#bug run

I did it. OH my goodness, after so many failed runs up against the Elite Four and Professor Kukui, I finally secured the title of Champion of Alola.

With bugs.

This was not an easy task. I mean getting there wasn’t too bad, Hau and Gladion didn’t put up much of a fight, but the Elite Four themselves and Kukui were *infuriating*. Like, OK, Hala wasn’t usually too bad, Ribombee took care of most of his team most of the time, and Kahili didn’t do so hot versus Vikavolt, but Acerola and *especially* Olivia brought the smackdown like nobody’s business. The first time I walked into the Elite Four, Olivia beat me down like the first time we fought.

But oh, oh that was just the tip of the iceberg. It took so many runs to get through Kukui, probably evident by how overleveled most of my team is, that I can hardly remember how many tries it took. Its all a blur of Ninetales nuking my bugs with Blizzard, Primarina Moonblasting everything, and those *accursed* Stealth Rocks from Lycanroc.

But eventually, through learning the fight and rationing out recovery items, I finally pushed through and rained the final Thunderbolt onto Primarina’s head. The happiness I felt at finally, *finally* breaking through reminds me of why I started this run, to put a big fat challenge in front of myself to see if I could push through with strategy and determination while utilizing elements and Pokemon I normally would never use. That challenge resulted in some of the most memorable fights I’ve ever had in these games, including my initial run through Pokemon Sun.

This was so entertaining, that I think I’ll do it again! Water type or Ghost type, we’ll see how things go.

In the meantime, here’s the Championship Team, lead by the bug mistress herself, Arachne

Ain’t she cute?

First up is Golisopod. This one has been an... interesting addition to the team ever since she was added. See, the spot of Bug/Water (essential against the Fire and Rock types so dreaded by Bug types) used to belong to Araquanid, but while the latter was certainly a great tank, he didn’t quite have the stopping power I was looking for. Thus, I made the switch to Golisopod, which admittedly has had some ups and downs. Emergency Exit, to be frank, is an annoying ability, but I suppose it balances out what I was looking for in a bug: heavy hitting. In that, most certainly, Golisopod delivered. She is, after all, one of the highest leveled members of my team for a reason.

Next is Parasect, my lovely little pain in the behind mushroom crab. Armed with such fine abilities as Spore, Toxic, and Giga Drain, Parasect more than earned her spot on my team after wearing down some of the toughest encounters in the game. I doubt I’d have gotten through half the encounters I did in one go if it weren’t for Parasect.

Third is Masquerain. Given the choice between Butterfree, Ledian, and this Bug/Flying type, I ended up going with the one that would prove the most frustrating of the three. While Butterfree had a decent arsenal and Ledian had moves like Reflect and Light Screen, there’s nothing quite like paralyzing your opponent with Stun Spore and Air Slash while you watch their health helplessly get chipped away. 

She looks so innocent, doesn’t she? You’d never guess Ribombee is one of my most hard hitting, battle tempered fighters. She’s been with me since Melemele, and has definitely earned her spot by beating down opponents many times her size, including clearing the final trial on Poni Island all by herself.

Next to last is my oldest fighting companion in this run, Vikavolt. I caught this one on Melemele when he was just a little Grubbin, and throughout the run he has proven his essential nature time and again against Flying types. He was the one, in fact, that landed the final blow that gave me the Championship, blasting Kukui’s Primarina with Thunderbolt. Even without that, however, Vikavolt has been a steadfast companion, and one not lightly defeated.

Finally, to contrast the oldest member of the team, we come to the youngest and most surprising: Scolipede. Brought in via Island Scan as a Venipede. this one was brought in as an upgrade to Ariados who, though possessing a good moveset to counter Fairy types, didn’t quite cut the mustard. Though he was decidedly underleveled compared to the rest of the team, more than once he held the line against Pokemon (like Lusamine’s Clefable) that I thought would one shot him. He even landed a solid blow on Kukui’s Primarina before being flattened by Hydro Vortex, a move without which I’m fairly positive Vikavolt wouldn’t have been able to do his thing.

Finally, a few honorable mentions. These bugs have fought bravely on this run at one time or another, but didn’t quite make the final cut:

Pinsir: Fought well against Olivia the first time, didn’t quite have the typing to compete later on.

Araquanid and Ariados: Wish I could’ve kept these spiders, if only to keep with my trainer’s name. As their levels probably indicate, they had their fair share of fights before being replaced.

Ledian and Butterfree: Some of my earliest team members. Though replaced fairly early, they still had some memorable fights under their belts, especially when my type selection was more limited.

With that, we leave on a fairly high note. I know there’s stuff after the Elite Four, the Ultra Beasts and whatnot, but to me this is was the ultimate looming challenge. A way to really enjoy Sun and Moon with new eyes before the sequels come out, one which I think I’ll try to repeat at least two more times before that oncoming November date.

But that’s for later. For now, cheers to Arachne, the bug queen who succeeded where Guzma never could!