How would you choose to rewrite Ash’s Torterra for AFTER it evolved?
So this is just rewriting how Torterra’s story/character was handled after fully evolving. So you can’t change anything from when it was a Turtwig or Grotle.
Aside from the obvious “don’t make it lose every battle,” I’d make a few notable changes:
Have it’s evolution feel like it finally mastered its new battle style, with Ash actually showcasing that he understands and can excel with Torterra in that way. Maybe it could happen in the Bertha battle, which would actually impress her.
Actually use the Energy Ball power-up again. I know if inspired Dawn and all, but it had literally no purpose for existing aside from that. Torterra never used it after evolving, and it was never brought up again. So I’d have Torterra show it off against Volkner’s Electivire and actually beat it, instead of getting one shot. Or at the very least, tie. And it could even be used in the Sinnoh League.
In the Sinnoh League battle against Paul, I’d have Paul use Honchcrow and Torterra instead of Ninjask and Froslass, then have Torterra get its revenge on Honchcrow, and impress Paul’s Torterra, leading to a tie between them. Obviously, this would take some reworking with the whole battle, but I want Torterra to get these moments with both of Paul’s Pokémon, as Torterra’s connections to Paul’s Torterra and Honchcrow felt incomplete. Torterra could beat Honchcrow straight-up, then Paul’s Torterra and Ash’s could come back out to face each other when they’re both fairly damaged, then exchange a few moves (with Ash’s using the energy ball power-up) and end in a tie. But honestly, as long as it’s not what ACTUALLY happened in the Paul battle, it will feel like an upgrade for Torterra. That would feel like a satisfying conclusion to it’s story, and a nice mini-ending to set up Gliscor beating Drapion and the eventual Infernape pay-off. It would probably end up being Infernape beating Aggron and Electivire (same as before), Buizel beating Gastrodon and losing to Drapion (same as before), Gliscor beating Drapion and losing to Electivire (same as before), Torterra beating Honchcrow ending with a tie against Paul’s Torterra (new), Pikachu helping out a bunch by weakening Aggron, Torterra, and Electivire for Infernape and Torterra, but still losing to Electivire (Pikachu battles Torterra instead of Froslass), and Staraptor can still get shafted by Drapion (it already had it’s wins against Paul).
I kinda liked Turtwig’s dynamic with Ash’s Chimchar. They felt almost brotherly in a way, and Turtwig even displayed some protective tendencies with Chimchar against Paul. I’d expand on that some as a Torterra, and really try to show off a more developed friendship between the two of them. I think that would be nice.
Synthesis sucked. Never once came in handy after evolving into Torterra. Ash using healing moves in general also feels weird. So I’d definitely replace Synthesis with another move. Giga Drain would be a good choice, because it heals AND does damage, and it could signify how Ash’s Torterra learned it’s battling style from Paul’s. Endure, Protect, and Curse could be good choices to help with Torterra’s tanky battle style, without just being a passive healing move that leaves it vulnerable. Maybe even something like Wood Hammer for more power, or Stone Edge for coverage. Just SOMETHING other than synthesis…
Those are just my thoughts. What about all of you?