Training for Petalburg Gym
Okay. So my decision with stat calculation was to just post their stats when each of them next level up. Whenever that may be.
Now, more tellingly, I now have the option to fight my in-game dad, Norman. Or I could do the desert. Or the Trick House. I dunno.
I'm thinking that I ought to avoid the desert, since all of my Pokémon will take damage from it. I'll do it on my Rock-type, Ground-type, and Steel-type runs.
Now, ordinarily, I would be worried about fighting Norman, particularly after how close it was with my last four gym battles. After all, this guy has two big freaking Slaking. Those things have legendary Pokémon stat equivalents. Of course, they also have Truant.
But I think I have a plan. Linoone can use Dig. With this, he'll only be able to hit me every other turn. But that means that if I time the Digs correctly, then I can just hide underground on the turns that he attacks, and then hit him on the turns that Truant forces him to loaf around.
It all depends on Slaking's Speed. I need to know when to begin the Dig depending on whether I'm faster or slower. I could Quick Claw, but that's very inconsistent.
Based on my Hidden Power experience, I'm guessing that it has 0 IVs, and I believe that opponents have 0 EVs, as that would make the most sense.
If this is the case, his first Slaking has 54/61/67 Speed, while his second has 60/67/73 Speed, depending on whether it's a hindering nature, neutral nature, or helpful nature. Linoone's Speed is currently 64. I could go buy some Carbos to help, but then I have to train and I really should.
To get to Petalburg Gym, I can either use Mr. Briney's Boat, the Rusturf Tunnel, or the Meteor Falls to get back there.
It doesn't matter.
Regardless, I'll end up back at Petalburg Gym.
Before that, though, I need to pick up some Carbos for Linoone. Linoone currently has 55 Speed EVs. I know that 4 EVs raise a stat by 1. So, in theory, I need to have 12 more EVs to raise its Speed to 67. So two Carbos would give me 20, thus giving me, in theory, a +5 Speed boost, putting Linoone at 72. Where it would outspeed both Slakings, except for the second one if and only if it has a positive nature.
In theory.
I suppose I could use two Carbos and then try to Level Up by fighting against things that give Speed EVs. Gaining another 4 after that would give me a Speed tie, resulting in me going first 50% of the time. Gaining another 8 would make me go first all the time.
I could give Linoone the Quick Claw, and then it would get around the Speed tie 75% of the time. But I need consistency to constantly hit things with Dig correctly. I don't want to guess whether I go first or second. I want to know. I need to know.
So I need 28 Speed EVs, followed by a Level Up. I think.
I could just buy 3 Carbos. I think. That would cost me $29400. I have $38530. So I'd be able to afford it.
Oh sure. Let's do that.
- Linoone: +30 SPE
And actually, come to think of it, I can also sell my Nugget for an additional $5000. And I can exploit the money-making in this game. Yeah. Okay, that's what I'll do. I sell all of my status healers (except the Flutes).
Then, I go up to Mt. Chimney and buy a dozen Lava Cookies.
And Linoone still needs a damn Level Up. I guess I can fight the trainers on Mt. Chimney. First, though, I remove the Soft Sand so that it can pick up items.
- Linoone: +4 HP, +1 DEF, +1 SPE
Linoone still needs 427 Exp. Points before a Level Up.
Hmmm...
I guess I could do the Trick House. Who knows? I might win a helpful item!
First, though, I can now access the other side of the Fiery Path, so I do. Here, I find TM 06 (Toxic) and a Fire Stone. A Fire Stone can be used to evolve Pansear (which doesn't exist in this generation), Growlithe and Eevee (which don't exist in this game), or Vulpix (which cannot be used in a non-Fire monotype run). So I just got something to sell. As for Toxic, it is a valid option against Norman, but my Dig strategy is far more effective. I may use Toxic later though, so I'll keep it in mind.
For now, Trick House time!
- Linoone: +1 HP, +1 SPA
Linoone grew to Level 28!
- HP: 84
- ATK: 47
- DEF: 45
- SPA: 40
- SPD: 45
- SPE: 69
Wha-? By my calculations, that Speed stat should have shot up to 74.
Also, confession time. I may have written the EVs down wrong. I was under the impression that Ralts's EV Yield was +1 SPD, when it's actually +1 SPA. So whenever I fought one, I wrote it down wrong. Still, that shouldn't affect Linoone's SPE. What's going on!?
I am confused.
...
I hurt myself in my confusion.
- Linoone: +1 DEF, +4 SPA, +1 SPE
Reward: Timer Ball
Time to take on another one. This time with my Zangoose, who is underlevel and could use the training. I could potentially use the reward item, depending on what it is.
...
Or not. Yeah, apparently I can beat that challenge without having to battle anyone.
Reward: Hard Stone
Huh. Can a Normal-type actually make use of that?
*looks it up*
Kecleon gets Ancient Power by Level Up. Spinda and Kecleon can get Rock Tomb via TM 39. Jigglypuff gets Rollout by Level Up.
And that's it. Interesting.
I'll put it in my PC for now. I also sell the Fire Stone, plus some of the mail that I got from the Trick House (I didn't get all of it though).
And I refill my Soda Pop collection. Of course.
Now, I could go fight Norman. I'm feeling reasonably confident.
Or I could check out the desert. I kinda want to fully explore Hoenn during my first run, so that I can look back and easily see where everything is during my second and third and fourth and etc. runs.
Nah. I think I'll just fight Norman.
