Okay, so going to make this quite short even though it's my first entry in this thread.
Started my first playthrough on 1-1-2017. Yup. And I've been playing slowly.
Starter was Rowlet, the first one I got was male and Adamant, I named it Arrowl. I decided on a few things:
- 1. Alolan Pokémon have priority.
- 2. Alolan Formes are included in point 1., including stuff like Pichu and Cubone.
- 3. Extremely rare catches, utility 'mons (Synchronize, Pick-up, Flame Body) and gifts are fair game, but probably won't see any training.
- 4. Battle style is set and Exp.All is turned off.
On Melemele, I got turned off by how long you were guided along and how long everything took. Extremely annoyed by how few trainers had more then a single pokémon. I think out of disinterest I started a game of Blue in the meantime.. Oh well, I caught Yungoos, Rattata, Grubbin, Pikipek, Meowth, Grimer, Pichu, Cutiefly, Crabrawler all quite early. The natures were okay'ish, with quite a few being Naive, due to me capturing a Naive Synchronize Abra. Grimer has a SpD boosting nature, and Meowth being +SpD, -Att, but is pretty much destined to be breeding material anyway (I want Alolan Persian with Parting Shot/Foul Play and those are bred moves). The Pichu was Timid and caught in a Luxury Ball, which was nice. The battles against Ilima were nice, but not too challenging. The Totem Pokémon wasn't too challenging either. Though I was taken offguard by some pokémon in the cavern knowing moves that they shouldn't yet, such as Hyper Fang. Prior to the Grand Trial, I caught a few things, Alolan Diglett, Oricorio and a Rufflet since I thought it was rare and I could use it for Fly.. Then I realized that Fly HM isn't a thing anymore. And I kinda didn't want to have a non-Alolan pokémon ruining my exclusive pokédex.. But it happened and now it's just wasting away in a box. Then I battled Hala and it wasn't really a problem. Afterwards I trained a bit and caught a female Munchlax, while my Diglett and Crabrawler stole two Leftovers using Thief. Three Leftovers prior to leaving the first Island was a sweet thing. Talking about sweet things, Meowth FOUND a Destiny Knot, which is quite a rare item if these pages don't lie. I caught a Rockruff before leaving for Akala.
On Akala, I fought either Dexio or Sinia, the one with Espeon. That was nice, because I only had some in-training critters with me. I should explain that I level-up every critter that I have equally, I don't have a set team of six that I use, but Arrowl is pretty much on it the entire time, which at this point was already a Dartrix. I made my way to Paniola Town, where after a few tries, I caught an Adamant Mudbray, called Eddie. At the ranch I started training some of the critters that were lacking behind a bit. I trained everything up to level 20, so Yungoos, Rattata, Pikipek, Grubbin, Meowth, Pichu, they all evolved. I made my way through Route 5, forgot to capture a Fomantis, but it's easily one of the pokémon I'm least interested about in GenVII, and I still haven't bothered with it since. I entired Brooklet Hill and followed Lana until the trial.. DAMN. Damn! I was level 20! Yes, I had a Dartrix on my team, but I wasn't intent on taking the easy route, but that freakishly Wishiwashi with its Sitrus Berry and Helping Hand and that Alomamola with the Heal Pulse! IT JUST WOULDN'T GO DOWN!!! I won, but only because it used Soak on me and it therefore lost a good neutral hit on me, while I was left using coverage moves so the loss of STAB didn't hurt me. On my team, I had Cutiefly, Arrowl, Trumbeak, Alolan Grimer, Crabrawler and Oricorio, but they all took massive damage.
With that out of the way, I went on a capture spree.. A whole lot of Synchronize Abra's were the result of frustration about not getting a good natured Dewpider. I nearly got the entire set of Synchronize Abra's at the time of writing, or at least I can make due (I've got both Adamant and Modest, a Naive for fast mixed attackers, Lonely for slow mixed attackers and Brave for extremely slow mixed attackers, Timid and Relaxed for walls). Then I headed back to Melemele, there I caught a Modest Wishiwashi, a Relaxed Merciless Mareanie named Mersea. I also fought Ilima again and got an Everstone. Back on Akala I cought a Brave Dewpider. Before entering the Battle Royal introduction, I trained everything up to level 22, so I headed into the Battle Royal with Dipples, the Araquanid. Afterwards I headed out to Route 7, didn't do much there, but caught a Relaxed Pyukumuku. Haven't trained it yet, but I will soon enough. I tried to go into the Battle Royal again, but they use Lvl50 critters apparently. What a turn-off.
So I headed up the Volcano. Which turned out to be less impressive then I thought it would be. Well, they can't all be Stark Mountain I guess. Oh well, I caught an Adamant, Scrappy Kangaskhan on accident (I swear, no Abra's were used) before I caught a female, Modest Salandit. I also caught a Magby for the Flame Body ability. I guess I know have all I need (Destiny Knot, Everstone, Flame Body) for when I want to start breeding, except for stuff with Egg Moves.. and thus I came to Kiawe's Trial. Which was honestly disappointing. I forgot that Salandit was x4 weak to Ground.. And Eddie just tanked a hit from Salazzle, before it murdered both the Salandit and Salazzle with a single Bulldoze.. -.-
After that, I went up Route 8, after quite a few tries, I caught a female Adamant Stuffel with the Fluffy Ability. I named it Pawpaw, which is part of a naming trend I have in this region, likewise my Rockruff is named Rowrow, my Oricorio is named Taptap, Cutiefly is named Zumzum and a few others. Then I went down do Brooklet Hill again, but this time at night and I caught a Morelull, which I will need to breed since I want Leech Seed on that. I levelled up quite a few pokémon to level 25, mostly my physical attackers because the EV-training is real - and there's so many places at this point that mostly give out attack and speed EV's. Rockruff evolved into a Midday Lycanroc, yay! Which leaves me with quite a few Special Attackers and tanks that are not up to par quite yet.
But that's where I am at the game right now. Sitting right in front of Lush Jungle, deciding what my next course of action is. Salandit is looking at me with crazy intent though. I think it likes roasted Fomantis in the morning.
I proceeded to rub it in my best friends face again before going about my business. 3 days later...... SHINY MAGNEMITE! while I was looking for extra Magnemite for my box. Suddenly 3 shinies in the span of a month when before this happened, I'm pretty sure I've never had a shiny that didn't count. And yes, I did rub the Magnemite in my best friends face too.
