Ludwig's Pokémon Shining Pearl Adventure!

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

I haven't done this in five years, but, what the hey, it's a tradition.

But this time maybe I can have screenshots?

The first thing I do... is update from version 1.0.0 to 1.1.1. That took some time.


Professor Rowan casually throws out a Munchlax to talk about how Pokémon are companions for humans. As far as I'm concerned, Munchlax is a leech. Snorlax, too. They do nothing good for anyone.
(This might not age well if I use one on my team.)

My name is Ludwig. I'm a blue-haired pale-skinned human boy.
My rival... I mean, my friend's name is Lemmy.

I start by watching Jubilife TV on Nationwide Net's REAL NEWS report about an elusive Red Gyarados. I have no chair or anything to sit on besides my bed which is in the corner and faces the wall, not the TV.
First thing is first: Options! Text Speed to Fast, Window to Type 23, yes Battle Effects, Battle Style set to Set... and most importantly, NO AUTOSAVE.
Somehow I start with 8000 Poké in life savings. Mom has dessert in the fridge, but I don't get access to it. The sign outside of the house says it's Ludwig's House, so maybe I should get the damn dessert, too.
Lemmy's house is also labelled as his house. Unfortunately, I can't even look what's in HIS fridge. Lemmy's house and my house are the only ones with a second floor. Lemmy keeps his PC unlocked when he's out of the house. Cybersecurity risk.

This is a faithful remake because the man that talks about technology says the exact quote as he did in the originals.

Lemmy really thinks that Lake Verity will also have a Red Gyarados. Meanwhile, I'm having fun warping with him. But we go to the lake and rob Professor Rowan's briefcase because two Starly jumped us. No Munchlax inside, but I pick the Tiny Leaf Pokémon, Turtwig. Turtwig very competently 2KOs Starly with Tackle, while Starly's only does... one damage. Apparently, Lemmy's Chimchar took a real beating.
Turtwig's Nature is Serious, which is a neutral Nature that doesn't impact stats. He's strong willed and will happily eat anything.
At level 5, he has 20 HP, 13 Attack, 12 Defense, 12 Sp. Defense, 9 Special Attack, and 9 Speed.

I went back home after Professor Rowan just walked away from us after learning Lemmy and I had his Pokémon. Mom gave me a pair of Running Shoes, which are greatly appreciated. I can even run inside. I guess you're supposed to run with the control stick and walk with the D Pad.
Along the way to Sandgem Town to speak to Rowan, Turtwig leveled up to 6 and learned Leafage (which... isn't faithful of a remake), and there's a Poké Mart woman in the grass that gave me a free sample of 10 Potions. Maybe that'll last me the whole game. Who knows. That's 3,000 Poké in free merchandise, which is a lot!

According to Dawn, the Professor's research assistant, Rowan has been waiting for me in his lab, despite him not asking me to visit him. He allows me to keep and nickname Turtwig... who is now known as Koopy.
And the 60-year old Rowan forces me to take the Pokédex and fill it up with information. (He refused to take no for an answer.) Dawn's Pokémon happens to be Piplup, though not the Piplup I could've chosen from the briefcase.
Dawn said she's happy to have met me... and then she immediately ran away to Route 202 to make sure I tell my mom what happened. She claims to be happy I'm going on an adventure, but she's passive-aggressively preventing me from returning back home to my bed. I AM doing this very late at night... so she kicked me out of the house, really. I don't think she's actually happy.


I also caught Sabrina the Rash Starly♀ Oofy the Hasty Bidoof♀, and Sylvando the Calm Starly♂. ...I want a Starly on my team but I don't want a counterproductive nature. So I caught a third one, Norberto the Bold Starly♂. Uggh. I feel like Paul from the anime releasing inadequate Starly.

I ran back to Route 202, and Dawn said she needs to show me a tutorial on how to catch Pokémon. Obviously, she hasn't noticed my party of Koopy, Oofy, and three Starly.
Dawn then gave me Poké Balls in addition to what I bought myself. SHE GAVE ME TWENTY. Gosh, she wants me to catch everything.

And for my sixth member... someone that isn't a Normal type. I caught Yezzt the Rash Shinx♂! He has the popular Intimidate.

You know, Bidoof, including Oofy, having Unaware as an ability really makes Growls a wasted move. And I know that's the case because Lass Natalie's two Bidoof Growled Yezzt a lot and it didn't change the Tackle damage output.

Sabrina, Sylvando, and Norberto are all level 5 now, and not having a negative Attack nature makes a big difference so far. So Sabrina is the best one of the three. Sabrina helped me catch Delele the Mild Kricketot♀!

A valid use for Oofy's Unaware, however, was against School Kid Harrison's Charge Beam Abra that got a bunch of Special Attack boosts and would've otherwise wrecked me. Little did I know that the other School Kid also would use a Charge Beam Abra. >.> After beating both children, Harrison gave me THREE TM10s, for Work Up. ...Uh... since they're one-use only I'm gonna hoard them.

I gotta track down three clowns for a Pokétch, but I really wanna go to Route 204 and catch another Starly. <.<
And it was good that I did, because I caught Longstreet the Adamant Starly♀!


I went back and intentionally got a Clown's question wrong... and they just lemme talk again like nothing happened. I got all three coupons and also an Old Rod, which I used to reel in Dragking the Rash Magikarp♂ on Route 218. I got the Pokétch and headed to Route 203... and Lemmy immediately challenged me to a battle.

So here's the problem with mandatory EXP All. My Pokémon vastly outlevel Lemmy's. He has a level 7 Starly. My Delele is level 9 already! Koopy and Yezzt are at level 10, and at that level, Yezzt OHKOs Starly with Thundershock. His Chimchar is only at level 9.
Uh... and Delele got to level 10 from that and... evolved. That quickly! To Kricketune! And Delele learned Fury Cutter, making her a huge threat. She now has the highest attacking stats of my team. We just mauled Youngster Dallas's Kricketune together with an OHKO Fury Cutter critical.
Allegedly, Lass Madeline (beautiful name) already has an Oreburgh Gym badge with her lame level 5 Pokémon or whatever, so this should be quite easy to get. I can apparently just brute force with Fury Cutter everyone's underleveled Pokémon.
In the cave path to Oreburgh City, a Hiker gave me three TM98s for Rock Smash, but I can also just use Rock Smash as a field move with my Pokétch as soon as I get the Oreburgh Gym badge. Along the way, I caught Dudette the Mild Geodude♀. (Mild is, like, the worst Nature for a Geodude. Plus Special Attack and minus Defense?)

Anyway, I saved at the Oreburgh Pokémon Center. My team is...

Longstreet, Lv. 11 Starly
Delele, Lv. 12 Kricketune
Yezzt, Lv. 11 Shinx
Dragking, Lv. 8 Margikarp
Koopy, Lv. 11 Turtwig
Oofy, Lv. 9 Bidoof

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

In a building in Oreburgh, there's a girl who wants a Machop and she'll give me an Abra. There's also a guy on the second floor who actually wants to see a Zubat. I got neither so far. Random NPCs did give me a Great Ball and Dusk Ball, though.
But Route 207 above Oreburgh does have a Machop. I caught Abra Get the Serious Machop♀. Obviously I intend to trade her. It turns out I can trade Pokémon that are even in my box.
The Abra trainer is named Hilary, which is one l away from being problematic.
Despite Abra Get being only level 6, Kazza, the Abra Hilary gave me, is level 9. And holding an Oran Berry! Kazza is Quiet natured, which... lowers one of his best stats. And he only knows Teleport. So he's about as useless as Dragking. Still, I only need Longstreet, Delele, Yezzt, and Koopy to do things. To the mines! I managed to find Stardust in the slag heap without the dowsing machine. It's just intuitively there.

Some of the workers are battling me on the job, though it's unclear how they're contributing to the mine operations anyway. Machop is a big deal among their population. Uh... so I found Roark, and he Rock Smashed a boulder and then ran away. Presumably back to the gym? ...So why was he here at all?
Anyway, Koopy is, like, the only way I can fight Rock/Ground types, but Leafage easily OHKOs them.
I can't use Kazza's Teleport out of the Oreburgh Gym. But I can use an Escape Rope I found.

At the Oreburgh Gym, the guy at the front said that even though Rock types are weak to Grass and Water, I shouldn't think that Roark has done nothing to cover his weaknesses. So let's test that theory. I easily wiped out Roark's two trainers with just Koopy's Leafage without taking any damage. So I'm not even stopping by the Pokémon Center before the match.

VERSUS ROARK!
6 vs. 3

I sent out Koopy (level 13), and he sent out his... level 12 Geodude. Well, that's a step up from other trainers so far.
Time to use Koopy's new Razor Leaf attack! And it's super-effective and an OHKO.
Roark next sent out Onix (level 12)!
Onix moved first and used Stealth Rock. Koopy countered with a super-effective Razor Leaf, but Onix held on with Sturdy. Is this the counter to Grass that the receptionist referred to?
Well, Koopy has a Quick Claw attached, and before Onix could move, KO'd Onix with Leafage!
Koopy got to level 14, and that's the level of Roark's last Pokémon: Cranidos, which Roark doubts I can just KO as easily as before.

Cranidos is faster and got off a Leer, but Koopy retaliated with a super-effective Razor Leaf, bringing Cranidos down to red.
Roark countered with a Potion, but Koopy KO'd with Leafage, resulting in a perfect match where I took no damage whatsoever.

I received the Coal Badge from Roark!
And five copies of TM76, or Stealth Rock.

Now that I have Rock Smash enabled, I can go to Floaroma Town, but first I went back to the Mines to bash the unsmashed rocks. Despite not having a Bidoof in my party, a wild Bidoof bashed the rocks for me.
I also caught Lacerat the Jolly Onix♂!
While I was in the mines, Longstreet got to level 14 and evolved into a Staravia. Awesome. She's now Intimidating.

I gotta get back to Jubilife to head to Floaroma, but first... in the cave heading to Oreburgh, there's another floor accessible with Rock Smashing. Down there, I caught Achy the Jolly Psyduck♀. I also got TM70 Flash.
There's more to this floor, but I need a bike and I need Surf for more exploration. But I caught Xubat the Hardy Zubat♂, so I want to go back to Oreburgh and show that guy. He gave me a Heal Ball. Amazingly, Xubat wasn't at full health after being transferred to the box and withdrawn from the Pokémon Center.

Over in Jubilife, I remembered the president of the Pokétch Company would install a new app if I visited him after getting a gym badge. He gave me the Memo Pad app. Now I can keep a poorly scribbled "Visit KoopaTV.org" advertisement in the top right corner of the screen at all times.

All of a sudden at the outskirts of Jubilife, I need to fight two Team Galactic Grunts posing as businessmen with Dawn in my first double battle. Dawn has a level 13 Piplup now... and that's all she has. Since I KO'd it with Yezzt and she didn't send anything else out.
Amazed, a woman named Bebe gave me access to Ball Capsules. I set them for Koopy and Longstreet.

I caught Marissa the Sassy Budew♀ on Route 204, and I put her in my party in place of Kazza, who still only knows Teleport. She gives a Ball Capsule too, though I've kind of run out of suitable ones.
Meanwhile, on the way to Floaroma, Yezzt evolved into Luxio. Delele is no longer my strongest Pokémon by stats.
Koopy is now level 16 so I'm worried he's going to evolve without having an Everstone. <_< So I, uh, boxed Koopy.

In Floaroma, they're all about berries and flowers, and they want to collect berries and exchange them for Ball Capsule stickers. But I ain't really got berries.
There is allegedly Honey available, but I ain't seeing it. So I went to the Valley Windworks and caught Bui the Mild Buizel♂.

There was another Galactic businessman in front of the entrance, and he had me battle him and his Glameow. Surprisingly, his Fake Out cancelled out Marissa's Quick Claw (taken from Koopy sitting in the Box). Thanks to the EXP All, Marissa is level 12 now and beat Glameow (level 11) in a one-on-one battle, which was also thanks to Poison Point activating on Fake Out. The businessman did a smart thing and locked himself inside the building with his key so I couldn't get in, but he did tell me where the spare key was: Back in Floaroma.
I walked into a tree in the corner and that somehow brought me to an entire meadow.
Two Galactic businessmen sent out their Wurmple to try to make sure I didn't squeal about their insistence to take Honey. Well, Honey is wot I want, too. The Honey man was selling one jar of Honey for a mere 100 Poké. Dunno why the Galactic businessmen couldn't just buy it. They also dropped the key to the Windworks.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

So in the Valley Windworks... is Team Galactic's Commander Mars!

VERSUS MARS

Mars sent out her level 14 Zubat♀ versus my level 16 Delele. Not a good match-up...
So I switched out for Longstreet, but she got Supersonicked. It didn't matter, however, and she OHKO'd Zubat with a critical hit.
So Mars sent out Purugly♀, level 16.
I swapped out for Marissa, and Purugly Growled at her. Then she Scratched her, but Marissa tanked it (19/35 HP). Marissa, in return, Stun Spored Purugly.
Now I switched out Marissa for Delele to begin FURY CUT. We exchanged Fury Cutter and Scratch. But within three Fury Cutters, Purugly fainted, despite her throwing in a Growl and an Oran Berry.

After the battle... Kazza evolved into Kadabra and learned an actual attack: Confusion. Despite the Quiet nature, Kazza is still easily the fastest Pokémon I own.
Mars and the other Team Galactic members fled, and apparently a balloon Pokémon is supposed to visit the area on a certain day of the week that obviously isn't Sunday.

On the way to Eterna, I caught Gubba the Serious Shellos♀.

There was a trainer with a Shellos I wanted Kazza to battle, but Kazza refused to listen to me. What a twit. He's definitely going back to the box. Koopy is back, despite my worry that he'll grow up too fast.

Koopy got to level 17 and still hasn't tried to evolve, though he did try to learn Curse. Since Growth exists, I'm not sure why I'd opt for that.

There is a Picnicker named Karina with a Piplup by the Route 205 rest house. I want a Piplup, too.

Well, I saved right before the entrance to Eterna Forest and my party is very overleveled. Well, somehow Dragking has a slower EXP gain than everyone else. I never brought him to a single battle.
See attachment screenshot for levels. (Delele, Yezzt, and Longstreet at level 18; Kazza, Marissa, and Koopy at level 17. Dragking at 14.)

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

Apparently the Honey wears off if I don't play the game, so, uh, whoops.

The sketch on the Memo Pad also disappears.

I entered Eterna Forest and I'm forced to tag up with Cheryl and all the battles are double.

Delele and Cheryl's Chansey (level 15, far below my levels!) have good utility together in that Chansey now has Disarming Voice compared to Gen 4, which hits both opponents.. Also, Delele's Struggle Bug hits both opponents as well. Life Dew is great support as well.
Cheryl's Chansey also has a Ball Capsule, which is cool.
My team's double Intimidates also help Chansey's survivability, too.

Unfortunately, Koopy is level 18 now and will keep trying to evolve. I boxed him and caught Joyfrost the Timid Buneary♀ to take his place. Probably not the best Nature for her. She has Run Away.
I caught Fussilk the Relaxed Wurmple♂ and put him in my party instead of Joyfrost. He then evolved into Silcoon and then to Beautifly, which means I should catch a Cascoon later, too?
And I did, Vaccuumst the Quiet Cascoon♂. He evolved into Dustox within a couple of battles.


Shout-out to the Fisherman encounter remix.


I reached Eterna City, and the manager of the bike shop isn't there. Wot's stopping someone from just...stealing the bikes?
In the condos building, the Name Rater thought Koopy's name was just "decent". More importantly was a kid (Norton) who traded me his Chatot, Charap in exchange for Bui. Charap is level 15, ♀, and Lonely.
An old woman also gave me three TM67s for Recycle.
I can go right into the Eterna City Gym. But let's keep exploring the city. I can't leave it because I need a bike to go to Cycling Road to the south.
I then encountered a woman named Cynthia who gave me TM93s... for Cut.

And most importantly of all, I got the Explorer Kit from the Underground Man.

Well, let's try Charap out versus the underground Pokémon here in Fountainpring Cave...! ...No, she's loafing around. Well, that's awkward.
I caught a Totageke the Impish Togepi♂ down here, but there's no Pokédex entry for him.

While down here, I also found a wild Gastrodon?! That's... quite the find. I caught him: Rastromao the Brave (Sticky Hold) Gastrodon♂. And in the same cave is a wild and creepy Lickitung. I caught... LICKL the Naive Lickitung♂! He's holding a Lagging Tail.

Actually trying to fight these wild Gastrodon is quite difficult, since they have Recover and enormous bulk and power. I figured I can't KO it, since it KO'd Delele, Marissa (a GRASS type!) and Longstreet. Perhaps a big contributor to the issue is that I boxed Koopy. <.<
How did I manage to catch Rastromao?


I DON'T KNOW WHY THE NORMAL GAME CAN'T BE EVEN HALF AS HARD AS THIS?

But I think I got it to the point where it lost its Ancient Power PP and Water Pulse PP. It's just Recovering and Yawning. Meanwhile, Rastromao's moveset is Spit Up, Harden, Recover, and Water Pulse. I'm jealous of it. >.>

I'm running out of Poké Balls and Heal Balls here. Rastromao went in so nicely and easily.

GASTRODON STRUGGLED. AND I KNOCKED IT OUT AS A RESULT
SHIIT
NOOO I WWANTED IT

Well I gotta get out of here because my team is decimated. The old man wanted me to go back down there and dig for treasure. I got a Max Revive and a Mamoswine Statue.

I found a Houndoom in an underground cave, too, but it Roared me away.

BUT I ALSO FOUND AN EVERSTONE AS A TREASURE. KOOPY CAN COME BACK.

I also caught a Rash Swablu♀. And in a desert area, caught Paulo the Gentle Skorupi♂, and Mamoar the Calm Teddiursa♀.

I reached a Big Bluff Cavern, which is a very large cave. I found a large land mass rock that looks like a Bastiodon's helmet, as well as TM34 Shock Wave. Though the only Pokémon here are Onix, Geodude, and Skorupi.

In another rock cave I found TM37 Sandstorm and a bottle of PP Up. In that cave I caught Horny the Gentle Rhyhorn♂.
ALSO, Dragking finally got to level 20 and evolved to Gyarados, purely from EXP All. Which means... I'm boxing Dragking forever.

I found a Dazzling Cave and caught Serenica the Sassy Misdreavus♀.

I went back to the left and brought LICKL with me from the box... he promptly evolved into a Lickilicky, while catching Doomer the Jolly Houndoom♂.
I'm out of Poké Balls now.

I'm still playing here because there's some kind of Diglett/Dugtrio metre, and the hours I've been down here it's at 23/40.

I found TM04 Calm Mind in a Rocky Cave. That's a good move!

I also found two Armor Fossils, one after the other. Looks like a fossilised egg.
I caught MAGAnet the Bold Magnet Pull Magnemite, which is... a good Nature, actually. Then I caught Dame Pin the Lax Pinsir♀.
I also got some kind of rare Rotom statue? And a TM87 Swagger from another Fountainspring Cave. A lot of Hikers down here want spheres for that, but I just picked it up fo' free.

FINALLY I got to 40/40 and all that happened is "SOMETHING GOOD MIGHT HAPPEN IN GRAND UNDERGROUND!" Might?!
Well, I got a rare Dustox statue from a Gorgeous box, and then another Gorgeous Cranidos Statue.
Maybe those are because of the good things?

I caught Risa the Sassy Pachirisu♀. The only ball I have left is one Dusk Ball.

uhhh my metre ran out and now I'm at 1/40. IS THAT REALLY IT?

Well, I entered the final ? Cave I have access to, Stillwater Cavern. There was a Big Mushroom and TM09 Bullet Seed.


I finally left the Grand Underground and the old man gave me a drill to make a Secret Base. ...I guess I'll do that. Sometime. I went up and replenished by supply of Poké Balls and caught Hooter the Quiet Hoothoot on Route 211. I can't proceed through Mt. Coronet since I lack Strength.


I went and made a Secret Base and put 3 Glaceon statues and 1 Mamoswine statue, and apparently Ice types will appear a little more. I also caught Diva the Quiet Gastly♀.

I completed the mission for making a Secret Base and for decorating it... though now I need another Drill if I want to make another Secret Base at a better location.
Last mission, visit someone else's Secret Base. I turned the Internet connection on and... entered a Japanese guy's empty base.
I entered another Japanese guy's base and it's full of Grass-type statues that make a lot of Budew appear.

Anyway, I'm saving at Eterna City Gym.
My team now is quite overleveled from spending so much time in the Grand Underground. I'm bringing...

Dame Pin, Lv. 20
Delele, Lv. 25
Marissa, Lv. 26
Koopy, Lv. 25
Yezzt, Lv. 24
Longstreet, Lv. 25

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

First thing's first... the Honey Tree outside of Eterna City is rustling... and I caught POM the Modest Aipom♀!

In the gym, Dame Pin, at the level I caught her, OHKO'd every gym trainer's Pokémon (including someone with a Turtwig!) with Bug Bite. Now it's time to see if Gardenia can do better.

VERSUS GYM LEADER GARDENIA
(Six versus three)

Gardenia sends out Cherubi (♀, Lv. 19) while I send out Dame Pin (♀, Lv. 21)!
Dame Pin immediately OHKO'd Cherubi with Bug Bite.

Gardenia sends out Turtwig (♂, Lv. 19)!
...But Dame Pin OHKO'd him too.

Gardenia vows that it's not the end yet, and sends out her last Pokémon, Roserade (♀, Lv. 22)!

Roserade moved first and paralysed Dame Pin with Stun Spore!
But Dame Pin retaliated with Bug Bite and nommed Roserade's Sitrus Berry.
Roserade used Grass Knot, which isn't very effective. Dame Pin then KO'd Roserade with another Bug Bite.
Another underwhelming boss fight.

I defeated Gardenia! And received the Forest Badge, enabling me to use Cut outside of battle. She also gave me 5 TM86s for Grass Knot.
Now I can use Cut to shortcut back to Floaroma.
Below Floaroma there was a Trainer's School lady who gave me TMs for Snarl.

I can also now access the Old Chateau. I found an Insect Plate outside... and inside, there's finally something in a trash can: an Antidote.
There's a TM for Substitute and a painting with red eyes when I look away and normal eyes when I look at it. ...So how do I know this...?
There's also a Dread Plate and a television with a malevolent stare.....

Well, the game says I need to explore Eterna City: specifically using Cut to enter Team Galactic's hideout. (And find the TM for Thief.)
This once again will involve battles with Team Galactic Grunts and their Wurmple army.
On the second floor, there's a host of Grunts working in... an office, I guess, with a bunch of PCs. They don't appear to understand the purpose of their work, yet they don't seem too demoralised about that until only after I beat them in a Pokémon battle.



While in the battle, Marissa finally evolved into a Roselia! And... now she learned Poison Sting as her only attack besides Absorb.

And on the top floor, I'm challenged by Commander Jupiter!

She sent out a Zubat (♀, Lv. 18). I brought Charap the Chatot with me, which I'm spamming Chatter with. It easily 2KO'd Zubat and all it did was miss Supersonic.
Then Jupiter sent out Skuntank (♀, Lv. 20)!
Well, Charap can just Chatter this too, though it's a 3HKO. And unlike Zubat, Skuntank is actually fighting back with a Flamethrower! And a Sitrus Berry to prevent the 3HKO.
So I switched to Rastromao, who switched into a Poison Gas. Except I came prepared and already had a Pecha Berry held. Rastromao finished off Skuntank with a strong Water Pulse to end the match.

The Team Galactic members (and their Scientists) abandoned the building, and I headed to the Cycle Shop because I got the owner's Pokémon (particularly Clefairy) back from Jupiter.

I got... a Yellow Bike! Which is apparently like being zapped by a Pikachu. Eep, I don't want THAT.

And so I gotta head through Route 206, or Cycling Road.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

Well, there's also a lot of Route 206 that's UNDER Cycling Road, too. I gotta explore that. I caught Horsarea the Relaxed Ponyta♂. Not really sure wot I'm supposed to do with a lazy Ponyta, though.
Dame Pin's Mold Breaker is quite nice for dealing with Sturdy opponents.

There is a Wayward Cave. But it's pitch black. I do have the TM for Flash, however. So I taught it to Kazza the Kadabra.
Inside the cave, I caught Bronsen the Quiet Bronzor. Its cry is great.
This cave is otherwise a massive maze.

I think I'm supposed to be here with someone else, since the trainer battles here are double battles.

Then I got lost and ran out of Repel so I Escape Roped. I'm running low on PP. >.>

So I went south out of the cave and Dawn gave me the VS. Seeker and the Dowsing Machine Pokétch App, which I clearly would've wanted BEFORE going to the cave.


I eventually got back to Oreburgh and finally used the Pokémon Center. There, I converted an Armor Fossil to Zamazenty the Lonely Shieldon♂.

Well, since I'm in the area, I also went back to Jubilife, and I finally get access to the FAKE NEWS Jubilife TV building.

Over there, a producer gave me access to MYSTERY GIFT. Gift boxes fell from the sky to give me a Manaphy Egg in my box, and Platinum Style clothing.

Well, that'll end it for me now.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

I won an Ultra Ball from the Jubilife TV lottery!

Then I started going through Mt. Coronet and some random businessman with the Team Galactic logo started philosophising and then walked away.
Meanwhile, I caught Guru Andma the Careful Meditite♀ and Chimechar the Calm Chingling♀.

I found the Berry Master's house, which I fondly remember from years ago as a place I'd stop by every day. A strange man also gave me an Odd Keystone.
I got to Hearthome, and received an Egg from a Hiker next to two individuals who were blocking the path to Solaceon.

My first ever Poffin was a Foul Poffin Lv. 02. It made four. I trashed them.
I went to Amity Square and walked around with Koopy, also finding the TMs for Volt Switch and Attract. And a Spooky Plate. And an Amulet Coin, oooh.
Koopy also picked up a Cornn Berry and a Stone Sticker A.

I made some more Poffins with Koopy at the machine in Amity. ...Foul once again. But I didn't even burn it this time!
Amity has benches, but you can't sit on them.

Now one Pokémon at a time can follow me anywhere.

I won a Tough Normal contest with Dame Pin.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

I saved in the Hearthome Contest Hall and turned on the game in the morning during work hours just to visit the Honey tree and the Berry Master... but no, Lemmy comes out of nowhere and demands a battle.

VERSUS LEMMY
6 vs. 4

I have Koopy (level 29) in front and he sends out his Starly (♂, 19).
I really don't have time for this.
Koopy used Growth, and his Starly used Double Team.
After a Growth, Koopy OHKO'd Starly.
Lemmy sent out his Monferno (♂, Lv. 21) next. Monferno used a super-effective Flame Wheel (43/73), and Razor Leaf did a similar proportion back.

Monferno did the same thing, and so did I, but this time, Monferno fainted. You know why? Because of OVERGROW.

Lemmy sent out Buizel (♂, Lv. 20), which was also faster, and used Bite. (10/73).
Koopy OHKO'd it.

Then Lemmy sent out Roselia (♂, Lv. 20), and I'm not sure Koopy can take this.
Roselia Mega Drained (4/73) and Koopy used Bite, which was just short of an OHKO.

I swapped out Koopy for Marissa (also level 29), and Marissa defeated Barry's Roselia with her own Poison Sting.

You're telling me that Lemmy beat the Hearthome Gym with THAT team? But I STILL can't challenge it myself?

I did visit that Honey tree, and caught Cherri the Lonely Cherubi♀.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

I caught Burma the Lax Burmy♂ on Route 209, which I'm...very slowly making my way through. I also caught Boofus the Docile Bibarel♀.

I entered the Lost Tower and got TM96s (Strength) and a Cleanse Tag.
Solaceon Town ain't got much to it, but some newspaper chaps want me to show 'em a Budew. And an evolved Budew won't do. So I went by the COPS on Route 212 and caught Bududette the Careful Budew♀.

I suppose I should stop by Mr. Backlot's mansion and Trophy Garden... There, I caught Twerpette the Rash Pikachu♀.

As a smart person, I then had Kazza use Teleport to warp me from the Trophy Garden back to Solaceon Town, where I showed the newspaper guys the Budew. They liked it and gave me Timer Balls.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

I went to the Solcaeon Ruins and at the top there's an inscription saying
TOP RIGHT
LOWER LEFT
TOP RIGHT
TOP LEFT
TOP LEFT
LOWER LEFT

I got into a battle with Ruin Maniac Karl between 2 and 3. <_<

I got to the bottom and then encountered... my first Unown. D, the Quiet Unown!

At the bottom there was an inscription saying
FRIENDSHIP
ALL LIVES TOUCH OTHER
LIVES TO CREATE
SOMETHING ANEW
AND ALIVE

At least that's wot I think it says.
Then I picked up a Nugget, a Rare Candy, a Mind Plate, and a jar of Odd Incense.

Making my way up, I caught I the Impish Unown, and P the Docile Unown.

And...uh... my Quiet Manaphy hatched.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

The Pokémon newspaper people want a Stunky. ...WELL, TOO BAD. I'M PLAYING SHINING PEARL.

I've kept Cherri in my party, and now she's evolved into a Cherrim at level 25.
I'd like to just live in the Café Cabin, which sells farm fresh Moomoo Milk. I bought...a lot. I beat the trainers inside the cabin to get their money... and spent it on more milk.
Marissa finally gained a decent move in Giga Drain at level 30.

A bird watcher on Route 210 gave me three TM51 Roosts, which is a great move.
Unfortunately for Cherri, Route 215 is full of rain. She only likes the sun.

Yezzt likes me enough to cure his own burns, somehow. And... as a result, he evolved into a Luxray!

VEILSTONE'S MUSIC IS SO GOOD.
...AND THE METRONOME STYLE SHOP HAS THE GAME CORNER MUSIC???

IT'S SO FITTING SOMEHOW.

Anyway, here I change into the Platinum clothes I Mystery Gifted. And received TMs for Nasty Plot. >
Apparently, Fly is stored in a Team Galactic warehouse here. I'd love to have Fly...

Here's my team:

Yezzt, ♂, Level 30, Luxray
Cherri, ♀, Level 28, Cherrim
Delele, ♂, Level 30, ,Kricketune
Dame Pin, ♀, Level 30, Pinsir
Koopy, ♂, Level 30, Turtwig
Marissa, ♀, Level 30, Roselia
Charap, ♀, Level 30, Chatot
Longstreet, ♀, Level 30, Staravia
Rastromao, ♂, Level 30, Gastrodon
Kazza, ♂, Level 29, Kadabra

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

I bought a lot of nice stuff at the Veilstone Department Store, and the Traveling Man's Egg from Hearthome hatched into a Happiny! I named her Egg. She's Impish.

The Solaceon newspaper was looking for a Cascoon, so I went all the way back to Eterna Forest to catch one. While in the area, I stopped by the Valley Windworks and caught Lips Sealed the Gentle Drifloon♂.
I got some Ultra Balls from the newspaper guy.


Going back to Veilstone... it's time to sweep the Karate Quads with Longstreet's Aerial Ace. She's the perfect counter to the physical-focused opponents with Intimidate.

Unfortunately I'm at the point where Kazza and Charap are level 31, and that means they've stopped listening to me. ...Which is a shame, because Psychic and Flying are great here...

I didn't bother to go back to the Pokémon Center to heal up. It's time to fight Maylene!

VERSUS GYM LEADER MAYLENE!
Maylene has 3 Pokémon!
First she sent out Meditite (♀, lv. 27)!
I started with Dame Pin, who... just OHKO'd Meditite with a Bug Bite.
Then she sent out Machoke (♂, lv. 27)!
A Storm Throw reduced Machoke's HP to yellow, but a Rock Tomb from Machoke brought Dame Pin to 58/87 HP.
Despite the speed drop, Dame Pin is still faster, and Storm Throws Machoke again.

It's time for Maylene's last Pokémon, Lucario (♂, Lv. 30!)
Note Dame Pin is level 31.
Lucario moved first with Bulk Up! But Dame Pin smashed it with an OHKO Close Combat! Lucario fainted!
And that's it.
Very easy and effortless.

I got the Cobble Badge! And it gives me access to FLY! She also gave me Stickers and 5 TM60s, for Drain Punch.
...No one I have can... use that.

Dawn dropped her Pokédex for some reason. She wants me to help retrieve it from Team Galactic in a double battle.

Dawn has a level 25 Clefairy♀ (with Growl and Disarming Voice @cute Charm) and level 25 Kadabra♂ (with Psybeam), along with a level 28 Prinplup♂ (with Bubble Beam) while the Team Galactic members have Beautifly and Dustox and Croagunk and Stunky, also at level 25.

Team Galactic and Dawn are off to Pastoria... and I got Fly from the Warehouse.

FLY IS A GAME CHANGER

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

My traded Pokémon still won't listen to me.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

Jubilife has a whole section of the Grand Underground I haven't visited before. There I caught Satoxshi the level 30 Modest Anticipation Croagunk♂ who was holding Black Sludge! And Corona the Careful Golbat♀.

I keep accidentally drilling new Secret Bases instead of digging for treasure.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

Shout-out to the Pastoria City Heart Scale Move Tutor guy.
Marissa can Toxic Spikes now. >: )


I caught Afab the Mild Quagsire♀ at the Great Marsh and Pooper the Bashful Wooper♀.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

First, I caught Queenbee the Quirky Combee♀ at a Honey tree. ...It might not look like it, but that's a Mega Man ZX Advent reference.

And with my Honey Trees cared for... it's time for...
VERSUS GYM LEADER CRASHER WAKE!
Crasher Wake has three Pokémon... I effectively have five, since I brought Queenbee along to evolve her.

Crasher Wake sends out Intimidate Gyarados (level 27, ♂)... and I sent out Marissa the Roselia!
Gyarados starts off with a powerful Ice Fang that did 37/81 HP, but Marissa ate an Oran Berry to recover to 47/81. Marissa meanwhile used Toxic Spikes.
Well, I'm not sticking around with that. Marissa, come back! Go, Yezzt (the Luxray)!
Yezzt Intimidates Gyarados, making it... quite weak with its Ice Fang (96/107)
Yezzt used Volt Switch to OHKO Gyarados, and then switch into...
Koopy!
Wake sent out Quagsire (level 27, ♂), because... he's silly?
Koopy moved first to OHKO Quagsire with Razor Leaf! It's a critical hit, too.

Wake... Crasher Wake, is down to just Floatzel (male and level 30), which got poisoned by the Toxic Spikes.
Floatzel moves first with a super-effective Ice Fang, bringing Koopy down to 32/82 (not Overgrow). Koopy retaliated with a Razor Leaf, which brought Floatzel down to yellow health. Floatzel ate a Sitrus Berry and then took Poison Damage.

Koopy, return! Go, Longstreet! Longstreet also Intimidated Floatzel, tanking the Ice Fang (48/92).
I had Longstreet use a Quick Attack to finish off Floatzel... but Crasher Wake used a Super Potion!
Floatzel used Ice Fang again, but it missed, so Longstreet KOd it with Aerial Ace, winning the battle.
And to celebrate... Longstreet evolved into STARAPTOR! And she learned Close Combat.

Crasher Wake gave me the Fen Badge! And Stickers and 5 TM55s, for Brine.


The game wants me to chase a Team Galactic Grunt for no good reason. Meanwhile, the Solaceon newspaper wants to see a Staravia. ...If only I checked with them before my Staravia went and evolved...

But there are wild Staravia in the direction the Grunt went... uh... but before I can go that way...

LEMMY COMES AND CHASES ME. WHY.


Versus Pokémon Trainer Lemmy!

WHY IS HE EVEN HERE? He beat the Pastoria Gym before I did!

...He sent out... Starly... at level 26? ...Maybe he thinks Starly is cuter than Staravia?
I sent out Charap, and... Hyper Voice isn't the move I'm looking for, either. Still, it's quite powerful, OHKOing Starly and his next Pokémon, Buizel (which did get an Aqua Jet, but it's quite weak).
Lemmy sent out his Monferno (level 31) then, and I'm wondering how he even beat Crasher Wake.
Charap Chattered, OHKOing Monferno. Last is Barry's level 27 male Roselia, which Charap also OHKO'd.
Well, he's a joke, I guess.

At least Charap will listen to me now.


Now that I'm at Route 213, I caught Gullord the Serious Wingull♂. If I needed Pokémon to use Hidden Moves, I'd have Wingull in my party, but I don't, so...

Queenbee evolved to Vespiquen at level 21.


There is a guy in the pool with a Floatzel at the Valor Lakefront hotel who wants me to come back to him after I beat the Champion, asking me not to forget him.

There is a restaurant here filled with people who'd like to double battle. The level curve in this restaurant is around level 21. My Pokémon are all at 34 right now!


After chasing the Team Galactic Grunt throughout the resort, he finally lets up and battles me with his one level 25 Glameow♀. It was totally understandable why he'd prefer to flee than battle, since he had no chance of winning.

A duo of scientists are blocking access to the Lake, including from Cynthia. She gave me a Secret Medicine to cure the Psyduck on Route 210, the ones near the Moomoo Milk Café.
Lo and behold, the first Pokémon I encounter after talking with Cynthia is a wild Staravia! I caught him and named him Raverbird. He's Mild. Surprisingly he decimated my team with Endeavor.

At Route 214, I caught Fake Woods the Serious Sudowoodo♀.
There's a Ruins Maniac cave, and he wants me to catch Unown. I then realised my Unown named P is actually an Unown F. I went to the Eterna City Name Rater and renamed him. <.<
Meanwhile, I got some Nest Balls for my Staravia fetching.


I went back to the Solacaeon Ruins to catch more Unown, and caught R the Brave Unown. Was tempted to name it Destiny as a Neo Team Rocket Elite throwback (that's from the Nintendo NSider Forums).
Caught N the Lax Unown.

To recap, I have D, F, I, N, R.
Queen Bee's Sweet Scent is actually incredibly useful for summoning new Unown!
Caught Y the Impish. O the Bold. K the Modest. T the Naive.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

wtf poison no longer damages you when walking around in the overworld???

When was that changed?!

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

I went back to the Wayward Cave and found Mira from deep within and escorted her out... all without getting into a battle with her because I just used Repels.

Since I have nothing else to do, I went to Route 210 and cured the Psyduck of their chronic headaches. Cynthia stalked me to the scene and asked me to deliver an Old Charm to the Celestic Town elder.
There's some VERY tall grass I gotta wade through with the Pokétch Dowsing Machine to collect things... and among all that, there's a Ninja Trio.

I got past all that and entered Route 210's fog hell. There, I caught Garto the Gentle Noctowl♂ and Defogged the area. There's some more Ninja Boys and Ace Trainers in the area.

A Black Belt'd Machoke Knocked Off Marissa's Big Root, but fortunately, it came back after the battle was over.

Eventually I reached Celestic Town, and everyone was worried about a "spaceman" threatening to blow the place up. I beat him, and Cynthia's grandma gave me 3 TMs for Surf. Now I gotta go to Hearthome so I can use it.

...when will I be able to use Strength? >_>

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

Before starting the Hearthome Gym, some housekeeping...
I caught Simpbee the Lonely Combee♂. In case the Solaceon News asks for a Combee.
Speaking of, they asked for Roselia. Marissa is right here, so that was easy, and they gave me Dusk Balls.

I went through Hearthome without getting a single question wrong and without taking notes on the answers.
I guess that means I'm depriving myself of experience points, but... I got more than enough of those now.

VERSUS GYM LEADER FANTINA!
Fantina's three Pokémon versus my six.

Fantina sends out Drifblim (♀, lv. 32)! I sent out Longstreet!
I only have one more that'll work here... Aerial Ace! And it did half of Drifblim's HP!
...Except Drifblim used STRENGTH SAP!? THAT WASN'T IN THE ORIGINAL GAMES WTF HELP
Drifblim fully recovered its HP and reduced my attack stat.

Alright, physical attacks won't be helpful. Longstreet, come back! Yezzt, you're up!
Drifblim used Will-O-Wisp on the switch, which burned Yezzt.
Yezzt, use Charge! This increased his Special Defence, which helped take the incoming HEX attack, which doubles in power when the opponent has a status condition like Burn. It seems like Fantina actually has a real competitive set here.
BUT...
Yezzt used VOLT SWITCH, which OHKO'd Drifblim with a super-effective attack powered up by Charge!

Longstreet, you're back up!
Fantina sent out Gengar (♀, lv. 34)!
Gengar is FASTER and used Confuse Ray. Longstreet hurt herself in confusion (100/125 HP)!
Gengar being faster is a problem, since Longstreet at 96 speed is my fastest Pokémon I brought.
Longstreet, return! Charap, you can do it!

Gengar used Sludge Bomb, crushing Charap on the switch-in. (19/113)
Gengar then outsped with Dazzling Gleam, fainting Charap. Yikes.

Kazza, it's up to you!
Gengar used Confuse Ray, and Kazza hurt himself (77/90).
I JUST NEED TO HIT IT ONCE... but Gengar moved faster again and KO'd Kazza with Shadow Claw.

wtf this is way harder than I thought

Rastromao, you can do it!
Gengar used Dazzling Gleam (106/139), and Rastromao retaliated with Muddy Water (yellow, about 1/3 HP remaining?) AND dropped Gengar's accuracy.
Gengar used Confuse Ray, but missed. Rastromao Recovered (139/139).
Gengar used another Confuse Ray, but missed. Rastromao used Muddy Water... but missed.
Gengar used Dazzling Gleam but missed that too (thanks Muddy Water) and Rastromao used Ancient Power but failed to KO. Fantina used HYPER POTION! And Rastromao Ancient Powered again.

Gengar used Confuse Ray and hit this time, while Rastromao didn't hurt himself and used Ancient Power... and got the ALL STAT-BUFF I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
Gengar is still much faster but missed Dazzling Gleam, while Rastromao hurt himself (122/139).
Gengar Dazzling Gleamed (100/139) and Rastromao shook off its confusion and finished off Gengar with its boosted Ancient Power. Rastromao grew to level 38! (As did Yezzt)


Fantina sent out her last Pokémon, Mismagius (♀, level 36)!

MISMAGIUS USED MAGICAL LEAF!?!?!? WTF NOOOO! But thanks to the Special Defense boost, Rastromao was only brought to the 20s of HP...
Rastromao restored his health with a Figy Berry! (74/143)

A Muddy Water retaliation brought Mismagius to low Yellow HP, but Fantina used Hyper Potion!
So I Muddy Watered again!

Mismagius used Confuse Ray... not sure why not another Magical Leaf. It confused Rastromao, but he didn't hurt himself and knocked out Mismagius!

I defeated Fantina! And received the Relic Badge! I got Fantina's Stickers and TM65s, or Shadow...Claw. ...Meh.
I stopped by the other rooms on my way out. An Ace Trainer claimed he'll remember me and my Pokémon, but I never battled him. But I guess it's possible the gym trainers spectated my battle?

Anyway, props to Fantina for being an actually competent gym leader.

I can Surf around now, which is... huge. I'm not sure where to start! Cynthia wants me to start by going to Canalave off Jubilife. I guess it makes sense to go to Jubilife anyway... to go and fail at their lottery.
That said, I'm sick of Jubilife TV's stalkerish FAKE NEWS paparazzi following me around.

In Route 218, I caught Floatzie the Rash Floatzel♂, Baby Cola the Bold Glameow♀, and COLA the Serious Glameow♀.

I'll be using COLA.

[Ludwig Von Koopa]

wtf dammit Lemmy I just wanted to explore Canalave at night with my new cat

BUT NO, LEMMY COMES IN AND BRAGS ABOUT HIS NEW GYM BADGE AND CHALLENGES ME TO A BATTLE.

I'm not ready I haven't even internalised COLA's moves...

VERSUS LEMMY
Oh, he has FIVE Pokémon now? Well, he starts off with Staravia (level 32).
COLA's moves are... Aerial Ace... Fury Swipes... Charm... and Taunt. ...Uh... Let's... not.

COLA, come back! Longstreet, handle your... younger male self? And Intimidate it back.
Staravia Double Teamed, which is irrelevant to Aerial Ace! Somehow, Staravia clings to health, and... Double Teams again. Did Lemmy beat Byron with evasion ha--...
WHAT THE FUCK

HIS STARAVIA HAS A QUICK CLAW AND USED ENDEAVOR
Bringing Longstreet down to 3 HP. Fortunately, Longstreet ate a Mago Berry (45/128).
Lemmy sent out his new Pokémon: A Heracross (level 32, ♂).
Why...? Did you not watch how Staravia fainted...?
Longstreet Aerial Aced and knocked it out.

Lemmy then sent out Buizel (level 33).
I switched Longstreet out for Marissa. Buizel... pissed some water at her from his tail? (84/93)
Buizel Tail Whipped, but Marissa avoided it and Toxic Spikes. The turn after, Tail Whip connected successfully, but Marissa also got a second layer.
Buizel bit Marissa, but she critical hitted (60/93) Giga Drain to OHKO Buizel (93/93).

Lemmy sent out Monferno, who was badly poisoned (level 37).

I sent out COLA to see what'd happen and...uh... ow. He Flame Wheeled her (14/74).
I... my team is COLA, Koopy, Longstreet, Marissa, Dame Pin, and Kazza. Who do I switch in??

I switched out COLA and sent out Kazza. Fortunately, Monferno Mach Punched for not very effective damage (74/92), but Monferno also has a Shell Bell.

Kazza went first to knock Monferno out with Psychic!

Lemmy then sent out his Roselia (level 34). He absorbed the Toxic Spikes, but I wonder why he didn't do that first before sending out Monferno. Kazza OHKOd it with Psychic, and that's that.

Lemmy says I should go challenge the gym leader. Meanwhile, I... can also visit Iron Island, and Surf to find a secret passage in Canalave. Along the short way, I caught Cat o' 9Tent the Naughty Tentacool♀. Bad Nature in terms of competitive, but very...fitting for a Tentacool. The passage has TM89 for U-Turn. Very important TM! ...Though I would've liked more than one...