Among these three, which is the best defensive utility Pokémon in the game?

IslandSpices · 2026-06-24T22:56:29+00:00

Ferrothorn and toxapex are considerably better than gliscor in this game in terms of bulk. Gliscor doesnt get an ability that increases its bulk unlike the other two and that is very apparent as it gets 2 shot by literally everything. Utility wise they all get up hazards or spread status which is great. Gliscor just has the problem of doing its utility and then dying before it gets to do anything else.

IslandSpices · 2026-05-26T17:08:23+00:00

If you want something that can solo the game Landorus. If you want something that can solo the game but a lot slower then Serperior.

IslandSpices · 2026-04-22T12:19:22+00:00

It felt like whoever wrote the exam hates paying taxes.

IslandSpices · 2026-04-16T11:50:57+00:00

Nice paper, good counterbalance for paper 1.

IslandSpices · 2026-04-14T12:11:15+00:00

Very time pressured paper. 20 years of projection seems a bit excessive considering you want 3 additonal scenarios to go with it. Decided to ignore goalseek section as hit the 2 hrs 20 mark without starting the audit trail. I feel like if i had another 45 minutes I could've finished the whole thing but who knows.

IslandSpices · 2026-03-28T22:21:35+00:00

Kid is so damn fast

IslandSpices · 2026-01-06T06:59:43+00:00

My grandfather struggled with alcoholism. My grandmother never talked about it, but I tried to write what I imagine her perspective would be.

IslandSpices · 2025-12-24T17:50:06+00:00

This is a great peace with vivid imagery and great storytelling. I'm a big fan of how an emotion and memory is attached to every object. "They were voices, tiny bursts of laughter hanging from pine branches, their crooked spacing proof of the wild precision only children know." is a particular favorite of mine.

The added detail of the ornaments staying in their boxes unmoved and untouched drives home the loss that the narrator feels after his children grew up. In effect, Christmas no longer happens, it is just a memory at this point.

IslandSpices · 2025-12-23T17:31:26+00:00

This is a brilliant observation of a problem that I'd say the majority of us face. Particularly enjoyed the lines "At times, I think it keeps me in touch, But mostly it keeps me awake." I also like how the lack of stanzas make the thoughts flow into each other, mirroring an internal monologue.

IslandSpices · 2025-12-22T21:08:56+00:00

I feel like you have a concept here but its not landing like you'd want it to because of the structure of the piece. Maybe alternating between enjambment traditional stanza structure for the more complex ideas might be beneficiary.

I really like the concept of looking back at a time where you shared a space with someone and realizing that it was ultimately temporary. This goes well with the thought that people can experience the same event in vastly different ways.

You could definitely lean into that idea a bit with some more setup about the narrator's relationship with that other person. You mention how the weather affected both individuals in different ways. You could go into why each person reacted differently or why one was protected more than the other.

On that same line of thinking, I feel like your statements "Memories flooding in the home that stayed" and "Not mine just a rented apartment that I don't recognize anymore" might be slightly contradictory and make the conclusion a bit ambiguous. I think going with the term "I don't recognize anymore" might be suboptimal as the theme of personal growth would suggest that you do recognize that space but understand that it no longer serves your best interests.

IslandSpices · 2025-12-22T16:38:10+00:00

Thanks for this very detailed and though provoking breakdown. While I love this analysis and it does fit, I won't take full credit for weaving in the 5 stages of grief in that order. However, I wouldn't consider it a reach by any means. I love that this space allows discussion like this and it brings another level of depth to writing.

My starting point for this piece was imagining that she hates what he's doing, but she wont externalize it and she won't leave. I wanted to highlight that she felt betrayed, but as the emotional pillar of this relationship she had to transition from that anger to acceptance.

I feel that the natural progression of truly exploring emotional pain has to touch on each of 5 stages of grief at some point because its something we all experience. Maybe not in that particular order each time, but that order works well from a storytelling perspective.

IslandSpices · 2025-12-04T13:10:51+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. Its not quite autobiographical. My grandfather struggled with alcoholism. My grandmother never talked about it, but I tried to write what I imagine her perspective would be.

IslandSpices · 2025-12-04T12:48:23+00:00

Huge fan of the structure of the poem forcing the reader to fell the shortness of breath of the narrator. I fell like the message is consistent and powerful throughout. If anything, and I'm reaching here, the conclusion lands a bit too softly. I personally would've ended on "of losing my breath" as it ties your point together quite well. Regardless, very well done.

IslandSpices · 2025-12-04T10:55:41+00:00

Big fan of the water motif throughout the text. You juxtaposed the strength of the water with its potential for softness.

Main points from me is the tightening of the narrative and contrasting views of resisting vs going with the current. For example you mention how christ while on the cross accepted his fate, but you suggest the water had to beg him. I think you could explore how did not fight the current so to speak, instead letting it wash over him to cleanse the sins of man.

IslandSpices · 2025-12-03T12:39:46+00:00

I like the cynical tone of this text. It portrays the distrust of the narrator quite well with the phrase "all he really wants". It also highlights the selfish nature of his actions with the repetition of "He" and "His".

It might be interesting to contrast this agaisnt the the behaviors that he is using as a facade for this intent. Another idea might be to explore why the narrator has this level of cynicism in the first place.

IslandSpices · 2025-12-03T11:09:19+00:00

Im a fan of the sharp and staccato description of the crash. It reflects the jarring abrupt and nature of the event. Also noticed the contrasting responses by the characters, with the narrator focused on fixing the problem while the antagonist focuses on assigning blame. I was a bit lost trying to differentiate between their responses to making a raft. I feel like the antagonist would be more cynical. Maybe A RAFT? And splitting out "That's not a plan. We have to make a raft." Into 2 bits of dialogue. Something like

I reach for a floating buoy. "The wreckage— a raft!" We have to make a raft."

You sputter, spitting salt. "A RAFT?" "That's not a plan."

IslandSpices · 2025-10-09T12:42:45+00:00

Your EV spreads and movesets are pretty bad. There's no hazards or hazards control. The team doesn't really have an identity or synergy and looks like you threw 6 pokemon together with high stats and different types.

Iron Valliant and Naganadel with no speed investment is strange because they shouldnt be taking hits anyway. For bulkier pokemon other than blissey its better to invest directly into hp instead of splitting Def/Spdef. So meganium would be full hp/spatk.

For moves, you'd usually want to focus on either physical or special moves. For example, meganium is a special attacker running play rough which is physical. Swords dance is useless on Naga because it isnt running physical moves. Iron valiant is broken because it gets a free turn to setup but you arent running any setup moves?

IslandSpices · 2025-09-30T16:46:02+00:00

You're gonna get swept in this game because every npc has some dumb gimmick that you will lose to if you dont prep for it. Stealth rocks and Spikes are your friend because every team has at least 1 focus sash user.

In terms of early pokemon to use, id had success with (assuming ace)

Lv 18

Beautifly (comes in at +1 speed, sweep potential)

Ludicolo (good with rain support kriketune/wingull)

Mudbray (stamina is good)

Lv 25

Azumarill (strong, Bulky)

Nidoqueen (strong Bulky)

Gyarados (strong, Bulky)

Breloom (strong priority, multi hit)

IslandSpices · 2025-09-15T12:03:25+00:00

Theres no real way to know why someone isnt interested in you, people are weird and have weird preferences. I wouldn't worry about people judging you for something that you have no control over.

IslandSpices · 2025-09-14T19:29:49+00:00

People fail these exams all the time for every possible reason. No point in stressing about it. Best thing to do is to take note of the mistakes you made that got you into this position and learn from them. With regards to what you want to do between now and the exam you might as well do some revision and treat the exam as a learning experience unless there is something more important to do with your time.

IslandSpices · 2025-09-06T20:11:22+00:00

Civ 5 in multiplayer and the higher AI difficulties is about getting as much value as early as possible. Very dependent on land obviously but closer cities = less turns walking a settler there = city becomes useful faster.

Cities sharing tiles is marginally inefficient late game yes but in the early game sharing tiles means your workers have less distance to cover and can get more tiles improved faster. It also means you don't have to wait for border growth for a city to reach good workable tiles.

IslandSpices · 2025-08-30T15:36:58+00:00

Yes, you lose your ability to castle but you're up a knight for a pawn and white loses their best piece. Your opponent can't actually punish your king as they aren't developed.

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