I defeated Kabu and have made it to Hammerlocke and Route 6! Can't say I particularly enjoyed the gym requirements this time around, but hey ho. Kabu was surprisingly difficult though! Ninetales, Arcanine and Gigantamax Centiskorch this early on? My oh my. I set up a couple of Hone Claws with The Goon, who then 2HKOed Ninetales with Night Slash (after healing off the burn from Will-O-Wisp) before falling to Arcanine. The damage I dealt to Arcanine with The Goon helped Thundrstruck take its first win with Nuzzle and Acid, but then I brought in Drizzile versus Centiskorch. Max Flutterby did a solid chunk to Drizzile, but Max Geyser found its mark and 2HKOed it, giving me the win!
I loved how the gym leaders saw you off, gave a much greater impact on your gym challenge which has honestly felt a bit amiss in the older games, it actually feels special. Kabu being the stumbling block for many trainers was cool to see (and deserved, without a Water or Rock type I can see why it would be difficult!) and I should also mention how he walked onto the field as you did, from your side. Made each gym feel unique, I loved it.
Anywho, did some Wild Area shenanigans and progressed into Hammerlocke, to hear how Bede destroyed Hop and was a bit of a dick. I explored the area, spoke to Rose, found myself disappointed in the vault (it's... underwhelming, I kind of expected more from a vault) but loving Raihan, and made my way to Route 6. Here, I discovered I'm actually on par in regards to levels, and not over-levelled like I was anticipating (or under-levelled, for that matter). It didn't change things too much, although you can definitely feel the strain on Drizzile and Corvisquire now to evolve because they're feeling a bit weak now. Sirfetch'd and my new Toxtricity (who is probably my favourite Pokemon from this generation, for the record) are absolute powerhouses though, and Linoone has surprised me quite a bit! Obstagoon is going to be a fantastic bonus soon. But yeah, Corvisquire is struggling a little bit. It's definitely one of the better early birds of the game though, probably only behind Staravia and Trumbeak and on par with Fletchinder (final stages do change a bit because Talonflame > Toucannon any day, but still!) if you're looking at middle stages. Drizzile has kept up admirably, I think it's a solid middle stage starter, no real complaints other than it needs to evolve soon.
Route 6, I caught my last team member - Yamask! Nobody seems to be using Runerigus on their main team and honestly the spooky boi is one of my favourite Galarian forms. The new Ground typing is fantastic, and I honestly do not use Ghost types enough. So this'll be fun! Evolving it... less so. Turns out the "lose 49 HP at least" thing didn't seem to work for me, and I had to use the Focus Sash to get it to 1HP and do it from there. Still, got a Runerigus now! Have yet to use it though, just fixed up the squad's movesets then saved.
Other thoughts... game is incredible so far. Every major city I've been to thus far has looked fantastic, and I'm not too bothered by the graphics in other areas. My team is shaping up really nicely so far and the variety of Pokemon I've encountered has been staggering, don't think I've enjoyed a new Pokemon game this much since... Black and White? It's up there so far, will see how it ranks when I beat it. I am looking forward to some post-game shenanigans though, think I might actually progress into competitive and shiny hunting in this game! And complete the Pokedex too, make this the start of a new chapter in my Pokemon journey. Wouldn't be me without thinking about other teams though, honestly despite my notions about the levels (no complaint from me about scaling thus far, managed to keep on it at every stage except maybe right at the beginning, around Milo) you could pull of rotating your team around each gym badge rather well! Get to the Pokemon League and have your starter + 5 most successful Pokemon you've used, make that your final team with honourable mentions. Might do that with Shield when I get that/beat it for the Pokedex (unless my friend gets it for Christmas and wants to trade me stuff). Think it'd be fun! Plus lets me try the other two starters, who I quite like as well.
Sword Team:
Bubbleoseven the Drizzile, Level 31 (Water Pledge, Sucker Punch, U-Turn, Swift)
Nevermore the Corvisquire, Level 31 (Pluck, Hone Claws, Power Trip, Facade)
The Goon the Galarian Linoone, Level 31 (Night Slash, Headbutt, Hone Claws, Pin Missile)
Thundrstruck the Toxtricity, Level 31 (Spark, Shock Wave, Acid Spray, Venoshock)
Lancelot the Sirfetch'd, Level 31 (Focus Energy, Rock Smash, First Impression, Knock Off)
Spookshire the Runerigus, Level 31 [Shadow Claw, Hex, Will-O-Wisp, Rock Blast]