[ video ]

[questioneverything]

[The video came up and Romelle gave a little wave.]

So, hi. Now that we're all back from vacation and I'm most definitely here for the long term, I guess I should really go about doing some of the different things around here, right? I've heard about this 'gym challenge' where you earn badges. What would you recommend as the best way to start that?

Thanks.

Comments

[video]

[paladinlost]

[Now that's a question Cecil can happily answer!]

The best way to start is to do them in order and plan in advance for the next on the list. Tell me, are you currently in Kanto or in Johto?

Re: [video]

[questioneverything]

[That actually sounded very sensible and logical. Romelle nodded.]

I'm in Johto right now.

[video]

[paladinlost]

Excellent. In that case, the recommended order would be Violet's Flying-types, Azalea's Bug, Goldenrod's Normal, Ecruteak's Ghost, Olivine's Steel, Cianwood's Fighting, Mohagany's Ice, and finally Blackthorn's Dragon. Thus, you'd want to start by raising a few Pokémon with the advantage over Flying-types to the early thirties, while keeping an eye out for those who could defeat Bug-types.

[Ah, but that raises an important point.]

Do you intend to simply earn badges with whatever Pokémon have already caught your fancy, or would you prefer to plan your captures around your future opponents?

Re: [video]

[questioneverything]

I haven't really decided, yet. Which is the better approach? I mean, I imagine having a strong bond with your team would be important, so you'd want to work with them as much as possible before going in, but... I've heard that the type differences can be important, too.

[Battle strategy was new to her.]

[video]

[paladinlost]

Frankly, unless you deliberately use under-leveled Pokémon with a type disadvantage, a Pokémon you caught five minutes earlier or unevolved species with limited movesets, any team can work. You may need to gain a few more levels, or perhaps to purchase a few TMs, but you'll not be condemned to failure if you forgo catching the first Electrice or Ice-type you see.

Re: [video]

[questioneverything]

[Romelle considered that.]

It sounds like there's a decent amount of strategy and thought to this, then.

[video]

[paladinlost]

There is, especially if you intend to face the stronger elite teams once you've earned your first set of badges. But once you've earned a badge or two and started training a solid, varied team, you'll be able to prepare those strategies easily enough.

Re: [video]

[questioneverything]

[Romelle nodded. That was logical. Experience begets knowledge.]

Thanks. I appreciate the advice.

[video]

[paladinlost]

You're welcome! If you've any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask. It's always a pleasure to help new promising trainers.

Video

[dreamsofahero]

Well, you should first pick a gym to start with, and then figure out how best to deal with that gym's specialty. You may have to train new pokemon, or train with new techniques with your existing team, after all.

Re: Video

[questioneverything]

So, I'm in Johto right now. And I haven't done any of the gyms, yet. I heard we can have up to six in a team. Is that right?

Re: Video

[dreamsofahero]

Yes, that's correct. Each gym has a certain specialty or theme to it, so the team you choose to bring with should be chosen with that in mind.

Re: Video

[questioneverything]

I see. So, it would be best to try and work with a team that is best suited for a particular gym and build up a bond with them before going?

Re: Video

[dreamsofahero]

That depends considerably on your training style. Some trainers catch and train a wide variety of Pokemon, taking turns using different ones, and so will simply pick the ones best-suited for the gym in question. Others prefer to raise only a few at a time, and instead focus on using creative movesets and tactics to win against multiple gyms with the same core team.

Re: Video

[questioneverything]

Movesets?

[That sounded strange to her.]

Is that like teaching someone how to fight?

Re: Video

[dreamsofahero]

Ah, sort of. Have you done much battling with your Pokemon yet and become familiar with the various moves and abilities they can use?

Re: Video

[questioneverything]

Not a lot, no. I was kind of avoiding a lot of the trainers during my first trip away from New Bark.

...

Is that bad?

[Worried...]

Video;

[schachmeister]

[At this rate Romelle will have the whole Aurora League weighing in.]

Each pokemon league gym has its own type speciality and the team levels get higher the further you travel. It might be easiest to look at the pokemon you already own and see if there are any gyms that would be easier for you to take on first.

Oh, and my suggestion would be to first try and get all the badges in a particular region. You'll earn a mega-stone for that, and that will definitely help you when you battle.

Re: Video;

[questioneverything]

[She certainly didn't mind the help!]

I'm in Johto right now, so I guess I'll start there.

What does a mega-stone do?

Video;

[schachmeister]

With a mega-stone, you can access mega-evolution. It's not something every pokemon is capable of, but the ones that are can temporarily evolve into an even stronger form. It's a huge boost in battle, and sometimes it even changes your pokemon's typing and ability, but it's also pretty tiring, so most pokemon can really only do it once a day.

When you have all eight badges from one region, you can write to the Pokemon League and request a particular stone. There are different stones for all the different species that can mega-evolve, so whichever stone suits you best really depends on what kind of team you have.

Re: Video;

[questioneverything]

[Pretty much none of that made sense, but she supposed she would learn about it all as she went along.]

Typing and ability... [She nodded a little.] Right. Okay. [Those were things that she had been learning, too.] Typing is important in gyms, right?

Video;

[schachmeister]

[Looks like she might be a little less experienced than he had been assuming.]

It is. It is the basis of any gym strategy. First, you try and learn what pokemon or what types the gym leader will use, and then you use pokemon of your own that are strong against those types. Or, at the very least, not vulnerable to them.

There are a lot of different types and type combinations, and some make more sense than others. A lot of trainers find it helpful to use a chart at first, so that might be something for you to try out too. I think I might still have the one I used when I was starting out around here somewhere.

[And sure enough, soon Romelle will receive a link to a pretty basic type chart. Perhaps to either keep on our gear or print out.]

Re: Video;

[questioneverything]

[Romelle looked very happy with the chart.]

That helps so much! Thanks.

[This was going to be way more useful than trying to remember it, just looking at it. There was more to it than what she'd expected originally, too, so the chart would help get things cemented more firmly. She'd figure it all out eventually, but the leg-up was appreciated.]

Video;

[schachmeister]

I know battling seems really overwhelming at first, but just take it step by step. Start by focusing on the basics like proper type match-ups, and you can add more complex strategies later on.

What pokemon do you have right now?

Re: Video;

[questioneverything]

[She nodded at the tip, and then shifted her Gear so that her new friends could get in the picture.]

Stufful, Rattata, and Pachirisu.

So far, they all seem pretty enthusiastic about battling.

[In fact, the little squirrel-like creature pumped its tiny arms into the air with an enthusiastic "Risu!" to make a point.]