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--- games:playthroughs:pokemon_crystal_cooltrainer [2023-01-28 23:35] – Pikachu is caught! zlg
+++ games:playthroughs:pokemon_crystal_cooltrainer [2023-02-03 01:58] (current) – Some more notes zlg
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
   - ☑ KRABBY
   - ☑ MAGNEMITE
-  - ☐ MARILL
+  - ☑ MARILL
   - ☑ MEOWTH
   - ☑ NIDORAN
@@ Line 1481: / Line 1481: @@
 He guides me to the machine, where I place my POKé BALLS and let the computer download their statistics.
+==== Becoming the Champion ====
 **Milestone: Become the LEAGUE CHAMPION! TIME: 59:35, POKéDEX: 50**
@@ Line 1731: / Line 1733: @@
 Shortly after looting MT. SILVER, I flew to VIRIDIAN CITY and went to catch a **PIKACHU**. It took some work, surprisingly, but the level 12 PSYDUCK that was tagging along for HMs worked out in weakening PIKACHU enough to catch. Good stuff. DRATINI is already in the bag, I'll just have to reset for stats.
-I will pause until this evening, and begin team planning.
+In the evening, I went to MT. MORTAR to fetch a **MARILL**! It was caught on the first throw. That's the last of the monsters that I need to actively catch! DRATINI can be gotten from the DRAGON'S DEN anytime.
+I'm thinking, instead of crafting an entirely new team, I want to tweak what I have now and try to make it better. It has a better feel, and will be less work overall. I have zero interest in grinding out an ideal breed. It's a lot of work and I've done it dozens of times at this point in my life.
+==== Rating My Team ====
+The first step is to take a critical look at my team, and how I can improve it enough to be ready to face RED. Here's the data, which we'll compare to what's available in the monster pool for COOLTRAINERS to improve it. So, without further delay, let's put the team up, as they are today!
+| WEEPINBELL Lv. 49 ♀ |
+| @ MIRACLE SEED |
+| RAZOR LEAF |
+| CUT |
+| ACID |
+| SLEEP POWDER |
+This girl is actually somewhat solid! She's been essential in stopping an assault in its tracks, and for catching monsters. Even back in the BELLSPROUT days, it's been reliable. If I //were// to replace her, it would be with EXEGGUTOR, or maybe something better complementing GROWLITHE or FLAREON. It would give me the PSYCHIC type, as well. We'll see.
+I feel like it needs to drop ACID for SLUDGE BOMB, and CUT for either RETURN or another strategic move in the cases where SLEEP POWDER can't help much. RAZOR LEAF could be replaced with GIGA DRAIN, but the PP limitations introduced aren't really worth it, maxing at 8...
+| L50 ELECTABUZZ Lv. 50 |
+| @ SMOKE BALL |
+| THUNDERBOLT |
+| ICE PUNCH |
+| DIZZY PUNCH |
+| LIGHT SCREEN |
+I'm pretty satisfied with this moveset. It's been SO effective, and it's shiny! What's not to love?
+| QUAGSIRE Lv. 51 |
+| @ SOFT SAND |
+| SURF |
+| STRENGTH |
+| AMNESIA |
+| EARTHQUAKE |
+I would replace STRENGTH with ICE BEAM, and AMNESIA's up in the air. Maybe HAZE or HIDDEN POWER FLYING could be fun?
+| NIDORINO Lv. 46 |
+| @ LEFTOVERS |
+| HORN ATTACK |
+| DOUBLE KICK |
+| POISON STING |
+| HORN DRILL |
+If I end up using one of these, I'd like to go SLUDGE BOMB, EARTHQUAKE, THUNDERPUNCH, and something else in the last slot.
+| PIDGEOT Lv. 48 |
+| @ AMULET COIN |
+| WING ATTACK |
+| FLY |
+| SAND-ATTACK |
+| QUICK ATTACK |
+FLY has strategic uses, but can be replaced with STEEL WING or a funny HIDDEN POWER, like FIGHTING or GROUND, if needed. QUICK ATTACK could be replaced if needed, but I'm not sure what with. RETURN, for damage?
+| GROWLITHE Lv. 49 |
+| @ CLEANSE TAG |
+| BITE |
+| FLAME WHEEL |
+| AGILITY |
+| TAKE DOWN |
+I think GROWLITHE gets CRUNCH through breeding with HOUNDOUR or HOUNDOOM, so I would need to breed to get the best version of this monster. The plan is to evolve at 50, so FLAMETHROWER replaces FLAME WHEEL, then use a FIRE STONE and teach EXTREMESPEED over TAKE DOWN. AGILITY could be replaced, but I'm not sure what with, that would increase type coverage.
+//Current candidates for replacement are NIDORINO and/or GROWLITHE.//
+I'm considering ESPEON, with the max SpAtt and SpDef EEVEE that I got back in the early game. It would give me better coverage for POISON, FIGHTING, and GHOST types, and I may be able to pair it with BITE, ZAP CANNON, or something else crazy.
+Also under consideration is FLAREON. It can learn SHADOW BALL via TM, and has an ATTACK high enough to make it hurt for GHOSTs and PSYCHICs. (Fun fact: in HGSS, the reverse is true due to the physical/special split on all types. This means GENGAR can hit //much// harder with it than in the originals.) And it can carry on BITE from EEVEE. DARK types in 2nd gen often have secondary types (UMBREON being the only pure DARK type up to this point), and it's easier for COOLTRAINERs to target those types offensively than to get BUG or FIGHTING-type moves to target their DARK typing. GHOST type moves hit everything except NORMAL, and very few things resist it.
+While ARCANINE can get CRUNCH to hit PSYCHICs hard, PSYCHIC types often have high SP.DEF. FLAREON's higher ATTACK, plus SHADOW BALL, makes hitting PSYCHICs, in particular, a lot more effective. It uses the same evolution item and gets the job done from a better angle.
+I will need some time to think about it, but that's what's up!
+==== 2023-02-02 ====
+I've been thinking about how I want to tackle the last of the run's objectives, and I realized I could train for RED and evolve monsters at the same time, using the EXP SHARE. I can give it to the monster I want to evolve, then go train at MT SILVER. Leveling both monsters will take more battles, but by the time my main team hits level 60, I should be able to OHKO every wild monster. This should make evolving and training for RED both go by simultaneously, more or less, and be a better use of time. Tuning in nightly for BUENA's password to get RARE CANDY is another, longer-term way to do it and hardly requires any combat.
-==== Order of Actions ====
+===== Order of Actions =====
-  * catch remaining monsters (Dratini, Marill)
+  * get some evolution stones so I can fill out the monster families
-  * plan a new, final team to face Red with
+  * acquire Dratini from Dragon's Den
+  * plan changes to my team to face Red with
   * evolve remaining monsters
   * defeat Red