Xaq (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
xaq_the_aereon) wrote2017-11-22 10:37 pm
xaq_the_aereon) wrote2017-11-22 10:37 pm
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Ultra Sun Pokedex Entry 5: Trial and Error
After some more leveling and 'mon hunting, I finally move on to the Verdant Caverns for Ilima's Trial.
For an area populated entirely by Yungoos and Gumshoos, it was surprisingly challenging. I had Bella lead the way, taking a more cautious approach via Reflect and Barrier to help curtail damage...which turned out to be a waste of time against the first two Yungoos you have to fight.
Before I could get to the Gumshoos, however, these two idiots in black-and-white thug outfits showed up, acting like they knew who I was...okay, yeah, it was those two Team Skull Grunts again, but the game gives you the option in this encounter of acting like you have no idea who they are, and the way their faces, bodies, and egos just deflate in the face of "...Who are you guys again?" is hilarious, as is their attempt to save face by swapping places and pretending like the fact that they were in the wrong spots was the determining factor...despite looking 100% alike.
The Grunt I had to take on brought a Drowzee with him. I figured that, despite the level difference, I'd give Gastly a shot at it. This choice proved better than expected, as he continually attacked not with Confusion or Psychic, but Pound...a Normal-type move.
WHIFF.
Meanwhile Gastly just keeps going at him with the only Ghost-type attack it knows, Lick...meaning the fight basically played out like Kakyoin's scene with the cherry.
*checks off "Make a Jojo reference"* Perhaps one day I'll actually watch it...anyway.
After that, it was a matter of dealing with a Gumshoos, which made the mistake of KO'ing Bella. Screw you, big guns come out, and Serenity sweeps things up 2 turns later.
...Then we get to the Totem Pokemon guarding the Normalium Z-Crystal that we have to collect to finish the trial. It's here that I get a reminder of how annoying Totem Pokemon can be, since this one, despite being a Gumshoos, does 2 things:
1) It fires up its Aura at the start, raising its Defense,
and 2) it calls for backup, bringing a Yungoos in to support it.
This would be a taxing fight, trying to deal with one before the other...except Serenity knows Icy Blast, an Ice-type move that hits all opposing 'mons. So:
-Bella brings up her Barrier.
-Totem Gumshoos one-shots her with Bite because, while I used a Revive, I forgot to heal.
-Serenity tags in.
-Yungoos gets called.
-5 turns of Icy Blast and Th-Th-Th-That's All, Folks!
I get the Normalium-Z and make a note to come back with the Tauros Ride Pokemon later since there's a TM atop a cliff that you need to break some rocks to reach...so glad HMs are a thing of the past now.
I head back out and OH HI, WEIRD CYBERSUITED AURA-SEEKING SERVANTS OF THE BLINDING ONE! D:
...Turns out they're actually pretty cool. Zossie and Durse are their names, I see, and they're part of what's called the "Ultra Recon Group" or something? Anyway, they seem really impressed with my ball technology... ...wait, they don't know what Poke Balls are?
Weirdos.
Anyway, one failed attempt to catch a Zubat later (because Gauss can't help but one-shot the darn thing) and I call it a run at that point. We'll pick it back up later.
For an area populated entirely by Yungoos and Gumshoos, it was surprisingly challenging. I had Bella lead the way, taking a more cautious approach via Reflect and Barrier to help curtail damage...which turned out to be a waste of time against the first two Yungoos you have to fight.
Before I could get to the Gumshoos, however, these two idiots in black-and-white thug outfits showed up, acting like they knew who I was...okay, yeah, it was those two Team Skull Grunts again, but the game gives you the option in this encounter of acting like you have no idea who they are, and the way their faces, bodies, and egos just deflate in the face of "...Who are you guys again?" is hilarious, as is their attempt to save face by swapping places and pretending like the fact that they were in the wrong spots was the determining factor...despite looking 100% alike.
The Grunt I had to take on brought a Drowzee with him. I figured that, despite the level difference, I'd give Gastly a shot at it. This choice proved better than expected, as he continually attacked not with Confusion or Psychic, but Pound...a Normal-type move.
WHIFF.
Meanwhile Gastly just keeps going at him with the only Ghost-type attack it knows, Lick...meaning the fight basically played out like Kakyoin's scene with the cherry.
*checks off "Make a Jojo reference"* Perhaps one day I'll actually watch it...anyway.
After that, it was a matter of dealing with a Gumshoos, which made the mistake of KO'ing Bella. Screw you, big guns come out, and Serenity sweeps things up 2 turns later.
...Then we get to the Totem Pokemon guarding the Normalium Z-Crystal that we have to collect to finish the trial. It's here that I get a reminder of how annoying Totem Pokemon can be, since this one, despite being a Gumshoos, does 2 things:
1) It fires up its Aura at the start, raising its Defense,
and 2) it calls for backup, bringing a Yungoos in to support it.
This would be a taxing fight, trying to deal with one before the other...except Serenity knows Icy Blast, an Ice-type move that hits all opposing 'mons. So:
-Bella brings up her Barrier.
-Totem Gumshoos one-shots her with Bite because, while I used a Revive, I forgot to heal.
-Serenity tags in.
-Yungoos gets called.
-5 turns of Icy Blast and Th-Th-Th-That's All, Folks!
I get the Normalium-Z and make a note to come back with the Tauros Ride Pokemon later since there's a TM atop a cliff that you need to break some rocks to reach...so glad HMs are a thing of the past now.
I head back out and OH HI, WEIRD CYBERSUITED AURA-SEEKING SERVANTS OF THE BLINDING ONE! D:
...Turns out they're actually pretty cool. Zossie and Durse are their names, I see, and they're part of what's called the "Ultra Recon Group" or something? Anyway, they seem really impressed with my ball technology... ...wait, they don't know what Poke Balls are?
Weirdos.
Anyway, one failed attempt to catch a Zubat later (because Gauss can't help but one-shot the darn thing) and I call it a run at that point. We'll pick it back up later.