Genlocke: Leg 9 Complete!
Yet another game falls to the might of my oversized axolotl with a shotgun (its name is Earthquake). Well, him and his friends, of course. Couldn't do it without you guys!
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Shield proved to be pretty easy for the most part. I mean, I wouldn't really say it's a challenging game period, but my point is that I didn't really struggle too much during this run. At least, not until I got closer to the end. Once things started being fully evolved and having decent movesets, I'll admit, my cockiness nearly got the better of a fair few Pokemon on my team. In fact, it did just that. A few times, actually.
Whether it be cockiness or stupidity, I'm not sure, but I lost my Pangoro to Piers, and my Cryogonal to a random trainer on Route 10. These deaths hit pretty hard, especially Cryogonal. I mean, I had that thing with me since my first run through of Unova. Besides my Swampert, it was my second-longest living team member. And what did it die to? Cameraman Cam's Klinklang. Because I somehow forgot that Swampert is slow as all get out. Klinklang decided to use Gear Grind, absolutely decimating my poor Cryogonal. Rest in peace to a real one; your sacrifice was not in vain. Oh, and my Pangoro? Died to Piers' Obstagoon. And honestly, that was so very much due to my own negligence. Obstagoon sets up Obstruct, blocking the move I was about to use and lowering my defense. Then, Pangoro can't quite get a kill off in the next turn, and he gets one-shot by Counter. I got baited. Hard.
Anywho, my last death was far more heroic. At least, that's how I like to think about it. Kevin the Galarian Weezing. I picked him up just before I fought Kabu, in preparation for Opal's Fairy-types. When I got him, he was only really meant to be a temporary team member. But after the 5th gym, he just kinda stuck around. I couldn't really figure out a way to retire him without getting rid of some key coverages. So, I didn't. He stuck around, and he pulled his weight. It all culminated in a final showing of his devotion to the team during the fight with Leon. I send Kevin out against Leon's Haxorus, hoping to take advantage of his less-than-stellar special defense to get a quick kill with Dazzling Gleam. Kevin doesn't outspeed Haxorus. But what he lacks in speed, he makes up for in bulk. Galarian Weezing is a physical tank. He tanks an Iron Tail, but is unable to take another. He has to finish this now. He fires off a Dazzling Gleam, but just barely is unable to take out Haxorus. I'm panicking a little bit. I thought that would work. I can't possibly switch out; nothing else can reliably take a hit from this Haxorus, and I need some of these guys to be at full strength since Leon still has half of his team left after this. I realize that the only thing I could possibly do in this moment was to sacrifice Kevin to get a clean switch into Craig (my Cinderace), who would certainly outspeed and kill. I select Dazzling Gleam once more. And, to my surprise, Leon heals his Haxorus. Okay, maybe it's just a range, right? The first Dazzling Gleam left Haxorus pretty low, so maybe if I'm lucky, I can take it out. No. Haxorus lives on a sliver of health. A smaller sliver than the previous attack. It was a range, and I rolled low. I know what I must do. I choose Dazzling Gleam for the final time, and Haxorus fires off one more Iron Tail, taking out Kevin. I switch in Craig, finally putting Haxorus down for good with a Flame Charge. Rest in peace to a real one. You may have begun as a temporary team member, but you earned your keep and then some. You'll permanently be in my heart.
Now that the Very-Much-Beatable Leon has fallen, we're in the home stretch of this challenge! The end is in sight, folks. See? It's right there, at the bottom of that crater. Scarlet is gonna take us to Paldea for the grand finale. Let's finish her out strong.
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League Team:
Sidon VII the Swampert (lv. 66)
Detroit II the Decidueye (lv. 66)
Craig the Cinderace (lv. 66)
Kevin the Galarian Weezing (lv. 65)
John the Tyranitar (lv. 65)
Kyle the Mr. Rime (lv. 65)
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Retirees:
Tokyo II the Pichu (lv. 1)
Oslo II the Cutiefly (lv. 18)
Carl the Manectric (lv. 26)
Dave the Corviknight (lv. 39)
Adam the Bewear (lv. 49)
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Rest in Peace:
Beijing II the Pangoro (lv. 48 - died to Piers' Obstagoon)
Carly Goon V the Cryogonal (lv. 53 - died to Cameraman Cam's Klinklang)
Kevin the Galarian Weezing (lv. 65 - died to Champion Leon's Haxorus)