Bug Pokemon Make Me Happy!

I made it to Casscarrafa and swam along the river until the desert stretched before us… There are some tough pokemon in there, but it’s gotta be better than facing Mela again! I tried to give Venonat someone to train with, and picked on a Cacturne- but it was level 34! Big mistake!

Venonat held its own for a while, using supersonic and lunge, but cacturne got him with sucker punch and he fainted! Luckily, I’d already picked up some revives in the desert sand. Sutter came out to finish off Cacturne, I revived Venonat, and found some Cacnea that were more Venonat’s size.

At the poke centre, there’s a guy asking me to defeat five trainers in the desert, so I’ve made that my goal before I get to the other side, but it’s easy to get lost in the sands! I started looking around for a Rellor, and got accosted by an Espathra!

Again, crazy high level for my team (and beside shiny colours with the update too), definitely not suitable for Venonat, but Lokix was a worthy opponent and made short work of it. Phew! And then I spotted it (love how you can look around at other pron during battles in this game)…a Larvesta!

I’d forgotten they’re in this game! A fire bug would be so useful on the team, and Volcarona has such good stats! I went in with Surskit, who I had just taught rain dance. Luckily, flame wheel didn’t do much against Surskit, but I was surprised how much damage bubble beam did, and I accidentally knocked Larvesta out! And then…

Surskit evolved into Masquerain! I did try Surskit with an everstone for a bit but its stats are so bad, even though it becomes bug/flying, it was high time it evolved. Little Sherman’s all grown up!

With newly evolved Masquerain (in of my favourite bugs), I set off in search of another Larvesta. The next one I found, I tried to mud shot before a bubble beam, but again it fainted. But it was third time’s a charm- finally, bubble beam only got it down to red, and I started throwing pokeballs. I did try a heal ball, but went to ultra bells after that. My Scyther does know false swipe, but I just didn’t want to risk swapping into a pokemon who would be bad against fire- and that’s scribe except Masquerain (and even Masquerain now…but the water moves were holding Larvesta back still.)

With my brand new Lokix, matching my bike helmet, I set off to attempt the Schelor Squad or whatever they call themselves… I put Surskit, lokix and Vivillon in first place and attempted to defeat 30 fire pokemon in under 10 minutes…

These raid challenges are normally really easy, but against fire pokemon, it was a bit of a challenge! I tried to avoid Torkoal and search out Houndour, but even then, I couldn’t do it on my first attempt and for the first time ever, the raid beat me back to the start!

Second time I found a vending machine, which I had never had to use in the past, and my little guys were pretty low on health but Lokix was really getting in there and Surskit was pulling his weight against the Numel. The hardest part was finding 30! But now it was done…and it was time to battle Mela.

The updated graphics make Mela look amazing! Her hair and her outfit are so shiny- is she my favourite opponent in this game? Definitely most impressive so far. I’d swapped out Snom for Vespiquen, and she was the only one with enough defence to knock out Torkoal- the bright sun really put a dampener on my surskit plans. And no, we didn’t get through Revavroom, my entire team was thoroughly defeated.

I decided instead to double back and ride all the way back to the water gym and the desert, cause there was really no way I was gonna defeat Mela until I leveled up. That’s one thing I really dislike about this game- I don’t think an open world pokemon game is that fun. Ultimately, you’ll just need to keep doubling back on yourself to find the path where the level is easier. Maybe I’ll stick to my guns and stay on the path I’ve chosen, now I’ve doubled back. But there was one more surprise in store- just as I got into Artazon again, I came across a Venonat! And Victor the Venonat joined my team- he has compound eyes so supersonic, disabled and poison powder all seem like a good strategy, plus he’s my first poison type.

Once the sunflora were all rounded up, it was time to challenge Brassius. I like Brassius, I like the idea of an artist gym leader and he seems like a cool guy- I’ve never understood why he has a thorny whip though. Or is that a hose? Very confusing.

I led with Scyther, trying to make short work of petilil with wing attack - and Scylla easily sliced through that poor guy! Next came smoliv, but I didn’t skip a beat, Scylla wing attacked into him and I started to plan how I was going to approach Brassius’ ace - sudowoodo.

I’d trained up Surskit and he knew bubblebeam now, but still had lousy defence, and if sudowoodo got a rock attack in, he would probably go down in one hit. Plus, sudowoodo was going to terastalize into grass type, so water wouldn’t be a great help. Would Surskit still be able to withstand a rock throw better, because of the water typing? Rock was going to be really bad against Scyther and Vivillon. Plus- I’ve made it a rule that I can’t terastalize a pokemon that isn’t a Bug Tera type, and Scyther’s Tera type is flying. Spidops knows low kick now, would that help?

Out came “tru-lee-woodo” and it was time to make a decision. I went with Vivillon, as one of the highest level pokemon on my team, and he also knows wing attack, which will do a decent amount of damage. And…I Terastalized Simon, just to copy Sudowoodo, but then realised- the double weak to rock type was gone!

Sudowoodo led with a low kick, for some silly reason. Here was an opening! One wing attack and it was seriously hurt! But I was still worried a rock throw would do some serious damage to Vivillon. Annnd….

Nope, Sudowoodo used Brassius’ signature move, trailblaze! A grass move was a terrible choice, Vivillon got another wing attack in, and Sudowoodo was down! Phew! That could have been a tricky one, but turned out to be fine- and now I have my second badge!

I continued on around the hills near Artazon, but it was just full of flying types- especially flamenco Oricorio, which would even knock out my Snom! I weaved through the hills, looking for any new bugs- when suddenly, I came up against the fire crew from Team Star!

I’m getting up in level, but a whole base of fire types? I don’t know if surskit is up for it- but then again, he’ll be a masquerain soon and lose his water typing. I decided to give it a shot.

However, I knew Snom wasn’t gonna be much help against a giant Klawf, so I spent my time training my new Surskit, Sherman. He still got hurt pretty badly against Nacli, but would always come out on top- I taught him Mud Shot and he knows Water Gun, so there are a few options to counter Rock types.

As we got further into the mountains though, there were actual Klawf around. I decided to try battling one- but it knocked out Surskit right away! Nymble got in there, with a combination of screech and double kick, but it was still a tight battle.

The picnic guy with the rockruff was really a lifesaver, after Klawf knocked out Surskit again and I almost ran out of revives. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to tackle the titan, but I thought I may as well try- a stray Charcadet had run up to us and Surskit had managed to beat it back, so maybe we really could take on Titan Klawf?

I always thought Klawf was the most fun and the creepiest-looking Titan, the way it clambers around on the cliff face. The improved graphics really make a difference, too. I was feeling mighty nervous as I clambered up to the first ledge to meet it.

I decided to lead with Nymble, in case Surskit was just too weak still, and go with a screech/double kick strategy. Nymble got screech in, and luckily, Klawf used Rock smash, not Rock throw, which was not very effective. Just to be sure, and maybe for extra defence? (Does it give you extra defence?) I terastalised Nymble and then went in with double kick. It really packed a punch! I was worried when Armour Shell kicked in, but Klawf just kept using Rock Smash, which was really lucky, and Nymble smashed through with double kick!

Then Klawf crawled off to have some Herba Mystica and it was time to get into the final battle. I healed Nymble with a potion, but decided to lead with her again. Arven had a Shellder to help out, and Nymble Terastalized and used Screech right off the bat. Klawf started really going after Shellder, and left itself right open- and incredibly, two double kicks later, Klawf was down! I think if it had hit me with a single rock attack, I would have fallen straight away. It’s nice to see Mabosstiff is feeling better and opening its eyes, at least.

The rest of the journey to Artazon was pretty uneventful- Surskit learned Bubblebeam, which will be useful, but I didn’t even need him for Klawf in the end! Nymble even defeated a trainer’s Murkrow just outside Artazon with the same screech strategy.

Absolutely zero bug Pokémon along the entire route, except for more nymbles. The grass gym shouldn’t be too hard, though, and I’ve got Scylla the Scyther with me now too. What with ice-type snom, bubblebeam Surskit and double kick Nymble, I’m even able to start doing type match ups against trainers. This is starting to be a pretty good team!

Although….ive just remembered the great gym leader has a Sudowoodo for an ace. Maybe this badge won’t be as easy as I thought…

Next, I sent out Spidops to try and trick Bombirdier into getting sited lowered with silk trap. That method did work a few times- but Spidops went down after one wing attack! My rule is if it’s a full party KO, Idon’t need to get rid of any Pokémon, so I was prepared to fail again. Sent out Vespiquen and terastalised as a last ditch attempt- and actually, silk trap had lowered Bombirdier’s sited enough to land a few decent hits with struggle bug! Finally, Bombirdier got to red health and flew off to eat some Herba Mystica.

Now, Arven’s turned up and we got to the second part of the battle. His pokemon is Nacli - finally, something strong against birds!- but he keeps just using rock polish again and again. Kriketune got sent out automatically, because Vivillon had fainted and that’s who was next in the party. I decided to just tryyyyy and real long shot- and Kriketune used sing…

And yes, Bombirdier fell asleep! I was able to terastalize again, started getting fury cutter in- but Bombirdier had already used Torment on my so I couldn’t use the same move twice! Forced into using Aerial ace, I was basically waiting on Nacli to help me out. Bombardier was sound asleep, but Nacli was still only using rock polish!

And then…Bombirdier woke up…but another fury cutter and finally, Nacli used rock throw and Bombirdier was defeated! Incredible work and a bit of luck too- although now, both Spidops and Vivillon had been defeated and I had no revives, so if Arven didn’t heal me, I’d lose two of my only five pokemon team.

Arven made a sandwich and I fed it to Koraidon, which I had forgotten lets it go on water (so I can finally get a surskit!). And yes, after sneakily getting me out of the cave so he can help his Mabosstiff, I found myself fully healed- what a relief!

On my way back down the mountain, I turned right and found a little outcrop of Flabebe- remembering the guy who wanted to trade a Snom for one in Cortondo, I snatched it up. Finally, I’d have a full six Pokémon on my team. I decided to head back to Cortondo right away, and see if I could pick up a surskit on the way.

As we got closer to Cortondo, I spotted Surskit in the river and we jumped in. Only level 11, but I finally have a water pokemon. Except…the river bank was too wide to climb out of! I had to swim all the way down stream, past Cortondo, into Area Four.

I finally climbed out of the bank only to find…a Scyther! I caught him using low kick from Spidops and suddenly, my team is looking very full! Knocked out a few Tarountula as well to help me make more TMs (pounce for my new Nymble), and doubled back to Cortondo, where I traded Flabebe for a Snom called Snowsalot. So cute!

I’m pretty sure I remember Snom evolving at, like, level 40 or something ridiculous, but having a pokemon with powder snow on my team is still a pretty good addition. And I’ve finally found myself with more than six pokemon, and surskit and Snom both pretty low level, too. I decided this would be a good time to double back, return to Naranja Academy, and head off into the Rocky Mountains to face Klawf. I’m going to train up Nymble and Surskit to face him- with fighting and water type moves, and a higher level, surely we’ll be okay, right?

Then it was time for Giacomo. I led with Spidops, to use Silk Trap to get speed down. Giacomo’s first Pokémon was Pawniard- who had aerial ace. Tricky start, but at least it’s an attack, so when it hit silk trap, it’s suited would go down. Plus, Spidops has low kick, one of my only fighting type moves, which is super effective against Pawniard whereas bug moves are just effective. Aerial ace was blocked, silk trap lowered Pawniard’s speed- and Defiant raised Pawniard’s attack in response!

One more aerial ace sliced through Spidops. I was really in trouble. I swapped in Vespiquen, terastalising and hoping for the best. Aerial ace didn’t take out too much- Vespiquen definitely had the best defence on my team- and struggle bug took Pawniard down to red health. But also lowered special attack - and Defiant raised Pawniard’s attack again!

The onslaught was brutal. Even after I managed to get through Pawniard, Giacomo brought out Revavroom and my entire team fell one after the other. I ended up back at the pokemon centre, in need of a different strategy. Surely if I just avoided Silk Trap, I could get through Pawniard? Also, Nymble has double kick, another fighting move, so maybe if I trained her up, she could get past Pawniard without lowering any stats… I ran around looking for Flittle to treason Nymble with. Her defence really is low, but she managed to grow one level, and then I decided to face Giacomo a second time.

This time, I led with Spidops doing low kick instead of silk trap, and it did do damage to Pawniard- but aerial ace took Spidops down to red so quickly, I decided to switch out. I didn’t want to risk anyone fainting, cause I didn’t have any revives left, so I’d have to box that pokemon if it died. I decided to try out my newly trained Nymble, with Pounce from Katy.

But no! Nymble was not fast enough, Pawniard’s aerial ace destroyed her in one hit! And that meant I’d lost her for good!

I switched into Vespiquen, not terastalising right away, wanting to save it for Revavroom. Vespiquen finished off Pawniard with a struggle bug- thankfully in one hit, so Defiant wasn’t activated. Now it was time for Revavroom. I used Sweet Scent to get my song strategy happening, and swapped to Kriketune…

But sing doesn’t affect Revavroom in this game! I have no idea why- sing is not effective against steel types? Or maybe Revavroom has soundproof or something? Anyway, that strategy was not going to work, it was time to pivot and Terastalize. Fury Cutter didn’t take out much damage at first, but because of sweet scent, it never missed aaaand- finally, Revavroom was down!

Giacomo gave up the star badge, I ran back to the pokemon centre and healed before anyone else could faint- and I transferred Nidra the Nymble to my box, forfeiting her for the game. Very sad.

I spent the road to Cascarrafa eyes peeled for a new Nymble, and caught one I named Nancy, but I’d taught my first one Pounce from a TM so my new one has no bug moves at all. It still managed to beat a trainer’s Magikarp and Arrokuda, but coming into Cascarrafa, I’m pretty worried about my team.

I headed to the gym, where Kofu ran off to the market and I was given the job of returning his wallet…. But I decided I should give Bombirdier another go before I proceed any further. However, I did give myself a treat for defeating Giacomo- I went to the Cyclizar shop and bought olive riding gloves and an olive ‘lokix’ helmet- so now I really look like a Bug specialist! I think I’ll keep the helmet on for now. If I still can’t beat Bombirdier, I could always head into the desert. Lots of rock toes there but also…my favourite pokemon from this entire generation, which is a Bug type. I could finally get a full team of six pokemon!

Unfortunately, my winding path took me right to the entrance of the cave with all the dragons in it, that’s meant for the end of the game, and I had to turn back. Last time I played this game, I really went most of the way along the other road first, starting with Klawf and that kind of thing, so it was fun to explore this area early on. But I had to double back- and now night was falling, and packs of Gastly and Drifloon were everywhere! My poor Nymble fainted in a battle with a Salandit, but luckily I had a revive on me (phew! I’d just picked it up.) Nymble’s defence is so lowwww, she’s very hard to use.

I went past all the windmills, and over the hill to the other side, and came across the first Team Star base. I couldn’t remember what type it was, because I did this section so late in the game in my original run, but as I got closer, Cassiopeia reminded me- it’s Dark type! So with the help of ‘Clive’, I decided this was a challenge my buggy team were ready to take on.

The front at the door just had one Pokémon, but unfortunately, it was Murkrow. Hopefully there aren’t too many more of them inside! Worried, I paralyzed it first with Vivillon’s stun spore, then changed to Vespiquen. Wing attack took a hefty chunk out of her, but Struggle Bug hit and we managed to defeat the security at the door!

I was actually pretty proud of my team defeating a trainer with a Fletchling on this road, and I finally did catch a Nymble, and called her Nidra. Once I got up on the mountain in the day, they were everywhere but it felt pretty special at first. I taught her Lunge, which I got from Katy, the gym leader.

I decided to see if I could keep going up the hill, knowing Bombirdier is waiting for me…but my Combee was getting closer to level 20 so I wanted to train her up and see if we could take on a big challenge. And surprisingly, my Tarountula evolved into Spidops! She’s got Low Kick now, which is very useful against rock types, and silk trap is great in game for lowering speed.

After making it past the guy with a goomy having a picnic, I saw the special trainer for this area- a model who used lots of TMs on her pokemon. I decided to give it a try with my new spidops- and while silk trap really lowered the speed on her Oinkologne, Luxio put a stop to her and wiped my entire team out with fire fang. But! My Combee had gotten enough experience to be about to evolve.

A few Skiddo later, Combee finally evolved into a beautiful Vespiquen, with her mighty battle cry. Disappointed she don’t get attack order and the others yet, but I was encouraged enough to try defeating this model lady again- and this time, we were successful! In the end, the old strategy of Kriketune terastalized with fury cutter got us the win. (Kriketune also just learnt sing, and I wonder if I remind Vespiquen of sweet scent, maybe it could be a good combo to get difficult foes asleep and work up fury cutter on them?)

We were so excited by our win, I went all out and decided to try and take on Bombirdier! Terastalized Vespiquen made a valiant effort, getting it down to red health, but alas, my team was beaten by a giant bird whose every move is super effective against them.

So I headed back to Angel the Courier, who had the psyduck that was impossible to beat before, and I did start with Vivillon but I wanted to try something else out…

Once Psyduck was paralysed from stun spore, I switched Kriketune in, and terastalized him (only allowing my pokemon to terastalize into Bug type, obviously.) Then- I started with Kriketune’s new move, fury cutter. Took two swipes to knock out psyduck, but then Maschiff was knocked out in one go and Pichu too! In fact, I beat every trainer in Area Two, finally headed into Cortondo, and took on the sugar bug Katy!

I was worried Katy would have Vivillon, but she started with Nymble, then Tarountula. I went exactly the same strategy- Kriketune terastalized and spamming fury cutter and it worked! Now onto her ace- Teddiursa terastalized into Bug type.

And yes, would you believe it, Kriketune tore through that poor teddi in one fury cutter, winning me my first badge and finally digging me out of the hole I was in!

I love Cortondo and the graphics make it a million times nicer, all the flowers and the pools look kits better. It really makes such a difference to this game, that is all about searching through the landscape, to have graphics that are up to scratch. Really nice to be able to play it in handheld mode like that too.