Who IS the Masked Royal? (it's Kukui)

At the gates if the Bokulani Observatory, I met the childhood friend of Professor Kukui. He referred to by  himself as "Molayne" and assured me that I was in good hands learning things from the Prof.  He challenged me to a pokemon battle--my toughest one yet.

He used three tough steel pokemon in battle: Skarmory, Alola Dugtrio, and Metang.  This is where I realized, for probably the fourth or twelfth time, that my team lacks focus because it's too damn large.  I had prepared for an electric trial and so all I had with me were Grimer, Steenee, Sylveon, and Misdreavus.  Sylveon and Steenee came out of the battle with top marks.  Neither of them was able to do much damage against their opponents (steel resists grass AND fairy moves), but they had the appropriate support moves in order to make the match an eventual success.  I mean, thank Arceus for potions and revives, but I was quite impressed by my packmen's abilities to tank hits and rebuff opponents.  

However, the battle helped illustrate to me how redundant Grimer and Misdreavus were on my squad.  I decided to send the both of them into training with Bagon--to be called upon if I ever need them--and thereby lowering my active team to eight players.

During the battle, Steenee evolved into Tsareena.  I fucking love this pokemon.  It's strong and it's really quite useful as a supporting role as well.  I currently have it with Trop Kick (a powerful physical grass attack which always lowers the opponent's attacking stat), Low Sweep (a strong fighting attack which always lowers the opponent's speed stat), Reflect (which doubles your team's physical defenses for 5 turns), and Light Screen (which doubles your team's special defenses for 5 turns).

Also, it's fucking adorable.

Fukui and Molayne congratulated me on a well-fought match and let me enter the observatory for my next trial.  Apparently the running gag is that everyone knows that Kukui's alter ego is the Masked Royal except for Kukui's wife.  Kukui thinks he's been doing a great job keeping it a secret that he moonlights as the undefeated champion of the Battle Royale league.  He hasn't fooled anyone other than his lady friend.

Current Squad:

Brionne/Pako Pako/lvl 26

Crabrawler/Ppunches/lvl 26
Salandit/Sassy Sally/lvl 27
Oricorio/Ori-chan/lvl 25
Steenee/Bouncee/lvl 29
Sylveon/Star Fighter/lvl 28

On Rotation:
Mareanie/Meanie/lvl 27
Trumbeak/Pip Pip/lvl 27



Pokedex: 126 caught

Vs. Lurantis

Against a Bug and grass type, there is no shelter from my team.  Go Team Foul Wing!

Vs Lurantis: The Hedge Trimmers

I led with Sludj as I always go, spreading poison to Lurantis--and then to its ally partner Trumbeak.  The fact that the mantis pokemon summoned Trumbeak should have been my firs cue that the battle was going to be longer than I expected, but I didn't get the memo.

See, my squad is so strong against grass that I actually started writing this post before I even started the battle.  The original transcript read simply as:

"It was easy and I won easily."

I could not have anticipated that the pokemon would have Synthesis.  Stalling does not work, at the most fundamental of levels, against an opponent that can heal itself. Grimer was able to injure the two, but Lurantis healed itself and Trumbeak took out my lead.  

I switched to the more direct approach.  I sent in Sassy Sally and used the Fire Z-move "Inferno Overdrive".  Against a bug/grass type (even a bug/grass type that is several levels higher) this would be an easy KO.  Apparently however, Lurantis is only grass-typed, and so Inferno Overdrive mortally wounded it.

And then Lurantis just healed itself.

Solar Blade is basically Lurantis
calling upon Divine Intervention.

Obviously this wasn't working; I wasn't losing yet and none of its moves were hurting my pokemon much, but I couldn't keep this up.  Its second ally summon pokemon, castform, had used Sunny Day--thereby making Synthesis doubly effective.  I turned my attention towards the castform and took it out handily enough--but lost Sassy Sally in the process.

I sent in Ori-chan and ate a move called Solar Blade.  Seemingly, this is a two-turn charge move like Solarbeam, but dealing physical damage.  I used Feather Dance and Feather Dance again, then baton-passed out to Trumbeak.  The Feather dances were to weaken that Solar Blade attack.  The baton pass was to ensure that Lurantis' move would target Ori-chan before it switches out so that Trumbeak would enter the battle undamaged.

I knew I had the eventual win at this point.  Trumbeak has Pluck, Flame Charge, Roost, and Work Up.  I could boost my attack and speed and heal off the damage I took with roost--and then take out Lurantis with one attack.  

I'm not going to lie, I felt pretty good about myself after this win.

VICTORY!!

2-0

Rematch with Salazzle

After rushing my battered pokemon and my battered pride to the pokemon center for some nursing, I regrouped and thought about what I had learned.  I figured out that the problem was that the match was somewhat out of my control; my team was put together to battle fire pokemon.  I couldn't have anticipated that my trial would be a fire and poison trial.

Let's take stock.  I had one pokemon that was suited for the match: Brionne resisted Flame Burst and hit hard with its Hydro Vortex move.  Had I weakened the Salazzle with any other move, I could have knocked it out with Pako Pako's Z-move.  However, of all my other pokemon, only Ori-chan was any use and it was unfortunately outside and outclassed by Toxic + Venoshock.  My other Pokemon, Grimer and Crabrawler, were each at a severe disadvantage in battling a poison type.  It was a mismatch from the start.

Now who could I use? Probably not Sylveon (Sidetone: I have recently renamed Sylveon Sailor "Star Fighter" because "duh") because he would take extreme damage from that Venoshock.  I could use Trumbeak, but it's a bit too slow and frail to survive more than one turn.  Misdreavus has Thunderwave as an option, but this would require it to survive a venoshock...

...unless I had it out before Salandit is summoned.

I was on to something.  With Salazzle (and maybe also Salandit) paralyzed, my pokemon would have a chance to cause some damage before the inevitable 120 base power venoshock nukes are launched. I just had to choose my fastest and strongest pokemon to support.

Vs. Salazzle Rematch: Speedy Thunder

My plan was weirdly simple: paralyze the opponents and take them out.  I was pleasantly surprised when I was successful in successfully using thunder wave on both salazzle and her summoned salandit.  With luck on my side and the wind in my sails, I was able to slowly whittle the pokemon down.  The major change was that now Venoshock was no longer a one-turn-one-hit KO move.  I was able to move before the speedier foes.

Soon enough, only Pako-Pako remained.  My ace.  It was tight, but I knew I had won.

Hydro Vortex.

VICTORY!

Vs. Salazzle

I wanted a challenge, so I had decided to take only four pokemon with me on my run up the mountain (Editor's note: Foreboding is an adjective that means 'uninvited dread', but in this case, take it to mean 'the anticipation of disaster').  The squad that I had come up with was made up of my most reliable pokemon that have followed me around all the way from the first island.

Vs. Salazzle: The Melemele Firefighters

During the initial phases of the trial back when I was playing "is there a hiker in this photo", I had been subjected to a few surprise battles.  The first was against that fire-dancing Marowak.  The second was against the Hiker himself.  These matches, while not difficult, had taken their toll on my lead Grimer.  Indeed, Sludj was forced to enter battle with the totem Salazzle with only 13 HP remaining.

"You Toxic bitch, you"

Because I own a Salandit, I already knew how fast the totem pokemon was, so I knew that Grimer wouldn't last very long.  One Flame Burst later and it was now a 3-on-1 match: 3-on-2 once Salazzle summoned Salandit as its partner.

This did not bode well.

I reassessed and found that, while Crabrawler was a good choice against a fire type, the dual Poison/Fire Salazzle/Salandit combo meant that the crustacean would be at a disadvantage.  Fighting moves are weak against the poison type.  I sent it in and attempted to whittle down the supporting Salandit with Bubblebeam.

It was then that the enemy duo revealed their master strategy.  Venoshock is a niche move amongst Poison Pokemon Trainers.  It has a base power of 60 damage under normal circumstances, but a base power of 120 if the opponent is afflicted by poison.  Salazzle knew Toxic.  Salandit knew Venoshock.  Because both opponents were faster than any of my underleveled pokemon, I lost my next two without even scoring a hit.  Salazzle would use Toxic, Sanandit would use Venoshock, and my pokemon would be knocked-off in one hit.

The only pokemon that even had a chance was Pako Pako, who miraculously survived Venoshock.  My partner retaliated with its Hydro Vortex Z-move!!

Salazzle surprised me with its strength.  It clung on and survived (barely) the ultimate water move.

And thus it was that foreboding became foreshadowing.  I was given my first loss.

Vs. Wishiwashi

I think that Wishiwashi and Magikarp are pokemon that are diametrically opposed.  Magikarp is a weak pokemon that, through trial and struggle, eventually achieves something great.  The pokemon is based on the Chinese legend of the koi that swims up the waterfall and leaps through the dragon gate to achieve enlightenment and become a dragon itself.  Magikarp is an individual out to prove itself to the world.

Wishiwashi is a fish that is weak and timid and small.  In these ways, it has a lot in common with Magikarp.  However, Magikarp achieves strength for itself through tenacity; Wishiwashi achieves strength by working together with others of its species.

One thing I didn't know about the pokemon is that they have an ability called "Schooling".  This allows the pokemon to call upon others to work with it.  The pokemon then becomes one giant, powerful school of fish--capable of attacking with much greater power than any single one of them could.  See that wishiwashi pic up there? That's the little sardine in its "school form".

Vs. Wishiwashi: Experimental Uncertainty

Wishiwashi-School Form in the rain is probably the sort of match that I wouldn't want to be caught up in for long.  I wasn't exactly sure of what kinds of moves the pokemon would have, but anything with "Water" in the title would end up scoring an extra 50% damage in the weather...and 50% more for matching Wihiwashi's water typing.

This match was going to hurt.

I had decided to lead with Sludj because I wanted to start the match out with Poison.  Really every match should be started with poison.  That's a philosophy of mine.

After Wishiwashi called for help, I made sure to spread the pestilence to the second pokemon in the same way.  All totem pokemon boost their defenses in battle, so I wanted to stay off the offensive for as much of the match as possible.  I decided to stick to stall.  I traded protect's for a few moves to ensure that the poison could weaken the two opponents.  Ultimately, though, Water Gun in the rain was too much for Grimer and the totem Wishiwashi KO'ed Sudj.

Wishiwashi is a pokemon that works well as a team.  The two Wishiwashi on the field--one in its solo form and one in its school form--were in perfect synchronicity.  With all those Helping Hand moves being thrown about, I needed to remove the supporting fish from the field.  Helping Hand + Rain + School form + STAB Water Gun could easily remove every pokemon in my team.  I sent in Ori-chan.  I needed a quick win and Air Cutter is a spread move.  Air Cutter would damage both opponents.

And Ori-chan is fast.  Really fast.

With its support quickly removed, the totem Wishiwashi was unable to KO Oricorio as handily.  It was the precision strike that ended the match at that critical moment in battle.  My victory came three turns later.

The Brooklet Hill Trial

I had been warned well in advance that my next trial would be a water trial, so I made sure to choose pokemon that would work well given the circumstance.  The squad that I came up with looks good on paper.  The problem is that I have never actually used three of these pokemon (Bagon, Bounsweet, and Sylveon) in battle...Hence the name:

Battle Squad 3: "Experimental Uncertainty"

Brooklet Hill was home to a wide variety of pokemon including Paras, Fomantis, and Poliwag.  I was able to catch one of each for my pokedex.  I also encountered Psyduck and eventually added it, as well, to my collection after 20 minutes of it prolonging the battle by calling for reinforcements.  It took so many extra turns, as a matter of fact, that Bounsweet grew three levels during the battle and evolved into the adorably spunky pokemon Steenee.

A Captain named Lana intercepted me early along the route and gave me a Lapras poke-ride pager to allow me to surf out onto the waters of the route.  Brooklet Kill is a downward-sloping series of pools and waterfalls which eventually feeds into the ocean and something was disturbing the waters.  Lana asked me to investigate the splashing...

In a stunningly boring turn of events, it was not the red Gyarados that I had expected it to be, but the pokemon Wishiwashi.  Wishiwashi is a new Alolan Pokemon that resembes a sad little sardine.  The only move it used in battle against me was Aqua Ring.  Obviously, I caught it in the end.

Lana directed me to a second splashing spot, musing aloud about wanting the opportunity to save a spry young swimmer.  I made my way to the second suspicious splashing area deeper into the craggy falls.  It was another Wishiwashi.

Once again, I defeated it and once again, Lana directed me to a splashing noise deeper into the glade.  This time she expressed real disappointment about the severe lack of beautiful male swimmers that she hasn't been able to save thus far.

The rain began to fall and the thunder had started to roll as I continued my Wishiwashi-slaughtering tour of Brooklet Hill.  Lana said that Kyogre was here.  Whether she meant in spirit or in true physical presence, I could not be sure, but the dark skies and the increasingly-treacherous rain seemed to speak of the presence of something deep and old.

As I passed through the trial gate, Lana formally introduced herself as the Captain of Brooklet Hills.  She said I would have to defeat the very personification of the seas as my opponent in her trial.  She directed me towards the final pool--and the final splashing spot contained within.

To be continued...

Vs. Raticate

Previously on Ben's Spectacular Pokemon White Y Moon Playthrough:

Totem Pokemon are powerful guardians of Trial locations.  There is a Totem for each Trial.  The Raticate boss in charge of the Verdant Cave Shrine was trained and set there with one goal: stop the Trial Challengers.  But I have the advantage here: I'm not a Trial Challenger, I'm a veteran Pokemon Trainer.

Vs. Raticate: Young Balance

I started by sending out Growlithe as a scout.  Knowing that Raticate is a Dark/Normal type in this game, I wanted to save Pip Pip for later on in the engagement as my ace.  Pikipek has a fighting move in Rock Smash (something that makes me curious about what kind of pokemon it will eventually evolve into), which would do x4 damage against the opponent.  Raticate immediately powered-up by boosting its defense.  Totems apparently have this extra ability.

First turn: Raticate Bites Growlie, who flinches.  The end of the turn finds Growlithe injured and Raticate untouched.  And then Raticate summoned help: Rattata appeared on the battlefield to assist the Totem.  This two-against-one match was easily enough to overwhelm Growlithe, Pikipek, and Popplio; all of whom failed to move because of flinch.  Both of my opponents were fast--much faster than my more methodical teammates--and I was taking two attacks per turn.  I was outnumbered and outperformed. 

Trusting in my instincts and relying on the Pokemon knowledge I had accrued over a lifetime of battle experience, I reassessed the situation.  I only had three pokemon left; one of them, Misdreavus, would not be able to cause any damage at all to the Dark/Normal opponents with their Psychic and Ghost moves.  What do I do when it's time to call defeat?  I stall.

Knowing exactly what I had left--a long shot against the barely damaged duo--I sent out Grimer.  Grimer, with its superior defenses, would be able to tank the two pokemons' physical moves; Grimer would resist "Bite".  And finally, Grimer had one more trick up its goopy, goopy sleeves: I used Poison Gas--successfully poisoning both opponents.

Raticate must have anticipated exactly this possibility, because it was holding a Pecha Berry which immediately cured it of its poisoning.  One turn later, I re-applied the move and succeeded in poisoning the pokemon, but not without great cost to myself.  Grimer could be gone in two turns--turns I didn't have.

I used Harden.  I took damage.  I used Harden.  I took damage.  I was prolonging the inevitable, but each turn I could keep my pokemon alive was one more turn towards my opponents' defeat.  Poison damage had severely weakened the Rattata.  Knowing that Grimer had done its job, I spent the last turn aiming a futile "Pound" attack at the Raticate.  Rattata took out my Grimer before it could even move.  It was the last thing my foe did before it fell due to poison.

It was now Chompy vs. Raticate.  Raticate was wounded--but Raticate was faster.  Almost there!!!

Turn 1: "Bite" exchanged for "Tackle".  Turn 2: "Bite" exchanged for "Tackle".

VICTORY

The Verdant Cave Trial

I regrouped with Trial Captain Ilima at the mouth of the Verdant Cave.  Ilima warned me that I would not be able to quit my challenge once I began, so I made sure to choose a balanced and worthy team for the ordeal.

Battle Team 1

The Verdant Cave Trial was a challenge to defeat the three Rattata guardians of the cave and then retrieve the Z Crystal in the inner sanctum.  Normally an easy task, I could not have anticipated that each of my foes would have a powerful move that would exceed their level.  The first Rattata had Hyper Fang at level 11; the second had Super Fang at that same level; the third Rattata was actually a Raticate.  Since all of my pokemon were around level 11 and one was completely useless (Misdreavus only knows Psychic and Ghost moves--which the dark/normal type Alola Rattata are immune to), I had to rely on Sludj the Grimer to stall them out until they succumb to poison damage.

Team Skull showed up along the way and it's official: they're my favorite villainous gang ever.  They're funny.  I know when this game series tries to do humor, they tend to fall somewhere between "they mostly live in Minnesota" and "I'll use my frying pan as a drying pan", so for me to say this means something.

Having defeated all three guardians, I made my way into the inner Sanctum.

"Raticate, the totem pokemon of Verdant Cave, has appeared."