Weekday Rants #17

     I'm actually making really good time on my revision, though my hand really hurts after practising Economics Essays all day. I've never done such hardcore mugging in my whole life, but since A levels is in 5 weeks or so, there hasn't been a better time than now. Still, I managed to sneak in a little bit of gaming time. Seriously, I don't even want to go back to school. I see no point in it, besides going through the papers, since I've always appreciated independent self-studying. It gives me an advantage, because I am more self-sufficient than most, while being less able to utilise school-given resources such as teachers. I've said it before. If exams were things you were only given 1 week to prepare for, with no assistance at all, then I have no doubt that I'll round up in the top percentage. It would be unfair though...and rather arrogant of me.

     Anyway, I made some progress on my backup file on Pokemon ORAS. Okay, it's Pokemon Omega Ruby. I don't have Alpha Sapphire. I'm not that rich...or that careless with money. Also, whoop-de-doo, I'm a girl and I know how to make backup save files for my games that are NOT on Steam, because Steam is nice and does the backup for you (although sometimes it doesn't frigging port properly). It's actually very simply and it would be really stupid if you can't figure out just by examining your 3DS. You must be like...super tech un-savvy to not be able to tell what you need and the different methods for backup.

     So on that particular save file, I started with Treecko...because I wanted a main team that I can easily breed for competitive use. I'm not a famous Streamer or Youtuber or anything, so it's difficult for me to gain excess to all the Pokemon listed in the Pokedex, or get perfect IV shiny Pokemon. It takes intensive breeding, hours of DexNav usage, etc etc and the least I can do for myself is to get a starter that actually can be used competitively.

      Blaziken is banned and since I don't want to soft reset for months on a Legendary to get perfect IVs, I am not playing Ubers. Swampert is popular, I know, but I've said before that I don't like running through the game with painfully slow Pokemon. Also, I like to have a useful ability when I Mega-evolve my starter. You can't expect me to bring Rain Dance everywhere, or detach the rain from Route 119 and Route 120 and place it around the whole of Hoenn. Also, I am playing Omega Ruby, meaning that the overriding weather effect during the Groudon event is Sun, not Rain. Furthermore, the best teammate for Swampert as a Rain Dance user is Ludicolo, but that is Alpha Sapphire exclusive. That said, I do have a Lotad I got recently in a Wonder Trade, but I am not going to sit at the beginning of the game for hours, catching Ralts and Wonder Trading, praying for good RNG.

     Right now, my team is mostly competitive in structure. I don't have the best movesets and if you have ever played an actual game without cheating, you know why. You can have a frigging Mega Sceptile whose best move is Leaf Blade because Leaf Storm is at Level 69. Also, I had people ask me why the hell I run certain moves on certain Pokemon in an actual run-through of a game, hack or no hack (Hint: I'm referring to an occurrence while talking about a hack). Don't be idiotic. I know Close Combat is flipping awesome, but it has base 5 PP. It is not going to last you a lug through a whole route! I know Flare Blitz is boss, but recoil is NOT appreciated when the main game prioritises stamina over power. So without further ranting, this is what my current team looks like at Level 50.

1. Sceptile/Mega Sceptile

Nature: Naughty

Ability: Overgrow/Lightning Rod

Moves: Leaf Blade, Dual Chop, Hidden Power Fire, X-Scissor

     I know, I know. I should be running Adamant or Jolly since it looks like a Physical Attacker, but like I said, this is NOT competitive. I mean, it doesn't even have perfect IVs and it will be used for breeding once I finish the game. I reset for a female Treecko with either +Attack or +Special Attack without reduction is either. In other words, I needed a female Treecko with Naughty, Lonely, Mild or Rash nature. 

     Why female? Because when breeding two Pokemon of different species, the child takes the species of the mother. Why different species? Well, you don't know much about breeding then, which is a very intricate process. Given that I obtain a lot of Pokemon through Wonder Trade, I'll probably get a Pokemon in the same Egg group as Treecko - Dragon or Monster 1 - from a different region. I'm using the Masuda Breeding Method, which you can research about yourself. Basically, the method dictates that if you breed two Pokemon of the same egg group from different regions (i.e. from the French version, German version, etc), the chances of obtaining a Shiny is higher.

     Why Sceptile? Well, it works brilliantly with my Manectric, which has Discharge. Why not Thunderbolt? Are you daft? I don't get to CHOOSE what my Pokemon learn levelling up. I've got to live with what I'm given. Since there are so many double battles, these two make a great pair. Discharge gets absorbed by Lightning Rod which boosts Special Attack, which will become very useful once I get Leaf Storm and breed for Dragon Pulse. 

2. Gardevoir

Nature: Mild

Ability: Synchronise

Moves: Psychic, Dazzling Gleam, Shadow Ball, Calm Mind

     Yes, after I got a whole box of Ralts just after starting the game, I finally settled for a Mild Ralts. I did get a Modest and a Timid one, but they didn't have 2 stars on the DexNav. For those who don't know, the DexNav will show a certain number of stars for a Pokemon you are searching for, from 0 to 3, indicating the number of perfect IVs the Pokemon has. I haven't checked what my Gardevoir has perfect IVs in, but it's better than nothing. Also, if you have ever played through ORAS, you know that Ralts and Kirlia are a pain in the ass to train. They have extremely low EXP gain rates and are very weak (attack and defence), until it evolves into Gardevoir at level 30 and get Psychic and start wrecking everyone.

      Don't you dare ask me why not Moonblast. If you would like to tell me how to get Moonblast on my Gardevoir, just after reaching Mossdeep City, please let me know. If not, shut up, and let me just be happy about having Dazzling Gleam over Draining Kiss (that base 50 power was giving me cancer). I will be getting the Gardevoirite from Wanda in Verdanturf Town, but that comes after the Groudon event, along with a lot of other Mega Stones.

3. Infernape (via Wonder Trade)

Nature: Jolly

Ability: Iron Fist

Moves: Thunder Punch, Fire Punch, Close Combat, Mach Punch

     So my lucky ass got an Iron Fist Chimchar from Wonder Trading a box full of Ralts. I feel pretty bad for the person who got that shitty Ralts while distributing his perfect IV hidden ability Chimchar. Hey, but I was all concerned about how the hell I was going to deal with getting a Fire type since I didn't want those slow Fire types that are available in the game (Torkoal, Camerupt, Marcargo). Also, this thing came with Thunder Punch and Fire Punch. Like holy RNG-sus, thank you! The only problem with this piece of shit is that it levels up way too fast, with Infernape's naturally moderate EXP gain rates and the boosted EXP from being a traded Pokemon.

4. Gyarados (Shiny!)

Nature: Hasty

Ablity: Intimidate

Moves: Aqua Tail, Ice Fang, Crunch, Dragon Dance

     Yes, Aqua Tail, because I still have a while to go until I get my HM for Waterfall. I'm not sure how to get Bounce on Gyarados either, probably an egg move or something, but for now this is nice. This is probably my go-to for the Delta Episode against Zinnia's full Dragon team. Anyway, this isn't luck from RNG-sus, if anyone knows anything about the Generation VI fishing mechanics. It's this thing called Chain Fishing.

      Chain Fishing happens when you stand still on one patch of water and keep successfully fishing. It's not as easy as it sounds. Firstly, there is a possibility of getting the message "nothing is biting" or something like that, which breaks your chain. That is super frustrating. Having a Pokemon with Sticky Hold can raise the chances of getting a bite, but even that isn't 100%. Another thing is that you cannot miss a catch, which is actually harder than it sounds. Then, you cannot move, at all. Chain Fishing is the phenomenon where when you do whatever I said above for 20-100 times, you start getting shinies. I got a Shiny on my 97th try, which is actually really bad RNG.

     I do have a Gyaradosite, but I actually prefer regular Gyarados. Mold Breaker isn't that useful in the main game.

5. Manectric/Mega Manectric

Nature: Mild

Ability: Lightning Rod/Intimidate

Moves: Discharge, Volt Switch, Overheat, Hidden Power Grass

     Yes, once again, RNG-sus is kind and I got a good Hidden Power. I always end up with Ice or Grass, which are the best ones for Manectric. This is my other commonly used Mega, my other Intimidate-user and other Lightning Rod. It's actually quite cool because if I have to switch into a powerful Electric move with Gyarados out on the field and my Sceptile is not Mega evolved, then I can just send Manectric in to get a Special Attack boost. If I need a second Intimidate on a powerful Physical attacker, I can just Mega evolve and Volt Switch out into Gardevoir or something. Volt Switch is the TM given by Wattson, by the way. I think I do get Thunderbolt from him later on, but not yet as of now.

     So yes, my team is actually pretty awesome. 2 Intimidate users and since Defiant and Competitive are rare in-game, it's a brilliant strategy. One of them is a Physical attacker in Gyarados, while the other is Special, in Manectric. I have 2 Special Attackers in Manectric and Gardevoir, 2 Physical in Infernape and Gyarados and one mixed, in Sceptile. Why is the 6th slot empty? Two reasons. 1. In anticipation for Bagon, once I get Waterfall and gain excess to the back chamber of Meteor Falls. 2. Because I refuse to let my main Pokemon learn useless HMs. I wouldn't even let Gyarados learn Surf. I have Surf, Cut, Rock Smash and Strength on Linoone (it's Pickup is great too). Fly and Surf is also on Pelipper for travelling around. After that, I'll probably get a Wailmer for Rock Smash, Surf, Dive and Strength for underwater segments. I usually plan my team very well, after all. I'm pretty damn proud of it.

Random Nonsense #22: Pokemon Version Preferences

     I feel like Math Paper 2, i.e. the statistics paper, is that kind of paper that becomes easier as you practise it. And so, that's what I've been doing the past three days...at a quite rigorous pace, in fact. It's not to say that Paper 1 doesn't require practice, but I've noticed that most people find Paper 2 to be easier to understand than Paper 1. Since my niche, per se, when it comes to studying lies in understanding things almost immediately as they are taught, Paper 2 becomes a disadvantage because I am less differentiated from the rest. In other words, because Paper 2 is easy in theory, I can't just use my theoretical knowledge to pull me forward.

     But I'm taking a break tonight, only to resume tomorrow. It's just Correlation and Regression, which is much much easier than Permutations and Combinations, which can be very confusing and requires a lot of systematic thinking, or Hypothesis Testing, for which the formula is very easy to remember, but H2 Math brings along an element of needing to understand. After all, if you are given the choice of using a z-test and t-test, there is already the minimum requirement of understanding when and why each test should be used. Still, I need to go through the topic and familiarise myself, so that I can have more than for P&C and figuring out how many millions of ways I can sit people around 3 differently shaped tables. ...Honestly, what is the practical reason behind learning this topic...besides to train systematic logical thinking? It's not like I'm going into business of arranging people in a line, or letters into words. In fact, these words aren't even real words...just made up gibberish of letters.

     Anyway, onto the topic of today. My preference of Pokemon game versions and the reasoning behind it. Often, my reasoning comes from the version exclusive Pokemon, which also affects the starter I get to choose, because I am very annoyed with overlapping types. Things like double Ground types are fine, but double Fire/Water/Grass is a problem to me. Of course, in certain games, e.g. Emerald/Sapphire, I don't mind two Water types because they don't share weaknesses, i.e. Swampert with Ludicolo, but for the most part, I go by which version has a Pokemon I want and the resulting starter I can choose. I'll structure this part by generations, with the latest game as the basis of comparison.

Pokemon Version Preferences
1. Generation I - Pokemon FireRed vs Pokemon LeafGreen (RBY Remake)

a) Version Exclusive Pokemon (Final Evolutions)
(i) FireRed: Arbok, Vileplume/Bellosom, Golduck, Arcanine, Cloyster, Scizor, Electabuzz, Quagsire, Murkrow, Delibird, Skarmory, Deoxys Attack
(ii) LeafGreen: Sandslash, Victreebel, Slowbro/Slowking, Starmie, Magmar, Pinsir, Azumarill, Misdreavus, Sneasel, Octillery, Mantine, Deoxys Defense

b) Version Preference
     Well, since most of the version exclusives can only be obtained after the Elite Four, my version preference is determined by the first few Pokemon listed. Pokemon FireRed is the preferred version and it comes down to Arcanine vs Ninetales and Vileplume/Bellosom vs Victreebel. While I admit that I prefer Victreebel over Vileplume because it is faster and more aggressive, I like Arcanine way more than Ninetales. Ninetales was good back in the original games, because its Special stat, which combined Special Attack and Special Defense, as well as Speed was high. However, when the new generations came, it got a high Special Defense and Speed instead. Which makes no sense. Arcanine is a relatively good Special Attacker and Physical Attacker and while it is mediocre in the current generation, those kind of stats were quite impressive back in the day of Generation III, i.e. the remake generations.

     Once upon a time too, Arcanine used to be one of my Top 3 favourite Pokemon, before Weavile and Greninja kicked it out by taking 3rd and 2nd respectively. It's the mixture of a wolf and a sabre cat, what's not cool about it? Furthermore, its species is typed as Legendary Pokemon...it's not even pseudo-legendary by game standards, but earns that species name? That's impressive.

2. Generation I - Pokemon HeartGold vs Pokemon Soulsilver (GSC Remake)

a) Version Exclusive Pokemon (Final Evolutions)
(i) HeartGold: Primeape, Arcanine, Omastar, Ariados, Gliscor, Mantine, Donphan, Sableye, Claydol, Armaldo, Kyogre
(ii) SoulSilver: Ninetales, Persian, Kabutops, Ledian, Skarmory, Ursaring, Mawile, Swalot, Cradily, Groudon

b) Version Preference
     Once again, the reason for the version preference is partly because of Arcanine. However, for a larger part, the problem isn't because I like Arcanine over Ninetales. It's because of the rarity of Fire Pokemon in the two versions and my strong preference of Feraligatr over Typhlosion. It's surprising, because back in Primary School, many of my friends and classmates played Pokemon and it was a widely regarded trend that girls preferred Fire starters and boys preferred Water starters. However, apart from Blaziken, my favourite has always been the Water starter (especially Feraligatr, Empoleon and Greninja). Yes, Arcanine does play a part in the choice, but you know, I could pick Feraligatr and Ninetales. The difference is that in HeartGold, I can replace my Fire Pokemon with Ho-Oh. Yes, I'm such a noob, using legendaries, but seriously, there are so few Fire Pokemon lines (the only other accessible one is Flareon, and I prefer Jolteon/Espeon). So the mascot for this preference is Feraligatr and Ho-Oh.

     Feraligatr is also Silver's choice of starter in the Pokemon Adventures Manga series and Silver happens to be my favourite character, in both the games and the manga. Okay, I do like Zinnia from ORAS a lot too, and N, for being all philosophical throughout BW and BW2, but honestly...ORAS has too many things I like...and I dislike Generation V the most. BW always seemed to frustrate me because I found it to be ultra boring...mostly because I liked none of the Pokemon in the first routes.

     I like Ho-Oh more than Lugia. Sue me. It seemed to me back when I first played Gold and Silver that most people preferred Lugia's design. I don't know why. I was the rare kind of player who liked Ho-Oh's design more (stats and competitiveness were not a thing back then) and Raikou more than Suicune (again, it's a bloody sabre cat!).

3. Generation III - Pokemon Omega Ruby vs Pokemon Alpha Sapphire (RSE Remake)

a) Version Exclusive Pokemon (Final Evolutions)
(i) Omega Ruby: Groudon, Latios, Mawile, Shiftry, Solrock, Zangoose, Ho-Oh, Palkia, Reshiram, Tornadus, Kabutops, Bastiodon, Archeops, Dragalge, Throh
(ii) Alpha Sapphire: Kyogre, Latias, Sableye, Ludicolo, Lunatone, Seviper, Lugia, Dialga, Zekrom, Thundurus, Omastar, Rampardos, Carracosta, Sawk

b) Version Preference
     Long before I even bought the 3DS needed for the games, I already decided on Omega Ruby and it was an incredibly easy choice for me. I played Pokemon Showdown before the games were released and I found myself loving Mega Mawile much more than Mega Sableye, not to mention that I liked Mawile more than Sableye ever since RSE. If you played the games, you understand my annoyance at Sableye. The bitch goes for Detect no matter what. Also, Zangoose over Seviper anyday. I hate snakes and on the other hand, Zangoose is quite an adorable Pokemon, if only it didn't look so threatening...which made it super cool. The deciding factor though, apart from Mawile, was Latios. I like the brother of the Eon duo more, which is actually the generic choice. Also, Groudon over Kyogre anyday, even without Primal evolution. I just think its cooler to have a beastly pokemon with sharp claws berserking around compared to a goddamn fish.

     Mawile represents the idea of deceit in Pokemon. That cute and adorable face that hides a pair of hideous and lethal jaws behind. I simply love it. I don't like snakes, like I've just said, but that's not because of their stereotypically sly nature. I love cunning animals, wolves and foxes especially. I know Mawile is neither, but isn't it kinda like a tiny baby fox...with gigantic shark jaws?

     There's this person in my class, who has a Latios plushie keychain and I have to try very hard not to try to steal it from under his nose. That tells you how much I love Latios. Latias is cutesy and stuff, but Latios always gave off this kind of aloof and arrogant kind of aura. He's like...the INTJ anime character that I always end up having a crush on by Episode 3 in every generic Shounen.

4. Generation IV - Pokemon Pearl vs Pokemon Diamond

a) Version Exclusive Pokemon (Final Evolutions)
(i) Pearl: Slowbro/Slowking, Pinsir, Mismagius, Houndoom, Stantler, Walrein, Salamence, Bastiodon, Purugly, Palkia
(ii) Diamond: Dewgong, Scizor, Tyranitar, Mightyena, Aggron, Kecleon, Rampardos, Honchkrow, Skunktank, Dialga

b) Version Preference
     This is the hardest decision for me. The problem with these games is that if you don't start off with Chimchar and get an Infernape, you have only Flareon and Rapidash left as the choices. Houndoom is Pearl exclusive and it really gives the game an edge, but no, I prefer Diamond. There's one Pokemon, in Diamond, that is my 5th favourite Pokemon of all time. Going by the pattern of my favourites, Blaziken, Greninja, Weavile, Absol,... you can tell the pattern, right? Apart from Blaziken, all of them are Dark types, so the Pokemon that makes the decision for me in this generation is Honchkrow. Yes, yes, yes. You can use Staraptor, but it's boring! It's that Normal/Flying type you get at the start of every game and it just doesn't appeal to me. Also, might I add, Super Luck on Honchkrow is OP in-game. I'm getting crits every 3 moves. You may say, hey, Salamence, but you don't actually get Bagon anywhere in the main game.

     I love crows and ravens and other black-coloured birds. I mean, that's why I love Dark types. It's a shame that Umbreon is so unusable in-game because it's way too passive and defensive, or else it would be 5 and Honchkrow would be 6. But oh my, even in competitive, every time I get off a Scarfed Brave Bird and watch that Moxie boost go onto my Honchkrow, I start giving off this evil laughter. Also, since I run hazards, my Honchkrow never dies to recoil. This is why when you build, you build around 1 or 2 Pokemon so that you can support them well. Honchkrow MVP!

     Also, Silver has a Honchkrow in the manga, who was a Murkrow in the Gold/Silver arc. Furthermore, you know that guy that gives you the Riolu egg in Platinum. Yeah, you know, Riley. His hat reminds me Honchkrow and he's a pretty cool guy. He stars in the anime even. He looks like a goddamn Honchkrow.

5. Generation V - Pokemon Black 2 vs Pokemon White 2 (BW Remakes)

a) Version Exclusive Pokemon (Final Evolution)
(i) Black 2: Magmortar, Heracross, Lopunny, Whimsicott, Grumpig, Mandibuzz, Gothitelle, Zekrom, Kyurem-White
(ii) White 2: Electivire, Pinsir, Delcatty, Lilligant, Camerupt, Braviary, Reuniclus, Reshiram, Kyurem-Black

b) Version Preference
     This is where I have to choose "which do I hate less". Honestly, I hated this generation with my guts and it's NOT because I'm a genwunner who thinks Generation I is the best. No, it's not. I liked Generation VI. I think one reason why I hated these games was because I just emerged from Generation IV, HGSS. I was all like "Where the fuck is my Pokemon? Why isn't it walking with me anymore?!" And then I go to my Generation III mentality and I gave more middle fingers I can count to whatever bullshit that is that replaced my Pokemon Contests. You know, those contests you grind on until Master Rank Beauty contest to evolve your Feebas into a Milotic? And then the Battle Frontier is gone too?! WOW. Generation V added nothing that I liked, and the Movie Star thing in BW2 was a waste of my bloody time (I was bored, Contests were at least fun), and it also removed everything that I liked.

     Everyone should witness my reaction when I finally pulled myself through this painfully boring game and saw Caitlin. I was all like "OMG, I remember you! You're the head of the battle Castle in Platinum, HG and SS!" I was like sinking into my sofa from boredom and I sat up straight for the first time since I started the game. Also, I hate the starters for Unova...so useless, Meganium-level useless. Serperior with no Contrary and the rest makes them all PU tier.

     But yes, I have a decision to make, and it's so difficult to make because I like neither games. I do like Reshiram way more than Zekrom...even though I wished they changed the colour scheme. Black and red would be so damn cool. I hate how Reshiram is fully white like, seriously, don't you accidentally char your fur once in a while? So the deciding factor, is just Reshiram, I guess. I mean, this whole game was a pain and the only reason why I even entertained BW2 was because it had some of my favourites from previous generations. Like I had an Ampharos, I love Ampharos. So fuck your Lucario, that shit is repetitive, generic and frankly makes me feel like I'm licking every other Pokemon player's ass. It's that kind of Pokemon which is overrated as hell and doesn't even have sentimental reason because it was a pain in my neck to raise it up in Platinum. I had a stronger bond with my Garchomp than that piece of shit Riolu.

6. Generation VI - Pokemon X vs Pokemon Y

a) Version Exclusive Pokemon (Final Evolutions)
(i) X: Starmie, Pinsir, Houndoom, Mightyena, Aggron, Sawk, Slurpuff, Clawitzer, Xerneas
(ii) Y: Cloyster, Heracross, Tyranitar, Manectric, Liepard, Throh, Aromatisse, Dragalge, Yveltal

a) Version Preference
     People were all saying that BW sucked and then the fans attributed it to the rise of the genwunners. So how come there was less criticism for X and Y? Oh, I know. Because Generation V was absolute bullshit, but Generation VI added new things that were actually good and innovative. They did remove some things from the past and changed a lot, but what they added was welcomed and phenomenal. It was difficult choosing my preferred version, but just take a look at the legendaries. I'm sorry, a Dark type legendary? HELL YEAH. I mean I do like Xerneas quite a bit too, but it's a Dark type legendary! It's a mascot for my favourite type! Furthermore, ever since the days of RSE, my favourite Electric type was a tie between Jolteon and Manectric. But after Manectric got access to Overheat and Flamethrower, and a coverage with Hidden Power Ice/Grass (which I miraculously got every time I caught it), it became my favourite Electric type. And a Mega? HELL YES.

     Normal ability as Lightning Rod. It draws away Electric attacks in double battles, which is exceedingly common in ORAS, away from my Gyarados. Mega evolution ability as Intimidate, which with the exception of Bisharp, which is rarely seen in-game, is a very useful ability, considering my Gyarados is also an Intimidate-user. It was a beautiful team I hate. Double Intimidate, one on each type of attacker. Mega Manectric is also my most used Mega in-game as well as competitive...at least until Bisharp became too popular to risk a Manectric.

     This Pokemon is absolutely beautiful. It is a Dark type. It is a legendary. And it's frigging ability is called Dark Aura. I just love Pokemon and characters based off evil and darkness as themes. Yveltal, if only I knew it better, could become my favourite Legendary, but for now, sentiment for Pokemon game prevails and Rayquaza remains as my favourite Legendary.

 
     Lastly, some Pokemon battle music, top 5 to be exact. I know I did this before so I won't comment on it. Also, I need to get back to work or go to sleep. Just don't expect anything to be from Generation V. On top of having a shitty gameplay, shitty story and all that, it also doesn't have good music. What on earth did it do right then? Also, must I say, for a female character, I frigging love Zinnia. I mean, Nintendo gave her a Mega Salamence and a full Dragon team. She earned a badge of badassery. I would have totally lost if I didn't have an Azumarill with Play Rough.

5. Pokemon XY - Champion Diantha Theme


4. Pokemon ORAS - Deoxys Battle Theme


3. Pokemon DPPt - Champion Cynthia Theme


2. Pokemon DPPt - Team Galactic Boss Cyrus Battle Theme


1. Pokemon ORAS - Delta Episode Final Fight Zinnia Battle Theme