Apologies for the double post, but it's been nearly two weeks and nobody else posted so we're going for it.
I beat the game! Sort-of, if you count beating the Elite 4 and Champion as game completed. I'm not normally one for post-game stuff unless it's stuff like the Battle Frontier or a whole other place like in BW or HG/SS. I might come back to this one day and capture the legendaries and complete the Pokedex, but I think for now this is Kanto over and done with. Onto Johto now I suppose! The end credits always get me all teary-eyed, very strange.
Since my last post I got lost in the Seafoam Islands and the Pokemon Mansion, defeated Blaine rather quickly thanks to Gyarados and Rhydon and then moved on to defeating Giovanni again. Gyarados practically swept the place, so that was simple enough. Cleared Victory Road, and prepared to face the Pokemon League! My team was all Level 55 by this point, perfectly levelled for the challenge ahead. And then we went in.
Lorelei was pretty much a Pikachu sweep, although Gyarados and Arcanine did get some usage versus Slowbro and Jynx respectively. I felt pretty lucky dodging Lapras' final attacks to 2HKO it with Zippy Zap, otherwise we may have had the first casualty on this Elite 4 run.
Bruno went swimmingly, Vileplume wrecking his Onix (but not before it set up Stealth Rock) and returning later on to finish off his Poliwrath. Pidgeot finally gained some actual use and wrecked both Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee and Machamp! Nice going.
Agatha was the toughest of the Elite 4, Rhydon going in first and unfortunately being paralyzed by Arbok's Glare meaning we had to tank a Crunch first before putting it down with Earthquake. I'd hoped to use Rhydon again versus Gengar (the lower levelled one) but Shadow Ball + paralysis put Rhydon in a weaker position. So I swapped to Gyarados, who got crit twice then poisoned to KO it. Rhydon did return and KO it with Earthquake, then KOed Weezing and Golbat with Earthquake and Rock Slide respectively. Final Gengar fell to Arcanine's Crunch, who proved to be surprisingly fast!
Lance was really easy actually, which helps when 4/5 of his team are weak to Electric. Vileplume beat Seadra in one hit with Mega Drain, Pikachu shocked Gyarados with Zippy Zap, Rhydon crushed Aerodactyl with Rock Slide, Gyarados swamped Charizard with Waterfall and Arcanine battered Dragonite with Play Rough! Easy time.
Then I battled my Rival, who surprise-surprise was the Champion. Kind of didn't like that Lance told me that? I always liked the surprise of seeing your rival as the Champion previously, even if you already kinda knew. Perhaps I'm nostalgic for games I never beat, who knows. Anyway, every team member got to win here. Rhydon beat Mega Pidgeot with Rock Slide, Gyarados beat Slowbro with Crunch spam, Arcanine took on Rapidash with Crunch + Superpower, Vileplume drained Marowak with Mega Drain, Pikachu took on his Jolteon and won with Dig + Splishy Splash, and my own Pidgeot who could not Mega Evolve defeated his Vileplume with Fly into Air Slash. And that, as they say, is that.
Where does my gaming journey take me now? Probably to HeartGold, at least for my own solo adventure. My friend and I are still playing USUM (especially now that I'm finished for the year with uni) so that'll continue. All's good! Figured now it's the end I'd critique my team and explain how I felt about them. Also I renamed them all.
Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu Team:
McLightning the Pikachu, Level 56 [Zippy Zap, Floaty Fall, Dig, Splishy Splash]
My cute afro-wearing starter! Pikachu has remained progressively powerful over the time I used it, Zippy Zap mainly being the move used and the other tutor moves hardly being touched, perhaps simply due to not having to rely on it for anything. Pikachu felt a bit weaker towards the end, but ultimately kept pace perfectly fine. A solid starter for sure.
Big Birb the Pidgeot, Level 56 [Headbutt, Fly, Air Slash, Heat Wave]
Ah, the original regional bird, how they've improved over time. Pidgeot kinda sucked, partially because it had bloody Headbutt and Quick Attack for the entire journey and partially because it didn't have a niche on my team. I love my birb of course, and I'm glad I chose it, but damn did Dodrio and Fearow look better about halfway through the game.
Shroomboi the Vileplume, Level 56 [Mega Drain, Sludge Bomb, Toxic, Dazzling Gleam]
Vileplume, finally I get to use you! Accidentally went with Bellossom in HeartGold once, oops. Vileplume is awesome, never really lost a battle, was tanky as hell and its moveset was exactly what it needed. Very reliable Pokemon, wish I got to use it a bit more.
Tsunamisnek the Gyarados, Level 56 [Waterfall, Crunch, Outrage, Earthquake]
My first time properly using Gyarados and I was not disappointed. This thing hits so hard! Waterfall got spammed a lot, Outrage and Crunch were useful and I liked Earthquake on it at the end. Also riding it was awesome. Bit slow to level, but very much worth it, 10/10 would use again.
Legendoggo the Arcanine, Level 56 [Flamethrower, Crunch, Play Rough, Superpower]
The only Pokemon here I've already beaten a game with using it before (in White 2) and it's as reliable now as it was then. It's not an exciting Pokemon per-say, and I did get bored of it at one point, but in terms of Fire types you can't do much better in this game. Solid moveset and stats, can ride it, was awesome.
Dinoswole the Rhydon, Level 56 [Megahorn, Superpower, Earthquake, Rock Slide]
My favourite nickname of the lot, Rhydon was one of my favourites on this team. It hit like a truck, was physically tanky as hell and it beat Flying types for me when I didn't want to overlevel Pikachu. Awesome! Very cool Pokemon I never really rode on, RIP me. 
We'll have to come up with a good code so we can see each other in game. We'll have to exchange FC's. I'll send you mine today.
