly matched, but without the mega, I think Gardevoir pulls ahead.

Mesprit - Emotion gremlin, I love you Mesprit, it's so cute and I am instantly drawn to emotion things.

Kingdra - I actually really love Kingdra. I think it's the Johto thing, and the strong association with Clair, who is a favorite. It's also just a cool dragon, like look at that thing.

Glaceon - Eeveelutions suck so bad, and I'm so mad about it, but I love you Glaceon, you and Flareon are hot garbage but you're my favorites.

Iron Valiant - Iron Valiant is so goddamn cool, what a good Paradox Pokemon. I just...wish I had more time with it, you know? Maybe over time it'll climb up, but I think it's just too...locked to one of the very last things you can do to attach.

Mismagius - Super cool ghost witch. Love this thing.

Milotic - It's very pretty, and it's one of the few Water types I stronly respect. I'm sorry, I don't love Water types.

Indeedee - Look, Indeedee's my girl. It's such a cute little design, I love that it got Psychic Terrain on entry, I'm dying for Pokemon Masters to give Caitlin or Darach one of these things. It's so good.

Braixen - Fennekin is the best starter ever designed, and Braixen is therefore the best by virtue of being the best iteration within that evolutionary line. REALLY wish it were Psychic type.

Krookodile - It's just a really cool thing. I wind up using Krookodile like every time I play Gen 5, it's just such a cool thing.

Diancie - You should be higher, but Pokemon is terrible with how mythic Pokemon are distributed so I just don't have enough direct engagement with it.

Vespiquen - This is the coolest bug. And it's also one of the shittiest. Life's not fair, is it?

Meowscarada - I actually do really like Meowscarada. I think it's a cool concept, and for a humanoid creature like we feared, it actually didn't turn out as bad as I expected.

Ampharos - Electric is one of my least favorites types, but Ampharos line is just so cute. Look at this thing. That is a friend.

Noctowl - I just think it's the coolest regional bird, and deserves more respect.

[cavewolf]

chris' legitimate pokemon scarlet review broken down into categories for your viewing experience (spoilers duh)

CHARACTERS: love the guys in this game. all of team star are so delightful arven is great and nemona is a new fav rival. i wasn't expecting to like clavell as much as i did but he was super fun. gym leaders for what they are (they play very minor roles but thats just how pokemon is aside from bw1 where they show up at the team plasma castle) are super good i especially liked ryme she's awesome. i felt the character writing was a lot better than last gen and they balanced the 3 rivals a lot better tho this could partly just be because of the three split stories focusing on one each.

POKEMON DESIGNS: mixed bag. loved a lot of them like tinkaton the ancient paradox pokemon and tatsugiri. meowscarada quickly became one of my fav starters i love its design and personality. but some of them didn't really do it for me. especially the bugs

HUMAN DESIGNS: really nice. i'm glad pokemon is continuing to diversify the body types of its female cast. i love the women + girls in this game. mela, eri, geeta, sada, rika, katy (I LOVE HER!!!!) and ryme were especially standout designs for me. the guys have cool looks too. i like brassius' edgier take on a grass gym leader and atticus autism warrior!!!!!

STORY: really good. i'm not kidding like god damn. i loved it in this game. it's easily in the big leagues with sun/moon, the gen 5 arc and pla for me (though i just like pla because it's rehashed pmd lol). the starfall street plotline was cheesy but i loved it , i love to see autism friend groups. they're very sweet. path of legends has an excellent motivator in 'your buddy's dog is sick' and like FUCK dude i'm not letting this guys dogy die!!!! arven is a very sweet character so it's nice to help him out. victory road is more standard fare but i liked the new take on the elite 4 (the interview and there being multiple champions). but obviously the closing act really sells it for me. i've seen people say it makes less sense in scarlet because sada is caveman themed, but i honestly think this made it more interesting. if i was playing violet i wouldve been like ohh yeah of course the guy in the glowy robot space suit is an android but the juxtaposition between ancient and futuristic stuff in scarlet makes it more impactful imo. i like how a futuristic ai can only function with the power of ancient crystals, ties it into both games nicely. plus sada sacrificing herself is a little sadder since i doubt there's more chargers in dinosaur times than the far future (she's double DEAD dead). i'm also just a sucker for evil ai and glitch effects anyway

MUSIC: gooooooood!!! there's been some mixed reception on the gym leader theme but it grew on me. penny's theme is one of my favs but all of the team star related ones are good. the area zero theme is genuinely incredible

GAMEPLAY: it sure is a pokemon game. i had some performance issues mainly loading times before/after battles and after cutscenes. i crashed randomly once during the orthworm mission when i went into its tunnel but nothing to the extent i've seen online (not to say it didn't happen). for what it's worth, i was playing it in handheld. but the basic pokemon battle formula always entertains me. the new gimmick is pretty so i like it.

VISUALS: it absolutely could be better but it's not distractingly bad. it's more just servicable. the updated textures (and sometimes models!) of pokemon look good and the humans look good too. definitely improved some animations (but i missed gloria's unique little tiptoe animation downstairs from swsh). the environment flops a lot, especially when it's not in towns.

[redolentgrove]

Cascade observed Hope's arrival with her own respectful curiosity, making note of the Blaziken's anatomy and her statements. She wondered if maybe Hope had been from Kanto, given that the Dragonair line ssentially made up the only dragon Pokemon in that region. But she didn't make the assumption, instead nodding at the fire-type's statement.

"Yeah, I can't disagree with you there," she trilled, stretching her arms out and shifting her serpentine coils with a yawn. "Excuse me. Anyway… yeah, I'm basically living amongst centuries of history and creation, and it's hard to feel anything short of pure admiration for what's been built here in White Forest. I'm glad I get to be part of it."

Cascade regarded the arriving Meowscarada with a warm smile, her eyes perking slightly at the mention of Loki. Ah, I know who this is, she thought, the back half of her tail craning upward, coils shifting while she continued to get comfortable.

"You know about Loki? the Dragonair asked, offering her right hand for the feline to shake. "Then that must mean you're Charade. I'm telling you, there are days that girl won't stop talking about how pretty you are and how much she looks forward to seeing you again." She let out a little chuckle. "If I didn't know better, I'd say she's crushing on you harder than a Snorlax using a Body Slam, eh?"

Cascade shook her head, her face straightening back from the playfulness of her previous statement toward Charade. "Anyway… uh… yeah, you know, it's funny that both of you ask about what brought me here. I didn't exactly mean to make White Forest my home. It was a case of 'right region, wrong place,' so to speak."

"I actually wanted to live by Dragonspiral Tower and Icirrus City. As a dragon Pokemon, I was hoping to study it and learn more about the Tao trio of Unova, as well as Kyurem's origin formes. I got directions at a forest just outside of Castelia City, telling me to go west from Nimbasa City. Funnily enough, that place called itself Redolent Forest, just like this grove is named. Anyway… I got turned around in Nimbasa and somehow ended up taking the east exit by accident, and instead of ending up in Driftveil after the bridge, I arrived here. I asked some of the locals how much further I needed to go before I reached Driftveil, and they laughed at me saying I was clear on the other side of the region from that."

"I got a little embarrassed from that, but as I kept going around the forest, I kept liking what was here. The lake water was clear and beautiful, there were trees as far as I could see, and just when I didn't think I needed any more convincing… boom, here I was, in this giant grove of flowers." She gently plucked a blue iris from one of the outer beds near the lakeside, sure to be careful with its petals. "And then I met Loki."

"She and I immediately hit it off well enough, so I figured that I would go to Dragonspiral Tower and try to remember this place once I was finished. Then I started doubting my sense of direction because, well, if I couldn't remember east from west, how was I supposed to make it back here from Dragonspiral, let alone make it to that tower in the first place? Not to mention, I was getting kind of tired and frustrated from the journey up to that point, and I asked Loki if she had a place I could stay for a night and get my bearings."

"She did me one better and noted that one of the caves by the lakeside was vacant, and said she wanted me to stay for as long as I needed. I thanked her, unpacked some of my supplies, and got comfortable in there before I knew it. Then… I don't know. It started feeling right in there. Loki checked on me the next morning and offered me some tea and breakfast. She had made it all herself, and I couldn't just say no. It was wonderful… she was one of those neighbours you dream about having but never meet."

She looked over toward Hope, with a shrug of her shoulders. "Then before you know it, I'm sitting there, talking with Loki, listening to stories about her flowers, the local dogwood tree, and without any intentions, now I'm invested in this grove of White Forest. I start helping with some of the flower beds, making friends in the lake, feeling really cosy in that cave she offered… and then weeks start passing. Stupidly, I find myself asking Loki if I can make that cave my home, and shockingly, she said yes. And I've called this place home ever since."

She looked at Charade with a smile. "So, yeah, Loki's a neighbour, a friend… and unfortunately for her, she was also interested in me romantically. I felt bad letting her down and telling her that I'm straight. I was scared she might get mad and not let me stay here anymore, but she was incredibly accepting of that, and I could almost sense some sort of relief in her face. I haven't dared ask her why she seemed glad about it. Maybe she had someone else in mind; I don't know."

"It doesn't matter; she's become quite close with me regardless. I guess in a sense, we're like sisters. I help her, she helps me, and we tease each other at times and share secrets and history. She always seemed so trusting of me… it feels like the least I can do, is to trust her with some of my own more difficult-to-share things. I really admire her; she's the living embodiment of kindness and caring. It's an absolute enigma as to why and how she's single… I'm almost sensing some self-sabotage on that front. Like there's some reason she thinks she doesn't deserve to stay happy, despite how much she does to earn the kindness she's been shown."

Cascade blushed once she realised what she'd said at that point. "…but you didn't hear it from me." She looked at Charade's eyes. "I wonder…"

You get the sense that her staring at the Meowscarada's purple eyes has given her an idea about Loki. Perhaps by combining Loki's love of the colour purple and the Dragonair's subtle statements…

((Ask hints have been updated!))

(( @ask-the-royal-absol / @ask-meowscarada ))

[liamthemarowak]

This is The fifth pic of the Mario movie prequel series. It was an exciting night at the pokemon obstacle course, and Meowscarada is hoping to win this pokemon warrior contest. "Ok, I need to win this, and I will never let any of my fans down!" Meowscarada said as she begins to complete the course. The fans are cheering for meowscarada as she tries her best. But, that one obstacle course that she struggles the most is the icy platforms because she could be worried if could fall off. "Woah, I better be careful and not to fall off!" meowscarada said as she tries not to fall off, but she did fall off and went into the water. "Oh dear, now that cost her a time loss to beat the time!" The commentator said. "Aw great, Now I need to be more faster, I got to beat that time!" meowscarada said as she swims to the ladder and climbs up. She has reached the goal, but she did not beat that time record. "Oh! She was too late to beat that record!" The commentator said. Just then, quaquaval appeared, and he was so pleased that Meowscarada didn't beat his record. "Nice try to beat my record! Better luck next time!" Quaquaval said. "I really need to train even more if I want to beat his time record, and I don't get knocked out of the tournament!" Meowscarada said. The next day, Meowscarada did her training run, when all of a sudden, when went to fast that she warped! "What's happening?! I'm going too fast that I'm going to warp somewhere!" Meowscarada said as she warped like the delorean from back to the future! Then, she warped to the castle, and she was so amazed about the look of it! "Wow, Maybe someone can help me train to win the pokemon warrior contest!" Meowscarada said as she went to the castle's entrance and knocks on the door. The door opened, and there was princess peach, looking at Meowscarada. Hey there Cute cat, How can I help you?" Peach asked. "Wait, you're peach, the one that got captured by that dragon creature." Meowscarada said. "Wait, you do know about me, and how I was got captured by bowser! But this time, Bowser wants to rule the mushroom kingdom soon, and one of the toads predicted it!" Peach said. "That's terrible, and even scary! So, do you have an obstacle course I can practice on? Because I need to beat Quaquaval's time, and get the trophy!" Meowscarada said. "Sure, But I'm saving it for the ultimate hero who can save the mushroom kingdom, so follow me." Peach said as Meowscarada followed peach to the obstacle course. At the obstacle course, Meowscarada can see loads of obstacles, and she was so amazed about it! "Wow, that's a good obstacle course you got there!" Meowscarada said. "Thanks, now let's being your training to win the pokemon warrior contest!" Peach said as Meowscarada gets ready to go through the course. Meowscarada tries to dodge the firebar, but it hit her, causing a time loss. Next, she would be able to dodge the bullet bills, but one bullet bill got her and she was zooming across the obstacle course. "Ugh, this cat needs to learn more." Peach said. On the final part, Meowscarada needs to make the jump, and she successfully made that jump, but the donut block let her go straight down. Meowscarada went back up, and needed to try again. "Well, Looks Like I need to try this again, but to be more better." Meowscarada said as she tries to do it again. She dodges the firebar, jumped on the bullet bills and even avoided the donut block. She reached the finish by attacking the wooden bowser figure by using her grass type moves. Meowscarada has now finished the obstacle course, and she was pleased about it! "Wow, you really did your training there Meowscarada! Now good luck winning the Pokemon warrior contest!" Peach said. "Thanks, Now I could fast warp back and beat quaquaval's time!" Meowscarada said as she uses her fast warp back. "Well, looks like I'm gonna set all of this back up and wait for the ultimate hero!" Peach said as she resets the obstacle course. This night, Meowscarada meet quaquaval, she was ready to beat his time. "So, are you ready to beat my time? Or are you going to lost this tournament?" quaquaval said. "Well, wait and see what I can do!" Meowscarada said. At the pokemon warrior contest, Meowscarada is prepared with a lot of training from peach. "Welcome back to the new round of the pokemon warrior contest! Our contestant Meowscarada is going to do this, but will she be able to win the contest, or get kicked out?" The commentator said. Meowscarada goes forward and tries her best by dodging and jumping, but she was so speedy there! "Woah, she sure has a lot of speed to beat that record!" The commentator said. Then Meowscarada finished the course and beaten the record! "She had broken the record, she is now the champion of the pokemon warrior contest! quaquaval was very shocked on Meowscarada has beaten his time. "H-how did you manage to beat my time?" quaquaval asked. "Well, I was trained by that princess of the castle, and she took me to her obstacle course and I trained there very well." Meowscarada said as she hold's her trophy up in the air. "Well, I'm gonna beat you next time!" quaquaval said as he looks at Meowscarada with his arms folded. Confetti went down to the ground for Meowscarada's victory.

Pokemon Belongs to Nintendo and Game Freak

The Super Mario movie belongs to Nintendo, Universal and illumination

Super Mario Belongs to Nintendo

[dash-n-step]

That most used team can suck my nuts, except maybe Pidgeot and Charizard, but the rest? Damn if I ain't ever used them in my life.

Anyways, you're about to replay the gens in order and you're making a team for each from the pokemon released in that generation. You are going to gen them in with perfect stats and EVs and movesets, so you don't have to worry about catching or anything, but you will still need the HM spread. What are your teams?

Just assume for each gen, the remakes are implied, and using bulbapedia to determine "required HMs"

Gen 1:

Venusaur (cut, obligatory starter) Slowbro (surf, I used it once in a Leafgreen playthrough so it's now obligatory for Kanto) Clefable (wildcard elemental/TM user) Dodrio (fun flyer) Rhyhorn (strength)

and I'm pretty sure I actually beat Red with just 5 mons, so, throw an Arcanine in there

Rare case where I let multiple of the same types on a team, but Clefable's fairy now and it was using different move types, so maybe that's how I rationalized it

Gen 2:

I liked the team from my crystal playthrough, but if it had a better exp distribution and could just use the pokemon straight from the start, I would've wanted:

Typhlosion ([all the gen 2 starters are fun, but after my playthrough as cool as shiny magmar was, I was really missing a unique "new" fire type], Cut/Rock Climb for gen 4) Kingdra (Waterfall/Whirlpool) Heracross (Strength) Xatu (Fly) Sneasel (it learning surf is still too funny) Miltank

Gen 3:

Blaziken (obligatory starter, Cut) Flygon (Fly) Exploud (variety elemental user, Surf, Strength) Cradilly Milotic (Waterfall, Dive) Mawile (Rock Smash)

Gen 4: Empoleon (Rock Smash, Surf, Waterfall, Rock Climb [sorry emploeon]) Vespiquen (Cut) Froslass Mismagius Lopunny (Strength) Togekiss (Fly)

It's harder to get around type repeats considering the pokemon I'd want to use, so eh

Gen 5: Did you know you literally only need cut for BW? Wild.

Serperior (cut) Meloetta (the rare legendary, but I never got to use her and we're already cheating) Hydreigon (Surf/Strength) Braviary (Fly) Carracosta (Dive/Waterfall) Elektross

and with B2/W2, I do remember using Lucario, Arcanine, Ampharos and Flygon

Gen 6: Chesnaught (Strength) Mawile (Mega) Clawitzer (Surf) Vespiquen (reason why I would want to use it in gen 4 is because of my xy playthrough) Delcatty (shout out to Wild Charge Delcatty, another from my XY playthrough) Golurk (Fly)

Gen 7:

Pulling from my recent USUM playthrough

Primarina, Lopunny, Kommo-o, Tsareena, Alolan Raichu, Silazzle

Gen 8:

Oh, this I can pull from my hacked double battle playthrough with the team I beat Leon with (unfortunately the hack I was using didn't turn him into a double battle): Rillaboom, Alcremie, Dracovish,Rotom (flying), Frosmoth, Coalossal

but for a while I was a hail trainer, replacing Dracovish and Coalossal with Froslass and Lapras

I haven't played Legends Arceus, but I probably would've gone Hisuian Samurott, Sneasler, Hisuian Goodra, Togekiss, Electivire, Hisuina Zoroark

Gen 9:

And this one I'm also satisfied with my team from my playthrough, up to my battle with Nemona, I had: Meowscarada (of course), Dudunsparce, Glimmora, Tinkerton, Gholdengo and Chien-Pao (legendary and doubles on dark, but not immune to ice kitty)

So that being said, looking back at that "most used teams" video

I sync up with Typlosion and Heracross

everybody seemed to be using the same B2W2 team

I did use Decidueye on my first playthrough, but I also got wonder traded a popplio very early on, Kommo-o, Alolan Raichu

Coalossal only one making the team, and using the hisuian pokemon isn't really being avant garde

Meowscarda reasonably popular, Tinkaton of course is popular

[unclerippuascension]

Scarlet and Violet are out, let's talk new pokemon designs Under a readmore because of spoilers and because it's long. I'll do a reblog with the rest of the pokemon because tumblr only lets me have 30 images per post.

1: Sparigatito Line

I really don't like this line as a whole, which sucks becase I liked Sparigatito when it was first revealed! I love cat pokemon, but Floragato and especially Meowscarada soured it for me. I don't like it when starters become bipedal for no reason, based on Floragato and Meowscarada's dex entries, it could have stayed on all fours; and I think Meowscarada's whole camo-coat thing would have been better if it had a more grassy wildcat design instead of the whole half-baked sorcerer idea (plus it would make the dark typing feel less tacked on). Not since Sobble have I felt so utterly disappointed in a starter's evolution line for a starter, Meowscarada's design was so bad I thought it was a fucking fakemon for Christ's sake. 4/10

2: Fuecoco line

I like this line the most out of the three starters, but the line isn't perfect. Fuecoco and Crocolar do kinda tread similar ground that the Totodile line walked back in Gen2, but thankfully Skeledirge does differenciate itself from Feraligatr and save the line from being samey. Fuecoco is a solid design, my only real problem being that the flames on its head don't look like flames; my issues with Crocolar is the fact that the fire around its head could have been a black smoke, and the whole egg thing doesn't make a lot of sense or add anything; and Skeledirge's design problems are that it doesn't read as a skeletal crocodile, and again the fire bird doesn't add much, nor does its whole singing thing (i know male crocodiles do make mating bellows, but it still feels a little weird to people who aren't biology nerds like me) 8/10, Skeledirge does still kinda feel like a fakemon and the whole line does have a lot of fat that could have been cut but its by far the best starter line in SV

3: Quaxly line

I was never a big fan of bird pokemon to be honest, I don't hate them but they also never really got me particularly hyped up; so the Quaxly line is very 'meh' teetering on 'bad' for me. I don't like that the evolutions lose the blue feet for no reason, and Quaquaval is just Intelleon but a duck design-wise. 5/10, it sure... it sure does exist!

4: Lechonk line

One thing you'll learn from this post is that I don't like it when Pokemon are so obviously based on real life animals with no spin or flair to them, and Lechonk's line is a good example of that. Lechonk is just a pig and Oinkologne is just a pig that smells nice. I would have preferred it if Lechonk evolved into a literal trufflehog, but the evolution we got is just so boring. The whole line is boring and it didn't have to be, especially when previous pig pokemon were really cool! 4/10 I expected nothing and I'm still let down.

5: Dundunsparce

Another thing you'll hear me complain about a lot is evolution designs that are just "the previous form but bigger". I'm so mad that this thing exists as Dunsparce's official evolution, because its so fucking LAZY. I like Dunsparce, its a cute lil tsuchinoko that digs in the dirt, and I always hoped that Dunsparce got an evolution that leaned into that youkai inspiration; but instead I got an actual, literal JOKE. 0/10, I fucking hate it, Yo-kai Watch did a far better job with the evolution for a tsuchinoko-inspired monster.

6: Tarountula line

Can you believe it gamers?! Game Freak finally made a spider pokemon that has EIGHT LEGS!! Joking aside, this dude's cool; a pretty cool early game bug type Pokemon. 6/10, they finally got a spider pokemon with the correct amount of legs.

7: Nymble line

First thoughts: Nymble looks so sad, like this is a pokemon that goes "aheem heem heem whimper" and I feel so bad for it. Lokix is a pretty solid design too, though it being a dual dark type is a little odd when it could have been a fighting type. 7/10 another good bug pokemon, I like Nymble's sad bug face.

8: Rellor line

Rellor and Rabsca are kinda meh for me as bug pokemon go, they're kinda just dung beetles. The whole psychic energy and later psychic typing is a little odd, but it does give the pokemon some interesting traits. I also find it funny that its dex entry says it rolls up mud and sand, like Game Freak is afraid to mention poo-poo. 5/10 its a bug :I

9: Greavard line

Once again Game Freak drops the ball with a dog pokemon. Greavard is a pretty good puppy pokemon, but man does Houndstone disappoint. Its just Greavard but bigger and a skeleton, fanartists did a better job with evolution designs what with greavard becoming a spooky candle dog; and Houndstone is just. Boring. Like Boltund and Hisui Arcanine, and once again I called it.

10: Flittle line

Again, I'm not too big on bird pokemon; and as Espathra is concerned its got a solid design, but Flittle is weird. Mainly because its beak looks more like lips and thats really bothering me. Though I will say the fact that this line is just... weirdly aggressive and vengeful is hilarious, like yeah ostriches are just like that dude.

11: Farigiraf

On the one hand I like that Girafarig got an evolution (one of my favorite gen 2 pokemon) but on the other hand I don't like the whole hoodie thing it has going on. Maybe its because the head is less of a living being like Girafarig's tail, maybe its because its black when the rest of Farigiraf's neck is brown, it just feels wonky to me. I always hoped that if Girafarig ever got an evolution that it'd be something like the beta design it had before GSC released. That said, I do love the colors Farigiraf has. 7/10 I wish the hood element was just emitted in exchange for something more creative and less odd looking

12: Wiglett line

These pokemon are so lazy, man. Like they're not even regional variants, their dex entries say they're completely different pokemon that just look like Diglett and that is so fucking lame. This pokemon has no reason to exist and its not even interesting. 2/10

12: Dondozo

First off I love the headband around this pokemon, gives it a nice Japanese flair. Secondly, the concept of it being the henchman to another smaller pokemon (and the two have moves that work alongside one another) is pretty clever. That being said on its own Dondozo is pretty standard for a mono-type water fish pokemon. 5/10

13: Veluza

This has to be one of the most metal Pokemon ever. Veluza will literally rip off its own skin to become faster and open up its mind pathways, that is... that is so fucking cool. The design is pretty nice too, being such a sharp looking pokemon. 7/10 based on concept alone

[midnakoopa]

Okay yes hi hello I’ve been reading everyone’s tags and this is the one that made me want to start explaining shit, arbitrarily. Let me start by saying yes you are 100% correct, Galifianakis and Dunkaccino are right next to each other because of this.

Many of the nonsense names stem from the first Sprigatito I hatched: Sprubbabungo (who makes a cameo as the Meowscarada to the top left of HERE WE GO). I named Sprubbabungo when I was sleep-deprived. I decided I liked the theme of four-syllable names with two quick syllables then two more drawn out ones, usually ending in “o”.

I’ve got too much else to say so if you want to read me ramble for seven years about my thought processes with these cats, I’ll split it here. Just so you know before the cut, though, I don’t remember the thought process behind Severed Head. I wish I did, because I know there WAS one, but I simply do not, I’m sorry. Also Sabadayto is my favorite.

To start with, the voice I’m doing here is me trying to channel kind of a Vinesauce Joel energy, specifically a way I remember him saying “peepee poopoo”, which of course inspired the name Pipipupu.

As for what else, I’ll just run through the thought processes I remember for the names. If I don’t mention one, it was just train-of thought nonsense.

Habanero fit the syllable scheme and is a plant. “Video Games” is, weirdly enough, hard to explain and I’ll probably sound crazy if I try. It’s just a feeling. Kiccadikko is the CBT cat.

I don’t actually watch Jerma very often but it seemed like the right thing to do also I only just realized the implications of naming a cat after Jerma whoops. Bobobobo was largely train-of-thought, but I’m sure I thought of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo while naming it.

Greem Beem comes from an image or post or something I can’t find anymore but I think it was like a cat taking a green bean and “greem beem” was the caption it was a long time ago. Scrungodungo and Scruggadungo subconsciously have meme origins I think probably.

Chopamango is something you can do in your kitchen and Hoobastank is a band I think. I was tempted to name it “Hoobastanko” to fit the naming scheme, but I didn’t. Sabadayto I think the thought process was “save the date”, but now it just makes me think of Sadako. Vinesauce is the funny mushroom man and Chuggachuchu is one of TheRunawayGuys I think.

Frostypipo I don’t remember exactly but I think part of it was giving an ironic name to a grass type by making it sound icy. AC/DC is a band and Cavatappi is a pasta. Havasnicko is a reference to the “have a snickers” ads. Prof.Reality is a reference to Honesty Professor Caesar Reality from Book of Mario: Thousands of Doors.

Reikaleavo is another of my favorites, and sounds like raking leaves. Stippysteppo is just something a cat does. Harvard Grad is educated and accomplished and we’re very proud of them. The thought process behind Meat Grinder was Jerma. Randy Savage being right after Meat Grinder was probably from me thinking about Slim Jims.

I first thought to name Babbybinbo “Babbybimbo” because it flows better, but I didn’t want to call the cat a bimbo. ÒwÓ, OwO, and UwU, you’ll notice, are gone over backwards. UwU was first, and then I decided to escalate it two steps. Babarimbo is based on “babarimbus”, a nonsense filler word I’ve used for a while.

Capicola is a type of meat I think. Mangoruby is a boss in Donkey Kong Country Returns. Boinkydoinko was just nonsense but it’s a hell of a lot of fun to say Boinkydoinko and I wanted to type Boinkydoinko again. Nut Columbo was also nonsense I think. Flavorblasto was because goldfish crackers.

Soliloquy is just a word, but I think it was partly based on pukicho’s OC. Chuggatuggo is an activity adults can participate in. And Dimmadimmsdo is a reference to a video about Doug Dimmadome.

I hope this answered like a couple questions. Also to answer a question I’ve seen a couple times of something along the lines of “are you okay?” the answer is yeah I think so okay I love you bye bye.

these are my cats i don't have a problem

[sawsbuck-trainer]

Today's random Pokemon is Meowscarada! I'll admit, it does look pretty cool, but it's not for me. I just think there's better Grass-type Pokemon in Paldea! Now, can you pet it? Yeah, but it just doesn't feel the same as petting a Sprigatito.

Someone did bring one to the Grass-type convention once, though. The guy was a magician, and together, they did some pretty cool magic tricks! I'm sure there's even more glamorous displays in Paldea! Maybe when I get enough money, I'll go there some day.

[zaptap]

so the other day i used a sysbot to get the remaining scarlet exclusives i needed, completing the pokedex just before the year ended

then in the days since, i rematched the gym leaders, made sure i have one of every paldea dex pokemon in the pc (as far as i can tell) so i can complete it in home easily once compatibility is added, did the academy ace tournament, and unlocked 6-7 star raids

so i guess i’m done with pokemon violet for now! at least until the dlc comes out. the only big thing really left to do is build up my team to lv100 (they’re mostly in the 80s with meowscarada at 91 and miraidon at like 75) but that might be better left until the dlc anyway

maybe making them stronger would be a good idea so i could start doing raids for those raid-exclusive pokemon (like for when cinderace comes back) but i’ve decided i don’t feel like doing that. dynamax raids were super annoying, tera raids seem less annoying in some ways (they go faster i think?) but potentially more annoying in others (seems like if you don’t have a tera type strong against it and also a resistance to its regular typing you’re screwed), and i don’t like having to deal with raids in general to get pokemon. also i only tried 5 star ones and couldn’t beat any, the thought of fighting even stronger ones (though my pokemon would be a bit stronger too) doesn’t sound fun

so maybe i’ll just skip it and get them via a sysbot (i grabbed a charizard alongside those scarlet exclusives, cinderace is too new though) or save editing (i might get around to hacking my old switch soon so i can do things like that)

ANYWAY i should get back to that living dex i was working on, since i was going to use it for gen 9 and... we’re in gen 9 (sooner than i expected unfortunately). gen 1 and 2 done, gen 3-4 just needs to be tweaked a little bit, most of 5 is probably scattered around my pc’s in white and black 2 and i can piece together the rest, 6-7 can be copied from either my bank living dexes or what i’ve got in game pc’s, and then once i’ve sent everything on from the 3ds i won’t have to worry about a possible eventual shutdown of bank after it goes free and i can take my time filling 8-9 (hacking my switch would make this part easier too)

i’ve also been thinking about the future of living dexes. i’ve been making them every gen since gen 6 (plus the one i did in gen 3), mainly as a way to give all my games easy access to every pokemon, particularly ones that you can’t get without trading. well, game freak won’t let those games have access to most of those pokemon anymore, so that makes this whole arrangement extremely redundant. the only purpose my gen 8 living dex had was to fill home’s pokedex (so at least it wasn’t a huge waste)

when i thought up the idea for this “Origin Dex” i’ve been working on, a living dex where every pokemon is sourced from its original game appearances (third/fourth versions included) i thought of it as “the living dex to end all living dexes” since i was thinking i’d just use save editing to make a new copy for each generation. but maybe it’ll be the last one because i won’t even need to copy it. i guess if home gets replaced like bank did, i might need to make another though

since pokemon home now counts your progress for each regional dex, based on whether you’ve deposited pokemon originating from that game, i might as well just start making a living regional dex in each game. that’s effectively what i did for violet (though it’s unorganized) and sort of for legends arceus (since home added that feature partway through my playthrough)

like i guess that’s probably what i should be doing instead of a generation-wide one that wouldn’t really have much of a purpose. i’ll still finish the gen 9 one though because i was planning on trying to get all moves and abilities in there, and having that plus all the mascots from their original games will mark off a lot of stuff in home

[crystalelemental]

“karnilla74: What sucks about Grass types is that they're part of the main trio. Like, how do you fuck up so bad gf??? Most of Grass types problems would be solved if they had access to more ground and rock moves. Water types get ice moves, fire types get grass moves, so why did grass types get no coverage???”

The starters, at least, tended to get Earthquake.  I think all of them through Serperior had access to Earthquake, and the only ones I know don’t are Serp, Decidueye, and Meowscarada.  Two of whom are considered some of the better Grass-type starters, go figure.

But the bigger reason is that Pokemon wildly over-estimates the value of status.  They look at things like Leech Seed and Sleep Powder and go oh man!  Sleep is super strong, and recovering HP by draining away your opponent’s passively every turn?  That sounds super busted.  We have to compensate for that.  And the compensation winds up overshooting the effectiveness of the traits.  Sure, Leech Seed is great, but not when you have like five weaknesses that roast your ass.  Sleep Powder is great, when it bothers to hit and last more than one turn.  I think Bug gets hit with the same, since most Powder moves started with like Butterfree and Venomoth, and so status is highly applied to them as well.  Or like, Poison before Gen 6, which had a decent defensive profile, but no offense worth talking about, just relying on Toxic to do its job, when everything could learn Toxic.  It’s the same issue with Ice.  Freeze is a ludicrously powerful status, basically having no guarantee it will ever go away and denying all actions, but it’s also like impossible to land so it’s never something to rely on.  They think these options are overpowered, that they’re balancing out the fact the types otherwise suck.  But they’re not.  Because the concept of status is over-valued, and it’s really weird to see that after Gen 7 nerfed status into a shadow of its former self.  Like okay, Burn deals less passive damage, Thunder Wave can miss for no reason, Confusion is now 1/3rd chance of inaction as opposed to a 50% chance, the only reliable Sleep move got blasted so hard that Darkrai fell to complete irrelevance.  How are you supposed to think this shit matters?

“Bug type gets bogged down a lot because a lot of mons that get the type are early game trash. A lot of late game bugs are actually pretty good like Scizor, Volcarona, Pinsir, Heracross, Scolipede, etc.”

Which is why I hesitated to include them in the bottom of the barrel.  I do think that Bugs have some solid representatives.  But I also feel like Bug as a type is fairly limited?  It’s not a great offensive or defensive profile at all.  Some of those operate only because of their secondary typing (Scizor, Heracross), or because of wildly powerful tools (Quiver Dance, Speed Boost, Mega Evolution).  If I’m remembering my lore correctly, I think Scizor dropped to UU in Gen 7, and Volcarona was discussed for a drop as well pre-Heavy-Duty Boots.  Like even their best options have notable limitations.

“If you ask me, Grass types should resist Rock and Fighting, while Ice should have Water and Electric resistance. Not sure what I'd give rock types. Bug types need better stats in general.”

Grass should resist Fairy.  I think Rock suffers enough that it doesn’t need another option resisting it, but Fairy sure as hell needs a bit of a nerf.  And Fairies tend to, as far as I can recall, have relatively limited coverage.  So Grass types would finally have pretty safe switch-ins, to start spreading status and seeds.

Ice definitely should have Water resistance, Water is stupidly strong, but I feel like Electric suffers enough.  Personally, I want Ground resist.  Ground’s had it too good for too long as an offensive type.

Rock types just need a physical move that can hit a target ever.  Split the difference between Rock Slide and Stone Edge, and just make a 90 damage, 100% accuracy move that has no special effects.  I would choose that literally every time.

I think better stats for sure, but I also kinda wish Bug had a special effect.  Like, you know how Dark is immune to Prankster, Grass is immune to powder moves, Fire/Water/Ice/Rock have bonuses under weather?  I kinda feel like Bug should get something like that.  Maybe work like how Poison has perfect accuracy with Toxic, but make it so Bugs can’t miss their status moves?  That wouldn’t overpower any of the options that are already good, but it would provide some nice benefits to the lower tier ones.

[crystalelemental]

Violet Adventures, part 5 (I checked this time): The Way Home.  I forgot to post this yesterday.

Area Zero music continues to fuck severely.

I opted to use the Meowscarada team, which didn’t get a lot of direct play in battles.  Meowscarada, Glimmora, Ceruledge, Pawmot, Espathra, and Tinkaton.  They’re underleveled, but I figure hey, I want to see them in action a bit more, and I’ll need multiple well-leveled picks for the den disaster upcoming.

I did spend a bit of time leveling, the end result of which was a pretty clean win.  Glimmora counters Iron Moth, Meowscarada answered Iron Thorns, and Pawmot handled like literally everything else, the little champion.  We ended on Espathra, who had to finish off Iron Hands, but not before my Calm Mind sweep was interrupted by a fucking 10% paralysis rate.  Espathra literally cannot catch a break.  Thankfully, it never once got full paralyzed, so it managed to just boost speed while Roosting, letting the Poison from Gimmora’s Toxic Spikes do its job until finishing off Iron Valiant by still being faster.  They really should never have nerfed the speed reduction of paralysis.  I’m sorry, just make it less likely to not act but keep the quartered speed, it’s so much better that way.

With that out of the way, we’re on to the gym rematches and the complete dex.  I opted for a search of Palafin first, in case it was there, and to know what to build up if it was.  Then I couldn’t find one after searching like half the map, because most raids were still 3*.  So I decided then to go clear the gym reamatches before aiming for dens.  Quaquaval team, you’re back up.

Vs. Kofu I don’t respect Kofu, so he dies first.  His Veluza has crit moves, so it’s very scary during setup, but Dudunsparce has little trouble maintaining and passes to Brambleghast, who learns Power Whip after the first KO, and just sweeps like nothing.  GG EZ.

Vs. Grusha Grusha has a lead that scares Dudunsparce because special damage, so we opt to lead Garganacl.  Who does maybe half.  After a brief moment of astonished horror, Garganacl drops, is revived by Rabsca as it Revival Blessing’s it, and then Tailwind peters out.  Rabsca gets the second KO of its life.  Just before Cetitan starts going.   I do switch to Mabosstiff for a debuff, but Mabostiff loses.  But Dudunsparce full boosts and passes to Quaquaval.  I revive the team before finishing the job just for EXP sake, then sweep.

Vs. Katy Actually the scariest fight so far.  Dudunsparce gets bopped really hard by Lokix, so we had to run.  We lose Quaquaval too, because Lunge drops attack, ruining what little Baton Pass ability we had.  Eventually, we do find our footing, but only with Garganacl coming in and managing to wait it out through Spidops.  Once full boosted, all of her team is physical, and much like Geeta, Garganacl can just fit on a physical team forever.  So crisis averted, but we lost like half the team to this.

Vs. Tulip She leads Farigiraf, who Dudunsparce sets up on all day.  Pass to Mabosstiff, sweep.  Easier than Kofu.

Vs. Larry Larry, as the only one left I have decided type advantage over, goes next.  Quaquaval learned Close Combat.  He leads Oinkologne, which is news to me.  I thought it was Komala.  It knows Body Slam, which is my own personal hell.  The first two attacks don’t paralyze, so I let myself get optimistic, and try to keep up my pressure thanks to Roost and the defense boosts off Coil.  But, knowing he’s spamming a move with paralysis, I don’t feel like having a potential sweep lost to cheese.  After a mild heart attack of three consecutive inactions and a crit that nearly kills me before the pass, we throw to Brambleghast.  This is, of course, sub-optimal.  But at +4 attack, Power Whip should handle things okay, right?  And sure, Braviary is a hiccup because it resists Power Whip, but otherwise, clean sweep.  Harder than Kofu just because of the paralysis being so disruptive even to the potential sweeper, but nothing too bad.

Vs. Brassius I was worried about Brassius, because Quaquaval is weak to his attacks, and the whole Grass-type thing isn’t a great matchup for my team broadly.  I also didn’t know what he led with, but feared sleep and Dudunsparce getting bopped.  Turns out, I am right to be afraid.  His lead is Lilligant.  I get in an Agility while it set Light Screen, then attempt something dangerous.  The forbidden Rabsca Sweep.  Lilligant Hyper Beams it in the face.  It deals less than half.  Still, should’ve stuck it out and tries a pass to Mabosstiff for Ice Fang instead.  Light Screen wears off just in time, as Bug Buzz is not a 2HKO on Tsareena with it up.  It’s only after this point I remember Terastallizing is real, and do that, taking out Arboliva easily.  Sudowoodo shifts to Grass, and what should have been the end is stopped short by Sturdy.  It’s basically over, but the Rabsca sweep is denied.

Vs. Iono Iono, the most powerful gym leader, is one I saved for last so I had some more levels under my belt.  I decide to try Dudunsparce.  It’s fine, right?  IT IS NOT FINE.  Double Agility isn’t even enough to bypass its speed, and it got a boost from that Wind Power effect.  The only consolation I have is that I do tank a Hurricane, and pass to Garganacl, who cannot be paralyzed by Discharge thanks to its ability, and aim to set up Iron Defense/Body Press sweep on Bellibolt.  Who...knows Reflect.  Iono.  Girl.  Come on.  It also knows Thunder.  Which deals as much as I’m able to recover, so a crit would likely KO.  It also never misses.  Ever.  And apparently doesn’t even bother resetting Reflect, so it hits all five thunder, the last getting an Electromorphosis boost and killing me instantly.  Fucking...insane, girl.  Then Thunder fires again.  That is six.  I counted.  So I look it up.  Thunder has 10 PP.  Go fucking figure.  Rabsca revives Dudunsparce in case we have an opportunity for a sweep, but Earth Powers Bellibolt away.  Electrode then has Electric Terrain.  Someone.  Please.  Help me.  It’s going bad, lads.  Rabsca tanks hits and KOs Electrode and puts Luxray at critical, but there’s still Mismagius, the scariest of all threats, to deal with.  Dudunsparce gets an Agility in, but Luxray drops, and there is effectively no way we manage Mismagius that well.  If it knows Charge Beam again, I’m going to be so bothered.  Unfortunately, one Agility isn’t enough and it kills me.  I decide to be really, really fucking stupid for a minute, and go to Quaquaval, professional failure.  It is at this point I learn that she does, in fact, have Charge Beam.  Fortunately, plan successful, Quaquaval took that hit and got an Aqua Step in, and is now faster.  Victory achieved, though man if Quaquaval had been slower that would’ve been a sweep.

Vs. Ryme Being a double battle, Ryme will either be super hard or super easy.  The answer, it turns out, is super easy.  Play Rough takes out Mabosstiff, but otherwise clean sweeping with Garganacl (Rocky Helmet/Salt Cure passive damage) and Baton Passing to Quaquaval.  Nothing major.

As a brief intermission from fights, the talk with Geeta about the leaders.  Apparently, her responses are scripted for each possible response.  I found no variation in any answer for any leader on any question she asked.  Which is a little sad, since it ruins the mystery a bit and doesn’t tell much about her.  Because man, I was having a ball after telling her Tulip was the easiest and getting a “I’d have to agree,’ then saying Ryme left the biggest impression and getting “Of course you’d say Ryme.”  Like that should be personality building but it’s all the same answer for all questions so there’s just nothing to it.  So I’m dropping this entire discussion as trivial.  With that, on to the Academy Ace Tournament.  Levels are 61-62.

Vs. Arven As I understand it, PP doesn’t refresh?  I don’t know that but I’m working under that assumption.  For the outset, Dudunsparce gets luckier than anyone has ever been, dodging six 30% paralysis shots.  I am very proud of her.  I pass to Brambleghast to avoid catastrophe, and begin the sweep with Power Whip.  We beat him so badly I almost start to feel bad, before pushing that empathy down and Power Whipping his dog back to the Poke-hospital.

Vs. Jacq PP does refresh.  His Arcanine knows Close Combat.  And it crit.  So that’s fun.  While it involves eating another Close Combat, I opt for Garganacl, who should be faster post-Agility and has Rocky Helmet.  More importantly, Iron Defense and Recover.  Predictably, his last PP is a crit on me, but I anticipated this garbage and Recovered so we survived.  Without Close Combat, its Play Rough bounces off for like 13 damage.  Fuck you, mutt.  This is for making me play like a human.  At +4 defense and +2 speed, this should be the end.  Instead, this fucker has Mudsdale.  Is this his actual team, or am I being counterpicked?  I boost again and Body Slam his horse back to plinko.  Lurantis is just as dead.  Slowbro is a problem, and I am now thoroughly convinced I’m being counterpicked.  Salt Cure has good passive damage against Water types, and this idiot uses Light Screen as if that will save him.  Sadly, it lives the Body Press anyway, and we get hit with Surf, nearly taking Garganacl out.  Swallot is next, and like...come on.  Another Body Press resist?  There is no way this isn’t intentional against this team.  I’m looking this up.  No, apparently this is just his team.  His fucking Farigiraf is also Psychic Tera.  I swear to god, this asshole is directly counterpicking Gargancl.  It didn’t even work.  Garganacl crushed his stupid giraffe beneath its hulking salt body.

Vs. Dendra Oh fuck I forgot she was in the first rotation, I thought it was three rounds and I was on to Geeta.  Obviously, Dudunsparce does not do well here, and has to pass just an agility.  Fighting is also, like, the worst possible type for me to have to deal with.  So, I do the only thing I can think of.  Rabsca.  Psychic/Bug is a good resist, barring sudden Dark moves.  Agility puts it ahead of what should be her entire team.  Should.  Yeah, turns out Hawlucha is still faster.  X-Scissor doesn’t severely threaten though.  This goes well enough, until Medicham.  I make a risky play, hoping its move is strong against Psychic, and Tera Bug.  Bug Buzz narrowly fails to KO, and its move is...Ice Punch.  Panicked over nothing, I suppose.  Sadly, Hariyama tanks the Psychic, and Rabsca Sweep is denied once more.

Vs. Geeta I beat your ass once, I can do it again.  Unfortunately, Espathra has Opportunist and I can’t switch my lead right away.  So I have to manually pivot to Mabosstiff.  Geeta’s Espathra uses Reflect, but we manage to crit through it somehow and get the KO anyway.  A much, much easier opening than the first attempt.  Gogoat buffs itself with Bulk Up, but by now I have an in.  Rabsca Bug Buzz finishes it just fine, with Play Rough dealing less than half.  Kingambit, as it turns out, is faster than Rabsca, which creates some problems.  I throw in Quaquaval to answer it, because I am unconfident in a Dudunsparce boost.  Veluza one-shots Quaquaval, but is slower than Brambleghast, who takes it out no issue.  Avalugg comes in, and now?  Now it’s go time.  It takes two turns for it to finish Brambleghast, so I get up a Leech Seed to help keep Dudunsparce alive during the sweep, and a layer of Spikes for safety.  Avalugg’s Body Press is insane damage, and if it crits I’m dead, but thankfully it swaps to Avalanche for the surprise crit that always happens to me.  4% of the time is all the time for my foes.  Not willing to risk more than I need to, I stop at +3 Coil and +2 speed.  Rocky Helmet + Leech Seed finishes Avalugg, and we get to see if Agility Garganacl can truly outspeed Glimmora.  Survey says: yes, thank god.  I was so worried about doing this whole tournament over.  But, Geeta defeated.

We then return to our regularly scheduled Raid Hunt.  I clear a bunch, because some final evolutions I needed started showing up, and then the 6* raid appears.  In my quest through this second run...I find Palafin.  I think to myself, this is it.  We’re done.  But then I check my dex, and find out I don’t have Braviary listed.  But I definitely have Hisuian Braviary!  It even is listed as a Braviary in the search feature!  Which means Galarian Slowking will not check off Slowking from my dex.  So I am at 399 species, and need to go back in to find one more from these random 5* raids.

Kill me.