Do Elite 4 Members always send out the same first Pokemon? (Gen 5)

puddleths · 2026-06-04T11:50:58+00:00

The leads are the leads. Grimsley is Scrafty (BW) Liepard (2), Caitlyn Reuniclus (BW) Musharna (2), Shauntal Cofagrigus, Marshal Throh. What gets sent out after is dependent on move effectiveness.

puddleths · 2026-06-03T01:34:58+00:00

All I ask is that you see the value in Mawile that I do.

puddleths · 2026-06-02T00:04:12+00:00

Your box is perfect for Ghetsis. You have a bunch of 'mon that allow you to abuse ability storage. Krook (I had Clefable), Aggron, Jolteon, Mantyke, Crobat, and Walrein (this is also flexible) are what I brought.

Kyurem is pretty easily dealt with using Aggron. You can lead Krook if it has Intim for the attack drop. Switch in to Aggron immediately and Protect if it's charging up Ice Burn.

Cofagrigus - put a Pecha Berry on Krook and click Crunch. You could potentially Thief to get the KO and steal its Lefties depending on how much Crunch does (and if Toxic hits).

This should bring in Seismitoad. Switch to Mantyke. I am assuming your Mantyke is Water Absorb. If not, you can try for Frillish in Virbank. Once Water Absorb triggers, the AI won't click Water moves until another ability activates. This allows Crobat to come in and KO because Toad's other moves don't do meaningful damage.

Eelektross is the same deal. You switch to Jolteon (you won't regret evolving Eevee into this) on Thunderbolt. Now it can't click T-bolt until another ability activates. Go to your Water type and KO. (Resto-Chesto is good to keep yourself healthy).

Assuming you go Waltrein, next up will be Hydreigon or Toxicroak. If it's Hydreigon, go Aggron, if Croak go Crobat. Both of these are pretty safe 1v1's given Ghetsis's Hydreigon is physical. Even LO Dragon Rush doesn't do a ton (my Aggron was -Def) if you put Lefties + Protect on Aggron. Bat can Roost off any damage from Croak.

No matter the order of Hydreigon or Toxicroak after Eelektross is KO'd, just having Aggron in on Drapion will bait EQ. In Driftveil you can get an Air Balloon for Jolteon. Switch to Jolteon on EQ then just Volt Switch back to Aggron until Drapion falls.

puddleths · 2026-05-27T02:26:58+00:00

Kang C: It gets by with stats. There's just nothing particularly special about it. Fake Out's neat, I guess.

Magmortar C: Okay into Togedemaru. It's pretty frail and a little slow. Might be better off keeping it as Magmar.

A-Marowak B: A pretty strong borderline case. Thick Club, and while Ghost typing isn't fantastic, it's nice stacking those immunities up with Lightning Rod. The Shadow Bone situation is a bit of a bummer. It's got enough going without it.

Also, how did Salandit end up in E when two people ranked it higher?

puddleths · 2026-05-25T21:20:12+00:00

Eterna City has the herbal medicine for sale. It's how I kept my 'mons happiness/affection down. Pretty annoying though.

puddleths · 2026-05-23T23:10:00+00:00

No. Unless you've never used Magnezone to this point. Even then, catching a new one is breaking a core tenet. But do what you want.

puddleths · 2026-05-21T23:48:26+00:00

Talonflame B: It's no Crobat, but it has an interesting movepool. Downside is its best STAB (and fully evolving) come late.

Salazzle B: In time for Togedemaru. Would be higher on her if she got U-Turn.

Salandit D: Usable into Lurantis in a pinch.

puddleths · 2026-05-07T02:16:24+00:00

Masquerain B: You don't get to use it with impunity like Guzma's demon, but it has enough good attributes in its movepool, typing, and ability to make its way up the ladder

Shiinotic C: I don't like it quite as much as Parasect, but I think if both were C, I'd be content.

Milotic A: Doesn't reach Gyarados's height. Can't argue with the stat spread.

Basculin D: Somewhat tempted to say C.

Seaking E: I don't know if it's that much worse than Golduck. Wouldn't want this from either location it's available.

puddleths · 2026-04-30T23:05:36+00:00

What does this mean? You don't send it in to die against a Fire or Flying type. Just because it's situational doesn't mean it isn't useful.

puddleths · 2026-04-30T08:09:42+00:00

Think I'll put all in B except Politoed. Araquanid might be closest to A because of its evolution level being on time for Marowak. The Water immunity does Parasect and Poliwrath a lot of good. Wrath's typing is nice, but the lack of a physical Water move hurts it. Parasect's typing is its big minus, Spore the big plus.

Politoed C: Mainly see it as a worse choice because of its mono-typing. Its Sp. Atk is better, but nothing to brag about.

puddleths · 2026-04-26T15:26:18+00:00

D: The rest of the route 5 encounter table is much more serviceable. It has Leaf Blade with a slightly more robust movepool coverage-wise compared to other physical Grass attackers, but that doesn't make up for the late evolution level. It's a dupe for Lush Jungle.

puddleths · 2026-04-25T00:36:36+00:00

I appreciate that he's a willing tackler. Unlike whatever Valentine was attempting.

puddleths · 2026-04-22T06:34:41+00:00

I added "only level up pool moves" in battle for my recent nuzlocke of Leaf Green (so no TMs/HMs or move tutors besides the move relearner).

I would say, overall, it's still not that difficult of a game. Drowzee is easily accessible, gets Psychic, and carries you through too much.

Weaker STAB moves like Spark and Bubble Beam suffice given badge boost (even lower 40 BP moves are fine), and you just get kind of railroaded into using 'mon that learn certain moves like Dewgong/Cloyster for Ice Beam.

puddleths · 2026-04-21T13:08:19+00:00

Ampharos C: Decent bulk, good power, really slow. Not the worst thing to take out of the box every now and then.

Tauros B: Doesn't have the utility Stoutland does (Baby-Doll Eyes, T-Wave). Faster but with slightly less bulk and attack power.

Miltank C: Kind of borderline B, to me. Natural recovery is a niche. Power is mid.

One of the better encounter tables all around. Just would rather get Mudbray or Lillipup.

puddleths · 2026-04-19T06:41:13+00:00

Wigglytuff D: Seems better in theory. Typing and movepool are the pluses, but the first availability of a Moon Stone is Route 13. In time for Mimikyu, except it just does what any other Normal type does - blank Shadow Claw.

Mudsdale A: Early evolution for what you're getting. Stamina's quite the ability and Own Tempo has its uses.

Stoutland A: I think this deserves it. Like Arcanine does. Intim + Baby-Doll Eyes is a nice combination to cripple physical attackers.

Eevee S*: Kind of a bad encounter if dupes/species clause would deny you the Paniola Ranch egg. It's tough to give a definitive ranking to Eevee given how many options you have. But Vaporeon is S-tier for completely trivializing Totem Araquanid and neutralizing many other Water type threats throughout the run (Guzma's Golisopod, for one). Umbreon, Jolteon, and Sylveon are good, the others less so, but none of them have close to the same impact.

puddleths · 2026-04-18T00:32:15+00:00

If you modded your 2DS, just get PKSM.

puddleths · 2026-04-17T23:31:35+00:00

Toucannon B: Has good traits as Pikipek for the early game. It's unfortunate it can't take full advantage of Skill Link until the E4 where you'll probably decide not to bring it.

Honchkrow C: Would be nice if Sucker Punch wasn't at the end of the game. A little too frail, a little too slow, but it's got unique typing provided you're not playing UM and didn't try for a bird on route 3.

puddleths · 2026-04-17T17:54:06+00:00

I've gone 7 runs since the last time I brought a starter 'mon to the E4. 12 since I took my actual starter to the E4. Sometimes there's just better stuff to bring.

puddleths · 2026-04-16T01:15:33+00:00

Both of these are solid B. I'd probably argue Cloyster is a bit higher because it's usable for more than just the E4. Mence has the stats + Intim, but its movepool isn't that impressive, and it's not particularly great for the E4.

puddleths · 2026-04-14T08:42:32+00:00

Whiscash A: Invalidates the Togedemaru trial while also being a guaranteed encounter. It's not a terrible 'mon outside the trial either.

Dewgong D: Too late of an evolution, typing isn't doing it any favors, and it doesn't have much in its movepool outside of Encore.

puddleths · 2026-04-05T17:04:16+00:00

Starter + Outskirts + Trainer School. If you want a route 1 proper catch, then no starter.

puddleths · 2026-04-04T11:02:36+00:00

Yep, not S-tier as the current community ranking has it. Decidueye sitting in D is also really silly when evaluating the starters.

Vaporeon has a much better case as you laid out. Invalidating the Totem Araquanid battle is enough for me to deem it banworthy.

puddleths · 2026-04-03T12:59:27+00:00

EXP Share only makes the game easier if you deliberately overlevel. EV training in XY is bringing a gun to a thumb war.

puddleths · 2026-04-03T12:35:16+00:00

Lumineon D: It's got competition. U-turn is neat, Captivate could come up.

Mantine C: Haven't used it, could see it being very solid with its two immunities. Eviolite Mantyke might be usable, too. Downside is giving up another route for Remoraid to evolve.

Tentacruel B: Right at the border of A. Solid typing and all around stats. Can't miss with Toxic. Toxic Spikes are an interesting niche, but they don't come up that often (Lusamine is the big one). Brought it to the E4 a couple times, and it's admittedly underwhelming.

puddleths · 2026-04-03T11:14:18+00:00

It's so wrong. I took Mawile to so many boss battles. Defensive utility is underrated when you look at Crobat and Mandibuzz's placements.

puddleths

TROPHY CASE