Since my last post I've cleared up to Canalave City, which I haven't visited yet since I got distracted heading along the newly accessible Surf routes for additional levels and items. As you can see below, my team is cracked - Level 42 before even clearing Iron Island or the Canalave Gym is insane! I'm not a huge fan of forced Exp. Share anyway especially since they didn't re-balance Sinnoh with it in mind, but hey ho. This game was mainly a nostalgia experience anyway and I'll get my difficulty kick during the end-game and post-game. Hard to say how good my team is because of that, I've managed to use everyone fairly equally although Togetic, Roselia and Empoleon see slightly less usage compared to the other 3 team members which I'm working on correcting. Electabuzz and Magmar are super strong in this game and honestly a lot of that has been spamming STAB + Psychic, so maybe this is another game where Psychic types are pretty good?
Maylene was pretty easy - Togetic was outsped by Meditite who went for Light Screen, but Dazzling Gleam still 0HKOed. Machoke went down to a couple of Psychic attacks from Electabuzz whilst Magmar 2HKOed Lucario with Flamethrower even after tanking a Drain Punch. Crasher Wake was even easier, where Electabuzz (equipped with a Zap Plate since I thought his Gyarados had a Wacan Berry) 0HKOed Gyarados and Floatzel whilst Roselia one-shot Quagsire with Giga Drain. Fantina was also not a challenge (go figure) since Rhyhorn at -1 Attack 2HKOed Drifblim with Rock Blast and crit Gengar with Drill Run to one-shot it, with Mismagius being taken down by Thunderbolt from Electabuzz.
Besides that I've spent my 27 hours of game progress clearing the routes towards Ramanas Park, the caves around Jubilife City and the Fuego Ironworks for items (completely forgot you needed Strength to access TM Focus Punch and I think the Fist Plate in Oreburgh Gate) plus hunting for evolution items. Did you know Pickup works best after you KO wild Pokemon, rather than running up and down aimlessly? I didn't, until after 4hrs of nothing I watched a YouTube guide. Got my second Shiny Stone though for Roselia / Togetic! Also spent an hour spamming Dazzling Cave with my Super Luck Murkrow for a chance at an Electrizer, which I now also possess. Means I just need a Magmarizer and Protector for Magmar / Rhydon and my team can fully evolve! I'm saving it for after Iron Island but before the Canalave Gym, I think 5-6 badges is reasonable for unlocking a fully evolved team.
Brilliant Diamond Team:
Royal the Empoleon
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Level 42 | Hardy Nature | Torrent
Surf / Ice Beam / Aqua Jet / Grass Knot
Bandit the Roselia
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Level 42 | Lonely Nature | Natural Cure
Giga Drain / Shadow Ball / Dazzling Gleam / Grass Knot
Amaterasu the Magmar
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Level 42 | Calm Nature | Flame Body
Flamethrower / Psychic / Mach Punch / Fire Punch
Titan the Rhydon
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Level 42 | Brave Nature | Rock Head
Drill Run / Hammer Arm / Strength / Rock Blast
Virtue the Togetic
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Level 43 | Gentle Nature | Serene Grace
Dazzling Gleam / Grass Knot / Yawn / Flamethrower
Raijin the Electabuzz
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Level 42 | Rash Nature | Static
Thunderbolt / Low Kick / Fire Punch / Psychic