#teamdad

The team of Spidey's fathers! I'm sorry but I see them too much like that. I would have loved that in the MCU we got more scene with Steve and Peter :'(.

@shen-gaoren has been posting a lot about a game called Xenoblade Chronicles X, so I thought I’d share one of my experiences with it.

I was in the starting plains, and had been grinding up low-level enemies to level myself up. About 5 levels in, I come across a peaceful level 7 elastic dinosaur thing. I thought I was pretty hot stuff at this point, and a party of three level 5′s could easily take on a 7 with no worry of failure whatsoever. So I give this creature a lil’ aggression poke, and both members of my party just fall over immediately. The creature slowly looks at me. And then I realize that half of this thing’s rank had been hiding behind it’s head. So I, too, immediately died to the rage of this most mischievous of level 17 elastic dinosaur things.

[video id: A noivern messing with a camera, hopping back, moving forwards to check, and nodding in satisfaction. He stares at something offscreen for a moment. "No, that's a stupid intro. Let's just say hello like a normal person."

"Hello, and welcome back to Battle Breakdowns. I'm your host, Mordred the Noivern. In this series I break down the tactics, strategies, and techniques of battles, to help you learn how to battle better. My last video showcased a fairly high level brawl between myself and Cheren's Braviary, however, in this episode, we'll be breaking down a battle a bit more in line with what a newer trainer might experience, my trainer Sam vs. Gym Leader Burgh of Castelia city!"

"Now, bit of context, Sam is my second trainer, and I got most of my training under my first trainer, Paul, which is also where I learned so much about battling. Sam's still a rookie, but she's got some serious fire and has been working her butt off to develop her skills in battle and train up the rest of the team. Speaking of which, let's meet my juniors!"

An image appears of a Goomy named Gawain, Level 31, with a set consisting of Water Pulse, Dragon Breath, Rain Dance, and Draco Meteor. "This is Gawain, he's the second member of the team, met him tangled up in my mane, long story. Calm nature and strong special attack IVs give him a cool head in fight and some serious firepower for his level, plus that Draco Meteor TM I loaned him. He's probably the best strategist on the team. We've been giving him an Assault vest to boost his special defense into a relative wall for his level, and training HP EVs to compensate for his meager physical defense."

Another image appears, this one of a Trapinch named Bedivere, level 30. "This is Bedivere. He's probably the most straightforwards fighter on the team, move fowards and bite down. That said, as a Trapinch, he's got some of the strongest physical attacks in his weight class, working well with Bulldoze, Dig, Crunch, and Rock Slide. His biggest weakness is going to be getting on target, as he's not very fast or durable at the moment. With a Hardy nature and decent IVs across the board, he doesn't have any exceptional strengths or weaknesses. For the moment, we've given him an Oran berry".

The next team member appears, a Tyrunt, level 30. "This little peacock is Percival. He's convinced he's a Tyrantrum already. He's certainly got some skills, in terms of pure combat instinct, he's a step above the rest of his peers. Thanks to that, he was able to get some powerful TMs fairly early on. Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, and Ice Fang, combined with Rock Slide and his Strong Jaw ability make him the team's most versatile attacker, enhanced further with an Expert Belt. He's got the nature for it too, Adamant, and he shows it. His biggest weakness is honestly his ego. Sam's having to put in work to keep him in line."

An image appears of a Gibble, level 25. "Finally, our newest member, Lancelot. We got him from that huge Gibble outbreak, and still has a way to go to catch up with the rest of the team, hence why he's got the XP share on him. He's underleveled, but can still land a nasty Bite or Bulldoze, and might be able to even the odds with a Sand Attack or paralysis off of Dragon Breath if it comes to it. Now to our opponent."

An image appears, showing Burgh's team of a Dwebble (level 30), Shelmet (Level 31), Karablast (Level 28) and Leavanny (level 33). "This is going to be a decently challenging team. Bug types tend to get written off as weak because of their less impressive first forms, most famously Caterpie. But that's a serious mistake. While the Bug type does tend to have fairly serious weaknesses, especially in their early forms, they can grow to be some of the most versatile and effective pokemon out there. Next episode will be a real showcase of this as I have an exhibition match with Burgh's Scizor. This team has a nice setup of some serious defense (for their weight class) with Dwebble and Shelmet, and the well rounded stat package on Leavany that comes from being fully evolved."

"In terms of expected stategy, Gawain is going to be a Lynchpin for Sam, as his special attacking can help get around the physical defenses of Dwebble and Shelmet. However, he's still slow and fairly frail, she's going to have to protect him. Bedivere has the attack necessary to crunch through that defense, but is similarly slow and vulnerable to commonly known Grass moves, which will be even worse if he takes a hit from Leavany. Let's see how she deals with it."

A video begins of the battle, as a woman with brown hair tied back in a ponytail faces off with Burgh. "I've been waiting to see you come off the stands!" Burgh calls out from across the field. "Show me what you can do!"

"Alright. Let's do this, Gawain, you're on!" Both throw their pokeballs, releasing a Goomy and a Dwebble. Burgh orders rock blast, and Sam orders a Water Pulse. The video pauses.

"Good calls on both their parts." Mordred comments. "Gawain's Water Pulse will hit Dwebble's weak Special Defense for super effective damage, should be a one-shot. On Burgh's part, Rock Blast is Stab and targets Gawain's paltry physical defenses. Based on the damage calculations, four hits from Rock Blast will be enough to KO Gawain, but Rock Blast is 2-5."

Both pokemon exchange blows, a flurry of sharp stones smashing into Gawain, moments before the Goomy braces himself and retaliates with a powerful spout of water that sends Dwebble spinning back before it manages to stabilize and devour a sitrus berry. The video pauses.

"So, Gawain took two hits, minimal damage. However, Dwebble's Sturdy just kicked in, preventing an OHKO, plus, Dwebble definitely outspeeds Gawain, meaning if he stays out, he's in serious trouble. Of course, thanks to that Sitrus Berry, it's going to be trickier for any other pokemon to switch into a hit and then land a KO."

Sam recalls Gawain, and sends out her trapinch, Bedivere instead. Dwebble uses Rock shot, blasting the area around Trapinch, but to relatively little effect. "Good call, Trapinch's resistances let it take a rock shot, and they've certainly got the firepower to break through that shell." Bedivere takes a Struggle Bug from the Dwebble, and counters with a powerful rock slide that knocks it out.

"Nice job. All that time watching's given you a good grasp on theory." Burgh notes as he recalls his Dwebble, and sends out Shellmet instead. "Now keep putting it in practice!"

"Gladly! Bedivere, another Rock Slide would you kindly?" Sam orders, and the trapinch prepares the attack.

"You're not the only one with effective moves. Shelmet, Mega Drain." The shelmet reacts more swiftly, and manages to knock out Trapinch with a powerful surge of green energy that pulses out, wraps around the smaller pokemon, and then pulls back in. Bedivere flops over onto his back dramatically, then passes out.

"Alright, Percy, you're on!" Sam replies, throwing out a Tyrunt. "Rush em down, Fire Fang!" The Tyrunt complies, moving in and biting down on the Shelmet, flame leaking into the shell as the lizardlike pokemon shakes its opponent like a terrier with a rat. "That's enough! He's down!" Sam orders, and Percival obliges by dropping the smoking Shelmet.

The video pauses again. "So this little exchange highlights two major factors that come into play in low level battling. They're important at the higher levels too, but when your pokemon don't have much HP because of their low level, you really need to get these things down."

"First, type effectiveness is huge. With a few exceptions, the offensive output of a young pokemon will grow far faster than their defenses, especially if you take advantage of TMs and Move Tutors. This is amplified even further by combining elements like Type Effectiveness and even more if you have access to offensive abilities or Same Type Attack Bonus. It's fairly easy to one-shot or be one-shot at lower levels due to a lack of HP and strong defensive stats providing you land those x1.5+x2 or x4 bonuses."

"Second, because offense is so powerful, especially when you haven't developed defenses or techniques, speed is extremely important. That clash there went the way it did because Shelmet is faster than Trapinch, and Tyrunt is faster than Shelmet. I'm aware I have a bit of a bias, being a speed-type mon myself, but it is extremely important at lower levels, and remains so at the higher levels as well. You could have a x8 effective move, and it wouldn't matter if you couldn't land it. So have an effective move, and be fast enough to use it, or have a plan to take a hit even with low HP and defenses (such as Sturdy or a Focus Sash)."

"Alright, looks like you're the one to beat then, my little friend." Burgh notes as he sends out a Karrablast. "Make a path! Poison spray!" The smaller bug fires off a powerful mist of purple fog, making Percival roar in frustration, clawing at his eyes.

"Hang in there Percy, take him down with another fire fang!" Sam orders, and Percival complies, coming through the poisoned mist with a roar trailing flames, before delivering a powerful bite that knocks Karrablast out. The video pauses again.

"Fairly standard stuff here, but I do want to bring attention to that move Karrablast just used. Poison Spray, a legitimately great move that sadly isn't learned by many pokemon outside of Paldea because of TM export restrictions. It doesn't do much damage, but it can chip to bypass Focus Sash or Sturdy, while also dropping the target's Special Defense by two stages. On the right pokemon able to capitalize with bulk and high special attack, or on a fast mon paired with a special attacker in doubles or triples, it can set up for some extremely nasty attacks. Don't discount low level moves, even at the higher level. It's not going to be the next Moonblast, but it's got some strategy you can use around it."

"It's always great to see a young artist beginning to bloom. Now show me you can truly blossom!" Burgh laughs, and sends out his ace, a Leavany. "Magical Leaf!"

"Called it!" Sam shouts in joy, already swapping. "Gawain, eat it up!" Goomy deploys, and completely absorbs the incoming Magical Leaf using Sap Sipper. Sam throws him a potion, restoring him to full health. "Alright let's finish this in style! Draco Meteor!"

"Leavany, get clear and punish with struggle bug!" Burgh orders, as Gawain summons a meteor twice his own size and slams it onto the battlefield. For a moment, both trainers hold their breath, before the shards of Struggle Bug slam home onto Gawain, further sapping his strength. The video pauses.

"Yeah, and this is why some trainers hate Draco Meteor. It drops your special attacks twice over and has a long enough lead time that your opponent will get out of the way at least 10% of the time. That said, great read on Sam's part. She knew either a grass-type attack, a special attack, or a grass-type special attack was incoming, and switched out to the pokemon best able to absorb it, and even threw on a heal with the spare time since Gawain had taken some damage. Excellent play. Equally good punish on Burgh's part. Doubling down on crippling Gawain's special attack with Struggle Bug means that now, unless Sam switches out and gives Burgh a free hit, Gawain can't do any damage. However, if there's one thing I've learned and passed on, it's that you don't always need to do damage to win a battle."

"Gawain! Water pulse, focus on slowing her down and soaking the arena!" Sam orders.

"Raphael is a he actually! I know it can be hard to tell though!" Burgh notes from across the room.

"Sorry, focus on slowing him down!"

"It's alright. Take them down and keep your footing, Aerial Ace!"

The Leavany, apparently named Raphael, jumps into the air, and extends a set of wings from under his cloak, zipping through the air towards Gawain. Meanwhile, the Goomy surrounds himself with a bubble of water, seemingly charging it, before Raphael cuts through and knocks him out, becoming soaked through, and covering the floor in water. No damage is sustained.

"So. This looks not great. Why would Sam try a special attack that isn't even effective? Simple! It's not supposed to do damage!" Mordred comments with clear pride in his voice. "Gawain just used a pseudo-move! One reliant on getting hit and having it disrupted! This is why I say he's probably the smartest one on the team. He picked up the idea so quickly, and recognized that he could sacrifice damage to instead coat the enemy in water and slime. Which for those of you who haven't ever met a Goomy, they are sticky as anything, meaning Raphael here just had his speed tanked, plus the water which means..."

The video resumes, as Sam pulls out another Pokeball. "Alright Percival, Gawain set you up! Ice Fang! Freeze the water solid!"

"Oh clever, but too slow! Leaf Blade!" Burgh orders in turn, but it is in fact Raphael who is too slow, restricted by the slime. Percival bites down on the water, turning it into a rushing wave of ice that locks the Leavany in place.

"Alright, he's all yours, finish the job, FIRE FANG!" Sam roars, clearly pumped up, and Percival is as well. With flame trailing behind him, and a mighty TYYYYYYYYYY! He leaps into the air and brings his blazing jaws down hard on the Leavany, smashing them to the ground and KOing them in a single hit.

"NOW THAT'S FUCKING TEAMWORK!" Mordred shouts, clearly extremely proud. "Great work to all of you, and Percival the MVP, Arc he's going to be insufferable later but for now I am so proud of them all!" The noivern is clearly delighted with the younger members of his team. He looks like a proud parent.

"Let that be the last lesson then. With good switching, teamwork, and proper knowledge of the mechanics of your moves and type effectiveness, even an unevolved team can take down a fully evolved ace!" Mordred concludes, still clearly delighted as the video shows Sam quickly reviving her KO'ed team members, and giving all of them hugs before starting as Burgh walks over and coughs. She stands up, quickly apologizing, and wipes off a slime-covered hand and shakes with the gym leader before obtaining her badge. Mordred's face cam sees him clearly beaming.