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[Already Torn]

Arceus help you if you try to catch a Salandit or get into a drawn out battle with one in a Nuzlocke. Friggin Dragon Rage man.

On the positive side, a female one showed up quickly for me. I'm debating whether to use her or Grimer. They both seem very useful in-game. I'll leaning Salandit since my team lacks a fast Special attacker, and because I want to use more new Pokémon.

Mareanie/Salandit double battle leads is my dream team.

Dang, I didn't realize I missed Komala.
They need to stop making new Pokémon rare, when there are so few.

It's in the place early on Island 3 where you catch the evolved forms of all the trash mons you ditched back at the Smeargle. Might have to be day time.

I can see it having a competitive use in like UU. Maybe weirdo VGC teams.

 

[Otakumegane]

You could get away with allowing Tapu Fini since she isn't as good as the others due to everyone running Hyper Offense at the moment and not using status moves much, but yeah, the other Tapus can fuck off, espeically Tapu "All I do is spam Wood hammer" Bulu.

By that logic I could allow certain ultra beasts too but the meta is too new for such complex bans. Hell I'm worrying about banning Power Construct completely or Thousand Arrows+50% Power Construct on Zygarde.

Metagorssnite will also likely be banned due to the nerfing of wisp and the buff to Mega Evolving him which pushes him over the edge in this format.

 

[Lil'DigiOp]

Sure, if you happen to have a spare Rowlet, I'd love one. Can toss you a contagious Eevee 'cuz I've got like five or six in the box from using that grass patch to infect a box and a half in the PC. At work right now, but we can get in touch. Last time I played a Pokemon game was Diamond, though, so I'm a bit unfamiliar with how you do long-distance trades these days.

Sweet, Ill link up with you later tonight with a PM

 

[LotusHD]

...why does Zygarde start at level 30 and not level 40. At that point in the game, most of your Pokemon should be in the high 30s/low 40s.

He's going to need to catch up now.

...and I still can't think of a nickname.

Xanadu maybe? Lief? Fenrir is too cliche? Thor? Loki?

Right now it's named Zegard and that's a dumb name. Not worthy of a viking snake dragon dog monster.

Name it Corr?

 

[phanphare]

Wut

whoops, I meant until the Switch version of this gen comes out

 

[Watch Da Birdie]

I think EXP. Share + the BW EXP. curve hits a good sweet spot where I can keep everyone balanced, but I don't feel too overpowered---I mean the game isn't super challenging so far, but I'm not one-shotting everyone like in XY.

Anyway I finally can get to Island 2 where Mudbray, Dewpider, Stufful, and Fomantis await. Kind of grown attached to my Makuhita I've been using as my lead though, the Slowpoke who helped me against Hala too. Maybe I'll switch them back in a couple of times while exploring old areas.

 

[Daemul]

As with each new meta at the beginning of a generation, the best part is sitting back and reading all the terrible arguments that people have on the forums about why "insert their favourite Pokemon here" isn't broken and shouldn't be banned.

The Aegislash fanboys are currently on a roll, "Aegislash is holding the meta together!".

More like he's slicing the meta apart fam.

 

[trixx]

Yeah, I use Set to give myself an extra challenge, but turning off EXP share seems stupid. It just means you need to do a lot more grinding. I don't think of grinding as increasing difficulty, just increasing the amount of time I waste.

Exactly I thought it would work the old way; where lets say you get 600 exp with it off. That 600 gets split in 4 if you have 4 pokemon or whatever. The old way would make you switch pokemon more often

 

[bizzarewars]

If there's one thing I didn't expect about this game, it's that I definitely didn't expect Toucannon to be my favorite new Pokemon.

 

[JoeM86]

Am I the only one, who's finding that Serebii is having major problems (endless connection reset errors at random times) or is the site just really overloaded since release ?

Overloaded but it shouldn't be that bad

 

[MasterShotgun]

It has terrible defenses...doesn't last too long in battle for me lol

That was my main concern, but I can just switch in Araquanid or Mudbray if I need someone to take a hit. Salandit having Fire moves covers another issue I was having. And just as I was worrying about its early movepool, I discovered mine has HP Electric.

Welcome to the team Salandit.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

More like he's tearing the meta apart fam.

*slicing the meta in half

 

[tookhster]

I'm still loving this game, but disappointed that once again EXP share favors those who use it and don't care about difficulty. I turned it off since the beginning and started to white out to regular trainers after the first trial. I turned it on for a bit after and my team was over leveled again. In my experience, you have to switch between turning it off and on for a balanced difficulty, which is annoying as fuck.

Also, the high amount of trainers with only one or two Pokémon is just depressing. You can say Pokémon was never challenging but stuff like this has ruined the fun for the main quest, just like in X/Y.

 

[Daemul]

*slicing the meta in half

Stolen!

 

[trixx]

Is

Spoiler

Lurantis

actually good? This

Spoiler

totem Lurantis

is amazing, fucking up my team

edit: GOT WRECKED WOW

 

[Watch Da Birdie]

If there's one thing I didn't expect about this game, it's that I definitely didn't expect Toucannon to be my favorite new Pokemon.

I think with Fly HM being gone a lot of people were glad to not have to use the Early Bird for that, but I've been using the Pikipek line temporarily and they're pretty sweet.

Even Ash seems like he's gonna skip out on the Regional Bird for once.

 

[DrArchon]

I think I'm having a crisis over which Water Pokemon to pick for my team. I adore Wishiwashi, which despite it's low HP still feels like it'll be a monster of a tank for most of the game while still hitting like a truck. But I also love Araquanid and its double power water moves, and I'm excited to get Mareanie/Toxapex and Wimpod/Golisopod.

Are any of these four in any way decent for actual battles with real life people online? I figure if I want to get attached to something, I might as well get attached to the one that'll be effective at online battles. Araquanid's stats suck except for SDef, but it's ability is killer, Wishiwashi's stats are incredible, but it looks like its movepool is awful, Golisopod has great stats and a killer unique move, but its ability is awful, and Toxapex looks like a nice tank but I'm worried about its low HP.

Thoughts from anyone that's been playing online or been partaking in the theorycrafting on Smogon?

 

[Metroidvania]

Also, the high amount of trainers with only one or two Pokémon is just depressing. You can say Pokémon was never challenging but stuff like this has ruined the fun for the main quest, just like in X/Y.

Presumably this is at least partly in response to the EXP share usage being the default, but I agree that this is kind of disappointing.

It's been one or two pokemon from probably ~80% (or more) of trainers, which is just.....bleargh.

If they could fix/rebalance the enemy trainer vs exp share issue, being able to better fine-tune calling for help chaining (or not, if you want to catch a pokemon), and showing a slightly higher priority for the new pokemon, things would be ace.

 

[LiQuid!]

Valuable lesson learned today. Don't use island scan on an island you've just arrived at. Had to beeline thru the first half of island 2 to get to route 7 and catch my spheal with about 8 minutes to spare.

 

[trixx]

I think I'm having a crisis over which Water Pokemon to pick for my team. I adore Wishiwashi, which despite it's low HP still feels like it'll be a monster of a tank for most of the game while still hitting like a truck. But I also love Araquanid and its double power water moves, and I'm excited to get Mareanie/Toxapex and Wimpod/Golisopod.

Are any of these four in any way decent for actual battles with real life people online? I figure if I want to get attached to something, I might as well get attached to the one that'll be effective at online battles. Araquanid's stats suck except for SDef, but it's ability is killer, Wishiwashi's stats are incredible, but it looks like its movepool is awful, Golisopod has great stats and a killer unique move, but its ability is awful, and Toxapex looks like a nice tank but I'm worried about its low HP.

Thoughts from anyone that's been playing online or been partaking in the theorycrafting on Smogon?

The water pokemon are really good. Either way it's a good choice but I think Toxapex is going to be annoying

 

[Reset]

From my experience on Showdown, Toxapex is the most popular/used out of the four pokemons you listed.

 

[Verilligo]

Sweet, Ill link up with you later tonight with a PM

Sounds good. Should be available around 5:30 PM EST and all night after.

 

[Spinluck]

This game is seriously the best Pokemon game since the original Ruby/Sapphire.

Almost done with the second island I absolutely love it. Running a full team of new mons and I love all of them...

Love how varied the routes are now, and lots of little side things to do along the way too.

Gamefreak on point.

Soul Silver is my GOAT because of content.

How is this game post story mode? X and Y was pathetic in that regard.

 

[chronos4590]

When you found two female Salandits in less than 10 minutes :3
I gave the other one to a friend already lol, and found a shiny fletching.
Loving this game so far, Mid day Lycanroc so far is so good! Alola Riachu is just too damn cute :3

I'm really enjoying my time with this game, things got me worried with game structure but I think its so refreshing.

 

[Already Torn]

Soul Silver is my GOAT because of content.

How is this game post story mode? X and Y was pathetic in that regard.

Not quite pathetic

 

[Comet]

Overloaded but it shouldn't be that bad

Performance has been solid to me. Joe, any word on getting info on the Battle Tree?

 

[DrArchon]

The water pokemon are really good. Either way it's a good choice but I think Toxapex is going to be annoying

From my experience on Showdown, Toxapex is the most popular/used out of the four pokemons you listed.

That's kinda what assumed was going to be the case. It actually has good stats and a good ability, unlike the others which are "either/or" affairs. And it just looks like a nightmare to fight. Baleful Bunker poison -> auto-crit double power Venoshock should be a dirty combo against anything that isn't immune to poison. And for those you'd probably just use Scald.

Yeah, I might try grabbing a Mareanie when I get a chance. Too bad it's SOS only. That's going to be a massive pain in the ass.

 

[trixx]

haha okay this boss fight might be one of the hardest in game things since whitney in soul silver, amazing

I think if you have Inceroar it will be easy and grass type starter. But this is hard as hell with the water starter holy crap

 

[Red]

Level 2 Affection (1 heart) = 1.2 x experience.

Is that the only bonus? Doesn't scale for more hearts?

 

[Spinosaurus]

I think people are sleeping on Golisopd's competitive potential.

 

[MicH]

Jusy successfully chained a Sturdy (HA) Togedemaru! That was great, turns out the real challenge is catching the mon you want since it keeps calling on further help

Just caught a Turtonator and a Mareanie too!

 

[Velcro Fly]

I think people are sleeping on Golisopd's competitive potential.

Yeah that ability you can definitely rig around for a free switch.

I finally caught a Wimpod in game and I'm debating on grinding it up to evolve just to have it.

 

[PadWarrior]

I think people are sleeping on Golisopd's competitive potential.

How is he? I'm trying to level up my wimpod.

 

[Permanently A]

I haven't played Pokemon in a while, but I remember the biggest issue I had the last time I played was that I used my starter too much and the rest of my team lagged behind hard. What's the best way to make sure that doesn't happen?

 

[Red]

I haven't played Pokemon in a while, but I remember the biggest issue I had the last time I played was that I used my starter too much and the rest of my team lagged behind hard. What's the best way to make sure that doesn't happen?

You get an experience share early on and it is automatically enabled. You won't have the same problem unless you choose to.

 

[LiQuid!]

I haven't played Pokemon in a while, but I remember the biggest issue I had the last time I played was that I used my starter too much and the rest of my team lagged behind hard. What's the best way to make sure that doesn't happen?

Get the gift Munchlax and use it to one shot the entire game.

 

[Velcro Fly]

Also the mono bug run potential of this game is great. Tons of buy types I already like and the ones in this game also look good.

 

[tim_pkmn89]

I haven't played Pokemon in a while, but I remember the biggest issue I had the last time I played was that I used my starter too much and the rest of my team lagged behind hard. What's the best way to make sure that doesn't happen?

Put him in your box

 

[DrArchon]

I think people are sleeping on Golisopd's competitive potential.

A base 125 atk Pokemon throwing out what's effectively a more powerful STAB Extremespeed is something you at least have to consider for competitive play. Too bad that its speed is so awful that you won't be doing anything else after throwing that out.

 

[bennywhatever]

Is there a way to rebattle any trainer / trial captain in this one? I know there's no Vs Seeker. I've heard rumors that you can rebattle a captain but I've not really seen any confirmation.

 

[Dartastic]

Okay. I officially hate it when Pokemon "call for help." It turns a routine battle into a slog where a Pokemon calls for help, I defeat it, the other Pokemon calls for help, I defeat that one too, etc. It's so annoying.

 

[Inferno313]

Okay. I officially hate it when Pokemon "call for help." It turns a routine battle into a slog where a Pokemon calls for help, I defeat it, the other Pokemon calls for help, I defeat that one too, etc. It's so annoying.

Paralyze/Sleep it.

 

[Comet]

Okay. I officially hate it when Pokemon "call for help." It turns a routine battle into a slog where a Pokemon calls for help, I defeat it, the other Pokemon calls for help, I defeat that one too, etc. It's so annoying.

Especially when you're trying to catch one

 

[MasterShotgun]

*Totem Salazzle appears*

*Mudbray uses Bulldoze*

*Totem Salazzle is defeated*


What a letdown.

 

[clemenx]

Mudbray for some reason has base 100 atk as a pre-evo. It will one shot most unevolved things.

 

[Bladenic]

A base 125 atk Pokemon throwing out what's effectively a more powerful STAB Extremespeed is something you at least have to consider for competitive play. Too bad that its speed is so awful that you won't be doing anything else after throwing that out.

Plus its ability will not be kind if stealth rocks are on the field.

 

[LiQuid!]

Calling for help has literally only been a problem for me when trying to catch pokemon. It makes catching really irritating. When I'm just killing shit tho it's not really an issue. I do love that it leads to rarer pokemon showing up over time tho. Sometimes when I see a more uncommon pokemon show up in the grass I'll just use hold back on it and keep killing it's backup until something neat shows up. Got a happiny while beating up an igglybuff's friends this morning.

 

[R0ckman]

Current team. Just beat Olivia on the second island.

How'd you get ash greninja on second island?

 

[LiQuid!]

How'd you get ash greninja on second island?

Play thru the demo

 

[Inferno313]

How'd you get ash greninja on second island?

You can get Greninja whenever, it'll just be an asshole until you've finished the second island.